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BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic posed a new challenge not only to public health but also to the health care systems and dentists are one of the highly vulnerable health care professionals for COVID-19 infection. OBJECTIVE: To assess the COVID-19 prevalence, associated factors, and infection control practices among dentists in Andhra Pradesh State, India. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among dentists in Andhra Pradesh State, India. 21-item pretested questionnaire was used for data collection between January 30, 2021 and February 21, 2021. 3700 dentists from the Andhra Pradesh state were selected from the Dentists Register of India through systematic random sampling method. RESULTS: Out of 3700 dentists invited to participate in this study, responses from 1876 dentists were received with response rate of 51%. Prevalence of 8 among the study population was 9%. Patients were the primary source of infection for 60.5% of the COVID-19 positive study participants. 65.8% of total respondents using full face shield and two-third of them using N95 or equivalent mask while providing dental care. CONCLUSION: This study found a high prevalence rate of COVID-19 among the dentists. Among the associated factors, being into active practice during the pandemic was found to be statistically significant. This study recommend for additional infection control protocols specific to the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This questionnaire-based survey was designed to assess the acquaintance, apprehension, and perceptions of parents toward the COVID-19 pandemic and toward seeking dental care for their children in Visnagar, Gujarat, India. Settings and Design: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: The online Google survey form included 6 units with 27 close-ended questions in twin languages (regional and English). Inquiries covered demographics, changes in daily acts, dietary traditions, and preparedness to seek child oral care during November 2020 to January 2021. Results: Out of 400 parents, 172 responded to the electronic survey form. Over half of the guardians affirmed that alveolar treatment could fan out COVID-19. Around 90% resorted to medication (self-medication – 39%, home remedies – 32.6%, and teledentistry – 17.4%) to evade personal dental visits for their children. Conclusions: The awareness about COVID-19 and precautions was significantly high. Though parents were unaware about safeguards practiced by dentists during Covid19. Measures were taken to correct misconceptions among parents about safe dental procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Replacement of missing tooth plays an important role in patient's comfort and self-esteem. Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the most commonly used impression materials and techniques practiced for crowns and bridgework by prosthodontists and general dental practitioners compared to the theoretical methods suggested in the literature and to determine the clinical factors that might influence the decision-making process for the selection of impression materials and techniques. Materials and Methods: Pre-tested and pre-validated structured and closed-ended anonymous questionnaire was shared with general dental practitioners and prosthodontists. Results: Most of the prosthodontists use diagnostic impression compared to general dental practitioners (P<0.01). Full-arch tray was used by general dental practitioners significantly more frequently compared to prosthodontists (P<0.01) for single anterior, single posterior, anterior, and posterior bridge preparations. Alginate hydrocolloid was used by general dental practitioners significantly more than prosthodontists (P<0.05); however, addition silicone and condensation silicone were used by prosthodontists significantly more than general dental practitioners (P<0.05). For the impression technique followed in case of using elastomeric impression materials, the prosthodontists used the two-step putty reline technique with spacer more commonly, while general dental practitioners used the multiple mix technique (P<0.01). For the use of provisional restoration for single tooth crowns and for all the bridges, prosthodontists used provisional restoration in significantly higher proportion as compared to general dental practitioners (P<0.01). Conclusion: According to our study compared to general dental practitioners, practices of the prosthodontists regarding use of fixed partial denture is more in line with the current global trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: India has become the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) epicentre with the highest number of COVID-19 cases being reported each day. This has caused a major impact on healthcare workers including dentists across the country. Most dental clinics in Tamil Nadu were closed during the initial two months of draconian lockdown enforced by the Government of India (GOI). As partial lockdown measures were introduced over the subsequent months, dental clinics have started functioning and receiving patients for emergency dental treatment. Aim: This study was done among dentists practicing in Tamil Nadu amidst the COVID-19 pandemic to understand how the pandemic has impacted their professional and personal lives. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study using online focus group discussion was conducted among 32 dentists practicing in Tamil Nadu, India using a structured interview guide in the month of July 2020. After data collection, the focus group discussions were transcribed manually and an inductive thematic analysis was performed using Braun and Clarke's six phases for thematic analysis. Results: Three major themes were identified after the thematic analysis namely limitations of off-campus distance learning, challenges faced in dental practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and social life impacts of COVID-19 among dentists. Conclusion: Dentists in this study felt that the COVID-19 pandemic was negatively impacting their dental practices owing to lack of clarity in COVID-19 protocols, lack of patient awareness, high cost of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), increasing overhead expenses, ergonomic difficulties in treating patients while wearing PPE, patients' unwillingness to pay higher charges for treatment under COVID-19 protocols and fear of contracting COVID-19. Majority of participants in this study did not report any negative impacts of social isolation as many of them had stayed with their families during the lockdown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Back ground: Temporization following tooth preparation is mandatory to ensure tooth stability and therefore to prevent tooth movement and additional treatment. It enables to maintain proper occlusal and proximal contacts to promote patient comfort and maintain their tooth position. The interim covering for a tooth after its preparation is mandatory to maintain tooth vitality. This provides security and comfort for the patients during the fabrication of the final restorations. Aim: The aim of the survey is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of temporization followed by tooth preparation among the Indian dental practitioners. Study Design: The study was conducted in April 2019. It was conducted among the Indian dental practitioners to evaluate their KAP of preferring temporary crowns after tooth preparation in their general dental practice. A questionnaire survey was formed and sent to general dental practitioners all over India. All the questions are close-ended, which takes 3–5 min to fill up. We got back 85 responses from dentists. All the data collected were subjected to elicit in the form of detailed pie charts. Results: Almost all the doctors felt that temporization is an important step in the process of fixed prosthesis. All of them would prefer to fabricate in an indirect method. Dentists would like to give the crowns for a week before the permanent cementation, and many of them are capable of fabricating in 1 h and rest in 1/2 day. Conclusion: All fields of human activity have been affected by great advances of technological developments. As a matter of fact, when a patient looks for a dentist, it is to improve specifically esthetics because in a highly competitive and modern society a young, beautiful and natural appearance is very important for success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advertising by dentists is a controversial issue. Many feel that advertising is necessary for creating dental awareness, whereas, many others feel that it should be banned to keep intact the ethical aspect of the profession, which aims at serving the community. This study explores consumers' ideas about advertising. A total of 562 respondents from various parts of India participated in this study. The response rate was 46.83%. The data were analyzed by applying the chi-square test of association and the Z test of difference between two proportions at 5% and 1% level of significance (i.e., p < .05 and p < .01). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An understanding of international dental education systems is critical for the education of foreign-trained dentists in U.S. dental programs. However, there is little information on this topic. This article provides information regarding 1) dental history, 2) dental school system, 3) curriculum/examination at dental school, and 4) dental licensure in India and Japan. There are 185 dental schools in India and twenty-nine in Japan. The number of first-year dental students is 12,872 and 2,647 in India and Japan, respectively. A five-year dental education, which includes 4,035 curriculum hours, leads to the B.D.S. degree in India, whereas a six-year dental education program, which includes 5,060 curriculum hours, leads to the D.D.S. degree in Japan. No undergraduate predental study is needed prior to entry into dental school in both countries. In India, the entrance examination is extremely competitive; however, there is no nationwide licensure examination. In Japan, dental schools use more sophisticated dental materials and equipment in the clinical phases of the curriculum than in India, but there is no clinical examination at the time of graduation. Several implications for U.S. dental programs for foreign-trained dentists with respect to screening applicants and curriculum development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]