Beverage consumption and obesity in Kuwaiti school children.

Sweetened beverage consumption is particularly important in countries such as Kuwait, where the prevalence of obesity is high, and most children drink sweetened beverages daily. To assess the relationship between three most commonly consumed beverages, (soda, milk, and juice) and the incidence of obesity among Kuwaiti children at the critical age of 10-12 year, Longitudinal cohort data of 6,305 children on initial presentation in 2012 (age, 10 years) and follow-up in 2014 (age, 12 years) were obtained from the Kuwait Healthy Life Study. The servings for the three beverages (soda, juice, and milk) were calculated as servings per day groups (0, 1-2, and 3 servings/day or more). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between developing obesity during 2012-2014 and soda, juice, and milk consumption. Model selection was based on clinically relevant covariates and potential confounders using stepwise model selection. Six percent children become obese between baseline and follow-up visits. High soda drinking showed significant association with developing obesity. High milk consumption (more than 3 servings a day) was also significantly associated with developing obesity. Potential confounders included in the final model were age, sex, governorates, and fitness level, of which none were significant confounders or effect modifiers for the association. Children with high soda consumption had significantly higher prevalence of obesity. High obesity prevalence was observed with high milk consumption at a lower significance level but not with high juice consumption.

The Relationship between Unilateral Palatal Maxillary Canine Impaction and the Morphology of the Maxilla: A CBCT Study in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the correlation between the morphology of the maxilla and unilateral palatally impacted maxillary canine (PIMC) among the Saudi population in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 36 patients' records [(17 PIMC, 8 male, 9 female, mean age 16.75 ± 2.12 years) (19 control; 9 male,10 female, mean age: 17.16 ± 2.12 years)] were included from a teaching dental hospital. On cone-beam computed tomographic images, measurements of maxillary arch length (MAL), palatal vault depth (PVD), intermolar width, sum of widths of 4 maxillary incisors, available arch space (AAS), palatal maxillary width (PMW) in the molar and premolar regions, nasal cavity width (NCW), maxillary arch shape (MAS) (arch length/intermolar width x 100), and palatal vault shape (PVS) (the PVD/intermolar width x100) were performed. Data were analyzed by SPSS-20.0. p-value less than or equal to 0.05 reflected statistical significance. RESULTS: This study's findings depicted that AAS (p = 0.012), PVD (p = 0.028), and PMW in the molar and premolar regions at the level of the alveolar crest (p = 0.002 and p = 0.034) and mid-root (p = 0.004 and p = 0.022) were significantly higher in the control compared to the PIMC group. PVS showed a significant difference between the PIMC and control groups (p = 0.037). However, regarding MAS, no significant difference was observed (p = 0.707). CONCLUSION: MAS was narrower in PIMC compared to the control group. The control group had a deeper palatal vault and greater AAS compared to the PIMC group. However, no significant difference was observed between groups regarding tooth size or NCW.

Oral health-related interdisciplinary practices among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia: Does integrated care exist?

BACKGROUND: There is a bidirectional relation between oral and general health, therefore collaboration between healthcare providers is needed. This study investigated current interdisciplinary practices (IDP) and the associated factors among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Saudi Arabia recruiting four groups of health professionals (nurses, physicians, pediatricians and Ear-Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists). A validated, self-administered questionnaire was distributed online and shared through social media platforms. The questionnaire explored predisposing factors (demographics) and facilitating factors (knowledge, attitudes, attendance of oral health training and source of knowledge) associated with IDP. RESULTS: A total of 1398 health professionals were recruited. Participants showed fair oral health knowledge (7.1 ± 2.1) and attitudes (22.2 ± 3). Three-fourths (74.6%) reported always providing oral health education (OHE) to their patients, more than half (59.6%) reported always conducting an oral health screening (OHS), two-thirds (66.7%) reported responding to patients' questions about oral health or conditions and 58.7% reported referring patients to dentists. Pediatricians and physicians had greater odds of IDP compared to other health professionals. Source of oral health knowledge (Ministry of Health (MOH) and formal education) was significantly associated with increased odds of IDP. Participants with good oral health knowledge had greater odds of responding to patients' oral health question as well as have more referral practices. CONCLUSION: The results reveal a discrepancy between participants' IDP, knowledge, and attitudes. Incorporating dental component to medical curricula, continuous education and training programs targeting health professionals through Ministry of Health should be considered.

Attitudes and satisfaction of dental faculty toward calibration: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate attitudes and satisfaction of faculty members about calibration efforts in the undergraduate dental program at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included faculty members (n = 75) who participated in calibration exercises for effective assessments in preclinical and clinical courses. The previously validated questionnaire was utilized. The questionnaire was composed of four sections: demographics, faculty members' attitude, quality of calibration efforts, and faculty satisfaction. The satisfaction score of faculty members was calculated and compared with their demographic data. Descriptive statistics included means, standard deviations, frequencies, and proportions. The data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The response rate was 92% (n = 69). Note that 97% participants agreed that faculty calibration was an important aspect of dental education and 88.10% were willing to attend calibration exercises even if not required by their institution. Most participants (82.1%) agreed students were more satisfied with their clinical education when faculty members were calibrated. In this study, the perception of 85.1% of the participants was that calibration efforts reduced faculty variations. Most participants (73.10%) were satisfied with the quality of faculty calibration exercises in the college. The mean satisfaction score of the sample was 13.21 ± 3.65, which was significantly higher among faculty members with a doctoral degree (13.88 ± 3.64) than those with a master's degree (12.08 ± 3.46) (p = 0.048). The study showed no significant relationship of gender, age, status, and year of experience with faculty's satisfaction with calibration efforts. CONCLUSION: Most faculty members recognized the importance of faculty calibration in dental education and were satisfied with the quality of calibration efforts. Satisfaction with calibration efforts was significantly related to the high education of faculty members.

Global caries experience in children and its relationship with government expenditures on education and health, sugar consumption, and years of schooling: An ecological study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of gross domestic product (GDP), government expenditures on education and health (% of GDP), per capita sugar consumption, and years of schooling on caries experience (DMFT) in 12-year-old children globally. METHODS: The study analyzed global data of GDP, sugar consumption, years of schooling, expenditure on education and health, and DMFT from 69 countries. Information about DMFT and sugar consumption was retrieved from the World Health Organization while data of other study variables were available from the United Nations Development Program. Data were compared among low, middle, and high-income countries. RESULTS: Sugar consumption (p = 0.005) and years of schooling increased progressively from low-income to high-income countries (p < 0.001). The greater percentage of GDP was spent on health (6.55 ± 2.94) than on education (3.48 ± 2.60). Upper-middle-income countries had the highest mean DMFT score (2.23 ± 1.23) and per capita sugar consumption (33.28 ± 14.06). High-income countries spent 4.33% of their GDP on education followed by low-income countries (3.92%) (p = 0.037). Similar trends were observed with regards to the percentage of GDP spent on health (p = 0.003). Univariate analysis showed a significant negative correlation between the percentage of GDP spent on education (r = -0.252, p = 0.037) and DMFT. Significant correlation remained in multivariate analysis; the percentage of GDP spent on education and DMFT in children (B = -0.128, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Low, middle, and high-income countries demonstrated significant inequalities regarding caries experience, sugar consumption, and share of GDP spent on health and education. Increasing the share of GDP on education may reduce caries burden in children globally.

Perception on Online Teaching and Learning Among Health Sciences Students in Higher Education Institutions during the COVID-19 Lockdown - Ways to Improve Teaching and Learning in Saudi Colleges and Universities.

Background: Online learning or E-learning are approaches to broadcasting teaching by the means of internet technology and software applications. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is likewise embarking on the rapid growth in online education. The purpose of this study is to investigate the student's perceptions regarding online teaching and learning during COVID 19. Methods: An online computer-based cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2020. A pre-validated questionnaire was used and administrated to health sciences students studying at Dammam Universities through online software QuestionPro. Results: Out of total 281, 68% of the participants were females (n=188) while 31.9% (n=88) were male students with an average age of 23.1(4.5) years. Overall, 176 (62%) of the students expressed their satisfaction with online learning. Conclusion: Findings will help academicians to identify strengths, areas of improvement, and encourage faculty to think deeply to restructure course learning objectives, teaching techniques to engage students and improve learning process.

COVID-19 Myth Busters: Comparing knowledge and perceptions amongst the dental workforce at an institution in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Currently, world is suffering from a respiratory disease names as COVID-19. This is a novel coronavirus (n-CoV), a new strain which has not been previously identified in humans and it has spread in more than 100 locations internationally due to which it is termed as "public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization So far, no study done as yet to assess whether the dental workforce is aware about the facts and myths related to Covid-19 awareness. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze and compare the level of awareness about the facts and myths related to COVID-19 amongst faculty, dental students and prep year students of the College of Dentistry (COD) as part of an awareness campaign. METHODS: An awareness test about COVID-19 was designed using information from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Myth Busters Awareness webpage. The questionnaire was administrated online to faculty and students, of the College of Dentistry and preparatory year students who had applied for the admission to the dental college using a secure enterprise online assessment platform (Blackboard). The tests were administered over a period of three months from March to June 2020. A written informed consent was obtained. RESULTS: The online COVID-19 awareness test was administered to 810 participants, out of which 325 (40%) were prep year students, 429(53%%) were dental students, and 56 (7%) were faculty members. Analysis of the results showed that 86% of the Faculty were able to correctly identify the facts and the myths related to COVID-19 followed by 81% of the prep year students and 74% of the dental students. Preparatory year student's knowledge related to COVID-19 was found to be high when compared to dental students (26.47±4.27, 23.67±6.2). Student to faculty knowledge score did not differ significantly (p = 0.808). CONCLUSION: This study reports about a successful pilot test conducted to assess the perceived knowledge about facts and myths related to corona virus amongst the dental workforce.

Taxation of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and its Impact on Dental Caries: A Narrative Review.

Dental caries is one of the largest health concerns worldwide, and a key causative factor is excess sugar intake. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are one of the largest sources of added sugars, which significantly contribute to adverse oral and general health. To reduce SSB consumption and its consequent impact on health, including dental caries, several interventional measures have been implemented; sugar taxation is one such measure. This review aimed at understanding the current knowledge available regarding the effect of sugar taxation on dental caries. Accordingly, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched with relevant keywords and findings from the identified studies are discussed in this review article.

Investigating prevalence of dental anomalies in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia through digital orthopantomogram.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental anomalies in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia using the digital Orthopantomography (OPG). METHODS: A retrospective radiographic study was performed in which digital OPGs of 1189 subjects, ages ranging between 7 and 65 years were reviewed, and 1104 fulfilled inclusion criteria. Statistical analysis was performed. The OPGs were reviewed for congenitally missing teeth, impactions, ectopic eruption, supernumerary teeth, odontomas, dilacerations, taurodontism, dens in dente, gemination and fusion. RESULTS: OPGs of 1104 patients with mean age 35.32 ± 16.63 were included. The total prevalence of developmental anomalies in this study was 36.3% (401/1104). Male and female subjects with anomalies were 133 (33.2%) and 268 (66.8%) respectively. The prevalence of dilacerated teeth 300 (30.2%), congenitally missing teeth was 246 (24.7%), supernumerary teeth 18 (1.8%), talon cusp and taurodontism were seen in one patient each 1 (0.1%). Of these, a total of 15 (1.5%) anomalies were noted in pediatric patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dilaceration was the most prevalent anomaly (30.2%) in the studied sample followed by congenitally missing teeth (23.4%). Talon cusp, concrescence/fusion, and taurodontism were the least prevalent anomalies.

Relationship Between Maternal Dental Anxiety and Children's Dental Caries in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: Dental anxiety is a barrier to dental care utilization and is associated with poor oral health outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between dental anxiety of mothers and dental caries of their children in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of mother-child pairs (N= 199) in Dammam, AlKhobar, and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Dental caries experience among children was determined using dmft/DMFT indexes following the World Health Organization's guidelines. Maternal dental anxiety was assessed by using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). RESULTS: The mean ages of mothers and children were 33.98 ± 5.41 and 6.74 ± 2.29 years, respectively. The mean dmft score was 4.3 ± 3.99 in primary dentition and the mean maternal dental anxiety score was 13.89 ± 5.33. Ninety-two percent of mothers had low to extreme dental anxiety and only 8% reported no dental anxiety. Dental caries experience in primary teeth was higher in children of dentally anxious mothers (mean dmft 4.45 ± 3.92) than the children of mothers who were non-anxious (mean dmft 2.56 ± 4.59) (P=0.07). The mean maternal anxiety score was significantly higher in children with untreated decay in primary dentition (14.49 ± 5.08) than those with sound primary dentition (12.24 ± 5.67) (P = 0.008). The study also found a statistically significant correlation between maternal dental anxiety and untreated decay in the primary dentition (Pearson's r =0.171, P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Dental anxiety was highly prevalent among mothers in the present study. There was a significant relationship between maternal dental anxiety and untreated decay in the primary dentition. Awareness should be raised among dentally anxious mothers to reduce the burden of dental caries in their children.

Measuring Empathy among Dental Students and Interns: A Cross-Sectional Study from Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate empathy and its related factors among undergraduate dental students and interns enrolled in a public dental college in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students (JSE-HPS) version to determine empathy in 362 dental students and interns in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The JSE-HPS is a 20-item 7-point Likert scale questionnaire, and its score ranges from 20 to 140 with high values indicating increased empathy. Influences of age, gender, class year, previous year's grade point average (GPA), educational attainment of parents, and monthly family income on empathy were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 501 enrolled students and interns, 362 returned completed questionnaires, and the response rate of the study was 72%. The sample's empathy score (JSPE-HPS scale) ranged from 70 to 129 with a mean of 96.75 (±13.76). Most participants believed that empathy is important for effective communication with patients (96.1%) and can improve the provider-patient relationship (95.6%). Females demonstrated a significantly higher mean empathy score (99.98 ± 14.01) than males (92.72 ± 12.35) (P < 0.001). Similarly, the participants with high GPA (98.06 ± 13.69) had significantly greater mean empathy scores than those with low GPA (94.84 ± 13.68) (P=0.029). The mean empathy score increased significantly from junior students (3rd and 4th year students) to senior students (5th and 6th year students) and interns (P=0.008). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that class year (B = 2.03, P=0.006) and GPA (B = 8.67, P=0.003) were significant factors associated with empathy. CONCLUSIONS: Empathy is important for effective patient communication and improved provider-patient relationship. Female gender, high GPA, and class years were associated with empathy. Empathy should be integrated into dental curricula for effective student learning and positive patient care outcomes.

Under-reported COVID-19 cases in South Asian countries.

Background: The purpose of the study was to compare  trends in the progression of COVID-19 among South Asian countries with more developed Western countries. Methods: COVID-19 data from South Asian countries were used for this observational study. Data were taken up to April 21, 2020 from the outbreak of the COVID-19. Four of the seven countries met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Results: An exponential increase in the average number of weekly cases was reported after the fifth week following the first case. The correlation between reported cases and tests was found to be strong and significant (r=0.90, p=0.037). However, on average, 315.25 tests per million population were performed, which was at least 12 times lower than the number of tests performed in countries with a large number of COVID-19 cases. Conclusions: At present, the number of confirmed cases from South Asia was found to be significantly lower than in Western countries. Hence, an increase in the strength of performing diagnostic tests is highly recommended. Strict measures are required to make the people of these countries follow the instructions of social distancing and comply with preventive measures.

Dental Visits and Predictors of Regular Attendance Among Female Schoolchildren in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: Regular dental visits are important for the maintenance of optimal oral health and improved quality of life. The purpose of the study was to evaluate patterns of dental visits and factors associated with routine dental attendance among female schoolchildren in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 449 female primary schoolchildren (6-11 years old) in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The study included clinical examination for decay in the first permanent molars in children and questionnaire administration among their parents. The World Health Organization's oral health questionnaire was used to collect data about children's dental visits, oral hygiene behaviors, dental problems, and dietary practices. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with routine dental visits. RESULTS: Most children (64.1%) visited the dentist during the past one year, 22.1% performed no dental visit during the past one year, and 8.3% never visited the dentist. Among children who visited the dentist, the pain was the most common reason for dental visits (39.10%, N=170), followed by routine dental check-ups (18.60%, N=81). In bivariate analysis, education of parents, family income, daily tooth brushing, no decay in the first permanent molar, no toothache, no consumption of soft drinks, biscuits, cakes, and cream were significantly associated with routine dental attendance (P <0.05). However, the final logistic regression model showed that university education of mothers (OR 2.52, P = 0.005), not having toothache or discomfort (OR 2.88, P = 0.001), tooth brushing once or twice daily (OR 2.43, P= 0.034), and not consuming soft drinks (OR 1.96, P= 0.027) were significant predictors of routine dental visits. CONCLUSION: The study found that higher education of mothers, daily tooth brushing, not having dental pain, and not consuming soft drinks were significantly associated with routine dental visits in this sample of female schoolchildren. Routine dental attendance may be used to improve oral hygiene and reduce dental pain and consumption of soft drinks in children.

Impact of Sugar Tax on Sugar-sweetened Beverage Consumption among Saudi Schoolchildren.

PURPOSE: In 2017, Saudi Arabia introduced a 120% tax on energy drinks and a 50% tax on soft drinks. The impact of this policy on the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among schoolchildren is not known in this country. The present study evaluated the impact of the excise tax on SSB consumption in the tri-city metropolitan area of Dammam-Khobar-Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A repeated cross-sectional design was used to examine the difference between pre- and post-tax SSBs consumption among schoolchildren (12-14 years old) in Dammam-Khobar-Dhahran cities. A beverage-consumption frequency questionnaire was completed by 453 participants before the tax implementation and 334 participants after the tax implementation. The tax on soft drinks was increased by 50% and on energy drinks by 120%. Pre-tax data were collected in May 2017 and post-tax data in April 2018. RESULTS: The proportion of participants who consumed energy drinks was 46.1% (95% CI: 42-51) before tax implementation, decreasing to 38.4% (95% CI: 33-44) after tax implementation, a reduction of nearly 8%. 92.5% (95% CI: 90-95) of the participants consumed soft drinks before tax implementation and 94.6% (95% CI: 92-97) did so after tax implementation, an increase of about 2%. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed no statistically significant impact of tax implementation on the consumption of energy drinks and soft drinks in this sample of children.

Effect of a Vibration System on Pain Reduction during Injection of Dental Anesthesia in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The ''gate control" theory suggests pain can be reduced by simultaneous activation of larger diameter nerve fibers using appropriate coldness, warmth, rubbing, pressure, or vibration. This study investigated the efficacy of a device combining cold and vibration, for needle-related procedural pain in children. Methodology. A total of 51 children aged 5-12 years participated in this randomized controlled clinical trial. Half of the children were in the control group and received maxillary buccal infiltration, by injecting 1.8 ml of 2% lidocaine with 1 : 100,000 adrenaline using topical anesthesia 20% benzocaine gel for 15 seconds, while the other half were in the test group and received the same anesthesia using a commercially available external cold and a vibrating device. A face version of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used as a subjective measure to assess the child's pain experience. The parents were requested to evaluate the child's ability to tolerate pain using a behavioral/observational pain scale. Sound, Eyes, and Motor (SEM) scale and Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scale were used to record the child's pain as perceived by the external evaluator. T-test or Mann-Whitney U-test was used for scale variables, paired sample T-test or Wilcoxon rank t-test was used for before and after data, and chi-square was used for categorical variable, based on the results of normality test. RESULTS: The results showed a statistically significant reduction in pain after the injection for the test group compared with control using VAS scale (mean = 6.68 (1.09) and 8.42 (0.50); p=0.001) and FLACC scale (mean = 5.92 (1.05) and 8.16 (0.54); p=0.002), but not when using SEM scale (mean 3.22 (0.42) and 4.24 (2.74);p=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Combined external cold and vibrating devices can be an effective alternative in reducing experienced pain and fear in children undergoing infiltration dental anesthesia. This study was registered with clinical trial registry of the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03953001).

Patient safety culture amongst dental students and interns in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate awareness and attitudes of dental students and interns about patient safety culture in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 272 undergraduate dental students and interns using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) from November 2019 to January 2020. The SAQ consists of six domains: teamwork climate, safety climate, job satisfaction, stress recognition, perception of management and work conditions. The score of SAQ ranges from 0 to 100, and a cut-off ≥75 is considered a positive attitude of patient safety. RESULTS: The study included 47.1% of males and 52.9% of females with a mean age of 22.58 ± 1.3 years. Few participants (9.9%) showed a positive attitude of patient safety culture. Nearly one-third of participants (35.7%) attended a course on patient safety and 31.6% reported experiencing adverse events by them or their families. Out of six domains, job satisfaction showed the highest mean score (70.25) and 75.4% of participants felt proud to practise in the dental clinic. Female students demonstrated a significantly higher mean score of stress recognition (64.28 ± 18.98) than male students (56.98 ± 22.53) (P 0.004). The mean SAQ score increased significantly from fourth year students to interns (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A small percentage of students demonstrated a positive attitude of patient safety and only one-third attended a patient safety course. The job satisfaction domain was highly rated and patient safety culture significantly improved from junior to senior students. Dental curricula should include patient safety courses to improve the quality and safety of patient care.

A Deep Learning-Based Approach for the Detection of Early Signs of Gingivitis in Orthodontic Patients Using Faster Region-Based Convolutional Neural Networks.

Computer-based technologies play a central role in the dentistry field, as they present many methods for diagnosing and detecting various diseases, such as periodontitis. The current study aimed to develop and evaluate the state-of-the-art object detection and recognition techniques and deep learning algorithms for the automatic detection of periodontal disease in orthodontic patients using intraoral images. In this study, a total of 134 intraoral images were divided into a training dataset (n = 107 [80%]) and a test dataset (n = 27 [20%]). Two Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (R-CNN) models using ResNet-50 Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) were developed. The first model detects the teeth to locate the region of interest (ROI), while the second model detects gingival inflammation. The detection accuracy, precision, recall, and mean average precision (mAP) were calculated to verify the significance of the proposed model. The teeth detection model achieved an accuracy, precision, recall, and mAP of 100 %, 100%, 51.85%, and 100%, respectively. The inflammation detection model achieved an accuracy, precision, recall, and mAP of 77.12%, 88.02%, 41.75%, and 68.19%, respectively. This study proved the viability of deep learning models for the detection and diagnosis of gingivitis in intraoral images. Hence, this highlights its potential usability in the field of dentistry and aiding in reducing the severity of periodontal disease globally through preemptive non-invasive diagnosis.

Oral Health of Children with Autism: The Influence of Parental Attitudes and Willingness in Providing Care.

OBJECTIVES: Parents play a crucial role in health-related practices of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study assessed the association between oral health status and oral health practices of children with ASD in relation to their parental attitudes and comfort in providing oral care. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 75 children with ASD attending the special needs schools in Eastern Saudi Arabia from 2015-2018. Parents responded to a self-administered questionnaire assessing their attitudes toward oral health and comfort in providing oral care for children. The clinical examination assessed dental caries (decayed, extracted, and filled: (DMF and def)), gingival disease, and plaque accumulation. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between the study variables, while ANOVA followed by post hoc was used to assess the differences. RESULTS: Prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth was 76% and 68% in the permanent dentition with a mean of 0.85 ± 1.9 and 1.03 ± 2.9, respectively. Thirty-one participants had gingival problems, mean gingival index was 1.03 ± 0.88, and mean plaque index was 0.95 ± 0.43. Half of the parents supervised their children's brushing, which was significantly associated with plaque accumulation (p = 0.004), gingival disease (p < 0.0001), and def (p = 0.02). Parental attitudes and comfort in providing oral health care were not associated with oral health status of ASD children; however, positive parental attitudes were associated with lower sugar consumption (p = 0.043). An inverse correlation was observed between comfort in providing oral health care with gingival and plaque scores r = -0.18 and -0.23, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The data are indicative of poor oral health practices and status among ASD children. Parents' oral health care practices seem to be reactive rather than proactive. Positive parental attitudes were associated with lower sugar consumption. Greater comfort in providing care was negatively correlated with plaque accumulation and gingival problems.

Dental Facilities During the New Corona Outbreak: A SWOT Analysis.

Recently, there have been many global outbreaks of diseases. The latest is the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The virus has spread worldwide and is transmitted mainly through droplets or by touching contaminated surfaces. Globally, healthcare systems are challenged due to a lack of workplace safety and professional obligations in addition to the rapid spread of the virus. Dental facilities are at greater risk due to the nature of dental care. The aim of this review study was to provide a situational analysis within dental facilities during the new COVID-19 outbreak. Published papers concerning dental facilities and COVID-19 were retrieved from PubMed, search engines, and organizational websites. All data were reviewed, arranged into themes, and then categorized either as strengths or weaknesses with respect to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in dental facilities, and accordingly, threats and possible opportunities to the handling of the pandemic were identified. Preparedness of dental facilities during the current pandemic is a weakness that needs to be addressed promptly. Shortage of dental care providers, cyber security, economic losses, and ethical challenges are possible threats due to the current outbreak. Coordination and prompt communication among all healthcare providers during such outbreaks is a strength that needs to be supported. This strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis can be a useful tool for guiding decision-making as it is crucial during the current pandemic to work on weaknesses, avoid threats, and utilize all future opportunities.

Influence of Dental Pain and Tooth Sensitivity on the Intention to Quit Smoking among Schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between oral health problems and sociodemographic factors with the intention to quit smoking and join the tobacco cessation program among schoolchildren. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 10-12 grade male students from public high schools in different cities of the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Schoolchildren responded to a pilot-tested questionnaire about self-reported oral health problems and the intention to quit smoking. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Out of 587 schoolchildren, 199 were smokers with a smoking prevalence of 33.9%. Significantly higher proportions of smokers than nonsmokers had tooth sensitivity (P = 0.029) and dryness of the mouth (P = 0.001). Most smokers (75.9%) had a family history of smoking, and 51.8% started smoking within the last two years. Tooth sensitivity (56.3%), dental cavities (52.8%), and dental pain (44.7%) were highly prevalent among smokers. About one-third of smokers expressed their intention to quit smoking (38.2%) and join a smoking cessation program (33.7%). Tooth sensitivity (OR = 3.7, P = 0.004) and dental pain (OR = 2.84, P = 0.014) were significantly associated with quitting smoking. In addition, smokers with tooth sensitivity (OR = 3.22, P = 0.007) had higher odds of joining a smoking cessation program than those without tooth sensitivity. The smokers who started smoking within the last two years (OR = 3.97, P = 0.002) were more likely to quit smoking than those who initiated smoking for more than two years. CONCLUSION: Oral health problems were highly prevalent among smokers. Tooth sensitivity was significantly associated with quitting smoking and joining a cessation program in children. The awareness about the adverse effects of smoking on oral health should be part of regional, national, and global tobacco prevention policies and programs.