Caries prevalence, oral health practices/behaviours and dental anxiety levels amongst dental hygiene students: A cross-sectional study

Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for prolonged hospitalisation in oral and maxillofacial space infections: a 3-year retrospective study of 217 cases

BACKGROUND

Oral and maxillofacial space infections (OMSIs) are a serious emergency disease in oral and maxillofacial departments; untreated or undertreated OMSI can lead to serious complications and can be life-threatening. This study aimed to comprehensively analyse the epidemiological characteristics of OMSI, identify the associated etiological and risk factors, and develop a machine learning-based predictive model for factors influencing hospitalisation.

METHODS

Medical records of 217 patients hospitalised with OMSI were retrospectively analysed. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, treatment histories, microbiological profiles, and drug sensitivity test results were reviewed. A risk prediction model for hospitalisation length was established using machine learning.

RESULTS

Odontogenic infections (69.41%) were the most common etiological factors for OMSI, with periapical periodontitis being the most prevalent. Streptococcus spp. was the most frequently cultured aerobic bacteria, whereas Peptostreptococcus anaerobius was the predominant anaerobe. Drug sensitivity tests indicated high resistance rates to clindamycin and erythromycin among aerobic bacteria. The risk prediction model exhibited an area under the curve of 0.726 and was validated by an internal area under the curve of 0.712. Factors such as hypertension, diabetes, pre-admission interventions, and age were significantly associated with prolonged hospitalisation.

CONCLUSION

Periapical periodontitis remains a primary cause of OMSI; however, the rising incidence of infections due to cosmetic injections and implant surgeries warrants attention. Penicillin, clindamycin, and erythromycin are not recommended as empirical first-choice drugs. The predictive model effectively identified risk factors for extended hospitalisation. Hypertension, diabetes, pre-admission interventions, and age are risk factors for lengthened hospitalisation. Efforts should be made to promote oral hygiene education and healthcare system reforms in regions with similar demographic and socioeconomic conditions.

Every bite counts to achieve oral health: a scoping review on diet and oral health preventive practices

OBJECTIVE

To examine the landscape of preventive strategies and interventions directed to achieve oral health equity, with particular emphasis on the interplay between dental caries prevention, individual behaviors, and population-level strategies across various demographic and geographic regions.

METHODS

This scoping review was guided by Peters et al.'s framework, which incorporates four key concepts aimed at reducing caries: education for individuals and healthcare providers, behavioral modifications, addressing broader social determinants of health, and extending oral health education programs beyond traditional dental settings. A systematic search was conducted across five databases, from 2011 to 2022.

RESULTS

This review identified 107 studies highlighting three main themes: behavioral practices (N = 33), which focused on reducing the prevalence of caries, improving oral hygiene practices, and enhancing overall oral health knowledge; educational interventions (N = 39), which explored strategies to integrate oral health with broader public health initiatives; and dietary interventions (N = 35), which emphasized the critical relationship between diet and oral health.

CONCLUSION

This SR highlights the critical need for comprehensive multilevel approaches that address the complex interplay between nutrition, oral health, and sociodemographic factors, while emphasizing the critical relationship between societal factors and individual health behaviors. Multifaceted interventions that include behavioral change, education, and dietary modifications are crucial for improving oral and overall health outcomes across diverse populations. Comprehensive strategies should prioritize medical-dental integration and data-driven approaches to effectively reduce oral health disparities for vulnerable populations, promoting long-term health equity.

Epidemiological and Oral Public Health Aspects of Dental Pain: A Narrative Review

The aim of this narrative review is to synthesize and discuss existing evidence on the epidemiological aspects of dental pain, addressing its prevalence, risk factors, population distribution, impact on the quality of life, and implications for public health. Dental pain is a common condition that involves complex mechanisms of pain transmission and perception. Dental pain can be due to various causes, such as caries, pulpitis, periodontitis, dental trauma, and soft tissue conditions (e.g., stomatitis). In addition, psychological and social factors influence pain perception and severity, such as anxiety and previous negative experiences. The global burden of dental pain is considerable, generating a significant impact on the quality of life of people at individual and collective levels. This impact manifests itself in a reduction in productivity, due to absenteeism from work and school, as well as difficulties in performing daily tasks. In addition, dental pain entails high costs for health systems, including expenses associated with diagnosis, treatment, and the care of complications arising from the lack of timely care. These costs also include indirect expenses associated with the loss of productivity and impacts on the general well-being of the population. The magnitude of these effects, both at individual and population levels, underlines the importance of prevention and access to timely and effective treatment of dental pain. The prevalence of dental pain varies by region and factors such as age, socioeconomic status, and access to services. Risk factors include sociodemographic (age, gender, and ethnicity), socioeconomic (income, education, and occupation), psychological (anxiety and depression), and behavioral (oral hygiene and diet) dimensions. People with lower socioeconomic and educational status are more likely to suffer from dental pain due to a lack of access to services and inadequate preventive practices. Dental pain negatively affects the quality of life, disrupting daily functions and causing emotional distress. Public health proposes improving access to preventive dental care, oral health education, and equitable policies to reduce disparities. Strategies aimed at reducing the burden of dental pain at the population level include expanding access to dental care, promoting healthy habits, and ameliorating the significance of care costs as a barrier. Future research should focus on innovative assessment methods, expanding the accessibility to various levels of care, and understanding the biopsychosocial determinants of dental pain to develop effective interventions.

Relationship between dental anxiety levels and oral health among dental patients in Turkey: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health in adult patients who applied to the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry at Suleyman Demirel University.

METHODS

The study included 500 subjects. The dental anxiety levels of the patients were determined using a modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS). Information on sociodemographic details, oral hygiene and nutritional habits were recorded. Intraoral examinations of the subjects were performed. Caries prevalence of individuals was determined using the decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) and decayed, missing, or filled surfaces (DMFS) indices. Gingival health was evaluated using the gingival index (GI). Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests and Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTS

The ages of the 276 female and 224 male participants ranged from 18-84 years. The median MDAS value was 9.00. The median DMFT and DMFS values were 10.00 and 23.00, respectively. The median MDAS values ​​of women were higher than those of men. Individuals who postponed their appointment had a higher MDAS median value than those who did not (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). No statistically significant correlation was found between dental anxiety level (MDAS) and GI, DMFT and DMFS index scores (Spearman correlation analysis, p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The MDAS values of individuals who did not remember the reason for their dental visit were higher than those who visited the dentist for routine control. Based on the findings of this study, further research on the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health is necessary to determine the factors that pose a risk for dental anxiety and to ensure the regular benefits of dental services.