JDR Clinical & Translational Research最新文献

{"title":"Translational Research to Maximize the Impact of e-Oral Health.","authors":"Y Liu, J Xiao, E Emami, T Madden, A Rodrigues, M El Tantawi, H Lee","doi":"10.1177/23800844261435499","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/23800844261435499","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rapid development of digital technologies is reshaping oral health research and care delivery. However, the translation of these innovations into routine clinical and public health application remains limited. This special communication, jointly developed by the International Association for Dental Research's Clinical and Translational Science Network and e-Oral Health Network, explores how principles of translational science can be intentionally aligned with e-oral health research to strengthen the impact of digital innovation on oral health outcomes. Drawing on established translational models, this perspective outlines how coordinated bidirectional research approaches can support the progression of digital oral health interventions from early development to sustainable real-world use. Contemporary e-oral health approaches, including virtual care delivery, intelligent decision support systems, mobile and connected technologies, and advanced digital diagnostics, offer new opportunities to enhance disease prevention, clinical decision making, patient engagement, and population-level surveillance. Evidence to date suggests that these approaches can improve diagnostic performance, expand access to care, and support behavior change. Nevertheless, widespread adoption has been hindered by economic, regulatory, ethical, and workforce-related challenges, creating digital inequities. To overcome these barriers, we introduce an integrated translational research framework for e-oral health based on 3 core pillars: 1) technology and capabilities, 2) workforce capacity and training, and 3) real-world patient care, supported by enabling factors including industry and partnerships, policy and governance, and a strong ethics and regulation foundation. By embedding translational research principles into e-oral health development and implementation, this framework seeks to promote methodological rigor, reproducibility, scalability, and equity. Strategic integration of translational science and e-oral health research has the potential to accelerate the uptake of effective digital solutions and contribute to improving oral health outcomes across diverse populations and health systems worldwide.Knowledge Transfer Statement:This special communication, developed by the International Association for Dental Research's Clinical and Translational Science Network and e-Oral Health Network, explores how translational science frameworks can accelerate integration of digital oral health technologies into practice. Translational science provides structured methods to move innovations from development to implementation, while e-oral health encompasses digital technologies such as teledentistry and artificial intelligence for oral health care delivery. Applying translational principles to e-oral health research can enhance rigor and accelerate evidence-based adoption of digital solutions that improve access and outcomes globally.</p>","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"23800844261435499"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147662682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Water Fluoridation and Dental Caries Prevention Globally: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"C F D Nascimento, L A D S Gindri, M N de Oliveira, L R Paranhos, F N Hugo","doi":"10.1177/23800844251342804","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23800844251342804","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fluoridation of community water supplies constitutes one of the most effective public health interventions for preventing dental caries. In recent years, questions have been raised about its effectiveness and safety. This study aims to systematically review and summarize the existing evidence on community water fluoridation (CWF) and dental caries in permanent and deciduous teeth. Five databases and 3 gray databases were searched for relevant studies. Paired reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data, and assessed their methodological quality. Standard mean differences (SMDs) for dmf(s)/DMFT(S) (decayed, missing, and filled teeth/surface) and odds ratios (ORs) for caries prevalence were measured between exposure or not to CFW for deciduous and permanent teeth. Subgroup analysis was performed to explore whether the study design, continent, or decade of publication changed the point estimates. Seventy-four studies were included in the qualitative analysis: 57 cross-sectional, 13 before-and-after, and 4 cohort studies. Thirty-two studies provided sufficient data for meta-analyses. The overall SMD of DMFT and dmf in those exposed to CWF compared with unexposed were -0.32 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.48 to -0.17, <i>I</i>² = 96%, <i>P</i> < 0.01) and -0.30 (95% CI: -0.39 to -0.21, <i>I</i>² = 88%, <i>P</i> < 0.01), respectively. The prevalence of caries was smaller in those exposed to CWF for both the permanent (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.63) and deciduous (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.48 to 0.76) dentitions. Study design, continent, or decade of publication satisfactorily explained the heterogeneity between studies. Communities where water was fluoridated experienced less caries and differences expressed in terms of SMD and prevalence (OR) where of high magnitude, both in children and in adults. The results of the meta-analyses revealed significant differences in caries experience and prevalence in favor of CWF, which represents an effective and comprehensive public health intervention for caries prevention, especially in the primary dentition.Knowledge Transfer Statement:Based on the published literature, the results of this study show that fluoridation of community water supplies is still an effective public health intervention to prevent dental caries, both in children and adults, despite the widespread availability of fluoride-containing dental products, especially toothpaste. This result adds to the existing evidence to support its incorporation into public oral health policies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"107-116"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144505712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Whose Responsibility Is It? A Community-Level Situational Analysis of Oral Health Care in Amsterdam.","authors":"S Begovic, M W van der Linden, K Rosing, L E de Almeida, M Lorenz, S Listl, M H van der Veen","doi":"10.1177/23800844251332227","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23800844251332227","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>DELIVER (DELiberative ImproVEment of oRal care quality) is a multinational project funded under the EU's Horizon Europe program that aims to improve the quality of oral health care at the practice, community, national, and international levels. It is important to understand the current situation of oral health care quality to make improvements possible. This study aimed to map oral health care priorities among stakeholders in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and to describe how these stakeholders interacted to improve the quality of oral health care at the community level.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A situational analysis approach was used to collate data from desk research and semi-structured interviews with key informants. Interview transcripts were analyzed and grouped into main themes and subthemes using inductive coding. A situational map, a social worlds/arenas map, and a positional map were constructed to represent the community-level situation of quality improvement of oral health care.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Interviews were conducted with 10 professional stakeholders (5 social/welfare workers, 3 health care professionals, 1 public health professional, and 1 municipality policy maker). Stakeholders described prioritizing at least basic oral health care and stated that it should be accessible for everyone. Other priorities included a need for simplified access to oral health care and strengthened social support. While stakeholders agreed that people should not rely on emergency funds and volunteers, they felt that it was unclear which organizations or individuals were responsible for determining access to oral health care. This led social/welfare organizations to feel a sense of responsibility and offer informal care solutions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There was consensus among stakeholders about the need for social support and simplified access to oral health care for citizens. Stakeholders also emphasized the lack of clarity about who was responsible for oral health care and quality improvement at the community level, which highlighted the urgent need for improved governance, allocating responsibilities for oral health care quality improvement to all parties operating at the community level.Knowledge Transfer Statement:This study mapped the current practice of oral health care quality in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, through a situational analysis as a crucial starting point for enhancing quality improvement of oral health care at the community level. It underscored the need for clarity about responsibilities and provided insights for oral health care providers, social and welfare workers, policy makers, and researchers that could support research and policy formulation targeted at underserved populations, involving multiple stakeholders.</p>","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"181-194"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12967396/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144020738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Medical Necessity of Orthodontic Care: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"D Richmond, H Benzian, J Daskalogiannakis, A Holden, C Quiñonez","doi":"10.1177/23800844251355270","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23800844251355270","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>As global momentum builds for universal health coverage (UHC), it is unclear whether orthodontic care should be included in UHC packages. The concept of medically necessary orthodontic care (MNOC) and its criteria thus have far-reaching implications for priority setting and resource allocation in public and private oral health care programs.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To identify factors that contribute to the determination of MNOC based on perspectives from leaders of dental professional organizations, academics, clinicians, funders, patient advocates, and patients from 7 countries: Canada, United States, Germany, Greece, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Australia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative description design was used with semi-structured virtual interviews conducted via Zoom from November 2021 to August 2022. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed for themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixteen interviews were conducted. Participants described their concept of MNOC through 4 interrelated categories: (1) dental factors including dental health, the goals of treatment, and methods of needs assessment; (2) medical factors including the meaning of medical necessity, systemic health considerations, and treatment of craniofacial anomalies; (3) psychosocial factors including societal standards of beauty, social functioning, and mental health; and (4) funding factors including resource allocation considerations and the goals of funding.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The diversity of factors identified highlights the complex interplay between the dental profession, funders of care, society, and individual patients in understanding MNOC. Given this complexity, MNOC is arguably not amenable to a concise definition or list of criteria. Instead, a decision-making process that incorporates key actor perspectives can enhance transparency, fairness, and accountability in priority setting and resource allocation as related to MNOC and medically necessary oral health care more broadly. This approach would ensure coverage for those with demonstrated need in the context of health, well-being, and quality of life.Knowledge Transfer Statement:This study provides critical insights into the dental, medical, psychosocial, and funding factors that influence the meaning of medically necessary orthodontic care (MNOC) from the perspectives of key actors in 7 high-income countries. The findings reveal that MNOC cannot be defined by a simple set of criteria. Instead, determinations of MNOC should be made through a decision-making process that incorporates a wide array of viewpoints. This approach ensures transparent and fair resource allocation, improving access to essential orthodontic services, thereby enhancing patient health and well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"159-167"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12967375/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144659282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arginine Dentifrices and Childhood Caries Prevention: A Randomized Clinical Trial.","authors":"W Yin, Z Zhou, R-Z Huang, G Sun, Y Zhong, Z Yang, Y Li, Y Zhang, P Zhang, D Hu, L R Mateo, G Gao, S Lim, A I Ismail, J Zimmerman, B Garcia-Godoy, M Ryan, Y-P Zhang","doi":"10.1177/23800844251361471","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23800844251361471","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dental caries remains a significant oral health burden globally. Scientific evidence has demonstrated the dose-dependent anticaries action of fluoride; however, more effective, comprehensive, and alternative prevention strategies are required.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 2-y, phase 3, randomized controlled trial based on a double-blind, 3-arm, parallel-group design was conducted from April 15, 2019, through March 12, 2022 across 3 centers in China. Six thousand children aged 10 to 14 y with ≥2 active caries lesions were assigned 1 of 3 study dentifrices: 8.0% arginine, 1.5% arginine, and 0.32% sodium fluoride (NaF). The primary efficacy outcomes were incremental DMFS (decayed, missing, and filled surfaces) and DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) caries indices scores after 2 y of product use. The secondary efficacy outcomes were the incremental caries indices scores after 1 y and 6 mo of product use. Noninferiority was achieved if the 95% CI of the mean difference in scores was below the noninferiority margin of 0.2545 after 2 y, 1 y, and 6 mo of product use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After 2 y, the 8.0% arginine-containing dentifrice demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of 26.0% in DMFS scores (-0.16; 95% CI, -0.22 to -0.10; P < .001) and 25.3% in DMFT scores (-0.17; 95% CI, -0.24 to -0.11; P < .001) versus control. No statistical difference was measured between the 1.5% arginine-containing dentifrice and control in DMFS (-0.01; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.05; P = .819) and DMFT (-0.01; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.05; P = .739).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Dentifrice containing 8.0% arginine showed a statistically significant reduction in caries incidence versus the NaF control, while the 1.5% arginine dentifrice showed equivalence to the NaF control regarding caries reduction. This clinical study confirms that arginine dentifrices are effective alternatives to fluoride in providing anticaries protection.Knowledge Transfer Statement:This study demonstrates that arginine is an efficacious anticaries agent at the examined doses of 1.5% and 8%. Clinicians and consumers can consider this a new caries preventive agent providing choice to people seeking fluoride-free alternatives. Policy makers could leverage these findings to guide oral health initiatives and inform regulations on dentifrice composition, promoting broader access to effective caries prevention methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"204-214"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12967385/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144835153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nocturnal Autonomic Nervous System Dynamics and Chronic Painful Temporomandibular Disorders.","authors":"J C Nickel, Y M Gonzalez, Y Wu, D Choi, H Liu, L R Iwasaki","doi":"10.1177/23800844251325226","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23800844251325226","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Chronic pain associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) may reflect dynamic autonomic nervous system (ANS) effects. This pilot observational study tested the hypotheses that Characteristic Pain Intensity (CPI) scores correlated with 1) amplitude, 2) duration, and 3) power densities (amplitude/duration) of nocturnal ultradian cycling of the sympathetic and parasympathetic arms of the ANS.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In accordance with institutional review board oversight and Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines, adult subjects gave informed consent, completed Axis I and II components of Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC-TMD), and were trained in research protocols to record nocturnal heart rate data. Subjects were assigned to ± pain groups based on CPI scores (0 = no pain, >0 = pain). Nocturnal ultradian cycling of sympathetic and parasympathetic activities was characterized using heart rate variability measures of the percentage of the absolute value of the low-frequency power component (ms²) and normal-to-normal sinus node depolarizations >50 ms compared to total number (pNN50, %), respectively. Peaks and valleys of ultradian cycling were identified, where cycle amplitudes and durations were quantified, and sympathetic/parasympathetic power densities were calculated. The hypotheses were tested by nonparametric correlations and regression analyses, where significance was defined by <i>P</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 32 individuals screened and enrolled, 18 females and 11 males completed all study protocols. Subjects produced 87 nighttime electrocardiogram recordings with an average duration of 7.7 ± 1.0 h. CPI scores ranged from 0 to 70 and were significantly higher (<i>P</i> = 0.032) in females (30 ± 25) than in males (10 ± 17). Nocturnal ultradian sympathetic cycling in females compared to males showed significantly higher amplitudes (<i>P</i> = 0.011) and lower durations (<i>P</i> = 0.048). CPI scores were correlated with nocturnal cycling amplitude and duration (all |<i>R</i>| ≥ 0.80) and the log of sympathetic/parasympathetic power densities (<i>R</i>² = 0.89).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Characteristic Pain Intensity scores were correlated with amplitudes, durations, and power densities of nocturnal ANS ultradian cycling.Knowledge Transfer Statement:Chronic myofascial pain may reflect autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. Characteristic Pain Intensity scores of subjects were correlated with power densities of ANS ultradian cycling during sleep. Future research is needed to detect sex differences in ANS power densities in subjects with chronically painful temporomandibular disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"237-244"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13082565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cascade of Care in Pediatric Oral Health: A Cross-sectional Study to Assess Care Utilization.","authors":"D Bahdila, H Alhazmi, A S Alfarsi, L Y Alzahrani, A I Koumu, R H Alshaikh, S O Khalifa, Z S Natto","doi":"10.1177/23800844251347914","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23800844251347914","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The cascade of care (COC) approach assesses key stages in care, including screening, diagnosis, treatment, and control. It has been applied to communicable and noncommunicable diseases but is yet to be used in oral health.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To adapt the COC framework for pediatric oral health and apply it in a cross-sectional study of schoolchildren in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to assess dental needs, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 2-stage process was used to first adapt the 4-step COC model for pediatric dental needs and to produce a survey questionnaire. Stratified random sampling was then used to recruit children in grades 4 to 6 in primary schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from October 2023 to January 2024. Parents completed COC questions, and children completed dental examinations. Descriptive statistics and multilevel logistic regression models were used to assess outcomes, including unmet dental needs in context.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 783 schoolchildren from 11 primary schools were included in the cross-sectional study. The largest loss of care occurred at the treatment stage, where 41.3% of those who had visited a dentist and were diagnosed had completed their treatment. Children who had not visited a dentist in >12 mo were less likely to be diagnosed, complete treatment, or receive follow-up care when compared with those who had seen a dentist within 12 mo ( <u>P</u> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study is the first to adapt and apply the COC framework in pediatric oral health. The total unmet dental need was high, particularly for children visiting the dentist for symptomatic reasons (i.e., pain or extraction). This model lays the groundwork for more targeted assessments at national or subnational levels.Knowledge Transfer Statement:This is the first time that the cascade of care (COC) approach has been adapted and applied in a pediatric oral health case study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to understand gaps in children's dental care. It showed how the COC can highlight where systems might be underperforming and where additional data are needed. Introducing the COC framework in pediatric oral health could improve data collection across key stages of care, such as access, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"245-256"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144540257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nothing to Hide: The Merits of Open Data in Dental Research.","authors":"N S Jakubovics, F Schwendicke, V Muirhead, J Feine","doi":"10.1177/23800844251407686","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23800844251407686","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"104-106"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13172098/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146009623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictors and Barriers to Prenatal Dental Care among Pregnant Women in 2 Regions of China.","authors":"Q Jing, H Yang, Y Chen, X Cao, L Shi, L Ma, K Wan, D Zhang","doi":"10.1177/23800844251338766","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23800844251338766","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Maintaining oral health during pregnancy is essential for women's health, yet awareness of and access to dental care among pregnant women in China remain limited.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aim to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and dental care-seeking behaviors of pregnant women in 2 regions of China and identify the key factors predicting prenatal dental care utilization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were collected via an online survey from pregnant women recruited through convenience sampling at 2 hospitals in Beijing municipality and Haikou city, Hainan province. The survey included knowledge, attitudes, and sociopsychological factors that may influence dental care utilization. Principal component analysis and multivariate logistic regression were applied to assess the roles of knowledge and attitudes in prenatal dental care utilization.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 248 participants completed the survey. Among them, 39.92% consulted a dentist when experiencing dental issues, while 63.31% consulted any health care professional, including dentists and obstetricians. Participants from Hainan were significantly less likely to consult a dentist as compared with those from Beijing (odds ratio [OR], 0.01; 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.40). Regular dental care before pregnancy (principal component 1) was associated with lower odds of consulting a dentist (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.92) and any health care professional (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.92). Perceived severity of untreated dental issues (principal component 6) increased the odds of consulting a dentist (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.33) and a health care professional (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.21 to 2.30).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Geographic location and perceptions regarding dental care during pregnancy significantly influenced dental care-seeking behaviors among pregnant women. Women in less developed regions such as Hainan sought less dental care, while those aware of untreated dental risks were more likely to seek treatment. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions to address regional disparities and gaps in knowledge.Knowledge Transfer Statement:This study highlights key factors influencing prenatal dental care utilization among pregnant women in China, emphasizing regional disparities and the impact of knowledge and perceptions on care-seeking behaviors. Women in less developed regions, such as Hainan, were significantly less likely to consult a dentist or other health care professional as compared with women in Beijing. In addition, prior regular dental care was associated with lower odds of seeking treatment during pregnancy, and awareness of the severity of untreated dental issues increased the likelihood of seeking care. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve oral health education and access to prenatal dental care, particularly in underserved areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"280-292"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144078187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implicit Racial Bias in Oral Health: A Scoping Review of Students' and Providers' Perceptions.","authors":"P Martin, K Rafia, M Minter-Jordan, E P Tranby, P D Edouard, R Taylor, L J Heaton","doi":"10.1177/23800844251338167","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23800844251338167","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Implicit bias is a form of unconscious bias that can affect judgment, decisions, and behaviors.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This scoping review examined what scientific literature exists about implicit bias demonstrated by dental/dental hygiene students and providers and, when possible, how these implicit biases are associated with patients' oral health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). This review included English-language PubMed peer-reviewed studies meeting inclusion criteria, published through October 2023, measuring the implicit bias of dental/dental hygiene students or professionals and how such bias can affect patient oral health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 363 records were found. After removing duplicates (<i>n</i> = 114) and title screening (<i>n</i> = 60), 54 abstracts were screened, 24 reports were assessed, and 10 were included in the final review. Implicit bias was assessed using the Implicit Association Test (IAT), Brief IAT (BIAT), and Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS). BIAT scores revealed a pro-White unconscious racial bias in clinical decision-making among dental professionals, and additional IAT results suggested implicit racial preferences for European Americans over African Americans; non-White participants showed more positive implicit preferences toward African Americans in comparison with White participants. Studies using CoBRAS suggest moderate levels of color-blind racial attitudes among students and professionals, indicating an unawareness of racism and a need to further understand the implications of bias on patient outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite small sample sizes and a lack of racial/ethnic diversity that limit their generalizability, the included studies provide evidence for implicit racial bias held by some dental/dental hygiene students and professionals that may affect the oral health outcomes of patients. Training to increase awareness of and reduce implicit bias among those providing oral health care is an important first step to providing a more equitable health care system for all patients.Knowledge Transfer Statement:Despite small sample sizes and a lack of racial/ethnic diversity that limit their generalizability, the included studies provide evidence for implicit racial bias held by some dental/dental hygiene students and professionals that may affect the oral health outcomes of patients. Training to increase awareness of and reduce implicit bias among those providing oral health care is an important first step to providing a more equitable health care system for all patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":14783,"journal":{"name":"JDR Clinical & Translational Research","volume":" ","pages":"149-158"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12967376/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}