Dental Organizations Research Articles

An Investigation Into Contaminated Waste Composition in a University Dental Clinic: Opportunities for Sustainability in Dentistry.

Many international dental organizations have been advocating for sustainable practices in dentistry, whereby significant reductions in environmental impacts are needed. The aim of this study was to analyze dental clinical waste in a university clinic setting to explore opportunities for sustainable practices. Fifty dental units (chairs) that are routinely used in delivery of dental treatment and involved supervising clinicians, dental students, and patients were randomly selected, and the clinical waste generated was collected, segregated, and weighed. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze differences in waste production based on treatment performed. The mean waste production generated by each chair was 81.4 g of aprons, 56.2 g of gloves, 17.2 g of masks, 24.0 g of sterile wrappings, 48.8 g of other plastics, 100.8 g of cellulose-based items, and 25.8 g of miscellaneous items. Higher waste was generated from the chairs performing endodontic procedures when compared with examinations. A potential annual greenhouse gas saving of approximately 10 kg CO2e per year (when one patient is treated daily) can be achieved if sterile wrapping plastics were to be recycled. Simple yet achievable opportunities for efficient clinical waste management at university clinics exist, which in turn will increase environmental sustainability in the post-COVID-19 era. Increased awareness and incentives for sustainable measures could potentially enhance the possibility of wider adoption of ecofriendly approaches.

An Audit Of Health And Ageing Online Resources: Evaluating Information On Periodontitis And Cardiovascular Disease Associations

Abstract Background In 2019 the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the World Heart Federation (WHF) organized a review of the literature concerning periodontal disease (PD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This was to update the existing evidence from a 2012 review. The consensus report established a strong link between severe PD and CVD, however, this vital information may not be reaching the public who stand to benefit from it. Methods A web-based audit to assess the dissemination of information on the PD-CVD association was conducted. Ninety English language websites of foundations, health authorities, and associations focused on aging (54), CVD (21), and general health (15) were included. Dental organisations were excluded. Using Boolean search criteria, websites were examined for webpages informing of the PD-CVD link published in 2019 or later. Pages with the information published before 2019 were also recorded separately. Broken links, paywalled content, and information solely on infective endocarditis were excluded. Pages without metadata on publishing dates were considered older than five years. Results Only 8 (8.8%) sites contained information on the PD-CVD link within the past five years of which 5 (5.5%) gave actionable guidance on how to improve oral health. An additional 9 sites (10%) offering the information were recorded but were older than five years. Conclusion This study reveals a concerning gap in translating research findings from the highest levels of evidence to online resources accessible to the public. This highlights a missed opportunity to empower individuals. The siloed nature of dentistry, with limited collaboration between dental professionals and other health care providers, might be a contributing factor. These findings highlight the need for improved communication strategies and collaborative efforts to bridge this knowledge gap and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their oral and overall health.

Development trends in the management consulting industry in dental medical organizations

The evolution of healthcare industry management corresponds to management trends in the global economy. Reforming medicine within the framework of the concepts of sustainable development, value-oriented approach, person-centeredness, as well as challenges due to the pandemic provide a number of relevant tasks and subjects for management consulting. A comparison of the market volumes of domestic and foreign medical management consulting shows a significant difference in the demand for this field of activity. It is necessary to explore the objective and subjective reasons for the restrictions on the development of domestic management consulting. The purpose of the study is to identify problems of management consulting in dental practice. The authors set the task of reviewing foreign and domestic sources of scientific literature and analytical reporting on the management consulting market, clarifying the main economic trends in domestic and foreign consulting services in healthcare, and identifying indicators and performance factors for management consulting in dental institutions. The methodology of content analysis of scientific information made it possible to draw conclusions about the state of the industry and formulate recommendations for its scaling. The results of the study confirmed the relevance of management consulting for the management and staff of dental organizations and the need for the development of the industry. The challenges of modern management increase the need to attract experts and professional management consultants to dental organizations.

일부 치과위생사의 주관적 건강관리요인과 식이관리요인이 구강보건교육 실천도에 미치는 영향

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the level of execute of health-related factors for some dental hygienists and to analyze the impact on oral health education, which is an important task of dental hygienists. Methods: From April 29 to June 30, 2023, dental hospitals and clinics located across the country were randomly extracted and selected, and it was conducted for dental hygienists currently in office. Results: The higher the degree of interest and effort of dental hygienists in health-related factors, the higher the practice of oral health education for patients. Conclusions: The issue of improving the practice of oral health education should also be of interest to dental organizations. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the working welfare system and environment of dental healthcare organizations so that dental hygienists can voluntarily devote time and effort to their own healthcare.

ASSESSMENT OF MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES OF PUBLIC DENTAL INSTITUTIONS

The article presents the results of an assessment of the functional management model common in public dental organisations. The subject of the study is the model of management of dental organisations. The method of self-assessment of the main managerial functions by D.V. Maslov is used as a research tool. Research methodology. To evaluate the functional model of management, the article applies the methodology of express assessment by D. V. Maslov, who proposed to use a questionnaire containing questions to assess the main management functions: planning/forecasting, organisation, motivation, control, coordination and communication. The first five criteria combine 25 assessment categories. The questions in the rapid assessment questionnaire are divided into five groups according to the criteria. Thus, 25 questions correspond to 25 assessment categories. Each question has five possible answers, of which only one could be selected. In order to obtain objective information, it is necessary that not only managers but also employees take part in the survey. The advantage of a two-way assessment is the ability to determine the consistency of managers' and employees' perceptions of the state of affairs in the organisation. At least 50% of managers and at least 80% of employees of the organisation took part in this survey. The questionnaire by the above-mentioned author, adapted to the specifics of dental organisations, was used as a basis. Answer options characterised the current situation in the field of governance: 0 – no activities; 1 – activities are carried out from time to time; 2 – activities are carried out partially, depending on the situation; 3 – activeities are carried out continuously and systematically; 4 – activities are carried out as efficiently as possible (benchmark level). The score for each of the five criteria can reach 20 points, and the maximum score for the management system is 100 points. The results of the rapid assessment of managers showed that such management functions as "control" and "motivation" need to be improved the most. And the assessment of the HR management system showed that there are significant discrepancies with the opinion of managers in almost all management functions. Significant discrepancies were found in the assessments of management processes between managers and employees (from 0.1 to 1). Conclusion. The results of the study led to the conclusion that the management model does not meet modern requirements.

Mutual recognition of qualifications, health workforce migration, and graduate outcomes: a comparative mapping study of undergraduate dental education in Europe

BackgroundThe resource needs of health services are served by the recognition of qualifications across borders which allows professionals to migrate between countries. The movement of dentists across the European Union (EU), especially into the United Kingdom (UK), has provided a valuable boost to workforce supply. Recent changes to policy recognising overseas qualifications have brought attention to the equivalence of qualifications awarded in EU countries. Professional regulators need to be confident that dentists who qualified elsewhere have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to practise safely and effectively. The aim of this study was to compare UK and EU dental curricula, identify any differences, and compare the extent of pre-qualification clinical experience.MethodsThis was a mixed methods study comprising a questionnaire and website searches to identify information about curricula, competences, and quality assurance arrangements in each country. The questionnaire was sent to organisations responsible for regulating dental education or dental practice in EU member states. This was supplemented with information obtained from website searches of stakeholder organisations for each country including regulators, professional associations, ministries, and providers of dental education. A map of dental training across the EU was created.ResultsNational learning outcomes for dental education were identified for seven countries. No national outcomes were identified 13 countries; therefore, learning outcomes were mapped at institution level only. No information about learning outcomes was available for six countries. In one country, there is no basic dental training. Clinical skills and communication were generally well represented. Management and leadership were less represented. Only eight countries referenced a need for graduates to be aware of their own limitations. In most countries, quality assurance of dental education is not undertaken by dental organisations, but by national quality assurance agencies for higher education. In many cases, it was not possible to ascertain the extent of graduates’ direct clinical experience with patients.ConclusionsThe findings demonstrate considerable variation in learning outcomes for dental education between countries and institutions in Europe. This presents a challenge to decision-makers responsible for national recognition and accreditation of diverse qualifications across Europe to maintain a safe, capable, international workforce; but one that this comparison of programmes helps to address.

Questionnaire on Public Satisfaction with Dental Services under the State Guarantee Program

This article presents a study on the awareness of the program of state guarantees and public satisfaction with the quality of dental services provided in Bishkek. Awareness of primary health care to the population within the framework of the State Guarantees Program will help to receive preventive dental services in a timely manner, which is one of the effective mechanisms for improving the quality of dental care. Increasing satisfaction with the quality of dental care is one of the main tasks facing any medical institution. The results of the study of satisfaction with the quality of services provided accurately reflect positive and negative trends and allow us to identify factors that reduce patient satisfaction with medical care. To this end, a sociological survey of the population was conducted on awareness of oral hygiene, on the Program of state guarantees and satisfaction with the quality of dental services. According to the results of the study, the predominance of parents of children under 10 years old (79%), pregnant women (6%) and pensioners was revealed among the categories of persons according to PGG15 (%). Awareness of GHG among parents of children under 10 years of age (34%) and (66%) are not informed. Among the surveyed parents of children under 10 years old (66%) expressed satisfaction with dental services, (34%) were not satisfied with the services. Pregnant women are informed about PGG (53%) and (47%) are not informed. According to the results, pregnant women are satisfied with dental services (72%) and (28%) are not satisfied. Pensioners over the age of 70 are informed about PGG (26%) and (74%) are not informed. Satisfaction with dental services (63%) and (37%) are not satisfied. It is noted that it is necessary to develop and implement a unified standardized questionnaire for patients using the services of dental organizations to control the quality of care provided, which will help identify shortcomings in the work and recommend measures to solve problems.

АНАЛИЗ КАЧЕСТВА ВЕДЕНИЯ МЕДИЦИНСКОЙ ДОКУМЕНТАЦИИ ПРИ ОЦЕНКЕ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ СТОМАТОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ КЛИНИКИ

One of the criteria for assessing the quality of medical care is the complete maintenance of medical records. Defects in the preparation of medical documents lead to serious errors, such as incorrect diagnosis, unreasonable choice of diagnostic methods and treatment. To clarify the causes of their occurrence and adverse consequences, the study and analysis of medical records in dental organizations is of no small importance. Properly completed medical documentation serves as the basis for conducting forensic investigations within the framework of a criminal case in case of defects in the provision of medical dental care. The outpatient card of a dental patient is the object of quality control of medical care in dental organizations in the event of conflict situations. Purpose of the study: To analyze the quality control and safety of medical activities and the examination of the quality of medical dental care carried out in the dental clinic of the Military Medical Academy named after. CM. Kirov. Material and methods. During the study, analytical and statistical methods were used. The collection of primary information was carried out on the basis of data from primary medical documentation - 1067 outpatient records of dental patients. Results and condemnation. A statistically significant influence of a doctor’s work experience on the completeness of providing information about patients’ complaints was revealed. Doctors with less experience provide more complete descriptions of patient complaints. Among all complaints, aesthetic ones were most often described; complaints of a morphological and functional nature were noted quite rarely. In the cards of form No. 043/u, in 46.67% there was no information about the bite, the hygiene index was not determined, treatment plans and visit diaries were not filled out correctly. Conclusions. Internal quality assessment helps to detect defects in filling out dental patient outpatient records. The importance of adequate medical record keeping is beyond doubt; the form of the medical record must meet the needs of dentists and contain information that complies with the legal and regulatory framework.

Postoperative instructions for silver diamine fluoride therapy: A scoping review of current evidence and practice

ObjectivesSilver diamine fluoride (SDF) has gained popularity in dentistry as an anti-hypersensitive and anti-caries agent. This study aims to review the postoperative instructions for SDF therapy and examine the evidence supporting these instructions in treating dentine hypersensitivity and caries control. Data and sourcesTwo independent reviewers searched three electronic databases (EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science) to identify clinical studies that used SDF to treat dentine hypersensitivity and dental caries. Additionally, they searched Google Chrome for information from manufacturers, the department of health, national dental organisations, authoritative dental organisations, and universities regarding SDF therapy for these conditions. Data on postoperative instructions were extracted, and their impact on the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity and caries control was investigated. Study selectionThis review included 74 clinical studies, 11 sets of instructions from SDF manufacturers, and six recommendations from national dental organisations, departments of health and universities. Amongst the included records, 50 clinical studies, two manufacturers, and one department of health mentioned postoperative instructions for SDF therapy. The recommendations varied, from suggesting no specific instructions, immediate rinsing, refraining from eating or drinking for 30 to 60 min, and even avoiding brushing until the next day after SDF therapy. Notably, no clinical studies reported the effects of these postoperative instructions on the SDF treatment of dentine hypersensitivity or dental caries. ConclusionsThis scoping review highlights the presence of inconsistent postoperative instructions for SDF therapy in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity and caries control. Furthermore, there is a lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of these instructions. Clinical significanceNo evidence supports the postoperative instructions for SDF therapy for managing dentine hypersensitivity and dental caries. Studies are necessary to provide guidance for clinicians using SDF in their clinical practice.

Statistical evaluation of the frequency of therapeutic and diagnostic devices used by prosthetic dentists for pathology of the temporomandibular joint

BACKGROUND: Occlusal splints are commonly used for treating myofascial and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. The success of their application depends on the knowledge of prosthetic dentists regarding TMJ disorders, device type used, splint manufacture method, treatment duration, and other factors.
 AIM: This study aimed to explore various approaches of prosthetic dentists to the diagnosis of myofascial disorders, bruxism, and TMG disorders and evaluate the methods of therapy used in clinical practice.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey and questionnaire was conducted among orthopedic dentists in the city of Voronezh working in private or state dental organizations, on the topic “Pathology of the temporomandibular joint and methods of therapy”. The question list consisting of 15 questions was developed for statistical evaluation of therapeutic and diagnostic constructions used by prosthetic dentists in their clinical practice in cases related to the pathology of the TMJ. During this study, specially designed questionnaires were filled out. Furthermore, the conversation with each participant was conducted for a direct analysis of orthopedic measures of TMJ disorders.
 To analyze the obtained values, the criterion χ2 or Pearson’s criterion of agreement, Fisher’s exact criterion, and Kramer’s V criterion were used. The confidence interval was set to 95%.
 RESULTS: Among the surveyed doctors, 78 (65.0%) had more than 15 years of experience, 27 (22.5%) had 5–15 years of experience, and 15 (12.5%) had less than 5 years of experience. When using a single-sample binomial criterion, the number of doctors working in different institutions significantly differed (p 0.001). Thus, majority of the surveyed doctors (n=102; 85%) worked in state-funded clinics and the remaining (n=18; 15%) in private clinics (p 0.001). Moreover, 25 respondents (20.8%) claimed that they do not use tires in their practice, whereas the remaining 95 (79.2%) do.
 CONCLUSIONS: The participation of prosthetic dentists in this study demonstrated their high interest in “Pathology of the temporomandibular joint and methods of therapy”. The results of the survey indicate a change in the level of dentists’ knowledge with increasing professional experience. The methods of therapy used by the study participants considerably differ and often do not comply with the basic recommendations of the Dental Association of Russia.

A Brief Review on Engaging and Interactive Learning for Children: Exploring the Potential of Metaverse-Based Oral Health Promotion.

The importance of oral health for overall health makes it critical to establish proper oral hygiene practices in children early on. The traditional approaches to teaching children about dental health may not be successful since they may not be able to keep their interest. Metaverse technology offers a promising alternative, allowing for the design of engaging and immersive worlds that can effectively educate children about oral health. Despite the growing interest in the use of metaverse technology in healthcare, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on its potential for oral health promotion in children. This review aims to fill this gap by providing an overview of the current state of metaverse-based oral health promotion for children, discussing its benefits and challenges, and highlighting its potential for improving children's oral health. By conducting this review, the authors hope to provide new information on the potential of metaverse-based oral health promotion for children and to contribute to the ongoing discussion on the use of metaverse technology in healthcare. This review may also provide valuable insights for dental organizations and practitioners interested in using metaverse technology to promote oral health and healthy living among children.

Increasing the efficiency of dental disease prevention in children of younger school age through participation in a stomatological performance.

Aim: To study the awareness of children and their parents in the prevention of dental diseases and to propose educational measures to increase it. Materials and Methods: To achieve the goal of the study, a survey of 628 children, aged 7-11 years, younger schoolchildren of Poltava and 479 of their parents was conducted using the previously developed "Dental Questionnaire for Children and Parents". The questionnaire was based on the main indicators of the dental health of children and adolescents in accordance with the EGOHID II project (2008) and the WHO dental questionnaire (2013), and it took into account the proposals of dental organizations that regulate the assessment of oral health in children. Based on the results of the survey, a script for oral hygiene lesson for junior schoolchildren was developed using theatrical and game elements. Results: The results of the conducted research indicate the low sanitary and hygienic awareness of parents, the paternalism of their thinking, which leads to the lack of control over the hygiene of the oral cavity of children. In order to solve this problem, a scenario of informational explanatory conversation was created with the involvement of modern methods of communication and intern doctors who have acquired relevant knowledge and communication skills. Conclusions: Informing of children about the prevention of dental diseases in the form of a dental performance is a relevant sanitary and educational event that motivates children to observe the rules of oral hygiene.

Transformation of management of dental organizations in the conditions of transition to a value-based healthcare model

Aim. To develop recommendations for management consulting on practical implementation of the model of value-oriented approach in medical organizations of dental profile.Objectives. To analyze the experience of implementing the elements of the value-oriented approach in the management of dental organizations in foreign medical practice and dental institutions of the Russian health care system; to review foreign and domestic scientific literature in the context of the research topic; to study and apply the data of analytical reports of specialized international organizations.Methods. The authors used general scientific and special scientific methods. The analysis of domestic and foreign scientific publications in the context of the research topic was presented, and also methods of modeling, applied qualitative content analysis of information were applied.Results. The article investigates the models of implementation of the value-based approach in the organizations of the health care system abroad. The dissemination of the elements of this model in domestic dental institutions was analyzed. The conclusions about the main obstacles in the implementation of the principles of value-oriented approach in Russian dentistry are made. Recommendations on forms and methods of management consulting for effective implementation of the value-oriented health care model in the stomatological sphere of medical activity are formulated.Conclusions. According to the evaluations of pilot projects and indicators of scientific calculations, the transition to the system of value-oriented health care is slow, but it is recognized as an inevitable and necessary vector of health care development. Taking into account the socially useful effect of this model, the need for the Russian system of state guarantees of health care in the introduction of a value-oriented approach is extremely high. Further practical, research activities are necessary to develop tools for implementing the principles of value-oriented approach in the dental sphere.

ПСИХОСОЦИАЛЬНЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ ИНФОРМИРОВАННОГО ДОБРОВОЛЬНОГО СОГЛАСИЯ В СТОМАТОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ ПРАКТИКЕ

The reason for the psychosocial discomfort in the majority of dentists when providing medical care at the present time is not the difficulties in providing dental care and services, namely the changes that have occurred in terms of obtaining informed voluntary, informed, written consent to the invasion of the sphere of physical and personal integrity, as well as the need for a doctor to help comprehend and explain to the patient the conditions, on which medical intervention will be performed. Healthcare organizers and medical workers are often not ready to carry out organizational and psychological changes themselves, and in order to optimize the processes of digitalization, it is necessary to build psychological cross-counseling of workers to overcome difficulties in interacting with patients.
 The subject of the study is the awareness of doctors about the importance of informed voluntary consent in dental practice.
 The relevance of this study is due to the need to standardize the process of obtaining informed voluntary consent for medical intervention from patients of dental institutions.
 The aim of the study is to develop the concept of organizational and psychological determinants that determine the role of IDS in the context of the effectiveness of interaction between a dentist and a patient. 
 Methodology. The general scientific methodology of the study was determined by the following principles of consideration of complex social objects: consistency, determinism, unity of consciousness and activity, development.
 We relied on the general psychological theory of activity, the concept of the development of professionalism and the image of the professional world. The study used methodological and theoretical foundations of the analysis of labor activity, the concept of group training; the theory of planned and step-by-step formation of actions.
 Conclusions. The concept of informed consent and its role in dental practice is analyzed. The reasons of insufficient awareness of medical workers and patients as a source of conflict situations and a factor of dissatisfaction of patients in dental practice are investigated. The impact of insufficient patient awareness on various aspects of the work of dental organizations was assessed. Organizational standardized solutions to problems in informing the patient are proposed.

The ISAC Paradigm to Tame Oral Cancer in Saudi Arabia: A Quasi-experimental Study

Late detection of oral cancer (OC) cases in Saudi Arabia is concerning. It reduces survival rate and complicates treatment. The ISAC intervention was developed to bridge the gaps observed in dentists’ practice of OC examination and patient education. The ISAC stands for I, informing patients of OC screenings; S, screening for OC; A, advising high-risk patients to quit risk factors; and C, connecting patients to advanced services. This study tested the potential effect of the ISAC in influencing dentists’ cognitive and behavioral skills, to enhance early detection and prevention of OC. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among dental interns (DIs) at dental setting to test the effect on comprehensive oral cancer examination score (COCE), awareness, self-efficacy, descriptive-norms, and self-reported behavior. Data were collected through triangulation of methods pre and post the intervention at two-months. Multiple linear mixed effects regression models were utilized for data analysis. Between October 2020 and April 2021, 47 DIs participated in the study. The final model showed the significant effects of time (ISAC) on COCE (95% CI = 25.12–29.42, P < .001). DIs had a significant improvement in awareness, self-efficacy, descriptive norms, and self-reported behavior. The findings showed promising effects of the intervention toward the early detection and prevention of OC. Dentists, dental organizations, and policymakers in areas with a high risk of OC could benefit from the current intervention which contributes to capacity building and improved community health. A pragmatic study with a robust design is needed to test the effectiveness of the intervention on a wider scale.

Ортопедическая реабилитация с использованием дентальной имплантации в государственной системе здравоохранения

INTRODUCTION: New modern technology – rehabilitation of missing teeth by dental implantation is relevant nowadays, since it determines the high result of orthopedic rehabilitation and improves the quality of patients’ life. The work presents the aspects of the implantological treatment in the system of public healthcare of the Ryazan region. The article, on an example of the united city dental organization providing dental services to the entire population of the regional center, presents difficulties in identifying the real need for dental implantation at the regional level, which is associated with the fact of receiving dental care by a part of patients in private clinics that do not submit statistical data to the reports of the region. The data of a scientific study conducted in the Ryazan region to identify the loyalty of old-age pensioners to public dental organizations are presented. The influence of preventive measures aimed at combating the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the implementation of the volumes of dental care, including dental implantation, is noted. CONCLUSION: The development of the method of orthopedic rehabilitation using dental implantation in the public healthcare system is an important method of rehabilitation of patients with partial and complete loss of teeth, including a socially unprotected group of people of non-working age – pensioners by age who are loyal mainly to public dental organizations.

Política de Saúde Bucal no Brasil: transformações e rupturas entre 2018-2021

Abstract This study analyzed the implementation of Brazil’s National Oral Health Policy during the period 2018-2021, covering institutional actions, implementation of public dental services, results achieved, and federal funding. We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using documentary analysis and secondary data obtained from institutional websites, government information systems, and reports published by dental organizations. The findings show a significant reduction in funding between 2020 and 2021 and declining performance against indicators since 2018, such as coverage of first dental appointments and group supervised tooth brushing, which stood at 1.8% and 0.02%, respectively, in 2021. Federal funding dropped in 2018 and 2019 (8.45%), followed by an increase in 2020 (59.53%) and decrease in 2021 (-5.18%). The study period was marked by economic and political crises aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This context influenced the functioning of health services in Brazil. There was a sharp reduction in performance against oral health indicators, while performance in primary health care and specialized care services remained stable.

Dentistry and Gender Gap: An Overview of the Italian Situation.

Recently, the issue of the gender gap in dentistry and in the leadership in the dental field has placed new challenges on dental profession representatives and politicians. Indeed, the inequity between genders in healthcare workforces represents a limit to the progression of those in the professions, inhibiting talented colleagues from accessing high positions in the academic world and not providing adequate role models to inspire future generations. The Italian population practicing dentistry in 2021 was composed of 74% males and 26% females. The aim of this study is to analyze the level of the gender gap in the dental field in Italy by focusing on the gender distribution of professional leaders in institutional category associations and invited speakers at dental conferences accredited for the Continue Education in Medicine program. The search strategy considered three different fields in the national dentistry scene: the dental committee boards, the union category associations, and the cultural field. The roles in the dental boards were retrieved from the website of the National Medical and Dental Committee from 2018 to 2022; the roles in the union category associations at the provincial, regional, and national levels were retrieved from the related web pages, considering the period from 2018 to 2021; and the information about the speakers at national conferences from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 was retrieved from the National Agency for Regional Health Services (Agenzia nazionale per i servizi sanitari regionali (AGENAS)) websites. The extracted data were grouped and examined using descriptive statistics (frequency), and due to the categorical nature of the data, non-parametric tests (chi-square tests) were used to assess any differences between the two genders. The null hypothesis was that there were no statistical differences between the two genders' distributions. A p-value was considered significant when <0.05. In addition, aiming to understand the representation of male and female dentists, a comparison of the distributions of males and females in the dental boards with the percentages of female and male dentists operating in Italy in 2021 was performed using a binomial test. The analysis of the data regarding the composition of the dental boards and of the union category association boards revealed a statistically significant difference in the distribution of the roles between the two genders at the regional and local levels, with a p-value of <0.05, and a significantly low representation of the women practicing dentistry (p < 0.05). In Italy, women practicing dentistry are underrepresented in dental organizations and in cultural events, given the low numbers of female dentists in leadership and/or speaker roles in the years 2018-2021. Even though the glass ceiling effect continues to affect Italian female dentists, initiatives and political measures have been taken to improve this condition and reach gender equity.

Exploring Customer Journeys in the Context of Dentistry: A Case Study.

This case study aims to explore how customer journey concepts can apply to a hypothetical scenario, centring on a patient (customer persona) within the dentistry arena, and with a particular focus on special care dentistry. As an educational exercise, this paper may inform dental and allied professionals on how aspects of the customer journey notion may be embedded into their own practices, so that patient-centricity might be better optimised. The hypothetical scenario considers the organisational context, customer persona, contemporary customer purchase decision-making models, and marketing approaches. These components are used to create a customer journey map to help visualise and identify the varying customer-business interactions. The customer journey, focussing on the awareness, initial consideration, active evaluation, pre-purchase, purchase and post-purchase stages, is then conceptually analysed. The analyses reveal that there are areas of friction, attributable to numerous factors. The case study recommends that by introducing digitalisation and omnichannel marketing, alongside existing internally generated and multi-channel marketing approaches, considerable improvements may be achievable. As the patient technology landscape becomes more digital and dental organisations face fiercer competition, dental care providers relying on traditional marketing approaches may well need to adapt and introduce innovative, yet cost-effective digitalisation and omnichannel marketing approaches. Nevertheless, dental care providers, and dental and allied professionals must uphold an underlying duty of care, ensuring that all practises are legal, decent, honest, truthful, and above all ethical.

Can Utilizing Business Intelligence with Electronic Dental Record Data Improve Business Decisions for Dental Organizations: A Scoping Review

Abstract Background Business intelligence can give businesses the ability to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement and can help reduce uncertainty in the decision-making process. With the increasing use of electronic dental records creating more and more dental data each day, it is an opportune time to determine if the data can be coupled with business intelligence systems to improve the management decision-making process in dental organizations to result in service improvement. Methods A scoping review was performed to map the research on the use of business intelligence in dental organizations and to identify any gaps in the existing literature. This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-Scr) framework. The following databases were searched: Medline, Embase, Emcare, Cinahl, Informit, Web of Science, and Scopus. Data extracted from the articles included the organization type, purpose/aims, the software utilized, data sources utilized, outcomes measured, decision-makers involved, service benefit type, and service improvements. Results In all, 945 articles were found during the search strategy, with 25 articles selected for full-text review. Of these 25 articles, only 3 met the final inclusion in this review. All three included articles were centered around dental school organizations and all situated in the United States. All three articles demonstrated a benefit from management decision-makers utilizing business intelligence systems for improving service efficiency. Conclusion There is limited evidence to show that managers utilizing business intelligence systems in dental school organizations can lead to improvements in the organization's services. There was no evidence to support the use of a business intelligence system in other types of dental organizations. More research is required in this area.