ATTITUDE TOWARDS COVID-19 IN DENTAL COLLEGE POPULATION: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental health conditions characterized by disordered eating behaviors and excessive concern about body weight, shape, or food intake, affecting an individual's psychological, physical, and oral health. Oral health professionals are often the first to recognize these signs and symptoms, thus playing a crucial role in early detection and timely intervention. Aim: To assess the knowledge of dental students and professionals regarding the psychological, physical, and oral health implications of EDs. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured and validated questionnaire among 193 clinical-year dental students (DS) and 40 practicing dental professionals (DP) in Malaysia, selected through a convenience sampling method. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: demographic data, and assessments of knowledge and awareness regarding the psychological, physical, and oral health manifestations of EDs. Differences in participants' knowledge was assessed using Fisher’s exact test and the Chi-square test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Participants showed poor knowledge of certain EDs symptoms, including gender predilection (DS: 34.7%, DP: 35.0%), low body weight (DS: 41.5%, DP: 52.5%), parotid gland enlargement (DS: 28.5%, DP: 25.0%), and poor oral hygiene (DS: 36.3%, DP: 47.5%). Good level of knowledge was noted for associations with stress and anxiety (DS: 89.6%, DP: 90.0%), and mirror checking (DS: 78.2%, DP: 65.0%). Moderate knowledge was observed for social withdrawal (DS: 51.3%, DP: 50.0%), knuckle bruises, (DS: 51.3%, DP: 57.5%), low self-esteem (DS: 69.4%, DP: 72.5%), nail erosion, dental caries, hypersensitivity, angular cheilitis, and oral pain/burning(DS: 59.6%, DP: 55.0%). Significant differences between DS and DP were found for mirror checking (p<0.05), oral candidiasis (p<0.05), and symptoms such as burning sensation, taste changes, and unexplained oral pain (p<0.05). Conclusions: DS and DP demonstrated varying levels of knowledge about EDs, with poor levels of knowledge on certain key physical and oral manifestations. Therefore, integrating education on EDs into dental training is essential to support early diagnosis and timely referral.

The use of technology in the form of smart phones and other electronic media in day to day life has become an integral part of life today. Technology today is seeing a paradigm shift towards better inter-professional communications which can help doctors, patients and the masses as a whole. Putting these technological advancements to good use evolves as a major milestone in medicine/ dentistry in the form of telemedicine/teledentistry. The present study was aimed at knowing the knowledge and awareness of teledentistry among dental professionals of a dental college in India. The study was conducted in a dental college in India and was circulated among dental professionals. A questionnaire was prepared to assess the knowledge and awareness of teledentistry and was circulated among dental professionals in a dental college. The data thus collected was statistically analysed and results obtained. The data collected was statistically analysed using SPSS software. A total of 406 persons responded to the questionnaire. In the present study it was found that the knowledge and awareness about teledentistry was very low among post graduates (7.23%) and interns (9.38%) when compared to I & II BDS while most of them agreed that teledentistry is a practice of dentistry through various media options with limited application in dentistry without a legal issue. In the present study, it was apparent that most of the respondents were lacking adequate knowledge and awareness on teledentistry. Hence, there is an immense need to create awareness among dental professionals on teledentistry as the future lies in technological advancement. Tele dentistry can mark the beginning of a new era in dentistry. This can be achieved by conducting CDE programs and awareness campaigns/programs which helps in various levels.

This study investigates student and stakeholder perceptions of the role of the dental hygienist in Nepal. The impact of these perceptions on the professionalization of dental hygienists is described whilst exploring the consequences for oral health workforce planning. Dentistry and dental hygiene students from one dental college in Nepal were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire; 171 students returned the questionnaire containing a mix of forced response and open-ended items. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS® 22. These data were complemented with qualitative information from survey open questions and from semi-structured interviews with key informants from several relevant organizations. Qualitative data were manually analysed and coded. Data were triangulated to contextualize quantitative data. A high level of positive regard for the role of the dental hygienist in Nepal was evident amongst dentistry and dental hygiene students in this college. Both groups believe that the dental hygienist can play a major role in raising oral health awareness in Nepal. The scope of practice of the dental hygienist was unclear with issues surrounding the scope of practice and reports of illegal practice by dental hygienists. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were noted between dental hygiene and dentistry students in relation to their opinion regarding independent practice and the need of supervision by a dentist. Supervision of the dental hygienist by dentists and issues surrounding the scope of practice are polarizing the relationship between dentists, dental hygienists and the relevant professional organizations. This could hinder cooperation between these oral health professionals and might lead to underutilization of the dental hygienist. To improve the understanding about the roles of each oral health professional, establishing functional relationships and intraprofessional education involving dentistry and dental hygiene students needs to be introduced. This will benefit the introduction of preventative oral health services in Nepal. Government jobs and incentives to increase the retention and distribution of oral health professionals should be created. The government and professional organizations need to consider professionalizing the dental hygiene workforce and formalize the scope of practice. The unique demographic details of Nepal require a paradigm shift in oral health workforce management in Nepal.

Background: Dental practitioners are exposed to work-related risks resulting in potential injury with long-term local and systemic adverse effects that impact the overall health and quality of life. Bio-hazards from an increasing number of new prosthodontic materials remain a major problem among dental professionals concerning their safe clinical application, disposal, and recycling without causing possible environmental harm. Aim: The present study was aimed to assess the awareness levels among dental students and practitioners on biohazards associated with commonly handled prosthodontic dental materials. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based online survey was conducted using Google forms distributed among dental students and professionals across Tamilnadu, India. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS version 22.0) was used to analyze the observed data with a significance level set at less than .05 (p &lt; 0.05). Results: 70.7% considered patients, dentists, dental assistants, and technicians working in close association with dental materials carry substantial health risks while most of the participants reported burning mouth syndrome and contact allergic reactions were frequent adverse reactions encountered. 27.3% and 50.2% were unaware of hazards associated with epoxy resins and ceramic restorations respectively besides 41.9% agreed on nickel as a potential carcinogen and 65.8% showed familiarity with biocompatibility material tests. However, 32.68% were unresponsive to chemicals with potential adverse reactions present in the glove material. Conclusion: The study clearly shows that mere knowledge and familiarity with prosthodontic dental material and its biological characteristics are insufficient for an individual to assess the potential threat. Thus, an in-depth understanding of various hazardous risks will

Firmly establishing oral health care professionals’ roles as vaccinators within the health care system

To assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among dental students and faculty members regarding COVID-19 vaccines in dental colleges in Haryana, India. To assess knowledge level, attitudes, and beliefs differences among BDS, MDS students and faculty members and find association between knowledge and COVID-19 vaccine inoculation among study participants. A cross-sectional study was carried out among students and faculty members of dental colleges in Haryana, India. Data collection was done via an online questionnaire based on questions to assess the knowledge, attitude and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccines. The present study comprised of 270 study participants, where majority, i.e., 81.5% have reported COVID-19 vaccine inoculation. The mean knowledge score of the participants was reported to be 5.54 ± 2.19. A significant difference was found in the mean knowledge score of faculty members (7.81 ± 1.69), MDS (6.72 ± 1.49), and BDS (4.39 ± 1.68) students. COVID-19 vaccine inoculation was found to be significantly associated with average knowledge score of participants (OR = 6.1, P < 0.01). Dental professionals have an adequate degree of knowledge and attitude level regarding COVID-19 vaccines and are generally optimistic about resolving the pandemic situation with the immunization.

Elder abuse, defined as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect, is a growing problem. Dental professionals have the unique opportunity to identify elder abuse. However, elder abuse awareness training, targeting dental students, is insufficient and research is limited. This knowledge gap prompted the research team at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) to develop, implement, and evaluate an online Elder Abuse Awareness Professional Education Training (EAAPET) program, designed to educate dental and other health professionals to recognize, respond to, and report elder abuse. Ninety-six dental students, attending the UTHSC College of Dentistry during the fall semester of 2018, were enrolled. Pre- and post-assessments, designed to assess changes in students' perceived and actual knowledge, were conducted. Paired sample t-test results indicate that the EAAPET program significantly improved students' perception of their abilities to identify, respond to, and report elder abuse. Improvement was also demonstrated within students' actual knowledge of how to appropriately interact with suspected elder abuse victims. Qualitative assessment suggested the training was well received by the students. Based on these findings, the authors recommend that dental schools integrate elder abuse awareness education into their curriculums.

Dentists and oral health practitioners have a potential role in supporting the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases. However, the extent to which university education prepares practitioners to provide nutrition care is unclear. This scoping review identifies and synthesises the evidence related to university-level nutrition education provided to dental and oral health students globally. A scoping review identified relevant literature through search terms "dentistry," "oral health," or "oral hygiene"; "dental students" or "dental education"; "nutrition education" or "nutrition science." Articles were included that examined nutrition education in undergraduate oral health training; or nutrition knowledge, attitudes, confidence, or skills or dietary habits; experts' opinion papers; and position statements. No limitations on the publication years or languages of the articles were applied. A total of 136 articles were included. Half were surveys of students (n = 49) or academic staff (n = 21). The remainder comprised reports of curriculum initiatives (n = 26), opinion papers or narrative reviews (n = 24), position statements (n = 6), curriculum development (n = 6) and curriculum guidelines (n = 9). While dental and oral health students and curriculum experts overwhelmingly recognised the importance of nutrition, most studies that assessed nutrition knowledge of students revealed limited knowledge. Students were not confident in their skills to provide nutrition care. Lack of nutrition experts on teaching teams and unclear expectations about developing nutrition competencies were identified as barriers to greater nutrition education. Nutrition education in university dental and oral health degrees is highly variable. The potential for oral health professionals of the future to promote oral health through nutrition is unrealised.

The primary intent of this study was to provide valuable insights into the perception of stress and emotional eating patterns associated with acute and chronic stress events experienced by dental professionals during their academic tenure, as academicians, or in dental practice. A total of 404 subjects i.e. 316 Females and 88 Males participated in the study. With the maximum being undergraduate dental students, the study sample comprised post-graduates and teachers. Apart from socio-demographic details, the survey included the Perceived Stress Scale and the Emotional Eater Questionnaire. The results showed that the mediated effect of perceived stress on emotional eating was statistically significant across all age groups (p = 0.023), for both genders (p = 0.001), and among various categories of dental professionals (p = 0.013). The research highlighted that females experienced higher stress and emotional eating levels than males. However, age and professional designation did not significantly influence these behaviours at the individual level.

Aim: This study aims to assess the knowledge on clinical errors among dental practitioners and dental students in Tiruvallur. Background: Improved patient safety, less treatment errors, and higher quality care are the goals of the relatively new field of patient safety. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the knowledge of dental practitioners and students in Tiruvallur regarding clinical errors. Materials and Methods: A total of 305 dental practitioners and students in Tiruvallur participated in the cross-sectional survey that is the subject of this study. A pre-tested, self-structured, closed-ended questionnaire consisting of 16 questions was administered. A Google Form was used to create the questions, which were then distributed online to dental students. Dentists were also asked to fill out the form when they were approached in their clinics. Version 20 of the SPSS software was used to collect data and perform statistical analysis. Results: A total of 305 dental students and practitioners in Tiruvallur have participated in the study, of which 43.3% of participants were interns, 23% were third years, 14.8% were dental practitioners, 9.5% were final years, and 9.2% were postgraduates. About 83% of the participants stated that clinical error is a mistake that occurs in either patient treatment, patient diagnosis, or patient communication. Conclusion: The study highlights that a significant proportion of dental practitioners and students in Tiruvallur District possess an understanding of clinical errors. However, the varying levels of awareness among different groups indicate the need for enhanced training and educational programs on patient safety and error prevention. Strengthening knowledge on clinical errors through curriculum improvements, workshops, and continuous professional education can further minimize errors, improve patient safety, and enhance the overall quality of dental care.

A comparative assessment of the perception of Chinese facial profile esthetics

This study aimed to assess the awareness of the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) among general dental practitioners (GDPs) and primary care physicians (PCPs), focusing on the clinical implications and coordination of treating or identifying high-risk patients. Two Google Forms electronic questionnaires were distributed to 724 GDPs and 617 PCPs in primary care settings. One for PCPs with eight multiple choice questions and the other for GDPs with 10 multiple choice questions. A clinical case scenario and a section on open-ended comments were included in both questionnaires. The data obtained from each group were statistically analyzed and compared. A total of 239 GDPs and 220 PCPs participated in the study, with a response rate of 34.23%. The mean age of participants was 29.5 years and 54.35% were females (51.2% and 57.5% in the GDPs and PCPs group, respectively). Most participants had graduated from Saudi Arabia. Almost all dentists were aware of osteonecrosis of the jaw (95.1%), 68.3% of them were aware of the guidelines regarding bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) and MRONJ, 60.5% rated their general knowledge about MRONJ as very poor to poor, and 91.8% did not know any guidelines regarding BRONJ or MRONJ. Among the participants, 75.3% did not know how MRONJ was present in the oral cavity. A total of 69.9% of participants were unaware of other factors associated with an increased risk of MRONJ. MRONJ risk awareness varies greatly between dentists who diagnose and manage patients in dental clinics and physicians who write about medicines and therapies. Counseling sessions and greater coordination between dental and medical specialists are strongly suggested while prescribing antiresorptive drugs to prevent the consequent development of MRONJ. This study shows a significant lack of knowledge regarding MRONJ among GDPs and PCPs, which may affect the prevention and treatment of patients. Therefore, we urge GDPS and PCPs to take more information from scientific sources on this topic and more cooperation from specialties for the benefit of patients. How to cite this article: Aljohani MH, Aljohani AS, Aljohani RM, et al. Medical and Dental Professions' Varying Levels of Awareness Regarding Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in Saudi Arabia? A Cross-sectional Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(1):62-67.

Defining professionalism and developing educational interventions that foster and assess student professionalism are integral to dental education. Nevertheless, conceptual, methodological and pedagogic differences define the academic field, leaving students, educators and the profession itself struggling to make meaningful progress on how best to elicit and monitor dental student professionalism. This article proposes that more progress can be made on this important issue when a contextualised, sociological assessment of dentistry and dental professionalism is undertaken. We contend that identifying some of the socio-cultural demands in UK dental students' lives, and acknowledging how these pressures shape their interactions with the UK dental education system, provides a nuanced and contemporaneous understanding of what it means to be an oral health care professional at a time of social and health care upheaval. Dental educators can use this insight to work towards being more understanding of and responsive to dental student professional development.

Background:Dentistry can be an overstressed career. Dentists come across countless routes of stress in dental schools. Onset foot in clinical training, they can find that the number and type of stressors often grow. Dental students encounter high levels of academic stress, which can adversely influence them from their study years working with phantom teeth through their preclinical and clinical practice years. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the world population to a high risk of infection that comprises a major stress factor, especially for vulnerable groups such as dental students.Objective:The objective of this study was to assess the levels of COVID-19-related stress and anxiety, changes in hygienic and social habits, as well as subjective worries regarding the dental profession among dental students.Materials and Methods:A self-structured questionnaire was sent to dental students of two dental schools in the city of Jeddah. It included demographic data, questions about the level of change in personal hygiene and social habits, students' perception about the sufficiency of information received during the outbreak and its source, subjective worries regarding the dental profession, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale. Three hundred and eight responses were received.Results:Moderate and severe anxieties were reported in 41% and 7% of students, respectively. About 57% of respondents agreed to continue e-learning in the theoretical part only, 1% for the clinical part only, 32% in both, and 10% were not interested in continuing e-learning. Most of the students reported that they received excellent information about COVID-19 during the outbreak, with social media as the main source of information for the majority, followed by the Health Department. A significant number of dentists (66%) wanted to temporarily shut their dental practices until the number of COVID-19 case rates reduces considerably.Conclusion:A considerable percentage of dental students are anxious and changed their hygienic and social habits due to COVID-19. This anxiety reflects worries about the dental profession in one-third of participants that necessitate counseling services and psychological support.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dental caries, dental anxiety, and salivary cortisol levels in children visiting pediatric dental clinics and their implications on pediatric oral health. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a dental university in the UAE. A total of 60 children, aged 4-12 years, were included. Salivary cortisol levels were measured using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. Dental caries status was evaluated, and dental anxiety levels were assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Statistical analyses, including Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson's correlation coefficient, were performed to determine significant differences and associations. The study group showed significantly higher salivary cortisol levels compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). A strong positive correlation was found between salivary cortisol levels and dental caries status (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference in dental anxiety levels was observed between the study and control groups (p = 0.85). A strong positive correlation was found between dental anxiety levels and dental caries status (p < 0.001). The findings indicate a significant association between salivary cortisol levels and dental caries, suggesting that higher cortisol levels are associated with active caries. Dental anxiety levels were positively correlated with dental caries. Understanding the relationship between these variables can contribute to better oral health strategies and interventions for children, emphasizing the importance of managing dental anxiety and stress in pediatric dental care. This study highlights the potential of salivary cortisol as a biomarker for assessing stress and its impact on oral health in children. By addressing dental anxiety and stress, dental professionals can provide child-friendly dental care, enhance preventive measures, and improve oral health outcomes in pediatric patients.