Operational Implications and Risk Assessment of COVID-19 in Dental Practices.

Introduction: In the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the lockdown led to the closure of dental practices. Restricting treatment to emergency patients, having to use Personal Protective Equipment and the fear of contracting the virus led to modifications in the techniques and methods used to provide efficient dental care to the patients. However, it caused a significant psychological and financial impact on the dental community. The purpose of this research was to evaluate dentists’ perceptions regarding the psychological, financial, and general impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the reopening of their dental practices. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using a validated questionnaire, which was distributed among 257 dental practitioners working in Karachi through the social media app (WhatsApp®) from May 2021 to May 2022. The questionnaire included four sections and 26 items, recording data for demographics, psychological effects on resumption of dental practices, workplace disinfection, and precautionary measures along financial impacts. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 21.0. p-value ≤ 0.05 was taken as statistically significant Results: A total of 200 filled questionnaires were received, making the response rate 77%. The majority of respondents were females (67%). More than half of the respondents (55.5%) were working in dental OPDs. Most participants affirmed that they did not have a COVID-19 screening area nor patient triage was being done in dental OPDs. Closure of dental practices caused financial problems for all dental practitioners, more specifically for those that were associated with both public and private types of practices (84.9%). The majority of the dentists in private practice (94.4%) declared that their workplaces were being disinfected, while 47.7% of dental practitioners working in the dental OPD affirmed that they had enough financial stability to keep using Personal Protective Equipment. Approximately 64.9% of professionals practicing in dental OPDs and 33.3% in private practice believed that the reopening of dental practices was responsible for the re-spread of the coronavirus Conclusion: Significant anxiety and stress related to COVID-19 were seen among dental practitioners. Some CDC-recommended guidelines such as the use of Personal Protective Equipment were being implemented whereas COVID-19 screening and patient triage were found deficient.

Operational risk management (ORM) is crucial for every aviation organization. The assessment of operational risk (OR) is a critical area of study, as organizations must continuously evaluate and mitigate potential risks to maintain high levels of performance and safety. The motivation for writing this paper was to address the cognitive gap identified through literature analysis. The aim of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of operational residual risk assessment in general aviation (GA) organizations, with a specific focus on its role within the decision-making process to enhance flight safety in line with sustainability. By addressing a cognitive gap identified in the literature, this study seeks to determine whether current risk management practices adequately assess and mitigate residual risks, especially in organizations where operational risk is inherently high. Based on a literature review, the authors present adopted concepts of ORM and OR. The survey methodology involved a questionnaire on OR assessment, consisting of 32 questions completed by respondents twice—before and after 63 series of flights. The survey was carried out across two groups with significantly varying levels of flying experience (students and instructor pilots), with a particular focus on the influence of human factors. The conclusions are based on a comparative analysis of the difference in the results obtained after and before the series of flights in both surveyed groups. The survey was conducted in three selected general aviation organizations in Poland using nonprobability convenience sampling. The results demonstrate an overall significant underestimation of OR in both student and instructor groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that operational risk assessment in the selected organizations was not sufficiently effective. Additionally, it was shown that staff experience affected the effectiveness of OR assessment. Moreover, this study identified specific aspects of operational risk that were most underestimated. By addressing the cognitive gap, this study enhances both the theoretical and practical understanding of residual risk management, particularly in relation to safety and efficient resource use in aviation. It also offers the Operational Residual Risk Underestimation Index (ORRUI) as an actionable parameter developed to quantify and standardize the level of underestimation of operational residual risks in civil aviation.

Background: Implant dentistry has become an important aspect of the treatment for patients who are partially or completely edentulous. Dental implants are a proven therapeutic option for replacing missing teeth, with positive long-term health outcomes. Dental implant performance is largely determined by the implant’s primary durability, which is affected by surgical procedure, bone quality and quantity, implant surface characteristics, implant geometry, and implant surface characteristics. Despite the advancements achieved in implant dentistry since its beginning, there exist several limitations in scientifically grounded information and proven clinical experience among dental professionals and postgraduates. A study was conducted to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental implants among dental postgraduate students and dental practitioners (General and institutional in Wardha district, Maharashtra and to identify the variations in their knowledge, attitude and practice with respect to dentist's factors (years of experience, implant training and their specialization). As a result, the actual picture was examined.
 Objective:
 
 To assess the knowledge of dental implants among dental postgraduate students and dental practitioners
 To assess the attitude of dental implants among dental postgraduate students and dental practitioners.
 To assess the practice of dental implants among dental postgraduate students and dental practitioners.
 
 Methodology: An online cross-sectional questionnaire survey will be done to examine responses to 20 selected questions pertaining knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental implants among dental postgraduates and practitioners in the Wardha district. The aspect of the results that will be examined. The questionnaire will be delivered to dental postgraduates and practitioners, and their replies, as well as the questionnaire's validation, will be recorded. In the cross-sectional study, a suitable sampling strategy was used based on the replies received following the survey. The results will be determined based on Knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental implants.
 Survey Procedure: questions will be asked by online platform to dental health professionals with explanation of purpose of the study. The questions will be both open and close end type.
 Expected Results: The expected result of the study will determine: Knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental implants among dental post graduates and practitioners in wardha district
 Conclusion: Today is an era of evidence based dentistry. However, there is a substantial difference between the popularity of dental implants and the research that supports them. This research is an attempt to minimize that difference. Because this study will be done in an area where dentistry is in the air, with two large teaching dental hospitals and a large mass of dentists, it gives us a thorough realistic picture of where knowledge and practise of dental implants have reached in our field. As a result, the purpose of this study is to assess the need for a change in attitude and practise toward dental implants, as well as their evidence-based research on the subject.

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to determine dental practitioners’ perceptions of essential theoretical knowledge and operational skills that should be included in the occlusion curriculum in undergraduate dental education in China.MethodsA structured questionnaire was designed to elicit dental practitioners’ perspectives on essential content for the undergraduate occlusion curriculum in China. The questionnaire was based on the most recent edition of the textbook Occlusion that was developed by a national expert panel to serve as the content standard for occlusion instruction in Chinese undergraduate dental curriculum. The questionnaire survey was conducted using the “QuestionStar” app among dental professionals from diverse workplaces in 31 of the 34 provinces in mainland China. Then, the differences in the educational perceptions of the theoretical knowledge and operational skills needed for the occlusion curriculum among different dental professionals were analyzed.ResultsTwo thousand and two hundred dental practitioners were sent the online questionnaire and 2,140 valid responses were collected (92.7%) from 31 provinces in China. The professional scope of the respondents covered almost all the dental specialties, and 85.78% of the respondents had over 10 years of work experience in dentistry. An overwhelming majority of the respondents (98.83%) recognized the importance of systematic education in occlusion for dental undergraduates. 77.96% of the respondents believed that a systematic occlusion curriculum comprising a well-planned sequence of theoretical and operational lessons with specific learning objectives at each stage should be taught to undergraduates before, during or after dental clinical internship. Although there was broad agreement on the key content of occlusion curriculum, specific perceptions of key content varied among respondents from different workplaces or professional fields depending on daily professional foci.ConclusionsA high percentage of practicing dentists surveyed in this national study of Chinese dental practitioners agreed that five topics are essential for undergraduate occlusion education: characteristics of functional occlusal contacts, occlusion and mandibular position, occlusal wear, occlusion biomechanics, and occlusal adjustment. However, some key topics including clinical manifestations and TMD examination methods were not viewed as essential by many respondents, indicating a gap between occlusion curriculum and the needs of clinical practice. This survey provided insights for optimizing occlusion education for the undergraduate dental curriculum and continuing education for dental practitioners.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-08183-7.

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 <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<0.05), oral candidiasis (p<0.05), and symptoms such as burning sensation, taste changes, and unexplained oral pain (p<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.

Effective communication can aid in improving oral healthcare measures such as treatment outcomes and satisfaction of edentulous patients (EDPs) toward the treatment process. The triangle of communication (ToC) involves communication between the dentist, dental technician (DTech), and EDPs. This research aimed to explore the ToC between dental professionals (DPs) and patients undergoing complete denture prostheses (CDP) treatment in Fiji. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted among DPs under purposive sampling where focus group discussions were conducted at the four dental prosthetic clinics in Fiji. A semi-structured questionnaire with open-ended questions was applied to participants virtually via Zoom. The collected data were collated and analyzed manually using thematic analysis. A total of 28 DPs participated in the study. Three themes were identified while exploring the ToC from DPs' perspectives on CDP treatment and care in Fiji: staff communication-dentist and DTech, ToC and information sharing (dentist-DTech and EDPs), and stage-by-stage procedural checks for CDP between DPs. Effective collaboration between dentists and DTechs is an essence of a successful CDP treatment outcome. Most DPs agreed to undergo continuous communication throughout the treatment to keep EDPs engaged throughout the treatment process. In addition, stage-by-stage procedural checks in dental clinics as well as in dental laboratories improved the quality of CDPs. DPs highlighted predominantly the ToC between DPs and EDPs when receiving CDP treatment in Fiji as an essential tool for effective DP and patient engagement. Discussions should be complemented with the use of verbal, nonverbal, and written modes together with the utilization of interpreters to improve CDP treatment and care in Fiji.

Oral health

This analysis examines the discourses within online media that relate to dentistry and oral health, contributing to developing understanding of the underlying social and political contexts that may affect the promotion of oral health. The increased mediatisation of society means that media representations of the dental profession and oral health are of increasing importance. A search for online media sources relevant to dentistry and oral health was carried out using Google News. Discourse analysis was used to explore online media sources that discussed oral health, the dental profession and dentistry more generally. 171 articles were included, and three overarching discourses were identified from the selected online sources; 1) Power and Professional Status; 2) Advancement of Social Control and; 3) Neo-liberal Attitudes Towards Oral Healthcare. The theory of the social contract provides a conceptual framework to explore the relationship between the dental profession and society, the nature of this is discoverable through analysis of the discourses within online media. Within the sources examined, the dental profession frequently invokes neo-liberal discourses that place personal responsibility to be an important factor in preventative oral health. There was also frequent suggestion of a stronger link between oral and systemic health than is evidenced within the academic literature. Analysis of the media sources examined also suggests that the representations of oral health and dentistry also serve to reinforce the artificial separation of the mouth and the body, with dental services being separate from other healthcare activities.

As the global population continues to age, addressing the nuances of healthcare for elderly individuals becomes increasingly crucial. Within the realm of dentistry, endodontic treatment, or root canal therapy, holds significant importance as it preserves natural teeth, alleviates pain, and enhances oral health. The success rates of endodontic therapy in the elderly are influenced by factors such as dentist experience, patient compliance, and case complexity. Patient satisfaction in this demographic is multifaceted, encompassing pain management, clinical success, communication, and emotional well-being. Clinical outcomes profoundly impact overall oral health and quality of life, including pain relief, infection control, and the preservation of natural dentition. While age-related changes and medical comorbidities introduce challenges, they do not inherently hinder treatment success. This review emphasizes that endodontic therapy remains a viable and effective option for elderly patients, with individualized care plans and patient-centered approaches being paramount. As the elderly population continues to grow, further research and refined practices are essential to meet their evolving dental needs effectively. Dental professionals must remain attuned to the unique challenges and priorities of elderly individuals to deliver highquality endodontic care.

COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many challenges in dental practice for dental professionals and their team. The route of transmission of the virus and the nature of dental service has put dental professionals at risk of being exposed and infected by the virus and at the same time making dentistry itself a part of the infectious chain of COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised dental professionals across the world to limit dental practice to emergency cases only and postpone all non-essential dental services. According to Bangladesh Dental Society, about 10,000 practicing dentists and near about 20,000 supporting staff are involved in dental health practice in the country. There are about 4,000 dental clinics only in Dhaka city. A dental practice guideline has been developed by Bangladesh Dental Society to employ by dental professionals during COVID-19 pandemic. However, we feel that efforts to explore the real scenario of proper safety precaution and maintenance of public health measures in COVID-19 is less evident in the manuals in the context of public health and patient safety in Bangladesh. Hence, we proposed this review paper through an extensive literature and guidelines search to explore the risks of COVID-19 transmission inside dental settings, explore recommended safety protocols to minimize those risks and address the challenges associated with resuming regular dental and oral health practice.
 Delta Med Col J. Jul 2020;8(2): 93-100

Poor oral health is associated with adverse health, social and economic consequences for pregnant women. While dental professionals promote good oral health within the dental practice context, more broadly, women in the antenatal period face poor oral health outcomes. Therefore, this study explored dental professionals' perceptions of their role in managing the oral health of pregnant women and identified the barriers and facilitators to improving maternal oral health. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method utilizing semi-structured interviews. Convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit 13 dental professionals from Tasmania, Australia, comprising dentists (n = 10), oral health therapists (n = 2) and dental therapist (n = 1). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Three major themes were constructed from the interviews: (1) dental professionals' oral health care of women during pregnancy; (2) perceived challenges to maternal oral health; and (3) proposed strategies to improve maternal oral health. Findings suggest dental professionals' competence in maternal oral health, but that several barriers, such as dental care access and maternal factors, hinder oral health outcomes. To address these barriers, oral health policies that support interprofessional collaboration, professional training and evaluation of existing community oral health programmes are needed. © 2024 Australian Dental Association.

BackgroundThe relationship between the microbiome and oral health is intricate, yet there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the microbiome’s impact on oral health. Integrating knowledge regarding the oral microbiome and its significance in oral and systemic diseases holds profound implications for dental professionals in patient care and professional development. This study assessed dental professionals’ oral microbiome comprehension and knowledge levels in Saudi Arabia and its implications for oral healthcare.MethodsData were gathered using a cross-sectional design by administering a comprehensive online questionnaire to 253 dental professionals from diverse demographic backgrounds. The questionnaire, administered in English, was divided into four sections: (1) Microbiome awareness and understanding, (2) Diet, nutrition, and microbiome relationship, (3) Microbiome and oral and systemic diseases, and (4) Counselling, education, and implications. Statistical analyses were used to identify and understand underlying patterns, including descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, ANOVA, and post hoc tests. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was applied to assess self-rated knowledge.ResultsOf the 253 participants, 94.6% were familiar with the term “microbiome.” Merely 13% of participants considered the oral microbiome to be the second most diverse, following the gut microbiome. About 39.9% of participants knew the connection between oral mucosal diseases and the oral microbiome. Furthermore, only 6.7% thought there was a connection between systemic diseases and the oral microbiome. Participant comprehension of oral microbiome questions averaged 9.19 out of 13, with 83.7% scoring “good”. There were significant differences in knowledge scores among dental specializations (F = 7.082, P < 0.001) and years of professional experience (F = 4.755, P = 0.003). Significantly, 53.8% of participants had uncertain self-perceptions of their knowledge of the oral microbiome, while only 0.8% rated their understanding as ‘very good’.ConclusionOur findings reveal that dental professionals have varying levels of awareness and comprehension of the oral microbiome. Despite widespread awareness, understanding its diversity and implications for oral and systemic health remains limited. It is essential to address these gaps in knowledge through future research and educational interventions, considering the vital part that dental professionals play in promoting oral health through personalised dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, and hygiene practices. These initiatives may promote a robust oral microbial community, enhance patient outcomes, and advance oral healthcare locally and globally.

Objective The present study was aimed at assessing the impact of teledentistry, its application, and trends in uplifting dental practice and clinical care around the world. Material and Methods. The present observational study comprised of an electronic survey distributed among dental professionals around the globe. The validated survey form consisted of a total 26 questions with 5-point Likert scale response. The questionnaire used was divided into four domains: usefulness of teledentistry for patients, its usefulness in dental practice, its capacity to improve the existing practice, and the concerns attached to its use. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-25. ANOVA test was used to assess the effect of independent variables on dependent variables. A p value of ≤0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results A total of 506 dental professionals participated in the study with the response rate of 89.39%. More than half of the participants (50-75%) endorsed that teledentistry is a useful tool for improving clinical practice as well as patient care. Two-thirds of the participants (69.96%) considered that teledentistry would reduce cost for the dental practices. On the other hand, about 50-70% of dental professionals expressed their concerns regarding the security of the data and consent of patients. The most preferred communication tool for teledentistry was reported to be videoconference followed by phone. The majority of participants recommended the use of teledentistry in the specialty of oral medicine, operative dentistry, and periodontics. There was a significant difference between the age, experience of dentists, and their qualifications with domains of teledentistry. Conclusions The overall impact of dental professionals towards teledentistry was positive with adequate willingness to incorporate this modality in their clinical practice. However, the perceived concerns pertaining to teledentistry are significant impediments towards its integration within the oral health system. An in-depth study of its business model and cost-benefit needs of time, especially in the context of developing countries, in order to avail the optimum benefits of teledentistry.

Operational risk assessments by supply chain professionals: Process and performance

Aim: Knowledge and oral health behavior of dental students and professionals play an important role in oral health education of patients and community at large. It is therefore important that their own oral health behavior conforms to expectations of the population. Hence, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) among dental students and dental professionals. Materials and Methods: In the present study, KAPs of 560 dental students and professionals (postgraduate [PG] students and dental faculty) was explored. The participants were divided into three groups based on their level of education. Group 1 included undergraduate students and interns, Group 2 included PG students, and Group 3 included teaching faculty. Group 1 was further divided into UG1 (BDS 1 st year), UG2 (BDS 2 nd year), UG3 (BDS 3 rd year), UG4 (BDS 4 th year), and UG5 (Interns). A number of participants in each group were 80. Statistical Analysis: Kruskal-Wallis test was used for intergroup comparison and Mann-Whitney test was used for intragroup comparison. Result: Results showed that as the education level increased from junior students to senior students to teaching faculty, the mean score of positive responses increased in all the components (KAP), and the values are statistically significant (P < 0.005) and this increase in the KAP was not up to the expected level. Conclusion: The finding of the present study indicated the poor oral health behaviors (KAP) among dental students and dental professionals, which should be improved in order to serve as a positive model for their patients, family, and friends.