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The European health systems have developed starting from two different models, namely the Beveridge model and Bismark model, respectively, each of them having different funding and organization. At its turn, the oral health system, as an integrating part of the national system, shows some characteristics and particularities favorable or not to the patients and professionals in this field. The aim of this paper is to compare the oral health system of different European countries by means of the oral health indicators (DMFT at 12-year-olds, percentage of totally edentate people) and economic indicators (GDP percentage for health, dentists’ annual average wages, and oral health expenses per inhabitant). Moreover, the study lays focus on the distribution of professionals in the selected European countries while comparing the official statistic data in terms of density of dentists, and the ratio between the number of medical technicians and assistants and the number of physicians. The conclusion of the study shows that Romania occupies the last place in terms of GDP funding (0.3 %vs. 0.85% in Germany) and registers the highest value for DMFT index at 12-year-olds (2.4 versus 0.7 in Sweden and the Great Britain). Despite all that, in Romania, the profession of a dentist is considered as sufficiently attractive, the proof being the indicator showing specialists’ density for 100,000 inhabitants, namely 83.5 in Romania, a value that is close to the European Union mean -88/100,000 inhabitants.

The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological data on healthcare-associated infections in Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery Clinic of the “Sfântul Spiridon” Emergency Clinical Hospital in Iași between 2011 and 2018. Material and methods. A retrospective study on HAI between 2011 and 2018 was initiated at the Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery Clinic of the “Sfântul Spiridon” Emergency Clinical Hospital in Iași. Results. Among 21277 surveyed patients the prevalence of patients with at least one HAI was 0,72%. The types of diagnosed HAI were the surgical site infections (54,11%), respiratory infections (15,58 %), device associated infections (14,29%), digestive tract infections (5,63%), urinary tract infections (5,63%), septicemia (2,16%) and cutaneous infections (1,73%).Conclusions. The assessment of the epidemiologic data, risk factors and trends of healthcare-associated infections are necessary for their surveillance, control and prevention.

The aim of the present study was to determine the dental treatment needs of schoolchildren aged 12 years in Iasi, Romania, and to determine whether there is a socioeconomic disparity in their distribution. Material and methods: the study cross-sectional included 402 schoolchildren aged 12 years. The children were clinically examined and the dental surfaces were scored using Full ICDAS criteria. Parents’ occupation, income and number of members in the family were considered to determine socioeconomic status (SES) of the family. Results: the most frequent treatment need was single-surface filling (2,06±2.18 teeth/subject), followed by multi-surface filling (0.93±0.75 teeth/subject) and endodontic therapy (0.31±0.16 teeth/subject). The treatment needs were much higher in the low SES group than in the high SES group (p < 0.01) and strong inverse correlations were found between SES and dental treatment needs. Conclusion: extensive preventive programs are needed to reduce the level of unmet dental treatment needs of schoolchildren in Iasi.

The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 on a sample of 112 students at the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Iasi, Romania, with the aim to assess the stress level perceived by the students in the 3rd, 4th and 5th year of study. Material and methods: For this study I used my own questionnaire adapted after the Dental Environmental Stress scale. Results: 68% of the students mentioned the lack of free time, 65% said the curriculum is too vast and the timetable is too tight, and 63% did not have a positive opinion about university’s rules and regulations. There are statistically significant differences in terms of gender distribution, in the sense that female students are more stressed than male students, and the 3rd year students considered, by comparison to the students in the 4th and 5th years of study, that the biggest source of stress is determined by their academic performance and the difficulty to acquire practical skills. Only 24% of the whole sample did not complain about any physical or psychological problems caused by stress. In conclusion, the results of the study should trigger a change of the academic curriculum through the reduction of the number of classes for certain subjects which do not have specialized practical training and reconsideration of the rigid regulations of the university.

Oral health is currently based on objective measures such as the presence and severity of dental caries and periodontal disease. In the last years, researchers and dentists have shown increasing interest in a widened array of physical, psychological, and social factors found to influence patients’ oral health. Being a nowadays dentist means valuing health promotion and disease prevention, as well as the use of empathy, deep listening, and appreciation of the patient’s intrinsic motivation and unique psychosocial history. Coaching requires from the dentist to integrate the art of social interaction with the cognitive elements of psychology and the science of dental medicine. In this article we analyze health coaching approach, and how different levels of coaching from student to dentist to patient can influence and improve health communication, encourage effective health-promoting behavior change and improve the lives off all implied.

The interest in clinical epidemiology has increased considerably lately, and the application of epidemiological methods in the clinical activity is an aspect that takes into account the medical staff, as well as hospital managers and political makers. Assessment of a population health status requires the use of descriptive epidemiological studies, which allow evaluation of the prevalence of a disease, or of analytical studies, which are more complex and allow evaluation of the causal relationship between the disease and the risk factors. Moreover, clinical trials, the only experimental epidemiological studies, when well conducted and structured, can lead to the emergence of new drugs, dental materials or curative interventions, more efficient and possibly at reasonable costs.

Anxiety is frequently associated to dental care and the identification of anxious patients is highly important for the correct and safe therapeutic management of them. The aim of this study is the identification the level of dental anxiety of a group of patients addressing the dental care office within the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Iasi. Material and method: The cross-sectional study was carried out in 2019 on a sample of 53 patients aged between 18 and 64. To appreciate the anxiety level and the causes of this phenomenon, we used a specially designed questionnaire: Dental Anxiety Assessment Questionnaire. The data were statistically processed by SPSS.17 software for Windows. Results: Most patients, namely 52.8% consider that before their dental treatment they face a state of anxiety, 49% say they have a moderate anxiety level and only 15% consider themselves as severely anxious. The most frequent cause of this dental phobia correlates either with a traumatizing dental experience in the past (43.3%), or with their contact with a dentist lacking empathy (28.3%). Among the dental maneuvers, dental extraction is considered as the one inducing the highest stress level, while the fear of injection and pain represents the main reasons for dental anxiety. Conclusions: This study highlights the characteristics of dental anxiety in adult patients and identifies a common clinical picture of the anxious patient. The purpose of our study is also to inform the medical community about the frequency of this phenomenon and thus to prevent the negative situations that might appear during the specialized treatment of these subjects.

Oral health in adolescents and adults has improved in recent decades, even if there were socio-economic inequalities between groups. Aim: to determine the association between caries experience and social and behavioral factors in young adults and adults in Iasi, Romania. Material and method: The cross-sectional study was carried out during 10 months in 2018 on a batch of students from the Iasi university center and adults who accessed the dental services within the Adult Stomatology Ambulatory, “Sf. Spiridon” Iasi. The necessary data were obtained through a questionnaire. The data on caries experience were collected through the clinical examination. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed using the computer program SPSS 20.0.for Windows. Results: The prevalence of dental caries in young adults was 96.3%. There were statistically significant differences between the prevalence of dental caries by sex (p 0.05). The visit to the dentist and the reasons for these visits, the frequency of dental brushing, the consumption of sweets between meals and smoking are strongly associated with the socio-economic level in young adults. Conclusions: Increased prevalence of dental caries as well as increased values of DMFT are associated with socio-economic factors. Low level of education was a strong distal social determinant of caries experience, which affected dental health status via a pathway mediated by behavioural factors.

Hands have been identified as the main source of germ transmission during medical care. Every person involved in patient care, medical or otherwise, should be able to accurately perform hand hygiene at the right time. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the level of knowledge about hand hygiene practices among Iasi medical students. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a questionnaire based on a set of 25 questions to evaluate the hand hygiene knowledge practiced between general medical students of V and VI years of study who practice in hospitals in Iasi. Results: 98 medical students of V and VI year from UMPh Grigore T.Popa from Iasi were de study participants. The mean age was 23.2 years ± 1.26 years. More than half of the participants were female. 60.3% believed that the main sources of infection is the patient exposure to colonized surfaces (beds, chairs, tables, floor) and air circulation in the hospital( 22.1%). 72.5% agreed that hand rubbing is faster for cleaning than hand washing. 80.2% agreed that hand rubbing does not cause skin drying more than hand washing. 68.1% knew that hand rubbing was more effective against germs than hand washing and 78.6% of participants were aware that washing and rubbing of hands is not recommended to be performed in that sequence. Conclusions: it is necessary to improve the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding hand hygiene throughinternships and workshops, organizing annual seminars and putting them into practice for the assessment of clinical skills.

This paper aims to highlight the burnout syndrome among dentists, this phenomenon that affects between 22.2% and 55% of dentists, according to the data in the specialized literature. Besides the physical phenomena expressed by chronic fatigue, the syndrome determines and disturbs the behaviors with consequences like: absenteeism, alcohol and drug abuse, low performance. Psychological consequences include anxiety, depression, fatigue, dissatisfaction towards one’s own life. Pathological symptoms are heart diseases, cerebral strokes, digestive diseases such as gastric and duodenal ulcer, headaches and diverse infections. The most frequent risk factor incriminated is the overload at the workplace, followed by others, like: emotional factors, time since qualification, educational status and experience. Prevention of this phenomenon includes better time management, relaxation, maintaining an emotional balance and a mental well-being.

The aim of this study was to perform quantitative and qualitative assessment of salivary secretion within a group of young adults. Materials and methods: the study included 130 patients aged 19-22 years, attending the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the U.M.Ph. “Grigore T. Popa” in Iasi. The subjects were clinically examined for the DMFT, CPITN and API indices assessment, as well as for stimulated salivary flow rate and saliva buffer capacity. Results: 34% of the subjects had a medium oral hygiene. The mean DMFT index was 9.46. 60% of the subjects had supra/subgingival calculus. 92.31% of the subjects had a normal salivary secretion rate and 77% of them had a normal saliva buffer capacity. Correlations were found between the clinical indicators of oral health status and the salivary parameters. Conclusion: detecting host-related risk factors may be one of the basic elements in the control and prediction of dental caries.

At the individual level, behavior, education, knowledge and attitudes influence the quality of oral hygiene, diet hygiene, fluoride application, salivary flow. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of dental hygiene by chemical means in a group of students of the Dental Faculty from Iasi. Material and Method The study included 28 student subjects in the terminal year of the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Iasi. The data were recorded by clinical examination. Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and Quigley-Hein, O’Leary, API (Aproximal Plaque Index) bacterial plaque pointers, one month after Listerine® oral rinses, and 2 months after mouthwash Oral B Pro Expert Multi-Protection (Oral B). Oral rinsing was performed as indicated by the manufacturer. The evidence of the bacterial plaque was performed with tablets of bacterial plaque disclosing. In conclusion, Listerine mounthrinse has been shown to be more effective in reducing bacterial plaque accumulation, proven by reducing OHI oral hygiene values by 0.246 and bacterial plaque scores by 8.57% compared to Oral B Pro Expert mouthwash which improved the OHI index only 0.093 and the index value of the board by 2.32%.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of training and compliance with administrative and clinical infection prevention recommendations in the dental settings in Iasi. Material and methods. A questionnaire based study was initiated including 93 dentists in Iasi. Results. 91,5% of the dentists wish to be trained in infection control, and 78,7% consider important the presence of a coordinator in this domain. In no dental office the compliance to Standard Precautions is evaluated by planned activities. 78,4% of the subjects are immunized against Hepatitis B . The sterilization equipment’s maintenance is performed and documented in 87,2% of the settings. In 80,5% of them the necessary supplies for hand hygiene are easily accessible. 74,7% of the dentists wear the full protective equipment. Written policies and procedures for the cleaning and disinfection of reusable instruments and environmental surfaces are available in 78,2% , respectively 21,3% of the dental offices. In all dental settings a chemical indicator is used for the sterilisation monitoring. Conclusions. The investigation findings highlighted the need for continuous dental staff training by an infection control coordinator based on assessing compliance with recommended policies and practices.

Aim of the study. The aim of this study was to assess dentists’ knowledge in preventing infection transmission, after having participated in professional training courses. Material and methods: 127 dentists from Iasi, Romania, aged 25-65 years, were investigated using a 14 item questionnaire with simple / multiple responses. Results: 66.5% of the investigated dentists were familiar with the elements included in the concept of preventing the infection transmission in the dental office. 90% of the subjects knew the complete post-exposure protocol for accidental contamination with infected blood, but only 36.8% of those surveyed knew the substances used for high-level disinfection. Conclusion: The main methods and techniques for the prevention of infection transmission in dental medicine are known by most of the investigated practitioners, but further training programs are required in the area to increase the level of knowledge.

Health-related quality of life studies are important because they can express benefits or damage to health care. The tools for measuring the quality of life at the individual level are described in the form of questionnaires. If a foreign questionnaire is used, it is mandatory to test the psychometric properties: fidelity and validity. The OHIP 14 questionnaire made by Slade and Spencer in English is used to assess the quality of life correlated with oral health in adult population. Before being used in Romanian, it was tested on a group of 928 subjects in Iasi County, following the WHO methodology. The results of the study have shown that both, fidelity and validity, have obtained high values, so that the questionnaire can be used as a measure of quality of life related with oral health.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge of the students attending the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Iasi regarding the HIV/AIDS infection. Material and method: The cross-sectional study included 124 students from the 4th and 6th years who filled in a specially designed questionnaire consisting of 20 questions on two aspects: the first one refers to HIV transmission pathways and the risk of transmission in the dental office, and the second one refers to the oral lesions associated with this disease. The results demonstrate that some of the issues are correctly assimilated by the students of both years of study, as more than 80% of them marked the correct answer (concerning blood, sexual, maternal-fetal transmission routes, as well as the association between fungal infections, Kaposi’s sarcoma and AIDS). However, there were questions with a very low correct response rate (below 50%), concerning the transmission via the saliva or via the contact of infected blood with the nasal, oral or ophthalmic mucosa, as well as the herpetic and cytomegalovirus-associated infections as oral lesions manifest in the HIV infected patient. Surprisingly, only 29.5% of the interviewed subjects knew the post-exposure prophylaxis method. In conclusion, the study underlines the need of introducing new programs and lectures on this topic, with an accent on the practical aspects specific to the dental office activity.

In literature there are very many studies highlighting the correlation between oral health and diverse social factors, including lifestyle, social and cultural environment, health organization and care as well as the health policy. The educational level may represent an important risk factor for health in the context in which it is associated to poverty and to a hostile physical environment. In the context of oral health, a low education level also associated to the footprint characteristic to the cultural level of a person may determine their lack of interest towards the prevention of oral disorders, the practicing of an inadequate oral hygiene and the adoption of a vicious lifestyle. In this context, the health promoting programmes must rely on viable strategies that may eliminate not only financial barriers but also the ones preventing the equal access of the disfavored population to education and health.

The aim of this study is to assess the dentists compliance to hands hygiene procedure in order to decrease the incidence of health care associated infections. Material and methods. It was initiated a questionnaire based study including 279 dentists aged between 26 and 62 years in Iasi, Romania. The data were analyzed using the SPSS.15.0 system and Chi square test (p

The loss of teeth in the young adult population is closely correlated with the oral health status, oral health behaviors and socio-economic level. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of edentation among young adults in Iasi, Romania. Materials and methods: The study included a total of 285 students of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, „Grigore T.Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași, aged between 22 and 26 years. The EGOHID System was used in order to evaluate the oral health status. The data were analyzed by gender, socio-economic level and oral health behaviors using SPSS 15.0 (p

The dental technicians are exposed to a potential risk for infection transmission during the professional activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of dental technicians towards the methods used to prevent infection transmission in the dental laboratories in Iaşi. Methods: A questionnaire-based study was initiated involving 68 technicians aged between 24 and 49 years. The 14 questions were related to infection control attitudes and implemented specific measures. Data were analyzed using SPSS 14 system and Chi-Square test (p

The aim of the present study was to assess the oral and food hygiene habits of school children in Iasi in order to establish the necessary preventive measures. Material and methods: The study was cross-sectional and included 533 children aged between 7 and 12 years in Iasi. For the assessment of food hygiene habits, a questionnaire was used to record food consumption over a 4-day period. For oral hygiene assessment, the Silness-Löe bacterial plaque index was used. Results: the highest percentage of the children (43.71%) declared a moderate consumption of carbohydrates. Most of the investigated subjects (61.16%) declared a high frequency of sugar consumption. 45.59% of the children in the study had a less good oral hygiene. Conclusion: The results of the study highlight the need for effective oral health education, addressed not only to children but also to parents and teachers.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are common among dental practitioners. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of MSD among dental students as well as the level of knowledge and attitudes about the principles of ergonomics. Material and Methods: The study was conducted among the 2nd and 6th year students of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, UMPh Gr.T.Popa University of Iasi. The questionnaire covered four main sections: the first section on demographic data collection, the second section assessed the work environment and work characteristics, the third section addressed ergonomics, while the fourth section assessed the prevalence of MSD based on body regions. Data analysis was performed with SPSS 14.0 Results: The response rate was 87% .72% of female subjects and 20% of male subjects reported MSD symptoms. 50% of students work with an assistant. They reported few symptoms of MSD at the elbow and forearm level. 70% of students have the ability to take over the instrument without making unnecessary movement. The number of clinical weekly workouts was significantly correlated with the discomfort experienced in the hands and fingers but also with the pain in the lumbar region. Conclusions: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is higher in end-year students. The causes of these illnesses are the low level of knowledge about the ergonomic principles that need to be applied to improve medical activity and the reduction of the risk of installing muscle fatigue but also the lack of auxiliary staff to help the student achieve the treatments.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the caries risk of schoolchildren in Iasi, Romania, using the cariogram program. Material and methods: the study was cross sectional, clinical and microbiological, and included 533 children aged 7 to 12 years, with various levels of socioeconomic status. Assessment of caries risk factors followed the protocol of the cariogram. Clinical and bacteriological assessments and questionnaires were used. Results: 35.81% of the children presented a high caries risk, and 36.78% – moderate caries risk. Caries risk decreased with increasing age and socioeconomic status. The DMFS index of 12-year-old children with high caries risk was 8.44 times higher than the DMFS index of children with low caries risk. Conclusion: The results of the study highlight the need for complex school-based caries preventive programs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dental status in 6 years old school children in Iași in correlation with behavioral factors and socio-economic status. Material and method. A longitudinal epidemiological study was initiated within the project “Evaluation of oral health and education for oral health in 6 and 12 year-old school-children in Iași, Romania” including 592 school children aged 6 from 21 schools in Iași. For oral health assessment EGOHID system was used. Results. The values for dmft /dmfs were 3,64 and 6,85 respectively. The prevalence of dental caries was 78,6% for d1-6mf and 67,9% for d3-6mf. The values for decayed teeth and surfaces was significantly higher than those for filled teeth and surfaces. A positive correlations between dmft index and the socio-economic level and between dmft index and sugar intake were established. 57,9% of subjects eat sweets between meals. More than half of children (56.3%) brush their teeth twice a day and 15% of them cleen their teeth occasionaly.Conclusions. Intensive preventive efforts by risk factors control are needed in order to decrease the high found prevalence of dental caries.

The study aims at evaluating the satisfaction of the students at the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Iasi regarding their medical career. Material and methods: The study was carried out in 2016 by means of a questionnaire made up of 10 questions that was distributed to 115 students in the 5th and 6th year of study. Results: The reasons for choosing this career were first of all of economic and professional nature such as its independence and stability followed by the vocational aspects mentioned mainly by the female students. The options for professional accomplishment after graduation vary from the enrolling for the residency exam for 37.5% of students, the immediate beginning of the private activity for 36.5% to the migration abroad chosen by 26.1% of the study respondents. Conclusions: 69.6% of students declare they are satisfied by the educational process and the academic curriculum; however 80% of them consider that the number of practical activity hours should be increased to obtain the skills and abilities necessary for professional accomplishment. The satisfaction related to the student life was appreciated only by half of them, namely 51.3%. Key words: dental students, career satisfaction, career plans

The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of students from the Faculty of Dentistry in Iasi, Romania, on these ethical issues: doctor-patient relationship, mistakes and errors in the dental practice, ethical low. Material and methods: The study was conducted in 2014 on a sample of 124 students who completed a questionnaire specially designed for this purpose. Results: 90% of the students agreed with the ethical principles relating to autonomy and privacy of patients' data and 93% of them agreed with the patient's reporting of intra-operative complications. The responses to the questions that refer to violent patient and those infected with HIV demonstrate that there is no unity in resolving these controversial issues: only 62% of students agree with treating HIV-infected patients, and 14% of students agree with treating violent patients. Conclusions: The vast majority of those surveyed were interested in continuing the implementation of teaching methods for the emphasize of ethical principles in dental practice.

In most of the developing countries, dental caries continues to represent a major issue of public health. In Romania, the National Program for Oral and Dental Diseases Prevention was implemented between 1999-2010, addressed to children attending primary school and consisting of weekly mouth rinses with 0.2% NaF solution. In the present study, the dynamic evolution of oral health status of schoolchildren aged 6-12 years in Iasi, under the impact of this Program, was analyzed. The results showed a decreasing trend in the prevalence and incidence of dental caries, a constant decrease of caries experience indices DMFT and DMFS and, within them, the increasing trend of fillings indicator FS and the decrease of deep lesions weight. The conclusion is that tooth decay has declined in schoolchildren in Iasi during the development of the National Prevention Program.

Aim of the study The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamic evolution of oral health of schoolchildren in Iasi, depending on their socioeconomic status, under the impact of the National Prevention Program. Material and methods 600 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years were evaluated yearly, between 2003-2007, for oral health status and preventive treatments. Results At study beginning, DMFT index presented the highest values in children with low socioeconomic status, while sealants prevalence and number of sealed surfaces had the lowest values. At the end of study, although DMFT index still presented the highest values in children with low socioeconomic status, differences from indices of children with medium and high socioeconomic status were significantly reduced, and sealants prevalence and number of sealed surfaces had the highest values.. Conclusions Implementation of the National Prevention Program allowed to reduce the differences in oral health status of schoolchildren with different socio-economic levels.