Frontiers in oral health最新文献

{"title":"Oral health-related beliefs among a sample of pregnant women in Southwestern Ontario: a descriptive study.","authors":"Yasaman Mohammadi Kamalabadi, M Karen Campbell, Robert Gratton, Alexia Athanasakos, Myriam Haddad, Abbas Jessani","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1485815","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2024.1485815","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Unfavorable beliefs about oral health and dental treatment during pregnancy can lead to the avoidance of dental care and the underutilization of dental services, adversely affecting adherence to good oral hygiene practices and, consequently, the health of the fetus. This study investigated the commonly held oral health beliefs among pregnant women in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were recruited from the Family Medicine Obstetrics Clinic in London, Ontario, Canada. Eligible participants were pregnant women aged 18 or older, excluding those unwilling to participate. Participants completed a 33-item self-administered questionnaire, including three open-ended questions about oral health beliefs and their impacts on pregnancy, which were analyzed for this study. Thematic analysis in NVivo identified key patterns, while analysis determined the most common beliefs and the degree of diversity in responses. Responses were categorized into sub-themes, and the frequency and percentage of each category were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 130 participants met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 40.7% (<i>n</i> = 46) believed that oral health impacts their child's health, 48.2% (<i>n</i> = 53) believed that dental treatment affects fetal health, and 64.4% (<i>n</i> = 76) believed that pregnancy influences their oral health. Many beliefs regarding oral health during pregnancy regarded infection risks. Participants held negative beliefs about the effects of antibiotics, analgesics, and dental x-rays during pregnancy. Common beliefs about the impacts of pregnancy on oral health included developing conditions, such as tooth sensitivity, caries, and gingivitis, as well as a loss of minerals to the fetus.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study revealed important misconceptions and concerns about oral health and dental treatment among pregnant women in Southwestern Ontario. The findings highlighted the need for enhanced oral health education for pregnant women to address these misconceptions and promote proper care during pregnancy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to focus on dispelling myths, emphasizing the safety of necessary dental treatments, and reinforcing the significance of maintaining good oral health for maternal and fetal well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11537897/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142591381","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 oral microbiome of children in health and disease-a literature review.","authors":"Salma G AlHarbi, Abdullah S Almushayt, Shatha Bamashmous, Turki S Abujamel, Nada Othman Bamashmous","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1477004","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2024.1477004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The oral microbiome is a complex community of microorganisms residing in the oral cavity interacting with each other and with the host in a state of equilibrium. Disruptions in this balance can result in both oral and systemic conditions. Historically, studying the oral microbiome faced limitations due to culture-dependent techniques that could not capture the complexity and diversity of the microbial community. The emergence of advanced genomic technologies and the ease of sample collection from the oral cavity has revolutionized the understanding of the oral microbiome, providing valuable insights into the bacterial community in both health and disease. This review explores the oral microbiome in children, discussing its formation and dynamics in both states of health and disease, its role in various conditions such as dental caries, periodontal disease, oral cancer, cleft lip and palate, and explores its connection to several systemic consequences.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11534731/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585407","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":"Uptake of the Interim Canada Dental Benefit: an investigation of data from the first 18 months of the program.","authors":"Saif Goubran, Vivianne Cruz de Jesus, Anil Menon, Olubukola O Olatosi, Robert J Schroth","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1481423","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2024.1481423","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In 2022, the Government of Canada introduced the Interim Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) to support Canadian families with children <12 years of age. This program operated from October 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024, with two application periods. The purpose of this study was to analyze data on applications accepted by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) during the first 18 months of the program.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used available data sourced from the CRA for applicants as of March 29, 2024, and assessed as of April 5, 2024. Data covered the entirety of the first period (October 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) of the Interim CDB and the first nine months of the second period (July 1, 2023-March 29, 2024). The rate of child participation was calculated using population data from Statistics Canada (2021).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over the first 18 months of the Interim CDB, a total of 410,920 applications were submitted and $403M distributed; $197M for 204,270 applications in period 1 and $175M for 173,160 applications in the first nine months of period 2. Overall, 321,000 children received the Interim CDB in period 1 and 282,130 children received the Interim CDB in the first nine months of period 2. A total of 91.8% of applicants had a net family income <$70,000, receiving the maximum benefit amount. The provinces with the highest rate of child participation were Manitoba (77.1/1,000 period 1; 74.9/1,000 period 2), Ontario (82.5/1,000 period 1; 72.2/1,000 period 2), Nova Scotia (73.4/1,000 period 1; 71.1/1,000 period 2), and Saskatchewan (72.3/1,000 period 1; 68.2/1,000 period 2). Overall, projections suggest that there will be an increase in the number of applications approved in period 2 compared to period 1.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Uptake in the first three quarters of period 2 remained consistent and in many instances, revealed higher rates of applications by parents for the Interim CDB. However, it is uncertain how much of the funds were directly used for dental care. Analyzing this data will aid in policy recommendation for enhancement of the Canadian Dental Care Program.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11534804/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585408","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 biofilm composition and phenotype in caries-active and caries-free children.","authors":"Gabriella Boisen, Susanne Brogårdh-Roth, Jessica Neilands, Alex Mira, Miguel Carda-Diéguez, Julia R Davies","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1475361","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2024.1475361","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>During development of dental caries, oral biofilms undergo changes in microbial composition and phenotypical traits. The aim of this study was to compare the acid tolerance (AT) of plaque from two groups of children: one with severe caries (CA) and one with no caries experience (CF) and to correlate this to the microbial composition and metabolic profile of the biofilms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Dental plaque samples from 20 children (2-5 years) in each group were studied. The AT was analyzed by viability assessment after exposure to an acid challenge (pH 3.5), using LIVE/DEAD® BacLight™ stain and confocal microscopy. Levels of acid tolerance (AT) were evaluated using a scoring system ranging from 1 (no/low AT), to 5 (high/all AT). Metabolic profiles were investigated following a 20 mM glucose pulse for one hour through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Microbial composition was characterized by 16S <i>r</i>RNA Illumina sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean AT score of the CA group (4.1) was significantly higher than that of the CF group (2.6, <i>p</i> < 0.05). When comparing the end-products of glucose metabolism detected after a glucose-pulse, the CA samples showed a significantly higher lactate to acetate, lactate to formate, lactate to succinate and lactate to ethanol ratio than the CF samples (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The bacterial characterization of the samples revealed 25 species significantly more abundant in the CA samples, including species of <i>Streptococcus, Prevotella, Leptotrichia</i> and <i>Veillonella</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05)<i>.</i></p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Our results show that AT in pooled plaque from the oral cavity of children with severe caries is increased compared to that in healthy subjects and that this can be related to differences in the metabolic activity and microbial composition of the biofilms. Thus, the overall <i>phenotype</i> of dental plaque appears to be a promising indicator of the caries status of individuals. However, longitudinal studies investigating how the AT changes over time in relation to caries development are needed before plaque AT could be considered as a prediction method for the development of dental caries.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11534697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585404","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":"Aesthetic lip filler augmentation is not free of adverse reactions: lack of evidence-based practice from a systematic review.","authors":"M Coppini, V C A Caponio, R Mauceri, G Pizzo, N Mauceri, L Lo Muzio, G Campisi","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1495012","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2024.1495012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In the last decades, dermal fillers have gained widespread acceptance for cosmetic purposes since their approval for different health conditions, including lip augmentation and aesthetic intervention of the face. Unfortunately, while filler lip procedures are performed using biomaterials with improved physical characteristics, they are not devoid of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), including those with late-onset.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This systematic aims to investigate the ADRs associated with lip augmentation procedures using dermal fillers. A systematic review search was conducted in Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science to answer the PEO question: What are the ADRs in patients undergoing lip augmentation procedures with dermal fillers, and how frequent are they?</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The risk of bias was assessed, and a systematic review was conducted. Nineteen studies were included. In total, 30 patients affected by filler lip ADRs were analyzed, of which 29 were females and only 1 was male with a mean age of 50.9 ± 12.8 years. Hyaluronic acid was the most commonly dermal filler used and granulomatous foreign body reaction was the most common filler lip reaction reported. The mean time between filler lip injection and granulomatous foreign body reaction onset was 57.9 ± 54 months (median 24 months).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>No study reported ADRs to regulatory authorities. Our results indicate that adverse reactions can occur even long-term after the aesthetic procedure. Therefore, ongoing short-term and long-term follow-up visits are essential, as biocompatible materials are not free from ADRs. Additionally, a lack of reporting ADRs to regulatory authorities has emerged, which is crucial for patient safety.</p><p><strong>Systematic review registration: </strong>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=534656, identifier: CRD42024534656.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11525007/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559846","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":"Orthodontic management of severe inversely impacted maxillary central incisors: a case series.","authors":"Yuriko Maruya, Ryoko Hino, Manami Tadano, Seira Hoshikawa, Shinji Otake, Yuta Chiba, Kan Saito","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1474190","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2024.1474190","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Abnormal positioning and dislocation of the central incisor can disturb tooth eruption. Generally, inversely impacted maxillary central incisors do not erupt naturally. Performing traction and applied extrusion of an inversely impacted maxillary central incisor with a high inclination angle of the crown is challenging. This study aimed to examine the possibility of orthodontic treatment for severely inversely impacted maxillary central incisors in a series of case studies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The inclination angle of the tooth crown, curvature of the tooth root, and length of the formed tooth root were measured using radiography. The teeth were then fenestrated and traction was applied using a lingual arch appliance with elastics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average crown axis inclination was 113°, the degree of root curvature was 97.3°, and the root formation was 36.1%. Although the crown axis inclination and root curvature were severe, all the incisors were aligned in the correct position as vital teeth through surgical and orthodontic treatments.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Traction should be performed in the early period of incisor development when root formation is not progressing, regardless of the tooth angle.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11521976/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549771","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":"Evaluation of caries risk assessment practices among dental practitioners in Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Ermin Nie, Rui Jiang, Rafiqul Islam, Xiang Li, Jiali Yu","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1458188","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2024.1458188","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate dental practitioners' knowledge and practices regarding Caries risk assessment (CRA) in routine clinical practice in Guangzhou, China.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An online questionnaire was disseminated to dental practitioners to gather socio-demographic information, factors associated with CRA, the implementation of preventive treatment, and the level of awareness regarding personalized preventive treatment in relation to CRA. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, ANOVA, MANCOVA, linear regression, and scatter plots.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>Out of the 695 dental practitioners who were contacted, 206 dentists participated in the online survey. However, out of the total number of dentists, 198 were successfully recruited, while the remaining 8 dentists had incomplete data in their questionnaires. 92.4% of dentists provided in-office fluoride treatments, and 73.2% held a strong belief in the correlation between current oral hygiene and tooth cavities. 23.7% of dentists evaluated caries risk on an individual basis, and a significant 41.9% never utilized a particular type of CRA. 53.5% of dentists recommended non-prescription fluoride rinses, whereas 51% advocated prescription fluoride treatments. Significant statistical relationships were found between the use of in-office fluoride and the effectiveness of restorative treatment (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Additionally, a significant association was discovered between the use of a specific form for CRA and the kind of dental school (<i>P</i> < 0.05). The study suggests that a significant number of dental practitioners in Guangzhou, China, do not utilize dedicated assessment forms for CRA in their routine professional activities. These findings highlight the im-portance of encouraging dentists to utilize CRA systems to effectively identify patients who are at risk of acquiring dental caries.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11521907/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549770","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":"Gum Arabic as a potential candidate in quorum quenching and treatment of periodontal diseases.","authors":"Nada Tawfig Hashim, Rasha Babiker, Mohammed Mustahsen Rahman, Nallan C S K Chaitanya, Riham Mohammed, Shahistha Parveen Dasnadi, Bakri Gobara Gismalla","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1459254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2024.1459254","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Periodontal diseases are chronic inflammatory conditions influenced by bacterial biofilm formation and host immune responses, affecting millions worldwide. Traditional treatments like mechanical debridement and systemic antibiotics often face limitations, including biofilm resilience and antibiotic resistance. Gum Arabic (GA), a natural exudate from <i>Acacia</i> trees, presents a promising alternative with its anti-biofilm and anti-inflammatory properties. This review highlights the role of GA in periodontal therapy, particularly its ability to interfere with quorum sensing (QS) pathways, specifically the AI-2 signaling system used by key periodontal pathogens such as <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>, <i>Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans</i>, and <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i>. By disrupting QS, GA inhibits biofilm formation, reduces bacterial virulence, and promotes a balanced oral microbiome. GA's prebiotic properties also encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria, enhancing the host's immune response while preserving the systemic microbiome. Clinical studies demonstrate GA's effectiveness as an adjunct in periodontal therapy, with significant reductions in plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, and bleeding. This highlights GA's potential as a natural therapeutic agent, offering an effective, antibiotic-sparing option in managing periodontal disease. However, further research is warranted to fully establish GA's role in comprehensive periodontal care and its long-term benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11493777/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142516840","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":"Mapping optimal orthodontic implant sites in the palate using cone-beam computed tomography.","authors":"Zhengxian Zhu, Lin Zhong, Yicheng Zhao, Xiaoting Wang, Wenhao Qian, Niansong Ye","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1453665","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2024.1453665","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To measure the palatal soft tissue thickness and cortical bone density to determine safe regions for the placement of orthodontic mini-implants and to examine the influence of sex and age on soft tissue thickness and cortical bone density.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Cone-beam computed tomography images of 42 patients (22 males and 20 females), including 21 adults and 21 adolescents, were examined in this study. The palatal soft tissue thickness and cortical bone density were measured at the coronal planes between the premolars (P4-5), between the second premolars and first molars (P5-6), and between the first molars and second molars (P6-7).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The thickness of the soft tissue revealed similar coronal planes, but the bone density varied. The mean thickness was 3.8 mm at 0°-60° and 1.5 mm at 60°-90°. P4-5 had the highest bone density (>600 HU), decreasing toward P6-7 (<600 HU). Bone density decreased from 90° to 0° coronally, whereas the soft tissue thickness increased. Age, sex, and their interaction affected bone and soft tissues.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In general, areas with a high bone density tended to have thin soft tissue coronally, thus the preferred implant site tends to be more anterior to the P4-5 plane and closer to 60°-90°. Considering individual variances, mapping of the recommended regions for palatal mini-implants is suggested.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11480054/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142484104","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":"Exploration of oral hygiene practices, oral health status, and related quality of life of individuals residing in the Rorya district of Tanzania, East Africa.","authors":"Priyanka Gudsoorkar, Rachael Nolan, Sweta Kafle, Aayush Dubey","doi":"10.3389/froh.2024.1435555","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2024.1435555","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Oral health substantially impacts individuals' quality of life, making it an important target for global health interventions. This research describes oral health status, practices, and beliefs within the Rorya district of Tanzania to understand barriers to care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To quantify physical oral health status, intraoral examinations were conducted on adults, noting the Decayed Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Comprehensive Periodontal Inflammatory Burden Index (CPBI). Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) and semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand oral hygiene behaviors and beliefs. Data was analyzed via two-sample <i>t</i>-tests, Pearson's statistics, and NVIVO.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A purposive sample (<i>n</i> = 139) of participants self-reported to reside in either Burere (<i>n</i> = 32), Nyambogo (<i>n</i> = 52), or Roche (<i>n</i> = 55) were assessed. A two-sample <i>t</i>-test revealed females (<i>n</i> = 67; x¯ = 7.1; SD = 5.4; <i>p</i> < 0.05) have a significantly higher DMFT score than males (<i>n</i> = 72; x¯ = 3.7; SD = 3.9). Moreover, the OHRQoL score of females (<i>n</i> = 67; x¯ = 12.10; SD = 14; <i>p</i> < 0.05) were significantly higher than males (<i>n</i> = 72; x¯ = 10.16; SD = 3). In contrast, males have significantly higher CPBI scores (x¯ = 3.8; SD = 1.5; <i>p</i>=<0.05) than females (x¯ = 3.0; SD = 1.3). Additionally, older age groups presented higher GI and PISA scores, while the younger group (20-30 years) displayed the highest mean DMFT score. The themes that emerged from semi-structured interviews were \"pearls of laughter guarded by wisdom teeth,\" \"whispered tales of oral tides and communal echoes,\" and \"tales of the tooth fairy.\"</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>In this community, proper oral health maintenance techniques are vital yet frequently disregarded, mainly due to disparities in access to resources, reflected in oral health scores. Addressing this is a crucial intervention, presenting an opportunity to uplift overall well-being. Moreover, gender and age disparities in oral health highlight the urgent need for tailored interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11473497/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142484103","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}