Transforming healthcare with integrated inter-professional education in a research-driven medical school.

Singapore, located strategically at the meeting point of the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea, has established itself as a global financial and economic hub. Despite its small geographical size, Singapore is home to over 5 million people from diverse cultural backgrounds. The city-state's medical education landscape has evolved significantly over the past century.

Recommendations on Topical Fluoride Usage for Caries Management in East Asia.

Dental caries is a widespread oral health issue in Asia, affecting an estimated 30% to 90% of children and adults. Many caries cases remain untreated, resulting in pain and infection. In response, the Asian Academy of Preventive Dentistry (AAPD) emphasises comprehensive caries management and organised a fluoride workshop at the 15th International Conference of the AAPD in 2023.

Findings from the 2019 nationally representative oral health survey for adults in Singapore.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to present key findings from the 2019 national adult oral health survey in Singapore (NAOHS).

Methods: A multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to recruit participants for a representative national adult oral health survey. A total of 12 212 households were randomly selected from the National Database on Dwellings in Singapore.

Oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of adults: Findings from a National Oral Health Survey in Singapore.

Objectives: Prevention complements the curative management of oral diseases. Effective preventive interventions involve the adoption of oral health promoting behaviours. Little is known about the awareness of oral disease and its prevention among Singaporean adults as well as their prevailing oral health attitudes and behaviours.

Development of a dental diet-tracking mobile app for improved caries-related dietary behaviours: Key features and pilot evaluation of quality.

Objective: Diet significantly contributes to dental decay (caries) yet monitoring and modifying patients' diets is a challenge for many dental practitioners. While many oral health and diet-tracking mHealth apps are available, few focus on the dietary risk factors for caries. This study aims to present the development and key features of a dental-specific mobile app for diet monitoring and dietary behaviour change to prevent caries, and pilot data from initial user evaluation.

Dentists' perspectives on structural and system barriers hindering oral healthcare provision in residential care facilities.

Objectives: Oral healthcare service is not well integrated with existing healthcare policy in nursing homes (NHs) globally. This qualitative study aimed to identify dentists' perspectives on structural and system barriers that hinder oral healthcare (OHC) provision to seniors in NHs in Singapore and to understand the consequences of these barriers.

Methods: Nineteen dentists (8 males and 11 females, 36.

Perception of nurses applying silver diamine fluoride to children's teeth: A mixed methods study.

Background: No studies have evaluated the unique potential of nurse-led silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application for children to bridge the gap in interprofessional collaboration.

Aim: To investigate the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of nurses regarding nurse-led SDF application at the well-child visit and identify possible barriers and make recommendations.

Design: Mixed methods design involving a questionnaire and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted.

A customized table-top aging simulation exercise to augment gerodontology teaching.

While aging simulation suits have been used in healthcare education to promote empathy for older adults, little has been published on learning outcomes specific to geriatric dental patients. We designed a seminar utilising a customised ageing simulation suit to help dental students empathise with several disabilties their older adult patients may face.

Current situation, future vision and enablers of nursing home oral healthcare in Singapore: Dentists' perspectives.

Objectives: To address the following research questions: (i) What is the current situation and future vision on oral healthcare service in nursing homes (NHs) in Singapore? (ii) What are the enablers to achieve the future vision? (iii) How do views differ between dentists with and without clinical experiences in NHs?

Background: Oral healthcare services in NHs need to reflect the perspectives of a diverse range of stakeholders and establish shared goals, however there is scarce evidence of in-depth dentists' insights.

Material And Methods: Dentists were purposively recruited. Focus group discussions with 4-5 participants each were conducted via teleconferencing.

Functional Dentition, Chronic Periodontal Disease and Frailty in Older Adults-A Narrative Review.

Background: The likelihood of experiencing the impact of chronic disease rises with age, and cumulative functional deficits over time increase the risk of frailty in older adults. The exact causes of frailty are not clear, and research is needed to identify appropriate intervention measures to reduce risk of developing frailty in old age.

Objective: To review the evidence on the relationship between frailty, dental status and chronic periodontitis and to determine if improvements in oral health of older adults can contribute to reversal of frailty.

Theory-derived intervention to improve oral health of older adults: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Changing health behaviours is an important and difficult task. Despite growing interest in behavioural theories and models, there is a paucity of research examining their validity in explaining oral health behaviours, and there is a need for interventional studies to assess their effectiveness in improving oral health. This study aims to test the explanatory power of the dominant psychological theories, develop theory-derived intervention and evaluate its effectiveness in improving oral health of older adults.

Periodontal disease and systemic health: An update for medical practitioners.

Introduction: Chronic periodontal disease is a highly prevalent dental condition affecting tooth-supporting tissues. Scientific evidence is accumulating on links between periodontal disease and various systemic conditions. This narrative review provides a holistic yet succinct overview that would assist medical practitioners to deliver integrated care for better clinical outcomes.

When e-learning takes centre stage amid COVID-19: Dental educators' perspectives and their future impacts.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated an unprecedented shift from face-to-face teaching to e-learning. Previous surveys revealed the negative impact of COVID-19 on dental education and the physical and psychological well-being of dental students. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the perspectives of dental educators towards e-learning during the pandemic and the impact of this experience on their future adoption of e-learning.

Teaching pediatric behavior management in student dentists with constructive video feedback from faculty.

Purpose: The range of child behaviors encountered in real-life situations far exceeds that of any classroom-based simulated scenarios. For such reasons, clinical training with real-time clinical supervisor's feedback is optimal for learner-centricity. This study aimed to objectively evaluate the effect of video feedback on the student dentist's ability to manage behaviors in children.

Quantitative proteomics analysis identifies salivary biomarkers for early detection of pregnancy loss in a Singaporean cohort-A pilot study.

Purpose: Early pregnancy loss (EPL) is one of the most common complications encountered in clinical practice. As most of EPLs occur relatively early on during pregnancy, they are often misunderstood as an expected menstrual cycle. Thus, it is essential to investigate the diagnostic biomarkers for monitoring pregnancy loss for continuous non-invasive monitoring of EPL.

Salivary Proteomic Profiling Identifies Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Formation in Pregnancy Gingivitis.

Pregnancy gingivitis peaks during mid-pregnancy and resolves transiently towards the postpartum period. However, the role of maternal immune response in orchestrating gingival inflammation has not yet been fully understood. Hence, in this study, we examined the salivary protein profile during the three trimesters of pregnancy, in context to pregnancy gingivitis, employing iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics.

Correlation between microbial host factors and caries among older adults.

Background: There is little knowledge about factors which may affect oral health among older adults. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between Streptococcus mutans (MS) and Lactobacilli (LB) counts and caries among older adults.

Methods: In this community-based observation study, 141 participants aged 60 years and above were recruited from the west district of Singapore.

Guidelines for innovation in dental education during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

During the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, dental education and training requiring face-to-face interaction must prioritize infection prevention and the safety of students, staff, and patients. In July 2020, the Association for Dental Education, Asia Pacific (ADEAP) published safety guidelines for safe dental education during the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines summarize ADEAP recommendations for classroom-based courses, reopening of simulated training courses and dental clinics, and provision of clinical skills training courses in dentistry during the COIVID-19 pandemic.

Factors affecting dental service utilisation among older Singaporeans eligible for subsidized dental care - a qualitative study.

Background: The World Health Organization has highlighted the paucity of research into the oral health needs of older adults. In Singapore, until recently, publically funded/subsidized oral health care for adults has been limited to basic primary care at government-funded polyclinics. Access to a more comprehensive range of subsidized care in the private sector was widened through the government-funded Community Health Assistance Scheme (CHAS) in 2012 and Pioneer Generation (PG) scheme in 2015.

Managing tooth pain in general practice.

Tooth pain is a common presentation in primary care, with 32.4% of Singaporeans experiencing pain from dental caries in their lifetime. Some systemic conditions can have oral presentations, and oral conditions may be associated with chronic disease.

Oral Health in Pregnant Chinese Women in Singapore: A Call to Go beyond the Traditional Clinical Care.

To examine the correlations among oral health knowledge, attitude, practices and oral disease among pregnant Chinese women in Singapore. : A descriptive correlational study was conducted in pregnant Chinese women in Singapore. A questionnaire was used to collect data of oral health knowledge, attitude and practices.

Understanding patients' and dentists' perspectives in dental trauma management: A mixed-methods study.

Background/aim: Patients suffering dental trauma are unprepared for the disability challenge and necessary rehabilitation, while a traumatic event places an expanded demand on the dentist who is focused on treating disease. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) on patients and to compare patients' and dentists' perceptions of the event.

Material And Methods: TDI patients (aged ≥ 21 years) attending a tertiary dental hospital from 2011 to 2013, and their dentists were recruited with informed consent.

Do parents talk to their adolescent children about sex?--findings from a community survey in Singapore.

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections have increased sharply among adolescents both locally and internationally in recent years. Parents play an important role in their children's sexual health development. An integral part of this includes effective parent-child sexuality communication.