Background: Dental anxiety and generalized anxiety are common psychological conditions and can lead to poor oral health and avoidance behavior. This research aims to study the complex interplay between dental anxiety, generalized anxiety, dental neglect, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in the general public. Methods: This is an online survey study that was conducted between August to September 2024 in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Four previously validated instruments were used in this study. This study made use of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale, the General Anxiety Disorder-7, dental neglect scale, and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14. Mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro (Model 4) to explore whether dental anxiety and dental neglect mediates the relationship between generalized anxiety and OHRQoL. Results: This study had 2704 participants in total. Higher anxiety levels were associated with slightly lower dental neglect and significantly poorer OHRQoL. Generalized anxiety significantly predicted dental anxiety, with a coefficient of b = 0.275 (p < 0.001). Both generalized anxiety and dental anxiety were significant predictors of OHRQoL, with generalized anxiety showing stronger effect. Dental anxiety partially mediates the impact of generalized anxiety on oral health-related quality of life, while a strong direct effect remains. Conclusions: Dental neglect served as a minor mediator, and the primary relationship between anxiety and oral health-related quality of life is direct. Moreover, dental anxiety partially mediates the impact of generalized anxiety on oral health-related quality of life, while a strong direct effect remains.

Robust evidence-based guidelines are important in everyday clinical practice, especially when delivering and managing oral care needs to a vulnerable group such as children with special healthcare needs (SHCNs). Methods: To assess the quality of guidelines on the management of oral care for children with special healthcare needs (SHCNs) and to find appropriate guidelines, an electronic search of MEDLINE Ovid was carried out alongside an additional search of common guideline websites. The AGREE II tool was used to assess the quality of the guidelines. Assessment was undertaken independently by three assessors. Furthermore, the underlying evidence used to formulate recommendations in the identified guidelines was qualitatively assessed. Results: There were nine guidelines, with 41 recommendations, that met the eligibility criteria. The quality of the guidelines was generally found to be poor. Only one guideline was assessed as “recommended” by the assessors, based on the quality of the methods, the reporting, or both. Only 2 of the 41 sets of recommendations, made across the nine guidelines, were judged to be valid and based on a rigorous systematic review of the evidence. Conclusions: The current state of guidelines on oral care management for children with special healthcare needs (SHCNs) is, on the whole, of very low quality. The scientific community should work together to enhance the quality and strength of the current clinical guidelines and to ensure that they are trustworthy prior to implementation.

Mental disorders such as depression affects the daily activity and performance. including self-care behaviors and personal hygiene. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is a complex concept that includes social, psychological, and physical aspects. This study seeks to investigate the correlation between OHRQoL and depression and anxiety. This is an online cross-sectional survey study that was performed in Jordan and Saudi Arabia between September and November 2024. This research utilized 3 previously validated tools to achieve the study aim of examining the link between OHRQoL and depression and anxiety. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and General Anxiety Disorder-7. This study involved 2704 participants. Among our participants, the prevalence of moderate to severe depression was 56.0%, the prevalence of severe anxiety was 21.4%, and the mean OHIP score was 14.9 (standard deviation SD]: 12.6) out of 56, which implies a low to moderate impact on participants’ OHRQoL. Physical pain dimension showed the higher mean score with 2.8 (SD: 2.3); which reflects discomfort and pain caused by dental conditions. Functional limitation dimension showed the lowest mean score with 1.5 (SD: 1.9); which reflects practical difficulties caused by oral health issues (such as speech or taste impairment). Pearson correlation coefficient indicated a moderately positive correlation between OHIP score and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score R = =0.395; 95% confidence interval: 0.363–0.426; P -value <.001) and a moderately positive correlation between OHIP score and General Anxiety Disorder-7 score R = =0.416; 95% confidence interval: 0.385–0.447; P -value <.001). Oral health issues demonstrated low to moderate impact on participants’ QoL. Physical pain was more noticeable issue that affected participants’ QoL due to their oral health issues compared to functional limitation dimension. Oral-related QoL is negatively affecting the psychological status of individuals due to its impact on their emotional well-being. Healthcare professionals are advised to give attention to both oral and mental health of their patients.

Oral cavity procedures are essential for maintaining or improving oral health. In England and Wales, many factors affect these procedure trends. This study aimed to examine trends in oral cavity procedures in England and Wales from 2014 to 2023. This ecological study used main procedures and intervention data from the Patient Episode Database for Wales and the Hospital Episode Statistics database in England. The total annual number of procedures decreased by 30.1%, representing a 33.6% decrease in procedure rate from 633.67 (95% confidence interval: 631.63–635.72) in 2014 to 421.05 (95% confidence interval: 419.42–422.67) in 2023 per 100,000 person-years, trend test, P < .05. The most prevalent oral cavity procedures were “tooth and gingiva-related procedures” and “procedures related to tonsil and other parts of the mouth.” Rates of all types of oral cavity procedures decreased from 2014 to 2023. Age and gender impacted the rate of oral cavity-related procedures; the 15- to 59-year age group accounted for 54.3% of the oral cavity procedures, and females contributed 53.6%. Oral cavity procedure trends were declining in England and Wales. Factors such as advancements in intervention and practical preventive approaches, the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and demographic inequalities in access to these services have been associated with these declines.

Neoplastic malignant tumors originating from inside the upper aerodigestive tract are referred to as lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal malignancies. This study aimed to analyze the hospitalization profile for malignant neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx in Australia. This was a longitudinal ecological study that utilized the National Hospitals Data Collection in Australia database between 1998 and 2023. Hospitalization data were identified using the ICD codes C00-C14. Between 1998 and 2023, Australia reported a total of 160,055 hospitalization episodes. A large proportion of these admissions were overnight stays (69.7%). Most hospitalizations occurred among males (71.9%). The highest proportion of hospitalization episodes was amongst the 60 to 74 age group, who accounted for 39.8% of total episodes. Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of the tongue was the most common hospitalization reason, accounting for 14.5% of episodes. During the study period, the rate of same-day hospitalization increased by 55.9% ( P < .001). However, the rates of overnight-stay-related hospitalization decreased by 9.7% ( P < .001). Malignant neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx are responsible for a sizeable healthcare burden among Australians, with the highest proportion of hospitalized cases occurring for males and those aged 60 to 74 years. There has been a significant increase in hospitalization involving same-day procedures. Investment in models of care offering same-day treatment and supportive care for older adults may contribute to mitigating inpatient pressures.

Oral health affects a person’s general health and tooth decay leads to pain that affects the whole body. There are limited studies that examined oral procedures globally and specifically in the United Kingdom. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze tooth and gingiva procedure patterns across England and Wales in the past decade. In this ecological study, we utilized the Hospital Episode Statistics database in England and the Patient Episode Database for Wales. F08–F20 code data were used to extract relevant data. A 37.8% decline in the tooth and gingiva procedure rate, from 404.10 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 402.46–405.73) in 2014 to 251.33 (95% CI: 250.08–252.59) in 2023 per 1,00,000 persons per year, was observed during the study period. The most frequently performed tooth and gingiva procedures were “surgical removal of tooth” and “simple extraction of tooth,” representing 47.0% and 39.1% of episodes, respectively. Females accounted for 55.0% of these episodes (9,22,485 procedures), an average of 1,02,498 procedures annually. The rate of tooth and gingiva procedures decreased by 39.0% among females (from 439.31 [95% CI: 436.92–441.70] in 2014 to 267.97 [95% CI: 266.15–269.79] in 2023 per 1,00,000 persons per year) and by 36.4% among males (from 367.47 [95% CI: 365.25–369.69] in 2014 to 233.85 [95% CI: 232.11–235.58] in 2023 per 1,00,000 persons per year). The 15 to 59 age group accounted for most tooth and gingiva procedure episodes (59.3%), followed by the below-15 age group with 27.9%. Tooth and gingiva procedure trends were declining in the past decade in England and Wales. Factors such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and demographic inequalities in access to these services could have contributed to these declines. Furthermore, there were distinctions in tooth and gingiva procedure trends, where females had higher rates than males for 8 of 12 procedure types, and children under 15 years had the highest rates for 7 of 12 procedure types, while the 15 to 59 age group accounted for the largest share of episodes.