Assessing Expectant Mothers' Knowledge and Beliefs about Oral Healthcare During Infancy and Pregnancy: A Cross Sectional Survey in Saudi Arabia

Objective: To evaluate expectant mothers' knowledge and beliefs on oral healthcare of infants. It also aimed at exploring their knowledge on oral health care during pregnancy and the possible relationship between oral health and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among expectant mothers attending antenatal clinics in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia in summer, 2017. Questions collected data on sociodemographic characteristics of the study sample as well as basic knowledge on oral healthcare during pregnancy and infancy. There were also questions on knowledge about adverse pregnancy outcomes that may be associated with poor oral health. Results: A convenient sample of 360 pregnant women participated in the study. A percentage of 79.7% showed a good level of knowledge in oral healthcare of infants while a percentage of 8.9% only showed a good level of knowledge in oral healthcare during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. Education level and employment status were significantly associated the good level of knowledge in oral healthcare of infants (p=0.000, and 0.002 respectively). Conclusion: Most of expectant mothers, particularly educated and employed ones, have good knowledge on oral healthcare of infants, however, the majority lacked sufficient knowledge on pregnancy outcomes and oral healthcare during pregnancy.

Why do Women avoid Dental Visits During Pregnancy? A Cross- Sectional Survey in Al Madinah, Western Saudi Arabia

Objective: To investigate why women avoid dental visits during pregnancy and to explore the possible association between this attitude and relevant socio-demographic factors. Material and Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to pregnant women during their routine visits to antenatal clinics in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire explored socio-demographic factors of age, education, employment status and nationality. It also explored misconceptions/ reasons for avoiding dental visits during pregnancy. Results: A total of 360 pregnant women participated, and their mean age was 30.08 years (range=18-52 years, SD=5.96). The most commonly cited misconception/reason for avoiding dental visits was "local anesthesia is not safe during pregnancy", followed by "transportation is difficult" and lastly, "dental treatment is not safe during pregnancy", (43.6%, 37.5%, 18.9%, respectively). Illiterate participants were statistically significantly associated with the misconception of "unsafe dental treatment during pregnancy" (p=0.002), whereas school-level and unemployed participants were statistically significantly associated with the misconception of "unsafe local anesthesia during pregnancy" (p=0.02, p=0.036 respectively). Conclusion: Pregnant women avoid dental visits mainly due to the misconception that local anesthesia is not safe during pregnancy. Difficult transportation seems to be another important deterrent in preventing pregnant women to visit dentists in this geographic area. Changing the misconceptions should be the starting point in addressing this public health problem and this should involve the three parties involved: pregnant women, oral healthcare providers and obstetric care providers.

Relationship between impacts of removable prosthodontic rehabilitation on daily living, satisfaction and personality profiles.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate dental impacts on daily living and satisfaction with removable complete and partial prosthodontic rehabilitations, and to identify their relationship with personality profiles. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients (38 males and 30 females; mean age=53.2±11.8 years) received removable prostheses (32 complete dentures and 36 removable partial dentures). Clinical success of prostheses was assessed according specific criteria. The Dental Impact on Daily Living (DIDL) questionnaire was utilized to assess satisfaction with prostheses and impacts on daily living. NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) was utilized to assess patients' personality profiles. RESULTS: Participants' total satisfaction and satisfaction with appearance, pain tolerance, oral comfort, and eating improved after treatment (p<.05). Position of prosthesis and age had no significant relationships with satisfaction or personality scores (p>.05). Females were less satisfied with appearance (p<.05). Patients who received partial dentures were more satisfied with eating and scored higher total satisfaction scores than those who had complete dentures (p<.05). Before treatment; Neuroticism and Openness scores were associated with dental satisfaction and impacts (p<.05). After treatment, Conscientiousness and Extraversion scores were associated with dental satisfaction and impacts (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients satisfaction with oral condition improved following using removable prosthetic rehabilitation with RPD having better impacts than CD. Psychological profiles (e.g. Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness and Conscientiousness) might play a role and explain prosthetic impacts on daily living and patients' satisfaction with prostheses.

Impacts of implant treatment on daily living.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the association between satisfaction with the dentition and dental prostheses and personality profiles among patients who received implant-supported prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients seeking dental implant therapy were recruited for this study. A Dental Impact on Daily Living questionnaire was used to assess dental satisfaction and the effects of implant-supported prostheses on daily living. The NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) was used to assess participants' personality profiles. Participants completed the questionnaires before implant insertion and 3 months after rehabilitation with implant-supported prostheses. RESULTS: Eighty patients (42 men and 38 women, mean age 40.99 years) participated. Patients were more satisfied with their dentition after implant treatment. Neuroticism and conscientiousness had significant relationships with patient satisfaction and impact on daily living both before and after implant therapy. Openness and agreeableness had significant relationships with patient satisfaction and impact on daily living only after implant treatment. Extraversion had a significant relationship with patient satisfaction and impact on daily living only before treatment. After implant treatment, neuroticism was helpful in predicting total satisfaction, as well as satisfaction with appearance, pain, oral comfort, performance, and eating. Conscientiousness was helpful in predicting satisfaction with appearance, whereas openness was helpful in predicting satisfaction with pain. Before implant treatment, neuroticism was helpful in predicting total satisfaction as well as satisfaction with appearance, oral comfort, and performance. CONCLUSION: Implant-supported prostheses had positive impacts on participants' daily living and satisfaction with the dentition. Personality traits (such as neuroticism, openness, agreeableness, and consciousness) affect patients' daily living and satisfaction with implant-supported prostheses. Selected personality traits might predict patients' satisfaction with implant-supported prostheses prior to treatment.

Willingness of Jordanian clinicians to treat a hepatitis B-infected patient.

OBJECTIVE: In the past, clinicians have sometimes been unwilling to provide care to patients known to be infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, this lack of patient care should have lessened following the introduction of effective HBV vaccination for health care workers. The purpose of this study was to determine the willingness of clinicians in Jordan to provide care to HBV-infected patients. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A total of 290 general dental practices were randomly selected and surveyed for their willingness to provide treatment for toothache and routine dental care of individuals infected with HBV. RESULTS: Only 45% of the dental practices were willing to provide care to a person infected with HBV. The unwillingness to provide treatment did not seem to be influenced by financial factors. CONCLUSION: HBV-infected individuals will have difficulty obtaining dental health care in Jordan. There is a need for dental heath care workers in Jordan to be better informed and/or provide more effective treatment of HBV-infected individuals.