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International Journal of Dentistry 2023Recently, the National Council on Disability urged the Commission on Dental Accreditation to require more thorough training in the care of developmentally disabled...
BACKGROUND
Recently, the National Council on Disability urged the Commission on Dental Accreditation to require more thorough training in the care of developmentally disabled patients. Curricula is early in its development and its' effectiveness is unknown.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine if special needs dental education has had an impact on providers' professional behavior, practice characteristics, attitudes, and confidence when treating these patients and managing their dental anxiety.
METHODS
A nonrandomized, noninterventional, and anonymous, Qualtrics survey was administered prospectively to members of one local and one national organization.
RESULTS
Of the 107 respondents (response rate of 81.06%), 89% treat special needs patients. Positive reinforcement (88.64%), distraction (85.23%), and enhancing control (85.23%) were the modalities most used by these participants. Regarding treating this population, the average response regarding both confidence and wanting to learn more fell between disagree and agree at 2.92, while the average response regarding concern about safety fell between agree and strongly agree at 3.22. Level of specific expertize had the strongest influence on a provider's decision to treat, while reimbursement level had the least influence. Among participants who completed postdoctoral education, the average response for how well their education prepared them to manage patients with special needs was higher for their postdoctoral training compared to their dental school training, with pediatric dentists reporting the highest rate of preparation. No correlation was found between year of dental school graduation and how well they felt their education prepared them for treating this population. Significance level was set at 5%.
CONCLUSION
Dental education can have a significant impact on dentists' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and confidence about treating those with developmental disabilities and managing their dental anxiety. Acknowledging that this relationship exists should encourage educational improvements in this area.
PubMed: 37719834
DOI: 10.1155/2023/1903411 -
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation Nov 2023The Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for use in adults is in use worldwide. Until now, no version of this instrument for use in adolescents...
BACKGROUND
The Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for use in adults is in use worldwide. Until now, no version of this instrument for use in adolescents has been proposed.
OBJECTIVE
To present comprehensive and short-form adaptations of the adult version of DC/TMD that are appropriate for use with adolescents in clinical and research settings.
METHODS
International experts in TMDs and experts in pain psychology participated in a Delphi process to identify ways of adapting the DC/TMD protocol for physical and psychosocial assessment of adolescents.
RESULTS
The proposed adaptation defines adolescence as ages 10-19 years. Changes in the physical diagnosis (Axis I) include (i) adapting the language of the Demographics and the Symptom Questionnaires to be developmentally appropriate for adolescents, (ii) adding two general health questionnaires, one for the adolescent patient and one for their caregivers and (iii) replacing the TMD Pain Screener with the 3Q/TMD questionnaire. Changes in the psychosocial assessment (Axis II) include (i) adapting the language of the Graded Chronic Pain Scale to be developmentally appropriate for adolescents, (ii) adding anxiety and depression assessment that have been validated for adolescents and (iii) adding three constructs (stress, catastrophizing and sleep disorders) to assess psychosocial functioning in adolescents.
CONCLUSION
The recommended DC/TMD, including Axis I and Axis II for adolescents, is appropriate to use in clinical and research settings. This adapted first version for adolescents includes changes in Axis I and Axis II requiring reliability and validity testing in international settings. Official translations of the comprehensive and short-form to different languages according to INfORM requirements will enable a worldwide dissemination and implementation.
Topics: Adult; Adolescent; Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Chronic Pain; Pain Measurement; Language; Facial Pain
PubMed: 37144484
DOI: 10.1111/joor.13488 -
Hand-Holding's Effect on Children's Pain Perception and Anxiety during Dental Anesthetic Injections.Journal of Clinical Medicine Oct 2023Local anesthetic injections are an essential tool in dentistry, particularly in pediatric dentistry. The needle penetrating the tissue can cause stress, anxiety, and...
Local anesthetic injections are an essential tool in dentistry, particularly in pediatric dentistry. The needle penetrating the tissue can cause stress, anxiety, and pain. Studies have shown that using touch may alleviate pain and reduce patient anxiety. Yet, this has not been tested in pediatric dental patients. Therefore, this study examined the effect of hand-holding on children undergoing local anesthetic injections. Its effect on children's pain perception was tested, with the hypothesis that pain perception would be lower for children whose hand was held by an assistant. Additionally, the study examined whether hand-holding would affect children's anxiety levels and cooperation. Fifty-five children, who underwent dental treatment within the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Tel Aviv University, were recruited. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. In the study group, the assistant gently placed her hand on the patient's hand during the anesthetic injection. In the control group, the same treatment was performed without the hand being placed by the assistant. After the anesthetic injection, the child's pain and anxiety levels were assessed using visual analog scales (VAS). The patients' pulse was measured. The level of cooperation was evaluated using the "Frankl" scale. Interestingly, although the trends aligned with this study's hypotheses, no significant effect of hand-holding on pain, anxiety, or cooperation during anesthetic injections was found.
PubMed: 37959290
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12216825 -
Soa--ch'ongsonyon Chongsin Uihak =... Apr 2024This study aims to extract and summarize the literature on the mental health status of patients with monkeypox. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
This study aims to extract and summarize the literature on the mental health status of patients with monkeypox.
METHODS
This review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using different databases and publishers such as Scopus, Sage, ScienceDirect, PubMed, BMJ, Wiley Online Library, Wolters Kluwer OVID-SP, and Google Scholar. The literature review was based on monkeypox and mental health. The year of publication was 2021-2023, during the monkeypox disease period. Data were extracted from opinions, editorials, empirical studies, and surveys.
RESULTS
Based on the literature related to the mental status of patients with monkeypox, the following themes and subthemes were identified: anxiety and depression, self-harm and suicidal tendencies, neuropsychiatric symptoms, mental health, social stigma, sex workers, vaccination, and stress-related diseases.
CONCLUSION
A review of monkeypox virus infection studies reveals that 25%-50% of patients experience anxiety and depression due to isolation, boredom, and loneliness. Factors such as infected people, a lack of competence among healthcare professionals, and shame over physical symptoms exacerbate mental insults. The implications of society include increased self-harm, suicide, low productivity, fear of stigmatization, and transmission of infection.
PubMed: 38601106
DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.230064 -
European Archives of Paediatric... Dec 2023Understanding the impact of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic social restrictions on the lives of children and adolescents is of utmost importance to enable...
PURPOSE
Understanding the impact of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic social restrictions on the lives of children and adolescents is of utmost importance to enable timely diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of anxiety, sleep bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and change in dietary and brushing habits and their association with COVID-19 social restrictions.
METHODS
Parents of fit and healthy Qatari children and adolescents were recruited and interviewed by the research team, whereby validated questioners were used to assess the prevalence of children's/adolescents' anxiety, sleep bruxism and TMD. Furthermore, changes in dietary and brushing habits were also evaluated.
RESULTS
A total of 199 parents of children and adolescents (mean age = 9.3 ± 3.2 years old) were included. Overall anxiety symptoms, sleep bruxism and TMD were evident in 29.6%, 5.7% and 23.1%, respectively. An increased consumption of food, sweets and worsening of brushing habits were evident in 51.8%, 62.8% and 31.2%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Within the limitations of this study, pandemic-related social restrictions could result in elevated levels of anxiety, specifically, social phobia, amongst children and adolescents, which could inevitably lead to unwanted dental consequences.
Topics: Humans; Child; Adolescent; Sleep Bruxism; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prevalence; COVID-19; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Anxiety
PubMed: 37848680
DOI: 10.1007/s40368-023-00847-6 -
Cureus Mar 2024Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a multifaceted disorder impacting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), causing substantial discomfort and functional limitations. This... (Review)
Review
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a multifaceted disorder impacting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), causing substantial discomfort and functional limitations. This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of non-invasive treatment modalities for TMJ dysfunction, prioritizing a definitive protocol to ensure patient safety and enhance quality of life. Employing the PRISMA guidelines, we meticulously analyzed 20 studies from a pool of 1,417 articles sourced from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Medline. These studies underscore the multifarious nature of TMD and the varied responses to treatments such as physical therapy, laser therapy, ultrasound and electrical stimulation, splint therapy, injections, and arthrocentesis. Notably, the review highlights the paramount importance of precise diagnosis, often through surface electromyography, followed by a tailored treatment approach integrating manual therapy, counseling, and splint therapy. The systematic analysis revealed that while certain treatments such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and low-level laser therapy showed limited efficacy, combination therapies, especially those involving manual therapy, counseling, and splint therapy, demonstrated substantial improvement in reducing pain, depression, and anxiety. The findings advocate for a non-invasive, patient-centric approach, emphasizing education and symptom management before considering more invasive procedures such as injections and arthrocentesis. The review identifies the need for more comprehensive, longitudinal studies to establish a standardized, evidence-based treatment protocol for TMJ dysfunction, aiming to improve patient outcomes holistically.
PubMed: 38646388
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56713 -
BMC Oral Health May 2024Dental anxiety is a prevalent issue in society, characterized by an uneasy sensation and anticipation of negative experiences in dental settings. In essence, dental...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Dental anxiety is a prevalent issue in society, characterized by an uneasy sensation and anticipation of negative experiences in dental settings. In essence, dental anxiety, oral health literacy, and quality of life may have a relationship with each other, however, there is a shortage of evidence examining the interplay between these factors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health literacy (OHL) with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL).
METHODS
This is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted on 155 patients referred to the Department of Oromaxillofacial Diseases. Three questionnaires consisting of dental anxiety scale, oral health impact profile- 14, and oral health literacy adult questionnaire were used to measure anxiety, health literacy, and the quality of life-related to oral health. Scores were recorded and analyzed by IBM SPSS 24 software using independent samples T-test and ANOVA. Besides, the confirmatory modeling through the goodness of fit index of the model was applied.
RESULTS
This study involved 155 participants, with a mean age of 38.44 ± 14 years. The majority were females, comprising 99 individuals (63.9%). In this study, 89 patients (57.4%) had dental anxiety. The mean OHL score in the examined participants was 9.88 ± 3.97. Both factors of anxiety (p < 0.001) and OHL (p = 0.012) had a significant effect on the OHRQOL. There was no significant difference in the mean OHRQOL among the three categories of OHL (p = 0.085). The confirmatory modeling showed that only the fourth (p = 0.065) and fifth (p = 0.146) questions of the OHL questionnaire had no significant effect on the total score of OHL. Besides, both factors of anxiety (p < 0.001) and OHL (p = 0.012) had a significant effect on OHRQOL. With an increase of one unit in anxiety, the OHRQOL score increases by 0.31 and for a one-unit increase in the OHL score, the OHRQOL score decreases by 0.66 units.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it seems that considering various dimensions of oral and dental health can help patients to have reduced psychological anxiety. Notably, further multicenter studies assessing diverse variables related to dental anxiety, OHL, and OHRQOL, and considering more comprehensive study designs with longitudinal follow-up could help provide insights into how changes in dental anxiety and OHL over time affect OHRQOL.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Dental Anxiety; Female; Male; Oral Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Health Literacy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38745147
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04359-7 -
Journal of Dental Sciences Oct 2023The communication barrier that deaf people face when seeking dental care can impact their experience and may potentially lead to exacerbated dental fear or anxiety. This...
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
The communication barrier that deaf people face when seeking dental care can impact their experience and may potentially lead to exacerbated dental fear or anxiety. This study aimed to investigate the current attitudes and levels of knowledge and confidence of Australian oral and dental health students in treating a deaf patient.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A 33-item cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed to Australian dental, oral health therapy and dental hygiene students across 13 tertiary institutions. The online questionnaire was distributed to students via their respective course coordinators.
RESULTS
271 viable survey responses were received. While 55.7% of participants reported previous exposure to deaf or hard-of-hearing people, 90.8% had never completed or attempted an Auslan class. These participants who answered 'Yes' to having taken a prior Auslan class were reported to have significantly higher mean knowledge scores and confidence self-efficacy ratings than those who had answered 'No' (p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant association between higher knowledge scores and higher confidence self-efficacy ratings. Most of these participants that answered 'Yes' to having taken a prior Auslan class implied or stated that the party responsible for changing their communication behaviour was the dentist rather than the patient, in contrast to the inconsistent responses from the 'No' group.
CONCLUSION
Inadequate knowledge and cultural competency regarding the Deaf population was reported by Australian dental, oral health therapy and hygiene students. Incorporating more training pertinent to dental curricula is warranted to minimise oral health inequalities.
PubMed: 37799853
DOI: 10.1016/j.jds.2023.02.021 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and dental anxiety among Chinese adults in Hong Kong.
INTRODUCTION
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and dental anxiety among Chinese adults in Hong Kong.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a university in Hong Kong. The recruiting period and data collection started in January 2023 and ended in June 2023. Participants completed an online questionnaire that assessed ACEs (using the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire - ACE-IQ) and dental anxiety (using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale - MDAS and Dental Fear Survey - DFS). The study examined the impacts of both cumulative (i.e., total number) and independent ACE components on dental anxiety. To explore the relationships between cumulative ACEs, individual ACE components and dental anxiety (MDAS and DFS score), Pearson correlations, linear regression and logistic regression were conducted.
RESULTS
Significant associations were observed between ACEs and dental anxiety among 171 subjects. Cumulative ACEs were positively correlated with MDAS scores ( = 0.169, = 0.027) and DFS scores ( = 0.253, < 0.001). The odds of an individual having high dental anxiety increased by 26-43% for every additional increase in the number of ACEs. Individual types of ACEs, such as emotional and physical neglect, sexual abuse, and household substance abuse, significantly influenced the likelihood of having high dental anxiety.
DISCUSSION
The results showed a positive association between ACEs and dental anxiety, highlighting the impact of ACEs on dental anxiety. Dental practitioners should consider inquiring about a patient's ACE history to develop personalized treatment plans.
PubMed: 38840746
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1372177 -
Journal of the Indian Society of... Oct 2023Dental anxiety and fear are the major treatment challenges faced by pediatric dentists. Oral hygiene in children with Down's syndrome is highly compromised in comparison...
BACKGROUND
Dental anxiety and fear are the major treatment challenges faced by pediatric dentists. Oral hygiene in children with Down's syndrome is highly compromised in comparison to their healthy counterparts. Animal-assisted therapy, through dogs, has been beneficial in alleviating dental fear and anxiety in healthy pediatric population.
AIM
The aim of the study was to assess the impact of dog-assisted therapy (DAT) on children with Down's syndrome undergoing dental examination and fluoride varnish application in dental operatory.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty children with Down's syndrome between 5 and 12 years of age were selected. Group A (intervention group): DAT was carried out in the dental operatory. Group B (control group): Dental treatment was performed in the absence of a therapy dog in the dental operatory. Anxiety levels were evaluated by recording the pulse rate and revised modified faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS[f]).
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
The intergroup comparison of pulse rate was done using an unpaired t-test, whereas the variation in intragroup pulse rate was analyzed using the Analysis of Variance test. The anxiety scores were subjected to a paired t-test for intragroup comparison with P < 0.05 considered to be statistically significant.
RESULTS
Reduction in dental anxiety was observed in the intervention group (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
DAT can be used as an effective behavior management technique for children with Down's syndrome undergoing dental examination and simple dental procedures in the dental operatory.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Child; Dogs; Dental Anxiety; Pilot Projects; Down Syndrome; Animal Assisted Therapy; Fear
PubMed: 38235819
DOI: 10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_493_23