Digital Entrepreneurship via Sustainable Online Communication of Dentistry Profession, Oradea, Romania: A Longitudinal Analysis

Dentistry is an entrepreneurially oriented public interest profession that must maintain a balance between professional specificity and business sustainability. Communicating with patients is vital in a competitive system, and the dentist needs to use handy resources such as websites and social media. The aim of this research is (a) to examine whether websites and social networks are a digital entrepreneurship tool used in the dentistry profession in Oradea, a city in full economic development in Romania, to promote the profession nationally and internationally, (b) to compare the changes made using digital tools in the period between 2018–2021 for all licensed dentists in the mentioned city (between 430–450 people, depending on the stage of analysis) using the content analysis method and (c) to identify how the lockdown period imposed by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced not only the sustainability of the medical services provided to the population but also the communication practices of the dental offices. The results of examining the dentist’s online presence reveal that there is an interest among practitioners to grow their business sustainably through a digital presence that is increasingly relevant to them and their clients, but the potential remains under-exploited.

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.

Research Confirms Effectiveness of Oral Health Preventive Practices

Lack of insurance or funds for dental services, lack of access to dental offices, fear of dentists, and avoidance of dental offices during COVID can lead to oral health problems in older adults. Brushing, flossing, and drinking fluoridated water can protect teeth when dentists are unavailable. Limiting intake frequency of carbohydrates and chewing sugarfree gum after eating add protection. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed the effectiveness of sugarfree gum in reducing caries, in children and adults who chewed sugarfree gum compared with those who did not chew. Chewing sugarfree gum significantly reduced caries increment, with a prevented fraction of 28 percent, roughly equivalent to the prevented fractions for fluoride toothpastes and supplements. A follow-up systematic review provides further evidence that chewing sugarfree gum reduces the numbers of Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity. Finally, chewing sugarfree gum could alleviate symptoms of xerostomia and may reduce caries.

Prevalence of nonsyndromic hypodontia in a south-east Transylvanian region.

Introduction. Clinicians claim that the prevalence of hypodontia has skyrocketed in recent years. However, there is no clear evidence whether it is really a change in dentition in Homo Sapiens or a purely hypothetical observation, due to the advanced modern technology used in the diagnosis of dento-maxillary anomalies. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and distribution of nonsyndromic hypodontia in young patients from the South-East Transylvanian region of Romania. Material and methods. A number of 325 dental charts were selected. The patients who needed orthodontic treatment were treated in the Pedodontics Department and Orthodontic Department of UMFST “George Emil Palade“ Targu Mures and two private dental offices during 2017-2019. The age of the patients was between 12 and 25 at the moment when the clinical and paraclinical examination were performed. Results. From a total number of 275 cases investigated, 78 patients were diagnosed with hypodontia in permanent dentition, not taking into consideration the third molars. Hypodontia’s prevalence is 6.47% for patients which seek orthodontic treatment, without taking into consideration the third molars. This value is found in the range of 2.8%-11.3% reported in studies in the literature. The present study showed that hypodontia affects a greater proportion of females (6.83%) than males (5.74%), without statistically significant differences. Conclusions. The prevalence of non-syndromic hypodontia in permanent dentition, compared to the total number of patients who requested orthodontic treatment, is 6.47%, being higher than the data reported in the literature of our country, but falls within the range reported in the international literature in general.

Microbiological Contamination of the Office Environment in Dental and Medical Practice

The microbiological contamination of the environment in independent healthcare facilities such as dental and general practitioner offices was poorly studied. The aims of this study were to describe qualitatively and quantitatively the bacterial and fungal contamination in these healthcare facilities and to analyze the antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens identified. Microbiological samples were taken from the surfaces of waiting, consulting, and sterilization rooms and from the air of waiting room of ten dental and general practitioner offices. Six surface samples were collected in each sampled room using agar contact plates and swabs. Indoor air samples were collected in waiting rooms using a single-stage impactor. Bacteria and fungi were cultured, then counted and identified. Antibiograms were performed to test the antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial pathogens. On the surfaces, median concentrations of bacteria and fungi were 126 (range: 0–1280) and 26 (range: 0–188) CFU/100 cm2, respectively. In indoor air, those concentrations were 403 (range: 118–732) and 327 (range: 32–806) CFU/m3, respectively. The main micro-organisms identified were Gram-positive cocci and filamentous fungi, including six ubiquitous genera: Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. Some antibiotic-resistant bacteria were identified in general practitioner offices (penicillin- and erythromycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), but none in dental offices. The dental and general practitioner offices present a poor microbiological contamination with rare pathogenic micro-organisms.

Restaurações atraumáticas : usos e limitações

The Atraumatic Restorative Treatment are internationally known through their initials (A.R.T.) were recommended by the World Health Organization for dental caries treatment in places with no dental offices. Since then, other possibilities of use are appearing. This article presents a review of its uses and limitations in and out of the dental clinic.

Effects of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy on Dentophobia in Clients of Dental Offices in Isfahan, Tehran, and Shahrekord (Iran)

Background: Dentophobia can reduce the number of regular visits to dentists and endanger the oral health of people. New technologies such as virtual reality (VR) can be used in the treatment of psychological problems such as dentophobia. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) on dentophobia in clients of dental offices in the cities of Isfahan, Tehran, and Shahrekord in 2020. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design and a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all clients with dentophobia visiting private dental clinics of Isfahan, Tehran, and Shahrekord in 2020. Thirty clients with dentophobia who were willing to participate in the research were selected as the sample using convenience sampling and randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n = 15 per group). The experimental group underwent eight sessions (15-minutes sessions per week) of virtual reality exposure therapy, while the control group received no intervention. The follow-up was performed after 45 days. The research instruments included the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), Samsung Gear 360 (2017 Edition), and HTC VIVE Pro Virtual Reality Headset. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: The results showed that virtual reality exposure therapy effectively decreased dentophobia in clients of dental offices in the experimental group (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: According to research findings, virtual reality exposure therapy was an efficient therapy for improving dentophobia and reducing phobia symptoms in clients of dental offices.

The Exponential Rise of Teledentistry and Patient-Oriented Protective Measures in Southeast Asian Dental Clinics: Concerns, Benefits, and Challenges

In the Southeast Asian region, various policies have been advocated by health regulatory bodies that entail protective measures such as face masks, gloves, maintaining distance in public areas, and more. These protective measures are aimed at helping reverse the growth rate of the coronavirus. Dentists in this region have incorporated several changes to their practices to help minimize risks of person-to-person transmission inside dental offices. This narrative review aimed to provide an in-depth overview of the current situation in the Southeast Asian region regarding the use of teledentistry during the pandemic. Teledentistry involves the transfer of patient information across remote distances for online consultation and treatment planning. A few years back, it used to be a lesser-known entity but has seen an exponential rise in its incorporation into dental practices all around the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) region. Many clinics in the Southeast Asian region have started using online consultations to ensure that patients can be diagnosed or followed up during their treatment. Teledentistry is the clear answer in the coming months as it will help reduce the risk of virus transmission and help patients get access to oral healthcare and dentists to see their patients. This article reviews the current pandemic situation in the ASEAN region, the recent evidence, and the scope of teledentistry. It also provides recommendations for the future and sheds light on the different types of teledentistry and how it can be incorporated into practices by regulatory authorities in this region.

Ukraine: Legal Forms for Private Practice in Oral Surgery and Dentistry

During the last 30 years of Ukrainian independence the private dental businesses are flourishing what is a very good sign not only for patients and dental professionals, but also for economy. As of January 1, 2019, 4,584 privately owned dental institutions were registered Ukraine. Among them, 669 were dental clinics and 3,915 – dental offices.1 Generally, dental care in Ukraine (as of January 1, 2019) was provided by 25,651 dentists of six specialties.1 According to these 2019 data, we can hypostatize that every sixth dentist in Ukraine is an owner of a private clinic/office.1 Moreover, as of January 1, 2021, the number of private dental practices for the first time in history of this country increased to 5,084 (ie, showed a 8.72 percent growth during a 2019 to 2021 period).