Objective. To compare peer-led dental education (PLDE) versus conventional dental instruction (CDI) in modifying children’s oral self-care. Materials and methods. The intervention group (two schools) received PLDE and the control group (two schools) received CDI. The quality of oralself-care practice (OSC-P) and oral self-care skills (OSC-S) were indicated by dental plaque levels (%) and compared before and after the dental education. Results. There were no baseline OSC-P differences between the control (55.8 ± 12.8%) and intervention (55.5 ± 14.6%) groups or OSC-S differences between the intervention (38.5 ± 13.2%) and control (38.1 ± 12.5%) groups. At the three-month follow-up we observed OSC-P deterioration in the control group (63.2 ± 15.0%) and OSC-P improvement in the intervention group (52.2 ± 15.6%). The OSC-P/OSC-S regression models found these predictors: baseline oral self-care, group affiliation, and mother’s education (p<0.05). Conclusion. The hypothesis was confirmed and significant predictors were baseline oral self-care levels, group affiliation, and mother’s education.

Aim. To test the efficiency and acceptance of school-based dental education for improving oral self-care in Mexican elementary school–aged children. Method. A total of 408 students from 4 schools were examined at the baseline, 3 months (follow-up rate was 94%) and 6 months observations (follow-up rate 91%). Group 1 served as a control, Group 2 received a lecture-based education, and Group 3 consisted of trained peer-leaders who educated their peers. Oral self-care practice and oral self-care skills were assessed at the baseline and both follow-ups. A number of sociodemographic and oral health behavior/knowledge characteristics were tested as predictors of oral self-care outcomes at different observation periods. Results. Oral self-care outcomes improved in Groups 2 and 3, but not in the control group. The selected child population, their caregivers and teachers perceived the school-based educational strategy as important and necessary. There was no consistent pattern of predictors explaining variations in oral self-care outcomes at any of the observation periods. Oral self-care improvement observed at the 6 months observation was mainly predicted by the baseline oral self-care levels, dental education, and age. Conclusions. The school-based dental education was easy to implement, and it was effective for improving children’s oral self-care practice and skills.

Background Oral health of the mother-infant dyad is important to preserve general health. However, there are few instruments in Spanish for the evaluation of knowledge, attitudes and practices that determine this construct. Therefore, this research aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Maternal Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Questionnaire (CAPSOM in Spanish). Methods In this instrument development study that carried out in 2018–2019, involving pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 45 in the city of Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. The sample size was calculated based on 10 women per questionnaire item (n = 10 k). The study used Cronbach’s alpha, the modified Lawshe test of validity criteria, factor analysis, and the level of difficulty and discrimination of the items. Results 207 women took part with their signed, informed consent (25 ± 6 years). The internal consistency of the instrument, both total and by dimension was α = 0.70, α = 0.66 knowledge, α = 0.74 attitudes, and α = 0.66 practices. Values of Content Validity Ratio’ ≥ 0.60 were obtained for the final 10 items and Content Validity Index’ = 0.90. The average difficulty index of items was 0.40, and there were significant differences (Kruskall–Wallis, p < 0.001) in the discrimination test. Factor analysis demonstrated three main components. Conclusions A valid and reliable 10-item Spanish questionnaire was designed to measure pregnant women’s oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Psychosocial factors influence the development, exacerbation, or aggravation of some oral diseases. However, the possible relationship between personality traits, affective disorders, and psychological stress in oral diseases, and their impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), has not been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to determine the association of neuroticism and stress with the presence of oral lichen planus (OLP), and to discover whether or not these factors impact OHRQoL. This is a case-control study matched for age and sex. The case group (OLP group) was composed of 20 patients diagnosed with OLP, while 20 people with a diagnosis of lesions not associated with stress formed the control group. Three instruments were used: the Holmes–Rahe Social Readjustment Scale, the Five Factor Personality Model, and the OHIP-49. Neuroticism obtained a score of 25.5 (±5.4) in the OLP group, which was higher than the control group value (21.7) (±5.1) (p = 0.03). The OLP group showed a worse quality of life (p < 0.05); the most affected dimensions were psychological discomfort and physical disability. It is important to include a psychological profile to establish a comprehensive treatment for these patients. We propose the recognition of a new area of clinical oral medicine: psycho-stomatology.

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