Knowledge, attitude, and practice of Iranian Dental Students of the standard hand washing technique: an interventional study

Background and purpose: Hand contamination is an important factor of infection transmission from dental staff to patients and vice versa. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hand washing training on dental students' knowledge, attitude, and clinical practice at the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Dental School in 2010

Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 volunteers studying in the 6[th], 7[th], 8[th], and 11[th] semesters in the Shahid Beheshti Dental School. A standardized questionnaire was used after confirmation of its content validity and reliability as the study tool. All students were assessed twice: once before [pretest] and once after the training [post-test] of hand washing techniques. The scores of pretest and post-test were compared and analyzed by paired T test and by repeated measured analysis of variance test [RMA] by means of SPSS-15 program

Results: A total of 100 students [38 boys and 62 girls] participated in this study. The difference between the mean scores of dental students' knowledge before [13.73 +/- 2.76] and after training [19.64 +/- 2.53] was found to be significant [p<0.001]. With regard to their attitudes, the mean scores related to before [25.21 +/- 2.31] and after training [26.63 +/- 2.08] were significantly different [p<0.001]. Meanwhile, the participants showed significantly improved hand washing technique after training [p<0.001]. RMA scores showed no significant difference between the male and female students in terms of their knowledge and attitudes, although the clinical practice of boys was better than that of girls [p=0.017]. However, the academic grades of the students [semesters] had no effect on their attitude, knowledge, and hand washing techniques

Conclusions: Training about hand washing techniques can improve the knowledge, attitude, and clinical practices of dental students, regardless of their grade

[Knowledge and attitudes of dentists about chemical disinfectants in Metropolitan Tehran in 2006]

Choosing appropriate disinfectants has become confusing for many dental professionals because of exaggerated manufacturer claims and misleading assays reported in the literature. Dentists should be aware of guidelines that assist in the selection of appropriate chemicals. To evaluate the level of knowledge and attitude of General Dental Practitioners [GDP] who work in private clinics in the Great Tehran in 2006 about chemical disinfectants. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. 446 GDPs [317 [71.1%] male, 129 [28.9%] female] were selected by a random cluster sampling method and evaluated by using a questionnaire consisting of 20 knowledge and 14 attitude questions content validity was confirmed by 4 specialists in oral medicine and 6 general practitioners. Spearman-Brown's reliability for the questionnaire was 0.66. Chi-square test and SPSS-9 software were used for statistical analysis. The mean correct answers were 8.6 +/- 3.0 [95% Cl: 8.3 to 8.9, ranged from 2 to 17] of maximum 20. Using multilinear regression formula showed that only age had negative relation with correct answers. The most difficult question was concerned with provision of and of particulars. Knowledge level of GDPs about chemical Disinfection was low. It seems that traditional educational methods should be changed to new methods [Reform]. 60.5% of the population was keep to receive. Information from programs and 46% wished to use educational leaflets

[Halitosis]

Oral malodor also called halitosis is an unpleasant odor excelled from the nose or mouth by expiration. The prevalence of halitosis is reported up to 50% and the first healthcare workers who help this kind of patients are dental practitioners. Halitosis is a multifactorial disease divided to genuine halitosis, pseudohalitosis, and halitophobia. The most common cause of halitosis is oral cavity [80-90%]. The oral etiologies of halitosis are xerostomia, periodontal diseases, mucosal ulcers, tongue coating, dental implants, and oral infections.If the patient believes to have halitosis, it is called pseudohalitosis, and if the treatment for genuine or pseudohalitosis is accomplished but the patient insists to have it, it is called halitophobia. The anaerobic gram-negative bacteria are the major factor of halitosis. The most appropriate methods to detect and measure oral malodor are organoleptic based on the examiner's perception of mouth odor, gas chromatography, and sulphide monitoring. Mechanical oral hygiene techniques such as proper use of mouth brushes, dental flosses and tongue brushes should be instructed to patients. They should rather to put fibrous foods in their daily diet and drink large amounts of water and keep their dentures clean. Antiseptic mouth washes are considered as a supplementary method to decrease oral malodor, and chlorhexidine is the most effective one

[Evaluation of oral microflora status in hemodialysis and kidney transplant patients]

The number of patients with chronic renal failure is increasing every year. There are some controversies about the risk of cariogenic and periodontal diseases in these patients. This study was conducted to delineate the relationship between hemodialysis and transplant with oral microbial flora. Three groups included in our study: 1/Hemodialysis patients with being at least 6 months under dialysis procedure, 2/ Transplant patients, being transplanted for more than 2 years and 3/controls with normal BUN and Creatinine. Bacteriological study: staining and culture used for diagnosing aerobic and anaerobic bacteria SPSS 15, Chi-square, variance and t tests were used to compare the mean of microflora between groups. Candida was significantly higher in dialysis group [1.29] and transplant group [1.26] comparing controls [0.52] [P=0.05]. There was no significant difference in count of other micro organisms [streptococci, Lactobacilli, Porphyromunas] between groups. Candida was higher in hemodialysis and transplant groups comparing with control group

[Knowledge and attitude of Tehran high school students on HIV/AIDS, 2005]

Due to lack of access to information regarding AIDS and its prevention methods, this study assessed the knowledge and attitude of high school students in districts 6 and II in Tehran -2005. In this cross-sectional study, 990 high school students selected by multi-step random sampling method were evaluated by NCHS questionnaire including 22 queries about knowledge and the remainder regarding attitude. Data were analyzed by Stepwise multivariable regression, Student's T and Mann - whitney tests. Nine hundred and ninety individuals [538 males and 452 females] participated in the study. 22.5% answered correctly to 5 out of 7 questions concerning the ways not resulting to transmission the disease. The least knowledge was related to the lack of possibility of disease transmission through insect bite. Regarding treatment modalities of AIDS, the students had few information about medications prescribed to prolong thc survival time of the patients. 53.5% emphasized the necessity for AIDS screening like routine tests. 77% believed that they were able to protect themselves against HIV infection. 66.6% of subjects were afraid of being affected by the disease. The most popular source of awareness was found to he TV and the least one was radio. The knowledge of high school students of districts 6 and 11 of Tehran students regarding HIV infection was good. Meanwhile pronmtion from first level to higher levels of high school correlates to increased awareness

Frequency of subjective dry mouth and burning mouth syndrome in elder residents of sanitariums in Tehran, 2005

Xerostomia and burning mouth syndrome are two relatively common complaints mostly encountered during adult age. They may have a great impact on the quality of life and become a serious health problem for patients. This study was designed to determine the frequency of subjective dry mouth and butting mouth syndrome [BMS] in elder residents of sanitariums in Tehran. In this cross-sectional investigation, the study group consisted of elderly adults [65 years and over], residing in twenty seven of the 36 sanitariums in Tehran. 499 volunteers [308 women and 191 men] underwent medical examination. Diagnosis was based on the patients' complaints of both subjective dry mouth [SDM] and BMS. No obvious oral lesion was detected in the BMS cases. 124 [24.8%] individuals were classified as having subjective oral dryness and BMS. SDM and BMS were seen in 121[242%] and 39 [7.8%] of the 499 cases, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between women [27.9%] and men [18.3%] with SDM [P=0.026], but not BMS [9.1% female, 5.8 male]. Subjective dry mouth and burning mouth syndrome are relatively frequent problems in elderly residents of sanitariums in Tehran. A higher percentage of females are involved as compared to males

Unilateral fusion of a mandibular third molar to supernumerary tooth: a case report

Fusion is a developmental anomaly defined as the union of two normally separated tooth buds or the partial splitting of one tooth bud into two buds. Depending on the stage of development, fusion may be either complete or incomplete. The significance of this particular case was that this fusion occurred in a posterior permanent mandibular tooth, while such a manifestation is more reported in maxillary anterior teeth; either in the primary [0.5%] or permanent [0.1%] dentition. The genetic basis for this anomaly is probably autosomal dominant with reduced penetrance. In addition, the essential findings for differential diagnosis include number of teeth, radiography and clinical features