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The purpose of this paper is to estimate the changes of dental caries status among Thai adults and elderly under the different policy options using system dynamics modeling.

A multi-sector system dynamics model was developed to capture the dynamic interrelationship between dental caries status changes and oral health behavior – including self-care, dental care utilization and sugar consumption. Data used to populate the model was obtained from the Thai national oral health survey in 2000, 2006, 2012 and Thailand Official Statistics Registration. Three policy scenarios were experimented in the model: health promotion policy, dental personnel policy and affordable dental care service policy.

Dental caries experiences among Thai adults and elderly were projected to increase from now to 2040, as the elderly population increases. Among all policies experimented herein, the combined policies of health promotion, increased affordability and capacity of dental health service were found to produce the highest improvement in dental caries status with 3.7 percent reduction of population with high decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) and 5.2 percent increase in population with very low DMFT.

This study is the first comprehensive simulation model that attempts to explore the dynamic interrelationship among dental caries experiences and behavioral factors that impact on oral health outcomes. In addition, the simulation model herein offers a framework for policy experimentation that provides policymakers with additional insights to inform health policy planning.

Dental caries is caused by a diet‐associated pathologic process affecting the teeth. This is an infectious, transmissible disease, the infecting agents being specific micro‐organisms, with a streptococcal species, i.e. Streptococcus mutans (or other members of the so‐called mutans streptococci), being especially cariogenic under certain dietary conditions. The transmissibility of the disease is reflected, for example, in the fact that young children usually receive their S. mutans infection from their mothers. According to present scientific knowledge, dental caries should be fully preventable. Maximisation of preventive efforts is of fundamental importance; relying on only one prevention procedure, like a fluoride‐based method, is insufficient. Relying solely on reparative philosophy is wrong. As to dietary approaches, mere prohibition of sugar as the only educational measure is hypocritical. Maximisation of prevention automatically includes the use of sugar substitutes. Of these, xylitol, a natural, physiologic carbohydrate sweetener, has been rigorously tested in long‐term human clinical trials, and has been found to be safe and effective. An effective way to use xylitol is as xylitol‐containing chewing gum, lozenges or chewable tablets. This prevention procedure can easily be promoted in environments where children or young adults are reachable, i.e. at schools, universities, garrisons, public health centres and related institutions. Results from clinical studies suggest that less than 10 grams of xylitol per day, consumed in about five chewing episodes, significantly increases protection against dental caries. This approach, a single‐component modification of diet, can be used to complete existing prevention methods, both at individual and community level.

The study aims to test the efficacy of brief-caries risk assessment form with standard caries risk assessment form and to evaluate the application of caries risk assessment following American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) between brief and standard caries risk assessment on dental health status among preschool children.

Brief-caries risk assessment form was developed. Then, experimental study was conducted in public health center 54 among 70 patients (35 test and 35 control) from January to July 2019. Test group used brief-caries assessment form, and control group used standard form. Both groups received the same caries risk assessment criteria and management protocol from AAPD. At baseline, 3-month and 6-month follow-up, caries risk and dental health status (plaque index, cavitated caries lesion and non-cavitated caries lesion) were assessed. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistic, t-test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and repeated measures ANOVA.

Percentage of high caries risk decreased from baseline (93.9%: test and 96.9%: control) to 6-month follow-up (66.7%: test and 65.6%: control) in both groups, with no statistically significant differences between groups. Plaque index, cavitated caries lesion and non-cavitated caries lesion were not statistically significant differences between groups. Brief-caries assessment decreased times/visit from 10-15 minutes to 5 minutes.

Brief-caries assessment form decreased caries risk and prevented dental caries as the standard form. Using brief-caries assessment form could save time, is cost-effective and is appropriate for use in public health centers. However, a short follow-up time might have insufficient power to detect the differences between groups.

The epidemiology of dental disease in the United Kingdom has been well documented since the introduction in 1968 of the first of the various decennial national surveys of dental health. This was coupled with an upsurge at about that time of academic interest in the subject which has continued to grow. Although the database on current disease experience and recent trends, at least in relation to dental caries, is extensive, foretelling future levels of dental health and disease can be only speculative and must involve a number of untested assumptions. This is because prediction depends largely upon the extrapolation of past trends, modified by the possible effects of anticipated developments and changes.

Dental caries (or tooth decay) is our most prevalent disease, and hardly anyone living in present‐day Britain is completely free from it. More than 99% of the population have had teeth attacked by decay, sometimes so severely that a large proportion of their teeth have had to be extracted. The result of dental caries combined with gum disease is that 37% of all the people over 16 in England and Wales are edentulous (i.e. have had all their teeth extracted), while the figure for Scotland is even higher at 44%.

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential association between the glycemic index (GI) and the glycemic load (GL) with early childhood caries in preschool children.

This cross-sectional study collected data from 225 children aged 37–71 months in governmental nursery schools within the Altindag district of Ankara, Turkey. GI and GL values of foods and beverages were calculated using 2008 international tables of GI and GL. Dental examinations were done under daylight and by using a headlight. The prevalence of caries was obtained by calculating the number of the decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) index score or decayed, missing and filled surface (dmfs) index score.

There were significant differences in the dmft and dmfs scores according to GI groups (p = 0.022 for both). The multivariate models showed that children who consumed a high-GI diet had higher dmft scores compared to children who consumed a medium-GI diet (ß 1.48, 95% CI −1.48, 4.44), whereas children who consumed a high-GL diet had lower dmft score compared to children who consumed low-GL diet (ß 0.55, 95% CI −0.97, 2.07), however, they were not statistically significant.

Dietary total GI and GL did not significantly influence the caries experience of preschool children. Future studies should focus on the different age groups with a broader perspective.

This paper seeks to assess the oral health status and behaviour of a sample of the Mauritian population visiting private dental clinics.

Oral health status was determined using the World Health Organization (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index indicating the prevalence of caries, and factors associated with oral health behaviour were investigated. Cross‐sectional data on oral health behaviour and demographic characteristics were collected through a structured 22‐item self‐designed survey questionnaire administered to a randomly selected sample of 250 Mauritians visiting private dental clinics. The data were statistically analysed to examine associations between oral health variables.

Analyses revealed significant correlations between DMFT scores, age and socioeconomic status. Over 80 per cent of the children below the age of 11 had DMFT scores higher than the acceptable WHO value of 3, and most adults older than 45 years had DMFT scores higher than 7. A large majority (85 per cent) reported using both fluoride toothpaste and tongue scrapers, but none reported using dental floss. Those who brushed teeth only once daily had high DMFT scores. Among males, smokers had significantly higher mean DMFT than non‐smokers. Females demonstrated better rates of good oral health behaviour than males. Respondents from higher socioeconomic classes were between three to five times more likely to visit dental clinics than those from lower classes.

This study reveals the need for intervention programmes to raise awareness of good oral health practices among the Mauritian people.

The results identified the high risk groups and highlighted the need for dental education, taking into consideration socioeconomic status and sociodemographics in order to enable Mauritians to become oral‐hygiene‐conscious and active partners for the management of oral health and prevention of systemic diseases.

Dentists may be seen as the most prominent figures within dentistry. Yet, a number of dental care professionals make significant contributions to the profession. The dental health educator (DHE) is one prime example. This teammate is typically a dental nurse who has achieved a post-registration qualification in oral health education (OHE). Through interactions with patients, members of the community and other pertinent stakeholders, the DHE empowers people through promoting the importance of good oral health. The purpose of this paper is to cast light on the unique and invaluable roles that DHEs can play within their organisations.

This paper aims to share some examples of dentist-DHE collaborations, where OHE initiatives were implemented within an ethnically diverse London Borough in England.

It was found that such interprofessional, skill-mix efforts were more productive, when the dentist and DHE worked together, rather than the latter working independently.

There exists great potential for DHEs to act as ambassadors for their dental establishments, network and collaborate with other organisations and build worthwhile relations with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders.

The purpose of this paper is to explain the rationale and potential for the WHO health promoting schools (HPS) to improve children ' s oral health, and describe validated quantitative methodologies and qualitative approaches to measure program impact.

Critical discussion of the impact of poor oral health and potential for school-based educational intervention, and evaluation methodologies used by the authors.

Using HPS to improve oral health is relevant because dental caries and gingivitis/periodontitis negatively impact children ' s health and quality of life worldwide. WHO has called for effective community-based oral health promotion programs; intervention is simple and low cost; robust evaluation measures exist – the decayed missing filled teeth index and change in cavity rate allow quantitative comparison of oral health status; and questionnaires document changes in knowledge, practices, diet, health-related quality of life, and pain.

Poor oral health is a major health issue. Established measures to improve oral hygiene offer an achievable, low-cost HPS entry point; the “knowledge” and “healthy practices” components central to the WHO HPS model are tried and tested and multiple potential benefits are documented. Poor oral health is a non-stigmatized issue, hence intervention is readily accepted, and effective evaluation tools provide evidence of program effect over a short (two to three years) timeframe.

Oral health promotion is more affordable and sustainable than the cost of traditional restorative treatments especially in middle- and low-income countries. Success with oral health leads to confidence for expansion of HPS activities to address other health issues relevant to the school community.

The purpose of this study is to assess and compare awareness and knowledge of dental erosion among nutrition and dietetics (ND) and dental students.

The study was designed as a cross-sectional study. It was set in a university campus in Ankara, Turkey. In all, 947 undergraduate students (534 dental and 413 ND) with a mean age of 20.9 ± 1.99 years were included. The variables measured in this study were level of awareness and knowledge of dental erosion of students and their practice on the topic. For statistical analysis descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher’s Exact and Mann–Whitney U statistics were used.

Not having heard about dental erosion was more frequently reported by ND students (33.9 per cent) (p < 0.001). Dental students had significantly higher scores in knowledge of dental erosion (11.19 ± 2.23) (p < 0.001). In both disciplines, total knowledge score was increased based on the students’ academic level (r = 0.522, p < 0.01 for dental students and r = 0.242, p < 0.01 for ND students). Their practice in terms of consumption of some acidic foods showed a difference (p < 0.001).

There is an inevitable need for oral health education for ND students and nutrition education for dental students to fill the knowledge gap for effective oral health. Nutrition dental education should be incorporated into undergraduate ND and dentistry curriculums and continuing education of these professionals. Furthermore, providing internships in dental facilities or clinics to undergraduate ND students that include oral health assessments, guidance on evidence-based prevention techniques, dietary counseling and referrals to dentists would provide an opportunity to gain more knowledge regarding dental-related nutrition subjects. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to determine and compare dental erosion awareness, knowledge and practice among ND and dental students. Eliminating conflicts among dietetic and dental professionals is vital for improving patient health. This interdisciplinary inclination might be a shift toward a coordinated team approach for promoting oral health, prevention of dental diseases and intervention in dental diseases.