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Background: Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) is a developmental enamel defect in the first permanent molars and frequently in the incisors. It poses a unique challenge to the dental practitioner because of its nature, clinical presentations and treatment strategies., Aim: This study assessed the perception of Libyan dentists in Benghazi regarding MIH and its management., Design: Paper-based, self-administered questionnaires were distributed to dentists in Benghazi, Libya. The questionnaires investigated the awareness of MIH, knowledge of MIH aetiology, clinical challenges of MIH treatment and choices of restorative management. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared test and binary logistic regression analysis were performed at a significance level of ≤.05., Results: A total of 389 questionnaires were completed and analysed, giving an overall response rate of 76% (389/511). Most participants were female (85%, 332), with an average of 6.05 (SD = 6.24) years of experience. The majority of participants (67%) recognised MIH in their practice. Statistically significant differences in the awareness of MIH and its prevalence were observed according to the type of practice (p ≤ .001) and experience of dentists (p ≤ .001). Dentists working in public dental practice were less familiar with MIH and less likely to report it. Likewise, novice dentists were less aware of MIH than more experienced colleagues. The most reported aetiological factor in MIH was genetics by 60.2% of respondents, followed by environmental contamination (47.6%) and fluorides (42.9%). Most participants (92.3%) considered MIH a clinical problem. Aesthetics and diagnosis were the most reported challenging aspects (59.4% and 44.2%, respectively). The most commonly selected restorative options were high-fluoride glass ionomer cement (43.2%) and preformed metal crowns (41.6%)., Conclusion: The majority of participants reported awareness of the existence of MIH condition. Nevertheless, variations in estimating MIH prevalence and its proper treatment, as well as factors influencing its treatment and diagnosis, were recorded. It is recommended that the current dental curriculum is reviewed, and scientific evidence providing dental practitioners with updated information on the diagnosis and clinical management of MIH should be circulated., (© 2024 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance is an alarming global public health concern, threatening the effective treatment of common infections. This phenomenon is driven by the improper prescription of antibiotics. This study aimed to elucidate the patterns of antibiotic prescription in implant dentistry among European dentists and their awareness of antibiotic resistance., Materials and Methods: An anonymous online validated questionnaire was distributed via e-mail to 6431 recipients through the European Association for Osseointegration. It comprised of 17 structured questions investigating demographic variables, working environment, clinical experience, attitude towards antibiotic prescription in particular in relation to implant dentistry and COVID-19 pandemic, and awareness of antibiotic resistance. Data were collected from April to May 2023., Results: 281 dentists from 33 European countries completed the survey. Almost 80% affirmed to routinely prescribe antibiotics as prophylaxis as well as after dental implant placement, especially in medically compromised patients or in cases of bone grafting. Amoxicillin, alone (61%) or in combination with clavulanic acid (56%), was the most common antibiotic of choice. Awareness of penicillin resistance among respondents was high. For peri-implantitis treatment, more than half reported the use of systemic antibiotics. The large majority (95%) did not prescribe more antibiotics since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic. Less than 40% declared to follow national guidelines for antibiotic prescription., Conclusion: This survey revealed a high prescription rate of antibiotics in implant dentistry, despite the awareness about antibiotic resistance among the respondents. The development and adherence to European guidelines has been identified as a potential strategy for improving antimicrobial stewardship., (© 2024 The Authors. Clinical Oral Implants Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of Italian dentists in terms of infection, strategies for infection control, organization of the dental clinic, attitude, and behavior., Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey. The sample consisted of 8000 Italian dentists selected among 63,375 using a computerized random sampling method. An electronic informed consent had to be signed. The questionnaire categories were on demographic, infection risk management, organization, and dentists' attitude and behavior. Geographic macro-areas were used for subgroup analysis., Results: Among 8000 invited dentists, 2443 agreed to participate to the survey (30.6%). Mean age was 51.2 years, women were 34.5%. A total of 6.1% self-reported COVID-19 experience and higher rate of infection was reported in north Italy compared to the south (p < 0.05). FFP2/FFP3 respirators (97.1%) and visors (97.4%) were used by almost all dentists. While, natural ventilation and mouthwashes were the most frequent approaches used to reduce the infection risk. Most of the dentists reported positive attitude, nevertheless 83.6% felt an increased responsibility., Conclusion: The self-reported COVID-19 prevalence was 6.1% with some differences among geographic areas. COVID 19 had a deep impact on preventive strategies, dental office organization, and behavior within this sample., (© 2023 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The Hall Technique (HT) is now regarded as one of the biological management options for carious primary molars and has shown significant clinical success., Aim: To investigate the perception and the use of the HT among dentists engaging in paediatric dentistry in East China., Design: This was an electronic questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. A quick response code of the questionnaire via WeChat, a common communication tool in China, was sent to dentists in East China., Results: A total of 313 dentists participated in this study. Most surveyed clinicians had heard about the HT (n = 286, 91.4%). Of them, 40.2% (n = 115) reported having used the HT. Of 67 dentists working in private clinics, 34 (50.7%) had used the HT, whereas only 37% of dentists from public hospitals had used the HT. Of 115 dentists having used the HT, 91.3% (n = 105) would consider using the HT for Class II cavitated molars; 23.5% (n = 27) would consider using the HT for Class I cavitated molars. Most dentists who had not used the HT were concerned about complications such as pulp inflammation or necrosis after applying the HT., Conclusion: The HT is well known in East China; the lack of systematic training or courses, however, may decrease its utilization., (© 2023 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) comprise ailments involving the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) and its associated anatomical structures. The complexity involved in TMD is primarily due to its broad spectrum of conditions, clinical signs and symptoms variability, and multifactorial etiology. Considering the above, the present study was performed to help understand the prevailing knowledge and awareness of TMD among Indian dentists in the context of the new specialty "orofacial pain"., Settings and Design: Questinnaire study and review., Materials and Methods: The questionnaire was distributed using a web-based portal nationwide among Indian dentists. Dentists were invited to participate, clearly stating that the intent and purpose of the questionnaire was to record the existing knowledge and awareness concerning temporomandibular disorders among Indian dentists. The questionnaire was segregated into three sections: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of TMDs. The questions were recorded using a Likert three-point scale (1=agree; 2=disagree; 3=not aware). 310 dentists participated in the survey, among which 105 were general dentists (BDS [Bachelor of Dental Surgery] graduates), and 205 were dentists with specialist training (MDS [Masters of Dental Surgery] graduates)., Statistical Analysis Used: The results obtained from the study participants was used to calculate the percentage and frequency, following which tabulations were made based on graduate type and clinical experience. The values obtained from all three sections were recorded, and the responses were analysed using Pearson's Chi-Square test with statistical significance kept at P < 0.05., Results: Results of the study disclosed that only 58.1% of general dentists and 46.8% of specialists were confident in handling temporomandibular disorder patients. Splint therapy was the preferred treatment modality for general dentists, whereas dentists with specialist training preferred occlusal rehabilitation., Conclusion: The results of the current survey indicate that Indian dentists lack sufficient training in dental schools on all three sections and face difficulty diagnosing and treating TMDs., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 The Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society.)

Objectives: After the shutdown of most dental services during the COVID-19 lockdown, the oral health community was concerned about an increase in prescribing opioids and antibiotics by dentists due to patients' limited access to dental offices. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the pattern of antibiotic and opioid prescriptions by dentists in Alberta, Canada., Methods: Data obtained from the Tracked Prescription Program were divided into antibiotics and opioids. Time periods were outlined as pre-, during-, and postlockdown (phase 1 and 2). For the number of prescriptions and average supply, each monthly average was compared to the corresponding prelockdown monthly average, using descriptive analysis. Time series analyses were conducted using regression analyses with an autoregressive error model. Data were trained and tested on monthly observations before lockdown and predicted for during- and postlockdown., Results: A total of 1.1 million antibiotics and 400,000 opioids dispense were tracked. Decreases in the number of prescriptions during lockdown presented for antibiotics (n = 24,933 vs. 18,884) and opioids (n = 8892 vs. 6051). Average supplies (days) for the antibiotics (n = 7.10 vs. 7.55) and opioids (n = 3.92 vs. 4.05) were higher during the lockdown period. In the trend analyses, the monthly number of antibiotic and opioid prescriptions showed the same pattern and decreased during lockdown., Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic altered the trends of prescribing antibiotics and opioids by dentists. The full impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the population's oral health in light of changes in prescribing practices by dentists during and after lockdown warrants further investigation., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical and Experimental Dental Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: Globally, the number of people living with dementia (PLwD) is projected to increase substantially. Dentists will encounter an increasing number of PLwD retaining natural teeth who need dental care. Dental treatment planning can be complex for PLwD as both oral diseases and dental treatment can be detrimental to patients' oral and social function and comfort. In addition, patients may lack the capacity to make decisions about their treatment, posing further challenges for dentists., Objective: This study aimed to explore dentists' approach to treatment decision-making with or for PLwD., Methods: Semistructured one-to-one interviews were completed with 22 dentists between April 2020 and March 2021. Data generation and analysis followed the principles of constructivist grounded theory with data being collected and analyzed simultaneously using a maximum variation sample. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then analyzed, leading to a theoretical understanding of how dentists approach treatment decisions for PLwD., Results: Four data categories describe dentists' approaches to treatment decision-making for PLwD. Dentists sought to provide individualized care for PLwD. However, they described planning care based on risk-benefit analyses that primarily considered biomedical factors and generic assumptions. There was an underemphasis on the psychological or social implications of dental care or its delivery. Furthermore, while some dentists attempted to involve patients in treatment decisions, they reported fewer attempts to identify the views and preferences of PLwD identified as lacking decisional capacity. In this scenario, dentists reported leading the decision-making process with little regard for patients' known or identified preferences and minimal involvement of PLwD's family., Conclusions: Dentists acknowledge the complexity in treatment decision-making for PLwD yet focused heavily on biomedical considerations, with an underemphasis on individuals' preferences and autonomy. Considering psychosocial aspects of care alongside biomedical factors is essential to support holistic person-centered care for this growing patient cohort., Knowledge Transfer Statement: This study highlighted that dentists may only be considering biomedical aspects of care when considering what treatment is appropriate for people living with dementia. When making or supporting treatment decisions, dentists should explore patients' preferences and actively consider relevant psychosocial factors. These can be actively identified through considered discussions with patients as well as their family members. Gathering this information should support more person-centered and value-concordant decision-making for people living with dementia., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: Dental practice is based upon dentists' cognitions, knowledge being foundational. Knowledge is attained through education and perception. Although knowledge is modulated by beliefs, attitudes, preferences, and behaviors, it is essential to evidence-based practice. Cross-sectional studies uniformly demonstrate that community NSRCT is of sub-optimal quality worldwide, is lack of knowledge a problem? Our purpose was to measure dentists' knowledge of root canal treatment (NSRCT)., Data: Quantitative and qualitative data were extracted: purpose, topics assessed, authors cited knowledge sources, number of dentists studied, number of questions, authors descriptors of knowledge level,% correct answers by question, authors recommendations., Sources: OVID Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and hand-searching., Study Selection: Studies which had measured dentists' knowledge of non-surgical root canal treatment that was valuable, reliable, and had practical implications which could be implemented. A total of 51 papers from 19 countries measured the knowledge of 15,580 dentists using 445 questions on 29 root canal treatment topics., Conclusions: 'Gold standards' were from literature, external bodies, or expert consensus in 47, 31, and 2 papers respectively. Levels of knowledge by percentage correct answers among studies were poor to moderate and varied considerably. The mean, for the 50 studies where overall study percentages could be calculated, was 57 %, standard deviation 17 %, and a range of 16 % to 82 %. Authors' adjectives describing knowledge levels were generally negative. Additional education was advised in 49 papers, but without evidence that education was inadequate; 6 papers recommended increased use of protocols; only 5 papers advocated research on the cause of lack of knowledge., Clinical Significance: Dentists' root canal treatment knowledge was found to be poor to moderate, as well variable. This may constrain quality of care. However, provision of information without attention to dentists' cognitions and motivations may not be successful. Educational strategies and goals should be re-evaluated. Evidence-based practice faces many barriers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dentists have a legal and ethical obligation to obtain informed consent from patients before carrying out treatment. In Uganda, the process of obtaining informed consent in dentistry is not well documented. The aim of the present study was to determine dentists' perspectives and practices regarding informed consent to fixed prosthodontic treatment (FPT) in Kampala Metropolitan, Uganda., Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 153 dentists from July to September 2023. Data were collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire that included both closed- and open-ended questions. The questionnaire included items on participants' sociodemographic information, perspectives, and practices about informed consent for FPT. Perspectives were rated using ten items on a five-point Likert scale. The minimum possible total score was 10, and the maximum possible score was 50. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression were used to summarize and analyze the quantitative data, and the significance level was set at p < 0.05. Open-ended items were analyzed using content analysis., Results: The majority (83.9%) of the participants were general dentists with working experience ranging from 1 to 38 years and a median of 8 years. The majority were familiar with the concept of informed consent and had positive perspectives regarding its use for FPT. The mean score for perspectives was 39.27 (SD, 5.42). However, there were variations in the practices of the dentists. More than three-quarters (87.6%) reported that they always obtained the patient's informed consent before FPT. Less than a third (29.4%) obtained written consent for FPT. About half of the dentists provided information regarding the procedure, benefits, and risks of treatment during the consent process. Bivariate analysis showed that the use of written consent for FPT was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with having a work experience of more than 10 years and having had training involving informed consent after undergraduate studies., Conclusion: The present study provides baseline data regarding perspectives and practices regarding informed consent for FPT among dentists in Uganda. It is recommended that regular training courses be developed to highlight the importance of improved informed consent practices for patient protection and to instruct dentists about obtaining valid informed consent. There is a need for future research to streamline guidelines for the informed consent process in dental care in Uganda., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aim: There is a lack of sufficient information about the protocols followed by paediatric dentists in informing parents about traumatic dental injuries as a part of anticipatory guidance. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess paediatric dentists' attitudes and practices about parental guidance regarding these injuries., Materials: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted using a validated questionnaire emailed through Google form to approximately 2500 paediatric dentists in various world regions. The sampling method used was a list-based sampling frame followed by simple random sampling. Participants were recruited through national member societies of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry, personal contacts and social media groups. Only paediatric dentists with at least three years of experience after their post-graduation were only included in the study. Their attitudes and practices towards parental education on dental trauma during the child's first and recalled dental visits were assessed as per their age, gender, country of post-graduation qualification and years of experience in the profession. Chi-Square test was used to evaluate the association between the paediatric dentist response and the continent of practice. Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to assess the level of significance within each variable in relation to the continent of practice. A 95% confidence interval with a significance level of α = 0.05 was used., Conclusion: The overall attitude and practice of paediatric dentists toward parental education on traumatic dental injuries were not satisfactory. Many paediatric dentists do not impart education on emergency care and dental trauma prevention in primary teeth. Parents should be informed about oral hygiene instructions and prevention-oriented interventions during the first visit and about managing traumatic dental injuries.

Objective: Dental regulatory bodies aim to ensure the health and safety of dentists, dental staff patients and the public. An important responsibility during a pandemic is to communicate risk and guidelines for patient care. Limited data exist on the perceptions and experiences of dentists navigating new guidelines for mitigating risk in dental care during the pandemic. The objective of this study was to use a qualitative approach to explore how dentists in Canada experienced and perceived their regulatory bodies' communication about COVID-19 risks and guidelines during the pandemic., Methods: Participants were Canadian dentists (N = 644) recruited through the email roster of nine provincial dental associations or regulatory bodies. This qualitative analysis was nested within a prospective longitudinal cohort study in which data were collected using online questionnaires at regular intervals from August 2020 to November 2021. To address the objective reported in this paper, a conventional qualitative content analysis method was applied to responses to three open-ended questions included in the final questionnaire., Results: Participants encountered challenges and frustrations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, grappling with diverse regulations and communications from dental bodies. While some bodies offered helpful guidance, many participants felt the need for improved communication on guidelines. Dentists urged for expedited, clearer and more frequent updates, expressing difficulty in navigating overwhelming information. Negative views emerged on the vague and unclear communication of COVID-19 guidelines, contributing to confusion and frustration among participants., Conclusion: As COVID-19 persists and in planning for future pandemics, these experiential findings will help guide regulatory bodies in providing clear, timely and practical guidelines to protect the health and safety of dentists, dental staff, patients and the public., (© 2024 The Authors. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: (1) To determine the repartition of criteria which can be considered as marks of lack of assent by the child with intellectual disabilities from the dentist's point of view and whether that influences the decision to examine the patient or not. (2) To explain the decision of practitioners and determine the ethical implications of these practices., Methods: An anonymous and structured questionnaire was distributed online using the scenario of a 9-year-old child with moderate cognitive impairment with eight different oppositional behaviours. The practitioners were asked about their perception of the patient's lack of assent and about their decision to perform the dental examination or not., Results: The proportion of them who performed a dental examination despite the patient's refusal represented between 13% and 28.8% of the population of respondents., Conclusion: There was an ambivalence among the practitioners who carried out a dental consultation when children were uncooperative. They adopted a teleological point of view. It calls for us to reflect on the ethical principles of autonomy and beneficence., (© 2024 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: The increasing interest in teledentistry since the COVID-19 pandemic warrants an evaluation of dentists' willingness to adopt it. This study aimed to develop a questionnaire to assess dentist's intention to use teledentistry and the associated factors., Methods: A literature search was used to identify items for the questionnaire. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) was adopted as framework. A Delphi panel was constituted of researchers with relevant publications and the International Association of Dental Research e-Oral Health Network members. Three Delphi consultations were conducted to establish consensus on items. Consensus was set at 80% agreement and content validity ratio (CVR), reaffirmed iteratively., Results: Nineteen out of 25 (76%) invited experts participated in the first round, 17 in the second and 15 in the third. The preliminary questionnaire had 81 items in three sections, reduced to 66, 45 and 33 items in the first, second and third rounds. After revision, the final version comprised eight items assessing dentists' backgrounds in Sect. 1, seven items identifying teledentistry uses in Sect. 2, and 17 items assessing intention to use teledentistry and its determinants in seven dimensions in Sect. 3. The initial CVR was 0.45, which increased to 0.80 at the end of the third round., Conclusion: A survey tool was developed to assess the acceptance of teledentistry, and its determinants based on the UTAUT2 framework through consensus among teledentistry experts. The tool had excellent validity and needs further evaluation of its psychometric properties., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to assess whether dentists correctly understand the benefit of a dental treatment when it is presented using absolute numbers or relative risk reduction (RRR). This parallel-group randomized controlled trial recruited dentists from 3 postgraduate courses in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Participants received, in sequentially numbered sealed opaque envelopes, the description of a hypothetical scenario of the benefit (avoidance of multiple tooth loss) of nonsurgical periodontal treatment without or with antibiotics. Treatment benefit was presented in 2 different formats: absolute numbers or RRR. Dentists were given 10 minutes to read the treatment scenario and answer 5 questions. The final sample for analysis included 101 dentists. When asked to estimate the number of patients out of 100 who would avoid multiple tooth loss without antibiotics, 17 dentists (33%) in the absolute numbers group and 12 (25%) in the RRR group provided the correct response (p = 0.39). Regarding treatment with antibiotics, 26 dentists (50%) in the absolute numbers group and 14 (29%) in the RRR group provided the correct response (p = 0.04). Only 16 dentists (31%) in the absolute numbers group and 12 (25%) in the RRR group gave correct answers for both questions (p = 0.51). Most dentists did not correctly understand the benefit of the treatment, irrespective of the format it was presented. Slightly more dentists correctly understood the benefit of the treatment when it was presented as absolute numbers than as RRR.

Objective: This study aims to explore dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding antibiotic use., Methods: We conducted a systematic review of dentists' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding antibiotic use, by searching the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science for all original paper published from January 1990 to July 2023, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines., Results: The review included 37 papers, (7 qualitative and 30 quantitative studies). Modifiable factors (knowledge, attitudes) were reported as being associated with antibiotic prescribing by dentists which were cited in 30 of the 37. These attitudes most frequently identified by dentists were: complacency (22/29); lack of trust (16/29); the need to postpone the dental procedure (17/29); and fear (8/29). Gaps in knowledge were also identified (15/29). Only one of the included articles quantified the influence between the reported modifiable factors and antibiotic prescribing., Conclusions: The review emphasizes that dentists' antibiotic prescribing is predominantly influenced by modifiable factors. This insight informs the potential for targeted interventions to curtail inappropriate antibiotic use, contributing to global efforts in reducing antibiotic resistance. The protocol of this systematic review can be found in PROSPERO under registration no. CRD42021253937., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

BACKGROUND Endo-perio lesions are a great challenge for dentists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment approach of dental practitioners to endo-perio lesions by considering the current endo-perio classification. MATERIAL AND METHODS An online survey was prepared, consisting of questions about the treatment approach to 3 simulated cases with endo-perio lesions, shown on periapical radiography. Details of the patient's age, presence of systemic disease, smoking, and how the single- or multi-rooted tooth would affect the treatment plan were also included in the simulated cases presented in the survey. The survey was sent to 1500 dentists via e-mail, WhatsApp, and social media platforms. The chi-square test was used for comparison of data. Significance was evaluated at P<0.05. RESULTS In total, 338 dentists participated in the survey, including general dentists, endodontists, and periodontists. Fifty-three percent of participants stated that they would perform root canal treatment and initial periodontal treatment simultaneously, when both treatments were required. In cases classified as grade 3, most general dentists, endodontists, and periodontists answered that they would prescribe systemic antibiotics if there was diffuse extra-oral swelling (P<0.05). Moreover, in grade 3 cases, more general dentists chose the option "extraction" as the best choice, compared with endodontists and periodontists, who did not choose extraction as often (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS According to the results of this study, general dentists, endodontists, and periodontists generally follow different approaches to endo-perio lesions. A consensus is needed on this issue to develop a successful multidisciplinary approach to endo-perio lesions.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dentists., Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in Islamabad, Pakistan, from January to March 2023 after approval from the ethics review committee of the Islamic International Dental Hospital, Islamabad, and comprised dentists associated with 4 major dental teaching hospitals in the city. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from literature. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders was explored along with its association with variables, like age, gender, experience, designation and history of injury. Data was analysed using SPSS 26., Results: Of the 250 forms distributed, 188 (75.2%) were returned duly filled, while the remaining participants either did not respond or partially filled out the forms. Among the respondents, 64(34%) were males and 124(66%) were females, and the overall prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders was 172(91.5%). There was no significant difference among the variables based on anatomic site-specific data, except the designation variable, with individuals having a history of injury to neck (p=0.027) or shoulder (p=0.001) and those designated as professor (p=0.040) were significantly at risk of developing pain due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders., Conclusions: A significantly high number of dentists were found to have some form of work-related musculoskeletal disorder.

Objectives: Awareness of the interface between restorative and orthodontic treatments is essential for dentists to facilitate a meaningful interdisciplinary approach by integrating the knowledge and skills of different dental disciplines into patients' treatment to enhance outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate General Dental Practitioners' (GDPs) awareness of the orthodontic-restorative interface., Methods: This was a mixed-method study involving the collection of a) quantitative data via a bespoke online questionnaire and b) qualitative data through open questions. A weblink was created to the questionnaire using Opinio®. The questionnaire was distributed to GDPs practising in the UK. Clinical vignette-based questions assessed GDPs awareness and the results were categorised into two groups: aware and unaware. Two months after the primary survey, respondents were sent an email with follow-up (reliability) survey. Reliability responses were compared against the primary responses to assess the repeatability using intraclass correlation coefficient. Data were analysed using independent t-test and X 2 test., Results: 118 complete responses were received. 63 GDPs (53.4 % [95 % CI 44 %-63 %]) demonstrated a good understanding of the orthodontic-restorative interface. These GDPs were characterised by greater age (t = 2.75, p = 0.007) and experience (t = 3.54, p < 0.001). Qualitative data showed that respondents perceived orthodontic-restorative treatments as minimally invasive and aesthetics enhancing., Conclusions: Orthodontic-restorative treatment aids in minimal invasive dentistry. GDPs lack adequate awareness of the orthodontic-restorative interface in relation to patient care and communication with patients. More quality and structured undergraduate and postgraduate training are imperative to facilitate GDPs to understand and utilise aspects of orthodontic-restorative treatments to raise the standard of patient care. Additionally, to support these patients, the educational pathway between GDPs and specialist orthodontists is crucial., Clinical Significance: GDPs ability to assess and carry out orthodontic-restorative treatments would conserve natural teeth. Dependable access to orthodontic services would encourage GDPs to refer challenging cases to specialists or dentists with enhanced skills. When the circumstances call for it, patients should be given orthodontic-restorative alternatives, regardless of the potential consequences of their acceptance of the procedures., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

No study has examined the simultaneous effect of facial forms, midline deviations and midline angulations on facial beauty. Therefore, this comprehensive study aimed to evaluate these and many other hypotheses. This psychometric study was performed on 15,042 observations. A female frontal photograph was edited to 45 perceptometric images with controlled anatomical alteration: 3 facial forms (euryprosopic [brachyfacial], mesoprosopic [mesofacial], leptoprosopic [dolichofacial]), each having either 9 bidirectional midline deviations (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mm deviated to the left and right) or 7 bidirectional midline angular deviations (0°, 5°, 10°, and 15° deviated to the left and right). One of the photographs were repeated. These 46 images were esthetically judged by 327 participants (243 laypeople, 49 orthodontists, and 35 'prosthodontists or restorative dentists'). Hierarchical mixed-model multiple linear regressions and post hoc tests were adopted to evaluate the simultaneous impacts of the photomodel's facial forms, midline deviations to the right or left, and midline rolls to the right or left plus sex, age, experience, and dental specialty of the referees on their perception of facial beauty as well as the tolerable zones of midline alterations. These were also done separately for each specialty group, and also for each facial face. Ideal combinations of anatomic features were determined using repeated-measures ANOVAs. Differences between esthetic preferences of different groups in terms of each image were assessed using one-way ANOVAs and t-tests (α = 0.05, α = 0.008, α = 0.001). All 5 anatomical features significantly and independently influenced perception of facial beauty. The tolerance threshold for midline deviations was 1 mm deviations to the right and left sides. For midline rolls, the only tolerable form was the no-roll ('on') midline; the judges preferred right-oriented defects over left-sided ones. The most beautiful facial form was mesoprosopic, followed by leptoprosopic. Men perceived the female face slightly more attractive than did women. The viewers' specialty (or lack of it), their age, or their experience did not affect their esthetic preferences. Predictors of esthetic preferences were all 5 anatomical features plus views' sex, but not their dental specialty, age, or experience. Zones of acceptability and also the ideal range of anatomical features were determined., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect 10% of the population in France, significantly impacting patient's health and quality of life. The multifactorial etiology of TMD complicates its treatment. Consequently, adopting a multidisciplinary approach that encourages collaboration among healthcare professionals is recommended. Nevertheless, this approach does not seem to occur on a regular basis. The aim of this study was to assess the dentist's treatment support of TMD in the context of the inter-professional collaboration between dental practitioners and physiotherapists., Materiel and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted based on an online questionnaire from January 15th to April 30th, 2023. The data are collected through Professional Broad, Regional Unions of Health Professional and Healthcare Professional Communities and Territories., Results: Of the 420 responses analyzed, the main first-line treatment provided by the dentist was the correction of dental occlusion (84%). The rate of referral to a physiotherapist was 57% and was 75% for second-placed treatment. The main reason for the lack of referral was a lack of awareness of physiotherapy role in the management of TDM. We observed that 70% of dental health practitioners were interested about inter-professional collaboration and the development of postgraduate training., Conclusion: Given the difficulty of managing TDM, efforts should be made to improve inter professional management., Clinical Relevance: The implementation of appropriate teaching in initial training seems to be essential to allow dentists to open the range of treatment for TMD with increased knowledge of physiotherapy techniques for an adapted prescription to the patient., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To analyse the knowledge level and attitude of Saudi dentists regarding trigeminal neuralgia., Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from 17/12/ 2020 - 9/2/2021 at Prince Sat t am Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, and Dar Al-Uloom University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saud i Arabia. The sample comprised dentists and postgraduate dental students from every speciality. Data was collected online using a predesigned self-structured questionnaire consisting of three par ts, assessing knowledge, practice and attitude of the subjects. Data was analysed using SPSS 22., Results: A total of 202 questionnaire about the knowledge level and attitude of Saudi dentists regarding trigeminal neuralgia were completed. The knowledge level was significantly higher in those senior age group compared to the young dentists with respect to the type of pain observed in TN, the unilateral pain of TN, and the abrupt, unexpected and transient nature of TN pain, local anaesthetic, the first-line treatment for TN, and the effect of TN on oral hygiene., Conclusions: Older and experienced dentists had more knowledge than younger and less experienced ones.

The role of the dental therapist has evolved over the course of the past 70 years, both in the UK and across the globe. The General Dental Council's Scope of practice guidance sets out the skills and abilities of each of the professional roles within the dental team, including the dental therapist. Scope of practice of the multidisciplinary team remains poorly understood, to the detriment of teamworking. The dental profession is under pressure and the development of a flexible and appropriately trained skill mix might help us adapt to meet the oral health needs of the population, while leveraging a sustainable workforce. In 2019, the School of Dentistry at the University of Liverpool introduced a novel 'centennial curriculum', designed to fully integrate the interprofessional training requirements of dentists and dental therapists, following application via two distinct routes of entry. Challenges have arisen and addressing these has required a culture of openness and honesty regarding the complexities of shared care and scope of practice., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the British Dental Association.)

Over the course of the past twenty years, private equity (PE) has played a role in acquiring medical practices, hospitals, and nursing homes. More recently, PE has taken a greater interest in acquiring dental practices, but few data exist about the scope of PE activity within dentistry. We analyzed dentist provider data for the period 2015-21 to examine trends in PE acquisition of dental practices. The percentage of dentists affiliated with PE increased from 6.6 percent in 2015 to 12.8 percent in 2021. During this period, PE affiliation increased particularly among larger dental practices and among dental specialists such as endodontists, oral surgeons, and pediatric dentists. PE-affiliated dental practices were more likely to participate in Medicaid than practices not affiliated with PE. Future research should investigate whether PE's role in dentistry affects the affordability and quality of dental services.

Objectives: The primary aim of the investigation was to survey clear aligner therapy (CAT) use among general dentists in Australia. A secondary aim was to evaluate the factors that influenced general dentists in Australia not to provide CAT., Material and Methods: General dentists registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency were invited to participate in a structured cross-sectional electronic survey. The survey covered demographics, preferred CAT systems and practices, relevant treatment planning and retention protocols, patient-reported CAT issues, pertinent respondent opinions, and reasons for not providing CAT. Descriptive statistics were computed via GraphPad Prism v10 (GraphPad Software Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA)., Results: Most of the 264 (n = 172; 65.2%) respondents indicated that they provided CAT. The majority (n = 82; 58.6%) reported that they treated between 1 and 20 patients with CAT annually. Invisalign was the most used system (n = 83; 61.2%), with 55 (41.7%), indicating that they used more than one system. Most (n = 124; 98.4%) were comfortable using CAT for mild crowding, whereas 73.4% (n = 94) were not comfortable in treating severe crowding with CAT. The median (IQR) number of patients per respondent treated with extraction of a permanent incisor or premolar was 0 (0). Issues regarding tooth positions were reportedly always or mostly in need of change in the initial treatment plan by 68.7%. Problems regarding patient compliance with CAT wear protocols (n = 67; 45.6%) and the predictability of treatment outcomes (n = 31; 21.1%) were the most identified themes of the free-text comments. Over 80% of those who did not provide CAT indicated that they preferred to refer to an orthodontist for management., Conclusion: Almost two-thirds of the respondents provided CAT. Invisalign was the most used system. The majority use CAT combined with nonextraction treatment. Most of those who did not provide CAT preferred to refer to an orthodontist for patient management., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical and Experimental Dental Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Although there is consensus among dentists that visual aids not only improve vision but also help improve posture, evidence is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of visual aids (loupe and microscope) on the muscle workload of dentists during crown preparation on dentiform first molars in each quadrant of a phantom head, considering dentists' muscles, patients' tooth positions and surfaces. Six right-handed dentists from a single tertiary hospital participated. Surface electromyography device recorded the muscle workload of the bilateral upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, cervical erector spinae, and anterior deltoid during crown preparation. The results showed significantly lower workload in all examined muscles when using a microscope compared to the naked eye (p < 0.05), whereas the loupe showed reduced workload in some specific muscles. The muscle with the highest workload for all visual aids was the cervical erector spinae, followed by the upper trapezius. When analyzed by tooth surface, while the loupe did not significantly reduce overall workload compared to the naked eye for each surface, the microscope significantly reduced workload for most surfaces (p < 0.05). Therefore, during crown preparation, the workload of the studied muscles can successfully be reduced with the use of a loupe or microscope., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Safe patient care can help reduce treatment costs, morbidity, and mortality. This study aimed to assess dentists' perceptions of patient safety culture and related factors in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia., Methods: This cross-sectional study used a sample of 271 dental professionals working in private and public dental hospitals and clinics in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ), a validated tool consisting of 36 items on a 5-point Likert scale, was used to assess dentists' perceptions of patient safety culture. The score of SAQ ranges from 0 to 100 and a cut-off ≥ 75 is considered a positive attitude toward patient safety culture., Results: There were 53.9% males and 46.1% females in the study with a mean age of 35.56 ± 6.87 years. Almost half of the participants (52%) attended a course on patient safety and 22.1% experienced medical error in the last month. The mean score of the SAQ of the sample was 65.14 ± 13.03 and the patient safety score was significantly related to the marital status (P = 0.041), attendance of patient safety course (P < 0.001), and experience of medical error (P = 0.008). The highest mean score (73.27 ± 20.11) was for the job satisfaction domain, followed by the safety climate domain (67.69 ± 16.68), and working conditions domain (66.51 ± 20.43). About one-quarter of the participants (22.5%) demonstrated positive attitudes toward patient safety culture. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that dental professionals who attended a patient safety course were 4.64 times more likely to demonstrate positive attitudes toward patient safety than those who did not attend a course (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: This study showed that patient safety culture was significantly related to the attendance of safety courses, marital status, and experiencing medical error. About one out of four dental professionals demonstrated a positive attitude towards patient safety culture which was significantly associated with the attendance of the safety course., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Dentists are the first healthcare professionals to identify cases of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) with head and neck injuries., Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess dentists' knowledge regarding behavioral and physical findings in female victims of DVA., Material and Methods: The study included 558 volunteer dentists who completed a two-part questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge and awareness of DVA against women. The first part of the questionnaire inquired about the participants' demographic data, including age, sex, specialty, and the duration of professional practice. The second part assessed 15 statements on a 5-point Likert scale, concerning both behavioral (5/15) and clinical aspects (10/15) of DVA. For each statement, if a minimum of 70% of respondents selected the same option, it was interpreted as being agreed upon by the participants. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05., Results: Most of the participants were between the ages of 31 and 40 (29.1%). The study sample was predominantly female (70.4%), with 57.2% of the participants being married. The statement "Abused women tend to avoid eye contact" had the highest agreement rate (70.6%) for the behavioral assessments. However, the participants were mostly "undecided" on the remaining 4 statements in this section. In contrast, the agreement rate for 5 statements related to the clinical assessment of head, neck and intraoral injuries exceeded 70%. One-fifth of the behavioral assessment statements and half of the clinical assessment statements were negatively correlated with the age of the participants (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that dentists can recognize and diagnose DVA symptoms to a certain extent. However, they may encounter difficulties in identifying the suspicious behavior that is indicative of DVA.

Objectives: Guidelines on effective provider-led communication are available but may be underused in dentistry, even if such guidelines could help dentists manage complex clinical scenarios like topical fluoride hesitancy. The purpose of this study was to investigate current chairside communication approaches used by dentists with fluoride-hesitant caregivers., Methods: A 27-item semistructured interview script was developed and pretested with 3 dentists, revised, and finalized. One-on-one interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of pediatric dentists and general dentists from April to June 2020. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify dentists' communication approaches used during clinical interactions with fluoride-hesitant caregivers. Thematic analyses identified themes and subthemes, and exemplary quotes were provided to illustrate each theme., Results: Twenty-seven dentists participated (21 pediatric dentists and 6 general dentists). The mean age of participants was 43.0 ± 8.2 y (range, 30-73). Most participants were women (88.9%), white (51.9%), and non-Hispanic (85.2%). Participants had been practicing dentistry for a mean of 13.2 ± 10.5 y (range, 2-40). There were 4 themes: leaving topical fluoride decisions completely up to the caregiver, educating the caregiver about fluoride, insisting that the caregiver accept fluoride, and engaging the caregiver and child., Conclusion: Most communications approaches used by interviewed dentists to manage fluoride hesitancy in clinical settings are not evidence based. Future dental education efforts should ensure that trainees are exposed to and can demonstrate competency in appropriate, evidence-based patient-provider communication strategies., Knowledge Transfer Statement: The study highlights the need for dentists to apply evidence-based communication strategies when managing difficult clinical scenarios like fluoride hesitancy, which is important in optimizing dentist-patient trust., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

With her wide readership and sympathetic and intelligent handling of dentists and dentistry in her detective novels and short stories, it is probable that Dorothy Leigh Sayers(1893-1957) influenced the public perception of dentists favourably, as being true professionals, particularly after the 1921 Act made it a fully closed specialty. Her encounter with a dental automaton seen when she was very young is acknowledged by her as a formative influence., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the British Dental Association.)

Dentists are well-positioned to discuss oral health issues related to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and recommend the HPV vaccine to their patients, mainly because the HPV virus causes oropharyngeal cancers.. We assessed Los Angeles (LA) County dentists' opinions on discussing HPV-related oral health issues and recommending the HPV vaccine to their patients. We tested if opinions differed between dentists whose primary patient population was only adults versus children and adults. We mailed a 19-item survey to 2000 randomly sampled LA County dentists for this cross-sectional study. The primary outcome variable was a summary opinion score of 7 opinion statements. We ran descriptive, bivariate comparisons and adjusted linear regression models. Overall, 261 dentists completed the survey. A majority (58.5%) worried they would lose patients if they recommended the vaccine; 49% thought dentists were not appropriate to educate, counsel, or advise on HPV-related issues; 42% were concerned about the safety of the vaccine; and 40% did not feel comfortable recommending the vaccine. The mean summary opinion score was 21.4 ± 5.4 for the total sample. Regression analysis showed no differences in opinions between dentists whose primary patient population was only adults versus children and adults (Coefficient = 0.146, p =  0.83). Overall, the responding dentists were not very favorable about discussing oral health-related HPV issues and recommending the HPV vaccine to their patients. Additionally, the overall opinions were similar between dentists whose primary patient population was only adults versus children and adults.

Objectives: Oral healthcare service is not well integrated with existing healthcare policy in nursing homes (NHs) globally. This qualitative study aimed to identify dentists' perspectives on structural and system barriers that hinder oral healthcare (OHC) provision to seniors in NHs in Singapore and to understand the consequences of these barriers., Methods: Nineteen dentists (8 males and 11 females, 36.0 [IQR: 32.0-48.5] years old) were recruited through combination of purposive and snowball sampling. Four focus group discussions were conducted via teleconferencing, and each discussion had 4-5 anonymised participants. Sessions lasted 90-120 min and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted on data collected using NVivo software (Version12, QRS International)., Results: Participants agreed that the current OHC system for seniors in NHs is not well developed. The challenges dentists faced were categorised in three themes: [1] general oral healthcare system level; [2] local nursing home setting level; and [3] geriatric oral healthcare education level. These challenges are complexly intertwined and have contributed to several consequences such as a shortage of dentists in NHs and their diminished motivation to serve. It has also limited the quality of dental service they are able to provide in NHs, contributing to the current poor access of dental services for seniors in NHs., Conclusions: Dentists in Singapore face many structural and systemic barriers in providing OHC to seniors in NHs, some of which are unique to the local context. Newfound understanding of these barriers and its consequences will be helpful in developing strategic approaches to overcome these challenges., (© 2024 The Authors. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The main objective of this study was to compare the knowledge and attitude of general dentists, senior dental students, and orthodontic residents toward obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)., Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was designed and administered among 73 senior dental students, 84 general dentists, and 50 orthodontic residents. The questionnaire asked for demographic information of the participants and assessed their knowledge and attitude toward OSA. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed by experts. Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni tests using SPSS (α = 0.05)., Results: The mean knowledge scores of general dentists and senior dental students were significantly lower than those of orthodontic residents (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the knowledge score of senior dental students and general dentists (p = 1). The mean knowledge score was significantly higher in dentists with 1-3 years of professional clinical experience (p = 0.02). The knowledge score was the highest in dentists working in private clinics followed by private offices and public clinics. The mean attitude score was the highest in orthodontic residents followed by general dentists and dental students. There was no significant difference in attitude based on the attended university, age, or time of graduation., Conclusion: According to the results, general dentists had insufficient knowledge about OSA, which could result in under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis of patients with OSA. This finding highlights the need for further education and training for dentists to properly identify and refer OSA patients to orthodontists or sleep specialists., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical and Experimental Dental Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: To identify 1) factors of the evidence-practice gap (EPG) in Japan and Brazil as perceived by dentists and compare these factors between two countries, and 2) mechanisms to close this EPG., Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design by administering a web-based questionnaire to 136 Japanese and 110 Brazilian dentists. The survey queried dentists' reports of which factors possibly cause an EPG, using a newly developed 20-item questionnaire., Results: An international comparison of 20 items related to factors of the EPG between Japan and Brazil revealed that "Dentists' own experiences are sometimes given priority over evidence" and "Dentists' own thoughts are sometimes given priority over evidence" were common factors to both countries, with over 80 % agreement. In logistic regression, "Insufficient opportunity to learn about evidence in dental education at universities", "Evidence-based treatments are sometimes not covered by the dental insurance system", and "Insufficient evidence which helps dentists choose an appropriate treatment for a patient after careful consideration of his/her own background" were significantly associated with the EPG in Japan (p < 0.05). In Brazil, "Insufficient case reports in which evidence-based dentistry (EBD) is applied to clinical practice" and "Image-based information and devices used for diagnosis vary depending on individual dentists" were significantly associated with the EPG (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: This study suggests that EPG could be improved in Japan: by promoting EBD education at universities, improving the dental insurance system, and accumulating evidence according to patient background; and in Brazil: by promoting EBD case reports and standardizing diagnostic information and devices., Clinical Significance: Two factors of EPG common to Japan and Brazil, namely the prioritization of dentists' own "experiences" and "thoughts" over evidence, are urgent issues for improving EPG. In addition, it will be necessary to address the country-specific factors of EPG that were identified in this study., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Burnout syndrome (BS) is a highly prevalent occupational disease among dentists who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been at greater risk of contracting the disease, generating stress and distancing. The aim of this study was to assess the association of social conditions, professional factors and perceptions of COVID-19 with Burnout Syndrome. This was a cross-sectional study of 302 Brazilian dentists working in the clinical and private sectors. The professionals completed the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory online and answered sociodemographic and professional questions and questions related to their perception of the pandemic. Poisson regression with unadjusted and adjusted robust variance was used to estimate the association between burnout syndrome (dependent variable) and the independent variables. The presence of BS was strongly associated with age, training in a private institution, professionals who claimed to have sufficient protective knowledge and fear of being contaminated by SARS-CoV-2 during patient care ( p < 0.05). The findings of this study show that there has been an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence of Burnout syndrome in dentists, especially, those who worked in the public sector and those who were afraid to work with other health professionals.

Objectives: Evaluate exposure and protection practices regarding dentomaxillofacial imaging among pediatric dentists in Europe and determine the effect of different clinician specific characteristics on their implementation., Methods: A cross-sectional study involving an electronic questionnaire addressed to paediatric dentists, participating in a seminar on dental radiology organized by the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry. Participants were asked to respond to questions regarding dentomaxillofacial imaging in terms of applied radiation dose, adoption of radiation protection techniques, and different patterns of radiographic studying and exchange between patients and colleagues. Data analysis was performed and distribution of responses was tested using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests., Results: A total of 151 paediatric dentists, 119 females and 32 males, with a mean chronological age of 42.8 years (s.e. 11.3 years), successfully completed the questionnaire (response rate = 82%). Regardless of the type of radiograph, majority of respondents (68%), reported that they perform the radiographs themselves, while 21% reported that they refer the patients. Half of the respondents (51%), indicated requesting a small (localized) field of view (FOV) when referring for a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with only a small proportion (11%) reporting a large (maxillofacial) FOV. Thyroid collars and optimizing exposure settings were the most commonly reported patient protection measures used. Lastly, paediatric dentists have adopted the latest technological capacities for the study of dental images., Conclusions: Dentomaxillofacial imaging protection and exposure protocols used are common among paediatric dentists with none of their specific characteristics having a significant effect., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japanese Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.)

Background/purpose: Oral cancer, including malignancies of the tongue, lips, floor of the mouth, cheek mucosa, gums, palate, and oropharynx, is life-threatening. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for long-term survival. Dentists frequently encounter oral cancers due to the nature of their work. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and experience of dentists in Turkey regarding oral cancers., Materials and Methods: A total of 361 participants were included in the study, and survey questions were sent via email. The survey consisted of 16 questions measuring demographic data and knowledge about oral cancerous lesions. Participants were grouped based on their specialization and knowledge level, and differences in responses among groups were examined., Results: Only 21.3% of the participants felt they had sufficient knowledge and experience about oral cancerous lesions. Overall, the correct answer rates indicated a moderate level of knowledge and experience. When grouped by specialization, oral surgeons had the highest accuracy in their responses (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Dentists are the professional group that most frequently encounters clinically oral cancerous lesions. Therefore, it is critically important for them to be knowledgeable and experienced to reduce morbidity and mortality through early diagnosis. This study evaluated the knowledge status of dentists in Turkey regarding oral cancer and highlighted the need for improved education., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: During the pandemic, many police dentists had the crucial responsibility of ensuring law and order while providing dental care by taking government-approved health measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the fear of COVID-19 and Burnout syndrome in Peruvian dentists belonging to the Health Department of the National Police of Peru (PNP), taking into account possible confounding variables., Methods: This cross-sectional and analytical study included 182 PNP dentists. The Fear COVID-19 Scale assessed fear of COVID-19 and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Test assessed burnout syndrome. The association between the fear of COVID-19 and Burnout syndrome (self-fulfilment) was analyzed using Spearman's Rho. A multivariable Poisson regression model with a robust variance estimation method was employed to evaluate the impact of fear of COVID-19 on the various dimensions of Burnout syndrome, considering possible confounding variables. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05., Results: Under bivariate analysis, fear of COVID-19 was significantly linked with low direct intensity toward emotional exhaustion (Rho = 0.325, p < 0.001), very low direct intensity toward depersonalization (Rho = 0.180, p = 0.015), and very low inverse intensity toward self-fulfilment (Rho =-0.186, p = 0.012). Under multivariable analysis, it was observed that dentists who exhibited fear of COVID-19 were 3.4 and 3.7 times more likely to experience emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, respectively (APR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.74-6.63 and APR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.31-10.37), as compared to those who did not display fear of COVID-19. Moreover, none of the potential confounding factors were found to have a significant impact on emotional exhaustion (p > 0.05), depersonalization (p > 0.05), and self-fulfilment (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and inversely associated with self-fulfilment. PNP dentists who exhibited fear of COVID-19 were at greater risk for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. In developing Burnout syndrome, no significant impact was observed from factors such as age, gender, marital status, children, hierarchy, years of service, work area, private practice, work over 40 h per week, type of service, work performed, sport practice and daily exercise time., (© 2024. The Author(s).)