Sustainable development goals and ending ECC as a public health crisis

Decomposing Socioeconomic Inequality in Early Childhood Caries Among 3 to 5-Year-Old Children in China

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a widespread oral disease that harms children's health in China. Although previous studies have linked ECC prevalence to socioeconomic status, few have measured the degree of socioeconomic inequality. This study aimed to evaluate the socioeconomic inequality of ECC in children aged 3 to 5 years in China and identify the contributor to the inequality.

METHODS

We extracted data on 3 to 5-year-old children from the fourth National Oral Health Survey. We measured the inequality of ECC by the average household income per capita. We used the average household income per capita to measure the inequality of ECC. To describe inequality both qualitatively and quantitatively, we used the following methods: concentration curve, Erreygers-corrected concentration index, relative index of inequality and slope index of inequality. We also applied a decomposition based on the probit model to identify the factors that contributed to inequality.

RESULTS

The prevalence of ECC in Chinese preschool children was 63.11% (95% CIs: 60.54%, 65.61%). The negative value of the Erreygers-corrected concentration index (-0.0459; 95% CIs: -0.0594, -0.0324), slope index of inequality (-0.0674; 95% CIs: -0.0876, -0.0471) and the positive value of relative index of inequality (0.7484; 95% CIs: 0.6856, 0.8169) all indicated that ECC prevalence was higher among children from low-income families. The main factors contributing to inequality were average household income, parents' educational level and living areas.

CONCLUSION

There is a pro-poor inequality in ECC among 3 to 5-year-old children in China.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

To improve oral health equality, policymakers should focus more on children from low-income families, with less educated parents and living in rural areas.

Saudi dental students' perceptions on sustainable development goals and sustainable dental practice

OBJECTIVES

This study utilised a cross-sectional survey design to assess the levels of knowledge and awareness among 841 undergraduate dental students from Saudi Arabia regarding sustainable development goals (SDGs) and sustainable dental practices (SDP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A self-administered online questionnaire was distributed to adults aged between 18 and 35 years of both genders, from November 2022 to November 2023. The study has obtained appropriate ethical approval.

RESULTS

Participants exhibited a moderate level of knowledge and awareness regarding the SDGs, while demonstrating a high level of awareness specifically related to the SDP. The presence of a correlation between gender-associated beliefs and pro-environmental behaviours is apparent. Additionally, it has been observed that participants who engage in clinical activities exhibit a heightened level of awareness concerning SDP.

CONCLUSIONS

By assessing dental students' current knowledge and awareness of the SDGs and SDP, we can inform stakeholders in the dental industry about how to enhance sustainability competence and develop dental policy curricula. This will better prepare students to serve as educators as well as professionals, aligning with their commitment to integrating the principles and objectives of various SDGs and SDP into dental education and practice.

Efficacy of Glass Ionomer Cement as Pit and Fissure Sealant in Permanent First Molars

Background/Objectives Pit and fissure caries constitute a predominant portion, approximately 90% in permanent posterior teeth and 44% in primary teeth among children and adolescents. Among various preventive modalities, pit and fissure sealants play a pivotal role in safeguarding these vulnerable areas. Categorized by materials such as glass ionomer, composites, and polyacid-modified glass ionomers, these sealants offer effective protection. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of glass ionomer-based pit and fissure sealants in terms of retention rate at 12-month post-procedure period in permanent first molars. Methodology This study was conducted at the Department of Operative Dentistry, Nishtar Institute of Dentistry, Multan, Pakistan. Fifty-six children, aged 7 to 12 years, presenting with pit and fissure caries in permanent first molar teeth were enrolled. Glass ionomer sealant was meticulously applied to the affected pits and fissures. The efficacy was assessed after 12 months based on predefined criteria. Results The age of participants ranged from 7 to 12 years, with a mean age of 9.24 ± 1.38 years. Among the 56 patients, 23 (41.2%) were male and 33 (58.8%) were female. Sealant retention was noted in 31 (55.35%) patients, while 25 (44.65%) experienced sealant loss. In the 7 to 9-year age group, 19 demonstrated complete sealant retention, whereas in the 10 to 12-year age group, 12 exhibited complete retention. Concerning gender distribution, 17 males and 14 females exhibited complete sealant retention. Conclusion Glass ionomer-based sealants demonstrate excellent properties for pit and fissure sealing owing to their low technique sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and favorable retention rates. Therefore, they represent an optimal choice for this preventive dental procedure.

Scoping review on the link between economic growth, decent work, and early childhood caries

BACKGROUND

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent chronic non-communicable disease that affects millions of young children globally, with profound implications for their well-being and oral health. This paper explores the associations between ECC and the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8).

METHODS

The scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. In July 2023, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using tailored search terms related to economic growth, decent work sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and efforts to eradicate forced labor, slavery, and human trafficking and ECC all of which are the targets of the SDG8. Only English language publications, and publications that were analytical in design were included. Studies that solely examined ECC prevalence without reference to SDG8 goals were excluded.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 761 articles. After removing duplicates and ineligible manuscripts, 84 were screened. However, none of the identified studies provided data on the association between decent work, economic growth-related factors, and ECC.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review found no English publication on the associations between SDG8 and ECC despite the plausibility for this link. This data gap can hinder policymaking and resource allocation for oral health programs. Further research should explore the complex relationship between economic growth, decent work and ECC to provide additional evidence for better policy formulation and ECC control globally.

Polish pregnant women's knowledge on early childhood caries prevention and oral hygiene in children

BACKGROUND

Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most common chronic diseases among children. In Poland 86.9% of six-year-olds have ECC. One of the factors determining adherence to ECC prophylaxis and oral hygiene is mothers' knowledge. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge demonstrated by pregnant women about ECC prevention and oral hygiene, and to analyse the determinants of this knowledge.

METHODS

A quantitative survey was conducted using Computer Assisted Telephone Interview technique on a randomly selected representative sample of 1,000 women over the age of 18 in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The significance level was established at 0.05 and p-values were presented as: p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001.

RESULTS

The highest percentage of wrong or "I don't know" answers were related to questions about: the number of free dental check-ups for children (76.8%), the date of the child's first visit to the dentist (66.5%), the age when the child has mixed dentition (72.2%). Women with higher education had better knowledge than women with lower or secondary education. Women with good and very good financial situation showed a higher level of knowledge compared to women with average, bad and very bad financial situation.

CONCLUSIONS

When developing prevention strategies and educational programs as part of prenatal care for women to reduce the incidence of ECC, it is important to take into account the identified areas that need support and specific target groups (mothers with lower socioeconomic status).

Dentist Mothers' Attitudes, Challenges and Facilitators in the Oral Health Promotion of Their Young Children

Twice daily parental supervised brushing (PSB) is recommended for the effective oral hygiene of children with toothpaste including fluoride. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify dentist mothers' attitudes, challenges, and facilitators in the oral health promotion of their young children. An online questionnaire was prepared and distributed to dentists via e-mail with a link to the form. Of all the mothers, 46.50% started brushing their children's teeth after the eruption of the first primary teeth. Nearly 50% of the mothers thought that they should brush their children's teeth until at least the age of 7-8 years old. In terms of the main barriers to toothbrushing, 52.9% said children could fall asleep at home or in the car, while 27.5% of all mothers reported being tired as the main barrier to toothbrushing. Although dentist mothers have sufficient knowledge to promote oral and dental health, they do not always have ideal attitudes and behaviors and they may encounter various barriers regarding themselves and their children in practical applications. Providing oral care for young children goes beyond 'knowledge' and is sometimes 'challenging'; however, it could be 'possible' by developing and implementing the most appropriate solution strategies suitable for each unique family and child.