Community dentistry and oral epidemiology
-
Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Aug 2017
Multicenter StudyOral health conceptual knowledge and its relationships with oral health outcomes: Findings from a Multi-site Health Literacy Study.
In 2010, a health literacy instrument designed to measure oral health conceptual knowledge was introduced. This developmental work was limited in that it included a relatively small and homogeneous study population and few oral health measures against which to test concurrent validity. The purpose of the present investigation is to expand upon the earlier work by utilizing a larger study sample and additional outcome variables. ⋯ The present investigation provides additional support for the CMOHK's validity. Researchers are encouraged to incorporate oral health conceptual knowledge into their theoretical frameworks, especially as it relates to beliefs and self-efficacy.
-
Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Aug 2017
Prescribing patterns of analgesics and other medicines by dental practitioners in Australia from 2001 to 2012.
Dental practitioners are able to prescribe a variety of medicines subsidized on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS), the main categories of which are analgesics and antibiotics. We aimed to investigate the patterns of PBS prescribing of non-antimicrobial medicines by dental practitioners in Australia from 2001 to 2012. ⋯ Dental prescribing of analgesics, anti-inflammatories and benzodiazepines in the concessional population has increased significantly over the past decade. These data can form the baseline to further examine appropriate medicine use in the management of dental conditions.
-
Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Jun 2017
Comparative StudyComparing human resource planning models in dentistry: A case study using Canadian Armed Forces dental clinics.
To compare two methods of allocating general dentists to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) dental detachments: a dentist-to-population ratio model and a needs-based model. ⋯ The findings reveal differences between estimation models of <1 FTE, with higher estimates produced from the dentist-to-population ratio model. A larger difference was found in clinics with larger populations. The perceived overestimation of dental human resource requirements suggests that changing to a needs-based model may result in cost savings.
-
Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Oct 2016
The emergency department as a 'last resort': why parents seek care for their child's nontraumatic dental problems in the emergency room.
Over the last two decades, there has been an increasing trend in the number of families using emergency departments (EDs) for treating their children's nontraumatic dental problems. We do not know why families use the ED in this way; to date, little research has addressed parents' decisions. The purpose of this study was to explore the reasons that lead parents to select the ED over a dental clinic for their child's nontraumatic dental problem. ⋯ The ED was families' last resort; parents took their child to the ED because of the lack of other options in their communities rather than a belief that the ED was the best choice for dental care. The current pattern of ED use resulted in stress for these parents and repercussions for the children (e.g., pain, longer waiting, and increased complications); further, it has been shown in the literature to be an economic strain on the health system.
-
Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Dec 2014
Dental caries and fluorosis experience of 8-12-year-old children by early-life exposure to fluoride.
It is important to evaluate concurrently the benefit for dental caries and the risk for dental fluorosis from early exposure to fluoride among children. ⋯ There were significant associations of dental caries and fluorosis experience with sources of early childhood fluoride exposure among children aged 8-12 years in New South Wales. Exposure to fluoridated water during the first 3 years of life was associated with better oral health of school-age children.