Search

Background: One of the most crucial steps in providing the child’s oral health care and treatment needs is modifying his/her behavior, mood and emotion in any primary care/dental home or any speciality centre. This is very important parameters for any dental professionals and paediatric dentist. Through this study we investigated the knowledge, awareness of Emotional Artificial Intelligence (AI) as tool for modifying their behaviour prior to any treatment requirement. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among dental professionals of located in different regions of eastern India. We used a consecutive sampling method to collect our sample. Results: Out of the 120 participating dental professionals, 30% professionals believed that emotional AI could monitor a child’s acceptance to treatment. Despite a low perception level of emotional AI by the dentist, 71% agreed on the beneficial effect of Emotional Artificial Intelligence (AI) in an emergency or uncooperative child if such technology exist. Conclusion: Regression model showed that certain key influencers can increase the quality of healthcare by 3 times which could favors Emotional Artificial Intelligence as an adjunct to Pediatric dentists in managing children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Global pandemic COVID-19 has been rapidly spreading and affecting all aspects of one's existence. Due to their frequent interaction with infected patients, health-care professionals, particularly dentists, are at a greater risk of contracting an infection. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, fear, anxiety, and modification in the work environment among dental practitioners during the outbreak of COVID-19. Study Settings and Design: The study was conducted in Mysuru, Karnataka and the study design is cross-sectional questionnaire study. Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire study was conducted using an online survey from April 22, 2021, to September 11, 2021. A well-constructed questionnaire was developed and validated. The Google Forms with the information sheet and consent form was sent to dental practitioners of the Mysuru district. A total of 216 participants from the Mysore district responded. After a detailed assessment, duly filled questionnaires (n = 204) were included in the study. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics with necessary parametric tests such as one-way ANOVA and independent sample t-test are used. Statistical significance was kept at ≤0.05. IBM SPSS version 24.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 204 respondents, 128 participants were male and 76 were female. Comparison of mean knowledge (P = 0.002) and practice modification (P = 0.00) scores about qualifying degrees presented a statistically significant difference, but not in terms of fear and anxiety. Conclusions: The results have shown that dental practitioners had fear and anxiety about getting infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The knowledge and work modifications certainly benefited dental practitioners in their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Obstructive sleep apnoea is less known and lesser practised in dentistry. Dentists often struggle to educate, diagnose or offer treatment to the patient. Hence, the disorder of the patient and the opportunity for the dentist both go unnoticed. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding aspects of obstructive sleep apnoea among dental practitioners, faculty and interns in India. Methods and Material: A self-constructed validated questionnaire was prepared and circulated online among dental interns and professionals in India. Responses received from 237 participants were evaluated and statistically analysed. Results: Only questions about diagnosis and symptoms of OSA were correctly answered by more than 50% of the participants. In all other questions, the knowledge was poor. Only 11.4% of respondents felt that they are well equipped to diagnose OSA. The general attitude of the participants was favourable but with poor practice. Only 5.1% of participants were ever involved in the treatment of OSA. Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of OSA among the population, along with widespread ignorance among dentists for the same as found in our study, there is an urgent need to spotlight OSA in the dental curriculum at an undergraduate level. To complement this, extensive training and motivation must also be provided so that dental graduates can identify, refer and participate in the treatment of OSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To assess knowledge level about silver diamine fluoride (SDF) among dentists in Upper Egypt. Patients and methods An observational cross‑sectional study was conducted on a sample of registered dentists in Upper Egypt using a validated, well‑constructed electronic questionnaire to assess dentists’ knowledge level regarding using SDF. Results 40.3% of dentists had never heard about SDF. Sixty four percent of dentists had low knowledge about SDF as they answered less than 50% of knowledge questions correctly, and only 25% of dentists had good knowledge about SDF as they answered more than 70% of knowledge questions correctly. Conclusion Majority of dentists in Upper Egypt had low level of knowledge regarding SDF material. Pediatric dentistry speciality, years of professional experience and respondents practicing in teaching hospitals were more likely associated with good knowledge about SDF [odd ratio (OR)=3.30; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.58 to 6.89; P = 0.001, OR = 2.77. 95% CI = 1.37 to 5.59; P = 0.005, and OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.09 to 3.74; P = 0.025, respectively]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forensic dentistry is a branch of forensic science that deals with the examination, analysis, and interpretation of dental evidence in legal investigations. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, practice, and attitudes of Iraqi dentists toward forensic dentistry. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was designed with four sections and distributed to dentists. The four sections were demographic, knowledge (assessed the dentists' knowledge and consisted of 14 questions), practice (evaluated the dentists' practices and consisted of six questions), and attitude (consisted of two questions to assess the dentists' attitudes). For the knowledge, practice, and attitude sections, the answers were either "yes" (correct), "no," or "I don't know" (incorrect). The correct answer frequencies were calculated, and the mean scores of responses were compared among the different variables. Results: A total of 414 dentists responded, including 196 male dentists and 218 female dentists. The mean age of the responders was 32.57 years, and the responders were divided according to age into: 304 (≤40 years), and 110 dentists (˃40 years), according to qualifications into: 168 (postgraduate) and 246 (graduate), and according to experience years: 228 (≤10 years) and 186 (˃10 years). The questions related to using teeth as indicators of age received the highest number of correct answers, whereas the use of palatal rugae and lips in forensic dentistry received the lowest scores. Conclusion: Iraq dentists had limited knowledge, practice, and attitude about forensic dentistry. Therefore, it is important for undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as official training courses, to focus more attention on forensic dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since general dentists (GDs) usually act as the primary referral source for the patients in need of orthodontic treatments, having the proper knowledge and understanding of the accurate diagnosis of clinical situations is very important. The aim of this study was to assess GDs about the identification of orthodontic treatment needs and their referral practices. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in Iran 2020.A questionnaire consisting of three main parts was designed and distributed electronically among GDs. The first section included ll image and scenario-based questions meant to assess the ability of GDs to correctly diagnose the orthodontic treatment needs of the patients. The next two parts were to assess the dentists' knowledge of the necessity of referral to an orthodontist with ll questions, and the proper timing of orthodontic treatments with 8 questions. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26, by conducting Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and correlation tests a = 0.05. Results: Among 384 participated dentists, 50.3% (193) were female.The mean score of knowledge was 17.3 ± 3.5 out of 30. The highest percentage of good knowledge (70% of range) was related to the diagnosis of orthodontic problems, while the lowest one belonged to the referring pattern. There was a weak positive correlation between the working experience and the proper timing of referral (R = 0.15, P = 0.004 (. Kruskal-Wallis test also showed a significant difference between the total knowledge scores (P = 0.04) and the knowledge of the proper timing of treatment (P = 0.04) based on the age groups of participants. Eighty-seven percentage (n = 334) reported that they would refer the patients in need of orthodontic treatment. Conclusion: The knowledge level of orthodontic treatment needs among GDs was moderate, thus emphasizing the importance of planning more educational courses for them to improve their knowledge, thus reducing the possible detriments of postponed or inaccurate treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the rural population of South India, tooth loss affects 48.7% of people. In addition, there are now more patients with more than five congenitally missing adult teeth. This may cause a person's quality of life to decline and cause them to experience both physical and psychological discomfort. Materials and Methods: The current cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted over a period of month using a questionnaire-based survey (February 2022). Using G-POWER software version 3.1, the minimum sample size was calculated as 100 people, considering a study with an 80% power and a = 0.5. Results: Around 59.6% have answered right when asked about the source of dental stem cells (DSCs). 13.5 percentage have no idea about sourcing of stem cells, 6.7% state dental pulp stem cell, a very small population state periodontal tissue to be the source, while a minor group state it to be from apical papilla, <1% have no idea. Conclusion: Data of this study indicate that although there is typically good awareness regarding DSCs origins, uses, and clinical research best practises, there is not a comprehensive comprehension of these topics. The respondents have shown a quite favorable attitude toward improving their understanding of DSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric dentists should play an essential role in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening, referral, and management of their child patients. However, few studies have investigated pediatric dentists' knowledge, attitude, and practice aspects regarding different domains of pediatric OSA. Aim of the Study: This cross-sectional survey aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice aspects of different domains of pediatric OSA among pediatric dentists from Kerala. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kerala. The sample frame consisted of 163 dentists, and the minimum required was 115. Ethical approval was obtained before starting the study. Settings and Design: An invitation E-mail explaining the purpose of the study with a survey link was sent to the pediatric dentists from Kerala (n = 163). Nonrespondents were contacted at timely intervals. Statistical Analysis: Categorical and quantitative variables were expressed as frequency (percentage) and mean ± standard deviation, respectively. Chi-square test was used to find an association between categorical variables. Statistical analysis was performed using a statistical software package, SPSS, version 20.0. Results and Conclusion: This cross-sectional study showed that pediatric dentists in Kerala have a moderate-to-good level of knowledge, along with a positive attitude toward different domains of pediatric OSA, but lag behind in the practice aspects. Hence, they are required to direct themselves toward continuing dental education programs in order to boost their routine practice. For this, steps must be taken to ensure proper networking of the practitioners and amendments in the dental billing system similar to the medical counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer usually involves a total dose of 6000-7000 cGy, delivered daily in 6-7 weeks, and is known to cause several oral complications. These include oral mucositis, oral pain, insufficient saliva production, increased risk of dental caries, decreased mouth opening, and osteoradionecrosis. This is a cross-sectional study conducted among Saudi dental professionals using an online survey; 463 dentists from Riyadh City were utilized in this study. Findings reported that almost equal numbers of males (51.9%) and females (48.1%) participated in the study; the majority of them were working as general dentists in the government sector. A significantly significant proportion of them thought that oral assessment is a necessity before radiotherapy and that the ideal time for a complete oral evaluation is after the diagnosis of cancer. In the present study, we concluded that the majority of dentists thought that oral assessment is necessary before radiotherapy and that the ideal time is after the diagnosis. The evaluation must include extraction of teeth with poor prognosis, and radiotherapy after oral surgery should be started after 3-4 months. Teeth cleaning was recommended, and most dentists were not confident in treating oral cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Among the various cadres of health-care professionals, dentists are placed in a high-risk group of acquiring hepatitis B infection, as an occupational hazard. In a dental setting, hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission may occur directly (blood/saliva/nasopharyngeal secretions of infected patient and needlestick injury) or indirectly (through contaminated equipment). The risk of acquiring occupational HBV infection can be prevented by implicating certain policies such as vaccination, strict compliance with standard precautions, adherence to standard infection prevention and control protocols, and use of personal protective equipment and immediate postexposure prophylaxis in case of accidental exposure to infected blood or body fluids. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the risk of HBV infection in dental professionals based on their knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and vaccination status score. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered, structured questionnaire with 26 including both open- and close-ended statements such as demography, department, duration of clinical exposure, KAP statements, and vaccination status. A minimum of 80% and 90% score is set to evaluate KAP response and vaccination status, respectively. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 26, an IBM tool. Results: The response rate was 100% (n = 92, male = 48, and female = 44). Among the participants, 78% scored >80% in KAP, the overall mean was 84.17 ± 6.08. Forty-eight percentage of participants scored >90% in vaccination status (overall mean: 79.45 ± 21.965). There was an overall good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha value > 0.8). In this study, 48% of the study population were found to be safe, whereas 52% are found at risk. Conclusion: The overall awareness regarding HBV was found to be at a fairly satisfactory level. Further, detailed research with a large study population aiming to determine both KAP and immunity status is required to determine the risk to dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurobiological disorder that affects children and is characterized by lack of attention, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity. Through this study, we measured the level of perception of dentists to ADHD. Methodology: A survey questionnaire was sent to 380 IDA members in the Gujarat branch as part of a cross-sectional study. The first part of the survey includes demographic data about the participants, then questions about ADHD knowledge and management. The data were uploaded into a computer and evaluated with SPSS software. The level of significance was set at P = 0.05, and any value below or equal to 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Results: The participants had a good knowledge of ADHD; however, dental practitioners need to be more aware of dealing with such patients. The majority of participants lacked the necessary expertise to treat them, but they were still ready to provide dental treatment to people with ADHD as part of their dental practice. There was a significant correlation between work experience and years of practice. Conclusion: Appropriate training should be provided to dentists so they can treat patients with ADHD. To raise dentists' understanding of ADHD, well-planned programs and explicit policies should be developed using the current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomedical waste (BMW) is any sort of litter generated in the course of human or animal research operations, such as diagnosis, treatment, or immunization, or during the development or trial of pharmaceutical products or in health camps. In dental sectors, BMW, if not adequately handled, can provide a number of health risks to dental practitioners, patients, and other dental healthcare service providers who operate in dental offices. The aim of the study is to examine the knowledge, awareness, and practice of BMW segregation among dental offices. A well-framed questionnaire containing 10 self-structured questions was formed and distributed among 100 students of dentistry through an online Google Forms link. The results were collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed using the Software SPSS. Chi-square test was performed to assess the P value. Biological waste segregation was known to 98% of the participants, in which most of them had more than 10 years of expertise in dentistry. It is evident that dentists with a lot of experience over the years in the field of dentistry possess considerably increased awareness regarding the segregation of BMWs in their dental offices. Chi-square test done between the years of experience in dentistry and the knowledge on BMW segregation reveals that 0.031 < 0.05 is the P value, which is statistically significant. Most dentists having experience of above 10 years in the field of dentistry have excellent knowledge and practice of segregating BMWs in their dental offices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among dental students and faculty members regarding COVID-19 vaccines in dental colleges in Haryana, India. Objectives: To assess knowledge level, attitudes, and beliefs differences among BDS, MDS students and faculty members and find association between knowledge and COVID-19 vaccine inoculation among study participants. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among students and faculty members of dental colleges in Haryana, India. Data collection was done via an online questionnaire based on questions to assess the knowledge, attitude and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Results: The present study comprised of 270 study participants, where majority, i.e., 81.5% have reported COVID-19 vaccine inoculation. The mean knowledge score of the participants was reported to be 5.54 ± 2.19. A significant difference was found in the mean knowledge score of faculty members (7.81 ± 1.69), MDS (6.72 ± 1.49), and BDS (4.39 ± 1.68) students. COVID-19 vaccine inoculation was found to be significantly associated with average knowledge score of participants (OR = 6.1, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Dental professionals have an adequate degree of knowledge and attitude level regarding COVID-19 vaccines and are generally optimistic about resolving the pandemic situation with the immunization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objective: Tooth loss affects 48.7% of people in South India. The stem cell field is no exception because of advancements in science and technology. With the promise of cures for conditions as diverse as cancer, autism, neural degeneration, and organ replacement, long-term preservation of dental stem cells is a growth market. The dental stem cell preservation services, "tooth banks, focus on the collection of a child's baby teeth, as they are shed naturally, and storage of the stem cells from within the pulp for therapeutic use in later years. Adequate knowledge and a positive attitude are extremely important, keeping in mind the ever-increasing potential of the use of stem cells. Aim: To evaluate knowledge, attitude, and awareness of tooth banking among dentists. Methodology and Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire google form in English, which includes three sections eliciting the demographic data, 2nd part contains questions regarding knowledge about tooth banking, 3rd attitude and awareness of dentists, will be distributed among dentists, academicians, and postgraduates in and around Karnataka. Results: The response will be collected and statistically analyzed. Conclusion: The study results would be appreciable if a higher number of pedodontists, clinicians and dental clinics become a part of banking services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children represents a childhood disorder that possesses the capacity to exert a profound influence on childhood behavior, neurodevelopment, metabolism, and overall well-being. Epidemiologic studies have shown that the incidence of OSA in children is about 2% among children. Dentists should play a pivotal role in OSA screening, referral, and management. Timely intervention of OSA cases among children is beneficial in improving a child's long-term cognitive development, social interaction, academic achievement, cardiovascular health and overall wellbeing. Aim: This survey aims to evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness regarding OSA in children among general dental practitioners in Kollam, Kerala. Materials and Methods: Study Design - Cross-sectional study. This study will be conducted among the general dental practitioners in Kollam, Kerala, India. Based on relevant literature related to OSA, a pre-validated questionnaire was selected. An e-mail will be initiated with an invitation message, explaining the purpose of the study followed by a consent agreement for participation. The questionnaire included four sections that queried the respondents' demographic information, knowledge concerning OSA, attitude, and practice toward OSA. The final data will be analyzed statistically. Result and Conclusion: The study is ongoing and results are awaited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral diseases are considered a public health problem due to their high prevalence. It is the primary concern of oral health educators to impart positive oral health knowledge and behavior in the society. Health workers' knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward oral health to a great extent influence the community as they can extend health education at the first contact in the community. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of health care workers. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards oral health among health care workers. The study was conducted among health care workers aged between 20 and 60 years working in Primary Healthcare Centres and Community Healthcare Centres of Lucknow district. Informed consent was obtained from health care workers before the start of the study. The data were collected via a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics-version 21. Results: The results of the study showed that 70.2% of the respondents ever visited the dentist due to somereason of which 19.2% visited once in a year. In addition, 38.9% of the respondents were daily smokers of which the majority belonged to the age group 20–40 years. A total of 63.9% of the respondents were daily chewable tobacco users, and 12.4% were routine users of alcohol. Conclusion: The present study gives a brief insight into the oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices of health care workers which were of fair degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study is to analyze the knowledge, attitude and practice of forensic odontology among dental practitioners in Tamil Nadu. Materials and Methods: Forensic odontology has immense importance in examining dental evidence and in the identification of victims of mass disaster, abuse or organized crimes. Hence, a cross-sectional survey study was conducted in a sample of 252 dental practitioners practicing in various cities in Tamil Nadu. A questionnaire comprising 22 questions (both open ended and close ended) was prepared, and the survey was conducted to analyze the knowledge and attitude of dentists toward forensic odontology. Results: Many of the practicing dentists had a basic knowledge about forensic odontology, but only 22% knew about the existence of a national association for forensic odontology. Forty-five percent of them knew about cheiloscopy. Seven percent of them only knew about the forensic courses available in India. Ninety-eight percent of them did not have any formal training related to forensic odontology. Seventy-two percent of them were not confident about giving an opinion for a forensic case. Most of them felt that our country has very limited resources for forensic odontology. Conclusion: This study showed that the branch of forensic odontology is still in the infant stage in the state. This condition, however, could be improved if more formal training courses are conducted by the specialist associations imparting knowledge and training in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the fact that X-rays have a direct or indirect effect on tissues, imaging techniques have become an important part of modern dentistry, and dentists rely on them for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. This necessitates that dentists have adequate expertise and attitude in order to defend themselves and their patients. Aim: The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of clinical side dental students and General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) regarding dental radiation protection safety protocol. Study Design: It is a prospective cross-section study among dental undergraduates and GDPs. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixteen participants took part in this study and comprised 116 clinical side dental students and GDPs. Participants' data were gathered through a questionnaire that asked about their knowledge and practice of radiation biology, danger, and protection. Collected data subjected to statistical analysis using the SPSS 21. Pearson Chi-square test was done to evaluate the statistical significance. The P value fixed at ≤ 0.05 for significant. Results: From 116 participants, around 89.7%% of the participants believed that dental X-rays are harmful and 81% are having knowledge about annual radiation dose limit for a dentist, and overall, 56% of the participants were aware about the harmful effects of radiation exposure. Conclusion: There is a need to expand the curriculum to provide better exposure to radiation protection and its practice so that these students on graduation will be well-grounded with the principle governing dental radiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the symptoms of child abuse and neglect often manifest in the orofacial region, the dental team has a key role in identifying children subjected to abuse. This study was aimed to explore the prevalence of failure to take history as a barrier to reporting child abuse by dentist around the world. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Cochrane, and ISI databases were searched for the cross-sectional articles in English languages on barriers to reporting child abuse and lack of knowledge about referral procedures by dentists since 1985 using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH).The full-texts of all included articles were obtained and assessed for quality according to Newcastle-Ottawa Scale adapted for cross-sectional studies.The qualified articles were then studied thoroughly and results were extracted. Data were analyzed by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software using meta-analysis and random effects model. Heterogeneity was determined by Q-test and I-square index. Results: A total of 17 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of lack of knowledge about referral procedures as a barrier was determined according to the meta-analysis of the number of relevant articles and was (55%, confidence interval: 0.48, 0.62). Conclusion: The analysis of various studies revealed lack of information about referral procedures as an important barrier to report child abuse by dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are commonly occurring disorders nowadays. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining MSDs in dentists and to assess knowledge about ergonomics. Materials and Methods: This questionnaire study was conducted among 460 dental professionals of different age groups. Parameters such as posture of dentists, working alone or with an assistant, and number of breaks were recorded. Type of MSDs and the type and effectiveness were recorded. Results: BDS students were seventy, interns were 112, general dentists were 186, and specialists were 92. Year of practice was <5 years in 215, 5-10 years in 70, 10-20 years in 35, and >20 years in 140 students. Fourteen percent of students, 18% interns, 45% general practitioners, and 32% of specialists had a prevalence of MSD. Most common MSDs in students were upper back pain seen in 6%, in interns were upper back pain seen in 8%, in general practitioners were shoulder pain seen in 21%, and in specialists were hand/wrist pain seen in 10%. Forty-five percent of students, 67% interns, 72% general dentists, and 80% of specialists had idea about ergonomics. Seventy-four percent of students, 80% of interns, 83% of general dentists, and 87% of specialists think that ergonomics may improve performance. Sitting position was preferred seen in 53% of students, 58% of interns, 65% general dentists, and 60% of specialists. Forty-five percent of students, 47% of interns, 56% of general dentists, and 52% of specialists perform physical activity during work. The difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Seventy-nine percent of students, 83% of interns, 86% of general dentists, and 88% of specialists show prolong sitting or standing. Conclusion: Authors found that all prefer to apply ergonomic in clinical practice. There is a lack of knowledge among BDS students and interns about ergonomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was an attempt to evaluate the knowledge and awareness among dentists about COVID-19 infection. Methodology: This study was conducted among 580 dental professionals that comprised graduates (BDS), masters (MDS), postgraduates, and PhD fellows. A questionnaire containing information about knowledge, attitude, and awareness about COVID-19 infection was administered and recorded. Results: A total of 493 (85%) respondents replied correct answer that SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19. A total of 464 (80%) respondents replied that SARS-CoV-2 is the highest infectious virus among all. A total of 510 (88%) respondents replied the correct answer that 2-14 days is the incubation period of COVID-19 virus. Only 116 (20%) respondents replied the correct answer that MERS has high mortality. Only 87 (15%) respondents were aware of the appropriate mortality rate of COVID-19 disease. A total of 455 (78.4%) respondents had knowledge of the method of detecting COVID-19 infection (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). Knowledge level was good as seen in 81%, fair in 9.5%, and poor in 10.5% of the respondents. Conclusion: The authors found that dental professionals had fair knowledge and awareness regarding COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare children’s knowledge and attitudes toward oral health (OH) and plaque score after receiving OH education (OHE) from a dentist or trained schoolteachers. Materials and Methods: Third-grade students in Amphoe Meuang, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand (n = 652), were randomly divided into a dentist group (n = 217), a teacher group (n = 216), and a control group (n = 219). The students’ OH knowledge, attitudes, and plaque scores before the intervention were collected as baseline data. The dentist and the teacher groups received additional OH education sessions by a dentist and trained schoolteachers, respectively. Their immediate post-test knowledge was evaluated after each session, and plaque scores were determined after the brushing session. All groups continued a monthly tooth brushing activity for two months. The final assessment was done at the three-month follow-up. Results: The students who received additional OHE by either a dentist or teacher demonstrated improved knowledge and attitudes towards OH, including plaque score. Interestingly, at the three-month follow-up, the knowledge score in the teacher group was significantly higher than in the dentist group. However, the dentist group had a significantly lower plaque score compared with the teacher group. Conclusions: Additional OHE in school significantly improved students’ OH knowledge and positive attitudes regardless of the provider. However, the teacher tends to have a greater impact on their students; thus after appropriate training, schoolteachers can be efficient OH educators, especially in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nowadays, tobacco consumption has become one of the major public health problems and is the leading cause of escapable illness and death. A significant role is played by dental professionals in the identification of smokers; they are, thus, in a better position to offer preventive care. The aim of the present study was to systemically review the knowledge and attitude of dental practitioners toward tobacco cessation. Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed Central and Cochrane Library, Medline--PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar up to 2018 to identify appropriate studies. Full-text original research articles of the cross-sectional design were only included in the study. Our target was to systemically review the knowledge and attitude of dental practitioners toward tobacco cessation. Results: The present review included a total of nine articles (studies) that fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Two articles which were hand searched and one article which was obtained through contact with experts were included. The results of the review revealed that the dental practitioners in most of the included studies lack satisfactory knowledge and were unaware of existing referral pathways to specialist smoking cessation services. At the same time, most of the dentists have a positive attitude toward tobacco cessation. Conclusions: Dental professionals are aware of their obligations toward smoking cessation counseling for patients but certain barriers including lack of time, confidence, and training prevent them from practicing the same in their daily routine. The dental professionals should obtain appropriate training and attain knowledge along with quantifiable skills for the prevention and cessation of tobacco use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aims to explore the awareness among the interns regarding the jaw relation procedures. Jaw relation is one of the most important criteria for the fabrication of complete dentures to provide a satisfactory oral function for the aging population. Settings and Design: The study design was a descriptive survey. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was designed and distributed among 202 interns in three different colleges in Salem and Namakkal in Tamil Nadu using Stratified Proportionate Random Sampling Technique. The survey included a questionnaire with ten questions to assess the knowledge and awareness of jaw relation procedures among the interns. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical tools used to analyze the levels of awareness among the interns were frequencies and percentage analysis. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to investigate the relationship between awareness among interns, with respect to gender, age, and complete dentures done, with the level of significance at P < 0.05 using Microsoft Excel and SPSS software version 23. Results: The awareness prevalent regarding jaw relation and its procedures among the respondents was 83%. There was a statistically significant relationship between maximum complete dentures done and awareness among interns (P < 0.001). Complete dentures made a significant contribution to the prediction of awareness (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: To improve the awareness among the interns increased educational programs, clinical training and greater patient exposure to the clinical application of jaw relation procedures to construct complete dentures are needed during their undergraduate education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has one of the most important roles for diagnosis in dentistry. Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the level of knowledge and awareness toward the scope of digital imaging and CBCT, among dental practitioners in North Karnataka regions such as Bidar and Raichur city. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire study was carried out among 200 dental practitioners of North Karnataka (Bidar and Raichur). A specially designed structured questionnaire (13 in number) was administered to assess the knowledge of digital imaging and CBCT. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient test, and any P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 200 dentists were selected for the study, among which 93.5% were reported that digital imaging is the most useful method compared to conventional method. About 91.0% of the dentists were aware of CBCT. Of 91.5% of the dentists preferred CBCT for three-dimensional imaging in the head and neck region. Among all, majority of dentists reported that all types of radiography will be used in digital imaging (45.0%). Conclusion: The current study showed that knowledge of dentist regarding digital imaging and CBCT was not satisfactory; therefore, participants require an understanding of the concepts behind CBCT and related technologies, making appropriate training essential for every member of the dental team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Influenza like Swine flu virus has posed a greater risk of occupational transmission to dental professionals as it can spread through the aerosols. Aim: To assess knowledge and awareness of private dental health care professionals regarding swine flu of a Tricity in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 255 private dentists practising in the Tricity. A self-administered, anonymous, multiple choice type questionnaire was administered to gather information. The questionnaire contained 12 questions on knowledge and awareness regarding swine flu keeping in view the time constraints. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA and student t-test. Results: Awareness regarding mode of transmission of swine flu were reported positively by 88.5% of subjects. About 24.6% of subjects reported about having encountered a swine flu patient at their clinic. Preventive measures to prevent spread of swine flu were known to 71.2% of subjects. Statistically significant association of mean knowledge scores was noted with education level (P = 0.015) and working profile (P = 0.017) of the subjects. Conclusion: The results of the present review showed that some knowledge gaps existed among dentists regarding some important aspects of swine flu. Therefore, there is an urgent need for training and continuous education programs regarding infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric dentists (PDs) treat children in a manner that builds a positive dental attitude in them. The treatment modalities for pulpally involved teeth in children are different by general dentists (GDs) as compared to PDs.Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes of PDs, GDs, and dentists of other specialties toward endodontic treatment of primary teeth.Materials and Methods: A structured 14-item questionnaire was formulated in English and distributed to PD, GDs, and dentists of other specialties. The filled questionnaire survey was statistically analyzed using simple descriptive analysis, and inferential analysis was performed.Results: Of the total survey respondents, 12 (20.68%) were PDs, 28 (48.27%) were GDs, and 18 (31.03%) were from other specialties. About 91.6% of the total respondents preferred endodontic procedures in the primary teeth.Conclusion: The study concluded that the GDs, PDs, and dentists of other specialties differ in their treatment recommendations for primary teeth. The GDs and dentists of other specialties were regularly performing pulp therapy in the primary teeth and should frequently update their knowledge about endodontic procedures in the primary teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of Restorative, Orthodontic, and Pediatric Dentistry Departments' members at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, toward bisphenol A (BPA) dental exposure. Materials and Methods: A survey was pretested for face and content validity. It included ten knowledge-, four attitude-, and five behavior-based items. The collected data were analyzed using Windows SPSS software version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Significant levels were set at 0.05. Results: A total of 109 members participated in this study. Most of them (80 [73.4]) had never attended a lecture or read an article on BPA dental exposure previously. The restorative department members showed the highest (mean ± standard deviation score) in knowledge-based questions (3.32 ± 3.323), and those who reported that they had heard of BPA previously, read an article, or attended a lecture on BPA received significantly higher mean knowledge scores (P < 0.0001). The pediatric dentistry departments' members showed significantly higher agreements to attitude questions. Only ten participants (9.2%) followed the recommended guidelines to reduce patients' exposure to BPA during the application of BPA-containing dental materials. Conclusions: Reading an article or attending a lecture on BPA significantly improves the knowledge scores. Therefore, there is a need to increase the awareness on BPA dental exposure among different departments' members in KAU to ensure that BPA exposure to patients is minimized and to ensure the spread of this knowledge to the dental students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical emergencies are likely to occur in dental offices due to the use of anesthetics, anxiety, and systemic complications of the patient. Since such emergencies are life threatening in many cases, preparedness of the dentist is highly required. Aims: This study was carried out to evaluate the dentists' knowledge and attitude regarding diagnosis and treatment of medical emergencies in dental offices in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 150 general dentists in Shiraz with at least 5 years since graduation in 2015. They were asked to complete a validated questionnaire including the dentists' demographic information and inquiries about their performance and knowledge in emergency situations. Statistical Analysis Used: Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used in this study. Results: According to the inclusion criteria, 105 dentists participated in the study. The mean knowledge and attitude of the dentists was estimated 4.98 (±1.50) out of 10. No significant correlation was detected between age, sex, number of patients per day, and working hours with the knowledge of managing an emergency situation (P > 0.05). Out of the number of studied dentists, 49% had attended training workshops and 90% called for re-attending a workshop. The knowledge score of those who had participated in workshops was significantly higher than those who had not (P = 0.016). Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the dentists' knowledge about emergency situations was average while the knowledge was higher in those who had attended emergency workshops. Thus, retraining courses and workshops must be considered more often for graduated dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The present study is conducted to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards impression technique and materials for recording impression in implant placement among general dental practitioners. Materials and Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional questionnaire study. The study was conducted among general dental practitioners in Patna city in November–December 2017. Patna city was divided into five directions, which are north, south, east, west, and central. From each direction, 20 clinics were selected randomly, and dental practitioners from there clinics were interviewed. A closed-ended questionnaire consists of 19 items was prepared, the questionnaire was divided into four parts. Results: Majority of study participants (58 [34%]) were above the age of 40 years. 96 (56%) of study participants were male. Most of the study participants (89 [50%]) were having MDS degree. Knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores among study participants. About 43% of study participants have good knowledge scores regarding impression technique and material in implant placement while 50% of study participants had fair attitude score. About 58% of study participants had fair practice score. There was statistically significant correlation (P ≤ 0.05*) between knowledge and attitude of study participants. Conclusion: It was concluded that there was good knowledge, fair attitude, and practice among the dental professionals regarding the impression technique and materials for recording impression in implant placement. There was statistically significant correlation between knowledge and attitude of study participants. There was statistically significant correlation between some demographic variables and knowledge, attitude, and practice of study participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: This study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of upper middle class toward the importance of a pediatric dentist in the city of Amritsar, Punjab. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among the parents of children belonging to upper middle class in the city of Amritsar. This proposed study was assessed by the Institutional Ethical Committee (531/IDSR/2016) and their clearance was attained. A total of 950 parents were selected using a convenient sampling technique, and a self-made questionnaire was presented to them. Responses from the parents were evaluated in terms of numbers and percentages and were statistically analyzed using SPSS for Windows release 14.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Differences at the 5% level were accepted as being statistically significant. Results: The results of the study show limited knowledge about a pediatric dentist among the well-educated, well-placed, and economically sound citizens of Amritsar city. Consequently, the attitude and practices among this socioeconomic group are unconstructive and unprepared, respectively. Conclusion: Although the importance of taking a child to a pediatrician is a common practice among the upper and upper-middle classes of the society, it is clear that they do not give the same importance to a pediatric dentist, who is the pediatrician of dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Accredited social health activists (ASHAs) are the grassroot level health activists in the community who are involved in health education and community mobilization toward utilizing the health services.Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the oral health knowledge among ASHAs working in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Five Primary Health Centers were randomly selected, and the total sample was 275. Categorical data were analyzed using Chi-square test. P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results: The mean age was 32 ± 5.11 years and mean education was 9 ± 1.329 years of schooling. ASHAs were categorized into two groups based on their education levels, i.e., Group I whose education qualification is <10th class and Group II whose education qualification is above 10th class to observe any difference in knowledge based on their education. Overall knowledge among ASHAs was poor and also it was observed that both the groups were having poor knowledge regarding dental caries, calculus, dental plaque, oral cancer, and change of tooth brush. About 69.5% of the ASHAs were approached by public with dental problems, but only a few, i.e., 15.8% have referred the patients to the nearby dentist.Conclusion: As we know that most of the dental diseases are preventable, there is a dire need that ASHAs should be thoroughly educated in the aspects of oral health and diseases during their training period. This not only helps in creating awareness among them but also serves the ultimate purpose of improving the oral health of rural population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: Discrimination by some health care workers, including dentists, against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected persons has been noted. The main aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards HIV patients among the dentists of Trichur district, Kerala. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 206 dentists practicing in Trichur district of Kerala. Data was collected using a pretested, self-administered 26-item questionnaire and was statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Results: Out of 206 participants, 39.3% were unwilling to treat HIV patients. A statistical significance was found between willingness to treat HIV infected patients and age groups (P = 0.0001) as well as between the willingness to treat HIV infected patients and ethical responsibility (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: Staff fears and increased personal risk are found to be the most frequently reported concerns in treating HIV patients among dentists of Trichur district, Kerala. Senior dentists showed more reluctance to treat HIV positive individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the oral health practices and knowledge of practicing dentists at a tertiary health institution in Nigeria, and the possible association of age and sex with caries prevention practices.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted. All practicing dentists in the institution were eligible to participate in the study. A questionnaire that assessed oral health practices and knowledge was administered. Respondents were expected to select the most appropriate responses that reflected their knowledge of oral health practices and caries prevention practices. Questions included assessment of knowledge and practice of tooth brushing, flossing, refined carbohydrate intake, and dental service utilization. Participants' responses were scored and dichotomized to poor and good knowledge, and poor and good practices, using the median scores. Bivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with good and poor oral health practices, and good and poor knowledge.Results: Fifty-two eligible study participants were accessible at the time of questionnaire administration. Only 46 respondents returned the filled questionnaire giving a response rate of 88.5%. The age of respondents ranged between 25 and 48 years. The majority of respondents had good oral health practices (65.2%) and good oral health knowledge (85%). However, few respondents had good caries prevention practices: 39.2% brushed at least twice daily, 45.7% took refined carbohydrate less than once daily, 36.9% used dental floss at least once daily, and 60.9% undertook preventive dental care. The correlation between the dentists' oral health knowledge score and oral health practices score was insignificant (0.90; P = 0.55).Conclusion: A large number of dentists practicing in the tertiary hospital had good oral health practices and good oral health knowledge. However, the proportion of dentists with good caries prevention practices was low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Consumer Protection Act (CPA) aims to protect the interests of the patients in case of any unethical treatment rendered by a medical or a dental health professional. The present study was conducted to assess knowledge and awareness of CPA among dental professionals in a Tricity in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 265 private dental practitioners in Tricity. A close-ended self-structured questionnaire was administered which contained 15 questions on knowledge and awareness regarding CPA. Categorization of knowledge scores was done at three levels-low, medium and high. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA and Student t-test. Results: 54.7% (145) of subjects were having low knowledge scores, 23.3% (62) had a medium score and 21.8% (58) had a high score. Mean knowledge score according to educational level was statistically significant (P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in case of gender and type of practice (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that majority of the subjects were aware of the existence of CPA but knowledge regarding basic rules and regulations was lacking in few studies. Therefore, dental professionals need to keep them updated of various rules and latest amendments to save themselves from any litigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: One of the reasons for an important global concern i.e., antibiotic resistance is the pattern of antibiotic prescription by doctors. Knowledge regarding essential medicines and the rational use of medicines by doctors is important to combat drug resistance. This study was designed to study the knowledge of dental surgeons in south India regarding antibiotics required for various dental infections and also to assess the various factors that affect their prescription. Materials and Methods: A total 700 private dentists were randomly selected and questionnaires were sent by post or electronic media. The replies were collected and the response to each question was analyzed and expressed as absolute frequencies. Results: Over 80% of the dental surgeons correctly recognized the need to prescribe antibiotics when there was evidence of systemic spread, but over half of the dentists prescribed antibiotics even when a localized fluctuant swelling, for which antibiotics are not required. Also, 20-30% of dentists prescribed antibiotics unnecessarily for conditions such as chronic marginal gingivitis and acute pulpitis. Very importantly we found that there were many dentists' prescriptions that were affected by non-clinical factors, such as, patients' expectation of a prescription, work pressure, lack of time, and uncertainty in diagnosis to name a few. Conclusion: The results show that knowledge and antibiotic prescription pattern among dental surgeons is suboptimal. It is very important to provide continuing dental education in this aspect, to combat the threat of drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, self-reported practices, and prescription patterns regarding dental floss amongst a select population of dentists in India. Materials and Methods: A pretested 30-item questionnaire was self-administered by authors to the dental faculty and postgraduate students in dental schools in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). Nine dental institutes were selected by simple random sampling procedure among 15 institutions and a total of 255 dentists were included in the study. Statistical Analysis: The data obtained were analyzed by SPSS version 18. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies were calculated and Pearson's Chi-square test was used with P value fixed at 0.05. Results: There was lack of adequate knowledge regarding dental floss, among dentists in India. 78% of the dentists responded that the routine use of dental floss was necessary for good periodontal health. Majority of the dentists cited lack of awareness, availability, and cost as the major factors affecting floss usage. Lack of training in the dental education programs may have an impact on the prescription patterns as well. 15.3% of those surveyed do not use floss at all. 63.9% of the dentists prescribed floss routinely to their patients and considered factors like education, occupation, and socioeconomic status of the patient before prescribing dental floss. Conclusion: Health education programs regarding dental floss are necessary to create awareness among the general population and adequate training at undergraduate level is also essential to increase the prescription practices. Dentists should practice recommended oral self-care and act as role models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the general knowledge of Nigerian dentists on aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and specific knowledge of distinguishing between the clinical features of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) and generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, non-random convenience survey was done on 200 dentists, in three geopolitical zones of Nigeria, using pre-tested, closed question-type questionnaires. Eventually, only 133 questionnaires were analyzed. Relationships between six outcome variables namely clinical features of LAP, clinical features of GAP, LAP oral hygiene, GAP oral hygiene, laser therapy option and type of laser therapy, and the explanatory variables of gender and experience were analyzed. Results: A total of 33.8% of the dentists had poor general knowledge, 16.5% had fair knowledge, 31.9% had good knowledge, while 10.5% had excellent knowledge. Gender- and experience-related differences were found, but they were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both the general and specific knowledge of aggressive periodontitis among Nigerian dentists is less than expected and needs improvement through targeted, continuing dental education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONTEXT: Oral cancer presents with high mortality rates, and the likelihood of survival is remarkably better when detected early. The dental profession shares an important responsibility toward early screening, prompt referral and treatment. AIMS: The aim of the present study was to assess the oral cancer knowledge, attitude and screening practices among dental practitioners in Bangalore city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a 24-item self-administered questionnaire involving private dental practitioners of Bangalore city. A total of 1556 private dental practitioners of Bangalore made up the sampling frame of the study, and a sample of 250 dentists was found to be sufficient. Two hundred and fifty dentists were selected by cluster random sampling. The institutional review committee approved the study. Data were entered using SPSS 13.01. RESULTS: A total of 250 practicing dentists were approached, of which 240 participated in the study. Among the various risk factors for causing oral cancer, the use of alcohol was identified as a major risk factor by 238 (99%) dentists. The high-risk age group for oral cancer was identified as the fourth and fifth decades by 143 (59%) dentists. Adequate training for providing oral cancer examinations was acquired by 164 (68%) of the dentists. Two hundred and thirty-seven (98%) dentists strongly agreed that patients should be referred to specialists if they suspected oral cancer in any lesion. No more than 37% of the dentists routinely practiced complete oral cavity examination on all patients who attended their practice. A mere 31% of the dentists educated their patients on the adverse effects of these habits and assisted them in cessation programmes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings concerning dentists' knowledge and opinions related to oral and pharyngeal cancer suggest strongly that educational interventions for practitioners and dental students are necessary. We contend that an offering of continuing dental education programs would go a long way to enhance the prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The practice of dentistry exposes dentists to a variety of micro-organisms that are transmittable via blood, oral or respiratory secretions. Recent outbreak of swine fu virus has posed a greater risk of occupational transmission to dentists as it can spread through the aerosols. In our study, we assessed the knowledge and attitude of dentists regarding swine fu (2009) in Nellore, India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted during November and December 2009 in the south Indian district of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. Self-administered, anonymous, multiple-choice type study questionnaire elicited information from 220 Dentists across the district. Results: The Mean (±Standard Deviation, S.D) scores of knowledge and attitude were 37.92 (±5.63) and 11.34 (±2.51) from the maximum scores of 52 and 20 respectively. After adjusting for other variables, multivariable linear regression analysis showed gender, location and qualification of the participant contributing significantly to the knowledge score indicating a male participant, who is from urban area with higher qualification, had better knowledge. Attitude scores were not associated with any of the variables at significant level. Conclusion: Although the knowledge level seems to be moderately high, there were some note-worthy yet disturbing gaps in knowledge. This study showed that the dentists' attitude towards swine fu was satisfactory. Emphasis during undergraduate teaching and continuous dental educational campaigns regarding infectious diseases are recommended for the dentists, as preparedness for future disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In dentistry, there exist several controversies about the methods of harvesting and utilization of stem cells. Literature revealed that there is a dearth of information relating to the knowledge of stem cells among dentists. Aim: The objective of the study was to investigate the awareness, attitude and knowledge of the use of stem cells in dentistry among the dentists in Chennai. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study consisting of 11 close-ended questions and one open-ended question was conducted among 40 practicing dentists who possess postgraduate (PG) qualification (Group 1), 50 dentists specializing PG (Group 2) and 20 practicing dentists with no PG qualification (Group 3). The data collected and analyzed. Results: The participants were ≥28 years in age and had practice for ≥3 years. In this study, the knowledge about stem cell was higher among the Group 1 (82%) compared to Group 2 (64%) and Group 3 (30%) which was significant. About 81 % of respondents were not aware of stem cell banking, whereas, 54% had poor knowledge of the use of stem cell. Majority of the respondents (32.7%) consider higher cost as the biggest obstacle to the patient for accepting stem cell therapy. Ninety-three percent were willing to acquire training in learning this new treatment strategy. Conclusion: Data revealed a high level of knowledge, low level of awareness, positive attitude,and low level of knowledge about stem cells. The improvement of knowledge about the use of stem cells is achievable through heightened awareness creation on the issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]