School Dental Services Theoretical Model-Based on Geographic Information System in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Children (Basel)

International Research Collaborative-Oral Health and Equity, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.

Published: January 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • - The study developed a geographic model using GIS to improve school dental services (SDS) in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia, by analyzing the locations and student populations of primary public schools.
  • - Two scenarios were created to predict the demand for dental care based on schoolchildren's oral health profiles, indicating that the most densely populated areas should be prioritized for future SDS locations.
  • - The findings suggest the need for 415 dentists in one model and 277 in another to effectively address the high rates of dental caries among schoolchildren, with specific recommendations on dentist distribution per district.

Article Abstract

The study aimed to design a geographic theoretical model for school dental services (SDS) in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia (SA), using a geographic information system (GIS). The location of all primary public schools and the student population at each school were obtained from the General Administration of Education in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Region website. The geographic modeling for SDS was analyzed using GIS according to two models. A scenario was developed to simulate the demand for dental care for the two models based on schoolchildren's estimated oral health profile. The areas with the higher number of schools; higher number of students; and dense child population as presented in the map suggest the future location of SDS. The total number of dentists required to work in SDS settings was 415 for the first model, and 277 for the second model. The suggested average number of dentists per district in the highest child population density districts is 18 dentists in the first model, compared to 14 in the second model. Establishing SDS is suggested as a solution to the persistently high prevalence of dental caries among schoolchildren in Al-Madinah and SA in general. A model was suggested for SDS with a guide of the proposed SDS locations and the number of dentists to hire for the services to meet the child population's oral health needs.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9954952PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/children10020186DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

number dentists
12
school dental
8
dental services
8
geographic system
8
al-madinah saudi
8
saudi arabia
8
oral health
8
higher number
8
child population
8
second model
8

Similar Publications

Prediction of oral diseases in care dependent older people.

BMC Oral Health

January 2025

Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Nørre Allé 20, Copenhagen, 2200, Denmark.

Background: A large number of older people depend on others for help with their daily personal care, including oral health care. Nursing home and elder-care staff often face challenges identifying older people, who are exposed to or at an increased risk of oral diseases. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify risk factors that non-dental care staff can use to identify older people at risk of oral diseases and poor oral hygiene.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction The challenges of recruitment and retention of dentists within the NHS are a major contributory factor in delivering dental access. Availability and geographical location of dental foundation training (DFT) placements is considered to be an important element in recruiting new dental graduates to poorly served areas. A recent decline in the number of dentists applying to act as educational supervisors (ESs) for DFT has been observed, which could have a direct impact on the future sustainability of NHS services.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The utilization of digital technologies in the field of dentistry is becoming increasingly prevalent. Such technologies facilitate more precise and efficient dental treatment while also enhancing the overall quality of care. The advent of digitalization has brought with it a plethora of advantages, yet it has also given rise to a number of potential challenges.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Although fluoride is known to be effective and safe, an increasing number of parents refuse to allow fluoride applications for their children. This study aimed to compare the parents who accepted and rejected fluoride application for their children in terms of their attitudes toward fluoride and vaccinations, sociodemographic characteristics, and source of knowledge.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a previously validated questionnaire was administered to 85 parents who did not consent to have topical fluoride applied to their children's teeth (AF group) and the 143 parents who consented to have it applied (F group) in a pediatric dentistry clinic.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The dental industry is associated with significant environmental impacts so there is a growing need for eco-friendly practices in dentistry. This study aimed to assess dental interns' knowledge and practices regarding eco-friendly dentistry before and after the implementation of the environmental educational program.

Methods: An interventional quasi-experimental study (one group pre-test-post-test design) was conducted on 69 intern dentists at the Faculty of Dentistry Alexandria University.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!