Factors associated with knowledge about pharmacological management of pregnant women in Peruvian dental students: a logistic regression analysis.

BACKGROUND: Clinical management to maintain or restore oral health through the use of drugs during pregnancy is crucial, since at this stage physiological changes significantly influence the absorption, distribution and elimination of the drug, considering also that excessive administration of drugs during this period may have adverse effects on the mother and/or fetus. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the factors associated with knowledge of pharmacological management of pregnant women in dental students of a Peruvian university located in the capital and province. METHODS: This analytical, cross-sectional, prospective and observational study assessed 312 Peruvian dental students from third to fifth year of study between February and April 2022. A validated questionnaire of 10 closed questions was used to measure knowledge about pharmacological management in pregnant women. A logit model was used to assess the influence of the variables: gender, age, year of study, marital status, place of origin and area of residence. A significance of p < 0.05 was considered. RESULTS: The 25.96, 55.13 and 18.91% of the dental students showed poor, fair and good knowledge about pharmacological management in pregnant women; respectively. In addition, it was observed that students under 24 years of age and those from the capital were significantly (p < 0.05) 44% less likely to have poor knowledge of pharmacological management in pregnant women compared to those aged 24 years or older (OR = 0.56; CI: 0.34-0.92) and those from the province (OR = 0.56; CI: 0.32-0.98); respectively. Finally, those in their third and fourth year of study were significantly three times more likely to have poor knowledge (OR = 3.17; CI: 1.68-5.97 and OR = 3.88; CI: 2.07-7.31; respectively) compared to fifth year dental students. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of dental students about pharmacological management in pregnant women was predominantly of fair level. In addition, it was observed that being under 24 years of age and being from the capital city were protective factors against poor knowledge, while being a third- and fourth-year student was a risk factor. Finally, gender, marital status and area of residence were not influential factors in the level of knowledge.

Sociodemographic factors associated with knowledge and attitudes of Peruvian dental interns about dental shade selection.

BACKGROUND: The dentist should have a thorough knowledge of the science, protocols and procedures for dental shade selection in order to mimic dental tissue with restorative materials, respecting the individual needs and attitudes of each patient and providing them with a pleasant and esthetically acceptable appearance. The present study evaluated the knowledge and attitudes of dental interns from two Peruvian universities about dental shade selection and its relationship with sociodemographic factors. METHODS: The present cross-sectional and analytical study was carried out on Peruvian dental interns from the Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal and the Universidad Privada de San Juan Bautista during May to June 2022. Two validated questionnaires on knowledge and attitudes about dental shade selection were used. A Poisson regression model with robust variance using the adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) was used to assess the influence of the variables: age group, sex, place of origin and type of university, considering a significance level of p<0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that 40.8% (95% CI: 34.0% - 47.6%) of the interns presented unfavorable attitudes while 90.1% (95% CI: 86.0% - 94.2%) presented insufficient knowledge. It was also found that dental interns under 29 years of age were 32% less likely to have unfavorable attitudes (APR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.48 - 0.96) and 11% more likely to have insufficient knowledge (APR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.24) about tooth shade selection compared to dental interns aged 29 years and older. Finally, women were 55% more likely to have unfavorable attitudes about tooth shade selection compared to men (APR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.08 - 2.22). CONCLUSION: The majority of dental interns presented insufficient knowledge and less than half had unfavorable attitudes about dental shade selection. In addition, being a student under 29 years of age was a risk factor for presenting insufficient knowledge and at the same time constituted a protective factor for presenting unfavorable attitudes. Likewise, being a female student was a risk factor for presenting unfavorable attitudes about dental shade selection.

Psychometric evidence of a perception scale about covid-19 vaccination process in Peruvian dentists: a preliminary validation.

BACKGROUND: In the current pandemic context, dental professionals have greater occupational risks due to their healthcare activity, placing their expectations on the vaccine as a means of protection and at the same time hoping that the immunization process will be safe, reliable and comfortable, giving them greater peace of mind when they return to work. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop and provide a preliminary validation of a scale to measure perception of the COVID-19 vaccination process in Peruvian dental professionals. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with instrumental design. The scale was self-administered virtually. It was distributed through social networks to 220 dental professionals from two universities in the Peruvian capital between June and August 2021. The Aiken V was used for content analysis, while descriptive statistics such as mean, variance, kurtosis and skewness were used for construct validation, in addition to Pearson's correlation matrix for analysis of the 18 items. Subsequently, a Parallel Analysis based on minimum rank factor analysis was performed. Finally, the reliability of the total scale and its dimensions was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The Aiken V coefficient values were favorable for all items. Parallel analysis indicated the existence of three dimensions. Principal component analysis with rotation suggested grouping eight items for the first dimension, six items for the second dimension and four items for the third dimension. These dimensions showed good reliability, as Cronbach's alpha was 0.87, (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84-0.90), 0.80 (95% CI: 0.75-0.84) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78-0.86), respectively. In addition, the overall reliability of the scale was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.91), being acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The perception scale of the COVID-19 vaccination process in dental professionals proved preliminarily to be a valid and reliable scale that can be used for research purposes. However, it is recommended to extend its application and evaluate its metric properties in other health professionals.

Level of knowledge about metalloproteinases in dental students close to graduate from three universities in Peruvian capital city.

BACKGROUND: Metalloproteinases are proteolytic enzymes that degrade dentin and periodontal collagen; therefore, it is of special interest that dental students know its mechanism of action and how its effects can be inhibited. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the level of knowledge about metalloproteinases in dental students close to graduate from three universities in Peruvian capital city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this analytical, observational, cross-sectional and prospective study, 223 dental students close to graduate in three Peruvian universities were evaluated from September to November 2020. A questionnaire of 20 closed questions with three answers was validated and used to measure the level of general and dental knowledge about metalloproteinases. A logit model was used to evaluate the influence of the following variables: "gender" (X1), "type of university" (X2), "marital status" (X3) and "age group" (X4), in the knowledge levels of the students, considering a p-value <.05. RESULTS: Of the 223 dentistry students, it was obtained that the level of knowledge about metalloproteinases was predominantly low with 82.1%, (95% confidence interval (CI): 77.1%-87.1%) of the total. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, "type of university" was the only variable that proved to have a significant influence (p = .022) on the level of knowledge about metalloproteinases with an odds ratio of (OR = 0.44; CI: 0.21-0.89), whilst the other variables "age group" (p > .05), "gender" (p = .058) and "marital status" (p = .114) were not considered influential factors. CONCLUSION: The majority of final year dental students in three Peruvian universities presented a low level of overall knowledge about metalloproteinases. In addition, private university students were 56% less likely to pass the subject knowledge test. On contrary, gender, age group and marital status did not significantly influence the level of knowledge of the students.

Factors associated with dental interns and professors perception of the management of disabled patients: A cross-sectional study under multivariable analysis.

Background: Patients with disabilities experience oral health inequalities, including increased disease prevalence and unmet healthcare needs. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated to the perceived management of patients with physical disabilities among dental interns and professors at a university located in the capital city and a branch in a province in Peru. Methods: This cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study included 100 dental interns and 75 Peruvian dental professors and was conducted from January to April 2022. A validated perception scale was used to evaluate the management of disabled patients. For the statistical analysis, the study employed Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test, along with a Poisson regression model that used robust variance. The adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) was utilized to evaluate perception while taking into account factors such as gender, age, marital status, origin, professional experience, previous treatment of a patient with physical disability, and previous cohabitation with a disabled patient. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: The 86 % of dental interns and 88 % of dental professors had a poor perception of managing disabled patients, with no significant association between them (p = 0.698). Male and female dental interns displayed significant differences in perception (p = 0.004), while no other variables showed significant differences (p < 0.05). Conversely, dental professors displayed significant differences in all variables analyzed (p < 0.05). In dental interns, gender was found to be the only influential variable, with females having a 41 % higher likelihood of perceiving disabled patient management poorly compared to males (APR = 1.41; 95 % CI: 1.04-1.91) (p = 0.028). However, gender was not found to be a significant factor for dental professors (p = 0.449). Conclusion: The majority of dental interns and professors had a poor perception of managing disabled patients, with no significant differences observed between them. Moreover, gender significantly influenced the perception of managing patients with physical disabilities among dental interns specifically. On the other hand, neither age, marital status, origin, professional experience, previous treatment of a patient with physical disability, nor previous cohabitation with a disabled patient were found to be associated factors among dental interns and professors.

Jawbone quality classification in dental implant planning and placement studies. A scoping review.

Aim: Cone beam computed tomography has become an attractive method for implant planning. However, in most cases, not all the information is taken advantage of and often the radiographic evaluation of bone quality is based on subjective assessment by the individual clinician. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine classifications of bone tissue characteristics and methods for assessing them in dental implant planning and placement studies. Materials and Methods: Three databases (Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science) were searched using specific index terms: "Bone quality, bone quantity, bone density, cone-beam CT and cone-beam computed tomography". Three reviewers selected titles and analyzed abstracts according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Some descriptions of bone tissue characteristics (bone quality, density, and quantity) used before or during dental implant placement were selected and categorized. Results: The search yielded 442 titles. A total of 32 articles were selected and read in full text. Seventeen articles were considered relevant. Different classification systems were found to evaluate bone tissue characteristics as well as different examination protocols. Thirteen publications included in this review reported on bone quality and quantity using the Lekholm and Zarb classification. However, only four studies implemented and/or proposed modifications of the Lekholm and Zarb system. Four other publications described bone quality according to different classification systems such as Misch, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), or Trisi and Rao. The assessment methods were often briefly described (or not described at all in one publication). Of the articles analyzed, five presented observer performance, whereas three presented diagnostic accuracy of the assessment method. Conclusion: Currently, there are different classification systems applied to dental implant planning and placement, particularly regarding whether bone quality or quantity affects treatment outcomes. However, most authors have not validated the diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility of the classification used. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a classification system consistent with characteristics of bone tissue, taking into consideration an adequate description of bone tissue assessment methods, their diagnostic accuracy, and observer performance.

Sociodemographic Factors Associated with the Satisfaction Level of Peruvian Dental Students with Virtual Classes During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Bicentric Study.

Background: The pandemic caused by Covid-19 impacted all areas of social, economic and educational activity. When there is a high risk of spreading highly infectious diseases, education is usually the first service to be suspended. The objective was to evaluate the sociodemographic factors associated with the satisfaction level of Peruvian dental students with virtual classes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional, analytical study evaluated 237 dental students from the capital city and one Peruvian province using a validated 13-item questionnaire to measure the level of satisfaction with virtual classes. Pearson's chi-square test and a logit model were used to evaluate the associated factors such as age group, sex, marital status, monthly family income, area of residence, place of origin, occupation and computer use, considering a significance level of p<0.05. Results: Of all students, 50.6%, 40.1% and 9.3% presented a good, average and poor level of satisfaction, respectively, with the virtual classes received. In addition, those with a monthly family income of less than 500 US dollars were 3.15 times more likely to have poor satisfaction compared to those with a monthly family income of more than 1000 US dollars (AOR = 3.15; 95% CI: 1.23-8.05). The rest of the variables evaluated were not considered influential factors in the levels of satisfaction with the virtual classes received. Conclusión: Of all students, 50.6% and 9.3% reported good and poor satisfaction with virtual classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. Monthly family income of less than 500 US dollars was an influential factor. In addition, the variables age group, sex, marital status, area of residence, place of origin, occupation and computer use were not found to be influential factors.

Factors Associated with Epidemiological, Preventive and Health Care Knowledge of Dentists from North of the Peruvian Capital about COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study under a Predictive Model.

Aim: In dental practice there is a high risk of contact with fluids that may contain SARS-CoV-2. Salivary secretions in the form of droplets are the main route of infection. The present study aimed to evaluate factors associated with epidemiological, preventive and health care knowledge of dentists from the north of the Peruvian capital about COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This analytical, observational, cross-sectional and prospective study evaluated 142 dental professionals from the Directorate of Integrated Health Networks (DIRIS) in the north of the Peruvian capital during June to August 2022. A validated questionnaire of 20 closed multiple-choice questions was used to measure the level of epidemiological, preventive and health care knowledge about COVID-19. A logit model was used to evaluate the influence of the following variables: age, sex, marital status, children, origin, university of origin, academic degree, work modality, work status and number of training courses. In addition, a predictive model was constructed with the causal variables considering a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Epidemiological, preventive and health care knowledge about COVID-19 was fair in 17.6%, 34.5% and 57.7%, respectively. Likewise, all the variables analyzed were influential factors. It was observed that being single (OR = 0.05, CI: 0.01−0.26), having studied at a private university (OR = 0.09, CI: 0.023−0.38) and having received four to six trainings on COVID-19 related topics (OR = 0.02, CI: 0.002−0.238) were protective factors against fair knowledge. Conclusions: More than half of the dentists surveyed had fair knowledge about COVID-19. The factors that favored a good level of overall knowledge were: being single, having studied at a private university and having received 4 to 6 training courses on COVID-19-related topics. It is advisable that the competent authorities continue to educate dental professionals with training programs about infection control practices in accordance with the health care work they perform in their specialty. It will also be of utmost importance for the professional to be updated with reliable information accredited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the WHO.

Effect of fibrin-rich plasma and collagen sponge on healing of the palatal mucosa.

Background: The purpose was to evaluate the variation in thickness and early healing of the donor area of the palate with the placement of a collagen sponge and the use of fibrin-rich plasma (L-PRF). Material and Methods: Thirty patients who required mucogingival surgery treatment were selected and distributed into 2 groups. After obtaining the free palate graft, L-PRF was placed in Group A, and a collagen sponge was placed in Group B. The healing process of the palate was evaluated at 24 hours and 7, 14, 21 and 28 days postsurgery. The thickness of the donor area (palate) was evaluated using an acrylic splint. These measurements were made before and 4 months after surgery. Results: In the collagen sponge group, less gain of the palatal mucosa was observed, with a mean difference of 0.1 ± 0.8 mm (CI: -0.341-0.518) (p=0.691), whereas in the fibrin-rich plasma group, a mean difference of 0.0 ± 0.5 mm (CI: -0.229-0.229) (p=0.934) was found; however, when comparing the gain of the palatal mucosa in both groups, no significant difference was observed (p=0.932). The healing index at 24 hours indicated the presence of clots, on Day 28 vascularisation and total epithelialisation (100.0%), and finally, the collagen sponge group on Day 14 presented 93.3% partial vascularisation of connective tissue and 33.3% L-PRF (p=0.001). Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference in the thickness of the palatal mucosa after the use of L-PRF and the collagen sponge. Key words:Palate thickness, connective tissue graft, fibrin-rich plasma, collagen sponge, palate healing.

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Associated With Fear of COVID-19 in Peruvian Dental Students: A Multivariate Analysis With 12 Sociodemographic Factors.

Aims and Objectives: Excessive fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in dental students could cause mood disorders, especially if there are factors in the environment that generate feelings of anxiety or uncertainty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fear of COVID-19 and its association with depression, anxiety, and stress in Peruvian dental students according to their sociodemographic factors. Materials and Methods: This analytical, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted in 398 dental students of a public university in the Peruvian capital during April 2021 to July 2021. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 items was used to diagnose depression, anxiety, and stress. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale was used to detect fear of COVID-19. The Pearson's chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. In addition, a logit model using odds ratio (OR) was performed to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress of students with the associated factors: fear of COVID-19 and 12 sociodemographic variables (gender, age group, marital status, year of study, origin, companion, living with vulnerable people, history of mental illness, history of COVID-19, loss of close relatives due to COVID-19, occupation, and area of residence). A significance level of P < .05 was considered. In addition, predictive models were developed for the variables depression, anxiety, and stress, considering all possible significant causes. Results: The prevalence of fear of COVID-19, depression, anxiety, and stress was 19.6%, 36.2%, 40.7%, and 19.6%, respectively. According to the adjusted logit model, students who had fear of COVID-19 had OR = 2.74 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.62-4.64), OR = 5.59 (95% CI: 3.14-9.97), and OR = 3.31 (95% CI: 1.88-5.83) for developing depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. In addition, those who reported history of mental illness were four times more likely to develop depression (OR = 4.02, 95% CI: 1.96-8.25) and anxiety (OR = 4.50, 95% CI: 2.06-9.82), whereas those living with people vulnerable to COVID-19 were twice as likely to develop stress (OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.16-3.66). Conclusion: The highest prevalence of mood disorders among dental students was anxiety. In addition, those who were afraid of COVID-19 had three times the probability of developing depression and stress, and five times the probability of developing anxiety. On the other hand, the most influential factor in the development of depression and anxiety was history of mental illness, whereas the factor of living with vulnerable people was the most influential factor in the development of stress.

Factors Associated with the Level of Knowledge about Biosafety against COVID-19 in Peruvian Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional Study under a Multivariable Regression Model.

AIM: Biosafety is a set of preventive measures aimed at controlling risk factors arising from biological, physical, and/or chemical agents. This topic is particularly important in the dental field since saliva is the main biological agent of the transmission of coronavirus. The present study aimed to determine the factors associated with the level of knowledge about biosafety against COVID-19 in Peruvian dentistry students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study evaluated 312 Peruvian dentistry students. A validated 20-question questionnaire was used to measure the level of knowledge. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare levels of knowledge between categories of each variable. A logit model was used to evaluate associated factors such as sex, age, marital status, place of origin, academic year of study, being in the academic upper third, history of COVID-19, and living with vulnerable family members. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered. RESULTS: 36.2%, 31.4%, and 32.4% presented poor, fair, and good knowledge levels, respectively. Students under 25 years of age were 64% less likely to pass the biosafety against COVID-19 questionnaire than students 25 years of age and older (OR = 0.36; CI: 0.20-0.66). Students in the academic upper third were nine times more likely to pass the test than other students (OR = 9.38; CI: 4.61-19.07). Finally, third-year students were 52% less likely to pass the exam than fifth-year students (OR = 0.48; CI: 0.28-0.83). CONCLUSION: Only a minority of dentistry students had a good level of knowledge about biosafety against COVID-19. Younger and less educated students were more likely to fail the questionnaire. On the other hand, those students with outstanding academic performance were more likely to pass the questionnaire.

Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Knowledge About Management of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients in Peruvian Dental Students: A Logistic Regression Analysis.

Background: Cleft lip and palate are relatively frequent craniofacial alterations caused by the lack of union of the frontonasal processes with the maxillary processes during the first weeks of intrauterine life. This study evaluated the sociodemographic factors associated with the level of knowledge about management of cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients in Peruvian dental students. Methods: This analytical, observational, cross-sectional and prospective study evaluated 191 dental students belonging to two branches of a private Peruvian university (one branch in the capital city and the other in a province), from September to November 2022. A validated questionnaire of 14 closed multiple-choice questions was used. A logit model was used to evaluate the influence of the variables: sex, age, academic year of study, marital status, relationship with CLP persons, place of origin and area of residence, on the level of knowledge of the students considering a significance level of p<0.05. Results: Of the total, 77%, 22.5% and 0.5% presented a poor, fair and good level of knowledge, respectively, on the dental management of the patient with cleft lip and palate. In addition, those who lived in urban areas were 2.8 times more likely to have poor knowledge about the dental management of patients with CLP, compared to those who lived in non-urban areas (OR = 2.83; 95% CI: 1.26-6.33). Finally, sex, age, marital status, place of origin, academic year of studies and relationship with CLP persons were not considered influential factors (p>0.05). Conclusion: Most of the students showed a poor level of knowledge about the dental management of patients with cleft lip and palate, a risk factor being that the students live in an urban area. It is recommended that educational authorities include selected topics on CLP in subjects related to infant, child and adolescent care.

Sociodemographic Factors Associated with the Level of Knowledge of Early Postpartum Women about Oral Health Prevention in Infants Aged 0 to 2 Years Old: A Cross-Sectional Study under a Multivariable Analysis.

The objective was to evaluate the sociodemographic factors associated with the level of knowledge of early puerperal women about oral health prevention in infants. This cross-sectional and analytical study evaluated 303 early puerperal women from a hospital in the Peruvian capital. A validated 18-question questionnaire was used to measure the level of knowledge. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the influence of age, marital status, educational level, number of children, monthly income, and having a dentist as a family member. A significance of p < 0.05 was considered. A total of 46.86%, 30.36%, and 22.77% of the puerperal had poor, fair, and good knowledge, respectively. The risk of having poor knowledge was two times higher (OR = 2.43; CI: 1.26-4.70) in early postpartum women aged 18 to 25 years than in those older than 35 years. Early postpartum women with no education, primary and secondary education were 11 times (OR = 11.76; CI: 2.41-57.43), 6 times (OR = 6.61; CI: 1.72-25.45), and 5 times (OR = 5.50; CI: 1.52-19.89), respectively, more likely to have significantly poor knowledge compared to those with university education. In conclusion, only a small minority of early postpartum women had a good knowledge of oral health prevention in infants aged 0 to 2 years. Younger and less educated puerperal were at greater risk of having little knowledge on this topic. Finally, not having basic education was the main risk factor identified.

Impact of a virtual educational intervention on knowledge and awareness of biomedical waste management among Peruvian dental professionals.

Waste from healthcare is a significant global issue, with around 85% of it being common waste and the remaining 15% being hazardous waste that is infectious and toxic. Dentistry uses various materials that create a substantial amount of biomedical waste capable of impacting the environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a virtual educational program on the knowledge and awareness of dental material recycling and reuse, as well as biomedical waste management, among dental professionals in Peru. The current study was a longitudinal and quasi-experimental evaluation of 165 dentists from Peru. A validated questionnaire consisting of 30 items was administered at three different intervals (pre-test, immediate post-test, and 14-day post-test). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis H tests to compare scores between categories of each sociodemographic variable, and the Cochrane's Q and Friedman test was used for related measures comparison. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered. When comparing the percentage of correct responses regarding recycling and reuse of dental materials and biomedical waste management between the pre-test and the immediate post-test, a significant improvement in knowledge was observed for most of the questionnaire items (p < 0.05). At 14 days after the test, those who studied at a private university, unmarried, bachelors, non-specialists, non-teachers and have less than 10 years of professional experience did not did not retain knowledge on biomedical waste management (p < 0.05) or recycling and reusing dental materials (p < 0.05) to a significant extent. There was a significant enhancement in dentists' knowledge and awareness of managing biomedical waste, recycling, and reusing dental materials following the educational intervention. This improvement was observed across all sociodemographic variables considered in the study. However, this knowledge was not retained beyond two weeks for those who studied at a private university, unmarried, bachelor, with no specialty, non-teachers and with less than 10 years of professional experience. Government authorities should encourage oral health professionals to conduct research with educational interventions focused on improving and evaluating the sustainability and environmental impact of dental practices. This will enable professionals to better understand, control and evaluate the consequences of their practical work.

Resonance Frequency Analysis Mapping During Implant Healing Using a Nanostructured Hydroxyapatite Surface.

Aim: Stability measured by resonance frequency analysis (RFA) is an important factor to be considered in the success of dental implant treatments, which can be evaluated from the implant stability quotient (ISQ). The aim of the present case series was to map the RFA during healing of implants with nanostructured hydroxyapatite surface to describe the behavior of ISQ values related to individual factors. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three implants were placed in eight patients by conventional surgical protocol, and ISQ values were monitored from the day of implant placement until week 20. To obtain the ISQ values, an Osstell device was used and the placed implants were grouped in proportional amounts to describe the ISQ behavior considering the length (≤10 or >10 mm), the diameter (3.5 or 4.3 mm), the insertion torque (<40 N-cm or ≥40 N-cm), and the placement area (maxilla or mandible). Results: All the implants assessed decreased their values in the first 3 weeks after placement. Subsequently, the ISQ values increased by amounts similar to those obtained at the time of the placement and even more. Implants with length >10 mm, diameter 4.3 mm, and insertion torque ≥40 N-cm showed the highest ISQ values. Conclusions: A decrease in the ISQ values of dental implants with nanostructured hydroxyapatite surface was evidenced between weeks 2 and 3 considering length, diameter, insertion torque, and maxillary or mandibular placement site.

Impact of Puppet Theater on Oral Health Knowledge and Oral Hygiene in Preschoolers from a Peruvian Educational Institution: A Quasi-experimental Study.

Aim: The puppet theater, due to its artistic and educational characteristics, could allow children to develop oral health self-care in an attractive and fun way. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of puppet theater on oral health knowledge and oral hygiene in preschoolers from a Peruvian public school. Materials and Methods: An analytical, longitudinal, and quasi-experimental study was conducted in 132 preschoolers divided into three age-matched groups (3, 4, and 5 years old) from August to November 2019 in a Peruvian public school. At 4 weeks and 4 months after performing the puppet theater, a validated questionnaire of five closed questions was used to evaluate oral health knowledge, and the Greene-Vermillion index [only bacterial plaque index (BPI) part] was used to evaluate oral hygiene, considering good (0-0.6), fair (0.7-1.8), and poor (1.9-3.0). The theater sessions were held every week for the first month and every 2 weeks for the following 3 months. To analyze the levels in the BPI, the Wilcoxon and Friedman test was used to compare related measures, and to compare the knowledge for each question of the questionnaire, the McNemar and Cochran's Q tests were used, considering a P-value less than 0.05. Results: The BPI in relation to age (3, 4, and 5 years), before and after 4 months of performing the puppet theater, was 1.9 [confidence interval (CI): 1.7-2.0], 1.8 (CI: 1.6-1.9), and 1.8 (CI: 1.7-2.0), decreasing to 0.9 (CI: 0.8-1.0), 0.8 (CI: 0.7-0.9), and 0.9 (CI: 0.8-1.00), respectively. In relation to gender (men and women), it was 1.8 (CI: 1.7-2.0) and 1.8 (CI: 1.7-1.9), decreasing to 0.9 (CI: 0.8-1.0) and 0.8 (CI: 0.8-0.9), respectively. In relation to origin (urban or rural), it was 1.8 (CI: 1.7-1.9) and 1.8 (CI: 1.4-2.2), decreasing to 0.9 (CI: 0.8-0.9) and 0.8 (CI: 0.7-0.9), respectively. The level of BPI and oral health knowledge improved significantly (P < 0.001) over time in all preschoolers, except in those who came from the rural area (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The application of the puppet theater positively influenced the preschoolers in such a way that it significantly improved their oral health knowledge and oral hygiene at 4 weeks and 4 months, in both genders of 3, 4, and 5 years of age, and in those whose origin was the urban area. However, no significant improvements in oral health knowledge and oral hygiene were observed in those preschoolers whose origin was the rural area.

Psychological distress facing the COVID-19 pandemic in dental interns from the Peruvian capital: A cross-sectional study under a multivariable regression model.

Aim: Psychological distress can be considered a maladaptive response to a stressful situation that occurs when external events or stressors impose demands that cannot be coped with. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the sociodemographic factors associated with psychological distress in dental interns from the Peruvian capital facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: This analytical, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 392 Stomatology interns from the Peruvian capital from June to July 2022. The validated COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) scale to detect the levels of psychological distress consisted of four dimensions: negative mood, changes in behavior and cognitive skills, fatigue and hyperreactivity, and somatization. Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used for bivariable analysis. In addition, a logit model was used to assess the influence of variables: sex (X1), age group (X2), marital status (X3), monthly economic income (X4), working area in the capital city (X5), and living with people vulnerable to COVID-19 (X6), with the psychological distress levels, considering a significance p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of psychological distress in dental interns was severe in 6.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.9-8.8%] and mild in 37.8% (95% CI: 33.0-42.6%). According to bivariable analysis, the levels of psychological distress by COVID-19 were not significantly associated with sex (p = 0.190), age group (p = 0.418), marital status (p = 0.554), monthly economic income (p = 0.327), working area in the capital city (p = 0.993), and living with people vulnerable to COVID-19 (p = 0.134). In addition, according to the logistic regression analysis, none of the variables studied was considered an influential factor (p > 0.05) in psychological distress presented by dental interns. Conclusion: The 44.2% of dental interns from the Peruvian capital presented psychological distress facing the COVID-19 pandemic, without any of the possible associated variables of this study significantly affecting this behavioral disorder.

Psychological impact on dental students and professionals in a Lima population during COVID-19s wave: a study with predictive models.

Peru was the country with the highest COVID-19 case fatality rate worldwide during second wave of infection, with dentists and pre-professional students being susceptible to infection due to clinical procedures they perform. This situation could have generated some kind of psychological disorder within this group. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess how COVID-19 pandemic affected this population group during second wave, in relation to depression, anxiety and stress. This observational and cross-sectional study in 368 Peruvian dentists (186 students and 182 professionals), was carried out during August to November 2021. The DASS-21 Scale was used to diagnose depression, anxiety and stress. For the statistical analysis, Pearson's chi-square test was used, in addition to a logit model using odds ratio (OR) to evaluate depression, anxiety and stress with the following factors: gender, age group, marital status, monthly family income, children, academic level, history of COVID-19, COVID-19 symptomatology, close relative with COVID-19, living with vulnerable people and work dedication. In addition, predictive models were constructed considering all possible significant causes. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered. Dental students and professionals presented significant differences in levels of depression, anxiety and stress (p < 0.001, p = 0.022, p = 0.001; respectively). Male students were 56% less likely to develop stress (OR 0.44; CI 0.22-0.85) compared to females; while those unmarried were 81% less likely to develop stress (OR 0.19; CI 0.04-0.85). Likewise, those with children were 83% less likely to develop stress (OR 0.17; CI 0.06-0.52) and 65% less likely to develop depression (OR 0.35; CI 0.15-0.80). In addition, COVID-19 asymptomatics were 60% less likely to develop depression (OR 0.40; CI 0.17-0.92). However, having relatives with COVID-19 caused almost three times the probability of developing depression (OR 2.96; CI 1.29-6.79) and twice the probability of developing stress (OR 2.49; CI 1.07-5.78). As for dental professionals, it was noticed that those unmarried had almost three times the probability of developing stress (OR 2.93; CI 1.38-6.23); while those who only worked had twice the probability of developing stress (OR 2.37; CI 1.17-4.78). Dental students had a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress. In addition, having children and being asymptomatic were protective predictors for depression, while being male, unmarried and having children were protective predictors for stress. However, having a relative with COVID-19 was a risk predictor for depression and stress. In professionals, only working and being unmarried were risk predictors for stress.

Evaluation of Buccal Bone Wall Thickness of Anterosuperior Teeth and Nasopalatine Duct Morphology in Cone Beam Computed Tomography of Patients Living at Different Altitudes: A Two-Year Retrospective Study.

AIM: To evaluate the buccal bone wall thickness of anterosuperior teeth and the dimension and morphology of the nasopalatine duct in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of patients treated in two cities at different altitudes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective analytical study, 79 CBCT scans were selected from a total of 347 in Juliaca, Peru (3824 m a.s.l.) and 171 CBCT scans were selected from a total of 622 in Lima, Peru (154 m a.s.l.). The buccal bone wall thickness of anterosuperior teeth was measured at 1 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm from the alveolar crest. For the nasopalatine duct, its length and diameter were measured, and its anatomical shape was determined in coronal view. Descriptive statistical data such as mean and standard deviation were used, and Mann-Whitney U test was used for bivariate analysis. RESULTS: When comparing the CBCT scans from both cities, significant differences were observed in buccal bone wall thickness at 3 mm and 5 mm from the alveolar crest (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively); for men, at 1 mm and 3 mm (P = 0.04 and P = 0.04); for the age group from 33 to 47 years, at 3 mm and 5 mm (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01); and for the age group from 48 to 77 years, at 1 mm (P = 0.02). Regarding the nasopalatine duct, significant differences were observed in women in relation to length and nasal opening diameter (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01) and for men, in length (P < 0.01); for the age group from 18 to 32 years, in all three levels (P < 0.01); for the age group from 33 to 47 years, in length and diameter of the oral opening (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01); and for the age group from 48 to 77 years, in length and diameter of the nasal opening (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01). The most frequent nasopalatine duct shape was a single canal with more than 66% of cases, according to sex and age group. CONCLUSION: Patients living at different altitudes presented significant differences in buccal bone wall thickness according to sex and age; however, there were no differences related to dental inclination. Significant differences were found in the length and diameter of the nasopalatine duct at the nasal opening. In addition, the most frequent shape of the nasopalatine duct was the simple canal.