Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene (CJDH)

Background: Ultrasonic instrumentation (USI) has evolved, but it is unclear if dental hygiene curricula have kept pace. This study compares 2 dental hygiene cohorts with differing USI curricula to investigate if a contemporary USI curriculum enhanced students’ USI preparation, use, and confidence. Methods: A 2-group observational study compared a “traditional” USI curriculum (TC) cohort to a later “contemporary” USI curriculum cohort (CC). The new curriculum introduced USI earlier, with more and different inserts, and greater USI philosophical emphasis. Questionnaires were administered to students at the onset (T1) and conclusion (T2) of clinical programming. Ethical approval was received from the Multi-College Ethics Review Process. Statistical calculations included frequencies, proportions, means, and Welch’s 2-sample, 2-tailed t-test statistics describing and comparing the cohorts’ preparation, use of, and confidence in USI (significance threshold 0.05). Results: Sample size fluctuated due to student attrition; response rate ranged from 21.5% (17/79) to 52.9% (36/68). Earlier in programming, CC students were significantly more prepared with water control, fulcruming, and curved inserts than TC students. No significant differences emerged between groups in use of ultrasonic versus hand instruments (USI approximately 60% of clinical time; p > 0.05). Initially, TC students had significantly greater confidence than CC students (p < 0.05). While there was no difference between groups at Time 2, CC cohort’s confidence increased statistically significantly from T1 to T2 (p < 0.05). Discussion & Conclusions: Both cohorts demonstrated similar use of USI. The CC cohort was better prepared in some aspects of USI and use of curved inserts. Results reveal an ongoing need for program evaluation to best implement USI curriculum.

Background: Oral health care settings potentially carry a high risk of cross-infection due to close contact and aerosol-generating procedures. There is limited evidence of the impact of COVID-19 among dental hygienists. This longitudinal study aimed to 1) estimate COVID-19 incidence rates among Canadian dental hygienists over a 1-year period; and 2) estimate vaccination rates among Canadian dental hygienists. Methods: A prospective cohort study design was used to collect self-reported COVID-19 status from 876 registered dental hygienists across Canada via an online baseline survey and then 6 follow-up questionnaires delivered between December 2020 and January 2022. Bayesian Poisson and binomial models were used to estimate the incidence rate and cumulative incidence of self-reported COVID-19. Results: The estimated cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in dental hygienists in Canada from December 2020 to January 2022 was 2.39% (95% CrI, 1.49%–3.50%), while the estimated cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in corresponding Canadian provinces was 5.12% (95% CrI, 5.12%–5.13%) during the same period. At last follow-up, 89.4% of participants self-reported that they had received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: The low infection rate observed among Canadian dental hygienists between December 2020 and January 2022 is reassuring to the dental hygiene and general community.

Objective: This narrative review explores current research to broaden understanding and awareness of the transgender experience while identifying oral health needs and proposing strategies of inclusivity to optimize oral health outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted in the following online databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and Education Source. The search yielded 35 articles with a wide range of study designs and methodologies. Results & Discussion: Several themes emerged from the literature, including psychosocial oral health implications, barriers to oral health care, inclusive dental practice strategies, and cultural competence of oral health providers. Conclusion: The transgender population experiences many social and health disparities that stem from discrimination. Systemic inequalities, coupled with other barriers to care, have significant oral health implications for this population. Implementing inclusivity strategies and gaining awareness of the transgender experience will contribute to better oral health outcomes in this community.

Objective: This narrative review aims to compile and analyse infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices followed by dental clinics during 3 coronavirus outbreaks: SARS (2002–2004), MERS (2012–2014), and COVID-19 (2019–); and to draw parallels from them for future epidemics. Methods: Data were collected from 3 databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, and Embase using search terms “SARS,” “MERS,” “COVID-19,” “infection control,” “disinfection,” and “sterilization”. Results: Careful examination of 108 peer-reviewed articles on the 3 outbreaks revealed the following commonalities in the IPAC practices of dental clinics: use of sodium hypochlorite (surface disinfectant), ethanol and 1-propanol (hand hygiene), povidone-iodine (oral rinse), high-volume evacuation (HVE), rubber dam isolation, anti-retraction handpieces, and fogging. Discussion & Conclusion: Ethanol, 1-propanol, sodium hypochlorite, povidone-iodine, photocatalysis, and fogging have been shown to be effective against various coronaviruses. However, more studies are required to validate the effectiveness of anti-retraction handpieces, rubber dam isolation, HVE, and cold atmospheric plasma specifically in infection control of the current coronavirus strain, SARS-CoV-2.

Background: This article describes the development of an oral hygiene self-care behaviour change intervention (Safeguard Your Smile [SYS]) for Punjabi immigrant adults, using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) theoretical framework. Methods: The 3 stages and 8 steps of the BCW were followed to develop the face-to-face SYS intervention. Identification of the problem in behavioural terms was enabled by referring to the results of a qualitative focus group (FG) previously conducted by the research team. Following the BCW method, the sources of behaviour were defined in terms of capability, opportunity, and motivation. Appropriate intervention functions, policy categories, behaviour change techniques (BCTs), and modes of delivery were then identified, selected, and mapped. Concrete strategies were chosen to bring about the desired oral hygiene self- care behavioural change. Results: Two main barriers to oral hygiene self-care faced by Punjabi immigrant adults were identified from the original FG: 1) inadequate knowledge and 2) inconsistent daily routine. Oral hygiene self-care behaviour was designated as a target behaviour, detailing frequency, duration, and technique. Five intervention functions (education, training, modelling, environmental restructuring, and enablement) and 2 policy categories (communication and service provision) were identified to influence the capability, opportunity, and motivation related to oral hygiene self-care behaviour. Nine BCTs were selected to influence desired oral hygiene self-care behaviour among adults. Conclusion: The development process for this SYS intervention may be employed by researchers to design a behaviour change intervention for other populations. However, additional strategies tailored to each specific context and population must be incorporated.

Aim: The aim of this position paper is to investigate the current state of the evidence for proposed associations between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, inflammatory cancers, and renal disease using a narrative review approach. This is the last of a series of 5 position papers from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) on the relationship between periodontitis and systemic conditions. Methods: Individual literature searches were conducted for each of the 5 proposed linkages and limited to human studies, with a preference for systematic reviews (SRs) and prospective studies, in the English language, published between 2015 and 2021, focused on associations between 1) periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis; 2) periodontitis and Alzheimer’s disease/cognitive impairment; 3) periodontitis and obesity; 4) periodontitis and inflammatory cancers; and 5) periodontitis and chronic kidney disease. Databases searched were PubMed, MEDLINE/OVID, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane Registry of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science. Results: A total of 39 papers were selected for discussion, including 6 SRs for rheumatoid arthritis; 7 SRs for Alzheimer’s disease/cognitive impairment; 11 SRs, 1 meta-review of SRs, and 1 population-based cohort study for obesity; 9 SRs for inflammatory cancers; and 4 SRs for kidney disease. Conclusions: The evidence for the 5 proposed associations varied in strength, with obesity being most strongly associated with periodontal disease. More robust studies are recommended to clarify the exact nature of these associations.

In British Columbia, Canada, First Nations children and youth consistently present with a higher incidence of dental disease. Efforts to improve the oral health status of Indigenous populations have had mixed success, and programs have typically been offered through a Western lens. Recent years have brought calls for oral health professionals to embrace a more holistic approach to health promotion, representative of Indigenous cultures. Colonization has been considered a negative health determinant as it led to the destruction of culture, language, and the removal of Indigenous peoples from their traditional lands. Self-determination and cultural connection are critical to mitigating cultural genocide. Health promotion projects have the potential to support these goals. Fundamental to decolonizing oral health promotion is the development of a sustainable program founded in the traditional ways of Indigenous health and healing. The purpose of this short communication is to report on a collaborative oral health project that used cultural connection as the framework for oral health promotion in a remote Indigenous community.