BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impairs motor function, including oral musculature, complicating oral hygiene and care. Despite its impact, oral health in ALS patients remains under-addressed. This personal scoping review explores oral health in ALS through the dual lens of Dr. Maurits K.A. van Selms-a dental researcher and ALS patient-highlighting care, research, and education priorities.

METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted via email with Dr. van Selms, using a topic guide adapted from a prior personal scoping review. The interview covered personal experiences and professional insights into oral health care, research, and education in ALS. Responses were analysed and synthesised into thematic agendas.

RESULTS: Dr. van Selms emphasised the neglect of oral hygiene in ALS care. He advocated for patient-informed, tailored guidelines based on functional capacity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and improved accessibility to dental services. In research, he called for ethically sensitive, patient-centered studies that reduce the burden of oral care. Educationally, he stressed the need for inclusive training across disciplines and stakeholder levels, promoting self-advocacy and awareness. Instructional materials, such as videos, were recommended to support caregivers and patients.

CONCLUSION: This personal scoping review underscores the importance of integrating oral health into ALS management. Dr. van Selms' unique perspective reveals gaps in care delivery, research ethics, and education, advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration and proactive guideline development. His insights offer a roadmap for improving oral health outcomes and quality of life in ALS and similar neurodegenerative conditions.

Sleep bruxism (SB) has been reportedly associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD); however, solid evidence is lacking. Previous studies have primarily used traditional metrics, such as the masticatory muscle activity (MMA) index and bruxism time index (BTI) to investigate the link between SB and TMD. However, we aimed to examine how the electromyography (EMG) frequency spectrum is associated with TMD in SB participants. We hypothesised that the EMG signal frequencies during MMA events would be lower in SB participants with TMD pain compared to those without TMD pain. In this exploratory study, we retrospectively analysed home polysomnography data from 44 participants who indicated possible SB. The median signal frequencies and absolute power were calculated using the Fast Fourier Transform of the EMG signals during MMA events. Moreover, the MMA index and BTI were calculated, and all parameters were compared between SB participants with and without TMD pain. The results showed that the absolute power and median frequencies were significantly lower in SB participants with TMD pain compared to those without TMD pain (p < 0.05), whereas the MMA index and BTI did not differ between the groups (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that masticatory muscles are getting fatigued in TMD participants with SB and therefore, EMG frequency-based analysis may provide a promising direction for future assessment of TMD consequences of SB. However, these preliminary results should be validated in future studies involving a larger and more heterogeneous pool of participants.

Background: We hypothesized that wearing a mouthguard may affect salivary flow and composition. Therefore, we investigated the impact of mouthguard use on saliva secretion rate and some salivary constituents under different jaw activities.

Methods: This was a randomized crossover experimental study including 13 volunteers. Saliva samples of the volunteers were collected and analysed in four different experimental conditions: without mouthguard with relaxed jaw (RJ), without mouthguard after repetitive jaw contractions (JC), with mouthguard with relaxed jaw (MG-RJ) and with mouthguard after repetitive jaw contractions (MG-JC).

Results: Saliva secretion rate was significantly higher in the condition MG-JC compared to all other conditions (P < 0.01). Total protein concentration and Mucin 5B (MUC5B) levels in saliva did not differ significantly between the four experimental conditions. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations were significantly lower in the condition MG-JC compared to all other conditions (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Mouthguards increase saliva flow rate, compared to not wearing a mouthguard, and jaw contractions enhance this effect compared to a relaxed jaw. Wearing a mouthguard during active jaw activity reduced the concentration of salivary IgA.

Guidelines for oral care for vulnerable care-dependent elderly in a Wlz institution (long-term care act-institution); a consensus statement

For many dentists working in oral care for highly vulnerable elderly in Wlz care institutions, it is not always clear how to provide optimal care and what is or isn t expected of them in terms of actions or decisions. Oral care for this group differs from regular oral care in a standard dental practice, where the relationship between the caregiver and the patient is typically one-on-one. In care institutions, multiple parties are involved in the care of a single patient, and various factors must be considered when providing treatment. In addition to caring for the patient, dentists must also take into account legal representatives, geriatric specialists, care staff, and laws and regulations, such as the Care and Coercion Act (Wet zorg en dwang). Therefore, oral care for elderly in care institutions is fundamentally always a form of multidisciplinary care. This guideline has been written by a group of experts and aims not only to support oral care providers in Wlz institutions but also to create uniformity in how oral care should be provided.

Voor veel tandartsen die werkzaam zijn in de mondzorg voor zeer kwetsbare ouderen in Wlz-zorginstellingen is het niet altijd duidelijk hoe zorg zo optimaal mogelijk geleverd kan worden en wat van een tandarts al dan niet verwacht wordt te doen of juist te laten. Mondzorg voor deze groep verschilt van de reguliere mondzorg in een reguliere mondzorgpraktijk waar zorgverlener en patiënt doorgaans een 1-op-1-relatie hebben. In zorginstellingen zijn meerdere partijen betrokken bij de zorg voor 1 patiënt. Bovendien zijn er diverse factoren die meespelen en waarmee rekening gehouden moet worden bij de zorgverlening. Zo moet er naast de zorg voor de patiënt zelf ook rekening worden gehouden met wettelijk vertegenwoordigers, specialisten ouderengeneeskunde, zorgmedewerkers en wet- en regelgeving zoals bijvoorbeeld de Wet zorg en dwang. De mondzorg voor ouderen in een zorginstelling is daarom in de basis altijd multidisciplinaire zorg. Deze leidraad is geschreven door een groep experts en beoogt niet alleen hulp te bieden aan mondzorgverleners in Wlz-instellingen maar ook om eenheid te creëren in de manier waarop mondzorg gegeven zou moeten worden.

BACKGROUND: Salivary dysfunction, including xerostomia and drooling, is common in Parkinson's disease and further impairs oral health and quality of life, which are already compromised in this population. Their effective management demands deeper insight into the complexity of salivary dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the occurrence and associations of xerostomia and drooling complaints in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

METHODS: 111 individuals with Parkinson's disease (69.9 ± 7.7 years; 46.8% female) participated in an online survey. The questionnaire used validated scales (e.g., Xerostomia Inventory) and original questions. After descriptive analyses, multiple linear regression analyses identified factors (e.g., severity of motor impairment) associated with severity of xerostomia and drooling.

RESULTS: Xerostomia (64.9%) and drooling (27.0%) were common, with 18.0% of the individuals experiencing both concurrently. Xerostomia was associated with the presence of jaw symptoms (B = 4.63; 95% CI 1.86-7.40), chewing gum usage (B = 1.27; 95% CI 0.52-2.02), swallowing difficulties (B = 0.41; 95% CI 0.04-0.78) and taste alterations (B = 0.15; 95% CI 0.00-0.30). Drooling was associated with the severity of motor impairment (B = 0.40; 95% CI 0.18-0.60) and with swallowing difficulties (B = 0.64; 95% CI 0.14-1.15).

CONCLUSIONS: Xerostomia and drooling complaints frequently co-occur in individuals with Parkinson's disease. To prevent further deterioration of the oral health-related quality of life, a comprehensive evaluation of the underlying aetiology of salivary issues in people with Parkinson's disease is crucial to assist in determining suitable treatment.

BACKGROUND: The recently developed BruxScreen consists of two parts: BruxScreen-Q (self-report questionnaire) and BruxScreen-C (clinical assessment).

OBJECTIVES: To test the intra- and inter-rater reliability, construct validity, acceptability and feasibility of the BruxScreen-Q and BruxScreen-C and assess their concordance among Dutch dental students.

METHODS: 88 out of 109 potentially eligible dental master students completed a set of questionnaires two times (Q1; Q2) and participated in two clinical workshops (CE1; CE2), using the BruxScreen-Q and BruxScreen-C, respectively. Intra-rater reliability of the BruxScreen-Q and concordance between the BruxScreen-Q and BruxScreen-C were assessed using Cohen's (weighted) Kappa. Intra- and inter-rater reliability of the BruxScreen-C were analysed using intraclass correlation coefficients calculated from generalised linear mixed-effects models. Construct validity of the BruxScreen-Q was tested using Spearman's Rank Correlation or Mann-Whitney U test based on hypothesis testing. Acceptability and feasibility of the BruxScreen were assessed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Intra-rater reliability for BruxScreen-Q was fair to substantial. Intra- and inter-rater reliability for BruxScreen-C varied from poor to excellent. BruxScreen-Q showed moderate construct validity, based on the acceptable consistency between the actual and hypothesised effect size of the questionnaire items. BruxScreen-Q (Q2) and BruxScreen-C (CE2) were found both acceptable and feasible by a majority of the students. There was no agreement between subject-based bruxism according to the BruxScreen-Q and clinically based bruxism according to the BruxScreen-C.

CONCLUSION: The BruxScreen demonstrates acceptable reliability, construct validity, acceptability and feasibility in assessing both subject-based bruxism and clinically based bruxism. However, there is a discrepancy between self-reported bruxism and the clinicians' diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: Bruxism is repetitive masticatory muscle activity occurring during sleep or wakefulness. Once considered purely harmful, it is now recognized as having both risk (e.g., tooth wear, TMD) and protective roles (e.g., against sleep apnea, reflux). This study evaluated Finnish dental students' understanding of modern bruxism concepts and management.

METHODS: A 17-question survey was sent to all Finnish dental students (n = 1000), with 220 responses analyzed using SPSS (version 28) via chi-square and Spearman correlation tests.

RESULTS: Knowledge improved with study progression (p < .001), and students with formal bruxism education answered more accurately (p < .001). However, misconceptions about occlusion as a cause increased with study progression (p = .009) and instruction hours (p = .018).

CONCLUSION: While Finnish dental students demonstrate growing bruxism knowledge, outdated beliefs persist. Universities should update curricula with evidence-based content and promote critical evaluation of bruxism-related information.

This paper outlines the development of a distinctive, full-time, 3-year postgraduate Master of Science (MSc) program in Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction (OPD), which integrates advanced clinical training, interdisciplinary care and research publication.