Race disparities in dental care use from adolescence to middle adulthood in the USA.

Background: This study examines the longitudinal patterns of dental care use from adolescence to middle adulthood (ages 11-43) and investigates racial and ethnic disparities in these patterns.

Methods: Data from Waves I through V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (1993-2018; ages 11-43). Semiparametric group-based trajectory model identified distinct dental care use trajectories.

TRENDING CULTURAL DRIVERS OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO: FOR RECENT REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANTS AS KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIOR DETERMINANTS: A SOUTH TEXAS ORAL HEALTH NETWORK COLLABORATIVE STUDY.

Objectives: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is a phenomenon that is detrimental to the health of adults worldwide and dramatically impacts the health of resettled populations. The prevalence of SLT has exponentially grown as a public health threat for the refugee and immigrant populations and is worthy of addressing. This research study examined the SLT cultural drivers of the Texas immigrant and refugee community, which led to their knowledge, perception, awareness, and cessation practices.

Prior incarceration length and edentulism among formerly incarcerated older adults in the United States.

Background: This study investigated the association between prior incarceration length and edentulism among US adults 55 years and older. Analyses explored indirect factors such as wealth, smoking status, mental health, and chronic health conditions that may explain this relationship. In addition, the study analyzed how associations between incarceration and edentulism vary by race and ethnicity.

Understanding dental practitioners' knowledge and practices of smokeless tobacco: South Texas Oral Health Network study.

Objective: This study, conducted by the South Texas Oral Health Network, evaluated dental practitioners' knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors regarding cultural forms of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use and effects, using the 5As (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange) framework.

Methods: Chi-squared tests examined associations between dental practitioners' characteristics, self-confidence, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The 5As tobacco cessation intervention steps were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test to measure changes in the frequency of use between successive steps.

Practice-based research in dentistry: Exploring methodologies, benefits, and challenges.

Background: Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) studies typically assess the effectiveness of clinical interventions in settings that match real-world conditions. Dental PBRNs have the capacity to amass, identify, and analyze vast amounts of data from patient populations that include diverse racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and geographic backgrounds. These dental studies encompass a broad spectrum of healthcare aspects, including prevention, diagnosis, symptom and disease treatment, quality enhancement, and care coordination.

Participation Rates in 11 National Dental Practice-Based Research Network Surveys 2014-2022.

Surveys of health professionals typically have low response rates, which have decreased in recent years. We report on the methods used, participation rates, and study time for 11 national questionnaire studies of dentists conducted from 2014-2022. Participation rates decreased (87%-25%).

Adverse childhood experiences and dental cleaning during pregnancy: Findings from the North and South Dakota PRAMS, 2017-2021.

Objective: Research demonstrates that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)-that is, experiences of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction-are related to lower preventive dental care utilization in childhood and adolescence. However, limited research has explored the connection between ACEs and preventive dental care utilization in adulthood, and no research has examined this relationship during pregnancy. The current study extends existing research by investigating the relationship between ACEs and dental cleaning and dental care utilization during pregnancy among a sample of women who delivered live births in North Dakota and South Dakota.

Recruitment strategies and retention rates for five National Dental PBRN studies.

Background: We describe a retrospective assessment of practitioner and patient recruitment strategies, patient retention strategies, and rates for five clinical studies conducted in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network between 2012 and 2019, and practitioner and patient characteristics associated with retention.

Methods: Similar recruitment strategies were adopted in the studies. The characteristics of the practitioners and patients are described.

Patient and dentist perspectives on collecting patient reported outcomes after painful dental procedures in the National Dental PBRN.

Background: Dental Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) relate to a dental patient's subjective experience of their oral health. How practitioners and patients value PROs influences their successful use in practice.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 practitioners and 32 patients who provided feedback on using a mobile health (mHealth) platform to collect the pain experience after dental procedures.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and oral health care use among formerly incarcerated people in the United States.

Background: Formerly incarcerated people report less frequent oral health care use, despite having more substantial oral health problems. This study aimed to determine whether the adoption of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has improved oral health care use among formerly incarcerated people in the United States.

Method: Data were from Wave I (1994-1995), Wave IV (2008), and Wave V (2016-2018) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 9,108), a nationally representative cohort study in the United States.

Food deserts and dental care utilization in the United States.

Objectives: Although food deserts are known to impact health and healthcare utilization, no research has investigated the relationship between food deserts and dental care utilization. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing the relationship between living in a food desert and self-reported dental care utilization in the past year.

Methods: Data are from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 10,495).

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Dental Care Utilization During Pregnancy: Findings from the North and South Dakota PRAMS, 2017-2021.

Background: Research demonstrates adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)-i.e., experiences of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction-adversely impact healthcare utilization over the life course.

Physical intimate partner violence and prenatal oral health experiences in the United States.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue, and when experienced during pregnancy, IPV substantially harms maternal health. Still, limited research has examined how IPV may influence prenatal oral health and dental care utilization. This study investigates the relationship between IPV during pregnancy and women's oral health experiences.

Characteristics of dentists in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Objectives: Our aims are to describe the characteristics of dentists, members of the US National Dental practice-based research network (PBRN) in the United States, and determine how often these dentists provide specific dental procedures.

Methods: Dentists completed a questionnaire when they enrolled in the Network about their demographic and training characteristics and characteristics of their practices and patients. Dentists also reported the frequency of providing specific dental procedures.

Intimate Partner Violence and Prenatal Oral Health Experiences.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue, and when experienced during pregnancy, IPV poses substantial harms for maternal health. Still, limited research has examined how IPV may influence prenatal oral health and dental care utilization. This study aims to investigate the relationship between IPV during pregnancy and women's oral health experiences.

Study protocol: understanding pain after dental procedures, an observational study within the National Dental PBRN.

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures provide an essential perspective on the quality of health care provided. However, how data are collected, how providers value and make sense of the data, and, ultimately, use the data to create meaningful impact all influence the success of using patient-reported outcomes.

Objectives: The primary objective is to assess post-operative pain experiences by dental procedure type through 21 days post-procedure as reported by patients following dental procedures and assess patients' satisfaction with pain management following dental surgical procedures.

Dental Sleep Medicine among dental practitioners: Preliminary findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Objectives/introduction: Dental sleep medicine (DSM) focuses on oral appliance therapy (OAT) to manage sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This brief poll aimed to assess the interest and practices of dental practitioners in DSM. To this day lack of data exists regarding how DSM practices function in the clinical setting.

Structure, function, and productivity from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Introduction: Following inception in 2005 as a multiregional practice-based research network (PBRN), the "National Dental PBRN" expanded nationwide in 2012, and in 2019 implemented additional organizational changes. The objectives are to: (1) describe the new structure and function of the network; and (2) quantify its scientific productivity since 2005.

Methods: A national Administrative and Resource Center is based in Alabama; regional and specialty nodes are based in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, and Texas.

Onset and resolution of pain among treated and untreated posterior teeth with a visible crack: Three-year findings from the national dental practice-based research network.

Objective: Cracked teeth may be associated with pain, especially biting pain, and to a lesser degree cold and spontaneous pain.  Described are how commonly these pains remain constant, develop, or resolve over time, none of which have been well-described, especially among untreated cracked teeth.

Methods: Cracked teeth from the Cracked Tooth Registry (CTR) study were followed for 3 years.

Development of a Mobile Application to Enhance Knowledge, Awareness and Communication of Dry Mouth Amongst Dental Practitioners and Patients: A South Texas Oral Health Network Study.

Background: Dry mouth, also commonly known as "xerostomia", is a prominent symptom that is often overlooked by dental practitioners and patients. The purpose of this study was to pilot the development of a mobile application for assessing dry mouth symptoms. The application will allow patients to self-assess and enhance knowledge, awareness and communication with dental practitioners in their management of dry mouth.

Practitioner Engagement in Activities of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN): 7-Year Results.

Purpose: To 1) quantify practitioner activities of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (Network) for which Continuing Education (CE) credits were received (study training, videos, webinars, meetings, and symposia); 2) quantify practitioner coauthoring Network publications and presentations; and 3) test whether practitioner characteristics were associated with participation in these activities.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 4361 practitioners who enrolled in the Network between April 12, 2012 and October 12, 2018.

Results: Overall, 59% (n = 2586) of practitioners earned CE credit from the Network; among these, 68% (n = 1757) from a video, 38% (n = 993) attended an annual Network meeting, 31% (n = 798) due to training for a Network clinical study, 9% (n = 226) attended a national symposium, and 7% (n = 170) participated in a Network webinar.