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BACKGROUND: Based on the current emphasis on competency-based education, as a part of need assessment phase of dental curriculum revision in Iran, in the present study the dental graduates' perspective concerning the minimum competency requirements for an Iranian general dentist has been investigated. METHODS: Based on the three available major competency documents in the literature a questionnaire was developed in which the participants were asked to indicate their opinion about the necessity of each of the 142 stated competencies for an Iranian general dentist (Yes/No), and to state the degree to which they believed the current curriculum covers each competency (Completely, Partially, Not at all). In an annual meeting in June 2008, the provincial chief dental managers were asked to distribute the questionnaires among general dentists in their province (10 questionnaires in each province). The managers posted back the completed questionnaires to the researchers. RESULTS: Of 300 questionnaires distributed in the 30 provinces of the country, 250 questionnaires (83%) were returned. While most of the participants considered the competencies as necessary for an Iranian dentist, less than 40% of the respondents believed that the graduates acquire the most required competencies of the profession during the current educational program. CONCLUSION: A necessity exists for curriculum revision. In addition to clinical skills, in this revision more emphasis also should be placed on the non-clinical part of the curriculum.
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STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Oral and pharyngeal cancer is one of the most mortal cancers; however, its quick diagnosis and referral is a crucial factor in enhancing the survival rate of the patients. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to inspect the referral conditions and the reasons for the delay in curing the patients referred to the educational hospitals in Tehran. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this retrospective -descriptive study, two hundred and fifty six files related to the oral and pharyngeal cancer were inspected. The documents were obtained from 5 educational hospitals specialized in the field of cancers. Eventually data related to the time difference between the first time of attending to lesion and diagnosing the cancer as patient's delay and until the curing as professional's delay were recorded. RESULTS: The majority of cancers were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The patient's delay was recorded in 110 files among the whole files. The mean of the time between the patients' first notice of the problem and the time visiting a primary care clinician was 270 days (range, 0-2520 days). The mean of the time from when the patient visited a primary- care clinician to the starting time of definitive treatment was 90 days (range, 0-270 days). CONCLUSION: In this study, like other studies, SCC was the most common occurring cancer. Delays related to the patients were more than those related to the professionals. And at last, accuracy in recording the files and training the patients were recognized to be the most imperative factors to continue the treatment successfully.
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A national survey was conducted to provide up-to-date data on current and ever use of tobacco among Iranian dental students. All 4th-year students of 8 randomly selected dental schools were surveyed anonymously in December 2010 using the Global Health Professions Student Survey questionnaire. Of 325 participants, 54.2% were ever users of tobacco products [73.0% of males versus 44.4% of females]; 50.8% had used waterpipes, 34.2% cigarettes and 9.3% other products. The most common age at first use was 20-24 years for both sexes. Current tobacco use was reported by 20.6% of respondents, cigarette smoking by 10.8% and waterpipe smoking by 15.8%. Regression models showed that current cigarette and waterpipe smoking were significantly associated with male sex but not with type of dental school [state/private]. Current waterpipe smoking was also associated with age at first experience. In view of the important role of dentists in tobacco control, the prevention of tobacco use should be stressed among Iranian dental students
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Students, Dental , Smoking , Cross-Sectional Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , NicotianaABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Radiographic evaluation of the third molar tooth to determine its position and degree of development is an important part in diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as in forensic dentistry procedures. The objective was to investigate the developmental stages of third molars in relation to chronologic age, gender and location (maxillary/mandibular) in an Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data were collected in departments of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, Tehran Faculty of Dentistry and four private offices. Three calibrated observers visited the centers to examine panoramic radiographs and corresponded patients documents in each age cohort in the range of 5- to-25-years old. Data were analyzed by Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) in the linear mode and exchangeable correlation structure. The significance level was defined as 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of emerging third molars' follicle was 9.29±1.65 years. Early calcification was seen at the mean age of 10.28±1.66 years. The GEE model controlling for age, gender and tooth location (maxillary/mandibular) revealed that besides age (ß=0.43, p<0.001), the tooth location had association with the developmental stage (ß=0.11, p<0.001) so that maxillary teeth were prior in calcification stages, but no relationship between gender and developmental stages was seen (ß=0.03, p=0.69). CONCLUSION: Maxillary teeth were ahead of mandibular teeth in calcification stages with no gender difference. The present study may provide a reference for oral surgeons, pediatric dentists and orthodontists practicing in Iran and may have implications for the neighboring countries especially those with Caucasian populations.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate attitudes of Iranian senior dental students towards preventive dentistry in relation to their background factors and self-perceived competency in providing preventive care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In spring 2008, a questionnaire survey was conducted with all the senior dental students of seven randomly selected state dental schools in Iran. In addition to the respondents' age and gender, the voluntary questionnaire assessed the students' attitudes towards preventive dentistry by means of a seven-point semantic differential scale of nine qualities and their opposites, and their self-perceived competency in providing preventive care by five separate questions. To identify the underlying dimensions for attitude, a factor analysis with principle component method and varimax rotation was applied. Independent sample t-test served for statistical analysis. Of the 242 students receiving the questionnaire, 182 students (75%) responded. The mean age of the participants was 26 years and 42% of them were men. RESULTS: Based on the factor analysis, which explained 60% of the total variance, two attitude dimensions were identified; the profession-related dimension and the health service-related dimension. Competency in giving preventive care in all the five specified areas was reported by 44% of the students with no significant gender differences. The mean for the dentist-related dimension was significantly higher among the students who reported competency in giving preventive care (P=0.005). CONCLUSION: There is room for improvement in senior dental students' attitudes towards preventive dentistry. In order to create more positive attitudes for future dental professionals, there should be an early and sufficient exposure to preventive aspects of dentistry in the dental curricula.
