Assessment of Self-Care Methods for Acute Dental Pain Among Adults During COVID-19 Dissemination and the Implementation of Teledentistry in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIM: This cross-sectional study aims to explore the prevalence of acute dental pain, different self-care methods done by adults to manage this pain, and the utilization of teledental platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. The study was conducted in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A total of 727 participants answered the study questionnaire, which was distributed as an online survey on different social media platforms. The modified dental pain screening questionnaire (M-DePaQ) was used to obtain dental pain-related characteristics of subjects. Also, self-care and formal-care strategies for pain relief questionnaire for most recent toothache and additional questions developed by the authors related to virtual clinics were used to determine the need for implementation of teledentistry and remote dental consultations. Data was entered in SPSS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Around 39% out of 727 participants experienced dental pain during the COVID-19 Makkah city lockdown; 58% of them reported that the pain was related to a tooth. The majority reported that it was exaggerated with cold beverages and foods [67.1%]. A chi-square association test showed that the age group between 20-30 significantly used the Sehaty (Lean, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) application more than other age groups. Additionally, women were notably found to use home remedies more frequently than men. Furthermore, individuals with a bachelor's degree believed more in the importance of having a virtual dental clinic during the periods of lockdown. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, acute dental pain and self-medication were found common among this study population. The practice of self-medication was also documented frequently, therefore, it is important to educate the general population on the proper way to manage dental pain. However, The use of teledentistry services was found uncommon, so to improve patient care especially when accessibility to professional treatment is difficult, the implementation of teledental services need to be considered.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Parents Regarding Early Childhood Caries Prevention of Preschool Children in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The knowledge and beliefs of parents have an impact on their children's general and oral health. The objective of this study is to assess knowledge, attitude, and behavior of parents and identify possible associated factors of early childhood caries (ECC) in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Parents aged 18 and older were invited to complete a self-administered, validated questionnaire. Questions covered demographics, knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding ECC etiology and prevention. Of the 644 parents who completed the questionnaire, 51.4% were not aware of the early signs of tooth decay, such as white lines. Pain and trauma were reported as the major reasons for a child to visit a dentist (42.4%). Only 37% of parents were aware of the importance of fissure sealant, and only 23% knew how it is applied. Compared with mothers, fathers were significantly less aware of hidden sugar and the relation between the frequency of consuming breast milk or bottled milk and caries development (p = 0.001). Similarly, fathers were more likely to believe that children could achieve effective teeth cleaning without parental assistance (p = 0.001). Preventive guidance should be provided by oral healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia to improve parents' knowledge of ECC prevention.

Blackboard in Dental Education: Educators' Perspectives During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: E-learning systems play a vital role in education during the COVID-19 pandemic. These systems allow educators to plan, deliver, and follow up on the education process during the closure of universities and schools. This study aims to report the experiences of dental faculty members using the Blackboard system. Methods: The study used a descriptive qualitative design. Data were collected from staff members at the Dental Faculty of Umm Al Qura University through semi-structured focus group discussions that were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for thematic content analysis. Results: The analysis revealed three barriers: (1) pedagogical, (2) technical, and (3) individual. For the advantages, three themes emerged: (1) ease of use, (2) ongoing support, and (3) usefulness. Most participants were satisfied with using Blackboard and believed it to be a valuable and complementary educational tool in dentistry. Conclusion: The reported experiences and recommendations are helpful for university leaders, policymakers, and program designers in improving the quality of e-learning in the future.

Knowledge and attitude of dental students toward HIV infection in Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia.

Context: Immunodeficiency virus infection is a major health crisis. It can spread to other people by transmission of the body fluid. The knowledge about this viral infection can aid in preventing its transmission and help in delivering successful dental care to these patients. Aims: To evaluate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related knowledge and attitude of dental students and also to compare knowledge and attitude between a student's gender and different clinical levels (second, third vs. fourth to seventh years). Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students at the college of dentistry in Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, KSA. Methods and Material: A validated survey was sent electronically to dental students from the second year to seventh year. The questionnaire contained 12 knowledge and 13 attitude questions about treating HIV/AIDS patients. Descriptive statistics were presented for the knowledge and attitude of the dental students about HIV/AIDS. Also, the knowledge and attitude were compared using t-test in relation to gender and clinical year. Results: The response rate was 65%. The mean and standard deviation (SD) for the knowledge score was 8.32 ± 1.60 out of 12. There was no significant difference between gender and a student's clinical level. In the majority of the attitude questions, more than half of the students had favorable attitude toward HIV/AIDS subjects. Females had more favorable attitude as well as students with more clinical years of experience. Conclusions: Dental students showed acceptable knowledge and positive attitude toward HIV/AIDS patients. Students who were females and with higher clinical years demonstrated better attitude but similar knowledge to males.

Evaluation of post-extraction healing after atraumatic axial tooth extraction using Benex system II versus conventional extraction: Randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tooth extraction is critical for dental treatment complications. One of the most discussed topics is socket healing after extraction. The Benex system allows extraction without causing unnecessary socket expansion by removing the tooth vertically, preserving both bone and soft tissue. AIM: To assess postoperative healing signs, symptoms, and complications using the Benex extraction system and compare it with conventional extraction among patients at Umm Al-Qura University. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with hopeless single-rooted teeth were included. They were divided into two equal groups: one in which teeth were extracted using the conventional method and one in which extractions were performed by Benex. The Benex system for tooth extraction was performed by drilling into the root canal, followed by screw insertion. Once the extractor was properly positioned, extraction was accomplished by turning the hand screw clockwise. At baseline, the wound size was evaluated. On days 1, 3, and 7 after extraction, telephone interviews were conducted to evaluate pain and post-extraction complications using a pain scale and questionnaire. Socket healing and wound size were evaluated after 2 and 4 weeks of extraction using the healing index and H2O2 epithelization test. RESULTS: The Benex extraction system accelerated early soft-tissue healing and decreased pain and wound size compared with the control group. Conclusion. The Benex system is relatively safe and easy to use, but this does not eliminate the need for a degree of education and training. Proper selection of the case, knowledge of using the device, and implementation of that knowledge in the treatment planning are important factors in ensuring success with this system.

Knowledge about coronavirus disease 2019: Implication for dentists in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) has published detailed guidelines and educational documents about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention and infection control. The knowledge of dentists of the reported guidelines is not yet assessed and lack of awareness of these guidelines may have negative implications on dental patients. AIMS: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge of dentists about COVID-19 and the MOH guidelines while treating dental patients in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey which was sent to a sample of dentists in Saudi Arabia from March to May 2020. RESULTS: A total of 294 dentists with a mean age of (36.9 ± 10.6) years completed the questionnaire. Participants included 157 females and 137 males with a range of professional classification and experience. All of the participants were aware of COVID-19, the nature of the disease, symptoms, modes of transmission and people at higher risk, except for 7.2% who did not report the correct incubation period. All participants agreed that patients and staff should wear a facial mask, use hydroalcoholic hand sanitizer upon arrival. Only 72.4% had knowledge about published guidelines. Infection control training was provided for 53% of the participants and those who had training were more confident to treat patients. Regarding personal protective equipment (PPE), putting on and taking off PPE, 64.6% and 78.6%, respectively, were aware of the guidelines. CONCLUSION: Dentists in Saudi Arabia had optimal knowledge about COVID-19. However, infection control training is recommended to increase readiness and confidence among dentists.

Social media as a learning tool: Dental students' perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the perceptions of dental students in Saudi Arabia for implementing social media as an educational tool. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among dental students in 3 governmental dental schools in the western region of Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire was used to explore social media use and student perceptions on the advantages and disadvantages of implementing social media in dental education. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's' χ2 , Kruskal-Wallis, and Fishers' exact tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The survey included 1034 students from third to sixth year and dental interns. WhatsApp was the most used social media platform (97.5%), followed by Snapchat (90.5%), Twitter (85.2%), and Instagram (83.4%). Social media was used for entertainment (81.4%), dental learning (70.8%), searching for general information (63.3%), exchanging general ideas (63.1%), and community general discussion (55.8%). The predominant advantages of using social media in learning were assistance in gaining more information on different subjects, making education more engaging, affording a better chance to access new resources, improving the ability for creativity and innovation, and improving research skills. In contrast, the predominant disadvantages were distraction from studying, increasing addictive potential, increased time spent, and concerns over no direct contact with the instructors. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that students report social media can be a valuable learning tool in dental education if appropriately used. A proper understanding of social media and its usefulness in supporting learning can benefit both students and faculty members.