General Dentists Research Articles

Constructing the brief diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (bDC/TMD) for field testing.

Despite advances in temporomandibular disorders' (TMDs) diagnosis, the diagnostic process continues to be problematic in non-specialist settings. To complete a Delphi process to shorten the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) to a brief DC/TMD (bDC/TMD) for expedient clinical diagnosis and initial management. An international Delphi panel was created with 23 clinicians representing major specialities, general dentistry and related fields. The process comprised a full day workshop, seven virtual meetings, six rounds of electronic discussion and finally an open consultation at a virtual international symposium. Within the physical axis (Axis 1), the self-report Symptom Questionnaire of the DC/TMD did not require shortening from 14 items for the bDC/TMD. The compulsory use of the TMD pain screener was removed reducing the total number of Axis 1 items by 18%. The DC/TMD Axis 1 10-section examination protocol (25 movements, up to 12 sets of bilateral palpations) was reduced to four sections in the bDC/TMD protocol involving three movements and three sets of palpations. Axis I then resulted in two groups of diagnoses: painful TMD (inclusive of secondary headache), and common joint-related TMD with functional implications. The psychosocial axis (Axis 2) was shortened to an ultra-brief 11 item assessment. The bDC/TMD represents a substantially reduced and likely expedited method to establish (grouping) diagnoses in TMDs. This may provide greater utility for settings requiring less granular diagnoses for the implementation of initial treatment, for example non-specialist general dental practice.

Quality of Fixed Dental Prostheses and Patient Satisfaction in a Sample From Saudi Arabia.

The objective of the study was to retrospectively assess the clinical performance of dental prostheses, single crowns, and three-unit bridges to identify clinical biological and mechanical complications in the Ha'il province of Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted between March 2021 to October 2021 and included 421 patients who underwent crown and tooth-supported fixed partial denture (FPD) procedures at the Dental Polyclinics Center in the Ha'il region of Saudi Arabia from 2010-2020. The planned sampling approach was applied. Patients who underwent crown and FPD placements at the dental center within the scheduled period were identified through clinical assessments. The inclusion criteria were met by patients with three-unit FPDs and a single crown containing a natural contralateral tooth or teeth. A total of six general dentists conducted clinical exams. Patient satisfaction and technical and biological issues were the evaluation criteria for crowns and FPDs. The frequency and percentage of the various characteristics employed in the current investigation were ascertained using cross-tabulation. The Chi-square test was employed to assess the associations between categorical variables, with p-values≤ 0.05 considered significant. Results: Marginal integrity was recorded in 332 participants (78.9%), which was satisfactory for the majority of the restoration. The acceptance morphology was present in 252 (59.9%) restorations. The highest rate of the restorations 274 (66.2%) had satisfactory color. In 86 cases (20.4%), there was visible periodontal depth of at least 5 mm. Three hundred and six (72.7%) of the fixed restorations had gingival bleeding connected to them, and 96 (22.8%) teeth had periapical lesions. A total of 311 patients (73.9%) reported they were satisfied with their fixed restorations. The technical and biological complications noted in the current study were not higher compared with other studies of crowns and fixed dental prostheses. The majority of patients were satisfied with the restoration.

Evaluation of knowledge and awareness about teledentistry among dentists and patients living in Turkey.

Teledentistry is a field of telemedicine that combines digital technology and clinical dentistry, enabling remote communication between dentists and patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of dentists and patients about teledentistry in Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted among general and specialist dentists in Turkey, and dental patients in Edirne, Turkey. A questionnaire prepared in Google Docs was shared virtually among Turkish dentists, as well as administered to the patients referred to the university dental clinic in Edirne. Among the 336 dentists participating in the study, 69.9% were female, 39.6% were working in the profession for 1-5 years, and 48.5% were specialist dentists. A total of 86.9% of dentists stated they would like to use teledentistry for radiological examinations, some follow-up examinations, and for follow-up during holidays. There were 21.1% of dentists who thought that teledentistry practices could be the new standard of oral healthcare, and only 34.0% were willing to try such practices. Among the 447 patients in the study, 49.9% were female, 79.0% were aged 20-44 years, and 54.4% had middle income. There were 74.5% of patients who stated that it would be easier to communicate with the dentist via a teledentistry application, 80.3% of patients in the underserved regions stated it would facilitate access to the dentist, 76.3% of patients stated that it would reduce costs, and 88.8% of patients thought that this method could help overcome the problem of isolation during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic period. Based on the results, it can be said that the teledentistry approach would provide convenience for both dentists and patients in terms of dentist-patient communication, cost and efficiency of dental care.

ORAL HEALTH: THE MOST UNMET HEALTH CARE NEED FOR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE ELDERLY WITH OR WITHOUT DEMENTIA

Abstract Individuals aged 65 and older are living longer with multiple chronic conditions, leading to a larger population of medically vulnerable elderly with or without dementia. Consequently, only an interdisciplinary health system can meet the comprehensive health needs for older adults. Historically, Oral Health (OH) is the most unmet need in healthcare, particularly in older adults. This is due to several barriers including Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC). Therefore, there is a growing gap between OH and overall health. We conducted two studies in the past 4 years. The first study included pre-doctorate healthcare students (Medical, Nursing, Dental and Pharmacy) evaluating their IPE during their educational training and the influence of their education later as practitioners. The result of this study revealed an unsatisfactory IPE that would lead to minimum or no interdisciplinary collaboration. The second study (2019 to 2022) included dental residents in a one year post graduate program “Advanced Education in General Dentistry” (AEGD). In each year we collected a survey at the beginning of the residency program asking the level of comfort treating medically vulnerable elderly as a provider in a health team. We then exposed them to a comprehensive geriatric oral health both didactics and clinical skills. The same survey was again conducted at the end of the residency. The study revealed adequate training increased the level of residents’ ability to provide care within a health team. Interdisciplinary health services require interdisciplinary educational training to close the gap between oral health and overall health.

Knowledge, experience, and perception of molar incisor hypomineralisation among dentists in the metropolitan area of Mexico City: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundMolar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) is the most common developmental abnormality observed in teeth. Being a relatively new condition, its treatment can present a challenge for the dentist. There is currently no study available that has evaluated the knowledge of Mexican dental personnel. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, experience, and perceptions of dental surgeons regarding the detection, assessment, and treatment of MIH in the metropolitan area of Mexico City.MethodsA cross-sectional study was designed. Dentists from Mexico City and its metropolitan area were invited through social networks to answer a questionnaire of 30 questions related to MIH. Participants were classified into general practice dentists, paediatric dentists, and other speciality dentists. Pearson’s chi-square test was used for data analysis.ResultsThe questionnaire was answered by 391 dentists. A total of 86% (338 out of 391) of them identified MIH lesions, while 84% of them reported having observed MIH lesions in their practice. The most frequently observed lesions were yellow-brown opacities which accounted for 47% of the lesions, 46% were white opacities, while only 7% were observed as post-eruptive fractures in the enamel as part of the manifestations of MIH. The most frequently reported problem in the management of teeth with MIH was insufficient training for treating children with MIH. A total of 84% of dentists stated that they would like more information on the treatment of MIH lesions.ConclusionsMost of the surveyed dentists recognised MIH and reported having observed MIH lesions in their practice. Most of the dentists indicated that the main problem for the management of the MIH is the lack of training.

Analysis of some factors reducing the efficiency and effectiveness of dental accompanying therapy in cancer patients

Introduction. One of the areas of maintenance therapy in oncology is dental support for patients, the effectiveness of which is currently low. The prevalence of complications of anticancer treatment reaches 100 % of cases. This negatively affects the prognosis of the treatment of an oncological patient and the quality of his life.Aim. To analyze the factors that reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of accompanying dental therapy.Materials and methods. Retrospective analysis of clinical observations of the Department of General and Clinical Dentistry named after V.S. Dmitrieva was carried out on the basis of the Russian Scientific Center of Roentgenoradiology.Results. Factors decreasing the quality and effectiveness of accompanying dental therapy are dental unpreparedness of patients prescribed antitumor treatment, very low level of personal hygiene of the oral cavity, as well as insufficient number of available highly effective techniques for treatment and prevention of radiation injuries.Absence of professionals having skills in dental care for oncological patients at all stages of routing (from diagnosis to rehabilitation after completion of antitumor treatment) is another factor contributing to low effectiveness of accompanying therapy and, in our opinion, the most significant. The current clinical guidelines governing the process of examination and treatment of patients with malignant tumors do not contain detailed instructions for dentists about the techniques, approaches of dental accompaniment, and the necessary medications.Conclusion. Factors that reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of dental accompanying therapy have been identified: the lack of trained dental personnel with the skills to provide care to cancer patients; underestimation of the role of a dentist in solving general clinical problems; lack of a systematic approach to providing accompanying therapy to cancer patients; lack of continuity between the polyclinic link and the stationary.

Endodontic file separation and its management among dentists in Punjab, Pakistan

The study aimed to find the incidence and awareness of endodontic instrument separation and its management among dental house officers, postgraduate trainees, demonstrators, consultants, and general dentists. Methods: This online questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted with the approval of the IRB in private and public dental hospitals and dental clinics in Punjab. The authors developed the survey tool, which comprises 24 closed-ended items regarding demographics, the incidence of file separation, and awareness about its management. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24. The Chi-Square Test was used to compare percentages of categorical variables. Results: Postgraduate trainees experienced the most instrument separations (43.6%), made the most retrieval attempts (49.2%), and experienced the most secondary errors during retrieval (52.1%) (p<0.001). Around four out of ten respondents always informed the patients (39.6%) and department (41.6%) about errors. Manual files (69.8%), stainless steel files (75.8%), and short files (60.4%) were more frequently separated, and the most frequent cause was older fatigue files (57.7%). Manual files were more frequently broken in public dental institutes (p=0.003). Two-thirds of the file separations (72.5%) occurred during cleaning and shaping in the apical third of molars (65.1%), especially in mesiolingual canal (56.4%). Bypass attempt was the most common in symptomatic teeth (47.7%). Conclusions: Preventive approaches such as limiting file reuse and constructing a glide path can reduce the occurrence of file separation. Operators should be familiar with the number of uses of the instrument before fatigue and should be trained through workshops and refresher courses.

Application of the extended theory of planned behavior to predict dentist intention and behavior in providing caries preventive care for preschool children

BackgroundVarious studies show a gap between evidence-based recommendations and the preventive practice of dentists. This study aimed to create and assess an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model on dentists' intentions to do caries preventive measures and related barriers experienced by dentists.MethodsA total of 362 general dentists from 34 Indonesian provinces were included in this study. A self-administered online questionnaire consisted of three sections: dentist characteristics and practice pattern, TPB questionnaire, and dentist perceived behavior regarding preventive care for pediatric patients. The questionnaire was distributed and the data was analyzed through structural equation modeling.ResultsTPB's extended version is a fit and relevant model, explaining 55.3% of dentists' intentions to undertake preventive procedures and 17.8% of preventive practices. Perceived behavioral control was the most powerful predictor of intention (44.2%) and practice (8.8%), while parental barriers were the most significant barrier to provide preventive care (18.9%).ConclusionExtending the TPB by taking barriers from multiple stakeholders as a consideration has a higher predictive level for preventive practices. Each barrier should be addressed through oral health programs and policies, and dentists must be taught to overcome these barriers (through formal or continuing education) in order to maximize caries prevention strategies.

Beyond the Scalpel: Assessing ChatGPT's Potential as an Auxiliary Intelligent Virtual Assistant in Oral Surgery

AI has revolutionized the way we interact with technology. Noteworthy advances in AI algorithms and large language models (LLM) have led to the development of natural generative language (NGL) systems such as ChatGPT. Although these LLM can simulate human conversations and generate content in real time, they face challenges related to the topicality and accuracy of the information they generate. This study aimed to assess whether ChatGPT-4 could provide accurate and reliable answers to general dentists in the field of oral surgery, and thus explore its potential as an intelligent virtual assistant in clinical decision making in oral surgery. Thirty questions related to oral surgery were posed to ChatGPT4, each question repeated 30 times. Subsequently, a total of 900 responses were obtained. Two surgeons graded the answers according to the guidelines of the Spanish Society of Oral Surgery, using a three-point Likert scale (correct, partially correct/incomplete, and incorrect). Disagreements were arbitrated by an experienced oral surgeon, who provided the final grade Accuracy was found to be 71.7%, and consistency of the experts' grading across iterations, ranged from moderate to almost perfect. ChatGPT-4, with its potential capabilities, will inevitably be integrated into dental disciplines, including oral surgery. In the future, it could be considered as an auxiliary intelligent virtual assistant, though it would never replace oral surgery experts. Proper training and verified information by experts will remain vital to the implementation of the technology. More comprehensive research is needed to ensure the safe and successful application of AI in oral surgery.

Knowledge about methods of disinfection of dental impression among dentists from Ecuador post SARS-COV-2 pandemic

PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate the understanding of the management of methods and practices of disinfection of dental impressions applied by general dentists and specialists in oral rehabilitation, post SARS-COV-2 pandemic. IntroductionThe oral cavity has a favorable environment for the growth and multiplication of bacteria and viruses, serving as the gateway to viruses such as SARS CoV-2 virus. Given that patients may be hosts of this infectious disease, stricter biosecurity measures in dental offices and a better understanding of the disinfection processes of dental impressions should be considered in addition to avoiding cross-infections, which are very common in our work environment. Materials and methodsDescriptive, analytical, survey with the topic "Methods and practices of disinfection of dental impressions" that was composed of 14 questions based in OHPD (Oral Health Preventive Dentistry), n = 452 respondents who met the following inclusion criteria: general practice dentists from Ecuador who actively take dental impressions, specialists in oral rehabilitation with 5 years of experience, surveys with information of complete items, n = 270 professionals; n = 192 general dentists, dental hygienist and n = 78 oral rehabilitation specialists. Resultsn = 270 professionals evaluated, with a mean of p = 0.0. At 426 responses with a p value of <0.05, 30.4 % of responses indicated ignorance in the management of dental impressions, with a standard deviation of 2.744, with significant differences between professions (p = 0.035) and higher average knowledge of sample management within specialist dentists, (Chi p = 0.410 p > 0.05) ConclusionThe understanding of the management of dental impressions among general dentists and specialists in oral rehabilitation is limited.

Knowledge, awareness, and perception of digital dentistry among Egyptian dentists: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDigital dentistry has revolutionized the way dental treatment is offered to patients. It became essential for dental practitioners to be well-informed about this technology to improve the quality of care offered and increase patient satisfaction. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, awareness, and perception of Egyptian dentists toward digital dentistry.MethodsAn online-based cross-sectional study was conducted using social media platforms from November 2022 to March 2023. Our study sample included dentists with different levels of experience, specialties, and working in different health sectors in Egypt. A questionnaire arranged in 4 sections and 23 questions was used as the study data collection tool. The data were tabulated and analyzed using SPSS software.ResultsA total of 402 participants filled out this questionnaire. 50.7% of which were females, 42.8% were between 20–29 years old and 42.3% were general practitioners. Furthermore, the main practice of 27.6% was in governmental dental clinics. Moreover, 47.3% and 64.2% of participants had Moderate knowledge and awareness respectively. While 75.9% of them had a high perception of practicing digital dentistry. Females and practitioners in governmental clinics had significantly lower awareness scores, while faculty teaching staff had significantly higher scores (P ≤ 0.05). On the other hand, practicing in the Great Cairo region and urban areas was associated with significantly higher knowledge scores (P ≤ 0.05). Similarly, Prosthodontists, periodontists, and restorative dentists had significantly higher scores when compared with general dentists (P ≤ 0.05).ConclusionsAbout half of the study participants had Moderate knowledge and awareness levels, while about three-quarters of them had a high level of perception toward practicing digital dentistry. Therefore, more attention should be given to providing dental education programs in this important field at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels by policymakers.

Study on the conditions of color determination in dentistry.

Abstract Introduction: Several variables can impact the choice of shade. Having a thorough understanding of these factors and following the proper selection technique is crucial for achieving favorable esthetic results. Aim of the study: To review the characteristics of esthetic perception of teeth in different lighting conditions, by individuals with different levels of experience in dentistry. Material and methods: Thirty volunteers, dentistry students, and general dentists were recruited. The participants were asked to determine the color of 4 mock-ups containing artificial teeth, under standardized conditions. Therefore, the samples were introduced in a custom-made box and illuminated by two different light conditions (4300 K and 5500 K), and three different colors (black, gray, and pink) were selected as background colors. Results: Our results showed a statistically significant difference between the two examined light conditions, the number of correct color determinations was significantly higher under the light with a color temperature of 5500K (p&lt;0.00001). It can be seen that the gray background color proved to be statistically significantly more beneficial than the black and pink background colors. Conclusions: Among dentistry students and practitioners, environmental changes that affect shade determination have been demonstrated. Further research is still necessary regarding the perception of the esthetic expectations of dental treatments for color determination.

Comparative Evaluation of Various Lens and Ring Flash Combination for Intraoral Photography.

Extraoral and intraoral dental photographs serve as preoperative records and document the entire treatment. Correctly composed orthodontic photographs are crucial for remote diagnosis and may serve as a bulwark against medicolegal challenges. In this prospective study, intraoral frontal photographs of patients with ideal occlusion were taken using two types of lenses (EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens (Canon, Tokyo, JP), SP 90 mm F/2.8 MACRO VC lens (Model F017 Tamron, NY, USA)) and two different ring flash systems (Meike FC-100 Macro Ring LED Light (Meike, China), Macro Ring flash Lite YN-14EX (Yongnuo digital, China)). The combination of lens and flash used was grouped into four groups. Twenty-eight intraoral photographs of patients were taken. An image quality assessment survey was distributed among two groups - 50 orthodontists and 50 other dental specialists. The participants were asked to assess all the intraoral images and subjectively score them on a scale of one to ten, with one being very poor and ten being excellent, considering the sharpness, color, brightness, contrast, and overall quality of the image. The general dentists rated the images taken with a 90-mm macro lens and ring flash as the best quality photographs. Images obtained using an 18-55 mm lens and ring LED received significantly lesser scores and were graded good by dentists. This combination of lens and flash may prove a valuable investment in the long-term aiding in excellent dental images for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Effect of Clark’s twin block appliance and upper premolar extraction treatment modality on smile aesthetics in skeletal class II malocclusion: a retrospective cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Introduction Treatment undertaken during growth has various advantages over camouflage treatment including an improved profile and treatment stability. The objective of this study was to compare pre- and post-treatment smile variables in class II malocclusion population treated via functional appliance or upper first premolar extraction. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital that included frontal closeup smile (FCS) pictures of 40 patients treated with Clark’s twin block (CTB) appliance and upper premolar extraction (UPE). Smile ratios were calculated, and improvement in smile aesthetics were scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS) by a panel of raters of laypersons, general dentists and orthodontists with 20 subjects in each panel. Friedman and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to determine differences between pre-, mid- and post-treatment smile variables. Independent t-test was used to measure differences in improvement of smile aesthetic scores, while simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine any associations between smile aesthetic scores and variables. Results CTB group showed highly statistically significant differences for smile index (SIR), interlabial gap ratio (IGR), visible dentition width ratio (VDWR), archform ratio (AFR), mandibular incisal show ratio (MnIR) and smile arc ratio (SAR). On comparison of post-treatment smile variables between the two treatment groups, statistically significant differences were observed for buccal corridor ratio (BCR) (p = 0.01) and AFR ratios. Conclusions Higher smile improvement scores were seen with CTB treatment with orthodontists rating it higher than UPE. Improvement in maxillary incisal ratio causes an increase in smile aesthetic scores.

Digital Technologies in Clinical Practice? Ethical and Legal Knowledge and Practice - A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND&#x0D; Digital technologies have become indispensable tools in clinical practice, revolutionizing the way healthcare professionals deliver care, access information, and manage their daily routines. However, it also presents ethical and legal challenges that need to be carefully addressed. This study focused on the assessment of knowledge and practice among dental practitioners of using digital technologies in clinical setups.&#x0D; METHODS&#x0D; The descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using the well-structured, pretested, questionnaire consisting of close-ended questions and was statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 3.1.9) for MS Windows.&#x0D; RESULTS&#x0D; Overall knowledge of participants between different years of practice (P-0.702) and between general dentists and specialties (P-0.09) had no statistically significant difference unlike in practices between the groups.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS&#x0D; To navigate these issues effectively, healthcare organizations should establish comprehensive policies and procedures for their efficient use in clinical practice along with education programs for professionals.

The Translation Quality of Clinically Oriented Anatomy Book in Bahasa Indonesia

The objective of this study are to identify the accuracy of the medical translation and describe the result of the quality translation of the Clinically Oriented Anatomy book in Bahasa Indonesia. This is a descriptive, qualitative research which focus on single case, objective of the data is the medical terminology that found in the translation process. The data collected by Focus Group Discussion, Interview, and Questioner with the key informants who is a specialist dentist, and two general dentist. The number of the data is 359, the result of the research showed that 36.49 % from the specialist doctor, 34.81% from the general dentist and the last 35.93% that give the scale of the accuracy in the translation. It can be conclude that, the accuracy of the transaltion is less accurate.

General dentists' knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer in Indonesia.

The most effective means for reducing oral cancer (OC) mortality is by preventing late-stage disease. Early diagnosis can be improved by increasing awareness among healthcare providers, specifically general dental practitioners (GDP). Therefore, our study aimed to assess GDPs'knowledge of OC risk factors and perceived competence in performing conventional oral examination (COE) in routine dental practice. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in five provinces of Indonesia, namely: Aceh, Banda Aceh (BA); Bandung, West Java (WJ); special district Jakarta (JKT), JKT; Pontianak, West Kalimantan (WK); and Sorong, West Papua (WP). The local Dental Association or Faculty of Dentistry invited the GDPs to attend an education program and complete the survey. One hundred seventy-sevenGDPs completed the survey (WJ, n = 63; BA, n = 44, JKT, n = 27; WP, n = 23; and WP, n = 20). A large proportion (164 out of 177, 92.66%) of GDPs felt they had received insufficient training to equip them to diagnose OC and as many as 22.6% (n = 40) did not refer to specialists when they found suspicious mucosal lesions. Notwithstanding the significant regional variations, the majority of Indonesian GDPs self-reported inadequate knowledge and awareness of OC and scarce confidence in performing COE. GDP knowledge of OC risk factors and COE is key to improving early diagnosis of OC at a community level. Therefore, it is suggested that the lack of knowledge and confidence of GDPs reported here should be addressed through the national dental curriculum in Indonesia.

Assessment of the Knowledge and Practice of General Dentists in Yazd City about Oral and Dental Care of Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy in 2021-2022

Introduction: Treatment of head and neck cancers, it can have adverse effects on patients' oral health status. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and practice of general dentists in Yazd City in the field of oral care in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.&#x0D; Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 134 general dentists were selected by systematic random sampling and their awareness and practice level were assessed using by using a researcher-made questionnaire with valid and reliable questionnaire (r=0.81). Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25, t-test and ANOVA tests.&#x0D; Results: The mean score of knowledge score was 11.44 ±2.03 out of18 and mean of practice score was11.9 ±3.41 out OF 20. The mean score of knowledge was not significantly associated with age, work experience and practice score were not significantly associated with gender, age and work experience, but the mean score of knowledge in women was significantly higher than men (P=0.01). Moreover, dentists worked in both clinic and Personal office showed significantly higher awareness (P=0.001). The average practice score of dentists in personal office was significantly higher than other options (P=0.03).&#x0D; Conclusion: Dentists of Yazd had moderate knowledge and performance level in the field of oral and dental care in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It seems that the need to hold programs with this theme in the sessions of continuing education and holding training and educational webinar to improve the level of awareness and clinical practice to provide desirable services to these patients should be considered.

Trajectories of opioid prescribing by general dentists, specialists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States, 2015-2019

BackgroundDespite decreases in opioid prescribing from 2016 through 2019, some dentists (general, specialists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons) in the United States continue to prescribe opioids at high rates. The authors’ objective was to define dentists’ trajectories of opioid prescribing. MethodsThe authors identified actively prescribing dentists from the IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription data set, from 2015 through 2019. Group-based trajectory modeling identified opioid prescribing trajectories on the basis of dentists’ annual prescribing rates for the overall sample (model 1) and for high prescribers (model 2). The authors used χ2 or Mann-Whitney U tests to characterize the model 2 trajectory groups. ResultsIn model 1 (n = 199,145 prescribers), group-based trajectory modeling identified 8 trajectories that were grouped into 5 categories. A total of 14.8% were nonprescribers who composed less than 1% of all prescriptions, low prescribers (3 groups; 46.0%) prescribed at low rates (2015: 5.5%-16.9%; 2019: 1.5%-11.9%), decliners (7.3%) decreased prescribing rapidly (2015: 29.4%; 2019: 5.1%), moderately high prescribers (2 groups; 28.5%) prescribed moderately (2015: 28.7% and 39.2%; 2019: 18.1% and 28.8%), and consistently high prescribers (3.4%) prescribed at high rates (2015: 54.6%; 2019: 44.7%). In model 2, from consistently high prescribers (n = 6,845), 4 trajectories were identified. Of these 4 groups, 1 group (7.5%) declined prescribing rapidly. The groups did not differ meaningfully; however, the rapid decliners included fewer oral and maxillofacial surgeons (13.0% vs 18.4%), saw more Medicaid patients (2.5% vs 1.0%), and had higher opioid prescribing rates in 2015 (95.5% vs 91.6%) (P < .001 for all). ConclusionsThe authors identified variations in dentists’ opioid prescribing rates. Although 60% of dentists decreased prescribing rates by 30% through 83%, 3.4% of dentists consistently prescribed at high rates. Practical ImplicationsSome dentists continue to prescribe opioids at high levels, indicating that additional information is needed to better inform policy and clinical decision making.

Novel Procedure for Automatic Registration between Cone-Beam Computed Tomography and Intraoral Scan Data Supported with 3D Segmentation.

In contemporary practice, intraoral scans and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) are widely adopted techniques for tooth localization and the acquisition of comprehensive three-dimensional models. Despite their utility, each dataset presents inherent merits and limitations, prompting the pursuit of an amalgamated solution for optimization. Thus, this research introduces a novel 3D registration approach aimed at harmonizing these distinct datasets to offer a holistic perspective. In the pre-processing phase, a retrained Mask-RCNN is deployed on both sagittal and panoramic projections to partition upper and lower teeth from the encompassing CBCT raw data. Simultaneously, a chromatic classification model is proposed for segregating gingival tissue from tooth structures in intraoral scan data. Subsequently, the segregated datasets are aligned based on dental crowns, employing the robust RANSAC and ICP algorithms. To assess the proposed methodology's efficacy, the Euclidean distance between corresponding points is statistically evaluated. Additionally, dental experts, including two orthodontists and an experienced general dentist, evaluate the clinical potential by measuring distances between landmarks on tooth surfaces. The computed error in corresponding point distances between intraoral scan data and CBCT data in the automatically registered datasets utilizing the proposed technique is quantified at 0.234 ± 0.019 mm, which is significantly below the 0.3 mm CBCT voxel size. Moreover, the average measurement discrepancy among expert-identified landmarks ranges from 0.368 to 1.079 mm, underscoring the promise of the proposed method.