Health literacy and its association with human papilloma virus vaccination among adults: Findings from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system.

Health literacy is associated with the utilization of preventive health services. We examined the association between health literacy (HL) levels and receipt of at least one dose of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination. We analyzed the data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) among adults aged 18 to 32.

Multi-state outcome analysis of treatment interventions after failure of non-surgical root canal treatment: a 13-year retrospective study.

Objective: To examine the factors affecting the transitions through treatment interventions after failure of non-surgical root canal treatment (NS-RCT).

Methodology: Insurance enrollment and claim information for enrollees of Delta Dental of Wisconsin (DDWI), USA were analyzed for 438,487 initial NS-RCT procedures to determine the effect of initial provider type and other covariates on additional treatments (no additional treatment, nonsurgical retreatment, surgical retreatment and extraction). A multi-state model was created using the "mstate" R package.

Root-end Surgery or Nonsurgical Retreatment: Are There Differences in Long-term Outcome?

Introduction: The decision of which modality of secondary endodontic treatment to perform is multifactorial and clinician dependent. The literature surrounding the long-term survival of nonsurgical retreatment compared with surgical retreatment remains equivocal and warrants further investigation. This 7-year retrospective study seeks to compare the outcome of nonsurgical retreatments with that of root-end surgeries performed on teeth without prior nonsurgical retreatments.

Pediatric Feeding Disorder: A Nationwide Prevalence Study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) in US children.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Medicaid Databases from Arizona (2009-2017) and Wisconsin (2005-2014) (public insurance databases) and The Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database (2009-2015) (a nationwide private insurance database). Diagnoses and procedures were identified from inpatient and outpatient claims using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 diagnostic codes and ICD and Current Procedural Terminology-4 procedure codes.

The Incidence of Root Canal Therapy after Full-Coverage Restorations: A 10-Year Retrospective Study.

Introduction: The process of restoring a tooth with a crown leaves many opportunities for pulpal irritation. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze the factors that contribute to the incidence of nonsurgical root canal therapy (NS-RCT) after the delivery of single-unit full-coverage restorations.

Methods: Insurance claims from 88,409 crown placements in the Delta Dental of Wisconsin insurance database were analyzed from the years 2008-2017.

The relationships between fluoride intake levels and fluorosis of late-erupting permanent teeth.

Objectives: To examine the relationships between fluoride intake levels and fluorosis of late-erupting permanent teeth.

Methods: The current study used information collected from 437 children in the longitudinal Iowa Fluoride Study. Participants' fluoride intake information was collected using questionnaires from birth to age 10 years.

Survival Rates of Teeth with Primary Endodontic Treatment after Core/Post and Crown Placement.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of delayed placement of the core/post and crown on the outcomes of nonsurgical root canal therapy (NSRCT).

Methods: According to the Delta Dental of Wisconsin claims database, 160,040 NSRCTs were completed with a core/post and a crown placed before the end of the continuous coverage period or occurrence of an untoward event. Untoward events were defined as a retreatment, apicoectomy, or extraction as defined by the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature.

Differences in utilization of dental procedures by children enrolled in Wisconsin Medicaid and Delta Dental insurance plans.

Background: Few studies have directly compared dental procedures provided in public and private insurance plans for enrollees living in dental health professional shortage areas (DHPSAs). We examined the rates for the different types of dental procedures received by 0-18-year-old children living in DHPSAs and non-DHPSAs who were enrolled in Medicaid and those enrolled under Delta Dental of Wisconsin (DDW) for years 2002 to 2008.

Methods: Medicaid and DDW dental claims data for 2002 to 2008 was analyzed.

Outcomes of Primary Endodontic Therapy Provided by Endodontic Specialists Compared with Other Providers.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of initial nonsurgical root canal therapy for different tooth types provided by both endodontists and other providers.

Methods: By using an insurance company database, 487,476 initial nonsurgical root canal therapy procedures were followed from the time of treatment to the presence of an untoward event indicated by Current Dental Terminology codes for retreatment, apical surgery, or extraction. Population demographics were computed for provider type and tooth location.

Timing of fluoride intake and dental fluorosis on late-erupting permanent teeth.

Objective: Very few studies have examined the relationship between timing of fluoride intake and development of dental fluorosis on late-erupting permanent teeth using period-specific fluoride intake information. This study examined this relationship using longitudinal fluoride intake information from the Iowa Fluoride Study.

Methods: Participants' fluoride exposure and intake (birth to 10 years of age) from water, beverages, selected food products, dietary fluoride supplements, and fluoride toothpaste was collected using questionnaires sent to parents at 3- and 4- month intervals from birth to 48 months of age and every 6 months thereafter.

Rural-urban differences in dental service use among children enrolled in a private dental insurance plan in Wisconsin: analysis of administrative data.

Background: Studies on rural-urban differences in dental care have primarily focused on differences in utilization rates and preventive dental services. Little is known about rural-urban differences in the use of wider range of dental procedures. This study examined patterns of preventive, restorative, endodontic, and extraction procedures provided to children enrolled in Delta Dental of Wisconsin (DDWI).

Racial/ethnic disparities in provision of dental procedures to children enrolled in Delta Dental insurance in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Objectives: Most studies on the provision of dental procedures have focused on Medicaid enrollees known to have inadequate access to dental care. Little information on private insurance enrollees exists. This study documents the rates of preventive, restorative, endodontic, and surgical dental procedures provided to children enrolled in Delta Dental of Wisconsin (DDWI) in Milwaukee.

Dental students' perceptions of self-efficacy and cultural competence with school-based programs.

This study explored perceptions of first-year dental students' self-efficacy, cultural competence, and intent to provide care in school-based settings before and after the completion of an oral health educational rotation with inner-city public school children. The oral health educational rotation is mandatory for all first-year dental students at Marquette University School of Dentistry (MUSoD). Pre- and post-rotation surveys on perceptions of self-efficacy, cultural competence, and intent to provide care in school-based settings were administered online to first-year dental students at MUSoD.

Infectivity enhanced adenoviral-mediated mda-7/IL-24 gene therapy for ovarian carcinoma.

Objective: Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7 [mda-7/Interleukin (IL)-24] has been identified as a novel anti-cancer agent, which specifically induces apoptosis in cancer cells but not in normal epithelial, endothelial and fibroblast cells. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of adenovirus-mediated mda-7/IL-24 (Ad.mda-7) gene therapy in ovarian carcinoma and further improve anti-tumor effect by enhancing infectivity of Ad.