Visit to the Dentist for Oral Health Prevention at "Age One": A proposed policy report from the Indian perspective.

Early childhood caries is a major public health issue in India. The primary reason for poor oral health in children is a lack of awareness about the role of primary teeth and the importance of an early dental visit for infants and toddlers. The primary objectives of an early dental visit are to analyze the child's risk level, provide guidance to parents regarding proper oral hygiene measures, review dietary and eating habits, provide information regarding the infectivity of dental caries, review the risks of traumatic injuries and discuss factors which affect the development of occlusion. Through this paper, we are proposing an "Age One" policy that recognizes dentists, physicians, allied health professionals, community health-care workers, and nongovernmental organizations to work toward a child's overall health as partners to achieve this goal. The expectation is that this policy will provide guidance to childcare centers, pediatric dentists, other health-care professionals, and legislators regarding oral health activities and the promotion of oral health in infants. The purpose of the policy is to lay the foundation for a lifetime of preventive education and dental care, to help ensure optimal oral health beginning in childhood and continuing through the life course.

Supportive periodontal care in dental practice: Part 1 - the importance and implications for general dental practitioners.

Supportive periodontal care is an essential component of maintaining the outcome of periodontal treatment. It is essential to ensure cost benefit to both patients and the health services where millions are spent on treating patients with periodontal disease. The dentist must be able to recognise the crucial and important role they play in providing supportive care and therapy to periodontally compromised patients, either independently or as part of a wider dental team, over and above the various challenges they may experience in the provision of such care in general dental practice. The timely intervention with treatment or referral during this phase will help reduce the risk of tooth loss and adverse consequences to the dentist and their team by way of litigation. The aim of this paper is to provide an update on the delivery of supportive periodontal care in general dental practice with a particular reference to the role of the dentist.

What is occlusion? Part 2.

Some dentists choose to ignore the subject of occlusion, while others propose a set of doctrinal rules. It is of little wonder therefore that it can become a source of confusion and even controversy. This series of two papers aims, firstly, to answer the very simple question of 'what is occlusion?'. It will put occlusion into the context of the articulatory system because that is the bio-mechanical environment where the majority of dentists do their work. The concept of jaw relation will also be discussed but within the context of this locomotive system. Ideal occlusion will be described but only after answering the question: for whom or what might an occlusion be considered ideal? Although, in the book of which this is the first chapter, he presents what has worked for him during many years as a general dental practitioner, university lecturer and specialist in restorative dentistry, he has tried not to be didactic because he feels that, in a profession, there are no right answers, only the right questions.

Validating evidence for the knowledge, management and involvement of dentists in a dental approach to sickle-cell disease.

This study validated the content of an instrument designed to assess the knowledge, involvement (attitudes) and management (practice) of dentists relative to sickle-cell disease (KAPD-SCD). The instrument consisted of five domains composed of a total of thirteen items: I. Dentist's self-assessment relative to sickle-cell disease; II. Dentist's knowledge of the repercussions of sickle-cell disease on the stomatognathic system; III. Dentist's knowledge of the complications of sickle-cell disease in the stomatognathic system; IV. Dentist's knowledge concerning the dental management of sickle-cell disease patients; and V. Dentist's involvement in an approach to sickle-cell disease. Twelve experts assigned scores to each item of the instrument. The criteria were clarity, understanding and appropriateness, leaving open fields for comments. Descriptive and content analyses of the data were made. Each expert analyzed 39 assessment units. The percentages considered for agreement were high (>80%), medium (70%-80%), or low (<70%), and each item was maintained or revised according to the percentage observed. There was high consensus in 74% of the assessment units (the corresponding items were maintained), medium consensus in 24% of them (the corresponding items were revised), and disagreement in 2% of them, namely as regards the "appropriateness" of item 5 ("Are there oral complications in sickle-cell disease?"), which was revised. The final version of the instrument had 16 items for different applications such as in the clinical care program, teaching program, or research program, with different cut-off scores for each application. In conclusion, the level of agreement among experts showed evidence of the content validity of the instrument.

Dentists and dental hygienists' comprehension of HIV infection associated periodontal implications and management.

Background: In an era wherein, persuasive evidence continues to witness the association between systemic and periodontal diseases, the absence of scientific data on dental professionals' comprehension concerning the HIV infection and periodontal link is lamentably backward. Thus, the key objective of this research is to ascertain the extent of comprehension possessed by dentists and dental hygienists concerning periodontal implications and their management in HIV patients. Methods: It is a quantitative cross-sectional survey employing a descriptive approach focusing on a specific cohort of dental professionals. The study setting featured an online platform for the distribution of concealed, closed-ended, structured questionnaire. The data was gathered for four sections: six comprehension statements about periodontal manifestations in HIV patients; fifteen comprehension statements about HIV patients' periodontal management; eight familiarity statements about HIV management; and two educational statements about HIV. The comparisons of comprehension scores were drawn between variables such as specialties, age groups, and genders. Results: The survey represented 468 dental professionals representing distinct dental specialties, with a mean age of 24.26 ± 7.53 years. The mean comprehension score for all groups of participants is 10.31 ± 9.34 (33.25%). The highest scores were recorded among those aged 31-40 (20.67 ± 8.31), followed by those aged 40+ (19.38 ± 9.39), 20-30 (9.53 ± 8.96), and under 20 (8.92 ± 8.57), at p < 0.001. The female participants (15.06 ± 12.2) exhibited substantially better scores in contrast to the male participants (8.74 ± 7.57). Periodontists (27.77 ± 3.08) comprehended most, then the oral medicine practitioners (25 ± 0). Dental hygiene students (5.52 ± 3.56) and hygienists (7.67 ± 9.72) comprehended the least. The scores for all four domains assessed were disappointingly low: knowledge about HIV-periodontal manifestations (2.81 ± 2.18), knowledge about management of periodontal diseases in HIV patients (3.73 ± 4.7), familiarity with periodontal care in HIV patients (2.87 ± 3.01), and education received about HIV and periodontal diseases (0.91 ± 0.66). Conclusion: Dental professionals are notably incomprehensive, unfamiliar, and lacking in expertise in the realm of periodontal facets of HIV. The periodontists and oral medicine practitioners showed a substantial amount of comprehension, while the dental hygiene students and dental hygienists presented a conspicuously inadequate level of comprehension. The study outcome could potentially serve as an invaluable instrument for self-assessment by dental professionals and educators. HIV/AIDS ought not to persist as an unspoken taboo or disregarded subject within the dental field, particularly in periodontics, but rather should receive prominence in dental schools and professional development programs.

[Portrayal of dentists in films]. / Uitbeelding van tandartsen in speelfilms.

To analyze the portrayal of dentists in films, 259 films from the period 1907 - 2018 featuring one or more dentists, were systematically analyzed. A total of 333 dentists were identified, mostly of Caucasian origin (85%) and male (86%). 228 dentists depicted dental procedures, sometimes using gloves (41%), (splash) glasses (35%), and mouth masks (24%). The depicted dental procedures mainly consist of the use of pocket probes and mirrors (46%), drilling/filling (31%), and extractions (25%). Furthermore, dentists in films are relatively often involved in negative activities such as physical violence (29%) and sexual offences (18%). In 16 films (6%), dentists murdered people. Although there is no single stereotypical portrayal of dentists in films, the overall picture seems to need improvement as it is not contributing to the reputation of the dental profession.

The relationship between practice ownership and follow-up of comprehensive dental care. A Swedish register study.

AIMS: The aims of this register study were: 1. To study whether the type of ownership of the dental practice was correlated with the type of dental care provided, that is public versus private ownership and professional (dentist or dental hygienist) versus non-professional ownership. 2. To study the extent of follow-up of patients who have undergone two types of treatments.  Material and method: Two types of dental care were defined in the two groups studied, periodontitis/peri-implantitis and comprehensive restorative/rehabilitation. All relevant treatment codes that fall under these definitions are noted when they are performed. Also, the follow-up of each treatment code is noted. Differences in dental and socioeconomic status over time and between regions were adjusted for. A drop-out analysis was performed.  Results: Dental practices owned by dentists or dental hygienists schedule follow-up appointments for patients who have undergone comprehensive restorative or rehabilitation dentistry more often than practices with other types of ownership. Dental practices owned by dentists or dental hygienists follow up patients with periodontitis and peri-implantitis less frequently. CONCLUSION: Type of ownership of a dental business influences the extent to which periodontal, and comprehensive restorative or rehabilitation dentistry were followed up.

Awareness of forensic dentistry among dental professionals in western Saudi Arabia: A knowledge, attitude, and practice-based cross-sectional study.

The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice, and self-reported record for a list of items that are useful to forensic dentistry (FD) among dental professionals from the western region of Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 406 dental health professionals. A pre-validated questionnaire written in Google Forms was used as a study tool. The questionnaire contained 4 parts: 1 - demographics; 2 - knowledge about FD; 3 - the attitudes; 4 - assessing dental record maintenance. Statistical data were analyzed using Pearson chi-square (χ2). The degree distribution amongst 406 respondents was: 64 bachelors; 162 masters; 180 Doctor of Philosophy (PhDs). 52% of respondents agreed that dentists should have enough knowledge about FD. Yet, 90.4% did not receive any training. All qualifications were aware of FD with no significant difference between groups (P = .06). According to degree, a significant difference between the 3 groups (P = .004), where a bachelor degree showed the least desire in testimony in court for FD evidence (50%) compared to master and PhD degrees (80%, 75%, respectively). Almost 56% of consultants reported that it is not primarily for the dentist to have a good knowledge of FD, while all other qualifications agreed to the opposite (66%). 55.4% of general dentists, 73% of residents, and 94% of consultants believed that FD is an accurate, sensitive, and reliable method in the identification of unknown victims or criminals. Our study revealed that there is a lack of knowledge, attitude, and practice among undergraduates and general dental practitioners. However, this scenario can be upgraded by the inclusion of FD in the dental curriculum in Saudi Arabia.

Dentists' Perspective and Experiences Relative to the Accidental Dropping of Implant Drivers and Components Intraorally: A Survey of Practicing Clinicians.

Ingestion or aspiration of dental implant screwdrivers or implant components is potentially life-threatening. There are no reports on the frequency at which dentists drop these devices within the mouth or which components are most problematic. There are few reports on what protective measures clinicians take, where risks exist, and how this problem is managed. A 9-part questionnaire was provided to dentists. Data collected included clinicians' roles, implant surgeons, restorative clinicians, or both-the frequency of dropping implant screwdrivers or components, items considered most problematic. Patient protection and management were also requested. Finally, questions related to how much of a problem clinicians considered this to be and if further solutions and a standardized management protocol should be developed. One hundred twelve dentists voluntarily completed the survey. Of the dentists, 54% restored, 37% restored and surgically placed, and 9% solely placed implants. Twenty-nine percent claimed never to drop components, with 56% dropping an instrument less than 10% of the time. Less than half would suggest patients seek medical advice if a screwdriver or component was accidentally dropped intraorally and was not recovered. Thirty percent never tied floss tethers to screwdrivers, and a similar percentage reported they only sometimes did so. Throat pack protection was reported 51% of the time. Ninety percent considered dropping components an issue, with screwdrivers most problematic. Aspiration or ingestion of implant screwdrivers and components is problematic, with dentists varying their use of protection devices. There is a need to standardize and implement patient protection procedures and management and develop methods to reduce the risk of these potentially life-threatening issues.

Professional practices of dentists and unscheduled dental care in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France) / Pratiques professionnelles et soins dentaires non programmés en Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

In a context of saturation of private dental practices and medical demography issues, responses to requests for emergency dental care are a poorly documented problem. In partnership with the Observatoire Regional de la Santé, the URPS Chirurgiens-Dentistes Nouvelle-Aquitaine, a union, conducted a survey of private dentists in May and June 2022. The objective was to estimate the volume of requests for unscheduled dental care and to describe the responses provided by professionals. More than eight out of ten professionals said they were often called upon for unscheduled care and more than four out of ten set aside specific time slots to provide it. More than a quarter of them said they provided care in 90 percent of cases, in response to requests of this type, and 40 percent provided care in at least half of the cases. For most professionals, the average waiting time for patients requesting unscheduled care was less than 24 hours. Respondents cited patient education as a general avenue for improvement, in addition to the creation of a specific pricing structure for unscheduled care. This survey provides a better understanding of the difficulties faced by professionals on a subject not yet investigated by the dental profession. It documents the acceptability of possible responses in terms of improving professional practices and institutional organizations.

Dans un contexte de saturation des cabinets dentaires libéraux et de démographie médicale tendue, l'apport de réponses aux demandes de soins dentaires non programmés constitue une réelle problématique assez peu documentée. En partenariat avec l'Observatoire régional de la santé, l'URPS Chirurgiens-dentistes Nouvelle-Aquitaine a mené en mai-juin 2022 une enquête auprès de chirurgiens-dentistes libéraux. L'objectif était d'estimer le volume des demandes de soins non programmés en soins dentaires et de décrire les réponses apportées par les professionnels. Plus de huit professionnels sur dix ont déclaré être souvent sollicités pour des soins non programmés, et plus de quatre sur dix prévoyaient des créneaux spécifiques pour les assurer. Plus d'un quart d'entre eux ont déclaré répondre à 90 % des sollicitations pour ce type de soins et 40 % répondre à moins de la moitié des demandes. Les soins non programmés étaient pris en charge dans les 24 heures en moyenne pour la majorité des professionnels. L'éducation des patients a été citée comme une piste d'amélioration générale ou institutionnelle, devant la création d'une cotation spécifique pour les soins non programmés. Cette enquête permet de mieux connaître les difficultés des professionnels sur un sujet non encore investigué auprès de la profession dentaire. Elle documente l'acceptabilité de pistes de réponses pouvant être apportées pour améliorer les pratiques professionnelles et les organisations institutionnelles.

Children's rights and dental care treatment.

Dentists, especially paediatric dentists, should inform their young patients of the treatment to be undertaken in an appropriate and comprehensive manner. In 1989, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - UNCRC - https://www.unicef. org/child-rights-convention/convention-text) was adopted, comprising of 54 articles concerning every aspect of a child's life, notably health, including oral health. More than 30 years after the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, both health professionals and parents still struggle to grasp this subject, resulting in its scarce application in daily practice. Children's rights have also been mentioned several times in medical and dental literature, reminding health professionals that the approach to young patients must be age-appropriate. The clinician must learn to consider children as the main protagonists in the choices concerning their health, and they must be aware of their rights from an early age. Particularly in the field of dentistry, it is a matter of guaranteeing the best dental care for every child with particular attention to the indigent or disabled (Article 23). In addition to this, the most effective and up-to-date treatment must be proposed, avoiding unnecessary extractions and favouring conservative therapy that can guarantee a better quality of life in the future, while reducing treatment under general anaesthesia. In current practice, consent to treatment is often demanded from the parents, without involving the child. However, every child has the right to freely express their opinion and be actively involved in any matter that concerns them. This opinion is expressed in different ways according to age and stage of maturity. Pictures, drawings, cartoons and videos can help the healthcare provider when explaining procedures to the young patient, thus allowing them to obtain consent and cooperation. In individual countries, it would be advisable to have guidelines that facilitate the child's active consent to health treatments. So, what happens in your country?

Temporomandibular disorders and bruxism - up-to-date assessment and screening tools the general dentist should be aware of.

The recently proposed shortened screening tools for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and bruxism should enable a better assessment of these conditions by the general dentist.

Wearing Sports Mouthguards to Prevent Oral and Maxillofacial Trauma.

The theme of the academic annual conferences held by the Chinese Stomatological Association from 2021 to 2023 was "Protecting Natural Teeth to Maintain Oral Health" and coincided with the 24th Winter Olympic Games that took place in Beijing in 2022, and thus prevention of oral and maxillofacial trauma once again attracted the attention of stomatological experts and the public. The incidence of oral and maxillofacial trauma caused by sports is around 25% to 34%1-5, and varies based on the type of sport and other factors, such as age, sex and the skill level of the participants. The risk of oral and maxillofacial trauma is extremely high in high-confrontation and high-speed sports, especially for children and adolescents. Wearing sports mouthguards when participating in sport is an effective way to prevent and reduce the incidence of oral and maxillofacial trauma in such sports, and is the simplest and most practical method of doing so. Sports have developed and gained in popularity significantly in China in recent years, but the awareness and use of sports mouthguards are low. Based on the above background, the Chinese Stomatological Association advocates that athletes and sport participants should wear mouthguards in various confrontational and high-speed sports, and calls on dental practitioners and sports-related organisations to actively support the popularisation and application of sports mouthguards to prevent or alleviate oral and maxillofacial trauma and to raise awareness and increase knowledge of methods to protect natural teeth.

Evaluating Knowledge, Self-Reported Confidence Levels, and Prescription Patterns among Dental Practitioners Regarding Analgesics in Dentistry: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: Dental pain is a common problem that often leads to unscheduled dental visits and requires a comprehensive understanding of analgesics, including their indications and contraindications. The aim of this study was to investigate dentists' knowledge, self-reported confidence levels, and prescribing patterns of analgesics in dentistry. Materials and Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted, resulting in 379 responses. Of these, 68.6% were general dentists, and 31.4% were specialists. The collected data included sociodemographic information, levels of knowledge, and prescription patterns. The survey questionnaire explored self-perceived practices, patient information during prescription, and guiding factors. Descriptive statistics and a generalized linear model for regression were used for data analysis. Results: Higher levels of knowledge were observed in specific contexts such as secondary/tertiary healthcare (p = 0.022), specialization in endodontics (p = 0.003), and a higher number of working hours with patients (p = 0.038). Conversely, increased self-confidence was observed among endodontists (p = 0.008), oral surgeons (p = 0.011), and dentists with more than 6 h of patient interaction (p ≤ 0.001). Orthodontists and prosthodontists demonstrated lower knowledge levels, while specialists in family dentistry exhibited lower self-confidence. Self-confidence and knowledge displayed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.039, p < 0.001). The most frequently prescribed medication was ibuprofen (97.9%), primarily for surgical (83.9%) and endodontic procedures (60.9%), with the main indications being pulpal (85.8%), periradicular (57.3%), and postoperative pain (40.1%). Conclusions: This study reveals significant knowledge and confidence gaps among dentists, including limited awareness of the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for odontogenic pain, a lack of time for effective counseling, and perceived deficits in pharmacology education. To address these issues, targeted educational interventions are recommended to improve analgesic prescribing practice, close knowledge gaps, and increase dentists' confidence in more effective pain management.

Factors Influencing Burnout Syndrome and Depression in Dentists across Various Institutions.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to identify the occupational and personal factors influencing burnout syndrome (BS) and depression among dentists in academic faculties, oral and dental health centres (ODHCs), and private clinics. Materials and Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out on dentists working in different regions of Turkey. Data were gathered through an online questionnaire hosted on Google Forms. The questionnaire consisted of demographic data and Maslach BS Inventory (MBI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) sections. The demographic data collected included age, height, weight, marital status, blood type, gender, monthly income, income satisfaction, and whether the participant had enough free time. The dentists were divided into three groups, namely, faculty setting, private clinic, and ODHC, according to the institutions at which they worked. Results: The study was composed of 290 dentists, including 172 males and 118 females, with an average age of 36.98 ± 5.56 years. In total, 128 of the dentists worked in faculties, 72 worked in private clinics, and 90 worked in ODHCs. The study found that women exhibited higher EE scores than men (p < 0.05). The comparison of BS and depression scores showed no statistically significant differences between groups based on marital status or blood type (p > 0.05). There was no significant relationship between emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DP), personal accomplishment (PA), and depression scores according to age, BMI, and work experience (p < 0.05). It was found that the EE scores of the dentists working in faculties and private clinics were lower than those of the dentists working in ODHCs (p < 0.05). Monthly income was associated with depression (r = -0.35). Conclusions: The findings reveal that dentists employed in ODHCs reported greater levels of EE. These results suggest a pressing need for enhancements in the work environments of dentists, especially in ODHCs.

Smile aesthetics in Pakistani population: dentist preferences and perceptions of anterior teeth proportion and harmony.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate dentist perceptions of attractive smiles in the Pakistani population, considering different dental proportions. METHODS: Maxillary casts and digital images were used to create symmetrical representations of anterior teeth. dentists' preferences for good and bad teeth proportions, width/height ratios, and various dental proportions (golden, recurring esthetic dental (RED), golden percentage, Preston, and local/observed) were assessed using one sample and paired t-test. The Chi-square test was used to determine the gender disparities and factors affecting smile attractiveness. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: The RED proportion emerged as the preferred choice for normal-sized teeth, with specialists and general dentists favoring it over the golden proportion. For tall teeth, the golden proportion was predominantly preferred. The golden percentage received limited preference for aesthetic smile construction. CONCLUSIONS: The smiles created using the principles of RED proportion were opted as the most attractive by local dentists. Factors such as tooth arrangement, color, and midline were highlighted as essential considerations in aesthetic smile construction.

Awareness about emergency management of avulsed tooth among intern dentists-a cross-sectional observational study.

Tooth avulsion is a frequently encountered dental emergency. Children are commonly reported group due to frequent sports activities, trauma, accidents and falls. Prompt emergency management is vital for long term success and to avoid morbidity. The study was aimed to assess the understanding of intern dentists about the emergency handling of avulsed teeth cases as mostly they are first responders among health care personnel. In this study a fourteen-item questionnaire with predefined responses was shared as online Google survey form with intern dentists of 5 different dental teaching hospitals of Islamabad, Pakistan. The duration of the study was 6 months (01 March 2022 to 31 August 2022). The questions were intended to collect personal information and to check level of knowledge and awareness about the management of avulsed tooth among the dental interns. The data was analyzed by statistical methods and is presented through tables and descriptive methods. In total, 152 participants completed the shared questionnaire. The vast majority (71%) of them were aware of the initial management of avulsed teeth, 49% were aware of the ideal transport medium for an avulsed tooth, (43%) were aware of the critical time for successful replantation, while (62%) had knowledge of the multiple factors responsible for the outcome of the tooth replantation. For majority of the statements, female participants had better knowledge as compared to their male counterparts. Statistically significant difference was noted for the statement "If you found the knocked-out tooth and it is dirty what will be your initial approach?" with female participants having better knowledge as compared to the male (p value = 0.005). Based on our study results, generally dental interns are well-informed but still lack expected level of awareness regarding the proper management protocol for avulsed tooth. Hence, improvement is needed regarding the effective handling of avulsed teeth cases.

Evaluation of pediatric dentists' knowledge and approaches to tooth discoloration.

In recent years, esthetic expectations have come to the fore in pediatric dentistry, as in every field of dentistry. Therefore, to better meet patients' expectations, the steps taken to determine and improve the current level of knowledge of pediatric dentists on tooth discoloration gain importance. This study aims to measure the knowledge levels of pediatric dentists regarding tooth discoloration. A 33-questioned survey created online was emailed to pediatric dentists between March and December 2021. The first part included four multiple-choice and two open-ended questions regarding demographic characteristics. The second part was to measure the participants' knowledge of tooth discoloration. The last part was to evaluate the clinical approaches of the participants. Participants who agreed to answer all of the questions were included in the study (n = 129). The knowledge levels of the participants were scored according to the accuracy of their answers. The data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Of the pediatric dentists who participated in this study, 16.3% had high knowledge, 79.8% had medium knowledge, and 3.9% had insufficient understanding of tooth discoloration. There was no correlation between time since dental school graduation and time spent practicing as a pediatric dentist (p > 0.05). The group with the highest average level of knowledge was the group most frequently encountered with tooth discoloration in the clinic (p ≤ 0.05). On average, pediatric dentists had moderate knowledge of tooth discoloration. The group with the highest average expertise in this field was the group that most frequently encountered and treated tooth discoloration. Information on tooth discoloration due to systemic factors was insufficient. To increase the knowledge level of pediatric dentists about the causes and treatments of tooth discoloration, it may be beneficial to establish training programs during and after specialization education.

What is occlusion? Part 1.

Some dentists choose to ignore the subject of occlusion, while others propose a set of doctrinal rules. It is of little wonder therefore that it can become a source of confusion and even controversy. This series of two papers aims, firstly, to answer the very simple question of 'what is occlusion?'. It will put occlusion into the context of the articulatory system because that is the bio-mechanical environment where the majority of dentists do their work. The concept of jaw relation will also be discussed but within the context of this locomotive system. Ideal occlusion will be described but only after answering the question: for whom or what might an occlusion be considered ideal? Although, in the book of which this is the first chapter, he presents what has worked for him during many years as a general dental practitioner, university lecturer and specialist in restorative dentistry, he has tried not to be didactic because he feels that, in a profession, there are no right answers, only the right questions.