To determine the prevalence and associated risk indicators for dentine hypersensitivity (DH), erosive tooth wear (ETW), gingival recession (GR), and gingival inflammation (bleeding on probing, BOP), with clinical and questionnaire data from seven European countries. A cross-sectional, observational, seven-European country, epidemiological study in systemically healthy adults. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding oral hygiene, diet and lifestyle factors. A clinical examination, by calibrated examiners, measured DH (Schiff; participant yes/no), ETW (basic erosive tooth wear examination, BEWE), GR (mm), and BOP (yes/no). 3551 participants completed the study, mean age 44 ± 17.4, 43.6 % male, 26.1 % rural dwellers. DH (Schiff ≥ 1) was seen in 75.9 % of participants, ETW (BEWE ≥ 1) in 97.6 %, GR (≥1 mm) in 87.9 %. 65.7 % participants had BOP ≥ 10 % sites, 34.3 % BOP<10 % with probing depths ≤3 mm. DH, ETW, GR and BOP increased markedly during young adult life. Thereafter, GR and ETW continued to increase, DH declined after around age 38-47, and BOP plateaued after age 48. DH was significantly associated with ETW (p < 0.001) and GR (p < 0.01); GR was significantly associated with BOP on lingual surfaces (p = 0.017). There were significant associations between increased full mouth BOP ≥ 10 % and reduced brushing duration and exercise frequency (p < 0.001); increased DH and heartburn (p < 0.001); decreased DH (p < 0.001), ETW (p < 0.001) and BOP ≥ 10 % (p = 0.002) with powered toothbrush use. Prevalence of oral conditions assessed was high, greater than in the majority of the GR, DH and ETW literature. Periodontal health was seen in a third of sampled individuals. All these conditions varied markedly by country and age. Oral diseases and conditions were highly prevalent throughout the seven European countries investigated. For the majority, these conditions are eminently preventable and treatable by changing behaviours. Upstream policy changes are needed to address these health challenges, to raise awareness and to empower individuals with oral health education and support.

Guidance intended to reduce fluoride toothpaste ingestion in early childhood was introduced in Ireland in 2002. In 2007, water fluoride concentration was adjusted from 0.8–1.0 to 0.6–0.8 ppm. The objective of this study was to determine the difference in caries and fluorosis levels following introduction of these 2 policy measures. A before-and-after study compared caries and fluorosis in random samples of 8-y-olds in Dublin ( n = 707) and Cork-Kerry ( n = 1148) in 2017 with 8-y-olds in Dublin ( n = 679) and Cork-Kerry ( n = 565) in 2002. Dentinal caries experience (primary teeth, d_3vcmft(cde)) and fluorosis (permanent teeth, Dean’s index of very mild or higher) were clinically measured. Lifetime exposure to community water fluoridation (CWF) was classified as “full CWF”/“no CWF.” Effect of examination year on caries prevalence and severity and fluorosis prevalence was assessed using multivariate regression adjusting for other explanatory variables. There was little change in commencement of fluoride toothpaste use at ≤24 mo following introduction of toothbrushing guidance. Among children with full CWF, there was no statistically significant difference in caries prevalence or severity between 2017 and 2002. In 2017, caries prevalence was 55% in Dublin (full CWF) and 56% in Cork-Kerry (full CWF), and mean d_3vcmft(cde) among children with caries was 3.4 and 3.7, respectively. Caries severity was less in 2017 (mean 4.2) than 2002 (mean 4.9) among children with no CWF ( P = 0.039). The difference in caries severity between children with full CWF and no CWF was less in 2017 than in 2002 (interaction P = 0.013), suggesting a reduced benefit for CWF in 2017. In 2017, fluorosis prevalence was 18% in Dublin (full CWF) and 12% in Cork-Kerry (full CWF). Fluorosis was predominantly “very mild” with no statistically significant difference between 2017 and 2002. CWF at 0.6 to 0.8 ppm is an effective caries-preventive measure. Results suggested low uptake of toothbrushing guidance, a reduced caries-preventive effect for CWF in primary teeth, and no reduction in fluorosis following introduction of the policy measures.

Background—The recent burden of lip and oral cavity, nasopharynx and other pharynx cancer (LOCP) has not been specifically investigated in Europe. Methods—In this descriptive epidemiological study, LOCP was categorised into lip and oral cavity cancer, nasopharynx cancer and other pharynx cancer, with European trends documented using the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD). Summary statistics included deaths, age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR), mortality rates, YLLs (years of life lost), YLDs (years of life lived with disability) and DALYS (disability-adjusted life years). Results—Lip and oral cavity cancer (LO) is the most dominant with the incidence decreasing from 6.2 new cases per 100,000 (95% UI: 6.1–6.4) in 1990 to 5.3 new cases per 100,000 (95% UI: 4.6–6.1). However, nasopharynx cancer (NP) and other pharynx cancer (OP) increased from 1 and 2.2 new cases per 100,000 in 1990 to 1.1 and 3.3 new cases per 100,000 in 2019, respectively. It was noted that LOCP YLLs is much higher than YLDs. In Europe, eastern European countries, specifically Hungary, have the highest burden of LOCP. When LOCP attributable to tobacco in Ireland was compared with the EU, the percentage decrease in OP DALYs attributable to tobacco is below the EU average, whereas the percentage decrease in LO attributable to tobacco in Ireland was above the EU average. Conclusions—There has been a significant increase in ASIR in categories other pharynx and nasopharynx cancer since 1990, with significant geographic variations.

A previous study has shown deficient knowledge of caries risk factors/indicators in a Japanese adult population regarded to have a high interest in preventive dentistry. No prior research has investigated caries risk knowledge in an Irish adult population. We hypothesise there may be unexpected differences or similarities in knowledge across countries with similar levels of economic development when comparing groups with different socio-economic and cultural profiles. Understanding what influences knowledge is important for the development of effective and efficient caries prevention strategies. The current paper aims to describe the knowledge of caries risk factors/indicators in two groups with different socio-economic profiles from two culturally distinct countries. Cross-sectional surveys of adult dental patients were carried out in Japan and in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) using similar self-administered paper questionnaires. Patients were asked to identify caries risk factors/indicators from eight (Japan) or ten (RoI) listed items. The Japanese study involved 482 patients (aged ≥20 years) from 52 dental members of a nationwide web-based initiative Promoting Scientific Assessment in Prevention of Tooth Decay and Gum Disease (PSAP). The Irish study involved 159 patients (aged 20–69 years) accessing state-provided (‘medical card’) dental services from eight dental practices in County Cork. The two samples were compared. A higher proportion of Irish respondents identified ‘Not visiting the dentist for check-up and cleaning’ (OR 2.655; 99% CI 1.550, 4.547) and ‘Not using fluoride’ (OR 1.714; 99% CI 1.049, 2.802) than did Japanese respondents. A lower proportion of Irish respondents identified ‘A reduced amount of saliva’ (OR 0.262; 99% CI 0.159, 0.433) than Japanese respondents. Similarly shown in both studies were a persistent belief that ‘Not brushing teeth properly’ is a caries risk factor and a lack of knowledge on saliva buffering capacity as a caries risk factor. Deficiencies in knowledge which should be addressed: among the Japanese group, of dental check-up/cleaning visits and of fluoride use for caries prevention; among the Irish group, of saliva quantity as a caries risk factor. In addition, in both groups, we need to inform patients of the defensive role of saliva.