Influence of gingival margin height variation on perceived aesthetics following absent maxillary lateral incisor-canine substitution.

Background: Maxillary lateral incisor agenesis is often managed with orthodontic space closure and canine substitution. Anatomic gingival margin heights associated with the maxillary anterior teeth are considered important for achieving aesthetic excellence with space closure, but evidence relating to the perceptions of lay people is poor.

Objectives: This study investigated the influence of gingival margin height variation in the maxillary anterior teeth following orthodontic space closure and canine substitution in the absence of maxillary lateral incisor teeth on perceived aesthetics judged by a lay population.

Why don't patients with dentine hypersensitivity discuss the condition with their dentist?

Objectives: This qualitative study aimed to develop an understanding of patients' barriers and facilitators of conversations about dentine hypersensitivity (DH) with their dentist.

Methods: The Theoretical Domains Framework shaped the topic guide for 26 participants who were troubled (High H) or not particularly troubled (Low L) by DH. Inductive thematic analysis of anonymised, transcribed, online focus group conversations was undertaken to identify reasons for non-discussion of DH during dental consultations.

Exploring the determinants of oral health care uptake among women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A qualitative study to develop a logic model and framework for an oral health intervention.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition of glucose intolerance in pregnancy. Oral health has been shown to mediate blood glucose management and pregnancy outcomes. There is also a greater prevalence of poor oral health in GDM pregnancies when compared to normoglycemic pregnancies.

Barriers and facilitators to using an objective risk communication tool during primary care dental consultations: A Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) informed qualitative study.

Objectives: Objective risk communication tools can supplement clinical judgement and support the understanding of potential health risks. This study used the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing a risk communication aid within primary care dental consultations.

Methods: Dentists (N = 13), recruited via a dental practice database and through professional contacts were interviewed using a TDF-informed semi-structured interview schedule.

Enhancing patient-centred care in dentistry: a narrative review.

Introduction: Patient-centred care (PCC) is widely used within the medical setting, but there is a need for more research on PCC implementation in dentistry.

Sources Of Data: A narrative review was conducted with literature identified from the Ovid Interface, including several databases such as Embase and Medline.

Areas Of Agreement: PCC is associated with better health outcomes for patients, and greater work satisfaction among healthcare professionals.

Why don't dental teams routinely discuss dentine hypersensitivity during consultations? A qualitative study informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Aim: Although dentine hypersensitivity is widespread, can cause substantial pain and impact quality of life, it is not routinely discussed during dental consultations. This qualitative study aimed to develop an understanding of the barriers and facilitators to these discussions.

Materials And Methods: Using the Theoretical Domains Framework to shape the topic guide, N = 7 online focus groups were organized with a total N = 40 participants comprising experienced dentists, dental foundation trainees and dental care professionals.

Developing a person-centred approach in dentistry beyond NHS recall intervals: a commentary.

Person-centred care (PCC) is acknowledged as a fundamental dimension of quality within health care and provides significant benefits for patients and clinicians. Models of PCC have primarily been developed from the medical literature, with limited consideration of their application within dentistry. The Personalised Care Institute was established to deliver education and training on PCC and is working with the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England to develop resources on shared decision-making (SDM) to promote tailored recall intervals.

Labels and descriptions of dental behaviour support techniques: A scoping review of clinical practice guidelines.

Introduction: There is no agreed taxonomy of the techniques used to support patients to receive professional oral healthcare. This lack of specification leads to imprecision in describing, understanding, teaching and implementing behaviour support techniques in dentistry (DBS).

Methods: This review aims to identify the labels and associated descriptors used by practitioners to describe DBS techniques, as a first step in developing a shared terminology for DBS techniques.

Using realist methods for intervention development to fill a methodological gap: A case study showing the development of an oral hygiene intervention for people with intellectual developmental disabilities.

Background: Realist methods offer a novel approach to intervention design. Such novelty is needed for effective oral health promotion interventions with people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) and their carers because existing interventions are poorly described and lack theoretical underpinning. In this study, the steps between inception and final intervention development are presented, with an aim to expand understanding of how realist theorizing can be used to develop interventions, and to demonstrate theory-driven intervention development in the field of oral health promotion.

Theoretical and methodological approaches in designing, developing, and delivering interventions for oral health behaviour change.

Oral health behaviour change interventions are gaining momentum on a global scale. After lagging behind other disciplines, oral health behaviour change is becoming an area of fast and important development. Theories used in medicine and healthcare more generally are now being applied to oral health behaviour change with varying results.

Psychologically informed oral health interventions in pregnancy and type 2 diabetes: A scoping review.

Introduction: Oral health is a critical aspect of gestational diabetes management. Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose levels during pregnancy and is managed like type 2 diabetes with diet and physical activity interventions. This scoping review sets out to discuss why oral health support should also become part of gestational diabetes management.

The impact of priming on dentally induced social judgements: An experimental study.

Objective: To ascertain the effects of priming to consider tooth appearance (i.e. exposure to a 'tooth whitening television advert') versus control (a 'non-dental' television advert) on social judgements of tooth colour in a group of Caucasians.

Psychologically informed oral health interventions in pregnancy and type 2 diabetes: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Periodontal health is becoming a recognised component in managing gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is characterised as raised blood glucose levels first discovered in pregnancy and managed similarly to type 2 diabetes. Currently, the standard intervention for gestational diabetes in the UK entails dietary modifications and physical activity interventions.

Using behaviour change science to deliver oral health practice: A commentary.

The aims of this commentary are threefold; firstly, we summarize changes in oral health behaviour change research and practice; secondly, we identify key barriers and challenges proposing practical ways to overcome them; and finally, we showcase key developments on the global and local stage outlining key opportunities for the future of oral health behaviour change. Not applicable. Advancements, including the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation (COM-B), Motivation, Action regulation-Prompts (MAP) and the Goal setting, Planning and Self-Monitoring (GPS) models have showcased a range of evidence-based opportunities to deliver oral health behaviour change.

Comparative Optimism, Self-Superiority, Egocentric Impact Perception and Health Information Seeking: A COVID-19 Study.

We examined perceived self-other differences (self-uniqueness) in appraisals of one's risk of an infectious disease (COVID-19), one's adherence to behavioural precautionary measures against the disease, and the impact of these measures on one's life. We also examined the relationship of self-uniqueness with information seeking and trust in sources of information about the disease. We administered an online survey to a community sample (N = 8696) of Dutch-speaking individuals, mainly in Belgium and The Netherlands, during the first lockdown (late April-Mid June 2020).

COVID-19 presents an opportunity for dental teams to become ready for person-centred care.

Two publications that recently appeared in the British Dental Journal mooted the position that dentistry may not be ready for person-centred care. This commentary takes up this discussion and agrees that while person-centred care is essential to dentistry, it is not without its challenges. Drawing on the multidisciplinary expertise of its authors (two sociologists, one psychologist and a dentist), the nature of these challenges is interrogated further.

Periodontal furcation lesions: A survey of diagnosis and management by general dental practitioners.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore general dental practitioners' (GDPs) attitude to periodontal furcation involvement (FI).

Materials And Methods: An online survey focused on diagnosis and management of periodontal FI was circulated to GDPs in seven different countries.

Results: A total of 400 responses were collected.

Patients' and dentists' perceptions of tele-dentistry at the time of COVID-19. A questionnaire-based study.

Objectives: COVID-19 has had a significant impact on dentistry in unforeseen ways, including a substantial rise in the development and implementation of video consultations. The research aimed to investigate dentists' and patients' attitudes towards dental video consultations (tele-dentistry) and to identify potential ways to improve the experience.

Methods: A cross-sectional, pre-post design, online survey was carried out with patients' and dentists' before and after video consultations.

BeSiDe time to move behavior support in dentistry from an art to a science: A position paper from the BeSiDe (Behavior Support in Dentistry) Group.

Aims: To share the need for agreement in terminology around how people are supported to receive dental care.

Method: In this position paper, we make the case for a shift in behavior support in dentistry from an art to a science.

Results: We outline why we need agreement on the definition of behavior support across dentistry, agreement on underlying theory, aims and values, and why we need agreement on terms for specific techniques.

Adopting the COM-B model and TDF framework in oral and dental research: A narrative review.

Background: Recent advances in the psychological understanding of health-related behaviour have focused on producing a comprehensive framework to model such behaviour. The Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) and its associated Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) allow researchers to classify psychological and behavioural constructs in a consistent and transferable manner across studies.

Aim: To identify oral and dental health-related studies that have used the TDF and/or COM-B as frameworks to guide research and examine the ways in which these concepts have been practically used in such research.

Patient-Centred Care in Dentistry: Definitions and Models - Commentary.

Patient-centred care is an important approach that is currently being adopted, to varying degrees of success, in a number of healthcare settings, particularly in family medicine and nursing. However, patient-centred care is relatively understudied in dentistry. This commentary aims to provide a general overview of patient-centred care studies conducted in dentistry, of how the approach is defined in this setting, and of the different models that have aimed to operationalize the concept.

Comparative optimism about infection and recovery from COVID-19; Implications for adherence with lockdown advice.

Background: Comparative optimism, the belief that negative events are more likely to happen to others rather than to oneself, is well established in health risk research. It is unknown, however, whether comparative optimism also permeates people's health expectations and potentially behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Data were collected through an international survey (N = 6485) exploring people's thoughts and psychosocial behaviours relating to COVID-19.