“It’s like being chained up”: the oral mucositis experiences of children and young people with cancer, their parents, and healthcare professionals- a qualitative study
CONCLUSION: Oral mucositis presents a significant challenge to CYP, families and HCPs during cancer treatment functionally, psychologically and socially, with an adverse impact on treatment experiences. Prevention of oral mucositis is a priority to these groups within supportive cancer care. Arch Dis Child. 2024 Nov 26:archdischild-2024-327529. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-327529. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The […]
Process Evaluation of a Secondary School-Based Digital Behaviour Change Intervention to Improve Toothbrushing: The BRIGHT Randomised Controlled Trial
CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation raises the question of whether the intervention dose and quality of delivery were sufficient to support the required behaviour change mechanisms. Moreover, a high proportion of participants brushed twice daily at baseline; this also calls into question the intervention’s ability to bring about significant change. The trial findings did not favour the […]
Exploring and enhancing the accessibility of children’s oral health resources (called HABIT) for high risk communities
CONCLUSION: Collaborative community engagement has enhanced the HABIT resources, enabling access for high-risk communities to preventive oral-health programmes thereby promoting health equity. Front Oral Health. 2024 Nov 4;5:1392388. doi: 10.3389/froh.2024.1392388. eCollection 2024. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Within the city of Bradford in West Yorkshire, South Asian and Eastern European communities have an increased risk of childhood tooth […]
An ‘explosion in the mouth’: The oral health experiences of autistic children
In England, one in four children have tooth decay by the age of 5 years. Tooth decay affects many autistic children. Communication differences, sensory sensitivities and preferred routines can make dental care difficult. Daily toothbrushing, healthy eating and drinking, and attending the dentist may be challenging for autistic children. We do not know much about […]
Behaviour change intervention (education and text) to prevent dental caries in secondary school pupils: BRIGHT RCT, process and economic evaluation
CONCLUSIONS: Engagement with the intervention and evidence of 6-month change in toothbrushing behaviour was positive but did not translate into a reduction of caries. Future work should include work with secondary-school pupils to develop an understanding of the determinants of oral health behaviours, including toothbrushing and sugar consumption, particularly according to free school meal eligibility. […]
Dental caries and school readiness in 5-year-olds: A birth cohort data linkage study
CONCLUSION: This is the first study to explore the association between caries experience and school readiness using a holistic assessment tool. The association was found across different learning areas and was comparable to and independent of socio-economic status. The findings indicate oral health-related absenteeism is not a causative factor. EYFSP shows potential to enhance the […]
Behaviour change intervention for toothbrushing (lesson and text messages) to prevent dental caries in secondary school pupils: The BRIGHT randomized control trial
CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of statistically significant difference for caries prevalence at 2.5-years. The intervention’s positive 6-month toothbrushing behaviour change did not translate into caries reduction. (ISRCTN 12139369). COVID-19 pandemic adversly affected follow-up. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2024 Aug;52(4):469-478. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12940. Epub 2024 Jan 8. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: This multicentre, assessor-blinded, two-arm cluster randomized trial […]
Special considerations in paediatric dental trauma
Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in the paediatric population are common and frequently seen in general dental practice. The management of TDIs can be challenging and, in most cases, the General Dental Practitioner is tasked with the initial assessment and emergency treatment. Patients and their families typically attend with elevated levels of distress, which is complicated […]
A national survey of supervised toothbrushing programmes in England
Introduction Supervised toothbrushing programmes (STPs) are a cost-effective public health intervention, reducing tooth decay and health inequalities in children. However, the uptake of STPs in England is unknown. This study aimed to establish the current provision of STPs across England and summarise the barriers and facilitators to their implementation.Methods An online survey was sent to […]