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Featured ApplicationThe present cross-sectional analysis aimed to evaluate the level of interest in oral and dental needs and teledentistry applications among the elderly, as well as whether COVID-19 pandemic outbreaks were influenced by real-time surveillance, using Google Trends. As the number of elderly dental patients continues to increase, there is a growing need for specific interventions that address the biological and psychological issues of this population. Teledentistry represents a healthcare delivery system that can overcome these problems, although the oral and dental care provision methods involved are still unknown to most people. Indeed, there is a need to raise awareness of the indications for teledentistry, the available interventions, and the potential benefits for the oral and dental care of elderly patients.Considering the increasing need for oral and dental care in the elderly, teledentistry has been proposed to improve the education of elderly patients in oral health maintenance and risk factor control, identify patients' concerns in advance, facilitate monitoring, and save time and money. The present cross-sectional analysis of Google search data through real-time surveillance with Google Trends aimed to determine Google users' interest in oral and dental needs and teledentistry applications in the elderly, and to compare search volumes before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Extracted CVS data were qualitatively analyzed. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were performed between searches for "elderly” and "teledentistry”, and all the oral and dental needs and teledentistry applications. The Mann–Whitney U test compared search volumes in the 36 months before and after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Google users' interest in the elderly and related oral and dental needs was diffusely medium–high, while teledentistry and its applications were of lower interest. Interest in teledentistry and its applications was strongly related to interest in the older population, which is consistent with the assumption that older adults represent the population segment that could benefit most from these tools. A positive correlation was also found between searches for "Elderly” and searches for almost all oral and dental needs typical of the geriatric population. Search volumes increased significantly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information about teledentistry should be disseminated to increase knowledge and awareness, especially among older patients, about its indications, applications, and advantages.
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Ferula asafoetida is an endemic species in Iran and is rich in oleo-gum resin with high economic value in the world. One important application of F. assafoetida is its traditional use for the management of respiratory ailments. The aim of this review was to collect papers dealing with F. asafoetida oleo-gum resin in respiratory tract's diseases in modern medicine. For preparing the manuscript the scientific databases (Google scholar, PubMed, Springer, Science Direct, Magiran), books, thesis, etc. were searched using the keywords of "Ferula asafoetida", "Ferula scorodesma", "Scorodesma foetida", "Northex asafoetida" plus "respiratory tract", "respiratory disorder" "infection", "cough", "trachea", "traditional medicine" up to Feb 2022 and the collected data were sum-marized, analyzed, and discussed. The results of the investigation confirmed the traditional belief on the efficacy of Ferula asafoetida in the treatment of respiratory viral infection (Coronavirus, influ-enza), cigarette smoking, asthma, cough and cancer, but most studies were limited to in vitro. There was only one registered randomized, blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial for 300 mg F. asafoet-ida aqueous extract capsules (three times a day for 14 days) on 40 patients with COVID-19 without any published results. Although, the studies implied the efficacy of F. asafoetida in the treatment of respiratory treatments, but design large clinical studies for evaluating its efficacy and safety is essential in future investigations.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
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PurposeTelemedicine is limited in dentistry but it has untapped opportunities. Innovative digital patient registration and “remote evaluation”, and pre-screening are based on photos and questionnaires. All these with the dental office's smartphone mobile application and with the DentaLive evaluation web software (for dentists). Methods: We have analyzed the turnover of our praxis before and after the implementation of our new service. Furthermore, 150 patients (ranging from 21-45 years) were asked why did they choose patient registration and remote evaluation through the clinic's mobile application.ResultsThe turnover increased by 43% compared to the same period last year. In addition, 72% of patients who requested remote evaluation have characterized their fear as more than 7 on a 1 to 10 scale. Out of these patients mostly provided the following cause: “I wanted to get information before I went to the dentist so I won't be surprised during the treatments.” Next, 96% of patients who used the application for patient registration reported that the procedure was a pleasant experience because of the contactless registration and because they can even do it at home in a calm environment.ConclusionsTeledentistry with the dental office's own mobile application gives the opportunity not just to catch up with new trends but to fulfill the highest level of patient care - while lowering the maintenance costs of the offices/clinics and mitigating the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as COVID-19 - with the power of asynchronous telemedicine.
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Background: Nanoparticles such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes present resistance, resilience and biocompatibility with human tissues and could be incorporated into glass ionomer cement materials to improve their characteristics. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) incorporation on different glass ionomer cements’ compressive (σc) and diametral tensile strengths (σt). Methods: Eighty (80) specimens were divided into four groups (N = 20/gr) according to the glass ionomer cement type (conventional and high-viscosity) and the presence or absence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Samples were kept in water for 24 h prior to the tests. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p = 0.05). Results: For both σc (p = 0.1739) and σt (p = 0.2183), the glass ionomer cements’ viscosity did not influence the results. The presence of MWCNTs decreased the mean compressive strength values (p = 0.0001) and increased the diametral tensile strength (p = 0.0059). For both conventional and high-viscosity glass ionomer cements, the compressive strength values were higher than the tensile strength data. Conclusions: Regardless of the cement viscosity, the multi-walled carbon nanotube incorporation reduced the compressive strength and increased the tensile strength values.
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Objective: Tele-health care service of alternative practice for chronic pain disease is worthwhile of developing, especially in the period of COVID- 19 pandemic. Targeting on myofascial trigger points, this study was performed to assess the possible short-term pain relief and functional improvement in patients by applying the device of BIOCERAMIC material enhanced by frequencies of tempo sound and visible light spectrum (BioS & L). Methods: Fourteen patients who participated in the procedure for the selection of trigger points for the BioS &L treatment, assessment of pain levels using a visual analog scale (VAS) analysis, and detection of abnormal resonance of 12 harmonic frequencies using a quantum resonance spectrometer (QRS). Results: Comparing the pre- and post-treatment of BioS &L on pain score of 12 HFs (V1-V12) as measured by VAS estimated by mixed model showed 91.7% (11/12) improvement with statistically significant results. The distribution of differences in the QRS score estimated by the mixed model among participants with pre-test QRS level ≥ 2 showed 83.3% (15/16) of HFs with statistically significant results. Conclusion: Treatment of BioS &L at trigger points providing pain relief is explained by the hypothesis of microvascular physiology and physics of wave propagation. This study provides a workshop with a concept of digitalization of complementarity and traditional medical service and tele-health care, which fulfills distant data connection and remote practice. In the period of epidemic spread, it helps to decrease close contact on both health care providers and patients.
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In the practice of orthodontics, there are several indications for opening a patients bite. Fixed orthodontic appliances, although relatively small, have the potential to interfere with a patients occlusion and ability to function. Such interferences can lead to significant abrasion of the dentition or result in debonding of brackets. Additionally, certain malocclusions, such as anterior crossbites, may require bite-opening to facilitate needed orthodontic movements[1].Historically, fixed and removable appliances made of metal and acrylic have been utilized to temporarily open the bite to achieve treatment objectives;however, such appliances require lab fabrication and patient compliance. As bonding materials and methods have improved, many orthodontists have turned to a variety of resins and glass ionomers as a convenient and predictable method to open a patients bite. These bonded attachments are commonly referred to as bite turbos.
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Introduction: Teledentistry is a widely accepted procedure for dental practice during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Due to the nature of strict protocols that aims to prevent the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus), teledentistry is the safest and cost-efficient supplementary interaction that enables dentists to gather diagnostic materials that will lead to appropriate treatment in the Philippines. This article is aimed at providing guidelines on the usage of teledentistry to bridge gaps in the absence of protocols that will help dentists achieve cost-efficient dental services. Materials and Methods: This article employed a narrative review through an electronic search in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and ERIC databases. Result. A total of nine hundred thirty-four articles were gathered. Twenty-six articles and three websites were included for analysis. All included articles led to the formation of guidelines that were composed of step-by-step processes (screening, management, and postoperative communication). Screening procedures are vital in obtaining health information and available diagnostic materials. The analysis of collected diagnostic materials application leads to the classification of cases. Based on the classification, management of the cases is enabled through clinical scheduling or pharmacological management during the teledentistry interaction. Teledentistry postoperative communication facilitates the monitoring of the condition of the patients. Conclusion: The impact of having a costefficient teledentistry interaction benefits both the dentist and the patient during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. A step-by-step guideline is an appropriate approach that will ensure cost-efficiency in a developing country.
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BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease as well as an airborne disease. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) could survive on dental materials shipped to dental laboratories. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the number of bacilli held on the prosthetic material and the effect of chemical disinfection agents on various prosthetic materials that were shipped to dental laboratory of TB patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted of three study groups, and a control group. 10 mm x 2 mm disc-shaped (n = 18 for each group, n = 72 in total) nickel-chromium alloy (Ni-Cr), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and dental ceramic (DC) samples were prepared. After exposure to MTB 24 hours in a 37°C incubator, six samples for each group (PMMA), Ni-Cr alloy and a control group DC samples) were exposed to three disinfectants; 10 minutes into 2% glutaraldehyde, 10 minutes into 5% sodium hypochlorite, and 1 minute into alcohol-based disinfectant after vortexed in distilled water. Colony forming units (CFU/ml) were calculated per milliliters. Two-way ANOVA statistical analysis method was used, and a P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: The bacteria count for six Ni-Cr alloy disc-shaped specimens were recorded as 40, 10, 8, 6, 5, and 4 CFU/ml, respectively. Intensity of the colonies were found to be lower in other groups. 5 CFU/ml were detected on a single PMMA sample in the control group, and 40 CFU/ml were detected on one of the dental ceramic sample. No MTB uptake was observed on any sample in the 2% glutaraldehyde and 5% NaOCl disinfectant study groups. In alcohol-based disinfectant group, 1 CFU/ml was observed on Ni-Cr alloy sample. The effect of prosthetic materials used in this experimental study were not statistically significant on the CFU (p = 0.293). However, the disinfectants use was statistically significant on the number of colonies (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: NaOCl and glutaraldehyde appeared to be more effective than alcohol-based disinfectant in removing MTB from Ni-Cr alloy, PMMA and dental ceramic surfaces.