Increased Working From Home in Vocational Counseling Psychologists During COVID-19: Associated Change in Productivity and Job Satisfaction.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vocational counselors in Switzerland more frequently worked from home (WFH) and less frequently worked on-site. The aim of this study was to assess how WFH corresponds with indicators of job performance and occupational wellbeing. More specifically, the current questionnaire study analyzed the increase in WFH, self-reported productivity, distractibility in WFH, current job satisfaction, work-life balance in WFH, and feeling of loneliness. Findings showed that the increase in WFH in vocational counseling psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in productivity and job satisfaction and with lower distractibility in WFH compared to work on-site. However, more frequent WFH was not significantly associated with improved work-life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vocational counselors who shared the office on-site with many colleagues experienced higher feeling of loneliness during WFH. Vocational counselors regarded the condition of WFH as productive and satisfying while work-life balance did not improve. The discussion sheds light on the potential WFH-related increase of boundary management demands.

The Efficiency and Acceptance of a Suction Tongue-Cleaning Device in Adults

Halitosis is often caused by a change in the oral biofilm, primarily located on the surface of the tongue. A suction tongue cleaner enables professional cleaning of the tongue. The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptance and efficiency of a suction tongue-cleaning device in adults in comparison to a conventional manual tongue cleaner in an office (professional) setting. Both were tested simultaneously on 100 individuals with a split-mouth (i. e. half-tongue) design, between the ages of 19 to 31, at the University Center for Dental Medicine Basel UZB. To evaluate the efficiency of the cleaning, photos were taken before and after the cleaning and later assessed by using a modified coating tongue index by Winkel (WTCI). Both cleaning devices significantly reduced the coating on the tongue (p < 0.001). In 58 cases, the side cleaned with the suction tongue cleaner resulted to be cleaner in comparison to the side which was cleaned manually. There were no significant differences in acceptance on a visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-10 cm) between the devices (p = 0.259). However, 53 subjects favored the manual method in comparison to 36 who favored the suction device. The remaining 11 did not convey any preference for either. Both devices triggered an equally frequent gag stimulus. With 95%, the majority of the patients who had this treatment would undergo it a second time. In conclusion, both cleaning devices resulted in a significant reduction of tongue coating, and the usage in general can be highly recommended. While it does not matter which one is used, the suction tongue-cleaning device offers a good alternative to manual tongue-cleaning devices in dental clinics and can be considered a viable adjunct for in-office use.

Combining culture and culture-independent methods reveals new microbial composition of halitosis patients' tongue biofilm.

BACKGROUND: Oral malodor is a very discomforting condition deriving from the presence of volatile sulfur compounds in the expired air. In halitosis of intraoral etiology, the volatile sulfur compounds are metabolic products of the oral microorganisms within the biofilm coating the tongue dorsum as well as other tissues in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the microbial composition of tongue biofilm in volunteers suffering from halitosis and healthy volunteers by means of both the culture method and culture-independent cloning technique. RESULTS: A high bacterial variety (more than 80 different species) was detected using the combination of both methods. A distinct bacterial composition was revealed in the halitosis-associated biofilms compared with the health-associated biofilms. Actinomyces graevenitzii was shown to be significantly associated with the halitosis condition. The culture method identified 47 species, included Veillonella rogosae, never isolated from the tongue biofilm of halitosis patients so far. In the healthy condition, the culture-dependent method showed that the most frequent species were Streptococcus parasanguinis among the aerobes and Veillonella spp. among the anaerobes. The culture-independent cloning method detected more than 50 species. Streptococci, in particular S. mitis/oralis, S. pseudopneumoniae, and S. infantis as well as Prevotella spp., were found most frequently in halitosis patients. Streptococcus salivarius and Rothia mucilaginosa were found more frequently in the healthy condition. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the culture-dependent and culture-independent cloning techniques allowed for a widespread analysis of the tongue biofilm in halitosis patients. The results can support further pharmacological research for new antimicrobial agents and halitosis therapy strategies.

Acceptance of a tongue vacuum cleaner among children and evaluation of tongue cleaning at home

The anaerobic microenvironment of the grooved tongue surface provides optimal conditions for the survival of microorganisms. These microbes may promote caries, periodontitis marginalis, periimplantitis as well as halitosis. A new device, the TS1 tongue vacuum cleaner, is designed to remove bacterial biofilm from the tongue's surface. The aim of the present study was to both examine the acceptance of this tongue vacuum cleaner by children at the School Dental Clinic Basel as compared to a child's manual tooth brush, and tongue cleaning at home for a 1-month period. This study did not investigate the cleaning effect. One hundred and sixty-two children aged 5 to 18 years participated in this study. The acceptance of the tongue vacuum cleaner was significantly higher with 8.9 cm on the visual analogue scale (VAS) (0­10 cm) in comparison to a child's manual tooth brush with 7.8 cm (p < 0.001). After professional tongue cleaning, the children were asked to clean their tongues at home for a 1-month period, and to return a completed questionnaire (n = 66). The children estimated their acceptance of daily tongue cleaning with 8.3 cm on the VAS, their parents with 8.7 cm. Fifty eight children reported willingness to continue cleaning their tongues at home after the 1-month examination time. The data show that the use of the tongue vacuum cleaner, as part of a professional oral prophylaxis, is well accepted by children and may help promote, along with professional instruction, home tongue cleaning on a regular basis.

Evaluation of a halitosis clinic over a period of eleven years

About every fourth individual suffers at leasttemporarily from oral malodor. The most frequentcause of it is the oral cavity, in particular thetongue coating. In professional halitosis clinics,findings and diagnoses are discussed with thepatients, and individual therapy concepts are designed. Currently, there are only few ev alua- tions of such clinics, which moreover are con- fined to a period of a few weeks or months. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the halitosis clinic of the University Center of Dental Medicine Basel o ver a period of eleven years. For the purpose of a recall, 638 patients w ere con- tacted, who had visited the halitosis clinic be- tween February 2003 and February 2014. Of these, 280 patients answ ered a special question- naire. The halitosis clinic was rated as helpf ul by 81.9% of the respondents. The majority (61.8%) only rarely or never suffered from bad breath anymore and still carried out the recommended tongue cleaning. Ninety-one patients who re- ported to suffer again from oral malodor, could be re-evaluated also clinically. The strictly cause- oriented therapy concept of the halitosis clinic of the Univ ersity Center of Dental Medicine Basel has proved successful over eleven years.

Evaluation of a halitosis clinic over a period of eleven years

About every fourth individual suffers at least temporarily from oral malodor. The most frequent cause of it is the oral cavity, in particular the tongue coating. In professional halitosis clinics, findings and diagnoses are discussed with the patients, and individual therapy concepts are designed. Currently, there are only few evaluations of such clinics, which moreover are confined to a period of a few weeks or months. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the halitosis clinic of the University Center of Dental Medicine Basel over a period of eleven years. For the purpose of a recall, 638 patients were contacted, who had visited the halitosis clinic between February 2003 and February 2014. Of these, 280 patients answered a special questionnaire. The halitosis clinic was rated as helpful by 81.9% of the respondents. The majority (61.8%) only rarely or never suffered from bad breath anymore and still carried out the recommended tongue cleaning. Ninety-one patients who reported to suffer again from oral malodor, could be re-evaluated also clinically. The strictly cause-oriented therapy concept of the halitosis clinic of the University Center of Dental Medicine Basel has proved successful over eleven years.

Dental tourism from Switzerland to Germany.

In recent years the topic of dental tourism has increasingly come into focus of dentists and patients. In the present study an attempt was made to find out, why patients from a restricted region travel to Germany for dental care. In five German dental clinics located in the border area between Switzerland and Germany, 272 women and 236 men ranging in age from 5 to 94 years, who had undergone at least one dental treatment in Germany, were questioned concerning the reasons for their visits. The interviews took place within a period of 6 months and relied on a questionnaire to collect data regarding sociodemographic features and patient behavior. In comparison to residents of Germany, patients residing in Switzerland took on considerably longer travel distances for the dental visit, in some cases more than 50km (9.7%). For patients residing in Switzerland the technical equipment of the practice was more important (p<0.001), whereas for residents of Germany the cost-effective treatment was decisive (p<0.05). Almost all patients residing in Switzerland (95.6%) confirmed that dental treatments in Germany were cheaper and that additional family members also came to Germany for dental care (65.0%).

Findings, diagnoses and results of a halitosis clinic over a seven year period.

Halitosis or bad breath is a taboo subject that is a widespread problem in the general population. Causes of bad breath can be multifactorial and long time sufferers can be marred from deep psychological stress. Because nine out of ten cases have an oral cause, the initial inquiry should be with a dentist. In a retrospective study from February 2003 to February 2010, the halitosis clinic at the University of Basel analyzed data from 465 patient medical histories. Study objectives evaluated the causes of halitosis, gender distribution and treatment success. All patients reported to have suffered from bad breath. However, 82.7% were actually diagnosed as having halitosis. Within this group, 96.2% showed an oral etiology and 3.8% showed an extra-oral cause. Women suffered significantly more from psychogenic halitosis. Success rates of 92.6% subjectively and 94.5% objectively reflect the treatment success of the diagnostic and therapeutic concepts presented at the University of Basel halitosis clinic over a seven year period.