Periodontitis and Metabolic Control of Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

Introduction: Periodontitis has been reported with increased incidence and prevalence in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Noncommunicable diseases burden the South African public health system, and there are no data reporting on this relationship in this population. This is required to inform management protocols in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), which currently exclude the importance of periodontal treatment.

The use and ethics of dental photography and social media at an oral healthcare training centre in South Africa.

Background: The ethics surrounding the use and sharing of photographs on social media has come under the spotlight as the (POPI Act) has come into play.

Aim: The aim is to determine the use, ethical practice and sharing of dental photography on social media among qualified and undergraduate oral health practitioners at a dental school in South Africa.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used on staff and students at the University of the Western Cape's Dental Faculty in 2022.

Effectiveness of Mobile App Interventions to Improve Periodontal Health: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Periodontal health plays a key role as a shared reference point for evaluating periodontal diseases and identifying significant treatment outcomes. Providing adequate instruction and enhancing the motivation of patients to maintain proper oral hygiene are crucial factors for successful periodontal treatment, with self-performed regular oral hygiene identified as a critical factor in improving the outcomes of treatment for periodontal diseases. Recently, mobile health (mHealth) solutions, especially mobile apps, have emerged as valuable tools for self-management in chronic diseases such as periodontal disease, providing essential health education and monitoring capabilities.

Self-assessment of dental health status, behaviours and oral health risk factors among adolescents from public schools in Maputo City-Mozambique.

Self-assessment of dental health status may have an impact on the oral health behaviour of adolescents which could impact their oral health. Oral health has been linked to various medical health conditions, thus eliminating oral health diseases can improve general health. The present study aimed to assess the association between behaviours and risk factors (oral hygiene habits, sugar intake, urban/rural status) and negative self-perception of dental health status among adolescents attending public schools in Maputo City.

Inter-rater reliability of the extended Composite Quality Score (CQS-2).

Aim: To establish the inter-rater reliability of the Composite Quality Score (CQS-2) and to test the null hypothesis that it did not differ significantly from that of the first CQS version (CQS-1).

Materials And Methods: Four independent raters were selected to rate 45 clinical trial reports using CQS-1 and CQS-2. The raters remained unaware of each other's participation in this study until all rating had been completed.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its drivers among dental students at University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy has seen an uprising over the decades, even though there have been many advances regarding vaccine-preventable diseases. Of late, vaccine hesitancy has resurged towards the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has major effects on the human body and has led to the development of different vaccines, which have been shown to provide immunity against the novel coronavirus.

Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dental caries (DC) is highly prevalent condition affecting mostly young children. There has been no systematic review done on the prevalence of DC amongst 12-year -olds in Africa. Although some African countries have reported a decrease in DC prevalence, others have shown an increase and it is essential to measure current trends in order to identify strategies and programmes that could assist in reducing DC in Africa.

Maternal and infant risk factors and risk indicators associated with early childhood caries in South Africa: a systematic review.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk factors and risk indicators associated with early childhood caries in South Africa.

Design: A systematic review of aetiology was performed. From 1366 papers found, 23 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included.

Perspectives on academic mentorship, research collaborations, career advice and work-life balance: a masterclass conversation with Professor Salim Abdool Karim.

Mentorship and collaboration are fundamental to ensure success in research, particularly health research. In this article, we summarise a conversation between the Master's in Biostatistics students at Stellenbosch University and Professor Salim Abdool Karim, the head of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa. In May 2021, Professor Abdool Karim was invited to share some of his expertise and knowledge on successful mentorship and collaboration with researchers in the early stages of their careers.

Patient-reported outcome measures of digitally versus conventionally constructed removable dentures: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: This review will evaluate patient-reported outcome measures of treatment with digitally fabricated versus conventionally manufactured removable dental prostheses in partially or completely edentate adults.

Introduction: Compared with conventionally manufactured dental prostheses, digitally fabricated prostheses may simplify and reduce the number of clinical steps and minimize errors in the production of prostheses without compromising occlusal accuracy and fit. This may, in turn, improve patient satisfaction, ability to speak, esthetics, stability, and oral health status.

Prevalence of early childhood caries in South Africa: a systematic review.

Background: The prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in South Africa was last determined in 2002 in a national survey. Since then only few scattered studies were conducted across pocketed communities in the country. There appears to be an increasing trend in dental caries prevalence in South Africa.

Prevalence of Denture-Related Stomatitis in Edentulous Patients at a Tertiary Dental Teaching Hospital.

Oral mucosal lesions can be uncomfortable and can result in a poorer oral health related quality of life. This can be seen especially in edentulous patients who are mostly elderly and have comorbid diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus, which can impair their ability to withstand oral infections. In South Africa, one of the most unequal countries in the world, almost 50% of the population is edentulous and this prevalence increases as age increases.

Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in South Africa: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: Young children are at the highest risk of developing dental caries as they have a lack of autonomy over their diet and oral hygiene practices. Dental caries develops over time due to demineralization of tooth substance (enamel), which results from acid production during sugar metabolism by bacteria. Early onset of dental caries often results in asymptomatic presentation, but if left untreated, it can result in severe pain, infection, and dentoalveolar abscesses.

The Effect of Periodontal Disease on Metabolic Control in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus in South Africa: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: The increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated complications is burdensome to the South African health system. Understanding the role of comorbid diseases, such as periodontal disease (PD), and their effect on metabolic control in patients with DM in South Africa will raise awareness about the importance of periodontal interventions among patients with DM in South Africa.

Objective: The review will aim to determine the effect of PD on the metabolic control of T2DM in a South African population.

Career Development of Academic Staff in Faculties of Dentistry by Means of Mentorship Programs: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Globally, the demands on dental educators continue to diversify and expand. Due to their importance and value, mentoring programs have been acknowledged as a means of recruiting, developing, and retaining academics in dental education.

Objective: This protocol is for a scoping review that aims to identify the goals of mentoring programs for academic staff in dental faculties and determine how these programs were structured, delivered, and evaluated.

Risk Indicators for Early Childhood Caries in South Africa: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a common disorder characterized by the presence of one or more decayed (non-cavitated or cavitated lesions), missing (due to caries), or filled tooth surfaces of primary teeth in children 71 months old or younger. South Africa has a diverse population in terms of culture, education, income, and occupation. This diversity is due to the consequences of historical racial discrimination, poverty, unemployment, lack of accessibility to health services, and quality of education.

Impacts of Tooth Loss on OHRQoL in an Adult Population in Cape Town, South Africa.

(1) Background: Tooth loss is an important component of the global burden of oral disease, greatly reducing the quality of life of those affected. Tooth loss can also affect diet and subsequent incidences of lifestyle diseases, such as hypertension and metabolic syndromes. This study aimed to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) score using the oral impacts on daily performance (OIDP) index in relation to tooth loss patterns among adults.

Dental caries in a South African adult population: findings from the Cape Town Vascular and Metabolic Health Study.

Objectives: Caries is a ubiquitous non-communicable disease worldwide. There is a paucity of literature on adult caries in Africa, with the last epidemiological caries study in South Africa conducted in 1988/1989. This article reports on the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) scores in relation to demographic characteristics for a mixed-ancestry South African population.

Periodontal Disease Status among Adults from South Africa-Prevalence and Effect of Smoking.

Periodontal diseases are among the six most prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, constituting a burden for oral and general health. There is a shortage of epidemiological data on periodontal diseases in Africa. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to present the periodontal status and cotinine levels of a South African population of adults.

Dental needs of intellectualy disabled children attending six special educational facilities in Cape Town.

Objective: To assess the dental needs of a group of children with intellectual disability (ID) attending six special educational facilities in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study based on a convenience sampling method.