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Introduction: The curricula for UK dental specialty training have recently been under review and until 2024, completion of a research component during training in Dental Public Health, Oral Microbiology and Orthodontics has been mandatory (with an alternative route for Orthodontics involving the submission of two scientific papers for those trainees not wishing to undertake a higher degree). Anecdotally, some trainees in other dental specialties choose to undertake higher degrees alongside specialty training. Aims: The aims were to investigate how many dental specialty registrars study for higher degrees alongside specialty training, and whether undertaking a higher degree alongside specialty training has an impact on completion of training, research skills, research experience, patient care and career opportunities. Materials and Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study design, involving the distribution of an online, anonymous questionnaire‐based survey to UK dental specialty registrars in November and December 2022. Results: In total, 38 questionnaires were completed, representing a 7.7% response rate of the entire dental specialty registrar cohort in the UK and 42% of those who received it. Most respondents (76.3%) were either studying or had completed a clinically relevant higher degree prior to specialty training. Most respondents (76.3%) reported that the higher degree increased career opportunities and gave them additional skills. Conclusions: Dental specialty trainees who responded to this survey perceived the higher degree to be beneficial in terms of preparing for exams, gaining skills in critical appraisal and for increasing future career opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some taxa of wading birds can locate buried prey by detecting vibratory cues in their foraging substrates while probe‐foraging, using a sensory modality called 'remote‐touch'. As more saturated substrates transmit vibrations better, we predict that these birds can detect prey in wetter substrates more easily. We used sensory assays to test whether substrate water content affects the remote‐touch foraging success rate of Hadeda ibises, Bostrychia hagedash. The birds were more successful at locating prey using vibratory cues than when relying on random direct contact with the beak alone. Their remote‐touch foraging success rate was positively affected by increasing water contents of the soil, but water content had no effect on their direct contact foraging success (indicating this is not an artefact of ease of probing). This may partially explain the link between the range expansion of this species in southern Africa and increased soil irrigation, as it is easier for the birds to detect prey in wetter substrates. Thus, it is likely that the distribution of other remote‐touch foraging birds is affected by substrate water content, and as many of these species are endangered and rely on sensitive wetland habitats, it is vital to understand their sensory requirements for foraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the southern Kalahari Desert, cooperatively breeding Southern Pied Babblers Turdoides bicolor frequently build their nests and forage in camelthorn trees Vachellia erioloba, a keystone species in the region, and blackthorn trees Senegalia mellifera, a widespread early successional shrub. Using Ivlev's electivity indices (Ei), we show that Southern Pied Babblers preferentially nest in camelthorn trees and preferentially forage in or under camelthorn and blackthorn trees. Southern Pied Babblers primarily forage on the ground; however, they will make use of arboreal resources when these are available. We observed the birds spending the highest proportion of foraging time off the ground during October, when breeding is also most common, compared with all other months within the austral summer breeding season. They are most likely to be observed foraging in camelthorn trees earlier in the breeding season and blackthorn trees later in the breeding season. We demonstrate that Southern Pied Babblers have a strong relationship with camelthorn trees, in which they prefer to both nest and forage. We highlight the importance of protecting camelthorn trees, a keystone species in the region, as part of the conservation and management of endemic Kalahari fauna such as the Southern Pied Babbler. In addition to contributing to the literature on keystone species, our observations raise questions about the ways in which avian reproduction in the arid zone could be decoupled from rainfall via the phenology of deep‐rooted tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Increased preoperative anxiety may have an adverse impact on the patient experience. This qualitative study therefore aimed to explore those factors affecting anxiety in the approach to orthognathic surgery., Methods: A total of 28 orthognathic patients who had completed their presurgical orthodontic treatment and were within 8 weeks before their surgery underwent one-to-one in-depth interviews. The interviews explored their experience in the preoperative period, with the focus on aspects relating to anxiety. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and data were then analyzed using a thematic framework approach., Results: Eight themes and associated subthemes were identified. The first theme related to time and described the approach to the surgery and the transience of the side effects. The second theme discussed control and how the need for control may affect anxiety; the third focused on fear related to the surgery and the element of "the unknown." The fourth theme highlighted the importance of trust between patients and clinicians, whilst the fifth focused on information and its delivery, which was crucial for managing uncertainty. The sixth theme centered on expectations about the surgery and the patient's ability to cope, and the seventh discussed coping strategies that were effective in alleviating anxiety. The final theme focused on the benefits of a strong, effective support system in reducing anxiety. No distinct typologies emerged from the data. Recommendations for consideration by clinicians are presented., Conclusions: The findings provide a novel insight into the multifactorial nature of preoperative anxiety in orthognathic patients and also highlight the important role of the clinical team in creating a supportive environment to help reduce patient anxiety., (Copyright © 2024 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate the characteristics and content of YouTube™ videos created by patients undergoing orthodontic fixed appliance treatment and to assess the content accuracy of these videos., Design: A mixed-methods quantitative and qualitative study., Data Source: YouTube™ webpage., Methods: The term 'braces' was used to search for relevant videos on the YouTube™ webpage between 18 August and 30 August 2020, with no limits imposed regarding how long the video had been available on YouTube™. Videos were included if they were made by patients and were predominantly about patients' experiences during treatment with labial fixed appliances. The main themes/subthemes of the included videos were identified. A checklist was then developed to assess accuracy of the video content for two of the main themes and the videos were assessed against the checklist., Results: The video search identified 350 videos, of which 64 were selected as potentially eligible; 41 were subsequently excluded as they related primarily to the bond up/debond experience or had minimal information about orthodontics. This meant that 23 videos were ultimately included for analysis. Six main themes were identified in the videos: problems with fixed appliances, effects of fixed appliances, oral hygiene maintenance, dietary advice, treatment duration/appointment frequency and auxiliaries used with fixed appliances. From the 23 videos, 20 were assessed against the checklist for content accuracy related to two selected themes: oral hygiene maintenance and dietary advice. The majority of videos had low content accuracy scores, indicating that important and relevant content was generally missing., Conclusion: Several included videos focused on oral hygiene maintenance and dietary advice associated with fixed appliances; however, the content was incomplete and not always accurate. This is concerning to the profession, and it is therefore recommended that clinicians consider collaborating with patients to produce videos that are patient-centred and that also contain accurate information., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.