Occurrence and Predictors of Postoperative Preauricular and Masticatory Muscle Pain Symptoms After Surgical Removal of Third Molars: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Dental Assistants Supporting the Mandible and the Restful Jaw Device.

BACKGROUND: During third molar removal, the mandible is supported by a dental assistant (DA) to counter downward forces during surgery, and with sedation, to maintain airway patency. The Restful Jaw device (PEP Design; Saint Paul) provides this support instead of the DA. PURPOSE: This study compared the occurrence of postoperative preauricular and masticatory muscle pain symptoms (PMMPS) between the device and DAs providing mandibular support, using two outcome measures. Secondary aims identify predictors of outcome and providers' opinions of the device. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: In this multisite, single-blind, two-arm parallel randomized trial, participants without preoperative PMMPS had surgical removal of third molars, with sedation and bite blocks were randomly assigned to manual support or the device. EXPOSURE VARIABLE: The exposed group was randomly assigned to the device and the nonexposed group to manual support. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE(S): The primary outcome was patient-reported PMMPS. Two secondary outcomes were pain assessed with the temporomandibular disorder Pain Screener and providers' views on the device. Outcomes were assessed at 1-, 3-, and 6-month postsurgery. COVARIATES: The covariates are baseline demographics (eg, sex), clinical characteristics (eg, eruption status), and third molar surgeries. ANALYSES: For occurrence of pain, generalized estimating equations assessed differences between groups. Logistic regression analysis assessed predictors of pain at 1 month, per the Screener. The level for statistical significance was 5%. RESULTS: Enrollment was 86 and 83 participants in the device and DA groups, respectively. The average age was 20.8 years; the majority were female (65%) and Caucasian (66%). The retention rate was ≥95.9%. The groups did not differ significantly for occurrence of pain using the primary and secondary outcome measures at any follow-up (P ≥ .46). Fully impacted molars were associated with occurrence of pain (odds ratio = 3.44; 95% confidence interval 1.49-7.92; P = .004). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Occurrence of pain using the primary and secondary outcome measures did not differ significantly between groups at any follow-up and was associated with removal of fully impacted third molars. Four out of five surgeons reported wanting to use the device on a regular basis when performing this procedure in sedated patients.

Effect of Quality of Dental Health Services to Patient Satisfaction in Indonesia 2019: Importance-Performance Analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the effect of the quality of dental health services based on dimensions of empathy and responsiveness to patient satisfaction in urban and rural areas in Bone District, Indonesia. Material and Methods: This survey used an analytical observational method with a pilot pathfinder survey design. The total of participants included in this survey was 442, with 223 in the urban area and 219 in the rural area. This survey was held on 25 February - 1 March 2019. The Mann-Whitney test was applied, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: Empathy and responsive dimensions in urban (3.58 ± 0.94 and 3.50 ± 0.94) and rural (3.43 ± 0.99 and 3.63 ± 0.86) areas were in the moderate category. The administration staff was able to complete administrative procedures, and the Dental assistant responded promptly to the patient's request and needs. Conclusion: The quality of empathy and responsiveness dimensions in dental treatment fall in the moderate category for urban and rural areas; this means that empathy and responsiveness dimensions in dental service in hospital/public health need to be improved.

An audit of dental nurses' confidence with intravenous sedation within an oral surgery department at a UK dental hospital.

The Oral Surgery department at King's College Hospital, London provides a large volume of treatment under intravenous sedation (IVS) with midazolam. The Oral Surgery team includes over 20 dental nurses, each with varying levels of training and knowledge around IVS. The dedicated team approach needed to manage complex or difficult patients requires a keen understanding of the treatment modality and drugs involved, through regular continuing professional development (CPD) activities to refresh and update knowledge. An audit was designed to assess the levels of confidence among a cohort of dental nurses in the Oral Surgery department. Completion of the audit cycle resulted in improved levels of confidence through identification of teaching needs and targeted teaching. This article outlines the validity of regular team-based education in targeted areas to maximise learning outcomes and improve patient care and experience.

A RULA-Based Comparison of the Ergonomic Risk of Typical Working Procedures for Dentists and Dental Assistants of General Dentistry, Endodontology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Orthodontics.

BACKGROUND: In general, the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) in dentistry is high, and dental assistants (DA) are even more affected than dentists (D). Furthermore, differentiations between the fields of dental specialization (e.g., general dentistry, endodontology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, or orthodontics) are rare. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the ergonomic risk of the aforementioned four fields of dental specialization for D and DA on the one hand, and to compare the ergonomic risk of D and DA within each individual field of dental specialization. METHODS: In total, 60 dentists (33 male/27 female) and 60 dental assistants (11 male/49 female) volunteered in this study. The sample was composed of 15 dentists and 15 dental assistants from each of the dental field, in order to represent the fields of dental specialization. In a laboratory setting, all tasks were recorded using an inertial motion capture system. The kinematic data were applied to an automated version of the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). RESULTS: The results revealed significantly reduced ergonomic risks in endodontology and orthodontics compared to oral and maxillofacial surgery and general dentistry in DAs, while orthodontics showed a significantly reduced ergonomic risk compared to general dentistry in Ds. Further differences between the fields of dental specialization were found in the right wrist, right lower arm, and left lower arm in DAs and in the neck, right wrist, right lower arm, and left wrist in Ds. The differences between Ds and DAs within a specialist discipline were rather small. DISCUSSION: Independent of whether one works as a D or DA, the percentage of time spent working in higher risk scores is reduced in endodontologists, and especially in orthodontics, compared to general dentists or oral and maxillofacial surgeons. In order to counteract the development of WMSD, early intervention should be made. Consequently, ergonomic training or strength training is recommended.

The Development of Dental Informatics of Oral Cancer Screening for Prevention in Community Level: A Prototype Study in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify general dentists' information needs for oral cancer screening in community and the information sources they use to meet those needs in clinical settings so as to inform the design of dental information systems. METHODS: A semi-structured interview was conducted with a convenience sample of 8 general dentists and 5 dental assistant in the Public Health Region 9 area during clinical hours. One hundred and five patient cases were reported by these dentists. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis with a constant comparative method to identify categories and themes regarding information needs and information source use patterns. RESULTS: Two top-level categories of information needs were identified: foreground and background information needs. To meet these needs, dentists used four types of information sources: clinical information/tasks, risk factor of oral cancer in general people, surveillance in community and referral to oral cancer treatment. Major themes of dentists' unmet information needs include: (1) timely access to information on various subjects; (2) better visual representations of dental problems; (3) access to patient-specific evidence-based information; and (4) accurate, complete and consistent documentation of patient records. Resource use patterns include: (1) dentists information needs matched information source use; (2) little use of electronic sources took place during treatment; (3) source use depended on the nature and complexity of the dental problems; and (4) dentists and dental nurse routinely practiced cross-referencing to verify patient information. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists have various information needs of oral cancer at the point of care. For future development of dental information or clinical decision support systems, developers should consider integrating high-quality, up-to-date clinical evidence into comprehensive and easily accessible EDRs as well as supporting dentists' resource use patterns as identified in the study.

Attitudes, stressors and work outcomes related to the COVID-19 pandemic among dental assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed great challenges to medical professionals worldwide. Dental assistants (DAs) are at exceptionally high risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 due to frequent and close patient contact and involvement in various high-risk dental procedures. This study aimed to investigate attitudes, stressors and work outcomes among DAs from all over Germany at the peak of cases in spring 2020. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression. SETTING: Dental, maxillofacial surgery and orthodontic practices across Germany, April 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Participants aged 18 years and above and currently working as DAs in Germany. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: A self-devised online questionnaire was employed comprising questions on SARS-CoV-2-related attitudes, stressors and work outcomes. Validated scales assessed symptoms of depression and anxiety. RESULTS: Among 1481 participating DAs (median age 35 years, 98.4% female, 91.8% working in dental practices), major stressors were uncertainty about the pandemic's temporal scope (97.9% agreement, n=1450), uncertainty about one's financial situation (87.8%, n=1301), uncertainty about how to act correctly (87.6%, n=1298) and thoughts about a possible infection during work (83.8%, n=1241). Forty-two per cent of DAs (n=622) felt sufficiently prepared for dealing with patients with SARS-CoV-2. Only 17.5% (n=259) agreed that material for personal protection was sufficiently available. Multivariable logistic regression analyses suggested that working in a dental practice, compared with orthodontic and maxillofacial surgery practices, was significantly associated with uncertainty about one's financial situation (OR 2.13 (95% CI 1.33 to 3.44)) and with the reported availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) (0.55 (0.36 to 0.84)). CONCLUSIONS: Training about correct behaviour of DAs during future infectious disease outbreaks is needed, especially for DAs working in dental practices. In the future, it will also be necessary to strengthen supply chains to ensure that PPE is sufficiently available in a timely manner.

Pro-CAD: una alternativa para profesionalizar al personal auxiliar del odontólogo / Pro-CAD: a professionalizing alternative for the dentist's auxiliary staff

El presente artículo es el resultado de una investigación orientada a la implantación de un modelo educativo, que sustenta una propuesta para la capacitación de recursos humanos de apoyo técnico en el campo de la salud. Para este propósito se denominaron: Asistentes Dentales a quienes son el personal auxiliar que se desempeña con profesionales que ejercen la odontología en forma privada en México, y que no cuentan con escuelas para su formación, considerando sus diferencias individuales e involucrando las áreas cognoscitiva (conocimientos), psicomotriz (habilidades y destrezas) y afectiva (comportamientos). Los recursos humanos compiten fuertemente por encontrar un espacio de desempeño en un mercado altamente exigente, razón por la cual el eje principal de la investigación se fundamentó en el planteamiento del Consejo Normalizador y Certificador de Competencias Laborales (CONOCER). El modelo fue diseñado durante la formación doctoral, enmarcado en la línea de innovación curricular para la calidad total como consecuencia del interés personal por evaluar las competencias del personal auxiliar que se desempeña apoyando al gremio de la odontología; la población está organizada en un colegio local de profesionales filial a la Asociación Dental Mexicana. Se utilizó el método mixto, y la herramienta para recolección de datos fue la encuesta, misma que aportó información relevante para construir una propuesta denominada modelo Pro-CAD (Programa de Capacitación Asistente Dental), que se incluye brevemente al final de este artículo (AU)

This article is the result of research aimed at the implementation of an educational model, which supports a proposal for the training of human resources of technical support in the field of health. For this purpose they were called: Dental Assistants, who are the auxiliary staff who work with professionals who practice dentistry privately in México, and who do not have schools for their training considering their individual differences and involving the cognitive areas (knowledge), psychomotor (skills and skills), affective (behaviors). Human resources compete strongly to find a performance space in a highly demanding market, which is why the main focus of the research was based on the approach of the Standardizing Council and Labour Skills Certificater (CONOCER). The model was designed during my doctoral training framed in the line of curriculum innovation for total quality as a result of the personal interest in evaluating the work skills of the auxiliary staff who perform supporting the dental guild, the population is organized in a local college of professionals affiliated with the Mexican Dental Association. The mixed method was used, and the data collection tool was the survey, which provided relevant information to build a proposal called the Pro-CAD (Dental Assistant Training Program) model that is briefly included at the end of this article (AU)

Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Oral Health Team Professionals

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the factors associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection among oral health professionals. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in the city of São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil. Professionals from three different categories were included: dental surgeons (DS), dental assistants (DA), and dental hygienists (DH). A questionnaire was created on a digital platform and sent via institutional email to each subject. The questionnaire contained 32 questions about sociodemographic, work, and behavior factors. The data about SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed through RT-PCR exams. Descriptive (absolute and relative frequencies) and inferential analyses (chi-squared or Fisher's exact test) (p<0.05) were performed. Results: There was a SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence of 3.8% for DS, 30.0% for DH, and 33.3% for DA. SARS-CoV-2 was associated with a lower income (p=0.027), a lower education level (p=0.011), the category of technical professionals (DA and DH) (p=0.025), and using public transportation to commute to work (p=0.009). Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors like lower income and education levels and work factors like job category and public transportation were associated with COVID-19 among professionals on the oral health teams.

A comparison of visual identification of dental radiographic and nonradiographic images using eye tracking technology.

OBJECTIVES: Eye tracking has been used in medical radiology to understand observers' gaze patterns during radiological diagnosis. This study examines the visual identification ability of junior hospital dental officers (JHDOs) and dental surgery assistants (DSAs) in radiographic and nonradiographic images using eye tracking technology and examines if there is a correlation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nine JHDOs and nine DSAs examined six radiographic images and 16 nonradiographic images using eye tracking. The areas of interest (AOIs) of the radiographic images were rated as easy, medium, and hard, and the nonradiographic images were categorized as pattern recognition, face recognition, and image comparison. The participants were required to identify and locate the AOIs. Data analysis of the two domains, entire slide and AOI, was conducted by evaluating the eye tracking metrics (ETM) and the performance outcomes. ETM consisted of six parameters, and performance outcomes consisted of four parameters. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed for ETMs for JHDOs and DSAs for both radiographic and nonradiographic images. The JHDOs showed significantly higher percentage in identifying AOIs than DSAs for all the radiographic images (72.7% vs. 36.4%, p = .004) and for the easy categorization of radiographic AOIs (85.7% vs. 42.9%, p = .012). JHDOs with higher correct identification percentage in face recognition had a shorter dwell time in AOIs. CONCLUSIONS: Although no significant relation was observed between radiographic and nonradiographic images, there were some evidence that visual recognition skills may impact certain attributes of the visual search pattern in radiographic images.

Conhecimento e uso da biossegurança por profissionais de saúde bucal do SUS do Sertão Pernambucano / Knowledge and use of biosafety by professionals of oral health of the SUS of Sertão Pernambucano

Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento e o uso dos procedimentos que envolvem a biossegurança por cirurgiões dentistas e assistentes de saúde bucal em um município do sertão de pernambucano, buscando averiguar a compreensão da necessidade e da importância da utilização da biossegurança. Métodos: Estudo observacional descritivo realizado através de questionário aplicado para os profissionais da área odontológica vinculados ao Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) do município de Arcoverde, Pernambuco, Brasil. A amostra foi constituída de 29 profissionais da área odontológica que responderam ao questionário, sendo 9 dentistas e 20 auxiliares. Resultados: Cem por cento dos profissionais afirmam lavar as mãos antes e depois dos procedimentos. Apenas 20% dos ASB lavam o instrumental em pia fora do consultório; 90% costumam fazer a assepsia da cadeira odontológica após cada atendimento; 95% costumam fazer a assepsia da cuspideira e do equipo/cárter após cada atendimento. Conclusão: Os profissionais possuem conhecimento satisfatório acerca da biossegurança no consultório odontológico. Contudo, deve-se uma atenção especial ao uso de luvas estéreis e de campo cirúrgico durante os procedimentos necessários, bem como à disponibilização de equipamentos de proteção individual aos pacientes, a fim de minimizar o risco de contaminação cruzada.

Aim: To assess the knowledge and use of procedures that involve biosafety by dental surgeons and oral health assistants in a municipality in the backlands of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, seeking to ascertain the understanding of the need and importance of using biosafety. Methods: This work was a descriptive observational study conducted through a questionnaire applied to dental professionals linked to the Unified Health System (SUS) in the municipality of Arcoverde, Pernambuco, Brazil. The sample consisted of 29 dental professionals who answered the questionnaire, including 9 dentists and 20 assistants. Results: One hundred percent of the professionals say they wash their hands before and after the procedures. Only 20% of ASBs wash the instruments in a sink outside the office; 90% usually perform asepsis of the dental chair after each visit; 95% usually clean the spit and the equipment / sump after each visit. Conclusion: The professionals have satisfactory knowledge about biosafety in the dental office. However, special attention should be paid to the use of sterile gloves and the surgical field during the necessary procedures, as well as the provision of personal protective equipment for patients to minimize the risk of cross contamination.

Nitrous oxide occupational exposure in conscious sedation procedures in dental ambulatories: a pilot retrospective observational study in an Italian pediatric hospital.

BACKGROUND: Nitrous oxide has a proven clinical efficacy in conscious sedation. At certain environmental concentrations it may pose a health risk to chronically exposed healthcare workers. The present pilot study aims at evaluating the exposure to nitrous oxide of dental ambulatory personnel of a pediatric hospital. METHODS: A descriptive study design was conducted in two phases: a bibliographic analysis on the environmental safety policies and a gas concentration analysis in the dental ambulatories of a pediatric hospital, detected every 6 months from December 2013 to February 2017 according to law provisions. The surveys were carried out using for gas analysis a photoacoustic spectrometer Innova-B&K "Multi-gas monitor model 1312" and Innova-B&K "Multi-sampler model 1309". The biological analysis and monitoring have been carried out on staff urine. RESULTS: The analyses were performed during 11 dental outpatient sessions on pediatric patients. All the patients were submitted to the same dental procedures, conservative care and dental extractions. The pediatric patients were 47 (23 males, 24 females; age range 3-17 years; mean age 6,63, SD ± 2,69) for a mean of 4,27 (SD ± 1,49) per session., The mean environmental concentration of nitrous oxide during the sessions was 24.7 ppm (SD ±16,16). A correlation was found between urinary nitrous oxide concentration of dentists (Pearson's correlation 0.786; p = 0.007) and dental assistants urines (Pearson's correlation 0.918; p < 0.001) and environmental concentrations of nitrous oxide. Weak negative correlations were found between age and sex of patients and environmental concentrations of nitrous oxide. The mean values of the biological monitoring data referring to all the outpatient sessions are lower than the reference values foreseen in accordance to the regulations in force on nitrous oxide concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The mean environmental concentration values recorded in our study are below the limit of 50 ppm considered as a reference point, a value lower than those reported in other similar surveys. The results of the present study provide a contribution to the need to implement technical standards, criteria and system requirements for the dental ambulatories, to date not yet completely defined, and cannot be assimilated to the ones established for the surgical rooms.

Los pacientes también son clientes / Patients are clients too

El propósito de este artículo es señalar que los pacientes también son clientes y que en realidad las decisiones las toman basadas en factores emocionales y no en los fríos y lógicos datos provenientes de los diagnósticos que hacen los Odontólogos. Cosas como el trato, servicio excepcional al paciente-cliente, conseguirán más la aceptación de tratamiento, que la pericia clínica (AU)

The purpose of this article is to point out that patients are clients also, and that in reality they take their decisions based on emotional factors and not on the cold and logical facts resulting from the diagnosis made by Dentists. Things such as exceptional service, patient-customer service will achieve more treatment acceptance than the clinical skills (AU)

Irradiance and radiant exposures delivered by led light-curing units used by a left and right-handed operator

Abstract The combination of the restoration location, the hand preference of the operator using the light-curing unit (LCU), and the design of the LCU all can have an impact on the amount of the light delivered to the restoration. To evaluate the effect of left-handed or right-handed users, the position of the operator (dentist or assistant), and the LCU design on the irradiance, radiant exposure and emission spectrum delivered to the same posterior tooth. Two light emitting diode (LED) LCUs were tested: an angulated monowave LCU Radii-Cal (SDI, Victoria, Australia) and a straight aligned multi-peak LCU Valo Cordless (Ultradent, South Jordan, UT, USA). The irradiance values (mW/cm2), radiant exposure (J/cm2) and emission spectrum were measured using a sensor in maxillary left second molar tooth. The irradiance and radiant exposure were analyzed using three-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test (a=0.05). The emission spectra (nm) were analyzed descriptively. The interaction between LCU design, operator position, and hand preference significantly influenced the irradiance and radiant exposure (P<0.001). In all cases, Valo delivered significantly higher irradiance than Radii-Cal. The handedness and the operator position affected the irradiance and radiant exposure delivered from Valo. Operator position and access affect the irradiance and radiant exposure delivered to the maxillary left second molar. The irradiance and radiant exposure can be greater when a right-hand operator is positioned on the right side of the chair and a left-hand operator is positioned on the left side of the chair. This may result in better resin composite polymerization.

Resumo A combinação da localização da restauração, a preferência de mão do operador ao utilizar aparelhos fotopolimerizadores (AFP) com luz emitida por diodo (LED) e o formato do AFP podem afetar a quantidade de luz fornecida à restauração. O objetivo foi avaliar o efeito de operadores canhotos e destros, a posição do operador (dentista ou auxiliar), e o formato do AFP na irradiância, energia radiante e espectro de luz entregue ao mesmo dente posterior. Dois AFP foram testados: um com formato angulado, onda única Radii-Cal (SDI, Victoria, Australia) e um formato reto multi-pico Valo Cordless (Ultradent, South Jordan, UT, USA). Os valores de irradiância (mW/cm²), energia radiante (J/cm²) e espectro de luz foram medidos utilizando um sensor no segundo molar superior esquerdo. A irradiância e energia radiante foram analisados utilizando ANOVA 3 fatores seguido por teste de Tukey (a=0.05). O espectro de luz (nm) foi analisado de forma descritiva. A interação entre o formato do AFP, posição do operador e preferência de mão foram significativamente influentes na irradiância e energia radiante (P<0.001). Em todos os casos, Valo teve irradiância significativamente maior que Radii-Cal. A mão dominante e a posição do operador afetaram a irradiância e energia radiante com o Valo. Posição do operador e acesso afetou a irradiância e exposição radiante entregue ao segundo molar superior esquerdo. A irradiância e exposição radiante teve melhores resultados quando AFP foi utilizado com a mão direita pelo operador posicionado na cadeira do lado direito e mão esquerda do operador posicionado do lado esquerdo da cadeira. Estes resultados podem levar a uma melhor polimerização da resina composta.

Inserção do técnico em saúde bucal no Sistema Único de Saúde: a instabilidade dos vínculos de trabalho e a desvalorização profissional / Inclusion of the oral health technician in the Unified Health System: the instability of the employment relationships and the professional devaluation / Inserción del técnico en salud bucal en el Sistema de Salud: la instabilidad de los vínculos de trabajo y la desvalorización profesional

Resumo A Política Nacional de Saúde Bucal destaca a importância da formação de pessoal auxiliar para a sua consolidação. Este estudo avaliou a inserção de técnicos em saúde bucal formados pela Escola de Saúde Pública do Ceará no Sistema Único de Saúde. Trata-se de estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvido em duas etapas. Na primeira, traçou-se o perfil profissional de 573 técnicos em saúde bucal ex-alunos da Escola. Na segunda, foram realizados grupos focais e utilizada a técnica de análise de conteúdo, na modalidade temática. A pergunta direcionadora foi: que aspectos influenciam na inserção dos técnicos em saúde bucal no Sistema Único de Saúde? Verificou-se que 73,3% estavam no Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde. Destes, 20,7% estavam cadastrados como técnico em saúde bucal e 67,9% como auxiliar de saúde bucal. Nos grupos focais, foram identificadas três categorias temáticas: interesse dos gestores; tipo de vínculo de trabalho; e valorização profissional. Concluiu-se que a maioria estava inserida no Sistema Único de Saúde, mas como auxiliar de saúde bucal. Na visão dos egressos, faltam interesse por parte dos gestores para contratação de técnicos em saúde bucal, vínculos de trabalho mais estáveis e maior valorização profissional.

Abstract The Oral Health National Policy emphasizes the importance of the training of assistant personnel for its consolidation. This study evaluated the inclusion of Oral Health Technicians, trained by Escola de Saúde Pública do Ceará, Brazil, in the Unified Health System. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, developed in two stages. In the first one, the professional profile of 573 oral health technicians was outlined. In the second stage, we used focal groups, as well as the technique of content analysis, thematic modality. The orienting question was: which aspects influence the inclusion of the oral health technician in the Unified Health System? It was found that 73.3% of technicians were in the National Health Facilities Register. Out of these, 20.7% were registered as oral health technician, and 67.9% as oral health assistant. In the focal groups, three thematic categories were identified: manager's interests; type of employment relationship; and professional appreciation. It was concluded that the majority was included in the Unified Health System, but as oral health assistant. From the graduates" point of view, managers lack interest in hiring oral health technicians, and there is lack of more stable employment relationships and of greater professional appreciation.

Resumen La Política Nacional de Salud Bucal destaca la importancia de la formación de personal auxiliar para su consolidación. Este estudio evaluó la inserción de Técnicos en Salud Bucal formados por la Escuela de Salud Pública del Ceará en el Sistema Único de Salud. Trata-se de estudio descriptivo con abordaje cualitativa, desarrollado en dos etapas. En la primera, se elaboró el perfil profesional de 573 técnicos en salud bucal exestudiantes. En la segunda, fueron realizados grupos focales y fue utilizada la técnica de análisis de contenido, en la modalidad temática. La pregunta rectora fue: ¿qué aspectos influencian la inserción de los técnicos en salud bucal en el Sistema Único de Salud? Fue verificado que 73,3% estaban en el Registro Nacional de Establecimientos de Salud. De estos, 20,7% estaban registrados como técnico en salud bucal y 67,9% como auxiliar de salud bucal. En los grupos focales, fueron identificadas tres categorías temáticas: interés de los gestores; tipo de vínculo de trabajo; y valorización profesional. Fue concluido que la mayoría estaba inserida en el Sistema Único de Salud, pero como auxiliar de salud bucal. En la visión de los licenciados, faltan interés por parte de los gestores para contratación de técnicos en salud bucal, vínculos de trabajo más estables y mayor valorización profesional.

Perfil de auxiliares e técnicos em saúde bucal que atuam no sistema único de saúde / Profile of auxiliary and technical oral health of the brazilian national health system

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar o perfil sociodemográfico, de formação e de trabalho de Auxiliares e Técnicos em Saúde Bucal que atuam no nível municipal do SUS. É um estudo populacional censitário, que possui delineamento transversal e descritivo. Foram analisadas informações relatadas por 68 profissionais Auxiliares e Técnicos em Saúde Bucal vinculados ao SUS do município de Blumenau/SC. Para a produção dos dados, utilizou-se um questionário estruturado e autoaplicável, organizado em três blocos temáticos: de identificação (sexo, idade, estado civil, estado/cidade, renda, habilitação, vínculo e inscrição no conselho/sindicato), de formação (estabelecimento de ensino, duração, incentivo/dificuldades de atualização/formação) e de processo de trabalho (competências e atribuições dos profissionais). Os resultados demonstram não haver diferenças significantes entre o trabalho que está sendo realizado pelos Auxiliares e pelos Técnicos em Saúde Bucal no SUS. No conjunto de competências, as ações da rotina da clínica odontológica são referidas com mais intensidade pelos profissionais entrevistados que aludem delegar a um segundo plano as atividades de promoção da saúde e prevenção de agravos bucais.

The purpose of this quantitative study is to describe the sociodemographic, training and employment profile of Auxiliary and Technical Oral Health who work in Blumenau City. Information reported by 68 Auxiliary and Technical Oral Health that are linked to SUS were analyzed. This is a census population study that has transversal and descriptive design. For the study, we used a structured self-administered questionnaire organized into three thematic sections: identity (gender, age, marital status, state / city, income, qualification, registration and bond council/union); training (establishment, duration, incentive/difficulties of upgrade training) and work process (skills and professional assignments). The results show that significant differences were found between the work done by assistants or technicians in Oral Health (respecting the competencies of each profession) with respect to the actions exclusively dental clinical practice in relation to activities to promote oral health and prevention of diseases, leaving these in the background in all activities of supporting staff.

Treatment provided in the Public Dental Service in Finland in 2009.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse treatment measures provided in the Public Dental Service (PDS) and to discuss the therapy given against treatment needs as expressed in the national clinical epidemiological studies. METHODS: In 2009, the Chief Dentists of the PDS units collected data from their local registers on patients and treatment provided. Data were obtained from 166 PDS units (86%). Treatment patterns were compared between age groups, provider groups and geographical areas using chi-square tests. RESULTS: Altogether 8.9 million treatments were provided for 1.7 million patients. Examinations, restorative treatment and anaesthesia accounted for 61.3% of all treatments. Preventive measures (8.4%) and periodontal treatment (6.3%) were small proportions of the total. Prosthetic treatment was uncommon (0.5%). Working age adults received half of all treatments (53.2%), the young a third (36.4%) and the elderly 10.4%. Dental hygienists or dental assistants provided 29.7% of all treatment for children and adolescents, 11.1% for adults and 14.1% for the elderly. CONCLUSION: Relatively healthy children had plenty of examinations and preventive measures, and adults had mostly restorative care when their needs were more periodontal and prosthetic care, indicating that treatment given was not fully in line with needs.

Interpreter-mediated dentistry.

The global movements of healthcare professionals and patient populations have increased the complexities of medical interactions at the point of service. This study examines interpreter mediated talk in cross-cultural general dentistry in Hong Kong where assisting para-professionals, in this case bilingual or multilingual Dental Surgery Assistants (DSAs), perform the dual capabilities of clinical assistant and interpreter. An initial language use survey was conducted with Polyclinic DSAs (n = 41) using a logbook approach to provide self-report data on language use in clinics. Frequencies of mean scores using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS) indicated that the majority of DSAs spoke mainly Cantonese in clinics and interpreted for postgraduates and professors. Conversation Analysis (CA) examined recipient design across a corpus (n = 23) of video-recorded review consultations between non-Cantonese speaking expatriate dentists and their Cantonese L1 patients. Three patterns of mediated interpreting indicated were: dentist designated expansions; dentist initiated interpretations; and assistant initiated interpretations to both the dentist and patient. The third, rather than being perceived as negative, was found to be framed either in response to patient difficulties or within the specific task routines of general dentistry. The findings illustrate trends in dentistry towards personalized care and patient empowerment as a reaction to product delivery approaches to patient management. Implications are indicated for both treatment adherence and the education of dental professionals.