Assessment of Maxillofacial Prosthesis Knowledge and Practice Among Dental Professionals in Saudi Arabia

Interprofessional collaboration involves coordinated efforts by individuals from different professions. Trust is defined as an individual's willingness to be vulnerable within a relationship, while expecting the other party to act in their best interests. This study aimed to assess the attitudes of collaboration and trust among dental and medical professionals in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study evaluated the attitudes of collaboration and trust among dental and medical professionals in Saudi Arabia using an online self-reported questionnaire distributed via social media. Data analysis was performed using SPSS. The overall mean score for collaborative attitude was 6.2 (SD = 1.52), with 69.23% of participants exhibiting a positive attitude about collaboration. Participants rated family medicine (76.67%) and pediatric medicine (76.41%) as the medical specialties most relevant to dentistry, while obstetrics/gynecology was rated the lowest (32.31%). Dental professionals had a significantly higher mean score for collaborative attitude (m = 6.46, SD = 1.48) than did medical professionals (m = 5.93, SD = 1.51; p < 0.001). The score for dental professionals' trust in medical professionals (DTM) (m = 36.94, SD = 8.06) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the score for medical professionals' trust in dental professionals (MTD) (m = 33.81, SD = 8.20). The collaborative attitude scores among dental and medical professionals were not statistically significant when tested against the MTD score (p = 0.777) and DTM score (p = 0.419). There is a high level of collaborative attitude and trust between dental and medical professionals in Saudi Arabia. Dentists exhibit a higher degree of these attributes than medical professionals. These findings support the implementation of a collaborative medical-dental education framework in Saudi Arabia, where both specialties can train together during their undergraduate years.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, led to a pivotal moment in India, which initiated the journey towards disability inclusion. This further led to the establishment of a society where all individuals with disabilities, regardless of their abilities, participate fully and with dignity. However, within this broad and inclusive vision lies a silent gap - oral and maxillofacial related disability, rehabilitation for which is still not explicitly recognized as an essential assistive service. For people living with craniofacial defects, prostheses like dentures, obturators, speech aids, and facial prosthetics are often out of reach. These devices are far more than just medical interventions; they restore the ability to speak, eat, and express oneself, restoring not just physical health but also confidence, a sense of belonging, and self-worth. This paper aims to highlight how the formal recognition of Oral and Maxillofacial (OMF) Prostheses could transform India's assistive technology system. These prostheses do much more than just restore function; they help people regain confidence, communicate, and reconnect socially. Backed by growing evidence of their physical, emotional, and social value, this paper calls for a policy change that incorporates OMFP as an essential component of AT, to be included in government-supported rehabilitation programs and promote teamwork among dental professionals, rehabilitation experts, and policymakers. Aligning India's approach with the vision of the RPwD Act (2016) and the WHO's Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) initiative would mark a major step toward making oral and maxillofacial rehabilitation not just a legal right, but a lived reality for everyone

This paper deals with the some of the important variable factors relating to health care in Saudi Arabia, with special emphasis on primary health. Other aspects considered are the financial influen...

Aim: This study aimed to review the scientific literature to describe the main care and hygiene protocols for different types of maxillofacial prostheses (MFP). Methods: A bibliographic search on the PubMed / Medline database using the following keywords: [“maxillofacial prosthesis” OR “ocular prostheses” OR “palatal obturators”] AND [“Cleaning” OR “disinfection”] AND [“care”] AND [“color stability”] OR [“denture cleansers” OR “cleansing agents”]. Articles addressing materials, cleaning and disinfection protocols, and care related to MFP were included. The following exclusion criteria were applied: no adequate methodology, incompatibility with the area of interest, and unavailability for reading in full. Results: The papers were grouped into the following topics: facial prostheses, ocular prostheses, maxillofacial intraoral prostheses, and retention systems. Conclusion: Despite the MFP changes over time, its degradation decreases upon following the recommendations and post-adaptation care. The guidelines for cleaning and disinfection must be individualized to guarantee the longevity of the prosthesis and the patient health.

Background: Social media platforms such as YouTube™ have become a widely popular source for information regarding health-related issues about medical and dental issues. The simplicity of online watching has concealed the drawback that these videos are not regularly reviewed or checked for their suitability as educational resources for dental professionals and students. Aim: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the content and quality of videos on YouTube™ regarding maxillofacial prosthesis as a source of learning by dental professionals. Materials and Methods: Fifty-one videos satisfying inclusion criteria were watched and carefully reviewed. After that, the following data were recorded in terms of domain in maxillofacial prosthesis: number of views, likes, comments, subscribers of the channel, viewing rate, duration since upload of video, video length/duration, primary purpose of videos, video sources, target group of video, video content, video content usefulness score, modified discern instrument score, and global quality score. Results: No misleading video about said topic was uploaded during the period. Only 5.9% of the YouTube™ videos on maxillofacial prostheses were good. Conclusions: There is a dearth of good-quality videos and videos about maxillofacial prosthesis maintenance, which raises questions if maxillofacial videos on YouTube™ would be equally beneficial for patients.

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental health conditions characterized by disordered eating behaviors and excessive concern about body weight, shape, or food intake, affecting an individual's psychological, physical, and oral health. Oral health professionals are often the first to recognize these signs and symptoms, thus playing a crucial role in early detection and timely intervention. Aim: To assess the knowledge of dental students and professionals regarding the psychological, physical, and oral health implications of EDs. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured and validated questionnaire among 193 clinical-year dental students (DS) and 40 practicing dental professionals (DP) in Malaysia, selected through a convenience sampling method. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: demographic data, and assessments of knowledge and awareness regarding the psychological, physical, and oral health manifestations of EDs. Differences in participants' knowledge was assessed using Fisher’s exact test and the Chi-square test. A p-value of &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Participants showed poor knowledge of certain EDs symptoms, including gender predilection (DS: 34.7%, DP: 35.0%), low body weight (DS: 41.5%, DP: 52.5%), parotid gland enlargement (DS: 28.5%, DP: 25.0%), and poor oral hygiene (DS: 36.3%, DP: 47.5%). Good level of knowledge was noted for associations with stress and anxiety (DS: 89.6%, DP: 90.0%), and mirror checking (DS: 78.2%, DP: 65.0%). Moderate knowledge was observed for social withdrawal (DS: 51.3%, DP: 50.0%), knuckle bruises, (DS: 51.3%, DP: 57.5%), low self-esteem (DS: 69.4%, DP: 72.5%), nail erosion, dental caries, hypersensitivity, angular cheilitis, and oral pain/burning(DS: 59.6%, DP: 55.0%). Significant differences between DS and DP were found for mirror checking (p&lt;0.05), oral candidiasis (p&lt;0.05), and symptoms such as burning sensation, taste changes, and unexplained oral pain (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: DS and DP demonstrated varying levels of knowledge about EDs, with poor levels of knowledge on certain key physical and oral manifestations. Therefore, integrating education on EDs into dental training is essential to support early diagnosis and timely referral.

Introduction: Tooth avulsion is a severe traumatic dental injury in which prognosis depends on prompt and appropriate emergency management. Dental professionals play a critical role in its management; however, variability in knowledge and preparedness has been reported. This systematic review aims to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of tooth avulsion management among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Comprehensive searches were performed across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases up to September 2025. Cross-sectional studies assessing knowledge, attitudes, or practices of dental professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding tooth avulsion management were eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the AXIS tool. Results: The initial search retrieved 57 articles. After removal of duplicates and screening, seven studies conducted between 2015 and 2025 were included, representing 2150 dental professionals from Riyadh, Jazan, Qassim, Al-Kharj, and Jeddah. All studies were cross-sectional and questionnaire-based. Overall, dental professionals demonstrated moderate to inadequate knowledge of avulsion management. Deficiencies were most evident in identifying appropriate storage media, recognizing the critical time for replantation, determining correct splinting duration, and awareness of long-term follow-up protocols. Specialists and dentists with postgraduate training scored significantly higher than undergraduates and general practitioners. Female dentists, those employed in public institutions, and those with prior exposure to workshops or training consistently achieved better knowledge scores. Four studies were rated high quality, one moderate–high, and two moderate on the AXIS appraisal. Conclusion: This review highlights persistent knowledge gaps among Saudi dental professionals in managing tooth avulsion, despite the recognized importance of prompt and correct intervention. Educational exposure, clinical experience, and professional environment strongly influenced knowledge levels. Findings underscore the need for curricular reforms, structured continuing professional development, and adoption of national evidence-based guidelines to enhance clinical preparedness and improve patient outcomes in dental trauma care.

Maxillofacial prosthetics is a specialized branch of prosthodontics that involves the rehabilitation of patients with defects or disabilities due to disease, trauma, or congenital conditions affecting the head and neck region. The primary goal is to restore the form and function of affected areas, improving the patient's quality of life. Aim: To assess the knowledge and awareness of maxillofacial prosthesis among dental practitioners and dental postgraduate students. Materials and Methods: cross-sectional questionnaire based online survey was undertaken at C.S.M.S.S. Dental College and Hospital, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India between March 2024 and September 2024 amongst dental postgraduate students and dental practitioners across India. The questionnaire consisted of 14 questions which evaluated their awareness towards maxillofacial prosthetic dentistry. The Chisquare test was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total 102 responses were obtained in this study, out of which 64 (62.7%) were dental postgraduates students, 9(8.8%) dental practictioners and 20 (19.6%) were dental practitioners and teaching faculty 12% were undergraduate student.92(91.1%) participants were know about maxillofacial prosthesis. 92(91.1%) were aware about maxillofacial prosthesis. 9(8.9%) were unaware about maxillofacial prosthesis. (Fig.2) 85(83.3%) responded both (extraoral and intraoral prosthesis ) are there. 4(3.9%) responded only intraoral prosthesis are there.11(10.8%) responded only extraoral prosthesis are there. While 6(5.9%) are not aware about the maxillofacial prosthesis. (Fig.3) 73%(73.7) responded silicone is commonly used for maxillofacial prosthesis. 27% responded acrylic resin is commonly used while 6% responded polyurethane is used. 8% responded other materials are used.(Fig. 4).92% responded they vare using the new technologies(CAD CAM ) while remaining 8% responded they are not using any recent technology. Conclusion: The majority of the participants were aware of digital technology, which yields good results.Overall, while the current level of awareness and knowledge among dental postgraduate students is commendable, there is a clear need for enhancements in training, resources, and curriculum to fully prepare future dental professionals in the field of maxillofacial prosthetics

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of AI in Endodontics and implantology education among dental professionals' and dental students in Endodontics and implantology education at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: The present study is a descriptive cross-sectional online survey that was carried out among dental students and dental professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A self-structured, close-ended questionnaire that was administered that consisted of 17 questions was included. The questionnaire validity and reliability were evaluated for vetting and remarks. The questions were circulated through Google Forms, and it was circulated among the study participants through online mode. The data were collected systematically, and SPSS Statistics version 26.0 was used for data analysis. Results: There were 805 responses, (443 dental students and 362 dental professionals') participated in the study through Google Forms. Among these, 435 (54%) were females and 370 (46%) were males. In the study group, 491 (61.0%) were aware of AI, and 314 (39.0 %) were not aware (p-value 0.000). Among the 17 questions used to assess the KAP, 12 questions were significant with a p-value less than 0.05. More than 73 % prefer to use artificial intelligence in endodontics and implantology education. About 120 (14.9%) agreed that AI will replace the role of dentists in the future. There were no significant results in comparing dental students and dental professionals. Conclusion: The current study contributes valuable insights into knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions related to artificial intelligence among dental student and professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite some reservations, the majority show a positive view towards the role of AI in the endodontic education, which indicates fertile ground for further exploration and integration of AI technologies into endodontic education. There is a need for continued future research to explore strategies to improve the potential of AI while test their reliability and relevance in endodontic and implantology education.

In vitro evaluation of cleanliness of root canal walls of primary molars after preparation with the Self-Adjusting-File and Mtwo-instruments and final irrigation with citric acid and sodium hypochlorite. s Study Design: In 23 matched pairs, teeth were prepared either with SAF or with Mtwo NiTi-instruments, and final irrigation was performed with 2 mL citric acid and 4 mL NaOCl. Roots were split longitudinally, SEM-images were taken, and smear layer was evaluated by two blinded observers using a four-grade score. Statistical evaluation was performed with Mann-Whitney-U-Test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test (P<0.05). No significant difference between SAF and Mtwo (P=0.9454) was observed. Overall removal of the smear layer was significantly better in the coronal part of the root canal than in the apical one (P=0.0004393). Mtwo showed no significant difference in cleanliness when comparing the coronal and apical part of the root canal (P=0.1089), whereas SAF cleaned the coronal part of the root canal significantly better than the apical part (P=0.00108). None of the two instruments was superior concerning cleanliness in root canals of primary molars. Both show good cleaning ability when using an irrigation protocol with citric acid and sodium hypochlorite.

Objective This study aims to assess the knowledge and practice of different types of maxillofacial prosthetic devices among Sudanese dental practitioners. Materials and Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the main governmental dental hospital, Khartoum Dental Teaching Hospital, and the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 23 closed questions addressing the participant’s socio-demographic data, knowledge, and practice of maxillofacial prostheses was conducted and distributed. One hundred and eighteen specialists and residents of multidiscipline were enrolled voluntarily, excluding prosthodontists, using the stratified sampling technique and simple randomization within the stratum. The participant's knowledge and practice were calculated as percentages achieved by dividing the number of accurate answers by the total number of questions and hence categorized as good 66.6%–100%, average 33.3%–66.6%, and poor less than 33.3%. The data was collected and analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package. Results The overall knowledge score was average, with a significant association between the different specialties. While the practice score was poor, there was a significant relationship between the participant’s knowledge and their practice (p = 0.001*). The majority of respondents, 80.5% and 68.6%, reported that the lack of knowledge and the multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of maxillofacial patients were the main barriers that prevented the use of the different maxillofacial prostheses. A high percentage (83.1% of respondents) recommended improving awareness and training, and 78% highlighted the application of the multidisciplinary approach and recommended a specialized treatment protocol. Conclusion Although the participants had an average knowledge of the different maxillofacial prostheses, their practice was poor. The lack of knowledge and training and the absence of a multidisciplinary team have been highlighted as the main barriers that prevent the use of the different maxillofacial prostheses. Clinical Significance Maxillofacial prostheses play a crucial role in rehabilitating patients with maxillofacial defects by improving the patient’s aesthetics, phonetics, masticatory efficiency, self-esteem, and quality of life. Hence, dental practitioners' knowledge and practice of the different maxillofacial prostheses are of great importance.

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the knowledge of dental professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsA questionnaire was developed to assess various dental professionals from both governmental and private sectors through online and social media outlets.ResultsA total of 1,033 questionnaires were collected (273 dental students, 193 dental auxiliary personnel, 544 dentists). In all, 63.4% of the respondents worked in hospitals. Of all the respondents, 44.9%, 33.4%, and 21.7% worked in governmental clinics, academia, and the private sector, respectively. Overall knowledge of the incubation period and route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was consistent across all dental professions. Knowledge of hand-soap cleaning time was significantly different among dental professionals (p < 0.001). Dental professionals displayed significant disagreement on the survival of SARS-CoV-2 outside the host (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 75.1% of the respondents were reluctant to treat a suspected COVID-19 patient, and 92% of the participants believed that the mode of transmission was droplet inhalation. Fever, coughing, and shortness of breath were identified as the most common symptoms of COVID-19. Most standard methods of prevention in the dental office were selected by at least 50% of the participants.ConclusionsDental professionals seem to be consistent regarding their knowledge of the incubation period of SARS-CoV-2. However, knowledge of viral survivability and recommended hand-soap washing time was significantly variable among the professionals. A high degree of apprehension toward suspected COVID-19 patients existed among all dental professionals. Pandemic-awareness campaigns are essential among healthcare providers.

Background: Leukoplakia is a major oral potentially malignant disorder. Nonhomogeneous leukoplakia has a greater chance of developing into cancer. Leukoplakia must therefore be identified early via an oral (visual) examination by dentists and family doctors in order to maximize the chances of survival by prompt referral and early treatment. The purpose of this study was to comprehend the knowledge and practices of dentists and physicians about leukoplakia. Methodology: This research was an observational analytic study using a cross-sectional design. The study included interns, general practitioners, residents, specialists, and consultants in the dental field, as well as family medicine physicians and otolaryngologists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, excluding oral medicine dentists and medical professionals. Data was collected via a questionnaire survey conducted using Google Forms. Recruitment was done by going to several private and governmental health institutes and distributing the survey link or filling it out through a data collector. Results: A total of 260 dental and physicians participated in this survey. Of these, 147 (56.5%) were males and 113 (43.5%) were females. Knowledge scores were significantly higher in dental respondents than in physicians (p&lt;0.001). The mean knowledge scores significantly differed across the levels, such as consultants, specialists, residents, general practitioners, and interns (P&lt;0.001). Physicians (65.7%) were more likely to screen tobacco-using patients than dentists (31.6%). A greater percentage of dentists than physicians (77.1% vs 67.1%) respondents describe the risks associated with cigarette smoking. Conclusion: From this study, it may be concluded that most of the dental professionals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia have higher theoretical levels of knowledge about leukoplakia than family medicine physicians and otolaryngologists. The study also showed that there is a significant difference between the knowledge scores across various levels of dental and medical professionals regarding the knowledge scores. The current investigation finds that dentists are less experienced in dealing with leukoplakia cases but have good theoretical knowledge of them.

Introductiondiabetic foot is a common long-term complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Knowledge about foot self-care practices among diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia is limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the level of patients´ knowledge and practices regarding self-care of diabetic foot among diabetic patients.Methodsa cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using a sample of diabetic patients attending outpatient clinics at Heraa Diabetic Center, Ministry of Health, Makkah City, Saudi Arabia from June 2020 to July 2020. The participants were interviewed through a self-administered questionnaire inquiring sociodemographic factors, patients´ knowledge and practices regarding foot self-care.Resultsa total of 409 patients were included in this study. Respondents' ages ranged between 6 and 75 years with a mean of 42.5 years and standard deviation of 13.9 years. Females represented 51.1% of the participants. Type 2 diabetes represented 85.6% of the responses. Overall, most of the participants (72.4%) had a poor level of knowledge whereas only 4.2% expressed a good level of knowledge. Being employed (P = 0.046), type II diabetes patients (P = 0.047) and those whose main source of information was health staff (P = 0.026) were more knowledgeable compared to their peers. Almost two-thirds (63.3%) of patients showed a poor level of practice related to diabetic foot self-care.Conclusionlow level of knowledge and practice of foot care are prevalent among diabetic patients attending outpatient clinics at Heraa Diabetic Center. Designed interventions should be implemented to enhance diabetic foot self-care.

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of dental professionals regarding informed consent (IC) in Madina City. A descriptive cross-sectional design using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted. The questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability before it was distributed using Google Forms through WhatsApp among a sample of 299 dental professionals working in Madina City. IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for analysis. Two-hundred ninety-nine responses were collected. Sixty percent scored less than the group average regarding knowledge, and 52% scored less than the group average regarding attitude. Regarding practice, 57% scored below the group average. Saudi dentists and those who work in the Ministry of Health (MOH) had better knowledge scores than other tested groups. Dentists working in the MOH had better attitude and practice scores than those who work in the private sector. Regarding attitude and practice, consultants achieved better scores than registrars and general dentists. More than 90% indicated that the main reason for obtaining an IC is to protect themselves from legal actions. The KAP of surveyed dental professionals in Madina is suboptimal and needs improvement.