Prevalence of abnormalities seen on orthopantomograms performed for forensic age estimation in unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the prevalence of radiological anomalies on orthopantomograms (OPT) performed as part of forensic age estimation in unaccompanied minors. METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted on 208 OPT examinations requested by a magistrate. These OPTs were interpreted independently by two readers to establish the number of missing teeth (MT), presence of dental fillings (DF), and dental anomalies (DA). The presence of radiolucent (RL), radiopaque, and mixed lesions was also assessed. RESULTS: Most radiologic anomalies were RL, detected on 41% and 39% of the subjects evaluated for R1 and R2, respectively, with a mean of 1.3 ± 2.4 (1-16) and 1.1 ± 2 (1-13) RL lesions per subject. Among the RL identified, the majority were dental (70% for R1 and 65% for R2), all of which had a suspected infectious origin. Among readers, 43% and 41% of the subjects evaluated presented MT, 21% and 15% presented DF, and 22% and 20% presented DA for R1 and R2, respectively. The inter- and intra-observer reproducibility for OPT classification was considered excellent (Kappa = 0.84, 95% CI 0.78-0.90, and Kappa = 0, 95, 95% CI 0.86-0.99). DISCUSSION: There was a non-negligible prevalence of radiological anomalies in OPT studies performed for forensic age estimation. Most of these lesions were suspected to be infectious in origin, potentially requiring medical care. This constitutes an ethical dilemma inherent in the judicial expertise injunction requiring a limited specific response. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This study highlights a non-negligible prevalence of supposedly infectious radiological abnormalities. The restricted possibility for the legal expert to declare these abnormalities raises ethical and medical questions. KEY POINTS: • Orthopantomograms can be performed as part of forensic age estimation. • Results indicate the majority of radiological anomalies detected on OPTs were of suspected infectious origin. • These findings give rise to ethical and medical questions about the way in which these forensic examinations are carried out.

Assessment of the knowledge, attitude and practices of the informed consent process in oral healthcare among dental students in Makerere University Dental Hospital, Uganda.

INTRODUCTION: Informed consent is an ethical and legal component of healthcare. It ensures patient autonomy and allows patients to make decisions regarding their treatment. In dental care, informed consent is particularly important because most dental procedures are invasive. Since dental students are future dentists, they need to learn about their ethical obligations and accountability through the informed consent process as this is critical to patients' well-being. This study aimed to determine dental students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the informed consent process for oral health care in Makerere University Dental Hospital, Uganda. STUDY METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using quantitative methods. It was carried out at Makerere University Dental Hospital and third, fourth, and fifth-year students (n = 102) pursuing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery program took part in the survey. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices of informed consent for oral health care. Collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1, where it was cleaned, coded, and imported to STATA version 14 software for statistical analysis. RESULTS: About two-thirds 67 (65.7%) of the participants were males. The mean age was 25 (SD = 3.21) years. The majority (90%) of the students had a high level of knowledge of the informed consent process. About (80%) had a positive attitude towards informed consent and (85%) most often practiced the informed consent process. Based on bi-variate analysis, training on informed consent, year of study, age, and sex were significantly associated with the informed consent process. However, there was no significant risk factor associated with informed consent in multiple logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The study findings highlighted high levels of knowledge, positive attitude, and practice of the informed consent process among the clinical dental students. Continuous training is necessary to remind dental students about the importance of informed consent in healthcare, not only for complex procedures.

Dentists' perspectives, practices, and factors associated with informed consent process for fixed prosthodontic treatment: a cross-sectional study of kampala metropolitan area, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Dentists have a legal and ethical obligation to obtain informed consent from patients before carrying out treatment. In Uganda, the process of obtaining informed consent in dentistry is not well documented. The aim of the present study was to determine dentists' perspectives and practices regarding informed consent to fixed prosthodontic treatment (FPT) in Kampala Metropolitan, Uganda. METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 153 dentists from July to September 2023. Data were collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire that included both closed- and open-ended questions. The questionnaire included items on participants' sociodemographic information, perspectives, and practices about informed consent for FPT. Perspectives were rated using ten items on a five-point Likert scale. The minimum possible total score was 10, and the maximum possible score was 50. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression were used to summarize and analyze the quantitative data, and the significance level was set at p < 0.05. Open-ended items were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The majority (83.9%) of the participants were general dentists with working experience ranging from 1 to 38 years and a median of 8 years. The majority were familiar with the concept of informed consent and had positive perspectives regarding its use for FPT. The mean score for perspectives was 39.27 (SD, 5.42). However, there were variations in the practices of the dentists. More than three-quarters (87.6%) reported that they always obtained the patient's informed consent before FPT. Less than a third (29.4%) obtained written consent for FPT. About half of the dentists provided information regarding the procedure, benefits, and risks of treatment during the consent process. Bivariate analysis showed that the use of written consent for FPT was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with having a work experience of more than 10 years and having had training involving informed consent after undergraduate studies. CONCLUSION: The present study provides baseline data regarding perspectives and practices regarding informed consent for FPT among dentists in Uganda. It is recommended that regular training courses be developed to highlight the importance of improved informed consent practices for patient protection and to instruct dentists about obtaining valid informed consent. There is a need for future research to streamline guidelines for the informed consent process in dental care in Uganda.

Child abuse and neglect: A comparative study between dental and medical students' competencies in Germany.

INTRODUCTION: Despite children's right to a non-violent upbringing, they become daily victims of violence. Physical violence concerns mostly the head-especially the orofacial area. Therefore, dentists and paediatricians should be able to suspect possible abuse and to initiate child protection. This study aimed to record and compare the training situation and competencies of dental and medical students at Jena University Hospital regarding child abuse and neglect (CAN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a three-part questionnaire about CAN, 123 medical and 77 dental students were surveyed anonymously after completing all courses on the topic. The question sets included as follows: (1) educational experiences, training content and satisfaction; (2) current knowledge regarding diagnostic, management and legal concerns; (3) self-evaluation, needs of further education and wishes. Reliability of the questionnaire was tested with kappa-statistics and assessed as good. RESULTS: Dental and medical students' overall satisfaction with CAN-related training is low. Although medical students had more knowledge on CAN, all participants showed large deficits. Better diagnostic than management skills were reported in both groups. Only 1.3% dental and 16.3% medical students felt adequately prepared to deal with CAN. 7% of all study participants stated that they can report CAN without any help. 87.0% of medical and 79.2% of dental students expressed a desire for further education. To improve their knowledge, both courses prefer seminars, followed by expert talks, lectures and simulation-based training (SkillsLab). CONCLUSION: Dental and medical students are inadequately prepared to suspect possible abuse and to deal with possible signs of CAN. Mandatory interdisciplinary courses and lectures addressing CAN are recommendable for both medical and dental curricula.

Validity of postmortem computed tomography for use in forensic odontology identification casework.

Forensic Odontology (FO) identification compares antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) dental datasets and is widely accepted as a primary identifier. Traditionally, a PM dental examination is undertaken in the same manner as a dental examination conducted for a living patient. Recently, the increased forensic application of computed tomography (CT) offers an alternative source of PM data. While charting from PMCT is widely accepted as less accurate, the impact on reconciliation is unknown. This study aims to determine if reconciliation outcome differs when PM dental data is collected from PMCT, compared with conventional PM examination. PMCT data was reviewed for 21 cases previously completed using conventional PM dental examination. Operators blinded to original identification outcomes charted from CT images before comparing to AM data to form an opinion regarding identity. Opinions formed were compared with original identification outcomes. Differences in PM dental charting between the two methods and the evidentiary value of AM and PM datasets were assessed to determine driving factors of differences in identification outcome. Compared to conventional PM dental examination, PMCT examination resulted in similar or less certain identification outcomes. Discrepancies in outcome were driven by the quality of AM and PM datasets rather than inaccuracies in charting from PMCT. Based on the results of this study, both conventional and PMCT methods of PM dental examination can reach similar identification outcomes. However, operators remained more certain in establishing identity when conducting conventional PM dental examinations especially when AM data was lacking.

Effect of Geographic Variation in Bioarcheology: A Forensic Odontology Perspective.

How to cite this article: Yukta HN, Augustine D, SV Sowmya. Effect of Geographic Variation in Bioarcheology: A Forensic Odontology Perspective. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(1):1-2.

Legal conflicts in forensic dentistry: practice and methods of resolving them.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To investigate and analyze legal conflicts in forensic dentistry of Ukraine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: A comparative research method for determining the common and distinctive features of the legal regulation of forensic dental expertise as a subcluster in the legislation of Ukraine. The descriptive (monographic) method reveals the problematic aspects of forensic dental examination through the lens of local normative and general normative connotations. The structural-functional research method made it possible to systematize the peculiarities of forensic medical and forensic dental expert activity. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The analysis of legal conflicts made it possible to come to the following conclusions, that in Ukraine today there is no specific legal act that would regulate the aspects of performing dental activities. Forensic dental examination in Ukraine, in accordance with the legislation, is an examination of the actions and inactions of the dentist. The adoption of normative legal acts in the field of dental activity and forensic dental examination in Ukraine would make it possible to determine the specifics of establishing facts and circumstances that indicate a violation of the patient's rights.

Determining Whether an Individual is 18 Years or Older Based on the Third Molar Root Pulp Visibility in East China.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the age-related changes of the mandibular third molar root pulp visibility in individuals in East China, and to explore the feasibility of applying this method to determine whether an individual is 18 years or older. METHODS: A total of 1 280 oral panoramic images were collected from the 15-30 years old East China population, and the mandibular third molar root pulp visibility in all oral panoramic images was evaluated using OLZE 0-3 four-stage method, and the age distribution of the samples at each stage was analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Stages 0, 1, 2 and 3 first appeared in 16.88, 19.18, 21.91 and 25.44 years for males and in 17.47, 20.91, 22.01 and 26.01 years for females. In all samples, individuals at stages 1 to 3 were over 18 years old. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to determine whether an individual in East China is 18 years or older based on the mandibular third molar root pulp visibility on oral panoramic images.

Research Progress on Dental Age Estimation Based on MRI Technology.

Dental age estimation is a crucial aspect and one of the ways to accomplish forensic age estimation, and imaging technology is an important technique for dental age estimation. In recent years, some studies have preliminarily confirmed the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating dental development, providing a new perspective and possibility for the evaluation of dental development, suggesting that MRI is expected to be a safer and more accurate tool for dental age estimation. However, further research is essential to verify its accuracy and feasibility. This article reviews the current state, challenges and limitations of MRI in dental development and age estimation, offering reference for the research of dental age assessment based on MRI technology.

[Changes in court practice in cases of poor quality of dental care]. / Izmeneniya sudebnoi praktiki po delam, kasayushchimsya nekachestvennogo okazaniya stomatologicheskoi pomoshchi.

The study objective is to analyze changes in court practice over a 10-year period (from 2013 to 2022) including the quantitative and qualitative composition of complaints for conducted dental treatment, considering legislative changes in the procedure for the provision of dental service and formalization of the relationship between patient and medical organization. An investigation of 1800 legal cases containing complaints, forensic reports and court decisions allowed to identify tendencies in increasing the number of cases in which patients' demands were fully or partially satisfied, from 54% in 2013-2017 up to 61% in 2018-2022. At the same time, the amounts of payments determined by the courts increased by 14 times. In addition, the percentage of claims against medical organizations providing care under the CHI program increased significantly (from 5% in 2013-2017 to 15% in 2018-2022). A significant impact of changes in normative legal documents regulating the provision of dental care on the qualitative composition of complaints and the issues formed for medical experts by court has been noted.

The "hypopigmented" bitemark: a clinical and histologic appraisal.

So-called "hypopigmented" bitemark patterns, commonly seen but not limited to dark skinned individuals, can be of value in forensic investigations. The process of aging bitemarks observed on skin is controversial and without guidelines. This report analyzes tissue obtained from the site of a hypopigmented bitemark using special histochemical stains for the identification of melanin pigment, and a panel of immunohistochemical markers to aid in the aging process. Histologic evaluation clearly showed that cellular changes in the hypopigmented area were indicative of wound healing that had taken place over a period of time. This validates the hypothesis that a hypopigmented bitemark is an indication of a wound inflicted some days previously. These findings have value in forensic investigations, particularly in cases of suspected long-term physical abuse.

Preliminary study on genetic factors related to Demirjian's tooth age estimation method based on genome-wide association analysis.

The age determination of individuals, especially minors, is critical in forensic research. In forensic practice, dental age estimation is one of the most commonly used methods for determining age as teeth are easy to preserve and relatively resistant to environmental factors. Tooth development is affected and regulated by genetic factors; however, these are not incorporated into current commonly used tooth age inference methods, leading to unreliable results. Here, we established a Demirjian and a Cameriere tooth age estimation-based methods suitable for use in children in southern China. By using the difference between the inferred age and the actual age (MD) as the phenotype, we identified 65 and 49 SNPs related to tooth age estimation from 743,722 loci among 171 children in southern China through a genome-wide association analysis (p<0.0001). We also conducted a genome-wide association study on dental development stage (DD) using the Demirjian tooth age estimation method and screened two sets of SNP sites (52 and 26) based on whether age difference was considered. The gene function enrichment analysis of these SNPs found that they were related to bone development and mineralization. Although SNP sites screened based on MD seem to improve the accuracy of tooth age estimation, there is little correlation between these SNPs and an individual's Demirjian morphological stage. In conclusion, we found that individual genotypes can affect tooth age estimation, and based on different phenotypic analysis models, we have identified some novel SNP sites related to tooth age inference and Demirjian's tooth development stage. These studies provide a reference for subsequent phenotypic selection based on tooth age inference analysis, and the results could possibly be used in the future to make forensic age estimation more accurate.

Dental age assessment: scoring systems and models from the past until the present-how is it presented in the court?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the methods from the past and present, such as Demirjian, Cameriere, and AlQahtani, as well as to determine the most reliable method for human age estimation under the request from the courts according to the effect size from each method in age estimation. DESIGN: Four hundred eighty-three orthopantomographic images were selected from 318 patients from Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte aged between 6 and 15 years old. Several measurements of widths and lengths and classification of tooth development stages were performed, according to each age estimation method. The listing of patients and orthopantomographic images were consulted through SECTRA®. All data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 28. Observations' validity was verified through inter- and intraobserver validation. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients between age and age estimates by the three methods on both sides were close to 90%. Regarding the estimation error correlation coefficient, Demirjian and AlQahtani values were low, whereas Cameriere's was significantly negative; i.e., underestimation increases as age increases. Between left and right, any significant difference in age estimation in AlQahtani and Cameriere methods was not observed, but there were great variability and large effect for the Demirjian method. Comparing females and males, the statistical analysis showed no significant differences and quite small effects in the precision of the estimates for any of the methods. Finally, although significant differences were detected when comparing estimated values and age, small effects were revealed except for the Demirjian method which attained a medium effect and, therefore, less consistency of estimation. CONCLUSIONS: Since it was not possible to determine the most reliable method for age estimation, a combined application of different age estimation methodologies is recommended to be use in the courts with relevant statistical data such as effect size.

3D segmentation of dental crown for volumetric age estimation with CBCT imaging.

In adult dental age estimation, segmentation of dental volumetric information from different tooth parts using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has proven beneficial in improving the regression model reliability. This segmentation method can be expanded in the crown part since the volumetric information in the crown is affected by attrition in the enamel and secondary dentine in the dentine and pulp chamber. CBCT scans from 99 patients aged between 20 and 60 were collected retrospectively. A total of 80 eligible teeth for each tooth type were used in this study. The enamel to dentine volume ratio (EDVR), pulp to dentine volume ratio (PDVR) and sex were used as independent variables to predict chronological age (CA). The EDVR was not affected by PDVR. The highest R2 was calculated from the maxillary canine (R2 = 0.6). The current approach in crown segmentation has proven to improve model performance in anterior maxillary teeth.

Maintenance of dental records and awareness of forensic odontology among pakistani dentists: a mixed-method study with implications for dental data repository.

OBJECTIVE: Dental records and forensic odontology play an important role in both healthcare and the legal system, aiding in personalized patient care, human identification, and legal proceedings. This study aims to investigate dental record-keeping practices and assess the awareness of forensic odontology among Pakistani dentists over 12 months. This study aims to collect data from 500 dentists, identify areas for enhancement, and develop a strategic action plan to improve record-keeping quality and forensic odontology application, culminating in a comprehensive dental data repository to support legal and criminal investigations in Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: This study employed a mixed-method approach conducted at Hamdard Dental College from January to March 2023. The quantitative phase involved distributing questionnaires to 463 dentists, chosen through stratified random sampling. Out of these, 413 responded, yielding an 86% response rate. These questionnaires focused on dental record-keeping practices and dentists' awareness of forensic odontology. Subsequently, based on the questionnaire results, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 purposively selected dentists to gain deeper insight into the challenges and potential solutions. Data from both phases were integrated and analyzed accordingly. RESULTS: The study included 413 participants, mainly females (79%), with ages ranging from 27 to 65 years and an average age of 46.4 years. Most dentists had 5-20 years of work experience (53%), and most (87.4%) were practicing in private clinical settings. All the dentists generated medical and dental records, but the duration of their record-keeping varied, with some maintaining them for up to a year and others for two years or longer. Five themes were generated from the qualitative content analysis. These themes were dentists' perceptions, barriers and challenges, knowledge and awareness, and improvement strategies. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that local practitioners in Pakistan exhibit subpar practices in dental record-keeping and maintenance of patient history, irrespective of whether they use a digital or traditional file-based system. Even though dentists are cognizant of the importance of record-keeping, they do not actively maintain comprehensive records. This suggests the need for improved training and system improvements to address the gaps in record-keeping practices.

Undergraduate dental students and their potential role in disaster victim identification procedures: A scoping review under a Chilean perspective.

BACKGROUND: A mass fatality incident is an unexpected event that can cause the death of many people, which has motivated careful analysis and development of appropriate strategies for planning and response with all available resources. As these events involve multiple victims, their identities must be confirmed using the highest possible quality standards. Forensic Odontology (FO) has proven to be a scientific resource for disaster victim identification (DVI) procedures; however, it is highly dependent on the proper management not only of material resources but also of human resources. Chile is a country recognised as prone to natural disasters, but an insufficient number of forensic odontologists has been reported. The aim of the study was to review the literature on a dental undergraduate (UG) student's potential value in a DVI process. METHODOLOGY: A scoping review was performed using a specific search strategy in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, SciELO and EBSCO databases. RESULTS: The search identified 27 articles in which the basic dental degree, the necessary training and the need for human resources are variables considered in different priorities by those articles. DISCUSSION: It is vital to assess the local needs of Chile based on its UGs, considering that FO is an underestimated resource that should be included early on in dental curriculums. Furthermore, it should align with public policies to ensure viability and inclusion in standardised protocols. CONCLUSION: Although there is "potential" usage of UG dental students in DVI is not ideal, circumstances will dictate their use. The better trained they are as students, the more valuable their "potential" contribution will be.

Dental students' knowledge and reporting of child maltreatment: Where are we at today both here and abroad?

INTRODUCTION: The study investigates whether suspected child abuse/neglect (SCAN) training in dental school has increased dental student SCAN knowledge and, consequently, reporting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 25-question survey used to assess for SCAN knowledge in 2006 was readministered to a group of dental students at one US dental school in St. Louis, MO, which has integrated SCAN training into its curriculum for at least 3 years, and one dental school in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, which has not integrated SCAN training as a control. RESULTS: Of 16 questions assessing for SCAN knowledge, group US students answered 14 questions correctly and performed better than US students surveyed in 2006. By comparison, group Bulgaria students with no SCAN training answered 15 questions correctly. When asked what their legal responsibilities were concerning SCAN, 96.4% of group US students knew they were required to report, whilst only half of group Bulgaria (48.9%) responded correctly. The results suggest that integrating SCAN training into the curriculum is effective in conveying this important message. However, in a question asking students whether they encountered a child at dental school who they suspected was the victim of child maltreatment and if so, how did they act, there were no indications that students at either school made any reports as the question was either answered "no" or left blank. The number of SCAN cases reported by campus authorities was also zero. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that classroom training in SCAN is not motivating students to report SCAN at their dental school, despite increased knowledge.

Interpersonal violence education: An analysis of the Spanish oral health school's curricula and future requirements.

INTRODUCTION: Interpersonal violence results in injuries that frequently affect oral, head and neck structures, the treatment of which must be carried out by Oral health practitioners with sufficient training to detect the problem and manage the victim's lesions and need for referral. The objective of this study is to know the academic preparation that Spanish dentistry students receive in learning outcomes related to interpersonal violence during undergraduate academic training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was conducted through an online form with 9 questions (Survey Monkey platform). The link was sent by email to the deans of the 23 Spanish universities (public and private) offering dentistry degrees. The analysis of the results was carried out using Fisher's test and a chi-squared test. RESULTS: 95.63% of the deans (n = 22) responded. 85.7% of the universities report to carry on training in violence, according with Spanish legislation. Currently 33.3% dedicate less than 5 h to this training, whereas in the future study plans only 19% would dedicate less than 5 h to these learning outcomes. 85.7% of the respondents agree in consider this training as mandatory. The subjects in which learning outcomes on interpersonal violence were reported to be included were: legal and forensic dentistry (78%), psychology (55%), medical ethics (33.3%), paediatric dentistry (39%), surgery (5.5%) and 22% respondents cited other specialties. In future curricula, the competence areas in which such training is proposed to be imparted are: legal and forensic dentistry (80.9%), psychology and medical ethics (57.1%), paediatric dentistry (38.1%), surgery (14.2%) and in 23.8% also in other specialties. Significant differences were found between public and private universities only in the number of hours that would be dedicated to interpersonal violence learning outcomes in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonal violence encompasses situations of abuse and neglect inflicted to different patients (women, children, elderly) that are perceived both by Oral Health students and practitioners to require a comprehensive training. Most of the respondent deans consider that in the future curricula both the hours and areas that teach interpersonal violence learning outcomes must be increased. To respond to victim's need for help and care, the future requirements for the Oral health workforce education must encompass interprofessional undergraduate as well as postgraduate training in interpersonal violence.

[Forensic dentistry for identity verification. A survey at the state police level]. / Verwendung von forensischer Zahnmedizin zur Identitätsfeststellung. Eine Befragung auf Ebene der Länderpolizei.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, the identification of unknown dead persons is the responsibility of the police. According to INTERPOL standards, primary (e.g., DNA, fingerprints, and teeth) and secondary (e.g., tattoos) characteristics are examined. Forensic dentistry is already used internationally as an efficient method. In this study, the approach of state police in Germany was analyzed. The methods used for identification, the role of forensic dentistry, the cooperation with dentists, and possible optimization approaches are investigated. METHODS: By means of a digital questionnaire, police officers competent in all federal states for the discovery of unknown dead bodies were asked about identification methods and specifically about the use of forensic dentistry. RESULTS: Eighty-five officers from at least 11 federal states participated in the survey. The procedure turned out to be department specific. In 72.6% of the cases, different characteristics are combined in the identification process, most frequently DNA with dental status (37.1%). DNA analysis is used most frequently. Of the respondents, 62.9% agreed that dental identification is used "often." The percentage of identifications using dental status is estimated to be 1.6-8.1%. For forensic dentistry, 19.4% have a fixed point of contact. A digital platform to contact dentists was estimated to be helpful by 56.5%. DISCUSSION: Forensic dentistry is currently still lagging behind DNA analysis, which could change through increasing digitalization if, for example, ante-mortem data are more reliably available and platforms for interdisciplinary exchange are created.

[ZApprO versus ZÄPrO: results of a first comparative study]. / ZApprO versus ZÄPrO: Ergebnisse einer ersten Vergleichsstudie.

BACKGROUND: More than 60 years after the enactment of the first Licensing Regulations for Dentists (ZÄPrO), a new Licensing Regulations for Dentists, the ZApprO, was implemented in 2020. The aims of this study were to evaluate and compare the "Course in Technical Propaedeutics" (TPK) with the course "Dental Propaedeutics with a Focus on Dental Technology" (ZPDT), which are based on different legal foundations. METHODS: The following parameters were compared after completion of the courses: (1) theoretical and practical knowledge, (2) regular department-internal learner evaluation, and (3) special evaluation of learning conditions by the learners and (4) by the instructors. The theoretical and practical exams and the questionnaires were analyzed in terms of their test-statistical characteristics (difficulty, discrimination index, internal consistency). Group comparisons between TPK and ZPDT were conducted using t­tests for independent groups. RESULTS: Significant differences were only detected in the students' evaluation of their learning conditions, with theoretical and practical knowledge transfer being rated lower in the TPK than in the ZPDT. DISCUSSION: The comparable results of the knowledge assessments and the regular learner evaluation, triangulated with the comprehensive learner and instructor evaluation, allowed a broad assessment of both courses. The significant differences identified provide opportunities for optimization of the newly implemented ZPDT course.