Maintenance of dental records and awareness of forensic odontology among pakistani dentists: a mixed-method study with implications for dental data repository.

OBJECTIVE: Dental records and forensic odontology play an important role in both healthcare and the legal system, aiding in personalized patient care, human identification, and legal proceedings. This study aims to investigate dental record-keeping practices and assess the awareness of forensic odontology among Pakistani dentists over 12 months. This study aims to collect data from 500 dentists, identify areas for enhancement, and develop a strategic action plan to improve record-keeping quality and forensic odontology application, culminating in a comprehensive dental data repository to support legal and criminal investigations in Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: This study employed a mixed-method approach conducted at Hamdard Dental College from January to March 2023. The quantitative phase involved distributing questionnaires to 463 dentists, chosen through stratified random sampling. Out of these, 413 responded, yielding an 86% response rate. These questionnaires focused on dental record-keeping practices and dentists' awareness of forensic odontology. Subsequently, based on the questionnaire results, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 purposively selected dentists to gain deeper insight into the challenges and potential solutions. Data from both phases were integrated and analyzed accordingly. RESULTS: The study included 413 participants, mainly females (79%), with ages ranging from 27 to 65 years and an average age of 46.4 years. Most dentists had 5-20 years of work experience (53%), and most (87.4%) were practicing in private clinical settings. All the dentists generated medical and dental records, but the duration of their record-keeping varied, with some maintaining them for up to a year and others for two years or longer. Five themes were generated from the qualitative content analysis. These themes were dentists' perceptions, barriers and challenges, knowledge and awareness, and improvement strategies. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that local practitioners in Pakistan exhibit subpar practices in dental record-keeping and maintenance of patient history, irrespective of whether they use a digital or traditional file-based system. Even though dentists are cognizant of the importance of record-keeping, they do not actively maintain comprehensive records. This suggests the need for improved training and system improvements to address the gaps in record-keeping practices.

Relationship between Chronological Age and Dental Age Using Third Molar Calcification in the Pakistani Population.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the relationship between dental age and chronological age in patients attending dental OPDs using third molar calcification stages. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Dental OPDs of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan, from November 2021 to April 2022. METHODOLOGY: Dental Orthopantomograms (OPG) of 385 patients, aged 12-28 years attending the dental OPDs, were obtained during the study period. Third molar calcification stages were evaluated using the method proposed by Kohler et al. based on ten stages of tooth formation. The inter-examiner agreement was tested by adding another examiner to 100 dental OPGs after 30 days of reviewing them by one examiner. A simple linear regression model was applied between age and stage of tooth growth. RESULTS: A total of 121 males (31.4%) and 264 (68.6%) females were included in this study. Intra-agreement and inter-agreement were excellent (˃0.90). A total of 55 (14.28%) had half of the root completed, followed by 49 (12.72%) who had initiation of root formation and 1/3rd root completion. The left mandibular third molars were found to be more statistically significant with Kohler's stages of development in both genders. CONCLUSION: Developing third molars was significantly related to chronological age and provided the most accurate age calculation based on all tooth measurements and ratios of tooth measurements. Third molar calcification stages can be used accurately to predict age in Pakistani adolescents. KEY WORDS: Dental age estimation, Chronological age, Dental radiographs, Orthopantomograph, Third molar development.

COVID-19 and Dental Education in Pakistan.

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected more than 6 million people globally; and changed the dynamics of the entire world. In March 2020, novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). In Pakistan, the first case of COVID-19 was reported on 26th February, 2020. The virus is highly contagious and spreads mainly by aerosols. Its major symptoms include sore throat, cough, high-grade fever, anosmia, etc. Like other countries, it has also affected all fields of life in Pakistan, but its impact on dental education and dentistry has been particularly devastating. Dental institutes are at particularly high risk for infection transmission through their aerosol-generating dental procedures. In the scenario of a lockdown, dental students are suffering a lot and the dental colleges and faculties must try their best to overcome this situation. This article aims to review the challenges faced by dental community to carryout teaching and training in dental education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key Words: COVID-19, Dentistry, Education, Pakistan, Pandemic.