Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of digital and conventional impression methods for fixed dentures.

BACKGROUND: Digital impression technique or computer-aided impression (CAI) has been recently concluded as a clinically acceptable alternative to conventional impression method (CIM) in the fabrication of crowns, short fixed partial dentures (FPDs), and implant-supported crowns. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the patients' opinion and subjective perception of two different ways of impression - digital and conventional. METHODS: A total of 45 patients were treated with CAI and CIM for the fabrication of tooth or implant-supported crowns. They fulfilled a questionnaire including 11 questions regarding the treatment time, gag reflex, discomfort related to manipulation, and other aspects of treatment. RESULTS: CAI was considered the preferential method for future treatment in 53% of patients, whereas 28.9% of the respondents preferred CIM. The preference for the impression method was influenced by the total time spent with the procedure, discomfort during manipulation with the tray or scanning head, size of the tray or scanning head, maximal opening discomfort, and (the tendency towards) gag reflex. CONCLUSION: CAI was considered a more comfortable and preferential method. Discomfort or difficulties during CAI negatively affected the patients' attitude to CAI, whereas the difficulties associated with CIM did not have any influence on the preferred method.

COVID-19 among Czech Dentistry Students: Higher Vaccination and Lower Prevalence Compared to General Population Counterparts.

The restrictions on medical students' clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their professional readiness and often lengthened their training. These negative impacts are often considered a necessary price as clinical education is hypothesized to be associated with a high risk of pandemic spread. This work assesses this hypothesis based on COVID-19 epidemiological data among Czech dentistry students and their comparison to data of the Czech general population of similar age. We addressed two of the five Czech medical faculties (Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove and in Pilsen) providing dentistry study program with a survey. A total of 240 students participated, representing a 66.9% response rate. Over 75% of respondents participated in clinical education during the pandemic. The school environment was identified as a place of infection by only 9.8% of respondents who were aware of where they were infected. Overall, 100% of students used FFP2 respirators, and 75.3% used face shields or protective glasses while working with patients. By the end of May 2022, COVID-19 full vaccination and 1st booster rates among students were 93.8% and 54.6%, respectively, which is significantly higher (p < 0.0001, OR 7.3, 95% CI 4.4−12; p < 0.0001, OR 3.7, 95% CI 2.9−4.8, respectively) compared to their peers from the general population (67.1% and 24.4%, respectively). A total of 75.4% of respondents supported mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare professionals. To the same date, PCR and/or antigen test verified COVID-19 prevalence among students was 37.1%, while among peers from the general population, it was 45.1% (p = 0.015, OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0−1.5). The combination of extensive protective measures and high vaccination against COVID-19 led to significantly lower COVID-19 prevalence among the students compared to their general population counterparts.

Are Digital Methods Sufficiently Successful in Colour Determination for Monolithic All-Ceramic Crowns?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the visual assessment of tooth shade with the measurement using intraoral scanner (IOS) and spectrophotometer devices. METHODOLOGY: The colour for a single unit implant supported crown was measured visually, using IOS, and spectrophotometer. The results of the digital methods were compared with the visual measurement. RESULTS: A complete colour match with the visual measurement was in 42.9% of cases for IOS, and in 33.3% of cases for spectrophotometry. The match in the colour value, hue, and chroma were in 61.9%, 95.2%, and 66.7% of cases, respectively, for the IOS; and in 61.9%, 61.9%, and 66.7% of cases, respectively, for the spectrophotometry. The differences between the IOS and spectrophotometry were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The most reliable method for tooth colour selection is the visual measurement by an experienced dentist. IOS and spectrophotometer can be used as an alternative method, however in both cases they should be verified using visual measurement.

Assessment of local muscular load of dental practitioners.

OBJECTIVE: Hands and forearms are one of the most common localisations of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among dental practitioners. The aim of this study was to objectively assess the local muscular load of hands and forearms of dental practitioners during various treatment procedures using the method of the integrated electromyography (iEMG). This method is used for health risk assessment and categorization of working operation within the official national methodology. METHODS: A total of 24 measurements were performed on 10 dental practitioners during 8 different dental treatments; mostly on those which are most frequent in clinical practice, i.e. endodontic treatment, tooth extraction, tooth restoration with filling and prosthetic treatment. The EMG Holter was used to detect the electromyographic potentials determining the local muscular load. RESULTS: All the muscle groups of the forearm were relatively evenly loaded at work. During the dynamic work activity, the average time-weighted value of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) was in the range from 1 to 30 %MVC for all evaluated muscle groups. The mean average time-weighted value of %MVC did not exceed 6% (a critical limit of the mean average time-weighted value of %MVC) in any of the evaluated muscle groups. The results of the frequency analysis showed that large (55-70 %MVC) and rarely the limits exceeding values (above 70 %MVC) were observed for individual muscle groups. These forces are related to performing tasks at inaccessible locations associated with non-physiological working positions. The differences in the mean forearm muscle load between the upper limbs were statistically significant in total (p < 0.001), for flexors (p = 0.017) and for extensors (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: In view of the results of this study, the work of dentists can be ranked in category 2 in terms of the local muscle load factor according to the currently valid legislation in the Czech Republic.

Perception of Undergraduate Students at the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové Regarding Their Endodontic Education and Suggested Improvements.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the perception of undergraduate dentistry students at Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, the Czech Republic regarding their endodontic education within the context of the Undergraduate Curriculum Guidelines for Endodontology by the European Society of Endodontology (ESE). The secondary aim was to compare this perception among students in the Czech and English groups. METHODOLOGY: A questionnaire survey was conducted among fifth year students at the very end of their studies. RESULTS: The students returned 60 filled questionnaires, making the response rate of 75.9%. More than two thirds of the respondents declared that they were competent at or had knowledge of most of the major competencies defined by the ESE. Eighty seven percent of respondents felt competent to perform a root canal treatment on anterior teeth; 86.7% on premolars; and 48.3% on molars. Nearly all respondents (98.3%) recommended more opportunities to practice on patients. CONCLUSIONS: The overall perception of the students was that their endodontic education was sufficient and largely conformed to the guidelines. Insufficient exposure to endodontic practice on patients was identified as a deficiency. There were no significant differences in perceptions between the two study groups.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders Symptoms Among Czech Dental Students. Part 2: The Predictive Value of Digital Assessment.

This article is the second part of an evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) prevalence among dental students. As the majority of complaints are in the back region, there is an endeavor to analyze objectively the disorders in this region. One of the non-invasive and non-radiation methods is the spinal curve mapping using the Spinal Mouse® device (Idiag AG, Fehraltorf, Switzerland). The aim of this study was to determine a correlation between subjectively described complaints and the results of an objective examination of the spine using the Spinal Mouse® device. Information about the participants is given in the first part of the article. All the participants were examined with the Spinal Mouse® device in several body positions. Further, the Matthiass test was performed to evaluate neuromuscular stabilization of the axial skeleton in static conditions. Musculoskeletal pain occurred more often in students who had a higher range of motion (ROM) and had worse static stabilization of spine. Other assessed factors or measured parameters did not have any influence on musculoskeletal pain. Some of the parameters measured with the Spinal Mouse® device showed a correlation with the prevalence of musculoskeletal.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders Symptoms among Czech Dental Students. Part 1: a Questionnaire Survey.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) frequently occur among dentists and dental students. The first aim of this study was to gather and analyze information about the prevalence of symptoms of MSDs. The second aim was to determine a correlation between subjectively described complaints and the results of an objective examination of the spine using the Spinal Mouse® device; that part is described in the second section of this article. Dental students of the first, third and fifth years at Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové were included. The participants filled out a questionnaire regarding the prevalence of symptoms of MSDs and the potential risk factors. From a total of 182 students that participated in this study, 71 reported musculoskeletal pain (prevalence 39%). The musculoskeletal pain was more frequent among women. During the studies its prevalence increased. The most frequent areas of pain were neck, lower back and upper back. The results indicate that musculoskeletal pain often begins and continues to develop throughout the dentistry studies.

The application of CamScan 2 in forensic dentistry.

Forensic dentistry plays a major role in body identification. The dental examination is very accurate and also, nowadays, in the time of a comprehensive fingerprint and DNA assessment, objectively supported. The identification, which is based on the dental documentation, leads up to 43-89% of a successful process. The purpose of the study is to describe the techniques employed by forensic odontology to identify human remains and also to provide details of some of the novel developments within this area. Comparative methods of dental identification of the unknown subject with pre-mortem clinical records, X-ray images, implant presence, superimposition and DNA analysis confirm the identity of the individual. It was shown that dental identification of a person is based on unique individual characteristics of the dentition and dental restorations, relative resistance of the mineralised dental tissues and dental restorations to changes resulting from decomposition and harsh environmental extremes such as conditions of temperature and violent physical forces.

Effectiveness of physiotherapy and GaAlAs laser in the management of temporomandibular joint disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a treatment method commonly used in physiotherapy for musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to monitor the function of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding tissues and compare the objective measurements of the effect of LLLT. BACKGROUND DATA: LLLT has been considered effective in reducing pain and muscular tension; thus improving the quality of patients' lives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TMJ function was evaluated by cephalometric tracing analysis, orthopantomogram, TMJ tomogram, and computer face-bow record. Interalveolar space between central incisors before and after therapy was measured. Patients evaluated pain on the Visual Analog Scale. LLLT was performed in five treatment sessions (energy density of 15.4 J/cm(2)) by semiconductive GaAlAs laser with an output of 280 mW, emitting radiation wavelength of 830 mm. The laser supplied a spot of ~0.2 cm(2). RESULTS: Baseline comparisons between the healthy patients and patients with low-level laser application show that TMJ pain during function is based on anatomical and function changes in TMJ areas. Significant differences were seen in the posterior and anterior face height. The results comparing healthy and impaired TMJ sagittal condyle paths showed that patients with TMJ pain during function had significantly flatter nonanatomical movement during function. After therapy, the unpleasant feeling was reduced from 27.5 to 4.16 on the pain Visual Analog Scale. The pain had reduced the ability to open the mouth from 34 to 42 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The laser therapy was effective in the improvement of the range of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and promoted a significant reduction of pain symptoms.