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Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the national oral health programmes in the Balkan countries, to compare key measures and activities in the implementation of the general and specific objectives of the programme, and to analyse the results achieved after the implementation of the programme. Material and Methods: The data were obtained through an electronic search of publicly available documents published by the relevant institutions in the field of dental health care in the Balkan countries. The search terms were: "national programme", "strategy", "action plan", "project", and "oral health". The search was conducted in English and in the native languages of the Balkan Peninsula countries. A comparative analysis of valid documents and those whose validity period has expired was carried out. Results: Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia have valid national preventive programmes. In Cyprus, a strategic plan for the provision of dental services is described. An oral health promotion programme for elementary school children and universal preventive programme for children ("dentist pass") have been implemented in Greece. Serbia has a national preventive programme that has expired, but the programme activities still apply. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, and Turkey do not have national oral health preventive programmes. Countries in the region with no oral health promotion programmes have poorer oral health indicators compared to countries with existing programmes. Conclusions: While countries in the Balkan Peninsula have made progress in improving the oral health of their inhabitants, the absence of national oral health promotion programmes is striking in many countries in the region. Greater involvement of the community in activities to maintain and improve oral health is needed, as is more comprehensive dental care for vulnerable populations. This paper (Part I) compares national oral health promotion programmes of the Balkan countries, the key measures and activities, and general and specific objectives of the programme.

Purpose: Dental students learn knowledge and practical skills to provide oral health care to the population. Practical skills must be maintained or continuously developed throughout a professional career. This cross-sectional survey aimed to evaluate the perception of practical skills of dental students and dental-school graduates by national dental associations (NDAs) in international comparison in the European Regional Organization of the FDI World Dental Federation (ERO-FDI) zone. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire of 14 items collected information on pre-/postgraduate areas. Results: A total of 25 countries participated (response rate: 69.4%), with 80.0% having minimum requirements for practical skills acquisition and 64.0% starting practical training in the 3rd year of study. In countries where clinical practical work on patients begins in the 2nd year of study, practical skills of graduates are perceived as average, starting in the 3rd year of study as mainly good, starting in the 4th as varying widely from poor to very good. In total, 76.0% of respondents feel that improvements are needed before entering dental practice. Improvements could be reached by treating more patients in dental school (32.0%), increasing the quantity of clinical training (20.0%), or having more clinical instructors (12.0%). In 56.0% of the countries, it is possible to open one’s own dental practice immediately after graduation, and in 16.0%, prior vocational training is mandatory. Conclusions: All participating countries in the ERO-FDI zone reported practical training in dental school, most starting in the 3rd year of study. The perception of practical skills of dental students and dental-school graduates among NDAs is very hetero geneous. Reasons for the perceived deficiencies should be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the clinicopathological characteristics of a cohort of patients with oral leukoplakia (OL) managed in a Romanian dental hospital and to evaluate the risk of malignant transformation (MT). Materials and methods: We conducted a hospital‐based retrospective study using the clinical charts of patients diagnosed with OL that had complete clinical and histopathological evaluation followed up for 1–16 years. Results: From 120 included patients, 68 (56.7%) were females, and 71 (59.2%) were current smokers. The homogeneous form was present in 60% of cases; the buccal mucosa was the most frequently involved site. MT was observed in 9 cases, which was more common in females and in those with dysplastic leukoplakia. A significant statistical association was found between MT and dysplasia grade (χ2 test: p = 0.007). MT occurred during a mean interval of time 75 months in both treated and non‐treated patients. Conclusions: In this leukoplakia cohort, most of the lesions encountered were in smokers, clinically homogeneous and 62.5% proved histologically benign. But despite the clinically benign appearance of leukoplakia, tissue diagnosis of some cases was carcinoma. The results of the current study advocate the necessity for biopsy even in apparently homogeneous, clinically benign lesions. The malignization rate was 7.5%; two‐thirds were nonhomogeneous lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern dental caries adhesive direct restoration requires a working protocol that includes stages and techniques that must be strictly followed to ensure the correct morphological and functional reconstruction, as well as an increased longevity of the restoration and implicitly of the respective tooth in the oral cavity. Failures in achieving these goals are represented by the occurrence of recurrent caries, secondary or residual caries, coronary fractures, leading to pulpal and periodontal complications. They can be due to both incorrect therapeutic maneuvers and other causes, for which the dentist is not responsible, such as manufacturing defects of dental materials that are not visible during inspection or the patient's attitude towards oral hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful restoration of the physiognomic function of the anterior area of the dental arches requires the dentist to have advanced knowledge of the facial, dentofacial and marginal periodontal aspects and, at the same time, to master the techniques of working with adhesive materials. Composite resins are currently the materials of choice for regaining the optimal esthetic appearance in the frontal region, because they present both the ability to preserve dental tissues (through chemical adhesion to the substrate) and extensive esthetic possibilities, which give rise to a wide variety of clinical and therapeutic indications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A flare-up is an acute exacerbation after the initiation or following the root canal treatment. In some cases, the patient may develop a flare-up due to the penetration or development of the microorganisms into the endodontic space. The main symptom felt by the patient is the pain caused by the clinical manifestation of complex pathologic changes occurred at a cellular level. This article discusses the predisposing conditions represented by insufficient instrumentation and by pushing the remnants out to the root canals, factors that lead to an exacerbation during the root canal retreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ORL.ro is the property of MEDICHUB MEDIA, S.R.L. 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 ORL.ro is the property of MEDICHUB MEDIA, S.R.L. 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.)