[Distance E-learning model for IDF dentists].

Distance E-learning is a novel educational modality, becoming more and more available in higher education facilities worldwide, as well as in the Israel Defense Forces, and its School of Military Medicine utilising the "Bareket" E-Learning Interface. The use of distance E-learning is necessary due to the vast progress in medical research, and the need of every doctor for continuing education throughout his whole career. The School of Military Medicine is the main centre of medical knowledge in the IDF, and as such it has to address the need for continuing education, while allowing the doctors to continue their work at the field level without too many disturbances. Thus, we suggest the implementation of an E-learning system for field-level military dentists. The system is nowadays at its pilot run, and is successfully used by IDF dentists, allowing them to refreshen their knowledge on diagnosis and treatment of routine and emergency dental situations, to be examined and receive immediate feedback. Moreover, it allows the command level to control the whole learning process. The main goal of the proposed E-learning system is the standardization of the dental treatment given in field-level clinics throughout the IDF.

Dental caries status and derived treatment needs among young Israeli adults--a clinical and radiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the caries status and derived treatment needs of young Israeli army recruits based on clinical and radiographic examination. METHODS: This prospective study consisted of a population of 685 young Israeli army recruits (18-19 years old). Participants' dental status was evaluated using the WHO caries diagnostic criteria for decayed, missing and filled teeth and surfaces (DMFT and DMFS, respectively). Two bitewing radiographs were taken. Dental files and radiographs were carefully reviewed to calculate and record the DMFT and DMFS values. The severity of caries lesions was evaluated and classified into 5 treatment oriented grades. RESULTS: The total DMFT and DMFS values were 6.09 +/- 5.29 and 10.18 +/- 10.28, respectively. Active caries-free patient rate, represented by D=0, was 38.7%. DMF value was 0 (i.e., no previous caries experience) in 17.2% of the subjects. Caries lesions were mostly moderate (68.25%); 19.86% were minimal, CONCLUSIONS: In young Israeli adults, there has been a decline in caries severity. Examination of caries severity provides discrimination between caries lesions that require various treatments and minimal caries lesions that necessitate preventive measures and follow-up only. This enables time, manpower skills and economic demands required for dental treatment to be determined.

Oral signs and symptoms in relation to disease activity and site of involvement in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: An assessment of oral symptoms and signs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: Fifty-four patients with IBD, 34 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 20 with ulcerative colitis (UC) participated in the study. Forty-two patients without gastrointestinal disease or complaints attending the orthopedic clinic served as controls. Each patient completed a written questionnaire and was subjected to an oral examination. RESULTS: The main findings of this study were the higher prevalence of halitosis (50% vs 10% P < 0.0008), nausea (30% vs 7%, P < 0.017) and reflux (regurgitation) (45% vs 17%, P < 0.017) in patients with UC, and nausea (50% vs 7%, P < 0.026), dry mouth and halitosis (29% vs 10%, P < 0.026) and vomiting (41% vs 5%, P = 0.01) in patients with CD, compared with controls. Patients with active CD had a higher prevalence of dry mouth, nausea and vomiting compared with controls (46, 69 and 54% vs 10, 7 and 5%, respectively, P < 0.001) and of reflux compared with non-active CD (46% vs 5%, P < 0.001). Patients with active UC had a higher prevalence of halitosis and regurgitation (50 and 60% vs 10 and 17%, P < 0.001) compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates increased frequency of oral signs and symptoms in patients with IBD. Patients with active CD had more oral signs compared with non-active CD patients. Manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, regurgitation and dry mouth may have detrimental effects on teeth and soft tissues of the oral cavity. Communication between gastroenterologists and dentists is imperative for success of the overall treatment of their patients.