Asian Journal of Dental and Health Sciences

The Association Between Toothbrushing Knowledge and Toothbrushing Skills Among Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

2026-06-24T18:23:25+02:00

Background: Poor oral hygiene remains a significant public health issue among preschool children, often attributed to inadequate oral health literacy and practice. Establishing effective toothbrushing habits early in life is critical, yet the direct relationship between what children know and how they perform remains to be fully elucidated. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between toothbrushing knowledge and toothbrushing skills among preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 106 preschool children. Toothbrushing knowledge and practical toothbrushing skills were assessed using validated structured questionnaires and direct observation checklists, categorized into 'Good' and 'Less' levels. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The results revealed that the majority of respondents had less knowledge (77.4%) and less toothbrushing skills (65.1%). Among children with good knowledge (22.6%), 16.0% demonstrated good skills, while 6.6% showed less skills. Conversely, among children with less knowledge, 19.9% possessed good skills, and 58.5% exhibited less skills. Bivariate analysis demonstrated a highly significant association between toothbrushing knowledge and toothbrushing skills among preschool children (p = 0.001). Conclusion: There is a significant association between toothbrushing knowledge and toothbrushing skills in preschool children. Higher knowledge levels correspond to better practical skills, highlighting the urgent need for targeted oral health education and supervised brushing programs in early childhood settings to foster competent oral self-care habits.

Keywords: Toothbrushing knowledge, toothbrushing skills, preschool children, oral hygiene

Oral habits and oral health findings in children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: a community-based report

2026-04-26T23:09:35+02:00

Objective: To describe oral habits and associated oral health findings among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability in a community-based setting.

Methods: This short communication reports observations from a community service program conducted at a special needs school in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Fifteen children underwent intraoral examination and caregiver interviews. Oral habits assessed included dietary patterns, chewing behavior, toothbrushing practices, and dental visit history.

Results: Unfavorable oral habits were commonly observed, including late-night eating, frequent intake of cariogenic foods, and inconsistent toothbrushing practices. Although most children brushed their teeth at least twice daily, improper timing and lack of supervision were noted. Chewing abnormalities such as food pocketing and reduced chewing behavior were identified. Dental caries were more frequently observed in children with mixed dentition, while plaque accumulation and calculus were common in those with permanent dentition.

Conclusion: Observed oral habits may contribute to poor oral health conditions in children with special needs. Caregiver involvement and structured oral hygiene routines are essential to improve oral health outcomes.

Keywords: Oral habits, Autism, Intellectual disability, Oral hygiene, Community-based

Subperiosteal Implant Distortion After Surgical Placement: A Case Report

2026-05-14T17:21:51+02:00

Subperiosteal implants provide a valuable treatment option to patients with severely atrophic ridges when conventional implant therapy is not possible. This type of reconstruction has a history of well-documented biological and mechanical complications. This can result in removal of the implant and concomitant destruction of the surrounding bone. The use of subperiosteal implants have made a return to the market due to advancements in technology such as the use of virtual surgical planning (VSP) and improved surgical techniques, yet problems persist. One area of interest involves the deformation of the implant during surgical placement. Prior to treating the patient presented in this case report, the authors observed clinically significant misfit of the prefabricated prosthesis. This finding was perplexing because the fit of the interim prosthesis was confirmed prior to surgical placement. This case report demonstrates the distortion of a subperiosteal implant before and after placement, and possible solutions to prevent this distortion. To date, the authors are unaware of any publications about pre- versus post-placement distortion of subperiosteal implants.

Keywords: Dental implants, Edentulism, subperiosteal implants, virtual surgical planning (VSP)

Computational Dissection of the Ovarian Cancer Genome: Integrative Analysis of Mutations and Signaling Pathways

2026-04-26T23:07:30+02:00

Ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies, driven by profound genomic instability, molecular heterogeneity, and frequent therapeutic resistance. The rapid expansion of high-throughput sequencing technologies has generated large-scale genomic datasets that require advanced computational approaches for meaningful biological interpretation. This narrative review examines current bioinformatics strategies used to dissect the ovarian cancer genome, with a focus on integrative analyses of somatic mutations and dysregulated signaling pathways. We discuss computational methods for mutation profiling, copy number and structural variant analysis, pathway enrichment, and network-based modeling, as well as emerging multi-omics and machine learning frameworks. Particular emphasis is placed on key oncogenic pathways implicated in ovarian cancer pathogenesis, including DNA damage response, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, RAS/MAPK, and immune-related signaling networks. Finally, we highlight ongoing challenges related to tumor heterogeneity, clonal evolution, data integration, and clinical translation. Integrative computational dissection of ovarian cancer genomics provides a critical foundation for biomarker discovery, therapeutic stratification, and the advancement of precision oncology.

Keywords: Ovarian cancer genomics; Bioinformatics; Somatic mutations; Signaling pathways; Precision oncology