J Public Health Dent [JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Barriers and Facilitators to Providing Preventive Dental Care for Young Children in Dental Settings.
Goff SL, Gilson CF, DaCosta M … +2 more , DeCou E, Kranz AM
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40527523 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study aimed to understand dental professionals' perspectives and practices regarding preventive dental care for very young children and preventive oral health services (POHS) provided outside...
OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study aimed to understand dental professionals' perspectives and practices regarding preventive dental care for very young children and preventive oral health services (POHS) provided outside of dental practices. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted on Zoom with a purposive sample of dental professionals in Massachusetts between December 12, 2022, and June 15, 2023, until theoretical saturation was reached. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was the study's conceptual framework. Applying Charmaz's approach to grounded theory, transcripts were coded line-by-line in an iterative process, using memos and axial coding to identify themes. RESULTS: Twenty-eight interviews were conducted with general dentists (n = 18), pediatric dentists (n = 5), registered dental hygienists (n = 3), a dental assistant (n = 1), and a dental administrator (n = 1). Major themes included: (1) facilitators and barriers to providing preventive dental care for children under 3 years old; (2) perceptions of POHS delivery outside of dental practices and care coordination; (3) public policies potentially impacting the provision of preventive dental care for young children; and (4) potential levers for change to improve receipt of recommended preventive dental services. Sub-themes included training, concerns about the quality of care in non-dental sites, public insurance barriers, and increasing joint dental-medical curriculum programs. CONCLUSIONS: Potentially modifiable barriers were identified at provider, practice, and policy levels. Further research is needed regarding the financial impacts of public insurance reimbursement rates, the potential role of bias in access to preventive dental services, and the effects of systematic accountability for performance on quality and equity measures related to preventive dental care.
Perceptions and Experiences With a Virtual Dental Home Teledentistry Program Among Community Health Center and Long-Term Care Facility Staff: A Qualitative Study.
Castelaz M, Heeren T, Hartshorn JE … +3 more , Nwachukwu PC, Levy SM, Reynolds JC
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Dec · PMID 40474849 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: Teledentistry, a branch of telehealth, broadens the reach of diagnostic and preventive dental services. The virtual dental home (VDH) addresses barriers for nursing facility residents, offering promise in ove...
OBJECTIVES: Teledentistry, a branch of telehealth, broadens the reach of diagnostic and preventive dental services. The virtual dental home (VDH) addresses barriers for nursing facility residents, offering promise in overcoming challenges. This study explores the experiences and perceptions of a new VDH program among healthcare professionals and allied workers, aiming to determine its perceived value, challenges, and successes. METHODS: Structured interviews were conducted with current and former employees of a federally qualified health center and long-term care facilities (LTCF) involved in the development, implementation, and maintenance of a VDH. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded to identify perceived common values, challenges, and successes of stakeholders involved in this project. RESULTS: Interviewees indicated transportation was a common barrier to LTCF residents receiving dental treatment and believed participation in the VDH helped improve access to dental care for these individuals. There was a higher than anticipated administrative burden for the community health center participants; notwithstanding, all interviewees indicated an interest in continued participation in this program. CONCLUSIONS: As technology advances and interest in the VDH model grows, ongoing evaluation and improvement are essential. Effective care coordination and comprehensive communication strategies, including designated communication managers, can reduce administrative burdens and support comprehensive care delivery.
Community Engagement Studio as a Strategic Tool for Tailoring a Survey on Dental Care Access Among Adolescents.
de Oliveira RCG, Khalid H, McKenzie G … +2 more , Tumiel-Berhalter L, Kruger JS
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Dec · PMID 40462229 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: The Community Engagement (CE) Studio aimed to provide feedback on a survey related to dental care access among adolescents. This approach allowed the research team to ensure that the survey integrated both th...
OBJECTIVES: The Community Engagement (CE) Studio aimed to provide feedback on a survey related to dental care access among adolescents. This approach allowed the research team to ensure that the survey integrated both the investigator's perspective and direct input from the community, ensuring the survey was clear, relevant, and accessible to its intended audience. METHODS: The CE Studio is an efficient consultative model for researchers to gain community input on the development, implementation, or dissemination of a research project. The CE Studio was conducted to inform the design of a survey on dental care access, based on the social determinants of health. Parents or caregivers of adolescents with limited access to dental care living in an underresourced area in Buffalo, New York, participated in the session, providing valuable insights and recommendations for the survey's construction. RESULTS: The CE Studio participants provided valuable feedback, including suggestions for motivating participation in the survey, changes in demographic questions, and the survey layout. Furthermore, the participants provided new insights into their dental access experiences and barriers to care, leading to additional questions for the survey. Finally, the participants suggested strategies to streamline survey instructions, provided their preferred wording for survey items and recommended how questions should be displayed to future research participants. Overall, 130 edits were made to the original survey, yielding a clearer, more representative, and accessible format. CONCLUSION: CE Studios can positively impact the design of recruitment materials, survey materials, and question structures in community-focused dental health research.
Trends of Oral Health Status of Older Adults by Immigration Status in the United States: 1999-2018.
Luo H, Wu B, Qi X … +1 more , Moss ME
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Dec · PMID 40443241 · Publisher ↗
INTRODUCTION: This study examined oral health trends of older immigrants in the US from 1999 to 2018 and disparities between immigrants and non-immigrants across different races/ethnicities. METHODS: Data were from the 1...
INTRODUCTION: This study examined oral health trends of older immigrants in the US from 1999 to 2018 and disparities between immigrants and non-immigrants across different races/ethnicities. METHODS: Data were from the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES). Outcome variables were self-reported poor oral health and significant tooth loss (i.e., < 20 permanent teeth). Participants were categorized into three groups as US natives, naturalized citizens, or noncitizen residents. The analytical sample comprised 13,424 older adults (ages 60+), including 10,087 US natives, 2280 naturalized citizens, and 1057 noncitizen residents. We assessed the trends in poor oral health and significant tooth loss across the three groups and conducted analyses stratified by race/ethnicity to examine within-group disparities. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2018, noncitizen residents consistently showed higher rates of poor oral health and significant tooth loss compared to US natives and naturalized citizens. Multiple logistic regression model results showed that naturalized citizens were less likely (AOR = 0.79, p = 0.03) to report poor oral health. Stratified analyses by racial/ethnic groups showed that among Blacks, naturalized citizens were less likely to report poor oral health (AOR = 0.59, p = 0.02) than Blacks who were born in the US. CONCLUSION: While overall oral health improved among older immigrants from 1999 to 2018, oral health disparities persisted, especially between noncitizen residents and US natives. There were significant differences in oral health between Black immigrants and their US-born counterparts. Future research is needed to corroborate these findings and monitor the trend of oral health disparities.
Veteran Status and Oral Health Indicators in Older Men: An Analysis Using the 2016 and 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Tian V, Chamut S, Klevens RM
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Dec · PMID 40411340 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: US veterans exhibit higher rates of oral disease than nonveterans, affecting their quality of life and systemic disease risk. Regular dental care is essential for preventing tooth loss, especially among older...
OBJECTIVES: US veterans exhibit higher rates of oral disease than nonveterans, affecting their quality of life and systemic disease risk. Regular dental care is essential for preventing tooth loss, especially among older adults. The aim of this study was to assess the association between veteran status, dental visits, and tooth loss among older male Americans. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2016 and 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys in a national cross-sectional study. The study focused on males aged 65 years and older, using descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses to measure the association between veteran status and having a dental visit < 1 year ago, and the loss of ≥ 6 teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease. The analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic factors, including age, race/ethnicity, and education level. RESULTS: Veterans displayed a higher prevalence and increased odds of tooth loss compared to nonveterans after controlling for race and education. However, there was no difference in recent dental visits based on veteran status. The effect of dental visits on the odds of tooth loss indicated that veterans experienced a stronger protective effect of visits on tooth loss (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.31-0.37) than nonveterans (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.37-0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate a potential opportunity to reduce disparities in tooth loss among older men. Promoting dental care among veterans could mitigate the risk of tooth loss and its subsequent adverse effects on overall systemic and brain health in this population.
Examining the Financial Paradox of Dental Insurance: Higher Out-of-Pocket Costs for Individuals Without Private Health Insurance?
Loux T, Bafegeeh F, Liu E … +1 more , Raybon N
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Dec · PMID 40400294 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: This study seeks to investigate the relationship between private dental insurance coverage and out-of-pocket expenses among financially vulnerable populations. METHODS: Data from the 2022 Medical Expenditures...
OBJECTIVES: This study seeks to investigate the relationship between private dental insurance coverage and out-of-pocket expenses among financially vulnerable populations. METHODS: Data from the 2022 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS) were analyzed to compare out-of-pocket costs between individuals with and without private dental insurance. Focusing on individuals without private health insurance, MEPS participants with dental insurance are matched to participants without dental insurance using full optimal matching on the propensity score. The outcomes measured include average out-of-pocket dental care costs, incidence of any dental costs, and average out-of-pocket costs among those incurring non-zero dental costs. RESULTS: Matched analyses show higher out-of-pocket costs ($386, 95% CI: -169, 603) and a higher likelihood of utilizing dental care (OR 5.00, 95% CI: 3.62, 6.90) among individuals with private dental care. Higher out-of-pocket costs hold but lose statistical significance when limiting analyses to those with any dental costs ($115, 95% CI: -184, 415). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with private dental care pay more out-of-pocket costs than those without private dental care, even when accounting for confounding demographic and socioeconomic factors. High costs of dental care, with or without insurance, remain a barrier to dental care among those without private health insurance.
Factors Associated With Oral Hygiene Practices Among Young Mexican-Identifying Southern Californians.
Devi A, Kritz-Silverstein D, Martinez LS … +4 more , Calzo JP, Strong DR, Hoeft KS, Finlayson TL
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40384337 · Full text
PURPOSE: To examine factors associated with oral hygiene behaviors among young Mexican-identifying adults. METHODS: Survey data from 340 Mexican-identifying adults aged 21-40 years residing in US-Mexico border regions in...
PURPOSE: To examine factors associated with oral hygiene behaviors among young Mexican-identifying adults. METHODS: Survey data from 340 Mexican-identifying adults aged 21-40 years residing in US-Mexico border regions in California were analyzed. Outcomes included the frequency of toothbrushing and flossing in the last 7 days. Independent variables included predisposing sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex at birth, marital status, education, place of birth, language preference), predisposing beliefs (perceived oral health importance, self-reported oral health status), enabling factors (dental insurance, usual source of care, dental visit in last year), needs (perceived current dental care need), and external environment (COVID-19 impact). Negative binomial regression analyses examined associations after controlling for covariates. RESULTS: Approximately half the participants were female (57%), single (54%), and preferred Spanish language (48%). Mean participant age was 29.6 ± 5.7 years. Toothbrushing frequency was greater for those who were US-born versus foreign-born (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.16, CI = 1.03-1.28), those who had a dental visit in the past year versus more than a year ago (IRR = 1.15, CI = 1.03-1.28), and higher with increasing oral health importance ratings (IRR = 1.04, CI = 1.01-1.06). Flossing frequency was greater for those who had a past year dental visit versus more than a year ago (IRR = 1.79, CI = 1.37-2.33). CONCLUSION: Improving perceptions of oral health importance and encouraging dental visits could enable increased oral hygiene behaviors among young Mexican-American identifying adults.
Investigating the Association Between Parental Paid Sick Leave Benefit and Children's Dental Care Utilization.
Lamsal R, Naavaal S
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40342253 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research is to examine the association between paid sick leave (PSL) benefit for employed parents and their child's dental care utilization, including preventive, diagnostic, and treatment...
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research is to examine the association between paid sick leave (PSL) benefit for employed parents and their child's dental care utilization, including preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services. METHODS: Using pooled data from the 2017-2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we created a dyadic observational unit linking children aged 0-17 years with their parents (n = 7652) specifically focusing on the younger children of employed parents. Descriptive statistics and a multivariate logistic regression model were employed to examine the association between parental PSL benefit and child dental care utilization, accounting for various child and parent level covariates. All analyses were adjusted for complex survey design, and survey weights were used to get national estimates. RESULTS: Seventy-six percent of children had at least one employed parent with PSL benefit in 2017-19. Among them, 44% of children had preventive visits, 45% had diagnostic visits, and 17% had treatment visits. The adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that children with parental PSL benefit had higher odds of having preventive dental visits (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.38) and diagnostic visits (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03, 1.41) compared with children without parental PSL benefit. CONCLUSION: Parental PSL benefit was associated with augmenting the use of preventive and diagnostic dental care visits among children. Collaboration among policymakers, employers, and dental providers is essential to address disparities in children's dental services utilization and support PSL policies for working parents.
Mapping the "X" Debate: Water Fluoridation Sentiment Analysis With Advanced Machine Learning.
Torwane N, Lalloo R, Ha D … +1 more , Do L
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40333400 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine public sentiment regarding community water fluoridation (CWF) using data from "X" (formerly Twitter) over the past decade. The goal was to understand public opinion trends and iden...
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine public sentiment regarding community water fluoridation (CWF) using data from "X" (formerly Twitter) over the past decade. The goal was to understand public opinion trends and identify opportunities for targeted public health communication. METHODS: We conducted a sentiment analysis utilizing a natural language processing technique. Specifically, we applied the Sentiment Intensity Analyzer tool to classify tweets related to CWF into negative, positive, or neutral categories. Additionally, a word co-occurrence network analysis was performed to explore key discussion themes. We also compared machine learning models to assess their accuracy in classifying tweet sentiments. RESULTS: Analysis of the tweets revealed a balanced distribution of sentiments: 37.4% negative, 34.4% positive, and 28.2% neutral. Peaks in public engagement occurred between 2015 and 2016, with a subsequent decline after 2018. Sentiment spikes were often associated with significant events, including policy changes and media coverage. The word co-occurrence network highlighted recurring themes related to safety and dental health. Among the machine learning models evaluated, Logistic Regression demonstrated the highest accuracy in sentiment classification. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the polarized nature of public sentiment toward CWF and the temporal fluctuations in public engagement. These insights can inform public health policymakers in developing timely, targeted communication strategies. Specifically, efforts to engage neutral audiences through transparent messaging and counter misinformation during key periods may strengthen public trust in CWF. The application of machine learning in this analysis underscores its value in enhancing real-time monitoring and supporting evidence-based public health strategies.
Pharmacologic Management of Non-Traumatic Dental Conditions in US Emergency Departments, 2018-2022.
Leinbach LI, Li X, Iafolla T … +1 more , Alraqiq H
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40219619 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: This study examines opioid and antibiotic prescribing by United States emergency departments (EDs) for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) between 2018 and 2022. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of na...
OBJECTIVE: This study examines opioid and antibiotic prescribing by United States emergency departments (EDs) for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) between 2018 and 2022. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of nationally representative ED visits using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) with an NTDC as the primary discharge diagnosis. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios using chi-squared testing and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine analgesic and antibiotic prescriptions, as well as patient, visit, and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: There were 1,838,729 weighted ED visits for NTDCs between 2018 and 2022, 1.3% of all visits. Findings demonstrate a continued decline in NTDC visits resulting in an opioid, with an increase in those with non-opioids. Overall, 25% of NTDC visits included an opioid analgesic in 2022, compared to 33% in 2018. The proportion of visits with non-opioid analgesics increased over the study period; nearly 60% of NTDCs seen in 2020 included a non-opioid analgesic. Overall, 63% included an antibiotic, with the highest proportion observed in 2020 (70%). No increase in the proportion of ED visits for NTDCs was seen between the pandemic years (2020-2022) and the pre-pandemic period (2018-2019). CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotics and non-opioid analgesics were a common approach used by ED providers during the pandemic years. Opioid prescriptions for NTDCs declined between 2018 and 2022, while antibiotic prescriptions remained roughly stable. Reducing avoidable opioid and antibiotic prescriptions, and more broadly ED visits for NTDCs, requires a comprehensive approach.
Positive Parent-Child Interaction and Children's Oral Health: Findings From the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), 2020-2021.
Sheen A, Shah P, Finlayson TL … +2 more , Braun PA, Laniado N
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40211569 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: The role of family relationships in oral health care management for children has received increasing attention as health systems and policy makers seek to improve outcomes and decrease disparities by addressin...
OBJECTIVE: The role of family relationships in oral health care management for children has received increasing attention as health systems and policy makers seek to improve outcomes and decrease disparities by addressing the social determinants of oral health. The aim of this study was to examine the association of positive parent-child interaction, represented by two age-specific objectives from Healthy People 2030, with oral health problems and unmet oral health needs in children ages 1-17 years in the U.S. from 2020 to 2021. METHODS: This cross-sectional, population-based study analyzed 83,977 children ages 1-17 years from the National Survey of Children's Health, 2020-2021. The exposure variable, parent-child interaction, and the two outcome variables, oral health problems and unmet oral health need, were measured using parent/caregiver survey responses. Weighted simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Final models were adjusted for demographic characteristics as well as parental, household, and neighborhood factors. RESULTS: Children from families who experience positive parent-child interaction had 25% lower odds of having any oral health problems (OR 0.75; 95% CI, 0.68-0.83) compared with children who did not experience positive parent-child interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing positive parent-child interaction was associated with lower odds of children having any oral health problems. Future investigation to explore the specific mechanisms through which positive parent-child interaction is associated with children's oral health is warranted.
The Role of Public Oral Health Services and Socioeconomic Factors in Oral Cancer Mortality in Brazil.
da Silva JMN, Vila-Castro MEM, Nunes-Neto AB … +1 more , Menezes FDS
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40189750 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the provision of oral health services in Primary Healthcare with mortality due to oral cancer in Brazil. METHODS: This ecological study was conducte...
OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the provision of oral health services in Primary Healthcare with mortality due to oral cancer in Brazil. METHODS: This ecological study was conducted across 1105 Brazilian municipalities, encompassing 11,412 oral health teams (OHTs). The outcome variable was the oral cancer mortality rate, standardized by age and sex. Socioeconomic factors and variables related to the oral health services provided by municipal OHTs were considered explanatory variables. We employed multilevel Poisson regression models with random effects at the municipal level to assess the association between oral cancer mortality rates and explanatory variables. RESULTS: At the municipal level, oral cancer mortality was negatively associated with higher human and social development and greater income inequality but positively linked to higher rates of population aging and greater coverage of primary and oral healthcare services. At the OHT level, mortality reduction was observed among those who received specialized support and had greater availability of consultations. Active case-finding for cancerous lesions and care monitoring were also linked to lower mortality. Conversely, the identification of high-risk vulnerable patients by these teams was associated with higher mortality. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that oral cancer mortality in Brazilian municipalities is influenced by socioeconomic factors and the availability of oral health services.
An Oral Health Promotion Strategy for Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disability: An Exploratory Randomized Trial Comparing Intervention and Control Group Homes.
Shamblen SR, Richard BO, Abadi MH … +6 more , Thompson KT, Aramburu C, Young LC, Ely J, Dukka H, Johnson KW
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40130885 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) often experience more negative oral health outcomes. METHODS: We implemented and tested a comprehensive strategy in 39 IDD group homes to ex...
INTRODUCTION: Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) often experience more negative oral health outcomes. METHODS: We implemented and tested a comprehensive strategy in 39 IDD group homes to examine whether skills-based training for direct support professionals (DSP) and individualized oral health planning for residents could improve DSP assistance and provision of oral health care for residents and oral health status. Our sample comprised 19 intervention homes and 20 control group homes, with 61 residents with IDD and 77 DSP. The strategy involved providing didactic and experiential skills-based training, combined with in-home coaching to DSP with resident participation over the course of 16 weeks. DSP in control homes received educational brochures. DSP attitudes, skills, and behaviors; and resident oral health outcomes were measured at baseline, 4 months later (post-intervention), and 12 months after baseline. Analyses compared the intervention and control conditions at 4-months and 12-months. RESULTS: Results suggest that the intervention influenced DSP skills and behaviors. Among residents, results showed improved outcomes for teeth in the lower anterior sextant only; intervention effects largely abated by 12-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: Findings demonstrate that skills-based, experiential training with coaching can be effective in enhancing skill sets and increasing behaviors about oral health among DSP. In addition, results showed that the strategy used can improve oral health outcomes for residents. However, given that there were only improved outcomes in residents' lower anterior sextant, more research is needed to determine how to adequately assess and improve resident outcomes.
Appalachian Numeracy and Literacy and Oral Health, an Ecological Study, PIAAC and BRFSS.
Wiener RC, Waters C, Bastin M
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Jun · PMID 40119641 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: Social determinants of health (SDOH) include healthcare access, neighborhood/built environment, social context, economic stability, and education (including literacy and numeracy). These are known factors for...
OBJECTIVES: Social determinants of health (SDOH) include healthcare access, neighborhood/built environment, social context, economic stability, and education (including literacy and numeracy). These are known factors for health outcomes. The purpose of this research is to consider one SDOH category: general literacy/numeracy levels, with poor oral health indicators in a comparison of U.S. national and Appalachia data, a region with many poor healthcare indicators. METHODS: For this ecological study, literacy/numeracy data were from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) Survey of Adult Skills, 2012-2017. Oral health indicators were from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2012-2016. RESULTS: Of a possible score of 500 for literacy/numeracy, the mean national scores were 263.5(95% CI: 262.0, 265.1) and 249.1 (95% CI: 247.5, 250.6), respectively. The mean scores for all Appalachian counties were similar (262.2; 95% CI: 261.3, 263.1; p = 0.7258) and (247.6; 95% CI: 246.6, 248.6; p = 0.6872), respectively. However, within state comparisons had several non-Appalachian counties with higher literacy/numeracy scores than their Appalachian counties (Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia) while in Alabama, the reverse occurred. Overall, state-wide, dental visits were not significantly different from national levels in crude percentages; however, missing any permanent teeth and edentulism were higher than the nation. CONCLUSION: Health concerns, and oral health concerns in particular, are significant for the Appalachian region. However, dental visits and the mean overall general literacy/numeracy skills were not significantly different from the nation's, indicating that other factors are driving poor health outcomes within Appalachia from an ecological perspective.
COVID-19 Vaccination in Canadian Dental Schools.
Turquete I, Madathil S, Allison PJ
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40118795 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Oral Healthcare workers, including dental students, face a great risk of COVID-19 infection. High COVID-19 vaccination coverage is essential for a protected workforce. This study, which aims to document the C...
BACKGROUND: Oral Healthcare workers, including dental students, face a great risk of COVID-19 infection. High COVID-19 vaccination coverage is essential for a protected workforce. This study, which aims to document the COVID-19 vaccination experience among dental students and employees from Canadian dental schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, provides crucial insights that can significantly impact future vaccination strategies. METHODS: This study used data from a prospective cohort conducted between April 2021 and May 2022. We recruited 600 participants, including dental students, faculty, and support staff from 10 Canadian dental schools. Data were collected monthly from all subjects. Vaccination acceptance and vaccination time were assessed. Logistic regression models were performed to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and late vaccination. In order to detect hesitation tendencies, descriptive statistics were used to observe the distribution of time to vaccination between age groups of employees and students. RESULTS: Out of 600 participants at baseline (70% female; average age 36 years old), 91% received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. No associations were found between sociodemographic factors and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Individuals aged 50-59 were less likely to delay the vaccination than most of our sample. Students presented more outliers for later vaccination times, particularly in younger age groups. CONCLUSION: High vaccination acceptance among dental students is crucial for promoting professionalism and influencing patients. Integrating vaccine advocacy into their education might enhance vaccination uptake in the general population.
Association of Oral Microbiome Diversity With Depression Status: NHANES 2009-2012.
Zhang C, Qu L, Huang Y … +4 more , Tang L, Ma J, Xie K, Wu H
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40108947 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between oral microbial diversity and depression symptoms in the U.S. METHODS: We utilized the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 2009-2012) to assess...
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between oral microbial diversity and depression symptoms in the U.S. METHODS: We utilized the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 2009-2012) to assess the association between oral microbial diversity and depression symptoms. A cut-off PHQ-9 score of 15 was used to define severe depression symptoms. We conducted the multivariate linear regression to explore the association of the amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) with PHQ-9 scores. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was introduced to curve the dose-response relationship. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the association between ASVs and the risk of severe depression symptoms. Based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity of beta diversity, analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) is used to assess the dissimilarity between different depression groups. RESULTS: A total of 1497 participants were included, with 111 (7.41%) meeting the criteria for severe depression. After adjusting for confounders, we found that ASVs were negatively correlated with PHQ-9 scores (β = -0.008, p = 0.014). The RCS plot showed a linear relationship (p = 0.232). Logistic regression showed that ASVs were associated with a decreased risk of severe depression symptoms (OR = 0.992, p = 0.003). Analysis of β diversity identified a statistically significant difference (R = 0.087, p = 0.003). Additionally, we developed a nomogram to estimate an individual's risk of severe depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha diversity of the oral microbiota was associated with a reduced risk of severe depression symptoms, which could contribute to the early identification and intervention of severe depression.
Understanding Utilization and Prevention Measures Associated With a Caries Risk Assessment in Oral Health Transformation.
McGee M, Brandon R, Walji M … +5 more , White J, Moses K, Tranby EP, Heaton LJ, Simmons K
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Jun · PMID 40010693 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: Dental decay is endemic in the United States, underscoring the need to measure the utilization of caries risk management tools to elucidate the effect of prevention interventions in reducing the dental decay...
OBJECTIVES: Dental decay is endemic in the United States, underscoring the need to measure the utilization of caries risk management tools to elucidate the effect of prevention interventions in reducing the dental decay rates of individuals. An academic institution partnered with a third-party institute to call attention to the utilization and prevention measures associated with caries risk assessment (CRA) used with children 0-18 years. This environmental scan examined claims across the United States to evaluate the proportion of dental examinations, CRAs, and caries prevention procedures within a calendar year. METHODS: A 12-month deidentified participant list categorized by age, race, sex, state of residence, and treatment dates was provided from the third-party database containing 14,625,751 Medicaid and commercial claims for dental examinations, CRAs, and caries prevention procedures performed in the calendar year 2022. RESULTS: The final data set (N = 9,351,848 patient examinations), 86.8% had a caries prevention procedure completed at the examination visit. Still, only 29.4% had a CRA Current Dental Terminology (CDT) coded on the same day of the dental examination. There were higher numbers of CRAs in the Medicaid payor group in states that require CRAs in conjunction with a dental examination. CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of the ADA CRA CDT codes, designed to stratify patients into caries risk categories of low, moderate, or high, was relatively low compared to the examination and prevention procedure claims. Consistent utilization of these codes would allow for more effective monitoring of patient outcomes, supporting a data-driven approach to assessing oral health over time.
Dental Care Utilization Among Middle Eastern and North African Children in the United States.
Brown KK, Dallo FJ, Kindratt TB
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Sep · PMID 40000835 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional secondary analytical study estimated dentist visits among foreign-born Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) children compared to US-born White and foreign-born White, Black, Hispanic,...
OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional secondary analytical study estimated dentist visits among foreign-born Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) children compared to US-born White and foreign-born White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian children. This is the first known study to provide national estimates for dental visits among MENA children who have historically been aggregated with the White population. METHODS: We used 2000-2018 National Health Interview Survey data (N = 358,686 children). We calculated age- and sex-adjusted prevalence estimates and performed multivariable logistic regression to test the odds of dentist visit utilization by race, ethnicity, and nativity. Covariates included age, family poverty level, health insurance coverage, and special health care needs. RESULTS: Dental visits at 6 months were approximately 64% for US-born White and foreign-born MENA children. Most (77.4%) foreign-born MENA children had a dentist visit in the past 12 months. Results were similar for US- and foreign-born White (80.8% and 79.9%, respectively) children. Fewer foreign-born Black (49.5%), Hispanic (47.7%), and Asian (54.6%) children had a dentist visit in the past 12 months. Results from logistic regression modeling showed that foreign-born MENA children's receipt of dental visits at 12 months was similar to US-born White children after adjustment (OR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.76-1.27). Findings were similar for foreign-born White children. Foreign-born Black, Hispanic, and Asian children had lower odds of receiving dental visits at 12 months compared to US-born White children. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest high dental care utilization among foreign-born MENA children. Additionally, dental care utilization for foreign-born MENA children was similar to their US- and foreign-born White peers. This study has implications for national health policy and policy reform for federal reporting standards for MENA populations.
Caries Trajectories From Childhood to Adulthood Associated With Mental Disorders in Midlife.
Ruiz B, Broadbent JM, Thomson WM … +6 more , Ramrakha S, Boden J, McLeod G, Moffitt TE, Caspi A, Poulton R
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Jun · PMID 39989122 · Full text
UNLABELLED: Oral and mental health are integral to overall health and well-being. Primary dentition caries is associated with poorer oral and general health and faster aging by midlife, but it remains unclear whether the...
UNLABELLED: Oral and mental health are integral to overall health and well-being. Primary dentition caries is associated with poorer oral and general health and faster aging by midlife, but it remains unclear whether these associations also hold for mental health. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether primary dentition caries, caries experienced in adolescence and adulthood, and caries trajectories across the life course are associated with mental disorders in the fifth decade of life in two New Zealand birth cohorts. METHODS: Data on childhood caries and adult mental disorders were obtained from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study and the Christchurch Health and Development Study. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) were used to estimate associations between caries at age 5 and mental disorders at age 45/40 for Dunedin and Christchurch studies, respectively. Additional analyses using Dunedin Study data investigated associations between permanent dentition caries trajectories from ages 9 to 45 and mental disorders at age 45. All analyses adjusted for sex, perinatal health, childhood SES, childhood IQ, and adult personality. RESULTS: Primary dentition caries experience was not associated with mental disorders in midlife in either cohort. Dunedin Study participants who were in a less favorable permanent dentition caries trajectory had higher rates of mental disorders at age 45 than those in the low-caries trajectory. CONCLUSIONS: People who experience poor oral health across the life course are also those who suffer from poorer mental health in mid-adulthood. A lifelong trajectory of poorer dental health indicates poorer mental health and well-being in adult life.
The Disproportionate Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Preventive Dental Care and Treatment for Children Who Are American Indian: Public Health Surveillance Utilizing School-Based Sealant Program Data.
Jaeger J, Schroeder S
J Public Health Dent · 2025 Jun · PMID 39977952 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: School-based dental sealant programs are important in expanding the reach of oral health care to underserved populations. However, data collection during these visits is also valuable for public health survei...
OBJECTIVES: School-based dental sealant programs are important in expanding the reach of oral health care to underserved populations. However, data collection during these visits is also valuable for public health surveillance and program planning. This study aimed to utilize these data to identify groups disproportionately impacted by pandemic closures. METHODS: SEAL!ND is a program in North Dakota that serves schools, where 45% or more of students are enrolled in the free and reduced-fee school lunch program. SEAL!ND provides dental screening, application of fluoride varnish and dental sealants, and oral health surveillance. Data are collected for evaluation and to track pediatric oral health. In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health emergency stalled the program and left these children without access to preventive dental services. We examined previous dental visits, untreated decay, treated decay, and early and urgent care need during the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years. Binomial and multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to examine the odds ratios of the oral health outcomes by race. RESULTS: The proportion of poor outcomes had noticeably increased for American Indian students compared to White students. There was also increased odds of untreated decay, treated decay, and early and urgent care need for American Indian students compared to White students. CONCLUSIONS: These findings aid in identifying groups of students whose oral health was disproportionately impacted by the disruption in community-based, preventive dental care services during the pandemic for the purpose of future intervention.
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