E-cigarettes: knowledge and usage habits among dental patients / Cigarro eletrônico: conhecimento e hábito de uso entre pacientes odontológicos

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are increasingly popular in many countries and became a public health concern. In some places, such as, in Brazil, electronic smoking devices were banned from the market. Even though e-cigarettes are illegal in Brazil, it is important to emphasize the need to educate dental professionals regarding the potential hazards of vaping on the oral and systemic health. This study questioned Canadian dental patients about e-cigarettes, aiming to share information with dental professionals around the world regarding this contemporary issue. One hundred sixty-three (163) adult dental patients who attended a Canadian university dental clinic in the period February-May 2018 answered a closed-ended questionnaire to investigate their knowledge about e-cigarettes and their usage habits. Data was descriptively reported (frequencies and percentages). Only 7 (4.29%) patients (≥ 18 years old) had never heard about e-cigarettes. Overall, patients believed that conventional cigarettes are more harmful to the general (88.95%), and oral health (91.41%), in comparison to the negative effects caused by e-cigarettes to the general (69.93%), and oral health (69.32%). Prosthodontic crowns and implants were cited as structures that might not be affected by e-cigarettes. Twenty-one (12.88%) patients had already tried an e-cigarette (half of those were nonsmokers). The reasons to try e-cigarettes were: 'they help to quit smoking and they are a safer alternative to smoking'. The harmfulness of e-cigarettes compared to conventional cigarettes was pointed as: i) both types are equally harmful > ii) e-cigarettes are harmful, but not as bad as conventional cigarettes > iii) e-cigarettes are more harmful. Patients were aware of the negative effects of e-cigarettes, but to a lesser degree when comparing their knowledge to conventional cigarettes. A few participants have already tried an e-cigarette and almost half of those were nonsmokers (AU).

Cigarros eletrônicos são cada vez mais populares em muitos países (como por exemplo, no Canadá) e se tornaram um problema de saúde pública. Em alguns lugares, como no Brasil, os aparelhos eletrônicos para fumar foram banidos do comércio. Apesar de os cigarros eletrônicos serem ilegais no Brasil, é importante que se enfatize a necessidade de educar os profissionais da odontologia em relação aos perigos potenciais do 'vaping' para a saúde oral e sistêmica. Este estudo questionou pacientes de uma faculdade de odontologia do Canadá sobre cigarros eletrônicos, com o objetivo de informar profissionais da odontologia a respeito deste problema contemporâneo. Cento e sessenta e três (163) pacientes adultos que procuraram atendimento na clínica dentária de uma faculdade de odontologia do Canadá no período de fevereiro a maio de 2018 responderam um questionário fechado objetivando investigar o conhecimento dos pacientes sobre cigarros eletrônicos e os hábitos de uso. Os dados foram descritivamente reportados (frequências e percentagens). Somente 7 (4,29%) pacientes (≥ 18 anos) nunca tinham ouvido falar sobre cigarros eletrônicos. De uma forma geral, os pacientes acreditam que os cigarros convencionais são mais prejudiciais à saúde geral (88.95%) e oral (91.41%), em comparação com os efeitos negativos causados pelos cigarros eletrônicos para a saúde geral (69.93%) e oral (69.32%). Coroas de próstese e implantes dentários foram citados como as estruturas que talvez não sejam afetadas pelos cigarros eletrônicos. Vinte e um (12,88%) pacientes já tinham fumado um cigarro eletrônico (metade destes eram não fumantes). As razões para fumar cigarro eletrônico foram: "eles ajudam a parar de fumar e são uma alternativa segura ao cigarro". A nocividade dos cigarros eletrônicos comparada aos cigarros convencionais foi citada como: i) ambos são igualmente prejudiciais > ii) cigarros eletrônicos são prejudiciais, mas não tanto quanto os cigarros convencionais > iii) cigarros eletrônicos são mais prejudiciais. Os pacientes estavam cientes dos efeitos negativos causados pelos cigarros eletrônicos, mas em um grau menor quando comparado com o conhecimentos que tinham sobre os efeitos dos cigarros convencionais. Poucos participantes já tinham fumado um cigarro eletrônico e a metade destes eram não-fumantes (AU).

Perceived causes of stress among a group of western Canadian dental students.

OBJECTIVE: The demanding nature of dental education, both academically and clinically, results in higher levels of perceived stress among its students. The aim of this study was to determine how dental students at the College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan perceived stress. During the 2013-2014 academic year, all students were asked to complete a modified dental environmental survey (DES). RESULTS: Of the 111 students enrolled at the College that year 92 completed the survey (response rate = 83%). In general, female students reported higher stress levels than males. Higher stress levels were associated with living away from home, concerns about manual dexterity and the transition from pre-clinical to clinical studies. Additionally, students who enter dental school with higher debt loads (> 100,000) report high stress levels relating to finances. This study found that financial and clinical workloads result in high stress levels among dental students.

Risk Determinants of Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Status in 3-15 Year-Old Recent Immigrant and Refugee Children in Saskatchewan, Canada: A Pilot Study.

This study aimed to identify the risk determinants of caries and record oral hygiene status in recent immigrant and refugee children residing in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Convenience samples of 133, 3-15 year-old recent immigrant and refugee children, and 86 adult guardians were recruited. Clinical examination of children and survey of their guardians explored the presence of at least one decayed tooth in the child's mouth; and the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, among other aspects in adult participants. Refugee children had statistically significant higher decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) scores (mean dmft/DMFT score 5.80 ± 4.24) than immigrant children (mean dmft/DMFT score 3.52 ± 3.78 (p < 0.001). Adult immigrants had significantly higher proficiency in English language, knowledge about preventive components like fluoride and dental floss compared to refugee adults. The results of this study confirm the poorer state of oral health among refugee and immigrant children compared to Canadian children.

The chemical forms of mercury in aged and fresh dental amalgam surfaces.

Mercury-containing dental amalgam is known to be a source of human exposure to mercury. We have explored the use of electron yield Hg L(III) X-ray absorption spectroscopy to characterize the chemical nature of dental amalgam surfaces. We find that the method is practical and that it shows extensive mercury depletion in the surface of the aged amalgam with significant differences between old and fresh amalgam surfaces. Whereas the fresh amalgam gives spectra that are typical of metallic mercury, the aged amalgam is predominantly beta-mercuric sulfide. The toxicological implications of these results are discussed.