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Digital Health 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the online presence of French dental practices that have a professional website. Secondly, the degree of compliance of...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the online presence of French dental practices that have a professional website. Secondly, the degree of compliance of practices' websites with the current regulatory framework was assessed.
METHODS
Open data was used to identify a 5% random sample of private dental practices in France ( = 1370 facilities). Then, a manual search was made on Google to find the website for each practice. When found, the website was analyzed using criteria.
RESULTS
Only 25.9% of dental practices have a functional and referenced website, allowing 28.9% of the dentists in the sample to have an online presence. Disparities exist depending on the geographical location of the facility and its type. The assessment of website content uncovered a lack of compliance with the existing regulatory framework, exhibiting variations based on the type of facility and the person who designed the website. Hiring a specialized web design provider for dentists enhances compliance with laws and guidelines, though it doesn't guarantee complete adherence.
CONCLUSIONS
The online presence of dental practices and dentists in France is limited. Where they do exist, dental practice websites generally do not comply with legal requirements and guidelines for online communication. Efforts should be made to improve the information provided to patients.
PubMed: 38812847
DOI: 10.1177/20552076241258143 -
Journal of Educational Evaluation For... 2024This study aimed to propose a revision of the evaluation objectives of the Korean Dentist Clinical Skill Test by analyzing the opinions of those involved in the...
PURPOSE
This study aimed to propose a revision of the evaluation objectives of the Korean Dentist Clinical Skill Test by analyzing the opinions of those involved in the examination after a review of those objectives.
METHODS
The clinical skill test objectives were reviewed based on the national-level dental practitioner competencies, dental school educational competencies, and the third dental practitioner job analysis. Current and former examinees were surveyed about their perceptions of the evaluation objectives. The validity of 22 evaluation objectives and overlapping perceptions based on area of specialty were surveyed on a 5-point Likert scale by professors who participated in the clinical skill test and dental school faculty members. Additionally, focus group interviews were conducted with experts on the examination.
RESULTS
It was necessary to consider including competency assessments for "emergency rescue skills" and "planning and performing prosthetic treatment." There were no significant differences between current and former examinees in their perceptions of the clinical skill test's objectives. The professors who participated in the examination and dental school faculty members recognized that most of the objectives were valid. However, some responses stated that "oromaxillofacial cranial nerve examination," "temporomandibular disorder palpation test," and "space management for primary and mixed dentition" were unfeasible evaluation objectives and overlapped with dental specialty areas.
CONCLUSION
When revising the Korean Dentist Clinical Skill Test's objectives, it is advisable to consider incorporating competency assessments related to "emergency rescue skills" and "panning and performing prosthetic treatment."
Topics: Humans; Clinical Competence; Republic of Korea; Focus Groups; Educational Measurement; Surveys and Questionnaires; Dentists; Education, Dental; Male
PubMed: 38811187
DOI: 10.3352/jeehp.2024.21.11 -
Pathology Oncology Research : POR 2024Gardner syndrome is a rare genetic cancer predisposition disorder characterized by intestinal polyposis, multiple osteomas, and soft and hard tissue tumors. Dental...
Gardner syndrome is a rare genetic cancer predisposition disorder characterized by intestinal polyposis, multiple osteomas, and soft and hard tissue tumors. Dental anomalies are present in approximately 30%-70% of patients with Gardner syndrome and can be discovered during routine dental examinations. However, sometimes the diagnosis is challenging due to the high clinical variability and incomplete clinical picture. Herein, we report a family with various dental and bone anomalies, in which the definitive diagnosis was established with the help of a comprehensive genetic analysis based on state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing technology. A 17-year-old female index patient presented with dental (caries, impacted, retained and anteriorly located teeth) and atypical bone anomalies not resembling Gardner syndrome. She was first referred to our Genetic Counselling Unit at the age of 11 due to an atypical bone abnormality identified by a panoramic X-ray. Tooth 3.6 was surgically removed and the histopathology report revealed a Paget's disease-like bone metabolic disorder with mixed osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity of the mandible. A small lumbar subcutaneous tumor was discovered by physical examination. Ultrasound examination of the tumor raised the possibility of a soft tissue propagation of chondromatosis. Her sister, 2 years younger at the age of 14, had some benign tumors (multiple exostoses, odontomas, epidermoid cysts) and impacted teeth. Their mother had also skeletal symptoms. Her lower teeth did not develop, the 9th-10th ribs were fused, and she complained of intermittent jaw pain. A cranial CT scan showed fibrous dysplasia on the cranial bones. Whole exome sequencing identified a heterozygous pathogenic nonsense mutation (c.4700C>G; p.Ser1567*) in the gene in the index patient's DNA. Targeted sequencing revealed the same variant in the DNA of the other affected family members (the sister and the mother). Early diagnosis of this rare, genetically determined syndrome is very important, because of the potentially high malignant transformation of intestinal polyps. Dentists should be familiar with the typical maxillofacial features of this disorder, to be able to refer patients to genetic counseling. Dental anomalies often precede the intestinal polyposis and facilitate the early diagnosis, thereby increasing the patients' chances of survival. Genetic analysis may be necessary in patients with atypical phenotypic signs.
Topics: Humans; Gardner Syndrome; Female; Adolescent; Genetic Testing; Tooth Abnormalities; Early Diagnosis; Pedigree
PubMed: 38807857
DOI: 10.3389/pore.2024.1611768 -
BMC Oral Health May 2024Dentists have a legal and ethical obligation to obtain informed consent from patients before carrying out treatment. In Uganda, the process of obtaining informed consent...
Dentists' perspectives, practices, and factors associated with informed consent process for fixed prosthodontic treatment: a cross-sectional study of kampala metropolitan area, Uganda.
BACKGROUND
Dentists have a legal and ethical obligation to obtain informed consent from patients before carrying out treatment. In Uganda, the process of obtaining informed consent in dentistry is not well documented. The aim of the present study was to determine dentists' perspectives and practices regarding informed consent to fixed prosthodontic treatment (FPT) in Kampala Metropolitan, Uganda.
METHODS
A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 153 dentists from July to September 2023. Data were collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire that included both closed- and open-ended questions. The questionnaire included items on participants' sociodemographic information, perspectives, and practices about informed consent for FPT. Perspectives were rated using ten items on a five-point Likert scale. The minimum possible total score was 10, and the maximum possible score was 50. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression were used to summarize and analyze the quantitative data, and the significance level was set at p < 0.05. Open-ended items were analyzed using content analysis.
RESULTS
The majority (83.9%) of the participants were general dentists with working experience ranging from 1 to 38 years and a median of 8 years. The majority were familiar with the concept of informed consent and had positive perspectives regarding its use for FPT. The mean score for perspectives was 39.27 (SD, 5.42). However, there were variations in the practices of the dentists. More than three-quarters (87.6%) reported that they always obtained the patient's informed consent before FPT. Less than a third (29.4%) obtained written consent for FPT. About half of the dentists provided information regarding the procedure, benefits, and risks of treatment during the consent process. Bivariate analysis showed that the use of written consent for FPT was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with having a work experience of more than 10 years and having had training involving informed consent after undergraduate studies.
CONCLUSION
The present study provides baseline data regarding perspectives and practices regarding informed consent for FPT among dentists in Uganda. It is recommended that regular training courses be developed to highlight the importance of improved informed consent practices for patient protection and to instruct dentists about obtaining valid informed consent. There is a need for future research to streamline guidelines for the informed consent process in dental care in Uganda.
Topics: Humans; Uganda; Cross-Sectional Studies; Informed Consent; Male; Female; Adult; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Surveys and Questionnaires; Dentists; Middle Aged; Attitude of Health Personnel; Denture, Partial, Fixed
PubMed: 38802781
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04380-w -
Cureus May 2024Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging manufacturing technology in dentistry with a range of applications. Digital dentistry presented in cone beam CT scan...
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging manufacturing technology in dentistry with a range of applications. Digital dentistry presented in cone beam CT scan radiographs is a revolution that improved surgical outcomes by optimizing accurate diagnosis and analysis of the surgical sites before surgery. A periodontist can modify the treatment plan, surgical techniques, and incision design based on bone defects seen on cone beam CT scans. Block grafting has been a technique of choice when wound stability is required for guided bone regeneration. There was no significant difference between the different surgical procedures for reconstruction and choice should be given to the simpler and less invasive procedure. A xenograft or allograft block can work as an alternative to the autogenous bone block to reduce the surgery time and patient morbidity. Preparation and shaping of block graft during surgery time to match the defect shape can prolong the operative time, reduce the treatment success, and increase postoperative complications. In this case report, a sterilized 3D-printed mandibular jaw was utilized to visualize the defect size and shape. A bovine xenograft block was then prepared, shaped, and adapted on the 3D-printed jaw 30 minutes before the surgery. The block graft was then transferred and well-fitted on the surgical defect. Handling experience was greater and surgery time and postoperative pain were reduced
PubMed: 38800785
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61092 -
Cureus Apr 2024Today not just adults but also children are affected by their looks and appearance. Their facial and dental appearance primarily influence how they present themselves... (Review)
Review
Today not just adults but also children are affected by their looks and appearance. Their facial and dental appearance primarily influence how they present themselves in the outside world. Poor esthetic appearance at any age, especially when it comes to children, affects their psychological status. In earlier times, correction of dentition used to be done with crude methods, after which came the concept of braces, which were fixed on the labial surfaces. Even with these, the patients are equally concerned with their looks throughout the treatment, and thus neither adults nor children are eager to use the standard metallic-looking orthodontic gear. To tackle this problem, researchers have developed several solutions, and clear aligners are the modern and aesthetic answer. For effective tooth movement into the desired position, thin, transparent, plastic aligners known as invisible aligners are used, which are created using the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology. These aligners are analogous to the splints that cover the clinical crowns as well as the marginal gingiva. The treatment requires proper patient motivation as there can be poor compliance by patients. However, it can offer greater dental hygiene, comfort, and an excellent aesthetic experience during treatment. This review highlights the history of fabrication of clear aligners, examining the efficacy, advantages, and disadvantages of transparent aligners for pediatric patients and also dentists. It weighs aspects like aesthetic appeal, comfort, oral hygiene, treatment predictability, and practice efficiency when comparing transparent aligners, like Invisalign, to conventional orthodontic treatments. It also ascertains the applicability and worth of clear aligners in contemporary orthodontic practice, while examining patient happiness, compliance, and overall treatment results.
PubMed: 38800189
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58992 -
Heliyon May 2024To establish a novel deep learning networks (MSF-MPTnet) based on panoramic radiographs (PRs) for automatic assessment of relationship between maxillary sinus floor...
OBJECTIVES
To establish a novel deep learning networks (MSF-MPTnet) based on panoramic radiographs (PRs) for automatic assessment of relationship between maxillary sinus floor (MSF) and maxillary posterior teeth (MPT), and to compare accuracy of MSF-MPTnet, dentists and radiologists identifying contact relationship.
STUDY DESIGN
A total of 1035 PRs and 1035 Cone-beam computed tomographys (CBCT)images were collected from January 2018 to April 2022. The relationships were classified into class I and II by CBCT. Class I represents non-contact group, and class II represents contact group. 350 PRs were randomly selected as test dataset and accuracy of MSF-MPTnet, dentists, and radiologists was compared.
RESULTS
The intraclass correlation coefficient of dentists was 0.460-0.690 and it was 0.453-0.664 for radiologists. Sensitivity and accuracy of MSF-MPTnet were 0.682-0.852and 0.890-0.951, indicating that the output performance of MSF-MPTnet was reliable. Accuracy of maxillary premolars and molars were 79.7%-90.3 %, 76.2%-89.2 % and 72.9%-88.3 % in MSF-MPTnet model, dentists and radiologists. Accuracy of class I relationship in the MSF-MPTnet model (67.7%-94.6 %) was higher than that of dentists (56.5%-84.6 %) in maxillary first premolars and right second premolar, and accuracy of class I relationship in the MSF-MPTnet model is also higher than radiologists (40.0%-78.1 %) in all teeth positions ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
MSF-MPTnet model could increase detecting accuracy of the relationship between MSF and MPT, minimize pseudo contact relationship and reduce frequency of CBCT use.
PubMed: 38799758
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31052 -
Digital Health 2024Oral health is closely related to general health and quality of life. School-aged children are at a critical stage for developing their self-care ability in oral health....
BACKGROUND
Oral health is closely related to general health and quality of life. School-aged children are at a critical stage for developing their self-care ability in oral health. Digital interventions can encourage and facilitate oral self-care in children.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to present the development of an educational chatbot for school-aged children to address their oral self-care and evaluate its usability.
METHODS
The development and evaluation of the chatbot for oral self-care consisted of four stages: target behavior analysis, intervention design, system development, and the chatbot evaluation. The target behavior analysis identified barriers to children's engagement in oral self-care based on dentists' clinical observations; hence, the requirements for achieving the desired behavior were categorized according to the capability-opportunity-motivation behavior model. Interventional functions were created following the behavior change wheel. A menu-driven chatbot was created and evaluated for usability as well as likeability.
RESULTS
The barriers and requirements for achieving good behavior in school-aged children's oral self-care were identified by the dental professionals. Intervention strategy incorporated specific functions enriched with gamification features to support school-aged children in developing their abilities for engaging in oral self-care. The intervention functions consist of capability establishment, motivation enhancement, and opportunity creation, which were designed to support children in their oral self-care practices. The designed chatbot was piloted with a convenient sample of 30 school-aged children and their accompanying parents at the pediatric dental clinic. The results indicated good usability, with a mean usability score of 79.91, and high likeability with a mean score of 4.32 out of 5 for the designed chatbot.
CONCLUSIONS
The educational chatbot incorporated a combination of clinical dentistry practice and guidelines, aiming to promote oral self-care behavior in school-aged children. The designed chatbot achieved high scores for its usability and user likability.
PubMed: 38798886
DOI: 10.1177/20552076241256750 -
Journal of Endodontics May 2024This study aimed to investigate access to care and financial considerations associated with the endodontic treatment of immature permanent teeth.
INTRODUCTION
This study aimed to investigate access to care and financial considerations associated with the endodontic treatment of immature permanent teeth.
METHODS
Surveys were distributed to endodontists (n= 2,457) and pediatric dentists (n= 3,974) in the United States. Data were analyzed using X analysis and logistic regression. The level of significance was set to 0.05.
RESULTS
The response rate was 13% (n=840). Respondent specialist groups were similar by age and years since specialty residency completion, but significantly different with regard to primary practice setting (e.g. private practice, Federally Qualified Health Center, hospital…), (p=0.001). The majority (91%) of respondents reported participation with dental insurance. Pediatric dentists (69%) were significantly more likely than endodontists (17%) to participate with public-payer dental insurance (p<0.001). The majority of respondents (82%) indicated that patients reported economic factors (time or money) as a barrier to accessing endodontic treatment. Pediatric dentists were significantly more likely to consider economic factors when treatment planning (p<0.001). Pediatric dentists were more likely than endodontists to have the opinion that endodontic procedures for treatment of necrotic immature permanent teeth should cost less than root canal therapy (apexification, p<0.001; regenerative endodontic procedures, p=0.002). Pediatric dentists (33%) reported encountering barriers when attempting to refer their patients to an endodontist. Inability to find an endodontist that participates with dental insurance was the most frequently cited barrier.
CONCLUSIONS
Limited clinician participation with dental insurance and gaps in insurance coverage for endodontic procedures appear to contribute to access to care barriers for pediatric patients.
PubMed: 38796057
DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2024.05.009 -
International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2024This study sought to carry out a systematic and preliminary evaluation of the policies on access to public dental services for people with ASD in a Brazilian city. The...
This study sought to carry out a systematic and preliminary evaluation of the policies on access to public dental services for people with ASD in a Brazilian city. The study, conducted between November/2019 and February/2020, was developed through document analysis, the design of the theoretical logical model of the policies, and seven semi-structured interviews with key informants. The sample was intentionally selected. We also considered the answers to 108 questionnaires from a pilot study on the access of people with ASD to dental services applied to caregivers, dentists, and non-dental professionals. No refusals were recorded. The availability study showed that the policies' objectives were not being achieved in terms of care network organization: there were no institutional flows, personal contacts were used between professionals to guarantee access to secondary attention, there was no specific training for the dentists about ASD, and the oral health care network was unknown to non-dentist professionals and caregivers. Most people with ASD have visited the dentist at least once in their lives, but a large percentage of those within this study did not do so in the last year. This study identified difficulties in implementing policies and suggested possible strategies for overcoming them as dimensions and subdimensions for evaluation.
Topics: Brazil; Humans; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Health Services Accessibility; Male; Health Policy; Female; Adult; Dental Health Services; Dental Care
PubMed: 38791770
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21050555