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The Angle Orthodontist Mar 2017To determine how often general dentists receive gifts from orthodontists, the value and number of the gifts they receive, and how they perceive the motivation behind the...
OBJECTIVES
To determine how often general dentists receive gifts from orthodontists, the value and number of the gifts they receive, and how they perceive the motivation behind the gift.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a questionnaire-based study. A questionnaire was constructed and tested for validity and reliability. An electronic version of survey was sent via email to 1300 general dentists.
RESULTS
The validity and reliability of the survey was confirmed. Two hundred fifty-four valid responses were received (20%). Eighty-five percent of responding general practitioners reported that they received gifts from an orthodontist. Almost 100% reported that they referred patients to orthodontists. About one-third of the responding general practitioners reported that their office provided orthodontic care. There were statistically significant correlations between the number of annual patient referrals the general practitioners reported making and the number and value of the gifts they received from the orthodontists. Female general practitioners reported receiving a higher number of gifts of greater total value than male practitioners. General practitioners who reported providing orthodontic treatment did not differ from those who did not in the number of referrals they made annually and the number and value of the gifts they received. Quality of care was the most common reason general practitioners reported for their referral to an orthodontist. Forty-four percent of the responders reported that they received discounted orthodontic treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
General practitioners refer patients to orthodontists and receive gifts from them. The number and value of the gifts reflects the number of referrals they make.
Topics: Dentists; Gift Giving; Humans; Motivation; Orthodontists; Referral and Consultation; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 27654629
DOI: 10.2319/032416-242.1 -
Clinical Oral Investigations Jun 2023The prevalence of root caries is increasing globally, especially in the elderly population, and even though the number of patients with root caries lesions is...
OBJECTIVES
The prevalence of root caries is increasing globally, especially in the elderly population, and even though the number of patients with root caries lesions is augmenting, there are still many discrepancies in how dentists manage this condition. The present study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to evaluate how dentists diagnose, record and manage root caries lesions, and to verify the validity and reliability of this questionnaire.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An expert panel developed a self-administered questionnaire survey with three domains: (1) dentists' knowledge on diagnosis, recording, and managing root caries; (2) information about their current general clinical routines; (3) their demographics. The original English [E] version was translated into three different languages (French [F], German [G], Italian [I]), and subsequently back-translated into English by independent dentists. For the validation, 82 dentists (20-22 for each of the translated versions) accepted to answer the questionnaire at two different time-points (with 1-week interval). The data was quality checked. Construct validity, internal reliability, and intra-class correlation (ICC) were assessed.
RESULTS
Seventy-seven dentists completed the questionnaire twice [E: 17; F: 19; G: 19; I: 22]. The mean ICC (standard deviation) was 0.98(0.03) for E, 0.90(0.12) for F, 0.98 (0.04) for G, and 0.98 (0.01) for I. Overall, the test-retest reliability was excellent (mean ICC (SD): 0.96 (0.08)). Furthermore, the questionnaire demonstrated good internal reliability (inter-observer reliability; Fleiss kappa: overall:0.27(fair); E:0.30 (fair); F: 0.33(fair); G: 0.33(fair); I: 0.89 (almost perfect)).
CONCLUSION
The questionnaire was validated and is suitable to be used in the four languages to assess the knowledge of dentists on diagnosing, recording and managing root caries.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The present questionnaire was validated and seems to be a good tool to evaluate how dentists diagnose, record, and manage root caries lesions both in its original (English) and its translated (French, German, and Italian) versions.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Root Caries; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires; Translating; Dentists
PubMed: 36629963
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-022-04842-x -
JDR Clinical and Translational Research Apr 2022Increasing dentists' visibility in the media to make the case for sugary beverage taxes can help advance public policy that improves oral health outcomes. We assessed...
OBJECTIVES
Increasing dentists' visibility in the media to make the case for sugary beverage taxes can help advance public policy that improves oral health outcomes. We assessed California dentists' media engagement behaviors related to sugar restriction policies for dental caries prevention and correlates of engaging in such behavior.
METHODS
Survey items related to sugar policies and media engagement were embedded in an electronically distributed statewide survey of dentists' tobacco cessation counseling behaviors. Descriptive statistics were calculated for respondent characteristics, perceived professional responsibility to discuss selected topics with patients, and attitudes and behaviors related to sugar restriction policy and media communication. Multivariable models identified independent correlates of media engagement.
RESULTS
Of 624 respondents, most had never talked to traditional media (78%) or posted to social media (64%) about sugar or sugar policies for dental caries prevention. Respondents with the highest level of media engagement were more likely to agree that sugary beverage taxes are effective at reducing dental caries, that they had support from dental professional organizations to talk to the media, that it is realistic for patients to reduce their sugar consumption, and that sugar and sugary drinks are extremely harmful to health.
CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to increase dentists' media engagement related to sugar restriction policies for dental caries prevention should address dentists' negative attitudes toward the effectiveness of sugar restriction policies and may require increased support from dental professional societies.
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT
Study findings identify dentists' low engagement in media advocacy to support sugar restriction policy adoption. The results identify correlates of media engagement and of dentists' willingness and confidence to act, which could serve to inform interventions to support and enhance engagement.
Topics: Dental Caries; Dentists; Humans; Policy; Sugars; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33783268
DOI: 10.1177/23800844211003818 -
Annals of Hepatology 2021Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is endemic in Lao PDR, with up to 10% chronic infections in adults. Dentists have high risk of exposure and transmission to their patients. The...
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is endemic in Lao PDR, with up to 10% chronic infections in adults. Dentists have high risk of exposure and transmission to their patients. The aim was to investigate the serological profiles of vaccination, exposure and susceptibility to HBV. In addition, we determined the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of Lao dentists toward HBV.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Dentists and dental assistants were recruited from 186 private dental clinics in Vientiane Capital. They completed a KAP questionnaire and serum was tested by ELISA for HBV markers (anti-HB surface antigen, anti-core antigen, HBV surface antigen).
RESULTS
206 dentists and 111 dental workers aged between 18-63 years were included. Serology data showed that 37.8% had previous exposure (49.0% of males and 32.4% of females) and 5.0% were chronically infected (7.7% of males and 3.8% of females). Less than 15% had serological evidence of vaccination and 66.8% were unprotected against infection. Knowledge of HBV was mostly low, for example 61.8% were aware of the childhood HBV vaccine. Just over half said that they should give dental care to HBV carriers. About one quarter reported accidental blood exposure during the last 6 months but knowledge about procedures after exposure was low.
CONCLUSIONS
Lao dentists are at high risk of occupational exposure to HBV but have low awareness and serological protection. There is a need to introduce mandatory vaccination, to strengthen occupational health in health care providers and to further develop the academic curricula of dental students.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Staff; Dentists; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Laos; Male; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 33217587
DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2020.10.010 -
International Dental Journal Jun 2022Dental patients may require invasive treatment, and awareness of their medical conditions is essential for optimal care. We assessed the knowledge, perceptions, and...
OBJECTIVES
Dental patients may require invasive treatment, and awareness of their medical conditions is essential for optimal care. We assessed the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of dentists practicing in Saudi Arabia (SA) and their associations with managing patients with common cardiac conditions.
METHODS
A national survey of knowledge and attitudes of practicing dentists towards patients with common cardiac conditions was conducted from May 2019 to July 2020 in SA. The survey comprised a newly developed, validated, electronic, self-administered English questionnaire.
RESULTS
Overall, 282 dentists completed the survey, of whom 45.5% perceived cardiac patients as difficult to manage, while 64.5% stated that they refer these patients to cardiologists before dental intervention. Regarding knowledge about cardiac conditions, 72% achieved an overall knowledge score <55%; however, their infective endocarditis scores were better. Consultants and specialists (P < .001), those with a PhD/board certification (P = .013), dentists with prior education on cardiac patient management (P = .002), and those working with a cardiologist (P = .016) scored higher on knowledge. Conversely, private dentists (P = .003) and those referring patients to cardiologists before treatment (P = .003) scored lower. Dentists' knowledge of cardiovascular diseases in women was low; only those who believed women experience a greater risk of cardiac complications achieved a higher score. Approximately 90.1% wished to receive education regarding cardiac patient management.
CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of cardiac patient management was suboptimal in this study. Dentists perceived cardiac patients as difficult to manage, but wished to learn more regarding optimal management. Thus, postgraduate education programmes that promote optimal dental management strategies for cardiac patients are necessary.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Dentists; Female; Humans; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Saudi Arabia; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34256924
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2021.04.006 -
British Dental Journal Oct 2021The role of general dental practice within the NHS is limited to the direct practice of dentistry. Pandemic situations have identified the capability of dentists to take...
The role of general dental practice within the NHS is limited to the direct practice of dentistry. Pandemic situations have identified the capability of dentists to take a wider role in patient care, which has been recognised by the FDI World Dental Federation. With the UK government's intention to re-structure primary healthcare to recognise lifestyle elements as the important feature of a new prevention emphasis, could and should the unique position of general dental practice play an important and integral role in promoting overall health and wellbeing?
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Dentists; General Practice, Dental; Humans; Primary Health Care
PubMed: 34625685
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-021-3475-0 -
Journal of Dentistry Oct 2021COVID-19 has had a significant impact on dentistry in unforeseen ways, including a substantial rise in the development and implementation of video consultations. The...
OBJECTIVES
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on dentistry in unforeseen ways, including a substantial rise in the development and implementation of video consultations. The research aimed to investigate dentists' and patients' attitudes towards dental video consultations (tele-dentistry) and to identify potential ways to improve the experience.
METHODS
A cross-sectional, pre-post design, online survey was carried out with patients' and dentists' before and after video consultations. A total of 249 participants accessed the survey and 228 of them consented to take part in the study and answered the online questions. Participants' attitudes towards video consultations were assessed using a questionnaire constructed by a multidisciplinary team of periodontists and psychologists. The measure assessed the perceived efficacy of the video consultations on patients and the dental team. Video consultations were performed to risk assess, triage and manage remotely via a video link out at (deleted name of institution as double blinded peer review) via NHS England's Attend Anywhere platform.
RESULTS
The majority of patients strongly agreed and were satisfied using tele-dentistry in the five domains which we explored: the ease, comprehensiveness and helpfulness of the video consultations and the anxiety and satisfaction levels of the patient. Dentists and students alike felt more confident and competent after having carried out a video consultation. The majority of clinicians found the tele-dentistry platform helpful and easy to perform. Just over 70% of patients strongly agreed that the video consultation ran smoothly and 75.7% strongly agreed that they were comfortable accessing the consultation from home rather than travelling in for the consultation. Just under 80% of patients stated that they would recommend the video consultation.
CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that tele-dentistry may be a valid option to help service providers and dental patients, as it seems to be well accepted by both patients and dentists. JM to typesetter.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Patients' and dentists' perceptions of Tele-Dentistry at the time of COVID-19. A questionnaire-based study. To our knowledge this is one of the first studies evaluates perceptions of patients and clinicians before and after a tele-dentistry encounter in and across different dental departments. The majority of survey participants expressed positive views towards tele-dentistry across all domains including ease and comprehensiveness of the video consultation, perceived helpfulness and anxiety and satisfaction of the patient. Dentists appear to be competent and confident to carry out these video consultations and find them to be helpful and easy to complete. As a result, we suggest readers adopt tele-dentistry in their daily activities to help patients and clinicians alike.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Dentists; Humans; Perception; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; SARS-CoV-2; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34400252
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2021.103782 -
Anesthesiology Dec 2019In late 1846, following his successful public demonstrations of surgical anesthesia, Boston dentist William T. G. Morton selected Letheon as the commercial name for the...
In late 1846, following his successful public demonstrations of surgical anesthesia, Boston dentist William T. G. Morton selected Letheon as the commercial name for the ether-based "preparation" he had used to produce insensibility to pain. We have not identified a first-hand account of the coinage of Letheon. Although the name ultimately derives from the Greek Lēthē, the adjective Lethean, much in use in the mid-19th century, may have influenced Morton and those he called on to assist in finding a commercial name. By one unverified account, the name Letheon might have been coined independently by both Augustus Addison Gould, M.D., and Henry Jacob Bigelow, M.D.
Topics: Anesthesia; Dentists; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; Humans; Linguistics; Terminology as Topic
PubMed: 31567360
DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000002969 -
Swiss Dental Journal Jun 2018This manuscript provides an overview of therapeutic options for the problem of bleeding in a dentist’s office. Bleeding after tooth extraction is a very common finding... (Review)
Review
This manuscript provides an overview of therapeutic options for the problem of bleeding in a dentist’s office. Bleeding after tooth extraction is a very common finding in dental medicine and persistent blood in the mouth is obviously uncomfortable and sometimes terrifying for the patient. Most bleedings can be stopped simply with compression, in some cases a homeostatic therapy is necessary. For local compression, a swab with tranexamic acid is useful. If local compression is not sufficient, sutures are often an option. A very effective therapy would also be Tabotamp®, a local hemostypticum which is placed onto the bleeding and should increase the thrombocytic aggregation. In the worst case Floseal®, a human Thrombin, can be placed locally. It stops the bleeding very fast and sufficiently.
Topics: Dentists; Hemorrhage; Humans; Tooth Extraction; Tranexamic Acid
PubMed: 29905060
DOI: 10.61872/sdj-2018-06-02 -
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia... Sep 2022The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the delivery of healthcare, including oral healthcare services. The restrictions imposed for mitigating spread of the...
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the delivery of healthcare, including oral healthcare services. The restrictions imposed for mitigating spread of the virus forced dental practitioners to adopt significant changes in their workflow pattern. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the pandemic on the practice of oral and maxillofacial pathology in two countries in regard to educational activities, and clinical and diagnostic pathology services.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
An online questionnaire was distributed to oral and maxillofacial pathologists in the United States and Canada. The survey was designed by combining dichotomous, multiple choice, and Likert response scale questions. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed with SPSS software.
RESULTS
Most pathologists, at the time of survey completion, were teaching synchronously, primarily with case-based learning and live lectures. During lockdown, 52.4% and 50.0% of those with trainees expected their residents to show up for clinic- and laboratory-related procedures respectively. The pathologists were most concerned for their residents' inadequate clinical exposure, future placement, and face-to-face teaching time. About 89.0% pathologists were able to provide emergent care, with 82.4% and 23.5% having performed telehealth consultations and oral biopsy procedures, respectively. During the lockdown, the pathology laboratories for 90.9% of participants received biopsy specimens that predominantly comprised of potentially malignant or malignant lesions. However, a reduction in the number of biopsy submissions was reported.
CONCLUSIONS
Given the challenges of the pandemic, oral and maxillofacial pathologists in the United States and Canada successfully continued their pursuits in education, clinical care, and diagnostic pathology services.
Topics: COVID-19; Communicable Disease Control; Dentists; Humans; Pandemics; Pathology, Oral; Professional Role; United States
PubMed: 35420068
DOI: 10.4317/medoral.25382