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Advances in Oral Health Care for Vulnerable Populations
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Advances in Oral Health Care for Vulnerable Populations

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 18003

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Katherine Chiu Man Leung

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Prosthodontics, Restorative Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Hong Kong, China
Interests: chewing function; xerostomia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The need for oral health care is increasing as people live longer and have a higher demand and expectation of care. Studies have confirmed that people, especially those who are aged, medically compromised, or institutionalized, are most at risk of developing oral diseases, and most of them have oral health problems that can cause pain, infection, and disability which may result in further deterioration of health, leading to poor oral health-related quality of life.

In recent years, the concerted efforts of researchers, healthcare workers, and experts in various fields have led to innovations and advanced technology being developed in medicine and dentistry that positively impacts the prevention, diagnosis, and management of oral diseases as well as the rehabilitation of people with disability of oral function. In addition, newer approaches have been exploited, allowing dental care to be delivered in a more convenient and efficient way.

In this Special Issue, we will accept original papers from various subjects (such as community dentistry, oral and dental diseases, prosthodontics, dental materials, and quality of life), which employ various research methods (such as prospective longitudinal studies, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses) focused on the oral health care for people who are vulnerable to oral and dental diseases.

Dr. Katherine Chiu Man Leung
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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

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

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

Keywords

  • vulnerable populations
  • oral and dental diseases
  • oral health care
  • oral function

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 306 KiB  
Communication
Dental Care for Older Adults
by Katherine Chiu-Man Leung and Chun-Hung Chu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010214 - 23 Dec 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4605
Abstract
There is a global increase in the older population. Unfortunately, dental conditions in the older population can sometimes be poor as a result of worsened physical conditions and the cumulative damage caused by dental diseases in the past. Many suffer from oral diseases [...] Read more.
There is a global increase in the older population. Unfortunately, dental conditions in the older population can sometimes be poor as a result of worsened physical conditions and the cumulative damage caused by dental diseases in the past. Many suffer from oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease but receive no regular dental care. Oral conditions and systemic problems are interrelated. Chronic medical problems and polypharmacy are common among them. These conditions may lead to xerostomia with or without a decrease in saliva output. Additionally, many older adults have deteriorated masticatory function associated with physical health issues such as frailty. Preventive measures are crucial to stop oral diseases from progressing and the replacement of missing teeth is needed when masticatory function is impaired. Older adults also suffer a higher risk of oral cancer because of their less resilient but more permeable oral mucosa. With the increasing need for elderly dental care, dentists should equip themselves with knowledge and skills in geriatric dentistry. They should help older adults to develop and maintain the functional ability that enables well-being in older age. This communication article aims to discuss the relevant medical conditions, common dental diseases, and dental care for older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Oral Health Care for Vulnerable Populations)
12 pages, 351 KiB  
Article
Oral Care Cards as a Support in Daily Oral Care of Frail Older Adults: Experiences and Perceptions of Professionals in Nursing and Dental Care—A Qualitative Study
by Jessica Persson, Isabelle Johansson, Cristina Joy Torgé, Eva-Karin Bergström, Catharina Hägglin and Inger Wårdh
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159380 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2396
Abstract
Frail older adults often have poor oral health. In Sweden, oral care cards are designed to be used as an interprofessional tool for documenting the oral health status of older adults with extensive care needs and to describe oral care recommendations. The aim [...] Read more.
Frail older adults often have poor oral health. In Sweden, oral care cards are designed to be used as an interprofessional tool for documenting the oral health status of older adults with extensive care needs and to describe oral care recommendations. The aim of this study was to explore nursing and dental professionals’ experiences and perceptions of oral care cards. Nursing and dental care staff were interviewed in groups or individually. The recorded data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. A theme emerged: Navigating an oral care responsibility that is not anchored in the nursing and dental care context. The theme was elucidated in three categories: “Accessibility and usefulness”, “Coordination between nursing and dental care”, and “Ethical approach”. The participants perceived a lack of surrounding frameworks and collaboration concerning oral care and the use of oral care cards. An oral care card could ideally facilitate interprofessional and person-centered oral care. However, oral health does not seem to have found its place in the nursing care context. Further research is needed to investigate how oral care cards ought to be developed and designed to support oral health care work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Oral Health Care for Vulnerable Populations)

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

21 pages, 3839 KiB  
Review
Conscious Sedation for Dental Treatments in Subjects with Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Claudia Salerno, Silvia Cirio, Giulia Zambon, Valeria D’Avola, Roberta Gaia Parcianello, Cinzia Maspero, Guglielmo Campus and Maria Grazia Cagetti
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1779; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031779 - 18 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3012
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to investigate the conscious sedation efficiency in patients with intellectual disability undergoing dental treatment (PROSPERO CRD42022344292). Four scientific databases were searched by ad-hoc prepared strings. The literature search yielded 731 papers: 426 were selected, 42 were [...] Read more.
This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to investigate the conscious sedation efficiency in patients with intellectual disability undergoing dental treatment (PROSPERO CRD42022344292). Four scientific databases were searched by ad-hoc prepared strings. The literature search yielded 731 papers: 426 were selected, 42 were obtained in full-text format, and 4 more were added after hand searching. Fourteen studies were finally included, 11 of which were included in the meta-analysis (random effect model). A high heterogeneity in the drugs used and route of administration was retrieved. Success rate, occurrence of side effects, and deep sedation occurrence were combined to give an overall efficiency of each drug. N2O/O2 reported the highest efficiency (effect size = 0.90; p < 0.01) and proved to be more efficient when used alone. Nine papers reported a success rate of sedation of 80% or more. The prevalence of side effects (6 studies) ranged from 3% to 40%. Enteral and parenteral benzodiazepines showed the same overall efficiency (effect size = 0.86). No meta-analysis has yet been conducted to define the most effective and safest way to achieve conscious sedation in patients with intellectual disability; nitrous oxide appears to be the best choice to perform conscious sedation in patients with intellectual disability undergoing dental treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Oral Health Care for Vulnerable Populations)
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9 pages, 725 KiB  
Review
Functional Dentition, Chronic Periodontal Disease and Frailty in Older Adults—A Narrative Review
by Gabriel Lee Keng Yan, Mei Na Tan, Mun Loke Wong, Chong Meng Tay and Patrick Finbarr Allen
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010502 - 28 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2539
Abstract
Background: The likelihood of experiencing the impact of chronic disease rises with age, and cumulative functional deficits over time increase the risk of frailty in older adults. The exact causes of frailty are not clear, and research is needed to identify appropriate intervention [...] Read more.
Background: The likelihood of experiencing the impact of chronic disease rises with age, and cumulative functional deficits over time increase the risk of frailty in older adults. The exact causes of frailty are not clear, and research is needed to identify appropriate intervention measures to reduce risk of developing frailty in old age. Objective: To review the evidence on the relationship between frailty, dental status and chronic periodontitis and to determine if improvements in oral health of older adults can contribute to reversal of frailty. Results: The oral cavity is the entry point to the gastro-intestinal tract, and natural teeth facilitate efficient mastication of food prior to swallowing and subsequent digestion. The loss of natural teeth, which is gradual and cumulative over the life course, is associated with diminished nutritional intake, especially in older adults. Furthermore, chronic periodontitis has been postulated as a risk factor for frailty. The evidence supporting a strong relationship between oral health status and frailty is not clearcut. Cross sectional studies suggest an association with missing teeth and chronic periodontal inflammation. However, there are very few longitudinal studies and accordingly, it is not currently possible to claim a causal relationship. As yet, there is no evidence to suggest that improvements in oral health contribute to reversal of frailty. Conclusion: Longitudinal studies with robust designs are required to better inform the relationship across functional dentition, chronic periodontitis and frailty in older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Oral Health Care for Vulnerable Populations)
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Other

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8 pages, 305 KiB  
Brief Report
Evaluation of Mobile and Community Dental Service Use among People Experiencing Homelessness
by Bohuslav Novak, Marek Matajs, Alessandro Emanuele Sangalli, Halyna Pruts, Anna Korpasova, Nikos Leptos, Peter Stanko, Michal Tinak and Michaela Kosticova
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 845; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010845 - 2 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2190
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the patterns of mobile and community dental service use among people experiencing homelessness in Bratislava, Slovakia. Data from medical records of homeless people who visited the mobile and community dental clinic from November 2012 to [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the patterns of mobile and community dental service use among people experiencing homelessness in Bratislava, Slovakia. Data from medical records of homeless people who visited the mobile and community dental clinic from November 2012 to July 2018 have been retrospectively reviewed. The experience of providing dental services has been reported from the perspective of the dental care provider. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. In total, 319 patients (75.5% men) attended the clinic. Extraction of a tooth was the main dental treatment indicated in more than 80% (n = 276) of patients. A total of 363 teeth were extracted with an average number of 1.6 extracted teeth per patient. The main indications for extraction were dental caries and its sequelae (83.7%) and periodontal disease (15.2%). The patients with the need for prosthetic and conservative treatment were referred to the clinics at University Hospital; however, only 19 patients received the treatment. The barriers to accessing dental care were cost, logistic problems and individual psychological factors. We found that people experiencing homelessness in Slovakia have high needs and demands of emergency dental care and many systemic and individual barriers prevent them from accessing care. Community-based dental services are important for improving access to dental care and reducing oral health inequities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Oral Health Care for Vulnerable Populations)
18 pages, 1119 KiB  
Systematic Review
Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Oral Health among Children Living with HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Phoebe Pui Ying Lam, Ni Zhou, Cynthia Kar Yung Yiu and Hai Ming Wong
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 11943; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911943 - 21 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2376
Abstract
Oral health is an integral component of general health and well-being but might be undermined among children living with HIV (CLWH) due to the condition itself or the antiretroviral therapy (ART) received. This review summarises the current evidence and compares the oral health [...] Read more.
Oral health is an integral component of general health and well-being but might be undermined among children living with HIV (CLWH) due to the condition itself or the antiretroviral therapy (ART) received. This review summarises the current evidence and compares the oral health status of the CLWH who were treatment-naïve with those undergoing different ART medications. Fourteen studies were included in the final qualitative and quantitative analyses. This review identified no significant difference in the prevalence of caries, periodontal conditions, and tooth development between both groups. Orofacial opportunistic infections were more prevalent in the CLWH without ART. Children undergoing ART with a duration longer than 3 years had a significantly lower prevalence of oral candidiasis and CD4+ T-cell counts. However, due to the insufficient number of well-administered case–control studies with adequate sample size, the quality of the evidence in all outcomes was of very low certainty. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Oral Health Care for Vulnerable Populations)
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