Influence of Practice Characteristics on the Adoption of Electronic Dental Records in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: The adoption of electronic dental records (EDRs) is less extensively studied than electronic medical records (EMRs) in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, a multivariate analysis was conducted to calculate the adoption of EDRs and determine the practice characteristics that influence adoption. METHODS: An online survey was conducted with 220 dental practices in Jeddah from August to December 2021. The questionnaire contained 10 items that measured the adoption of EDRs and identified the region, district, practice characteristics, and practice size. A regression analysis was used to ascertain the relationships between EDR adoption and the predictor variables. RESULTS: About 93% of the dental practices, we surveyed in Jeddah had adopted EDRs. Public dental practices and large practices were associated with higher rates of adoption (respectively, 97.0%, p = 0.016; 97.8%, p = 0.009). The logistic regression model showed statistically significant results regarding practice characteristics, practice size, and the acceptance of insurance patients. EDR adoption was 89% less likely for private dental practices, 99% less likely for smaller dental practices (≥2 dentists), and 98% less likely in dental practices that did not treat patients with insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study sample showed a high rate of EDR adoption. Among the participants, public practices, large practices, and practices that treat patients with insurance were the most positively inclined toward EDR adoption.

An unusual case of tooth in the floor of the orbit: the libyan experience.

Maxillary dentigerous cysts although uncommon need to be considered in the differential diagnosis in children with painless facial swelling. We present a case of dentigerous cyst associated with maxillary deciduous canine and maxillary premolars manifesting as a unilateral swelling in canine region of the face. A ten-year-old boy came to oral and maxillofacial surgery unit with a painless left facial swelling. The local dentist had prescribed antibiotics for treatment for the facial swelling, but the swelling did not subside, and the parents brought the child to our unit in Zliten Dental College. After clinical examination and imaging, the diagnosis of dentigerous cyst was made. Caldwell-Luc approach was done, the cyst was enucleated, and primary closure was done. The patient was followed up for a period of two years and there was no evidence of any recurrence.