Dental team member compliance with personal protective equipment and aerosol-generating procedure recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel: An observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Coronaviruses which have been responsible for numerous epidemics worldwide, share common transmission modalities and pose a risk within dental clinics. Updated, COVID-19-specific infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines for dental settings, including minimizing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs), were issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) in spring 2020. This study investigated dental team members (dentists, dental assistants and hygienists) compliance with MoH recommendations exposed to asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients. METHODS: The MoH analysed exposure reports from dental clinics to asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive patients following their reopening (April 2020). Exposure reports were verified against a COVID-19 national database. A cumulative transmission rate was calculated and compared to the rate in the population. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred twenty-third exposure reports were received (May 1-December 31, 2020) regarding dental team members who treated asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive patients: 525 (39.7%) were dentists, 656 (49.6%) dental assistants and 126 (9.5%) hygienists. Practitioner type was not reported in 16 (1.2%) cases. Most dental team members reported full PPE use and performance of short/non-aerosol-generating procedures. Dentists and hygienists reported higher compliance compared with dental assistants. 8 (0.6%) dental team members (four dentists, four dental assistants) were positive post-exposure, with an average of 5.4 days (median 5 days, SD = 4.8) from dental treatment to a positive COVID-19 test. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: Most dental team members complied fully with the MoH recommendations. Differences were found between the dental team members (hygienists being most adherent). Further efforts are required to encourage full compliance.

The traditional practice of canine bud removal in the offspring of Ethiopian immigrants.

BACKGROUND: The custom of canine bud removal has detrimental consequences on children's general health and dental care. The objective of this study was to assess whether the prevalence of missing primary canines and dental defects in offspring of emigrants from Ethiopia is greater than in offspring of native Israeli parents of similar socioeconomic class. METHODS: 477 children of Ethiopian descent and 317 offspring of native Israeli parents, from 21 nursery schools and kindergartens, underwent dental examinations aimed to determine the presence or absence of primary canines and of developmental enamel defects on adjacent teeth to the primary canines. For purposes of analysis, children were classified into two age groups: younger (ages 18-48 months) and older (ages 49-82 months). RESULTS: Canines were present in more Israeli than Ethiopian younger children, 87.5% vs. 42.3%, p=0.0001; and in more Israeli than Ethiopian older children, 92.6% vs. 40.4%, p=0.0001. More dental defects were detected in Ethiopian than in Israeli younger children, 32% vs. 3.9%, p=0.0001; and in more Ethiopian than Israeli older children, 31.2% vs. 5.8%, p=0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of missing primary canines and dental defects was greater among offspring of parents who had emigrated from Ethiopia 15-20 years earlier than among offspring of native Israeli parents living in the same low socioeconomic neighborhoods.

National oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour survey of Israeli 12-year-olds, 2002.

OBJECTIVE: To gather epidemiological information on oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of Israeli 12-year-olds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A stratified, cluster, random and convenience sample of 12-year-old children was drawn. Stratification was by size of community, by administrative areas (regions) and by ethnicity (Jewish/other). The representative sample of 12-year-olds was asked to self-complete the questionnaire of ICS II, which was translated into Hebrew. The questions gather information regarding knowledge, attitude and dental health behaviour. RESULTS: 1294 children completed the questionnaire, of which 84% reported brushing their teeth once or more per day. Girls brushed 1.68 times more frequently than boys. Of the children, 64% had visited a dentist in the last year. The vast majority of the children (90%) expressed satisfaction with their last visit. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health habits of 12-year-old Israeli children are comparable to those of other countries. The dental health education in Israel should focus health messages to different schoolchildren according to the differences found in this survey.

Dental health of 12-year-olds in Israel-2002.

OBJECTIVE: To gather epidemiological information on caries prevalence and treatment needs of Israeli 12-year-olds. RESEARCH DESIGN: Prevalence survey of a representative sample of 12-year- olds examined according to WHO Oral Health Survey methods. RESULTS: The mean DMFT was 1.66 (DT = 0.91, MT = 0.03 FT = 0.72), a 40% decline since the previous national survey in 1989. DT and DMFT were lower amongst males (p < 0.01). There were no differences between urban and rural communities. Arab subjects had a higher prevalence, higher DT, MT and DMFT (p < 0.01), but lower FT than the Jewish subjects. In fluoridated areas, the mean DMFT was 1.39 compared to 1.83 in the non-fluoridated areas (p < 0.01). SiC (Significant Caries Index which shows the average DMFT of the third of the population with the highest DMFT) was found to be 4.31. CONCLUSIONS: Caries prevalence has declined among 12-year-olds in Israel. However, 53.9% of the children still suffer from caries at this age. There are wide dental health disparities.