Frontiers in oral health最新文献

{"title":"Unmet oral health needs and barriers to dental services among socially marginalized youth: a scoping review.","authors":"Pranav Vaishampayan, Jaskaran Singh Beniwal, Piotr Wilk, Sarah McLean, Abbas Jessani","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1521753","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1521753","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Barriers limiting access to oral health significantly impact dental service utilization among socially marginalized youth, often resulting in unmet needs and poor oral health outcomes. Identifying and understanding these barriers is critical to inform the development of strategies to enhance oral healthcare access for this vulnerable population. This review examines the barriers restricting access to oral healthcare and unmet dental needs among socially marginalized youth worldwide, offering insight to guide the development of targeted interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive search was performed across electronic databases, including Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Two independent reviewers screened all primary studies, irrespective of publication year, to identify relevant research on barriers to care and unmet oral health needs among socially marginalized youth. Primary studies addressing barriers to oral healthcare access and unmet needs were included, with no restrictions on publication date. Studies published in languages other than English were excluded. Any discrepancies identified during the screening process were resolved through consensus. The CLARITY tool was utilized to evaluate the risk of bias in the included studies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 484 studies identified, six quantitative and one qualitative study met the inclusion criteria. The review identified multiple barriers such as financial constraints, structural impediments, and psychological factors that inhibit access to dental care facilities among socially marginalized youth. Three studies were conducted in the United States, two in Australia, and one each in the United Kingdom and Kenya. Among the identified barriers, four studies reported financial constraints and structural and logistical challenges, respectively while one study reported psychological barriers to dental care. A high prevalence of unmet needs such as dental caries and periodontal diseases, was observed within this demographic. The unmet dental needs identified in the included studies encompassed dental caries (<i>n</i> = 3), missing teeth (<i>n</i> = 2), periodontal diseases (<i>n</i> = 1), tooth pain (<i>n</i> = 1), and dental infections (<i>n</i> = 1). However, small sample sizes and lacking in robust study design limit the findings' generalizability, emphasizing the need for more diverse studies on oral health outcomes in socially marginalized youth.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This scoping review identified critical research gaps in regards to access to oral health and dental service utilization among socially marginalized youth. Oral health initiatives are warranted to reduce oral health inequalities among socially marginalized youth.</p><p><strong>Systematic review registration: </strong>https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/T82D3.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1521753"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11937129/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143722807","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":"A novel digital workflow to fabricate anterior repositioning splint with fully masticatory function based on virtual dental patient for anterior disc displacement with reduction: a case report.","authors":"Weicai Liu, Xinhuan Zhao, Jiefei Shen, Ran Wei","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1534571","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1534571","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) refer to a range of conditions caused by anatomical and functional abnormalities of the temporomandibular joints. Anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDwR) is one of the most common TMDs, characterized by symptoms such as jaw pain and audible clicking during jaw movements.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>A 38-year-old female was admitted to our hospital in April 2023 with a chief complaint of joint snapping and jaw pain persisting for nearly a decade. After a comprehensive examination, she was diagnosed with ADDwR of bilateral temporomandibular joints. The patient then underwent functional anterior repositioning splint (FARS) therapy, which continued until July 2023, resulting in complete symptom remission. She is currently undergoing additional orthodontic treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Anterior repositioning splint (ARS) therapy used to be considered one of the most effective therapies for ADDwR. However, concerns have emerged regarding its dependence on clinicians' subjective experience, potential inaccuracies in ARS design, and impact on patients' masticatory function. This case has improved the traditional ARS therapy with the establishment of a novel digital workflow to fabricate ARS with a fully masticatory function based on the virtual dental patient (VDP) for ADDwR. The FARS workflow ensured predictability and visualization of treatment effect through digital simulation, enhanced the personalization and precision of FARS design via VDP, and preserved the patient's masticatory function through the tailored design of occlusal surface morphology.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1534571"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11936970/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143722728","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":"Ion release dynamics of bioactive resin cement under variable pH conditions.","authors":"Venkata Suresh Venkataiah, Jogikalmat Krithikadatta, Kavalipurapu Venkata Teja, Deepak Mehta, Mukesh Doble","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1564838","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1564838","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Understanding the ion release behaviour of bioactive resin cements is essential for evaluating their potential in restorative dentistry. Sustained ion release, especially at cariogenic pH levels, can enhance remineralization and prolong the longevity of dental restorations. This study investigates the influence of pH on the ion release profiles of a bioactive resin cement before and after recharging.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Disk-shaped specimens (<i>n</i> = 15) of bioactive resin cement were prepared and exposed to three different pH conditions (4.5, 5.5, and 6.5) to simulate normal and cariogenic environments. Calcium ion release was quantified using atomic spectrophotometry, while fluoride and phosphate ions were analyzed using quantitative spectrophotometry. After an initial 30-day depletion phase, recharging was performed using casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate with fluoride (CPP-ACPF) paste.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the pre-recharging phase (Stage 1), calcium ion release was more pronounced at acidic pH (4.5-5.5), particularly in the first five days. Fluoride and phosphate ions also demonstrated higher release at pH 4.5 and 5.5 compared to pH 6.5. Post-recharging (Stage 2) exhibited similar trends, emphasizing the role of regular recharge in sustaining ion availability. The absence of an initial burst release, commonly seen in other bioactive materials, suggests a distinct ion release mechanism in these resin cements.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings highlight the pH-dependent release characteristics of bioactive resin cements and reinforce the importance of recharging for maintaining their therapeutic potential. The unique release kinetics observed may offer advantages in long-term remineralization strategies for dental restorations.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1564838"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11937140/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143722805","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":"Mpox and oral health among children in Africa.","authors":"Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan, Adeyinka Ganiyat Ishola, Ahmed Bhayat, Maha El Tantawi, Nadia Adjoa Sam-Agudu, Nicaise Ndembi","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1539833","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1539833","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Much like it has historically, recent mpox outbreaks in Africa have significantly affected children and highlight major public health challenges, including oral healthcare in pandemic responses. The global 2022 outbreak saw an unprecedented number of mpox cases outside Africa, however children were a minority, constituting less than 2%, with the vast majority of cases reported among adult men who have sex with men. However, African countries continue to report high proportions of pediatric mpox cases, particularly Clade 1 in Burundi, the DRC, and the Congo, and Clade 2 in Nigeria. Oral manifestations of mpox such as ulcers and lesions on the lips and tongue are common and can precede skin rash, making early diagnosis challenging, especially in low-resource settings. Misdiagnosis is also a risk due to the similarity of mpox oral lesions to common pediatric exanthems and enanthems. Oral and other manifestations so mpox among affected children in Africa may be worsened due to delayed treatment and increased morbidity from high rates of malnutrition and immunosuppression, including due to HIV. This paper explores the implications of mpox on the oral health of children in Africa, emphasizing the need for improved surveillance, early detection, and the integration of the mpox response into existing child health programs. Child-focused clinical and public health research, healthcare worker training, and accessible, child-friendly diagnostic tools will be crucial for mitigating the impact of mpox on this vulnerable population.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1539833"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11933026/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143712366","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":"Artificial intelligence and the diagnosis of oral cavity cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders from clinical photographs: a narrative review.","authors":"Payam Mirfendereski, Grace Y Li, Alexander T Pearson, Alexander Ross Kerr","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1569567","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1569567","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral cavity cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly with advanced stage diagnosis. Oral cavity cancer, typically squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is often preceded by oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), which comprise eleven disorders with variable risks for malignant transformation. While OPMDs are clinical diagnoses, conventional oral exam followed by biopsy and histopathological analysis is the gold standard for diagnosis of OSCC. There is vast heterogeneity in the clinical presentation of OPMDs, with possible visual similarities to early-stage OSCC or even to various benign oral mucosal abnormalities. The diagnostic challenge of OSCC/OPMDs is compounded in the non-specialist or primary care setting. There has been significant research interest in technology to assist in the diagnosis of OSCC/OPMDs. Artificial intelligence (AI), which enables machine performance of human tasks, has already shown promise in several domains of medical diagnostics. Computer vision, the field of AI dedicated to the analysis of visual data, has over the past decade been applied to clinical photographs for the diagnosis of OSCC/OPMDs. Various methodological concerns and limitations may be encountered in the literature on OSCC/OPMD image analysis. This narrative review delineates the current landscape of AI clinical photograph analysis in the diagnosis of OSCC/OPMDs and navigates the limitations, methodological issues, and clinical workflow implications of this field, providing context for future research considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1569567"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11931071/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143702561","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":"Embracing change, moving with time: exploring the role of digital technologies and accelerators in promoting community oral health in Africa.","authors":"Adriano Focus Lubanga, George Kafera, Akim N Bwanali, Yeonho Choi, Chaieun Lee, Emily Ham, Jason Y Lee, Jaeha Chung, Jonathan Chung","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1443313","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1443313","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1443313"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925870/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143694945","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-reported data validity for assessment of systemic and oral health as risk for dependency in old age: a cohort profile of elderly individuals in mid Sweden.","authors":"Alessandra Neves-Guimaraes, Ruzan Udumyan, Kartheyaene Jayaprakash Demirel, Pernilla Larsson Gran, Carin Starkhammar, Carina Källestål","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1491723","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1491723","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The Mid Sweden Cohort (MSC) was established to investigate self-perceived oral and general health among two groups of aging individuals in two counties (Örebro and Östergötland) in Sweden. For internal and external data validation, we linked collected data on health status, behavior, sociodemographic circumstances, and dependency with national register data from Statistics Sweden and compared non-respondents and those lost to follow-up to respondents.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>MSC is based on a longitudinal multiwave study of aging men and women who answered a cross-sectional questionnaire from MSC: (1) the 1992 cohort including participants aged 50 years in 1992 and (2) the 2007 cohort including participants aged 75 years in 2007. After the baseline surveys, data collection was conducted every 5 years, with the latest wave from 2017 included in our validation. Between 1992 and 2017, 8,879 participants were included in cohort 1, while 5,191 individuals were included in cohort 2 between 2007 and 2017.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After linking self-reported data with national register-based data and analyzing loss to follow-up and non-response numbers, we found that, besides age, factors such as being male, having immigrant status, lower income and education level, being single, and being in poor health were predictors of non-response and loss to follow-up, aligning with the findings of other studies. Based on our results, we conclude the MSC is reliable for further research, provided the observed bias is taken into account.</p><p><strong>Future plans: </strong>Using the MSC, we aim to analyze self-reported oral health changes as a predictor of dependency in the elderly and track oral health status over time. Furthermore, we plan to link data with register-based clinical oral health records. We also intend to add the 2022 wave data and future waves into the existing dataset.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1491723"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11922726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671988","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":"Selective modulation of the bone remodeling regulatory system through orthodontic tooth movement-a review.","authors":"Jan Christian Danz, Martin Degen","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1472711","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1472711","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Little is known about how tissues mediate the ability to selectively form or resorb bone, as required during orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), facial growth, continued tooth eruption and for healing after fractures, maxillofacial surgical repositioning or implant dentistry. OTM has the unique ability to selectively cause apposition, resorption or a combination of both at the alveolar periosteal surface and therefore, provides an optimal process to study the regulation of bone physiology at a tissue level. Our aim was to elucidate the mechanisms and signaling pathways of the <i>bone remodeling regulatory system (BRRS)</i> as well as to investigate its clinical applications in osteoporosis treatment, orthopedic surgery, fracture management and orthodontic treatment. OTM is restricted to a specific range in which the BRRS permits remodeling; however, surpassing this limit may lead to bone dehiscence. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound, vibration or photobiomodulation with low-level laser therapy have the potential to modify BRRS with the aim of reducing bone dehiscence and apical root resorption or accelerating OTM. Unloading of bone and periodontal compression promotes resorption via receptor activator of nuclear factor κB-ligand, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), and suppression of anti-resorptive mediators. Furthermore, proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α, and prostaglandins exert a synergistic effect on bone resorption. While proinflammatory cytokines are associated with periodontal sequelae such as bone dehiscence and gingival recessions, they are not essential for OTM. Integrins mediate mechanotransduction by converting extracellular biomechanical signals into cellular responses leading to bone apposition. Active Wnt signaling allows β-catenin to translocate into the nucleus and to stimulate bone formation, consequently converging with integrin-mediated mechanotransductive signals. During OTM, periodontal fibroblasts secrete PTHrP, which inhibits sclerostin secretion in neighboring osteocytes via the PTH/PTHrP type 1 receptor interaction. The ensuing sclerostin-depleted region may enhance stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts and subperiosteal osteoid formation. OTM-mediated BRRS modulation suggests that administering sclerostin-inhibiting antibodies in combination with PTHrP may have a synergistic bone-inductive effect. This approach holds promise for enhancing osseous wound healing, treating osteoporosis, bone grafting and addressing orthodontic treatments that are linked to periodontal complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1472711"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924204/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671984","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":"Impact of oral precancerous lesions on oral cancer development in patients with oral lichen planus: a retrospective cohort study of 318 oral lichen planus patients.","authors":"Yu-Cheng Chu, Pei-Yu Lin, Wan-Ting Huang, Hsun-Yu Huang, Chien-Chin Chen","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1560600","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1560600","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Oral lichen planus (OLP) has been implicated as a potential risk factor for oral cancer. This study aimed to investigate the long-term determinants of oral cancer development following a diagnosis of OLP.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort study of 318 patients with histopathologically confirmed OLP was conducted at a tertiary medical center from 1995 to 2018. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of oral precancerous lesions (OPLs). Baseline characteristics, underlying medical conditions, and lifestyle factors were compared between groups. The hazard ratio (HR) and the 10-year cumulative risk for oral cancer development were estimated using logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In our cohort, a total of 33 patients (10.38%) were diagnosed with oral cancer. After adjusting for confounders, OPLs (HR, 2.98), age over 50 years (HR, 4.36), chronic kidney disease (HR, 4.46), and alcohol consumption (HR, 4.23) emerged as independent risk factors for oral cancer development in patients with OLP (<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The current study indicates that the presence of OPLs, including histologically confirmed verrucous hyperplasia and varying degrees of oral dysplasia, is associated with an increased risk of oral cancer development in patients with OLP. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms linking OLP, OPL, and oral cancer occurrence.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1560600"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11922877/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143672070","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 hygiene, quality of life, and risk of heart failure.","authors":"Jeffrey J VanWormer, Neel Shimpi, Kelly Schroeder, Arin VanWormer, Gaurav Jain, Richard A Dart","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1438026","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1438026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Heart failure (HF) is a debilitating form of cardiovascular disease that is increasing worldwide. Poor oral health is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but there are few studies specific to the development of HF. In particular, there are no known studies on oral hygiene and HF in the United States. This study characterizes the association between oral hygiene, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and risk of HF in adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A case-control sample was assembled from adult patients of the Marshfield Clinic Health System in north-central Wisconsin. HF cases were matched on age and sex to HF-free controls. HF case status, along with clinical covariates, were extracted from electronic health records. Surveys were used to collect oral health exposures (toothbrushing, flossing, dental visits, and OHRQoL) and other sociodemographic covariates. Multivariable regression was used to examine associations with HF.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Survey response rates were 67% in HF cases and 74% in HF-free controls, yielding an analytical sample of 410 individuals. OHRQoL was not significantly associated with HF, but both oral hygiene and last dental visit were. Specifically, multivariable models revealed that participants with excellent oral hygiene had significantly lower odds of HF as compared to those with fair/poor oral hygiene [aOR = 0.47 (CI: 0.24, 0.95), <i>p</i> = 0.035]. Similarly, participants with a more recent dental visit that occurred less than two years prior had significantly lower odds of HF as compared to participants with a dental visit that occurred more than two years prior [aOR = 0.43 (CI: 0.25, 0.74), <i>p</i> = 0.002].</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Good oral hygiene (i.e., regular toothbrushing/flossing) and a recent dental visit were protective against HF. If poor oral health is established as a causal contributor to HF in future research, it could open up previously unrecognized or underappreciated additional pathways to prevention whereby the risk of HF development could be interrupted by more intense screening/recognition of deteriorating oral health by medical care teams, as well as a more direct focus on cardiovascular disease prevention by dental care teams.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1438026"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11920132/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143665769","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}