Dental Specialties Research Articles

Career choice and the influencing factors of bachelor and dental profession students: an observational study

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Career choice in dentistry can provide an overview of the number of dental graduates who will pursue careers as clinicians and non-clinicians. This study aimed to describe the career choices and the influencing factors of the selected career choice of the Bachelor and profession program students. Methods: The method used was a descriptive observational study with a cross-sectional approach. The research population consists of all Bachelor and professional students at the Faculty of Dentistry, Padjadjaran University. Purposive sampling technique was used, with the inclusion criteria of active Bachelor and Profession students. The sample size was determined using the proportion estimation formula with a final sample of 286 respondents. The research instrument was an online questionnaire. Furthermore, the data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. Results: Clinician careers (64.6%) were the most preferred, followed by combined careers (34.6%), and non-clinician careers (0.8%). The most preferred clinician career was being a specialist (27,6%) rather than a general practice dentist (25,9%). Orthodontics specialist was the most chosen. Factors that influenced career preferences were intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic factor was a great opportunity to obtain in-depth knowledge. The extrinsic factors were high earning potential, sufficient earnings to fulfill needs, and flexible working time. The majority of chosen work institutions were private hospitals (30%). Most respondents chose to work in urban areas (91%) due to accessibility and strategic reasons. Conclusion: The most preferred career choice was as clinician. Career as a specialist dentist was most desirable among those who chose to be a clinician, with the most chosen as orthodontist. The main intrinsic and extrinsic factors were a great opportunity to obtain in-depth knowledge and a high salary. Most respondents selected private hospitals and urban areas as the work location.Keyword career choice, bachelor students, profession students

The effect of bioelectric and manual impressions on quality of complete dentures and quality of life: A cross over pilot study

PurposeTo compare the quality of complete dentures and quality of life of participants rehabilitated by using TENS (Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation) facilitated impression making with manual impressions. Material and methodsTen completely edentulous participants were enrolled in the crossover, pilot study. Participants were randomized in 2 groups. Five participants in each group were rehabilitated by dentures fabricated with TENS facilitated definitive impression technique (group T) and conventional impression technique (group C). In group T, Bioelectric border molding was done for the participants, that uses electric stimulation of the nerves supplying the muscles. In group C, incremental border molding using modeling plastic impression compound was carried out. Participants in each group used the dentures for 3 months. After 3 months, OHIP-EDENT questionnaire responses were obtained from the participants to observe the oral health related quality of life. A dental specialist recorded denture quality by Kapur scoring criteria. After one month wash period, the treatment was swapped between the groups. OHIP-EDENT scores and Kapur score were recorded for the alternate dentures after 3 months of use. Descriptive analysis was followed by Mann Whitney test to compare the overall scores between group T and group C for OHIP-EDENT, the scores for individual domains of OHIP-EDENT, and Kapur score for denture evaluation (α = 0.05). ResultsThe overall OHIP-EDENT scores within each domain were less in group T when compared with the scores in group C and Kapur score for group T was more than group C. The difference was statistically significant i.e. P = 0.002 & 0.003 respectively. ConclusionsLess OHIP-EDENT scores in group T imply better perception of quality of life of individuals due to better performance of stomatognathic system. The higher Kapur scores in group T signifies better quality of dentures when TENS was used for definitive impression making.

Oral health in youth with visual impairment: A longitudinal survey

This longitudinal survey aims to demonstrate improvement in oral hygiene among a group of youth with visual impairment (VI) achieved by repeated oral hygiene training, compare their progress with healthy peers (CG) and assess their oral health knowledge. In 100 VI (55♀, 45♂; ± 17.8 years) and 45 CG (23♀, 22♂; ± 17.2 years) oral hygiene training and a Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (QHI) rating were repeated six times at three-month intervals. The VI were divided into four subgroups according to the toothbrush hardness/type. A questionnaire was given to both groups. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed at 5% significance level. Both groups showed reduction in QHI, the VI had overall higher QHI values than CG. Use of an electric toothbrush in VI led to lower QHI in the last examination (p < 0.03). 69% of participants recommended dental specialists to improve communications by acquiring more illustrative aids. VI changed toothbrush less often (p < 0.02). A higher incidence of dental plaque was confirmed in VI compared to CG. After education and individual training, gradual plaque reduction has occurred in both groups. Using an electric toothbrush in VI resulted in better QHI outcomes. Repetitive preventive intervention in youth with VI helped them to adopt healthier oral hygiene habits.

Evaluation of Turkish Dentists' Approach to Over-the-Counter Whitening Agents: A Questionnaire-Based Study.

Over-the-counter teeth-whitening products have become popular in accordance with the increasing demands of patients. These products can also be recommended to patients by dentists. The aim was to determine the rates of recommendation of over-the-counter teeth whitening products by dentistsin Turkey divided into different categories for their patients and to interpret them based on a cause-and-effect relationship. After obtaining ethics committee approval, the survey questions were created using Google Forms (Google Inc., Mountainview, CA) and delivered to dentists via social media. Dentists who signed the informed consent form completed the survey. Within the study's scope, statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Values were expressed as frequency (n) and percentage (%). A chi-square test was used to compare participants' teeth-whitening recommendations according to their demographic characteristics. The statistical significance level was accepted as p <0.05 throughout the study. A total of 57.9% of dentists working in Turkey did not recommend over-the-counter teeth-whitening products to their patients. When the answers to the question "Which whitening products sold on the market do you recommend to your patients?" were compared according to the participants' place of work, there was a statistically significant difference between the place of work and the recommended whitening product (p <0.05). Participants working in the private sector answered "I do not recommend" at a higher rate than participants working in the public sector. Among those who recommended toothpaste, more dentists with five or fewer years of experience recommended toothpaste to their patients than dentists with greater than five years of experience. Additionally, more dentists working in the public sector recommended toothpaste to their patients than dentists working in the private sector, and more specialist dentists recommended toothpaste to their patients than general practitioner dentists. Most dentists in Turkey do not recommend over-the-counter teeth-whitening products to their patients. Among those who recommend such products, toothpaste has been determined to be the first choice. The results of this study may raise awareness among dentists about over-the-counter teeth-whitening products and encourage new studies.

Territorial Disparities in Dental Care for Disabled Persons and Oral Health-Related Indicators: A Population-Level Approach in Brazil's Public Healthcare System from 2014 to 2023.

This study evaluated territorial disparities in dental care for disabled persons in Brazil's public healthcare system from 2014 to 2023. The person-year incidence of outpatient dental procedures carried out by special care dentistry specialists and hospitalizations for dental procedures for disabled persons were compared across different regions and against the national estimate. In addition, productivity was correlated with oral health-related indicators. The significance level was set at 5%. The northern region exhibited the highest outpatient productivity, while the southern region showed lower productivity compared to the national estimate (both p-value < 0.05). This pattern was reversed in inpatient productivity (both p-value < 0.05), with the northeastern and central-western regions also below average (both p-value < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between the indicators and inpatient productivity, but outpatient productivity was positively correlated with the proportions of inhabitants who self-rated their general and oral health as "poor" or "very poor", who have never visited a dentist, and who visited a dentist for tooth extraction (all p-values < 0.05). Territorial disparities in dental care for disabled persons were observed within Brazil's public healthcare system, and they were correlated with unfavorable oral health-related indicators at the population level.

Exploring dental professionals’ outlook on the future of dental care amidst the integration of artificial intelligence in dentistry: a pilot study in Pakistan

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to explore the perspectives, familiarity, and readiness of dental faculty members regarding the integration and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry, with a focus on the possible effects on dental education and clinical practice.MethodologyIn a mix-method cross-sectional quantitative and quantitative study conducted between June 1st and August 30th, 2023, the perspectives of faculty members from a public sector dental college in Pakistan regarding the function of AI were explored. This study used qualitative as well as quantitative techniques to analyse faculty’s viewpoints on the subject. The sample size was comprised of twenty-three faculty members. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, while the qualitative data was analysed using theme analysis.ResultsPosition-specific differences in faculty familiarity underscore the value of individualized instruction. Surprisingly few had ever come across AI concepts in their professional lives. Nevertheless, many acknowledged that AI had the potential to improve patient outcomes. The majority thought AI would improve dentistry education. Participants suggested a few dental specialties where AI could be useful.ConclusionThe study emphasizes the significance of addressing in dental professionals’ knowledge gaps about AI. The promise of AI in dentistry calls for specialized training and teamwork between academic institutions and AI developers. Graduates of dentistry programs who use AI are better prepared to navigate shifting environments. The study highlights the positive effects of AI and the value of faculty involvement in maximizing its potential for better dental education and practice.

Exploring the knowledge and awareness on applications of virtual reality and augmented reality technology among dental healthcare professionals - a crosssectional survey.

To assess the knowledge and awareness of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technology in dentistry. A questionnaire survey-based study was conducted using Google forms on a sample of 273 dental healthcare professionals (DHCP) from October- November 2023, after obtaining ethical approval. A validated questionnaire, divided into three sections, was used to assess the knowledge and awareness of dental healthcare professionals on virtual and augmented reality. Section A was about demographic statistics, section B assessed knowledge and awareness regarding VR and AR and section C consisted of future acceptability of VR and AR among DHCP. The frequency of each question was reported in percentages. To assess the difference of knowledge and awareness of AR and VR among different specialties of DHCP, one-way ANOVA test was applied and in case of significant results pairwise comparison was performed by post-hoc Tukey test. There was a statistically significant difference of knowledge (1.40 ± 0.49) among different dental healthcare professionals. On pairwise comparison, a statistically significant difference (p = ˂0.05) of knowledge and awareness of AR and VR was found among dental specialist and other dental health professionals. A concerning lack of knowledge and awareness among dental healthcare professionals regarding AR and VR technology in dentistry was found. Interestingly, within the spectrum of specialties, dental specialists demonstrated a comparatively higher awareness than their counterparts in other specialties. Addressing barriers, notably a lack of knowledge, is crucial for successful technology adoption in dental education and practice.

Homeopathy and Research in Dental Specialty: Some Gray Thoughts

Homeopathy and Research in Dental Specialty: Some Gray Thoughts

Application of Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Dentistry: A Literature Review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the development of computer systems that can do tasks that normally require human intelligence. A number of dental specialties, including pediatric dentistry, now use AI and its subsets, machine learning, and deep learning. The evolution of AI in healthcare has been linked to the creation of AI applications meant to support medical professionals in diagnosing patients and choosing the best course of treatment. AI is the capability of robots to learn and use that information to carry out a range of cognitive tasks, including language processing, learning, reasoning, and making decisions-basically imitating human behavior. This review gives an overview of the numerous applications of AI that are beneficial to pediatric dentistry.

Survey of Oral Health Perception of Staff in Enderly Care Facility

Proportion of the elderly is steadily increasing, and accordingly, number of elderly care facilities for elderly support is also rising up. However, number of nursing caregivers for welfare services is not following the increasing tendency of elderly care facilities. In this study, we surveyed the oral care work fatigue and satisfaction of the nursing caregivers in elderly care facilities, and what the nursing caregivers think to improve quality of welfare services. Also, we analyzed the factors that have relation with self-care ability of the elderly patients in elderly care facilities to help patients care of nursing caregivers.&lt;/br&gt;The above can be summarized as results and proposals as follows.&lt;/br&gt;1. Most of the nursing caregivers were engaged in oral healthcare. Satisfaction of oral healthcare work tended to be high, but fatigue of work and need to improve oral healthcare procedure were also high.&lt;/br&gt;2. To make improvement, nursing caregivers argued that regular oral checkup by dental specialists in the facility is needed, followed by regular education of oral health care to nursing caregivers. This was contrary to the opinions of administrators, who rated regular education of oral health management to administrators as the most important one.&lt;/br&gt;3. Nursing caregivers in elderly care facilities were actively performing oral healthcare, but they felt fatigue of work and argued needs to improve working environment. To achieve this, muti-disciplinary approach should be considered, including improvement of oral healthcare speciality, systemic improvement to ease the healthcare burden on nursing caregivers, and to bridge the gap of opinion between nursing caregivers and administrators in elderly care facilities.

Electronic medical record system for school dental hygienists: a preventive focus

Relevance. Clinical documentation remains a cornerstone of medical practice. Over the last decade, there has been a notable evolution in the standards for medical documentation and the speed of processing due to advancements in healthcare information technology, including electronic medical record systems. Despite the Ministry of Health of Russia endorsing specific documentation procedures for healthcare organizations, pediatric preventive care dental services have not yet been provided with an appropriate electronic documentation format.Materials and methods. The development of the electronic medical record system for dental hygienists employed Qt Creator software (http://www.qt.io/), using the C++ programming language framework (http://www.isocpp.org/). The system's efficacy was evaluated through testing across the Omsk region over the period 2020-2021.Results. The project resulted in the successful creation of an electronic medical record system designed for dental hygienists.Conclusion. The new electronic medical record system is set to greatly improve the effectiveness of primary preventive care for dental specialists.

Soft Skills Awareness Among General Dental Practitioners, Residents and Specialists

Soft Skills Awareness Among General Dental Practitioners, Residents and Specialists

Bridging the knowledge–Practice gap: Insights from a survey of Belgian dental professionals on diagnosis and supportive oral cancer treatment in comparison with international guidelines

ObjectiveEarly detection significantly improves the prognosis of oral cancer patients, contingent upon the knowledge of dental professionals. This study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge, practices and perceptions regarding oral cancer among dental professionals in Belgium. Materials and methodsA cross-sectional survey was distributed via Qualtrics to general dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The self-administered questionnaire comprised three sections: demographics (4 questions), knowledge (9 questions) and clinical practices (19 questions) related to oral cancer detection and treatment. Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis, with Chi-square tests assessing responses by specialization, gender, years of experience and number of oral cancer patients treated. ResultsA total of 262 questionnaires were completed, with the majority of respondents being general dentists (61%) followed by dental specialists (25%), oral hygienists (8%) and oral and maxillofacial surgeons (6%). 70% of the respondents reported treating fewer than four oral cancer patients throughout their careers. 5 out of the 9 knowledge questions achieved over 50% correct responses, with an average correct answer rate of 54%. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and dental professionals who have treated more than four oral cancer patients, demonstrated significantly higher scores on multiple knowledge questions. Responses to clinically oriented questions showed less diversity across professions, and generally aligning with guidelines from professional oncological societies. ConclusionThis survey highlights the need for enhanced education on oral cancer among Belgian dental professionals. Knowledge levels were notably higher among more experienced respondents. The development and implementation of comprehensive guidelines tailored to dentists and oral hygienists for oral cancer prevention and patient care are warranted to optimize clinical practice standards.

EXCECUTION OF CBCT IN ORTHODONTIC DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PLANNING

Since a precise diagnosis and well-thought-out treatment plan are essential to any medical intervention, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was developed and is now extensively utilized. With the use of CBCT technology, one may view images in three dimensions and determine the precise location and size of lesions in any anatomical region. For the same reason, CBCT can be utilized for optimal treatment planning and efficient dental care not only in surgical disciplines but also in fields like endodontics, prosthodontics, and orthodontics. This review's objective is to provide dental professionals with up-to-date information on CBCT applications across all dental specialties, enabling them to make better informed diagnoses and consistent treatment decisions.

The Influence of Orthodontic Treatment on Periodontal Health between Challenge and Synergy: A Narrative Review.

By correctly repositioning teeth, orthodontic therapy improves both the function and appearance of an occlusion. The relationship between teeth and the tissues that surround and support them significantly influences these alterations. With ever more adults seeking orthodontic care, orthodontists are increasingly seeing patients with periodontal issues. Concerns about the patient's appearance, such as uneven gingival margins or functional issues caused by inflammatory periodontal diseases, should be accounted for when designing orthodontic treatment plans. Furthermore, orthodontics may increase the chances of saving and recovering a degraded dentition in cases of severe periodontitis. Today, general dentists, dontists, and orthodontists play integrative roles that enable them to achieve the best possible results for their patients. This review will improve the results of interdisciplinary treatments and increase cooperation between dental specialists by drawing attention to the essential connection between orthodontics and periodontics in regular clinical practice.

Assessing the knowledge and awareness of US oncologists regarding the specialty of oral medicine

ObjectivesThis cross-sectional study aimed to assess the awareness among United States (US) oncologists about oral medicine (OM) as a specialty of dentistry, and their collaboration with OM providers. MethodsAn online survey was conducted, inviting 1350 US oncologists, with data collected on demographics, practice background, comfort level with diagnosing and treating oral conditions, referral practices for oral conditions, and more. ResultsOf the invited 1350 oncologists, 192 responded (14% response rate). Among respondents, 46% were familiar with the OM specialty. Of these, 73% had previously sought consultation from OM specialists. The primary reasons for referral included dental clearance before initiating chemotherapy (38.5%), dental clearance before initiating radiotherapy (37%), and managing oral ulcers and oral potentially malignant disorders equally (32.2%). Regarding referrals to providers outside of OM, oncologists primarily referred patients with oral lesions to otolaryngologists (64.6%), followed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons (55.2%) and general dentists (45.3%). ConclusionOur study showed that over half of US oncologists were unfamiliar with the OM specialty. However, the referral rate to OM providers was high among oncologists who had prior OM knowledge. It is advisable to enhance the collaboration between OM and oncology specialists to ensure optimal care for patients with cancer.

Bernard Geoffrey Norman Smith (1938-2016).

Bernard Smith was one of the most significant specialists in restorative dentistry of his generation. He was an inspiring undergraduate and postgraduate teacher, a noted international lecturer and a house-builder. Bernard was president of the British Society for Restorative Dentistry and first chairman of the Association of Consultants and Specialists in Restorative Dentistry.

What is occlusion? Part 2.

Some dentists choose to ignore the subject of occlusion, while others propose a set of doctrinal rules. It is of little wonder therefore that it can become a source of confusion and even controversy. This series of two papers aims, firstly, to answer the very simple question of 'what is occlusion?'. It will put occlusion into the context of the articulatory system because that is the bio-mechanical environment where the majority of dentists do their work. The concept of jaw relation will also be discussed but within the context of this locomotive system. Ideal occlusion will be described but only after answering the question: for whom or what might an occlusion be considered ideal? Although, in the book of which this is the first chapter, he presents what has worked for him during many years as a general dental practitioner, university lecturer and specialist in restorative dentistry, he has tried not to be didactic because he feels that, in a profession, there are no right answers, only the right questions.

Does YouTube™ Provide Adequate Information on Oral Health During Pregnancy?

Background This study aimed to assess the reliability, quality, and content of the information provided by YouTube™videos on oral health during pregnancy to reveal the effectiveness of the videos for patients. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted by two experienced dental specialists. They initiated the study by searching for YouTube™ videos using the keyword 'pregnancy oral health'. The videos were then assessed based on various parameters, including origin, type, number of days since upload, duration, number of views, number of likes and dislikes, and number of comments. The specialists also calculated the interaction index and viewing rate. The reliability and quality of the videos were evaluated using the global quality scale (GQS) and modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) scales, while the content was assessed with the comprehensiveness tailor-made index. The data were analyzed with the Shapiro-Wilk, the Kruskal-Wallis, the post-hoc Bonferroni, and Fisher's exact tests. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Results After reviewing initially 224 videos, 129 were included in the study. Health professionals were the publishers of most videos. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between content scores and video duration, number of comments, interaction index, and total DISCERN scores (p<0.05) (r=0.445, r=0.186, r=0.552, r=0.241, r=0.200, r=0.681, respectively). Statistically significant associations were found between GQS scores, video duration, number of comments, and total mDISCERN scores(p<0.05) (r=0.510, r=225, r=0.156, r=0.768, respectively).Statistically significant relationships were identified between the total content score, video source, and GQS (p<0.05).According to the total content score, 57.4% of the videos had a score of 2, 35.7% had a score of 1, and only 7% had a score of0. Conclusions This study's findings underscore the significant variability in the scientific accuracy, content, and quality of health information on the Internet, particularly on YouTube™. It reveals that, while there are videos that provide rich content and high-quality information, there are also poor-quality and inadequate videos that may mislead patients. Health professionals should be aware of misinformation found on YouTube™ and ensure that patients always have access to accurate and reliable information.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Head and Neck Cancer Care: Optimizing Oral Health Management for Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy.

Radiation therapy (RT) plays a crucial role in the treatment of head and neck cancers (HNCs). This paper emphasizes the importance of effective communication and collaboration between radiation oncologists and dental specialists in the HNC care pathway. It also provides an overview of the role of RT in HNC treatment and illustrates the interdisciplinary collaboration between these teams to optimize patient care, expedite treatment, and prevent post-treatment oral complications. The methods utilized include a thorough analysis of existing research articles, case reports, and clinical guidelines, with terms such as 'dental management', 'oral oncology', 'head and neck cancer', and 'radiotherapy' included for this review. The findings underscore the significance of the early involvement of dental specialists in the treatment planning phase to assess and prepare patients for RT, including strategies such as prophylactic tooth extraction to mitigate potential oral complications. Furthermore, post-treatment oral health follow-up and management by dental specialists are crucial in minimizing the incidence and severity of RT-induced oral sequelae. In conclusion, these proactive measures help minimize dental and oral complications before, during, and after treatment.