Awareness, Perception, Attitude Regarding Covid-19 and Infection Control: Cross-Sectional Study among the Dentists of Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Millions of people have died as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic caused by Sars-CoV-2. To increase aware- ness and knowledge of Covid-19, numerous online resources have been made available, particularly those pertaining to the dental profession. The purpose of this study was to determine dental professionals’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes concerning Covid-19 in Saudi Arabia. We performed a study using a Google Docs questionnaire that was disseminated to 305 dentists practising in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire was divided into four sections: dentists’ demographic and professional character- istics; dentists’ awareness of the incubation period, disease symptoms, mode of transmission, and infection control measures for preventing Covid-19; and dentists’ attitude toward treating patients with Covid-19. The questionnaire was completed by participants by selecting one response to each question. The descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, which were expressed as frequencies and percentages. The chi-square test was used to examine the relationship between professional activity and knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards Covid-19. Results: A total of 305 dentists took part in the survey, which resulted in a cohort of 305 dentists. Dentists in Saudi Arabia were well-versed in the signs and symptoms of Covid-19 infection in dental clinics, as well as the methods of transmission, infection control measures, and preventative techniques. Dentist, on the other hand, demonstrated a reasonable understanding of the additional preventative measures that can be taken to protect dental employees and other patients from Covid-19. Conclusion: Saudi dentists have an acceptable level of knowledge and understanding of Covid-19. However, such advance- ments would benefit patient management throughout this pandemic. Due to the high risk of infection spreading and acquisition among dental workers or individuals due to the close contact with patients and the nature of dental treatment, it is critical for dentists to remain updated on current knowledge in this rapidly moving field. Dentists’ infection control expertise should be reinforced through continuous educational programs.

Elaboración de modelos dentales didácticos en resina epóxica / Elaboration of didactic dental models in epoxy resin

Los modelos de estudio son un registro fundamental para el diagnóstico, el plan de tratamiento, la presentación de caso y la evaluación del progreso del tratamiento dental; son registros anatomofisiológicos de las arcadas dentarias que sirven para evaluar la dentición en los tres planos del espacio y la oclusión en la relación cúspide-fosa, en una dimensión estática y dinámica. Para obtener los modelos de estudio es imprescindible obtener impresiones totales con diversos materiales de impresión de los arcos dentarios, que reproduzcan fielmente todos los detalles anatómicos, para posteriormente obtener un modelo en yeso piedra. Los modelos obtenidos a partir de una impresión generalmente son a base de yeso odontológico, los cuales a pesar de sus mejoras aún conservan algunas características negativas como: baja resistencia a la fractura por impacto, baja resistencia al desgaste por abrasión, inestabilidad dimensional y radiopacidad que impide la simulación de procedimientos endodóncicos. Con la finalidad de mejorar la simulación en la práctica odontológica, se usa la resina epóxica que puede emplearse en la obtención de modelos, este material es más resistente y presenta una mayor resistencia a la abrasión; además es radiolúcido, por lo que es útil para la réplica de preparaciones y procedimientos de simulación endodóntica. Los detalles de la superficie obtenidos con resina epóxica son superiores a los obtenidos con yeso. El uso de simuladores es una herramienta educativa con la que se favorece la adquisición de ciertas habilidades, destrezas, técnicas y competencias necesarias para la formación de estudiantes o profesionales de odontología. En el presente trabajo se describe la técnica para la elaboración de modelos dentales didácticos en resina epóxica para utilizarlos en la enseñanza de la práctica odontológica (AU)

Study studies are a fundamental record for diagnosis, treatment plan, case presentation and evaluation of the progress of dental treatment. They are anatomo-physiological records of the dental arches to evaluate the dentition in the three planes of space and the occlusion in the cusp-fossa relationships, in a static and dynamic dimension. To obtain the study models, it is essential to obtain total impressions with various impression materials of the dental arches, which faithfully reproduce all the anatomical details, in order to later obtain a stone plaster model. Those obtained from an impression are generally based on dental plaster, which despite its improvements still retain some negative characteristics such as: low resistance to fracture by impact, low resistance to wear by abrasion, dimensional instability and radio opacity that prevents the simulation of endodontic procedures. In order to improve simulation in dental practice, the use of epoxy resin can be used to obtain models, this material is more resistant and has greater resistance to abrasion, it is radiolucent, which makes them Useful for replicating preparations and endodontic simulation procedures, the surface details obtained with epoxy resin are superior to those obtained with plaster. The use of simulators is an educational tool that favors the acquisition of certain abilities, skills, techniques and competencies necessary for the training of the student or professional in dentistry. In the present work, the technique for the elaboration of didactic dental models in epoxy resin to be used in the teaching of dental practice is described.(AU)

Perception of the clinical endodontic practice of Dentistry graduates in their first years in the job market in southern Brazil

Introduction: Knowledge about the clinical endodontic practices of dental school graduates in the first years of their professional life may contribute to the discussions about Dentistry teaching. Methods: An online questionnaire with seven open and closed questions hosted on the Google forms platform was applied to dentists trained in the first half of 2019 in a School of Dentistry in southern Brazil. The questionnaire is structured to analyze how clinical Endodontics has been practiced in the labor market. The data collected in the questionnaires were transferred to an Excel® spreadsheet and analyzed as absolute and relative frequencies for closed questions and descriptions for open questions. Results: Molars and two-rooted teeth are the dental groups most frequently treated endodontically (64.3% and 35.7%). Both retreatment and conservative treatment of the pulp corresponded to up to 25% of all procedures in the graduates' clinical practice. The endodontic protocol learned in their dental school was used by 64.3% of the graduates who provided endodontic treatments, and 42.9% reported the occurrence of at least one accident. The difficulty in access reported by the participants suggests that more training should be provided for this operative stage. Conclusions: After two years in the job market and having faced the initial difficulties existing in any profession, more than half of the graduates still performed endodontics in their dental clinical practice and used the same protocols learned in dental school.

Implementation and exploration of dental practice management course in universities / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To explore the necessity and feasibility of introducing the courses of dental practice management in the undergraduate education of stomatology under the background of the undergraduate entrepreneurship education reform.Methods:In the School of Stomatology of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, the entrepreneurial course dental practice management was set-up for the junior undergraduate students. CBL, PBL, teacher's lecture, student's lecture on the stage and PPT demonstration, role-play, and team cooperation were taken in the course. And the questionnaires were used to investigate the course setting, necessity, teaching forms and satisfaction from multiple groups. SPSS was performed for data analysis, and the teaching effect was evaluated through the data results.Results:The scores of 108 students in the study [(75.99±5.76) points] were roughly distributed as normal functions. The results of the survey showed that the number of students who planned to have their own private clinics after the course increased by 41 (37.96%) compared with that before the course. All instructors and 33 (78.57%) active dentists thought that the course was reasonable in the undergraduate courses.Conclusion:It is necessary and feasible to introduce the dental practice management course in undergraduate education of stomatology, which will have a certain guiding effect on the long-term development of dentists, and is also beneficial to the reform of innovation and entrepreneurship courses in medical universities.

Public health challenges of restorative dental practice in low resource settings during the Covid-19 pandemic

Background: COVID-19 remains a major public health threat globally, and has challenged healthcare systems and services including oral health Objective: This study examines the key public health challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in low resource settings. While healthcare services are learning to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, dental care services, in particular restorative dental practice have been adversely impacted because of the closeness of caregivers to the patient's mouth as well as the generation of aerosols during most restorative procedures. This presents a challenge for low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Nigeria where weak and poor governance structures characterize healthcare systems in addition to paucity of economic resources. Another challenge in the form of COVID-19 conspiracy theories has threatened to undermine public health efforts designed to control the pandemic. Conclusion: The implementation of optimal guidelines and safety protocols for effective COVID -19 infection prevention and control is a major challenge for restorative dental care practice in low resource settings owing to paucity of key material resources and inappropriate behaviour associated with lingering doubts about COVID-19 reality among the majority of the populace. The Safer Aerosol-Free Emergent Dentistry concept offers a viable practical approach for restorative dental practice in LMICs during and in the post COVID-19 pandemic era. There is a need to deploy all resources, human and material, in the education and enlightenment of the populace regarding the reality of COVID-19.

Impacto de la pandemia en la práctica de los profesionistas de la salud oral en México / Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the oral health professionals' practice in Mexico

partir de la pandemia, los odontólogos han presentado una serie de complicaciones en su práctica diaria, la naturaleza misma de la profesión representa un alto riesgo de contagio y la posibilidad de generar una infección cruzada por el virus SARS-CoV-2, por lo que han tenido que limitar su labor a la atención de urgencias, adquiriendo insumos relacionados a incrementar los cuidados de su grupo de trabajo y del paciente. Objetivo: Conocer el impacto de esta plaga en la práctica de los profesionistas de la salud oral en México. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal mediante la aplicación de una encuesta a través de redes sociales a odontólogos, los resultados se expresaron con tablas de frecuencias y porcentajes. Resultados: Se recibieron respuestas de 200 cirujanos dentistas con clínica privada, 71% comentó haber cerrado su consultorio al inicio de esta calamidad, en contraste, el 53.5% de profesionales afirmaron tener actualmente una consulta no restringida, refiriendo que se ha visto reducida entre 50 y 75%, la mayoría reconoce que han tenido que reforzar el uso de EPP y algunos protocolos de protección, 16.5% ha padecido COVID-19. Conclusiones: La pandemia ha generado un impacto económico importante en la práctica de los odontólogos, al combinarse la disminución del número de pacientes con el aumento de gastos. Se debe considerar a la odontología como una profesión de alto riesgo, por lo que este gremio debe ser tomado en cuenta para el plan de vacunación como parte importante del sector salud (AU)

Given the nature of their profession, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought complications in their daily practice to odontologists, who are at a high risk of contracting the disease, and the possibility of creating a cross infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. That is why odontologists have had to restrain their practice to attend to emergencies only and acquire consumables and equipment related to improve their patients' care and the safety of their work team. Objective: To know the COVID-19 pandemic impact in the oral health professionals' practice in Mexico. Material and methods: A transversal, descriptive study was conducted by using a survey through social networks to gather information from odontologists practicing in Mexico. Results were presented in frequency and percentage tables. Result: Responses of 200 dental surgeons in private practice were received. 71% said that they closed their office at the beginning of the pandemic. On the other hand, 53.5% of them currently have a non-restricted practice but it is reduced between 50 and 75%. Most of them recognized that they had to improve the use of PPE and add some protection protocols, 16.5% have suffered from COVID-19. Conclusions: This pandemic has generated an important economic impact in the odontological practice, combining the decrease in the number of patients with the increase in their office expenses. Odontology must be considered a high-risk profession and an important part of the health sector, consequently, these professionals must be included in the vaccination plan on a priority basis (AU)

What has Changed in the Daily Practice of the Dental Imaging Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

ABSTRACT: A new type of RNA coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) related to acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and responsible for COVID-19 disease has spread around the world, resulting in an unprecedented pandemic. COVID-19 has become an international public health emergency and countless people and sectors have been affected. In this context, individual and collective protection measures were taken, mainly in health care. Dentistry, considered a high risk area, had to undergo changes in relation to biosecurity, including in radiological clinical practice. Thus, this letter aims to comment on these changes during visits to dental imaging centers.

RESUMEN: Un nuevo tipo de coronavirus de ARN (SARS-CoV-2) relacionado con el síndrome respiratorio agudo (SARS) responsable de la enfermedad COVID-19 se ha extendido por todo el mundo y ha provocado una pandemia sin precedentes. COVID-19 se ha convertido en una emergencia de salud pública internacional y un sinnúmero de personas y sectores se han visto afectados. En este contexto, se tomaron medidas de protección individual y colectiva, principalmente en el ámbito de la salud. La atención dental, considerada de alto riesgo, tuvo que sufrir cambios en relación con la bioseguridad, incluida la práctica clínica radiológica. Así, esta carta tiene como objetivo comentar estos cambios durante los atendimientos a los centros de imagenología dental.

Pro-CAD: una alternativa para profesionalizar al personal auxiliar del odontólogo / Pro-CAD: a professionalizing alternative for the dentist's auxiliary staff

El presente artículo es el resultado de una investigación orientada a la implantación de un modelo educativo, que sustenta una propuesta para la capacitación de recursos humanos de apoyo técnico en el campo de la salud. Para este propósito se denominaron: Asistentes Dentales a quienes son el personal auxiliar que se desempeña con profesionales que ejercen la odontología en forma privada en México, y que no cuentan con escuelas para su formación, considerando sus diferencias individuales e involucrando las áreas cognoscitiva (conocimientos), psicomotriz (habilidades y destrezas) y afectiva (comportamientos). Los recursos humanos compiten fuertemente por encontrar un espacio de desempeño en un mercado altamente exigente, razón por la cual el eje principal de la investigación se fundamentó en el planteamiento del Consejo Normalizador y Certificador de Competencias Laborales (CONOCER). El modelo fue diseñado durante la formación doctoral, enmarcado en la línea de innovación curricular para la calidad total como consecuencia del interés personal por evaluar las competencias del personal auxiliar que se desempeña apoyando al gremio de la odontología; la población está organizada en un colegio local de profesionales filial a la Asociación Dental Mexicana. Se utilizó el método mixto, y la herramienta para recolección de datos fue la encuesta, misma que aportó información relevante para construir una propuesta denominada modelo Pro-CAD (Programa de Capacitación Asistente Dental), que se incluye brevemente al final de este artículo (AU)

This article is the result of research aimed at the implementation of an educational model, which supports a proposal for the training of human resources of technical support in the field of health. For this purpose they were called: Dental Assistants, who are the auxiliary staff who work with professionals who practice dentistry privately in México, and who do not have schools for their training considering their individual differences and involving the cognitive areas (knowledge), psychomotor (skills and skills), affective (behaviors). Human resources compete strongly to find a performance space in a highly demanding market, which is why the main focus of the research was based on the approach of the Standardizing Council and Labour Skills Certificater (CONOCER). The model was designed during my doctoral training framed in the line of curriculum innovation for total quality as a result of the personal interest in evaluating the work skills of the auxiliary staff who perform supporting the dental guild, the population is organized in a local college of professionals affiliated with the Mexican Dental Association. The mixed method was used, and the data collection tool was the survey, which provided relevant information to build a proposal called the Pro-CAD (Dental Assistant Training Program) model that is briefly included at the end of this article (AU)

Factores determinantes para la atención clínica odontológica de pacientes con discapacidad / Determining factors for the clinical dental care of patients with disabilities

Objetivo: identificar los factores, inherentes a la práctica clínica, que determinan la atención odontológica de pacientes con discapacidad. Métodos: realización de estudio descriptivo, de alcance explicativo, cuantitativo y corte transversal; aplicación de en-cuesta dirigida a odontólogos que ejercen como profesionales independientes, con la cual se midieron variables de caracterización, conocimientos, habilidades, percepción, infraestructura y atención del paciente con discapacidad. También, se desarrolló un análisis descriptivo, correlacional y multivariado. Resultados: no todos los odontólo-gos recibieron formación para la atención clínica de personas con discapacidad; algu-nos conocen los métodos de comunicación alternativa y aumentativa y, de estos, una mayoría representativa no los sabe manejar. Sobre la infraestructura, se identificó que esta cumple parcialmente con la normatividad y que la mayoría de los profesionales se sienten medianamente preparados para llevar a cabo esta atención, por lo que el 67,3% (99) afirmó atender esta población con sus protocolos clínicos habituales, pero, el 83,7% (123) manifestó brindar la atención solo en casos de urgencia odontológica. Los factores que determinan la atención del paciente con discapacidad están relacio-nados con la cantidad de pacientes asistentes, las experiencias negativas previas, las habilidades en el manejo de la consulta, la sensación de preparación y los años de ex-periencia clínica. Conclusiones: las experiencias negativas previas en la práctica clínica con pacientes con discapacidad son determinantes; para su disminución se sugiere la urgente implementación de técnicas comunicativas, la adecuación de infraestructura y el desarrollo de habilidades para la atención integral e inclusiva.

Objective: Identify the factors that establish dental clinic care for patients with disabilities, that are inherent to the professional and to the clinical practice. Methods:A descriptive study of explanatory quantitative cross-cutting score was done. It was applied to dentists that worked independently where characterization variables, abilities, perception, infrastructure were measured, and attention to the patient in a situation of disability. A descriptive, correlational, multivariate analysis. Results: Only some dentists received the I information for the clinic care of patients in a situation of disability. Only some of them know the methods of alternative and augmentative communication and most of them don't know how to work with them. The infrastructure partially complies with the regulations and most of the professionals feel moderately prepared, so 67,3%(99) attend those patients in their usual clinical practice, but 83,7%(123) would attend them only in an emergency case. The factors that establish dental clinic care for patients with disabilities are related with the quantity of patients in a situation of disability, the previous, negative experiences, management skills in the consult, preparation sensation and the years of clinical experience. Conclusions: The previous negative experiences in the clinical practice with patients in a situation of disability are the most important factor for the dental clinic care for patients with disabilities, these experiences should decrease a from implementation of communication techniques, infrastructure adjustments and the development of abilities for the comprehensive and inclusive attention.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Infection Control Procedures among Dentists of Karachi

Aim: Infection control is crucial in any clinical setting. It is vital that all dentists must follow the infection control protocols in their clinics to prevent cross-infection. In a dental clinic, even simple dental procedures including extractions, scaling and root planning, dental crown preparations and root canal treatment, have a high risk of exposure to blood, which may cause transmission blood-borne diseases. Dentist’s compliance with these guidelines and recommendations have been recently studied in different parts of the world. Hence this study was performed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding infection control measures among private dental practioners in Karachi, Pakistan.Study Design:Cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study:This study was conducted for a period of four months in Karachi, Pakistan. Materialsand Methods: Present cross–sectional study was performed by interviewing 234dentists via a questionnaire based upon various questions regarding infection control. Sample were collected using convenience sampling, from private dental clinics in Karachi, Pakistan. Setting:Questionnaire were sent to 400 general dentist in Karachi,out of which 234 replied.Results: Mostly (69%) dentists who took part in the study were males. Regarding infection control, most of the individuals had a comprehensive understanding of infection control techniques. Isolation was considered to play a vital role in cross-infection prevention by 97.3% of the dentists. 93.2% used autoclave for sterilization and majority had thorough knowledge of the process involved. Regarding preventive measures, 66.7% of the dentists were vaccinated against major infectiousagents in our society and 92.2% took protective measures required to prevent cross-infection.Conclusion: Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding infection control of dentists in private clinic of Karachi, Pakistan are satisfactory.

Evaluation of Preparedness for Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice among Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students

A medical emergency among dental patients can be encountered anytime. It is the responsibility of a dentist to handle the emergency in order to effectively manage it. The assessment of preparedness of medical emergencies would help to bring about required changes in the curriculum in dental institutions. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the knowledge of common medical emergencies among undergraduate and postgraduate students. Methods: A questionnaire based study with a sample size of 200 was conducted among 100 postgraduate and 100 undergraduate students at Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre to evaluate their knowledge regarding medical emergencies. The questionnaire consisted of thirteen questions. Chi-square test was applied for comparing various parameters between dental postgraduates and undergraduates regarding preparedness for medical emergencies. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of this study showed that filling health history proforma, recording vital signs, attending workshops on emergency management, performing Basic Life Support, and administering an intramuscular and intravenous injection has statistically significant results among postgraduate and undergraduate students. Conclusion: The results of this study reflect an alarming situation of the capability of dental students to deal with medical emergencies at dental offices.

A Pilot Study of Preparedness for Medical Emergencies in Urban Private Dental Practices in Malaysia

@#The aim of this study was to obtain data of medical emergencies at the non-hospital based private dental practices in Petaling district of Selangor, Malaysia. Ninety out of 281 identified main practitioners of non-hospital based private dental practices had agreed to participate. A standardised questionnaire forms consisting of four parts including demographic data, emergency equipment and drugs available, occurrence of medical emergencies and training of dental practitioners. All data retrieved were analysed using the Statistical Programme for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0 (SPSS Inc., 1999). Some of the clinics (28.9%) had reported experiencing medical emergencies events. The most common emergency event noted was syncope (42.2%), followed by hypoglycaemia (27.7%). Majority of the events occurred in the dental surgery room (84.3%), after completion of treatment (31.3%) and were associated with dental extraction procedures (61.4%). Only nine of the clinics (3.3%) were equipped with emergency trolley and none were prepared with a defibrillator or automated external defibrillator (AED). It was also found that 32.3% of all clinics do not have any emergency drugs. All of the practitioners received basic life support training before graduation and 52.2% received supplementary training after graduation. In conclusion, emergency medical events do occur, but majority of dental practices involved in this study were not well equipped to manage these emergencies. It is important to have a standardised national guideline to ensure a safe and well-prepared dental setting during any adverse medical events.

Placas protectoras de mucosa: su aplicación estomatológica / Occlusal splints for mucosal protection

El objetivo de esta comunicación es divulgar el uso de las placas de protectoras de mucosa (PPM) en el ámbito de la patología bucal, así como en la consulta odontológica diaria. Tomando como antecedente los primitivos protectores bucales diseñados para deportes de contacto, se desarrolló su uso en odontología con un diseño particular para el tratamiento de los desórdenes temporomandibulares. Describimos aquí la aplicación de las PPM en estomatología en el contexto de coadyuvancia terapéutica para diferentes entidades de muy frecuente consulta. Asimismo, se detallan la técnica de confección y las indicaciones de uso y cuidado para los pacientes (AU)

The aim of this report is to emphasize the usefulness of oral splints for mucosa protection in oral pathology as well as in every day dental practice. There is substantial evidence that mouthguards were first developed for use in boxing. The most common therapeutic use of occlusal splints in dentistry is the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. The present work describes the use of oral splints for mucosa protection in the context of adjuvant therapy as a protective device for many common disorders of the oral mucosa. At the same time it explains the fabrication technique and provides proper use and handling guidelines (AU)

Biología Molecular aplicada a la Estomatología en el siglo XXI: avances, bioética y educación científica / Molecular Biology applied to Dentistry in the XXI century: advances, bioethics and scientific education

Este artículo constituye una rápida mirada a los nuevos caminos adoptados por las ciencias biológicas aplicadas a la salud en los últimos tiempos, comentando su impacto en el mundo y, de modo especial, en el ejercicio de la odontología. Inicia con algunos alcances de la biología molecular y biotecnología, incluyendo el impacto de la ingeniería tisular en la cavidad oral; los cambios en el paradigma de la etiología que relaciona las enfermedades orales y sistémicas; se revisan áreas de investigación controversiales como la clonación de seres humanos y el desarrollo de tejidos humanos, hasta llegar a las aplicaciones de la genómica en salud. Se destaca la importancia de analizar el avance de estos procesos, así como su implicancia e impacto en el campo de las ciencias de la vida. La revisión propone un análisis desde la perspectiva bioética y de los derechos humanos, concluyendo con la posición responsable que debe asumir la educación científica.

This article provides a quick look at new ways adopted by the biological sciences from a health perspective, commenting on their impact on the world, particularly in the dental practice. It starts with the scopes of molecular biology and biotechnology, including the impact of tissue engineering in the oral cavity; the changes in the paradigm of the etiology that relates oral and systemic diseases; controversial areas of research as cloning of human beings and development of human tissues, until the applications of genomics in health. This review highlights the importance of analyzing the progress of these processes, as well as their implications and impact in life sciences. It is proposed an analysis from the perspective of the bioethics and the human rights, concluding with the responsible position which should be taken by the scientific education.

Management of Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice: A Review.

An emergency can strike anytime. The dental practice is no exception to this universal fact. Given the complexity of human body, emergencies in healthcare settings can be gravely dangerous. A medical emergency or complication may range from a syncope to an acute anaphylactic shock which may prove to be life threatening. The best method to counter an emergency is to know it very well. When a doctor is well-equipped with the knowledge of the possibilities that may arise, he/she has a better chance of managing the situation in hand. Hence, the knowledge of possible complications and emergencies that might arise during Dental practice is essential for a safe and successful practice. This paper analysis the different medical emergencies that may arise during dental practice and the various methods available to handle them effectively.

Dental management of patients with microstomia: a review of the literature and update on the treatment / Manejo clínico odontológico del paciente con microstomia: una revisión de la literatura y puesta al día

Difficulty in dental management is one of the factors that characterize the patient that requires special care in dentistry. One of the clinical conditions that make dental treatment particularly complex is microstomia. Microstomia is defined as a small and insufficient oral aperture that will hinder diagnosis and dental treatment. Although there have been reports of patients with diseases and syndromes that cause microstomia, the available literature offers only a limited number of reviews on this topic. The aim of this paper is to present a review of the etiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of microstomia. In addition, to describe the therapeutic adaptations to be applied in dental procedures in patients with microstomia, emphasizing the importance of a preventive approach in this group of patients...

La dificultad en el manejo odontológico es uno de los factores que definen al paciente que requiere cuidados especiales en odontología. Una de las situaciones clínicas que más dificulta el tratamiento dental es la microstomia. La microstomia se define como una apertura bucal pequeña e insuficiente que va a dificultar el diagnóstico y el tratamiento bucodental. Aunque se han descrito casos clínicos de pacientes con enfermedades y síndromes que cursan con microstomia, no hay muchas revisiones del tema en la literatura. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar una revisión sobre la etiología, la clínica, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la microstomia. Así como, describir las adaptaciones terapéuticas que se deben aplicar en los procedimientos dentales en el paciente con microstomia, recalcando la importancia de un enfoque preventivo en este grupo de pacientes...

Psychosomatic Disorders Pertaining To Dental Practice

Psychosomatic symptoms are by definition clinical symptoms with no underlying organic pathology. Psychosomatic disorders represent impaired adaptation or deficiencies that limit the capacity to adapt successfully to the demands of everyday life. The symptoms are thought to be a response to stress. Appropriate health consultation should be considered for further evaluation and treatment.

An 18-year-old patient with Prader-Willi syndrome: a case report on dental management under sedation and general anesthesia

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder reported rarely in dentistry. Dental practitioners should know the features of PWS because affected patients have a variety of dental symptoms. The current report describes a case of PWS. An 18-year-old male patient presented with traumatic injuries. Initial emergency treatments were performed under sedation, and further treatments were conducted under general anesthesia. After adequate healing, periodic follow-up and dietary management according to the patient's age and nutritional phase were recommended. Dental management of PWS patients consists of active preventive measures in addition to dietary consultation according to age and nutritional phase.

The ECG made easy for the dental practitioner.

ECG is not taught to dental students formally in the dental curriculum. The general assumption is that dental surgeons do not handle any ECG related cases in clinical practice. But with an increase in medically compromised patients, the need for an interdisciplinary approach among dental and medical practitioners in the treatment of critically ill patients is becoming more relevant. Hence, we have to be aware of the basics of common medical investigations to be competent to assess and comprehend the medical conditions. So, this paper focuses on orienting the beginner to the basic concepts of ECG from the clinical perspective. The paper also discusses the ECG changes of myocardial infarction to familiarize the dental surgeon to read the ECG.

Final thoughts on antibiotic use：wake up call for the oral health care professionals

Antibiotic treatment is a form of pharmacotherapy with the specialty of rendering both etiological and curative action. Dentists traditionally administer antibiotics, to restrain contagions and to handle the prevailing dental ailments. Penicillins have been the drug of choice to be opted by the dental practitioners in their routine dental practice. Prudent application of antibiotics in concoction with surgical therapy is the most pertinent mode to cure odontogenic contagions. Considerable prescriptions of antibiotics are ascribed especially in cases which induce bleeding in the oral cavity. Regardless of the obvious indications, perplexity prevails between the oral health care professional’s pertaining to the administration of antibiotics in coalition with dental maneuvers. Dreadful ailments have been cured after the incipience of antibiotics in 1929. Besides it also leads to cumbersome consequences by virtue of its misuse. Irrational usage of antibiotic therapy leads to false positive effects on both health and financial grounds and poses a threat to the microbial resistance. The present communication aims to delineate the absolute indications, consequences of abuse and imperative factors to be considered while prescribing antibiotics in routine dental practice.