We have evaluated the impact of a school-based intervention on oral health knowledge, behaviours, and oral health status of adolescents in Vietnam. This 6-month study included 462 adolescents aged 12 years from four selected schools in Hue City, Vietnam. The intervention group received a 15-min lecture by a dentist and hands-on session on mouth observation and toothbrushing skills. The control group did not engage in any educational activities during the follow-up period. Data were collected at baseline and 6 months through a survey questionnaire and clinical examination. The Debris Index was used for dental plaque; the Papillary, Marginal, Attached gingiva index for gingivitis; and the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth index (World Health Organization modification) for dental caries. Difference-in-difference analysis was used to compare changes between the groups. After 6 months, the control tended to show decreased toothbrushing frequency and increased dental plaque accumulation. The participants in the intervention group showed improved oral health knowledge (p < 0.01), behavior (p < 0.05), and hygiene (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. However, the intervention did not improve dental caries and gingivitis. A single school-based oral health education program can help adolescents improve oral health knowledge and prevent the deterioration of short-term oral health behavior and hygiene.

An online cross-sectional survey using a “snowball” sampling method was carried out to assess the adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among dental care workers (DCWs) during the pandemic. Six questions concerning the COVID-19 preventive guidelines issued by the Vietnam Ministry of Health were used to evaluate DCWs’ adherence to preventive measures at dental care clinics. The quality of life of DCWs was assessed using the WHO-5 questionnaire and was defined as low if the total score was less than 13 points. Factors relating to adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures of DCWs were determined by multivariate linear regression analysis. In total, 514 DCWs completed the questionnaire. A total of 37% DCWs rated their quality of life as low. Regression analysis suggested that older age, a better quality of life, living in an urban area, and training on COVID-19 prevention were associated with better adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, while being a dentist and lack of personal protective equipment was associated with less adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. The pandemic had a significant negative impact on the physical and mental health of DCWs. Therefore, specific national guidelines for the prevention and control of the spread of COVID-19 in dental facilities should be issued.

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of two nonsurgical periodontal treatment modalities on clinical periodontal parameters and glycemic control. A randomized clinical trial was conducted with a sample of 64 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with chronic periodontitis. Subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. Group I received oral hygiene instructions (OHI) at baseline and each recall visit. Group II received one-stage full-mouth scaling and root planning (SRP) combining OHI. At baseline, third month, and sixth month the plaque index (PlI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were recorded and analyzed. After treatment, two groups showed significant differences for all parameters at both assessed times (p <0.05). The OHI alone only demonstrated a slight reduction in GI in third month, with no significant changes for PlI and PPD indexes. However, Group I recorded the increased HbA1c and CAL values at 6-month follow-up (p <0.05). The combination of OHI and SRP exhibited a significant improvement in all periodontal values (p <0.05). Also, the HbA1C levels of Group II showed a significant reduction after treatment and were lower than those of Group I. Oral hygiene instructions only resulted in a better gingival condition of diabetic patients in the initial time. The nonsurgical periodontal therapy by combining SRP and OHI significantly improved both periodontal health and glycemic control. Diabetic patients should be supplied with an effective OHI modality and a professional dental debridement.

The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activation of the anterior deltoid, medial deltoid, and pectoralis major during a Smith machine and free weight bench press at lower (70% 1RM) and higher (90% 1RM) intensities. Fourteen experienced (age, 19.9 ± 2.1 years; height, 176.3 ± 7.5 cm; mass, 88.5 ± 19.4 kg) and twelve inexperienced (age, 20.5 ± 2.1 years; height, 179.8 ± 8.0 cm; mass, 75.5 ± 10.4 kg) men completed two testing sessions. Investigators counterbalanced the order of conditions (free weight, Smith machine) and randomized the order of loads (70 and 90% 1RM) to control for biasing of order for each participant. The sessions consisted of determining each subject's 1RM on either the Smith Machine or free weight bench press followed by two repetitions at 70% 1RM and two repetitions at 90% 1RM on the tested mode. One week later, subjects completed the same protocol for the other mode. Surface EMG electrodes were placed superficial to the anterior deltoid, medial deltoid and pectoralis major muscles prior to data collection. Activation of the medial deltoid was significantly greater on the free weight bench press compared to the Smith machine bench press, regardless of load or experience level. There was no difference in the activation of the anterior deltoid or pectoralis major between modes or experience level. Muscle activation was significantly greater at the 90% 1RM load compared to the 70% 1RM load. The results suggest that the instability caused by the free weight bench press necessitates a greater response by the medial deltoid as a stabilizer of the humerus in the glenohumeral joint. The relative constancy in muscle activation of the anterior deltoid and pectoralis major between modes suggests that these two muscles do not play as large a role in stabilizing the shoulder on free weight bench. Alternatively, it may be that the increased stability offered by the Smith machine decreases the need for the anterior deltoid and pectoralis major to stabilize, allowing them to produce more force. The bench press is a common exercise performed by both athletes and recreational lifters and prescribed by trainers. The results of this study help both the practitioner and trainer in providing more information about the differences in between performing the bench press exercise on a Smith machine and on a free weight bench. Specifically, these results suggest that the free weight bench press may lead to an increased requirement for stabilization from muscles such as the medial deltoid.

Tai TT, et al. J Glob Health Sci. 2020 Jul;2:e27. https://doi.org/10.35500/jghs.2020.2.e27