Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene (CJDH)

Background: Poor oral health in long-term care (LTC) impacts residents’ nutrition, systemic health, and quality of life. LTC residents are often living with cognitive decline and functional limitations, hindering daily oral hygiene and limiting access to professional oral care services. This mixed-methods study investigated oral health assessment and care practices in an Atlantic Canadian LTC facility and the care team’s perception of a dental hygienist’s role in LTC. Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with residents, unpaid caregivers, and nursing and care staff, as well as through a retrospective chart review to explore oral health practices and their documentation. Qualitative and quantitative data underwent thematic and descriptive statistical analysis, respectively. Results: Between June 2023 and March 2024, 35 paid caregivers, 6 residents, and 1 unpaid caregiver were interviewed, and 14 charts were reviewed. Findings reveal complex factors influencing oral health, including perceptions of inadequacy, cultural attitudes, challenges in implementing consistent care due to staff shortages and residents’ responsiveness to oral care, and the critical role of the dental hygienist. Conclusion: The results highlight the need to integrate oral health professionals into LTC facilities and emphasize the importance of person-centred approaches to oral care to improve oral health practices and ultimately enhance residents’ quality of life.

Background: Patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) have a high prevalence of oral manifestations and/or oral side effects from immunomodulatory medications. This study used qualitative methods to explore how patients with RD perceive their oral health, to describe how patients and their health care providers (HCPs) approach oral care and any related challenges, and to determine the preferences of patients and HCPs for receiving oral health information. Methods: Virtual semi-structured interviews were conducted with HCPs and patients with RD. Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically, using a grounded theory approach. Results: Theme saturation was achieved after interviewing 9 patients with RD (all female, age range 57 to 73 years) and 3 HCPs (adult rheumatologist, pediatric rheumatologist, and an oral medicine and oral pathology dental specialist). On average, interviews lasted 23 minutes. Four themes were identified: 1) oral health and care perception; 2) oral health requires creativity and commitment; 3) communication on oral health and RD: barriers and solutions; 4) need for change in the model of care. Patients perceived substantial challenges with oral health self-management and professional oral health care, used multiple oral care products, felt existing educational resources were limited, and suggested a multipronged communication strategy to deliver educational material. HCPs recommended greater interdisciplinary communication. Both patients and HCPs proposed an interprofessional approach to RD and oral health care. Discussion and Conclusion: Patient- and provider-informed, evidence-based oral health and dental management guidelines and educational tools that are relevant to patients with RD are needed. Multidisciplinary care models may improve the oral health of patients with RD.

Background: This study explored young adults’ perceptions of oral health apps and assessed whether the Dentalcluj Brush Assistant or Brush DJ app improved oral hygiene and gingival inflammation. Materials and Methods: An exploratory randomized clinical trial with a parallel repeated measures design was conducted among Bachelor of Dental Laboratory Technology students. Inclusion criteria required students to be between the ages of 18 and 20 years, have a smartphone, and provide informed consent. Participants received a dental hygiene appointment at baseline, followed by simple random and sequential allocation into 1 of 3 groups: Brush DJ app, Dentalcluj Brush Assistant app or control group. App users were instructed to download and use the app during the study. Questionnaires assessed oral hygiene behaviours and app perceptions at baseline and after the study. A calibrated and blinded investigator measured bleeding on probing (BOP) and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) at 3 moments, 15 days apart. Statistical analyses included Kruskall-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, and Friedman tests (a = 0.05). Results: The sample comprised 24 participants (8 per group). All groups had an improved OHI-S, but the Dentalcluj Brush Assistant group showed the most significant results (p = 0.004) and was the only group with significant BOP index improvement (p = 0.02). Half the participants found the apps helpful, highlighting the visual step-by-step brushing technique. However, some noted issues with impracticality and aesthetics. Conclusions: Apps appear beneficial as a complement to oral health care appointments, with the Dentalcluj Brush Assistant showing the best results.

Background: Higher education institutions are called to promote health, ensuring students experience healthy learning environments. Additionally, health professionals, including dental hygienists and dentists, must demonstrate competence in maintaining their health as part of their professional responsibilities upon entering practice. How is this competency taught and instilled, and how does the learning environment influence the understanding of health-of-self? Do learners understand health from a prevention-focused perspective or do programs approach health through a health creation and promotion lens (i.e., from within the salutogenic or health-promoting paradigm)? Research is limited on dental hygiene and dental education programs’ positioning as it relates to the paradigms that inform the teaching and learning of this competency. Methods: This qualitative study explores dental hygiene and dentistry learning environments and curricula at a Canadian university. Content analysis was conducted on accreditation documents and program meeting minutes to determine which paradigm—either explicitly or implicitly—guided the programs’ approaches to the practice competency and supporting learning environment. Results: A pathogenic or disease paradigm informed both programs, reinforcing the hegemonic pathogenic perspective on health and health care. Discussion: While disease prevention is not in contention, future health professionals preparing to fulfill their role as health promoters would benefit from understanding health from a salutogenic perspective. This understanding would better position graduates to foster healthy workplace environments. Conclusion: Curriculum, policy implications, and recommendations are discussed to inspire programs to be health-promoting or salutogenic learning settings.

Background: This study aimed to review evidence of the impact of periodontitis on physical fitness. Methods: An electronic literature search using MeSH terms and keywords was performed in 6 electronic databases, protocol records, and other sources. Eligibility criteria included observational studies on the impact of periodontitis on physical fitness as primary outcome. No restrictions were placed on the language or date of publication. The quality of primary studies was assessed. GRADE was used to assess the quality of responses. Results: The initial search identified 5,389 records; of that number, 2,690 duplicates were removed. Following a screening by title and abstract and then full-text review, 7 studies were included for analysis. Six reported a significant relationship between periodontitis or mean probing depth/clinical attachment loss and physical fitness. Discussion: The increase in clinical attachment loss and probing depth/clinical attachment loss was associated with decreased handgrip strength and chance to reach the highest physical fitness test score, respectively. Increased mean probing depth was associated with VO2peak (maximum oxygen consumption over 30 seconds during the test) and exercise duration. Higher VO2max (maximum oxygen consumption during exercise) was associated with lower risk of severe periodontitis and combined highest VO2max, and lowest body mass index was associated with lower risk of severe periodontitis. Associations with mean probing depth were most convincing for VO2peak and exercise duration. The methodological quality of the studies was high, and the level of evidence ranged between 2 and 3. Conclusion: Periodontitis and unfavourable periodontal parameters were associated with worse physical fitness.

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial, dynamic disease leading to the demineralization and loss of tooth structure. Traditionally, it is treated with mechanical removal of the carious tooth structure and restoration with a restorative material, requiring specialized skills and equipment. Young children, patients with physical or intellectual disabilities, elderly patients, and patients living in remote communities are disproportionately affected because of greater difficulty accessing and undergoing operative dental procedures. The purpose of this narrative review is to explore the use of silver diamine fluoride as an alternative or adjunct tool in clinical practice for treating and preventing dental caries. Method: This review was conducted from July 2022 to May 2025. Three electronic databases—PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Ovid Medline—were searched using the keywords silver diamine fluoride, SDF, fluoride, access to care, caries risk, restorative material, and caries prevention. Opinion articles and those not published in English were excluded from consideration. Results: The literature search returned 74 articles, including qualitative studies, case studies, randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Silver diamine fluoride was found to be effective in treating cavitated and non cavitated lesions caused by dental caries. Discussion and Conclusion: With proper case selection and follow up, silver diamine fluoride is an effective agent for arresting dental caries. Its use by more clinicians because of its effectiveness, safety, low cost, and ease of use can help alleviate some of the challenges faced by certain patient populations. Further research should be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride on adult teeth as well as for dental caries prevention.

Introduction: Metaverse technologies can revolutionize students’ learning experiences by offering an immersive and interactive environment. This study explored the perceptions and readiness of dental hygiene students and faculty to adopt metaverse technologies for teaching and learning. Description of case: A descriptive study was conducted to explore dental hygiene student and faculty behavioural intention and willingness to accept the incorporation of metaverse into teaching and learning. Twenty-five students and 15 faculty from the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry at the University of Alberta, Canada, responded to an anonymous online survey; students showed higher acceptance of metaverse technologies than faculty members. Discussion: The application of metaverse is not yet widespread in education. Concerns about cost and technical proficiency may have contributed to hesitation among faculty participants, resulting in a disconnect between faculty and student willingness to accept this technology. Conclusion: Though only 1 institution was polled, this study identified gaps in student and faculty perceptions, which can be helpful for other institutions in the planning and implementation of metaverse technologies.

Introduction: There is a growing interest in educational innovations across higher education. However, instructors’ lack of knowledge, motivation, and concerns about increased workload hinder the implementation of such new offerings. Open educational resources can promote educational innovations. Yet, their availability and use in dental and dental hygiene education are minimal. Project description: A large set of interactive digital learning artefacts was created for dental and dental hygiene students by faculty at a Canadian university. This learning content is curated and archived in a freely available database, EdTech Cache; 46% of the content is focused on biochemistry, 28% on oral biology, and 23% on biomedical foundations. Discussion: Students can filter the database based on subject area and keywords to find learning activities to supplement their studies. Educators can also use EdTech Cache to create an interactive and engaging classroom experience. Conclusion: EdTech Cache can benefit students and educators across health sciences education.