Czech and Slovak Dental Students' Oral Health-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours (KAB): Multi-Country Cross-Sectional Study

Knowledge of and Attitude Toward Preventive Care Among Iraqi Dentists and Senior Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES

Acquiring knowledge and maintaining a positive mindset are essential for dental care providers to offer optimal dental services. Dental professionals are expected to follow preventive dentistry principles to ensure the best oral health maintenance for their patients, as prevention is a key component of public health initiatives. This study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward preventive dental care among Iraqi dentists and senior dental students.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study, conducted from June to August 2023, involved 876 Iraqi dentists and 587 senior dental students in Baghdad, utilizing a physically paper-based self-administered questionnaire. Participants' level of knowledge was assessed based on a 5-point Likert scale to 12 statements on preventive dental care. Their attitudes were inquired by selecting one option from a 7-point Likert scale on four pairs of bipolar adjectives describing preventive dentistry. Higher scores were considered more accurate knowledge and more positive attitudes. Statistical evaluation included the Chi-square test and regression analysis.

RESULTS

In total, data from 841 dentists and 567 students were analyzed (response rate: 96%). Around 90% of dentists (N=745) and students (N=502) acknowledged the impact of sugar, sealant, and water fluoridation on dental caries, but about 80% of dentists (N=662) and students (N=446) undervalued the role of fluoridated toothpaste. Women (OR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.02-2.1) and dentists, within one year of their graduation (OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.5), exhibited higher levels of knowledge. More favorable attitudes towards preventive dentistry were associated with a higher level of knowledge among dentists (OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.3). Regarding dental students, those from private dental schools showed higher scores of knowledge than their counterparts from public schools (OR=2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4). The majority of participants held the belief that preventive dentistry is beneficial for the community but just about 60% of dentists (N=477) and students (N=300) exhibited a positive attitude toward the economic advantages of preventive dentistry for dentists, as well as the ease of engaging in preventive dental practices.

CONCLUSIONS

The dentists and dental students in this study demonstrated satisfactory knowledge and a favorable attitude toward most aspects of preventive dentistry. However, deficiencies were noted in certain areas, such as the application of topical fluoride for preventing dental caries, as well as a substantial proportion of individuals who lacked a positive perspective on the economic benefits of preventive dentistry. Hence, there is a clear need for educational interventions during their undergraduate training and postgraduate continuing education to enhance their knowledge levels and cultivate a more positive attitude towards preventive dentistry.

Efficacy of seventh generation bonding agents as desensitizers in patients with dentin hypersensitivity: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is one of the most challenging and persistent dental complaints characterized by transient, intense pain triggered by various stimuli. It affects a significant portion of the global population, predominantly those aged 20-40. This study aims to evaluate the desensitizing efficacy of seventh-generation dentin bonding agents (Single Bond Universal by 3 M ESPE and Xeno-V + by Dentsply) against a control group using Bifluorid 12 by Voco in mitigating DH within a month of the follow-up period.

METHODS

This was a single-center, parallel-group, double-blind, controlled randomized clinical trial conducted at Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 105 patients with DH were allocated into three groups for this study. The patients were divided into three groups (Single Bond Universal by 3 M ESPE and Xeno-V + by Dentsply) and the control group containing fluoride varnish (Bifluorid 12 by Voco). Discomfort Interval Scale scores and Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale scores were recorded at baseline, immediately after the intervention, after 01 weeks, and after 01 month.

RESULTS

All the materials demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in discomfort and sensitivity (DIS scores p-value 0.01) immediately after 01 week and over a period of 01 month after treatment compared with the baseline scores before application, with no single material proving superior over the one-month observation period. The study also provided insights into dental hygiene practices, with a significant majority using a toothbrush and sensitivity patterns, with cold stimuli being the most common cause of sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates that Single Bond Universal, Xeno V+, and Bifluorid 12 are equally effective in reducing dentin hypersensitivity, with no distinct superiority observed over a one-month period. The findings highlight the potential of fluoride varnishes as a less technique-sensitive and cost-effective option for treating DH, offering valuable insights for future research and clinical practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04225247 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04225247 ), Date of Registration: 13/01/2020. (Retrospectively registered).