Clinical Research Directory

The Mouth Matters in Mental Health Trial -2

This clinical trial will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a link work intervention for supporting people with severe mental health difficulties to attend a routine dental appointment. There are two main outcomes, namely: i) attendance at a routine dental appointment; and ii) oral health quality of life. The main predictions are that: 1. The link work intervention plus treatment as usual will lead to greater likelihood of attendance at a routine dental appointment, compared with treatment as usual alone. 2. The link work intervention plus treatment as usual will lead to better oral health quality of life, compared with treatment as usual alone. 3. The link work intervention plus treatment as usual will be cost-effective compared with treatment as usual alone.

Oral Health in Palliative Care: A Survey Study

Oral health problems such as xerostomia or oral infections are common in palliative care patients and can significantly impair quality of life. Adequate dental care may contribute substantially to symptom control and well-being; however, oral health and dental services are often insufficiently integrated into palliative care practice. In addition, little is known about the level of awareness, knowledge, and interprofessional collaboration regarding oral health among palliative care professionals. This prospective, non-interventional survey study aims to assess the relevance of oral health in palliative care by surveying both palliative care patients and healthcare professionals who are members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine. The study investigates patients' oral health status, oral health-related quality of life, and access to dental care, as well as professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and current practices related to oral health and dental care in palliative settings. The findings are intended to identify existing gaps and inform strategies for improved integration of dental expertise into palliative care.

Evaluation of Efficacy of Coconut Oil Mouth Care for Non-autonomous Hospitalised Elderly People.

This is a prospective, longitudinal, randomised, open-label, multicentric, interventional, comparative superiority study. The main objective is to demonstrate the superiority of oral care with coconut oil on the oral status of elderly people hospitalised in geriatrics, versus oral care with glycerol sticks.

UL Smile: A Mobile Health Application to Promote Oral Health in Portuguese Adolescents

This study is part of a doctoral research project in Oral Health Sciences and Technologies, with a specialization in Dental Hygiene, at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon. With the advancement of technology, smartphones and mobile applications (apps) have become an integral part of daily life, especially among adolescents and young adults, who are the main users of these devices. In 2023, global app downloads reached an estimated 257 billion, including a growing number of health-related apps, known as Mobile Health or mHealth, and, more specifically, apps targeting oral health. Oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal disease, remain a major public health issue due to their high prevalence and impact on quality of life. Although these conditions are preventable, the adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviors continues to be challenging. Mobile apps may serve as an effective complement to oral health consultations, promoting motivation, adherence to recommendations, and communication with healthcare professionals. Despite the increasing availability of oral health apps, evidence regarding their effectiveness is still limited. Many of these tools lack scientific rigor and fail to adequately meet users' needs. In this context, an original Portuguese-language mobile application for promoting oral health was developed, based on current scientific evidence and preliminary exploratory studies involving adolescents and oral health professionals. These studies aimed to identify the most relevant features for this type of tool. The app was designed using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) model, widely recognized for structuring effective behavior change interventions in health. This mobile app was developed by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Lisbon, involving experts from various faculties, including Psychology, Sciences, Dental Medicine, and Fine Arts. As an original tool, it is not yet available on app stores. The main aim of this study is to test the effectiveness of this app as a complement to oral health consultations in a population of adolescents living in Portugal, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in this field and to the promotion of more innovative and user-centered clinical practices. These are the specific objectives of the study: 1. To assess the effectiveness of the app when used as a complement to dental hygiene consultations in relation to several oral health indicators, namely risk of dental caries, gingival inflammation, dental plaque presence, and oral self-care behaviors. 2. To analyze the level of satisfaction and usability of the app's features. The main hypotheses are: 1. The app will significantly improve oral health indicators, including plaque levels, gingival inflammation, and caries risk, compared to a control group. 2. The app will increase adherence to recommended oral hygiene behaviors (e.g., brushing frequency, interdental cleaning). 3. Adolescents using the app will report higher motivation and self-efficacy for oral self-care. 4. The app will demonstrate high usability and user satisfaction, supporting its potential for broader implementation.

Improving Dental Care for Patients With Head and Neck Tumors

This prospective survey study investigates knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and practices related to dental care in patients with head and neck cancer among affected patients and dentists. Participants complete an anonymous online questionnaire before and after receiving written, guideline-based information. The study aims to evaluate whether targeted educational materials improve knowledge and perceptions regarding dental care in the context of head and neck cancer treatment.

Intraoral Camera-Assisted Parent Training

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to test the null hypothesis that parent education using an intraoral camera has no effect on children's oral hygiene levels, parental oral health literacy, or plaque accumulation on first permanent molars compared with standard verbal education. 40 children aged 5-7 and their parents will be randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group will receive real-time visualization of dental conditions and brushing techniques using an intraoral camera, while the control group will receive standard verbal education using a brushing model. Outcomes include children's plaque and gum health and ICDAS caries scores. Secondary outcomes include Occlusal Plaque Index (OPI) on first molars. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and 1-month follow-up. This study tests whether intraoral camera-assisted education leads to better oral hygiene outcomes in children, improves parents' oral health literacy, and reduces plaque accumulation on the first permanent molars compared to standard verbal education.

The Effect of Supplementary Foods Containing Trypsin, Chymotrypsin and Serratia Peptidase on Healing After Impacted Wisdom Tooth Surgery

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a dietary supplement containing trypsin, chymotrypsin, and serratia peptidase (Tripser Forte N30, Incir Pharma, Turkey) on postoperative healing and to determine the differences between the groups. The aim was to identify differences between the groups regarding postoperative pain, edema, and trismus levels. Material and Method: Demographic data before surgery will be recorded on the patient follow-up form (Appendix 1). All surgical procedures will be performed under sterile conditions following the administration of local anesthesia (80 mg articaine hydrochloride and 0.02 mg epinephrine, Maxicaine Fort ampoule, Vem Pharmaceuticals, Istanbul, Turkey) with inferior alveolar block anesthesia and buccal mucosa anesthesia. Procedure monitoring will begin after the incision is made and will conclude with suturing. Osteotomy (bone removal) and, if necessary, root dissection will be performed using a surgical handpiece, accompanied by irrigation with sterile saline solution. Following tooth extraction, the socket will be examined, and any sharp bony prominences will be removed. The area will be closed primarily using non-resorbable silk suture material (3/0 surgical silk suture, Doğsan, Turkey). A sterile tampon will be applied to the procedure area, and the patient will be instructed to bite on the tampon for 20 minutes before removing it and replacing it with another material. As a standard postoperative approach, all patients in group 1 received antibiotics (875 mg Amoxicillin+125 mg clavulonic acid, Augmentin-BID film coated tablets, GlaxoSmithKline, Istanbul, Turkey), analgesics (25 mg dexketoprofen, Arveles tb, UFSA Pharmaceutical Industry and Trade Inc. Davutpasa Cad. No.12 (34473) Topkapi/Istanbul) and mouthwash (100 ml solution containing 120 mg (%0.12) chlorhexidine gluconate and 150 mg (%0.15) benzydamine hydrochloride) for use after surgery. Drogsan Pharmaceutical Industry and Trade Inc. Oguzlar neighborhood, 1370.sokak 7/3 Balgat 06520 Cankaya/Ankara). Patients will be instructed to take antibiotics morning and evening for 5 days, use mouthwash for 7 days starting the day after the procedure, and use mouthwash only when deemed necessary. They will be asked to record the amount they use on the provided home assessment form (Appendix 2). Patients in Group 2 will be given a dietary supplement containing trypsin, chymotrypsin, and serratia peptidase (Tripser Forte N30, Incir Pharma, Turkey) in addition to the medications mentioned above. Patient follow-up procedures will be the same. All patients will be evaluated on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th postoperative days, and pain, edema, and trismus will be recorded.

Effects of a Salivary Gland Massage Program on Salivary Flow , Xerostomia, Chewing, and Swallowing, and Oral Health Among Community- Dwelling Older Adults

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of salivary gland massage on saliva flow, xerostomia, chewing and swallowing, and oral health among community-dwelling elderly. Design: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial, in which both participants and interventionists were unaware of group assignments. Sample and setting: Community-dwelling older adults were recruited from community centers in Minxiong Township and were randomly assigned by center to either the intervention group (n = 54) or the control group (n = 54) using simple randomization. Methods: the investigators conducted a randomized controlled trial with 108 older adults aged 65 and above from community centers in Chiayi County, Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=54), who received guided salivary gland massage, or a control group (n=54), who received a health education leaflet on oral care. Before and after the intervention, the investigators assessed dry mouth symptoms, oral mucosal moisture, The Modified Water Swallowing Test, and Tongue Coating Index. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, applying chi-square tests, paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and generalized estimating equations to determine whether the massage intervention could improve saliva production, ease dry mouth, enhance chewing and swallowing functions, and promote better oral health. Expected Research Benefits: Salivary gland massage is a simple, safe, and self-administered health promotion method. The findings of this study may serve as an intervention strategy for health promotion programs, aiming to enhance oral health and quality of life among community-dwelling older adults, while reducing the healthcare burden associated with oral health problems. Additionally, this approach may strengthen older adults' engagement in preventive health management and increase their willingness to actively manage their own health.

Effects of Oral Nursing Education on Oral Health and Quality of Life in Patients With Home Non-Invasive Ventilator

This study evaluated the impact of oral care guidance on oral health and quality of life in patients using non-invasive ventilation at home. Using a randomized controlled trial, results showed significant improvements in oral hygiene, overall health, sleep quality, and daily living after the intervention. Additionally, better oral care was positively associated with enhanced sleep quality and overall well-being. The findings suggest that targeted oral health education can effectively improve the health and quality of life for home non-invasive ventilation users, supporting its integration into clinical practice.