The oral health component of «100% santé¼ reform: initial descriptive elements / Le volet bucco-dentaire de la réforme 100 % santé : premiers éléments descriptifs

The "100% Santé" (100% Health) reform constitutes a major change to oral health pricing and insurance practices in France. The objective of this study was to observe the evolution of dental care consumption, and in particular prosthetic care, over a period including the years before and after the reform. This exploratory study, based on descriptive data, provides the first elements of analysis useful for evaluating the oral health component of the "100% Santé" reform. The study is based on the health care consumption data of 3,466,764 state health insurance beneficiaries aged three to twenty-five years in Occitania, covering the period from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020. The descriptive analysis of this data revealed that prosthodontic care is the only area to show an increase in the average amount of care consumed between 2019 and 2020: a relative increase of +4 percent among 3­25-year-olds and +6.7 percent among 21­25-year-olds. Moreover, among 21­25-year-olds, we observe a drop in the share of prostheses in the care consumed in 2019, and then a recovery approaching 0.3 percent of the initial share in 2020. Although it is not possible to conclude that there is an impact, these results show a positive trend whereby the reform's objective of increasing prosthodontic care consumption seems to have been achieved. This study highlights the importance of assessing the long-term impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the "100% Santé" reform on dental care consumption.

La réforme 100 % Santé est un choc important dans les pratiques tarifaires et assurantielles en santé orale en France. L'objectif de l'étude est d'observer l'évolution de la consommation de soins dentaires et notamment prothétiques sur une période regroupant des années ante- et post-réforme. Cette étude exploratoire, soutenue par des travaux de recherche descriptifs, fournit les premiers éléments d'analyse utiles pour évaluer la réforme 100 % santé sur le volet bucco-dentaire. Il s'agit d'une étude exploratoire reposant sur les données de consommation de soins de 3 466 764 bénéficiaires de 3-25 ans de l'Assurance maladie en Occitanie, sur la période allant du 1er janvier 2016 au 31 décembre 2020. L'analyse descriptive de ces données a permis de mettre en évidence que les soins prothétiques sont les seuls soins consommés dont la moyenne augmente entre 2019 et 2020 : hausse relative de +4 % chez les 3-25 ans et +6,7 % chez les 21-25 ans. De plus, chez les 21-25 ans, on observe un recul de la part des prothèses dans les soins consommés en 2019, puis un regain se rapprochant de 0,3 % de la part initiale en 2020. Malgré l'impossibilité de conclure à un réel effet, ces résultats montrent une tendance positive selon laquelle l'objectif d'augmentation de la consommation des soins prothétiques de la réforme semble se réaliser. Cette étude souligne l'importance d'évaluer les répercussions à long terme de la crise Covid et de la réforme 100 % Santé sur les consommations de soins dentaires.

Recreational Nitrous Oxide Use and Associated Factors among Health Profession Students in France.

The first aim of this study was to investigate the recreational use of nitrous oxide (N2O) among health profession students at Montpellier University (France). The second aim was to identify the factors associated with N2O use. All students in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and midwifery of the Montpellier University were contacted by email to participate in the survey. The students answered directly online by filling out anonymously a questionnaire including demographic information and questions about N2O, illicit drugs and alcohol use. Ethical approval was granted by the ethics committee of the Montpellier University. The sample comprised 593 students (mean age = 22.3 ± 2.6 yr), with 68.6% of females. Lifetime N2O use was reported by 76.6% and frequent alcohol use by 30.5% of the respondents. The lifetime use of cannabis, 'poppers', cocaine, ecstasy and LSD was 26.8%, 54.6%, 9.6%, 10.1% and 2.0% respectively. In multivariate analysis, the substances significantly associated with lifetime N2O were alcohol drinking and 'poppers' use. With respect to this self-nominated sample, our results indicate that respondents who were alcohol drinkers, were poppers users, follow longer studies, divert medical products for recreational use or were members of a students' corporation had higher odds of lifetime N2O use.

Periodontal Care and Treatment Provision by General Dentists in France.

AIM: In many countries, periodontal surgery is mainly provided by periodontists. This specialty is not recognised in France, where periodontal care and treatment are principally the responsibility of general dentists (GDs). The objective of this study was to investigate the periodontal care provided and factors associated with the treatment of periodontal diseases, including periodontal surgery, by GDs in France. METHODS: A national cross-sectional survey of GDs practicing in the French metropolitan area was conducted in 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was sent by mail to the GDs selected by stratified simple random sampling. It included questions on respondents' sociodemographic characteristics and their periodontal practice. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to identify the factors associated with the practice of periodontal surgery by GDs. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-five GDs responded (response rate, 23.4%). Their mean age was 45.2 years; 51.2% were male and 83.6% were in private practice. They reported performing selective periodontal examinations such as pocket probing on average for 34.2% of their patients, but only 5.5% of them performed them systematically. Several variables were significantly associated with the provision of periodontal surgical procedures such as the gender of the GDs, full mouth periodontal probing, implantology practice, insufficient fees, or uncertainty about treatment procedure. This survey confirmed the referral of patients for periodontal surgery by a minority of practitioners. It also highlighted insufficient screening and diagnostic procedures for periodontal diseases by GDs. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve French GDs' periodontal skills and knowledge and to address other barriers that currently limit their ability to deliver comprehensive periodontal care.

Deciphering Black Extrinsic Tooth Stain Composition in Children Using Metaproteomics.

The present study focuses on the use of a metaproteomic approach to analyze Black Extrinsic Tooth Stains, a specific type of pigmented extrinsic substance. Metaproteomics is a powerful emerging technology that successfully enabled human protein and bacterial identification of this specific dental biofilm using high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 1600 bacterial proteins were identified in black stain (BS) samples and 2058 proteins in dental plaque (DP) samples, whereas 607 and 582 human proteins were identified in BS and DP samples, respectively. A large diversity of bacteria genera (142) in BS and DP was identified, showing a high prevalence of Rothia, Kingella, Neisseria, and Pseudopropionibacterium in black stain samples. In this work, the high diversity of the dental microbiota and its proteome is highlighted, including significant differences between black stain and dental plaque samples.

A national teledentistry study on the knowledge, attitudes, training and practices of private dentists.

Objectives: Nationally examine the self-perceived knowledge, attitudes and practices of TeleDentistry (TD) among dentists in private practice in France. Methods: A descriptive questionnaire-based survey was conducted nationwide from 10 November 2020 to 13 December 2020. The national scale survey was both anonymous and voluntary and was sent by the National Board of Dentists to 42,464 private dentists that were officially registered in France. The questionnaire included 36 questions divided into various sections: (i) general profile (gender, age range, and university, where respondents completed their dental studies), (ii) general knowledge of telemedicine, and (iii) familiarity with current regulations on telemedicine and activities that qualify as telemedicine. Results: Only 57.1% of dentists in private practice stated that they had never heard nor knew about TD (n=2,887). Only 1.5% (n=76) stated they had attended a training module on telemedicine and/or TD during their studies at university. Only 1.3% (n=26) of dentists who practised a TD activity stated that they knew about telemedicine regulations. Only 65.7% (n=2,020) of those who had never practised and 74.8% (n=1,485) who had practised TD acknowledged that they would like to practice TD. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study found a significant need for TD education and training as well as on regulations. It may be necessary in the future to ensure that all stakeholders in the field of dentistry work together to improve these two topics for dental practitioners. It is also worth noting that TD and telemedicine are public health tools and that they could provide inequitable access to medical care. However, TD must be implemented to decrease inequality and ensure it does not do the opposite.

Oral Hygiene Practices and Knowledge among Adolescents Aged between 15 and 17 Years Old during Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: Multicentre Study Conducted in France.

The aims of this study were to assess oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among orthodontic patients between the ages of 15 and 17 years old compared to adolescents without orthodontic treatment. This cross-sectional study included 392 adolescents drawn from various French teaching hospitals. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment had a higher knowledge of oral health than adolescents without orthodontic treatment. The majority of adolescents for both groups (69%) claimed to brush their teeth twice a day. Regarding complimentary dental material, 81.9% of adolescents without orthodontic treatment never used an interdental brush and 78.8% never used dental floss. For those undergoing orthodontic treatment, 48.5% never used an interdental brush. Only 4% of adolescents without and 3% of adolescents with orthodontic treatment never consumed fizzy drinks, 4.9% and 3% never consumed sweets, and 4% and 8.4% never ate fast-food. Adolescents without treatment consumed more sodas (p = 0.048) and more fast food (p = 0.029). Adolescents had insufficient knowledge of oral health. Health education programmes should be implemented to improve adolescents' knowledge and individual oral prophylaxis with interdental brushes.

The dental "box of horrors" clinical practice game: A pilot project.

BACKGROUND: The dental department of the University Hospital of Nice has set the "box of horrors," an innovative concept inspired by the "room of horrors," created in 2006 in Canada, and utilized since 2011 in France. PURPOSE: The aim was to assess the impact and perceived value of this clinical practice game utilized by fourth-year dental students. METHODS: This pilot study following a cross-sectional pre- and posttest research design was used to assess students' change in performance. The experimental group was divided into 12 students teams (n = 50). A questionnaire was completed before they entered the box; they had then to find out 10 errors hidden in the box in a set time. A debriefing was held immediately after. The control group answered the same questions but did not follow the course inside the box. The percentages of correct answers were compared between the two groups with a Mann-Whitney test, and the scores per student were analyzed with a mixed effects ordinal multiple logistic regression. Finally, a satisfaction questionnaire was proposed. RESULTS: After the course, the students from the experimental group performed 94% correct answers, while those from the control group showed 78% (significant difference). The outcome of the mixed effect multiple regression showed a significant group effect (p = 0.0001) and gender effect (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Clinical games, although complex to implement, are interesting and rewarding tools. The adaptation of the tool to the dental sector appeared to be feasible.

Autologous Fat Grafting in Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Gives Complete and Stable Speech Recovery in Patient Under 7 years.

ABSTRACT: The authorspresent a retrospective observational cohort study of 47 French speaking consecutive patients treated with retropharyngeal wall filling with autologous fat graft from 2006 to 2019 in a single tertiary center, to assess with a long-term follow-up, the best tailored treatment to recovery speech for velopharyngeal insufficiency, and to stress the importance of early treatment with minimally invasive procedure with retropharyngeal wall fat grafting. In preoperative setting, a clinical and instrumental evaluation with aerophonoscope is completed by a palatal closure assessment with nasal endoscopy. All patients were classified according with Borel Maisonny score pre- and post-operatively. Sixty three fat injections were performed. In 4 cases a pharyngeal flap was performed after fat graft for an insufficient speech result. The authors had no complications. Patients with less than 7 years of age obtained a complete recovery of their velopharyngeal incompetence (P = 0.03) compared to older patients. In conclusion, the authors can state that this tailored surgical technique needs a multidisciplinary approach. Many variables can affect postoperative results: fat reabsorption, concurrently performed surgery, pattern of pharyngeal closure, hearing impairment. None of these factors affected our result. Early treatment plays a crucial role to achieve better results. Patients with less of 7 years showed a better result in this functional treatment.

Effect of Oral Prophylactic Measures on the Occurrence of Pre-Eclampsia (OP-PE) in High-Risk Pregnant Women: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Pre-eclampsia (PE), a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder, characterized by the development of placental endothelial dysfunction, remains a major source of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income settings. Periodontal disorders during pregnancy, and particularly periodontal pathogens, may be related to the risk of PE. Standard oral hygiene methods, based mainly on the joint use of toothbrushes and interdental brushes, reduce periodontal inflammatory risk and modulate the dysbiosis of the oral microbiome. The aim of this trial is to compare the PE outcomes in high-risk pregnant women receiving oral prophylactic measures to a control group. This trial is designed as a two-arm, parallel, cluster randomized controlled trial with the antenatal obstetric clinic as the unit of randomization and an allocation ratio of 1:1. The pregnant women will be included at 3 months of pregnancy and will be followed throughout the pregnancy. The primary outcome measure will be the incidence of PE from a baseline during the pregnancy. Secondary outcomes measures will include changes from the baseline in quantification of the pathogenic bacterial load of the interdental microbiota, the severity scores of periodontal indicators, and the incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes. This trial should demonstrate that the implementation of daily oral hygiene reduces oral dysbiosis, the incidence of periodontal disease, and the risk of PE.

Performance of Self-Collected Saliva Testing Compared with Nasopharyngeal Swab Testing for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

The aim of this study was to determine whether self-collected pure saliva (SCPS) is comparable to nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs in the quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in asymptomatic, mild patients with confirmed COVID-19. Thirty-one patients aged from 18 to 85 years were included between 9 June and 11 December 2020. A SCPS sample and a NP sample were taken for each patient. Quantitative PCR was performed to detect SARS-CoV-2 viral load. Results of SCPS vs. NP samples testing were compared. Statistical analyses were performed. Viral load was significantly correlated (r = 0.72). The concordance probability was estimated at 73.3%. In symptomatic adults, SCPS performance was similar to that of NP swabs (Percent Agreement = 74.1%; p = 0.11). Thus, the salivary test based on pure oral saliva samples easily obtained by noninvasive techniques has a fair agreement with the nasopharyngeal one in asymptomatic, mild patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

Use of an antiviral mouthwash as a barrier measure in the SARS-CoV-2 transmission in adults with asymptomatic to mild COVID-19: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if commercially available mouthwash with ß-cyclodextrin and citrox (bioflavonoids) (CDCM) could decrease the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) salivary viral load. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR-positive patients aged 18-85 years with asymptomatic to mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms for <8 days were recruited. A total of 176 eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to CDCM or placebo. Three rinses daily were performed for 7 days. Saliva sampling was performed on day 1 at 09.00 (T1), 13.00 (T2) and 18.00 (T3). On the following 6 days, one sample was taken at 15.00. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated that, over the course of 1 day, CDCM was significantly more effective than placebo 4 hours after the first dose (p 0.036), with a median percentage (log10 copies/mL) decrease T1-T2 of -12.58% (IQR -29.55% to -0.16%). The second dose maintained the low median value for the CDCM (3.08 log10 copies/mL; IQR 0-4.19), compared with placebo (3.31 log10 copies/mL; IQR 1.18-4.75). At day 7, there was still a greater median percentage (log10 copies/mL) decrease in salivary viral load over time in the CDCM group (-58.62%; IQR -100% to -34.36%) compared with the placebo group (-50.62%; IQR -100% to -27.66%). These results were confirmed by the per-protocol analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This trial supports the relevance of using CDCM on day 1 (4 hours after the initial dose) to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in saliva. For long-term effect (7 days), CDMC appears to provide a modest benefit compared with placebo in reducing viral load in saliva.

Applications of teledentistry in a French inmate population: A one-year observational study.

Teledentistry oral examination protocol was evaluated for one year at the Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone Correctional Facility. The aim of the study was to simplify the obligatory dental consultation protocol at the entrance visit for new detainees. 1051 detainees were enrolled and 651 of them (58.9%) accepted an oral examination by teledentistry throughout the entire year of 2018. Only 1 inmate did not need treatment and 88.06% of those who have been examined had at least one untreated cavitated carious lesion. Forty-four percent of people who received a teledentistry check-up were referred to a dentist with a dental emergency. The use of teledentistry at the entry visit in a detention facility may facilitate the oral health screening without wasting the dentist's time, and may allow an optimization of the inmate's oral healthcare.

Effectiveness of pit and fissure sealants on primary molars: A 2-yr split-mouth randomized clinical trial.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sealants in preventing pit and fissure caries in primary molars. The secondary objective was to assess the sealant retention during a 2-yr study period. A 2-yr split-mouth randomized clinical trial including 90 3-7-yr-old children was conducted in the paediatric dental department of Montpellier hospital. The dentition of each included patient was divided into an experimental side and a control side, with annual follow-up visits. Caries increments, measured as the number of new occlusal cavitated lesions, were not different between the sealed (mean 0.23) and the control primary molars (mean 0.29). A multiple mixed-effects logistic regression showed that male gender, moderate/high caries risk, and a higher oral hygiene index score, had a statistically significant effect resulting in higher caries increments in the primary molars, than did female gender, low caries risk, and lower oral hygiene index scores. Sealing showed no statistically significant influence on the development of new caries lesions. After 2 yr, the percentages of partially or totally lost sealants were 22.7% and 32.0%, respectively. In this sample of children, the caries increment was not significantly different between the sealed and the unsealed molars. At the end of this 2-yr study, more than half of the sealants were totally or partially lost, which could explain the low sealant effectiveness.

Prevalence of sensitive teeth and associated factors: a multicentre, cross-sectional questionnaire survey in France.

BACKGROUND: As far as we know, little data, whether obtained from self-administered questionnaires or upon dental clinical examination, has been published on the prevalence of sensitive teeth (ST) in the French adult population. The objectives of the present work were to estimate ST prevalence and characteristics in the general population of France and to explore the associated factors. METHOD: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2011 and March 2013 in six French cities. Adult passers-by in public places were invited to answer an electronic questionnaire on a tablet computer. Only people who declared having at least one natural tooth were included in the study. A logistic regression model was used for the multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of ST during the previous 12 months reported by the sample of 2413 participants was 42.2% [95% CI: 40.2-44.1%]. The final logistic regression model showed significant statistical associations between ST and female gender, use of tobacco, consumption of soft drinks, limited access to oral care and poor oral hygiene habits (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides prevalence data on ST in a general population in France, which seems to remain high despite the existence of many therapies. It should alert professionals to a clinical manifestation that is becoming increasingly prevalent and that they will have to take into consideration to help reduce the discomfort arising from it.

Perception of Dental Caries and Parental Difficulties in Implementing Oral Hygiene for Children Aged Less Than 6 Years: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive prevention programs, dental hygiene remains inadequate, particularly among children under the age of six, and early childhood caries (ECC) are still a concern. Oral hygiene behavior and preventive practices seem difficult to change at a family level. AIM: The present study aimed to better understand the reasons behind this behavior and to identify the different barriers to the implementation of adequate preventive measures. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted in the pediatric dentistry service of the Montpellier University Hospital (France) in 2019. A thematic analysis concerning three domains was performed: family environment, dental literacy, and oral hygiene. RESULTS: The main barriers encountered by the parents were, respectively, (1) a weakness in the organization of familial life, together with a low-medium family income and a lack of authority, (2) ignorance of the necessity of treating carious primary teeth, and (3) a lack of time for brushing or supervising their children's teeth. CONCLUSION: These results showed that oral hygiene and primary teeth care could not be easily achieved in the family environment of the participants, and oral health strategies should be focused not only on children but also on their parents.

Comparison between combined cortical and cancellous bone graft and cancellous bone graft in alveolar cleft: Retrospective study of complications during the first six months post-surgery.

BACKGROUND: In patients with alveolar cleft, alveolar bone graft is usually performed before the permanent maxillary canine or incisor eruption and using cancellous bone harvested from the iliac crest. The authors sought to compare the early complication rate in patients who received cancellous bone graft alone and cortical bone graft in addition to cancellous bone to reconstruct the nasal floor. METHODS: For this observational, retrospective, monocentric study, patients with alveolar cleft who underwent autologous alveolar bone graft and gingivoperiosteoplasty at Montpellier Hospital were divided into two groups: group A, who had cortical and cancellous bone graft; and group B, who had only cancellous bone graft. Both groups were followed for 6 months after surgery, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: In total, 319 grafts (group A, 163; group, 156) were performed from June 1999 to May 2016. The major complication rates were 8% and 5.8% in group A and B, respectively, and were not significantly different (p = 0.52). Similarly, the rates of minor complications and of donor site morbidity were not different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study shows that adding a cortical bone graft for the nasal floor reconstruction does not increase the risk of complications in 6 months following the graft. Long-term benefits such as alveolar height and a piriform aperture symmetrisation will have to be analysed to study the contribution of the technique.

Performance of Fluorescence-based Systems in Early Caries Detection: A Public Health Issue.

AIM: Modern clinical caries management involves early stage caries diagnosis and should fit with dental health policy. The objective of this study was to achieve early caries detection in enamel and dentine with a laser-based system (DIAGNOdent™ pen) first and secondary with a new fluorescence intra-oral camera (Soprolife®). A visual inspection with a loupe was used as control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following the consolidated standards of reporting trials recommendations, 628 occlusal fissures were included for analysis. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of both devices varied depending on the cutoff threshold of the caries score, and the ROC curve showed higher values for the Soprolife® than for DIAGNOdent™ pen. The values of the area under the curve decreased from 0.81 (Soprolife® in daylight) to 0.79 (Soprolife® in fluorescent mode) and 0.67 for DIAGNOdent™ pen. DIAGNOdent™ pen reproducibility (intra and inter-investigator) showed a wide dispersion, with many values scattered beyond the confidence limits (±2 SD), and the weighted kappa coefficient, which was quite low (0.58), confirmed this tendency. CONCLUSION: Caries prevalence in terms of public health policy is of interest and caries detection increased significantly when using an fluorescence-based intra-oral camera. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The clinical significance of these findings is that fluorescence could help improve caries diagnosis, reduce clinical misinterpretations, and finally benefit the patients. How to cite this article: Terrer E, Slimani A, Giraudeau N, et al. Performance of Fluorescence-based Systems in Early Caries Detection: A Public Health Issue. J Contemp Dent Pract 2019;20(10):1126-1132.

Microbiota of interdental space of adolescents according to Risk of Caries: A cross-sectional study protocol.

Dental caries is a major oral disease resulting from a complex interaction between the commensal microbiota, host susceptibility (heredity, immunity, diseases, etc.) and environmental factors (diet, dental hygiene, etc.). To predict the patient's risk of new carious lesions or progression of existing lesions, the Caries Risk Assessment (CRA) takes account of clinical, biological and behavioural factors. Thus, the CRA can predict whether the patient is at high or low risk of developing caries. The practitioner can thus set up a follow-up adapted to the risk of the patient. However, although bacteria are the main etiological factor of carious lesions, the CRA does not consider bacterial quantification or just focus on the level of S. mutans in the saliva. As the majority of cavities are interproximal in adolescence, the aim of this trial is to identify and quantify the interdental microbiota of adolescents aged from 15 to 17 years with low or high carious risk. So, the quantification of new biomarkers associated with carious lesion could be added to the CRA to improve it.

The Oral Bacterial Microbiome of Interdental Surfaces in Adolescents According to Carious Risk.

Adolescence is closely associated with a high risk of caries. The identification of specific bacteria in an oral microniche, the interdental space of the molars, according to carious risk can facilitate the prediction of future caries and the anticipation of the progression or stabilization of caries in adolescents. A cross-sectional clinical study according to the bacteriological criteria of interdental healthy adolescents and carious risk factors-low and high-using a real-time polymerase chain reaction technique was conducted. The presence of 26 oral pathogens from the interdental microbiota of 50 adolescents aged 15 to 17 years were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Bacteria known to be cariogenic (Bifidobacterium dentium, Lactobacillus spp., Rothia dentocariosa, Streptococcus cristatus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Streptococcus wiggsiae) did not present differences in abundance according to carious risk. Periodontal bacteria from the red complex are positively correlated with carious risk. However, only 3 bacteria-S. sobrinus, E corrodens and T. forsythia-presented a significant increase in the highest group. Estimating the risk of caries associated with bacterial factors in interdental sites of molars in adolescents contributes to the better definition of carious risk status, periodicity and intensity of diagnostic, prevention and restorative services.

A Five-year Comparative Study of Perceived Stress Among Dental Students at Two European Faculties.

AIM: To compare the levels, causes and the impact of stress from cohort of fifthyear dental students in the Faculties of Dental Medicine in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and Montpellier, France. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire we used comprised the modified version of the 56-item Dental Environment Stress (DES) questionnaire. It was completed by fifth-year undergraduate dental students in both faculties in 2011 and 2016, totaling 335 dental students. A five-point Likert scale was used to record the responses from the subjects. Statistical analysis was performed with STATA version 14.1 (StataCorp, College Station, USA) specialized software. RESULTS: The mean age of studied population was not significantly different between 2011 and 2016 (p=0.08). The common stress value per student was 1.74 (CI: 1.64; 1.84, range: 0.12; 4.50). It was higher in Plovdiv (1.79±0.81) than in Montpellier (1.63±0.66); it was statistically higher for girls (1.94±0.70) than for boys (1.49±0.77), and decreased between 2011 and 2016. A significant overall effect of the common mean stress was influenced by the town (p=0.008), year of study (p=0.003), gender (p=0.0001) and accommodation (p=0.01) of the student. CONCLUSION: Academicals and clinical factors of stress are prevailing stressors during education. The challenge is now to decrease the influence of both, without altering the quality of dental education. Regular discussions and debriefs about the clinical cases before and after clinical activity. Alternative methods of education and examination, such as interactive methods, could be considered in order to reduce the stress of theoretical exams.