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ABSTRACT Objective Materials and Methods Results Conclusion Studying dentists' knowledge of dry mouth management is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment, improving patient outcomes and oral health. This study aimed to evaluate their knowledge and awareness of dry mouth and its predictors.A pre‐validated online survey was administered to a convenience sample of dentists across six countries. The questionnaire evaluated knowledge in various domains, including predisposing factors, diagnosis, clinical signs and symptoms, and management of dry mouth.A total of 884 dentists participated. Knowledge and awareness of dry mouth management varied significantly between countries (p < 0.05). Overall, 34.3% of participants demonstrated good knowledge, while 53.7% had moderate knowledge. Regarding management awareness, 55.4% had good awareness and 35.5% had moderate awareness. A majority (69.2%) showed good knowledge of common signs, symptoms, and consequences of dry mouth. Significant predictors of better knowledge and awareness included the country of practice and attendance at continuing education courses on dry mouth.The findings suggest that dentists in the surveyed countries require improved education on dry mouth and its management. Dental educators and healthcare planners can use this data to design targeted continuing education activities to enhance knowledge and awareness of dry mouth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary introduces the new Graduating European Dentist Curriculum Domain V—'Research', and outlines the international multi‐stakeholder development and consultation process that was undertaken in order to develop the new Domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Premature loss of primary teeth (PLPT) can be a rare presentation of systemic medical conditions. Premature loss of primary teeth may present a diagnostic dilemma to paediatric dentists. Aims: To identify systemic conditions associated with PLPT and develop a clinical aid. Design: OVID Medline, Embase and Web of Science were searched up to March 2023. Citation searching of review publications occurred. Exclusion occurred for conference abstracts, absence of PLPT and absence of English‐language full text. Results: Seven hundred and ninety‐one publications were identified via databases and 476 by citation searching of review articles. Removal of 390 duplicates occurred. Following the exclusion of 466 records on abstract review, 411 publications were sought for retrieval, of which 142 met inclusion criteria. Thirty‐one systemic conditions were identified. For 19 conditions, only one publication was identified. The majority of publications, 91% (n = 129), were case reports or series. Most publications, 44% (n = 62), were related to hypophosphatasia, and 25% (n = 35) were related to Papillon–Lefèvre. Diagnostic features were synthesised, and a clinical aid was produced by an iterative consensus approach. Conclusions: A diverse range of systemic diseases are associated with PLPT. Evidence quality, however, is low, with most diseases having a low number of supporting cases. This clinical aid supports paediatric dentists in differential diagnosis and onward referral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methodology Results Conclusions To explore the context in which general dental practitioners (GDPs) decide to refrain from further treatment, that is, ortho‐ or retrograde retreatment or extraction of a root canal filled tooth with persistent asymptomatic apical periodontitis (PAAP).Fifteen GDPs were strategically selected for in‐depth interviews. The informants were encouraged to describe in their own words and in as much detail as possible, the three most recent patient cases of PAAP of a root canal filled tooth, in which they decided to refrain from further treatment. The interviews were recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim. The collected material was analysed according to Qualitative Content Analysis with an inductive approach.A pattern of varying degrees of uncertainty associated with the decision process was identified. The motives to refrain intervention had great diversity. The result from analysis of the qualitative data was formulated in an overall theme ‘Between doubt and certainty in a complex clinical context’ covering the latent content. The first main category covering the manifest content was ‘The continuum of confidence’ with three subcategories ‘Experienced uncertainty’, ‘Reluctant approval’ and ‘At ease with refraining’ illustrating the feelings and attitudes experienced by the informants. The second category was ‘In support of acceptance’ with three subcategories ‘Patient's autonomy, risks and cost‐benefits’, ‘Emotional aspects’ and ‘Relieving measures’ representing the reasons for refraining from intervention.The decision to refrain from further treatment, that is, ortho‐ or retrograde retreatment or extraction of a root canal filled tooth with PAAP was made with some measure of confidence, combined with compensatory strategies to support the decision, taking into account not only values beneficial to the patient and awareness of limited external resources, but also factors related to the informants' personal preferences, convenience, concerns, ambition and emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Aim Methods Results Conclusions Dental care avoidance affects individuals' oral health status. There is limited literature examining the context of dental avoidance behavior.The aim of the study is to examine attitudes toward dental care services among adults.Overall, 16 patients participated in semi‐structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Through independent reviews of the themes that comprise the patients' experience, a consensus was established among the researchers.Ten major themes were identified that encapsulate patients' attitudes toward dental care attendance: Effect of environment and equipment, Fear and anesthesia, Procrastination, Dissatisfaction with the dental care system, Expectations of dentists, Quality of dental care, Edentulousness and social status, Financial involvement, Aesthetics, and Dentists' behavior. Compliance with oral health maintenance can be enhanced by specific training for professionals and dentistry students and by fine tuning the dental care system.This is the first comprehensive study in Hungary investigating attitudes among dentist patients toward dental care. The results suggest that there are many factors that may affect dental care attendance. Thus, these findings make a potentially fundamental contribution to the improvement of dental care and support practitioners in enriching their understanding of dental avoidance behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objectives Methods Results Conclusions The aim of this study was to perform a descriptive analysis of oropharyngeal adverse events (AEs) related to drugs and/or vaccines in order to provide useful information for clinicians.Data related to three regions of Italy were analyzed from 2019 to 2021 by using the National Pharmacovigilance database.Among overall 67,384 cases, 2773 (4.1%) reported at least one oropharyngeal AE. Most cases referred to females (71.0%) and adults (70.8%). The majority of cases were reported as not serious (68.4%) and the outcome was mainly positive (73.5%). The cases related to drugs (52.2%) were slightly more than those related to vaccines (47.8%), the latter nearly completely represented by COVID‐19 vaccines. Among 3324 oropharyngeal AEs, the most commonly reported were oropharyngeal conditions (65.9%). The most reported AEs related to vaccines were paresthesia oral and oropharyngeal pain, whereas the most reported AEs related to drugs were throat tightness and angioedema. A marked under‐reporting of osteonecrosis of the jaw (2.9%) was observed, despite this risk was well documented in the same country.This analysis suggested an under‐reporting of oropharyngeal AEs and the need to better train dentists, dental hygienists, and also general practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies documenting the treatments used by dentists in the management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have been undertaken in some countries; however, no such research has been conducted in Australia. No similar studies have been documented for physiotherapists. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the treatment options and referral patterns used by Australian dentists and physiotherapists in managing people with TMDs. Methods: Prospective nationwide online questionnaires targeting Australian dentists and physiotherapists were created for Australian dentists and physiotherapists. Results: Seventy‐eight respondents (27 dentists; 51 physiotherapists) completed all questions in the questionnaires. Sixty respondents reported actively treating people with TMDs. The treatment options used most frequently by dentists included advice and education, oral appliances, physical agents such as moist heat and medications. The treatment options most frequently used by physiotherapists included manual therapy, exercises, electrophysical agents and advice and education. Referrals were most frequently made to dentists and physiotherapists with experience and/or expertise in managing people with TMDs and to general dentists. Conclusions: Commonly used treatment options were mostly conservative, reversible and evidence‐based. More responses are required to draw conclusions representative of Australian dentists and physiotherapists in the management of people with TMDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Anti‐resorptive agents have been linked to the development of MRONJ in patients undergoing dental surgical procedures. This survey aims to explore the level of knowledge and experience of Italian Society of Periodontology and Implantology members in the management of patients treated with anti‐resorptive agents and with the risk of developing MRONJ. Materials and Methods: An 18‐item questionnaire was submitted by e‐mail to the SIdP members. Statistical analyses were carried out. Continuous variables were described as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or median, and first and third quartile according to distribution's normality. Normality of data was checked with Shapiro–Wilk test. Results: Four hundred and fifty‐one questionnaires were returned by e‐mail (32%). Most of the respondents were private practitioners (81.8%). Only 47.7% declared to be highly confident in managing patients on anti‐resorptive therapy while 92.5% reported to have performed tooth extractions and 52.3% implant surgery in patients under anti‐resorptive therapy for osteometabolic disorders. One or more MRONJ‐affected patients were encountered by 63.2% of the respondents. Conclusions: This survey highlights the need to develop a "dedicated" program both for dentists and prescribers to improve the level of cooperation and to increase the level of awareness of patients treated with anti‐resorptive agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Malnutrition is common among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and associated with poorer outcomes. Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are often prescribed, with concerns raised about their cariogenicity. This study examined ONS use and caries experience in patients with HNC 12 months post‐diagnosis. Methods: Fifty‐four patients with HNC referred for pre‐radiotherapy dental assessment were recruited. Data collected included: age, gender, residential postcode, smoking, alcohol use, HNC characteristics, dental history, oral hygiene habits, dietary advice and ONS use. Data was collected at diagnosis, during radiotherapy and 6 weeks, three, six‐ and 12‐months post‐treatment completion. Results: Fifty‐one subjects completed the study. 76.5% of the participants used ONS for an average of 13.8 weeks. Caries developed in 22.9% of ONS users and 11.1% of non‐users (p = 0.6585). The mean overall duration of ONS use was 18.7 weeks for the caries group and 8.5 weeks for the caries‐free group (p = 0.1507). Lack of collaboration and disconnection was noted between dietary advice given by dieticians and dentists. Conclusions: ONS use is common among patients with HNC. Larger studies are needed to establish the reasons for caries development and impacts of ONS use on oral health. Importance of multidisciplinary management of malnutrition is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torture victims struggling with post‐traumatic stress often experience elements in the dental treatment situation that may trigger trauma‐related reactions. The aim of the study was to explore intervention strategies that will enable dental health workers to adapt dental treatment to the needs of torture survivors. Exploratory interviews were conducted with 10 torture‐exposed resettled refugees with dental treatment experience in Norway. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis, which suggested that to minimize trauma‐reactions, dental personnel should focus on creating a safe therapeutic space and strengthening the patient's sense of control. Four main categories of clinical advice were proposed: (i) Acquire knowledge about psychology, consequences of torture, cultural differences, trauma‐informed care, and the patients' individual needs; (ii) Recognize the trigger‐potential of busyness or delays; (iii) Avoid surprises, such as sudden moves or actions and explore triggers individually, but make sure not to evoke images of interrogation, and; (iv) Provide overview both with respect to visibility in the clinical room, and to predictability regarding the dental treatment. Although undergoing dental treatment may be challenging for torture‐exposed individuals, it is possible to reduce the predicaments considerably by making feasible adaptions to the treatment and adopting a trauma‐informed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the United States, adult dental benefits are optional in the state‐managed, public insurance program, Medicaid. States also have the option to adapt their Medicaid program via waivers which pair healthy behaviour incentives (HBI) with cost‐sharing. These waivers have proven ineffective, but the empirical evidence has ignored differences between states. This study aims to evaluate the impact of four state's HBI Medicaid waiver on dental visits among low‐income adult population subject to incentives and cost‐sharing requirements by the HBI waiver. Methods: Analysing biannual data from the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System's Oral Health module (2008–2018) with a Difference‐in‐Differences design, this study estimated the effect of a Healthy Behaviour Incentive waiver on the probability of visiting the dentist in the past year. The three states that implemented an HBI Waiver (Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin) were analysed separately. Secondary outcomes included being uninsured and having all teeth extracted. Matrix Completion methods accounted for dynamic treatment and tested for non‐common trends. Inference was based on randomization inference tests. Results: Only in Michigan was an HBI waiver consistently associated with a significant increase in the probability of a dental visit (Est. = 5.6%‐points, p =.01). There was little convincing evidence that HBI waivers were associated with being uninsured or having all teeth extracted. Conclusions: Between 2010 and 2019, many states have implemented an HBI waiver, each with a different approach to incentivizing dental visits. These implementation differences may explain the heterogeneous effects by state. More work is needed to evaluate how Medicaid waivers impact health outcomes in low‐income populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Weight stigma is prevalent within healthcare settings and is an aspect of the lived experience of people living with obesity. There is international evidence of weight stigma in the dental setting, where currently there is also evidence indicating limited training amongst dental professionals regarding obesity or obesity‐related stigma. There has been Australian research and none have included dental support staff. Aims: This cross‐sectional survey aimed to assess stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs of dental professionals (registered general dentists, oral health therapists) and support staff (dental assistants, dental receptionists) working in private and public regional practices in New South Wales and specialists in Special Needs Dentistry across Australia toward people living with obesity. Methods: An anonymous electronic validated survey was administered through REDCap™ to assess stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs held amongst respondents in relation to people living with obesity. Results: Fifty‐three participants completed the survey (n = 33 clinicians, n = 20 support staff). The majority 47/53 (88.7%) held positive attitudes toward people living with obesity. Of the clinicians, 15/33 (45.5%) reported 1 hour or less and 14/33 (42.4%) reported two to 5 hours of obesity‐related education. 14/20 (70%) of the support staff reported no prior education or training about obesity. Of responses reflecting weight stigma, only three clinicians reported negative reactions toward the appearance, or discomfort during examination, of a patient with obesity, or a perception of laziness, compared with normal weight individuals. A higher proportion 4/20 (20%) of support staff reported responses indicating negative attitudes for people with obesity compared with normal weight individuals. Conclusion: Survey responses reflected evidence of weight stigma in both dental professionals and support staff. Professional development targeting weight stigma reduction in the dental setting is needed for both clinicians and support staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background/Aim Participants and Methods Results Conclusion This study explored perceived challenges in the management of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) among general dentists in the public dental service (PDS) of Vestland County in Western Norway and their needs for improving treatment care for TDI patients.This qualitative study conducted three focus group discussions. We recruited a purposive sample of seven general dentists employed in the PDS in Vestland County in Western Norway. The three focus groups consisted of two, two, and three participants, respectively. The focus group discussion took place via the Microsoft electronic platform Teams, and it was visual, and audio recorded. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation.The general dentists in this study experienced the management of TDI as a set of complex procedures that require good theoretical knowledge, clinical experience, skills, and teamwork. We were able to group these challenges into three results categories: (1) proficiency challenges, (2) the challenge of stress and discomfort during dental procedures, and (3) the challenge of the organization of the PDS. The participants also expressed the need for practical courses, calibration, and refresher courses in dental traumatology. Their needs fell into two categories: (1) regular, clinically relevant continuing professional development and (2) collective efforts in TDI management.Increasing awareness of the challenges in TDI management and addressing the need for improved dental treatment for TDI patients may lead to targeted programs to enhance dentists' knowledge and skills. There is considerable potential for training dentists in dental traumatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on a primary care practice situated in Yorkshire, England with the aim of reviewing the management of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) within the practice. Topics discussed include the materials and methods used in the study, findings on the dentists' confidence in managing TDIs, and the introduction of a combination of staff training and practice measures to the practice.

During World War II, millions of people were mistreated and imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps. Due to the antisemitic pressure applied by the Nazi regime, many scientists had to leave Germany, and they immigrated to the United States, Switzerland, Turkey or South America. Alfred Kantorowicz was among those highly educated people who were forced out of their professional career. For a certain period, he had to stay away from the world of research and academia, which were his favorite occupations. However, these unexpected difficulties did not prevent him to pursue his success story with many awards, books, and scientific studies. Professor Kantorowicz was saved from a concentration camp upon the efforts of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to modernize the university education system in Turkey. Prof. Kantorowicz worked from 1933 until his retirement in 1948 and acted as the "father of dentistry" in Turkey. His vision of preventive dentistry and his entrepreneurial approach should set an example for today's young dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate what happens to cross‐sectionally identified root‐filled teeth over a 6‐year period, regardless of the time that elapsed since primary root canal treatment, in a cohort of adult patients regularly attending a Public Dental Service. A secondary aim was to investigate how the cumulative events affecting root‐filled teeth over the same time were associated with variables obtained from a baseline examination. Methodology: Adult patients with ≥1 previously root‐filled tooth and regularly attending the Public Dental Service in Örebro County were enrolled for study participation in 2015. General dental practitioners examined all identified root‐filled teeth in this cohort at baseline using a standardized protocol and were also responsible for further decision‐making and treatments. After six years, information on events of the root‐filled teeth was collected from dental records. The highest rating (most invasive treatment) on a 5‐point ordinal scale was used in the analyses. Regression analyses with stepwise selection were performed for associations between patient‐ and tooth‐related factors and events. Results: A total of 445 patients with 1007 root‐filled teeth were followed the entire observation time. Twenty (2.0%) of the root‐filled teeth had endodontic retreatment and 150 (14.9%) were extracted over six years. Among teeth with periapical radiolucency or pain, the majority did not undergo retreatment or extraction; however, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that retreatment or extraction was associated with baseline recordings of teeth with periapical radiolucency (p <.0001), tenderness to percussion (p <.0001), and poor coronal restoration (p <.0001). Conclusions: This study corroborates the notion that in general dentistry, root‐filled teeth with radiological signs of apical disease often remain untreated over time. Furthermore, it also reveals that root‐filled teeth presenting with mild pain do not necessarily receive any intervention. However, teeth with baseline signs of apical periodontitis, pain, or inadequate coronal restoration were more likely to have received intervention during the six‐year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tele‐dentistry can be useful for dental caries screening of children, especially in lower‐middle‐income countries (LMICs). Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of mobile phone photographs taken by a community health worker (CHW) for caries detection in Iran. Design: Children aged 6–12 years were visually examined by a paediatric dentist. Following dental examinations, intraoral photographs were taken by a trained CHW. Two remote dentists assessed intraoral photographs for dental caries. Diagnostic accuracy of tele‐dentistry for caries detection was evaluated. In addition, the questionnaire about oral health and parents' views towards tele‐dentistry was prepared. Results: One hundred thirty‐one children aged 8.74 ± 1.62 years participated. The caries prevalence was 30% for the whole dentition. Tele‐dentistry demonstrated high accuracy, with a sensitivity exceeding 80% and specificity exceeding 90%. The inter‐rater reliability for remote dentists' assessments to the gold standard dental examination ranged from substantial to almost perfect (kappa: 75%–93%). Additionally, 80% of parents whose children participated in this study had positive views towards tele‐dentistry. Conclusion: Tele‐dentistry was shown to be an alternative approach to clinical examinations for caries detection among school children. Employing non‐dental care professionals in tele‐dentistry has been emerged as a reliable and cost‐effective approach, especially in LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Background: Little is known about dental healthcare workers reported suspected child maltreatment to and received inquiry from the child welfare services (CWS). Aim: Assess time lag differences in public dental healthcare workers' information sharing with CWS and identify sociodemographic and attitudinal covariates of information sharing with CWS in 2014 and 2019. Design: In 2014 and 2019, a national census of 1542 and 1791 Norwegian dental health care workers, respectively, were invited to participate in an electronic survey. Of them, 1200 (77.8%) and 1270 (70.9%) replied to the questionnaires. Time trends of reported child maltreatment and received inquiries were estimated and adjusted for sociodemographics, attitudes, trust, and collaborative routines in logistic regression analyses. Results: The likelihood of reported child maltreatment to and received inquiry from CWS was higher in 2019 than in 2014 (OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.2–1.7] and OR 1.1 [95% CI 0.9–1.4]). Significant associations occurred with sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes, and collaborative routines. The likelihood of receiving inquiry about whether being employed long versus short term was higher in 2019 than in 2014. Conclusion: Information sharing between dental healthcare workers and CWS improved across time and might promote beneficial outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: During child dental treatment, different behavior management techniques (BMTs) are applied and it is important to understand the possible discomfort in the operator. Objective: The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the acceptability of dental students and professionals concerning BMTs applied with paediatric dentistry patients. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted, following the PEOS strategy: Population (P) – dental students/professionals (S); Exposure (E) – BMTs preconized by the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, Outcome (O) – proportion of BMT acceptance; and Study design (S) – observational studies based on data from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, BVS (Lilacs/BBO), Cochrane, and Open Grey databases up to September 2021. The eligible studies were submitted to data extraction and to the evaluation of methodological quality, using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. The certainty of evidence was evaluated by GRADE. Results: The search retrieved 710 articles; a total of 21 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were used for qualitative analysis. Among the undergraduate students and dentists, the most accepted techniques were tell‐show‐do and positive reinforcement, while paediatric dentists preferred the tell‐show‐do technique and dental professionals with graduate degrees preferred sedation using nitrous oxide and positive reinforcement. The least accepted technique was protective stabilization. Seven students presented a low risk for bias, while 14 presented a high risk. The certainty of evidence was classified as very low. Conclusion: Although the basis of available certainty of evidence is scarce and with a considerable risk for bias, it is still possible to conclude that the more accepted techniques were based on communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Background/Aim: Most children and adolescents in Norway attend the Public Dental Service (PDS) where they are treated free‐of‐charge until the age of 19 years. Thus, general dentists employed in the PDS are the primary care providers for traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in young patients. This cross‐sectional study assessed the knowledge of PDS general dentists on the acute management and follow‐up of TDI and its socio‐demographic and attitudinal covariates. Materials and Methods: All general dentists employed in the Vestland County PDS, Western Norway, (N = 170) received an online questionnaire. Socio‐demographic and professional profiles of respondents as well as attitudinal indicators were queried. Clinical case scenarios on emergency treatment and further follow‐ups of TDI were used to calculate a dental trauma knowledge score (DTKS; range: 0–21). Mann–Whitney U tests and Kruskal–Wallis tests determined differences between the demographic subgroups. Logistic regressions determined the potential of single factors in explaining the variability in dental trauma knowledge. Results: The response rate was 46%. Most participants (60.5%) had not participated in a TDI course after graduation but would like such a course (84.2%). Mean DTKS was 13.82 (±2.6). Knowledge scores differed significantly between age groups (p =.014) and years since graduation (p =.0018). Younger dentists and recently graduated dentists scored highest. Dentists under the age of 30 years scored higher than 30–39‐ and 40–49‐year‐old dentists in these areas: emergency treatment of crown fractures with pulp exposure, identification of complications after avulsion, and management of severe intrusive luxation injury. Conclusion: Younger dentists had a higher theoretical knowledge of TDI. Continuing professional development among dentists in the Norwegian PDS is needed for emergency treatment and complication management after TDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop a caries‐risk assessment application (myRisk app) and assess the psychometric properties based on content validity, construct validity, and how well it classifies the participants into different caries risk groups using caries increments at 10 months. Methods: The myRisk mobile application was developed using Android Studio 4.1.1. The content validity was assessed by three dental experts. To evaluate construct validity and the prediction of future dental caries, the participants (N = 88) were recruited from Rajvithi Home for Girls in Thailand by convenience sampling. The participants were completed a caries risk assessment (CRA) of myRisk app and ADA form. The oral examination was performed at the time of CRA and 10 months following the baseline. Results: Eighty‐eight participants aged 12–29 used the myRisk app and completed the ADA form. The app content validity was acceptable (IOC = 0.67). According to myRisk, 7.9%, 71.6%, and 20.5% of the participants were classified into the low‐, moderate‐, and high‐risk groups, respectively. The percent agreement of the caries‐risk classification with the ADA form was 30.7%. Significant differences between the three risk groups were found in active caries (p < 0.001), type, and frequency of sugary snacks (p = 0.002). The app had a sensitivity of 68%, a specificity of 61%, and an area under the receiver operating characterisitic (ROC) curve of 0.61. Conclusions: The myRisk app has acceptable content validity and sufficient diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, and ROC curve). However, there is a different outcome in caries‐risk classification compared with the ADA form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The primary aim of the investigation was to survey clear aligner therapy (CAT) use among general dentists in Australia. A secondary aim was to evaluate the factors that influenced general dentists in Australia not to provide CAT. Material and Methods: General dentists registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency were invited to participate in a structured cross‐sectional electronic survey. The survey covered demographics, preferred CAT systems and practices, relevant treatment planning and retention protocols, patient‐reported CAT issues, pertinent respondent opinions, and reasons for not providing CAT. Descriptive statistics were computed via GraphPad Prism v10 (GraphPad Software Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA). Results: Most of the 264 (n = 172; 65.2%) respondents indicated that they provided CAT. The majority (n = 82; 58.6%) reported that they treated between 1 and 20 patients with CAT annually. Invisalign was the most used system (n = 83; 61.2%), with 55 (41.7%), indicating that they used more than one system. Most (n = 124; 98.4%) were comfortable using CAT for mild crowding, whereas 73.4% (n = 94) were not comfortable in treating severe crowding with CAT. The median (IQR) number of patients per respondent treated with extraction of a permanent incisor or premolar was 0 (0). Issues regarding tooth positions were reportedly always or mostly in need of change in the initial treatment plan by 68.7%. Problems regarding patient compliance with CAT wear protocols (n = 67; 45.6%) and the predictability of treatment outcomes (n = 31; 21.1%) were the most identified themes of the free‐text comments. Over 80% of those who did not provide CAT indicated that they preferred to refer to an orthodontist for management. Conclusion: Almost two‐thirds of the respondents provided CAT. Invisalign was the most used system. The majority use CAT combined with nonextraction treatment. Most of those who did not provide CAT preferred to refer to an orthodontist for patient management. Summary: The use of CAT is increasing globally.The present survey is among the first to explore CAT practices of general dentists. As such, it provides novel baseline information related to a wide range of factors related to CAT practices and protocols.In the absence of robust evidence regarding CAT, it informs clinicians about colleagues' use, experiences, and problems with, and opinions of, CAT.The study will enable clinicians to provide insight regarding their own utility of CAT by comparing their own practices to the study's findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

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

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

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the lightness difference perceptibility and acceptability thresholds, for a single maxillary central incisor, and to investigate possible differences in these thresholds regarding the direction (+ΔL* vs. −ΔL*), the observer group (dentists vs. laypersons), and the gender and age of the observers. Materials and Methods: A series of images with varying lightness (L*), were created by altering the right maxillary central incisor of a male Caucasian, on a frontal view full‐portrait image. Digital modification of one central incisor by 1 ΔL* unit resulted in 15 different images: one control, seven with increased and seven with decreased lightness. The images were presented in random order, on a digitally calibrated monitor, to 158 observers, grouped into 79 dentists, and 79 laypersons, who were asked to evaluate every image and answer whether they perceive a difference and if yes, whether they accept this difference. A multifactorial analysis of covariance was performed to analyze the perception and acceptance of any difference in the central incisors and to estimate the thresholds. The statistical significance level was α = 0.05. Results: Overall, the magnitude of ΔL*, direction of ΔL*, observer group and age were each significant (p < 0.001), as was gender (p = 0.03). The effect of the magnitude of ΔL* interacted with its direction and the observer group (p = 0.045), and the effect of age interacted with the direction of ΔL*, and the gender and the group of the observers. Estimated 50%:50% perceptibility thresholds ranged from 0.1 to 2.7, and 50%:50% acceptability thresholds ranged from 2.3 to 4.5. Overall, dentists perceived lightness differences at lower magnitudes than laypersons; difference in lightness was perceived and accepted at lower magnitudes when the tooth become lighter instead of darker; and female observers perceived and accepted lightness differences at lower magnitudes compared to males. As age increased overall, differences of lightness were perceived and accepted at higher magnitudes. Conclusions: Perceptibility and acceptability of lightness differences of a single maxillary central incisor are affected by the magnitude and the direction of lightness change, as well as the gender, the age, and the type of the observers. Clinical Significance: Even small changes in lightness are perceivable; however, thresholds of perception and acceptance are dependent on the magnitude and the direction of change and are also dependent on the observer, with women, dentists and younger people perceiving and accepting changes at lower magnitudes of ΔL*. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Proper identification of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) provides an opportunity for oral cancer prevention. This study aims to assess the competency of dental health professionals in identifying OPMDs and, in turn, reducing the incidence of oral malignancy by early detection. Methods: A 26‐case online questionnaire of oral mucosal lesions was distributed to cohorts of 363 dental health professionals and dental students in Australia. The participants were asked to provide their provisional diagnosis for each case based on the available information. Results: The overall accuracy in identifying oral mucosal lesions was 65.9%. There were no significant differences in the overall diagnostic accuracies between dental specialists, general dental practitioners and final‐year dental students (p > 0.05). The lowest diagnostic accuracies were associated with normal mucosal variations and OPMDs. The predoctoral dental curriculum showed statistically significant values in terms of improving skills in diagnosing oral mucosal lesions. Conclusions: Lack of adequate knowledge in identifying OPMDs was evident among the participants, highlighting a non‐promising figure in reducing the incidence of oral cancers in Australia. Comprehensive modifications of the current continuing professional development system are required to ensure adequate knowledge among dental health providers in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of free‐to‐access videos on oral biopsy procedures on the YouTube platform. Materials and Methods: We conducted a search on YouTube using the term "oral biopsy" and selected the first 100 videos in order of relevance. The following exclusion criteria were applied: language other than English, videos that did not cover oral biopsy techniques, videos on nonhuman specimens, postoperative instructions, personal experiences, exfoliative cytology, or "brush biopsy." Forty‐seven selected videos were classified based on their duration, country of origin, date of upload to the system, author, information source and number of views, and likes and dislikes. Video quality was analyzed using DISCERN, the Global Quality Scale (GQS), and the Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI). Results: The majority (78.7%) of analyzed videos were uploaded by dentists, originating from India (48.9%), with a mean duration of 11.8 min (SD, 20.4), with 104.5 likes (SD, 186.4) and 7.1 dislikes (SD, 10.55). The mean values for DISCERN, GQS, and VIQI were 1.3 (SD, 0.52), 2.1 (SD, 1.04), and 9.62 (SD, 1.69), respectively. Conclusion: The majority of videos on oral biopsy published on YouTube are of low quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Molar–incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) is a prevalent condition, and how it is managed varies greatly between professional groups. Aim: To explore, and compare, the UK and Australian general dental practitioners' management of MIH in children. Design: Face‐to‐face (remote) semistructured interviews were undertaken, using country‐specific topic guides. Participants were purposively sampled and recruited through national conferences and research networks (eviDent Foundation and Northern Dental Practice Based Research Network). Interviews (from each country) were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim and independently analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Two major themes arose from the UK interviews: (i) decision‐making complexities and understanding of treatment options and (ii) need for specialist input. The main Australian themes were (i) multidisciplinary approach to management supporting decision‐making complexities and (ii) economic implications for care. Several difficulties, such as financial implications, multidisciplinary care and clinical decision‐making, were identified as barriers to effectively managing MIH by GDPs in primary care. Conclusion: There are similarities and differences in the knowledge and management of MIH amongst UK and Australian nonspecialists. The different healthcare systems played a significant role in shaping how GDPs manage MIH with barriers relating to affordability, multidisciplinary care and clinical decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ChatGPT is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) language model that can provide health information to patients. This study examined the usefulness and readability of ChatGPT in answering questions about oral health in autism. The results showed that ChatGPT provided comprehensive and useful information, but the readability of the responses was beyond the level of a lay person. While ChatGPT has potential benefits in healthcare, it also has limitations such as ethical/legal issues and the risk of false or misleading information. Oral healthcare professionals should use AI tools sensibly and cross-reference information with reliable sources. [Extracted from the article]

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

Aim: To evaluate the average age and primary reason for the first dental visit among patients with special health care needs (SHCN) as well as to examine barriers related to accessing care for children with special health care needs. Methods: This is a cross‐sectional survey that was distributed to caregivers of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Study data was collected through REDCap, a secure web‐based survey application. Results: A total of 75 caregivers participated in the survey. Only 13% of caregivers reported that their child was less than 1 by the time of their first dental visit. Nearly all reported seeing a pediatric dentist for their first visit (89%) and that it was for a routine exam and cleaning (83%). About one‐third of guardians reported an experience where a dentist was unable to care for their child due to their SHCN (36%). Discussion: It appears that caregivers of CSHCN that participated in this survey have established routine care with a pediatric dentist at an early age. It is important to continue to educate caregivers on the importance of routine care as well as support general dentists in their role of caring for patients with SHCN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To compare radiographic periapical healing and tooth survival outcomes of root canal (re)treatment performed within two care pathways (Routine Dental Care and Referred Treatment Pathway), in the United Kingdom Armed Forces (UKAF), and determine the effects of endodontic complexity on outcomes. Methodology: This retrospective cohort study included 1466 teeth in 1252 personnel who received root canal (re)treatment between 2015 and 2020. General Dental Practitioners treated 661 teeth (573 patients) (Routine cohort), whilst Dentists with a Special Interest treated 805 teeth (678 patients) (Referred cohort). The latter group were graduates of an MSc programme in Endodontics with 4–8 years of postgraduation experience. Case complexity was retrospectively determined for each tooth using the endodontic component of Restorative Index of Treatment Need (RIOTN) guidelines. Periapical healing was determined using loose radiographic criteria. The data were analysed using chi‐square tests, univariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models. Results: A significantly (p < 0.0001) larger proportion of cases of low complexity had undergone root canal treatment within the Routine versus Referred cohort. The odds of periapical healing was significantly higher within the Referred versus Routine cohort, regardless of analyses using pooled (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.22) or moderate complexity (OR = 4.71; 95% CI: 2.73, 8.11) data. Within the Routine cohort, anterior teeth had higher odds of periapical healing than posterior teeth (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.22). The 60‐month cumulative tooth survival was lower (p = 0.03) in the Routine (90.5%) than the Referred (96.0%) cohort. Within the Routine cohort, the hazard of tooth loss was higher amongst posterior teeth (HR = 4.03; 95% CI: 1.92, 8.45) but lower if posterior teeth had cast restorations (HR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.70). For the Referred cohort, posterior teeth restored with cast restoration (vs not) had significantly lower risk of tooth loss (HR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.55). Conclusions: For UKAF patients, root canal (re)treatment provided within the Referred pathway was significantly more likely to achieve periapical healing and better tooth survival than those provided within the Routine pathway. Posterior teeth restored with an indirect restoration had a higher proportion of tooth survival. This study supported the utility of the endodontic component of RIOTN for assessing case complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To pilot an exploration of older adults' future preferences using discrete choice experiments to understand who should provide dental examinations and treatment, where these services should be provided, and participants' willingness to pay and willingness to travel. Background: The proportion of older adults in the general population is increasing and is recognised as a pressing public health challenge. Materials and Methods: Older people aged 65 years and over were recruited into this study from the UK, Switzerland and Greece. Drawing on earlier stakeholder engagement, a set of choice experiments are developed to explore the future preferences of older people for dental examinations and dental treatment, as they anticipated losing their independence. These were presented to the participants using a range of platforms, because of the COVID pandemic. Data were analysed in STATA using a random‐effects logit model. Results: Two hundred and forty‐six participants (median age 70 years) completed the pilot study. There was a strong preference across all countries for a dentist to undertake a dental examination (Greece: β = 0.944, Switzerland: β = 0.260, UK β = 0.791), rather than a medical doctor (Greece: β = −0.556, Switzerland: β = −0.4690, UK: β = −0.468). Participants in Switzerland and the UK preferred these examinations to be undertaken in a dental practice (Switzerland: β = 0.220, UK: β = 0.580) while participants in Greece preferred the dental examination to be undertaken in their homes (β = 1.172). Greek participants preferred dental treatment to be undertaken by a specialist (β = 0.365) in their home (β = 0.862), while participants from the UK and Switzerland preferred to avoid any dental treatment at home (Switzerland: β = −0.387; UK: β = −0.444). Willingness to pay analyses highlighted that participants in Switzerland and the UK were willing to pay more to ensure the continuity of future service provision at a family dental practice (Switzerland: β = 0.454, UK: β = 0.695). Conclusion: Discrete choice experiments are valuable for exploring older people's preferences for dental service provision in different countries. Future larger studies should be conducted to further explore the potential of this approach, given the pressing need to design services that are fit for purpose for older people. Continuity of dental service provision is considered as important by most older people, as they anticipate losing their dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic, new guidelines for dental practice were published. This research aims to examine the knowledge of dental students and their attitudes towards current guidelines. Materials and methods: The study involved 76 fourth‐year dental medicine students from three public universities in Croatia. A survey questionnaire was developed based on in‐depth interviews and a pilot pretesting. The online questionnaire consisting of 36 questions was published using Google Forms. The survey data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and presented with descriptive statistics. Results: Survey data showed the dental students' knowledge of the guidelines for dental practices is at an insufficient level (average score of 67% correct answers). Students who have come across the guidelines outside the faculty environment through assistantships have demonstrated lesser knowledge (65%) of the guidelines than the ones who do not (68%). A similar trend is observed with dental students who grew up in a family of doctors of dental medicine (61%) and ones who did not (68%). Students also independently assessed their knowledge of the guidelines as moderate (3.15 out of 5), while evaluating the application of current guidelines as very important (4.38 out of 5). Conclusion: Awareness of dental students should be improved by adapting the curriculum of dental studies and increasing the availability of information on current guidelines. Dental students need to be motivated to independently inform themselves about the current guidelines for dental practices, thus improving their clinical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge of senior dental students and newly graduated dentists about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral manifestations of syphilis. Materials and Methods: A 32‐question questionnaire was designed with three domains: (I) demographic, academic and professional data of the participants, (II) attitudes, practices and self‐perception regarding training about syphilis and (III) knowledge about syphilis. All knowledge responses were classified as correct or incorrect. Scores ranging from 1 to 14 were calculated, and grades were assigned to each participant according to their level of knowledge. Results: The sample comprised 408 dental students and 339 newly graduated dentists. The mean score was 7.70 ± 3.35 for undergraduates and 9.09 ± 3265 for dentists. The highest frequency of correct answers (>70%) was attributed to questions about the aetiology, transmission and treatment of syphilis. The questions with the lowest frequency of correct answers (<50%) were about the identification of oral manifestations and stages of syphilis. Conclusions: The knowledge of dental practitioners and academics about the oral manifestations of syphilis was unsatisfactory. The lack of understanding of these aspects can delay the diagnosis and treatment of patients with this disease, which is concerning given the steady increase in cases in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic ability in detecting oral lesions among dentists, dental hygienists, dentistry students, oral hygiene students, and non‐healthcare subjects. Materials and Methods: Participants were invited to classify 30 images of oral lesions in "benign" or "suspected malignant" only based on the visual appearance of the lesion. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by calculating sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence intervals and stratified by population group and image features (color, shape, and size of the lesions). Results: A total of 16,590 examinations by 553 subjects were analyzed. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 57% (95% confidence interval 56%–58%) and 64% (95% confidence interval 63%–65%). Diagnostic accuracy varied among population groups, with experienced dentists showing the lowest sensitivity (52%) and the highest specificity (71%). Red lesions, flat lesions, and large lesions had the lowest sensitivity (42%, 36%, 57%) but the highest specificity (70%, 75%, 76%). Conclusions: We found worrying low ability to detect suspected malignant oral lesions by both healthcare workers and non‐healthcare subjects. Lesion‐specific characteristics may lead to differences in recognition. Specific courses and more adequate teaching methods should be proposed to increase identification of oral lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To learn about the use patterns of dental hygienist services, by the 65+ age group in Israel and to identify the main barriers facing different population groups. Methods: Telephone interviews with a representative sample of 512 older adults aged 65 and over were conducted from February to April 2020. Results: About 50% of the older adults aged 65 and over visited a dentist (2.9 visits on average) and 35% visited a dental hygienist in the year preceding the interviews. 17% reported never visiting a dentist and 45% never received care from a dental hygienist. Dental care use rates are lower in the outlying areas of the country, among non‐Jews and among those who find it difficult to cover monthly household expenses. Those who regularly visit a dental hygienist maintain a preventive oral health routine, including tooth brushing and visits to the dentist for periodic preventive check‐ups. They are aware of the harmful effects of eating sweets in between meals. Most of the older adults aged 65 and over are unaware of the reform under which hygienist' care was included in the basket of services provided by health plans. Conclusions: There is underutilization of dental hygienist services and lack of awareness of proper oral health behaviour in the lower socioeconomic group. As less than 50% of older adults are aware of the legal rights for dental care, there is a need to raise awareness of the reform and the services provided under it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this questionnaire‐based survey was to evaluate information on frequencies, instructions and products relating to oral hygiene (OH) in orthodontic practices. Methods: Using a computer‐generated randomization list, 1000 orthodontists were selected and sent a questionnaire. The size and number of inhabitants of the federal states of Germany were considered. The federal states with the highest return rate (Baden‐Wuerttemberg [BW], Bavaria [B], Hesse [H], Lower Saxony [LS], Nordrhein‐Westphalia [NRW]) were considered and differences between the 16 federal states were divided into North, South, East and Central Germany. Results: The response rate of the questionnaires was 52.4%. The majority (53.8%) worked in one practice alone. Most (59.1%) have been orthodontists for 5–25 years. For vestibular multibracket appliances (MBA) in BW, B, H and LS over 90% recommended interdental brushes (IDB). In NRW 91.4% recommend fluoride gel. In B and H more than 80% chose electric toothbrush (ETB), in BW, LS and NRW more than 80% manual toothbrush (MTB). For lingual MBA (LMBA) in BW, H, LS and NRW with approximately 50% each fluoride gel, IDB and MTB were chosen. In B fluoride gel, IDB and ETB. For removable apparatus (RA), five federal states recommended MTB (>80%) and ETB (BW, B, H > 80%; NRW > 70%; LS > 60%). Conclusion: Electric toothbrushes are recommended for the use with all appliances, only with removable appliances manual toothbrushes are favoured. For vestibular MBA it is strongly advised to use IDB additionally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the prevalence, distribution pattern, and development/progression of gingival recession in a population of dentists, followed up over an additional 15 years, after an initial and previously published follow‐up of 10 years. Methods: This 25‐year longitudinal gingival recession investigation started in 1994 at the Dental School with 60 final‐year dental students; among them, 40 were re‐examined in 2004, and 27 of those 40 were further examined in 2019 by the same examiner. A questionnaire session provided information on toothbrushing habits at each appointment. Results: In this study, 27 individuals aged 31–44 years (724 teeth) were followed up. The prevalence of gingival recession was 100% after 15 years. A total of 204 and 317 recessions found in 2004 and 2019, respectively, were valid for the longitudinal evaluation. The highest recession incidence was observed in the molars during both examinations (p < 0.0001). The mean recession heights were 1.66 ± 0.87 mm and 1.85 ± 1.08 mm, respectively (p = 0.024). The difference between the means was 0.19 mm after 15 years. The mean probing depth and bleeding on probing at the point of the maximum recession decreased (p < 0.0001). A multiple regression analysis on the tooth level was performed and indicated that the keratinized gingival width was negatively associated with the severity of the buccal recession height. Conclusions: Fifteen years after the initial follow‐up, the mean number of gingival recessions per dentist and the mean recession height increased, while toothbrushing habits remained nearly unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The implant's supporting structure differs from that of the teeth when plaque accumulates, making it more prone to inflammation and bone loss. To ensure the implant's longevity, an effective maintenance protocol should be followed. This study aimed to evaluate the information on oral hygiene procedures at home for implant‐supported fixed prosthesis. Methods: The keywords 'cleaning dental implant,' 'how to clean dental implant,' and 'dental implant hygiene' used to search for videos on YouTube™. Following the exclusions, two researchers independently analysed the remaining 100 videos for demographic data and content usefulness. Results: In terms of usefulness score distribution, 53.52% of the videos were considered slightly useful, 38.4% moderately useful and 8.1% very useful. The video content had the least quantity of knowledge about toothpaste choice (11.1%), but the greatest quantity of knowledge on flossing (68.7%). Conclusions: According to the study's findings, there is presently no evidence‐based information on YouTube™ on dental implant oral hygiene protocols for home care procedures hygiene education. Therefore, dental care professionals should analyse the information's quality and reliability before recommending it to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Child maltreatment, the abuse or neglect of children aged 0–18 years, is a severe and underreported global problem. Compared with other body parts, the orofacial region displays more signs of child maltreatment. Dentists and dental hygienists are therefore well situated to identify orofacial signs of child maltreatment. Aim: To map the current literature on orofacial signs of child maltreatment identified by dentists or dental hygienists. Design: A scoping review was conducted based on systematic searches of Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and CINAHL (EBSCOhost) for primary qualitative and quantitative studies through June 6, 2022. Results: Twenty‐nine studies were included in this scoping review. Though all child maltreatment types were identified in dental settings, physical abuse and dental neglect were most commonly identified. Reports of caries dominated the orofacial signs, followed by bruises (intra‐ and extraoral), poor oral hygiene, dental trauma, and lacerations (intra‐ and extraoral). Case reports were used most commonly to describe orofacial signs of child maltreatment. Conclusion: Dental clinicians identify orofacial signs of all child maltreatment types intraorally. Dentists identify the same extraoral signs as do other healthcare professionals, with bruising being the most common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and the attitude in oral health (OH) of nurses (NUR) and auxiliary health technicians (AHT) belonging to the Long‐term Care Units (LTC). Methods: Observational cross‐sectional study. A survey was applied in five MLTC in Porto (Portugal) to 145 healthcare works (HCW). Data were collected using structured questionnaires with questions about knowledge and attitude regarding oral care. Data analysis comparison was performed using non‐parametric tests (α = 0.05). Results: Out of a total of 259 HCW, 145 responses were obtained (55.98% response rate). The median number of correct answers was significantly different for NUR and AHT without oral health training (OHT) (p =.035).AHT with OHT had a significantly lower number of correct answers compared to NUR with OHT (7 vs. 9, p <.001). There was no significant difference in the number of correct answers in NUR with or without OHT (p =.391) and that the AHT without OHT have a median of correct answers significantly higher than those who they have OHT (8 vs. 7, p =.020) Conclusions: Despite the positive attitude of the HCW, the knowledge is scarce. HCW recognized the urgence to update the protocols. Practical Implications: Integrating dentists in the LTC team, implementation of OH protocols and providing OH training should be considered to bridge existing gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate a modular didactic training intervention called Keep My Teeth designed by special care dentists, for a range of healthcare students to provide oral homecare for people with intellectual developmental disorders (PwIDD). Methods: To evaluate the intervention a one‐group pre‐test post‐test pre‐experimental research design was utilized. The intervention was delivered by virtual platforms or face‐to‐face, with a sub‐sample of participants also receiving practical training. Healthcare students included Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability (RNID), Dental Science (DS), Dental Nursing (DN), and Dental Hygiene (DH). Results: Sixty‐three of the 147 trainees completed all surveys. A significant change in perspective on barriers was seen for most groups post‐training, with an increase in confidence in delivering oral care to PwIDD across disciplines; 67% of DH/DN students who took part in the practical training felt that the didactic training was just as effective without the practical training, while 42% of the DS students felt that was true. Conclusions: The training interventions provided seem to have increased the awareness of study participants in relation to barriers to care, and increased their self‐efficacy towards, and intention to perform, oral homecare behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the present clinical study was to compare the Ricketts and Steiner cephalometric analysis obtained by two experienced orthodontists and artificial intelligence (AI)‐based software program and measure the orthodontist variability. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 lateral cephalometric radiographs from 50 patients were obtained. Two groups were created depending on the operator performing the cephalometric analysis: orthodontists (Orthod group) and an AI software program (AI group). In the Orthod group, two independent experienced orthodontists performed the measurements by performing a manual identification of the cephalometric landmarks and a software program (NemoCeph; Nemotec) to calculate the measurements. In the AI group, an AI software program (CephX; ORCA Dental AI) was selected for both the automatic landmark identification and cephalometric measurements. The Ricketts and Steiner cephalometric analyses were assessed in both groups including a total of 24 measurements. The Shapiro–Wilk test showed that the data was normally distributed. The t‐test was used to analyze the data (α = 0.05). Results: The t‐test analysis showed significant measurement discrepancies between the Orthod and AI group in seven of the 24 cephalometric parameters tested, namely the corpus length (p = 0.003), mandibular arc (p < 0.001), lower face height (p = 0.005), overjet (p = 0.019), and overbite (p = 0.022) in the Ricketts cephalometric analysis and occlusal to SN (p = 0.002) and GoGn‐SN (p < 0.001) in the Steiner cephalometric analysis. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between both orthodontists of the Orthod group for each cephalometric measurement was calculated. Conclusions: Significant discrepancies were found in seven of the 24 cephalometric measurements tested between the orthodontists and the AI‐based program assessed. The intra‐operator reliability analysis showed reproducible measurements between both orthodontists, except for the corpus length measurement. Clinical Significance: The artificial intelligence software program tested has the potential to automatically obtain cephalometric analysis using lateral cephalometric radiographs; however, additional studies are needed to further evaluate the accuracy of this AI‐based system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‐marketing pharmacosurveillance is important to reduce harm to patients from marketed drugs. Oral adverse drug reactions (OADRs) are seldom reported and only few OADRs are listed scarcely in summary of product characteristics (SmPC) of drugs. Objective: Structured search for OADRs in the Danish Medicines Agencies database from January 2009 to July 2019. Results: Forty‐eight percent of OADRs were categorized as "serious" where oro‐facial swelling was reported 1041 times, medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) 607 times and para‐ or hypoaesthesia 329 times. Four‐hundred‐eighty OADRs in 343 cases were related to biologic or biosimilar drugs where 73% affected the jawbone as MRONJ. Physician reported 44%, dentists 19% and citizens 10% of OADRs. Conclusions: Health care professionals had a sporadic reporting pattern that seemed to be influenced by the debate in the community and in professional circles but also by the information in the SmPC of the drugs. The results indicate some reporting stimulation of OADRs in relation to Gardasil 4, Septanest, Eltroxin and MRONJ. Eventually the knowledge of OADRs increases but there is a risk of skewed information if reporting is not systematic, reliable and consistent. All healthcare professionals must be educated in spotting and reporting all suspected adverse drug reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the prevalence of potential drug–drug interactions involving psychotropics prescribed by dentists, and dispensed by the public healthcare system, as well as to describe the severity and level of evidence of those interactions in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and Methods: We conducted data analysis from pharmaceutical claims in which dental patients received systemic psychotropics in 2017. Data from the Pharmaceutical Management System provided the drug dispensing history of the patients, allowing the identification of those on concomitant medication use. The outcome was the occurrence of potential drug–drug interactions, which were detected according to IBM Micromedex®. Independent variables were the patient's sex, age, and the number of drugs used. Descriptive statistics was performed using SPSS v. 26. Results: Overall, 1480 individuals were prescribed psychotropic drugs. The prevalence of potential drug–drug interactions was 24.8% (n = 366). The total of 648 interactions was observed and, most of which were of major severity (n = 438, 67.6%). Most interactions occurred in female individuals (n = 235; 64.2%), with 46.0 (±17.3) years‐old, concurrently taking 3.7 (±1.9) drugs. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of dental patients presented potential drug–drug interactions, mostly of major severity, which might be life‐threatening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overarching goal of the third scientific oral health symposium was to introduce the concept of a learning health system to the dental community and to identify and discuss cutting-edge research and strategies using data for improving the quality of dental care and patient safety. Conference participants included clinically active dentists, dental researchers, quality improvement experts, informaticians, insurers, EHR vendors/developers, and members of dental professional organizations and dental service organizations. This report summarizes the main outputs of the third annual OpenWide conference held in Houston, Texas, on October 12, 2022, as an affiliated meeting of the American Dental Association (ADA) 2022 annual conference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]