Role Of Dental Practitioners Research Articles

The role of dental practitioners in managing medically complex patients.

The role of dental practitioners in managing medically complex patients.

Awareness and Attitude of Oral Biopsy among Dental Practitioners in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The role of dental practitioners is crucial in diagnosing oral conditions or lesions. To evaluate the awareness and attitude of oral biopsy among the sample dental practitioners in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. A survey among 369 dental practitioners assessed their knowledge of oral biopsy using a structured questionnaire, with descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests applied. 31.7% of dental practitioners called specialists for an oral biopsy, with 41.7% citing a lack of experience or skill. Most (40.9%) did not perform biopsies, using incisional methods. Dental practitioners showed knowledge of oral lesions requiring biopsies, but lacked the necessary skills and expertise, leading to referrals to higher centers or specialists.

The role of dental practitioners in salivary gland health.

The role of dental practitioners in salivary gland health.

The Role of Dental Practitioners in the Management of Oncology Patients: The Head and Neck Radiation Oncology Patient and the Medical Oncology Patient

This narrative review addresses the role of a dentist in the management of oncology patients, highlighting the oral complications that arise in head and neck radiation oncology patients and medical oncology patients. The prevention and management of these complications are discussed.

Role of the general dental practitioner in managing the risks of orthodontic treatment.

The aim of this article is to outline the potential risks in orthodontic treatment and the general dental practitioner's role in reducing and managing such risks. The success of orthodontic treatment largely depends on patient understanding of the risk/benefit implications of the orthodontic treatment and all of the potential consequences involved in such treatment. A perfect blend of good case selection, sound clinical judgement and, more importantly, a patient's clear understanding of the potential risks involved and the treatment implications help minimise and manage potential hazards that occur during the course of the treatment.

A general dental practitioner's role in treating patients with a cleft lip and/or palate

A general dental practitioner's role in treating patients with a cleft lip and/or palate

Identification of Carotid Artery Calcifications on Digital Panoramic Radiograph in a Group of South Indian population: A Retrospective Study

Background: Stroke had been the leading cause of death in industrialized countries, following cardiovascular disease and cancer. Aim and Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the fact that dental practitioners as health care providers ought to play their part in the early detection of patients at risk of having a cerebrovascular stroke. Materials and Methods: Initial study design consisted of 1000 panoramic radiographs (PRs), which were taken for patients visiting the department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. Two examiners reviewed all the radiographs. Sixty-one patients were found to have suspected carotid artery calcifications. Out of them, only 43 patients were subjected to Doppler ultrasound for confirmation of the carotid artery calcifications (CAC's). Results: Out of the 61 patients suspected of having carotid calcifications, 30 were male (49.2%) and 31 were female (50.8%) P value=0.844.Patients with age group between 51-61 had higher incidence of calcifications on orthopanograph (OPG). Mean age of the patients with calcifications on OPG was 56.67 ± SD of 10.15 (p=0.004). Of the final 43 subjects, only 11 patients were confirmed to have positive carotid calcifications in Doppler ultrasonography study. Out of 11 patients, only 9 patients had atherosclerotic plaques that were not hemodynamically important and 2 patients had less than 50% carotid artery stenosis. Based on the Kappa value of 0.397, the level of agreement would be moderate with p value <0.001. Conclusion: Our study suggests that panoramic radiography can be a significant measure for detecting stroke prone patient. The role of Dental practitioners can be extended further, and overcome certain obstacles before panoramic radiography can be implemented as a new screening method for patients at risk of having a stroke.

Identification of Carotid Artery Calcifications on Digital Panoramic Radiograph in a Group of South Indian population: A Retrospective Study

Background: Stroke had been the leading cause of death in industrialized countries, following cardiovascular disease and cancer. Aim and Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the fact that dental practitioners as health care providers ought to play their part in the early detection of patients at risk of having a cerebrovascular stroke. Materials and Methods: Initial study design consisted of 1000 panoramic radiographs (PRs), which were taken for patients visiting the department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. Two examiners reviewed all the radiographs. Sixty-one patients were found to have suspected carotid artery calcifications. Out of them, only 43 patients were subjected to Doppler ultrasound for confirmation of the carotid artery calcifications (CAC's). Results: Out of the 61 patients suspected of having carotid calcifications, 30 were male (49.2%) and 31 were female (50.8%) P value=0.844.Patients with age group between 51-61 had higher incidence of calcifications on orthopanograph (OPG). Mean age of the patients with calcifications on OPG was 56.67±SD of 10.15(p =0.004). Of the final 43 subjects, only 11 patients were confirmed to have positive carotid calcifications in Doppler ultrasonography study. Out of 11 patients, only 9 patients had atherosclerotic plaques that were not hemodynamically important and 2 patients had less than 50% carotid artery stenosis. Based on the Kappa value of 0.397, the level of agreement would be moderate with p value <0.001. Conclusion: Our study suggests that panoramic radiography can be a significant measure for detecting stroke prone patient. The role of Dental practitioners can be extended further, and overcome certain obstacles before panoramic radiography can be implemented as a new screening method for patients at risk of having a stroke.

A general dental practitioner's role in treating patients with a cleft lip and/or palate.

The publication of the Five Year Forward View promoted a drive within the NHS to improve access to care for all patients, across all specialties. This article describes what would be expected of a general dental practitioner (GDP) when treating patients with a cleft lip and/or palate in primary care and when it would be appropriate to refer and work alongside specialist services at the hospital. The inspiration for this article began after an audit investigating the complexity level of treatment need of patients with a cleft lip and/or palate referred into the Adult Restorative Clinic at Guy's Hospital. The results of the audit suggested that access to GDPs for this cohort of patients may be difficult and there may be a lack of confidence amongst GDPs with regards to what treatment they can or should provide. The article also discusses the potential of dentists with enhanced skills (DES) bridging the gap between primary and secondary care. The aim of the article is to increase the knowledge and understanding of GDPs with regards to treating patients with a cleft lip and/or palate and ultimately to improve the level of care these patients receive.

Orthodontic retention: a clinical guide for the GDP

Retention is normally required after active orthodontic tooth movement in order to maintain tooth position and minimize the effects of age-related changes to the dentition. The aim of this article is to define stability, retention and relapse with reference to the literature and to review the evidence with regards to clinical effectiveness of different types of fixed and removable retainers and wear regimens, with emphasis on systematic reviews and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). Furthermore, to discuss the general dental practitioner's role and responsibility in managing patients after active orthodontic treatment. CPD/Clinical Relevance: It is common practice for orthodontists to review patients for one year after active orthodontic treatment. Beyond this period, monitoring of the patient's long-term retention is often carried out in general dental practice. This paper provides an overview of orthodontic retention, including retainer types, wear regimens and a discussion of the common problems associated with retainers and advice on management.

Obstructive sleep apnoea and the need for its introduction into dental curricula.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a major health problem which causes blood oxygen desaturation that may initiate a cascade of events via inflammatory cytokines and adrenocorticotrophic hormone that may have impact upon quality of life and lead to potential life-threatening events. Even though OSA affects an increasing number of individuals, the role of dental practitioners in recognition, screening and management has not developed accordingly. The goal of this article was to provide updated information to dental practitioners on pathophysiology, consequences and treatment options of OSA with a focused discussion on oral appliance (OA) therapy, as this topic is not routinely included in current dental curricula of many dental schools. Additionally, we present a template dental curriculum for predoctoral and/or postdoctoral students in education regarding sleep disordered breathing.

The long and winding road part 2. the CLP patient's journey, 0–21 years

Patients with a cleft lip and palate (CLP) deformity require the highest standard of care that the NHS can provide and this requires multidisciplinary care from teams located in regional cleft centres. Care of these cases is from birth to adulthood and requires several phases of intervention, corresponding to the stages of facial and dental development. Management ideally starts pre-natally, following the initial diagnosis, and occasionally pre-surgical appliances are prescribed. The lip is ideally repaired within three months, followed by palate closure between 12 and 18 months. Careful monitoring is required in the first few years and ENT referral, where necessary, will diagnose middle ear infection, which commonly affects CLP patients. Speech therapy is an integral part of the ongoing care. Excellent oral hygiene is essential and preventive dietary advice must be given and regularly reinforced. Orthodontic expansion is often needed at 9 years of age in preparation for a bone graft and, once the permanent dentition erupts, definitive orthodontic treatment will be required. Maxillary forward growth may have been constrained by scarring from previous surgery, so orthognathic correction may be required on growth completion. Final orthodontic alignment and high quality restorative care will allow the patients to have a pleasing aesthetic result. CLP patients and their families will need continuing support from medical and dental consultants, specialist nurses, health visitors, speech and language specialists and, perhaps, psychologists. The first article in this series of two outlined the principles of care for the CLP patient and this second part illustrates this with a case report, documenting one patient's journey from birth to 21 years of age. A successful outcome for CLP patients requires a sound dentition.The general dental practitioner role is vital to establish and maintain excellent oral hygiene, a healthy diet and good routine preventive and restorative care. Understanding the total needs of CLP patients can help the dentist to provide high quality care as part of the multidisciplinary management.

The long and winding road – the journey of a cleft lip and palate patient part 1

Patients with a cleft lip and palate (CLP) deformity require the highest standard of care that can be provided and this requires multidisciplinary care from teams located in regional cleft centres. Care of these cases is from birth to adulthood and requires several phases of intervention, corresponding to the stages of facial and dental development. Management ideally starts pre-natally, following the initial diagnosis, and occasionally pre-surgical appliances are prescribed. The lip is ideally repaired within three months, followed by palate closure between 12 and 18 months. Careful monitoring is required in the first few years and ENT referral, where necessary, will diagnose middle ear infection, which commonly affects CLP patients. Speech therapy is an integral part of the ongoing care. Excellent oral hygiene is essential and preventive dietary advice must be given and regularly reinforced. Orthodontic expansion is often needed at 9 years of age in preparation for a bone graft and, once the permanent dentition erupts, definitive orthodontic treatment will be required. Maxillary forward growth may have been constrained by scarring from previous surgery, so orthognathic correction may be required on growth completion. Final orthodontic alignment and high quality restorative care will allow the patients to have a pleasing aesthetic result. CLP patients and their families will need continuing support from medical and dental consultants, specialist nurses, health visitors, speech and language specialists and, perhaps, psychologists. These two articles outline the principles of care for the CLP patient and, secondly, illustrate this with a case report, documenting one patient's journey from birth to 21 years of age. A successful outcome for CLP patients requires a sound dentition.The general dental practitioner role is vital to establish and maintain excellent oral hygiene, a healthy diet and good routine preventive and restorative care. Understanding the total needs of CLP patients can help the dentist to provide high quality care as part of the multidisciplinary management.

Managing child abuse and neglect in dental practice

Harris CM, Welbury R, Cairns AM (2013) The Scottish dental practitioner's role in managing child abuse and neglect. Br Dent J 214: E24

The Scottish dental practitioner's role in managing child abuse and neglect

In 2005 Cairns et al. published a paper ( 2005; 15: 310-318) examining the role of the general dental practitioner (GDP) in child protection (CP) in Scotland. This involved a questionnaire sent out to Scottish GDPs in 2003. Subsequently in 2006 all UK dental practices were sent Child protection and the dental team, a manual detailing roles and responsibilities with regard to CP. During this time the profile of CP within dentistry increased. There has been no published research since 2006 investigating whether the gap between the proportion of GDPs who suspect child abuse/neglect in their patients and those who refer cases has changed. The aim of this research was to investigate whether this gap has changed between 2003 and 2010.Method A postal questionnaire based on that used by Cairns et al. was sent to 50% of GDPs in Scotland in March 2010. The response rate was 52% (53% male). Some 29% and 55% of respondents had received undergraduate or postgraduate training in child protection respectively. Over two thirds (37%) had suspected child abuse/neglect in one or more of their paediatric patients but only 11% had referred a case. The most common factor affecting the decision to refer was 'lack of certainty of the diagnosis' (74%). Some 77% thought that abused/neglected children had an increased caries increment and 73% of dentists were willing to get involved in detecting neglect. Dentists in Scotland appear to be suspecting and referring more cases of child abuse/neglect than previously. The vast majority are willing to get involved in detecting neglect.

Summary of: The Scottish dental practitioner's role in managing child abuse and neglect

Background In 2005 Cairns et al. published a paper (Int J Paediatr Dent 2005; 15: 310–318) examining the role of the general dental practitioner (GDP) in child protection (CP) in Scotland. This involved a questionnaire sent out to Scottish GDPs in 2003. Subsequently in 2006 all UK dental practices were sent Child protection and the dental team, a manual detailing roles and responsibilities with regard to CP. During this time the profile of CP within dentistry increased. There has been no published research since 2006 investigating whether the gap between the proportion of GDPs who suspect child abuse/neglect in their patients and those who refer cases has changed. Aim The aim of this research was to investigate whether this gap has changed between 2003 and 2010. Method A postal questionnaire based on that used by Cairns et al. was sent to 50% of GDPs in Scotland in March 2010. Results The response rate was 52% (53% male). Some 29% and 55% of respondents had received undergraduate or postgraduate training in child protection respectively. Over two thirds (37%) had suspected child abuse/neglect in one or more of their paediatric patients but only 11% had referred a case. The most common factor affecting the decision to refer was 'lack of certainty of the diagnosis' (74%). Some 77% thought that abused/neglected children had an increased caries increment and 73% of dentists were willing to get involved in detecting neglect. Conclusion Dentists in Scotland appear to be suspecting and referring more cases of child abuse/neglect than previously. The vast majority are willing to get involved in detecting neglect.

Facial subcutaneous calcinosis and mandibular resorption in systemic sclerosis: a case report

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by widespread fibrosis of subcutaneous connective tissue, causing serious complications with the involvement of other systems. Tight, firm skin is the main characteristic of SSc, causing extrinsic pressure and the obliteration of the vessels. This then leads to ischaemia and destruction of the underlying bone. This mechanism may also lead to bone resorption of the mandibular body as it affects other bones of the skeleton. To date, only two cases of reported calcinosis in the facial area have been observed. In this report, a rare case of SSc with both subcutaneous calcinosis and mandibular bone resorption is presented. The role of dental practitioners in the diagnosis of the disease with respect to the orofacial symptoms is also discussed.

An overview and pilot study of the dental practitioner's role in child protection

Child Abuse ReviewVolume 13, Issue 1 p. 65-72 Short Report An overview and pilot study of the dental practitioner's role in child protection Alison Cairns, Corresponding Author Alison Cairns Alison.Cairns@NorthGlasgow.Scot.NHS.UK Glasgow Dental Hospital and School Glasgow, UKGlasgow Dental Hospital and School, 378 Sauciehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK.Search for more papers by this authorMichael Murphy, Michael Murphy Child Protection ConsultantSearch for more papers by this authorRichard Welbury, Corresponding Author Richard Welbury Alison.Cairns@NorthGlasgow.Scot.NHS.UK Glasgow Dental Hospital and School Glasgow, UKGlasgow Dental Hospital and School, 378 Sauciehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK.Search for more papers by this author Alison Cairns, Corresponding Author Alison Cairns Alison.Cairns@NorthGlasgow.Scot.NHS.UK Glasgow Dental Hospital and School Glasgow, UKGlasgow Dental Hospital and School, 378 Sauciehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK.Search for more papers by this authorMichael Murphy, Michael Murphy Child Protection ConsultantSearch for more papers by this authorRichard Welbury, Corresponding Author Richard Welbury Alison.Cairns@NorthGlasgow.Scot.NHS.UK Glasgow Dental Hospital and School Glasgow, UKGlasgow Dental Hospital and School, 378 Sauciehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK.Search for more papers by this author First published: 09 March 2004 https://doi.org/10.1002/car.833Citations: 4AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume13, Issue1January/February 2004Pages 65-72 RelatedInformation

The dental practitioner's role in protecting children from abuse. 3. Reporting and subsequent management of abuse.

The third and final article of the series covers the mechanism a general dental practitioner should follow when alerting the authorities to a child at risk, and the subsequent investigations and actions that follow such a report.

The dental practitioner's role in protecting children from abuse. 1. The child protection system.

The last British Dental Journal article on child protection was in 1986. Since then there have been major changes in both legislation and approaches to child protection. A local authority child protection specialist and a consultant in paediatric dentistry outline the development of child protection and the dental practitioner's role in the inter-agency child protection system in this, the first of three inter-related articles.