Dental care use by immigrant Canadians in Ontario: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2014 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)

Background: Ontario is home to the largest number of immigrants in Canada. However, very little is known about their dental care utilization patterns. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of poor dental health care use among the immigrant population of Ontario and how various socio-demographic, socio-economic and health-related factors are associated with it. Methods: Analysis was performed on a total of 4208 Ontarian immigrants who participated in the dental care module of the 2014 cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey. Poor dental care use was defined by the two variables: not visiting the dentist in the past year and/or visiting the dentist only for emergency purposes. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the associations between the two outcomes and the socio-demographic, socio-economic and health-related factors. Results: Thirty three percent of immigrants reported not visiting the dentist in the past year and 25% reported visiting only for emergencies. The leading components associated with poor dental care utilization were being a new immigrant, of male gender, having low educational attainment, low household income and lacking dental insurance. Conclusions: This study is the first to highlight oral health care use patterns amongst immigrants in Ontario. Given that a large proportion of the immigrant population in Ontario have poor dental care use, education and outreach programs informing incoming immigrants of preventative dental care may improve overall dental health. Keywords: Oral health, Dental care use, Immigrants, OntarioYork University Librarie

Hmong Adults Self-Rated Oral Health: A Pilot Study

Since 1975, the Hmong refugee population in the U.S. has increased over 200%. However, little is known about their dental needs or self-rated oral health (SROH). The study aims were to: (1) describe the SROH, self-rated general health (SRGH), and use of dental/physician services; and (2) identify the factors associated with SROH among Hmong adults. A cross-sectional study design with locating sampling methodology was used. Oral health questionnaire was administered to assess SROH and SRGH, past dental and physician visits, and language preference. One hundred twenty adults aged 18–50+ were recruited and 118 had useable information. Of these, 49% rated their oral health as poor/fair and 30% rated their general health as poor/fair. Thirty-nine percent reported that they did not have a regular source of dental care, 46% rated their access to dental care as poor/fair, 43% visited a dentist and 66% visited a physician within the past 12 months. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that access to dental care, past dental visits, age and SRGH were significantly associated with SROH (P \u3c 0.05). Multivariate analyses demonstrated a strong association between access to dental care and good/excellent SROH. About half of Hmong adults rated their oral health and access to dental care as poor. Dental insurance, access to dental care, past preventive dental/physician visits and SRGH were associated with SROH

In Search of Dental Care: Two Types of Dentist Shortages Limit Children's Access to Care

Each year in the United States, tens of millions of children, disproportionately low-income, go without seeing a dentist.This lack of access to dental care is a complex problem fueled by a number of factors, with two different dentist shortages compounding the issue: An uneven distribution of dentists nationwide means many areas do not have an adequate supply of these practitioners. As a result, access to care is constrained for people in these communities regardless of income or insurance coverage.The relatively small number of dentists who participate in Medicaid means that many low-income people are not receiving dental care.National standards set by dental and pediatric organizations call for children to visit a dentist every six months.The federal government requires state Medicaid programs to enact their own standards after consulting with these organizations, but new data show that more than 14 million children enrolled in Medicaid did not receive any dental service in 2011.According to the most recent comparison, in 2010, privately insured children were almost 30 percent more likely to receive dental care than those who were publicly insured through Medicaid or other government programs, even though low-income children are almost twice as likely as their wealthier peers to develop cavities.4 In 22 states, fewer than half of Medicaid-enrolled children received dental care in 2011.In 2012, Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, secretary of health and human services under President George H.W. Bush, said, "In a nation obsessed with high-tech medicine, people are not getting preventive care for something as simple as tooth decay." He pointed to the inadequate dental workforce as a driving factor, stating, "The shortage of dental care is going to get only worse."This issue brief examines the lack of access to dental care, especially for low-income children and families, in the United States. It also explores strategies states are employing -- particularly expansion of the dental team by licensing additional types of providers -- to address workforce shortages and better serve low-income children

Out-Of-Pocket Expenditures on Dental Care for Schoolchildren Aged 6 to 12 Years: A Cross-Sectional Estimate in a Less-Developed Country Setting

Aim: The objective of this study was to estimate the Out-Of-Pocket Expenditures (OOPEs) incurred by households on dental care, as well as to analyze the sociodemographic, economic, and oral health factors associated with such expenditures. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 763 schoolchildren in Mexico. A questionnaire was distributed to parents to determine the variables related to OOPEs on dental care. The amounts were updated in 2017 in Mexican pesos and later converted to 2017 international dollars (purchasing power parities-PPP US $). Multivariate models were created: a linear regression model (which modeled the amount of OOPEs), and a logistic regression model (which modeled the likelihood of incurring OOPEs). Results: The OOPEs on dental care for the 763 schoolchildren were PPP US$53,578, averaging a PPP of US $70.2 ± 123.7 per child. Disbursements for treatment were the principal item within the OOPEs. The factors associated with OOPEs were the child's age, number of dental visits, previous dental pain, main reason for dental visit, educational level of mother, type of health insurance, household car ownership, and socioeconomic position. Conclusions: The average cost of dental care was PPP US$70.2 ± 123.7. Our study shows that households with higher school-aged children exhibiting the highest report of dental morbidity-as well as those without insurance-face the highest OOPEs. An array of variables were associated with higher expenditures. In general, higher-income households spent more on dental care. However, the present study did not estimate unmet needs across the socioeconomic gradient, and thus, future research is needed to fully ascertain disease burden

Clinical Impact of a Novel Interprofessional Dental and Pharmacy Student Tobacco Cessation Education Program on Dental Patients

Objectives: • To compare the difference between IPE care and standard care (SC) groups regarding dental patients\u27 perceptions of knowledge gained about tobacco cessation, intentions to quit tobacco use, and quit attempts at follow-up. • To evaluate perceptions of IPE care. Background: Based on the link between tobacco use and oral health and the frequent contact between dental providers and patients, the dental clinic is an ideal setting to address tobacco use.1 • Many dentists feel unprepared providing tobacco cessation education, particularly pharmacologic treatment options.1-3 • Pharmacists promote safe and effective pharmacologic treatment options for tobacco dependence and patients’ perceptions toward pharmacist-provided tobacco cessation education have been positive.4-6 • A novel interprofessional education (IPE) program involving dental and pharmacy students may address the need for tobacco cessation education in the dental clinic setting

Evaluating the Impact of an Interprofessional Practice Experience Involving Pharmacy and Dental Students on Medication Histories within an Urban Academic Dental Admissions Clinic

Primary Objective: To compare interprofessional (IP) care versus standard care on medication history clarifications in dental patients. Secondary Objectives: To assess the clinical significance of these clarifications with regards to the potential impact on dental treatment plans. To describe the interventions provided by IP care to clarify discrepancies and/or resolve medication-related problems

Cross infection control measures and the treatment of patients at risk of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease in UK general dental practice

AIMS: To determine the suitability of key infection control measures currently employed in UK dental practice for delivery of dental care to patients at risk of prion diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects: Five hundred dental surgeons currently registered with the General Dental Council of the UK. Data collection: Structured postal questionnaire. Analysis: Frequencies, cross-tabulations and chi-squared analysis. RESULTS: The valid response rate to the questionnaire was 69%. 33% of practices had no policy on general disinfection and sterilisation procedures. Only 10 of the 327 responding practices (3%) possessed a vacuum autoclave. 49% of dentists reported using the BDA medical history form but less than 25% asked the specific questions recommended by the BDA to identify patients at risk of iatrogenic or familial CJD. However, 63% of practitioners would refer such patients, if identified, to a secondary care facility. Of the 107 practitioners who were prepared to provide dental treatment, 75 (70%) would do so using routine infection control procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the dental practices surveyed were not actively seeking to identify patients at risk of prion diseases. In many cases, recommended procedures for providing safe dental care for such patients were not in place

Smile in an Hour with COMPONEER

This case report describes the step-by-step procedures of clinical cases using prefabricated composite resin veneers (COMPONEER), manufactured with the Brilliant New Generation composite resin (Coltene, Altstätten, Switzerland). Direct composite veneers presented some drawbacks such as the difficulty of execution and color instability of the composite resin over time. The simplified application of the has been introduced as an interesting alternative in cases of smile asymmetry, large deficient restorations and discoloured teeth. The treatment with COMPONEER Brilliant NG yielded excellent aesthetic results. COMPONEER is simpler than direct composite veneer technique. The specific characteristics of the system can promote the results with greater aesthetic longevity. It is important to highlight that this procedure does not replace the already established veneer technique with dental ceramic

How often should you have dental visits?

Dental diseases are a costly public health issue that disproportionately affect disadvantaged people.1,2 However in Australia, access to oral health care services is determined largely by the ability to pay. In recent years, there has been growing concern about inequities in access to care, with a particular focus on the length of time people are waiting to access state and territory-funded public dental services. In response to these concerns, the Gillard government established a National Advisory Council on Dental Health in 2011. In August 2012, the government announced a new dental reform package that would replace two of its existing dental programs – the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme and Medicare Teen Dental program – both of which provide benefits to patients through the Medicare scheme. In contrast, the new reform package provides more funding to state and territory governments so that they can reduce public dental waiting lists and establish more effective and efficient dental care for low income families and children. To implement the new reform package, policymakers will need to make important decisions about access to publicly-funded dental care: who should be eligible, how often should they be able to access services, and what services should be covered