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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 "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 42268

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yolanda Martinez Beneyto

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
2. Clínica Odontológica Universitaria, Hospital Morales Meseguer, 30008 Murcia, Spain
Interests: oral health; dental materials; oral epidemiology; minimally invasive dentistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Antonio J. Ortiz Ruiz

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Integrated Pediatric Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
2. Clínica Odontológica Universitaria, Hospital Morales Meseguer, 30008 Murcia, Spain
Interests: pediatric dentistry; dental materials; minimally invasive dentistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Ascensión Vicente Hernandez

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Guest Editor

Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Clínica Odontológica Universitaria, Hospital Morales Meseguer, 30008 Murcia, Spain
Interests: orthodontics and dental materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

An estimated 90% of the world’s population suffer from oral diseases during their life. Oral diseases are recognized as a major global health burden, having huge impacts on people’s daily lives and economic development.

Dental caries, periodontal disease, edentulism, oral cancer, and cleft lip and palate are the most prevalent dental pathologies, and the overall global burden of this diseases has been increasing throughout the years, in parallel with major non communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes mellitus, neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases. Many of these NCDs share risk factors with oral diseases such as sugar excess, alcohol excess and tobacco.

The prevalence of untreated caries (10th most common disease), severe periodontitis (6th) and severe tooth loss (36th) affects 3.9 billion people in the world. Dental caries and periodontitis are the main causes of tooth loss. The consequences of these common oral diseases are the alterations of mastication and nutritional intake, speech, self-esteem, quality of life and social interactions. In this sense, the elderly would require more oral care and preventive programs.

Oral diseases represent one of the most common public health issues, and it should be compulsory to incorporate oral health into a general health agenda for optimal health and general well-being. The long-term sustainable strategy for global oral health must focus on health promotion and disease prevention, through controlling the modifiable common risk factors.

This Special Issue seeks research papers on various aspects of epidemiology, oral public health, oral health policies, prevention strategies, dental materials, techniques and treatments related to oral diseases in children, adults and the elderly.

We welcome original research papers using different study designs, as well as systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Prof. Dr. Yolanda Martinez Beneyto
Dr. Antonio J. Ortiz Ruiz
Prof. Dr. Ascensión Vicente Hernandez
Guest Editors

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Keywords

epidemiology
oral diseases burden
dental public health
oral prevention
quality of life
caries
oral cancer
periodontal diseases
malocclusions
dental traumatology
dental materials
oral radiology
dental rehabilitation

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics and Dental Indices of Orthodontic Patients Using Aligners or Brackets

by Tzu-Han Liao, Jason Chen-Chieh Fang, I-Kuan Wang, Chiung-Shing Huang, Hui-Ling Chen and Tzung-Hai Yen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6569; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116569 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2987

Abstract

Background. Clear aligners have become a treatment alternative to metal brackets in recent years due to the advantages of aesthetics, comfort, and oral health improvement. Nevertheless, few studies have analyzed the clinical characteristics and dental indices of orthodontic patients using aligners or brackets. Methods. A total of 170 patients received orthodontic treatment at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2021. Patients were stratified by types of treatment (Invisalign^® clear aligner (n = 60) or metal bracket (n = 110). Results: Patients were aged 26.1 ± 7.2 years, and most were female (75.0%). The Invisalign^® group was older than the bracket group (p = 0.003). The skeletal relationships were mainly Class I (49.4%), followed by Class II (30.0%) and Class III (20.6%). The molar relationships were primarily Class I (38.8%), followed by Class II (37.1%) and Class III (24.1%). The decayed, missing, and filled tooth (DMFT) index was 9.9 ± 6.0, including 2.1 ± 2.9 for decayed teeth, 0.5 ± 1.1 for missing teeth, and 7.3 ± 4.3 for filled teeth. There were no significant differences in the DMFT index or skeletal and molar relationships between the groups (p > 0.05). The index of complexity outcome and need (ICON) was 56.8 ± 13.5, and the score was lower in the Invisalign^® group than in the bracket group (p = 0.002). Among the variables included in the ICON assessment, only the aesthetic variable was lower in the Invisalign^® group than in the bracket group (p < 0.001). The Frankfort-mandibular plane angle was 27.9 ± 5.1 degrees. Finally, the E-line of the lower lip was lower in the Invisalign^® group than in the bracket group (1.5 ± 2.4 versus 2.8 ± 3.1, p = 0.005). Conclusions. Older patients showed a greater intention to choose Invisalign^® treatment for improving the appearance of their teeth than younger patients, who chose metal bracket treatment. The demand for Invisalign^® aligner treatment for aesthetic reasons was substantial. A soft tissue profile with more protrusive lower lips and a greater need for orthodontic treatment was found in the bracket group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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10 pages, 2075 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevention of Occupational Hazards Due to Asbestos Exposure in Dentistry. A Proposal from a Panel of Experts

by Carmen Anaya-Aguilar, Manuel Bravo, Antonio Magan-Fernandez, Ramon del Castillo-Salmerón, Alberto Rodríguez-Archilla, Javier Montero, Eva Rosel, Paco Puche and Rosa Anaya-Aguilar

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3153; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063153 - 8 Mar 2022

Viewed by 2854

Abstract

Asbestos in all its forms is a Group 1 material agent with proven carcinogenic effects in the human being since 1977. Exposure to asbestos can be considered unsafe. The use of asbestos in the field of dentistry had a common use in the manufacture of dental prostheses in the 1960s and 1970s. Taking into account the long induction period of this agent and the plausibility for being a risk factor in dentistry, the objective of this study is to propose a plan for the prevention of occupational risks due to asbestos exposure in dentistry by means of the contribution of a panel of experts. An Expert Panel (EP) approach was used in which a group of nine experts identified and documented the use of asbestos in the dental profession. EP was created and followed the protocol in accordance with the EuropeAid Assessment Guidelines. As a result of this study, EP documented the common use and sources of asbestos in dentistry in prosthetic materials, dental dressings, and in the coating of casting cylinders. EP also created a consensus document on the priority measures for the Plan for the Prevention of Risks from Asbestos in Dentistry, based on previous reports from the European Commission Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee. The document concluded that obtainment of information, receiving specific training on the subject and performing epidemiological studies, and the proper risk assessments were the priority measures to adopt. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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9 pages, 16130 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Patterns of Post-Endodontic Restoration: A Nationwide Survey of Dentists in Turkey

by Sıla Nur Usta, Begüm Cömert-Pak, Eda Karaismailoğlu, Ayhan Eymirli and Derya Deniz-Sungur

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1794; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031794 - 4 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2527

Abstract

Developments in materials and techniques, geographical locations, age, specialty, and affiliations of dental practitioners affect the preference of post-endodontic restoration. Thus, this survey aimed to evaluate the trends of dentists in Turkey in terms of post-endodontic restorations. An anonymous survey containing 10 questions regarding demographics, post-endodontic restoration patterns, and factors affecting restoration selection was electronically delivered to the dentists registered in the database of the Turkish Dental Association. The data were analyzed using by a chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression analysis. A total of 1093 surveys from 20,564 participants were collected with a response rate of 5.3%. Half of the participants (52%) preferred composite resins for post-endodontic restorations. Usage of posts was less prevalent amongst prosthodontists and dentists with clinical experience of more than 20 years compared to endodontists (p < 0.001) and dentists with clinical experience of less than 5 years (p = 0.004). More than half of the participants (56%) utilized fiber posts. Composite resins and fiber posts were the most common preferences in post-endodontic restoration. Endodontists had a higher tendency to use posts than prosthodontists and general dental practitioners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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13 pages, 3650 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Need for Orthodontic Treatment in Pupils Aged between 12 and 15 in the Valencian Region (Spain)

by José Enrique Iranzo-Cortés, José María Montiel-Company, Carlos Bellot-Arcís, Teresa Almerich-Torres and José Manuel Almerich-Silla

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10162; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910162 - 27 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2000

Abstract

The World Health Organization recommends carrying out periodic epidemiological studies in order to provide a basis for the evaluation of the state of health of the population at any given time; in doing so, action strategies can be established for the treatment of different pathologies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the need for orthodontic treatment in adolescents at school aged between 12 and 15 in the Spanish autonomous region known as Comunidad Valenciana (hereafter: Valencian Region). A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 539 12-year-old schoolchildren and 460 15-year-olds, respectively, selected by cluster sampling and representative of the school-aged population of the Valencian Region, using the IOTN-DHC, IOTN-AC, and DAI indices. The need for specific orthodontic treatment according to the IOTN-DHC was 12.6% at 12 years and 7% at 15. For the IOTN-AC and DAI indices, the treatment needs were 4.3% and 0.9% at 12 years and 30.1% and 20.9% at the age of 15. These results were similar to those obtained in the previous study carried out on the same target population. There was no significant association between the need for treatment and gender or social class. We conclude that the need for orthodontic treatment presents values similar to those obtained in 2010. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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15 pages, 917 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Fluoride and Calcium Phosphate-Based Varnishes in Children at High Risk of Tooth Decay: A Randomized Clinical Trial

by Andrea Poza-Pascual, Clara Serna-Muñoz, Amparo Pérez-Silva, Yolanda Martínez-Beneyto, Inmaculada Cabello and Antonio José Ortiz-Ruiz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10049; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910049 - 24 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3206

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the application of two varnishes—MI Varnish (5% sodium fluoride with CPP-ACP) and Clinpro White Varnish (5% sodium fluoride with fTCP)—applied every three months in children with high caries risk for 12 months on plaque indexes, salivary pH, salivary lactic acid and chemical elements concentrations. Methods: We included 58 children aged 4–12 years, assigned to control (placebo), Clinpro and MI groups. Baseline and three-month saliva samples were taken. We assessed changes in pH, lactic acid concentrations and chemical elements in saliva. Results: At 12 months, all groups showed a nonsignificant increase in pH levels and a reduction in lactic acid, which was greatest in the placebo group. There was a significant reduction in ²⁴Mg (p = <0.001), ³¹P (p = 0.033) and ⁶⁶Zn (p = 0.005) levels in the placebo group (p ≤ 0.05), but not in the other elements studied: ²³Na, ²⁷Al, ³⁹K, ⁴⁴Ca, ⁵²Cr, ⁵⁵Mn, ⁵⁷Fe, ⁵⁹Co, ⁶³Cu, ⁷⁵As, ¹¹¹Cd, ¹³⁷Ba, ²⁰⁸Pb and ¹⁹F. Conclusions: Neither pH, lactic acid concentrations or most salivary chemical elements were useful in defining patients at high risk of caries or in monitoring the effect of MI Varnish and Clinpro White Varnish after three-month application for 12 months. However, the appearance of new cavities was stopped, and the hygiene index improved, probably due to hygienic and dietary measures and the use of fluoridated toothpaste. Trial registration: ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN13681286. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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14 pages, 791 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Clinical, Biochemical and Microbiological Markers Related to Dental Caries

by Maria D Ferrer, Salvadora Pérez, Aránzazu López Lopez, José Luis Sanz, Maria Melo, Carmen Llena and Alejandro Mira

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 6049; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116049 - 4 Jun 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3902

Abstract

Our aim was to evaluate clinical, biochemical and microbiological markers related to dental caries in adults. A sample that consisted of 75 volunteers was utilized. The presence of caries and the presence of plaque and gingival indices were determined. Unstimulated salivary flow, pH, lactate, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus dentisani were measured in the participants’ plaque and saliva samples before and after rinsing with a sugar solution. Lactate in plaque was found to be significantly related to age, gender, tooth-brushing frequency, the presence of cavitated caries lesions and plaque and gingival indices (p < 0.05). The levels of S. dentisani in plaque increased significantly with tooth-brushing frequency (p = 0.03). Normalized plaque S. dentisani values and the percentage of S. dentisani were slightly higher in patients with basal lactic acid levels ≤ 50 mg/L. After rinsing with a sugary solution, the percentage of S. mutans levels in plaque were higher in patients with lactic acid levels > 350 mg/L (p = 0.03). Tooth-brushing frequency was the factor which was most associated with oral health. Women reflected better clinical and biochemical parameters than men. Low pH and high lactic acid levels tended to be associated with high caries rates. No association was found between bacteria levels and caries indices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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15 pages, 1211 KiB

Open AccessArticle

First Data in the Process of Validating a Tool to Evaluate Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Healthcare Providers in Oral Care of Institutionalized Elderly Residents: Content Validity, Reliability and Pilot Study

by Florence M. F. Wong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084145 - 14 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2897

Abstract

Background: Oral health of elderly people is a global concern. Poor oral health in institutionalized elderly people has been attributed to poor knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare providers. However, no validated KAP tool is available yet. Objective: To develop and validate a tool to measure knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare providers in oral care of institutionalized elderly people. Methods: The development and validation of the tool was based on literature reviews, comments from professional experts, and statistical analytic methods. Content validity in the instrument psychometric property and its relevance with reliability are essential. Content validity ratio and content validity index were performed. Then, a pilot study was conducted in 20 institutionalized healthcare providers for testing applicability, feasibility, and reliability. Results: A total of 43 items were developed in three domains, knowledge (19 items), attitude (13 items), and practice (11 items). Content validity analysis revealed the KAP tool with high values of the I-CVI (score 1.00) and S-CVI (S-CVI/UA result 1.00). The test-retest reliability with Cronbach’s alphas of knowledge, attitude, practice, and overall KAP were 0.67, 0.93, 0.92, and 0.94, respectively. Conclusions: The developed and validated tool is appropriate to measure KAP of healthcare providers in oral care of institutionalized elderly people. It can be used to measure KAP of institutionalized healthcare providers in order to develop appropriate strategies to improve KAP of healthcare providers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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13 pages, 1302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Quality of Life and Satisfaction in Patients with Fixed Prostheses on Zygomatic Implants Compared with the All-on-Four Concept: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study

by Juan Alberto Fernández-Ruiz, Mariano Sánchez-Siles, Yolanda Guerrero-Sánchez, Jesús Pato-Mourelo and Fabio Camacho-Alonso

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3426; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073426 - 25 Mar 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3260

Abstract

Purpose: No published research has compared patients’ quality of life and satisfaction with fixed prostheses supported by zygomatic implants with those supported by all-on-four prostheses. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients’ quality of life and satisfaction with fixed prostheses on zygomatic implants compared with the all-on-four concept. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 patients with atrophic edentulous maxillae were randomized into two groups: Group 1 (rehabilitated with fixed prostheses supported by 2–4 zygomatic and 2–4 conventional implants in the anterior region) and Group 2 (fixed prostheses on four implants in the anterior region following an all-on-four concept). One year after placement of the definitive prostheses, patients completed OHIP-14 and satisfaction questionnaires. Results: In all seven domains of the OHIP-14 and in the overall scores, a worse quality of life was found in Group 2 patients, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (p ≤ 0.05). Patients with zygomatic implants were more satisfied with their prostheses, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Conclusions: According to the results of this study, rehabilitation of patients with edentulous atrophic maxillae with prostheses supported by zygomatic implants combined with anterior implants provided better patient quality of life and satisfaction than prostheses supported by four implants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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Review

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41 pages, 2318 KiB

Open AccessReview

by Priyankaa Das, Lora Mishra, Debkant Jena, Shashirekha Govind, Saurav Panda and Barbara Lapinska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 3087; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19053087 - 6 Mar 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3740

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of a traumatic dental injury (TDI) of permanent teeth in children and adolescents on their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) as well as on their families. A bibliographic search in the biomedical databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE) was limited to studies published between January 2000 and February 2021. The study selection criteria were cross-sectional, case control, or prospective clinical studies, which analyzed TDI before and after the treatment of permanent teeth in healthy children and adolescent, assessed their OHRQoL, and were written in English. The search found 25 eligible articles that were included in the study. The quality assessment of the studies was performed using the quality assessment checklist for survey studies in psychology (Q-SSP). The results indicated that a TDI of permanent teeth strongly influences the OHRQoL of children and adolescents, and the timely-performed dental management of a TDI allows for preventing further biological and socio-psychological impacts. Sociodemographic status, economic status, parent’s education, gender, age group, and type of schooling were determinants of the TDI impact on OHRQoL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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14 pages, 825 KiB

Open AccessReview

How to Educate the Public about Dental Trauma—A Scoping Review

by Magdalena Nowosielska, Joanna Bagińska, Agnieszka Kobus and Anna Kierklo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2479; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042479 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3018

Abstract

Educating the general population about dental trauma is of public health interest. The aim of this scoping review was to map research on traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) education in the general population and to identify the most relevant methods of knowledge transfer. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science All Databases, reference lists, and grey literature were searched. Articles in English published between 2000 and 2020 were included. A total of 32 articles fulfilled inclusion criteria. The most frequently tested modality was lecture/seminar/workshop. Studies focused mainly on teachers and medical staff as target groups. Post-intervention evaluation showed an increase in knowledge. In long-term follow-up, a decrease in knowledge was found. The effectiveness of different modalities varied. Studies comparing single-modal and multimodal approaches did not confirm the effect of combined methods. Printed materials are a practical mode for laypeople. Lectures should be reserved for professions with high probability of coming into contact with a TDI victim. The Internet can be a promising tool to educate people. Educators have to choose the method of communication most appropriate for the target population. The education should include topics related to dental trauma prevention. Further research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of multimodal TDI education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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Other

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13 pages, 877 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Developmental Dental Defects in Permanent Teeth Resulting from Trauma in Primary Dentition: A Systematic Review

by Lucía Caeiro-Villasenín, Clara Serna-Muñoz, Amparo Pérez-Silva, Ascensión Vicente-Hernández, Andrea Poza-Pascual and Antonio José Ortiz-Ruiz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020754 - 10 Jan 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6466

Abstract

The objective was to determine whether trauma in primary dentition causes alterations in the development of permanent dentition. Searches were made in May 2020 using PubMed, MEDLINE, MEDES, Scopus, Lilacs, and Embase. Papers in English, German, and Spanish, without restrictions in the year of publication, were included. The quality of the studies was analyzed using the NOS Scale. The search retrieved 537 references, and seven studies were included for a qualitative analysis. The results showed that trauma to a deciduous tooth can damage the bud of the permanent tooth. Enamel discoloration and/or hypoplasia were the most common sequelae in the permanent teeth after trauma to the primary predecessor. The type and severity of sequelae in the permanent tooth are associated with the development phase of the bud. Children with trauma of their primary teeth should receive checkups until the eruption of the permanent teeth for the early diagnosis and treatment of possible sequelae. Intrusion of the primary tooth was the trauma that caused the most damage and enamel alterations the most frequent sequelae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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16 pages, 808 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

A Systematic Literature Review of Quality Management Initiatives in Dental Clinics

by Emil Lucian Crisan, Bogdan Florin Covaliu and Diana Maria Chis

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11084; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111084 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3989

Abstract

By considering the recently proposed definitions and metrics, oral healthcare quality management (OHQM) emerges as a distinct field in the wider healthcare area. The goal of this paper is to systematically review quality management initiatives (QMIs) implementation by dental clinics. The research methodology approach is a review of 72 sources that have been analyzed using the Context–Intervention–Mechanism–Outcome Framework (CIMO). The analysis identifies five mechanisms that explain how quality management initiatives are implemented by dental clinics. The simplest QMIs implementations are related to (1) overall quality. The next ones, in terms of complexity, are related to (2) patient satisfaction, (3) service quality, (4) internal processes improvement, and (5) business outcomes. This paper is the first attempt to provide a critical review of this topic and represents an important advancement by providing a theoretical framework that explains how quality management is implemented by practitioners in this field. The results can be used by scholars for advancing their studies related to this emerging research area and by healthcare managers in order to better implement their quality management initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being)

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