jcm-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Clinical Management of Oral Healthcare in Diverse Patient Populations: Second Edition

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 2166

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Roma, Italy
Interests: pediatric dentistry; oral cancer; orthodontics; oral health; periodontics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Journal of Clinical Medicine’s Editorial team, we are delighted to present the Second Edition of the Special Issue “Clinical Management of Oral Healthcare in Diverse Patient Populations” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jcm/special_issues/3XOR2178I6).

This Special Issue aims to explore the clinical management of oral healthcare in diverse patient populations, shedding light on the research status, core problems to be solved, and potential solutions within this field. Oral healthcare plays a crucial role in overall health and quality of life, and it is vital to address the unique challenges and considerations faced by diverse patient populations.

This Special Issue will focus on gathering research and insights related to the effective management of oral healthcare for individuals with varying needs, including but not limited to special needs patients, elderly individuals, medically compromised patients, and individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds. It seeks to explore evidence-based strategies, best practices, and innovative approaches that can improve oral healthcare outcomes and promote equitable access to quality care.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses a wide range of topics, such as preventive measures, diagnostic techniques, treatment modalities, patient communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and oral health promotion. It aims to encourage contributions from researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to address the existing gaps and identify barriers and to propose practical solutions for the clinical management of oral healthcare in diverse patient populations.

Through this Special Issue, we aim to mobilize the dental and healthcare community to foster a greater understanding of the challenges faced by diverse patient populations and facilitate the development of patient-centered approaches that promote optimal oral health outcomes for all individuals.

Prof. Dr. Antonella Polimeni
Prof. Dr. Iole Vozza
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • special needs patients
  • oral healthcare
  • pediatric dentistry
  • dental hygiene
  • oral pathology
  • orthodontics
  • periodontics

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

10 pages, 493 KiB  
Article
Correlation Between Type of Edentulism, Age, Socioeconomic Status and General Health
by Simona Iacob, Radu Marcel Chisnoiu, Alina Zaharia, Mădălina Georgiana Bălaj, Adina Elena Iosa, Ana-Maria Condor, Andrea Chisnoiu, Smaranda Dana Buduru and Andreea Kui
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(11), 3924; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14113924 - 3 Jun 2025
Viewed by 282
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Edentulism is a significant public health concern, particularly among aging populations, affecting oral functionality, aesthetics, and overall health. This study assessed the edentulism status of patients at the Prosthodontic Clinic of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and explored the possible correlations with socioeconomic factors [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Edentulism is a significant public health concern, particularly among aging populations, affecting oral functionality, aesthetics, and overall health. This study assessed the edentulism status of patients at the Prosthodontic Clinic of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and explored the possible correlations with socioeconomic factors such as age, general health, smoking, and alcohol consumption. This study aimed to inform public health strategies to reduce edentulism incidence and improve overall oral health outcomes in Romania. Methods: The current study included 208 patients (127 females and 81 males). Each participant completed a standardized data collection form designed to gather comprehensive information on socio-demographic characteristics (including age, gender, and environmental origin), self-reported general health, and lifestyle habits related to smoking and alcohol consumption. The clinical examination was performed by the same operator, recording the odontal and periodontal status, as well as prosthodontic evaluation (including Kennedy class). Results: Findings indicated that female patients had more frequent class 3 and complete edentulism in the maxilla, while males predominantly presented class 3 in the maxilla and class 1 in the mandible. The age distribution revealed that patients aged 20–40 exhibited the highest prevalence of Kennedy class 3, while those over 60 showed a notable increase in complete edentulism (p < 0.05). Although most patients were from urban areas, no significant difference was found between origin and edentulism class. A significant link between alcoholism and mandibular edentulism was also identified (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Edentulism tends to progress with advancing age, often leading to more extensive tooth loss and the need for comprehensive dental rehabilitation. The condition is closely linked to general health status, highlighting its relevance as a potential indicator of systemic health risks. Lifestyle factors, particularly smoking and alcoholism, appear to contribute significantly to the deterioration of oral health, underscoring the importance of preventive strategies and early intervention. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1064 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Vitamin D and of Some Biomarkers of Bone Remodelling (CTX-1, Osteocalcin, BALP) in Subjects with Periapical Inflammatory Cysts: An Observational Study
by Angela Pia Cazzolla, Vincenzo Brescia, Roberto Lovero, Roberta Cardinali, Francesca Di Serio, Mauro Lorusso, Domenico Ciavarella, Nunzio Francesco Testa, Gianna Dipalma, Michele Di Cosola, Lorenzo Lo Muzio, Vito Crincoli and Mariasevera Di Comite
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(11), 3712; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14113712 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 226
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this observational study was to evaluate whether the presence of periapical inflammatory cysts (PIC) is accompanied by a state of vitamin D (25OHD) 25(OH)D insufficiency or deficiency and biochemical variations in biomarkers of bone metabolism such as osteocalcin (OC), [...] Read more.
Objectives: The aim of this observational study was to evaluate whether the presence of periapical inflammatory cysts (PIC) is accompanied by a state of vitamin D (25OHD) 25(OH)D insufficiency or deficiency and biochemical variations in biomarkers of bone metabolism such as osteocalcin (OC), isoenzyme of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX). Methods: A total of 56 patients (group P), 36 males and 20 females, of which 42 had one cyst (group P1) and 14 had multiple periapical cysts (group P2), alongside 56 healthy subjects (group H) were recruited. Rx-OPT and clinical evaluation were used to evaluate the presence of PIC. At the first visit, all subjects underwent venous sampling (group P and H) to measure bone biomarkers by the chemiluminescence method. The Mann–Whitney test was used to compare the different biomarkers in the H vs. P, H vs. P1, H vs. P2, and P1 vs. P2 groups. The Mann–Whitney test was used to compare biomarker levels between the study groups. ROC curves were used to search for the concentration of the different biomarkers in which the best sensitivity and specificity were found. Results: 25OHD and CTX showed a difference between H vs. P, H vs. P1, H vs. P2, and P1 vs. P1 groups (p < 0.05). The study of the ROC curves with a comparison between concentrations in the H vs. P group showed the best sensitivity and specificity for 25OHD at a concentration <19 ng/mL, highlighting a picture of 25OHD deficiency. Conclusions: The presence of apical cysts could be indicative of a vitamin D deficiency that should be appropriately treated. The findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency, given its role in bone metabolism and mineralisation, may contribute to a biological environment that favours the development or persistence of periapical cystic lesions. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 586 KiB  
Article
Oral Hygiene Status in Children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder
by Magdalena Prynda, Agnieszka Anna Pawlik, Ewa Emich-Widera, Beata Kazek, Mikołaj Mazur, Wojciech Niemczyk and Rafał Wiench
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(6), 1868; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14061868 - 10 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1435
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges in maintaining oral hygiene due to sensory sensitivities, behavioral difficulties, and limited access to specialized dental care. This study aimed to assess the oral hygiene status of children with ASD and compare it [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges in maintaining oral hygiene due to sensory sensitivities, behavioral difficulties, and limited access to specialized dental care. This study aimed to assess the oral hygiene status of children with ASD and compare it with neurotypical peers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 74 children with ASD and 74 neurotypical children. Dental exams measured oral hygiene and caries prevalence using the DMFT/dmft, Oral Hygiene Index (OHI), and Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI). Tooth brushing frequency and dental visits were also recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Children with ASD had significantly poorer oral hygiene and higher caries rates compared to controls. Boys with ASD had higher DMFT scores, indicating more caries. Additionally, ASD children brushed their teeth less often and had fewer dental visits. Preventive treatments were underutilized in this group despite a higher need. Conclusions: Children with ASD face notable oral health challenges, including poor hygiene, higher caries prevalence, and limited preventive care. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions, improved parental education, and specialized dental care strategies for this population. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop