Classifications of epidemiologic research

1. Descriptive research —involves description, documentation, analysis, and interpretation of data to evaluate a current event or situation

a. incidence—number of new cases of a specific disease within a defined population over a period of time

b. Prevalence—number of persons in a population affected by a condition at any one time

c. Count—simplest sum of disease: number of cases of disease occurrence

d. Proportion—use of a count with the addition of a denominator to determine prevalence:

does not include a time dimension: useful to evaluate prevalence of caries in schoolchildren or tooth loss in adult populations

e. Rate— uses a standardized denominator and includes a time dimension. for example. the number of deaths of newborn infants within first year of life per 1000 births

2. Analytical research—determines the cause of disease or if a causal relationship exists between a factor and a disease

a. Prospective study—planning of the entire study is completed before data are collected and analyzed; population is followed through time to determine which members develop the disease; several hypotheses may be tested at on time

b. Cohort study—individuals are classified into groups according to whether or not they pos- sess a particular characteristic thought to be related to the condition of interest; observations occur over time to see who develops dis ease or condition

c. Retrospective study— decision to carry out an investigation using observations or data that have been collected in the past; data may be incomplete or in a manner not appropriate for study

d. Cross-sectional study— study of subgroups of individuals in a specific and limited time frame to identify either initially to describe current status or developmental changes in the overall group from the perspective of what is typical in each subgroup

e. Longitudinal study—investigation of the same group of individuals over an extended period of time to identify a change or devel opment in that group

3. Experimental research—used when the etiology of the disease is established and the researcher wishes to determine the effectiveness of altering some factor or factors; deliberate applying or withholding of the supposed cause of a condition and observing the result

The null hypothesis is a fundamental concept in scientific research, including dentistry, which serves as a starting point for conducting experiments or studies. It is a statement that assumes there is no relationship, difference, or effect between the variables being studied. The null hypothesis is often denoted as H₀.

In dentistry, researchers may formulate a null hypothesis to test the efficacy of a new treatment, the relationship between oral health and systemic conditions, or the prevalence of dental diseases. The purpose of the null hypothesis is to provide a baseline against which the results of the study can be compared to determine if the observed effects are statistically significant or not.

Here are some common applications of the null hypothesis in dentistry:

1. Comparing Dental Treatments: Researchers might formulate a null hypothesis that a new treatment is no more effective than the standard treatment. For example, "There is no significant difference in the reduction of dental caries between the use of fluoride toothpaste and a new, alternative dental gel."

2. Oral Health and Systemic Conditions: A null hypothesis could be used to test if there is no correlation between oral health and systemic diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. For instance, "There is no significant relationship between periodontal disease and the incidence of stroke."

3. Dental Materials: Studies might use a null hypothesis to assess the equivalence of different materials used in dental restorations. For example, "There is no difference in the longevity of composite resin fillings compared to amalgam fillings."

4. Dental Procedures: Researchers may compare the effectiveness of new surgical techniques with traditional ones. The null hypothesis would be that the new procedure does not result in better patient outcomes. For instance, "There is no significant difference in post-operative pain between laser-assisted versus traditional scalpel gum surgery."

5. Epidemiological Studies: In studies examining the prevalence of dental diseases, the null hypothesis might state that there is no difference in the rate of cavities between different population groups or regions. For example, "There is no significant difference in the incidence of dental caries between children who consume fluoridated water and those who do not."

6. Dental Education: Null hypotheses can be used to evaluate the impact of new educational methods or interventions on dental student performance. For instance, "There is no significant improvement in the manual dexterity skills of dental students using virtual reality training compared to traditional methods."

7. Oral Hygiene Products: Researchers might hypothesize that a new toothpaste does not offer any additional benefits over existing products. The null hypothesis would be that "There is no significant difference in plaque reduction between the new toothpaste and the market leader."

To test the null hypothesis, researchers conduct statistical analyses on the data collected from their studies. If the results indicate that the null hypothesis is likely to be true (usually determined by a p-value greater than the chosen significance level, such as 0.05), they fail to reject it. However, if the results suggest that the null hypothesis is unlikely to be true, researchers reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis, which posits a relationship, difference, or effect between the variables.

In each of these applications, the null hypothesis is essential for maintaining a rigorous scientific approach to dental research. It helps to minimize the risk of confirmation bias and ensures that conclusions are drawn from objective evidence rather than assumptions or expectations.

Factors Considered for Prescribing Fluoride Tablets

Child's Age:

• Different age groups require different dosages.
• Children older than 4 years may receive lozenges or chewable tablets, while those younger than 4 are typically prescribed liquid fluoride drops.

Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water:

• The fluoride level in the child's drinking water is crucial.
• If the fluoride concentration is less than 1 part per million (ppm), systemic fluoride supplementation is recommended.

Risk of Dental Caries:

• Children at higher risk for dental decay may need additional fluoride supplementation.
• Regular dental assessments help determine the need for fluoride.

Overall Health and Dietary Needs:

• Consideration of the child's overall health and any dietary restrictions that may affect fluoride intake.

Recommended Doses of Fluoride Tablets

For Children Aged 6 Months to 4 Years:

• Liquid drops are typically prescribed in doses of 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mg of fluoride ion.

For Children Aged 4 Years and Older:

• Chewable tablets or lozenges are recommended, usually at doses of 0.5 mg to 1 mg of fluoride ion.

Adjustments Based on Water Fluoride Levels:

• Doses may be adjusted based on the fluoride content in the child's drinking water to ensure adequate protection against dental caries.

Duration of Supplementation:

• Fluoride supplementation is generally continued until the child reaches 16 years of age, depending on their fluoride exposure and dental health status.

Terms

Health—state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being where basic human needs are met. not merely the absence of disease or infirmity; free from disease or pain

Public health — science and art of preventing disease. prolonging life, and promoting physical and mental health and efficiency through organized community efforts

1. Public health is concerned with the aggregate health of a group, a community, a state, a nation. or a group of nations

2. Public health is people’s health

3. Concerned with four broad areas

a. Lifestyle and behavior

b. The environment

c. Human biology

d. The organization of health programs and systems

Dental public health—science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community efforts; that form of dental practice that serves the community as a patient rather than the individual; concerned with the dental education of the public, with applied dental research, and with the administration of group dental care programs. as well as the prevention and control of dental diseases on a community basis

Community health—same as public health full range of health services, environmental and personal, including major activities such as health education of the public and the social context of life as it affects the community; efforts that are organized to promote and restore the health and quality of life of the people

Community dental health services are directed to ward developing, reinforcing, and enhancing the oral health status of people either as individuals or collectively as groups and communities

Decayed-Missing-Filled Index ( DMF ) which was introduced by Klein, Palmer and Knutson in 1938 and modified by WHO:

1. DMF teeth index (DMFT) which measures the prevalence of dental caries/Teeth.
2. DMF surfaces index (DMFS) which measures the severity of dental caries.
The components are:

D component:
Used to describe (Decayed teeth) which include:
1. Carious tooth.
2. Filled tooth with recurrent decay.
3. Only the root are left.
4. Defect filling with caries.
5. Temporary filling.
6. Filled tooth surface with other surface decayed

M component:
Used to describe (Missing teeth due to caries) other cases should be excluded these are:
1. Tooth that extracted for reasons other than caries should be excluded, which include:
 a- Orthodontic treatment.
 b- Impaction.
 c- Periodontal disease.
2. Unerupted teeth.
3. Congenitally missing.
4. Avulsion teeth due to trauma or accident.

F component:
Used to describe (Filled teeth due to caries).

Teeth were considered filled without decay when one or more permanent restorations were present and there was no secondary (recurrent) caries or other area of the tooth with primary caries.
A tooth with a crown placed because of previous decay was recorded in this category.

Teeth restored for reason other than dental caries should be excluded, which include:
1. Trauma (fracture).
2. Hypoplasia (cosmatic purposes).
3. Bridge abutment (retention).
4. Seal a root canal due to trauma.
5. Fissure sealant.
6. Preventive filling.

1. A tooth is considered to be erupted when just the cusp tip of the occlusal surface or incisor edge is exposed.
The excluded teeth in the DMF index are:
a. Supernumerary teeth.
b. The third molar according to Klein, Palmer and Knutson only.

2. Limitations - DMF index can be invalid in older adults or in children because index can overestimate caries record by cases other than dental caries.

1. DMFT: a. A tooth may have several restorations but it counted as one tooth, F. b. A tooth may have restoration on one surface and caries on the other, it should be counted as D . c. No tooth must be counted more than once, D M F or sound.

2. DMFS: Each tooth was recorded scored as 4 surfaces for anterior teeth and 5 surfaces for posterior teeth. a. Retained root was recorded as 4 D for anterior teeth, 5 D for posterior teeth. b. Missing tooth was recorded as 4 M for anterior teeth, 5 M for posterior teeth. c. Tooth with crown was recorded as 4 F for anterior teeth, 5 F for posterior teeth.

Calculation of DMFT \ DMFS:

1. For individual

DMF = D + M + F

2. For population 

Minimum score = Zero

Primary teeth index:
1. dmft / dmfs Maximum scores: dmft = 20 , dmfs = 88
2. deft / defs, which was introduced by Gruebbel in 1944: d- decayed tooth. e- decayed tooth indicated for extraction . f- filled tooth.
3. dft / dfs: In which the missing teeth are ignored, because in children it is difficult to make sure whether the missing tooth was exfoliated or extracted due to caries or due to serial extraction.

Mixed dentition:

Each child is given a separate index, one for permanent teeth and another for primary teeth. Information from the dental caries indices can be derived to show the:

1. Number of persons affected by dental caries (%).

2. Number of surfaces and teeth with past and present dental caries (DMFT / dmft - DMFS / dmfs).

3. Number of teeth that need treatment, missing due to caries, and have been treated ( DT/dt, MT/mt, FT/f t).

Sampling methods are crucial in public health dentistry as they enable researchers and practitioners to draw conclusions about the oral health of a population based on a smaller, more manageable subset of individuals. This approach is cost-effective, time-saving, and statistically valid. Here are the most commonly used sampling methods in public health dentistry with their applications:

1. Simple Random Sampling: This is the most basic form of probability sampling, where each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected. It involves the random selection of subjects from a complete list of all individuals (sampling frame). This method is applied when the population is homogeneous and the sample is expected to be representative of the entire population.

It is useful in studies that aim to determine prevalence of dental caries or periodontal disease in a community, assess the effectiveness of oral health programs, or evaluate the need for dental services.

2. Stratified Random Sampling: This technique involves dividing the population into strata (subgroups) based on relevant characteristics such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, or geographic location. Random samples are then drawn from each stratum. This method ensures that the sample is more representative of the population by reducing sampling error.

 It is often used when the population is heterogeneous, and there is a need to analyze the data separately for each subgroup to understand the impact of different variables on oral health.

Applications:

• Oral Health Disparities: Stratified sampling can be used to ensure representation from different socioeconomic groups when studying access to dental care.
• Age-Specific Studies: In research focusing on pediatric dental health, stratified sampling can help ensure that children from various age groups are adequately represented.

3. Cluster Sampling: In this method, the population is divided into clusters (e.g., schools, neighborhoods, or dental clinics) and a random sample of clusters is selected. All individuals within the chosen clusters are included in the study. This approach is useful when the population is widely dispersed, and it reduces travel and data collection costs. It is often applied in community-based dental health surveys and epidemiological studies.

Applications:

• School-Based Dental Programs: Cluster sampling can be used to select schools within a district to assess the oral health status of children, where entire schools are chosen rather than individual students.
• Community Health Initiatives: In evaluating the effectiveness of community dental health programs, clusters (e.g., neighborhoods) can be selected to represent the population.

4. Systematic Sampling: This technique involves selecting every nth individual from the sampling frame, where n is the sampling interval. It is a probability sampling method that can be used when the population has some order or pattern. For instance, in a school-based dental health survey, students from every third grade might be chosen to participate.

This method is efficient for large populations and can be representative if the sampling interval is appropriate.

Applications:

• Community Health Assessments: Systematic sampling can be used to select households for surveys on oral hygiene practices, where every 10th household is chosen from a list of all households in a neighborhood.
• Patient Records Review: In retrospective studies, systematic sampling can be applied to select patient records at regular intervals to assess treatment outcomes.

5. Multi-stage Sampling: This is a combination of different sampling methods where the population is divided into smaller and smaller clusters in each stage. It is particularly useful for large-scale studies where the population is not easily accessible or when the study requires detailed data from various levels (e.g., national to local levels).

 For example, in a multi-stage design, a random sample of states might be selected in the first stage, followed by random samples of counties within those states, and then schools within the selected counties.

Applications in Public Dental Health:

• National Oral Health Surveys: Researchers may first randomly select states or regions (clusters) and then randomly select dental clinics or households within those regions to assess the prevalence of dental diseases or access to dental care.
• Community Health Assessments: In a large city, researchers might select neighborhoods as the first stage and then sample residents within those neighborhoods to evaluate oral health behaviors and access to dental services.
• Program Evaluation: Multi-stage sampling can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of community dental health programs by selecting specific program sites and then sampling participants from those sites.

6. Convenience Sampling: Although not a probability sampling method, convenience sampling is often used in public health dentistry due to practical constraints. It involves selecting individuals who are readily available and willing to participate. While this method may introduce bias, it is useful for pilot studies, exploratory research, or when the goal is to obtain preliminary data quickly and inexpensively. It is important to be cautious when generalizing findings from convenience samples to the broader population.

Applications:

• Pilot Studies: Convenience sampling can be used in preliminary studies to gather initial data on dental health behaviors among easily accessible groups, such as dental clinic patients.
• Focus Groups: In qualitative research, convenience sampling may be used to gather opinions from dental patients who are readily available for discussion.

7. Quota Sampling: This is a non-probability sampling method where the researcher sets quotas for specific characteristics of the population (e.g., age, gender) and then recruits individuals to meet those quotas. It is often used in surveys where it is crucial to have a representative sample regarding certain demographic variables.

However, it may not be as statistically robust as probability sampling methods and can introduce bias if the quotas are not met correctly.

Applications in Public Dental Health:

• Targeted Surveys: Researchers can use quota sampling to ensure that specific demographic groups (e.g., children, elderly, low-income individuals) are adequately represented in surveys assessing oral health knowledge and behaviors.
• Program Evaluation: In evaluating community dental health programs, quota sampling can help ensure that participants reflect the diversity of the target population, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of program impact.
• Focus Groups: Quota sampling can be used to assemble focus groups for qualitative research, ensuring that participants represent various perspectives based on predetermined characteristics relevant to the study.

8. Purposive (Judgmental) ampling: In this approach, participants are selected based on specific criteria that the researcher believes are important for the study. This method is useful for studies that require in-depth understanding, such as qualitative research or when studying a rare condition. It is essential to ensure that the sample is diverse enough to provide a comprehensive perspective.

Applications:

• Expert Interviews: In studies exploring dental policy or public health initiatives, purposive sampling can be used to select key informants, such as dental professionals or public health officials.
• Targeted Health Interventions: When studying specific populations (e.g., individuals with disabilities), purposive sampling ensures that the sample includes individuals who meet the criteria.

9. Snowball Sampling: This is a non-probability method where initial participants are selected based on the researcher's judgment and then asked to refer others with similar characteristics. It is often used in studies involving hard-to-reach populations, such as those with rare oral conditions or specific behaviors.

While it can provide valuable insights, the sample may not be representative of the broader population.

Applications :

• Studying Marginalized Groups: Researchers can use snowball sampling to identify and recruit individuals from marginalized communities (e.g., homeless individuals, low-income families) to assess their oral health needs and barriers to accessing dental care.
• Behavioral Research: In studies examining specific behaviors (e.g., smoking and oral health), initial participants can help identify others who share similar characteristics or experiences, facilitating data collection from a relevant population.
• Qualitative Research: Snowball sampling can be effective in qualitative studies exploring the experiences of individuals with specific dental conditions or those participating in community dental health programs.

10. Time-Space Sampling: This technique is used to study populations that are not fixed in place, such as patients attending a dental clinic during specific hours. Researchers select random times and days and then include all patients who visit the clinic during those times in the sample.

This method can be useful for assessing the representativeness of clinic-based studies.

Applications

• Mobile Populations: Researchers can use time-space sampling to assess the oral health of populations that may not have a fixed residence, such as migrant workers or individuals living in temporary housing.
• Event-Based Sampling: Public health campaigns or dental health fairs can be used as time-space sampling points to recruit participants for surveys on oral health behaviors and access to care.
• Community Outreach: Time-space sampling can help identify individuals attending community events or clinics to gather data on their oral health status and service utilization.

The choice of sampling method in public health dentistry depends on the research question, the population's characteristics, the available resources, and the desired level of generalizability. Probability sampling methods are generally preferred for their scientific rigor, but non-probability methods may be necessary under certain circumstances. It is essential to justify the chosen method and consider its limitations when interpreting the results.