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Background: In Canada, a new federal public dental insurance plan, being phased in over 2022–2025, may help enhance financial access to dental services. However, as in many other countries, evidence is limited on the supply and distribution of human resources for oral health (HROH) to meet increasing population needs. This national observational study aimed to quantify occupational, geographical, institutional, and gender imbalances in the Canadian dental workforce to help inform benchmarking of HROH capacity for improving service coverage. Methods: Sourcing microdata from the 2021 Canadian population census, we described workforce imbalances for three groups of postsecondary-qualified dental professionals: dentists, dental hygienists and therapists, and dental assistants. To assess geographic maldistribution relative to population, we linked the person-level census data to the geocoded Index of Remoteness for all inhabited communities. To assess gender-based inequities in the dental labour market, we performed Blinder-Oaxaca decompositions for examining differences in professional earnings of women and men. Results: The census data tallied 3.4 active dentists aged 25–54 per 10,000 population, supported by an allied workforce of 1.7 dental hygienists/therapists and 1.6 dental assistants for every dentist. All three professional groups were overrepresented in heavily urbanized communities compared with more rural and remote areas. Almost all dental service providers worked in ambulatory care settings, except for male dental assistants. The dentistry workforce was found to have achieved gender parity numerically, but women dentists still earned 21% less on average than men, adjusting for other characteristics. Despite women representing 97% of dental hygienists/therapists, they earned 26% less on average than men, a significant difference that was largely unexplained in the decomposition analysis. Conclusions: Accelerating universal coverage of oral healthcare services is increasingly advocated as an integral, but often neglected, component toward achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. In the Canadian context of universal coverage for medical (but not dentistry) services, the oral health workforce was found to be demarcated by considerable geographic and gendered imbalances. More cross-nationally comparable research is needed to inform innovative approaches for equity-oriented HROH planning and financing, often critically overlooked in public policy for health systems strengthening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In Canada, a new federal public dental insurance plan, being phased in over 2022–2025, may help enhance financial access to dental services. However, as in many other countries, evidence is limited on the supply and distribution of human resources for oral health (HROH) to meet increasing population needs. This national observational study aimed to quantify occupational, geographical, institutional, and gender imbalances in the Canadian dental workforce to help inform benchmarking of HROH capacity for improving service coverage. Methods Sourcing microdata from the 2021 Canadian population census, we described workforce imbalances for three groups of postsecondary-qualified dental professionals: dentists, dental hygienists and therapists, and dental assistants. To assess geographic maldistribution relative to population, we linked the person-level census data to the geocoded Index of Remoteness for all inhabited communities. To assess gender-based inequities in the dental labour market, we performed Blinder-Oaxaca decompositions for examining differences in professional earnings of women and men. Results The census data tallied 3.4 active dentists aged 25–54 per 10,000 population, supported by an allied workforce of 1.7 dental hygienists/therapists and 1.6 dental assistants for every dentist. All three professional groups were overrepresented in heavily urbanized communities compared with more rural and remote areas. Almost all dental service providers worked in ambulatory care settings, except for male dental assistants. The dentistry workforce was found to have achieved gender parity numerically, but women dentists still earned 21% less on average than men, adjusting for other characteristics. Despite women representing 97% of dental hygienists/therapists, they earned 26% less on average than men, a significant difference that was largely unexplained in the decomposition analysis. Conclusions Accelerating universal coverage of oral healthcare services is increasingly advocated as an integral, but often neglected, component toward achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. In the Canadian context of universal coverage for medical (but not dentistry) services, the oral health workforce was found to be demarcated by considerable geographic and gendered imbalances. More cross-nationally comparable research is needed to inform innovative approaches for equity-oriented HROH planning and financing, often critically overlooked in public policy for health systems strengthening.

Introduction: Transient microbial flora on the hands of medical personnel is a prerequisite for healthcare-associated infections. Unlike permanent this micro flora can be removed by washing and disinfection. The hands of the dental staff are factor number one in the transfer of microorganisms: from patient to patient as well as on objects from the dental environment. The aim of the present study was to microbiologically examine hand washes of 5th year dental students and medical staff before starting work with a patient in order to evaluate the quality of hygienic disinfection performed. Methodology: The hands of a total of 115 doctors and students from the Faculty of Dental Medicine of the Medical University of Plovdiv were wiped with a sterile swab after treatment with a disinfectant. Isolates were identified to species using Vitek MS and MALDI-TOF technology. Results: Coagulase-negative staphylococci with a microbial number of 103-104 were found to have the highest microbial count (70%). 9% of the samples with coagulase-negative staphylococci had microbial count ≥105. The most common isolates detected were: Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus. Conclusion: The presence of coagulase-negative staphylococci in a high microbial count, enterococci and representatives of Bacillus simplex is undesirable, especially in immunosuppressed patients. These results highlight the need to increase knowledge about hand disinfection and its actual application before working with a patient.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the dental staff knowledge of simulated patient methodology and support for its use to investigate dental staffs' triaging ability. Material and Methods: Staff at dental practices in Western Australia were invited to participate in a cross‐sectional online questionnaire, consisting of demographic questions, questions on triaging, and knowledge of simulated patient methodology. Descriptive and parametric tests were undertaken for quantitative data; qualitative responses were thematically analyzed. Results: Of the 100 participants, most were female (71%), aged 25−39 years (57%), dentists (46%), and worked in private practices (60%). While 82% of participants triaged dental appointment enquiries, only 26% had heard of simulated patient studies. The majority (66%) of participants spent 1−5 min when triaging appointments and less than half (29%) asked about medical history, aggravating or alleviating factors. Although there was a general positive attitude toward use of simulated patient methodology to investigate practice, some concerns were identified. Conclusions: The findings of our exploratory study suggests that there may be a potential for utilizing simulated patient studies to improve the care of patients by dental receptionists in general dental practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prisoners' oral health and general health are closely connected and generally poorer than that of the wider population. Moreover, knowledge of prisoners' health literacy is scarce. This study aimed to explore prisoners' perceived oral and general health and how they accessed, understood and assessed health information to gain insight into their health literacy. Twelve prisoners in a high‐security prison and a halfway house participated in individual semi‐structured interviews. Data was analysed through thematic analysis, which identified five themes: inconsistent self‐reporting of general and oral health; autonomous health behaviour through utilizing personal resources; preference for personalized adapted health information; psychological and physical proximity; and barriers. The prisoners perceived their oral and general health as good despite several health problems. They expressed scepticism towards health information from public authorities and made their own health‐related choices based on previous experiences, their own 'common sense' and the experiences of people they trusted. Health information was considered useful when adjusted to their needs. Obtaining health‐related information through physical encounters was considered more accessible than through online platforms. Adapting the communication to prisoners' expressed needs and their health literacy can enhance the accessibility to improve their oral and general health. In‐person encounters would be preferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is a recently discovered virus responsible for causing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). No study has been carried out on South African oral healthcare workers (OHCWs) regarding their knowledge and practices with regard to COVID-19 and its vaccine. Aim: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of South African OHCWs regarding COVID-19 and its vaccine. Method: This was a cross-sectional study, which utilised an online questionnaire. The link to the questionnaire was sent via email and social media platforms. There was a total of 8056 OHCWs, and a minimum sample size of 367 was required. All information was confidential and anonymous. Results: A total of 327 OHCWs participated with a mean age of 43 years (±12.23) and the majority (60%) being general dentists. Less than half (42%) had obtained additional postgraduate qualifications while 57% were employed in the private and 24% in the academic sectors. Almost two-thirds (60%) obtained a ‘good’ knowledge score. Overall, OHCWs displayed positive attitudes towards COVID-19 and the majority implemented appropriate infection control protocols at their place of work. The majority (87%) reported to be vaccinated and of those who did not vaccinate, 34% cited concerns about possible side effects as a reason for not vaccinating. Conclusion: Respondents displayed gaps in their knowledge. There was a positive attitude towards the prevention of COVID-19, and almost all participants reported to have implemented the necessary infection control methods. Contributions: This study’s contribution to research was to identify gaps in the knowledge and practices of OHCWs with regards to COVID 19 and its vaccine. Once these gaps have been identified, measures will be put in place to address them.

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to explore the dental staff knowledge of simulated patient methodology and support for its use to investigate dental staffs' triaging ability. Material and Methods Staff at dental practices in Western Australia were invited to participate in a cross‐sectional online questionnaire, consisting of demographic questions, questions on triaging, and knowledge of simulated patient methodology. Descriptive and parametric tests were undertaken for quantitative data; qualitative responses were thematically analyzed. Results Of the 100 participants, most were female (71%), aged 25−39 years (57%), dentists (46%), and worked in private practices (60%). While 82% of participants triaged dental appointment enquiries, only 26% had heard of simulated patient studies. The majority (66%) of participants spent 1−5 min when triaging appointments and less than half (29%) asked about medical history, aggravating or alleviating factors. Although there was a general positive attitude toward use of simulated patient methodology to investigate practice, some concerns were identified. Conclusions The findings of our exploratory study suggests that there may be a potential for utilizing simulated patient studies to improve the care of patients by dental receptionists in general dental practices.

Copyright of RSBO: Revista Sul-Brasileira de Odontologia is the property of UNIVILLE and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To assess the prevalence of mental health issues among dental care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify potential factors that influence their mental well-being. Methods: A comprehensive search of various online databases was conducted from 2019 to December 2022. All cross-sectional studies in English that evaluated the mental health of dental practitioners during the pandemic were included. The quality of studies was assessed using NHLBI's Study Quality assessment tools. Results: 37 studies were included, and most had fair quality scores. The findings revealed that 48.6% of dental care professionals experienced anxiety during the pandemic. Conclusion: This review highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of dental care professionals. Preventative and psychological support should be provided to ensure the well-being and quality of care during and after pandemics. Impact: This review provides essential insights into the mental health of dental care professionals during the pandemic. It can inform the development and implementation of support programs, provide a basis for future research, and serve as a resource for dental care professionals, policymakers, and healthcare organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Stomatologica Naissi is the property of Clinic of Stomatology Nis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: Care coordination is a key strategy used to improve health outcomes and efficiency, yet there are limited examples in dentistry. A large dental accountable care organization piloted care coordination by retraining existing administrative staff to coordinate the care of high-risk patients. Following the pilots success, a formal dental care advocate (DCA) role was integrated system-wide. The goal of this new role is to improve care, patient engagement, and health outcomes while integrating staff into the clinical care team. We aim to describe the process of DCA role implementation and assess staff and clinician perceptions about the role pre- and post-implementation. METHODS: Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, semi-structured interviews with clinical and operational administrative staff and observation at the company-wide training session were combined with pre- and post-implementation electronic surveys. Descriptive statistics and mean scores were tested for significance between each survey sample (t-tests), and qualitative data were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: With preliminary evidence from the pilot and strong executive support, a dedicated leadership team executed a stepwise rollout of the DCA role over 6 months. Success was facilitated by an organizational culture of frequent interventions deployed rapidly through a centralized system, along with supportive buy-in from managerial teams and high staff acceptance and enthusiasm for the DCA role before implementation. Following implementation, significant changes in attitudes and beliefs about the role were measured, though managers held stronger positive impressions than DCAs. DCAs reported high confidence in new skills and dental knowledge post-implementation, including motivational interviewing and the ability to confidently answer patients questions about their oral health. Overall, the fast-paced implementation of this new role was well received, although consistent and significant differences in mean attitudes between managers and DCAs indicate more work to fine-tune the role is needed. CONCLUSIONS: Successful implementation of the new DCA role was facilitated by a strong organizational commitment to team-based dentistry and positive impressions of care coordination among staff and managers. Upskilling existing administrative staff with the necessary training to manage some high-risk patient needs is one method that can be used to implement care coordination efforts in dentistry.

Background: Dental workers are exposed to allergenic materials in the workplace. Objectives: To summarize patch test results in dental staff with work‐related dermatitis. Materials and Methods: Cross‐sectional study of dental staff with dermatitis was conducted. Symptoms, clinical findings and results from patch tests with 40 dental allergens were summarized. Results: Of 329 participants, 155 (47.1%) had at least one positive patch reaction. The highest frequency of positive reactions was observed for metals (38.6%), acrylics (7.3%) and additives in acrylic resins (3.6%). One hundred and eighty‐five (56.2%) participants were currently symptomatic; in this group, 79 (42.7%) had current dermatitis. Thirty‐eight patients had at least one positive patch test considered occupationally related to their current dermatitis. Conclusion: Almost half of the dental staff with dermatitis had at least one positive patch test and approximately 12% had current occupational relevance of the allergens. Our results underscore the importance of patch testing in the evaluation of dental staff with dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a knowledge gap in how dental clinicians recognise dental anxiety. The aim of this study was to identify, describe and generate concepts regarding this process. Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with dental clinicians from the public dental service of Östergötland, Sweden. Purposive and theoretical sampling was used. Theoretical saturation was reached after eight interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Classical grounded theory was used to inductively analyse data by constant comparative analysis. The core category was identified as; 'the clinical eye', clinicians noticing behaviours possibly due to dental anxiety based on their knowledge, experiences, or intuition. The core category comprises the five categories: Sympathetic activation, Patient-reported anxiety, Controlling behaviours, Avoidance and Accomplishment. Initially there is usually uncertainty about whether a behaviour is due to dental anxiety or part of a patient's normal behaviour. To gain additional certainty, clinicians need to recognise a stressor as something in the dental setting by observing a change in behaviour, for better or for worse, in the anticipation, presence or removal of the stressor. Clinicians identify patients as dentally anxious if their behaviour changes with exposure to a stressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To verify whether oral health teams influence the oral health status, ventilator‐associated pneumonia incidence and mortality rate of patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Materials and Methods: Bibliographic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, Embase, Livivo, Open Grey, Academic Google, and Cochrane databases. The assessment of the methodological quality and risk of bias of the included studies and a random‐effects meta‐analysis to summarize relative risk data for ventilator‐associated pneumonia (VAP) and mortality were performed. An analysis of the certainty of the evidence was performed for the main outcomes analyzed. Results: Records of 518 studies were analyzed by reading titles and abstracts. Five studies were included according to eligibility criteria. The meta‐analysis showed that ICU patients undergoing dental care by an oral health team had a lower incidence of VAP (OR = 0.33; 95% CI: 014–0.76) but did not lower mortality rates (OR = 0.46 95% CI: 0.16–1.32). The certainty of the evidence was considered very low. Conclusion: Dental care provided by oral health teams in a hospital environment did not influence oral health status or mortality, although it contributed to a reduction in VAP of patients admitted to the ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Objectives: The aim of this work was to determine dentists’ ability to accurately estimate patients’ anxiety level during dental treatment (ie, “empathic accuracy”) and to determine the strength of the association between empathic accuracy and patient-reported reassurance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 177 adult patients who underwent different invasive dental procedures (ie, extractions or procedures requiring injections and drilling) performed by 10 different dentists from 3 dental offices in the Netherlands. Patients reported their anxiety level during treatment and the extent to which they felt reassured by the dentist using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Simultaneously, the dentists estimated patients’ anxiety level. Empathic accuracy was calculated as an absolute difference between patient-reported anxiety (100-point VAS) and dentist estimation of anxiety (100-point VAS). Results: Agreement between dentists’ assessment of patients' anxiety and patient-reported anxiety proved good, intraclass correlation coefficient (177) = 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-0.71. A small to medium-sized positive correlation, r (177) = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.00-0.29, was found between dentists’ empathic accuracy and patient-reported reassurance. A negative correlation was found between empathic accuracy and patients’ anxiety scores, r (177) = −0.23; 95% CI, −0.38 to −0.09. Conclusions: Given that greater empathic accuracy was associated with higher patient-reported reassurance during treatment, training young dental professionals in empathic accuracy might help patients feel reassured. Importantly, our results also suggest that with elevated levels of patient anxiety it is increasingly challenging for dentists to recognise this emotion, and thus support the patient in anoptimal manner.

Introduction: Interventions in dental offices involve direct contact with the saliva and blood of patients, thus, dental staff is exposed to a constant risk of transmission of various infectious diseases Aim of the paper was to present the ways and means of spreading infection in dental offices, as well as measures to prevent it in order to protect the health of dental staff and patients. The risk of infection in healthcare institutions, especially in dental offices, is ever-present. Interventions in the mouth involve contact with the patient's saliva and blood, as well as with numerous pathogenic microorganisms that make up the patient's permanent or transient oral flora. The increase in the number of hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients, as well as those infected with HIV, indicates additional caution. The COVID-19 pandemic determined even more rigorous recommendations to prevent the spread of this infection. It is crucial that dental staff, bearing in mind the characteristics and ways of spreading the infection, undertake appropriate activities to prevent and control infectious diseases, thereby protecting themselves and their patients. Conclusion: Compliance with recommended infection control procedures is imperative for the entire dental staff.

Objectives: Dental professionals are exposed to large amounts of dust particles during routine treatment and denture processing. This article provides a narrative review to investigate the most prevalent dust-related respiratory diseases among dental professionals and to discuss the effects of dental dust on human respiratory health. Materials and methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Embase for articles published between 1990 and 2022. Any articles on the occupational respiratory health effects of dental dust were included. Results: The characterization and toxicity evaluation of dental dust show a correlation between dust exposure and respiratory system injury, and the possible pathogenic mechanism of dust is to cause lung injury and abnormal repair processes. The combination use of personal protective equipment and particle removal devices can effectively reduce the adverse health effects of dust exposure. Conclusions: Dental dust should be considered an additional occupational hazard in dental practice. However, clinical data and scientific evidence on this topic are still scarce. Further research is required to quantify dust in the dental work environment and clarify its pathogenicity and potential toxicological pathways. Nonetheless, the prevention of dust exposure should become a consensus among dental practitioners. Clinical relevance: This review provides dental practitioners with a comprehensive understanding and preventive advice on respiratory health problems associated with dust exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Human Resources for Health (HRH) are considered as being crucial for the organization of the health systems and for the population health conditions; in this context, the purpose of this work is 1) to identify the current geographic distribution situation of Brazilian dentists, 2) to identify and analyze the perception and motivations of Brazilian dentists who migrated to the interior of the country. A case study approach was used and the data were collected from different sources (Federal Council of Dentistry, Health Graduation Indicators System, Geocapes, Brazilian National Institute of Geography and Statistics) using the mixed method, from the quantitative-qualitative exploratory sequential model, the qualitative phase was analyzed by using the "grounded theory" approach. The findings point out that the county has a great stock of dentists and that it significantly increased in recent years; however, it is poorly distributed over the territory, particularly when the differences between the interior and the capitals of the country are analyzed. The main category of the grounded theory was "The opportunities changing the ways to consolidate the professional"; the interviews point out that the dentists' place of birth and the opportunities over their professional career were crucial to determine the distribution of dentists throughout the Brazilian territory. It's concluded that Brazil has a dentistry workforce stock; however, it faces the results of the lack of HRH regulation policies which include dentistry. Such reality enhances the health gaps in some country regions and market saturation in major urban centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic drugs represent a great tool in various dental treatments. However, their inappropriate use has been shown to negatively impact patients' health and the resistance of microorganisms, which can trigger future health crises. Objective: To determine dental students' knowledge level regarding the prescription of antibiotics during the 2021-2022 period. Materials and Methods: This research was observational, descriptive, and current cross-sectional. The questionnaire consisted of 14 items. Scores from 0 to 5 were stated as a low level of knowledge, 6 to 10 as a medium, and 11 to 14 as high. Results: There was an association between the variables of academic semester level and the level of knowledge. In terms of gender, there was no association. Conclusion: Despite having an acceptable level of knowledge, there is evidence of the need to reinforce and refine it in students regarding the management of antibiotic medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Due to exposure to potentially infectious aerosols during treatments, the dental personnel is considered being at high risk for aerosol transmitted diseases like COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate aerosol exposure during different dental treatments as well as the efficacy of dental suction to reduce aerosol spreading. Methods Dental powder-jet (PJ; Air-Flow®), a water-cooled dental handpiece with a diamond bur (HP) and water-cooled ultrasonic scaling (US) were used in a simulation head, mounted on a dental unit in various treatment settings. The influence of the use of a small saliva ejector (SE) and high-volume suction (HVS) was evaluated. As a proxy of aerosols, air-born particles (PM10) were detected using a Laser Spectrometer in 30 cm distance from the mouth. As control, background particle counts (BC) were measured before and after experiments. Results With only SE, integrated aerosol levels [median (Q25/Q75) µg/m3 s] for PJ [91,246 (58,213/118,386) µg/m3 s, p 0.05] and US [6558 (6002/7066) µg/m3 s; p > 0.05] did not increase aerosol levels significantly. The use of HVS significantly decreased aerosol exposure for PJ [37,170 (29,634/51,719) µg/m3 s; p

Objective: Several products such as technological devices, pharmaceutical products, have been developed with nanotechnology applications, in medicine fields. This study aimed to assess dental and medical staff perceptions of nanotechnology in Iraq. Materials and Methods: This study was based on an online questionnaires distributed to (736) dental and medical staff in Iraq from different region and different place of work, and the method of selecting the sample was stratified random sampling. The study period was two months (June and July 2020). Result: the largest percentage was for the dental staff 76.5% did hear about nanotechnology, and about 23.5% did not, while among medical staff 54.9% answer yes, and about 45.1% answer they did not hear about nanomedicine. Regarding the uses or applications of nanomedicinee, largest percentage of the responses was may be 64.7% for the dental staff and 67.1% for medical staff. Conclusion: There is an inadequate knowledge of the dental and medical staff about nanotechnology and its applications the in Iraq in field of dentistry and medicine, and it is not effectively used in the dentistry and medical field.

Copyright of Revista Família, Ciclos de Vida e Saúde no Contexto Social (REFACS) is the property of Universidade Federal do Triangulo Mineiro, Instituto de Ciencias da Saude and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives Health workers are considered as an important part of society and a role model for service recipients. Quality of life related to oral health is a common concept to assess the impact of oral conditions and the impact of dental interventions that affect people in many aspects such as physical, mental, social and ability to perform daily activities of life. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the quality of life related to oral health among the staff of Shahid Beheshti Dental School. Methods This study was performed on 85 employees of Shahid Beheshti Dental School in 2021. The Participants completed the OHIP-49 (Oral health impact profile-49) questionnaire. Independent t-test, and one way ANOVA were used for data analyzing by SPSS 21 statistical software. Results The mean total score of OHIP was 13.86 with a standard deviation of 12.44. The most problematic subscale was physical pain (20.65±14.01). The psychological disability and social disability subscales were significantly associated with female gender (p<0.05), and there was no relationship between the mean OHIP scores and the rest of measured demographic variables, including age, marital status, level of education, and chronic disease. Conclusion The results of the study showed that the quality of life related to oral health in dental staff was acceptable. On other hand, the Persian version of OHIP-49 questionnaire was validated to be used in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Several products such as technological devices, pharmaceutical products, have been developed with nanotechnology applications, in medicine fields. This study aimed to assess dental and medical staff perceptions of nanotechnology in Iraq. Materials and Methods: This study was based on an online questionnaires distributed to (736) dental and medical staff in Iraq from different region and different place of work, and the method of selecting the sample was stratified random sampling. The study period was two months (June and July 2020). Result: the largest percentage was for the dental staff 76.5% did hear about nanotechnology, and about 23.5% did not, while among medical staff 54.9% answer yes, and about 45.1% answer they did not hear about nanomedicine. Regarding the uses or applications of nanomedicinee, largest percentage of the responses was may be 64.7% for the dental staff and 67.1% for medical staff. Conclusion: There is an inadequate knowledge of the dental and medical staff about nanotechnology and its applications the in Iraq in field of dentistry and medicine, and it is not effectively used in the dentistry and medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Professional oral care in the intensive care unit may reduce the incidence of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, which increases the patient’s mortality rate. This study aimed to develop a competency for professional oral hygiene care of endotracheally-intubated intensive-care patients. Methods First, we developed a competency draft by reviewing the literature on oral hygiene care of patients in the intensive care unit. Next, we developed expert validity test questionnaires using this draft and conducted expert validity tests twice on 18 experts. We determined competency as a content validity index of 0.8 or more and received expert additive opinions about competency through an open-questionnaire expert validity test paper in this methodology study. Results The content validity index ranged from 0.8 ~ 1.0 for all items. The competency of ‘professionalism’ comprised 2 sub-competencies with 7 behavioral indicators. ‘POHC preparation’ comprised 3 sub-competencies with 10 behavioral indicators. ‘POHC implementation’ comprised 3 sub-competencies with 6 behavioral indicators. ‘POHC evaluation’ comprised 2 sub-competencies with 8 behavioral indicators. Lastly ‘Cooperation among experts’ comprised 3 sub-competencies with 7 behavioral indicatiors. Conclusions To provide patients with high quality oral hygiene care, these competencies should be implemented, and oral hygiene care professionals and related medical personnel should form a cooperative system.

Abstract Background Care coordination is a key strategy used to improve health outcomes and efficiency, yet there are limited examples in dentistry. A large dental accountable care organization piloted care coordination by retraining existing administrative staff to coordinate the care of high-risk patients. Following the pilot’s success, a formal “dental care advocate” (DCA) role was integrated system-wide. The goal of this new role is to improve care, patient engagement, and health outcomes while integrating staff into the clinical care team. We aim to describe the process of DCA role implementation and assess staff and clinician perceptions about the role pre- and post-implementation. Methods Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, semi-structured interviews with clinical and operational administrative staff and observation at the company-wide training session were combined with pre- and post-implementation electronic surveys. Descriptive statistics and mean scores were tested for significance between each survey sample (t-tests), and qualitative data were thematically analyzed. Results With preliminary evidence from the pilot and strong executive support, a dedicated leadership team executed a stepwise rollout of the DCA role over 6 months. Success was facilitated by an organizational culture of frequent interventions deployed rapidly through a centralized system, along with supportive buy-in from managerial teams and high staff acceptance and enthusiasm for the DCA role before implementation. Following implementation, significant changes in attitudes and beliefs about the role were measured, though managers held stronger positive impressions than DCAs. DCAs reported high confidence in new skills and dental knowledge post-implementation, including motivational interviewing and the ability to confidently answer patients’ questions about their oral health. Overall, the fast-paced implementation of this new role was well received, although consistent and significant differences in mean attitudes between managers and DCAs indicate more work to fine-tune the role is needed. Conclusions Successful implementation of the new DCA role was facilitated by a strong organizational commitment to team-based dentistry and positive impressions of care coordination among staff and managers. Upskilling existing administrative staff with the necessary training to manage some high-risk patient needs is one method that can be used to implement care coordination efforts in dentistry.

Background: Due to exposure to potentially infectious aerosols during treatments, the dental personnel is considered being at high risk for aerosol transmitted diseases like COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate aerosol exposure during different dental treatments as well as the efficacy of dental suction to reduce aerosol spreading. Methods: Dental powder-jet (PJ; Air-Flow®), a water-cooled dental handpiece with a diamond bur (HP) and water-cooled ultrasonic scaling (US) were used in a simulation head, mounted on a dental unit in various treatment settings. The influence of the use of a small saliva ejector (SE) and high-volume suction (HVS) was evaluated. As a proxy of aerosols, air-born particles (PM10) were detected using a Laser Spectrometer in 30 cm distance from the mouth. As control, background particle counts (BC) were measured before and after experiments. Results: With only SE, integrated aerosol levels [median (Q25/Q75) µg/m3 s] for PJ [91,246 (58,213/118,386) µg/m3 s, p < 0.001, ANOVA] were significantly increased compared to BC [7243 (6501/8407) µg/m3 s], whilst HP [11,119 (7190/17,234) µg/m3 s, p > 0.05] and US [6558 (6002/7066) µg/m3 s; p > 0.05] did not increase aerosol levels significantly. The use of HVS significantly decreased aerosol exposure for PJ [37,170 (29,634/51,719) µg/m3 s; p < 0.01] and HP [5476 (5066/5638) µg/m3 s; p < 0.001] compared to SE only, even reaching lower particle counts than BC levels for HP usage (p < 0.001). Conclusions: To reduce the exposure to potentially infectious aerosols, HVS should be used during aerosol-forming dental treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient satisfaction can only be achieved by providing quality services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government issued regulations for public services, including health services, therefore efforts are needed to improve the quality of services provided to fulfill wishes and increase patient satisfaction. One of the dimensions of the quality of health services that are generally assessed by patients is Empathy. By using PPE level 3 and limiting cases of treatment received by health workers, it is hoped that they will have the empathy felt by patients so that patients still feel comfortable and continue their treatment to completion. To describe the image of health workers' empathy for the level of patient satisfaction and loyalty during the covid 19 pandemic The population in this study were patients who visited the Dental and Oral Hospital in Makassar City and had completed their treatment. The study was the descriptive method with total sampling by distributing questionnaires in the form of google form to patients who had received dental and oral care at 3 dental hospitals in Makassar city. The total number of respondents who filled out the questionnaires for assessing patient satisfaction and loyalty was 208 respondents. It was found that the most patients felt very satisfied with the dental staff's empathy, the most were Attention Dentist on Providing Services as much as 61.13% (n = 173) and on the loyalty indicator it was found that the most patients were very willing to check themselves back at the dental hospital where they were treated is 55.48% (n = 157). Patients are satisfied with the empathy of the dental staff and they show an attitude of loyalty to the dental hospital in the city of Makassar during the covid 19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With the increase in the use of dental services and the increase in the use of different materials in several fields, the prevalence of allergic reactions to these substances has also been rising. In this situation, the diagnosis of allergic reactions and their prevalence among dentists is important. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of these reactions among students, residents and faculty members of Isfahan Dental School. Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Isfahan Dental School using a form for data collection in 2018, which was provided by professors and colleagues from the Immunology Department of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, on clinical students, residents and faculty members of Isfahan Dental School. Finally, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square methods (p value < 0.05). Results: Of 200 participants in this study (152 students, 23 residents and 25 faculty members), 64 % showed allergic reaction to at least one dental workplace (69.1 % among the students, among the faculty members was 40.7 % and among the faculty members was 56 %). The most common allergic reaction among all participants was skin itchiness, hives, and respiratory responses. The pre-clinical and laboratory sections had the highest prevalence of allergic reactions. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of allergic reactions caused by allergens in the dental environment is very important and the most common reactions is skin reactions and subsequent respiratory reactions. Also, among the most common allergy to dental materials was latex gloves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAlthough some patients experience adverse events (AEs) resulting in harm caused by treatments in dentistry, few published reports have detailed how dental providers describe these events. Understanding how dental treatment professionals view AEs is essential to building a safer environment in dental practice.MethodsThe authors interviewed dental professionals and domain experts through focus groups and in-depth interviews and asked them to identify the types of AEs that may occur in dental settings.ResultsThe initial interview and focus group findings yielded 1,514 items that included both causes and AEs. In total, 632 causes were coded into 1 of the 8 categories of the Eindhoven classification, and 882 AEs were coded into 12 categories of a newly developed dental AE classification. Interrater reliability was moderate among coders. The list was reanalyzed, and duplicate items were removed leaving a total of 747 unique AEs and 540 causes. The most frequently identified AE types were "aspiration and ingestion" at 14% (n = 142), "wrong-site, wrong-procedure, wrong-patient errors" at 13%, "hard-tissue damage" at 13%, and "soft-tissue damage" at 12%.ConclusionsDental providers identified a large and diverse list of AEs. These events ranged from "death due to cardiac arrest" to "jaw fatigue from lengthy procedures."Practical implicationsIdentifying threats to patient safety is a key element of improving dental patient safety. An inventory of dental AEs underpins efforts to track, prevent, and mitigate these events.

Background: In Colombia, the liberal practice of dentistry began a process of transformation with the creation of the General System of Social Security in Health in 1993. This caused a reduction in the areas of professional action as a private practice, which could be seen as the most affected with the issuance of Resolution 2292 of 2021 of the Ministry of Health, which includes new oral health procedures in the Health Benefits Plan (PBS) to be funded by the State. Purpose: To analyze how the inclusion of new oral health procedures in the PBS affects the practice of dentistry. Methods: A qualitative research through an intrinsic documentary and analytical case study was conducted, based on the context and legal regulations that govern the practice of dentistry in Colombia. Findings: The clinical practice of dentistry will be carried out mainly as an institutionalized model. This should lead to changes in the guild culture towards professional and clinical association in order to face the challenges brought by the insertion of almost all areas of the profession within the PBS. Conclusion: The liberal exercise of dentistry will be more limited given the progress of guaranteeing the fundamental right to health. For this reason, associative management is imperative as a basis to guarantee health care in an ethical manner and at costs that make the existence of clinics and offices that contract with Health Promotion Entities viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: this study aimed to describe the profile of the referrals sent to the hospital dentistry team from patients in Hospital Criança Conceição in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from January 2012 to July 2018. Methods: a descriptive, retrospective study was conducted, evaluating 193 electronic dental records to extract the following data: patient’s sex and age, description of the referral made by other health professionals and the dentist’s behavior in solving the presented problem. Results: 61.6% of patients were male and the mean age of all patients was 10.5 years. Most dental referrals came from the oncohematology area (75.12%) and the predominant reason was pre- and post-chemotherapy patients’ dental care (40.4%). The diagnosis most commonly found by dentists was mucositis (17.6%) and caries (16%). There was absence of oral diseases in 23.8% of cases. The interventions most commonly performed by the hospital dentistry team were laser therapy (57.5%) and oral hygiene instructions (49.1%) in the hospital setting, while procedures in dental offices and surgical rooms included exodontias (27.7%) and restorations (11.7%). Conclusions: the profile of referrals sent to the hospital dentistry team from patients hospitalized in the Hospital Criança Conceição in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is inadequate, since there was a lack of transdisciplinary management including dental care, in addition to poor use of information technology resources and lack of more objective medical records for easy retrieval of patient health information.

Introdution: During many dental interventions, performed using handpiece instruments and pusters, an aerosol is created,which is converted into a bioaerosol (BIOA) by mixing with the particles of various organic components from the patient's oral cavity.When the high-speed mashine is started, the air becomes instantly contaminated and practically covers the entire room. Pollution is registered all the times, as well as after prosthetic treatment. BIOA created during prosthetic workcontains various bacteria, fungi and viruses from the patient's oral cavity. These microorganisms pose a real hazard to health workers and are a potential risk for infection. The most common pathogens include influenza viruses, herpes viruses, as well as pathogenic streptococci and staphylococci. Infectious diseases, biosynosis, acute toxic reactions, allergies, atopic diseases, conjunctivitis, contact dermatitis, infections of the respiratory system, and even some types of cancer, are possible manifestations of side effects of BIOA. Conclusion:BIOA poses a potential danger to contamination of air, work surfaces and objects in dental offices. Direct and indirect exposure of dental staff and patients to BIOA is especially pronounced in the conditions of COVID 19. Although it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of adverse effects of BIOA, it is important to pay attention to all prevention measures that can reduce the likelihood of contamination.

Abstract Background Dog‐assisted therapy in the dental clinic may be an attractive alternative to sedation for anxious patients. Including a dental therapy dog in a clinical setting introduces new hazards and potential risks to health and safety for both humans and animal. Objectives The study aims to describe potential hazards associated with risks to humans by having a therapy dog present in the dental clinic and to provide guidance on best practices to minimise and control risks for the patients, the dentist, and the dental clinic staff. Materials and Methods Literature searches in Medline, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar for qualitative and quantitative assessments of hazards and risks associated with the use of therapy dogs in health care settings, in combination with a review of the reference list of the included studies. Identified hazards and risks were analysed with respect for the health and welfare of humans in a dental clinic setting that involves the presence of a therapy dog. Results Potential risks to health and safety for humans in dental clinics that offer dog‐assisted therapy can be categorised within four general categories of hazards: the dog as a source of zoonotic pathogens and human diseases, exposure to canine allergens, adverse animal behaviour, and dangers associated with high activity in a congested dental clinic operatory. Risks to humans are reduced by maintaining awareness amongst the dental clinic staff and the dog handler of all potential hazards in the dental clinic, and on how to reduce these hazards as well as adverse events that may scare the dental therapy dog. Conclusions Risks to the health and safety of humans in the presence of therapy dog in the clinics are present but are low if the dental clinical staff and dog handlers comply with best practices.

Background: The risk assessment of dental erosion among children and adolescents is an important aspect of dental care, as dental erosion constitutes a rapidly growing, global problem. Dental professionals rely solely on their own perception, as the current risk assessment process is not completely automatized, which affects the risk assessment reliability., Aim: To explore dental professionals' experiences with risk assessment of dental erosion among children and adolescents., Method: In-depth interview was used as data collection method. A total of 11 dental professionals were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis., Results: The findings were summarized in the categories Professionals' responsibility, Systematic approach , and Collaboration and communication. Dental staff perceived that their basic knowledge regarding erosion should be improved, and skills development was desired to reduce the knowledge gaps around the risk assessment of dental erosion. They alleged that the systematic approach could be improved by reducing workplace stress, implementing a universal dental erosion index, improving the existing risk assessment software, and automating the risk assessment of the condition. Dental professionals also experienced a need to calibrate and collaborate with each other and with other healthcare professionals to improve patient care., Conclusion: Dental professionals experienced their basic knowledge of dental erosion and their risk assessment as good, but a more advanced skill development was required. Furthermore, they experienced the risk assessment software as a good tool that should be improved to compile more objective risk assessment. A universal erosion index was also requested., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is a recently discovered virus responsible for causing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). No study has been carried out on South African oral healthcare workers (OHCWs) regarding their knowledge and practices with regard to COVID-19 and its vaccine., Aim: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of South African OHCWs regarding COVID-19 and its vaccine., Method: This was a cross-sectional study, which utilised an online questionnaire. The link to the questionnaire was sent via email and social media platforms. There was a total of 8056 OHCWs, and a minimum sample size of 367 was required. All information was confidential and anonymous., Results: A total of 327 OHCWs participated with a mean age of 43 years (±12.23) and the majority (60%) being general dentists. Less than half (42%) had obtained additional postgraduate qualifications while 57% were employed in the private and 24% in the academic sectors. Almost two-thirds (60%) obtained a 'good' knowledge score. Overall, OHCWs displayed positive attitudes towards COVID-19 and the majority implemented appropriate infection control protocols at their place of work. The majority (87%) reported to be vaccinated and of those who did not vaccinate, 34% cited concerns about possible side effects as a reason for not vaccinating., Conclusion: Respondents displayed gaps in their knowledge. There was a positive attitude towards the prevention of COVID-19, and almost all participants reported to have implemented the necessary infection control methods., Contributions: This study's contribution to research was to identify gaps in the knowledge and practices of OHCWs with regards to COVID 19 and its vaccine. Once these gaps have been identified, measures will be put in place to address them., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article., (© 2024. The Authors.)

Background: Professional oral care in the intensive care unit may reduce the incidence of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, which increases the patient's mortality rate. This study aimed to develop a competency for professional oral hygiene care of endotracheally-intubated intensive-care patients.Methods: First, we developed a competency draft by reviewing the literature on oral hygiene care of patients in the intensive care unit. Next, we developed expert validity test questionnaires using this draft and conducted expert validity tests twice on 18 experts. We determined competency as a content validity index of 0.8 or more and received expert additive opinions about competency through an open-questionnaire expert validity test paper in this methodology study.Results: The content validity index ranged from 0.8 ~ 1.0 for all items. The competency of 'professionalism' comprised 2 sub-competencies with 7 behavioral indicators. 'POHC preparation' comprised 3 sub-competencies with 10 behavioral indicators. 'POHC implementation' comprised 3 sub-competencies with 6 behavioral indicators. 'POHC evaluation' comprised 2 sub-competencies with 8 behavioral indicators. Lastly 'Cooperation among experts' comprised 3 sub-competencies with 7 behavioral indicatiors.Conclusions: To provide patients with high quality oral hygiene care, these competencies should be implemented, and oral hygiene care professionals and related medical personnel should form a cooperative system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the barriers and enablers of minimal intervention dentistry (MID) practice in an Australian community dental program. Methods: Qualitative data collection and analysis were performed by two investigators via semi-structured interviews with employed dentists, dental/oral health therapists, dental assistants and oral health coaches (dental assistants with formal training in oral health promotion). A convenience snowball sampling method was adopted. Results: A total of 24 oral health professionals participated in the study: four dentists, six dental/oral health therapists, ten dental assistants and four oral health coaches. The main barriers identified were related to: i) patient-level factors, ii) organisational supports and processes, iii) service capacity/funding model, iv) professional development and training, and v) staff continuity. One of the most cited barriers by the participants to MID practice were patient resistance to behaviour change. The main enablers identified were related to i) health promotion; ii) workforce factors; iii) professional development and training; and iv) organisational culture and supports. Frequently cited enablers were the organisational culture shift towards a preventive model of public dental care and the utilisation of oral health coaches. A responsibility framework was developed to assist in planning and enhancing the implementation of MID practice. Conclusions: In order for MID to be enhanced within public dental programs, oral health professionals have identified that multi-level intervention may be necessary to optimise the provision of dental care that are aligned with MID practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of IUG Journal of Economics & Business is the property of Islamic University of Gaza and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Occupational skin disease (OSD), such as contact dermatitis, is widespread among dental professionals; however, reports regarding its prevalence have inconsistent findings and methodology. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-reported questionnaire to estimate the prevalence of work-related and occupational exposure-induced skin diseases., Methodology: A self-administered questionnaire, based on the validated Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire-2002, was distributed to 15 dental clinics in Israel in the first half of 2022. The questionnaire included questions about the occupation, exposure, and history of atopic disease, dry skin, and hand/arm and wrist eczema, as well as participant demographics., Results: Overall, 312 dental professionals completed the questionnaires. Response rate was 80%. The lifetime prevalence of self-reported skin symptoms was 19.23%. Significant risk factors included exposure to metal objects, odds ratio (OR): 2.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): [1.02, 5.78]; p  < .05, dry skin (OR: 3.54, 95% CI: [1.93, 6.5]; p  < .001), itching when sweating (OR: 2.89, 95% CI: [1.39, 6]; p  < .05), contact urticaria (OR: 10.67, 95% CI: [4.46, 25.49]; p  < .001), hay fever (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: [1.14, 4.42]; p  < .05), allergic symptoms (OR; 2.33, 95% CI: [1.18, 4.58]; p  < .05), and asthma (OR: 4.8, 95% CI: [2.17, 10.36]; p  < .001)., Conclusions: This is the first study to use the NOSQ-2002 among dental professionals. Our study provides a better understanding of the prevalence and consequences of OSDs among dental personnel by utilizing the validated tool NOSQ-2002., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Copyright of Acta Stomatologica Naissi is the property of Clinic of Stomatology Nis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Exposure to loud noise is a major problem for medical staff, especially in dental clinics and laboratories. Aim: This research aims to assess the ambient noise in dental clinics and the impact of noise on medical staff in dental clinics at Dammam Medical Complex, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A Cross sectional study was performed. Ambient noise was measured using the sound level meter in various laboratories and clinics. Results: The data showed that the maximum noise levels were between 116 and 56 dB(A) with peak levels ranging from 116 to 106 dB(A) in the laboratory and clinic environment. There is a significant correlation with the number of medical personnel, the area of the laboratory or clinic and the number and nature of the equipment used with the sources and ambient noise in their workplace and with daily exposure might cause severe impact on hearing loss in such clinics. Conclusion: The study strongly recommends the implementation of preventive measures and should be for periodic medical examinations and educational programs of the highest priority for medical staff in clinics and dental laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Odontológica Colombiana is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Odontológica Colombiana is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Habanera de Ciencias Médicas is the property of Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de La Habana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Aim:The new coronavirus - 2 is known to be a major threat to public health around the world. Common ways of transmitting the virus include direct transmission (sneezing, coughing and inhaling infected droplets and aerosols) and contact transmission (oral mucosa, nose and conjunctiva). When dental services are provided, large amounts of aerosols are produced during working with equipment. Iran was one of the main centers for the spread of the disease at the beginning of the epidemic, so this study evaluates the extent and severity of COVID-19 in the pre- and post-quarantine period. Material and Methods: The study was conducted through an online questionnaire, in which 1,100 member of dental association volunteered to participate in the study. Results: Since past 3 months, 74 (28.1%) reported Covid-19 symptoms, while totally, 18(2.2%) had definite infection. Ceramists had the highest incidence (50%) and dental students had the lowest incidence (19.3%) of symptoms. Among dental treatment staff, definitive rate of COVID-19 was higher in ceramists and dental students compare to dentists and dental specialists. In this study, 11.8% of the participants knew one of the members of the medical staff who died of COVID-19. The mean age of definite patients was 35.24 ± 12.24 yarrs old. Conclusions: The low rate of definitive infection of dental treatment staff in this study shows that disinfection of the environment and sterilization and use of protective devices can normally be effective and useful in preventing the spread of disease and infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]