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Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024This research addresses a gap in the literature by conducting a comprehensive analysis of patients' level of satisfaction with dental care.
UNLABELLED
This research addresses a gap in the literature by conducting a comprehensive analysis of patients' level of satisfaction with dental care.
METHODS
By combining quantitative and qualitative survey methods with a PSQ, this study aims to augment ongoing initiatives to enhance dental patients' experiences by painting a more comprehensive depiction of patients' level of satisfaction.
RESULTS
When asked about their overall level of satisfaction 77.1% of the patients said that they received excellent services from office personnel and 72.2% said they trust their doctors.
CONCLUSIONS
Assessing patient satisfaction in the realm of dental service quality is crucial for enhancing service quality and accuracy, which would benefit both patients and dentists and, ultimately, improve public health.
PubMed: 38921309
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121195 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024We compared the managing of prevention methods for SARS-CoV-2 infections in dental offices before and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study...
We compared the managing of prevention methods for SARS-CoV-2 infections in dental offices before and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to find out the varieties of infection prevention methods used by dentists before and during the pandemic and compare them. We designed a digital transversal questionnaire with 15 closed questions that was sent to 150 dentists in Bucharest, Romania. We received = 112 valid answers during July-August 2021 from dentists of all age groups (25-60 years), with a sex ratio of 0.36, which agreed to anonymously participate in this study. The results showed an increase in types and amount of personal protection equipment (i.e., ocular/facial protection, supplemental gown, and upgrading the FFP1 masks to FFP2 or FFP3). Ocular protection showed statistical significance by gender but not by age group. Vaccination rate against SARS-CoV-2 was at 80% of the participant dentists at the time of the survey and had statistical significance. However, vaccination status of the patients did not alter dentists' protection protocol.
PubMed: 38921284
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121169 -
Dentistry Journal Jun 2024Fear and anxiety are common psychological responses to unpleasant stimuli, with dental fear being the fourth most prevalent type of fear or phobia. However, not all...
BACKGROUND
Fear and anxiety are common psychological responses to unpleasant stimuli, with dental fear being the fourth most prevalent type of fear or phobia. However, not all dental procedures cause the same level of anxiety, with dental surgery and tooth extraction being among the top five most frightening procedures in the field. Tooth extractions are also the most common surgical procedure in dental surgery. It is important to manage anxiety in the dental office by identifying the main factors.
METHODS
The study was conducted on a group of 250 patients. The survey technique and the Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire (BPCQ) were used in the study. Pain and stress intensity on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were measured in each patient before and after tooth extraction procedures.
RESULTS
Young women and people from small towns had the highest levels of anxiety. The factor causing the highest level of anxiety was fear of complications. Patients undergoing extraction of retained teeth were characterized by higher levels of anxiety.
CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative stress is strongly dependent on numerous factors. For patient comfort, it may be crucial for dentists to have knowledge about these factors and the ability to utilize them to reduce stress before and after tooth extractions.
PubMed: 38920888
DOI: 10.3390/dj12060187 -
Dentistry Journal Jun 2024Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a topical solution used for managing dental caries. The mixed-methods study consists of a quantitative study (questionnaire survey) and...
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a topical solution used for managing dental caries. The mixed-methods study consists of a quantitative study (questionnaire survey) and a qualitative study (in-depth interview) to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards SDF among dentists in Vietnam. A descriptive approach and a thematic approach were performed to analyze data, respectively. The questionnaire survey invited 436 licensed dentists registered for the national annual dental meeting and 226 dentists participated (response rate: 52%). Among them, 174 (77%, 174/226) dentists knew SDF, and 69 (40%, 69/174) dentists used SDF for caries management. Most of them considered SDF therapy as non-invasive (84%, 146/174) and simple (80%, 140/174). However, most of them expressed concern that SDF could discolor the tooth (74%, 128/174). Their most preferred teeth for SDF therapy were primary posterior teeth (92%, 160/174). The in-depth interview consulted 16 dentists to reach data saturation. They learned about SDF from outside curriculum resources as an effective anti-caries agent. They understood the advantages (simple, non-invasive, timesaving) and disadvantages (tooth discoloring, ammonia odor) of SDF. They used SDF to arrest caries in uncooperative children in the clinic and people living in rural areas in outreach services. Most dentists in Vietnam are supportive of SDF therapy, and they know its advantages and disadvantages for caries management. The results addressed the aim of the study to investigate Vietnamese dentists' perspectives towards SDF.
PubMed: 38920870
DOI: 10.3390/dj12060169 -
Dentistry Journal May 2024Severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) is recognized as a significant chronic disease which affects the quality of life starting at very young ages and has a very rapid...
BACKGROUND
Severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) is recognized as a significant chronic disease which affects the quality of life starting at very young ages and has a very rapid evolution towards pulp complication and loss of dental tissue. Children with a high caries index DMFT are more likely to develop high levels of dental anxiety, which will influence the degree of cooperation during dental procedures. Emotions play an important role in the psychosomatic development of children, and all the factors that contribute to the modeling of these emotional states must be known and taken into consideration.
AIM
The aim of this study was to assess the association between dental anxiety in children with S-ECC and the color preferences for the components of the dental environment to reduce the levels of dental anxiety during medical visits.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
For this study, 91 children between 3 and 6 years of age diagnosed with S-ECC were selected from the Pediatric Dentistry Department of UMFST from Targu Mures and from a private dental office. The level of dental anxiety was determined by measuring the pulse rate, and a questionnaire was completed to establish the color preferences for the dental office environment and the dentist's attire. For this purpose, six different colors and their variants with three shades less intensity were chosen by using RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) identification codes for each color.
RESULT
The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the age of the subjects and dental anxiety levels, but there was no significant correlation between the DMFT score and dental anxiety. Also, the results showed that there was no significant difference between girls and boys when choosing the colors preferred by them for the dental office, but when comparing the colors that represented happiness, significant statistical difference was found between the girls' and boys' groups ( = 0.0039). For all the subjects, the colors associated with happiness were light yellow and pink, while the colors associated with anxiety were red and dark blue.
CONCLUSION
The data obtained showed that dental anxiety is strongly influenced by age, and an important role in inducing positive emotions is played by the dental environment if dressed in specific colors in order to reduce dental anxiety and create familiar conditions, especially for young children with S-ECC.
PubMed: 38920856
DOI: 10.3390/dj12060155 -
Dentistry Journal May 2024The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of resident dentists and new graduates regarding the etiology, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of the main...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of resident dentists and new graduates regarding the etiology, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of the main medical emergency conditions. The study included a sample of 152 new graduates and residents in the first, second, and third year of training in Prosthodontics and General Dentistry from the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Iasi, Romania. Their level of knowledge and the attitudes were assessed using a questionnaire with 24 questions, divided into four sections. The differences among groups were identified using the chi-square test ( < 0.05). A high level of knowledge was found among the three groups of subjects for the questions regarding the recognition of clinical signs in hypoglycemic crisis (88-100%), in anaphylactic shock (83.3-94.5%), and the treatment of angina pectoris (76.2-84.2%). In contrast, a low level of knowledge was found for the questions regarding pulse evaluation in the case of an emergency (26.3-35.7%), the parameters of normal breathing (28.9-43%), and the treatment of hypoglycemic crisis (27.8-44.8%). The study indicated that the dentists had a moderate understanding of dental office medical emergencies and preferred practical training over theoretical courses.
PubMed: 38920849
DOI: 10.3390/dj12060148 -
Journal of the American College of... Jun 2024The demands of surgical training present challenges for work-life integration (WLI). We sought to identify factors associated with work-life conflicts and to understand...
BACKGROUND
The demands of surgical training present challenges for work-life integration (WLI). We sought to identify factors associated with work-life conflicts and to understand how programs support WLI.
STUDY DESIGN
A cross-sectional national survey conducted after the 2020 American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination queried 4 WLI items. Multivariable regression models evaluated factors associated with (1) work-life conflicts and (2) well-being (career dissatisfaction, burnout, thoughts of attrition, suicidality). Semi-structured interviews conducted with faculty and residents from 15 general surgery programs were analyzed to identify strategies for supporting WLI.
RESULTS
Of 7,233 residents (85.5% response rate) 5,133 had data available on work-life conflicts. 44.3% reported completing non-educational task-work at home, 37.6% were dissatisfied with time for personal life (e.g., hobbies), 51.6% with maintaining healthy habits (e.g., exercise), and 48.0% with performing routine health maintenance (e.g., dentist). In multivariable analysis, parents and female residents were more likely to report work-life conflicts (all p<0.05). After adjusting for other risk factors (e.g., duty-hour violations, and mistreatment), residents with work-life conflicts remained at increased risk for career dissatisfaction, burnout, thoughts of attrition, and suicidality (all p<0.05). Qualitative analysis revealed interventions for supporting WLI including (1) protecting time for health maintenance (e.g., therapy); (2) explicitly supporting life outside of work (e.g., prioritizing time with family); and (3) allowing meaningful autonomy in scheduling (e.g., planning for major life events).
CONCLUSIONS
Work-life conflicts are common among surgical residents and are associated with poor resident well-being. Well-designed program-level interventions have the potential to support WLI in surgical residency.
PubMed: 38920301
DOI: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000001135 -
Annals of the Academy of Medicine,... Mar 2024Children from low-income (LI) families often suffer from poor health, with sub-optimal health practices. This cross-sectional study examined the differences in health... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
INTRODUCTION
Children from low-income (LI) families often suffer from poor health, with sub-optimal health practices. This cross-sectional study examined the differences in health habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of LI preschool children compared to non-low-income preschool peers (PPG).
METHOD
Using data from the social-health Circle of Care-Health Development Screening Programme (CoC-HDSP) in Singapore, 118 LI children and 304 PPG children aged 18 months to 6 years old and their families were recruited from 13 government-funded preschools. Health practices examined included screen time habits, sleep, nutrition, dental health and the children's HRQoL using PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales.
RESULTS
Majority of the children were aged 4-6 years in kindergarten 1 and 2. There were more Malay children in the LI than the PPG (61.9% versus [vs] 29.3%, P<0.001). Low-income children were more likely to have lower-educated parents (P<0.001). The completed vaccination rate in the LI group was lower than those in PPG (84.7% vs 98.0%, P<0.001). More in the LI group utilised emergency services for acute illnesses (P<0.05). Fewer LI children had ever visited a dentist (47.4% vs 75.4%, P<0.001), and more LI children consumed sweetened drinks daily (33.3% vs 8.6%, P<0.001). The LI group reported poorer-quality sleep (48.3% vs 27.2%, P<0.001), though both groups exceeded the daily recommended screen viewing duration. The LI group scored higher in the social (mean 92.4±12.2 vs 84.3±15.3, P<0.001) and emotional (mean 85.2±15.1 vs 76.6±17.3, P<0.001) domains of the PedsQL 4.0 when compared to PPG.
CONCLUSION
Low-income children have poorer health practices, receive less preventive paediatric care, and utilise more emergency services for acute illnesses. These findings are important for developing interventions that work towards improving the health of LI children.
Topics: Humans; Singapore; Cross-Sectional Studies; Child, Preschool; Quality of Life; Poverty; Female; Male; Child; Health Behavior; Oral Health; Infant; Screen Time; Sleep
PubMed: 38920242
DOI: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2023168 -
Acta Odontologica Latinoamericana : AOL Apr 2024Differentiating orofacial odontogenic pain/disorders from pain/disorders associated with maxillary sinusitis is important to avoid unnecessary dentalprocedures and to...
UNLABELLED
Differentiating orofacial odontogenic pain/disorders from pain/disorders associated with maxillary sinusitis is important to avoid unnecessary dentalprocedures and to properly refer patients to colleagues/dentists and vice versa.
AIM
To analyze the association between apical lesions and sinus changes and to evaluate the agreement between the diagnoses of an endodontist, a radiologist, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and an otolaryngologist.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
385 axial, coronal, and sagittal MSCT scans were selected using an image archiving andcommunication system (PACS). The examinations had been performed between 2018 and 2022.
RESULTS
Apical lesions were observed in 36.10% of sinusitis cases, 73.8% of unilateralsinusitis cases, 48.7% of sinus floor discontinuity cases, and 67.2% of cases in which endodontic treatment had been performed. Agreement between the diagnoses made by the endodontist and those made by the other investigators was high for most study variables (k > 0.60). The exceptions were mucosal thickening, for which agreement between the endodontist and the other investigators was intermediate (k=0.397), and the presence of periapicallesions (k=0.010), previous endodontic treatment (k=0.013), and mucosal thickness (k=0.024), for which agreement between endodontists and radiologists was low. Conclusions: There was an association between sinus changes and apical lesions.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Multidetector Computed Tomography; Adult; Periapical Diseases; Maxillary Sinusitis; Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; Diagnosis, Differential
PubMed: 38920129
DOI: 10.54589/aol.37/1/79 -
Clinical Oral Investigations Jun 2024We perform special-need dental treatment at outpatient department (OPD), under general anesthesia (GA) when necessary, and provide domiciliary dental care. We aim to... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
We perform special-need dental treatment at outpatient department (OPD), under general anesthesia (GA) when necessary, and provide domiciliary dental care. We aim to evaluate the profile and the characteristics of special needs patients (SNPs).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We consecutively enrolled 3117 SNPs from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022. Eighty patients with rare or genetic diseases were excluded. Demographic data were retrospectively collected.
RESULTS
There were totally 3037 SNPs (mean age: 48.2 years; range, 1-100; male-to-female ratio, 1.5); 89.1% (n = 2705) SNPs received dental care at the OPD (OPD-SNPs), 7.9% (n = 239) received dental treatment under GA, and 3.0% (n = 93) received domiciliary dental care. Among those SNPs who received dental treatment under GA (n = 239), 91.2% (n = 218) were mental/intellectual disabled, and most underwent cavity filling (69.5%) and dental extractions (56.5%). OPD-SNPs with mental/intellectual disabilities (n = 1340) received significantly more items of dental treatment than those without (n = 1365). SNPs with more severe disabilities received more fluoride application and ultrasonic scaling (both p < 0.001, trend tests). Interestingly, among OPD-SNPs with mental/intellectual disabilities (n = 1340), more severe patients received more fluoride application (p < 0.001) and ultrasonic scaling (p < 0.001) but fewer root canal treatment (p = 0.007, trend test).
CONCLUSIONS
GA benefited SNPs with more dental procedures, including invasive items. SNPs with mental/intellectual disabilities can tolerate more measures and SNPs with more severe mental/intellectual disabilities received more preventive measures but less invasive measures. Similarly, more severe SNPs with other disabilities received more preventive measures but not invasive measures.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Our findings may provide useful information for special needs dentists and for doctor-patient communication.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Adult; Aged; Taiwan; Dental Care for Disabled; Adolescent; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Anesthesia, General; Infant; Child, Preschool; Academic Medical Centers
PubMed: 38918223
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-024-05795-z