Disasters in pediatric dentistry: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Disasters can harm many people, especially children, in unpredictable and public ways. One of the neglected aspects of children's health in disasters is oral and dental hygiene, which can affect their physical and mental well-being. This systematic review explores how dentistry can help children in disasters, focusing on two aspects: providing oral health care and identifying disaster victims. METHODS: A thorough search of databases, such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, ProQuest, and Web of Science, was done to find English-language publications from 1930 to August 31, 2023. The screening, data collection, and quality assessment followed the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Out of 37,795 articles found in the databases, seven research articles were chosen. Five articles were retrospective, and two articles were prospective. The results showed that dentistry for children is very important in disasters by giving information about the oral and dental problems and identifying the victims. The results also showed some of the challenges and difficulties in giving dental care for children in disaster situations, such as changing control, referral systems, and parental fear of infection. CONCLUSION: Dentistry for children can improve the health and well-being of children affected by disasters.

Acoustic identification and classification of four dolphin species in the Brazilian marine area affected by the largest tailings dam failure disaster.

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is an increasingly used technique to access the occurrence, distribution, and abundance of cetaceans that may be visually unavailable most of the time. The largest tailings dam failure disaster occurred on 5 November 2015, when the Fundão dam collapsed, releasing over 50 million cubic meters of tailings into the Doce River basin; 14 days later, the tailings plume reached the Atlantic Ocean. PAM was implemented in the concerned area and cetacean species were acoustically identified. Whistles and clicks of visual and acoustic matches were used to predict and classify exclusive acoustic records through random forest models. The identified species were Guiana, rough-toothed, and bottlenose dolphins. Additionally, the franciscana, the most threatened cetacean in the western South Atlantic Ocean, was also acoustically identified. The whistle classifier had 86.9% accuracy with final frequency, duration, and maximum frequency ranked as the most important parameters. The clicks classifier had 86.7% accuracy with peak frequency and 3 dB bandwidth as the most important parameters for classifying species. Considering the potential effect of the increase in turbidity on sound transmission, such as attenuation, the presented classifier should be continuously improved with novel data collected from long-term acoustic monitoring.

Dental professionals' attitude and willingness to respond during disaster events: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: In the present times, natural and man-made threats have questioned our existence on this planet. Health care professionals need to be aware of all the procedures to follow during such an event that threatens to paralyze the entire community and should be able to respond effectively. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to assess the willingness and attitude of dental professionals to render help during any disaster or catastrophic event. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional study among 480 subjects who were residing in Tricity (Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula). Informed consent was taken from all the subjects. Systematic random sampling methodology was employed for selection for study sample. The study utilized a self-designed close-ended questionnaire written in English and verified by experts. The questionnaire was divided into two parts to collect the required information. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 21; chi-square test and multiple regression analysis were used to arrive at the results. RESULTS: More than 85% of subjects had awareness regarding natural and manmade disasters. A positive response was given by 79.2% of subjects regarding willingness to help during disaster. Educational qualification of subjects was significantly associated with attitude towards some aspects of disaster response (p<0.05). Postgraduate subjects and subjects who were academicians were more willing to render help (OR: 2.18 & 3.65 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The study emphasizes the need for educational and training programs for dentists' regarding disaster management. A short course on emergency and disaster management can be included in undergraduate and postgraduate dental curriculum.

New Method of Dental Personal Identification of Disaster Victims Using Oral Scanner.

Dentistry plays an important role in the identification of victims in large-scale disasters. The current poor status of and problems with victim identification work were highlighted in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, in which some 10,000 people lost their lives. The techniques of dental identification therefore need to be improved if they are to cope with the problems associated with identification that will accompany the predicted Tokai earthquake and other unexpected large-scale disasters in the future. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of applying a digital impression-taking device employed in regular dental care to dental personal identification. The Trophy 3DI pro (Yoshida Dental) was applied to a total of 150 dental models. The diagnosis was accurate in 2,096 teeth from a sample of 2,100 comprising 1,240 non-treated teeth, 670 treated teeth, and 190 missing teeth, yielding a 99.8% level of statistical precision. These results suggest that the level of accuracy offered by this impression-taking device indicates that it would be a useful tool in establishing personal identification in disaster victims.

Real-Time Structural Monitoring of the Multi-Point Hoisting of a Long-Span Converter Station Steel Structure.

In the process of using a long-span converter station steel structure, engineering disasters can easily occur. Structural monitoring is an important method to reduce hoisting risk. In previous engineering cases, the structural monitoring of long-span converter station steel structure hoisting is rare. Thus, no relevant hoisting experience can be referenced. Traditional monitoring methods have a small scope of application, making it difficult to coordinate monitoring and construction control. In the monitoring process, many problems arise, such as complicated installation processes, large-scale data processing, and large-scale installation errors. With a real-time structural monitoring system, the mechanical changes in the long-span converter station steel structure during the hoisting process can be monitored in real-time in order to achieve real-time warning of engineering disasters, timely identification of engineering issues, and allow for rapid decision-making, thus avoiding the occurrence of engineering disasters. Based on this concept, automatic monitoring and manual measurement of the mechanical changes in the longest long-span converter station steel structure in the world is carried out, and the monitoring results were compared with the corresponding numerical simulation results in order to develop a real-time structural monitoring system for the whole long-span converter station steel structure's multi-point lifting process. This approach collects the monitoring data and outputs the deflection, stress, strain, wind force, and temperature of the long-span converter station steel structure in real-time, enabling real-time monitoring to ensure the safety of the lifting process. This research offers a new method and basis for the structural monitoring of the multi-point hoisting of a long-span converter station steel structure.

When destruction comes first: Two new species of Hypostomus Lacépède, 1803 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from a deeply-impacted river in the Rio São Francisco basin in Brazil.

Environmental disasters affecting Brazilian rivers have been frequent recently, especially involving mining activities. Two recent dam-rupture events suddenly released millions of cubic meters of iron tailings downstream into two major Brazilian watersheds. These events generated major losses to the environment and human life. Additionally, the biodiversity in both watersheds was still incompletely known. Two new species of the armoured catfish genus Hypostomus were discovered in the Rio Paraopeba and surrounding rivers of the Rio São Francisco Basin. The species share some main characteristics including a depressed body, large dark spots on a clearer background and the absence of keels on flanks. However, while one species (Hypostomus freirei sp. n.) has a large mandibular ramus and numerous slender teeth, the other (Hypostomus guajupia sp. n.) has a shorter mandibular ramus and few robust teeth. The discovery of these two new mid-sized fish species emphasizes the presumption that the effects of major environmental disasters cannot be fully estimated as local biodiversity is not completely known. This discovery in a recently devastated area also shows that tough environmental laws for the protection, supervision and mitigation of major impacts are urgently needed in developing countries.

Forensic Analysis and Identification Processes in Mass Disasters: Explosion of Gun Powder in the Fireworks Factory.

A mass disaster is a situation that involves criticality between the number of victims and resources, in terms of both men and means, present on the site of an event that is mostly unexpected and sudden. In the multidisciplinary teams that intervene, the role of forensic pathologists, who are responsible for the direction and coordination of post-mortem operations, is central, and must remain so. The authors report the case of an explosion of a pyrotechnic artifice factory, as a result of which numerous victims and injuries are recorded. So, the team completed the autopsies and created a protocol to obtain biological samples (bones, blood, teeth, muscles), while the forensic pathologists contacted the families of the alleged victims and each provided a blood sample that was collected for the DNA. The geneticist, using the method of gene extraction and amplification, obtained the DNA from each bone, tooth, and muscle of blood taken from the victims and then compared it with that extracted from the blood samples of the relatives; the electropherograms showed at least one allele for each genetic marker of the "Combined DNA Index System" in common between the victims and the families, thus allowing to establish the identity of all the subjects involved in the event. Having established the identity of all workers, it was possible to determine their whereabouts in the environment at the time of the location of fires and explosions. The results of the various forensic analyzes (autopsies, genetic investigations and even traumatological investigations) have allowed us to validate a scientific method useful in all mass disasters even when any type of anthropological or forensic dental research is difficult.

Design and Progress of Oral Health Examinations in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project.

In order to assess the long-term impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on the oral health of disaster victims and to evaluate gene-environmental interactions in the development of major oral diseases and oral-systemic associations, the oral part of two large-scale genome cohort studies by the Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (ToMMo), including the Community-based cohort (CommCohort) study and the Birth and Three-Generation cohort (BirThree) study, have been conducted. The study population comprised 32,185 subjects, including 16,886 participants in the CommCohort study and 15,299 participants in the BirThree cohort study, recruited from 2013 to 2017. The oral studies consist of a questionnaire regarding oral hygiene behavior, clinical examinations by dentists, and oral plaque and saliva sampling for microbiome analyses, which were carried out at seven community support centers in Miyagi prefecture. The median age of all participants was 55.0 years, and 66.1% of participants were women. Almost all participants reported that they brushed their teeth more than once a day. The median number of present teeth was 27.0, and the decayed, missing and filled tooth number was 16.0, with a significant difference according to age and sex. The median periodontal pocket and clinical attachment level was 2.48 mm and 4.00 mm, respectively. Periodontal parameters increased significantly according to age, except for the accumulation of dental calculus. The oral part of these extensive cross-sectional studies provides a unique and important platform for future studies on oral health and diseases that elicit through interactions with systemic diseases, lifestyles, life events and genetic backgrounds, and contributes to researches clarifying the long-term effects of disasters on oral health.

General Dental Practitioners as Potential Responders to Disaster Scenario in a Highly Disaster-prone Area: An Explorative Study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to obtain insights pertaining to disaster management among Indian general dental practitioners (GDPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All GDPs in Mangaluru city, Karnataka, India, were included in the present study. Their willingness to participate in disaster management and their objective knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness related to disaster management were assessed by a structured, pretested, self-administered questionnaire. Demographic information was also collected. RESULTS: Overall, 101 GDPs volunteered for the study, and 96.04% of respondents were willing to participate in disaster management. Mean knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness scores were 52.65, 79.60, 41.55, and 64.20% respectively. Religion (odds ratio [OR] = -0.194, p = 0.022), marital status (OR = -0.222, p = 0.040), attachment to college (OR = -0.256, p = 0.037), familiarity with standard operating procedures (SOP; OR = -0.502, p = 0.000), and knowledge (OR = 0.265, p = 0.003) were significant predictors of behavior. CONCLUSION: The GDPs reported knowledge and behavior scores which were low, while their attitude and willingness to participate were high. Demographic determinants might be critical indicators in disaster management scenario among GDPs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The present study has crucial implications for policymakers and curriculum changes to integrate dentists effectively into disaster response teams. As responsible members of the society, the dental fraternity has critical contributions to make toward disaster mitigation. Integration of GDPs in a multidisciplinary team managing disasters might be crucial, especially in highly disaster-prone areas, such as India, with a definite paucity of resources.

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and disaster victim identification.

Radiography has been used for identification since 1927, and established a role in mass fatality investigations in 1949. More recently, postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has been used for disaster victim identification (DVI). PMCT offers several advantages compared with fluoroscopy, plain film and dental X-rays, including: speed, reducing the number of on-site personnel and imaging modalities required, making it potentially more efficient. However, there are limitations that inhibit the international adoption of PMCT into routine practice. One particular problem is that due to the fact that forensic radiology is a relatively new sub-speciality, there are no internationally established standards for image acquisition, image interpretation and archiving. This is reflected by the current INTERPOL DVI form, which does not contain a PMCT section. The DVI working group of the International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging supports the use of imaging in mass fatality response and has published positional statements in this area. This review will discuss forensic radiology, PMCT, and its role in disaster victim identification.

THE LOSS OF MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT MH17: A FORENSIC AND HUMANITARIAN TASK.

While forensic medical tasks are usually associated with supporting the criminal justice system, there are a range of forensic medical skills that can be brought to bear on addressing humanitarian activities. Disaster victim identification is a procedure that has achieved international standardisation through the work of a multinational Interpol Standing Committee. While part of a police organisation, it includes forensic pathologists, anthropologists, odontologists and molecular biologists who provide most of the specialist scientific input regarding identification that is integrated with police processes such as document examination and fingerprinting. The loss of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 represented a major activation of these procedures in an environment that had both humanitarian and forensic criminal investigation components. The information that is derived from the processes involved in disaster victim identification has a value that goes far beyond the determination of identity. It has an important humanitarian role in supporting the family and friends of the victims in their bereavement journey.

Impact of loss of removable dentures on oral health after the great East Japan earthquake: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 destroyed many communities, and as a result many older victims lost their removable dentures. No previous studies have documented the prevalence of denture loss after a natural disaster or examined its negative impact. Therefore, investigation of the consequences of such a disaster on oral health is of major importance from a public health viewpoint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three to five months after the disaster, questionnaire surveys were conducted in two coastal towns, Ogatu and Oshika, located in the area of Ishinomaki city, Miyagi prefecture. Among the survey participants, 715 individuals had used one or more removable dentures before the disaster, and these comprised the population analyzed. The effect of denture loss on oral health-related quality life (OHRQoL) was examined by a modified Poisson regression approach with adjustment for sex, age, subjective household economic status, dental caries, tooth mobility, psychological distress (K6), access to a dental clinic, physical activity, and town of residence. RESULTS: There were 123 (17.2%) participants who had lost their dentures. In comparison with participants who had not lost their dentures, those lacking dentures showed a significantly higher relative risk for eating difficulties (RR = 2.65, 95%CI = 1.90-3.69), speech problems (RR = 4.37, 95%CI = 2.46-7.76), embarrassment upon smiling, laughing, or showing their teeth (RR = 5.32, 95%CI = 2.34-12.1), emotional distress (RR = 2.38, 95%CI = 1.41-4.03), and problems related to social interaction (RR = 6.97, 95%CI = 1.75-27.7). CONCLUSIONS: Denture loss appeared to impair eating and speaking ability, thus discouraging communication with others. Public health intervention after major natural disasters should include dental care.

Unexpected disasters at organized sporting events: considerations in preparation and response.

Preparing for the unexpected or unusual occurrence is always a challenge. When you add large collections of athletes and spectators, that challenge is certainly magnified, and proper planning and preparation are even more critical in reducing the damage done. The aim of this article is to stimulate thought toward preparing the medical director and staff in being ready to respond to the unexpected disaster at a sporting event.

[Old and new ways of personal and victim identification by dental methods. Review of the literature]. / A fogászati személy- és áldozatazonosítás régi és új módszerei. Irodalmi áttekintés.

The aim of this paper was to create a comprehensive literature review on forensic dental methods. This literature review is based on historical and the latest results of the forensic odontology. Thus, this comparative study deals with various methods including certain dental identification methods which are easy to use and do not require advanced technological background. Nowadays, the main reasons for the use of forensic odontology methods are natural disasters, however, their sensitivity depends on the availability of proper dental documentation of the subject/victim. Custom made prostheses offer the most accurate dental identification, which can allow an identification rate of 99.9%. Combination of different methods can also exhibit a high sensitivity (40-99.9%). It seems important that separation of old and novel methods is not recommended. Also, it is important to maintain and upgrade present methods which are capable of identifying one or more subjects/victims in practice. The authors propose several methods which could serve as a base of the new national policy in forensic dental identification and could be used by teams dealing with the identification of disaster victims.

The ethics of corporate social responsibility.

Corporations as well as individual professionals have an ethical obligation to help those in need. There is a sound tradition in American business for companies including social outreach as part of business strategy. This approach works best when corporations and community and professional experts work in partnership. Henry Schein's Corporate Social Responsibility program contributes expertise, logistics, connections, and funds to these partnerships in the United States and worldwide.

The role of orthodontics in children identification: a case report of two victims of mass disaster.

INTRODUCTION: Human Identification based on dental evidence cannot be accomplished if antemortem dental records are unavailable or of poor quality. The involvement of the orthodontist in mass disaster victim identification processes may be crucial in relation to the amount and quality of the records which can be obtained before, during, and following the treatment. AIM: The aim of the study is the description of the contribution of the findings drawn from orthodontic records to the identification of victims of mass disasters who had received an orthodontic treatment, through the presentation of two cases. The first case involves the identification of a child victim of a plane crash and the second case involves the identification of two identical twin girls who died in a fire. In both cases, the identification was based on the findings obtained from the ante-mortem records provided by the orthodontist. CONCLUSIONS: The orthodontists apply customized orthodontic appliances and keep a comprehensive file of images, casts, radiographs, and other records in their practice. As a result, they can make a substantial contribution to the identification of young people or even adult victims of mass disasters in any case in which the authorities make a request.

Pollutant levels in the waters of the industrial area of North Aceh and Lhokseumawe Regency, Indonesia.

This research was conducted from June to August 2023. Data and samples were collected using an exploratory survey method in four locations around the industrial area, namely PT. ASEAN Aceh Fertilizer and PT. Kertas Kraft Aceh in North Aceh Regency, while PT. Pupuk Iskandar Muda and PT. Harun NGL in Lhokseumawe Regency, Indonesia. Observations of physico-chemical parameters including measurements of salinity, bicarbonate, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, nitrite, orthophosphate, total alkalinity, and total ammonia were analyzed in the Laboratory of PT Intraco Agroindustri, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Microplastic analysis was carried out at the Faculty of Marine and Fisheries, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The biological parameters measured in this research include the chlorophyll concentration in the water locations observed. Based on the results of the analysis, it shows that the calcium, magnesium, orthophosphate content at the four research locations has exceeded the quality standards, while the nitrate content is only at PT. ASEAN Aceh Fertilizer and PT. Kertas Kraft Aceh that exceeds the quality standards. The bicarbonate, nitrite, salinity, total alkalinity, and total ammonia content at the four research locations were under normal conditions. The chlorophyll content in the four research locations was categorized as low fertility (oligotrophic). Based on the analysis, it also shows that the four research locations were contaminated with microplastics with a range of 2.78-5.49 particles/l.

Species distribution models to predict the impacts of environmental disasters on shrimp species of economic interest.

Here, we used distribution models to predict the size of the environmentally suitable area for shrimps of fishing interest that were impacted by the tailing plume from the collapse of the Fundão Dam, one of the largest ecological disasters ever to occur in Brazil. Species distribution models (SDMs) were generated for nine species of penaeid shrimp that occurred in the impacted region. Average temperature showed the highest percentage of contribution for SDMs. The environmental suitability of penaeids varied significantly in relation to the distance to the coast and mouth river. The area of environmental suitability of shrimps impacted by tailings plumes ranged from 27 to 47 %. Notably, three protected areas displayed suitable conditions, before the disaster, for until eight species. The results obtained by the SDMs approach provide crucial information for conservation and restoration efforts of coastal biodiversity in an impacted region with limited prior knowledge about biodiversity distribution.

Mortality from a tornado outbreak, Alabama, April 27, 2011.

OBJECTIVES: We describe the demographics of the decedents from the tornado outbreak in Alabama on April 27, 2011; examine the circumstances of death surrounding these fatalities; and identify measures to prevent future tornado-related fatalities. METHODS: We collected information about the decedents from death certificates, disaster-related mortality surveillance, and interview data collected by American Red Cross volunteers from the decedent's families. We describe demographic characteristics, circumstances and causes of death, and sheltering behaviors before death. RESULTS: Of the 247 fatalities, females and older adults were at highest risk for tornado-related deaths. Most deaths were directly related to the tornadoes, on scene, and trauma-related. The majority of the deceased were indoors in single-family homes. Word of mouth was the most common warning mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: This tornado event was the third deadliest in recent US history. Our findings support the need for local community shelters, enhanced messaging to inform the public of shelter locations, and encouragement of word-of-mouth warnings and personal and family preparedness planning, with a special focus on assisting vulnerable individuals in taking shelter.