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Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Oral Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 23674

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Prof. Dr. Iole Vozza

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Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: pediatric dentistry; oral cancer; oral pathology; dental materials; medical device
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Fabrizio Guerra

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Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: oral health; oral medicine; special needs patients
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the close association between oral health and systemic disease, there is now an increasing amount of interest in individuals’ oral health status as a determinant of quality of life.

In order to more actively address oral health problems, more studies, either diverse survey research or observational studies, are needed regarding individuals’ demographic characteristics, social–psychological factors, health status, health behaviors, healthcare policies and oral healthcare services, or studies analyzing the significant influencing factors through appropriate oral care interventions. In particular, risk assessment for oral diseases and intervention programs for patients with special needs are expected to significantly contribute to promoting new advances in dental public health among different communities.

This Special Issue focuses on a multifaceted approach to improving oral health and quality of life in various population groups. We invite you to submit your original research articles, case reports and reviews. In addition to the keywords described below, your submissions in all areas related to various oral health promotion are greatly appreciated.

Prof. Dr. Iole Vozza
Prof. Dr. Fabrizio Guerra
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

oral health
public health
community dentistry
pregnancy
school patients
adolescence
elderly patients
oncological patients
special needs patient diet
prisoners
immigrants

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Codesign to Develop a Novel Oral Healthcare Educational Intervention for Undergraduate Nursing Students

by Jacqueline Rojo, Ajesh George, Yenna Salamonson, Leanne Hunt and Lucie M. Ramjan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4919; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20064919 - 10 Mar 2023

Viewed by 2211

Abstract

To build a nursing workforce that is equipped to undertake oral health promotion and screening, an educational program was needed. With codesign being used in multiple settings, it was selected as the approach to use, with Mezirow’s Transformative Learning theory as the underpinning framework. This study aimed to develop an oral healthcare educational intervention for nursing students. Using a six-step codesign framework, nursing students and faculty staff were invited to participate in two Zoom™ Video Communication workshops to codesign the learning activities to be used in the classroom. The codesign process was evaluated through focus groups and analysed using a hybrid content analysis approach. A multifaceted oral healthcare educational intervention was developed. Learning material was delivered using a range of different learning and teaching resources such as dental models, podcasts, and an oral health assessment across two subjects. Multiple approaches to recruitment, the inclusion of participants, and good facilitation of workshop discussions were critical to the codesign of the educational intervention. Evaluation revealed that preparing participants prior to the workshops acted as a catalyst for conversations, which facilitated the codesign process. Codesign was a useful approach to employ in the development of an oral healthcare intervention to address an area of need. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

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9 pages, 628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy and Accuracy of Maxillary Arch Expansion with Clear Aligner Treatment

by Gabriella Galluccio, Adriana A. De Stefano, Martina Horodynski, Alessandra Impellizzeri, Rosanna Guarnieri, Ersilia Barbato, Stefano Di Carlo and Francesca De Angelis

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4634; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20054634 - 06 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2186

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy and accuracy of maxillary arch transverse expansion using the Invisalign^® clear aligner system without auxiliaries other than Invisalign attachments. Knowing the accuracy of a movement through a clear aligner system allows the clinician to plan the treatment with greater precision and to achieve the expected result faster. The study group included 28 patients with a mean age of 17 ± 3.2 years. The treatment protocol for all the selected patients included the application of the Invisalign^® clear aligner system without auxiliaries, except for the Invisalign^® attachments; in no case were tooth extraction or interproximal enamel reduction (IPR) performed. Linear measurements of the expansion were assessed before treatment (T0), at the end of treatment (T1), and on final virtual models by ClinCheck^® (TC). A paired t-test was used to compare T0-T1 and T1-TC differences. A paired t-test was applied, and one normality was validated with the Shapiro–Wilks test. If normality was not met, the nonparametric test (Mann–Whitney U test) was applied. The level of significance was set at 5%. Statistically significant differences were found for all measurements at T0-T1. The results showed an average accuracy of efficacy of 70.88%. The differences in predictability between the various vestibular measurements (intercanine, inter-premolar, and intermolar) were not statistically significant, while they were for gingival measurements. The overall accuracy of the expansion treatment was 70%, regardless of tooth type. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

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11 pages, 1061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dental Malocclusion in Mixed Dentition Children and Its Relation to Podal System and Gait Parameters

by Dorota Różańska-Perlińska, Jarosław Jaszczur-Nowicki, Dariusz Kruczkowski and Joanna Magdalena Bukowska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2716; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20032716 - 03 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2018

Abstract

Background: Dental malocclusion is an increasingly frequent stomatognathic disorder in children and adolescents nowadays. The purpose of this study was to confirm or deny the correlations between body posture and malocclusion. Methods: In the study, gait, distribution of foot pressure on the ground, and body balance were examined. The research group consisted of 76 patients aged 12–15 years. The research group was obtained from patients attending periodic dental check-ups at Healthcare Center Your Health EL who agreed to participate in the study. The patients were divided into two groups without malocclusion and with malocclusion, using Angle classification, which enabled determination of the anteroposterior relationship of the first molars. The pedobarographic mat was used to analyze the distribution of foot forces on the ground, the diagnostic system Wiva^® Science was used for gait analysis, and Kineod 3D was used for posture analysis. The Shapiro–Wilk test used for analysis showed inconsistency with normal distribution for all measurement parameters. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for the analysis, and the significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Examination of the relationship between stabilometric and gait parameters showed that the position of the mandible in relation to maxilla has an important effect on gait rhythm, gait cycle duration, and right step duration time. Patients diagnosed with malocclusion showed high-speed walking rhythm in comparison to patients with Angle’s class I (p = 0.010). The duration of the whole gait cycle (p = 0.007) and the duration of right step (p = 0.027) were prolonged in students without orthodontic disorders compared to the other. Conclusions: The conducted study proved that there is correlation between the presence of a stomatognathic disorder and gait cycle parameters. There is a statistically noticeable correspondence between the position of the mandible in relation to maxilla and walking rhythm, gait cycle duration, and right step duration time. Namely, students who presented malocclusion had a high-speed walking rhythm and decreased duration of the gait cycle and of the right step. On the other hand, students without disorders (Angle’s class I) showed low-speed rhythm and increased duration of the gait cycle and of the right step in comparison to Angle’s classes II and III. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

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8 pages, 729 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geographical Distribution of Periodontitis Risk and Prevalence in Portugal Using Multivariable Data Mining and Modeling

by Ana Antunes, João Botelho, José João Mendes, Ana Sintra Delgado, Vanessa Machado and Luís Proença

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13634; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192013634 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1308

Abstract

We aimed to estimate the geographical distribution of periodontitis prevalence and risk based on sociodemographic and economic data. This study used sociodemographic, economic, and health services data obtained from a regional survey and governmental open data sources. Information was gathered for all 308 Portuguese municipalities and compiled in a large set of 52 variables. We employed principal component analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA) and clustering techniques to model the Portuguese nationwide geographical distribution of the disease. Estimation of periodontitis risk for each municipality was achieved by calculation of a normalized score, obtained as an adjusted linear combination of six independent factors that were extracted through PCA/FA. The municipalities were also classified according to a quartile-based risk grade in each cluster. Additionally, linear regression was used to estimate the periodontitis prevalence within the peri-urban municipality clusters, accounting for 30.5% of the Portuguese population. A total of nine municipality clusters were obtained with the following characteristics: mainly rural/low populated, including small villages (one), partly rural, including small cities (two), mainly urban/peri-urban, including medium-sized to large cities (4), and urban/large cities (2). Within the clusters, a higher periodontitis risk was identified for municipalities with lower income, older populations. The estimated periodontitis prevalence for the 18 municipalities included in the four peri-urban clusters ranged from 41.2% to 69.0%. Periodontitis prevalence estimates range from 41.2% to 69.0% for the municipalities characterized as peri-urban and mainly urban, most of them located in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, the tenth largest in Europe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

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8 pages, 351 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire

by João Fidalgo, João Botelho, Luís Proença, José João Mendes, Vanessa Machado and Ana Sintra Delgado

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9931; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19169931 - 11 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1297

Abstract

The aim of this study was to cross-culturally adapt and validate the psychosocial impact of dental esthetics questionnaire (PIDAQ) to the Portuguese language. The PIDAQ was culturally translated and adapted according to international guidelines. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 501 subjects in a population-based epidemiological survey conducted at the Egas Moniz Dental Clinic (Almada, Portugal) in June 2022. The participants answered the Portuguese version of the PIDAQ (PIDAQ-PT), which was a 23-item scale with four conceptual domains (self-confidence, social impact, psychological impact and esthetic concern factor). Psychometric properties were estimated using content validity, construct validity, internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The PIDAQ-PT presented an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.84, and a 95% confidence interval (0.73–0.90, p < 0.001), with values for the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the subconstructs ranging from 0.93 to 0.98. In the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the final models presented a good fit, with the comparative fit indices (CFIs) ranging from 0.905 to 0.921 and the root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) ranging between 0.088 and 0.090. The PIDAQ-PT was shown to be a valid and reliable tool to assess oral health values in a Portuguese population. Further studies should evaluate the psychometric properties of the oral personal representation on dental specialties and its impact on dental appointments and procedures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

12 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Radiologic Data Regarding Zygomatic Implant Rehabilitation with a Long-Term Follow-Up

by Michele Di Cosola, Andrea Ballini, Khrystyna Zhurakivska, Alberto Ceccarello, Riccardo Nocini, Annarita Malcangi, Giorgio Mori, Lorenzo Lo Muzio, Stefania Cantore and Antonio Olivo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 12963; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182412963 - 08 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2371

Abstract

Background: Zygomatic implants have been introduced to rehabilitate edentulous patients with severely atrophic maxillae. Their use has been reported by several studies, describing high overall survival rates at medium–long follow-up. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze if a few patient-related and implant-related features are correlated with implant success or the onset of complications. Materials and methods: Data of patients treated with zygomatic implants between May 2005 and November 2012 at three private clinics were collected and retrospectively analyzed. For each implant, the following data were collected: implant length, insertion path, ridge atrophy and sinus characteristics (width, pneumatization, thickness of mucosae, patency of sinus ostium). General patient characteristics and health status data were also recorded. The outcomes evaluated were implant failure, infective complications, early neurologic complications and overall complications. Results: A total of 33 patients (14 men, 17 women, mean age 59.1) that received 67 zygomatic implants were included in the study. The mean duration of the follow-up was of 141.6 months (min 109; max 198). In this period, a total of 16 (23.88%) implants in 8 (24.24%) patients were removed and 17 (51.51%) patients with 36 (53.73%) implants reported complications. Immediate loading resulted in a significantly lower risk of complications compared with the two-stage prosthetic rehabilitation (OR: 0.04, p = 0.002). A thickness of the sinus mucosa > 3 mm emerged to be correlated with a greater occurrence of infective complications (OR: 3.39, p = 0.019). Severe and extreme pneumatization of the sinus was significantly correlated with the incidence of overall complications (p = 0.037) and implant failure (p = 0.044). A large sinus width was predisposed to a higher risk of neurologic complications, infective complications and implant failure (p = 0.036, p = 0.032, p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: zygomatic implants are an alternative procedure for atrophic ridge rehabilitation when a conventional implant placement is not possible. Several clinical and anatomical factors can have a significant role in complication occurrence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

Review

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13 pages, 1400 KiB

Open AccessReview

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis

by Luciano Zaffarano, Claudia Salerno, Guglielmo Campus, Silvia Cirio, Araxi Balian, Lorena Karanxha and Maria Grazia Cagetti

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12917; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191912917 - 09 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2684

Abstract

A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in controlling caries progression in cavitated primary molars. A search for randomized and non-randomized trials with follow-up > 6 months was performed using PubMed, Scopus and Embase. The Cochrane risk of bias tools were used for the quality assessment. The success rate and odds ratios were chosen to calculate the effect size for the meta-analysis. A total of 792 papers were identified and 9 were selected. A high variability regarding SDF application protocol was found; otherwise, caries arrest was always recorded using visual/tactile methods. Two studies were judged at low risk of bias, six at moderate risk and one at high risk. Data from five studies were aggregated for meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was found moderate (I² = 35.69%, p = 0.18). SDF application was found to be overall effective (fixed effect model) in arresting caries progression (ES = 0.35, p < 0.01). In a total of 622 arrested lesions, out of 1205 considered, the caries arrest rate was 51.62% ± 27.40% (Confidence = 1.55) using SDF ≥ 38% applied annually or biannually. In conclusion, when applied to active cavitated caries lesions in primary molars, SDF appears to be effective in arresting dental caries progression, especially if applied biannually. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

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11 pages, 338 KiB

Open AccessReview

Reviewing Teledentistry Usage in Canada during COVID-19 to Determine Possible Future Opportunities

by Sonica Singhal, Shwetabh Mohapatra and Carlos Quiñonez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 31; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19010031 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3027

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the limited in-person availability of oral health care providers resulted in an unprecedented utilization of the teledentistry tool. This paper reviews how Canadian organizations supported teledentistry and what can be expected about its usage in the post-pandemic era. An environmental scan across relevant Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial organizations was conducted to review pertinent publicly available documents, including dental regulators’ or associations’ COVID-19 guidance documents, government documents, and media articles. Almost all jurisdictions promoted teledentistry for triaging dental emergencies and screening patients for COVID-19 symptoms but not even half of them have developed guidelines in terms of modalities of usage, handling of personal information, informed consent process, or maintaining standards of practice. During the COVID-19 recovery phase, these advances across Canada will support in developing a comprehensive guidance for teledentistry and possibly specific codes for its utilization. This can create a niche for teledentistry as an adjunct to the main stream dental care delivery where some visits can always be accommodated virtually, reducing disparities in oral healthcare between rural and urban communities. Ultimately, this can potentially make oral health care delivery more effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly in Canada. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

22 pages, 2215 KiB

Open AccessReview

In Vivo Imaging-Based Techniques for Early Diagnosis of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders—Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Marta Mazur, Artnora Ndokaj, Divyambika Catakapatri Venugopal, Michela Roberto, Cristina Albu, Maciej Jedliński, Silverio Tomao, Iole Vozza, Grzegorz Trybek, Livia Ottolenghi and Fabrizio Guerra

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 11775; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182211775 - 10 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2744

Abstract

Objectives: Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are lesions that may undergo malignant transformation to oral cancer. The early diagnosis and surveillance of OPMDs reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients. Diagnostic techniques based on medical images analysis have been developed to diagnose clinical conditions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of imaging-based techniques compared to the gold standard of histopathology to assess their ability to correctly identify the presence of OPMDs. Design: Literature searches of free text and MeSH terms were performed using MedLine (PubMed), Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library (from 2000 to 30 June 2020). The keywords used in the search strategy were: (“oral screening devices” or “autofluorescence” or “chemiluminescence” or “optical imaging” or “imaging technique”) and (“oral dysplasia” or “oral malignant lesions” or “oral precancerosis”). Results: The search strategy identified 1282 potential articles. After analyzing the results and applying the eligibility criteria, the remaining 43 papers were included in the qualitative synthesis, and 34 of these were included in the meta-analysis. Conclusions: None of the analyzed techniques based on assessing oral images can replace the biopsy. Further studies are needed to explore the role of techniques-based imaging analysis to identify an early noninvasive screening method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

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Other

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7 pages, 24342 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Subcutaneous Facial Emphysema Following Open-Flap Air-Powder Abrasive Debridement for Peri-Implantitis: A Case Report and an Overview

by Gerardo La Monaca, Nicola Pranno, Susanna Annibali, Iole Vozza and Maria Paola Cristalli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 13286; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182413286 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2454

Abstract

Subcutaneous facial emphysema related to dental treatments is a well-known clinical complication due to incidental or iatrogenic air or gas penetration into the subcutaneous tissues and fascial planes, leading to distension of the overlying skin. To the best of our knowledge, from 1960 to the current date, only six cases have been reported arising from peri-implant cleaning or non-surgical peri-implantitis treatment. Therefore, the present case of subcutaneous facial emphysema following open-flap air-powder abrasive debridement was the first report during surgical peri-implantitis therapy. Swelling on the left cheek and periorbital space suddenly arose in a 65-year-old woman during open-flap debridement with sodium bicarbonate air-powder abrasion (PROPHYflex™ 3 with periotip, KaVo, Biberach, Germany) of the infected implant surface. The etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, potential complications, and management of subcutaneous emphysema are also briefly reviewed. The present case report draws the attention of dental practitioners, periodontists, oral surgeons, and dental hygienists to the potential iatrogenic risk of subcutaneous emphysema in using air-powder devices in implant surface debridement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Oral Health and New Advances in Dental Public Health)

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