Dental Staff Research Articles

Managements of Special Health Care Needs Patients from Dental Assistant Point

The main role of this article is to describe dental assistants and the dental department’s role in the dental delivery system for Special health care needs (SCHN) by creating a structure to educate the dental assisting profession and project factors that have a significant impact on the dental assistant. The dental assisting management of SCHN patient’s profession including dental Assistance general responsibilities, regulation credentialing, and education. The SCHN patient’s management creates a challenge in all area of the dental department. Handling patient with a SCHN is underexplored throughout the dental staff especially when there is not enough theoretical foundation, education and training to deal with this category of patients. SCHN patients are defined as individuals who have abnormal behavioral impairments, mental conditions or/and chronic disease or abnormal laboratory results. Thus, the aim of this article is to guide all dental assistance staff in the best dental management choice for SCHN patients. All health care teams are part of patient care in most medical settings. A work environment supportive ensures positive outcomes for patient care. This article was considered as those categories of patients required more care and special way to deal with, moreover language, age, gender and education level of the patient are also considered significant parries. Not Many studies were found to support the care of SCHN patients in dentistry department. Taking experience from other area help to design a system to handle the SCHN even if it requires hiring a Dentist who is specialized in that filed.

An Article Review Step by Step About Preventive Measures to Prevent Infection by Covid-19 in Dental Clinic

A huge public health concern is the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. As dentists, both our dental staff and our patients have significant roles in reducing their susceptibility to infection. The team is at a high risk of infectious infection and likely spread of viruses because of the existence of our job. One of the best strategies to combat this pandemic is to facilitate successful social isolation. As dental professionals, though, we are confronting the double task of shielding our staff and shielding our patients from exposure to the environment from all sides by ensuring that our patients continue to be able to receive urgency / emergency dental services. Both the dentist / dental staff and the patient are at a strong risk of cross-infection because of their existence, and this is for many reasons, the most two important reasons which are 1) the needed distancing between dental worker and the patient (which is about one to two meters) that we can’t save it during dental treatment. 2) The dental treatment is applied inside the oral cavity which is the biggest source of contamination with the virus especially when we use high speed hand piece with cooling water that lead to highly spread of aerosols, which are loaded by blood and saliva droplet containing viruses, that spread to the environment of dental room and surfaces. Therefor the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to the absolute requirement for strict and effective infection control protocols beyond those that already exist within the dental setting. The purpose of this position statement is to establish a standard operating protocol for dental practice

Waste management practices among dental surgery staff of major hospitals in Accra: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Waste management practices among dental surgery staff of major hospitals in Accra: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Comparative Evaluation of Disinfection of Dental Water Unit Line Using Neem Extract and Sodium Hypochlorite: An In vitro Study

Background Dental Unit Water Lines DWU disinfection is important because of the risk of infection via aerosol to dental staff and patients particularly to those with comorbidities. Objectives To quantify microorganisms in dental water unit line prior to disinfection and to determine the effectiveness of Neem extract and Sodium hypochlorite in reducing the microbial count.Methods 50 mL of water samples were collected in sterile containers from the outlets of airwater syringe and high-speed hand piece of 20 dental chairs and the contamination of microorganisms in DWU total viable count were estimated. The samples were subjected to serial dilutions were inoculated onto R2A agar plates and the colony forming unitsmL were manually counted. The dental water unit lines were treated with either 5 Sodium hypochlorite or commercially available Neem extract after obtaining the baseline samples. Water samples were collected after 48 hours and were quantified again for total viable count. SPSS version 23 was used to analyse the data. Paired and unpaired ldquotrdquo tests were applied to analyse the data before and after the intervention.Results The difference between the two groups at baseline P gt0.05 was not statistically significant. In Group 1 Neem group the mean CFUmL at baseline was 128.70 and after the intervention it reduced to 51.90. In Group 2 Sodium hypochlorite group the mean CFUmL at baseline was 125.90 28.661 and after intervention it reduced to 0 both were found statistically significant P lt0.05.Conclusion Sodium hypochlorite was found to be significantly effective compared to Neem extract in disinfecting DUWL system.nbsp

Ubjective evaluation of noise generated in a dental environment and comparison of sound insulation effects of noise cancelling earphones

Purpose: Various devices such as dental handpieces, ultrasonic scalers, and aspirators exist in the dental clinic, and they generate noise with high decibel levels in a complex way. Through this study, we survey the discomfort and hearing changes on patients and dental staff, and compare and analyze the sound insulation effect of each noise cancelling product for vari-ous noises.Materials and Methods: This study is a multi-faceted evaluation of noise generated in the dental treatment. First, patients and dental staffs were surveyed through the Gallup Korea Research Institute. Afterwards, subjective evaluations of various noise cancelling earphones for dental noises were conducted by VAS scales.Results: In this study, more than 50% of patients, dentists, and dental hygienists feel uncomfortable about dental noise, and more than 70% of the respondents say that they had interrupted in communication due to noise. In both the dentist and non-dentist groups, when noise-cancelling earphones were used for high-speed and low-speed handpieces and suction noise, a decrease in VAS value was confirmed. Regarding the scaler noise, the increase or decrease of the VAS value was different depending on the products.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that noise generated in a dental treatment can cause emotional discomfort to both patients and dental staff, and both are aware of the possibility of hearing impairment. And it is necessary to consider the sound isolation device optimized for each noise.

Foundation and Functioning of the College of Dentistry in Osijek

In the years after the Second World War, Osijek and Slavonia experienced a significant lack of trained medical personnel, especially dental personnel. A large number of such personnel were of Jewish origin and perished in the persecutions during the war, also a large number of people that were of German origin moved away from Slavonia. In addition to that, a considerable number of trained dental and medical personnel retired after the war, so the situation was very difficult. To improve the state of dental protection of the population, in 1961, the College of Dentistry was established in Osijek. The education lasted two years and was organized into six trimesters, after which the participants obtained the title of the senior dentist. During the ten years of activity at the College of Dentistry in Osijek, there were several hundred students who studied from all parts of the country at the time, but mostly they were from Slavonia. In this way, this educational institution fulfilled its goal. The shortage of trained dental personnel has been reduced and Osijek and Slavonia are catching up with the rest of Croatia in the number of medical personnel. In 1971, the College of Dentistry ceases to operate, transforming into the Polyclinic for the protection of teeth and mouth in Osijek, which continues the tradition of dental protection of the population and training of dental staff.

Longitudinal online diaries with dental practitioners and dental care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A trajectory analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a series of significant changes and adjustments within dentistry, as dental professionals dealt with temporary closures of dental practices, increased use of personal protective equipment, a reduction of clinical procedures, and extensions to training programmes. Recent research has illustrated the impact of the pandemic on the dental profession, indicating that many dental professionals felt emotionally exhausted and experienced significant uncertainty and anxiety. This qualitative study aimed to understand how these experiences and emotions changed over the course of six months, in dental trainees and primary dental care staff in Scotland. A longitudinal diary study was conducted (June-December 2020) with dental trainees and primary dental care staff. The diary asked respondents to answer three questions related to their emotional exhaustion, on a weekly basis. There was also an open question asking respondents to describe any significant issues or concerns they had experienced during the preceding week because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their work or training. This qualitative data was explored using a trajectory analysis approach to determine specifically changes over time. The trajectory analysis revealed several key concerns prevalent amongst respondents, and how they fluctuated over the six months. Concerns included: the impact of the pandemic on respondents' future careers and on dentistry more generally; adapting to new working environments; the impact on their patients' dental treatment and oral health; the impact on their health and wellbeing; financial considerations and adjusting to new safety measures as part of the remobilization of dental services. In the second half of 2020, as the UK was adjusting to the introduction of new COVID-19 safety measures in everyday life, the dental profession were grappling with significant changes to their working environment, including PPE, redeployment, use of aerosol generating procedures (AGPs), and timelines for re-opening practices. This longitudinal diary study has shown some parts of the dental profession in Scotland expressed very varied and personal concerns and anxieties related to COVID-19. Respondents' candor in their diary entries revealed explicit, frequent and high levels of uncertainty and worry related to their training and career. Collectively, the data corpus highlighted the emotional toll these anxieties have taken on the dental professions in Scotland. These findings demonstrate the need for (a) increased provision of mental health and wellbeing support services for dental staff and (b) the study of the linkage between organization of pandemic management to the working practices of staff delivering services. Interventions, at various levels, should take into consideration the fluctuating nature of dental professionals' concerns and anxieties over time, to address both immediate and longer-term issues.

Diagnostic errors in Dentistry, opinions of egyptian dental teaching staff, a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDiagnostic errors is a known problem in healthcare practice. Data on diagnostic errors in the dental field are extremely lacking. The objective of the study is to explore the perception of dental teaching staff about the prevalence of dental diagnostic errors in Egypt, identify the most commonly misdiagnosed dental conditions and point out the contributing factors and levels of patient harm.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on 151 dental teaching staff of Egyptian governmental and private universities. The questionnaire was distributed electronically via social media and messaging apps to dental staff members with at least five years of clinical experience to assess their opinion regarding the study objectives. Results were collected and statistically analyzed.Results94.7% of participants believed that diagnostic errors represent an urgent problem, lecturers believed by 2.703 folds more than professors that diagnostic errors are an urgent problem The percentage of diagnostic errors was estimated to be < 20% and 20–40% by more than 90% of participants. The most commonly misdiagnosed conditions were oral mucosal lesions (83.4%), followed by temporomandibular joint and periodontal conditions (58.9%) for each. More than half of the participants (60.9%) believe that medical education methodology is one of the factors that lead to dental diagnosis errors. For the impact of errors on patients, 53% of participants reported moderate impacts followed by minor impact (37.7%) while 4.6% reported no impact and the same percentage reported major impact.ConclusionThis study with statistically significant results reported that dental diagnostic errors are frequent and need to be approached. Oral mucosal lesions, periodontal and temporomandibular joint diseases represent areas that include the most commonly seen errors. Further, besides the lack of resources, the dental education system and lack of proper training are the main causes of this problem.

65. One Thousand (1000) Consecutive New Routine Telephone Appointments

Virtual and Telephone consultations have become normal with in oral & maxillofacial surgery during the pandemic. The maximise face to face time, we moved to a telephone first appointment for referrals deemed appropriate at vetting. We analysed the outcome of these regularly to ensure they were as effective and efficient as possible to maximise face to face time, and free dental nursing staff up to assist with face to face and procedural duties.

Occupational health and safety of dental personnel in Korea

This study aimed to investigate occupational risk among dental practitioners and its associated factors. Ma-terials and Methods. A total of 505 dentists and other dental staff from Korean dental institutions were includedin this study. A self-report questionnaire on demographic characteristics, perception and experience of occupa-tional hazards, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and type of musculoskeletal problems, were distributed to the participants. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors affecting the perception of occupational hazards. Results. Among the participants, 61.58% were dentists and 38.42% were dental staff (dental hygien-ists, dental technologists, and other office workers). Overall, 48.12% had a serious perception of occupationalhazards, and 77.53% had experienced occupational hazards. The common occupational hazards encounteredwere stress (20.58%), exposure to hazardous materials (15.44%), and cross-infections (14.75%). Regardless ofparticipants’ occupation and their perception of occupational hazards, musculoskeletal problems had the high-est prevalence (35.94%) (neck/shoulder pain [35.53%], lower back pain [24.74%], and wrist pain [19.07%]).Those with experience of occupational hazards and musculoskeletal problems were more likely to recognize occupational hazards (odds ratio 5.186 and 1.535, respectively; p&lt;0.05). Conclusion. Approximately half of the dental workers were aware of the risk of occupational hazards. This study highlighted that the more the partici-pants experience occupational hazards, the more likely they are to recognize occupational hazards. The high prevalence of physical and mental occupational hazards indicates the need for preventive measures to reduce occupational risk in dental practices.

COVID-19 Risk Management in Dental Offices: A Review Article

BACKGROUND: As all the dental staff, including nurses and practitioners, are exposed to various routes of contamination due to the novel COVID-19 virus, which is still unknown to the scientific world, developing strategies to reduce the risk of transmission and decontaminate surfaces in a dental office would be of high importance. Although there is still insufficient data on managing this virus in dental offices, several studies have suggested protocols for improving care. AIM: This study aimed to review present investigations and reach a conclusion on what we know and need to know to combat this virus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this review, Scopus, PubMed, and MEDLINE databases were searched using the keywords “COVID-19,” “SARS-CoV-2,” “Medical Disinfectants,” “Personal Protective Equipment’s,” and “Surface Decontamination.” Articles were reviewed, and finally, relevant articles published during 2000–2022 were included in the final paper. RESULTS: The present research concluded that using a combination of the face shield and N95 masks protected the eyes, nose, and mouth. To have more efficient protection, water-resistant long-sleeved gowns and gloves were highly suggested. To overcome aerosols, high-performance air filters and ultraviolet were found quite effective. Allowing the patient to use antiseptic mouthwash before starting the treatment could reduce oral microorganisms and the following airborne contamination. CONCLUSION: This review has gathered all available data regarding dentistry and COVID-19 in order to conclude what has been achieved yet in the prevention of this virus through dental offices; however, more investigations are needed to have a definitive protocol against the virus.

Avoiding psychological (re)traumatisation in dentistry when working with patients who are adult survivors of child sex abuse

Introduction Seven percent of the adult population in the UK, including one in six women, report unwanted sexual experiences before the age of 16. The impacts of psychological trauma following child sexual abuse (CSA) creates difficulties for many survivors in accessing dental care due to fears of reminders of abuse, the power imbalance with the dentist and triggered traumatic responses.Aims To analyse and report CSA survivor perspectives of dental care and offer suggestions for practice.Method Qualitative semi-structured interviews of 17 CSA survivors generated data as part of a broader study investigating trust and trustworthiness in survivor-professional relationships. The range of dental interactions and the needs survivors described when receiving dental treatment are presented. Transcripts were analysed using NVivo software and thematic analysis methodology.Results Three main themes were identified: the dental encounter ('it really panics me'); the opportunity to disclose; and choice and control.Conclusion This is the first UK study to present qualitative data from CSA survivors about their experiences of dental care. Survivors wish to access dental care but tailored support is needed to ameliorate reminders of abuse and traumatic stress triggers. Trauma-informed care may address difficulties with treatment if dental staff adopt flexible approaches and work collaboratively with survivors to facilitate relational safety. (Please note, in this paper, 'survivors' refers to those sexually abused as children).

The Use of Acrylate Polymers in Dentistry.

The manuscript aimed to review the types of acrylate polymers used in dentistry, as well as their chemical, physical, mechanical, and biological properties. Regarding their consistency and purpose, dental acrylate polymers are divided into hard (brittle), which includes acrylates for the production of plate denture bases, obturator prostheses, epitheses and maxillofacial prostheses, their repairs and lining, and soft (flexible), which are used for lining denture bases in special indications. Concerning the composition and method of polymerization initiation, polymers for the production of denture bases are divided into four types: heat-, cold-, light-, and microwave-polymerized. CAD/CAM acrylate dentures are made from factory blocks of dental acrylates and show optimal mechanical and physical properties, undoubtedly better monomer polymerization and thus biocompatibility, and stability of the shape and colour of the base and dentures. Regardless of the number of advantages that these polymers have to offer, they also exhibit certain disadvantages. Technological development enables the enhancement of all acrylate properties to respond better to the demands of the profession. Special attention should be paid to improving the biological characteristics of acrylate polymers, due to reported adverse reactions of patients and dental staff to potentially toxic substances released during their preparation and use.

Compliance with education on evidence-based oral hygiene principles among dental students and staff: a best practice implementation project.

This study aims to assess compliance with evidence-based criteria regarding oral hygiene principle education provided for children and adolescents in the Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry. Oral health problems might lead to lowering the quality of life amongst children and adolescents; so, providing education regarding oral health principles is of great importance. Eight audit criteria were assessed using the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (PACES) and Getting Research into Practice (GriP) audit and feedback tool. Barriers were identified and dental students and staff were instructed by the team members and asked to educate children and adolescents referred to orthodontic department about oral hygiene practices. Changes in audit criteria were collected by direct observation and interview and reported using descriptive statistics. In the follow-up phase, the percentage of patients who were advised to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, floss daily, and seek regular dental check-ups increased, as compared with the baseline audit (37, 43 and 33%, respectively). Professional fluoride application, fissure sealant and individualized intervention and/or prevention treatment plans increased by 30, 35 and 15%, respectively in the follow-up phase; while advice on diet and risks of alcohol, tobacco and smoking increased by 93%. The use of standard clinical audit tools in dentistry wards causes improvement in the compliance with providing oral hygiene principle instructions among dental students and staff. Standard tools can increase the effectiveness of corrective interventions by identifying weaknesses in patient care process.

The attitudes and perceptions towards the Covid-19 vaccine among dental staff at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Despite the well-known increased risk of exposure to the Covid-19 virus in a dental setting, vaccination rates among staff members are low. This information, as well as the possible associations to demographic profiles, may be useful for authorities to adequately address specific concerns and uncertainties. To determmine the attitudes and perceptions towards the COVID-19 vaccine among dental staff at the UWC Oral Health Centers. A cross-sectional design was used. An anonymous, online, validated questionnaire was used to collect the data. Majority (91.4%) of the participants had received the Covid-19 vaccine while just over 12% stated that they would not take the booster vaccination. Significant associations between the level of education and the attitudes and perceptions of staff were found. While the majority had a positive attitude towards the Covid-19 vaccine, specific concerns and uncertainties were identified and will need to be addressed in order to improve vaccination rates among staff members

What are the ethical considerations of using video social media platforms such as TikTok in your dental practice?

What are the ethical considerations of using video social media platforms such as TikTok in your dental practice?

Awareness and attitude on use of nanotechnology among dental and medical professionals in Iraq

Objective: Several products such as technological devices, pharmaceutical products, have been developed with nanotechnology applications, in medicine fields. This study aimed to assess dental and medical staff perceptions of nanotechnology in Iraq. Materials and Methods: This study was based on an online questionnaires distributed to (736) dental and medical staff in Iraq from different region and different place of work, and the method of selecting the sample was stratified random sampling. The study period was two months (June and July 2020). Result: the largest percentage was for the dental staff 76.5% did hear about nanotechnology, and about 23.5% did not, while among medical staff 54.9% answer yes, and about 45.1% answer they did not hear about nanomedicine. Regarding the uses or applications of nanomedicinee, largest percentage of the responses was may be 64.7% for the dental staff and 67.1% for medical staff. Conclusion: There is an inadequate knowledge of the dental and medical staff about nanotechnology and its applications the in Iraq in field of dentistry and medicine, and it is not effectively used in the dentistry and medical field.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices of teaching staff regarding occupational hazards and safety measures among MDS teaching staffs of dental colleges in India

Background: The teaching institution acts as a major place for gaining knowledge with respect to such hazards and incorporation of prevention is the only cure is the onus of the trainers. Hence the current study was carried out with the aim of understanding the extent of knowledge of teaching staff related to occupational hazards and also the institutional environmental facilities that are conducive to the routine of safety and standards for the same accord. Materials and methods: An online survey was conducted among teaching dental staff members across India. A total of 223 participated in the survey. The data was analyzed using Epi info software (CDC, USA) and Chi square test was performed for inferential statistics. Results: There was lesser proportion of participants who reported in affirmative regarding the questions asked to them. All the three aspects of the study- knowledge, attitude and practices were significantly lower among the staff; most answers were incorrect than the standard expected answers. Conclusion: There is less knowledge with regards to the latest and standard norms among many dental practitioners which can be a challenge when it comes to teaching the upcoming generation.

Bioaerosol distribution characteristics and potential SARS-CoV-2 infection risk in a multi-compartment dental clinic

Dental clinics have a potential risk of infection, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multi-compartment dental clinics are widely used in general hospitals and independent clinics. This study utilised computational fluid dynamics to investigate the bioaerosol distribution characteristics in a multi-compartment dental clinic through spatiotemporal distribution, working area time-varying concentrations, and key surface deposition. The infection probability of SARS-CoV-2 for the dental staff and patients was calculated using the Wells–Riley model. In addition, the accuracy of the numerical model was verified by field measurements of aerosol concentrations performed during a clinical ultrasonic scaling procedure. The results showed that bioaerosols were mainly distributed in the compartments where the patients were treated. The average infection probability was 3.8% for dental staff. The average deposition number per unit area of the treatment chair and table are 28729 pcs/m2 and 7945 pcs/m2, respectively, which creates a possible contact transmission risk. Moreover, there was a certain cross-infection risk in adjacent compartments, and the average infection probability for patients was 0.84%. The bioaerosol concentrations of the working area in each compartment 30 min post-treatment were reduced to 0.07% of those during treatment, and the infection probability was <0.05%. The results will contribute to an in-depth understanding of the infection risk in multi-compartment dental clinics, forming feasible suggestions for management to efficiently support epidemic prevention and control in dental clinics.

Decolonisation of curricula in undergraduate dental education: an exploratory study

Aims To explore experiences and perceptions of students and staff regarding decolonisation of the curriculum in a dental undergraduate programme.Methods Participants were invited to respond to an online survey on decolonisation of the dental curriculum. The target population included current students on the Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Therapy and Hygiene programmes, as well as dental staff at a university in the South West region of England. The common items for student and staff versions of the survey were focused on six themes: representation; content; peer engagement; assessment; language and communication; and culture. All responses were anonymous. Data on programme, year of study, age, sex and ethnicity were captured on a voluntary basis.Results In total, 34 staff members and 120 students from two different programmes participated in the survey, yielding a response rate of 87.17% for staff and 45.28% for students. A comparison showed that average student responses were lower compared with average staff responses. Of the 24 survey items, 17 showed significantly lower scores reported by minority ethnic (ME) students. ME students were, when compared with white counterparts, less likely to report that their programme included opportunities for group discussions about ethnicity and privilege. Similar comparisons of staff responses did not show significant differences between white and ME staff. Nevertheless, responses by staff and students across the board highlighted the need for further steps to improve the representation of ME groups in the curriculum.Conclusions This study provides useful insights into the perceptions and experiences of students and staff regarding the decolonisation of the dental curriculum in an undergraduate dental programme. Responses by the participants across the board identified several areas which could benefit from better representation of ME groups. Significant differences were noted between staff and student scores and also between white and ME students, indicating the latter group demonstrated more awareness regarding issues of representation. The findings underscore the need to take further steps to decolonise dental curricula.