About this Research Topic
The link between oral diseases and mental illness is a topical research area in dental research, and it is vital to understand the connection between the health of the mouth and that of the mind. Some evidence suggested that those who experience mental illness also suffer with poor oral health, including tooth erosion, caries, and periodontitis which can lead to teeth loss if left untreated. Poor oral health can significantly affect an individual’s self-esteem, quality of life, and increase social stigma which could further deteriorate the mental health difficulties. On the other hand, patients receiving dental treatments were reported to have higher level of depression, anxiety or dental phobia due to exacerbated perception of dental pain, regardless of the degree of oral pathology. Therefore, more research is needed to investigate the association between oral health and mental health, as well as the cause and consequences of poor oral health, the quality of life, and the effectiveness of oral care management in people with mental illness.
This Research Topic will discuss a two-way association between oral and mental health, provide more evidence on oral conditions in people with mental illness, understand their oral hygiene behavior and lifestyle, and seek for recommendations for management at the patient and system level.
We seek manuscripts that are original research articles, review, mini-reviews, observational or intervention studies, clinical trials, secondary data analyses, perspectives and brief research reports that may include (but not limited to):
• The common risk factors for oral health and mental health
• To assess the prevalence or risk of oral disease among people with any type of mental illnesses (clinically diagnosed or self-reported)
• To assess the prevalence or risk of mental disorders among people with oral diseases, either in adults or children
• Relationship between oral hygiene behavior and anxiety or depressive symptoms
• Association between oral health attitudes, behaviors and generalized anxiety disorder
• Epidemiological research of oral health and mental health
• Systematic review and meta-analysis of oral health or dental diseases among people with mental disorders
• Conceptual frameworks on the relationship between oral health and mental well-being
• Evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the risk of mental illness via dental care or social care
This Research Topic will discuss a two-way association between oral and mental health, provide more evidence on oral conditions in people with mental illness, understand their oral hygiene behavior and lifestyle, and seek for recommendations for management at the patient and system level.
We seek manuscripts that are original research articles, review, mini-reviews, observational or intervention studies, clinical trials, secondary data analyses, perspectives and brief research reports that may include (but not limited to):
• The common risk factors for oral health and mental health
• To assess the prevalence or risk of oral disease among people with any type of mental illnesses (clinically diagnosed or self-reported)
• To assess the prevalence or risk of mental disorders among people with oral diseases, either in adults or children
• Relationship between oral hygiene behavior and anxiety or depressive symptoms
• Association between oral health attitudes, behaviors and generalized anxiety disorder
• Epidemiological research of oral health and mental health
• Systematic review and meta-analysis of oral health or dental diseases among people with mental disorders
• Conceptual frameworks on the relationship between oral health and mental well-being
• Evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the risk of mental illness via dental care or social care
Keywords: Oral Health, Dental Diseases, Oral Habits, Anxiety, Depressive Disorders, Mental Health, Oral Health Promotion, Periodontal Disease, Mental Illness, Quality of Life, Oral Epidemiology, Preventive Dentistry
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
