The semiotics of the anti-COVID-19 mask

The pandemic spreading of the COVID-19 virus has led to the global need to introduce, often by law, the medical face mask, which can undoubtedly be considered as "the object of 2020.” In a few months, most human faces around the world in the public space, but also often in the private space, have been covered with various kinds of protective masks. Very soon, these objects have become the centre of several discursive productions, going from medical reports to media coverage, from artistic representations to ironic memes. The medical face mask was not totally new in the west, where it was already present in special circumstances, like dentists' studios or emergency rooms, and was quite familiar in the east, especially in Japan, China, and Korea. Yet such massive introduction changed the meaning of the medical face mask in every context. Old habits were reconfigured or clashed with the new ones, giving rise to a novel syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of the human face in conjunction with this device and in the context of the global pandemic. The present paper offers an introduction to a semiotic mapping of such radical cultural change and its likely consequences.

Design Of A Methodology For The Assessment Of Anxiety In Patients At The Dental Office During Covid-19

The heterogeneity of the measures, together with the social disasters of the period, greatly affected the dental service since many patients did not know whether to attend their appointments with the dentist. Which, combined with the mental effects caused by the pandemic, led to manifestations of different feelings and anxiety for dental patients who did not know how to drive properly due to lack of knowledge on the subject. Therefore, it is decided to carry out an investigation in a SHIRPAO dental clinic by the authors whose main problem was formulated as follows: how to assess anxiety in dental office patients during COVID-19 in the dental clinic? Thus, the objective of the present study: to design a methodology to assess the level of anxiety and concerns of dental patients regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, the design of this methodology can help students and professionals in the correct treatment of anxiety. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Combating the opioid epidemic: The examination of dental prescribing practices in treating post-operative pain after third molar extractions

The abuse and misuse of opioids continues to be a major problem in the United States, making opioids the leading cause of overdose-induced deaths. During the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 30% more Americans died from drug overdoses in comparison to any other recent 12-month period. Three quarters of overdose-induced deaths were caused by opioids. When misused, opioids can be dangerous. Opioid addiction can begin with just one legitimate prescription administered by a trusted certified healthcare professional. An understanding of the decision-making practices used by dentists can lead to ways to curb abuse. This dissertation examines decision-making surrounding the prescribing practices of dentists in the treatment of post-operative pain following third molar extractions. Using a qualitative study method, the researcher gained understanding of the "how" and "why" of the decision-making process. The research included 55 licensed dentists (participants) currently practicing throughout the United States and its territories. Four themes that emerged from the survey data were: (1) Personal belief;(2) Prescribing practices have changed over time in the field of dentistry;(3) Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) are the preferred drug for post-operative pain management after third molar extractions but may be combined with opioids;and (4) dentists perceive the opioid epidemic as a serious issue that influence their prescribing practices. Overall, the dentists who participated in the research appeared knowledgeable and well-informed on the efficacy of NSAIDs alone, and the efficacy of the NSAID + Acetaminophen combination. Nonetheless, they still routinely prescribed opioids to ensure their patients' pain management outcomes were met. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Assessment of knowledge and attitude among pediatric dentists regarding spread and control of infection before and after COVID-19 crisis

Background: In this time of COVID-19 crisis, need of hour to appropriately perform dental procedures to reduce the spread of this deadly disease, it is importance to assess the knowledge and attitude of pediatric dentists regarding spread and control of infection before and after COVID-19 crisis. Methods and Materials: Questionnaire-based survey composed of 6 questions that assess the knowledge of pediatric dentists regarding COVID-19 infection and 10 questions each designed to gather information about their clinical practice before and after COVID-19 crisis which shows attitude of pediatric dentists. Online survey link was circulated through social media and an e-mail to pediatric dentists from different locations in India and the responses were collected. 346 pediatric dentists willingly responded in the study. Result(s): On grading the knowledge score according to the number of most appropriate responses chosen by the respondents, it was found that 82.4% of the pediatric dentist had good knowledge regarding the COVID-19 infection, 16.4% had fair and 1.2% had poor knowledge about it. The attitude regarding clinical practice of pediatric dentists, before and after COVID-19 crisis, is shown in percentage and was determined and compared using Chi-square test. Conclusion(s): Our study presented data on the depth of knowledge and the attitude among the pediatric dentists' attitude regarding spread and control of infection before and after COVID-19 crisis it was quite acceptable.Copyright © 2020 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.

Awareness and Pragmatic Use of Respirators among Dental Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim: This cross-sectional study intends to assess dental healthcare professionals' (DHCPs) knowledge and awareness of the proper use and reuse of respirators. Materials and methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding the use of respirators with the primary objective of cognizance regarding fit testing, use, reuse, and reprocessing. A total of 478 dental professionals, including 192 postgraduate (PG) students, 176 interns, and 110 teaching faculty, participated in the survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A cumulative assessment revealed that 56.9% of dental professionals signed in to use level III masks and 29.3% for N95/KN95 respirators. Amongst those individuals using respirators, only 2.9% have got fit testing done. 92.1% (n = 440) were clueless about the various fit testing methods. 75.7% of DHCPs chose rotation base reuse of respirators rather than extended use of respirators. Conclusion: Clear evidence of incognizance among dental professionals regarding respirator use may put the health care professional at risk of infection. The incorporation of respirator training in infection prevention and control programs should be a prerequisite for preventing cross-infection. Clinical significance: There is a definite need for regular training and educational programs among DHCPs on various infection control protocols with the incorporation of respirator training and the terms of use of the respirator. © The Author(s).

Work organization in a dentist's office during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic has caused global problems in various areas of life and has a huge impact on the functioning of health care and the medical profession. This virus was a new threat to the health of each of us, so the daily medical practice required safeguards that previously did not have to be used. This is especially important in a dental practice where virus transmission through aerosol can easily occur. Aim: The aim of the study is to develop current recommendations for the organization of work in a dental office during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the applicable guidelines and normative acts. Material and methods: The contents of the "Recommendations for the procedure for the provision of dental services in the situation of an epidemic announced in the territory of the Republic of Poland in relation to SARS-CoV-2 virus infections", published by the Ministry of Health, and recommendations of the Working Group of the Polish Dental Society were used. Results: The results constitute a set of practical tips for the functioning of a dentist's office in a state of epidemic. Conclusions: In the event of an epidemic, refer to current guidelines. It is essential to provide urgent medical care to acute patients and schedule appointments as needed.

Investigation of dentists' willingness to have COVID-19 vaccine

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the willingness and hesitancy of COVID-19 vaccine among dentists. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire forms prepared for this cross-sectional study were converted into an online questionnaire and sent to dentists. The answers of the dentists who could be reached by this method in Turkey and volunteered to participate in the research were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-Square Test, Kruskall Wallis test and multinomial regression analysis. Statistical significance was determined as p < 0.05. Results: A total of 290 dentists participated in the survey. 91.7% of the respondents whose marital status is single agree to be vaccinated, while 2.1% are undecided and 6.2% refuse to be vaccinated. 33.4% of non-working participants agreed to be vaccinated, while 66.7% were undecided. (p < 0.05) There is a positive relationship between the participants' having additional income and their acceptance of the vaccine. Conclusions: Our study showed that the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among Turkish dentists is high level. Knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine should be strengthened to further increase vaccine acceptance rates. Dentists' high acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to have a positive impact on population acceptance.

Acceptability of e-training to support dentists to discuss tooth-kind behaviours with parents: Presenter(s): Sarah Peters, University of Manchester, United Kingdom

Tooth decay is preventable, through health behaviours (e.g. tooth brushing and limiting sugar consumption). However, in the UK, the most common reason for hospital admission in young children is to have decayed teeth removed under general anaesthetic. Dentists report finding behaviour change conversations challenging, and often use approaches known to be ineffective in changing behaviours (e.g. information giving, fear tactics). The study aim was to investigate the acceptability of a health psychology-informed behaviour change communication toolkit. A brief, interactive online training course was developed and made available to a sample of 117 dentists, trainees and allied practitioners. At baseline and post-training, participants completed questionnaires of knowledge, motivation, and confidence in holding behaviour change conversations. In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 16 practitioners to investigate how the intervention could be developed in the context of COVID-19, which has severely disrupted routine dental services. Participants valued the training, which they described as novel and provided them with new strategies to enhance behaviour change conversations. Post-training questionnaires indicated participants felt more confident after training, with increased knowledge around planning and initiating behaviour change conversations with families. Early years practitioners working in a variety of non-dental settings (e.g. nurseries and children's centres) reported opportunities to have behaviour change conversations with parents, and welcomed further tailoring of the online training to help them capitalise on these interactions within these settings. Dental and non-dental practitioners are similarly motivated to have conversations with parents about improving their oral health. Brief online training can improve their capability to initiate these conversations in ways that do not damage the therapeutic relationship. To recover oral health services beyond COVID-19, there is potential for professionals working with parents in non-dental settings to develop skills in oral health promotion. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Patient Education & Counseling is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Anxiety among Cameroonian dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional web-based survey

Objective: To assess anxiety among dentists practicing in Cameroon during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey, and used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) to appraise anxiety symptoms and severity. Result(s): Overall, 82 questionnaires were fully completed and retained for analysis. The mean age (standard deviation) of participants was 30.2 (2.6) with 52 (62.2%) being male. The mean (standard deviation) HAM-A score was 10.5 (4.6), with minimum and maximum values of 4 and 26/56. We found that 13 (15.8%) had moderate to severe anxiety (with 11 having moderate symptoms and 2 having severe), and 69 (84.2%) had no, minimal or mild anxiety. Participants working in health facilities with more than one dentist, where less likely to have moderate/severe anxiety (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.05;0.78).Copyright © 2021 The Author(s)

The effect of current infection control procedures and application times on the dimensional stability of dental impression materials

Aims: In this study, the effects of different disinfection and sterilization methods and their application duration on the dimensional stability of impression materials were evaluated. Methods: Two impression materials, condensation (CS) and addition silicone (VPS), disinfectants with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) immersion, 3% hydrogen peroxide immersion and steam autoclave were selected. Disc-shaped samples (n=112) were obtained in 7 subgroups of each material (n=8). Sixteen untreated samples served as controls. Dimensional change was measured with a digital micrometer in the reference lines on the sample. Results: The highest mean percentage of dimensional change for the 50 min autoclave was 0.10±0.03% for CS and 0.10±0.02% for VPS. The dimensional change in CS did not differ for hydrogen peroxide. Compared with the controls, dimensional change was significant in 20 min NaOCl and 50 min autoclave (p<.05). Both impression materials in the autoclave showed statistically significant dimensional changes regardless of the time. The difference in application duration significantly affected the dimensional stability of the impression materials regardless of the procedure (p<.001). Extended application duration did not affect the dimensional stability in the hydrogen peroxide for CS, NaOCl and autoclave for VPS. Conclusions: Chemical disinfection and autoclave sterilization caused statistically significant but clinically acceptable dimensional changes in CS and VPS impression materials used in this study.

Burnout and Covid-19 Vaccination Intention among Dentists in Bulgaria: A Survey

Introduction: Dentists are potential candidates for burnout due to the specifities in clinical practice and additional external factors initiated by the current pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate dentists'intentions and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and to examine how the latter were associated with the levels of their occupational burnout. Material(s) and Method(s): An anonymous validated 43-question survey, including demographic and pandemic questions and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), was administered to a random sample of 1405 dentists from 73 settlements in Bulgaria. The data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 using standard descriptive statistics, one way ANOVA, Kolmogrov-Smirnov, and Shapiro-Wilk tests, Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test. Result(s): Overall, 387 dentists responded to the survey (response rate 27.5%). All three dimensions of burnout corresponded to moderate level of burnout (EE - 21.29+/-12.49, DP - 10.17+/-6.20 and PA - 34.76+/-7.87). A large proportion of respondents (n=151;39.0%) reported they did not intend to get vaccinated and almost 1/4 of dentists (n = 95;24.5%) believed that COVID-19 vaccines would have many side effects. COVID-19 vaccine unwillingness was significantly linked to the elevated levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (p<0.05). There was also a significant relationship between vaccine side effects beliefs and burnout dimensions(p<0.05). Conclusion(s): Dentists'occupational burnout and intentions for vaccination were significantly associated. Developing programs to reduce vaccination hesitancy, increase trust and build favorable attitudes is vital for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and can play a role in protection of psychological well-being of dentists.Copyright © 2023 by the authors. License to CARBONE EDITORE S.R.L., Palermo, Italy.

LIFESTYLE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH BURNOUT DIMENSIONS DURING SARS-COV2 PANDEMIC. A WEB-BASED SURVEY OF DENTAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Multiple lines of evidence suggest that significant lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, sleep, stress, job status, recreation, and use of modern technologies may lead to various COVID-19 related health problems in the general population, as well as among healthcare workers [3-8]. The first part contained 21 questions gathering information about dentists' demographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, marital status), work environmental conditions (e.g., average working hours per day, dental equipment, auxiliary staff, self-assessed income, etc.), dentists' lifestyle patterns (hobbies/ spare time activities, insomnia, and use of antidepressants and sleeping pills), perceptions and attitudes towards the coronavirus pandemic (e.g., sources of stress, vaccination intentions, etc.) and retirement plans. In this group, a very high level of burnout was observed regarding EE (43.13±4.80) and DP (15.13±5.04) dimensions. [...]the high dimension of performance loss was significantly related to the regular use of these medicines (p<0.001) - Table 3. Various studies have shown that the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has profound psychological and social effects, identifying significant lifestyle changes and mental health problems [2,4,11].

Difficulties Faced By Dentists During COVID Pandemic-A Survey

Aim: To assess the hardships faced by dentists during covid pandemic. Introduction: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The primary clinical appearances are respiratory in nature. Dental practitioners are among the most elevated hazard categories for transmission of covid since numerous dental methods have the potential to transmit the disease. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross sectional survey via an online questionnaire of 11 close ended questions was done. It was circulated via Google forms. The questionnaire contains questions on demographic details also. Data was collected and tabulated in excel sheet and statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23. A total of 133 dentists responded to the study. Result(s): Most of the dentists reported that they were worried about operational and financial challenges to run their practice during Covid-19 pandemic. 53.4% of the dentists were male while 46.6% of the participants were female. Most of the dentists agreed that they are at higher risk of contracting covid-19 than other medical professionals. Most of the dentists agreed that they may be the major cause of transmitting the infection to their patients. Conclusion(s): During Covid-19, dentists had to face a lot of ethical and moral dilemmas along with facing operational challenges. This led to a negative impact on their lives, the present study draws our attention towards the hardships they faced.Copyright © 2022 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.

Dentistry for children during and post COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

BACKGROUND: During and post COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, it is essential for safeguarding this viral infection control and prevention in pediatric dental practices. The role of parents and pediatric dentist and their dental team requires specific guidance to deal with dental problems of children in the dental operatory during and post-pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 disease. PURPOSE: To report dentistry for children during and post COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: The present review highlights the clinical features, possible modes of transmission of COVID-19 in dental operatory, preventive strategies, emergencies that pose a significant challenge, and treatment strategies for dealing with children and parents during and post COVID-19 pandemic. Absolute measures for children during their visit to dental operatory, quality control for pediatric dental clinics, and additional preventive measures associated with examinations and management of dental problems in children have been covered in this insight.

De-implementing opioid prescribing in a dental group practice: Lessons learned.

BACKGROUND: Drug overdose has become a leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Between 2000 and 2015, the rate of deaths from drug overdoses increased 137%, including a 200% increase in the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids (including opioid pain relievers and heroin). Unnecessary opioid prescribing is one of the factors driving this epidemic. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this paper is to share lessons learned while conducting a randomized trial to de-implement opioids for post-extraction pain management utilizing clinical decision support (CDS) with and without patient education. The lessons learned from conducting this trial in a real-world setting can be applied to future dissemination and implementation oral health research. METHODS: The sources informing lessons learned were generated from qualitative interviews conducted with 20 of the forty-nine dental providers involved in the study following the implementation phase of the trial. Ongoing policy, social and environmental factors were tracked throughout the study. RESULTS: Dental providers in the trial identified the impact of training that involved health professionals sharing information about the personal impact of pain and opioid use. Additionally, they found utility in being presented with a dashboard detailing their prescribing patterns related to other dentists. For the 30 general dentists with access to the CDS, use of its portal varied widely, with most using it 10%-49% of the time related to extractions. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of a downward trend in opioid prescribing and considering the influence of the COVID pandemic during the trial, dental providers indicated benefit in training about negative personal impacts of prescribing opioids, and personally relevant feedback about their prescribing patterns. Only modest use of the CDS was realized. Implementation of this trial was impacted by governmental and health system policies and the COVID pandemic, prompt the consideration of implications regarding continuing ways to limit opioid prescribing among dental providers.

Influencing Factors of Mental Health Status of Dentists Under COVID-19 Epidemic.

Objective: To investigate dentists' psychological status and influencing factors in Shaanxi Province during the COVID-19 epidemic and assess their perceived wellness. Methods: The study was conducted among dentists from Shaanxi Province in China. The basic information was collected through the network questionnaire star platform. Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-42) and Perceived Wellness Survey (PWS) were used to assess subjects' psychological status and perceived wellness. Univariate linear regression analysis and multivariate analysis were performed on the influencing factors of depression, anxiety, and stress, and t-test and analysis of variance were used to analyze the perceived wellness results. Results: The results demonstrated that 33.2% of the surveyed dentists were in a state of depression, 37.1% were anxious, and 34.4% reported stress among 256 subjects. Linear Regression analysis results showed that: "years of working," "the impact of COVID-19 on their life, work, and sleep," "worrying about occupational exposure/virus infection," "lacking the awareness of prevention and control measures," "overtime work during the epidemic," "worrying about participating in the supporting work," and "continuous exhaustion from work" were significant contributors to depression, anxiety, and stress status. In addition, the results of PWS found that each dimension of PWS was correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress state, which indicates the individual's physical and mental health state was associated with multiple factors. Conclusion: COVID-19 has significantly impacted dentists' mental health in Shaanxi Province. With these findings, we aim to educate and promote targeted interventions that can be utilized to improve dentists' mental health by analyzing the influencing factors.

COVID-19 transmission in dental practice during the pandemic: A questionnaire-based survey in private dental clinics in Japan.

Background/purpose: The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to cause a significant impact on patient care due to its considerable transmissibility, morbidity, and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dental procedures performed at private dental clinics were associated with the occurrence of COVID-19 clusters and measures taken to prevent nosocomial infection of COVID-19. Materials and methods: An online questionnaire-based survey on clinical activities, infection control measures, and confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases among patients and clinical staff during the pandemic (February 2020 to September 2021) was administered to dentists at private dental clinics in Nagano prefecture, Japan. Almost all dentists engaged in dental treatment were actively implementing standard precautions. Results: Twenty-seven dental clinics provided dental care to infected patients (nine confirmed and eighteen probable), but there was no transmission from patients to staff. Ten clinics had staff who were infected, but none exhibited disease transmission from staff to patients. Conclusion: The results of this survey suggest that COVID-19 clusters might not occur in dental settings where appropriate protective measures are implemented.

Knowledge and attitudes of Mexican dentists regarding COVID-19

Dentists have a high risk of contracting COVID-19, they needed to be aware of the major challenge that represents the dental practice and COVID-19. Accordingly, this study aimed: 1) to investigate the knowledge of dentists regarding COVID-19, 2) to investigate the attitudes of dentists concerning the use of personal protective equipment and, 3) to investigate the attitudes of dentists on stopping their dental practices in the framework of a contingency plan for the COVID-19 outbreak. An online cross-sectional survey was applied to dentists (n=822). Dentists in Mexico answered the survey, which was administered before the contingency plan for the COVID-19 outbreak. Results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and with a Chi-square test (P≤0.05). Of the respondents, 99% of dentists indicated knowing what COVID-19 is, knowing most, but not all, of its signs and symptoms and knowing its mode of transmission. The 89% of dentists indicated that they always used personal protective equipment. But they did not use always wear face masks, protective eyewear, face shields, disposable gowns, and caps. Dentists were aware of the risk of performing dental procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak. The 90% of dentists indicated that they would treat only patients requiring emergency treatment, and 10% indicated that they would not treat any patients. The dentists had limited knowledge about the COVID-19 disease. They did not use personal protective equipment consistently, and they indicated that they might continue working during the COVID-19 outbreak. © 2023, Universidad de Costa Rica. All rights reserved.

State of the Oral Implantology Practice in Spain during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, strict measures of confinement and social distancing were taken. Dentists were considered essential personnel and their activity was restricted to emergency treatment. The present observational study aims to determine the situation of oral implantology practice in Spain during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a cross-sectional observational study based on the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. An electronic survey consisting of three blocks of questions was sent to all members of the Spanish Society of Implants. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. A total of 237 participants (14.3%) responded to the questionnaire. The majority of participants (60.8%) only attended emergencies during the first 9 months of the pandemic. Despite this, 77.2% reported having performed dental implant surgeries and 75.5% indicated that they performed non-essential treatments. The activity was fully recovered by 64.1% of the surveyed dentists. The majority of dentists (90.7%) considered that sufficient/adequate preventive measures were carried out at their workplace, which possibly contributed to the fact that 49.3% were not afraid of becoming infected. This concern was significantly and directly proportionally associated with the age of the surveyed dentists. The oral implant practice was affected to a greater extent during the first 9 months of the pandemic, especially in urban areas, with a greater impact on the workload of professionals with less specialised training in oral implantology.