Statistics, Epidemiology, and Dental Public Health

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Longridge ◽  
Pete Clarke ◽  
Raheel Aftab ◽  
Tariq Ali
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Dental Public Health ◽  
Dental Services ◽  
Policy And Strategy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Monitoring Quality

The content of this subject is frequently overlooked, as it is often ‘not seen as pertinent’ to practitioners’ day- to- day work. However, the impact of dental public health (DPH) as a discipline can be far reaching. DPH is concerned with improving the oral health of the population, rather than the individual. It has been described as the science and art of preventing oral disease, promoting oral health, and improving quality of life through the organized efforts of society. DPH teams have numerous responsibilities, including oral health sur­veillance, developing and monitoring quality dental services, oral health improvement, policy and strategy development and implementation, and strategic leadership and collaborative working for health. As such, the impact of DPH can frequently been seen at a local level, e.g. through health promotion campaigns or provision of new/ redistribution of ser­vices (in conjunction with commissioners) to meet local needs. DPH is predominantly a postgraduate subject, and although the undergraduate curriculum does not cover the whole topic, some core knowledge is valuable. In particular, understanding research method­ology and basic statistics is a useful skill to help interpret the dental lit­erature appropriately. This is ever more necessary in the modern era of evidence- based dentistry. The questions in this chapter will predominantly cover the fundamen­tals of statistics relevant to medical research, along with the basics of study design. Additional questions will touch on the concepts of health promotion and epidemiology, with further reading suggested to supple­ment the content. Key topics include: ● Study design ● Data analysis ● Critical appraisal ● Epidemiology ● Health promotion ● Strategic working and collaboration ● Assessing evidence on oral health and dental interventions, pro­grammes, and services ● Developing and monitoring quality dental services.

Dental public health

2021 ◽  
pp. 113-128
Author(s):  
Amira S. Mohamed ◽  
Peter G. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Dental Public Health ◽  
Oral Diseases ◽  
Dental Services ◽  
Oral Neoplasms

Dental public health is concerned with preventing oral disease, promoting oral health, and improving the quality of life through the organized efforts of society. Oral diseases including dental caries, periodontal disease, oral neoplasms, and dentofacial trauma are common, have a significant impact on individuals and wider society, and are largely preventable. While the prevalence and severity of these most common and costly dental diseases have fallen in most developed countries, oral health inequalities exist in relation to socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or region. The links between oral and general health indicate that strategies to improve both sets of problems and reduce inequalities should be integrated within the framework advocated by the Commission for the Social Determinants of Health. Of particular relevance to oral health are increasing the availability of fluoride and ensuring universal access to quality dental services. Factors influencing oral health in the future include tighter financial pressures, changes in disease prevalence, the deprofessionalization of dentistry, the role of consumerism in oral health, and the need for a better evidence base.

Differently Abled – A Dental Public Health Challenge

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Gaurav Gupta ◽  
Manu Narayan ◽  
Navin A Ingle ◽  
Sabyasachi Saha ◽  
Sahana Shivkumar
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Dental Public Health ◽  
Critical Levels ◽  
Dental Services ◽  
Scant Attention ◽  
Significant Disability ◽  
Public Health Challenge

ABSTRACT Oral health care for children and adults with disabilities is a health care area that has received scant attention. It is seen that most persons with a significant disability cannot find a professional resource to provide appropriate and necessary dental care. Lack of access to dental services for this growing segment of our population is reaching critical levels and is a national dilemma.

Essential Dental Public Health

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blánaid Daly ◽  
Paul Batchelor ◽  
Elizabeth Treasure ◽  
Richard Watt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Dental Public Health ◽  
Oral Health Promotion ◽  
Dental Practitioners ◽  
The World ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Based Medicine

Public health is a key concern of modern dental practitioners as they continue to play a vital role in the health of populations across the world. The second edition of Essential Dental Public Health identifies the links between clinical practice and public health with a strong emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Fully revised and updated for a second edition, this textbook is split into four parts covering all the need-to-know aspects of the subject: the principles of dental public health, oral epidemiology, prevention and oral health promotion, and the governance and organization of health services. Essential Dental Public Health is an ideal introduction to the field for dentistry undergraduates, as well as being a helpful reference for postgraduates and practitioners.

scholarly journals Conceptualising natural and quasi experiments in public health

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank de Vocht ◽  
Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi ◽  
Cheryl McQuire ◽  
Kate Tilling ◽  
Matthew Hickman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Target Trial ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Natural or quasi experiments are appealing for public health research because they enable the evaluation of events or interventions that are difficult or impossible to manipulate experimentally, such as many policy and health system reforms. However, there remains ambiguity in the literature about their definition and how they differ from randomized controlled experiments and from other observational designs. We conceptualise natural experiments in the context of public health evaluations and align the study design to the Target Trial Framework. Methods A literature search was conducted, and key methodological papers were used to develop this work. Peer-reviewed papers were supplemented by grey literature. Results Natural experiment studies (NES) combine features of experiments and non-experiments. They differ from planned experiments, such as randomized controlled trials, in that exposure allocation is not controlled by researchers. They differ from other observational designs in that they evaluate the impact of events or process that leads to differences in exposure. As a result they are, in theory, less susceptible to bias than other observational study designs. Importantly, causal inference relies heavily on the assumption that exposure allocation can be considered ‘as-if randomized’. The target trial framework provides a systematic basis for evaluating this assumption and the other design elements that underpin the causal claims that can be made from NES. Conclusions NES should be considered a type of study design rather than a set of tools for analyses of non-randomized interventions. Alignment of NES to the Target Trial framework will clarify the strength of evidence underpinning claims about the effectiveness of public health interventions.

scholarly journals Relationship between dental and periodontal health status and the salivary microbiome: bacterial diversity, co-occurrence networks and predictive models

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Relvas ◽  
A. Regueira-Iglesias ◽  
C. Balsa-Castro ◽  
F. Salazar ◽  
J. J. Pacheco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Periodontal Disease ◽  
Bacterial Diversity ◽  
Predictive Models ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Core Microbiome ◽  
Rdna Sequencing ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe present study used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to assess the impact on salivary microbiome of different grades of dental and periodontal disease and the combination of both (hereinafter referred to as oral disease), in terms of bacterial diversity, co-occurrence network patterns and predictive models. Our scale of overall oral health was used to produce a convenience sample of 81 patients from 270 who were initially recruited. Saliva samples were collected from each participant. Sequencing was performed in Illumina MiSeq with 2 × 300 bp reads, while the raw reads were processed according to the Mothur pipeline. The statistical analysis of the 16S rDNA sequencing data at the species level was conducted using the phyloseq, DESeq2, Microbiome, SpiecEasi, igraph, MixOmics packages. The simultaneous presence of dental and periodontal pathology has a potentiating effect on the richness and diversity of the salivary microbiota. The structure of the bacterial community in oral health differs from that present in dental, periodontal or oral disease, especially in high grades. Supragingival dental parameters influence the microbiota’s abundance more than subgingival periodontal parameters, with the former making a greater contribution to the impact that oral health has on the salivary microbiome. The possible keystone OTUs are different in the oral health and disease, and even these vary between dental and periodontal disease: half of them belongs to the core microbiome and are independent of the abundance parameters. The salivary microbiome, involving a considerable number of OTUs, shows an excellent discriminatory potential for distinguishing different grades of dental, periodontal or oral disease; considering the number of predictive OTUs, the best model is that which predicts the combined dental and periodontal status.

scholarly journals Geriatric oral health concerns, a dental public health narrative

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 883
Author(s):  
Ramprasad Vasthare ◽  
Anil V. Ankola ◽  
Arron Lim Yan Ran ◽  
Prateek Mansingh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Dental Public Health ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Geriatric Population ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Treatment Services

Across the world, the segment of the elderly in populations is seen to be increasing at a rapid rate. There also exists a trend in which more teeth are retained as age increases due to effective dental public health measures like fluoridation. This inevitably places an increased need for dental healthcare among the geriatric populations. Since oral health greatly affects the systemic health of aged individuals, it is imperative for dentists and physicians to work together as a team to impart treatment to the best of one’s abilities for geriatric patients. It is therefore, necessary to first assess the oral health concerns surrounding the geriatric population from the perspective of public health dentistry. Relationship of the elderly with periodontal disease, dental caries, salivary hyposalivation and xerostomia, cognitive changes, and simultaneous usage of diverse medications was discussed. This paper reviewed the literature and then examined and discussed the various problems mentioned in depth and suggested recommendations for a plan of action. Knowledge about the specific oral health concerns and issues will help to better position us in developing strategies for providing better oral healthcare to the geriatric population in addition to the existing systemic healthcare. In the future, the elderly will make up a huge portion of the demographic visiting dentist regularly for a myriad of oral health problems. Dental health professionals therefore, must have adequate training and competency to deal with the predicament of this geriatric population. Preventive and treatment services can ensure healthy aging which will improve the quality of life.

scholarly journals Oral health for healthy aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyh Poh Teo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Oral Diseases ◽  
Primary Care Settings

During the 74th World Health Assembly, a resolution was passed aiming to achieve better oral health as part of universal health coverage, with plans to draft a global strategy and action plan. Oral diseases are a significant problem globally, with implications for older people’s health and quality of life. Oral health is important for healthy aging. Integration of oral health into primary care settings and use of a life-course approach have been shown to be effective in the 8020 campaign in Japan. Accurate data on prevalence of oral disease is required to monitor effectiveness of public health approaches, which should be segregated based on setting, sociodemographic status, and comorbidities. These public health approaches should also be adapted and tailored for implementation during the current COVID-19 pandemic. These considerations are essential to progress the agenda of oral health for healthy aging.

scholarly journals Mobile Apps for Oral Health Promotion: Content Review and Heuristic Usability Analysis (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooks Tiffany ◽  
Paula Blasi ◽  
Sheryl L Catz ◽  
Jennifer B McClure
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Oral Health Promotion ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND There has been an increase in consumer-facing mobile health (mHealth) apps in recent years. Prior reviews have characterized the availability, usability, or quality of popular mHealth apps targeting a range of health behaviors, but none has examined apps that promote better oral health care. Oral disease affects billions of people worldwide and mobile phone use is on the rise, so the market for well-designed and effective oral health apps is substantial. OBJECTIVE We examined the content and usability of popular oral health promotion apps to better understand the current state of these self-help interventions and inform the need and opportunity for future app development. METHODS Between February and March 2018, we identified oral health-focused apps that were designed for Android or iOS, available in English, and targeted adult consumers (as opposed to children or dental health professionals). The sample was limited to the most popular and highly rated apps on each platform. For each app reviewed, we assessed its basic descriptive characteristics (eg, platform, cost), evidence of a theoretical basis or empirical validation, key program functionality, and the extent to which the app addressed diet and tobacco and alcohol use as risk factors for oral disease. We characterized the framing (ie, gain vs loss) of all persuasive messaging and conducted a heuristic analysis to assess each app’s usability as a persuasive health technology. RESULTS Thirty-three apps were eligible for review based on the selection criteria. Two-thirds (22/33, 67%) were geared toward the general public as opposed to dental clinic patients, insurance plan members, or owners of specific electric toothbrushes. Most (31/33, 94%) were free to download, and a majority (19/33, 58%) were sponsored by software developers as opposed to oral health experts. None offered any theoretical basis for the content or had been empirically validated. Common program features included tools for tracking or reminding one to brush their teeth and assistance scheduling dental appointments. Nineteen apps (58%) included educational or persuasive content intended to influence oral health behavior. Only 32% (6/19) of these included a larger proportion of gain-framed than loss-framed messaging. Most of the apps did not mention diet, alcohol or tobacco—important risk factors for oral disease. Overall, the apps performed poorly on standard usability heuristics recommended for persuasive health technologies. CONCLUSIONS The quality of the reviewed apps was generally poor. Important opportunities exist to develop oral health promotion apps that have theoretically grounded content, are empirically validated, and adhere to good design principles for persuasive health technologies.

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