Implications For Dentists Research Articles

Performance Evaluation of Deep Learning Models for Dental Caries Classification via Panoramic Radiograph Images

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of deep learning models to classify mandibular molar teeth according to the presence and proximity of caries to the dental pulp. This research summarizes the progress of artificial intelligence and potential dental problems in diagnosis, treatment, and disease prediction in medicine. It discusses data limitations, computational power, ethical considerations, and their implications for dentists. This can lay the groundwork for future research in this rapidly expanding field. Methods: The dataset used in this study consists of 1200 panoramic radiographs, which have been evaluated and classified into three categories: free of dental caries, coded as (H); enamel-dentin caries lesions treated with restorative filling, coded as (R); and deep dental caries that underwent root canal treatment, coded as (E). The images are prepared for the training-testing process using the k-fold crossevaluation technique and then fed into the pre-trained deep learning models for classification. Results: The VGG-19 model achieved superior results compared to the other models, with macro-average scores of 0.9111 for precision, 0.9127 for recall, and 0.9115 for f1-score, respectively. Conclusion: The promising results obtained in this study give confidence in endorsing the use of deep learning models in the dental treatments sector.

Dental Fear, Anxiety, and Phobia – Behavioral Management and Implications for Dentists

Dental Fear, Anxiety, and Phobia – Behavioral Management and Implications for Dentists

Consent - an update.

Following the judgement in Montgomery in March 2015 which brought the law of consent up to speed with what the GDC 's ethical and professional guidance expected registrants to do, this article looks at how other cases have interpreted Montgomery subsequently and the impact and implications for dentists. The importance of excellent communication is emphasised in order to provide sufficient and relevant information to the particular patient you have sitting in your dental chair.

What does NICE have to say about antimicrobial prescribing to the dental community?

Slowing the emergence of antimicrobial resistance is essential to ensuring antimicrobials remain an effective treatment for infections. Professor Dame Sally Davies, the UK Chief Medical Officer, has compared the threat posed by resistance to that from global terrorism. Antimicrobial use is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance, so reducing unnecessary prescriptions is a high priority. NICE has developed guidance aimed at optimising prescribing within publically-funded health and care services. With primary care dentists responsible for 5% of all NHS antibacterial prescriptions, the dental community has a role to play in guarding the effectiveness of antibacterial drugs. This article describes three recent NICE publications that have implications for dentists. Antimicrobial Stewardship: Systems and Processes (NG 15) is an overarching guideline for the NHS aimed at commissioners and providers of health and care services, together with more specific guidance for prescribers. Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis (CG64) was reissued in 2015 following a review of the latest evidence prompted by concerns that the incidence of infective endocarditis had increased since initial publication of CG64 in 2008. Changing risk-related behaviours of the public in relation to expectations for antimicrobial prescriptions is currently in production (PHG89) . This paper outlines the key recommendations from these NICE guidelines as they relate to the dental community.

Gallium poisoning: A rare case report

The authors present a case of a college student who suffered acute gallium poisoning as a result of accidental exposure to gallium halide complexes. This is extremely rare and has never been reported in the literature. Acute symptoms after the incident, which initially presented as dermatitis and appeared relatively not life-threatening, rapidly progressed to dangerous episodes of tachycardia, tremors, dyspnea, vertigo, and unexpected black-outs. Had there been effective emergency medical care protocols, diagnostic testing, treatment and antidotes, the latent manifestations of irreversible cardiomyopathy may have been prevented. Given how quickly exposure led to morbidity, this article aims to raise an awareness of the toxic potential of gallium. This has particular relevance for workers involved in the production of semiconductors where there is a potential for accidental exposure to gallium by-products during device processing. It may also have implications for dentists who use gallium alloys to replace mercury containing amalgam. In the absence of threshold limit values and exposure limits for humans, as well as emergency medical guidelines for treatment of poisoning, the case calls on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to establish guidelines and medical management protocols specific for gallium.

Eating Disorders: A Personal Story With Implications for Dentists, Educators and Healthcare Professionals

Abstract This resource is a stand-alone video presentation that can be used in the classroom, small-group sessions, or continuing education courses, or by individuals as an interprofessional means ...

How to Prescribe, Store, Order and Dispose of Controlled Drugs

The Shipman Inquiry has lead to a number of changes in the regulations that govern controlled drugs. Some of these changes, in particular the change in schedule of midazolam from Schedule 4 to Schedule 3 and the introduction of private controlled drug prescriptions, which are now mandatory for all private prescribers, have implications for dentists. This paper aims to outline the current regulations governing controlled drugs that are relevant to dentists and covers how to obtain, prescribe, store and dispose of them. Controlled drugs are the most highly regulated medicines and recent changes in the regulations governing them have implications for dentists in both private and NHS practice.

Clinical characteristics and diagnosis of atypical odontalgia: Implications for dentists

Atypical odontalgia (AO) is a poorly understood and commonly misdiagnosed condition for which patients often undergo multiple unsuccessful dental or surgical procedures. The authors conducted a study to determine the prevalence and describe the characteristics of patients with AO seen at the University of Southern California Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Center (USC OFP-OM Center), Los Angeles. The authors conducted a retrospective record review from a database of more than 3,000 patient records from June 2003 to August 2007 to identify patients diagnosed with AO. The authors identified 64 patients (44 women and 20 men) between the ages of 26 and 93 years as having a diagnosis of AO. Of those 64 patients, 71 percent initially consulted a dentist regarding their pain, and 79 percent had undergone dental treatment that failed to resolve the pain. The pain of 64 percent of the patients had no known cause. Dentists, who often are the first health care providers to see patients with AO, must be aware of this condition and must follow the appropriate steps to determine its diagnosis. Dentists and physicians should understand the implications and importance of early diagnosis of patients with AO and of referral to pain specialists for treatment.

Disability part 1: the disability discrimination act (1995)--implications for dentists.

The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) (DDA) aims to end the discrimination which many disabled people face in their day-to-day lives. (1) But how many dentists are aware of their responsibilities under this Act? Dentists are already bound by Parts I and II of the DDA, but Part III, which is due to come into effect in 2004, and which is concerned with physical alterations to premises, has potentially profound implications for many in dental practice. Health Authorities in Merseyside, in the North West of England have been exploring ways in which access to dental care for disabled people can be improved. In this paper, the first of a series of three, we outline the DDA and how it affects dentists in general practice.

Psychological factors and perceptions of pain associated with dental treatment.

Although pain during dental treatment has been identified as playing a major role in the onset of dental anxiety and is a major concern of patients when seeking dental care, there have been very few studies of the prevalence of pain during dental treatment and the factors associated with patients' perceptions of pain. This study used data from a longitudinal population-based study to assess the proportion of dental attenders who experienced pain while having dental treatment and the psychological characteristics which predisposed them to experience pain. Of 1422 subjects who completed questionnaires at baseline and five-year follow-up, 96.4% had visited a dentist over the observation period. Two fifths, 42.5%, reported having pain during treatment and one-fifth, 19.1%, had pain that was moderate to severe in intensity. Reports of pain were associated with the types of treatment received, and a number of baseline sociodemographic and psychological factors. In a logistic regression analysis predicting the probability of pain, a variable documenting the number of types of invasive treatment received (restorations, extractions, crowns/bridges, root canal therapy and periodontal treatment/surgery) had the strongest independent effect. Pain was also more likely to be reported by those with previous painful experiences and those who were anxious about dental treatment, expected treatment to be painful and felt that they had little control over the treatment process. Pain was less likely to be reported by those who said they were unwilling to accept or tolerate pain. Younger subjects and those with higher levels of education were more likely to report pain than older subjects and those with a lower educational level. These results indicate that pain is as much a cognitive and emotional construct as a physiological experience. They also have implications for dentists' behaviour when providing dental care.

Infectious hepatitis C, hepatitis G, and TT virus: review and implications for dentists.

In the past 10 years, hepatitis C and G viruses have been identified, and in the last two years a further parenterally transmitted agent, termed TT virus (TTV), has been discovered. These viruses have a worldwide distribution and frequently cause chronic infection. The purpose of this article was to promote an understanding of these viral agents and their relevance in dental practice. Infected patients may develop a chronic carrier state without clinical disease or may develop liver disease, and may have related oral conditions. Dental providers will see a growing number of patients with HCV/HGV and possibly TTV infection. All of these patients require appropriate infection control measures during dental treatment.

FDA and ADA evaluation of dental products--implications for dentists and their patients: a view from the practitioner.

A general practitioner discusses the problems clinicians encounter in trying to evaluate dental materials and devices. Numerous examples are given. The FDA and ADA should provide more information to dentists concerning their role in monitoring dental products.

P.L. 99‐252–Implications for Dentists and Their Clinical Practice

This paper is one of a series attempting to determine the impact of Public Law 99-252, the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986, on decreasing smokeless tobacco use. Potential indicators are discussed that could be used by the dental profession to determine the efficacy of the profession's involvement in existing and future prevention and cessation efforts relative to this law. In this review, six major areas are considered for measuring declines in smokeless tobacco use relative to the role of the dental health practitioner. These areas encompass the following: (1) the dental profession's knowledge of smokeless tobacco health hazards, (2) dental practitioners' involvement in measuring changes in use patterns, (3) the influence dentists have with their patients and community in decreasing smokeless tobacco use, (4) the general attitude and intention to quit on the part of dental patients, (5) active governmental involvement efforts, and (6) health effects of smokeless tobacco that might be used for identifying decreasing smokeless tobacco use. Within each of these six broad categories, more specific indicators for measuring the impact of P.L. 99-252 relative to the dental profession were considered.

Perception and significance of dental appearance: the case of missing teeth.

The perception and significance of dental appearance was investigated in three groups of patients. One group had a missing front tooth replaced by partial dentures, which were taken out during the tests. A second group had some missing (pre-)molars. A third group had a complete natural dentition and they acted as control group. Color photographs of the teeth were made and a clinical examination was carried out. The psychological impact of dental appearance was measured by way of a scale of words with affective connotations. Social impact was assessed by way of changes in daily activities. Dentists and lay-persons were asked to give an opinion of the dental appearance on the basis of the pictures. It was found that a missing front tooth resulted in less positive feelings and more negative feelings and also that this condition affected daily life activities strongly. Missing (pre-)molars caused less of an aesthetic problem. Dentists and lay-persons were quite alike in their appreciation of dental appearance, whereas the respondents themselves had different opinions. An explanation for these differences and their implications for dentists are discussed.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome: A report of fourteen pediatric cases

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a symptom complex which includes prodromal symptoms followed by severe mucosal, ocular, and cutaneous lesions. Numerous agents have been suggested as possible etiologic factors. The current study reviews fourteen confirmed cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome in children, with emphasis on possible etiology, type and severity of lesions, distribution, and complications. Implications for dentists are discussed.