口腔颌面部创伤诊治专家系统知识库和推理机的开发

目的:开发适用于口腔颌面部创伤辅助诊断治疗专家系统的知识库和推理机。方法:利用PentiumⅣ2.0G的微机,激光打印机,刻录光盘等硬件,在WindowsXP的操作平台下,采用Visualbasic6.0编程语言和access数据库开发系统应用程序。结果:本系统的知识库规则制定完善,推理机能够进行快速、准确的诊断并提供规范的治疗方案。同时可以对病历资料进行科学的管理和查询。结论:知识库和推理机是专家系统的核心部分,它们的完整性和逻辑性直接关系整个系统的准确性和效率。     

Preventive practice of Mongolian dental students

To investigate the preventive practice of Mongolian dental students, in relation to their knowledge of preventive care, self-perceived competency, oral self-care, and dental health status, a questionnaire was distributed to all (n = 79) clinical-year students of The Dental School of the Mongolian National Medical University. Dental students' reported preventive practice was explained by their knowledge of preventive care (P = 0.002) and self-perceived competency (P = 0.002), whereas their study-year, oral self-care, and dental health status, expressed as the Tissue Health Index (THI), remained statistically non-significant in the linear regression model. This explained 28% of the variation in the parameters examined. In logistic regression analysis, a student's study year (OR = 2.5), knowledge of preventive care (OR = 1.1), and THI (OR = 1.8) were related to their highest scores on preventive practice. Preventive practice among Mongolian dental students could be improved by increasing their knowledge, particularly in modern methods for caries-prevention such as fluoride, sealants, and xylitol. Preventive methods should be integrated into all topics of the dental curriculum and the learning environment should support such training for future oral health professionals.     

Child abuse and dentistry: a study of knowledge and attitudes among dentists in Victoria, Australia

Child abuse is a disturbingly common finding in society today. In view of the high proportion of orofacial injuries seen in victims of child abuse, dentists are in a strategic position to recognize and report suspected cases. The present study of 347 dentists in Victoria, Australia, assessed the level of knowledge and attitudes among dental professionals on the important issue of child abuse. While a high level of interest was shown by the participants towards this issue, a need for further information and training in the recognition and reporting of child abuse was seen in the survey findings. While dentists at present are not legally mandated in all states of Australia to report suspected cases of child abuse, the dental profession is in a key position to play an active role in the identification and reporting of this substantial community problem.     

Comparing Predictors of Willingness to Treat HIV+ Patients for New York City Male and Female General Practice Dentists 50 Years of Age or Younger

Objectives : This article develops and compares gender-specific predictive models for willingness to treat HIV-infected patients (PHIV+) for male and female private general practice dentists (GPDs). Methods : Based on mail survey data collected in Manhattan and Queens, New York City (73.3% response rate), hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted for male and female dentists 50 years of age or younger ( n =763) and for those in solo practice. Results : The gender-specific predictive models ( R² s=0.72) do not differ, except for the influence of practice viability, a moderately strong, statistically significant predictor for men, while the least powerful, statistically nonsignificant predictor for women. This distinction remains for solo male and female practitioners. Informal/formal collegial norms are more influential predictors within the solo female model than within the solo male model. Conclusion : Findings are encouraging for further work in developing predictive models for clinician subpopulations, with an eye toward developing intervention strategies that reflect key predictive factors for each group.     

Role of african-american fathers in child-rearing and oral health practices in an inner city environment--a brief communication

OBJECTIVE: This study assesses parenting behaviors, health behaviors and attitudes in a sample of disadvantaged African-American fathers and evaluates the potential of fathers as recipients of oral health promotion interventions. METHODS: Participants were 60 African-American fathers whose children were enrolled in a childhood caries prevention study at Women and Infant Child Program (WIC) (n=25) or who were members of a Young Fathers' Program (n=35) at an urban health center. Demographic factors, oral health knowledge, dental self-efficacy, parenting behaviors, readiness to change, and health promotion behaviors were assessed. RESULTS: Participants averaged 30.8 years of age (sd=8.6); children averaged 2.1 years (sd=0. 9). Half of the fathers always have lived with their own children and 92% had regular physical contact with their children. Almost half of the sample reported 'fair/poor' oral health status, while less than 25% reported 'fair/poor' general health. Fathers had high oral health knowledge scores (x=7.7 correct of 9 items), and high readiness for change scores at the action stage (X=12.2 of 15; sd=1.9). dental self-efficacy scores were moderate (X=15.7 of 24; sd=5.5). Half of the fathers shared or had sole responsibility for brushing their children's teeth; 90% report children's teeth were brushed daily. CONCLUSIONS: African- American fathers participated in childrearing and oral health promotion behaviors.     

Determinants of dental referral practices among WIC nutritionists in North Carolina

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of knowledge and confidence on dental referral practices among WIC nutritionists in North Carolina. METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 118 Likert scale-type questions was administered to 92% of all WIC nutritionists in North Carolina (n = 324). The relationship of knowledge and confidence with frequent dental referrals was tested using logistic regression. RESULTS: Regression results found that confidence in performing oral health risk assessments (OR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.13, 3.96), confidence in making dental referrals (OR = 3.02; 95% CI = 1.45-6.29), and confidence in expected outcomes that parents would seek dental care when advised to do so (OR = 3.11; 95% CI = 1.62, 5.97) were associated with more frequent dental referrals. CONCLUSIONS: The more confident WIC nutritionists feel about oral health, the more likely they are to make dental referrals. Screening and referral by WIC workers may benefit children by improving access to dental care, as the WIC clinic is frequently the first point of contact with a health professional.     

Dental trauma management knowledge among a group of teachers in two south European cities

Abstract –  The purpose of the present study is to assess the teachers' knowledge regarding dental trauma management in two south European cities. A three-part questionnaire comprised of questions on demographic data and knowledge was distributed to teachers in Porto and Istanbul. Seventy-eight teachers participated in the study; 23 had previously had formal dental trauma education. From the teachers interviewed, 58 of them admitted having no knowledge of dental trauma. Concerning knowledge, 29 teachers from Porto and 12 from Istanbul thought dental trauma emergency should be dealt with immediately. Knowledge of optimal storage media for avulsed permanent teeth was especially poor. In the present study, the majority of teachers did not know the importance of tetanus vaccine control in dental trauma. It is recommended that public education targeted at teachers should be carried out to increase dental trauma management knowledge.     

营利性和非营利性牙科医疗机构的局部调查

目的 对营利性和非营利性牙科医疗机构在人员、设备，知识结构和消毒方面的特点进行调查，为牙科机构的管理部门提供客观数据。结果 在人员构成，知识底蕴，消毒措施方面非营利性医疗机构有先天的优势，并且有显著性差异。而在设备方面则两类牙科医疗机构无差异。结论 尽管非营利性医疗机构占有人才优势，但要从激励机制上留住人才。而营利性医疗机构虽目前不注重专业知识和消毒理念的学习、更新，一旦完善将会有更好的市场占有率和患者满意度。     

Patients' knowledge and opinions regarding osteoporosis,osteoporosis treatment,and oral health care

BackgroundIn this study, the authors assessed the knowledge and opinions of patients regarding osteoporosis and the associations among osteoporosis, osteoporosis treatments, and oral health care use.MethodsOutpatients with osteopenia or osteoporosis completed a questionnaire, including sociodemographic data, internet use, osteoporosis status, oral health care use status, and knowledge regarding the effect of osteoporosis pharmacotherapy on dental procedures.ResultsAmong 258 patients (mean [standard deviation] age, 68.5 [9.3] years; 93% female), 83.9% had osteoporosis, one-third had previous osteoporotic fracture, and 74.4% took osteoporosis medication, mostly antiresorptive agents. In addition, 66.3% had more than 12 years of education, and 53.9% used the internet daily. A total of 79.9% visited a dentist during the past year, and 29.0% had undergone an invasive procedure. Yet 46.5% estimated that their dentist did not know that they had osteoporosis. Approximately one-half of the participants responded that they did not know the answers to knowledge questions regarding associations between osteoporosis, its pharmacotherapy, and oral health care. Of the patients who answered questions about associations between osteoporosis and oral health care, 70% incorrectly believed osteoporosis increased gingival disease, and 30% incorrectly thought medications should be discontinued before caries restoration.ConclusionsOutpatients with osteoporosis or osteopenia who responded to a questionnaire had limited knowledge about associations among osteoporosis, osteoporotic treatment, and oral health care.Practice ImplicationsDentists should review previous and current medical treatments with their patients, including osteoporosis diagnoses. The medical community should make more efforts to provide balanced, accurate information to help patients prioritize health care treatment and avoid unnecessary interruptions in osteoporosis treatment.     

Dental patient awareness of smoking effects on oral health: Comparison of smokers and non-smokers

OBJECTIVES: The negative effects of cigarette smoking on oral health are well established, yet few studies assessed patient awareness of such effects. The aim of this study was to examine differences in dental patient knowledge and awareness of the effects of smoking on oral health between smokers and non-smokers. METHODS: Adult patients from 12 dental centers in Kuwait were asked to complete a 14-point self-administered structured questionnaire on the effects of smoking on oral health in this cross-sectional survey. Significant associations between oral health knowledge, smoking status, and sociodemographic variables were examined with univariate analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1012 subjects participated (response rate = 84.3%). The prevalence of smoking was 29.3%. Fewer smokers than non-smokers thought that oral health and smoking are related (92.2% vs. 95.8%; P = 0.020), and that smoking affected oral cancer (52.4% vs. 66.8%; P < 0.001), periodontal health (72% vs. 78%; P = 0.040), or tooth staining (86.1% vs. 90.9%; P = 0.018). Logistic regression analysis showed smokers to be significantly less aware of the oral health effects of smoking than non-smoking patients (OR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.05-2.16; P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Smoking dental patients are significantly less aware of the oral health effects of smoking than non-smokers. Comparative studies in other populations may be warranted to ascertain the validity of these results.