Causal Inference in Oral Health Epidemiology

Nascimento, Gustavo G.; Chaffee, Benjamin W.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-50123-5_16

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The second limitation was related to the complex etiology of dental caries. Even though this study adjusted for many confounding factors, the multifactorial nature of the caries process makes it unfeasible to control for all confounders in a single study [ 87 , 90 – 93 ]. For instance, despite collecting information about the participant’s oral hygiene practices, certain details related to the use of fluoride in these practices were not acquired.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oral processing behavior and dental caries; an insight into a new relationship

Alazzam,

Rasheed,

Aljundi

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Introduction Previous evidence suggests an individual variation in the preferred oral processing behavior. Individuals can be classified as firm processing(FPL) or soft processing likers(SPL). FPL(crunchers and chewers) prefer using their teeth while SPL(smooshers and suckers) prefer using the tongue and the palate when processing different food items. Variation in the preferred oral processing behavior has been associated with differences in food texture preference and eating time. Time is one of the factors directly related to the development of dental caries(tooth decay). Oral retention and eating times are associated with greater caries experience. This study aims to explore if a relationship exists between the preferred oral processing behavior and the individual’s caries experience. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional, dental center-based study conducted at Jordan University of Science and Technology. Five hundred participants consented to fill out the preferred oral processing behavior(POPB) questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (including weight, height, and waist circumference) were recorded. A single trained and calibrated dentist registered each participant’s caries experience and plaque levels using the DMFS index and plaque index of Silness and Loe. Results A total of 351(70.2%) and 149(29.8%) participants were typed as FPL and SPL, respectively. SPL demonstrated higher levels of dental caries experience compared to FPL. The mean DMFS score for SPL was 28.8(±25.43) while for FPL was 18.71(± 18.34). This difference remained significant after adjustment for confounders(P<0.001). SPL exhibited a significantly higher mean score for the “M” component(P <0.001) while no significant difference in the mean score of the “D”(P = 0.076) and “F”(P = 0.272) components was observed when compared to FPL. Conclusion The current findings provide new insight into a possible relationship between the preferred oral processing behavior and an individual’s caries experience. A relationship in which the preferred oral processing behavior can potentially affect and/or be affected by the dental caries experience.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oral processing behavior and dental caries; an insight into a new relationship

Alazzam,

Rasheed,

Aljundi

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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“…Statistical methods enable us to properly answer causal questions, and adequate statistical methods are mandatory in determining causal inference 124 . Statistical methods applied to evaluate causal estimates include commonly used regressions, inverse probability weighting, marginal structural models, standardization and the parametric g‐formula 128 . Selecting the most appropriate statistical approach depends on data characteristics, effects to be estimated and assumptions made of the data, and this relies on substantive subject‐matter knowledge and understanding of the casual mechanisms.…”

Section: Part 2: Methodological Issues In Social and Behavioural Rese...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution and development of methodologies in social and behavioural science research in relation to oral health

Baker

Heaton

McGrath

2023

Comm Dent Oral Epid

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As much of what affects oral health is behavioural in nature, it is not surprising that social and behavioural studies in oral health extend back to the early 1900s, at least from a descriptive nature. The goal of this historical perspective is not meant to be a comprehensive review of all social and behavioural research papers published worldwide in oral health. To do justice to that goal would require volumes of text and is well outside the scope of this brief review. To that end, the goal of this section is to give a snapshot view of when certain

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“…The literature has several examples of methods to estimate causal effects from observational data, both in the general literature 18 and applied to oral health research 12,16,17,19 . It is also crucial to be mindful that poor‐quality data invalidates any study, and a cutting‐edge statistical tool will not compensate for deficiencies in study design 20 . Thus, before using complex analytical approaches, we need to define what is to be measured and measure it well.…”

Section: Causal Inference Requires Substantive Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

“…12,16,17,19 It is also crucial to be mindful that poorquality data invalidates any study, and a cutting-edge statistical tool will not compensate for deficiencies in study design. 20 Thus, before using complex analytical approaches, we need to define what is to be measured and measure it well. Excellent textbooks and papers address methods to approach causal inference, 11,12,20,21 and statistical methods are constantly advancing.…”

Section: Ausal Inferen Ce Requ Ire S Subs Tantive Knowledg Ementioning

confidence: 99%

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Causal inference in dentistry: Time to move forward

Schuch

Nascimento

Demarco

et al. 2023

Comm Dent Oral Epid

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Oral conditions represent a critical public health challenge, and together with descriptive and predictive epidemiology, causal inference has a crucial role in developing and testing preventive oral health interventions. By identifying not just correlations but actual causes of disease, causal inference may quantify the average effect of interventions and guide policies. Although authors are not usually explicit about it, most oral health studies are guided by causal questions. However, methodological deficiencies limit their interpretability and the implementation of their findings. This manuscript is a call to action on the use of causal inference in oral research. Its application starts with asking theoretically sound questions and being explicit about causal relationships, defining the estimates to evaluate, and measuring them properly. Beyond promoting causal analytical approaches, we emphasize the need for more causal thinking to promote thoughtful research questions and the use of appropriate methods to answer them. Causal inference relies on the plausibility of assumptions underlying the data analysis and the quality of the data, and we argue that high-quality observational studies can be used to estimate average causal effects. Although individual efforts to embrace causal inference in dentistry are essential, they will not yield substantial results if not led by a systematic and structural change in the field. We urge scientific societies, funding bodies, dental schools, and journals to promote transparency in research, causal thinking, and causal inference projects to move the field toward more meaningful studies. It is also time for researchers to move forward and connect with the community, co-produce investigations and translate their findings, and engage in interventions that impact public health. We conclude by highlighting the importance of triangulating results from different data sources and methods to support causal inference and inform decision-making on interventions to effectively improve population oral health.

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Causal Inference in Oral Health Epidemiology

Cited by 3 publications

References 31 publications

Oral processing behavior and dental caries; an insight into a new relationship

Oral processing behavior and dental caries; an insight into a new relationship

Evolution and development of methodologies in social and behavioural science research in relation to oral health

Causal inference in dentistry: Time to move forward

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