Perfil dos endodontistas de uma metrópole brasileira quanto ao atendimento odontológico a pacientes com necessidades especiais / Profile of endodontists in a Brazilian metropolis regarding dental care for patients with special needs

O objetivo do estudo foi caracterizar o perfil dos endodontistas do estado de São Paulo, Brasil em relação ao tratamento odontológico depacientes com necessidades especiais (PNE). Um questionário onlinesobre capacitação do profissional e dados sobre o atendimento odontológico de PNEfoi enviado para 3.500 endodontistas registrados no Conselho Regional de Odontologia de São Paulo. Dentre os 138 profissionais que retornaram, 57,2% eram do sexo feminino; 34,8% estavam na faixa etária entre 31e 40 anos; 42,8% tinham entre 11 e20 anos de formados; e 38,4% possuíam 11 a 20 anos de especialidade. Apenas 22,5% eram capacitados para o atendimento de PNE, sendo que desses, 58,1% tiveram apenas aula teórica. Dos que não receberam capacitação na pós-graduação, 80,4% gostariam de ter recebido. Com relação ao interesse em cursos de atendimento a PNE após a especialização, observou-se que apenas 15,9% realizaram algum tipo de curso, a maioria apenas teórico. Em relação às dificuldades durante o atendimento de PNEa "falta de colaboração do paciente durante o atendimento" foi citada por 74,6%, a "insegurança devido àfalta de preparo profissional" por 55,0%. A análise da associação das variáveis pelo teste Qui-quadrado apontou que quanto maior o tempo de formação, menor essa dificuldade (p=0,0415). Os especialistas encontram mais dificuldades comparados aos que tem formação associada (mestrado e doutorado) (p=0,0369). Não houve associação significativa entre as dificuldades e o tipo de instituição de formação(pública ou privada) (p>0,05). O panorama atual da formação do endodontista não contempla o atendimento as pessoas com necessidades especiais (AU).

The aim of this study was to characterize the profile of endodontic professionals from the state of São Paulo, Brazil in relation to dental treatment for patients with special needs (PSN). An online questionnaire on professional training and data on PSN dental care was sent to 3,500 endodontic professionals registered with the São Paulo Regional Dental Council in 2017. Of the 138 returning professionals, 57.2% were female; 34.8% aged 31-40 years; 42.8% had 11-20 years since graduation; 38.4% had 11-20 years of endodontic specialization. Only 22.5% were trained to provide dental care to PSNs and of these, 58.1% had only theoretical classes. Of those who did not receive post-graduation training, 80.4% would like to have received it. Regarding the interest in PSN care courses after specialization, it was observed that only 15.9% performed some type of course, most of them theoretical only. Regarding difficulties during PSN care, "lack of patient collaboration during care" was mentioned by 74.6%, and "insecurity due to lack of professional preparation" by 55.0%. The analysis of the association of variables by the Chi-square test showed that the longer the training time, the lower the difficulty during PSN care (p=0.0415). Specialists find more difficulties compared to those with associated training (masters and doctorate) (p=0.0369). There was no significant association between difficulties in PSN care and typeof HEI (public or private) (p> 0.05). The current panorama of endodontic professional training does not seem to include care for patients with special needs (AU).

COVID-19 pandemic impact on dentists in Latin America's epicenter: São-Paulo, Brazil.

The state of São Paulo, Brazil, where more than 94.000 dentists are currently registered, has become the epicenter of COVID-19 in Latin America. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on dentists in this state. A semi-structured questionnaire was sent via e-mail to 93.280 dentists with active registration in the Dental Council of São Paulo (CROSP). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic was assessed through questions related to demographic, socioeconomic, dental practice characteristics and personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between all the variables (p<0.05). Over 8 days, 2113 responses were received. Only 26.52% of the sample reported a low-income reduction (from 0-10%), while the majority of dentists reported a more negative financial impact, 35.6% with a reduction of more than 50% of their monthly income. Dentists who worked in the private sector and at the capital had a greater financial impact when compared to those of the public sector and countryside of the state (p<0.05). Furthermore, about 83% reported not having received any specific training to control the transmission of coronavirus in the health area. This study provides evidence of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the routine of dentists in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Hopefully, this study will help dental and other health care professionals to better understand the consequences of disease in dental settings and strengthen preparedness throughout the dental health care system.

Caries prevalence using ICDAS visual criteria and risk assessment in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A comparative study.

AIMS: To compare the dental caries prevalence using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) and the caries risk by Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and normoactives (NAs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty children and adolescents aged 6-12 years (30 CP/30 NA) were clinically evaluated by one calibrated examiner using two-digit ICDAS criteria and converted into components of dmf/DMF indices: d2mf2/D2MF2 (enamel and dentin lesions) and d3mf3/D3MF3 (dentin lesions). An adapted CAMBRA was used for risk classification. The mean d2mf2s/d2mf2t and D2MF2S/D2MF2T for CP were 17.0 ± 16.8/7.5 ± 4.3 and 10.7 ± 17.6/5.3 ± 5.8, respectively, and for NA were 17.2 ± 16.9 /6.9 ± 4.8 and 11.1 ± 11.7/5.5 ± 4.7, respectively. The mean d3mf3s/d3mf3t and D3MF3S/D3MF3T for CP were 10.1 ± 16.7/3.0 ± 4.1 and 4.9 ± 15.6/0.2 ± 0.4, respectively, while for NA the mean values were 9.8 ± 13.0/3.5 ± 3.8 and 2.1 ± 5.7/0.9 ± 2.0, respectively. There were no statistically differences for caries prevalence and risk in both groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dental caries was highly prevalent in CP and NA children and adolescents. Enamel and dentin lesions and high caries risk were the most common condition.

Proposal of e-learning strategy to teach Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) to undergraduate and graduate students.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate e-learning strategy in teaching Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) to undergraduate and graduate students. The sample comprised 76 participants-38 dental students and 38 pediatric dentistry students-in a specialization course. To evaluate knowledge improvement, participants were subjected to a test performed before and after the course. RESULTS: A single researcher corrected the tests and intraexaminer reproducibility was calculated (CCI = 0.991; 95% IC = 0.975-0.996). All students improved their performances after the e-learning course (Paired t-tests p < 0.001). The means of undergraduate students were 4.7 (initial) and 6.4 (final) and those of graduate students were 6.8 (initial) and 8.2 (final). The comparison of the final evaluation means showed a statistically significant difference (t-tests p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The e-learning strategy has the potential of improving students' knowledge in ART. Mature students perform better in this teaching modality when it is applied exclusively via distance learning.