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Brown N, Foley C, Flanagan C, Fujita T, Harford S. Fluoride varnish applications provided in general dental practice for children of primary school age in three areas of the UK. Br Dent J 2024; 236:469-474. [PMID: 38519683 DOI: 10.1038/s41415-024-7171-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Dental guidelines recommend professional application of fluoride varnish (FV) at least twice a year for children from the age of three.Methods NHS dental claims data were reviewed for children born in 2009 for the five-year period 2015-2019 and who attended the dentist in one of three geographical areas, labelled as Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff. Data for 14,566 children were included in the study.Results Only 3.5% of children had been provided with ten or more FV applications at the dentist in the five-year period. Children in the Cardiff region fared less well for fluoride applications than their Bristol and Birmingham counterparts, including children that were seemingly at high risk of caries for part of the time period reviewed. For all three regions, the mean number of FV applications increased with an increase in the number of fillings provided.Conclusion Awareness of the apparent lack of FV application in the dental surgery may provide an opportunity to improve child dental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Brown
- Clinical Adviser, NHS Business Services Authority, South West, UK.
| | - Charlotte Foley
- Clinical Adviser, NHS Business Services Authority, Wales, UK
| | - Colin Flanagan
- Clinical Adviser, NHS Business Services Authority, Midlands, UK
| | - Taro Fujita
- Associate Professor in Maths Education, Exeter University, UK
| | - Sara Harford
- Specialist in Special Care Dentistry, Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
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Wrangstål L, Pigg M, Almutairi N, Fransson H. A critical look at outcome measures: Comparison between four dental research journals by use of a hierarchical model. Int Endod J 2024; 57:119-132. [PMID: 38082460 DOI: 10.1111/iej.14011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
AIM To assess the status quo of outcome measures used in treatment studies in Endodontics, and potentially identify strategies for improvement, by (i) systematically assessing the outcome measures using a conceptual model and (ii) comparing these with measures used in corresponding studies in the adjacent fields. METHODOLOGY The International Endodontic Journal, Caries Research, The Journal of Clinical Periodontology and The Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache were selected to cover four adjacent dental disciplines. In each journal, the 50 most recent consecutive publications fulfilling inclusion criteria were included. A hierarchical model for diagnostic imaging studies was modified to assess studies related to treatment. The model comprised six levels, with technical as the lowest level and societal as the highest. Extracted data included study origin, study type, and identified outcome measures. Fisher's Exact Tests with Bonferroni corrections compared studies. p < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Amongst 756 publications, the 200 most recent studies matching the inclusion criteria were identified. Less than half (36.5%) assessed the clinical, patient, or societal aspects of treatment; 10.0% in International Endodontic Journal, 28.0% in Caries Research, 38.0% in Journal of Clinical Periodontology, and 70.0% in Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS According to included publications, research on treatment within the endodontic field is mainly focusing on technical and biological outcomes. The benefits of patients and society were less frequently examined than in corresponding journals in adjacent disciplines. When designing studies, including higher-level outcomes should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnéa Wrangstål
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Cariology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Maria Pigg
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Nawaf Almutairi
- Conservative Dental Science Department, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Helena Fransson
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
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Wolf TG, Campus G. Cost-Effectiveness of Treatment Decisions for Early Childhood Caries in Infants and Toddlers: A Systematic Review. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1865. [PMID: 37893583 PMCID: PMC10608526 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59101865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial, biofilm-mediated, sugar-related, dynamic disease of primary dental hard tissues occurring in varying degrees of severity in infants and toddlers. Untreated ECC may lead to pain, infections, and severe systemic complications. The aim of this study was to systematically review and evaluate the scientific evidence on the cost-effectiveness of treatment decisions in ECC in infants and toddlers. Materials and Methods: Observational epidemiological studies, i.e., cohort studies, case-control studies, and randomized controlled trials, reporting cost-effectiveness of treatment decisions in ECC in infants and toddlers were included in the systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines. Using an ad hoc search with search terms or keywords (MeSH), electronic databases Embase, MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, and gray literature were searched. Results: The search identified 494 articles, of which 446 remained after removing duplicates. A total of 417 articles were excluded after title and abstract evaluation; 29 full-text articles were screened for eligibility, and five articles were discarded. Twenty-four full-text articles were included in the systematic review, assigning 17 to prevention and seven to restoration. Results were heterogeneous; comparability of included studies is difficult because of the different methodologies used. Conflicting efficacies were demonstrated for different interventions implemented, and cost-effectiveness data were documented. Conclusions: Socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic differences must be considered when comparing conditions in terms of cost-effectiveness. A paradigm shift from surgical towards preventive treatment decisions can be observed. Cost-effectiveness studies on therapies for ECC in infants and toddlers are needed to identify the best practice approach and the most cost-effective therapy decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Gerhard Wolf
- Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55116 Mainz, Germany
| | - Guglielmo Campus
- Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medicine Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
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He S, Choong EKM, Duangthip D, Chu CH, Lo ECM. Clinical interventions with various agents to prevent early childhood caries: A systematic review with network meta-analysis. Int J Paediatr Dent 2023; 33:507-520. [PMID: 36718540 DOI: 10.1111/ipd.13055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among preschool children globally. Different preventive agents and combinations have been studied. However, the rank of the effectiveness of clinical interventions is equivocal. AIM To summarize and rank the effectiveness of clinical interventions using different agents for primary prevention of early childhood caries (ECC). DESIGN Two reviewers independently searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library to identify randomized controlled trials with at least 12-month follow-up. The network meta-analysis (NMA) on different agents was based on a random-effects model and frequentist approach. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% CI of the caries increment were calculated in terms of either dmft or dmfs and used in the NMA. Caries incidences at the child level were compared using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CI. The effectiveness of the agents was ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). RESULTS After screening 3807 publications and selection, the NMA finally included 33 trials. These trials used either a single or combination of agents such as fluorides, chlorhexidine, casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate, probiotics, xylitol, and triclosan. Compared with control, fluoride foam (FF; SMD -0.69, 95% CI: -1.06, -0.32) and fluoride salt (F salt; SMD -0.66, 95% CI: -1.20, -0.13) were effective in preventing caries increment. Probiotic milk plus low fluoride toothpaste (PMLFTP; OR 0.34, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.77), FF (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.63), fluoride varnish (FV; OR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.81), and fluoride varnish plus high fluoride toothpaste (FVHFTP; OR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.93) were effectively preventing caries incidence. According to the SUCRA, FF ranked first in preventing caries increment, whereas PMLFTP ranked first in preventing caries incidence. CONCLUSION Fluoride foam, F salt, PMLFTP, FV, and FVHFTP all effectively reduce caries increment or caries incidence in preschool children, but the evidence indicates low degree of certainty. Considering the relatively small number of studies, confidence in the findings, and limitations in the study, clinical practitioners and readers should exercise caution when interpreting the NMA results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyang He
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong City, Hong Kong
| | - Elaine Kar Man Choong
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong City, Hong Kong
- Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Duangporn Duangthip
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong City, Hong Kong
| | - Chun Hung Chu
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong City, Hong Kong
| | - Edward Chin Man Lo
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong City, Hong Kong
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Ross AJ, Sherriff A, Kidd J, Deas L, Eaves J, Blokland A, Wright B, King P, McMahon AD, Conway DI, Macpherson LMD. Evaluating childsmile, Scotland's National Oral Health Improvement Programme for children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2023; 51:133-138. [PMID: 36753390 DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
In the early 2000s, a Scottish Government Oral Health Action Plan identified the need for a national programme to improve child oral health and reduce inequalities. 'Childsmile' aimed to improve child oral health in Scotland, reduce inequalities in outcomes and access to dental services, and to shift the balance of care from treatment to prevention through targeted and universal components in dental practice, community and educational settings. This paper describes how an embedded, theory-based research and evaluation arm with multi-disciplinary input helps determine priorities and provides important strategic direction. Programme theory is articulated in dedicated, dynamic logic models, and evaluation themes are as follows: population-level data linkage; trials and economic evaluations; investigations drawing from behavioural and implementation science; evidence reviews and updates; and applications of systems science. There is also a growing knowledge sharing network internationally. Collaborative working from all stakeholders is necessary to maintain gains and to address areas that may not be working as well, and never more so with the major disruptions to the programme from the COVID-19 pandemic and response. Conclusions are that evaluation and research are synergistic with a complex, dynamic programme like Childsmile. The evidence obtained allows for appraisal of the relative strengths of component interventions and the reach and impact of Childsmile to feed into national policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alastair J Ross
- Community Oral Health Group, University of Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrea Sherriff
- Community Oral Health Group, University of Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jamie Kidd
- Community Oral Health Group, University of Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Leigh Deas
- Public Dental Service, NHS Lanarkshire, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jenny Eaves
- Public Dental Service, NHS Lanarkshire, Glasgow, UK
| | - Alex Blokland
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Bill Wright
- Community Oral Health Group, University of Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Peter King
- Public Dental Service, NHS Lanarkshire, Glasgow, UK
| | - Alex D McMahon
- Community Oral Health Group, University of Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - David I Conway
- Community Oral Health Group, University of Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lorna M D Macpherson
- Community Oral Health Group, University of Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Hujoel PP. Private Interests and the Start of Fluoride-Supplemented High-Carbohydrate Nutritional Guidelines. Nutrients 2022; 14:4263. [PMID: 36296949 PMCID: PMC9610923 DOI: 10.3390/nu14204263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluoride has no tangible health benefits other than preventing dental caries and there is a small difference between its minimum effective dose and its minimum toxic dose. Leading global organizations currently recommend fluoride supplementation because they recommend high-carbohydrate diets which can cause dental caries. Low-carbohydrate diets prevent dental caries making such fluoride recommendations largely unnecessary. A dental organization was among the first to initiate the public health recommendations which started fluoride-supplemented high-carbohydrate nutritional guidelines. This start required expert panels at this dental organization to reverse on three key scientific points between 1942 and 1949: (1) that topical fluoride had potential harms, (2) that dental caries was a marker for micronutrient deficiencies, and (3) that low-carbohydrate diets are to be recommended for dental caries prevention. Internal documents show that private interests motivated the events which led these expert panels to engage in pivotal scientific reversals. These private interests biased scientific processes and these reversals occurred largely in an absence of supporting evidence. It is concluded that private interests played a significant role in the start of public health endorsements of fluoride-supplemented high-carbohydrate nutritional guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe P. Hujoel
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; ; Tel.: +1-(206)-543-2034; Fax: +1-(206)-685-4258
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Anopa Y, Macpherson LMD, McMahon AD, Wright W, Conway DI, McIntosh E. Economic Evaluation of the Protecting Teeth @ 3 Randomized Controlled Trial. JDR Clin Trans Res 2022:23800844221090444. [PMID: 35442091 DOI: 10.1177/23800844221090444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION An economic evaluation (EE) was conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial (the Protecting Teeth @ 3 Study [PT@3]), exploring the additional preventive value of fluoride varnish (FV) application at 6-monthly intervals in nursery schools compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in the same nurseries. TAU represented a multicomponent national child oral health improvement intervention, the Childsmile program, apart from nursery FV. METHODS The EE was a within-trial cost-utility analysis (CUA) comparing the FV and TAU groups. The CUA was conducted from a National Health Service perspective and followed relevant methods guidance. Within-trial costs included intervention costs and health care resource use costs. Health outcomes were expressed in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) accrued over the 2-y follow-up period. The Child Health Utility 9 Dimensions questionnaire was used to obtain utility scores. National reference costs were used, a discount rate of 1.5% for public health interventions was adopted, multiple imputation methods for missing data were employed, sensitivity analyses were conducted, and incremental cost-utility ratios were calculated. RESULTS Data from 534 participants from the 2014-2015 PT@3 intake were used in the EE analyses, n = 265 (50%) in the FV arm and n = 269 (50%) in the TAU arm. Mean incremental cost per child in the FV arm was £68.37 (P = 0.382; 95% confidence interval [CI], -£18.04 to £143.82). Mean incremental QALY was -0.004 (P = 0.636; 95% CI, -0.016 to 0.007). The probability that the FV intervention was cost-effective at the UK £20,000 threshold was 11.3%. CONCLUSION The results indicate that applying FV in nurseries in addition to TAU (all other components of Childsmile, apart from nursery FV) would not be deemed cost-effective given current UK thresholds. In view of previously proven clinical effectiveness and economic worthiness of the universal nursery toothbrushing component of Childsmile, continuation of the additional, targeted nursery FV component in its pre-COVID-19 form should be reviewed given its low probability of cost-effectiveness. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT The results of this study can be used by child oral health policy makers and dental public health professionals. They can form part of the evidence to inform the Scottish, UK, and international guidance on community-based child oral health promotion programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Anopa
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow Dental School, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - L M D Macpherson
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow Dental School, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - A D McMahon
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow Dental School, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - W Wright
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow Dental School, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - D I Conway
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow Dental School, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - E McIntosh
- Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Chou R, Pappas M, Dana T, Selph S, Hart E, Fu RF, Schwarz E. Screening and Interventions to Prevent Dental Caries in Children Younger Than 5 Years: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2021; 326:2179-2192. [PMID: 34874413 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.15658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE A 2014 review for the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) found that oral fluoride supplementation and topical fluoride use were associated with reduced caries incidence in children younger than 5 years. OBJECTIVE To update the 2014 review on dental caries screening and preventive interventions to inform the USPSTF. DATA SOURCES Ovid MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (to September 2020); surveillance through July 23, 2021. STUDY SELECTION Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on screening, preventive interventions, referral to dental care; cohort studies on screening and referral; studies on diagnostic accuracy of primary care oral examination or risk assessment; and a systematic review on risk of fluorosis included in prior USPSTF reviews. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS One investigator abstracted data; a second checked accuracy. Two investigators independently rated study quality. RESULTS Thirty-two studies (19 trials, 9 observational studies, and 4 nonrandomized clinical intervention studies [total 106 694 participants] and 1 systematic review [19 studies]) were included. No study evaluated effects of primary care screening on clinical outcomes. One study (n = 258) found primary care pediatrician examination associated with a sensitivity of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.55 to 0.91) and specificity of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92 to 0.98) for identifying a child with cavities, and 1 study found a risk assessment tool associated with sensitivity of 0.53 and specificity of 0.77 (n = 697, CIs not reported) for a child with future caries. No new trials of dietary fluoride supplementation were identified. For prevention, topical fluoride compared with placebo or no topical fluoride was associated with decreased caries burden (13 trials, n = 5733; mean caries increment [difference in decayed, missing, and filled teeth or surfaces], -0.94 [95% CI, -1.74 to -0.34]) and likelihood of incident caries (12 trials, n = 8177; RR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.66 to 0.95]; absolute risk difference, -7%) in higher-risk populations or settings, with no increased fluorosis risk. Evidence on other preventive interventions was limited (education, xylitol) or unavailable (silver diamine fluoride), and no study directly evaluated primary care dentistry referral vs no referral. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was no direct evidence on benefits and harms of primary care oral health screening or referral to dentist. Dietary fluoride supplementation and fluoride varnish were associated with improved caries outcomes in higher-risk children and settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Chou
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Miranda Pappas
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Tracy Dana
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Shelley Selph
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Erica Hart
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Rongwei F Fu
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland
| | - Eli Schwarz
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland
- School of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
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Turton B, Durward C, Crombie F, Sokal-Gutierrez K, Soeurn S, Manton DJ. Evaluation of a community-based early childhood caries (ECC) intervention in Cambodia. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2020; 49:275-283. [PMID: 33200439 DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To critically evaluate an early childhood caries (ECC) intervention performed by non-dental primary healthcare providers. METHODS This mixed-methods investigation includes data from three sources: (a) a pilot non-randomized controlled trial to examine clinical outcomes at four health centres; (b) stakeholder focus group interviews; and (c) a survey of parents whose children were exposed to the intervention. The pilot study involved four Community Health Centres in rural Cambodia whereby mother-child (6-24 months of age)dyads received oral health education (OHE), toothbrushes, fluoride toothpaste and fluoride varnish on up to six occasions as part of the routine vaccination schedule. Outcomes were as follows: presence of ECC; impacts on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL); stakeholder perceptions of intervention delivery; and parental perceptions of fluoride varnish. RESULTS Participants in the intervention group had six times lower odds of developing ECC than those in the comparison group after controlling for socio-economic status (OR 0.13). Those in the intervention group also had a large reduction OHRQoL scale scores. Key knowledge and practice gaps were identified among stakeholders. Surveyed parents had favourable views of the fluoride varnish placement by medical professionals, and four out of five stated that they would recommend fluoride varnish for other children. Primary healthcare providers, commune council representatives and community health promoters supported oral health interventions being provided in CHCs. CONCLUSIONS OHE and fluoride varnish interventions provided by non-dental primary health workers were feasible and acceptable for stakeholders in a Cambodian setting. The intervention group had lower ECC experience and better OHRQoL at 2 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bathsheba Turton
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Callum Durward
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Felicity Crombie
- Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | | | - Sopharith Soeurn
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - David J Manton
- Centrum voor Tandheelkunde en Mondzorgkunde, UMCG, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Does the Registered Dentists' Program Alleviate the Socioeconomic Gap in the Use of Dental Sealants? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17217828. [PMID: 33114677 PMCID: PMC7662614 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17217828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Many countries provide preventive dental care for children to reduce inequalities. In Korea, the registered dentists' program was implemented to promote oral health and prevent oral diseases in primary school students. This study aimed to evaluate the registered dentist program through the sealant utilization rate using national cohort data and to compare the socioeconomic gap of the cohorts by participation. The sample cohort data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Sharing Service (NHISS) in South Korea. The utilization of dental sealants was analyzed using the chi-square test according to the independent variables of each year. To identify the independent effects of participation in the registered dentists' program, a panel logistic regression analysis of the utilization of dental sealants was performed. The participants were 1.35 times more likely to have dental sealants than non-participants. The significance of income quintiles disappeared in the case groups. The gap became more obvious in the employees of the control group even after adjusting for all variables. Implementing oral health programs can alleviate inequality with a relative increase in utilization in vulnerable populations.
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