School food policy in secondary schools in England and its impact on adolescents' diets and dental health: the FUEL multiple-methods study.

Background: School food standards are a legal requirement for state-funded schools in England and are designed to promote healthy eating in pupils. However, state-funded academies/free schools established between 2010 and 2014 are exempt from this legislation. To complement the school food standards, the government launched the School Food Plan in 2013, which outlines voluntary actions that schools can take to support healthy eating and increase school meal uptake.

National school food standards in England: a cross-sectional study to explore compliance in secondary schools and impact on pupil nutritional intake.

Background: Many countries have introduced school food standards to improve the dietary intakes of school-aged children. England has school food standards (SFS) legislation in place but little is known about how well secondary schools comply with this. We aimed to assess compliance with the SFS legislation in English secondary schools and explore the impact of the SFS on pupils' nutritional intake.

Parental acceptance of Silver Diamine Fluoride in two lower-middle-income countries: Iran and Tajikistan.

Background: Using Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) may be an effective public health approach for managing dental caries in children. Parental acceptance of SDF has rarely been investigated in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to evaluate parental acceptance of SDF to manage dental caries in children aged 2-12 in Iran and Tajikistan.

Diagnostic accuracy of tele-dentistry in screening children for dental caries by community health workers in a lower-middle-income country.

Background: Tele-dentistry can be useful for dental caries screening of children, especially in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs).

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of mobile phone photographs taken by a community health worker (CHW) for caries detection in Iran.

Design: Children aged 6-12 years were visually examined by a paediatric dentist.

Area-level inequalities in the provision of NHS orthodontic care in England from 2016 to 2019.

Objective To investigate geographic inequalities in the provision of NHS orthodontic care in England at the area level.Methods NHS dental activity data were analysed for the three financial years April 2016 to March 2019. The measures used were units of dental activity (UDA), units of orthodontic activity (UOA) and commencement of orthodontic treatment.

Trends in self-reported cost barriers to dental care in Ontario.

Background: The affordability of dental care continues to receive attention in Canada. Since most dental care is privately financed, the use of dental care is largely influenced by insurance coverage and the ability to pay-out-of pocket.

Objectives: i) to explore trends in self-reported cost barriers to dental care in Ontario; ii) to assess trends in the socio-demographic characteristics of Ontarians reporting cost barriers to dental care; and iii) to identify the trend in what attributes predicts reporting cost barriers to dental care in Ontario.

Food insecurity and dental caries prevalence in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Food insecurity (FI) is associated with dietary practices, which can act as a risk factor for dental caries.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between FI and dental caries prevalence in children and adolescents.

Design: MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, SCOPUS, ISI web of knowledge, Cochrane, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database (up to April 19, 2022) as well as reference lists were searched.

Oral health inequality in Canada, the United States and United Kingdom.

The objective of this study was to quantify the magnitude of absolute and relative oral health inequality in countries with similar socio-political environments, but differing oral health care systems such as Canada, the United States (US), and the United Kingdom (UK), in the first decade of the new millennium. Clinical oral health data were obtained from the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2007-2009, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2008, and the Adult Dental Health Survey 2009, for Canada, the US and UK, respectively. The slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) were used to quantify absolute and relative inequality, respectively.

Comparing the magnitude of oral health inequality over time in Canada and the United States.

Objectives: To assess the magnitude of, and changes in, absolute and relative oral health inequality in Canada and the United States, from the 1970s till the first decade of the new millennium.

Methods: Data were obtained from four national surveys; two Canadian (NCNS 1970-1972 and CHMS 2007-2009) and two American (HANES 1971-1974 and NHANES 2007-2008). The slope and relative index of inequality were used to measure absolute and relative inequality, respectively.

Childhood obesity and dental caries: an ecological investigation of the shape and moderators of the association.

Background: Despite sharing a common risk factor in dietary sugars, the association between obesity and dental caries remains unclear. We investigated the association between obesity and dental caries in young children in England in an ecological study.

Methods: We analysed data from 326 lower tier English local authorities.

Area-level deprivation and oral cancer in England 2012-2016.

Background: The relationship between deprivation and oral cancer is complex. We examined magnitude and shape of deprivation-related inequalities in oral cancer in England 2012-2016.

Methods: Oral cancer was indicated by cancers of the lip and oral cavity (ICD10 C00-C06) and lip, oral cavity and pharynx (C00-C14) and deprivation by the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

The Food provision, cUlture and Environment in secondary schooLs (FUEL) study: protocol of a mixed methods evaluation of national School Food Standards implementation in secondary schools and their impact on pupils' dietary intake and dental health.

Introduction: Excess free sugar intake is associated with obesity and poor dental health. Adolescents consume substantially more free sugar than is recommended. National (UK) School Food Standards (SFS) are in place but are not mandatory in all schools, and their impact on the diets of secondary school pupils is unknown.

Changes in income-related inequalities in oral health status in Ontario, Canada.

Objectives: Oral health inequalities impose a substantial burden on society and the healthcare system across Canadian provinces. Monitoring these inequalities is crucial for informing public health policy and action towards reducing inequalities; however, trends within Canada have not been explored. The objectives of this study are as follows: (a) to assess trends in income-related inequalities in oral health in Ontario, Canada's most populous province, from 2003 to 2014, and (b) to determine whether the magnitude of such inequalities differ by age and sex.

Current trends in endodontic irrigation amongst general dental practitioners and dental schools within the United Kingdom and Ireland: a cross-sectional survey.

Aims To investigate current trends in endodontic irrigation amongst general dental practitioners (GDPs) and dental schools within UK and Ireland. Secondly, to evaluate if significant differences exist between the irrigant practices of National Health Service (NHS) and private GDPs.Methodology In 2019, an online questionnaire was distributed to the 18 dental schools within the UK and Ireland and 8,568 GDPs.

Persistent but narrowing oral health care inequalities in Canada from 2001 through 2016.

Background: Similar to the United States, inequality in oral health care use is longstanding in Canada. It remains unclear whether this inequality is improving or worsening. In this study, the authors report on income-related inequality in dental visits in Canada and across its provinces over time and interprovincial inequality in dental visits among Canadian provinces.

Providing dental insurance can positively impact oral health outcomes in Ontario.

Background: Universal coverage for dental care is a topical policy debate across Canada, but the impact of dental insurance on improving oral health-related outcomes remains empirically unexplored in this population.

Methods: We used data on individuals 12 years of age and older from the Canadian Community Health Survey 2013-2014 to estimate the marginal effects (ME) of having dental insurance in Ontario, Canada's most populated province (n = 42,553 representing 11,682,112 Ontarians). ME were derived from multi-variable logistic regression models for dental visiting behaviour and oral health status outcomes.

Towards an understanding of the structural determinants of oral health inequalities: A comparative analysis between Canada and the United States.

Objective: To compare the magnitude of, and contributors to, income-related inequalities in oral health outcomes within and between Canada and the United States over time.

Methods: The concentration index was used to estimate income-related inequalities in three oral health outcomes from the Nutrition Canada National Survey 1970-1972, Canadian Health Measures Survey 2007-2009, Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I 1971-1974, and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2008. Concentration indices were decomposed to determine the contribution of demographic and socioeconomic factors to oral health inequalities.

MALOCCLUSION, PAST ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, AND SATISFACTION WITH DENTAL APPEARANCE AMONG CANADIAN ADULTS.

Objective: To examine whether malocclusion and past orthodontic treatment are associated with satisfaction with dental appearance among Canadian adults.

Methods: Using data from the 2007-09 Canadian Health Measures Survey, this cross-sectional study analyzed information from 2184 respondents (1005 men and 1179 women) aged 20-59 years. The outcome variable was satisfaction with dental appearance.

The potential oral health impact of cost barriers to dental care: findings from a Canadian population-based study.

Background: Prior to the 2007/09 Canadian Health Measures Survey, there was no nationally representative clinical data on the oral health of Canadians experiencing cost barriers to dental care. The aim of this study was to determine the oral health status and dental treatment needs of Canadians reporting cost barriers to dental care.

Methods: A secondary data analysis of the 2007/09 Canadian Health Measures Survey was undertaken using a sample of 5,586 Canadians aged 6 to 79.

Comparing inequalities in oral and general health: findings of the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure and compare the magnitude of income-related inequalities for oral and general health outcomes in Canada.

Methods: Data for this study were from the 2007/09 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). The sample size consisted of 3,413 Canadians aged 18-79 (1,601 men and 1,812 women).

Cost as a barrier to accessing dental care: findings from a Canadian population-based study.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of Canadians who report cost barriers to dental care.

Methods: An analysis of data collected from the 2007/09 Canadian Health Measures Survey was undertaken from a sample of 5,586 Canadian participants aged 6-79. Cost barriers to dental care were operationalized through two questions: "In the past 12 months, have you avoided going to a dental professional because of the cost of dental care?" and "In the past 12 months, have you avoided having all the dental treatment that was recommended because of the cost?" Logistic regressions were conducted to identify relationships between covariates and positive responses to these questions.

Time loss due to dental problems and treatment in the Canadian population: analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Background: The purpose of this study was to quantify time loss due to dental problems and treatment in the Canadian population, to identify factors associated with this time loss, and to provide information regarding the economic impacts of these issues.

Methods: Data from the 2007/09 Canadian Health Measures Survey were used. Descriptive analysis determined the proportion of those surveyed who reported time loss and the mean hours lost.

Oral pain and its covariates: findings of a Canadian population-based study.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of oral pain in Canada and to identify its covariates.

Methods: Data were derived from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Data were analyzed for a total of 5284 respondents (2558 males, 2726 females) aged 6-79 years.