Lucy O'Malley

An evaluation of a storybook targeting parental attitudes, intention and self-efficacy to change their child’s oral health behaviour

Objective: Methods for reducing dental disease have traditionally focused on health education rather than targeting psychosocial determinants of the core behaviors through behavior change strategies. This study tested a novel intervention in the form of a children’s story (Kitten’s First Tooth) embedded with behavior change techniques (Abraham & Michie, 2008) with the aim of investigating how effective the intervention was at improving parents’ efficacy and intention to enact oral health behaviors for their child. Method: A controlled before and after study conducted in a deprived area of England (n = 149; child mean age 4 years) with an intervention and control group. Changes in task specific parental self-efficacy (PSE) and intention were measured using the Oral Health Behaviors Questionnaire (OHBQ; Adair et al., 2004) at baseline and 3 months following intervention. Results: Of the 149 participants, 129 returned both baseline and evaluation questionnaires (retention 86.6%), 125 of these pairs of questionnaires were used in the analysis (83.4%). The OHBQ was analyzed using a general linear model (ANCOVA). A significant difference was found in favor of the intervention group for PSE related to child tooth brushing behaviors, F(1,1) = 12.04, p = .001, however no change was observed for PSE related to control of dietary sugars. Conclusions: A theorized children’s story can be effective as an oral health promotion intervention by supporting parents to improve their child’s oral health-related behavior. Change was observed for child tooth brushing but not sugar control. This may reflect story contents or may be indicative of difficulties of changing dietary behavior.

Guidelines on the timing and frequency of bitewing radiography: a systematic review

Objectives To identify guidelines on when and how frequently bitewing radiographs should be used in dentistry for the diagnosis of caries, and to provide an objective appraisal of their quality.Data sources MEDLINE (OVID), US National Guideline Clearinghouse (www.guideline.gov) and the Royal College of Surgeons of England (https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/fds/publications-clinical-guidelines/clinical_guidelines) websites were searched using a variety of relevant search terms (2 August 2016).Data selection Publications were included if they made recommendations on the issue of when and how frequently radiographs should be used in any dentally-related specialty pertaining to the diagnosis of caries; and/or if they were aimed at the individual practitioner (any health professional working within dentistry) and/or patients.Data analysis Thirteen published guidelines were included and assessed using the AGREE II instrument.Conclusions There was a significant variation amongst the guidelines in the recommendations at what age radiography should be undertaken. There was also disagreement on the frequency of repeat radiographs and how this is influenced by the age of the patient and their caries risk.

Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries (Protocol)

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: 1. To evaluate the effects of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) for the prevention of dental caries. 2. To evaluate the effects of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) on dental fluorosis. The original systematic review (McDonagh 2000) included five objectives. For the purposes of the current review, the original objectives 1 to 3 will be covered by objective 1 (above). The fourth objective will be covered by objective 2 (above) and the fifth objective which explored the differential effects of natural and artificial fluoridation is not covered in the current review.

Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD010856. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010856.: Iheozor-Ejiofor Z, O'Malley LA, Glenny AM, Macey R, Alam R, Tugwell P, Walsh T, Welch V, Worthington HV.

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: 1. To evaluate the effects of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) for the prevention of dental caries. 2. To evaluate the effects of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) on dental fluorosis. The original systematic review (McDonagh 2000) included five objectives. For the purposes of the current review, the original objectives 1 to 3 will be covered by objective 1 (above). The fourth objective will be covered by objective 2 (above) and the fifth objective which explored the differential effects of natural and artificial fluoridation is not covered in the current review.