Oral health’s association with general health, morbidity, and mortality in older adults highlights its importance for healthy aging. Poor oral health is not an inevitable consequence of aging, and a proactive, multidisciplinary approach to early recognition and treatment of common pathologies increases the likelihood of maintaining good oral health. Some individuals may not have regular access to a dentist, and opportunities to improve oral health may be lost if health professionals fail to appreciate the importance of oral health on overall well-being and quality of life. The authors of this narrative review examined government websites, the American Dental Association Aging and Dental Health website, and the Healthy People 2030 oral objectives and identified xerostomia, edentulism, caries, periodontitis, and oral cancer as five key topics for the non-dental provider. These conditions are associated with nutritional deficiencies, poorer quality of life, increased risk of disease development and poorer outcomes for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other systemic conditions prevalent among older adults. It is important to note that there is a bi-directional dimension to oral health and chronic diseases, underscoring the value of a multidisciplinary approach to maintaining oral health in older adults.

Objectives: Population-based studies have focused on patients’ rendering of orthodontic treatment due to their malocclusion and medical needs. However, there is a scarcity of data from national sources on the prevalence of orthodontic visits and associated patient characteristics, as well as their effect on dental health. This study evaluated the demographic differences of orthodontic patients and examined the association between orthodontics use and risk of periodontal disease and oral surgical intervention. Methods: This study used data collected from the 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate socio-demographics and covariates by the use of orthodontics. Chi-square tests were used to assess demographic differences among respondents who stated whether or not they used orthodontics. Logistic regression models were then used to examine the association of orthodontics and oral health outcomes. Results: The sample size was 12,422, of which 491 respondents indicated a usage of orthodontics. There were significant differences among demographic variables (p < 0.05) that included 61.1% females, 60.8% Whites, 67.6% participants under the age of 18 years old, and a family total income of $100,000 or more (52.7%). After controlling for socio-demographics and covariates, individuals who used orthodontics were less likely to have periodontal disease (AOR = 0.623, 95% CI = 0.610 to 0.637) and tooth extractions (AOR = 0.071, 95% CI = 0.070 to 0.073) than those who did not. Conclusions: Our findings indicate orthodontics usage was higher in females, younger patients, and Whites, highlighting the possible demographic disparities in orthodontics use. Additionally, those who used orthodontics were less likely to have oral health issues.

Participant recruitment is one of the most challenging aspects of a clinical trial, directly impacting both the study’s duration and the quality of its results. Therefore, reporting successful recruitment strategies is crucial. This study aimed to document the recruitment tactics and experiences of a research team during a university-based randomized clinical trial, conducted as part of a clinical research immersion program. Recruitment took place from October 2021 to October 2022. Before the study commenced, study team members received formal training in clinical trial participant recruitment from the Principal Investigator. The recruitment strategies were integrated into initial study design, which was approved by the Institutional Review Board. A multimodal approach was employed, incorporating both direct and indirect recruitment methods. These strategies successfully met the enrollment target within the twelve-month period. Throughout the process, team members acquired valuable knowledge in recruitment design and implementation, along with transferable interpersonal and networking skills. In-person recruitment was the most efficient and cost-effective strategy, followed by personal referrals. The primary challenge was accommodating participants’ availability. Other study teams should consider these recruitment strategies during their study designs. Additionally, the knowledge and skills gained by this study team underscore the value of experiential learning in research education.