Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Understanding of socioeconomic context might enable more efficient evidence-based preventive strategies in oral health. AIM: The study assessed the caries-related socioeconomic macro-factors in 12-year-olds across European countries. DESIGN: This systematic review involved epidemiological surveys on the caries status of 12-year-olds from 2011 to 2022. DMFT was analyzed in relation to gross national income (GNI), United Nations Statistical Division geographical categorization of European countries (M49), unemployment rate, Human Development Index (HDI), and per capita expenditure on dental health care. A meta-analysis was performed for countries reporting data on DMFT, stratified by GNI, and geographical location of European countries, using a random-effects model. RESULTS: The study involved 493 360 children from 36 countries in the geographic region of Europe. The analysis confirmed a strong negative correlation between income and caries experience (p < .01). Children living in higher-income countries showed 90% lower odds of poor oral health than in middle-income countries. Children living in West Europe showed 90% lower odds of poor oral health than children living in East Europe. CONCLUSION: The strong effect of macro-level socioeconomic contexts on children's oral health suggests favoring upstream preventive oral health strategies in countries with economic growth difficulties, Eastern and Southern parts of Europe.

Efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite on caries prevention-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: The review systematically explored in vivo or in situ studies investigating the efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) to reduce initiation of or to remineralize initial caries lesions. DATA: Prospective controlled (non-)randomized clinical trials investigating the efficacy of a nHA compared to any other (placebo) treatment or untreated/standard control. SOURCES: Three electronic databases (Central Cochrane, PubMed-MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE) were screened. Outcomes were, e.g., ICDAS score, laser fluorescence, enamel remineralization rate, mineral loss, and lesion depth. No language or time restrictions were applied. Risk of bias and level of evidence were graded using the Risk of Bias 2.0 tool and GRADE profiler. STUDY SELECTION/RESULTS: Five in vivo (and 5 in situ) studies with at least 633 teeth (1031 specimens) being assessed in more than 420 (95) patients were included. No meta-analysis could be performed for in vivo studies due to the high heterogeneity of the study designs and the variety of outcomes. In situ studies indicate that under demineralization conditions, NaF was able to hinder demineralization, whereas nHA did not; simultaneously, nHA did not differ from the fluoride-free control. In contrast, under remineralizing conditions, nHA and NaF show the same remineralizing potential. However, the level of evidence was very low. Furthermore, six studies showed a high risk of bias, and six studies were funded/published by the manufacturers of the tested products. CONCLUSION: The low number of clinical studies, the relatively short follow-up periods, the high risks of bias, and the limiting grade of evidence do not allow for conclusive evidence on the efficacy of nHA. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: No conclusive evidence on the efficacy of nHA could be obtained based on the low number of clinical studies, the relatively short follow-up periods, the high risks of bias, the limiting grade of evidence, and study conditions that do not reflect the everyday conditions.

A hypnotic turbo-induction technique for wisdom tooth extraction.

The hypnotic turbo-induction technique has been used for more than three decades for various indications in dentistry and medicine. The use of the technique is described step by step using therapeutic communication and hypnotic suggestions in a dento-surgical treatment of a 48-year-old adult man. In a 15-minute appointment, two maxillary third molars (wisdom teeth) have been extracted without interruptions/complications by a dental team in a private practice trained in dental/medical hypnosis. The hypnotic turbo-induction technique proved to be a successful application method for anxiety reduction/relaxation, pain relief as well as postoperative wound healing after the extraction of wisdom teeth, which had to be extracted due to a medical indication. Anxiety- and pain reducing effects were noted by the patient during and after the treatment; rapid wound healing was noted by the dental team at the follow-up appointment one week later in this case. The cooperation of the two dental professionals trained in hypnosis proved to be beneficial, especially when the dentist must concentrate on the dento-surgical treatment, the dental assistant can concentrate on both the patient and the hypnosis and to maintain the hypnotic state by additional suggestions. Clinical research is needed to further investigate the effects of the proposed hypnotic turbo-induction technique.

Personality Styles of Hypnosis-Practicing Dentists: A Brief Report.

This cross-sectional study used the Personality Style and Disorder Inventory (PSDI) via the internet to examine personality styles of random hypnosis society sample groups (German Society of Dental Hypnosis [DGZH, n = 418] and Milton Erickson Society of Clinical Hypnosis Germany Listserv [MEG, n = 490]) and compared these data of hypnosis practitioners (HYP samples) with 2 control samples of persons not interested in hypnosis (NONHYP samples): 1,027 psychotherapists from DACH countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) and 3,392 people of the normal population of Germany. Results show that HYP-DGZH dentists were much more intuitive/schizotypal (p < .001), unselfish/self-sacrificing (p < .001), charming/histrionic (p < .001) and optimistic/rhapsodic (p < .001) than the HYP-MEG sample. All HYP-DGZH dentists also showed significantly elevated levels in these four personality styles compared with the levels of the NONHYP-DACH psychotherapists (p < .001), and elevated levels in intuitive/schizotypal, unselfish/self-sacrificing, and optimistic/rhapsodic compared with the NONHYP normal population. The intuitive/schizotypal values of the HYP-DGZH dentists were predominant. Within the limitations of the study, the presence of a specific personality profile in random samples of dentists who use hypnosis and are members of a professional hypnosis society suggests that a "homo hypnoticus" might also exist among dentists. However, this needs to be investigated in more detail.

Replication Studies on Significant Differences in Personality Profiles of Securely and Insecurely Attached Psychotherapists and Dentists.

This study contributes to the therapist variable in general and the personality profile of securely and insecurely attached psychotherapists and other healthcare professionals in particular. In a preceding study, it has been found that insecurely attached psychotherapists differ in nine personality styles from securely attached ones. The aim of the present study was to replicate these findings and to investigate whether they also apply to other health professions such as dentists. About 891 subjects from two German professional societies for hypnosis were surveyed online with a personality questionnaire [Personality Styles and Disorder Inventory (PSDI)] and an attachment questionnaire [Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ)]. Since these subjects were interested in hypnosis and used it in their practice (HYP), 150 dentists without a hypnosis context (NONHYP) were studied as a control group with the same survey. The results of the preceding attachment study could be replicated: Insecurely attached healthcare professionals differed significantly from securely attached ones in the same nine (plus one, i.e., 10) personality styles if they use psychological methods including hypnosis. If they do not use psychological methods (like the NONHYP dentists), they differ in half of the personality styles. No within-sample and no between-sample differences have been found in the assertive/antisocial (AS) personality style. No within-sample differences have also been found in the conscientious/compulsive (ZW) and the intuitive/schizotypal (ST) personality styles. However, large between-sample differences were obvious in ZW and the ST. Both of the samples of the dentist were much more compulsive than the two psychotherapeutic samples. In addition, both of the HYP samples were much more schizotypal than the NONHYP samples. The latter is the general signature of those individuals who are interested in hypnosis and were metaphorically termed homo hypnoticus. It seems that AS, ZW, and ST are independent of attachment.

Study Protocol for an Online Questionnaire Survey on Symptoms/Signs, Protective Measures, Level of Awareness and Perception Regarding COVID-19 Outbreak among Dentists. A Global Survey.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have developed preparedness and prevention checklists for healthcare professionals regarding the containment of COVID-19. The aim of the present protocol is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak among dentists in different countries where various prevalence of the epidemic has been reported. Several research groups around the world were contacted by the central management team. The online anonymous survey will be conducted on a convenience sample of dentists working both in national health systems and in private or public clinics. In each country/area, a high (~5-20%) proportion of dentists working there will be invited to participate. The questionnaire, developed and standardized previously in Italy, has four domains: (1) personal data; (2) symptoms/signs relative to COVID-19; (3) working conditions and PPE (personal protective equipment) adopted after the infection's outbreak; (4) knowledge and self-perceived risk of infection. The methodology of this international survey will include translation, pilot testing, and semantic adjustment of the questionnaire. The data will be entered on an Excel spreadsheet and quality checked. Completely anonymous data analyses will be performed by the central management team. This survey will give an insight into the dental profession during COVID-19 pandemic globally.

Micro-CT assessment of internal morphology and root canal configuration of non C-shaped mandibular second molars

The root canal system morphology of the mandibular second molar was investigated by means of micro-computed tomography (µCT). The root canal configuration (RCC), foramina and accessory canals frequency of 93 mandibular second molars of an Egyptian sample were investigated by µCT scans. The RCC and main foramina number (MFN) are described by means of a four-digit system from coronal to apical. The most frequently observed RCCs in the mesial root were 2-2-1/1 (32.3%), 2-2-2/2 (28.0%), 1-1-1/1 (6.5%) and 2-1-1/1 (6.5%); an additional twelve different RCCs were also found here. In the distal root, the RCC 1-1-1/1 was observed in 81.7%; another ten different RCCs with a frequency of less than 5% were also observed in this root. Anastomoses be-tween the mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals in the mesial root were witnessed in the coronal (20.5%), middle (19.4%) and apical (10.8%) thirds. Accessory canals were found in the coronal (mesiobuccal 15.0%, mesiolingual 12.9%, distobuccal 1.1%), middle (mesiobuccal 7.5%, mesiolingual 10.8%, distolingual 3.3%) and apical (mesiobuccal 19.3%, mesiolingual 16.2%, distolingual 10.8%, distobuccal 2.2%) thirds. The RCC of mandibular second molars showed a great variety. When compared with the first mandibular molar in a historical control from the same sample, the mandibular second molar presented less morphological diversifications. Yet, the mesial root canalsystem of the mandibular second molar showed more RCC variations, connecting and accessory canals than the distal root.

Hearing assessment in dental practitioners and other academic professionals from an urban setting.

INTRODUCTION: Extended exposure to high-speed handpieces and other noise-intensive devices might put dentists at risk for possible hearing impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the hearing ability of dentists and other scientists for comparison. METHODS: After approval by the ethics committee, 115 subjects (dentists and other academic professionals as controls) of both genders were enrolled in the study. Exclusion criteria were colds, ear-blockages or abnormal hearing-thresholds. An audiometric determination (Oscilla USB audiometer, AudioConsole 3, Inmedico A/S, Denmark) was performed in the frequency range of 125 Hz to 8 kHz for both ears. Anamnestic data and number of years in the profession were assessed using a questionnaire. Differences between groups were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney-U-test. RESULTS: Data from 53 dentists and 55 other academic professionals (69.4% male, 30.6% female) with a mean age of 51.7 ± 9.6 years and similar gender distributions in both groups were analyzed. The audiometric tests for the right and left air conduction showed that the hearing of dentists tended to be slightly more impaired than in the control subjects. For the frequencies 3 kHz and 4 kHz these differences were statistically significant for both ears. In contrast, no significant differences were found in this range for bone conduction. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing impairment in dentists was slightly higher than in controls. Although other factors like environmental noise exposure were comparable for both groups, occupational exposure to high-speed handpieces and other noisy devices can be an additional burden for the hearing.