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Journal (Canadian Dental Association) Mar 2023Hypertension is a serious chronic illness that affects more than a third of the world's population. The high prevalence of hypertension coupled with its lack of initial...
Hypertension is a serious chronic illness that affects more than a third of the world's population. The high prevalence of hypertension coupled with its lack of initial clinical symptoms can make managing a hypertensive patient in a dental setting difficult. The dentist's role in managing hypertensive patients encompasses more than simple treatment modifications. Because of the frequency of dental checkups, dentists play an integral role in the detection of elevated blood pressure and appropriate subsequent referral. As such, it is imperative that dentists are aware of risk factors associated with hypertension to council patients early. In addition, antihypertensive medications pose a risk in dental treatment. Such drugs may produce various oral presentations and interact negatively with drugs commonly prescribed by the dentist. It is critical to recognize these changes and avoid possible interactions. Furthermore, dental treatment can often induce fear and anxiety resulting in an increase in blood pressure; this can further complicate management of patients with pre-existing hypertension. As research and recommendations are constantly changing, dentists must stay informed on how to appropriately administer care. This article is intended to provide the dental team with clear guidelines on the overall management of a hypertensive patient in a dental clinic.
Topics: Humans; Hypertension; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure; Anxiety; Vital Signs; Dentists
PubMed: 37098279
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation Apr 2022Regular dental attendance is important in order to receive preventive care, maintain good oral health and identify oral and dental disease at an early stage; however,...
BACKGROUND
Regular dental attendance is important in order to receive preventive care, maintain good oral health and identify oral and dental disease at an early stage; however, many people do not visit their dentist regularly. Barriers to regular attendance have been studied in small patient groups but not in the wider general population.
OBJECTIVE
To outline concerns about visiting the dentist and suggestions about how dentists could help using a general population sample.
METHOD
A survey was constructed using Qualtrics XM software and circulated. Respondents completed questionnaires about dental anxiety and about their concerns and suggestions around dental appointments including the option for free-text answers.
RESULTS
One hundred and fifty-four people completed the survey. Common concerns were the unknown element (62.58%) and worries about 'bad teeth' (60.54%). The most popular request for change was for dentists to inform patients of the condition of all their teeth including those in good health (86.30%). A thematic analysis of qualitative responses identified themes of control, shame, discomfort, long-term impact and cost. Several concerns and suggestions for improvement were expressed.
CONCLUSION
Although the pain associated with dental treatment was identified as important, concerns about the unknown and feeling vulnerable were seen as a higher priority. People in the general population want dentists to help them to feel informed and in control at dental appointments and to be involved in discussions about how they are feeling and what is important to them.
Topics: Dental Care; Dentists; Humans; Oral Health; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35032077
DOI: 10.1111/joor.13305 -
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Apr 2021To assess patients' knowledge and attitude towards different dental materials used in private and public dental facilities in an urban setting.
OBJECTIVE
To assess patients' knowledge and attitude towards different dental materials used in private and public dental facilities in an urban setting.
METHODS
The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Islamabad Dental and Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan, from February to July 2019, and comprised individuals at private dental clinics and teaching hospitals. Data was collected using a pre-validated structured questionnaire that recorded socio-demographic information as well as patients' perception on evidence-based dentistry using visual analogue, trust on the dentist, quality of materials and the source of information. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.
RESULTS
Of the 269 participants, 151(56.1%) were females with a mean age of 33.87±12.63 years, and 118(43.9%) were males with a mean age of 33.28±13.71 years. Overall, 208(77.3%) respondents were in favour of using materials with long-term scientific data; 201(74.7%) recognised a difference in quality of materials used at private clinics and teaching hospitals; 128(63.7%) believed that poor quality materials were used in teaching hospitals; 229(85%) trusted their dentists for using high-quality materials; and 108(40%) identified dentists as the source of information. There was a significant relationship between patient's education level and realising the importance of using dental materials supported by scientific evidence (p≤0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Majority of subjects believed that poor quality materials were used in teaching hospitals compared to private dental facilities.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Dentists; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pakistan; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 34125765
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.056 -
PloS One 2021To manage the increasing burden of dental diseases, a robust health system is essential. In order to ensure the oral health system operates at an optimal level going...
To manage the increasing burden of dental diseases, a robust health system is essential. In order to ensure the oral health system operates at an optimal level going into the future, a forecast of the national shortfall of dentists and dental specialists in South Africa (SA) was undertaken. There is currently a shortage of dentists and specialists in SA and given the huge burden of dental diseases, there is a dire need to increase the number of these health care workers. The aim was to determine the projected shortfall of dentists and specialists in each of the nine provinces in SA. The projected shortfall was calculated based on the SA Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for each province. The estimate for the evaluation of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) for SA was obtained from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Burden of Disease website. For each province, age standardized DALYs were calculated with mid-year population estimates obtained from Statistics SA 2018. In order to reduce the existing human resources for health (HRH) inequity among the provinces of SA, three scenarios were created focussing on attaining horizontal equity. The best-case scenario estimates a shortfall of 430, 1252 and 1885 dentists and specialists in 2018, 2024 and 2030 respectively. In an optimistic scenario, the national shortfall was calculated at 733, 1540 and 2158 dentists and specialists for the years 2018, 2024 and 2030 respectively. In an aspirational scenario, shortfalls of 853 (2018), 1655 (2024) and 2267 (2030) dentists and specialists were forecasted. Access to oral health services should be ensured through the optimum supply of trained dentists and specialists and the delivery of appropriate oral health services. Thus, the roadmap provided for upscaling the oral health services recognizes the influence of both demand and supply factors on the pursuit of equity.
Topics: Dentists; Disabled Persons; Forecasting; Global Burden of Disease; Global Health; Humans; Oral Health; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; South Africa; Specialization
PubMed: 33999933
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251238 -
African Health Sciences Mar 2023The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have an incessant out-turn on the people in every field in some or the other way. It has been reported that maximum number of deaths in... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have an incessant out-turn on the people in every field in some or the other way. It has been reported that maximum number of deaths in the countries during this pandemic are caused due to a term called death anxiety or phobia. There are certain parameters such as anxiety, apprehension, depression which if influence a person can alter one's well-being.
OBJECTIVE
The steadfast intent of this review article is to narrate the psychological impact of this pandemic on dentists. The eloquence and emergence of this topic will alarm all the medicos and paramedics to have a check on this scenario.
METHODS
The article consists of detailed study from several articles from PubMed publications. Articles written only in English language were referred. Various keywords such as "Covid-19 pandemic" or "Psychological Impact" were used.
RESULTS
The Covid-19 Pandemic has adversely affected all of us physically as well as psychologically. This article signifies the psychological impact of this pandemic on dentists.
CONCLUSION
The current studies that are carried out till date show an extensive impact on the psychology of the dental professionals. The following review article elaborates the importance of the same.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Pandemics; Population Health; Anxiety; Dentists
PubMed: 37545956
DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v23i1.6 -
African Health Sciences Dec 2022The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have an incessant out-turn on the people in every field in some or the other way. It has been reported that maximum number of deaths in... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have an incessant out-turn on the people in every field in some or the other way. It has been reported that maximum number of deaths in the countries during this pandemic are caused due to a term called death anxiety or phobia. There are certain parameters such as anxiety, apprehension, depression which if influence a person can alter one's well-being.
OBJECTIVE
The steadfast intent of this review article is to narrate the psychological impact of this pandemic on dentists. The eloquence and emergence of this topic will alarm all the medicos and paramedics to have a check on this scenario.
METHODS
The article consists of detailed study from several articles from PubMed publications. Articles written only in English language were referred. Various keywords such as "Covid-19 pandemic" or "Psychological Impact" were used.
RESULTS
The Covid-19 Pandemic has adversely affected all of us physically as well as psychologically. This article signifies the psychological impact of this pandemic on dentists.
CONCLUSION
The current studies that are carried out till date show an extensive impact on the psychology of the dental professionals. The following review article elaborates the importance of the same.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Pandemics; Population Health; Anxiety; Dentists
PubMed: 37092098
DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v22i4.58 -
Human Resources For Health Jan 2022Thailand has encountered an imbalanced dentist distribution and an internal brain drain of dentists from public to private health care facilities. To tackle these... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Thailand has encountered an imbalanced dentist distribution and an internal brain drain of dentists from public to private health care facilities. To tackle these challenges, the compulsory service (CS) program, which has been initially implemented for physicians, was extended for dentists.
METHOD
This policy and workforce document review describes the background, development, and policy implementation of the CS program in Thailand during the past three decades. Outcomes after policy implementation and future directions are also discussed. The information was gathered from the relevant policy and workforce documents available from 1961 to 2021.
RESULTS
In Thailand, junior dentists, specifically newly graduates, have to enroll in the CS program by working as oral health practitioners in public hospitals for at least 3 years. Dentists must pay a maximum fine of 400 000 baht (~ 12 571 USD) if they wish to skip the program. This fine is lowered according to the number of attending years in the program. CS program conditions are related to each university's admission track. The CS enrolled dentists receive several financial and non-financial benefits, including educational, employment-related, and living provisions. Altogether, successive Thai governments have launched directive policies to increase dentist distribution in rural areas and their retention in public hospitals. These policies have been implemented in 3 stages: (1) increase production of new dentists, (2) allocation of newly dental graduates to public hospitals, and (3) provide benefits for working in public hospitals.
CONCLUSION
During the past three decades, several public policies have been implemented to improve dentist retention and distribution to public hospitals across Thailand, particularly in rural areas. The present CS program may not completely resolve the oral health inequalities because the dentist retention rate in public hospitals depends on multi-dimensional considerations. Further modifications on the CS program and future well-planned policies are needed.
Topics: Dentists; Health Facilities; Humans; Physicians; Thailand; Workforce
PubMed: 34991605
DOI: 10.1186/s12960-021-00702-z -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2023The World Health Organization (WHO) African Region (AFR) has 47 countries. The aim of this research was to review the oral health workforce (OHWF) comprising dentists,...
The World Health Organization (WHO) African Region (AFR) has 47 countries. The aim of this research was to review the oral health workforce (OHWF) comprising dentists, dental assistants and therapists, and dental prosthetic technicians in the AFR. OHWF data from a survey of all 47 member states were triangulated with the National Health Workforce Accounts and population data. Descriptive analysis of workforce trends and densities per 10,000 population from 2000 to 2019 was performed, and perceived workforce challenges/possible solutions were suggested. Linear regression modelling used the Human Development Index (HDI), years of schooling, dental schools, and levels of urbanization as predictors of dentist density. Despite a growth of 63.6% since 2010, the current workforce density of dentists (per 10,000 population) in the AFR remains very low at 0.44, with marked intra-regional inequity (Seychelles, 4.297; South Sudan 0.003). The stock of dentists just exceeds that of dental assistants/therapists (1:0.91). Workforce density of dentists and the OHWF overall was strongly associated with the HDI and mean years of schooling. The dominant perceived challenge was identified as 'mal-distribution of the workforce (urban/rural)' and 'oral health' being 'considered low priority'. Action to 'strengthen oral health policy' and provide 'incentives to work in underserved areas' were considered important solutions in the region. Whilst utilising workforce skill mix contributes to overall capacity, there is a stark deficit of human resources for oral health in the AFR. There is an urgent need to strengthen policy, health, and education systems to expand the OHWF using innovative workforce models to meet the needs of this region and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Topics: Humans; Health Workforce; Workforce; Oral Health; Health Policy; Africa; Dentists
PubMed: 36767693
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032328 -
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Dec 2022For prevention of wound-healing complications, patients in German-speaking countries are traditionally advised to avoid consumption of milk and dairy products after oral... (Review)
Review
Avoidance of milk and dairy products after oral surgery-is such a recommendation still valid? A cross-sectional study among German and international oral and maxillofacial surgeons and dental practitioners with review of the literature.
PURPOSE
For prevention of wound-healing complications, patients in German-speaking countries are traditionally advised to avoid consumption of milk and dairy products after oral surgery. In the absence of national and international guidelines, this study investigates scientific evidence and compares international practice, frequency scale, and rationale behind such recommendation.
METHODS
Comparison of a German cross-sectional mono-center-questionnaire pilot study and a survey among international oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFS), specialized oral surgeons and general dentists, evaluating international practice regarding post-operative dietary and nutrition recommendations. Our literature review further assessed scientific evidence for relevant effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and/or synbiotics.
RESULTS
Among German study participants, 56% (n = 64/114) advise patients to avoid milk and dairy products, with 42% of OMFS (n = 38) and 65% (n = 76) of the general dentists recommending abstention (p = .027). In striking contrast, such recommendation could not be identified in our international survey (n = 143) (t test, p < .001) nor in the literature. There were significant differences between German and international study participants regarding the rationale for dietary recommendations, with dental schools and literature most frequently indicated as sources (Fisher's exact test, p < .001).
CONCLUSION
The hypothesis of a harmful effect of the consumption of milk and dairy products after dentoalveolar surgery could not be supported by evidence. The recommendation to avoid dairy products post-surgery was identified as a specific phenomenon practiced almost exclusively in German-speaking countries. Corresponding recommendations, most probably based on a now irrelevant risk of contracting tuberculosis from milk products, can at present no longer be substantiated.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Milk; Cross-Sectional Studies; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; Dentists; Pilot Projects; Professional Role; Oral Surgical Procedures
PubMed: 34694519
DOI: 10.1007/s10006-021-01017-y -
GigaScience Jan 2022Long sequencing reads allow increasing contiguity and completeness of fragmented, short-read-based genome assemblies by closing assembly gaps, ideally at high accuracy....
BACKGROUND
Long sequencing reads allow increasing contiguity and completeness of fragmented, short-read-based genome assemblies by closing assembly gaps, ideally at high accuracy. While several gap-closing methods have been developed, these methods often close an assembly gap with sequence that does not accurately represent the true sequence.
FINDINGS
Here, we present DENTIST, a sensitive, highly accurate, and automated pipeline method to close gaps in short-read assemblies with long error-prone reads. DENTIST comprehensively determines repetitive assembly regions to identify reliable and unambiguous alignments of long reads to the correct loci, integrates a consensus sequence computation step to obtain a high base accuracy for the inserted sequence, and validates the accuracy of closed gaps. Unlike previous benchmarks, we generated test assemblies that have gaps at the exact positions where real short-read assemblies have gaps. Generating such realistic benchmarks for Drosophila (134 Mb genome), Arabidopsis (119 Mb), hummingbird (1 Gb), and human (3 Gb) and using simulated or real PacBio continuous long reads, we show that DENTIST consistently achieves a substantially higher accuracy compared to previous methods, while having a similar sensitivity.
CONCLUSION
DENTIST provides an accurate approach to improve the contiguity and completeness of fragmented assemblies with long reads. DENTIST's source code including a Snakemake workflow, conda package, and Docker container is available at https://github.com/a-ludi/dentist. All test assemblies as a resource for future benchmarking are at https://bds.mpi-cbg.de/hillerlab/DENTIST/.
Topics: Dentists; Genome; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Software
PubMed: 35077539
DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giab100