Community dentistry and oral epidemiology
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Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Jun 2012
Relative performance of different dental professional groups in screening for occlusal caries.
The use of role substitution, where different levels of practitioner undertake the duties of the most qualified clinician, is common in medicine and dentistry. Proponents argue that role substitution has the potential to increase dentists' efficiency and effectiveness, thereby freeing up resources to improve access and reduce oral health inequalities. Given the current global economic climate, many countries are re-examining models of service provision to utilize role substitution. The objective of this study was to determine whether different members of the dental team could meet the diagnostic threshold set by the World Health Organization, when screening photographs of occlusal surfaces for dental caries. ⋯ Even with minimal training, different members of the dental team show the potential to screen for occlusal caries to a similar standard as primary care dentists. This requires further testing in vivo, but has important implications for the productivity and design of the future dental workforce.
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Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Feb 2012
Quality of cluster randomized controlled trials in oral health: a systematic review of reports published between 2005 and 2009.
To assess the quality of methods and reporting of recently published cluster randomized trials (CRTs) in oral health. ⋯ These results suggest that the quality of recent CRTs in oral health is relatively high and appears to compare favourably with other fields. However, there remains room for improvement. Authors of future trials should endeavour to ensure sample size calculations and analyses properly account for clustering (and are reported as such), consider the potential for recruitment/identification bias at the design stage, describe the steps taken to avoid this in the final report and report observed ICCs and cluster-level eligibility criteria.
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Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Dec 2011
The risk of temporomandibular disorder in patients with depression: a population-based cohort study.
This study used a population-based retrospective cohort design to examine whether depression is a risk factor of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). ⋯ This study demonstrates that patients with depression are at an elevated risk of developing TMD.
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Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Aug 2011
Utilizing dental hygienists to undertake dental examination and referral in residential aged care facilities.
The Australian population is ageing, and a growing proportion of elderly Australians are now living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). These residents are commonly dependent on others for their daily oral hygiene care and often display high levels of plaque and calculus. With declining edentulism rates, periodontal disease is becoming more prevalent in this population. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of a dental hygienist to undertake a dental examination for residents of aged care facilities, devise a periodontal and preventive treatment plan and refer patients appropriately to a dentist. ⋯ Dental hygienists have the skills and knowledge necessary for undertaking a dental examination for residents, correctly identifying the majority of residents who require a referral to a dentist. They are capable of formulating appropriate dental hygiene treatment plans for residents of aged care facilities. It is recommended that there should be greater utilization of hygienists in the provision of dental care to residents of aged care facilities, as a safe, efficient and effective use of health resources.
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Community Dent Oral Epidemiol · Jun 2011
An appraisal of the quality of published qualitative dental research.
To appraise the quality of published qualitative research in dentistry and identify aspects of quality, which require attention in future research. ⋯ The quality of much of the qualitative research published on dental topics is mediocre. Qualitative methods are underutilized in oral health research. If quality guidelines such as the CASP framework are used in the context of a thorough understanding of qualitative research design and data analysis, they can promote good practice and the systematic assessment of qualitative research.