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Journal of Healthcare Engineering 2022Dental professionals are playing an imperative role in the healthcare system. It is important to distribute the dental workforce across the country. Therefore, this...
Dental professionals are playing an imperative role in the healthcare system. It is important to distribute the dental workforce across the country. Therefore, this study aimed at analyzing the recent distribution of the dental workforce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and determining the current dentist-to-population ratio in the KSA. This is a cross-sectional study focused on the dental workforces working in the KSA between 2015 and 2020. Complete data of dentists working in the KSA with different professional ranks were obtained. The data were stratified by gender, professional rank (Saudi and non-Saudi), area of working (13 provinces in the KSA), and sector of working (public and private). A complete list of all dental universities was obtained to identify the increasing number of dental institutes at this current moment. In addition, the dentist-to-population ratio was also evaluated based on the current inhabitant in the KSA and the total dental surgeons. There are a total of 27181 dental surgeons and 8022 dental auxiliaries registered in different specialties as of 2020. Saudi citizens are holding the majority of the posts in both dentist and dental auxiliary categories. The percentage of males and female is slightly higher in dentists and dental auxiliaries, respectively. It also indicated that where most of the dental personnel work in the private sector, dental auxiliaries work in the public sector. Moreover, the highest number of dental workforces is identified in the Riyadh region among all the 13 provinces. Based on the databases, the current dentist-to-population ratio is 1 : 1288.16. In conclusion, the number of dental professionals is ample; however, rural areas lack specialists. Saudi dentists are progressively replacing foreign dentists in different professional ranks working in the KSA.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Dentists; Cross-Sectional Studies; Saudi Arabia; Workforce; Demography
PubMed: 36312596
DOI: 10.1155/2022/5321628 -
JDR Clinical and Translational Research Oct 2023Strong evidence supports use of dental sealants to prevent tooth decay, and professional guidelines recommend use in children with elevated caries risk. However, not all...
INTRODUCTION
Strong evidence supports use of dental sealants to prevent tooth decay, and professional guidelines recommend use in children with elevated caries risk. However, not all children indicated for sealants receive this preventive intervention, even when they use routine dental care.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore the extent to which dentists' use of sealants varied in pediatric patients with elevated caries risk.
METHODS
Claims and enrollment data from a private dental program were used to identify a cohort of 6- to 17-y-olds with elevated caries risk ( = 27,677) and general dentists ( = 818) who provided services to the children. Children were identified as having elevated caries risk based on history of restorative treatment over a 5-y period (2010-2014). The 2 outcomes of interest were whether a dentist provided any sealants to children with elevated risk and, if so, the extent to which these were used during a 2-y observation period (2013-2014). A 2-stage hurdle model was used for multivariable analysis to identify dentist characteristics associated with sealant use.
RESULTS
Over the observation period, 13.3% ( = 109) of dentists did not provide any sealants to their elevated risk patients from the study cohort. Logistic regression found that female dentists were significantly more likely to have used sealants (odds ratio = 2.27); dentist age and practice in an isolated small rural town were negatively associated with any sealant use. However, among dentists who did place sealants ( = 709), female dentists, older dentists, dentists in solo practice, and those working full-time were significantly more likely to provide sealants to a child. Overall, substantial variation in practitioners' use of sealants was observed.
CONCLUSION
This is the first study to explore provider-level variation in sealant use, representing a critical step in future efforts to increase routine use of sealants by dentists and eliminate oral health disparities.
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT
Findings from this study can be used to design targeted policy and behavioral interventions to increase sealant use by general dentists. This study provides foundational evidence for future research that explores motivation and barriers to routine use of preventive dental interventions by clinicians.
Topics: Humans; Child; Female; Dental Caries Susceptibility; Pit and Fissure Sealants; Dental Caries; Logistic Models; Dentists
PubMed: 35708460
DOI: 10.1177/23800844221102836 -
BMC Oral Health Dec 2021Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia are post-Soviet countries with a high rate of heavy smokers and a relatively high age-standardized incidence of oral cancer. However, to...
Knowledge, opinions, and practices related to oral cancer prevention and oral mucosal examination among dentists in Moldova, Belarus and Armenia: a multi-country cross-sectional study.
INTRODUCTION
Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia are post-Soviet countries with a high rate of heavy smokers and a relatively high age-standardized incidence of oral cancer. However, to our knowledge, there is lack of available information on dentists' knowledge on prevention of oral cancer in the countries in question. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, opinions, and practices related to oral cancer prevention and oral mucosal examination among dentists in Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia.
METHODS
This was a multi-country, cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 3534 dentists (797 in Chisinau, Moldova, 1349 in Minsk, Belarus, and 1388 in Yerevan, Armenia). Dentists' knowledge about risk factors for oral cancer development and its clinical picture, current practices and opinions with regard to oral mucosal screening and oral cancer prevention, and their consistency to perform oral mucosal examination were assessed. A knowledge score ranging from 0 to 14 points was generated based on each dentist's answer to the questionnaire.
RESULTS
A total of 1316 dentists responded, achieving an overall response rate of 37.2% (34.5% in Moldova; 52.3% in Belarus; 24.2% in Armenia). Most dentists in the three countries correctly identified tobacco (83.8-98.2%) and prior oral cancer lesions (84.0-96.3%) as risk factors for oral cancer. Most dentists correctly identified leukoplakia as a lesion with malignant potential (68.7% in Moldova; 88.5% in Belarus; 69.9% in Armenia), while erythroplakia was identified by much fewer in all three countries. Less than 52% of dentists identified the tongue, rim of tongue, and floor of mouth as the most common sites for oral cancer. The mean knowledge score for all countries combined was 7.5 ± 2.7. The most commonly reported barriers to perform oral mucosal examination were lack of training, knowledge, and experience.
CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the need for improved oral cancer-related education and training on oral mucosal examination for dentists in Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia. Such skills are essential to enhance oral cancer prevention and to improve the prognostic outcome by early detection.
Topics: Armenia; Attitude of Health Personnel; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentists; Early Detection of Cancer; Humans; Moldova; Mouth Neoplasms; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Republic of Belarus; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34922498
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-02011-2 -
Journal of Oral Science 2020This study aimed at determining whether oral health behavior differs between patients regularly checked by male and female dentists. The analysis was based on a...
This study aimed at determining whether oral health behavior differs between patients regularly checked by male and female dentists. The analysis was based on a cross-sectional survey of 354 Japanese community residents (median age = 54 years; 145 men and 209 women) conducted in a municipality from January to February 2017. Data on demographic characteristics and factors associated with oral health behavior were obtained through self-administered questionnaires. The association between regular dentist gender and patients' regular dental care check-up and interdental cleaning performance was examined after adjusting for potential confounders. Among respondents, 88.7% and 11.3% reported having male and female regular dentists, respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression model, patients regularly checked by female dentists had an increased likelihood of visiting their dentist for dental care check-up at least once every year (odds ratio [OR] = 2.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-4.55)and using an interdental cleaner (OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.03-6.71) compared to those regularly checked by male dentists. Patients regularly checked by female dentists tended to have more preventive oral health behaviors than those regularly checked by male dentists. These findings suggest that dentist gender has important clinical implications for patients' oral health behavior.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Care; Dentists; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oral Health; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 31996520
DOI: 10.2334/josnusd.18-0462 -
Community Dental Health Nov 2019This study compared the caregiver-perceived and dentist-determined oral health status of patients with intellectual disabilities to determine factors that affect...
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the caregiver-perceived and dentist-determined oral health status of patients with intellectual disabilities to determine factors that affect caregiver-perception of patients' oral health.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
297 patients [mean (SD) age = 51.9 (12.5) years] and 56 professional caregivers [42.1 (8.2) years] from three institutional facilities took part. Data were acquired via self-administered questionnaires by caregivers and oral examination by dentists. Oral hygiene condition, numbers of decayed and missing teeth, and periodontal disease reported by caregivers and dentists were compared using paired t-test and Pearson correlation. Demographic and dental factors of the patients and caregivers were analyzed using chi square and Fisher's exact tests.
RESULTS
Caregivers underestimated decayed and missing teeth compared to dentists (p⟨0.05). Oral hygiene condition and periodontal disease were similarly rated by the two groups. Tooth brushing, diet type, sex, and overall oral health status of the patients were associated with caregiver perception (p⟨0.05). Career length and time since caregivers last received dental care were also related factors (p⟨0.05).
CONCLUSION
Professional caregivers of adult patients with intellectual disabilities had different perceptions of oral health status based on patient and caregiver circumstances.
Topics: Adult; Caregivers; Dentists; Health Status; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 31664796
DOI: 10.1922/CDH_4583Cho07 -
BMC Oral Health Jun 2021The use of antibiotics in dentistry as prophylaxis and treatment is frequent. Their misuse has led to a major public health problem globally known as antibiotic...
BACKGROUND
The use of antibiotics in dentistry as prophylaxis and treatment is frequent. Their misuse has led to a major public health problem globally known as antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to assess the pattern of antibiotic prescription and its prophylactic use for systemic conditions. Besides, this study evaluated the awareness and adherence to antibiotic prescription guidelines and antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines along with awareness of antibiotic resistance across pediatric and general dentists.
METHODS
An overall of 378 pediatric and general dentists meeting the required eligibility criteria, fulfilled a pre-designed validated questionnaire. Data were collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed.
RESULTS
A significant statistical difference was found among the pediatric and general dentists regarding antibiotics prescription for most of the oral conditions where Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic among the two groups (53% pediatric dentist and 52% general dentist). The majority of pediatric and general dentists, on the other hand, were aware of antibiotic resistance and prescribing recommendations.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed a tendency to overprescribe and overuse antibiotics in certain dental conditions among the participants. The vast majority of dentists, especially general dentists do not have adherence to professional guidelines for antibiotics prescription in children despite their awareness of antibiotic resistance and prescription guidelines.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentists; Egypt; Humans; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Prescriptions
PubMed: 34174857
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01685-y -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2020This survey assessed the symptoms/signs, protective measures, awareness, and perception levels regarding COVID-19 among dentists in Lombardy, Italy. Moreover, an... (Review)
Review
This survey assessed the symptoms/signs, protective measures, awareness, and perception levels regarding COVID-19 among dentists in Lombardy, Italy. Moreover, an analysis of the answers gathered in areas with different prevalence of the disease was carried out. All Lombardy's dentists were sent an online ad hoc questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into four domains: personal data, precautionary measures (before patient arrival; in the waiting room; in the operating room), awareness, and perception. Three thousand five hundred ninety-nine questionnaires were analyzed. Five hundred two (14.43%) participants had suffered one or more symptoms referable to COVID-19. Thirty-one subjects were positive to the virus SARS-CoV-2 and 16 subjects developed the disease. Only a small number of dentists ( = 72, 2.00%) were confident of avoiding infection; dentists working in low COVID-19 prevalence areas were more confident than those working in the Milan area and high prevalence area (61.24%, 61.23%, and 64.29%, < 0.01 respectively). The level of awareness was statistically significantly higher ( < 0.01) in the Milan area (71.82%) than in the other areas. This survey demonstrated that dentists in the COVID-19 highest prevalence area, albeit reported to have more symptoms/signs than the rest of the sample, were the ones who adopted several precautionary measures less frequently and were the more confident of avoiding infection.
Topics: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Awareness; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Dentistry; Dentists; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Infection Control; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Prevalence; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 32481672
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17113835 -
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 -
Dental and Medical Problems 2023Teledentistry is a field of telemedicine that combines digital technology and clinical dentistry, enabling remote communication between dentists and patients.
BACKGROUND
Teledentistry is a field of telemedicine that combines digital technology and clinical dentistry, enabling remote communication between dentists and patients.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of dentists and patients about teledentistry in Turkey.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted among general and specialist dentists in Turkey, and dental patients in Edirne, Turkey. A questionnaire prepared in Google Docs was shared virtually among Turkish dentists, as well as administered to the patients referred to the university dental clinic in Edirne.
RESULTS
Among the 336 dentists participating in the study, 69.9% were female, 39.6% were working in the profession for 1-5 years, and 48.5% were specialist dentists. A total of 86.9% of dentists stated they would like to use teledentistry for radiological examinations, some follow-up examinations, and for follow-up during holidays. There were 21.1% of dentists who thought that teledentistry practices could be the new standard of oral healthcare, and only 34.0% were willing to try such practices. Among the 447 patients in the study, 49.9% were female, 79.0% were aged 20-44 years, and 54.4% had middle income. There were 74.5% of patients who stated that it would be easier to communicate with the dentist via a teledentistry application, 80.3% of patients in the underserved regions stated it would facilitate access to the dentist, 76.3% of patients stated that it would reduce costs, and 88.8% of patients thought that this method could help overcome the problem of isolation during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic period.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results, it can be said that the teledentistry approach would provide convenience for both dentists and patients in terms of dentist-patient communication, cost and efficiency of dental care.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Turkey; Telemedicine; COVID-19; Dentists
PubMed: 38133990
DOI: 10.17219/dmp/150834 -
Advances in Clinical and Experimental... Nov 2023Halitosis (fetor ex ore, malodor, bad breath) is defined as an unpleasant odor coming from the oral cavity, regardless of the cause: local or systemic. It affects 22-50%...
BACKGROUND
Halitosis (fetor ex ore, malodor, bad breath) is defined as an unpleasant odor coming from the oral cavity, regardless of the cause: local or systemic. It affects 22-50% of the population worldwide, leading to a significant decrease in the overall quality of life, and can have oral and extra-oral etiologies. There is an increased interest in the management of halitosis.
OBJECTIVES
This study aims to evaluate the patient-dentist communication on halitosis, the dentists' knowledge about the management and etiology of halitosis, and the treatment options used by dentists who practice in Poland and Lebanon.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
An online questionnaire was sent to both Lebanese and Polish dentists using Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, USA). In total, 205 dentists completed the questionnaire, of which 100 practiced in Poland (group P) and 105 practiced in Lebanon (group L). A multivariate analysis was conducted to determine differences between both groups and to identify parameters that could influence a dentist's management of halitosis.
RESULTS
According to the questionnaire, 86% of group P members and 65.7% of group L members reported communicating with patients about halitosis. Regarding the knowledge of halitosis, 78% of dentists in group P and 85.7% of dentists in group L reported that there is a classification for halitosis. A significant majority of dentists in both groups revealed not having any tool to measure halitosis (67.6% and 68% from group P and group L, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the need for improved communication skills in Polish and Lebanese dentists, as well as for education on the subject among dentists in both countries, and for standardization in diagnosis, treatment modalities and management of halitosis.
Topics: Humans; Halitosis; Poland; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Dentists
PubMed: 37326577
DOI: 10.17219/acem/161813