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Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents
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Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "School Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 18905

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kitty Jieyi Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, China
2. Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam 999077, Hong Kong
Interests: paediatric dentistry and community dentistry
Dr. Duangporn Duangthip

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, 4132 Postle Hall, 305 W 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Interests: caries prevention and management; community dental care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oral diseases still affect a considerable number of children and adolescents worldwide. The most common noncommunicable oral disease is dental caries, which is prevalent in developing countries. Malocclusion caused by abnormal habits, aberrant soft tissue and premature contact is ranked as the third most preventable oral disease. Another common oral disease among children is traumatic dental injuries. If these oral diseases and conditions are not treated, they can cause deleterious effects on children and adolescents, including pain and infection, interfered chewing ability, reduced nutrition intake, malocclusion and unsatisfactory growth. To address these oral health problems, dentists, dental researchers and dental public health sectors should understand children's oral health situations, assess their oral healthcare needs and generate effective oral healthcare strategies.

This Special Issue welcomes original research, reviews and case reports (with good-quality photos) related to oral health and care in children and adolescents, which can include, but are not limited to, oral health promotion; the assessment or management of oral health diseases as well as oral status; oral healthcare strategies and programmes; and novel oral healthcare protocols for children and adolescents. Oral healthcare strategies can be considered at both the individual and community levels.

This Special Issue will provide readers with up-to-date information on oral health and care in children and adolescents as well as raise the awareness of clinical practitioners and dental researchers regarding the importance of children’s oral health and care. 

Dr. Kitty Jieyi Chen
Dr. Duangporn Duangthip
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 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

  • children
  • adolescents
  • oral health care
  • dental caries
  • dental trauma
  • malocclusion

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1339 KiB  
Article
Oral Health Behaviour, Care Utilisation, and Barriers among Students with Disabilities: A Parental Perspective
by Faris Yahya I. Asiri, Marc Tennant and Estie Kruger
Healthcare 2024, 12(19), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12191955 - 30 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2288
Abstract
Background: Oral health is a critical component of overall well-being. However, students with disabilities (SWDs) face unique challenges in maintaining oral hygiene and accessing dental care. This study aims to explore oral health behaviours, dental care utilisation, and barriers to accessing dental care [...] Read more.
Background: Oral health is a critical component of overall well-being. However, students with disabilities (SWDs) face unique challenges in maintaining oral hygiene and accessing dental care. This study aims to explore oral health behaviours, dental care utilisation, and barriers to accessing dental care among SWDs in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, from the perspectives of their parents. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among parents of SWDs in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire covering oral health behaviours, dental care utilisation, and barriers to care. The sample size was determined based on the SWDs population in the region. Data were analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics, with significant associations identified at p < 0.05. Results: Findings revealed that 45.7% of SWDs brushed irregularly, with only 16.8% brushing twice a day or more. Dental flossing was reported by just 4.3% of SWDs. Emergency-based dental visits were common (51.9%), and 29.5% of SWDs had never visited a dentist. Significant associations were found between maternal education and tooth brushing frequency (p = 0.004) and between parental education and the frequency of dental visits (p = 0.035). The most reported barriers included fear of treatment (47.1%), difficulty finding willing dentists (45.5%), and long wait times for appointments (44.7%). Conclusions: The study emphasises the pressing need for targeted interventions to improve oral hygiene practices and enhance accessibility to dental services for SWDs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents)
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11 pages, 667 KiB  
Article
Early Childhood Caries—Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Severity: A Hospital-Based Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
by Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu and Sultan Fadel Alaqidi
Healthcare 2024, 12(14), 1376; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141376 - 10 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2517
Abstract
Early childhood caries (ECC) is not merely a problem of the tooth; rather, it has negative impacts on the child’s growth and development and oral health-related quality of life. The prevalence of ECC varies widely, and more variance is observed between countries than [...] Read more.
Early childhood caries (ECC) is not merely a problem of the tooth; rather, it has negative impacts on the child’s growth and development and oral health-related quality of life. The prevalence of ECC varies widely, and more variance is observed between countries than continents, and it changes over time. The current cross-sectional study aimed to determine ECC’s prevalence, associated factors, and severity. This study was conducted in the Dental Clinic Complex, North Riyadh, KSA. The study sample included 306 participants between 36 and 71 months of age. A questionnaire was developed to collect information from participants. The decaying and filled teeth (DMFT) index was used to estimate the prevalence of caries. The study results revealed the prevalence of ECC to be 76% among 36- to 71-month-old children in North Riyadh. ECC is influenced by socioeconomic factors like maternal occupation, education, oral hygiene habits, and dietary patterns. Also, it was found that exclusively breastfed children have lower ECC odds (68.1% vs. 83.6%, p = 0.001), while the intake of more than three between-meal sugar-containing snacks/beverages per day increases the likelihood of ECC (63.5% vs. 79.8%, p = 0.006). The researchers recommend encouraging breastfeeding as it correlates with lower ECC prevalence, in addition to establishing effective oral hygiene practices for preschool children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents)
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15 pages, 1280 KiB  
Article
Adolescent Toothbrushing and Its Association with Sociodemographic Factors—Time Trends from 1994 to 2018 in Twenty Countries
by Apolinaras Zaborskis, Aistė Kavaliauskienė, Sharon Levi, Riki Tesler and Elitsa Dimitrova
Healthcare 2023, 11(24), 3148; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11243148 - 12 Dec 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1756
Abstract
Regular toothbrushing is the primary self-care method to prevent the most common dental diseases and is considered an important public health indicator. This retrospective observational study aimed to examine cross-national time trends in adolescent toothbrushing behaviour and its association with sociodemographic factors between [...] Read more.
Regular toothbrushing is the primary self-care method to prevent the most common dental diseases and is considered an important public health indicator. This retrospective observational study aimed to examine cross-national time trends in adolescent toothbrushing behaviour and its association with sociodemographic factors between 1994 and 2018. We studied data from 20 countries that conducted seven surveys of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 years responded to questions on their toothbrushing frequency, family affluence and structure. Altogether, reports of 691,559 students were analysed using descriptive statistics and binominal logistic regression. The findings showed an overall positive trend in the prevalence of more-than-once-a-day toothbrushing frequency during the entire study period mainly due to a noticeable increase from 1994 to 2010 (except Denmark and Sweden); this trend continued significantly thereafter in 12 of 20 countries. Across all countries, girls and adolescents from more affluent families were more likely to brush their teeth regularly. These relationships remained unchanged throughout the study period, whereas the age-related difference in toothbrushing prevalence decreased noticeably, and the negative relationship between toothbrushing and living in a non-intact family became evident. While the prevalence of regular toothbrushing among adolescents has increased in recent decades, it is still far behind the recommended level of twice-daily brushing for everyone across all countries. The promotion of toothbrushing needs to start at an early age, with a special focus on boys and adolescents from low-affluence and non-intact families. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents)
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12 pages, 657 KiB  
Article
Epidemiological Study of Oral Health among Children and Adolescent Schoolchildren in Melilla (Spain)
by Marta Hernandez-Donadeu, David Ribas-Pérez, Diego Rodriguez Menacho, Paloma Villalva Hernandez-Franch, Ignacio Barbero Navarro and Antonio Castaño-Séiquer
Healthcare 2023, 11(14), 2086; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11142086 - 21 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1559
Abstract
Dental epidemiological studies are essential for analysing and evaluating the population’s health state and dental treatments provided, as well as for planning future oral health programme activities and interventions based on their findings. In order to determine the health condition of children and [...] Read more.
Dental epidemiological studies are essential for analysing and evaluating the population’s health state and dental treatments provided, as well as for planning future oral health programme activities and interventions based on their findings. In order to determine the health condition of children and adolescents in connection to the prevalence of caries, caries indices (decayed and filled teeth (dft) for primary teeth and decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) in permanent teeth) and periodontal indices (community periodontal index (CPI)), oral exams of children and adolescents aged 6, 12 and 15 from selected schools were conducted. To assess the achievement of the oral health objectives set for Spain in 2020, these data were compared with those acquired at the national level. At 6 years of age, 278 children were examined, the prevalence of caries was 55.6%, the dft index was 2.77 (±3.44), the DMFT was 0.19 (±0.16), the restorative index (RI) was 4.62%, and the significant caries (SiC) index was 8.40 (±2.07). At 12 years of age, 208 students were examined, the prevalence of caries found was 65.86%, the DMFT index was 1.85 (±2.22), the RI was 36.63%, the SiC index was 5.43 (±2.07), and children without the presence of periodontal pathology was 59.13%. At 15 years of age, 165 students were examined, the prevalence of caries was 70.06%, the DMFT was 3.08 (±3.39), the RI was 42.42%, the SiC index was 8.10 (±2.55), and adolescents without periodontal disease was 47.90%. Conclusions: Melilla-born children and adolescents had higher caries indicators and indices than the corresponding national averages for Spain. Teenagers under the age of 15 have a particularly high frequency of dental caries. The investigation of the children’s origin is where there is the most disparity. Children of Berber descent have much higher values than children of European heritage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents)
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14 pages, 296 KiB  
Article
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Malocclusion among Preschool Children in Huizhou, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Lude Lin, Wanting Chen, Dejun Zhong, Xiayuan Cai, Jieyi Chen and Fang Huang
Healthcare 2023, 11(7), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11071050 - 6 Apr 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3044
Abstract
This survey examined the prevalence of malocclusion and its associated factors in 3- to 5-year-old children in Huizhou, China. Children were recruited from 21 kindergartens using a multistage sampling method. Two examiners performed oral examinations on the children, assessing occlusal traits, including primary [...] Read more.
This survey examined the prevalence of malocclusion and its associated factors in 3- to 5-year-old children in Huizhou, China. Children were recruited from 21 kindergartens using a multistage sampling method. Two examiners performed oral examinations on the children, assessing occlusal traits, including primary molar and canine relationship, overjet, crossbite, overbite, anterior open bite, scissor bite, midline deviation, crowding, and spacing. Caries experience was recorded. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to collect background information and oral health-related habits. Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney U test, and binary logistic regression were conducted. The study invited 1485 children and eventually recruited 1454 (52.9% boys; response rate: 97.9%). The prevalence of malocclusion was 68.3%, and deep overbite was found in 48.6% of the children. Children who had lip-biting habits had a higher prevalence of deep overbite than those who did not (OR = 2.36, p < 0.05). Children who had digit-sucking habits and dental caries in anterior maxillary teeth had a lower prevalence of deep overbite than those who did not (OR = 0.73 and 0.70, respectively, p < 0.05). In conclusion, over half of the children in Huizhou who participated in the study had malocclusion. Dental caries in anterior maxillary teeth, digit-sucking, and lip-biting were the associated factors of deep overbite. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents)

Review

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11 pages, 248 KiB  
Review
The Impact of Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation on Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review
by Stephanie Shields, Tong Chen, Felicity Crombie, David J. Manton and Mihiri Silva
Healthcare 2024, 12(3), 370; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12030370 - 1 Feb 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3489
Abstract
Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) is a qualitative developmental enamel defect with a prevalence of 13% worldwide. This review aims to outline the current evidence regarding the impact of MIH on children’s oral health and, more broadly, their day-to-day activities. MIH is associated with [...] Read more.
Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) is a qualitative developmental enamel defect with a prevalence of 13% worldwide. This review aims to outline the current evidence regarding the impact of MIH on children’s oral health and, more broadly, their day-to-day activities. MIH is associated with negative sequelae, including hypersensitivity, post-eruptive breakdown, the rapid development of carious lesions and poor aesthetics. Other concerns pertain to the clinical management of MIH and include difficulty in achieving local anaesthesia, increased dental fear and anxiety (DFA) and increased behaviour management problems. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is the most standardised measure of patient impact; however, no instruments have been validated for use in MIH populations. The few existing observational studies investigating the impact of MIH on OHRQoL in children have produced conflicting results. Interventions to alleviate hypersensitivity and improve aesthetics had a positive impact on the OHRQoL of MIH-affected children. Multiple methodological issues make it difficult to measure the impact of MIH, including heterogeneity in the MIH severity classification, an overlap in the indices used to diagnose dental caries and MIH as well as the subjectivity of outcome measures for hypersensitivity and DFA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents)

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

1 pages, 134 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Casamassimo, P.S. Emerging Evidence Supports Broader Definition of Chairside Behavior Guidance and Familial Compliance. Healthcare 2024, 12, 1935
by Paul S. Casamassimo
Healthcare 2024, 12(21), 2179; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12212179 - 1 Nov 2024
Viewed by 668
Abstract
In the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents)
15 pages, 2779 KiB  
Systematic Review
Effects of Hyrax Maxillary Expander on Nasal Cavity and Upper Airway in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Zihe Zhao, Rongkai Cao, Mengze Yao and Chongshan Liao
Healthcare 2024, 12(21), 2148; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12212148 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1503
Abstract
Background: Whether Hyrax maxillary expander is an effective treatment for maxillary transverse deficiency as well as expansion of the upper airway is still controversial. The study’s purpose was to evaluate 3D changes in upper airway dimensions of adolescent patients measured primarily by cone-beam [...] Read more.
Background: Whether Hyrax maxillary expander is an effective treatment for maxillary transverse deficiency as well as expansion of the upper airway is still controversial. The study’s purpose was to evaluate 3D changes in upper airway dimensions of adolescent patients measured primarily by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) with the Hyrax maxillary expander. Methods: Studies up to 1 April 2024 were searched in the following databases: PubMed/MEDICINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Inclusion criteria were clinical trials and cohort studies that assessed the effect of RME in adolescent patients with upper airway stenosis using CBCT-based three-dimensional analysis. The risk of bias in the study outcomes was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool, the GRADE method, and a tool for evaluating non-randomized controlled study (non-RCT) literature from a previous systematic review, depending on the types of articles. The study was reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: The study conducted a random effects meta-analysis of mean differences and 95% confidence intervals for changes in upper airway volumes, including the nasal cavity (NC), in the outcomes of 16 included studies, followed by subgroup analyses. Conclusion: A significant increase in nasopharynx volume was observed after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) by Hyrax maxillary expander (MD = 0.69, 95% CI (0.09~1.28), p = 0.02). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents)
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7 pages, 176 KiB  
Perspective
Emerging Evidence Supports Broader Definition of Chairside Behavior Guidance and Familial Compliance
by Paul S. Casamassimo
Healthcare 2024, 12(19), 1935; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12191935 - 27 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 830 | Correction
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Behavior management as a set of clinical techniques to induce desirable clinical treatment and subsequent compliance behaviors in children and families varies internationally based on professional training, access to care, health literacy, and societal norms. This report proposes non-typical diagnostic [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Behavior management as a set of clinical techniques to induce desirable clinical treatment and subsequent compliance behaviors in children and families varies internationally based on professional training, access to care, health literacy, and societal norms. This report proposes non-typical diagnostic considerations of additional inherent behavioral conditions and familial and social qualifiers that may help predict success both at the chairside and in compliance with home self-care behaviors to reduce caries susceptibility. Methods: A review of the medical and dental literature provides ample support for the consideration of changing characteristics of both the patient and the environment. Results: The current recommendations for choice of behavior guidance in direct clinical care, as used in the USA, often fall short of efficacy for a variety of reasons including the provider limitations, the extent and difficulty of treatment, and most recently appreciated, the complexity of negative childhood experiences, subclinical behavioral disorders, and immutable negative determinants of health outside the dental setting affecting interaction with health professionals. These same factors, such as family dysfunction and societal stresses, also impact compliance with out-of-clinic preventive efforts that many oral health care providers rely upon to help mitigate treatment limitations in reaching children. There are also behavioral elements of compliance and attitudes toward health that dentists need to recognize. Conclusions: A broader, more inclusive concept of behavior guidance to include factors beyond those typically associated with a dental patient affecting treatment and compliance with preventive behaviors may be beneficial. Every population and patient will have differing characteristics and require individualized care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents)
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