bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CARIES PREVALENCE AMONG PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOLCHILDREN OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PRISHTINA
Authors: Doberdoli D. , Begzati A. , Xhaferi B. , Avdiu E. 
Published: February 2025

Aims: To investigate the prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs in preschool and school children attending the International school of Prishtina (ISP). This is private school and children who attend ISP have parents with high income. Methods: Dental examinations based on the World Health Organization (2013) criteria were performed in October 2015 on all 408 children aged 3 to 15 years old who attended the school. Permission to examine the children was given by the school authorities. The examinations were performed at the Marigona dental clinic, which is directly opposite the school, by one of three examiners, who had calibrated and achieved a Kappa score of 0.89. The teeth were clinically examined with standard dental instruments using visualtactile method under standard dental light. The DMFT and dmft indices were recorded as well as the significant caries index (SiC). Results: Amongst the 58 children, with deciduous teeth only, the mean dmft was 3.7. Among the 210 mixed dentition children , the mean DMFT was 1.3 and the mean dmft was 4.0. Among the 140 children who only had permanent teeth, the mean DMFT was 3.7. The mean DMFT for international students was 1.3 and mean dmft 2.1. The highest mean DMFT (4.8) was found in children aged 12-15-years-old. Conclusion: The results show high prevalence of caries among preschool and school children of the ISP.
CLINICAL EFFICACY OF GLASS IONOMER FISSURE SEALING IN YOUNG CHILDREN WITH HIGH CARIES RISK
Authors: Klenovskaya M. , Shakavets N. 
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to evaluate and caries preventive effect of Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) fissure sealants in primary teeth in young Minsk children with high caries risk. Methods: The study was conducted in the university dental school. Regional Ethics Committee approval and parental informed consents were obtained. 83 children aged 1.5-2 years with any signs of dental caries who were referred to the dental clinic were examined by a trained dentist to assess dental status by d1-4mft index and oral hygiene status by the Ribeiro index (1999). After oral examination the children were randomly divided into two groups: preventive or test (n=40) and control (n=43). In the preventive (test) group 67 primary molars were sealed with GIC. In the control group there were 77 primary molars without any sign of dental caries. In both groups children brushed with fluoride dentifrice at home. The dynamics of caries status in children and sealant retention was evaluated in a 3-year follow-up survey. The results were analyzed statistically (Mann-Whitney U-test, Odds ratio and 95% confident intervals (CI), p-value). Results: There were no statistically significant proportional differences regarding age (19.7 and 20.6 months; p=0.81), mean number of erupted teeth (16.6 and 15.5; p=0.47), mean d1-4mft value (5.8 (2.1) and 6.0 (2.5); p=0.72) and oral hygiene status (3.6 (1.0) and 3.5 (1.1); p=0.86) between the preventive and control groups. After one year the sealants was retained in 42 (62.7%, CI 56.8-68.6) molars. The mean length of sealant retention was 12.5 (5.3) months. After 3 years carious lesions of occlusal surfaces only were included in the diagnosis. There were no differences in ages, mean number of erupted teeth or oral hygiene between groups. In the preventive (test) group carious lesions were diagnosed in 13 (19.4%, 14.6-24.2) molars. In the control group there were 32 (41.6%. 36.0-47.2) decayed teeth. Clinical efficacy of fissure sealants was 59.4%, OR=2.7 (1.3-5.8). Conclusion: Fissure sealing with GIC is an effective preventive measure in young children with high caries risk.
DESIGNING AND VALIDATING A PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEY: A MIXED METHODS PARADIGM
Authors: Margaritis V. , Schwab M. , Alifragki P. 
Published: February 2025

Public health phenomena are usually complex and multifactorial, and public health surveys often have to take account of many aspects and factors. Designing and especially validating such a survey can therefore be a very challenging process. Asking appropriate questions, that will yield useful and data specific to the research questions, is of high importance. Equally important is to validate the survey instrument to ensure the trustworthiness of the obtained data. The aim of this presentation is to describe how a public health survey is designed, validated, and eventually implemented in a specific population. Methods: For this purpose, we used a specific example of a mixed methods survey which was created and validated in 2016 to assess the knowledge and attitudes of public health professionals on the role of emotion in health and public health practice. A purposeful sample of 6 public health experts completed a survey instrument containing a new taxonomy of the emotions for use in the self-assessment of emotional status in a community and related questions to determine face validity and content validity. According to their feedback, the taxonomy and the survey were significantly revised. Then, a sample of approximately 100 participants completed the survey containing the face and content validated taxonomy, in order to test construct validity. Factor analysis was used for quantitative questions and theme analysis for qualitative questions. Further, a sample of approximately 300 participants was asked to complete the final instrument containing the validated taxonomy and related questions to determine reliability. Reliability was assessed calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Demographic data were also collected to investigate potential associations between these data and ‘emotional status’. Results: An adequately validated and reliable survey instrument was produced to address specific research questions and to explore potential solutions to the problem under study. Specific steps will be described and discussed in this presentation on designing, validating and eventually implementing this survey. Conclusions: With this presentation, the audience can become familiar with the process of designing and validating a survey instrument for public health purposes, and be able to note how a mixed methods approach can be applied to design a public health survey.
REPORTED ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE IN SCHOOLCHILDREN FROM FAMILIES WITH LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
Authors: Maslak E. , Anistratova S. , Rodionova A. , Krivtsova D. , Yanovskaya M. 
Published: February 2025

Aim: To study the access to dental care in schoolchildren from families with low socio- economic status (SES) comparing to children from families with non-low SES. Methods: The study was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee. Informed consent from the parents of children was obtained. Per capita family income less than the minimum subsistence level in the region was defined as low SES. In 2012 in 10 out of 30 Volzhskiy schools all schoolchildren from the families with low SES (430 children aged 7-17 years, LS group) were identified according to the list of the Educational Department. In the same schools 418 schoolchildren were randomly selected from the families with non-low SES (NLS control group). The groups were identical by sex and age of the children. The children were examined by an experienced dentist. The number (mean ± standard error) of untreated decayed permanent teeth was calculated. The parents and the children were interviewed on the child access to dental care. The differences were assessed with Student’s t-test. Results: The mean number of untreated decayed teeth in the LS group was significantly (p<0.001) higher than in NLS group: in 7-8-year-olds 1.7±0.1 vs 0.7±0.2; in 9-11-year- olds 2.0±0.2 vs 0.8±0.1; in 12-14-year-olds 3.1±0.2 vs 1.1±0.1; in 15-17 year-olds 4.0±0.2 vs 1.2±0.2. The children from LS group visited a dentist during the last 6 months less often than the children from NLS group: 172 of 430 (40.0%) vs 326 of 418 (78.0%) respectively, p<0.001. The number of children who had visited a dentist 1-2 years before or did not remember when they had visited a dentist in LS group was higher than in the NLS group: 181 of 430 (42.1%) vs 34 of 418 (8.1%) answers, p<0.001. Conclusions: This sample of Volzhskiy schoolchildren from LS families reported more limited access to dental care than the schoolchildren from NLS families, and they had higher numbers of untreated permanent teeth.
NATIONAL URGENT AND EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE REVIEW (ENGLAND)
Authors: Basra A.S. , Shah S. 
Published: February 2025

NHS Urgent and Emergency Care Services in England are experiencing rising demand. Patients with dental symptoms sometimes utilise these services when they would be better treated by a dental service. The variation in service provision needs to be better understood and was considered as part of the review of unscheduled dental services in England. To address the problemtwo stakeholder events were held, between November 2015 and February 2016, for those involved in the delivery or commissioning of Unscheduled Dental Care Services (UDCS) across England. Aim: Their aim was to seek views on the barriers and challenges they perceived in either providing or commissioning these services and to share good practice. Methods: Workshop themes were developed ,based on an initial audit of dental services combined with feedback from service commissioners. This information was used to formulate questions for the events. Workshop answers were analysed for key themes. These were then used to create a more detailed question guide that enabled researchers to explore these themes in more detail. After both events, all feedback from delegates was assessed, to identify factors that should be included in a review of UDCS across England. Results: Approximately 200 stakeholders from the full spectrum of UDCS, from providers to commissioners, attended and identified a number of key barriers faced in delivering UDCS. These included: inconsistency in provision; inadequate information sharing; suboptimal communication between providers and commissioners (and across geographical areas) and insufficient time to provide good quality care in the time allocated. Many delegates felt that current provision in their areas was failing to meet the needs of vulnerable groups such as special care patients and care home residents. Conclusions: Stakeholders strongly felt that national standards and guidance in providing/commissioning UDCS will facilitate more consistent provision across England. This should also mean that services will be more accessible to all patient groups, regardless of geography, therefore aiming to reduce inequity in access to UDCS.
ORAL HEALTH CARE HABITS, OBSERVATIONS FROM A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING HUNGARIAN VILLAGE
Authors: Filep A.E. , Segatto E. , Pinke I. 
Published: February 2025

Oral health plays an important role in general health. Developing oral healthcare habits, and integrating preventive approaches into the population is essential in the 21st century. We investigated this in a south-east Hungarian village as part of research by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, with existing ethics approval. Pusztaottlaka was choosen because previous work showed a huge recent increase in economic and social data. Methods: In July 2015 a questionnaire was voluntarily and anonymously completed by 277 people from the population of Pusztaottlaka, whose mean age was 47 (SD: 24.1). We asked about general oral healthcare, nutrition, habits concerning oral health, frequency of dental check-ups and how people evaluate their oral health. Statistical analysis used SPSS 20.0, examining frequency, means and cross tabs in different sex and age groups. In an oral screening examination 35 people were inspected voluntarily. Data were compared with the European Health Survey. Results: Only 37.8% (84) of the responders brushed their teeth once a day and 15.3% (34) brushed less than once a day. Only 38.6% (88) of the participants smoked, and 75% (168) visited the dentist less than once in a year. 97 (44.7%) had clear knowledge of their poor dental health. There were large variations in answers by different sex and ages groups. According to the European Health Survey at least one third of the Hungarian population has a decayed tooth. Clinical examinations in the village gave a rate of 65.7% (23). There is poor access to dental care in Pusztaottlaka. The nearest dentist’s office is 10 km away. Conclusions: Preventive dental activity should increase in the village, and should try to motivate the population to carry out better oral hygiene. Encouraging dental check-ups would allow treatment of early dental problems and encourage improved oral hygiene.
CONTINUED EDUCATION IN PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY: DISTANCE LEARNING IN BRAZIL
Authors: Frichembruder K. , dos Santos C.M. , Hilgert J.B. , Hugo F.N. 
Published: February 2025

Distance Learning represents an opportunity to provide public health dentists with evidence-based information, as face-to-face approaches are more expensive and time consuming. In Brazils Public Health System, few courses target public health dentists in approximately 1000 Public Specialized Dental Care Centers (CEO). Aim: to describe a series of distance learning continuing dental education courses targeting public health dentists working in CEO throughout Brazil and to evaluate the satisfaction of dentists who completed it. Methods: The University developed and offered a series of 6 online courses comprising 60 hours each and addressing the following areas: 1) Oral Medicine; 2) Minor Oral Surgery; 3) Endodontics; 4) Periodontics; 5) Special Care Dentistry; 6) Dental Public Health Services Management. Pre-register took place between May and Sep/15. Courses were available on a Moodle Platform, between Oct and Dec/15 and contents were developed using problem- based learning methodology. This was an evaluation study that did not require Ethics Committee approval. However, participants consent was sought, as they were told that the information contained in the forms could be used for research purposes. Confidentiality of data was assured. Two questionnaires provided information about demographics, access to, use of and satisfaction. In addition, 130 videos were posted as open access on YouTube. Results: 2147 dentists pre-registered, of which 409 (19%) completed the courses. 383 of those (93.6%) consented to participate. Health Services Management had 515 pre-registrations (24%), and was the most frequently completed 129 (31.5%). Most accomplishers were women (71%), the mean age was 38.5 years (± 9.8), and 214 (55.8%) worked in CEO clinic, 132 (34.4%) in Brazilian South region. 213 accomplishers (52%) completed evaluation forms, with the Moodle platform rated as good or very good by 206 (97.1%). Some 38 (17.8%) participants rated the time to accomplish the courses as short or extremely short. Open videos had 30,119 views “socioeconomic inequalities and health” with 2061 (6.8%) views was the most popular. Conclusions: Distance learning provided access to continuing education to a large number of professional (409) and reached the target audience (214 CEO professionals). Dropouts were high and more frequent in the more deprived North and Midwest regions of Brazil. The number of open views suggests that the topics were of interest for dental care providers. These initial results lead to improvements, mainly provision of student support and increase in platform access times, in the 2016 Edition of the courses.
EVALUATION THE PREVALENCE OF LOCALIZED AGGRESSIVE PERIODONTITIS IN 15-18 YEARS OLD BOYS FROM BANDAR ABBAS CITY IN 2015
Authors: Hedayati A. , Haghi S. , Ansari Fard S. 
Published: February 2025

Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition that damages gums and can destroy the jawbone. Localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) is the disease of dental supporting tissue which differs from chronic periodontitis because of: 1) fast progression 2) low rate of plaque index and calculus 3) History of familial periodontitis. The localized form usually occurs in puberty and damage is limited to permanent first molars and incisors that can lead to loss of teeth at an early age. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of LAP in 15-18 years old male students in Bandar Abbas city. Methods: In this cross sectional study, data were collected with observation, examination and questionnaire among Bandar Abbas male students using a multi-stage systematic cluster sampling method. An examination of students was performed in two steps, In the first stage randomly selected high schools were visited and all 15-18 year-old boys, whose parents has agreed could take part and who gave their consent were given a periodontal examination. Those students who had pockets of 4 mm or more in more than one tooth then attended the School of Dentistry and were evaluated radiographically. Patients diagnosed with localized aggressive periodontitis were thus identified. The ethics committee of the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences approved the study. Results: Among 949 students, after first step examinations, 11 students had probing depth of 4 mm or more, and after second stage evaluations two were diagnosed with LAP, so the prevalence was 0.2 percent. Conclusion: There was no significant difference between prevalence of LAP in Bandar Abbas and other regions in Iran.
COULD A DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH GAME BE EFFECTIVE FOR DIFFERENT LEARNING CULTURES?
Authors: Sipiyaruk K. , Hatzipanagos S. , Reynolds P.A. , Gallagher J.E. 
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to explore how a serious game, GRAPHIC (Games Research Applied to Public Health with Innovative Collaboration), could be effective for students from different learning cultures. Methods: Final-year undergraduate students (2015/16) from Kings College London [KCL] and Mahidol University [MU] were invited to use GRAPHIC in their own language; however the scientific evidence was available in English only. GRAPHIC requires students studying Dental Public Health (DPH) to read information of a town and then select the best five oral health promotion programmes to improve oral health of a population in the town. GRAPHIC-IV was developed to enhance aspects of pedagogy and entertainment. The game engine logged the number of submission attempts and the results of the pre- and post-test assessments. After game completion, each student completed a feedback questionnaire. Statistical analysis involved independent t-test of the number of submission attempts between institutions; paired t-test was used to analyse pre- and post-test score differences. Descriptive analysis was used to present the feedback questionnaire data. Ethical approvals were obtained from KCL (BDM/14/15-27) and MU (COA.No.MU-DT/PY-IRB 2015/002.1901). Results: 151 KCL and 115 MU students used GRAPHIC, of which 146 (96.7%) and 111 (96.5%) respectively completed the game including pre- and post-tests. The average number of attempts for successfully completing students was 6.9 (SD=4.9) for KCL and 15.1 (SD=4.1) for MU (p<0.001). Post-test scores were significantly higher than pre- test at KCL [16.7 (SD=2.5) CF 16.2 (SD=2.3); (p<0.05)] and MU [17.1 (SD=2.2) CF 16.3 (SD=2.4); (p<0.001). Overall 140 (90.3%) KCL and 109 (94.8%) MU students completed questionnaires: 83 (59.3%) KCL and 55 (50.5%) MU students reported that GRAPHIC could help them understand the content of designing oral health promotion. Although 63 (45.0%) KCL and 38 (34.9%) MU students felt more confident with DPH work, less than one fifth disagreed [25 (17.9%) KCL; 18 (16.5%) MU]. Almost one half of students recommended the development of more scenarios for use with GRAPHIC [65 (46.4%) KCL and 53 (48.6%) MU]. Conclusion: There was a gain in knowledge in students from two learning cultures and there was evidence that the game helped some students with understanding DPH at undergraduate level; however, the use of the game differed in the two institutions.
DENTAL CONDITION OF ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA PATIENTS IN A HUNGARIAN POPULATION
Authors: IldikÓ T. , Fera M. , SzabÓ A. 
Published: February 2025

The prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is higher in Hungary than in most other countries. Predisposing factors such as poor oral health are also quite frequent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral condition of OSCC patients, tumour free, age and gender matched controls and healthy young controls before the prevalidation of salivary biomarkers. Methods: Between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013, at the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology, the oral condition of 33 OSCC patients (27 male, 6 female), 30 agematched tumour free (27 male, 3 female), and 29 healthy young controls (18 male, 11 female) was assessed. Participants provided signed informed consent and the study was given ethics approval from the Ethics Committee of the University of Debrecen . OSCC patients were diagnosed in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery (Sz.A, R.P), controls were chosen at primary examination office (clinic) and were referred to the examiners (T.I, F.M). Oral examination included panoramic and periapical radiographs and a detailed oral, periodontal charting (Silness- Löe (1964) plaque index (PI), Löe- Silness (1963) gingival index (GI)), and caries charting (localization of caries, fillings, prosthetic devices, canal fillings, roots, missing teeth). DMFT, DT, MT, FT, and DMFS were recorded for all patients. Data were entered into SPSS 22 and statistical evaluation- descriptive statistics involving comparison of variables (ANOVA, and Bonferroni post-hoc analysis) - was performed. Results: OSCC patients had the following mean scores: PI: 0.8, GI: 1.3, DMFT: 26.4, and DMFS: 119.5. Age- matched OSCC free controls had mean scores of PI: 0.4, GI: 0.6, DMFT: 23.5, DMFS: 100.3. Young controls had mean scores of PI: 0.03, GI: 0.09, DMFT: 4.6, DMFS: 7.8. PI and GI. Values differed significantly (p≤0.05) amongst groups. For DMFT and DMFS the young controls differed from the other two groups in a significant manner. Conclusions: These findings are in accordance with previous findings that OSCC patients have a worse periodontal condition than matched OSCC free controls. Periodontopathogenic bacteria may directly stimulate tumour cell growth.