AN ANALYSIS OF EXPERIENCES AND PROBLEMS FACED BY THE DENTISTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED SURVEY

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 pandemic started in December and spread around the globe in a few months. Nosocomial transmission of this virus shut down the dental clinics and creates many problems for patients. This study was designed to assess the experiences and problems faced by the dentist during the pandemic. The was a cross sectional questionnaire-based survey conducted in different dental sectors of Lahore. The questionnaire was distributed through online Microsoft form and total of seventy-eight complete responses were received out of 156 dentists contacted.69.2 % of participants reported that they stop taking appointments during the peaks of pandemic or have planned to stay at home till the end of the pandemic where 27% claimed to perform only emergency procedures. 86% of dentists reported having difficulty finding PPE and 97% had to buy it at a much higher cost. Dentists (96%) also reported that they are facing a significant decrease in income and needed some other source of income. Regarding financial issues they did not get any government support.The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on dentistry. Most dental clinics remained closed, placing a financial burden on the dental profession. This burden was further increased as a result of the scarcity and high cost of PPE. There is a need for standardized protocols to prevent the spread of infection, and government agencies should also consider private clinics for funding and provision of low-cost PPE.

Digital Workflow for Homemade Aligner

Advanced digital technology is rapidly changing the world, as well as transforming the dental profession. The adoption of digital technologies in dental offices allied with efficient processes and accurate high-strength materials are replacing conventional aligners workflows to improve overall patients’ experiences and outcomes. Various digital devices such as 3D printers, intraoral and face scanners, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), software for computer 3D ortho setup, and 3D printing provide new potential alternatives to replace the traditional outsourced workflow for aligners. With this new technology, the entire process for bringing clear aligner production in-office can significantly reduce laboratory bills and increase patient case acceptance to provide high-quality and customized aligner therapy.

Cimentos de silicato, fabricados no Brasil, face às normas internacionais

The properties, according to international specifications, of two dental silicate cements manufactured in Brazil, have been investigated. The products comply to the specifications, except as to compressive strenght valuse, which seemed particullarly low in one of the products. Dissemination of this type of information will not only assist tse dental profession in selecting proper materials, but will also encourage and stimulate the improvement in the manufacturing of dental materials.

Diversity and Career Progression in Dental School Staff in the UK and Ireland

IntroductionDiversity is known to be important but diversity of staff working in dental schools in the UK and Ireland is low in comparison with the dental profession and the overall population. AimsTo provide a detailed snapshot of the diversity of dental academic staff in 2021 including staff working in academic and clinical roles.MethodsAn online survey was circulated to dental schools by Dental Schools Council. Questions included dates of graduation and key career milestones, demographics and indicators of esteem. Free text questions were also included.ResultsThere was a high degree of variability in dental academic careers which made direct comparisons difficult. Neither gender nor race appeared to be associated with a faster career progression. Females and those of racialised minority were less represented at the most senior grades. For those who had completed specialty training, racialised minority staff were far less likely to be working at consultant grade than their White equivalents.ConclusionThere are differences in career progression between staff in dental schools. The high amount of individual variability makes these difficult to quantify except at the most senior positions. Qualitative information is needed to contextualise the results and provide additional information.

Minimal Invasive Dentistry: An Emerging Trend

When first introduced, the term Minimal Intervention Dentistry (MID) referred to use of smaller and more conservative cavity preparations. Today, concept is much broader, being a philosophy of care related to risk assessment of individual patients, early detection of oral disease, targeted preventively orientated strategies and limited surgical intervention appropriate to level of disease1-3. “Extension for prevention” which was previously taught has been changed to “Prevention of extension”. Though concept of MID has been stressed upon for more than a decade, but its uptake has not been global. MID should be the standard of care in modern dentistry, as it avoids over-zealous restorative interventions as well as supervised neglect. As dental profession worldwide grapples with challenges of dealing with high rates of dental diseases in socially disadvantaged and medically compromised patients, it is even more important to incorporate these concepts into practice to deal with challenge of management of oral diseases. This review focuses on the concept and techniques of minimal invasive dentistry as an emerging trend in paediatric dentistry. Keywords: paediatric dentistry, MID

Osteogenesis imperfecta: minimizing complications in oral surgery/orthodontic treatment

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic condition that affects connective tissue and is primarily characterized by bone fragility. Owing to the progressive nature of the disease, patients require life-long management of the adverse effects and the subsequent complications they can experience. Since the introduction of bisphosphonates as a treatment modality, complications and bone deformities associated with OI have been minimized. However, intravenous bisphosphonates in young patients could present a new era of difficulties for the dental profession. We report on a case of a patient with OI who presented with severe orthodontic crowding and describe the multidisciplinary treatment planning required to minimize potential complications. CPD/Clinical Relevance: General dental practitioners should be aware of the characteristics of osteogenesis imperfecta and the potential complications associated with dental treatment.