Evaluation of quality of life and oral hygiene attitudes of individuals using dental prostheses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Evaluating the influence of static management on individuals' oral health

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of static management on individuals' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) according to the dynamic zero-COVID policy in China.

METHODS

The digital questionnaire conducted with three sub-questionnaires was sent to 700 patients who accepted treatment at the Department of Stomatology, 363 Hospital. Data on demographic characteristics, the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 and willingness to invest in oral health were collected from the 658 completed questionnaires. According to the state of individuals' lives, participants were divided into two groups: a static management group (Group 1) and a nonstatic management group (Group 2). The scores of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 and willingness to invest in oral health were compared between these two groups using IBM SPSS Statistics.

RESULTS

The results showed that individuals undergoing static management reported better OHRQoL. Meanwhile, they also presented lower willingness to invest money and dental visits in oral health. Furthermore, according to the results of the logistic regression analysis, aging acts as a negative correlation factor for the OHRQoL of people undergoing static management, while the willingness to invest money and dental visits in oral health is defined as a positive predictor for OHRQoL.

CONCLUSION

Static management effects the OHRQoL of individuals. Aging and WTIOH in money and dental visits are related the individuals' OHRQoL during static management.

Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 telephone interview reliability to assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in orthosurgical patients

BACKGROUND

The influence of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 administration method through telephone or face-to-face interviews in orthosurgical patients is unknown. The study aims to assess the reliability of the OHIP-14 questionnaire through its stability and internal consistency when applied through a telephone interview compared with a face-to-face interview.

METHODS

A total of 21 orthosurgical patients were selected to compare the scores obtained in OHIP-14. The interview was carried out by telephone, and 2 weeks later, the patient was invited to attend a face-to-face interview. Stability was verified by Cohen's kappa coefficient with quadratic weighting for individual items and intraclass correlation coefficient for the total OHIP-14 score. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total scale and its seven subscales.

RESULTS

Items 5 and 6 showed reasonable agreement in the two modes of administration; 4 and 14 moderate; 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, and 13 substantial; and items 2, 8, 10, and 12 showed almost perfect agreement, according to the Cohen's kappa coefficient test. The instrument's internal consistency was better in the face-to-face interview (0.89) than it was in the telephone interview (0.85). For the evaluation of the seven OHIP-14 subscales, differences were found in functional limitations, psychological discomfort, and social disadvantage subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there were some differences in OHIP-14 subscales between the interview methods, the total score of the questionnaire showed good stability and internal consistency. The telephone method can be a reliable alternative for the application of the OHIP-14 questionnaire in orthosurgical patients.

Willingness to accept or refuse mandibular implant overdenture treatment: A prospective study on edentulous enrolled in a clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Several complete denture wearers have major complaints and may be benefitted from implant treatment. However, the factors that shape the demand for and utilization of implants need further investigation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to evaluate edentulous patient's willingness to accept or refuse the offer and provision of implant-retained treatment.

METHODS

As part of a clinical trial, edentulous subjects were offered a mandibular overdenture retained by four mini-implants opposing a conventional maxillary denture. Treatment was offered without any financial costs for the patients. Patients' level of interest in receiving treatment was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, and they were asked to respond to a list of reasons that led to their decision to accept or refuse implants. Those who refused implants received conventional prosthodontic interventions as required, and those who accepted implant treatment underwent surgical planning and implant placement.

RESULTS

Of 175 eligible subjects, 147 accepted the offer of treatment and were invited to take part in the study (69.4% women, mean age 67.4 ± 10.0 years). Overall, 111 patients (75.5%) expressed a positive intention to undergo implant treatment at the initial contact. Implant treatment was performed for 56.3% (9/16) of those who answered 'probably yes' about their level of interest in implant treatment on the Likert scale, and 69.6% (64/92) of 'certainly yes' (p < .001). Older subjects were less likely to receive implants (OR = 0.93; p = .036), whilst those with a positive intention towards implants (OR = 3.15; p = .001), those previously treated by the dental team (OR = 7.89; p < .001), and who actively demanded implants (OR = 18.1; p < .001) were more likely to accept treatment. Improved chewing was the most common reason for accepting implants, whilst fear of surgery was the most reported reason for refusal.

CONCLUSION

Refusal of implants was high among edentate patients even when financial costs were removed. Patients' initial attitude towards acceptance is a key factor in the demand for and uptake of implant therapy.

The impact of COVID-19 on individual oral health: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Poor oral health due to dental caries is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide. It has a significant impact on individuals across the lifespan and is a leading cause of preventable hospitalizations. The impacts of COVID-19 on oral health at the practice level are well documented, but gaps in understanding the impact on individual oral health remain. This review addresses this gap.

METHODS

Using a JBI scoping review process we mapped and summarized the evidence to identify the impact of COVID-19 on individual oral health. Key search terms were developed, and searches were undertaken by an experienced research librarian.

RESULTS

The 85 included studies were conducted in 23 countries from 5 regions across the world classified using the United Nations Geoscheme system. The majority (82/85) were quantitative, 2 were reviews and there was one qualitative interview study. Cross-sectional surveys were the most common data collection approach followed by an analysis of clinical data, analysis of internet trends and other online methods. Five key areas were identified including changes to the provision of emergency dental services, provision of routine oral health services, oral hygiene maintenance at home, changes in dietary preferences, alternative models of dental provision and help-seeking and attitudes towards dental care in the future.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review has demonstrated that the pandemic has impacted on oral health at the individual level. It is important that we are aware of these impacts and ensure that support systems are in place to overcome future periods where access to dental care might be compromised. The provision of preventive care remains a vital first step in ensuring good overall oral health as is paramount during periods where access to dental treatment might be limited.

Annual review of selected scientific literature: A report of the Committee on Scientific Investigation of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry

The Scientific Investigation Committee of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry offers this review of the 2021 dental literature in restorative dentistry to inform busy dentists regarding noteworthy scientific and clinical progress over the past year. Each member of the committee brings discipline-specific expertise to coverage of this broad topical area. Specific subject areas addressed, in order of the appearance in this report, include COVID-19 and the dental profession (new); prosthodontics; periodontics, alveolar bone, and peri-implant tissues; implant dentistry; dental materials and therapeutics; occlusion and temporomandibular disorders; sleep-related breathing disorders; oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery; and dental caries and cariology. The authors focused their efforts on reporting information likely to influence daily dental treatment decisions with an emphasis on future trends in dentistry. With the tremendous volume of dentistry and related literature being published daily, this review cannot possibly be comprehensive. Rather, its purpose is to update interested readers and provide important resource material for those interested in pursuing greater details on their own. It remains our intent to assist colleagues in negotiating the extensive volume of important information being published annually. It is our hope that readers find this work useful in successfully managing the patients and dental problems they encounter.