Dental Team Research Articles

Willingness to accept or refuse mandibular implant overdenture treatment: A prospective study on edentulous enrolled in a clinical trial.

Several complete denture wearers have major complaints and may be benefitted from implant treatment. However, the factors that shape the demand for and utilization of implants need further investigation. The aim was to evaluate edentulous patient's willingness to accept or refuse the offer and provision of implant-retained treatment. As part of a clinical trial, edentulous subjects were offered a mandibular overdenture retained by four mini-implants opposing a conventional maxillary denture. Treatment was offered without any financial costs for the patients. Patients' level of interest in receiving treatment was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, and they were asked to respond to a list of reasons that led to their decision to accept or refuse implants. Those who refused implants received conventional prosthodontic interventions as required, and those who accepted implant treatment underwent surgical planning and implant placement. Of 175 eligible subjects, 147 accepted the offer of treatment and were invited to take part in the study (69.4% women, mean age 67.4± 10.0 years). Overall, 111 patients (75.5%) expressed a positive intention to undergo implant treatment at the initial contact. Implant treatment was performed for 56.3% (9/16) of those who answered 'probably yes' about their level of interest in implant treatment on the Likert scale, and 69.6% (64/92) of 'certainly yes' (p< .001). Older subjects were less likely to receive implants (OR=0.93; p= .036), whilst those with a positive intention towards implants (OR=3.15; p= .001), those previously treated by the dental team (OR=7.89; p< .001), and who actively demanded implants (OR=18.1; p< .001) were more likely to accept treatment. Improved chewing was the most common reason for accepting implants, whilst fear of surgery was the most reported reason for refusal. Refusal of implants was high among edentate patients even when financial costs were removed. Patients' initial attitude towards acceptance is a key factor in the demand for and uptake of implant therapy.

The 5C model: A proposed continuous quality improvement framework for volunteer dental services in remote Australian Aboriginal communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote parts of Australia are some of the most underserviced communities in regard to oral health care. These communities rely on volunteer dental programmes such as the Kimberley Dental Team to fill the gaps in care, however, there are no known continuous quality improvement (CQI) frameworks to guide such organizations to ensure that they are delivering high-quality, community-centred, culturally appropriate care. This study proposes a CQI framework model for voluntary dental programmes providing care to remote Aboriginal communities. Relevant CQI models wherein the (i) behaviour of interest was quality improvement, and (ii) the health context was volunteer services in Aboriginal communities were identified from the literature. The conceptual models were subsequently augmented using a 'best fit' framework and the existing evidence synthesized to develop a CQI framework that aims to guide volunteer dental services to develop local priorities and enhance current dental practice. A cyclical five-phase model is proposed starting with consultation and moving through the phases of data collection, consideration, collaboration and celebration. This is the first proposed CQI framework for volunteer dental services working with Aboriginal communities. The framework enables volunteers to ensure that the quality of care provided is commensurate with the community needs and informed by community consultation. It is anticipated that future mixed methods research will enable formal evaluation of the 5C model and CQI strategies focusing on oral health among Aboriginal communities.

Dental teams make up 6,000 oral health packs for those in need

Dental teams make up 6,000 oral health packs for those in need

Necrotising periodontal diseases: an update on classification and management

Necrotising periodontal diseases can present with significant morbidity and, whilst unusual, they are not entirely uncommon in primary care. With this in mind, members of the dental team should be aware of relatively recent changes to the classification and management of these diseases to optimise patient outcomes. Similarly, understanding the bacteriology, patterns of tissue breakdown, and management and maintenance of these conditions will allow clinicians to manage these diseases should they present. The progression of necrotising diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa to present as noma is also discussed. The objective is to help the reader understand the classification and management of necrotising periodontal diseases.

Inspire, consult, sell: master the consultative communication skills of the best dental teams to deliver a world class patient experience.

Inspire, consult, sell: master the consultative communication skills of the best dental teams to deliver a world class patient experience.

Scientific Production on Monkeypox in Dentistry: A Bibliometric Analysis.

To analyze the characteristics and visibility of the scientific production of monkeypox in dentistry. A bibliometric study was carried out with the publications indexed in the Scopus database up to 22 September 2022. A search strategy was developed using Boolean operators "AND" and "OR," in addition to the MeSH term "monkeypox virus" (MPXV) in the subarea of dentistry. The bibliometric indicators were measured objectively with the SciVal program. Of the publications identified, 40% were indexed in first-quartile journals. India and Brazil are the countries with two published papers, while India has more views than the rest. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India are the institutions with the highest number of citations with respect to the world average (FWCI: 2.74). The International Dental Journal has a publication on monkeypox in the field of dentistry. India is the country with the most authors (06) who have published about the study. Samaranayake Lakshman Perera is the most productive and high-impact author. In the area of dentistry, scientific production on monkeypox is still scarce; however, the publications identified are mainly in high-impact indexed journals (Q1 and Q2). It is necessary to prioritize this disease as a line of research, in addition to articulating efforts between dental teams from different institutions. It is necessary to demonstrate the characteristics of scientific publications on monkeypox in dentistry worldwide in order to have a panoramic view of the dynamics of scientific articles in this area.

Dental team report reveals 'strongest year of performance on record'

Dental team report reveals 'strongest year of performance on record'

Scarlet fever and the dental team

Scarlet fever is a mild, but highly contagious disease caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacteria. Scarlet fever begins with flu-like symptoms and, within the first 12-48 hours, it is common for a rash to develop that feels like sandpaper to the touch. In rare cases, GAS bacteria can cause an invasive infection that can be fatal. Invasive GAS (iGAS) infection occurs when the bacteria are in a place of the body where they are not normally found, such as the blood stream. Scarlet fever is usually treated with antibiotics, which can reduce the chances of the patient developing iGAS and reduce the risk of them spreading the infection to others. The World Health Organization and UK Health Security Agency have announced that the number of scarlet fever and iGAS cases observed in children has been several times higher than pre-pandemic levels for the equivalent period of time. As healthcare professionals, it is important that the dental team understand key aspects of scarlet fever. Here, scarlet fever symptoms, transmission, clinical manifestations, antibiotic treatment, and risks to the dental team are reviewed. CPD/Clinical Relevance: To describe epidemiology of scarlet fever and discuss the implications for the dental team.

Why does patient mental health matter? part 5: chronic orofacial pain as a consequence of psychiatric disorders

This is the final article in a series looking at psychiatric presentations in dentistry. Recently, the oral health of people with severe mental illness (SMI) has gained significant media attention after the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England published a statement on the importance of prioritizing oral health for people with SMI. Furthermore, a consensus statement has set out a 5-year plan to improve oral health in people with SMI. In Part 4, we discussed how a psychiatric disorder can result in dental pathology by contributing to risk factors associated with tooth surface loss. This article explores chronic orofacial pain symptoms and their link with psychiatry, considering the role of the primary dental care team in early recognition of psychiatric disorders. Given the range of chronic orofacial pain subtypes, we will present two separate fictionalized case-based discussions to explore their presentation. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The primary care dental team has a role in recognition of psychiatric conditions and subsequent chronic orofacial pain.

What makes a great team?

Andrew Collier discusses what it takes to build an excellent dental team.

Child Abuse and Neglect Screening: The Role of the Dental Team

Child abuse is a worldwide public health and social issue that affects people from all social classes equally. Child abuse or maltreatment includes "all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, development or dignity". Any deliberate action or attempt of maltreatment to a person younger than 18 years old is considered child abuse. Recognizing the dentist's critical role in identifying children who have been the victims of domestic abuse it is required to recognize and report perioral indications of child abuse. In accordance with rase of domestic violence and child abuse incidence, dentists are now required to become familiar with the perioral warning signs of child abuse and to report any suspected cases to the relevant authorities in accordance with state legislation. The aim of the study is to present the contribution of the dental team in the identification of children victims of abuse, through the presentation of two cases.

Looked after children: an overview for the dental team.

Looked after children (LAC) are children and young people (CYP) who have been under the continuous care of the local authority for more than 24 hours. Reasons for becoming looked after include concerns about abuse or neglect, breakdown in family functioning, or absence of a suitable caregiver (for example bereavement, parental illness, or separation, such as for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children). Many LAC live with foster families, extended family, or in residential care homes, but a CYP can be legally 'looked after' and still be living with their original or birth family, or living independently with support. Regardless of the circumstances, the local authority has responsibility for meeting the needs of the CYP, including dental care, usually via a named social worker.The evidence available suggests that LAC are at higher risk of dental caries and pain. In 2021, Public Health England reported on inequalities in oral health in England and although evidence was limited, found LAC to have poorer oral health and access to care. It is important that LAC are considered for enhanced prevention and reviewed regularly to enable appropriate provision of dental care. Understanding who can consent for dental treatment is essential.

Why does patient mental health matter? Part 4: non-carious tooth surface loss as a consequence of psychiatric conditions

This is the fourth article in a series looking at psychiatric presentations in dentistry. Recently, the oral health of people with severe mental illness (SMI) has gained significant media attention after the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England published a statement on the importance of prioritizing oral health for people with SMI. Furthermore, a consensus statement has set out a 5-year plan to improve oral health in people with SMI. In Part 3, we discussed how a psychiatric disorder can result in dental pathology primarily through self-neglect. This article explores tooth surface loss and the potential link with psychiatry, considering the role of the primary dental care team in early recognition of psychiatric presentations. A fictionalized case-based discussion is used to explore this concept. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article emphasizes the role of the primary care dental team in recognition of psychiatric conditions, such as eating disorders.

Chapter 9.2: Non-Operative Treatment of Coronal Caries.

Nonoperative treatment of coronal caries is defined as a series of nonoperative measures interfering with the initiation of new caries lesions and the rate of caries lesion progression. This treatment aims to keep the caries process at subclinical level and to arrest caries lesion progression at clinical and/or radiographic levels. This chapter considers the implementation of the nonoperative treatment of caries disease in daily practice with a focus on its biological determinants. The treatment planning is based on the information gathered through patients' anamnesis, clinical and radiographic examinations together with patients' risk assessment. For most caries inactive patients, the implementation of core measures of the nonoperative treatment is sufficient to control the caries disease, while for caries active patients both professionally and self-applied additional measures are required. Clinical cases illustrating successes and limitations of the nonoperative treatment for the whole dentition are presented. Patients/parents should take responsibility for their own or their child's oral health and the dental professional team should help them to achieve this goal. It is relevant that patients/parents understand that the nonoperative treatment of caries disease is evidence-based. Nevertheless, as any other treatment, successes and failures are likely to occur, and these are to a great extent dependent on patients'/parents' compliance. Finally, the dental team should keep its knowledge constantly updated to provide the best available treatment for their patients in daily practice.

Special Care Dentistry and Epilepsy

The dental team should understand the nature of epilepsy and how the antiepileptic agents negatively affect oral and dental health. This helps to reduce the stigma developed by dentists to deal with epileptic patients and deliver safe dental treatment. It is also crucial for the dental team to help prevent the development of seizures by obtaining a thorough medical history and providing an easy and comfortable environment. Uncontrolled epileptic patients with acute dental pain and even controlled epileptic patients with either acute or chronic dental pain might develop attacks that require prompt management by the dental team. Accordingly, the dental team should anticipate seizures at any time during treatment. Implementing a clear pathway for the management of seizures in dental clinics by providing regular training courses to the dental team will help to build confidence in managing people with epilepsy.

COVID19-Personal Protective Equipment ergonomic improvements: necessary considerations for the dental team health

COVID19-Personal Protective Equipment ergonomic improvements: necessary considerations for the dental team health

The use of autofluorescence for screening and early detection of oral potentially malignant disorders – A narrative review

Premalignant lesions of the oral cavity encompass a broad range of pathology and are often comorbid in a variety of patient populations. Prompt diagnosis and management of these lesions are essential to prevent patient morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this article is to summarize and review the evaluation, screening and early detection of premalignant lesions of the oral cavity and to highlight the role of the dental team in recognizing and treating patients with these conditions, that may progress to oral cancer. In addition, a review of a non-invasive detection technique that is currently being marketed to aid general dentists and other healthcare providers for early diagnosis of potential cancerous lesions is presented. Although many studies have assessed the diagnostic accuracy of autofluorescence in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), there has been a paucity of such information in high-risk populations.

SAMPLING OF MICRO AND NANO PARTICLES FROM AEROSOLS GENERATED DURING DENTAL INTERVENTIONS

Dentists and dental team members are exposed to an increased risk of large amounts of aerosols in the working atmosphere during clinical dental procedures. The analysis of the part of the aerosol that includes the finest particles of micro and nano dimensions is a starting point for understanding the relationship between exposure to aerosols and negative effects on the health of dentists. The paper presents the methodology and experimental realization of clinical sampling of micro and nano particles, from the aerosol generated during dental interventions, using a personal sampler.

Dental team member compliance with personal protective equipment and aerosol-generating procedure recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel: An observational study.

Coronaviruses which have been responsible for numerous epidemics worldwide, share common transmission modalities and pose a risk within dental clinics. Updated, COVID-19-specific infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines for dental settings, including minimizing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs), were issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) in spring 2020. This study investigated dental team members (dentists, dental assistants and hygienists) compliance with MoH recommendations exposed to asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients. The MoH analysed exposure reports from dental clinics to asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive patients following their reopening (April 2020). Exposure reports were verified against a COVID-19 national database. A cumulative transmission rate was calculated and compared to the rate in the population. One thousand three hundred twenty-third exposure reports were received (May 1-December 31, 2020) regarding dental team members who treated asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive patients: 525 (39.7%) were dentists, 656 (49.6%) dental assistants and 126 (9.5%) hygienists. Practitioner type was not reported in 16 (1.2%) cases. Most dental team members reported full PPE use and performance of short/non-aerosol-generating procedures. Dentists and hygienists reported higher compliance compared with dental assistants. 8 (0.6%) dental team members (four dentists, four dental assistants) were positive post-exposure, with an average of 5.4 days (median 5 days, SD=4.8) from dental treatment to a positive COVID-19 test. Most dental team members complied fully with the MoH recommendations. Differences were found between the dental team members (hygienists being most adherent). Further efforts are required to encourage full compliance.

The journey to becoming trauma-informed - using pilot trauma training data to highlight the role of dental services in supporting patients affected by psychological trauma.

Rates of psychological trauma are increasing in the community. Psychological trauma symptoms may prevent patients from being able to access or tolerate dental treatment. The importance of dental teams providing equitable person-centred care by adopting a trauma-informed approach is discussed. One way to support dental services to be trauma-informed is through training staff in psychological trauma. An example from a Scottish Dental Hospital is provided. Directions for future research are discussed and the next steps in the journey to develop trauma-informed dental services are outlined.