bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HALITOSIS AND ORAL HEATH BEHAVIOUR IN DEBRECEN, HUNGARY
Authors: Nemes J.A. , Papp Z.S. , RÁcz N. , MÁth J. , Alberth M.
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of halitosis in different age groups in a general population in Debrecen, Hungary and to investigate the factors that may be associated with halitosis.

Method: Participants were recruited in connection with their annual examination at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Debrecen. Volunteers were informed about the aims of the study and the proposed methods. Their written consent was obtained before the study began. The study protocol was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Clinical Research of the University of Debrecen. Four hundred and fifty-four volunteers (aged 14-90 years, mean 35.7 year) underwent organoleptic testing by a trained dentist and volatile sulphur compound (VSC) measurements by gas- chromatography. All had completed a standardised questionnaire to obtain information on their self-reported halitosis, oral health behaviour and life style (oral hygiene, frequency of dental visits, smoking, alcohol use, and stress level). Data were statistically analysed using chi- square and t-tests, correlations were evaluated by Spearman rank correlation analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: 230 patients (52.2%) reported oral malodour according to the questionnaire. With organoleptic testing and gas-chromatography this figure was 57.5% (261) and 51% (231), respectively. We found significant correlation between organoleptically measured halitosis and VSC levels (p=0.001), but we couldn’t find significant correlation between self-reported halitosis and organoleptic scores. In smoking, alcohol consumption and oral hygiene practices we found significant gender differences. Organoleptic testing found higher halitosis levels in males (p=0.034). The prevalence of halitosis increased with age. Significant correlations were found between organoleptic scores and smoking, alcohol consumption, dental visit frequency, stress level and mouth rinse use. It was found that self-reported halitosis had statistically significant correlation with tooth brushing frequency, mouth rinse and dental floss use, stress level and dry mouth problem.

Conclusions: Bad breath is a significant, but underestimated problem in Hungary, its prevalence is greater than in other European countries. A direct correlation exists between oral hygiene practices and halitosis. Oral hygiene education should be provided on a population level to encourage the maintenance of oral health and fresh breath, but the formulation of an appropriate preventive strategy against oral malodor should be done individually.
ORAL MANIFESTATIONS OF HIV INFECTION: A STUDY IN A FRENCH HOSPITAL
Authors: Radoi L. , Seguier S. , Veille-Finet A. , Folliguet M.
Published: February 2025

Background: HIV infected patients may present with oral problems related to immunosuppression, smoking, alcohol, drugs or poor oral hygiene. Antiretroviral drugs used to effectively treat HIV infection mean that morbidity and mortality from opportunistic infections have significantly decreased.

Aims: This observational study was conducted on the oral status of HIV infected patients, treated in hospital day care (ethics committee NÂ° 11-039). We compared the prevalence of oral pathologies by disease stage and analysed oral manifestations according to CD4+ T-cell counts and oral hygiene. Chisquare tests were used and significance level was p<0.05.

Results: 60 patients were enrolled during 10 months, 55% (n = 33) women (mean age: 44.3 years); 65% had no dental practitioner. CD4 T-cell counts fell below 200/μL in 10% (n = 6) patients. About 62% of patients had an undetectable viral load and 87% received triple therapy; around 44% of patients presented oral manifestations and 23.5% (n = 14) had a plaque index > 50%. There were no significant correlation between oral lesions and disease stages (p=0.58), or CD4 T-cell counts (p=0.92). However, oral lesions were strongly correlated with poor hygiene (p<0.001). Discussion: Many publications highlight the decrease of oral lesions in triple therapy patients. These are often seen in patients without medical follow up or with discontinuous care, typically with insecure situations and social isolation. They are often rejected by private practitioners, hospital being their last option. Prescription of antiretroviral drugs and treatment of opportunistic infections could explain the lack of correlation between HIV infection and oral pathologies.

Conclusion: These results show that regular medical and dental follow up leads to a decrease in the incidence of HIV oral manifestations. The positive assessment of this hospital study encouraged us to create a systematic dental consultation for HIV infected patients. So, care could continue, especially in underserved and isolated people.
ANXIETY AND PERSONALITY IN DENTAL PRACTICE
Authors: Mihaylova I.
Published: February 2025

Aims: Dental anxiety as a barrier in dental practice impacts on dental attendance patterns and respectively on dental health. Observation on age-specific characteristics, personality types and dental anxiety of dental patients gives the opportunity for patient behavior to be more comprehensively studied, as dentist-patient communication is improved. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation of anxietypersonality and the impact of personality type and dental anxiety on dental attendance patterns.

Methods: In 2015 a total of 250 questionnaires were distributed (response rate 92.4%, n=231) among randomly selected male and female patients in six dental surgeries, who were divided into 4 age groups according to Havighusts age classification (18-29: n=41 (17.7%); 30-39:n=65 (28.1%); 40-59: n= 87 (37.7%) and over 60 years old : n=38 (16.4%)) administered questionnaires consisting of Eysencks Personality Test, Corah Dental anxiety Scale and an item about attendance patterns. The study included only those participants who gave informed consent. Descriptive test, statistical analysis and Pearsons correlation coefficient were used to search for statistically significant correlations. Results: 140 (61%) subjects showed low levels of dental anxiety, 65 (28%)-moderate DA, 14 (6%)-high DA and 12 (5%)-severe DA. The analysis showed a weak negative correlation between dental anxiety and extraversion (p = -0.154) as dental anxiety and neuroticism (p = -0.021) among males. Female results for these two conditions showed a weak positive correlation, respectively p = 0.086 and p = 0.236. The analysis showed there was a moderate correlation between dental anxiety and attendance patterns in the age groups 18-29 and over 60. There was a sex difference in that dependency-weak positive correlation about males (R = 0.160) and significant positive correlation about females (R = 0.438).

Conclusion: The study showed that dental anxiety is a multi-dimensional phenomenon associated with age, sex and personality characteristics. Comprehensive knowledge of psychological aspects in dental practice can be helpful for both patient and dentist.
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DENTAL CARIES AND BMI AMONG 5-9 YEAR OLD BANGLADESHI CHILDREN
Authors: Mishu M.P. , Watt R. , Tsakos G. , Heilmann A.
Published: February 2025

Dental caries is the most common childhood disease worldwide. Findings from different studies provide inconsistency in association between dental caries and height, weight and BMI in young children. The aim of this study is to assess the associations between dental caries and Height, weight and BMI among 5 to 9 year old Bangladeshi children.

Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted in August to October 2015 among 5-9 year old children in Dhaka City of Bangladesh. The University College London and National Research Ethics committee approved the study and parental consent was obtained for each subject. Children were randomly recruited from those coming for dental treatment in Dhaka Dental College Hospital and from three nearby primary schools. Both clinical and non-clinical data were collected. Clinical data was collected from the children and non-clinical data was collected from both parents and children through questionnaires. Clinical dental data was collected through a dental examination, using standard WHO Oral Health Survey Basic Methods, 2013; by trained and calibrated dentists. Height and weight of the children were also measured and converted to Z-scores, namely weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and BMI-for-age (BAZ) Z scores and these were outcome variables. A combined measure of decayed, missing and filled deciduous and permanent tooth (dmft+DMFT) was used as the main exposure for the final analysis. Data was analysed by using Stata version 13.0. First the analysis for bi variable association was conducted and finally multiple linear regression analysis was used in order to assess the associations of interest adjusted for possible confounding factors: age, sex, parental education, occupation and house hold family income.

Results: total sample size was 788 children. Among them 388 (49.2%) were boys and 400 (50.7%) were girls. The children were 5-9 year old and majority (86.8%) was within 6-8 years. The mean age was 7.12 years (95% CI 7.05- 7.19). The mean dmft+DMFT in the study population were 2.8 (95% CI 2.6-3.0). Children with a higher level of caries experience had statistically significant lower HAZ, WAZ and BAZ scores than those with lower caries and with no dental caries group. The result of multiple linear regressions showed that with each number increase of dental caries there were 0.1 Z score decrease in HAZ, WAZ and BAZ after adjusting for other factors (p<0.001). The result of this study provides evidence that dental caries was associated with lower height, weight and BMI of children in Bangladesh.

The study was funded by Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, UK.The study was part of the PhD project of the presenter and her PhD studentship was also funded by Commonwealth Scholarship.
ORAL HEALTH PRACTICES OF FIRST GRADE LYCÉE STUDENTS: A SAMPLE FROM TURKEY
Authors: KiliÇ M. , Yukarikir N. , GÜÇİz DoĞan B. , Bahar ÖzvariŞ Ş.
Published: February 2025

There are few studies related to the oral health practices of first grade lycée students (14-year-olds) in Turkey.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the oral health practices of first grade lycée students from a predominantly middle to lower socio- economic district of Ankara.

Methods: The oral health practices of 14-years-olds from nine lycées were investigated along with their general health status and that of their parents and teachers. Ethics approval was obtained from Non- Interventional Clinical Researches Ethics Board of Hacettepe University. Permission for the study was obtained from the Educational Directorate of the province. Parental informed consent was also obtained. Participation was voluntary. All 1,667 students who were 14-years-old, their parents and 424 teachers were invited to take part. Data were collected from students via a structured, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire, and analyzed by using SPSS 21.0. The relation between variables were evaluated by Chisquare test and a p value <0.05 set for statistical significance.

Results: For various reasons 1,177 (70.6%) participated the study. Of the participants, 647 (55.0%) were male (mean age 14,29±0,5 years). Only 262 (24.2%) of mothers had lycée or a higher education and 220 (20.4%) were currently working; these figures for fathers were 465 (43.7%) and 897 (92.6%) respectively. Of the responding families, 534 (48.8%) reported that they had a moderate socio-economic status. Five hundred (98.4%) female students and 567 (94.7%) male students reported that they had their own toothbrush (p=0.001). For frequency of tooth brushing, 32 (3%) said they never brushed their teeth and 486 (45.2%) at least twice a day. Almost all of the students who were brushing their teeth were using tooth paste and most of them said they renewed their tooth brush every six months or more frequently. There was no significant difference between genders with regard to never visiting a dentist, which was the answer from 242 (20.6%) of students. However, only 366 (43.8%) provided details of their last dental visit. Among these students, the most frequent cause for last visit was pain 115 (31.4%), and half of them had their last dental visit less than one year previously. Almost all of those who responded to this question 327 (90.2%) stated they visited the dentist whenever they had an oral complaint.

Conclusions: The frequency of dental visits and tooth brushing at least twice a day were worse than those reported in developed countries. To improve this situation, schools offer a good location to provide oral health education. The training related to oral health should begin from preschool age and should continue to the end of secondary education. Parental participation as well as that of dental professionals would increase the awareness of this issue.
SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN ORAL HEALTH ASPECTS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN
Authors: Lambert M.J. , Vanobbergen J. , Martens L.C. , de Visschere L.
Published: February 2025

Oral health inequality in children is a widespread and well-documented problem in oral health care. However, objective and reliable methods to determine these inequalities in all oral health aspects, including both dental attendance and oral health, are rather scarce.

Aims: to explore oral health inequalities and to assess the impact of socio-economic factors on oral health, oral health behaviour and dental compliance of primary schoolchildren.

Methods: Data collection was executed in 2014 within a sample of 2,216 children in 105 primary schools in Flanders, by means of an oral examination and a validated questionnaire. Intermutual Agency database was consulted to objectively determine individuals social state and frequency of utilization of oral health care services. Underprivileged children were compared to more fortunate children for their mean DMFt, DMFs, Plaque index, Care Index (CI), Restorative Index (RI), Treatment Index (TI), knowledge and attitude. Differences in proportions for dichotomous variables (RI100%, TI100% and being a regular dental attender)were analysed. The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Ghent (2010/061). All parents signed an informed consent form prior to data collection. All schools received information about the study protocol and agreed to participate. Children requiring dental treatment or periodic recall were referred to the local dentist.

Results: Underprivileged children showed worse outcomes for all explanatory variables (p<0.05). In the low- income group, 78.4% was caries free, compared to 88.4% for the other children. Half of the low-income children could be considered as regular dental attenders, whether 12.6% did not have any dental visit during a five year period.

Conclusion: Oral health, oral hygiene, oral health care level and dental attendance patterns are strongly negatively affected by childrens social class, leading to oral health inequalities in Belgian primary school children. Methods of funding: The research presented in this report is part of the Glimlachen.be project (www.glimlachen. be), commissioned and financed by the Insurance Committee for Health Care of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance. The authors thank the Flemish Dental Association (VVT), the dentist examiners and all contributors.
STUDY ON THE STATISTICAL INDEX OF DECAYED, MISSED AND FILLED TEETH (DMFT) IN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF ZARAND CITY IN 2011
Authors: Sadr S. , Masoudi R. , Morabbi D. , Ansari Fard S.
Published: February 2025

Knowledge of the prevalence of oral diseases, including dental caries, is essential to plan for prevention and treatment prevent of these diseases.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate DMFT in 12- years-old students from all 12 secondary schools in Zarand City, Iran in 2011.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study performed using interview, examination and questionnaire. Cluster sampling was used among a sample of 350 12- year- old students. One examiner carried out the study in the schools using WHO (1997) criteria and methods to assess periodontal condition, number of decayed, missed and filled teeth, existing fluorosis, occlusion, and need for orthodontic and preventive treatment. The data were analyzed by SPSS software Version 17. Ethics approval for the study was given by the ethics committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences.

Results: The mean of DMFT index was 2.03. It ranged from zero for 121 students (34.6%) to a maximum of 11 in two students. There was no significant difference in need for orthodontic treatment between different groups of DMFT. Conclusion: In terms of the WHO target for 12-year-olds , the DMFT index for the sample assessed in Zarand city was not acceptable as it did not meet WHO target for 12- yearolds. It was decided that it was necessary to perform a special program in the schools to try to improve the situation.
BARRIERS TO ORAL HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN: A QUALITATIVE STUDY
Authors: Momeni Z. , Sargeran K. , Yazdani R.
Published: February 2025

Despite overall improvements in oral health, a large number of children in the world are affected by dental caries; and the implementation of oral health promotion in some families remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to explore the perception of mothers regarding barriers of dental care for children.

Methods: The present study was a part of a multi-level qualitative research with a content analysis approach which was conducted in Tehran, Iran in 2015. Qualitative data were collected via 12 focus group discussions and semi- structured interviews for understanding the perception of school childrens mothers on the barriers of oral health care. Sampling was goal-based, and continued until data saturation was reached. The study population consisted of a representative sample of Iranian women (n=58) of diverse ages selected from different districts of the capital Tehran, who had a first grade primary school child. All mothers agreed to attend the study and answered all the questions. Data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method in MAXQDA 10. The study was granted ethical approval by the Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Results: Based on the findings of the study three key themes of oral health barriers, each with a number of sub- themes, were identified and categorised as: (1) Barriers at the organization level, (2) Barriers at the patient-provider relationship level, and (3) Barriers at the family level (children and parents). Informants reported cost, inconvenience, fear, and low access to dental services as the main barriers to providing oral health care for their children. Fear of dental procedures and cost of treatment, were the most reported barriers.

Conclusions: Understanding the barriers to oral health promotion is needed for improving oral health of children. This study highlighted the need for efforts focused on reducing parents and childrens fear of dentistry and avoiding giving child oral health care a low priority, due to the cost of dental care.
MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORT DURING SMOKING CESSATION IN HUNGARY
Authors: Paulik E. , MolnÁr R. , Foley K.L. , Rogers T. , Easterling D.
Published: February 2025

Smoking is associated with poor oral health, including increased risk of leukoplakia, gum disease, and oral cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking and preference for quitting, as well as to describe the role of health professionals in promoting smoking cessation.

Methods: The results presented in this abstract come from the second phase of a national survey, which took place between 2008 and 2013. It involved a nationally representative sample of households in 48 districts of Hungary. Details of the sampling technique used will be presented in the poster. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 1,042 people aged ≥18 years. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate smoking prevalence, quit attempts, and health professional efforts to support cessation (using SPSS v.23). The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Szeged (No. 2431/2008). Informed written consent was obtained from study participants.

Results: The response rate was 70.4 % and 1013 of the completed questionnaires contained sufficient data to analyse. Of the daily smokers (292; 28.8%), 124 (42.5%) were thinking of quitting, and 26 (8.9%) were ready to quit. For current smokers, reporting a recent quit attempt (n=243), the frequency of medical support was relatively low: 26 (10.7%) used medication (e.g., nicotine patch), and 48 (19.8%) received advice from a doctor, dentist, or other health care worker. Only two people attended a quit smoking group, while 138 (56.8%) were supported by family or friends. There were no differences in cessation support across socio- demographic parameters.

Conclusions: In the group studied .the desire to quit smoking was high and the health professional support for quitting was underused. Dentists and other health professionals can support patients in their desire to quit, ultimately reducing the smoking prevalence and its adverse population health effects in Hungary.
TREATMENT OF CARIOUS PRIMARY MOLARS IN ANXIOUS CHILDREN WITH OZONE: A PILOT STUDY
Authors: Rodionova A. , Maslak E. , Khmysova T.
Published: February 2025

Aim: To study the results of treating carious lesions in primary molars with ozone in anxious children.

Methods: A pilot study was conducted in Volgograd Pediatric Dental Clinic No.2. The study was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee. Informed consent from parents was obtained. In twenty-six 17-51-month-old children (average age 46.2 month) 60 occlusion surfaces of 60 molars diagnosed with ICDAS-II score 3-4 were treated using two methods (a split-mouth design) by an experienced dentist. The conventional invasive method (drilling and filling with glass ionomer cement (GIC) was used in 30 molars (G1), the non-invasive method (gaseous ozone application for 6 seconds and sealing cavitated caries lesions with GIC without excavation of carious dentine) was used in 30 molars (G2). The children were anxious (using the Anxiety Rating Scale and an Uncooperative Behavior Rating Scale) and were judged by the referring dentist as non-treatable. Immediately after the treatment of each tooth a 5-point visual analog scale (VAS) was used to reveal children’s evaluation of the treatment (0 = no discomfort for a child during treatment, 5 = significant discomfort). A chi-squared test was used to compare G1 and G2 results.

Results: Using the VAS, 2 of 30 (6.6%) cases in G1 and 28 of 30 (93.3%) cases in G2 were rated as no discomfort up to mild discomfort. Significant, unacceptable discomfort was recorded for 28 of 30 (93.4%) cases in G1 and 3 of 30 (10%) cases in G2 (Chi square, p<0.05).

Conclusion: Treatment of carious primary molars with ozone is more comfortable for the anxious children as compared with the invasive technique.
REVIEW OF TEACHING SOCIOLOGY IN THE DENTAL CURRICULUM IN HUNGARY
Authors: MolnÁr R. , ErdŐs C.S. , Paulik E.
Published: February 2025

Social and behavioural sciences are an essential part of dental education. To understand the uptake of dental treatment by the Hungarian population, dentists and dental hygienists need to study the way that society functions in the present century.

Aim: The aim of this study was to review the dental curriculum and generate recommendations to improve the dental undergraduate curriculum from the point of cultural and social processes, and of how to address oral health inequalities.

Methods: Content analysis of medical sociology in the dental undergraduate curriculum through a narrative literature review of the most important Hungarian and English research on dental sociology.

Results: The content analysis focused on three different parts of sociology, which were dentists, patients and doctor- patient interaction. 1) The dentists are presented from the viewpoint of professional socialization of dental students, main fields and components of professional attitudes and the social status of the dentists, the burnout syndrome among dentists. 2) Patients, the inequalities of dental status were explained on the basis of socioeconomic status; the oral health behaviour, the dental check-ups and other visits to the dentist were shown by the health belief model. 3) Doctor- patient interaction was seen to be an essential part of healthcare. Other aspects included: the psychosocial model of mutual participation, the sociology of dental anxiety, main regularities of dentist-patient communications, patient satisfaction and its psychosocial indicators criteria for good dentist behaviour and going to the doctor process are involved in the curriculum.

Conclusion: Because oral health is an essential part of the general health and well-being of individuals and yet there are significant oral health disparities all over the world, in the light of the results of this review, it is important to incorporate medical sociology into the sociology of dental health and develop a curriculum which is more practice- oriented has a closer connection with dental public health and prevention.
LEADERSHIP IN THE SWEDISH PUBLIC DENTAL SERVICE (PDS) IN A TIME OF CHANGE
Authors: PÄLVÄRINNE R.  , WIDSTRÖM E.
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to investigate how the PDS, run by 21 regional authorities called County Councils in Sweden, have managed to keep a strong market position in a time of changes in political ideologies and increased competition with the private sector.

Methods: All PDS-managers (Chief Dental Officers) having had the leading position for at least five years (n=22) were asked to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview about their leadership – a study approved by the Ethical Review Board of Malmö University. Sixteen persons participated and they were questioned about the impact of their leadership on the present position of the PDS-organisation, visions, short-time goals and strategies in use, personal actions and opinions on the progress of the competition situation. The questions were sent to CDOs by email before the interview. The interviews were audio taped and transcribed and analysed using the qualitative content analysis method.

Results: The CDOs had handled the situation of increased competition through brand building, “Folktandvården” (in Sweden the name of the national PDS), and core value work related to both patients and employees, and less through competitive analysis. However, limited liability company CDOs had a slightly different appearance in their way to describe visions, strategies and short-time goals than the CDOs working in County Councils having more traditional administration forms for the PDS. They used business concepts such as customers, market shares, and yield ups, which did not emerge as clearly in the answers of the other CDOs. Most CDOs considered their own acting as important for a successful development of their PDS organisation.

Conclusions: The PDS seems to have a strong position in the Swedish dental care market and much effort had been put into consolidating this position.
EDUCATION-RELATED INEQUALITY IN DENTAL CARIES BEFORE AND AFTER A MAJOR SUBSIDIZATION REFORM
Authors: Raittio E. , Vehkalahti M. , Helminen S. , Suominen A.L.
Published: February 2025

Between 2001 and 2002, major legislative changes were made in Finland; coverage of subsidized oral health care was extended to cover the whole population.

Aims: This study aimed to analyse education-related inequality in untreated dental caries and restorative treatment need among adults aged 30 years and older living in Northern and Southern Finland in 2000 and in 2011. In addition, factors explaining the education-related inequality in the untreated dental caries and restorative treatment need were examined.

Methods: Data were taken from the Health 2000 and 2011 population based surveys including information gathered by interviews and clinical dental examinations from Southern and Northern Finland. Participants were recruited via stratified two-stage cluster sampling. Final sample sizes were 2,423 in 2000 and 1,192 in 2011, of whom 888 participated in both study years. Education-related inequalities in number of decayed or fractured teeth were analysed using Poisson regression analysis, relative and slope index of inequality. Explanatory variables were age, gender, time since last dental visit, tooth brushing frequency, marital status, perceived general health and residential location. Ethical approval for the Health 2000 and 2011 surveys was obtained from the coordinating ethics committee of the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital Region.

Results: Average number of decayed or fractured teeth decreased from 2000 to 2011 (from 0.93 to 0.73 p<0.05). Absolute and relative education-related inequalities decreased approximately 50-60% and 30% from 2000 to 2011, respectively. Tooth brushing frequency and time since last dental visit explained approximately 30-40% of the education-related inequalities. The contribution of time since last dental visit to the education-related inequalities was smaller in 2011 than in 2000.

Conclusions: After the major oral health care reform in Finland it seems that, from 2000 to 2011, the levels of untreated dental caries and restorative treatment need decreased hand in hand with educationrelated inequality.
REDUCING DENTAL INEQUALITIES THROUGH A SUSTAINABLY MINDED WORKFORCE: A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
Authors: Vadher D.J.*. , Shah S.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Health and the environment are intrinsically linked; protection of the environment is essential for ensuring the long-term health of people and communities. As health practitioners, concerned with the well-being of patients, it is imperative we consider the environment whilst providing dental care. Dental care should be provided considering social, environmental and economic constraints, to reduce dental inequalities and the ensure resources for future generations simultaneously. To address these issues “An Introduction to Sustainable Dentistry and Measuring Carbon in Healthcare” e-learning module has been produced to educate the dental workforce to act sustainably and take a more holistic approach to health care delivery. The module is accessible for free via the “ e-learning for health” platform for the NHS workforce.

Aim: An aim at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) is to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability in dentistry amongst dental professionals.

Methods: This poster details the methods within the module. Initiation of the module was the result of a project and stakeholder mapping exercise involving a programme reference group. A stakeholder analysis identified key groups which the team at CSH would need to influence. Project opportunities were mapped against key groups to isolate which projects could deliver the highest impact. Development of the e-module was deemed the highest impact project to influence a change towards sustainable practice. With the aid of the programme reference group and professionals with knowledge in sustainability and carbon modelling, development of the module commenced. The four Principles of Sustainable healthcare form the foundation of the module content. Disease prevention and health promotion with an emphasis on patient education and self-care can help reduce the burden on an already stretched health care system. Furthermore the development of lean service delivery pathways, with integration of specialist services and use of clinically effective low carbon medical technologies will reduce resource use. Adherence to the four Principles, considering the triple bottom line and wider determinants of health when designing dental systems and in daily clinical practice can enable provision of an efficient, more equitable dental service, thereby reducing dental inequalities in the population of interest. The module successfully launched on NHS Sustainability day this year.

Conclusion: The module is currently under evaluation which will be reported on in the near future. We envision the training module could be used more widely across Europe, and be a driving force for a system wide change in dentistry, as the environment is a concern to all.
THE DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH CURRICULUM IN DENTAL SCHOOLS IN TURKEY: A PILOT STUDY
Authors: Gallagher J. , Sen B. , Kargul B.
Published: February 2025

In contrast to clinical teaching, Dental public health is unique and challenging because the patient is a population, such as a school, neighbourhood, city or even country. The dental curriculum for undergraduates must prepare them to contribute to the health of both individual patients and for the public health. Graduating dental students will become the healthcare leaders tasked with helping to maintain or improve the health and welfare of the population.

Aim: The purpose of this survey was to assess the curriculum, the teaching-learning experiences and also dental public health based strategies taught at the undergraduate level in some dental schools in Turkey. Ethics approval was granted and agreeing to complete the questionnaire was viewed as consent.

Method: The process used was to review the existing dental public health curriculum in a convenience sample of Turkish dental schools. A questionnaire seeking details of the teaching of dental public health was distributed among 12 dental schools in Turkey.

Results: There was reported to be no department or section of dental public health in six of the dental schools. However, 11 of the dental schools gave education of DPH in the final year of study and this including occasional lectures. 7 of the schools operated outreach visits for the treatment of patients. 3 schools had a DPH programme director or a chairman of a DPH section and all twelve indicated that they plan to extend the teaching of DPH dentistry in the future.

Conclusion: A flexible curriculum is available in some dental schools included in this study. This study demonstrated to need for increased teaching of dental public health topics in those dental schools and a need for further research.
EVALUATION OF THE BANDAR ABBAS CITY DENTISTS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK RELATED TO LOCAL ANESTHETIC DRUGS
Authors: Ansari Fard S. , Hashemi S.N. , Masoudi R. , Morabbi D.
Published: February 2025

Recent Epidemiology studies suggest that the use of drugs which are the cause of anaphylactic shock have has increased globally, including in developing countries. Familiarity with the prevention of anaphylactic shock, especially after the administration of local anaesthetics is of very significant importance for dentists.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the awareness of dentists in Bandar Abbas city of the symptoms, signs and management of anaphylactic shock.

Methods: This study was descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional. During 2015, all dentists working in private offices or dental clinics in Bandar Abbas were invited to participate. Those who agreed received an explanatory note and a questionnaire, which had been piloted. It contained 23 questions on dosage and type of local anaesthesia.

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 65 dentists of whom 23 (35%) scored less than 50%. Many were unfamiliar with the symptoms and signs of anaphylactic shock and none answered all the questions correctly particularly those associated with anaphylactic shock.

Conclusions: The results of this study showed that most of dentists who completed the questionnaire did not have enough knowledge about anaphylaxis. Training on this topic should be offered to dentists in Bandar Abbas.
EVALUATION OF PERCEPTION DIFFERENCES OF SMILE ESTHETICS BY FEMALE PATIENTS, DENTAL STUDENTS, GENERAL DENTISTS AND SPECIALISTS IN TEHRAN, 2013
Authors: Astaneh P.A. , Mousavi S.S. , Ansari Fard S.
Published: February 2025

Concepts of beauty can vary among people of different age, gender, educational level, and cultural background.

Aim: the aim of this study was to evaluate the perception differences of smile aesthetics by female patients, dental students, general dentists and specialists in Tehran in 2013.

Methods: A smiling photograph of a young adult female was taken and digitally altered for three components (gingival exposure, lateral-to-central incisors length ratio, and intra-central mesio-incisal angle) by Adobe Photoshop software. One hundred individuals consisting of 20 female patients, 20 dental students, 20 general dentists and 40 specialists (20 in operative dentistry and 20 in prosthodontics) were selected at random and asked to assess the modified photographs and select the most attractive and unattractive pictures respecting each component. The 100 assessors included 40 males and 60 females with an age ranged between 24-68 years and a mean age of 38.4 years. Data were statistically analyzed with SPSS soft- ware. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann- Whitney tests were used to verify significant differences, at the p<0.05 level, among individual assessors.

Results: In respect of the assessment of the most unattractive gingival exposure, female patients differed significantly from general dentists and specialists in operative dentistry (p<0.05). Female patients perception of most unattractive lateral- to-central incisors length ratio was significantly different to that of dental students, general dentists and specialists in operative dentistry and prosthodontics(p<0.05). Males presented significantly different perceptions to females in most unattractive lateral-to-central incisors length ratio and most attractive intra-central mesioincisal angle (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest differences in aesthetic perception between patients and dental professionals as well as between males and females, dependent on the nature of evaluated smile component.
CLINICAL GOVERNANCE IN GENERAL DENTAL PRACTICE (A REVIEW OF LITERATURE)
Authors: Dehghanian D. , Khoshnevisan M.H. , Zafarmand A.H. , Ebnahmady A. , Eydarpoor P.
Published: February 2025

Clinical governance is a key strategy to improve quality of health care services and consists of seven main areas. Clinical Governance was introduced to the National Health Service (NHS) in 1997 as a framework through which organizations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will be established. The aim of this poster is to present results of a literature review which compared different researches and frameworks for clinical governance in general dental practice.

Methods: A comprehensive review of studies of clinical governance and dental practice was performed using MED LINE and Google Scholar databases. Inclusion criteria were: English language publications in Pub Med and Google scholar since 1999-2016. The search terms were: clinical governance, clinical audit, quality assurance and dental practice. Out of 61 publications, after applying the inclusion criteria, 15 were selected for data extraction.

Results: The results of this review showed that the concept of clinical governance in dental practice is new and many countries are trying to establish frameworks to evaluate dental services based on clinical governance concepts.

Conclusions: The Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) has promoted clinical governance as a framework for safeguarding quality and safety in all hospitals since 2009 but there was no evaluation tool for clinical governance in dental clinics in Iran. As a result, a framework to improve performance in oral health services is required. It will be informed by the results of this literature review.
CHANGES IN GENERAL QUALITY OF LIFE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH ORAL HEALTH
Authors: Bidinotto A.B. , Santos C.M. , Torres L.H.N. , Sousa M.L.R. , Hugo F.N. , Hilgert J.B.
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to evaluate if changes in oral health status were associated with decline in WHOQOL- bref domain scores.

Methods: This longitudinal study was part of a cohort investigation of community dwelling older people in southern Brazil. A random sample of 872 individuals aged 60 or more was evaluated at baseline in 2004. Follow-up was carried out in 2012, with the population for the current study consisting of 389 of the original sample of older people. Interviews were performed to assess socio-demographic data variables and quality of life (WHOQOL-bref). Oral examinations assessing the number of teeth and use of prostheses were performed. Participants were asked to rate their satisfaction with chewing ability and oral appearance. Change in quality of life was categorized as positive, encompassing participants with improved or stable WHOQOL scores, or negative, comprising of participants with a decline in these scores. Risk ratios were estimated by means of Poisson regression.

Results: Overall, 238 (61.2%) participants had experienced a decline in their scores of scores for the WHOQOL physical domain, 229 (58.9%) had a decline in the psychological domain, 308 (79.2%) had a decline in the social domain and finally, in the environment domain, 241 (62.0%) had a lower score. No oral health variables were associated with changes in the physical domain. Tooth loss was associated with decline in the psychological domain RR 1.04 (1.01-1.07), as was improved satisfaction with oral appearance, RR 0.76 (0.58-0.99). Improved satisfaction with oral appearance was also associated with decline in the social domain, RR 0.79 (0.65 - 0.96) and with decline in the environment domain, RR 0.72 (0.55 - 0.95).

Conclusion: The results indicate that preventing tooth loss and addressing a patient’s concern with dental appearance could have an impact in the general quality of life of community dwelling older people.
CARIES STATUS OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN SOUTH-EAST HUNGARY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Authors: PrÁger N. , Orvos H. , VirÁg K. , GorzÓ I. , Radnai M.
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to collect data regarding the caries status of a well determined group of pregnant women – as there has been no epidemiological survey of the dental health status of this group in Hungary, for more than ten years.

Methods: After ethical approval, the socioeconomic and demographic data of 130 women who were in the second half of pregnancy were collected via questionnaire between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2013 at the University of Szeged, Dental School. They arrived at the dental school after referral by district nurses in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Outpatient Clinic. As part of their prenatal care program they received information about a possibility of an oral examination and they themselves had to book the appointment and go to the dental clinic where the screening took place. Only systemically healthy women took part in the study. Their caries status was assessed by two calibrated dentist according to WHO (1997) guidelines. The DMFS and DMFT indices were calculated and compared with the socio-demographic data using one-way ANOVA. Third molars were examined but not included.

Results: The age distribution and number of pregnancies of the women in the study group was similar to that reported for all pregnant women in Hungary in 2011. However, their educational level differed in that 61 (46%) had received higher education, 86 (52%) worked in professions and 116 (89%) were city dwellers. In this respect city dwellers and highly educated women were overrepresented in the group. The mean age of the pregnant woman was 31 years. They had a mean DMFS index of 19.41, and their mean DMFT index was 10.05. Their caries status was related to the age (p=0.008) and to the number of pregnancies (p=0.007). However, no correlation was found with education, occupation and place of residence.

Conclusion: The caries status of this study group was better than in previous examinations in Hungary, besides socio-demographic conditions, probably the better motivation of women who attended the screening had a major influence on this result. The importance of the study was to obtain information about pregnant womens oral health status; since future mothers knowledge and attitude greatly affect the oral health status of their children.
EXPLORING REASONS OF LOW DENTAL ATTENDANCE IN PREGNANT WOMEN: A QUALITATIVE STUDY
Authors: Bahramian H. , Mohebbi S.Z. , Khami M.R. , Shahbazi Sighaldeh S. , Baghalian A.
Published: February 2025

Background: Despite the high prevalence of oral problems among pregnant women and their association with pregnancy outcome, dental service utilization in this period is still low.

Aim: This study aimed to explore reasons for low dental attendance in pregnancy from a pregnant women’s point of view. Methods: In this qualitative study, ten in-depth individual semi-structured interviews and two organized focus groups were conducted by a dentist and a midwife as facilitators to explore the points of view of the pregnant women about dental care during pregnancy. Participants (n=22) were selected conveniently and purposefully from those attending public health centres, in two socioeconomically different districts of Tehran, Iran, for their routine prenatal checkups, in February 2015. A topic guide was used on demographic and pregnancy related questions, their history of receiving dental care and its barriers. After saturation of data ,the interviews were audio-taped and transcribed with the permission of the participants and then coded for content analysis using MAXQDA10 software.

Results: The age of the pregnant women ranged from 18 to 45 years (mean age: 30.4±7.5 years) with a mean gestational stage of 25.3±6.4 weeks. Seven of the women (32%) had academic education. Of 350 extracted codes, the major findings as reasons of low dental attendance in pregnancy were categorised within seven main themes, Cost of dental care, deficient oral health knowledge and cultural barriers, physiological changes, psychological conditions, Lack of time, Unavailability of a qualified dentist.

Conclusions: Financial deprivation and a lack of knowledge were reported as the most common reasons for low dental attendance during pregnancy. Therefore, there is a need to prioritize and tackle the barriers identified in this study to increase dental attendance in this period.