Dental difficulty for adult patients undergoing different dental procedures according to level of dental anxiety.

This study aimed to determine the level of dental anxiety before different dental care procedures. A group of 116 adults presenting for the first time at a French dental hospital were included in the study. These patients completed a French-language version of Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale 1 and used a visual analogue scale to score their perception of the level of difficulty generated by 13 different dental treatments. The acts perceived as the most difficult to face were root canal and restorative treatment without local anaesthesia (LA), followed by oral surgery. There was a positive correlation between DAS score and level of difficulty experienced during dental treatment. Healthy subjects declared difficulty in coping with dental care. Dental procedures may be a factor of co morbidity in terms of the psychological status of dental patients. A classification of dental procedures is given according to the level of difficulty generated.

Evaluation of the use of film holders by undergraduation students

Film holder is used for the Intrabuccal Radiographic Technique (Entrance 453, Ministry of Health, Brazil). This procedure seeks radioprotection, lowering technique mistakes. However, patient's collaboration is necessary to adapt the device. The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effectiveness of HanShin (Japan), Indusbelo and Imagem (Brazil), and Rinn (USA) X-Ray film positioners as: 1) Technical quality and 2) Comfort (adaptation), correlating to patient's cooperation (Discipline of Integrated Clinical Diagnosis -2000 and 2001-FORP/USP). The methodology applied was: 1st) Protocol of Mistake in Radiographic Technique with film holders and 2nd) Interview Questionnaire to obtain information regarding comfort of the film holders (C=Cooperative; LC= Little Cooperative and NC=Non-Cooperative). During clinical activities each student x-rayed three patients (Apparel of X-Rays 70KVp, 10mA, E Film, Radiographic Processing) and in each patient, a film holder brand was used. As a result of 224 patients' studied, 1179 radiographs were obtained, 255 of those presenting "technique mistakes”, according to the brand of the film holder: 16 percent HanShin, 10 percent Indusbelo, 31 percent Rinn, 33 percent Imagem and 33 percent bisecting line technique (without film holder). Regarding comfort the following results were obtained: HanShin C=95 percent, LC=4 percent and NC=1 percent; Indusbelo C=89 percent, LC=6 percentand NC=5 percent; Imagem C=95 percent, LC=3 percent and NC=2 percent and Rinn C=60 percent, LC=25 percent and NC=15 percent. It was concluded that the brands Hanshin, Imagem and Indusbelo are suitable for dental radiographic exam and that the Rinn brand produces more discomfort, because its size dimensions are not ideal for the size and form pattern of the Dental Arch in the population used in this study.

El posicionador porta películas está indicado en la Técnica Radiográfica Intraoral (Resolución 453, Ministerio de la Salud, Brasil). Este procedimiento permite la radio protección, minimizando el error de técnica; sin embargo, es necesaria la colaboración del paciente para la adaptación del dispositivo. El objetivo de esta investigación-enseñanza fue evaluar la efectividad de los posicionadores de marcas HanShin (Japón), Indusbelo, Imagem (Brasil) y Rinn (USA), en relación a: 1) Calidad Técnica y 2) Confort (adaptación) correlacionándolo con la colaboración del paciente (Disciplina de Diagnóstico Clínico Integrado-2000 y 2001-FORP/USP). Como metodología de investigación se utilizaron: 1ª)Protocolo de Errores de Técnica Radiográfica con Posicionador y 2º) Cuestionario de entrevista para la obtención de las informaciones relativas a la comodidad del posicionador (C=Cooperaba; CP=Cooperaba poco y NC=No cooperaba). Durante las actividades clínicas, cada alumno radiografió a tres pacientes (Aparato de Rayos X, 70kvp, 10mA, Film E, Procesamiento Radiográfico Manual) y en cada paciente se utilizó una marca de posicionador. Como resultado de la atención de 224 pacientes, se obtuvieron 1179 radiografías; de ellas, 255 presentaron “errores de técnica”, debido a la marca del posicionador: 16 por ciento HanShin; 10 por ciento Indusbelo; 31 por ciento Rinn; 33 por ciento Imagem, y Técnica da Bissetriz, sin posicionador, 33 por ciento. En relación al confort, se obtuvieron los siguientes resultados: HanShin C=95 por ciento, CP=4 por ciento y NC=1 por ciento; Indusbelo C=89 por ciento, CP=6 por ciento y NC=5 por ciento; Imagem C=95 por ciento, CP=3 por ciento y NC=2 por ciento y Rinn C=60 por ciento, CP=25 por ciento y NC=15 por ciento. Se concluye que las marcas Hanshin, Imagem e Indusbelo son las indicadas para el examen radiográfico odontológico y que la marca Rinn produce más incomodidad.

Knowledge and adoption of radiographic quality assurance guidelines by general dentists in North Carolina.

OBJECTIVES/STUDY DESIGN: A random survey of equal proportions of urban and rural North Carolina general dentists was conducted to assess their knowledge and adoption of radiographic quality assurance guidelines of the American Dental Association. RESULTS: A total of 159 surveys were returned representing a response rate of 51%. A majority of respondents answered "don't know" to questions dealing with intraoral and panoramic radiography units and darkroom monitoring. Higher levels of knowledge (58% to 77%) and adoption (63% to 86%) of guidelines were seen with film-processing activities. Linear regression demonstrated substantial positive association between knowledge and adoption of guidelines (R = 0.50). Stepwise multiple regression revealed positive associations of the demographic variables of years in practice, urban location, and age with greater knowledge of guidelines (R2 = 0.33, p < 0.05). Urban location was associated with increased likelihood of adoption of guidelines (R2 = 0.09, p < 0.05).