Special Care in Dentistry最新文献

{"title":"Perceptions, Beliefs and Barriers to Oral Health Care Among the Secluded Irular Indigenous Tribes-A Qualitative Study Using in-Depth Interviews.","authors":"Angeline Hephzibah Pauljoseph, Priyadharshini Ragavane, Priyanga Chandrasekaran, Mariya Shiney Emmanuel","doi":"10.1111/scd.70206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.70206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the perception, beliefs and barriers to oral healthcare among the indigenous Irular tribal population in the Cuddalore and Pondicherry districts, South India.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This study was grounded in Heidegger's interpretive phenomenological approach and employed face-to-face, one-to-one, in-depth, semi-structured interviews in Tamil. An interview guide developed from a literature review and expert opinion was pilot-tested to ensure clarity and cultural appropriateness. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling until interpretive data saturation was achieved. A total of 27 Irular adults aged 18 years or older participated in the study. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretive thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seven key themes emerged from one-on-one interviews: dietary attitudes on oral health; perceived benefits and dependency on betel quid chewing; tooth pain management fallacies, and misinformation; perceptions toward professional dental care; experiences with professional dental care; barriers to accessing dental care and perceptions towards dental care among the Irular population.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study highlights that limited access to dental services due to geographic isolation, economic challenges and reliance on traditional practices such as betel quid chewing, contributes to inadequate oral health management. Addressing these challenges requires culturally sensitive oral health education, community-based outreach programs, and improved accessibility to affordable dental services.</p>","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"e70206"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148354075","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":"Efficacy of Customized Toothbrush Handles in Individuals With Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Non-Randomized Clinical Trial.","authors":"Mirlena Mansur Dionizio da Silva, Daniel Lobato Ferreira Ferraz, Almira Oliveira Pereira, Vanessa Gallego Arias Pecorari, Brenda Corrêa Santos, Tamiris Christensen Bueno, Rogério de Andrade Elias, Marcio Ajudarte Lopes","doi":"10.1111/scd.70203","DOIUrl":"10.1111/scd.70203","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges in maintaining adequate oral hygiene due to motor, sensory, and behavioral limitations. Toothbrushes with customized handles have been proposed as assistive devices, but clinical evidence of their effectiveness remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of customized-handle toothbrushes compared with conventional toothbrushes in reducing dental plaque in these populations.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>A non-randomized clinical trial was conducted with 28 individuals diagnosed with DS or ASD. Participants used either customized-handle or conventional toothbrushes and were followed for three weeks. Dental plaque was assessed using the modified Quigley and Hein Plaque Index at baseline, immediately after supervised brushing, and after one and three weeks. Both toothbrush types led to plaque reduction over time in both groups; however, no statistically significant differences were observed between toothbrush types at any evaluation point.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Customized-handle toothbrushes showed similar effectiveness compared to conventional toothbrushes in reducing dental plaque in individuals with DS and ASD and may serve as a supportive tool for oral hygiene care, particularly when combined with supervision and caregiver assistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"e70203"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148353922","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":"Prevalence of Bruxism and Its Association With Sleep Disturbances, Anxiety, and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.","authors":"Milena Andrade Araújo Costa, Flávio Fernando Demarco, Paulo Ricardo Martins-Filho","doi":"10.1111/scd.70216","DOIUrl":"10.1111/scd.70216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To estimate the prevalence of bruxism in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to examine its associations with sleep disturbances, anxiety symptoms, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 140 children aged 3-12 years, comprising 70 children with ASD and 70 neurotypical peers, matched by age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Bruxism diagnosis was based on parental reports and clinical examination. Validated instruments were used to assess sleep disturbances (Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children), anxiety symptoms (SCAS/Preschool SCAS), and OHRQoL (B-ECOHIS and COHIP-SF 19). Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests and estimation of prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using Poisson regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bruxism prevalence was higher in children with ASD (44.3%) compared to neurotypical children (15.7%) (PR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.54-5.6; p = 0.003) and was associated with poorer sleep quality across both groups. However, neurotypical children with bruxism, particularly among aged 6-12 years, exhibited worse socio-emotional well-being compared to children with ASD and bruxism (p = 0.011), children with ASD without bruxism (p = 0.039), and neurotypical children without bruxism (p = 0.011).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Bruxism is more prevalent in children with ASD and is associated with poorer sleep quality. However, the psychosocial impact of bruxism on OHRQoL appears to be greater among neurotypical children.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>Bruxism is highly prevalent in children with ASD and is associated with poorer sleep quality. Early dental screening and tailored interventions are crucial for minimizing functional and psychosocial impairments in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"e70216"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13352211/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425390","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":"Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents With Trisomy 21 and Their Families, Associated Factors, and the Impact of Dental Interventions: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Cibelle Cristina Oliveira Dos Santos, Natália Cristina Ruy Carneiro, Flavia da Costa Rosa, Ana Cristina Borges-Oliveira, Carlos Flores-Mir, Fernanda Signorelli Calazans, Bruna Lavinas Sayed Picciani","doi":"10.1111/scd.70237","DOIUrl":"10.1111/scd.70237","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To map the evidence on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children and adolescents with Trisomy 21 (T21) and their families, identifying associated factors and impact of dental interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>This review was registered on the Open Science Framework. Five databases (MedLine/PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, LILACS) and the grey literature were searched, without language or year restrictions. Two independent reviewers screened records and extracted data on study characteristics, instruments, clinical conditions, and findings. Of 618 records, eight studies met the eligibility criteria. Children and adolescents with Down syndrome (T21) had a high prevalence of caries, periodontal disease, and malocclusion associated with worse OHRQoL; untreated caries, plaque, malocclusion, and poorer periodontal indices were the strongest determinants. 30%-46% of caregivers reported negative effects on their own quality of life, amid socioeconomic vulnerability and low education. Two exploratory studies with small samples and limited or no appropriate control groups suggested possible benefits of full-mouth rehabilitation under anesthesia and orthodontic aligner treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Children and adolescents with Down syndrome bear a substantial burden of oral disease affecting OHRQoL, with possible effects on family members. Despite methodological limitations, these findings support incorporating OHRQoL assessment into routine care and developing inclusive oral health protocols.</p>","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"e70237"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13491573/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148799627","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":"Beneficial Effects of Xylitol Chewing Gum and Candies on Oral Health in Older People and Individuals With Disabilities: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Eva Söderling, Kaisu Pienihäkkinen","doi":"10.1111/scd.70209","DOIUrl":"10.1111/scd.70209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To determine whether the favorable effects of xylitol chewing gum/candy on oral health observed in healthy children and adults can be demonstrated in older people or individuals with disabilities?</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Electronic and hand searches were performed to find prospective randomized or controlled clinical studies comparing effects of xylitol gum/candy with a polyol/no product control on oral health. 1171 studies were screened after duplicate removal. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, four studies in older and five studies in people with disabilities were reviewed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Clinically significant decreases in plaque accumulation were reported for xylitol gum/candy use in both populations. The results on gingival inflammation and caries occurrence were in line with these results. Use of high-concentration xylitol candy decreased counts of mutans streptococci in individuals with disabilities. The studies in frail, older people suggested that xylitol gum chewing may reduce dry mouth symptoms, increase salivation and improve self-perceived oral health.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The effects of xylitol chewing gum/candy on oral health in older people or individuals with disabilities may be comparable to those reported for healthy individuals. These findings suggest that xylitol gum/candy may be a useful adjunct for oral health maintenance in both older people and people with disabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"e70209"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13352292/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425244","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":"Comments on \"Association Between Self-Reported Psychiatric Diseases and Oral Health Among Older Adults\".","authors":"Payal Dash","doi":"10.1111/scd.70207","DOIUrl":"10.1111/scd.70207","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"eSCD70207"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13452060/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148346938","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":"Strengthening Special Care Dentistry Education in U.S. to Meet the Needs of an Expanding Population.","authors":"Dan Burch, Noorpreet Kaur, Rohit Nair, A Hakan Tuncer, Orpheus Triplett, Michelle Ziegler, Michael Chan, Robert Rada, Jeffery W Johnston, Nicholas Gagner, Laura Holena, Jacob Dent, Maria Sofia Lozada","doi":"10.1111/scd.70204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.70204","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"e70204"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148346479","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":"Oral Status and Oral-Related Quality of Life in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.","authors":"Taísa Coelho Guimarães, Melina Lopes Padilha, Alvimar Gonçalves Delgado, Ronir Raggio Luiz, Maria Cynésia Medeiros de Barros","doi":"10.1111/scd.70218","DOIUrl":"10.1111/scd.70218","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study evaluated oral health status and oral health-related quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the pre-dialysis stage compared to individuals without CKD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 49 pre-dialysis CKD patients (GFR < 60 mL/min./1.73 m²) and 46 controls (GFR ≥ 90 mL/min./1.73 m²) underwent full-mouth clinical examinations, including periodontal assessment, dental caries evaluation, and prosthesis use. Data on age, gender, ethnicity, education, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), and creatinine levels were collected. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 and OHIP-14 questionnaires.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CKD group had a mean age of 59.29 (±10.08) years, while the control group had 56.46 (±7.87) years. No significant differences were observed between groups in age, ethnicity, education, or smoking status (p > 0.05). CKD patients exhibited higher levels of dental plaque (p = 0.02), calculus (p = 0.03), periodontitis (p = 0.01), and edentulism (p = 0.02) but showed no differences in caries prevalence (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>General health-related quality of life (SF-36) was similar between groups (p > 0.05), whereas oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14) was worse in the control group (p < 0.005). The higher prevalence of edentulism in CKD patients resulted in greater prosthesis use.</p>","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"e70218"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13352092/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425345","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":"Effectiveness of Customized Animated Video-Based Oral Health Education Compared With Conventional Model-Based Education on Oral Hygiene Status and Practices Among Pregnant Women Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Pushpendra Singh, Vinay Kumar Gupta, Sujata Deo, Aman Rajput, Atrey J Pai Khot","doi":"10.1111/scd.70220","DOIUrl":"10.1111/scd.70220","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hormonal changes during pregnancy increase susceptibility to gingival inflammation and periodontal disease, which may adversely affect maternal and fetal health. Effective oral health education during pregnancy is therefore essential. Visually engaging educational tools such as animated videos may improve understanding and adoption of preventive oral hygiene practices.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To compare the effectiveness of a customized animated video-based oral health education intervention with conventional model-based education on oral hygiene status, behavioural practices, and selected pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial included 92 pregnant women in their second trimester attending a tertiary care hospital between June 2024 and March 2025. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving customized animated video-based education or a control group receiving conventional model-based education. Clinical parameters including Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), and Modified Periodontal Screening Score (mPESS), along with oral hygiene practices assessed through a validated questionnaire, were recorded at baseline, three months, and six months. Delivery outcomes were obtained postpartum. Statistical analysis included repeated-measures ANOVA or Friedman tests for within-group comparisons and Mann-Whitney U or chi-square tests for between-group comparisons. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was additionally performed to adjust for baseline gingival index differences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy-one participants completed the six-month follow-up (experimental = 26; control = 31). Both groups showed significant improvements in GI and PI, and oral hygiene practices over time (p < 0.001). At six months, the experimental group demonstrated significantly lower GI (p < 0.001) and PI scores (p = 0.011) compared with the control group. Behavioural improvements were also greater in the experimental group. No statistically significant differences were observed in preterm birth, delivery type, or infant birth weight.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Within the limitations of the present study, customized animated video-based oral health education demonstrated greater improvement in gingival health, plaque control, and oral hygiene behaviours compared with conventional model-based education among pregnant women.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>The study was submitted to the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI) under Reference No. REF/2026/02/125268.</p>","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"e70220"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13440326/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148680456","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":"Self-Perceived Oral Health Among US Adults ≥65 Years With Visual Impairment: NHANES 2015-2018.","authors":"Sumeet Gill, Kenneth Knapp, Elizabeth D Drugge, Shruti Kore","doi":"10.1111/scd.70211","DOIUrl":"10.1111/scd.70211","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Older adults with sensory impairments face barriers to maintaining oral health, yet nationally representative evidence on self-perceived oral health among older adults with visual impairment has been sparse. We examined the association between visual impairment and self-perceived oral health among older US adults.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2018 data were analyzed. Self-perceived oral health was categorized as good (excellent/very good/good) versus poor (fair/poor). Visual impairment was defined as self-reported blindness or serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses. Survey-weighted logistic regression assessed the association between visual impairment and self-perceived oral health, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and dental visit type. Complete-case analysis was used. Among 2541 participants representing an estimated 43.9 million US older adults, 9.6% reported visual impairment and 23.2% reported fair or poor self-perceived oral health. Fair or poor oral health was more common among adults with visual impairment (34.1% vs. 22.1%). Visual impairment was associated with lower odds of reporting good self-perceived oral health after adjustment (OR 0.67; 95% CI, 0.47-0.95).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Visual impairment was associated with lower odds of reporting good self-perceived oral health among US adults aged ≥65 years, highlighting the need for disability-responsive dental care and accessible communication in dental practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":47470,"journal":{"name":"Special Care in Dentistry","volume":"46 4","pages":"e70211"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13352345/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425326","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}