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Biomedical subjects

A Sheiham

Publications and source records attributed to A Sheiham.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The relationship between work stress and oral health status.

This study investigated whether oral health status is associated with work stress. 164 male workers aged from 35 to 44 years, equally distributed over four socio-economic groups took part in the study. Three work characteristics related to stress were studied: mental demand, control and variety. Age, socio-economic status, sugar consumption, frequency of dental attendance, toothbrushing frequency, type of toothpaste used, years of residence in Belo Horizonte and marital quality were considered in the data analysis. The results of simple regression analysis (dental caries data) and simple logistic regression analysis (periodontal data) showed a significant relationship between periodontal health status and work-related mental demand (P < 0.001), marital quality (P < 0.01) and socio-economic status (P < 0.05). Dental caries status was significantly associated with age (P < 0.001), socio-economic status (P < 0.05), sugar consumption (P < 0.01) and marital quality (P < 0.0001). Socio-economic status did not remain significantly associated with dental caries after adjusting for all the variables studied.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of intra-examiner reproducibility in scoring caries in primary teeth of two scoring systems used to monitor caries progression.

The investigation was designed to compare the reproducibility of scoring systems proposed by Pitts (1), and Murray & Majid (2), when used to monitor caries progression in primary teeth. A sub-sample of the posterior bitewing radiographs of 301, 5-yr-old children from a Duraphat clinical trial were re-examined. The difference in the reproducibility of the two methods was not significant (P greater than 0.05). The concern regarding the effect on reproducibility of using scoring systems with subdivisions of enamel when measuring caries progression in primary teeth appears to be unfounded.

Bias↗
PubMed1992

Progression of proximal caries in primary teeth in relation to radiographic scoring codes.

The posterior bitewing radiographs of 50 children from a Duraphat clinical trial were re-examined to compare the information provided on progression of caries of two scoring systems, that of Murray & Majid (1) and that of Pitts (2). Pitts' scoring system (Method 1), by recording the disease process at an earlier stage, and by avoiding the unnecessary loss of data, provided a more complete overall picture of the carious process than the scoring system used by Murray & Majid (Method 2). The progression rates were found to be significantly faster with Method 2 (P less than 0.05). With Method 1, a mean of 60% of enamel lesions per subject had remained confined to enamel 12 months later, the corresponding figure for Method 2 was 37%. Method 2, by excluding outer enamel lesions and overlapped surfaces, introduces biases which favour overestimating the proportion of lesions deemed to have progressed. The diagnostic criteria used by Murray & Majid lead to an overestimation of the rate of progression of caries in primary teeth.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Oral health promotion and health education programmes for Nigeria--policy guidelines.

Nigeria like other developing countries is presently faced with the arduous problem of coping with scarce resources to control existing and increasing oral disease levels. The World Health Organization has emphasized the importance of oral health promotion for initiating successful, effective, preventive oral health programmes. At present however, Nigeria is without formal oral health promotion and health education policies or programmes. In the "National Policy and Strategy to Achieve Health for All Nigerians" (Federal Ministry of Health 1986), no specific mention was made of oral health promotion or oral health education. The present paper therefore proposes definitive policy guidelines that will help in the development of coherent oral health promotion programmes for the country. The approach proposed tackles causes common to a number of chronic diseases and incorporates oral health into general health strategies.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed1992

The role of the dental team in promoting dental health and general health through oral health.

The two major dental diseases are related to diet and dirt. These are common risk factors for a number of chronic diseases. A logical approach to the prevention of chronic diseases is to focus on risk factors rather than on specific diseases, a common risk factor approach using health promotion. Health promotion is the process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health. The concepts incorporated in health promotion include a promotion of health through public policy, creating supportive environments, developing personal skills, strengthening community action and reorienting health services. The dental team should incorporate the following principles: integration with general health education, encouraging participation of the community, the public and staff in the planning process; making healthy choices the easier choices. By adopting a Common Risk Factor Strategy incorporated into Primary Health Care, dental teams can promote dental health and general health. The latter objective will be achieved by reducing pain and suffering related to dental diseases. A much broader remit for dental teams is outlined, one which will do justice to the abilities and training of all members of the team.

Dental Care↗
PubMed1992

The distribution of caries on different tooth surfaces at varying levels of caries--a compilation of data from 18 previous studies.

The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of caries on different tooth surfaces, at varying levels of dental caries, in adolescent populations. Using data obtained from published reports, the relationship between reported mean surface-type caries scores were plotted against the total mean DFS and showed a good "closeness of fit." Mathematical expressions for the relationships were computed. A new "working rule" has been postulated from the data which states that: "As caries prevalence falls, the least susceptible sites (proximal and smooth surfaces) reduce by the greatest proportion, while the most susceptible sites (occlusal) reduce by the smallest proportion." This is true regardless of the presence of fluorides. This study questions the widely held view that fluorides have a special effect on proximal and smooth surface caries. The relationships between total DMFS/DFS and tooth surfaces affected could be useful to determine which preventive agent to use for a given caries prevalence level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Why free sugars consumption should be below 15 kg per person per year in industrialised countries: the dental evidence.

The World Health Organization and COMA have recommended that free or non-milk extrinsic sugars intake should be below 10% of total energy intake and the COMA report on dietary sugars and human disease has strongly implicated sugars as the main causative factor in dental caries. The scientific basis for the conclusions of these important policy documents has been challenged by the sugar and confectionery industries. Dental evidence is presented to substantiate the WHO recommendation. The dose-response curve for sugar and caries is approximately sigmoid (S-shaped). At levels of sugar consumption below 10 kg/person/year the incidence of caries is acceptably low. Beyond 15 kg the incidence increases more rapidly. Fluoride increases the resistance of teeth to sugar--it moves the dose-response curve to the right. Thus, when fluoride is widely available, the acceptable level of non-milk extrinsic sugars increases to about 15 kg/person/year.

Dental Caries↗
PubMed1991

Public health aspects of periodontal diseases in Europe.

There is relatively little severe periodontal disease in populations in Europe. The public health significance is therefore debateable. The fact that the costs of treating the disease are high because of the organization of dental care, qualifies it as a dental public problem. In addition, the symptoms of periodontal diseases such as bleeding, halitosis, gingival recession and tooth loss have an impact on many people, and we have sufficient information to control the common forms of the disease. The goals for dental health can be expressed in terms of health, disease, health education and health promotion and training. A reasonable objective is to achieve a rate of loss of attachment compatible with maintaining at least upper and lower shortened arches for a lifetime. 4 strategies are considered: a high risk, a population, a secondary prevention strategy or a combination of the three. A combination of the 3 is needed to achieve the objective of maintaining a functional, aesthetically and socially acceptable natural dentition for the lifespan of most people. The balance of effort should be heavily weighted towards the population strategy. If the strategy is adopted, the need for treatment will be reduced and treatment will be more successful.

Europe↗
PubMed1991

Health through oral health; guidelines for planning and monitoring for oral health care: a critical comment on the WHO model.

Recently a joint working group of WHO/FDI published guidelines for planning and monitoring oral health care. In the report a model for calculations of future need for dental manpower was introduced as an effective planning tool. An analysis of whether the WHO model is appropriate to calculate the future need for manpower planning was carried out. It appears that the model has serious methodological shortcomings. The model expects the user to know the future oral care needs concerning preventive, special group, surgical, orthodontic, and periodontal care. In calculating future needs for restorative and prosthetic care, the model restricts itself to looking back in time and roughly calculating what has happened in the past, assuming this will happen again.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Dental disease and health behaviour: the development of an interactional model.

This paper describes the development of an interactional model in which both the clinical and the socio-psychological aspects of dental disease and its prevention are considered. Clinical and social data were collected from two separate samples, and the interrelationships between antecedent, motivational and preventive health behaviour variables and their influences on each other and on dental health outcomes were measured by regression analyses. A complex pattern of significant interrelationships was revealed, in which direct and indirect influences on dental health and behaviour operated at different levels of intensity and in different combinations, sometimes reinforcing each other but sometimes in conflict. The model could have relevance to a multifactorial approach in health research and, by incorporating additional causal influences, it could be developed into a more effective analytical tool as well as an aid the promotion of dental health.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1990

Why inner city mothers take their children for routine medical and dental examinations.

The preventive behaviour relating to visits for dental and medical examination of 100 mothers of pre-school children was investigated. The theory of reasoned action of Fishbein and Ajzen was used to predict the intention of 100 mothers to visit doctors and dentists. The study was conducted in one of the most socially deprived wards of the London Borough of Bloomsbury. The relationship between beliefs and attitudes held by mothers on preventive dental and repeated medical visits was investigated. In younger mothers aged 16-24 years, individual attitudes and subjective norms were better predictors of intention to visit the dentist every 6 months than were the total attitude and total subjective norm scores. The prediction of intention to visit the doctor and the dentist showed a similar pattern, but the variance accounted for by intention to visit the doctor was lower. Younger mothers showed stronger attitudes associated with dental treatment outcome, whereas older mothers showed a more positive preventive dental orientation. This finding is supported by principal components analysis of both the medical and dental data. The theory of reasoned action was successfully applied, but the external variable age was a very important prediction factor. This modifying factor, in relation to Ajzen and Fishbein's theory, gives a better insight into preventive dental and medical health behaviours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Dentistry for an ageing population: responsibilities and future trends.

The previous articles in this series have reviewed the particular problems characteristic of the ageing dentition. The increase in the elderly population, together with the undoubted significant reduction in juvenile and adult caries, has led many to question the continued appropriateness of the current nature and level of dental provision. Some authorities have suggested that the needs of the increasing number of elderly patients will still ensure full dental employment, albeit with an emphasis on different forms of treatment. In this concluding article of the series Aubrey Sheiham gives his view.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Influence of dental school experience on sealant use by British dentists.

Dental schools can play an important role in promoting the appropriate use of sealants. The purpose of this study was to examine the dental school experience with sealants of British dentists and its effect on the use of sealants in practice. A postal survey of a representative sample of British dentists (n = 1000) was conducted. The response rate was 73.7 per cent. Approximately 39 per cent of the respondents reported that they had received sealant training in dental school. Both classroom and clinical sealant training received favourable adequacy ratings. Adequacy ratings were found to increase with graduation year group. In general, the dentists' perceptions of the value of sealants in the eyes of former classmates and faculty were positive. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend toward greater sealant use among those respondents who had received sealant training in dental school.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1989

Outlook of British dentists towards their profession.

Dental practice in Britain has undergone significant changes in recent years. These changes have undoubtedly affected the outlook of dentists towards dentistry. This study was undertaken to examine the current outlook of general dental practitioners working in the General Dental Service. A representative sample of 1000 dentists was surveyed by mail. The response rate was 73.7 per cent. Most characteristic of the respondents' outlook on various aspects of their profession is the wide diversity of opinion. Neither respondent gender or practice location were associated with outlook. More preventively oriented dentists and those whose practices were most busy, however, were found to have a more positive outlook.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1989

The status of fissure sealant teaching in British dental schools.

The purpose of this report is to document the current status of the teaching of pit and fissure sealants in British dental schools. Survey responses were received from 88.9 per cent of the surveyed programmes, 87.5 per cent of surveyed staff and 77.8 per cent of surveyed dental schools representing 52.4 per cent of all surveyed students. All schools were providing instruction on pit and fissure sealants with departments of Child Dental Health having primary responsibility for teaching at most of them. Students estimated that 61.3 per cent of their child patients were receiving sealants. Staff and students gave both classroom and clinical sealant training favourable ratings. Similarly, the majority of staff and student respondents perceived that other staff and students considered sealants to be of value. Staff knowledge of sealants was generally accurate, while students displayed a larger percentage of incorrect or unsure responses. Both staff and students expressed generally positive attitudes toward sealants. Both groups also gave favourable ratings to the overall preventive orientation of their schools. The student's projected sealant use in practice was explained best by the combination of student attitudes toward sealants and their evaluation of the overall preventive orientation of their dental school.

Adolescent↗