Oral health behavior differences between dental students in graduate and doctoral programs.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare oral health behavior between dental students in graduate programs and those in doctoral programs (PhD students) and determine the effects of parental education and occupation on these behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire on oral health behaviors was distributed in a faculty of dentistry in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 629 questionnaires were distributed, and 528 dental graduate and 101 PhD students responded. Parental education and occupation were also recorded, and data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to the frequency of replacing toothbrush (p=0.001), use of electric toothbrush (p<0.001), frequency of brushing (p<0.001), amount of water used to rinse mouth (p<0.001), toothpaste selection criteria (p<0.001), use of dental floss (p<0.001), amount of toothpaste used for brushing (p=0.018), frequency of professional care (p<0.001), and sugar consumption (p<0.001). The PhD group showed more favorable outcomes for these behaviors except for toothpaste selection. Parental education and occupation were correlated with higher frequencies of flossing and mouth rinsing. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study show that the self-reported quality of overall oral health behavior is more pronounced in PhD students than in graduate students, with the exceptions of behaviors regarding the duration of brushing, toothpaste selection criteria, and use of mouth rinse. The current dental curriculum in the universities should be revisited with respect to oral health attitudes. This study also implies that educational and occupational status of parents had little effect on oral health behavior of the students, including the use of dental floss and mouth rinse.

Factors associated with insufficient removable partial denture design instructions.

BACKGROUND: The design of removable partial denture (RPD) has an important role in the health of dental and periodontal tissues. Dentists are responsible for the design since designing it requires mechanical and biological considerations. There is lack of literature focusing on the behavior of dentists in Turkey concerning the design of RPDs. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the capability of dentists to transfer RPD design information to dental laboratories, and to determine the factors playing a role in the designing or transferring the design information. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to 25 dental laboratories in all geographical regions of Turkey. Design instructions of RPD provided by dentists using a prescription form, phone call and internet were examined. Clinic type, communication method, way of showing design information, and specialization in prosthodontics were recorded to investigate their association with design information. The data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and χ2 test. RESULTS: Approximately 2/3 of the dentists did not mention any design information in the instructions. Laboratory prescription form was the most frequently used communication method. Design features were mostly indicated in diagrams. The ratio of indicating design information was higher among prosthodontists. Over a half of the dentists who mentioned design information in their instructions were from private dental clinics. The dentists who preferred both writing and drawing for showing design specifications had the highest ratio of showing rest type, clasp location and rest location in their instructions. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of dentists do not mention any design information. Expertise in prosthodontics and type of dental institution affect the content of the design information. Showing design features in more than 1 way seems to increase the amount of design items. Training dentists in aspects of RPD design and evaluating the circumstances of clinics is essential.