General Dentists (general + dentist)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Endodontics Manual for the General Dentist

JOURNAL OF PROSTHODONTICS, Issue 2 2007
Linda B. Chie DDS
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Use of Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection for Neuropathic Pain after Trigeminal Nerve Injury

PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 4 2010
Seung Hyun Yoon DDS
Abstract Objective., To present a case that neuropathic pain following traumatic injury of the inferior alveolar nerve, which was relieved by the injection of BTX-A. Design., Case report. Setting., Tertiary care University hospital. Subject., A 62-year-old female was referred by her general dentist to our clinic due to numbness and pain over the left side of her lower lip and chin region. Intervention., Botulinum toxin type A injected into the middle of chin area subcutaneously. Results., At 1 month after BTX-A injection, the affected area had decreased in size. And at 2 months, the patient reported a slight decreased in pain, and CPT differences being sustained at a reduced level. Conclusions., This case report suggests an effective new modality for treating neuropathic pain after trigeminal nerve injury. A further randomized controlled study involving a large number of patients is needed. [source]


Clinical Outcome of Overdenture Treatment on Two Nonsubmerged and Nonsplinted Astra Tech MicrothreadÔ Implants

CLINICAL IMPLANT DENTISTRY AND RELATED RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009
Hugo De Bruyn DDS
ABSTRACT Background: The use of two implants for mandibular overdenture stabilization improves the patients' comfort and well-being. This treatment could be more cost-effective if surgery and prosthetic treatment could be performed by one clinician in the normal setting of a dental clinic. Purpose: The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to describe implant success, restorative outcome, and the patients' opinion of mandibular overdenture treatment on two early-loaded, nonsplinted Astra Tech TiOblast MicrothreadÔ (Astra Tech Dental, Mölndal, Sweden) implants. Materials and Methods: Thirty-seven consecutive patients treated with implant-supported mandibular overdentures were invited for a clinical examination. Implant survival, marginal bone level, quality of implant and prosthetic treatment, and the patients' opinion by means of questionnaires were scored. Results: Thirty-four patients attended the examination. Two implants were lost in one patient and the failure rate for the total group of patients was 3%. As 8 of the 33 remaining patients were still in the provisional loading stage, they were not included in the final clinical and radiographic examination. Based on 25 patients and 50 implants with a mean follow-up of 18.8 months (range 4,33), implant positioning and occlusion/articulation scored perfect in 74 to 80% of the cases. Retention of the dentures was rated perfect in 80%, but 20% needed minor activation of the attachments, 20% showed signs of abrasion, and 20% had already been repaired. The average marginal bone level was 0.8 mm below the reference point. The mean pocket depth was 2.1 mm, and 54% of the peri-implant tissues were free of bleeding. The patients were appreciative of the work carried out by their dentist and they indicated a significant improvement in their well-being and quality of life. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the Astra Tech implant system was successfully used by the general dentist both surgically and prosthetically with minimal implant failures and prosthetic complications and that this led to high levels of patient appreciation and overall satisfaction. [source]


Assessment of traumatic injuries to primary teeth in general practise and specialized paediatric dentistry

DENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Carl Gösta Rasmusson
Materials and methods:, A total of 323 children with traumatic injuries, 184 boys and 139 girls aged 7,83 months, participated in the study. All the children had first presented at a Public Dental Service clinic where they were examined by general dentists who decided, based on the severity of the trauma, to assign each child to one of the following two groups: Group A , recommended for treatment at the general practise (166 children with 257 traumatized incisor teeth). Group B , recommended for referral to a specialist in paediatric dentistry (157 children with 261 traumatized incisor teeth). Even in Group A, the specialist controlled the treatment decisions. The clinical diagnose and follow-up followed the recommendations presented by Andreasen & Andreasen. Results:, The distribution of trauma by age was similar in both groups, with about 60% occurring between 1 and 3 years. More injured teeth were extracted in children in Group B (n = 111) than in Group A (n = 33). A higher percentage of intruded primary incisors were recorded in Group B (24%) compared with Group A (16%). Similarly, the percentage of concussions/subluxations, lateral luxations and complicated crown fractures was higher in Group B than in Group A. Conclusions:, The group referred for specialist treatment had more severe injuries and needed more complicated treatment than the group recommended for care by general dentists. However, the rate of sequelae in permanent successors was the same in both. [source]


Knowledge of oral health professionals of treatment of avulsed teeth

DENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
Nestor Cohenca
Abstract,,, The management and immediate treatment of an avulsed permanent tooth will determine the long-term survival of the tooth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of oral health professionals on the new guidelines for emergency treatment of avulsed teeth. A 12-item questionnaire was distributed among general dentists, specialists, dental hygienists and dental assistants attending Continuing Education courses at the School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, between 2003 and 2004. This study reports only on the general practitioners who comprised 83% of the participants. The results revealed an uneven pattern of knowledge among them regarding the emergency management of an avulsed tooth. Statistically significant associations were related to the participants' previous dental trauma education and their age. In conclusion, there is a need to improve the knowledge of general dentists in the current guidelines for emergency treatment of avulsed teeth. [source]


Career choice and attitudes towards dental education amongst dental students in Japan and Sweden

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 2 2009
H. Karibe
Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the perspectives of dental students towards their career choice and dental education in Japan and Sweden. One hundred and fourteen dental students from the Nippon Dental University, Japan and 43 dental students from the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden participated in this study. Information was derived from a self-answered questionnaire consisting of five items for career choice and six items for dental education. Chi-square test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for comparison. Significant differences were detected for 10 questionnaire items between the two countries. Regarding motivation towards the career choice, 44% of Swedish students indicated interpersonal motives related to helping other people, whereas 32% of Japanese students indicated expectations of their family in the dental profession. As future career options, 64% of Japanese and 47% of Swedish students planned to work as general dentists. More Swedish students (37%) preferred specialisation than Japanese students (17%). Nearly three-quarters of the Swedish students were satisfied with the teaching faculty of their school, whilst only 32% of the Japanese students indicated content. The perspectives of dental students were different in Japan and Sweden. This study provides a description of the perspectives of Japanese and Swedish dental students and enables better understanding of career decision and dental curriculum issues. [source]


Questionnaire survey on the use of rotary nickel,titanium endodontic instruments by Australian dentists

INTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004
P. Parashos
Abstract Aim, To ascertain the extent of the adoption and use of rotary nickel,titanium (NiTi) instruments and techniques in general dental practice and specialist endodontic practice in Australia in 2001. Methodology, A questionnaire survey comprising 43 questions was developed by first creating questions, then pilot testing with 10 postgraduate students in endodontics, followed by a final revision. The final series of questions covered demographics, patterns of rotary NiTi usage, issues associated with NiTi usage and training in NiTi use. The sampling frame was 908, comprising 64 endodontists and 844 general dentists. Results, The overall response rate was 87%. Rotary NiTi instruments were used by 22% of general dentists and 64% of endodontists. The two main reasons for not using rotary NiTi were ,no perceived advantage' and ,too fragile'. Instrument fracture had been experienced by 74% of respondents, and 72% of these had fractured one to five files for the two main perceived reasons of ,excessive pressure on the file' and ,over-usage'. The next two most common problems encountered were ,binding' (53%) and ,ledging' (45%). Very high proportions of positive experiences were noted. Most respondents (73%) had attended one or more continuing education courses, most of which were provided by dental supply companies (64%). Conclusions, The results indicate a sensible and responsible approach to the incorporation of rotary NiTi instruments and techniques into root canal treatment. Dentists were aware of the limitations of the new technology, but were taking steps to become familiar with the properties and behaviour of the instruments. Instrument fracture was common, but it was of low frequency and did not deter dentists from using the technology. [source]


Aesthetic perception after root coverage procedure

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 8 2008
Roberto Rotundo
Abstract Aim: To investigate the aesthetic perception of the clinical outcomes of a simulated root coverage procedure in three different groups: patients, dentists, and periodontists. Material and Methods: 100 patients, 107 general dentists affiliated with the Dental Association of Prato, Italy, and 81 active members of the Italian Society of Periodontology were recruited for this study. The following variables: age, gender, level of education, place of residence, and years of practice (only for dentists and periodontists) were recorded by means of a questionnaire administered to each subject within the three different groups. In addition, the participants in the study were requested to assign scores to images of eight simulated clinical cases of gingival recessions: a pre- and post-treatment image for each case. Results: Statistically significant differences between groups were not detected in most of the scores. Gender and residence were not significantly associated with the scores, while age was correlated for two clinical cases (p=0.0014 and 0.0017). All the cases of complete root coverage showed the highest scores among all the participants. Conclusions: These results showed that complete root coverage following root coverage procedure is perceived as the most successful outcome by patients, dentists, and periodontists. [source]


Behaviour and attitudes among Spanish general dentists towards the anticoagulated patient: a pilot study

JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 3 2010
Pia López-Jornet MD DDS
Abstract Aim, To determine the attitude of Spanish general dentists in relation to dental extraction in patients with heart valve prostheses subjected to acenocoumarol anticoagulation. Material and methods, A telephone survey was made of Spanish general dentists, asking about the indicated approach in the case of performing dental extractions in patients with heart valve prostheses subjected to acenocoumarol (Sintrom®) anticoagulation. Results, Of the 271 dentists answered, 175 were male (64.6%) and 96 were female (35.4%), with a mean professional experience of 20.17 ± 9.3 years. A total of 228 dentists (84.1%) indicated the need to refer the patient to a specialist for establishing the required approach, while 43 dentists (15.9%) did not consider such a measure to be necessary. Among this latter group of 43 dentists, 26 (60.5%) considered that acenocoumarol should be withdrawn or replaced by low-molecular weight heparin, while 17 (39.5%) were of the opinion that the anticoagulation regimen should not be modified. In relation to the international normalized ratio, 36 (83.7%) did not consider it necessary to request this parameter. As regards the prevention of endocarditis, 11 (25.6%) specified the need for prophylaxis, although only eight (72.7%) did so correctly. There were no statistically significant differences in behaviour in relation to either gender or years of professional experience. Conclusions, This study identifies a lack of knowledge on the part of the dentists regarding the approach to dental extraction in patients with heart valve prostheses subjected to anticoagulation. Due educational measures therefore should be reinforced among these professionals. [source]


Knowledge and attitudes about oral cancer among dentists in Spain

JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2010
Pia López-Jornet PhD MD
Abstract Objectives, Detecting oral cancer (OC) at an early stage is the most effective means of improving survival and reducing morbility from disease. The objective was to study the knowledge, opinions and attitudes held by general dentists in Spain regarding aspects of OC in general clinic practice. Methods, A 44-item questionnaire relating to OC was randomly distributed by email to 1000 dentists in the different autonomous communities in Spain. Results, The response rate was 42.7%. Only 49.7% of the dentists who replied considered themselves to have up-to-date knowledge on OC. A total of 94.7% of those interviewed hold the opinion that it is the dentists who are qualified to carry out the oral examination. In addition, 41.8% felt that family doctors and 13.8% that dental hygienists were also capable of making this examination. We should highlight that dentists who rated their undergraduate OC training favourably were more likely to agree that their OC knowledge was current than those who rated their undergraduate training unfavourably [odds ratio (OR) = 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1,4.2, P = 0.019). Respondents who performed oral cancer examinations on all patients 40 years of age or older were 1.8 times more likely to agree that their OC knowledge was current; however, the differences were not significant (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.6,2.7, P = 0.392). Conclusions, Gaps in knowledge exist, strongly suggesting the need for continued courses of education detection and prevention of OC. [source]


Stability of practice beliefs and preferences for patients among private general dentists: a comparison of 1997 and 2007

AUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009
DS Brennan
Abstract Background:, Practice beliefs and dentist preferences for patients have been related to service rates and appropriateness of care. If practice beliefs and preferences for patients are stable then they could restrain long-term changes in practice styles and service rates. The aim of this paper was to assess the stability of practice beliefs and preferences for patients between 1997 and 2007. Methods:, Practice beliefs and dentist preferences for patients were recorded on a five-point Likert scale using mailed questionnaires from a random sample of dentists in 1997 (response rate = 60 per cent) and 2007 (response rate = 77 per cent). Results:, In both 1997 and 2007, n = 215 dentists provided data. For practice beliefs, 1 out of 8 items were significantly different (p < 0.05; McNemar's test) between the two observations (12.5 per cent of practice belief items) while 5 out of 37 dentist preferences for patient characteristics items were significantly different (13.5 per cent of items). Conclusions:, The majority of items were not significantly different over time. This demonstrates a generally high degree of stability over time in the level of agreement with dentist practice beliefs and preferences for patients. Given that it may be difficult for clinicians to change practice beliefs and behaviours that have become established, it is important for policy makers to understand the relationship between provider characteristics and service patterns and for educators to positively shape beliefs and behaviours through undergraduate and continuing education. [source]


Clinicians choices of restorative materials for children

AUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2003
LA Tran
Abstract Background: Recently, there has been an expansion in the range of tooth-coloured restorative materials available. In 1999, the National Health and Medical Research Council recommended clinicians use alternatives to amalgam in children ,where appropriate'. Methods: A three-part 29-item questionnaire was developed, tested in a focus group, and distributed to members of the Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AA; paediatric dentists and paediatric dentistry postgraduate students; n=55), and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry, Victorian Branch (SPD; general dentists and dental therapists; n=50). Participant information, material choices, and six hypothetical clinical scenarios were addressed. Results: The overall response rate was 74 per cent. For both groups, the first ranked factor influencing choice of restorative material for vital primary teeth was child age, and caries experience for vital first permanent molars. For moderate-sized Class I and II restorations in primary molars, a tooth-coloured material was chosen by 92 and 84 per cent respondents respectively. For restoring two separate proximal lesions in a primary molar, 65 per cent chose a tooth-coloured material followed by a stainless steel crown (27 per cent; all AA members), then amalgam (8 per cent). The SPD respondents were significantly more likely to choose glass ionomer cement for Class I and II restorations and for restoring two proximal lesions (all p=0.000) in primary molars than AA respondents, who were more likely to choose composite resins/compomers or amalgam/stainless steel crowns for these restorations. Younger respondents (21,40 years) were significantly more likely to choose composite resins/compomers or amalgam/stainless steel crowns (p=0.048) than older respondents (41,65 years), who were likely to choose glass ionomer cement. Conclusions: For Class I and II restorations in primary molars, glass ionomer cement was the material chosen most frequently (SPD respondents); preference for amalgam or stainless steel crowns was low (both SPD and AA groups). The wide range of materials chosen for the hypothetical clinical scenarios suggests the need for guidelines on selection of restorative materials, and the need for longitudinal studies to follow actual clinical outcomes of the materials chosen. [source]