Practice Of Dental Practitioners Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Dental Practitioners in Providing Care to Children in Out-of-Home Care: A Scoping Review.

A scoping review was conducted to synthesize available evidence of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental practitioners in providing care to children in out-of-home care (OOHC). Scientific databases and the grey literature were searched: 855 studies were screened after removing duplicates; 800 studies were excluded based on the title and/or abstract, and the full text of 55 studies was reviewed, with 7 included in the analysis. These included three peer-reviewed articles regarding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental practitioners in providing care to children in OOHC, as well as four guidelines. Dental practitioners had some knowledge of the high health care needs of OOHC children, but knowledge regarding when children entering care received dental assessment and about OOHC dental care pathways was low. Practices of dental practitioners were varied, most gave oral hygiene instructions, but there was inconsistency in practices regarding continuity of care following placement changes and failure to attend policies. There was more consensus with dental practitioner attitudes, with practitioners in private settings seeming to prefer not to treat children in OOHC. Three of the identified guidelines provided logistical information about OOHC and consent. The final guideline gave practical information on treating children with a background of adverse childhood events (ACEs), including children in OOHC. Further research and education is warranted to aid dental practitioners in providing care to children in OOHC.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Dental Practitioners in Kerala on Clinical Decision Support Tools in the Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries

Abstract Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI’s) be it simple or complex are one of the most frequently encountered oral health problems of public health concern. The quality of the treatment provided by the practitioners can affect the overall prognosis of the affected teeth. To achieve optimal clinical success, evidence-based knowledge in the management of TDIs is essential. There is rapid accessibility of information through clinical decision support tools (CDST) (mobile applications and guidelines) which can be utilised by practitioners for efficient management of TDIs. Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices of dental practitioners in Kerala on the use of CDST in the management of TDI’s. Settings and Design: This was an observational cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: A close-ended validated electronic questionnaire with 37 questions was circulated amongst100 dental practitioners from October to December 2023. Participation in the study was voluntary and all responses were anonymous. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics was used to summarise the characteristics of survey respondents and their responses. Results: Practitioners were somewhat confident (77%) or neutral (33%) in planning the treatment of TDI and 25% were extremely confident. Most of the practitioners were not aware of CDST (64%). Amongst the practitioners who were aware of CDST (34%), 60% used mobile applications for managing TDI. Seventy-four percentage of the practitioners had knowledge on the International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines and 80% of them had used it for treatment planning. Conclusions: The current results demonstrated a lack of knowledge amongst practitioners regarding CDST. Hence, there is a need for planned interventions to create and propagate awareness regarding the same.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Emergency Management of Avulsed Tooth among Dental Practionator in Pakistan: A Questionnaire-Based Survey

Background: The management of dental traumatic injuries, particularly avulsed permanent teeth, necessitates a comprehensive understanding and proficient clinical skills among dental practitioners. With the increasing prevalence of dental injuries due to various factors, the knowledge and practices of dentists in emergency and clinical management are pivotal for successful outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the current state of knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Pakistani dentists regarding the management of avulsed teeth, highlighting areas for improvement and adherence to international guidelines. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental practitioners in Pakistan concerning the emergency management of avulsed permanent teeth and to identify gaps in knowledge and practice compared to the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 dental professionals in Pakistan, using an online questionnaire from August to September 2022. The survey comprised three sections: demographic information, knowledge and attitudes towards dental trauma education, and practices in the emergency management of avulsed teeth. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data, utilizing SPSS version 25.0 for statistical analysis. Results: The survey revealed that 47.5% of respondents felt they received enough information during their undergraduate education, yet a significant proportion reported forgetting much of this knowledge over time. Regarding post-graduation knowledge sources, conferences and medical journals were the most cited (26.7% and 24.2%, respectively). In terms of practice, 79.2% correctly identified HBSS as the optimal storage medium for avulsed teeth, and 60% adhered to rinsing the tooth with saline before replantation. Awareness of the critical extra-oral dry time being under 60 minutes was noted in 59.2% of participants, and a majority were in favor of initiating root canal treatment 7 to 10 days post-replantation for teeth with a closed apex, aligning with IADT recommendations. However, a preference for rigid splints over flexible ones was observed in 54.2% of respondents, indicating a deviation from best practices. Conclusion: The study identified a satisfactory level of knowledge among Pakistani dentists regarding some aspects of avulsed tooth management but also highlighted significant gaps, particularly in the use of flexible splints and recollection of undergraduate training. Continuous education and adherence to IADT guidelines are essential for improving the management of dental traumatic injuries.

Prospective Evaluation of Dental Practitioners' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Adult Dental Pain Management: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study.

Background Dental pain among adults is a prevalent concern impacting oral health and quality of life. Dental pain management presents a significant challenge for dental practitioners in effectively alleviating patient discomfort. Among the medications available, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are considered the most effective analgesics in dental care. While numerous studies have been conducted to assess the role of antibiotics in dental practice, there is a scarcity of studies specifically examining the prescription patterns of analgesics. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental practitioners (DPs) in India concerning the management of adult dental pain. Method This survey utilized a computer-aided questionnaire-based approach. A total of 110 dentists, including 16 from metropolitan areas and 84 from non-metropolitan cities practicing at dental healthcare setups, clinics, and hospitals, were interviewed as part of the survey. The participants comprised dental professionals specializing in prosthodontics, endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, pedodontics, and oral medicine. The study was conducted between September 2022 and January 2023. Results The primary reason patients seek dental consultation, as reported by 95% of dentists, is tooth cavities, followed by tooth sensitivity, post-root canal treatment, and pulpitis. All surveyed dentists prescribed NSAIDs to their patients for managing dental pain. Local anesthesia (LA) was the second choice for 75% of dentists, prescribed to 23% of their patients. The primary use of NSAIDs was for patients experiencing severe pain and to manage post-procedure pain. Eighty percent of DPs recognized ketorolac as a fast-acting molecule, providing immediate relief within 10-15 minutes. Overall, analysis indicated that 98% of DPs are satisfied and 67% are extremely satisfied with ketorolac among monotherapies for dental pain management due to its quick onset of action, fast pain relief, and usefulness in post-surgical pain management. Conclusion NSAIDs like ketorolac, diclofenac, and aceclofenacwere the preferred prescriptions for overall dental pain management. Dental practitioners associated ketorolac with fast pain relief, quick onset of action, and effectiveness in post-surgical pain management, emphasizing its lasting effects. The insights from the study contribute to enhancing dental pain management strategies.

Attitude and Practice of Dental Practitioners Towards the Oral Biopsy Procedure: A Questionnaire-based Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Dentists, the first medical professionals to be consulted for conditions involving the oral cavity, have the distinct advantage of being in a position to screen patients for oral cancer. To effectively manage patients, dentists must be familiar not only with where, when, how and why to perform biopsies, but also with when to refer them to specialised institutions. Aim: To assess the attitude and practice of dental practitioners towards the oral biopsy procedure. Materials and Methods: The present questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, from July 2023 to August 2023. Fifty dental practitioners with a minimum academic qualification of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) participated in the study, which was designed to collect information regarding the importance of oral biopsy, methods used to obtain biopsies, tissue preservation, diagnosis, referral to higher centers and the attitudes and practices of dental practitioners in examining oral mucosal lesions. The questionnaire was prepared using the Google Forms app. The received responses were compiled and statistical data (percentage) was calculated using Microsoft Excel 2020. Results: Out of total, 42 (84%) dentists encounter up to 10 oral mucosal lesions, such as potentially malignant disorders, in a month. Despite this, only 22% (n=11) of them performed biopsies themselves. Furthermore, 6 (12%) dentists did not know the proper medium for preserving biopsies. Of all, 24 (48%) dentists felt the need for proper training in biopsy techniques to be included in the undergraduate curriculum. Conclusion: Despite being aware of the importance of biopsy as a crucial diagnostic procedure, not many dentists perform it routinely due to reasons such as lack of training, patient non compliance and medicolegal implications. Hence, dentists should be educated in performing the oral biopsy procedure, including handling of specimens and referral to specialists.

Sustainability in Dentistry: Assessing knowledge, attitude, and practices of dental practitioners about green dentistry.

Green dentistry is an emerging concept necessary to address the worsening climatic changes. It is essential to compile the existing literature on knowledge, attitude, and practice on green dentistry that can be accomplished by conducting a literature review. The objective of this literature review was to summarize and present the existing knowledge that dentists have regarding green dental practices, their attitude about this shift towards sustainability, and steps that they have taken in their personal practice to adhere towards an eco-friendlier dental approach. Three months of effective research and review development from March 2022 to June 2022. Design using keywords, a literature search was performed in PubMed, Google scholar and Web of Science databases. A total of 13 articles of 45, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected, of which two were excluded as these were not in English. Dental practitioners have good knowledge about green dentistry and positive attitudes towards environment conservation, but implementation in their practice is not adequate. Most common themes of knowledge, attitude and practice assessment in green dentistry are amalgam management, radiographic management, infection control, waste management, water, and electricity management. The absence of adequate literature on eco-friendly practices in dentistry makes it difficult to validate the findings of most of these studies. Dental professionals are familiar with environmentally friendly dental practices and have a positive outlook on their role in environmental protection, but its application in practice is far from adequate.

Delivering oral healthcare for people with cystic fibrosis: A survey of dental practitioners in Ireland

AbstractBackgroundCystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive condition in Caucasian populations globally. To date, there has been very little research conducted into the oral health of adults with CF possibly due to historic premature mortality. The purpose of this survey was to ascertain knowledge, attitude and practices among dental professionals regarding the oral health of people with cystic fibrosis (PWCF) as part of a larger study being conducted in Ireland.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey of dental practitioners in Ireland was conducted via an online questionnaire. The survey contained close‐ended questions, and clinical scenarios which allowed for both close‐ended and free text responses in relation to the provision of dental treatment for PWCF. Data was subject to descriptive data analysis using IBM SPSS 29.ResultsThe results from the survey indicate a wide variety in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of dental practitioners regarding the oral health of PWCF. There is significant variation in the provision of dental treatment and the conditions under which such treatment is provided.ConclusionThere is a paucity of information and guidelines specific to this vulnerable population which can make the provision of dental treatment challenging for practitioners. Dental professionals may benefit from continuing professional development and further education targeting patient‐specific populations.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Dental Practitioners Towards Anterior Teeth Shade Matching in Saudi Arabia.

When taking into account several factors, including the kind and intensity of the light source, the season, the angle of incidence, the patient's attire, age, gender, and the time of day and year, color is one of the most crucial variables of aesthetic dentistry. The most challenging part of prosthetic dentistry is choosing a replacement tooth's color so that it blends in with the surrounding teeth and covers gingival tissue.As a result of the fact that having an understanding of the concept of color is extremely important in order to achieve good aesthetics, and the distribution of color is highly important to achieve shade matching. The goal of this study was to evaluate dental professionals' self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding anterior tooth shade matching in Saudi Arabia. This research study was conducted in Saudi Arabia from February to April 2022. Two hundred fifteen registered dental practitioners participated in the cross-sectional, closed-ended questionnaire-based survey. Dental health professionals working in dental colleges, dental clinics, or other dentally significant institutions like hospitals (both government and private)and their respective private practices in various capacities as professors, teachers, or post-graduate students answered the research questionnaire. Dentists who were not involved actively in shade selection or declined to participate in contact through the mail were excluded. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for the comparison of categorical data, and a p-value of0.05 at 95% CI was statistically significant. Among the questions that were asked, the majority of them said age, sex, gender play, and appointment timing,along with patient opinion playa very important role in shade selection. Moreover, among thepatients, 34% noted the manual method of shade selection, and 45.6% of them chose a combination of manual and mechanical methods. When they were asked about the commonest reason they came across for doing a shade selection of anterior teeth, around 52.60% said aesthetics, while 20.90% said fracture of anterior teeth. While 19.1% of people used rubber dam isolation, 34.0% of them preferred the use of cotton rolls and absorbing points, and only 16.7% of them often used Teflon tape. The majority of them had difficulty with shade selection due to the light source, as viewing shades in poor quality light influences how color is perceived; thus, the quality of light is the most influential factor in shade-taking practices. Around 44.7% of them preferred to do shade selection under natural daylight. Based on the results obtained from the current study, the authors would like to conclude that more attention should be focused on improving the knowledge of color science and its application in aesthetic dentistry, as the color and appearance of teeth are complex phenomena with many factors. Hence, for a good aesthetic outcome to be achieved, the dentist should consider all possible entities that influence shade selection.

Dental Sleep Medicine among dental practitioners: Preliminary findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Dental sleep medicine (DSM) focuses on oral appliance therapy (OAT) to manage sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This brief poll aimed to assess the interest and practices of dental practitioners in DSM. To this day lack of data exists regarding how DSM practices function in the clinical setting. Therefore, identifying knowledge gaps in DSM among dental practitioners may improve patient outcomes. A preliminary brief questionnaire ("Quick Poll") on DSM was conducted through the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (Network) members (n=311). The poll contained five questions about DSM. Results showed that 66% of practitioners have involvement in DSM patient care. A total of 44% of practitioners who answered the Quick Poll do not screen for snoring or SDBs. About 40% of respondents are either interested in continuing education courses on the topic or had already taken multiple courses on DSM. The top three topics of DSM research of interest to practitioners were various DSM practice models, response to OAT, and compliance with OAT. Network dental practitioner respondents face challenges regarding the treatment of SDBs. Despite these challenges, most practitioners are interested in engaging in DSM. Based on these preliminary findings, there are informational needs regarding the current state of clinical care, side effects of OAT, choice of OAT, titration protocols, and patient outcomes.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Medical and Dental Practitioners Regarding COVID 19 Pandemic

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of medical and dental practitioners regarding COVID-19. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted in College of Dentistry, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore from July 2021 to July 2022 on medical and dental practitioners. Medical and dental practitioners irrespective of their age, gender and specialty of practice were included in the study. Participants who refused to give consent to be included in the study were excluded. Informed consent was taken from the participants before data collection. Data was collected using a pre-validated questionnaire Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the scores of attitude (p=≤0.001) and practices (p=≤0.001) while the non-significant difference in the scores of knowledge (p=0.200) across medical and dental practitioners regarding COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The level of knowledge, attitude and practices of dental practitioners was higher in comparison to the medical practitioners. Keywords: COVID 19 pandemic, Dental practitioners, medical practitioners, knowledge, attitude, practice

Knowledge and Practices Regarding Informed Consent among Dental Practitioners

To assess the knowledge and practices of dental practitioners regarding informed consent. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 dentists at the College of Dentistry, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore from June 2019 to June 2020. A pre-validated questionnaire was used. Mann Whitney U test was performed to find the statistical difference in the knowledge and practice scores across the gender and place of practice of dentists and the Kruskal Wallis test for scores across the years of clinical experience and qualification of dentists. RESULTS: The mean practice score was significantly different across levels of qualification (p=0.032) but not across years of practice (0.366). There was no significant difference in the mean knowledge score across years of practice (p=0.744) and levels of qualification (p=0.366). The highest mean score among knowledge questions was seen for the questions which inquired if informed consent should be taken before treatment. The highest mean score among practice questions was seen for the question which inquired if dentists obtained informed consent from parents before treating children. CONCLUSION: The mean knowledge score for females was higher in comparison to males and was the highest in dentists with an experience of greater than 10 years. Most dentists were aware of the concepts, types and processes of informed consent and the importance of taking the patient`s consent before treatment. Taking informed consent from patients before treatment, keeping it as part of their record and taking parents’ consent before treating children were practiced.

Assessment of knowledge, awareness and practice of dental practitioners on the relationship between poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in periodontally compromised women-A questionnaire based survey

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinal disorder of uncertain etiology characterized by hyperandrogenism, anovulatory infertility, menstrual dysfunction, hirsutism, alopecia and acne. Periodontitis is a common chronic infection characterized by an exaggerated gingival inflammatory response against pathogenic bacterial microflora, resulting in alveolar bone and eventually tooth loss. The relationship of PCOS in periodontally compromised women are very distinctly studied.A cross-sectional survey study design was conducted with closed it's close ended questions. The question were self-prepared, validated and made reliable. Data collection done and analyzed using the SPSS software. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were determined.95 percent of the participants were aware of a condition called PCOS. A total of 71 percent of participants have expressed that they carry out routine screening in their clinical practice. However, only a total of 57% of the total participants were able to diagnose PCOS in their clinical practice. A total of 64% of the participants have expressed that intrigue knowledge on the oral manifestations of PCOS have helped diagnose PCOS in their patients. 63 percent of the total participants were aware of the medical specialty of choice to consult for patients diagnosed with PCOS of which only 28 percent of the total participants were aware of the clinical grading of PCOS.This survey helps conclude that even though knowledge of PCOS, clinical manifestations and oral manifestations of PCOS are aware for majority, only 10% achieve to diagnose it in daily practice. This study hopes to shed light on the relationship between Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in periodontally compromised women to better enhance the diagnosis, treatment planning and the systemic corelation of the oral manifestations of the condition.

Knowledge Attitude and Practice of Dental Practitioners towards Palliative Dental Care: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

Introduction: Palliative care is active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. In a multidisciplinary approach for rendering palliative care, a dentist’s role is vital, but overlooked. Oral cavity is home to numerous microorganisms aggravating disease process. A trained dentist helps treat and manage oral manifestations of systemic diseases from diagnosis to relief from pain and discomfort. Dental expression in palliative care is extended dental services to provide preeminent feasible oral care to terminally ill or advanced diseased patients. Oral conditions impact quality of life of patients and initiation and progression of these lesions may be related to the succession of disease, its treatment or both.
 Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental practitioners towards palliative dental care.
 Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational questionnaire-based study conducted on 50 dental academicians and practitioners across Mumbai which included specialists in Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics and Oral Pathology. A closed-ended, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire would be prepared for the study.
 Results: All participants completed their masters in dental surgery. Eighty five percent participants had come across patients requiring palliative care. All except 4 male and 1 female respondent acknowledged importance of palliative care in dentistry. 56.8% participants were aware of hospitals providing palliative dental care. All participants considered palliative care to be interdisciplinary. 94 participants believed dental problems to be common in palliative care. Majority respondents suggested a sugar-free diet while 19 proposed a spicy diet for cases requiring palliative care. Fluoride based mouthwash was recommended by 40 participants and 30 recommended chlorhexidine based while 10 preferred alcohol-based. While 70 participants had not attended any seminars, workshops, symposiums and/ or conferences on palliative care, 80 were willing to do so.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Dental Practitioners towards Computer Guided Implant Surgery in Central India: A Cross-sectional Survey

Introduction: Incorporating digital technologies has been recently gaining popularity because of the known benefits like increased accuracy, predictable outcomes and reduction in treatment time. It is very important for the clinicians to analyse the necessity of incorporating these digital approaches into routine patient care. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental practitioners towards Computer Guided Implant Surgery (CGIS) in Central India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics at the Swargiya Dadasaheb Kalmegh Smruti Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, to assess the attitude towards CGIS and Non Computer Guided Implant Surgery (non CGIS) by analysing responses from a total of 100 dental practitioners. A questionnaire consisting of 30 questions was circulated through a web based program. Analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics using the Kruskal Wallis test and the Mann Whitney U test. Responses were collected and analysis was performed using Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 27.0 version. Results: Around 100 participants were included in the survey. 52 participants were female and the remaining 48 were male. Among all 97 (97%) participants were interested in CGIS but only 40 (40%) participants had any previous experience with the technology. Increased accuracy (z=7.08, p=0.0001) and predictability (z=10.64,p=0.0001) were considered the significant advantages by the participants. The overall difference in attitudes of CGIS and non CGIS users towards increased accuracy of CGIS was not statistically significant. (z=0.394, p=0.694). Conclusion: The advantages of CGIS over non CGIS were acknowledged by majority of the practitioners. The major advantages were related to the greater accuracy and predictability associated with CGIS whereas the limited accessibility and higher cost were the most common disadvantages. The specialisation and the clinical experience did not significantly affect the attitude of the practitioners.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices in Treating Children with Special Healthcare Needs among Dental Practitioners in Mumbai Metropolitan Region: A Questionnaire-based Survey

Introduction: Dentistry for children with Special Healthcare Needs (SHCN) is challenging and it is essential to understand the barriers faced by dentists in managing such patients. Aim: The aim of this survey was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental practitioners in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) in treating children with Special Healthcare Needs (CSHCN). Materials and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional Questionnaire-based study was conducted in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) from January 2021 to August 2021. A 19-item questionnaire was sent to 1624 dentists through email and/ or whatsapp. The age, gender, years of clinical practice, the type of special children encountered, the behaviour management modalities and treatment done for these children were recorded. Data collected was entered into the software International Business Management (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) statistics version 20.0 and analysed. Microsoft word and excel (year 2019) were used to generate tables. Results: Of the 1624 surveys sent, 650 responses were received making it to 40% response rate. Majority of respondents 67% (n=433) were general dental practitioners and 64% (n=416) had their own private practice. Only 39% (n=251) dentists had treated CSHCN in their practice. The most commonly encountered disability was mental retardation and cerebral palsy 23% (n=151). Amongst the clinicians referring the case, most of them, 148 (59%) preferred to refer to paediatric dentists. Regarding the method of management, 78% (n=197) of respondents were confident in treating special children with non pharmacological behaviour management methods and 58% (n=146) were confident with pharmacological methods. The frequently performed treatment procedures were restorative and preventive methods. A total 61% (n=399) of respondents had not encountered CSHCN. Among them, 65% (n=261) felt they had inadequate training in their curriculum, 59% (n=157) wished to treat such patients in future and 56% (n=223) were interested in continuing dental education programmes on the same. Conclusion: Majority of the dentists had treated children with mental retardation, cerebral palsy and physical disabilities than emotional disabilities. Non pharmacological behaviour management methods were preferred, and preventive and restorative procedures were frequently preformed. Most of the dentists in the present study reported themselves to lack knowledge in treating children with SHCN.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental practitioners toward the medicolegal system: A cross-sectional questionnaire study

Background: Every element of human involvement is affected by the law, and dentistry is no exception in this respect. The efficient implementation and development of comprehensive care is halted by a lack of awareness of the medicolegal aspects. Awareness of the medicolegal system is as essential as professional competence in the practice of medicine. It only makes it vital for health practitioners to be informed of medical law and ethics because of heightened understanding among patients about the same. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness on medicolegal issues among dental practitioners in Mumbai. Materials and Methods: A self-structured, pretested, close-ended, self-administered questionnaire was conducted on 100 dental graduates and postgraduates across Mumbai compromising 11 questions related to the medicolegal system, Consumer Protection Act, and informed consent. Conclusion: Participants were aware of the various aspects of the medical legal system, but lacked comprehension of the finer points. However, they lacked basic information in regard to the medicolegal programs and courses offered in the country.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Dental Practitioners towards Screening for Oral Pre-Cancer and Cancer

One of the global health issues is Oral cancer, which has an increased death rate. Awareness of oral cancer screening is important for oral health care professionals for early detection and improving the patients' survival rate. Attitude towards oral cancer awareness and knowledge of oral cancer screening are the key factors that impact oral cancer awareness success.
 Materials and Methods: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental practitioners and dental students towards screening for oral pre-cancer and cancer. This study included dental practitioners working in various academic institutions and private practitioners in Chennai. Participants were asked to fill in age, gender, designation, and experience. A structured questionnaire consisting of 10 questions, each having four options, was administered to the participants. The data collected was 100 responses analyzed by statistical package for the social science (spss inc., version 16 for, Chicago, IL, USA). Simple descriptive statistics were used to describe the distribution of data collected. T-test and ANOVA were employed to assess the statistically significant difference in the KAP scores between different groups.
 Results: The response rate for the present study was 100%. 37% of general dental practitioners reported that they routinely do a thorough oral examination for all the patients,52% agree that they are adequately trained to examine patients for oral pre-cancer and cancer screening,8% of them reported that they never do toluidine blue staining for patients with oral lesion. Majority(57) of them agree that they would recommend biopsy for suspected cases of oral cancer. Only 9% of the participants were aware of the time required for intraoral screening examination. 31% of them were aware of the risk of malignant transformation in a white lesion. 73% of the participants were aware of the occurrence of oral cancer in non - tobacco users was rare. 53% of agree that thorough intraoral examination for oral cancer will reduce oral cancer mortality and morbidity.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Dental Practitioners against Hepatitis B in District Faisalabad

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of dental practitioners against Hepatitis B in district Faisalabad.
 Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st August 2019 to 31st January 2020. Sixty four dental practitioners who are practicing in Allied hospital Faisalabad and DHQ hospital Faisalabad were recruited by using simple random sampling technique, included in this study. The data was collected through self-administered questionnaires.
 Results: Mean age ± SD of the respondents was 31.6±2.8 years. On account of assessing knowledge, 52 dentists strongly agreed for proper hand washing in the prevention of Hepatitis B. For using barriers like gloves, gown and masks, 56 of the respondents strongly agreed. For using puncture-resistant containers for sharp disposal, 25 of the respondents strongly agreed. For using protective eye wares 46 agreed. Fifty nine of the respondents strongly agreed for the proper sterilization of instruments in the prevention of Hepatitis B. On account of practices against Hepatitis B, 52 respondents were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Twelve were not vaccinated. Forty six out of 52 had completed the course of vaccination. Five out of 52 failed to recall the history of their vaccination but 6 did not completed the course.
 Conclusion: A good percentage of dental practitioners have been vaccinated against hepatitis B. However, there is a need to increase this percentage, so that maximum number of dentists that come in direct contact with the persons could be prevented against this fatal disease.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Dental Practitioners in Chennai Towards Management of Hazardous Dental Radiological Waste –A Cross Sectional Survey

Background: Management of hazardous dental radiological waste is very important for the dentist to known and practice correct protocol. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice among the dental professionals in Chennai, towards disposal of radiographic hazardous waste.Materials and Methods: One hundred dental practitioners from different part of the city were participated in this study. A set of hundred questions were given to the education qualification divided into 2 groups, those with BDS (UG degree) and MDS (PG degree) and the answers obtained was tabulated and recorded. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all the questions recorded among the education qualification they were divided into 2 groups, those with BDS (UG degree) and MDS (PG degree) in chennai city and chi square test was done to find the association between the questions recorded. Result: Among the participants, they found a positive association between some questionnaire while assessing the experience of practice whereas based on qualification of the participant they was no association between the questionnaire. Conclusions: This study is to bring out sustainable social and behavioural change and to reinforce the moral and professional obligations of the dental surgeon towards human health and environment therefore it is important to collect base-line and follow up data to evaluate the outcome of any awareness programs aimed at promoting good hazardous waste management practice.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Covid-19 Pandemic among Dental Practitioners of India: A Questionnaire-based Survey

Background- Owing to high viral load in saliva, dental practitioners are not only susceptible forexposure during Covid-19 outbreak but also post pandemic era. During the period of evolving facts andrecommendations of WHO for maintaining precautions this study is an effort to understand the preparednessof dental practitioners to resume their practice.Objectives- The objective of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of dentalpractitioners regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.Methods- This cross-sectional study was conducted among dental practitioners of India through an onlinequestionnaire-based survey to collect data. The questionnaire was divided into sections containing structuredmultiple-choice questions about the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental practitioners.Result- Upon analyzing 311 responses it has been observed that majority of dental practitioners wereaware of common symptoms of Covid-19 and about the modes of transmission of the disease. They possessadequate knowledge about use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with 88.4 % suggesting to useit while performing aerosol generating procedure. Their awareness about a Covid-19 patient becomingnoninfectious is inadequate with only 10% reporting 30 days. Attitude and practice of dental practitionersregarding Covid-19 were stratified on the basis of years of practice.Conclusions -Dental practitioners possess adequate knowledge about standard precaution protocol althoughthey are less aware about transmission-based precaution specific to Covid-19 situation. This study attempts tohighlight some facts about Covid-19 which will enlighten the dental practitioners before resuming practice.