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Dentistry Journal
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Preventive Dental Care, Chairside and Beyond: 2nd Edition
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Preventive Dental Care, Chairside and Beyond: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Dentistry Journal (ISSN 2304-6767). This special issue belongs to the section "Preventive Dentistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 2712

Editors

Prof. Dr. Chun Hung Chu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: preventive dentistry; community dentistry; fluorides; dental caries
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Chloe Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: dental caries; community dentistry; evidence-based dentistry; clinical trials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Preventive dental care, much like the term suggests, refers to activities that work to prevent oral health issues. In fact, preventive dental care is not limited to simple actions such as toothbrushing and dental flossing to keep teeth clean and clear of diseases. The aim of prevention is to bring disease status to the lowest stage. Actions should be taken at any stage of the disease progression, ideally as early as possible. Three-level prevention strategies have been widely advocated. Primary prevention strategies are used to prevent the onset of oral diseases, including but not limited to the provision of health-related information, oral health education and promotion, the application of topical fluoride, chlorhexidine, and other health technologies. Secondary prevention includes strategies that detect disease early and intervene to prevent its progression, such as regular dental check-ups and the utilization of early detection tools. Tertiary prevention strategies are used to prevent function loss and lower morbidity by restoring function and reducing disease‐related complications, for example, replacing missing teeth with dental implants and rehabilitating function with residual parts.

It is important to be proactive in preventive dental care which is not restricted to the chairside in the dentist’s office. Topical fluoride application and fissure sealant are far from sufficient in terms of preventive actions. Community involvement is considered a promising strategy to make prevention a priority, and to make it sustainable. As the time spent in a dentist’s office is usually quite limited, community involvement helps preventive dental care to sustain and endure in achieving success. In addition, peer influence within the community may boost the effectiveness of preventive actions.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, reviews and case reports (with good quality photos) related to preventive dental care. Preventive strategies include but are not limited to oral health promotion, early diagnosis, the assessment or management of oral diseases and conditions, novel dental care protocols to lower disease levels, and the rehabilitation of oral function. Strategies can be considered at both individual and community levels.

This Special Issue will provide readers with up-to-date information on preventive dental care in minimizing severity of diseases. Further, it will raise awareness of the importance of preventive actions for dental professionals as well as general readers.

Prof. Dr. Chun Hung Chu
Prof. Dr. Chloe Jiang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Dentistry Journal is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • preventive dentistry
  • dental care
  • dental caries
  • community dentistry
  • fluorides

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 255 KB  
Article
Behavioral Changes and Determinants of Preventive Oral-Health Practices Among Chinese Dental Patients: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Guangzhou
by Jiali Yu, Zhe Ji, Rui Jiang, Rafiqul Islam, Xiang Li and Ermin Nie
Dent. J. 2026, 14(7), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/dj14070460 - 21 Jul 2026
Viewed by 349
Abstract
Background: Preventive oral-health behaviors are crucial for reducing the incidence of dental caries, but there is still little data on whether Chinese dental patients continue to practice these behaviors. This study investigated self-reported changes in oral-health practices after treatment and explored factors [...] Read more.
Background: Preventive oral-health behaviors are crucial for reducing the incidence of dental caries, but there is still little data on whether Chinese dental patients continue to practice these behaviors. This study investigated self-reported changes in oral-health practices after treatment and explored factors associated with the adoption of preventive behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was carried out in a hospital in Guangzhou with 246 dental patients. The frequency of brushing both before and after treatment, interdental cleaning, dietary modifications, attendance at follow-up, receiving and understanding preventive advice, and following recommendations were reported. Changes in brushing behavior were analyzed, and logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with preventive behaviors. Results: The proportion of participants brushing ≥2/day increased after treatment (7.7%, p < 0.05). Daily interdental cleaning remained low (23.2%), while 61.0% reported dietary modification and 53.3% attended follow-up. In multivariable models adjusting for all covariates, most sociodemographic factors were not significantly associated with preventive behaviors. Male participants had lower odds of brushing ≥2/day. Understanding of preventive recommendations was the most consistent predictor, with lower understanding associated with reduced flossing, follow-up, and adherence. Receipt and format of advice were not independently associated with outcomes after adjustment. Periodontal treatment was associated with lower follow-up compared with restorative care. Conclusions: Preventive oral-health behaviors improved modestly after treatment, but overall adherence remained limited. Clear understanding of preventive advice was the strongest determinant of behavior, while sociodemographic factors and advice format showed no independent effects. Lower follow-up attendance among periodontal patients highlights the need for improved patient communication and recall strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preventive Dental Care, Chairside and Beyond: 2nd Edition)
13 pages, 426 KB  
Article
Predictors of Dental Caries Increment in Schoolchildren: A Longitudinal Study of Salivary and Behavioral Risk Factors
by Leonor Sánchez-Pérez, Laura Patricia Sáenz Martínez, Nelly Molina Frechero, Marco Antonio Zepeda-Zepeda and María Esther Irigoyen-Camacho
Dent. J. 2026, 14(6), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/dj14060382 - 19 Jun 2026
Viewed by 335
Abstract
Background: This study analyzed the association between caries increment and clinical, salivary, bacteriological, and behavioral risk markers in a two-year follow-up study of schoolchildren in Mexico City. Methods: A two-year follow-up study was conducted in elementary schoolchildren, where 118 schoolchildren aged 7–10 years [...] Read more.
Background: This study analyzed the association between caries increment and clinical, salivary, bacteriological, and behavioral risk markers in a two-year follow-up study of schoolchildren in Mexico City. Methods: A two-year follow-up study was conducted in elementary schoolchildren, where 118 schoolchildren aged 7–10 years at baseline (50% boys) participated in the follow-up. Toothbrushing frequency, sugar consumption, and dental caries indices were recorded according to WHO criteria. Salivary secretion rates, buffering capacity (Dentobuff®), and cariogenic bacterial counts (Dentocult SM and LB®) were also measured. Logistic regression was applied to analyze associations between caries increment and risk markers. Results: The mean baseline caries indices were dmft 4.8 (SD 4.0) and DMFT 0.6 (SD 0.9). Children were classified into three caries experience groups: caries-free, filled-teeth, and caries-active. After two years, baseline caries-free children had a lower caries increment in permanent teeth (0.2, SD 0.7) than other groups (p < 0.0001). However, the caries increment was similar between groups (p = 0.0827). Logistic regression revealed associations with toothbrushing frequency [OR = 2.77, p = 0.026], S. mutans counts [OR = 3.38, p = 0.050], and Lactobacillus counts [OR = 2.91, p = 0.029]. Conclusions: Children with low toothbrushing frequency and high cariogenic bacterial counts developed more caries lesions than those with better oral hygiene and lower bacterial levels. Greater emphasis should be placed on promoting oral hygiene and reducing bacterial load in the oral cavity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preventive Dental Care, Chairside and Beyond: 2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 27308 KB  
Article
In Silico Identification of Dual-Action Compounds Targeting TLR2 and Streptococcus mutans Proteins for the Prevention of Early Childhood Caries
by Juan Manuel Guzmán-Flores, Sofía Meza-Rodríguez, Sonia Isela Vázquez-Jiménez, Isabel del Carmen Medrano-González, Brianna Lissete Gallegos-García, Andrea Larissa Hernández-Villalobos, María Fernanda Yañez-Acosta and Carmen Celina Alonso-Sanchez
Dent. J. 2026, 14(5), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/dj14050301 - 14 May 2026
Viewed by 768
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a major public health concern, with Streptococcus mutans as a primary etiological agent. Current treatments rely on broad-spectrum antimicrobials, which can disrupt the oral microbiome and promote resistance. This study applied a structure-based in silico pipeline to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a major public health concern, with Streptococcus mutans as a primary etiological agent. Current treatments rely on broad-spectrum antimicrobials, which can disrupt the oral microbiome and promote resistance. This study applied a structure-based in silico pipeline to identify molecule modulators of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), a key host receptor implicated in ECC, and to explore their binding potential against major S. mutans proteins. Methods: ECC-related genes were collected from public databases and analyzed by functional enrichment and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Hub genes were ranked using centrality algorithms. Virtual screening on TLR2 (DrugCLIP) was followed by molecular docking of selected compounds against the TLR1/TLR2 heterodimer and 50 S. mutans proteins, complemented by in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiling. Results: Fifty-four ECC-related genes and nine hub genes were identified, with TLR2 and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) as central nodes. Virtual screening yielded five lead compounds fulfilling drug-likeness and toxicity criteria. Docking to TLR1/TLR2 showed favorable binding energies, with Z7684613096 showing the most consistent binding. V026-2549 displayed the highest number of strong interactions with S. mutans targets, including dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (rmlB), NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapN), glucosyltransferase C (gtfC), and 5-methyltetrahydropteroyltriglutamate-homocysteine methyltransferase (metE). Conclusions: Five candidate compounds with promising dual activity against TLR1/TLR2 and S. mutans proteins were prioritized for experimental validation, including TLR2 functional assays and in vitro anti-biofilm studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preventive Dental Care, Chairside and Beyond: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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16 pages, 3661 KB  
Review
Integrated Dentist–Nurse Collaborative Care Model for Caries Management in China
by Jiaohong Liu, Haohao Wang, May Lei Mei, Chloe Meng Jiang, Lei Cheng and Ling Zhang
Dent. J. 2026, 14(7), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/dj14070430 - 12 Jul 2026
Viewed by 374
Abstract
Dental caries, as a common chronic disease with high global prevalence, has undergone a paradigm shift from a traditional treatment-oriented model to a management approach focused on controlling caries risk factors while implementing personalized preventive and therapeutic measures. Confronted with limited medical resources [...] Read more.
Dental caries, as a common chronic disease with high global prevalence, has undergone a paradigm shift from a traditional treatment-oriented model to a management approach focused on controlling caries risk factors while implementing personalized preventive and therapeutic measures. Confronted with limited medical resources and the additional workload imposed by long-term caries management, the Integrated Dentist–Nurse Collaborative Care Model emerges as a potentially effective pathway to address these challenges. Through task-shifting and collaboration, this model leverages the pivotal role of dental nurses in prevention, assessment, health education, and follow-up management, which may enhance the efficiency of healthcare services. This article elaborates the approaches of implementing the Dentist–Nurse Collaborative Care Model in caries management in China. This includes dental nurse-led health education and assessment conducted before and after treatment, where behavioral guidance is utilized to enhance patients’ self-management capabilities. During the clinical stage, dentists and dental nurses collaborate to advance both caries risk management and caries lesion management, formulating personalized plans based on caries risk assessment and treatment difficulty assessment. In the continuity of care phase, through long-term follow-up and plan adjustments, dentists and dental nurses work together to maintain patients’ oral health, ultimately achieving a fundamental transition from single-episode treatment to comprehensive long-term caries management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preventive Dental Care, Chairside and Beyond: 2nd Edition)
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