English language proficiency, complete tooth loss, and recent dental visits among older adults in the United States

Application of principles learned in a prevention-focused pediatric dental residency curriculum to professional practice

PURPOSE

This study examined whether pediatric dentists who participated in a pediatric dental residency program focusing on disease prevention and management training and screening for social determinants of health (SDOH) were applying these principles to their professional practice upon graduation.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional study design, a one-time-only online survey was disseminated to 75 pediatric dentists who graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles's training program between 2012 and 2022. The 21-item survey included questions on demographics, patient population characteristics, and application of preventive dentistry and SDOH to their professional practice. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were used to assess survey items.

RESULTS

The survey response rate was 64%. Over two-thirds (67%) of alumni reported accepting Medicaid, 34% saw patients in a medically underserved area and all reported seeing children with special needs in their practice. Strategies used to address SDOH in their practice included providing anticipatory guidance (98%) and educating families on oral disease prevention and screening for SDOH (96%). Alumni accepting patients with Medicaid/public health insurance were more likely to address SDOH in their practice, such as assisting patients with filling out Medicaid paperwork (p < 0.05), conducting outreach to underserved communities (p < 0.05), and using interpreters in their practice (p < 0.01) in comparison with alumni not accepting patients with Medicaid/public health insurance.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that a pediatric dental residency program may be successful in training residents to educate children, families, and special needs patients on disease prevention and management in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner and screen for SDOH during patient visits.

Effects of a dental Spanish educational intervention among predoctoral students at a US dental school

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the effects of an online module intended to educate dental students about Spanish terms and phrases relevant to a patient appointment. Effects investigated included perceived value of dental Spanish, confidence utilizing Spanish terms in a patient appointment, and degree of knowledge retention.

METHODS

This study utilized pre- and postsurvey data collected from three classes at one US dental institution (D2-D4) via an online measure accompanying the virtual educational module. Questions assessed degree of accurate knowledge retained, level of confidence, perceived value of dental Spanish, language proficiency, and year in school.

RESULTS

Predoctoral dental students in three cohorts participated in the study (97% and 87% pre/post-test response rate, respectively). Most students reported dental Spanish to be beneficial and necessary. However, the intervention did not influence students' perceived value of dental Spanish. Students who disagreed that dental Spanish was valuable performed significantly worse on the postintervention knowledge assessment when compared to those students who positively reported value of dental Spanish. The intervention significantly increased confidence levels overall regarding use of dental Spanish in a patient appointment. Significant knowledge acquisition occurred for each of the components assessed.

CONCLUSION(S)

A brief online educational intervention can effectively increase dental students' knowledge of and confidence utilizing Spanish terms commonly employed during a patient appointment. Perceived value of dental Spanish is high and impacts students' knowledge retention but is not affected by education alone.

Analysis of a Pediatric Dental School Patient Population Revealed Increasing Trends of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients: Implications for Pediatric Dental Public Health and Access to Care

Based upon the lack of current information regarding the pediatric patient population at UNLV-SDM, the overall goal of this project was to analyze the demographic characteristics of this population, indicators for socioeconomic status (SES), such as enrollment in Medicaid, and other barriers to healthcare access, such as non-English/non-Spanish languages spoken. Using an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved protocol, this analysis revealed the percentage of minority pediatric patients between 2010 and 2020 increased among African Americans, Asian Americans, and mixed or multiracial patients, while decreasing among Hispanics. Analysis of the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients and guardians found an overall increase in the number of non-English/non-Spanish languages spoken from n = 4 in 2010 to n = 21 in 2020 with no significant changes in Medicaid/CHIP enrollment identified between 2010 and 2020 (76.7%, 77.9%, p = 0.988). These data suggest the composition of the patient population has experienced significant shifts over time, with more patients of mixed racial backgrounds and increased numbers of Limited English Proficiency (non-English/non-Spanish foreign languages) spoken. These data may suggest there is an increased need for multilingual health materials, training, and translators for pediatric oral health within this population.