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Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the impact of exposure parameters and image formats on fractal dimension (FD) values in periapical, panoramic, and CBCT images. Materials and Methods Seven dry male mandibles were selected, and a Gutta-Percha was used to identify identical regions of interest. A periapical radiograph was taken with 60 kVp/7 mA and exported in DICOM, JPEG, TIFF, and PNG formats. Nine periapical radiographs (60, 65, 70 kVp; 4, 5, 6 mA) were taken from seven dry human mandibles. Additionally, 12 panoramic radiographs (60, 70, 81, 90 kVp; 5, 8, 13 mA) and 10 CBCT images (with different scanning options and FOVs) were taken from each mandible. FDs were measured from a standard area. Results The intra-class correlation coefficient demonstrated a high degree of agreement between observers. No significant difference was found between TIFF and PNG formats (p > 0.05). The highest FD mean was found in TIFF format, while the lowest FD mean was found in JPEG format (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between kVp and mA settings in periapical images. In panoramic images, a significant difference was found at 90 kVp (p = 0.001) and 13 mA (p < 0.001), with lower FD values observed at these settings. There was no significant difference between FOV and resolution in CBCT images (p > 0.05). Conclusion The format of the image can influence FD. For periapical and panoramic radiographs, kVp and mA settings do not have a significant impact on FD. However, fractal analysis may not be an ideal method for evaluating three-dimensional images, such as those obtained with CBCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy is a unique time in a woman's life with many physiological, physical, emotional and hormonal changes occurring. It can also be quite an anxious time for women particularly in the first trimester when the risk of miscarriage is at its highest. Uncertainty still exists around the topic of dental treatment and care during pregnancy, which may create challenges for both the patient and the dental team. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The treatment options available when managing pregnant patients and for safe prescribing for this population are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The number of dental services provided is related to the type of services needed by a population and treatment decision making by dentists. This descriptive study aimed to compare the dental service mix in two different payment systems. Methods: The dental records of a long-established dental clinic were reviewed. Treatment performed, during October 2018 and October 2019, by 36 dentists, 12 dentists worked in both payment method periods, 12 of them worked only in salary, and 12 of them worked in fee for service (FFS) period. Results: Preventive dental services and practices without treatment (visits, diagnostic radiography, and referrals) decreased, and practices included aggressive treatments (randomized controlled trial, extraction, and crown) and highly aggressive procedure (surgery) increased from salary to FFS period. The total activities of dentists were higher in FFS. Conclusion: According to our results, in a salary system, the dentist was more likely to refer and perform preventive treatments, whereas in the FFS payment system, the dentists choose more aggressive treatments. Payment method may change dental service mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has brought substantial challenges to the world health system, including the practice of dental and maxillofacial radiology (DMFR). DMFR will carry on an imperative role in healthcare during this crisis. This rapid communication has collected and evaluated all the best current evidence and published guidelines as well as professional recommendations to help maxillofacial radiologists and dental practitioners for safer radiological and imaging examinations on healthy, suspected, or confirmed COVID-19 patients during outbreak. Some strategies have been depicted including procedural indications, infection control, and correct employment of personal protection equipment along with evoking the proper practice environment during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aims to gain knowledge about the dentist's use and choice of digital extraoral imaging methods, panoramic radiography and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).Materials and Methods: A questionnaire sent to 2481 dentists within the Swedish Dental Society contained questions about the panoramic technique and CBCT technique used, education, clinic size and type of service. The response rate was 53%.Results: The study showed that 61% of the Swedish dentists had access to panoramic techniques and that 84% used a direct digital sensor, while 6% used storage phosphor plate techniques. Around 8% of the Swedish dentists had access to CBCT. It was also observed that group practices had two times higher odds of having panoramic equipment compared with solo practices. Approximately 40% of the dentists had undergone postgraduate education in oral radiology during the last 5 years. Dental nurses and dental hygienists exposed 92% of the panoramic radiographs and 75% of the CBCTs. Thirty per cent of those clinics with access to a panoramic unit exposed >30 panoramic radiographs per month and 56% of the clinics having access to CBCT did more than 75 examinations per year.Conclusions: Today 61% of Swedish dentists have access to panoramic radiography and 8% have access to CBCT. There is a greater likelihood of having access if the dentist works in the public dental health service or in a group practice and if the dentist has undergone any postgraduate course in oral radiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article assesses the impact of dentist remuneration on the incidence of potentially harmful dental X-rays. We use unique panel data which provide details of 1.3 million treatment claims by Scottish NHS dentists made between 1998 and 2007. Controlling for unobserved heterogeneity of both patients and dentists we estimate a series of fixed-effects models that are informed by a theoretical model of X-ray delivery and identify the effects on dental X-raying of dentists moving from a fixed salary to fee-for-service and patients moving from co-payment to exemption. We establish that there are significant increases in X-rays when dentists receive fee-for-service rather than salary payments and when patients are made exempt from payment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aims to gain knowledge about the dentist's use and choice of digital intraoral imaging methods.Materials and Methods: A questionnaire sent to 2481 dentists within the Swedish Dental Society contained questions about the type of X-ray technique used, problems experienced with digital radiography, and reasons for choosing digital technology, and about indications, clinic size and type of service. Response rate was 53%.Results: Ninety-eight percent of the dentists had made the transition to digital radiography; only 2% used film technique, and solid-state detector (SSD) was the most used digital technique. More years in service decreases the likelihood of applying individual indications for performing a full mouth examination. More retakes were done with SSDs compared to storage phosphor plates. Reasons for choosing digital techniques were that work was easier and communication with the patients improved. However, dentists also experienced problems with digital techniques, such as exposure and projection errors and inadequate image quality. The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority states that all radiological examinations should be justified, something not always followed.Conclusions: This study showed that 98% of the respondents, Swedish dentists within the Swedish Dental Society, used digital techniques, and the most used was the solid-state technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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