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International Dental Journal Oct 2020The extent to which dentists are happy with their profession and their life has not been well studied. The present study aimed to explore the level of happiness,...
OBJECTIVES
The extent to which dentists are happy with their profession and their life has not been well studied. The present study aimed to explore the level of happiness, satisfaction with life and psychological well-being among a sample of dental professionals from 21 countries.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The sample comprised 2,200 dentists from 21 countries. Three scales - Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and Affect Balance Scale (ABS) - were used to measure the subjective responses. Data related to demographic and social characteristics were recorded. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used as appropriate. Scales were correlated, and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to identify the independent determinants of SHS, SWLS and ABS. Data were analysed using the SPSS software program; a value of P <0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS
The overall mean scores of SHS, SWLS and ABS were 18.53 ± 5.06, 23.06 ± 6.25 and 1.26 ± 2.40, respectively, with significant differences found across countries: dentists working in Croatia, Peru and Serbia recorded the highest scores, unlike dentists practicing in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, who recorded the lowest scores. There were significant, moderately positive correlations between the various scales: SHS and SWLS: r = 0.535, P < 0.001; SHS and ABS: r = 0.58, P < 0.001; and SWLS and ABS: r = 0.533, P < 0.001. Country of practice, age, qualification and monthly income were the significant independent predictors of SHS, SWLS and ABS.
CONCLUSION
Country of residence and social characteristics were associated with dentists' responses regarding their feelings and subjective well-being.
Topics: Croatia; Dentists; Happiness; Humans; Iraq; Personal Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 32501563
DOI: 10.1111/idj.12579 -
BMC Oral Health Jan 2023COVID-19 has impacted and increased risks for all populations, including orthodontic patients and providers. It also changes the practice management and infection...
BACKGROUND
COVID-19 has impacted and increased risks for all populations, including orthodontic patients and providers. It also changes the practice management and infection control landscape in the practices. This study aimed to investigate the COVID-19 infection and vaccination status of orthodontic providers and mitigation approaches in orthodontic practices in the United States during 2021.
METHODS
A validated 50-question research electronic data capture (REDCap) browser-based questionnaire was distributed to 12,393 orthodontists and pediatric dentists who reported actively providing orthodontic treatment. Questions were designed to collect demographic data of respondents, evaluate the COVID-19 mitigation approaches, and evaluate the history of COVID-19 infection and vaccination status of the orthodontic providers. Associations of demographic and the COVID-19 mitigation approaches were assessed using chi-square tests at the significance level of 0.05.
RESULTS
Four hundred fifty-seven returned the survey (response rate 3.69%) for analysis. Most respondents were vaccinated, and increased infection control measures in response to the pandemic. Half of the respondents practiced teledentistry and switched to digital impression systems. Two-thirds reported difficulties in attaining PPEs due to the increased cost and scarcity of PPEs. About 6% of respondents reported a history of COVID-19 infection, and 68.9% of their staff had COVID-19 infection. Statistically significant associations were found between increased practice experience with difficulties in acquiring PPE (p = .010). There were no significant associations between races of respondents, geographic location, and years of practicing when cross-tabulated with vaccination status or COVID-19 infection rate (p > .05).
CONCLUSION
Increased infection control strategies were employed in almost all orthodontic practices in addition to existing universal precaution. Most of the orthodontic providers and their staff members were vaccinated. While staff's infection rates were an issue, doctors' infection rates remained low.
Topics: Child; Humans; COVID-19; Orthodontists; Dentists; Infection Control; Universal Precautions; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 36611143
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-022-02705-1 -
Clinical and Experimental Dental... Oct 2023Periodic examination of the head and neck includes screening for oral cancer, which is largely performed in dental offices by vigilant oral healthcare providers. The aim...
OBJECTIVE
Periodic examination of the head and neck includes screening for oral cancer, which is largely performed in dental offices by vigilant oral healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to assess practice patterns among Virginia dentists in performing head and neck exams and the referral rates of biopsies after completion of head and neck exams. We hypothesized that not all dentists perform head and neck exams and there is a difference between dentists who refer patients for a biopsy and those that perform biopsies.
METHODS
General dentists and dental specialists who are members of the Virginia Dental Association were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey study through REDCap to self-report their head and neck exam protocols.
RESULTS
A total of 224 providers completed the survey. The majority of respondents were general dentists with more than 20 years in practice, who practice in a private setting, and see more than 10 patients in a day. All respondents stated they perform intraoral examinations, but 10 respondents stated they do not perform extraoral examinations. Nearly a third of respondents reported doing their own biopsies.
CONCLUSIONS
Although only 8.5% of oral healthcare providers in Virginia responded to our survey, respondents are following the 2017 ADA good practice statement by providing their patients with head and neck exams to screen for oral cancer. Additional education pertaining to extraoral anatomy, malignant transformation of oral potentially malignant disorders, and pathology procedures may be helpful to clinicians.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Mouth Neoplasms; Mouth Diseases; Referral and Consultation; Dentists
PubMed: 37759423
DOI: 10.1002/cre2.772 -
Australian Dental Journal Mar 2020To examine the efect of age and gender on dental services provided by dentists in Australia, and compare with previous estimates across the period 1983-1984 to 2013-2014.
OBJECTIVES
To examine the efect of age and gender on dental services provided by dentists in Australia, and compare with previous estimates across the period 1983-1984 to 2013-2014.
METHODS
Data were collected by mailed survey from a random sample of Australian dentists. Private sector dentists were the focus of the analysis. Data were weighted to the age and sex distribution of Australian practising dentists.
RESULTS
The analysis was based on service logs collected from n = 211 dentists. Adjusted results (rate ratio, 95% CI) showed male dentists had higher endodontic rates (1.7, 1.0-2.9) than female dentists. Dentists aged 40-49 years had higher restorative rates (1.6, 1.1-2.2) but lower preventive rates (0.5, 0.3-0.9) than those aged 20-29 years. Diagnostic services were lower for dentists aged 40-49 to 60+ years (0.8, 0.6-0.9), while denture services were higher for dentists aged 40-49 (11.1, 2.5-48.5) to 60+ years (6.4, 1.2-33.3). Crowns were higher for dentists aged 40-49 (2.4, 1.0-5.6) and 50-59 years (2.9, 1.3-6.6). Diagnostic and preventive services were consistently higher across 1983-1984 to 2013-2014.
CONCLUSIONS
Younger dentists provided higher rates of diagnostic and preventive services. Over a 30-year period, there was a consistent trend towards higher provision of diagnostic and preventive services.
Topics: Adult; Australia; Crowns; Dental Care; Dentists; Dentists, Women; Female; General Practice, Dental; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Sex Distribution; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 31814141
DOI: 10.1111/adj.12741 -
International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2022Domestic violence (DV) is an important public health topic with a high prevalence in society. Dentists are also frontline responders to DV, as they not only treat... (Review)
Review
Domestic violence (DV) is an important public health topic with a high prevalence in society. Dentists are also frontline responders to DV, as they not only treat victims of DV with dental injuries, but they can also screen for the presence of DV because they see patients for regular check-ups. Using the WHO definition, which describes domestic violence as intimate partner violence, 17 papers could be included in our analyses. The results of this review clearly indicated that although dentists, as members of the health care sector, are important frontline responders to DV, they are neither trained adequately at medical school nor do most feel competent enough to ask victims about DV or support them as needed. DV is often not taught at dentistry schools at all. The aims of this review were to provide an overview of existing literature on dentists' knowledge and beliefs regarding DV, whether and how DV is taught in medical education and to give recommendations on how to improve the education of dentists on this topic. Based on our findings, we recommend that DV education should be mandatory at dentistry schools and in further training for dentists with a focus on communication with victims, how DV can be identified and how to support victims well.
Topics: Dentists; Domestic Violence; Humans; Prevalence
PubMed: 35410043
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074361 -
PloS One 2022People aged 80 and over frequently face complex chronic conditions and health limitations, including oral health problems, which are primarily addressed by ambulatory...
BACKGROUND
People aged 80 and over frequently face complex chronic conditions and health limitations, including oral health problems, which are primarily addressed by ambulatory (i.e., outpatient) healthcare. This demographic development is expected to affect the provision of care. However, few studies have investigated physicians' and dentists' views across the various medical disciplines in non-institutional settings. This study investigated how healthcare providers perceive caring for very old people, and how they feel healthcare should be designed for this patient group.
METHODS
A qualitative online survey comprising nine open-ended items was conducted among physicians and dentists practicing in the ambulatory healthcare sector in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Apart from child and adolescent healthcare, no medical specialties were excluded. The results were analysed using Kuckartz' approach of structuring qualitative content analysis. A descriptive codebook was developed first. After coding all the material, recurring patterns between the topics were investigated and compared between two groups of participants, physicians and dentists.
RESULTS
N = 77 cases were included in the analysis, from which n = 21 originated from the field of ambulatory general practice care and internal medicine, n = 19 from specialties (e.g., neurology, urology), and n = 37 from dentistry. Caring for patients aged 80 and over was perceived as challenging because of complex health conditions and treatments such as multimorbidity and polypharmacy, and patients' cognitive and physical limitations. In characterizing good care in older age, both groups found individual care important, as well as empathetic interactions and good collaboration in networks of healthcare providers. Inadequate reimbursement and limited resources and time were the most important barriers to providing good care, while one of the most important facilitators was healthcare providers' attitude and motivation.
CONCLUSIONS
Physicians' and dentists' conceptions of good healthcare are in line with the conceptualization of patient-centred care. However, the transfer in everyday care delivery is hampered by the current design of healthcare structures. Healthcare providers feel overstrained by the increasing demands placed on them. Adaptations for improvement should focus on building strong networks of cooperating health professions, especially including dental care, and local social support structures.
Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Attitude of Health Personnel; Delivery of Health Care; Dentists; Health Personnel; Humans; Physicians
PubMed: 35969628
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272866 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Aug 2022: Rare diseases affect an estimated four million patients in Germany. Approximately 15% of the approximately 6000 to 8000 rare diseases known globally show...
: Rare diseases affect an estimated four million patients in Germany. Approximately 15% of the approximately 6000 to 8000 rare diseases known globally show manifestations in the dental, oral and maxillofacial regions. The present survey evaluated the knowledge and management of rare diseases and their orofacial alterations by dentists, dental specialists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons and dentists working at university hospitals for dentistry and/or oral and maxillofacial surgery. The study was designed as an anonymous cross-sectional study. Two anonymous online surveys were performed in all dentists in Germany using the open-source survey software limesurvey. The study cohorts were divided into dentists, dental specialists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons in practice, and dentists who worked in university dental and oral and maxillofacial surgery centers. The survey was performed between 1 October 2020 and 31 March 2021. A total of 309 dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons in private practice and 18 dentists or oral and maxillofacial surgeons working at universities participated. A total of 209 (86.7%) study participants working in private practice indicated that the topic of rare diseases should be considered clinically relevant. University participants indicated that there was a lecture on rare diseases in only 7 (63.6%) cases. Only 2 (13.3%) participants reported active research on the topic in their department. The current knowledge on rare diseases is inadequate in suitable screening and therapy. Most of the participants believed that knowledge of rare diseases was very important for daily dental practice. The self-estimations showed that all of the participants estimated their knowledge as very good or inadequate, with a tendency in the direction of inadequate knowledge.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentists; Humans; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; Rare Diseases; Surgery, Oral; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 36013581
DOI: 10.3390/medicina58081114 -
Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine Feb 2021The dental profession is considered at high potential risk of exposure and transmission of SARS-Cov-2. Thus, dentists should implement special safety measures in order... (Review)
Review
The dental profession is considered at high potential risk of exposure and transmission of SARS-Cov-2. Thus, dentists should implement special safety measures in order to prevent any possible contamination during dental sessions and should be aware of the legal implications of their act in order to avoid malpractice leading them to be a causative agent of transmission of this virus. This paper aimed to provide a global review on COVID-19 preventive recommendations at dental clinics and discussed the legal values of such procedures, the dentist criminal and civil liability arising from transmitting this virus to a patient, the obligation of care under COVID-19 and the possible solution to this dilemma. The review concluded that dentists should follow all modern scientific procedures which are in their interest and in the interest of patients to maintain their safety and advised dentists to document all steps taken during the period of COVID-19 outbreak, because any undocumented action is considered not to have taken place, and they shall be bound by the burden of proof.
Topics: COVID-19; Dental Clinics; Dentists; Humans; Liability, Legal; Malpractice; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Safety Management; Standard of Care
PubMed: 33516144
DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2021.102123 -
Clinical and Experimental Dental... Jun 2023The current outbreak of human monekypox (MPX) in several endemic and non-endemic regions in 2022 has generated significant international attention. Despite the early...
OBJECTIVE
The current outbreak of human monekypox (MPX) in several endemic and non-endemic regions in 2022 has generated significant international attention. Despite the early classification as zoonotic, MPXV has demonstrated the potential for human-to-human transmission through close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials. Therefore, our objective was to elaborate on the oral lesions in human MPX and their management.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Articles published up to August, 2022, were screened to identify relevant studies in humans that reported oral lesions in MPX.
RESULTS
Oral lesions have been found to manifest differently and transform from vesicles to pustules, accompanied by umbilication and crusting within four weeks. Along with fever and lymphadenopathy, these lesions may develop in the oral cavity and then spread to the skin surrounding the extremities in a centrifugal pattern. In some patients, the oropharyngeal and perioral lesions were the initial presentations.
CONCLUSIONS
The oral lesions of MPX infection and its management strategies are relevant for dentists. Dental practitioners may be the first to detect the initial lesions of MPX. Therefore, high alertness should be there, especially while examining patients with fever and lymphadenopathy. It is also essential to thoroughly examine the oral cavity for macular and papular lesions in oral mucosa, tongue, gingiva, and epiglottis. Symptomatic and supportive care of oral lesions is recommended.
Topics: Humans; Mpox (monkeypox); Dentists; Professional Role; Mouth; Lymphadenopathy
PubMed: 37147789
DOI: 10.1002/cre2.690 -
International Dental Journal Apr 2022Compounded by the needs of an aging society, interactions between oral condition and systemic diseases may require that dentists pursue additional training in oral...
BACKGROUND
Compounded by the needs of an aging society, interactions between oral condition and systemic diseases may require that dentists pursue additional training in oral medicine beyond that received in dental school. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pursuing oral medicine professional education is recognised by dental practitioners as an important factor regarding job satisfaction.
METHODS
A questionnaire was mailed to 1,379 dental practitioners in Japan, along with a follow-up survey to assess repeatability, in 2017. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items/questions related to the respondents' attributes and job satisfaction (5 items), willingness to learn oral medicine (4 items), willingness to learn more about dentistry (4 items), and willingness to contribute to society (6 items). Representative questions were extracted via binomial logistic regression analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationships between job satisfaction and the explanatory variables.
RESULTS
Amongst 337 respondents, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed an association between strong job satisfaction (n = 126, 37%) and willingness to learn more about oral medicine and dentistry and contribute to society, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 4.22 (1.84-9.68), 3.16 (1.16-8.62), and 7.32 (3.14-17.06) and κ values of 0.38, 0.58, and 0.51, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results from dental practitioners suggest additional benefits of oral medicine professional education for future job satisfaction.
Topics: Dentists; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Oral Medicine; Professional Role; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34340827
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2021.06.001