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Advances in Dental Research Dec 2019The aim of this review is to investigate the growth of diversity and inclusion in global academic dental research with a focus on gender equality. A diverse range of... (Review)
Review
The aim of this review is to investigate the growth of diversity and inclusion in global academic dental research with a focus on gender equality. A diverse range of research methodologies were used to conduct this review, including an extensive review of the literature, engagement of key informants in dental academic leadership positions around the world, and review of current data from a variety of national and international organizations. Results provide evidence of gender inequalities that currently persist in dental academics and research. Although the gender gap among graduating dental students in North America and the two most populous countries in Europe (the United Kingdom and France) has been narrowed, women make up 30% to 40% of registered dentists in countries throughout Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa. In academic dentistry around the globe, greater gender inequality was found to correlate with higher ranking academic and leadership positions in the United States, United Kingdom, several countries in European Union, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Further disparities are noted in the dental research sector, where women make up 33% of dental researchers in the European Union, 35% in North America, 55% in Brazil, and 25% in Japan. Family and societal pressures, limited access to research funding, and lack of mentoring and leadership training opportunities are reported as also contributing to gender inequalities. To continue advancing gender equality in dental academia and research, efforts should be geared toward the collection and public dissemination of data on gender-specific distributions. Such evidence-driven information will guide the selection of future strategies and best practices for promoting gender equity in the dental workforce, which provides a major pipeline of researchers and scholars for the dental profession.
Topics: Demography; Dentistry; Humans; Sex Ratio; Socioeconomic Factors; Workforce
PubMed: 31746651
DOI: 10.1177/0022034519877398 -
Community Dentistry and Oral... Dec 2023This study aimed to understand the perspectives of dentists towards the Montreal-Toulouse model, an innovative approach that encompasses person-centredness and social...
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to understand the perspectives of dentists towards the Montreal-Toulouse model, an innovative approach that encompasses person-centredness and social dentistry. This model invites dentists to take three types of actions (understanding, decision-making, intervening) on three overlapping levels (individual, community, societal). This study aimed to understand (a) How dentists perceived the Montreal-Toulouse model as a framework for the practice of dentistry and (b) What parts of this model they were ready to adopt in their own practice.
METHODS
A qualitative descriptive study was conducted based on semi-structured interviews with a sample of dentists in the Province of Quebec, Canada. A combination of maximum variation and snowball sampling strategies was employed and 14 information-rich participants were recruited. The interviews were conducted and audio-recorded through Zoom and lasted approximately 1 h and a half. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed through a combination of inductive and deductive coding.
RESULTS
The participants explained they valued person-centred care and tried to put the individual level of the Montreal-Toulouse model into practice. However, they expressed little interest in the social dentistry aspects of the model. They acknowledged not knowing how to organize and conduct upstream interventions and were not comfortable with social and political activism. According to them, advocating for better health-related policies, while a noble act, 'was not their job'. They also highlighted the structural challenges that dentists face in fostering biopsychosocial approaches such as the Montreal-Toulouse model.
CONCLUSIONS
To promote the Montreal-Toulouse model and empower dentists to address social determinants of health, an educational and organizational 'paradigm shift' towards social accountability might be necessary. Such a shift requires curricular modifications and reconsidering traditional teaching approaches in dental schools. Moreover, dentistry's professional organization could facilitate dentists' upstream actions through proper resource allocation and openness to collaboration with them.
Topics: Humans; Dentists; Quebec; Canada; Qualitative Research; Dentistry; Attitude of Health Personnel
PubMed: 37042424
DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12859 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2023Light is an emerging treatment approach that is being used to treat many diseases and conditions such as pain, inflammation, and wound healing. The light used in dental... (Review)
Review
Light is an emerging treatment approach that is being used to treat many diseases and conditions such as pain, inflammation, and wound healing. The light used in dental therapy generally lies in visible and invisible spectral regions. Despite many positive results in the treatment of different conditions, this therapy still faces some skepticism, which has prevented its widespread adoption in clinics. The main reason for this skepticism is the lack of comprehensive information about the molecular, cellular, and tissular mechanisms of action, which underpin the positive effects of phototherapy. However, there is currently promising evidence in support of the use of light therapy across a spectrum of oral hard and soft tissues, as well as in a variety of important dental subspecialties, such as endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, and maxillofacial surgery. The merging of diagnostic and therapeutic light procedures is also seen as a promising area for future expansion. In the next decade, several light technologies are foreseen as becoming integral parts of modern dentistry practice.
Topics: Photobiology; Orthodontics; Endodontics; Periodontics; Surgery, Oral
PubMed: 36835395
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043985 -
Journal of Prosthodontic Research Apr 2024The surge in digitalization and artificial intelligence has led to the wide application of robots in various fields, but their application in dentistry started... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The surge in digitalization and artificial intelligence has led to the wide application of robots in various fields, but their application in dentistry started relatively late. This scoping review aimed to comprehensively explore and map the current status of the clinical application of robots in dentistry.
STUDY SELECTION
An iterative approach was used to gather as much evidence as possible from four online databases, including PubMed, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Japan Science and Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, from January 1980 to December 2022.
RESULTS
A total of 113 eligible articles were selected from the search results, and it was found that most of the robots were developed and applied in the United States (n = 56; 50%). Robots were clinically applied in oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral implantology, prosthodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, and oral medicine. The development of robots in oral and maxillofacial surgery and oral implantology is relatively fast and comprehensive. About 51% (n = 58) of the systems had reached clinical application, while 49% (n = 55) were at the pre-clinical stage. Most of these are hard robots (90%; n = 103), and their invention and development were mainly focused on university research groups with long research periods and diverse components.
CONCLUSIONS
There are still limitations and gaps between research and application in dental robots. While robotics is threatening to replace clinical decision-making, combining it with dentistry to gain maximum benefit remains a challenge for the future.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Robotics; Oral Medicine; Surgery, Oral; Prosthodontics
PubMed: 37302842
DOI: 10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_23_00027 -
Clinical Oral Investigations Nov 2023This systematic review assessed the available evidence on the survival and success rate of zirconia and titanium implants. As secondary outcomes, aesthetic, radiographic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review assessed the available evidence on the survival and success rate of zirconia and titanium implants. As secondary outcomes, aesthetic, radiographic and clinical parameters, as well as biological and mechanical complications, were considered.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic search was performed up to March 2022 to identify CCTs/RCTs comparing zirconia and titanium implants with a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. Meta-analysis was performed when ≥ 2 articles with similar characteristics were retrieved.
RESULTS
Four published articles with two RCTs (2 different patient populations) with 100 zirconia and 99 titanium implants that were followed up over 12-80 months were selected out of the 6040 articles. A non-statistically significant difference between zirconia and titanium implant survival at 12 months was suggested (P = 0.0938). The success rates were 57.5-93.3% and 57.1-100% for zirconia and titanium implants, respectively. The pink aesthetic score (PES) was higher for zirconia (10.33 ± 2.06 to 11.38 ± 0.92) compared to titanium implants (8.14 ± 3.58 to 11.56 ± 1.0).
CONCLUSION
Based on the 2 RCTs retrieved in the literature, similar survival rates were reported for zirconia and titanium implants in the short term (12 months of follow-up). Future RCTs are warranted to evaluate the long-term outcomes of zirconia implants.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Zirconia implants may be the procedure of choice, particularly in the aesthetic zone, since they show a similar survival and success rate as titanium implants on a short-term follow-up.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Systematic review registration number-CRD42021288704 (PROSPERO).
Topics: Humans; Dental Implants; Titanium; Dental Restoration Failure; Esthetics, Dental; Zirconium; Dental Prosthesis Design
PubMed: 37740825
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-05242-5 -
Journal of Prosthodontic Research 2024
Topics: Prosthodontics; Dentistry; Sleep
PubMed: 38583990
DOI: 10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_24_00059 -
Dental Materials Journal Jan 2020Optical technology has provided a paradigm shift in implant dentistry. However, there is little information about the use of optical technology in implant dentistry,... (Review)
Review
Optical technology has provided a paradigm shift in implant dentistry. However, there is little information about the use of optical technology in implant dentistry, since this technology is relatively new and has been evolving under the current conditions. In the present narrative literature review, the effects of intraoral scanners (IOSs) use on accuracy and the operating time, as well as safety and patient perception, in implant dentistry were evaluated from the clinical perspective. The accuracy of digital scans with IOSs was comparable to the conventional impression techniques for single or partial prostheses, and the digital scans with IOSs are time efficient when taking impressions for single- or double-abutments. However, the accuracy and time efficiency are decreased for multiple implant scans or large-area scans with IOSs use. Patient satisfaction with and preference for IOSs scans are generally superior to those with conventional impression procedures.
Topics: Computer-Aided Design; Dental Implants; Dental Impression Technique; Dentistry; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Models, Dental
PubMed: 31723067
DOI: 10.4012/dmj.2019-285 -
British Dental Journal Aug 2020With the advent of digital dentistry, we have more accurate intraoral scanners (IOSs) than ever before. Overcoming various difficulties with conventional impression... (Review)
Review
With the advent of digital dentistry, we have more accurate intraoral scanners (IOSs) than ever before. Overcoming various difficulties with conventional impression techniques, optical IOSs are now widely used within the restorative and orthodontic specialities. In recent years, IOSs have been steadily integrated into soft tissue surgery, and guided implant surgery.The aim of this review article is to examine current applications and methodologies when using digital scanners to quantify outcomes in soft tissue surgery. In addition, advantages and disadvantages of current techniques are discussed, alongside an insight into the new perspectives generated by this technology. Areas for future research are highlighted.This overview of contemporary literature leads to the conclusion that current IOSs are sufficiently accurate for assessing and monitoring soft tissue changes; however, further studies are needed to address the complexities of scanning mobile tissues.
Topics: Computer-Aided Design; Dental Impression Technique; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Models, Dental; Orthodontics
PubMed: 32811947
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-020-1845-7 -
British Dental Journal Jun 2021Bonded retainers may play an important role in reducing unwanted tooth movements following orthodontic treatment, with an open-ended perspective on retention now...
Bonded retainers may play an important role in reducing unwanted tooth movements following orthodontic treatment, with an open-ended perspective on retention now established. The importance of planning for bonded retention is emphasised, with key principles in minimising failure rates as well as wire and adhesive options discussed. Approaches to preparation of the wire and the teeth, the bonding process, as well as variations in retainer design, and means of preventing problems and undertaking repairs in order to achieve predictable fixed retention in the long term are also outlined.
Topics: Dental Bonding; Orthodontic Appliance Design; Orthodontic Appliances, Fixed; Orthodontic Retainers
PubMed: 34117425
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-021-2936-9 -
The Journal of Evidence-based Dental... Sep 2019This study aims to evaluate digital and conventional impressions for full-coverage restorations in terms of marginal and internal discrepancies. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
In Vivo and In Vitro Comparison of Internal and Marginal Fit of Digital and Conventional Impressions for Full-Coverage Fixed Restorations: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
PURPOSE
This study aims to evaluate digital and conventional impressions for full-coverage restorations in terms of marginal and internal discrepancies.
STUDY SELECTION
The analysis included in vivo and in vitro studies reporting the marginal or internal gap of full-coverage restorations that provide both the conventional and digital impression. The PubMed, Cochrane Trials, and Scopus databases were searched. The quality of clinical trials was rated using Cochrane Collaboration's tool, and the quality of the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tool. Heterogeneity among the studies was evaluated, and a meta-analysis with subgroup analysis was conducted whenever it was possible.
RESULTS
Thirty-three articles (8 prospective clinical trials and 26 in vitro studies) were selected to extract data after applying the predefined selection criteria. The standard mean difference (SMD) of the meta-analysis for marginal adaptation was -0.76 (95% confidence interval: -1.23 to -0.29) and -0.59 (95% confidence interval: -0.93 to -0.24) for in vitro and in vivo studies, respectively, indicating digital impressions provided significantly less marginal gap than conventional impressions in in vitro studies (P = .002). The impression technique did not significantly influence the internal adaptation.
CONCLUSIONS
Differences in marginal adaptation between the digital and conventional groups are not significant for in vivo studies, but for in vitro studies, the digital impression resulted in better marginal adaptation. Based on the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach for marginal adaptation, clinical studies were classified as high confidence and in vitro studies were graded moderate because of the inconsistency. Furthermore, high-quality studies are needed to confirm our results (the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; CRD42017077925).
Topics: Computer-Aided Design; Crowns; Dental Impression Technique; Dental Marginal Adaptation; Dental Prosthesis Design; Humans
PubMed: 31732100
DOI: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2019.04.003