Risk factors influencing dentists' hepatitis B-related knowledge and attitudes and their willingness to treat hepatitis B positive patients.

This study assessed factors that could predict dentists' knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards hepatitis B virus (HBV). A total of 300 dentists in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran were surveyed and their demographic, educational and office characteristics were analysed in relation to their scores on knowledge about HBV, self-reported attitudes towards treating people infected with HBV and actual behaviour towards treating simulated HBV-positive patients. Having a Master's degree, faculty membership, taking ≥ 3 continuing education courses, wearing eye-shields, spending more time on preparing dental units and higher self-confidence about knowledge predicted better knowledge. A positive attitude was associated with having attended more courses and working in group practice. The number of courses and a shorter dental unit preparation time positively affected dentists' behaviour.

Comparison of pulp response to mineral trioxide aggregate and a bioceramic paste in partial pulpotomy of sound human premolars: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: This randomized clinical trial evaluated clinical sign/symptoms as well as histological pulp reactions in terms of inflammation and mineralized bridge formation after partial pulpotomy of sound human premolars and placement of a bioceramic paste (iRoot BP) or tooth-colored ProRoot MTA as pulp-covering biomaterials. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-four human sound premolars were randomly allocated into two experimental groups (n = 12) treated either with iRoot BP or MTA subsequent to partial pulpotomy. Six weeks after treatment, clinical sign/symptoms and radiographic changes were evaluated. The teeth were then extracted and examined histologically for inflammatory status of the pulp, formation of hard tissue bridge and appearance of the bridge. In terms of pulp inflammation and dentinal bridge formation, the Mann-Whitney U, and for clinical signs, the chi-square test was used (α = 0.05). RESULTS: In terms of pulp inflammation, formation of hard tissue bridge and its appearance, the differences between the two experimental groups were not significant. However, clinical sensitivity to cold was significantly less for teeth treated with MTA (P < 0.05). All cases had formed a hard tissue bridge, and none of the specimens in either group had pulpal necrosis. CONCLUSION: When treating teeth with healthy pulps, the response to partial pulpotomy treatment with both MTA and iRoot BP was favourable. However, pulps covered with iRoot BP were more sensitive to cold stimuli.

Tehran dentists' knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis B and their willingness to treat simulated hepatitis B positive patients.

The dental profession has a high risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) contamination and can play a crucial role in controlling HBV cross-contamination. In this cross-sectional study we used unique methods to assess Tehran dentists' knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding HBV. Two simulated HBV-positive patients visited 300 general/specialist dentists in their offices and recorded dentists' willingness to treat them. Later, the dentists were interviewed regarding their knowledge about hepatitis B and attitude to HBV-positive patients. The mean knowledge score of dentists was 14.3 (SD 6.9) out of 44 and the mean attitude score was 20.0 (SD 3.6) out of 39. A majority of dentists (55.6%) were willing to treat a patient with HBV, unconditionally or with conditions. Some individual attitude items correlated with knowledge items concerning transmission of the virus and its prevention. Dentists' willingness to treat patients did not correlate with knowledge or attitude, except for the attitude item on concern about becoming infected.

Tehran dentists' self-reported knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and observed willingness to treat simulated HIV-positive patients.

Dentists' self-reported attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS might not reflect their actual behaviour. In this study 2 observers posed as HIV-positive patients and directly evaluated the behaviour of 300 dentists in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Two months later another observer interviewed the same dentists at their offices regarding AIDS-related knowledge and self-reported attitudes. Only 14.9% of dentists agreed to treat the simulated HIV-positive patients, 78.5% referred and 6.6% rejected them. Older age, longer work experience, graduation from a non-Iranian university and not having additional degrees were significantly related to adverse behaviours. Mean scores were 8.3 (SD 9.7) (out of 18) for knowledge and 17.5 (SD 7.1) (out of 39) for attitude. There were no significant correlations between dentists' knowledge and attitude or between knowledge and behaviour, but there was a weak positive correlation between self-reported attitude and observed behaviour.

Predicting the size of unerupted canines and premolars using primary maxillary first molar.

AIM: One of the most important aspects of interceptive orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning is space analysis. To date all methods use the size of permanent teeth to predict the dimensions of unerupted teeth. The aim of this study was to predict the permanent teeth size using maxillary primary first molar. METHODS: The size of primary maxillary first molars and permanent canines and premolars of 80 subjects was measured on their dental casts. Regression equations were determined between the size of primary maxillary first molars and permanent canines and premolars. RESULTS: The new regression equations for predicting permanent tooth size in the maxilla and mandible were, respectively, Y = 2.2X + 13 and Y = 2.4X + 9.5 among females and Y = 2.7X + 5.5 and Y = 2.4X + 9.5 among males. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the primary maxillary first molar size can be used to predict the size of unerupted permanent teeth.

Tehran dentists' knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis B and their willingness to treat simulated hepatitis B positive patients

The dental profession has a high risk of hepatitis B virus [HBV] contamination and can play a crucial role in controlling HBV cross-contamination. In this cross-sectional study we used unique methods to assess Tehran dentists’ knowledge,attitude and behaviour regarding HBV. Two simulated HBV-positive patients visited 300 general/specialist dentists in their offices and recorded dentists’ willingness to treat them.Later, the dentists were interviewed regarding their knowledge about hepatitis B and attitude to HBV-positive patients. The mean knowledge score of dentists was 14.3 [SD 6.9] out of 44 and the mean attitude score was 20.0 [SD 3.6] out of 39. A majority of dentists [55.6%] were willing to treat a patient with HBV, unconditionally or with conditions. Some individual attitude items correlated with knowledge items concerning transmission of the virus and its prevention. Dentists’ willingness to treat patients did not correlate with knowledge or attitude, except for the attitude item on concern about becoming infected

La profession dentaire est à haut risque de contamination par le virus de l'hépatite B et peut jouer un rôle crucial dans la lutte contre la contamination croisée par ce virus. Dans cette présente étude transversale, des méthodes uniques ont été adoptée pour évaluer les connaissances,les attitudes et les comportements des dentistes de Téhéran vis-à-vis du virus de l'hépatite B. Deux patients déclarant une infection fictive par le virus de l'hépatite B ont rendu visite à 300 dentistes spécialistes ou généralistes sur leur lieu d'exercice et ont pris note de leur disposition à les traiter.Dans un deuxième temps, les dentistes ont été interrogés sur leurs connaissances en matière d'hépatite B et leur attitude vis-à-vis des patients infectés par le virus. Le score moyen des dentistes pour les connaissances était de 14,3 [ET 6,9] sur 44 tandis que le score moyen pour l'attitude était de 20,0 [ET 3,6] sur 39. La majorité des dentistes [55,6 %] étaient disposés à traiter un patient infecté par le virus de l'hépatite B, avec ou sans conditions. Certains items concernant l'attitude individuelle étaient corrélés aux items concernant les connaissances relatives la transmission du virus et sa prévention. La disposition des dentistes à traiter des patients infectés n'était pas corrélée aux connaissances ni à l'attitude, à l'exception de l'item concernant l'attitude relative à la crainte de contracter l'infection

Tehran dentists' self-reported knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and observed willingness to treat simulated HIV-positive patients

Dentists' self-reported attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS might not reflect their actual behaviour. In this study 2 observers posed as HIV-positive patients and directly evaluated the behaviour of 300 dentists in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Two months later another observer interviewed the same dentists at their offices regarding AIDS-related knowledge and self-reported attitudes. Only 14.9% of dentists agreed to treat the simulated HIV-positive patients, 78.5% referred and 6.6% rejected them. Older age, longer work experience, graduation from a non-Iranian university and not having additional degrees were significantly related to adverse behaviours. Mean scores were 8.3 [SD 9.7] [out of 18] for knowledge and 17.5 [SD 7.1] [out of 39] for attitude. There were no significant correlations between dentists' knowledge and attitude or between knowledge and behaviour, but there was a weak positive correlation between self-reported attitude and observed behaviour