The Attitude of Nursing Staff Towards Oral Healthcare for Care-Dependent Older Adults (ANOCO) Questionnaire: Development and Validation.

Aims: This study aims to report on the development and validation of the Attitude of Nursing staff towards Oral healthcare for Care-dependent Older adults (ANOCO) questionnaire.

Methods: The development of the ANOCO questionnaire was performed in three stages between 2008 and 2019. In a first stage, domains related to oral healthcare attitudes were identified.

[Interprofessional collaboration, the key to better oral healthcare for frail older people].

Globally, oral health diseases are a major problem that can have serious consequences at both the individual and social level. Despite sufficient knowledge about the prevention of oral health diseases, putting it into practice does not seem obvious, particularly not in a target group of frail older people. Inequality of health, partly increased by society becoming more multicultural and the ageing of the population, must be tackled.

Oral health and healthcare utilization in Belgian dentate adults.

Objectives: In 2012-2014, the Belgian National Oral Health Data Registration and Evaluation Survey, integrated in the Health Interview Survey (HIS), was carried out. The present study investigated, in a sample of 1340 dentate adults (≥25 years), the association between oral healthcare utilization, oral health status and sociodemographic status.

Methods: A multistage, stratified cluster sampling procedure was used.

The impact of a prospective 4-year longitudinal school intervention for improving oral health and oral health inequalities in primary schoolchildren in Flanders-Belgium.

Background: Oral diseases and socio-economic inequalities in children are a persisting problem.

Aim: To investigate the 4-year longitudinal impact of an oral health promotion programme on oral health, knowledge, and socio-economic inequalities in primary schoolchildren.

Design: The intervention was carried out between 2010 and 2014 within a random sample of Flemish primary schoolchildren (born in 2002).

Practical Guidelines for Physicians in Promoting Oral Health in Frail Older Adults.

Good oral health in old age is particularly important for maintaining adequate oral function, preventing pain and discomfort, controlling localized or systemic inflammation, sustaining social interaction, and preserving quality of life. Given that oral health is an integral part of general health and well-being, and that major chronic systemic and oral diseases share common risk factors, oral health prevention and promotion should be embedded within routine medical assessment and care provision. The role of medical physicians, particularly primary care physicians, geriatricians, and elderly care physicians, in community and long-term care facilities in assessing and promoting oral health in frail older adults is critical and has been emphasized in recent European recommendations.

Social gradient in caries experience of Belgian adults 2010.

Objective: This study aims to explore the caries experience of the Belgian population in relation to social indicators.

Basic Research Design: Data collection (2009-2010) consisted of an oral health questionnaire and examination during a home visit.

Participants: Representative sample of the Belgian population (⟩5 years old).

The impact of a preventive and curative oral healthcare program on the prevalence and incidence of oral health problems in nursing home residents.

Aims: To assess the impact of an oral healthcare program in nursing homes on the initial treatment backlog and residents' oral health stability.

Materials And Methods: The study is a longitudinal cohort study in nursing home residents in Flanders, Belgium, to evaluate the oral healthcare programme Gerodent. The program consisted of: (1) the introduction of an oral healthcare team, (2) oral health education, (3) the implementation of oral health guidelines and protocols, and (4) regular visits of a mobile dental team.

An Expert Opinion from the European College of Gerodontology and the European Geriatric Medicine Society: European Policy Recommendations on Oral Health in Older Adults.

This is an expert opinion paper on oral health policy recommendations for older adults in Europe, with particular focus on frail and care-dependent persons, that the European College of Gerodontology (ECG) and the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS) Task and Finish Group on Gerodontology has developed. Oral health in older adults is often poor. Common oral diseases such as caries, periodontal disease, denture-related conditions, hyposalivation, and oral pre- and cancerous conditions may lead to tooth loss, pain, local and systemic infection, impaired oral function, and poor quality of life.

The oral health condition and treatment needs assessment of nursing home residents in Flanders (Belgium).

Objectives: A study was conducted of nursing home residents with limited access to regular oral health care services to evaluate their oral health status, to perform an assessment of the need for oral treatment and to determine the possible predicting value of age, gender, care dependency and income level on their oral health status and treatment needs.

Materials And Methods: Three experienced dentists collected clinical oral health data with a mobile dental unit in 23 nursing homes. Socio-demographic data were extracted from the residents' records in the nursing home.

Medication Use and Its Potential Impact on the Oral Health Status of Nursing Home Residents in Flanders (Belgium).

Background: Polypharmacy is considered the most important etiologic factor of hyposalivation, which in turn can initiate oral health problems.

Objectives: To describe the medication use of nursing home residents, to identify the medications related to hyposalivation and to find possible associations between the different classes of medication, the number of medications, and the oral health status of the residents.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Socioeconomic inequalities in caries experience, care level and dental attendance in primary school children in Belgium: a cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: Oral health inequality in children is a widespread and well-documented problem in oral healthcare. However, objective and reliable methods to determine these inequalities in all oral health aspects, including both dental attendance and oral health, are rather scarce.

Aims: To explore oral health inequalities and to assess the impact of socioeconomic factors on oral health, oral health behaviour and dental compliance of primary school children.

Effect of an oral healthcare programme on care staff knowledge and attitude regarding oral health: a non-randomised intervention trial.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of an oral healthcare programme in nursing homes on care staff knowledge and attitude regarding oral health.

Methods: The study sample consisted of the nurses and nurses' aides from 63 nursing homes, which either received an oral healthcare programme including mobile dental care or were on a waiting list to receive this programme. A validated questionnaire completed at baseline and again after the study period assessed the care staff knowledge and attitude.

Higher education in Gerodontology in European Universities.

Background: The rapid aging of the European population and the subsequent increase in the oral care needs in older adults necessitates adequate training of dental professionals in Gerodontology (Geriatric Dentistry). This study was designed to investigate the current status of Gerodontology teaching amongst European dental schools at the undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education levels.

Methods: An electronic questionnaire was developed by a panel of experts and emailed to the Deans or other contact persons of 216 dental schools across 39 European countries.

Dental caries and periodontal diseases in the ageing population: call to action to protect and enhance oral health and well-being as an essential component of healthy ageing - Consensus report of group 4 of the joint EFP/ORCA workshop on the boundaries between caries and periodontal diseases.

Background: Over the last two decades, progress in prevention and treatment of caries and periodontal diseases has been translated to better oral health and improved tooth retention in the adult population. The ageing population and the increasing expectations of good oral health-related quality of life in older age pose formidable challenges to clinical care and healthcare systems.

Aims: The objective of this workshop was to critically review scientific evidence and develop specific recommendations to: (i) prevent tooth loss and retain oral function through prevention and treatment of caries and periodontal diseases later in life and (ii) increase awareness of the health benefits of oral health as an essential component of healthy ageing.

An oral health survey of vulnerable older people in Belgium.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to gain insight in the oral health of persons aged 65 years or more.

Materials And Methods: Data were obtained from 652 vulnerable older persons (≥65) by means of a clinical oral examination. Additional demographic data were gathered including age, gender, residence, and care dependency.

Validation of the Oral Survey-B System for Electronic Data Capture in National Oral Health Surveys.

The aims of the present study were to incorporate and to validate the electronic capture of participant-related outcomes into the Oral Survey-B System, which was originally developed for the electronic capture of clinical data. The validation process compared the performances of electronic and handwritten data captures. The hypothesis of noninferiority would be established if participants performed electronic data capture of the questionnaire survey with an effectiveness of at least 95% of that of handwritten data capture.

A pilot assessment tool of the need for oral health care and cost prediction in institutionalized elderly people.

Objective: To assess the dental treatment backlog and associated costs among institutionalized elderly people using a novel composite index, called the oral health index.

Background: Despite numerous reports about oral health of old individuals, there is still lack of a systematic and practical method to estimate their treatment need covering all relevant aspects of oral health. In addition, little has been published on associated treatment costs and prediction of such costs.

Effect of an oral healthcare protocol in nursing homes on care staffs' knowledge and attitude towards oral health care: a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To explore the impact of a supervised implementation of an oral healthcare protocol, in addition to education, on nurses' and nurses' aides' oral health-related knowledge and attitude.

Materials And Methods: A random sample of 12 nursing homes, accommodating a total of 120-150 residents, was obtained using stratified cluster sampling with replacement. The intervention included the implementation of an oral healthcare protocol and three different educational stages.

Opinions of dentists on the barriers in providing oral health care to community-dwelling frail older people: a questionnaire survey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent dentists in the Netherlands experience barriers in providing oral health care to community-dwelling older people.

Background: As most publications on the barriers in providing oral health care to older people consist of surveys on oral health care in care homes, it was decided to investigate the barriers dentists experience in their own dental practices while providing oral health care to community-dwelling frail older people.

Material And Methods: A representative sample of 1592 of the approximately 8000 dentists in the Netherlands aged 64 or younger were invited to respond to a questionnaire online.

Endodontic performance by Flemish dentists: have they evolved?

Aim: To gather information on aspects of endodontic practice and referral behaviour by Flemish (Dutch-speaking Belgian) dentists and to compare the results with an earlier investigation.

Methodology: A postal questionnaire was distributed to 4468 active Flemish dentists. It consisted of multiple-choice questions on endodontic practice and endodontic referral need.

Barriers of delivering oral health care to older people experienced by dentists: a systematic literature review.

Objective: To identify barriers of delivering oral health care to older people experienced by dentists.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was carried out for studies published in the period January 1990-December 2011, using free text and MESH term search strategies for PubMed (Medline), EMBASE and CINAHL.

Results: The initial search identified 236 potentially relevant publications: PubMed (Medline; n = 127), EMBASE (n = 108) and CINAHL (n = 1).

Effect of oral healthcare education on knowledge, attitude and skills of care home nurses: a systematic literature review.

Objectives: To systematically review the literature on the effect of providing oral healthcare education to care home nurses on their oral healthcare knowledge and attitude and their oral hygiene care skills.

Methods: A literature search was obtained for relevant articles on oral healthcare education of nurses in care homes, using five electronic retrieval systems and databases. The search was limited to human studies, articles published in English and articles published during the period January 1990 to December 2011.

The integration of oral health care into day-to-day care in nursing homes: a qualitative study.

Objective: This qualitative study explored barriers and enabling factors to the implementation of an oral hygiene protocol in nursing homes.

Background: Oral health care in nursing homes in Flanders (Belgium) is inadequate.

Materials And Methods: Qualitative data were obtained from nurses employed in 13 nursing homes involved in two randomised controlled trials in Flanders-Belgium.

The influence of reflection on portfolio learning in undergraduate dental education.

Introduction: Disparity exists between the growing consensus about the positive effects of reflection on performance and the scarcity of empirical evidence demonstrating this effect. Portfolios are considered a useful instrument to assess and supervise competence-based education and to stimulate reflection. The present study describes the introduction of a portfolio in a social dentistry and oral health promotion course and investigates student reflection as a predictor for the acquisition of the other competences in the course.

Ethics on the dental treatment of patients with mental disability: results of a Netherlands - Belgium survey.

This study evaluates several ethical dilemmas of by dental practitioners treating persons with mental disabilities (PMD) by dentists in the Netherlands and Belgium. Ethical dental care for PMD is a hot topic. Worldwide different treatment strategies are used in the dental treatment of this patient group.