Private Dental Practitioners Research Articles

Use of online sources of information for dental prac-tice among private dental practitioners in Bangalore – a cross sectional survey

Introduction: The Internet seems to provide a new opportunity to overcome problems of access and provide clinically appropriate information to practitioners. However, while use of the Internet for clinical information has grown substantially in recent years. Access to the Internet has been improving rapidly for all professional groups. Dental professionals in clinical practice have been increasing opportunities to obtain information for clinical decision-making from a variety of resources, including a growing availability through online technology.Objectives:1) To assess the frequency of utilizing online sources of information for practical guidance.2) To assess the influence of online sources of information on practical guidance.Materials and Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was carried out among 386 private dental practitioners in Bangalore city. A self-administered, structured questionnaire containing 16 items was used (including demographic details). Cronbach's α was found to be 0.87 for each item. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test.Results: 81.6% (n=315) of private dental practitioners use the Internet as their source of information for clinical practice. Only 18.4% (n=71) do not use, the main reason for not using internet is lack of time and it is too complicated to use. 44.8% (n=173) rated on online source as most influential and 45.6% (n=176) frequently using online source for guidance. Information was primarily sought on patient education, oral disease, updates on common disease, and diagnosis. Medline was the most frequently accessed source.Conclusion: A relatively large proportion of dental practitioners uses information from online sources for practical guidance. The Internet could be a valuable medium for the information, provided, that its use is accompanied by training in the identification, use, and application.

Assessment of occupational burnout among private dental practioners in Bengaluru city -a cross sectional study

Introduction: Dentistry is highly rewarding profession, but it’s very demanding job with high degree of concentration and precision in work. Dentists seem to be prone to professional burnout, anxiety disorders and clinical depression because of the variety of sources of stress encountered throughout the professional career.Objectives: To assess the burnout level and physical exhaustion among private dental practitioners.Materials and methods: A cross sectional study was carried out on private dental practitioners in Bengaluru city. A questionnaire containing 22 items Maslach Burnout Inventory and demographic detail, was administered. The response rates were obtained using a likert scale ranging from 0-6. Analysis for p value, cronbach’s α for each questions (>0.700 = high consistency), frequency and comparison of variables, were done.Results: The study found high level of burnout in 11.3% of participants. It also showed age group of <=25 and 25-35, females were highly influenced. More amount of burnout level found in general practitioners than specialists. Study also indicates that backache 48% and headache 44.7%were main reasons for physical exhaustion followed byneck-ache 34%and hand and wrist disorders 23.7%.Conclusion: As health care provider the dentists are subjected to interpersonal stress due to the demanding nature of the occupation and close proximity to the patient.Moderate to high level of burnout were detected in the study sample, it’s recommended that attention for burnout risk should be given priority by dental professionals.

A Cross-sectional Survey Assessing Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Oral Cancer among Private Medical and Dental Practitioners in Bhubaneswar City.

Introduction:Oral cancer is a public health problem giving rise to a great number of disabilities and deaths, but the possibility of survival is astonishingly higher when detected early. Health professionals therefore have an important role and responsibility in the prevention and early detection of oral cancer. They should be in a position to identify all suspicious lesions and to search for specialist opinion as promptly as possible when unsure, while also referring to the most appropriate discipline.Aim:This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) regarding oral cancer among private medical practitioners (MPs) and private dental practitioners (DPs).Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 334 MPs and 201 DPs in Bhubaneswar. A self-designed, close-ended questionnaire containing 28 items was delivered to the practitioners in their clinics. Correlation between KAP among MPs and DPs was done by Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient test. Student's t-test was used to compare the KAP among the practitioners.Results:Of the 535 practitioners approached, 513 filled the questionnaire with a response rate of 95.88%. Significantly, the mean knowledge index was higher among DPs (10.96 ± 1.85). The attitude index was higher in the MPs (6.89 ± 1.11), and the practice index was higher among the DPs (4.95 ± 0.91).Conclusion:The study puts forward the need of further training for both MPs and DPs to increase awareness and to strengthen their abilities to diagnose potentially cancerous intra-oral lesions.

Diagnostic methods for dental caries used by private dental practitioners in Ankara.

This study aimed to investigate the preference profiles of various types of diagnostic tools and methods used by private dental practitioners in Ankara for detecting dental caries. Private dental practitioners, in five districts of Ankara, were provided with questionnaires comprising demographic characteristics, possession of dental imaging systems, and methods used for caries diagnosis. The questionnaires were retrieved after 1-3 visits. Of 722 questionnaires, 371 were returned. Data were analyzed using frequency analysis and Chi-square tests. The completed questionnaires were obtained from 160 women and 168 men, the response rate was 51.4% aged 25-69 years; 28.4% of them were specialists. Most participants possessed a dental radiography (RG) device. Air drying and sharp explorers were the most commonly preferred methods used for caries diagnosis. There was no significant association between using a sharp explorer and sex or being a specialist (P = 0.110, 0.226, respectively). Almost one-third of the dentists with an experience of <11 years, never used an RG device to detect occlusal caries (P = 0.003). Only three participants reported the use of DIAGNOdent, while two participants used fiber-optic transillumination (FOTI). It was observed that visual-tactile examination using sharp explorer accompanied with radiographs were among the main instruments used for detecting carious lesions. Usage of magnification tools, FOTI, and DIAGNOdent were low.

Occupational Hazards Among Western Indian Private Dental Practitioners: A Questionnaire-Based Descriptive Study

Introduction: Occupational hazards among oral health care providers are becoming a major problem. Aims: To assess various occupational hazards and assess the musculoskeletal problems and their association with the work pattern. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based descriptive study was conducted among 525 private dental practitioners of Jodhpur city. Self-administered questionnaire was distributed and obtained immediately after the participants filled it. The data collected were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 18 software. Chi-square test was used to find the association. Results: Among the study group of 525 dentists, 300 were males and 225 females. Sitting dentistry was practiced by 61.7% and only 18.8% practiced standing dentistry. Dentists suffering from back pain were 40.7% whereas only 4.1% of dentists had shoulder pain. A highly significant correlation was observed between posture of dentists and musculoskeletal problems (P = 0.001). When chi-square test was used to assess the correlation among years of working experience and musculoskeletal problems, a significant relation was observed (P = 0.000). Conclusion: Almost all the private dental practitioners were suffering from the occupational hazards. Back problems were common. Regular training and workshops can help lower such problems.

Health Information Technology (HIT): A Hit or Miss in Private Dental Practice in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India – A Cross Sectional Survey

Objective: To assess the knowledge, perception and use of Health Information Technology (HIT) among private dental practitioners in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Material and Methods: The sample population consisted of private dental practitioners in Chennai District of Tamil Nadu who were individually approached to participate in the cross-sectional survey. A structured, self-reported, close-ended questionnaire, which contained queries on the knowledge, usage and concerns about HIT in their practice, was designed. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution and percentages were analyzed using SPSS version 24. Results: Of the 483 dental clinics that were approached, 352 dental practitioners completed the questionnaire survey. A significant proportion of dental practitioners (65 percent) reported positive attitude towards use of HIT systems and believed that HIT systems could help make their work easier and efficient. However, it is unfortunate to note that almost half (47 percent) the dental practitioners were not interested in implementing HIT systems in their practice due to various monetary concerns such as installation and maintenance costs. Conclusion: The widespread adoption of HIT provides system connectivity and information exchange among providers of the same organisation, providers at different organisations and, ultimately, providers practising regionally and nationally.

Utilization of Informational Resources in Clinical Decision Making among the Private Dental Practitioners of Odisha

Utilization of Informational Resources in Clinical Decision Making among the Private Dental Practitioners of Odisha

Attitudes of dentists and interns in Riyadh to the use of dental amalgam.

BackgroundStudies investigating the attitudes of Saudi dentists to the use of amalgam for restorations are relatively rare. Considering the goals set forth by the Minamata Convention on Mercury, it appears prudent to investigate the attitudes of experienced dentists and fresh dental graduates to the use of amalgam. The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of Saudi dentists and interns working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to the use of amalgam. Using a convenience sampling methodology, a total of 400 Saudi dentists and interns were contacted to request their participation in this cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic and practice characteristics such as gender, type of practice, as well as their service sector and questions related to the use of dental amalgam. The data obtained was analyzed using Chi square tests to compare differences in distribution between groups. P values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsThe overall response rate was 84% (336 of 400 potential participants). The majority of the participants (80.7%) did not use dental amalgam for restorations in their clinical practice frequently. A significantly higher number of participants working in private sector did not use amalgam frequently (P = 0.004), agreed on replacing good amalgam restoration with composite resin (P < 0.000) and on stopping the use of amalgam as a final restoration (P = 0.017) compared to participants working in public sector. A significantly higher number of interns did not use amalgam in their clinical practice frequently (P < 0.000), agreed on replacing good amalgam restoration with composite resin (P = 0.002) and on stopping the use of amalgam as a final restoration (P < 0.000) compared to dentists.ConclusionsWithin the limitations of this study, dental amalgam seems to be less frequently used among the surveyed Saudi dentists and interns working in Riyadh. Fresh dental graduates used amalgam less frequently compared to experienced dentists. Furthermore, private dental practitioners showed a propensity to replace existing well-placed amalgam restorations with resin composite which reinforces their market-oriented attitude reported in earlier studies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-016-2294-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Oral cancer screening in private dental practices in a developing country: opportunities and challenges.

Private dental practitioners constitute approximately 40% of all registered dentists in Malaysia, and this group affords an avenue for prevention and early detection of oral cancer. However, such activities are still limited. This study investigated the feasibility of incorporating opportunistic screening of oral cancer in the private dental setting. Dentists were recruited through two main dental associations in Malaysia and attended a 1-day training session on recognizing abnormalities within the oral cavity. Following the training, the dentists conducted screening and provided risk habits cessation advice at their respective clinics for 6 months. The impact of the program was evaluated by determining the number of patients who were screened and/or provided with risk habits cessation advice. Twenty-six dentists took part in the program and conducted opportunistic screening on a total of 2603 individuals. On average, they screened about 23.0% of their patients and 5.1% were given risk habits cessation advice. Notably, dentists who had lower patient load were more likely to conduct opportunistic screening. While the participating private dentists state that they have a role in performing opportunistic screening and providing risk habits cessation advice, these activities are still not a priority area in the private clinics, strongly suggesting that strategies to motivate dentists in this setting are urgently needed.

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Knowledge and Attitude of General Dentists and Last-year Students Regarding the Management of Medically Compromised Patients in Shiraz, Iran

Background : An increase in the number of medically compromised patients in dental clinics may cause serious problems for practicing dentists all over the world. When a dentist does not understand well the relationship between oral and systemic diseases, dental care may become a quite complicated issue. The present study was conducted to analyse the level of general dentists’ knowledge about systemic disease management in Shiraz, Iran. Materials and Methods: As a cross-sectional descriptive survey of private dental practitioners, the current study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran, from September through November 2010. In order to Original Research Article

Knowledge awareness and prescription practice of antibiotics among private dental practitioners in Mangalore

Background: Dental practitioners commonly prescribe antibiotics to treat dental infections. Literature suggests that inappropriate use of antibiotics is common in dental practice. Proper use of antibiotics thus becomes essential to ensure that effective and safe treatment is available and that practices that may enhance microbial resistance are avoided. To improve the standards of care, dentists need to keep themselves updated with the current patterns of antibiotic prescription and their use. Aim: This study aims to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use/misuse, and prophylactic use among private dental practitioners of Mangalore by studying their prescription pattern. Subjects and Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to all the private dental practitioners in Mangalore, who willingly consented to participate in the study. The responses obtained were then analyzed. The distribution of variables was described in terms of frequency and percentage. Results: Penicillin group (amoxicillin) was the most common prescribed antibiotic for almost all dental infections, followed by the combination of amoxicillin and metronidazole. Tetracycline was most commonly prescribed for periodontal diseases. Although dentists had adequate knowledge in prescribing antibiotics for dental infections, some lacked knowledge regarding the indications of antibiotic prophylaxis needed in cardiac conditions, rheumatic fever or sinusitis. There were others who were unaware of the alternative antibiotic choices required in necessary cases. Conclusion: The therapeutic prescribing of antibiotics in general dental practice varies widely and is suboptimal. There is a clear need for the development of prescribing guidelines and educational initiatives to encourage the rational and appropriate use of the antibiotics in general dental practice.

Treatment method and restorative material preferences of dental practitioners

Abstract Objective: The present study is aimed to investigate the preference profiles of treatment methods used by private dental practitioners in Ankara for deep carious lesions of mature permanent teeth. Methods: Private dental practitioners (general/specialist), in five districts of Ankara, were provided with a questionnaire comprising demographic characteristics and their preferred treatment methods for two simulated clinical cases related to deep caries excavation technique for anterior (Case A) and posterior, permanent teeth (Case B) with restorative material choices. The questionnaire was delivered personally to the participants who accepted the invitation. Documentation was retrieved back at another appointment after 1–3 weeks intervals. Data were analyzed using frequency analysis and Chi-square tests. Results: A total of 371 dentists, aged 25–69 years, took part in the study representing a response rate of 51.38%. Valid responses were 328 (168 males and 160 females) due to incomplete questionnaires. In Case A, complete caries excavation was the preferred treatment method (62.5%) followed by stepwise excavation (28.4%). Dentists, who had an excessive workload, indicated a stepwise excavation treatment significantly less than the dentists who had less workload (P = 0.001). In Case B, the preferences were narrowly distributed between complete caries excavation (50.9%) and stepwise excavation (42.4%). Composite restoration (31.7%) was more selected than amalgam (27.1%) with complete excavation technique. Workload has no effect on the treatment options of the posterior tooth with deep dentin caries. Conclusion: Dentists mostly adopted traditional caries removal technique. There is no uniform treatment method of deep carious lesions among dentists in anterior and, especially in posterior regions in Ankara, Turkey.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Dental Practitioners Pertaining to Preventive Measures in Paediatric Patients.

Prevention at primary level is of great value in Paediatric Dentistry. Since use of preventive measures can prevent future complications, dental professionals share an important responsibility toward early screening, prompt referral and treatment and this knowledge must transfer into the practice of dentistry. To evaluate Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among dental practitioners in Bhopal city (central part of India) pertaining to sealants, topical fluorides usage and orthodontic consideration in paediatric patients. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 20-item self-administered, closed ended, structured questionnaire. A total of 200 available private dental practitioners of Bhopal city made up the sampling frame of study. Out of 200 practicing dentists, 147 participated with response rate of 73.5% in which 69.4% were males and 30.6% were females. A total of 83% dentists were less than 35 years of age, while 17% were equal to or more than 35 years of age. Qualification distribution revealed 67.3% dental graduate and 32.6% dental specialist. A highly significant difference in knowledge in relation to age was observed. The mean±SD were found for Knowledge as 8.46±1.82, Attitude as 2.65±0.780, and Practice as 1.66±1.57. Statistically significant correlations were found between attitude and practice (r=0.58, p<0.001). Dentists in Bhopal city have vast knowledge towards preventive dentistry. The attitude is highly commendable but underutilized in practice, which needs to be improved.

THE CARIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: UPDATING COST-EFFECTIVENESS WITH 4-YEAR POSTTRIAL DATA.

Long-term follow-up of the Caries Management System (CMS) protocol demonstrated that regular monitoring and noninvasive management of dental caries is effective in reducing the number of caries-related events over a 7-year period. This analysis complements the authors' original economic evaluation of the CMS by re-evaluating the per-protocol cost-effectiveness of the CMS approach. An individual patient-simulation Markov model was developed previously, based on 3-year randomized-controlled trial (RCT) data, to simulate the incidence and progression of dental caries, and resultant interventions, and to evaluate the lifetime cost-effectiveness of the CMS versus standard dental care from the Australian private dental practitioner perspective (in which the baseline age distribution was similar to that of the Australian population). The 4-year posttrial follow-up data are used to re-evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of the CMS in a more real-life setting. The reduction in caries risk was maintained among those practices within which the CMS protocols were adhered to. The per-protocol model appears to be reasonably accurate at predicting the risk of restorative events in the posttrial follow-up period. The per-protocol lifetime cost per restorative event avoided is AUD1,980 (USD1,409; 1 AUD = 0.71 USD). The current analysis confirms that the CMS approach is both effective, when the protocols are adhered to appropriately, and cost-effective compared with standard care in the Australian private practice setting.

Knowledge, value, opinion and practice about usage of pit and fissure sealant among dental professionals in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Aim:A study was aimed to assess the knowledge, value, opinion, and practice regarding the use of dental sealants among private dental practitioners in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Materials and Methods:A self-administrated questionnaire were distributed to 192 private dental practitioners in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India by using simple random sampling. A convenience sampling technique was employed. The questionnaire consisted of 28 items, which included information about knowledge, value, opinion, and practice regarding dental sealants. The questionnaire was obtained from the study by San Martin et al. 2013 and Kailash Asawa et al. 2014. Frequency distribution was tabulated. For frequency distribution strongly, strongly agree, and agree were combined as “agree” and strongly disagree and disagree were combined as “disagree.” There were no changes in “neutral.”Results:Among the 196 study subjects 56.2% were males and 43.8% were females with their clinical experience of 52.1% for <5 years, 35.4% for 5–10 years, and 13.5% for >15 years. The mean scores for knowledge, value, opinion, and practice were 41.8 ± 3.7, 18.7 ± 2.8, 18.1 ± 1.4, and 12.9 ± 2.3, respectively.Conclusion:The results suggest that dental practitioners had satisfactory knowledge about pit and fissure sealant and had neutral attitudes about sealants being effective. Dental practitioners adequately used the pit and fissure sealants but they did not follow the standardized procedures and specific guidelines.

A needs assessment survey of dental public health graduate education in Saudi Arabia.

ObjectivesThe Faculty of Dentistry at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) is planning to develop a master’s program in dental public health (DPH). To develop a curriculum for this program, a needs assessment was conducted in order to identify the level of DPH expertise that currently exists in Saudi Arabia, to identify gaps in knowledge, and to explore current perceptions regarding this type of program.MethodsA competency-based survey instrument was administered to private and government affiliated dental practitioners in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and competencies in DPH were assessed. In addition, questions were submitted that addressed preferred strategies of teaching, curriculum delivery methods, course content, and prerequisites for DPH. These data were combined with data previously collected from dentists holding academic positions at KAU (n = 146) and were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System version 9.3 software. Mean values and frequencies were calculated for the study variables. Proportional odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated to assess differences in educational preferences and DPH competencies according to age, gender, and qualification.ResultsMost of the participants (95%) reported a need for a DPH graduate program. The respondents had a basic knowledge of DPH and moderate experience in DPH competencies. A variety of preferred educational strategies and methods were identified and differences in educational preferences according to age, gender, and qualification of the respondents were identified. The responses obtained also acknowledged skills and competencies that the participants considered most important for a DPH practice and that would be important for students accepted into a DPH graduate program.ConclusionsThis needs assessment survey represents a preliminary step in establishing a DPH graduate program that addresses current gaps in knowledge and in the practice of public health dentistry. This survey also provided valuable feedback regarding the development of course content for a graduate education program in DPH.

Harmonizing Professional, Personal, and Social Responsibilities: Indian Women Dentists’ Perspectives

Women in Indian culture have a paradoxical status: on the one hand, goddesses are worshipped for power and prosperity; on the other hand, working women face challenges due to age-old beliefs and sociocultural norms. With 60% of the students enrolled in undergraduate dental education currently being women, there is a need to study the challenges these women are facing and how they tackle them. The aim of this survey study was to assess the barriers women dentists face in career advancement and how successfully they balance the personal, professional, and social aspects of their lives. Questionnaires, consisting of four qualitative and 24 quantitative items, were distributed to 500 women dentists: postgraduate residents and faculty members in dental colleges of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, as well as private dental practitioners. Of the 500 women, 210 returned the survey, for an overall response rate of 42%. The results showed that 95% of the respondents believed they successfully balance the various spheres of their lives, but the most common challenges they faced continued to be traditional gender bias, dual professional and home responsibilities, and preconceived ideas about women.

An overview of the distribution of dental care facilities in Mangalore taluk, India.

Objective: Equitable distribution of health care facilities is a guiding principle of Primary Heath Care. Although Mangalore taluk is a reputed center for medical education and health care, location of these facilities has not been evaluated to date. Therefore, a systematic survey was conducted to evaluate distribution of dental care facilities in Mangalore taluk, India. Material and Methods: List of Primary Health Centers, Community Health Centers and government hospitals, and details of the dental personnel and dental care facilities available at these centers was obtained from the District Health Officer (DHO). Data on registered private dental practitioners was obtained from the DHO and the Indian Dental Association. Information was obtained from dental colleges in the taluk regarding outreach activities and collaborations with the public sector. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Dentists are posted only at the CHCs and the District Hospital where they provide only basic dental services due to a lack of infrastructure. Of the 189 private dental clinics, 91% are located in urban areas of the taluk. They provide all modalities of dental care but are inaccessible to a majority of the rural population. Dental schools provide dental services to people in their vicinity, conduct outreach camps and have adopted four PHCs. Conclusion: An uneven distribution of dental care facilities exists with an overwhelming majority concentrated in the urban areas of the taluk.

Dental demographics and metrics of oral diseases in the ageing Australian population.

One of the biggest challenges currently facing the dental profession in Australia is the provision of quality and timely dental care to the elderly. Adults aged 65+years are an exponentially growing section of the community with rapidly changing dental needs, thanks in part to improvements in oral health over the past 60years that have resulted in a dramatically decreased rate of edentulism and subsequently an increased number of teeth present. This is a challenge not only for the public dental services, but also public health policy makers, private dental practitioners, professional organizations and dental education providers. It is an issue that crosses a range of dental care providers, not only dentists but also dental prosthetists and dental hygienists, whose role in the provision of dental services has been slowly growing in Australia. Furthermore, with evidence of links between oral and systemic health, this issue has significant impacts for the broader health system.