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International Journal of Dental Hygiene Aug 2023Oral cancer is a severe and potentially fatal disease usually starting in the squamous epithelium lining the oral cavity. Together with oropharyngeal carcinoma, it is...
BACKGROUND
Oral cancer is a severe and potentially fatal disease usually starting in the squamous epithelium lining the oral cavity. Together with oropharyngeal carcinoma, it is the fifth to sixth most common malignancy worldwide. To limit the increase in the global oral cancer incidence over the past two decades, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution urging member states to integrate preventive measures such as engagement and training of dental personnel in screening, early diagnosis, and treatment into their national cancer control programs.
AIM
The aim of this study was to investigate if dental hygienists (DHs) and dentists (Ds) in general dental practice care can be entrusted to perform brush sampling of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), and to evaluate their level of comfort in performing brush biopsies.
METHODS
Participants were five DHs and five Ds who received one day of theoretical and clinical training in oral pathology to identify OPMDs (leukoplakia [LP], erythroplakia [EP], and oral lichen planus [OLP]), and perform brush sampling for PAP cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) analysis.
RESULTS
Out of 222 collected samples, 215 were adequate for morphological assessment and hrHPV analysis. All the participants agreed that sample collection can be incorporated in DHs and Ds routine clinical duties, and most of them reported that sample collection and processing was easy/quite easy.
CONCLUSION
Dentists and DHs are capable of collecting satisfactory material for cytology and hrHPV analysis. All the participating DHs and Ds were of the opinion that brush sampling could be handled routinely by DHs and Ds in GDP.
Topics: Humans; Mouth Mucosa; Dental Hygienists; Mouth Neoplasms; Biopsy; Mouth Diseases; Precancerous Conditions; Dentists
PubMed: 37401636
DOI: 10.1111/idh.12713 -
British Dental Journal Nov 2023Introduction Dental professionals have an ethical and legal obligation to diagnose and manage medical emergencies which may occur in primary dental care.Aims and...
Introduction Dental professionals have an ethical and legal obligation to diagnose and manage medical emergencies which may occur in primary dental care.Aims and objectives To investigate the prevalence of medical emergencies in UK primary dental care and explore the medical emergency training needs of UK primary dental care professionals.Design and setting Cross-sectional survey, targeting dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists across the UK working within primary dental care.Materials and methods An online survey was distributed via dental society mailing lists, social media groups and a dental conference. The questionnaire consisted of participants demographics and training in, prevalence of and confidence surrounding medical emergencies.Results Respondents (n = 400) were dentists (55.8%), dental hygienists/therapists (38.8%) and specialists (5.5%). Most participants received basic life support training (62%) in 2019, before COVID-19. The most common medical emergencies were syncope, non-specific collapse and hypoglycaemia, being encountered every 1.59, 1.64 and 8.26 years, respectively. The preferred method for medical emergency training was practical based, with more training in administering emergency drugs and equipment identified as a training need.Conclusion Dental professionals will encounter medical emergencies in primary dental care every 1-2 years and are therefore not uncommon.
Topics: Humans; Emergencies; Prevalence; Cross-Sectional Studies; United Kingdom; Dental Care; Dentists
PubMed: 37945869
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-023-6444-y -
Infection Control and Hospital... Nov 2023We performed a preimplementation assessment of workflows, resources, needs, and antibiotic prescribing practices of trainees and practicing dentists to inform the...
BACKGROUND
We performed a preimplementation assessment of workflows, resources, needs, and antibiotic prescribing practices of trainees and practicing dentists to inform the development of an antibiotic-stewardship clinical decision-support tool (CDST) for dentists.
METHODS
We used a technology implementation framework to conduct the preimplementation assessment via surveys and focus groups of students, residents, and faculty members. Using Likert scales, the survey assessed baseline knowledge and confidence in dental providers' antibiotic prescribing. The focus groups gathered information on existing workflows, resources, and needs for end users for our CDST.
RESULTS
Of 355 dental providers recruited to take the survey, 213 (60%) responded: 151 students, 27 residents, and 35 faculty. The average confidence in antibiotic prescribing decisions was 3.2 ± 1.0 on a scale of 1 to 5 (ie, moderate). Dental students were less confident about prescribing antibiotics than residents and faculty ( < .01). However, antibiotic prescribing knowledge was no different between dental students, residents, and faculty. The mean likelihood of prescribing an antibiotic when it was not needed was 2.7 ± 0.6 on a scale of 1 to 5 (unlikely to maybe) and was not meaningfully different across subgroups ( = .10). We had 10 participants across 3 focus groups: 7 students, 2 residents, and 1 faculty member. Four major themes emerged, which indicated that dentists: (1) make antibiotic prescribing decisions based on anecdotal experiences; (2) defer to physicians' recommendations; (3) have limited access to evidence-based resources; and (4) want CDST for antibiotic prescribing.
CONCLUSIONS
Dentists' confidence in antibiotic prescribing increased by training level, but knowledge did not. Trainees and practicing dentists would benefit from a CDST to improve appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing.
Topics: Humans; Dentists; Antimicrobial Stewardship; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Decision Support Systems, Clinical; Dentistry
PubMed: 37553682
DOI: 10.1017/ice.2023.173 -
Journal of the American Dental... Dec 2023Dental pain is common yet understudied and often undertreated in youth. To improve pain management in pediatric dentistry, it is necessary to understand practices and...
BACKGROUND
Dental pain is common yet understudied and often undertreated in youth. To improve pain management in pediatric dentistry, it is necessary to understand practices and perceptions among providers. The authors assessed pediatric dentists' use of and attitudes toward evidence-based pain management (EBPM) strategies.
METHODS
The authors used a 27-item online survey to assess attitudes about EBPM, pain management and assessment practices, tools for disseminating knowledge about EBPM, and opinions regarding priority areas for improving pain management. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize findings; open-ended items were analyzed thematically.
RESULTS
Participants (N = 625) were pediatric dentists (89.2%) and pediatric dentistry residents (10.8%). Most respondents agreed that pain management is an important aspect of clinical care and thought that improvements in pain management practices are needed. Providers reported spending the most time facilitating pain management during the procedure (compared with before or after), and 73.2% said they feel this is an adequate amount of time. Distraction, tell-show-do techniques, and supportive language were the most used nonpharmacologic pain management strategies, and providers' observational approaches were used most frequently for pain assessment. Top priority areas for improving pain management were reported as developing tools for caregivers and provider resources on nonpharmacologic pain management (ie, continuing education courses).
CONCLUSIONS
Providers reported high use of EBPM strategies, low use of validated pain assessment tools, and a particular interest for professional development opportunities and patient resources focused on nonpharmacologic pain management.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
Findings from this survey can inform dissemination and implementation of science efforts to improve pain management in pediatric dentistry.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Child; Pediatric Dentistry; Pain Management; Attitude of Health Personnel; Surveys and Questionnaires; Dentists
PubMed: 37877929
DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2023.09.003 -
BMC Oral Health Oct 2023There is a notable increase in the usage of social media platforms, especially for health communication, as more clinicians and patients count on this kind of...
BACKGROUND
There is a notable increase in the usage of social media platforms, especially for health communication, as more clinicians and patients count on this kind of technology. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the perception and attitude toward social media (SM) use for professionalism and dental practice promotion among periodontal specialists working in Saudi Arabia (KSA).
METHODS
Electronic surveys were distributed in person or online using WhatsApp, Snapchat or Email from October 2022 until March 2023. The questionnaire was targeting periodontists in KSA, and it consists of three parts: the first part includes sociodemographic and professional data; the second part asks about the daily usage of SM in dental practice; and the third part asks about the periodontist's opinion about SM usage. Descriptive data were presented as numbers and percentages. The association between the demographic variables and the means of periodontists' opinions was tested using Pearson's chi-square test. Any value equal to or less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
A total of 121 responses were received from the periodontists. Most of the participants were in the 36-45 age group, with a percentage of 40.5%. In terms of gender, males made up 52.9% of the population, while females made up 47.1%, and the majority of the participants were consultants. The most common SM platform used by periodontists for daily using and dental practice promotion was Snapchat (56.2%), followed by Instagram and Twitter (54.5% and 49.6%, respectively). There was a significant difference in proportions among Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok between older and younger periodontists, with a p value < 0.05. There was no significant difference between the gender of the participants and their opinions regarding the usage of SM.
CONCLUSIONS
This study highlighted the effectiveness of SM in the promotion of dental practices and the discipline of periodontics, as more clinicians and patients rely on this kind of technology. These online platforms can improve periodontal practice in terms of dental health education, counseling, advertising, and oral health services.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Attitude of Health Personnel; Dentists; Periodontics; Saudi Arabia; Social Media
PubMed: 37807041
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03444-7 -
Journal of the American Dental... Aug 2023
Topics: Humans; Health Personnel; Dentists; Oral Health; Dental Care
PubMed: 36959008
DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2023.02.006 -
British Dental Journal Feb 2024Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is a distinct type of oral leukoplakia which has the potential to enlarge or develop into new areas of leukoplakia coupled with... (Review)
Review
Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is a distinct type of oral leukoplakia which has the potential to enlarge or develop into new areas of leukoplakia coupled with areas of a warty surface texture. PVL is usually diagnosed from the fifth decade onwards and is more common in female patients. The most frequent sites involved tend to be gingivae, followed by buccal mucosa and lateral border of tongue. It is one of the oral potentially malignant conditions with a high risk of malignant transformation. It is important for general dental practitioners (GDPs) to identify such lesions to facilitate referral for further investigation and diagnosis. Management is challenging with long-term monitoring and surgical excision when appropriate; however, PVL tends to recur following surgical excision. This article provides an up-to-date review tailored for GDPs on the present knowledge of PVL and illustrates the management challenges with clinical cases.
Topics: Humans; Female; Dentists; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Professional Role; Leukoplakia, Oral; Mouth Mucosa
PubMed: 38388601
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-024-7066-8 -
Australian Dental Journal Sep 2023Dental practitioners are known to experience a high level of stress, but little is known about the mental health of Australian dental practitioners. The aim of this...
BACKGROUND
Dental practitioners are known to experience a high level of stress, but little is known about the mental health of Australian dental practitioners. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of mental health conditions among Australian dental practitioners.
METHODS
A cross sectional survey of 1483 Australian dental practitioners was carried out from October to December 2021. Participants reported aspects of mental health including depression, anxiety disorder, burnout (Sydney Burnout Measure) and psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and General Health Questionnaire 12).
RESULTS
Self-reported psychological distress was high, with 32.0% rated as having moderate or severe psychological distress and 59.4% a high likelihood of minor (or more severe) psychological distress. One in four participants (24.8%) were classified as likely to be experiencing burnout, with 25.9% reporting ever having a diagnosis of depression, 11.4% a current diagnosis of depression, 23.1% ever having a diagnosis of anxiety disorder and 12.9% a current diagnosis of anxiety disorder.
CONCLUSION
Australian dental practitioners reported a high burden of psychological distress, burnout and mental health issues, suggesting a need for education and programmes to support their mental health and wellbeing. © 2023 Australian Dental Association.
Topics: Humans; Mental Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentists; Australia; Professional Role; Burnout, Professional; Depression; Surveys and Questionnaires; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 37199455
DOI: 10.1111/adj.12961 -
BMC Oral Health Dec 2023One of the main clinical features of Sjögren's Syndrome is oral dryness, which is associated with an increased risk of oral diseases and a lower oral life quality....
BACKGROUND
One of the main clinical features of Sjögren's Syndrome is oral dryness, which is associated with an increased risk of oral diseases and a lower oral life quality. Dentists have a key role to play in the Sjögren's Syndrome diagnosis and specific management. In parallel, many patients rely on patient associations, which offer opportunities for members to seek information about their disease and share their experiences. We aimed to evaluate patients experience with dry mouth and the importance of dentists in Sjögren's Syndrome diagnosis and its management.
METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional survey in 2020 based on a questionnaire drafted in collaboration with clinicians specializing in Sjögren's Syndrome and patient members of a patient association. The survey consisted of 27 questions divided into the six sections: the patient's profile, their experience with dry mouth and treatments used to manage, characteristics of experienced oral-health problems, effects of dry mouth and its consequences on the quality of life, evaluation of the dentist role in the screening of Sjögren's Syndrome, and its management by the dentist. Recruitment was carried out via the patient association's newsletter, website, and social networks. Sjögren's diagnosis was self-reported.
RESULTS
One thousand four hundred fifty-eight patients fully responded to the survey. Most respondents were women over 50 and were mainly concerned with primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Overall, 86.97% of respondents reported experiencing frequent or constant dry mouth and 69.01% declared having had oral problems (candidiasis, oral pain, loss or alteration of taste, bad breath, gastro-esophageal reflux). We found a positive correlation between the frequency of dry mouth and each of these disorders and between the frequency of dry mouth and alterations in life quality dimensions. Finally, 74.9% of patients did not report having dry mouth to their dentist prior to being diagnosed with Sjögren's Syndrome and 58% had not been informed about the oral risks associated with it by their dentist and sought information themselves or from their physician.
CONCLUSIONS
We confirm the significant consequences of dry mouth on oral quality of life, as well as its association with oral health problems. Sjögren's Syndrome screening by dentists should be increased, as well as prevention of the associated oral health risks.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Sjogren's Syndrome; Quality of Life; Cross-Sectional Studies; Xerostomia; Dentists; Patient Reported Outcome Measures
PubMed: 38102574
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03727-z -
Sante Publique (Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy,... Dec 2023As it seems likely that France, at the forefront in the use of surgical robotic platforms, will authorize the deployment of dental robots in the short term, the purpose...
As it seems likely that France, at the forefront in the use of surgical robotic platforms, will authorize the deployment of dental robots in the short term, the purpose of this article is to question what is at stake in this technological revolution, for dental professionals, regulators but also (and above all) for patients: what awareness-raising will the intervention of machines bring? How does robotics reshuffle the cards of the care relationship? What are the ethical and public health issues? After having defined dental robots as non-humanoid, automated surgical devices with exclusive restorative vocation, we will see how the field of dental robotics currently oscillates between hopes and illusions. We will describe the new responsibilities and ethical requirements related to the introduction of these AI-powered technical objects, as well as the necessary safeguards that have to be implemented in order to avoid any moral buffer and to protect patients from any robotization (literally or metaphorically in the sense of ‘zombification’). Finally, we will show that ultimately the question of robot-dentists is the natural evolution of unreasonable application of industrial processes to the rationalization of health and ectopic, neo-liberal practices shifting healthcare into a commercial commodity. Patients can participate in reversing this trend, by recalling that the centrality of the human person is the cornerstone of health professions.
Topics: Humans; Dentists; France; Robotics; Dental Implantation; Artificial Intelligence; Oral Surgical Procedures
PubMed: 38040642
DOI: 10.3917/spub.hs1.2023.0173