Associations between neighborhood social capital, oral health risk factors, and tooth decay among Medicaid-enrolled adolescents: A hypothesis-generating preliminary study.

Neighborhood-based social capital - defined as resources within neighborhood social networks - is a potential contributor to adolescent oral health, but mechanisms that link the two are not well elucidated. We evaluated the potential mediating role of neighborhood, household, and individual oral health risk factors in the neighborhood social capital-tooth decay relationship. We collected cross-sectional data from 331 Medicaid-enrolled adolescents (ages 12-18 years) and one of their caregivers from 73 census tracts (neighborhoods) in three counties in Oregon, U.

Mitigation of aerosol particles during composite attachment removal.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine which strategies most effectively reduce aerosolized particles when removing orthodontic composite attachments.

Methods: A network of AeroSpec portable particle monitors was employed to record particulate data in real-time. Sixteen sensors were placed in a 3-dimensional grid system around an operatory at the University of Washington Orthodontics Department.

Healthy Drinks, Healthy Teeth - Ciunerkaq Tanqigtuq (The Future is Bright): A study protocol for a community-based, non-randomized sociobehavioral trial to reduce added sugar intake in Alaska Native Yup'ik children in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Background: This study protocol describes a community-based intervention that will seek to reduce added sugar intake in Yup'ik Alaska Native children by targeting reductions in sugar-sweetened fruit drinks.

Methods: A two-group non-randomized design will be used to evaluate the intervention in three Yup'ik communities in Alaska focusing on children age 1 to less than age 12 years with a minimum enrollment target of 192 children. Families in the intervention arm will participate in a program consisting of five sessions plus four brief check-ins, all delivered by a Yup'ik Community Health Worker.

Initial development of the Sugar-Sweetened Fruit Drink Questionnaire for examining beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors in an intervention to reduce sugar-sweetened fruit drink intake in Alaska Native children.

Objective: Alaska Native children may be at increased risk for dental caries because of added sugar intake from sugar-sweetened fruit drinks. This study describes development of a questionnaire to (a) assess Alaska Native caregivers' beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors regarding sugar-sweetened fruit drinks, and (b) describe behavior changes within a community-based intervention.

Methods: Questionnaire development was conducted in three phases with Yup'ik Alaska Native caregivers in Southwest Alaska: (1) initial selection and adaptation of questionnaire items; (2) cognitive testing; and (3) data collection.

Does Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis for Robin Sequence Create Altered Craniofacial Morphology and Disrupt Tooth Development?

Background: Robin Sequence (RS) infant patients may require mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) to improve airway. The distracted mandible may grow vertically and the developing dentition may be disrupted.

Purpose: The study purpose was to measure the association of MDO on craniofacial morphology and tooth development in RS subjects.

Food insecurity and its relationship to mental health and oral health in older adults.

Background And Objectives: Poor oral health disproportionately affects low-income older adults, for whom food insecurity and poor mental health may affect dental health. We explored the associations between food insecurity, mental health, and dental health. Furthermore, we examined whether mental health impacted the associations between food insecurity and dental health.

Association between food insecurity and edentulism for older adults: A pilot study.

Objectives: This pilot study examined the association between food insecurity and edentulism among older adults in Washington State.

Methods: This study focused on adults aged 50 years and older, who were recruited through seven community-based organizations in Washington State. The exposure variable was food security level (high, marginal, and low/very low food security) assessed using the 10-item U.

Using sequential applications of a novel silver diamine fluoride gel and sodium fluoride varnish to arrest severe early childhood caries lesions: A clinical trial with single group assignment.

Background: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) gel was developed to overcome the clinical limitations of liquids with children. The authors conducted a clinical trial to determine caries lesion arrest in primary teeth at 1-year follow-up when 38% SDF gel and 2.5% sodium fluoride varnish were applied sequentially at the same appointment.

Occlusal contact changes in patients treated with clear aligners: A retrospective evaluation using digital dental models.

Introduction: This study used digital intraoral scans to evaluate how clear aligner treatment affects occlusal contacts and to determine the influence of sex and age on contact changes. Results were compared with contact changes that occur during fixed appliance therapy.

Methods: Patients included in this study were treated in a University setting and private practice.

Identifying sources of variation in added sugar intake for Alaska Native children using a hair biomarker.

Sugars from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are an important risk factor for tooth decay. The study goal was to determine if there was variation in added sugar intake across communities and between and within households. In this cross-sectional study, intakes of total sugar, added sugar, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) were estimated for 282 Alaska Native children ages 0-10 years from 131 households in three Yukon-Kuskokwim (YK) Delta communities using biomarker equations based on hair carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios previously developed for the Yup'ik population.

Efficacy of 38% silver diamine fluoride in reducing gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation in older adults living in retirement-homes: A randomized controlled pilot trial.

Objectives: Emerging from earlier case reports the potential benefits of 38 % silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in addressing pathogenic biofilms and mitigating gingival inflammation and enlargement have sparked interest. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 38 % SDF in reducing gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation in older adults living in retirement-homes.

Methods: This 7-week randomized, controlled, double-blinded pilot trial employed a parallel assignment design.

Effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride 38% on reduction of gingivitis in dogs: a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Periodontal disease is a ubiquitous disease in small animal veterinary medicine. Currently regular professional dental cleaning and daily tooth brushing are considered gold standards in the prevention of periodontal disease. Efforts to find a noninvasive, cost effective and easy to use preventative for periodontal disease are ongoing.

Association between crowding estimation and extraction recommendations in orthodontics.

Introduction: Little is known about how precisely orthodontists in the United States (US) assess crowding or at what range of crowding they recommend extraction. This study aimed to assess the relationship between estimated crowding in patients with a Class I relationship and extraction recommendation by orthodontists in the US. The secondary aims were to evaluate the accuracy and precision of clinician estimations and determine if clinician background traits play a role in extraction decision-making.

Sugar-sweetened beverage intake and convenience store shopping as mediators of the food insecurity-Tooth decay relationship among low-income children in Washington state.

Introduction: There are oral health disparities in the U.S. and children in food-insecure households have a higher burden of tooth decay.

Preventive dental care utilization and dental caries for Medicaid-enrolled adolescents in Oregon.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between preventive dental care utilization and untreated dental caries for Medicaid-enrolled adolescents and to determine if the relationship is moderated by chronic conditions (CC).

Methods: This analysis was based on 2015-2016 Medicaid claims files and survey data collected from adolescents ages 12-18 years enrolled in Oregon Medicaid, who received a dental screening between December 2015 and December 2016 (n = 240). To assess the relationship between preventive dental care utilization and untreated dental caries (defined as decayed tooth surfaces), prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were generated using log-linear regression models.

Factors Contributing to Canine Impaction in Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Undergoing Alveolar Bone Grafts.

Background: Patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) undergo alveolar bone grafting (ABG) to unite the bony segments before eruption of the maxillary permanent canine.

Purpose: This study assessed the frequency of canine impaction after ABG in the UCLP patient population and identified associated demographic, anatomical, and operative factors.

Study Design, Setting, Sample: This retrospective cohort study included 257 patients with UCLP who received ABG surgery at a single craniofacial center.

In-fiber Bragg sensor measurements assess fluid effects on strain in the periodontal space of an ex-vivo swine incisor complex under mechanical loading.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether in-fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors detect changes within the periodontal ligament (PDL) of ex-vivo swine tooth-PDL-bone complex (TPBC) when manipulating fluid content. Recording strain will allow for a better understanding of the biomechanics of viscoelastic load transfer from the tooth to the PDL during chewing and/or orthodontic tooth movement, as well as replication of these dynamics in regenerated PDL tissues. FBG sensors placed within the PDL of swine incisor teeth were used to measure strain resulting from an intrusive load.

Periodontitis Risk Factors in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A pilot study.

Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) present with multiple condition-specific risk factors for periodontitis including CF-related diabetes, chronic inhaled treatments that induce xerostomia, and increased systemic inflammation because of frequent lung infections. General factors like age, oral hygiene, and diet may also contribute to the risk of periodontitis. However the relative importance of these specific risk factors and periodontitis in individuals with CF has not yet been evaluated.

Secular trends in dental services provided by dental therapists and dentists in Southwest Alaska.

Background: The goal of the study was to identify secular trends in dental service delivery between dental therapists and dentists in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region of Southwest Alaska, the first area of the United States to authorize dental therapy practice.

Methods: Electronic health record transactions from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation from 2006 through 2015 (n = 27,459) were analyzed. Five types of dental services were identified using Current Dental Terminology procedure codes: diagnostic, preventive, restorative, endodontic, and oral surgery.

Feasibility and acceptability of home delivery of water for dental caries control in Latinx children-"Sediento por una Sonrisa," Thirsty for a Smile: Single-arm feasibility study.

Background: Outcomes of surgical treatments under general anesthesia for early childhood caries of young children from low-income groups are poor requiring retreatment within 2 years. Dietary sugar is an ideal intervention target given that it is the most prominent risk factor for dental caries and there is increasing evidence of successful interventions to reduce its intake. Our aim is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the Thirsty for a Smile intervention, designed to promote consumption of water in lieu of sugar sweetened beverages, among children who underwent surgery for early childhood caries and their caregivers, mostly from Latino heritage.

Home Delivery of Water for Caries Prevention in Latinx Children ("Sediento por una Sonrisa," Thirsty for a Smile): Protocol for a Single-Arm Feasibility Study.

Background: Dental caries has significant public health implications afflicting young children. In addition to low social economic status, the most prominent risk factor for early childhood caries is sugar in the diet, particularly sugar-sweetened beverages. Dental treatment for caries in young children is commonly performed under general anesthesia and a significant proportion of children require repeated treatment.

Mediation of outcomes for cognitive behavioral therapy targeted to parents of children with Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders.

Objective: There is a large body of evidence for the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in treating Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders (FAPD) in children. In most CBT interventions for FAPD, parents participate together with their children. However, only one study to date has examined targeting parents alone for treatment.

The accuracy of laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent) in assessing caries lesion activity on root surfaces, around crown margins, and in furcations in older adults.

The authors conducted a case series to assess accuracy of DIAGNOdent (DD) in assessment of activity of dental caries lesions in root surfaces and in furcations and at crown margins. The study was a prospective, single center case series. The patients were 123 adults (age ≥ 55 years).

Untreated dental disease and lung transplant waitlist evaluation time for individuals with cystic fibrosis.

Aims: Dental clearance is typically part of the evaluation process prior to placement on the lung transplant waiting list. Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are thought to be at low risk for dental disease. We hypothesized that individuals with CF in need of lung transplantation would have lower dental disease prevalence and shorter waitlist evaluation time than individuals with non-CF lung diseases.