Difficulties of dental practice among left-handed Tunisian students: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract In dentistry, most equipment is designed for right-handed (RH) individuals. Thus, left-handed (LH) individuals are often forced to adapt to demanding RH working conditions, and therefore, experience difficulties in their practice. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of left handedness among dental students at the Dental Clinic of Monastir, Tunisia, and to investigate the difficulties for LH individuals during clinical practice. A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students during the academic year from September 2019 to March 2020. An adaptation of the Grad-Corllet Diagram and a specific questionnaire on clinical practices were administered to 221 participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 statistical software for descriptive statistics and the chi-square test was performed (with a 5% significance level). The study revealed that 18.1% of dental students were LH. Among which, 82.5% of LH students had difficulties using instruments designed for RH dentists, 47.5% of LH students preferred the 3 o'clock working position, and 77.5% of LH students preferred to work in a sitting position. Most LH students (70%) reported that endodontic treatment was the most difficult procedure to perform. All students, whether RH or LH, presented a higher percentage of pain in the lumbar and neck/cervical regions; however, LH students presented higher values (77.5%) with statistically significant differences being reported for lower back pain (p = 0.026) and neck pain (p = 0.012). This study highlights the difficulties that LH dental students face in performing dental work. Dental Schools should provide LH students with appropriate equipment and a proper learning environment.

Systemic Manifestations, Tooth Eruption and Enamel Defects in Children with Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome: 36-Month Follow-up Case Series

Abstract Objective: To describe systemic manifestations, the characteristics related to tooth eruption, and the occurrence of enamel defects in children with Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome (CZS). Material and Methods: Prospective case series based on nine children with confirmed CZS diagnosis assisted at a reference center in a municipality in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Through a structured interview directed to mothers, information related to prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods was collected. Tooth eruption was monitored through clinical examinations for 36 months. The modified developmental defect of enamel index (DDE) was used to identify opacities and hypoplasia. Data were presented using descriptive statistics. Results: A high proportion (77.8%) had microcephaly, and 55.5% had low birth weight. Musculoskeletal disorders, swallowing difficulty, and self-injury practices were present in all children. Among the systemic findings, visual impairment (77.8%) and seizures (77.8%) were widely reported. Concerning disorders related to the stomatognathic system, bruxism (66.7%) and difficulty in sucking (33.3%) were present. For most children (77.8%), the deciduous right lower central incisor was the first tooth to erupt (minimum 8 months and maximum 17 months). Enamel defects were diagnosed in only two children (22.2%). Conclusion: A wide range of systemic manifestations was observed in children with CZS, including visual impairment and musculoskeletal disorders. Delayed eruption of the first deciduous tooth was also observed. Enamel defects were present in a small proportion of children.

Assessment of Hypnosis Knowledge Among Dentists: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the attitudes, experiences, training levels, and interest in future education regarding the use of hypnosis by dentists working in Dental Clinic of Monastir, Tunisia. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 330 dentists working in Dental Clinic of Monastir in November 2019. Students, internship, residents, and professors were randomly selected. This was a survey with a structured questionnaire mailed to all dentists. The questionnaire was pre-fabricated, simple, and close-ended. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 statistical software. Results: A total of 202 dentists respond to this survey. 54% of the participants were interns with a female predominance (66.5%). Findings revealed that beliefs toward hypnosis in the sample were generally positive. Using a visual analogue scale, dentists reported having moderate acknowledge in hypnosis (3.4). 60% of the participants in our study consider that hypnosis is useful in dentistry and, more particularly, in pediatric dentistry. 78.2% of respondents want to follow training courses in hypnosis. Conclusion: Our survey highlights the weak knowledge of participants in hypnosis and reveals certain misconceptions about this procedure. More efforts are required to better educate dentists about hypnosis's benefits in their practice.

Prevalence of Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation Among School Children aged 7-12 years in Tunis, Tunisia

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and the characteristics of Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH) in 7-12-year-old children in Tunis, Tunisia. Material and Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study, in which school children aged 7 to 12 years were included. A total of 510 children (257 girls and 253 boys) who had their first permanent molar and incisors were evaluated using the 2003 European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) recommendation criteria were examined. Descriptive data analysis and Pearson's chi-squared test were performed (p<0.05). Results: A total of 510 children were included in the study. MIH was present in 35.4 % of our study population. Boys exhibited slightly higher MIH (19,4%) and Post Eruptive Breakdown (PEB) (7,3%) prevalence compared to girls, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.07). Moreover, demarcated opacities were more prevalent than PEB. More precisely, the main prevalence without PEB was MIH with white/creamy demarcated opacities, which was more frequent than yellow/brown demarcated opacities (p<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of MIH in Tunis was 35.4%, with no difference between girls and boys. The main MIH type prevalence was white/creamy demarcated opacities without PEB.