Stress amongst dental students: a systematic review

The present study was conducted to provide future researchers and dental educators with an overview of stress amongst undergraduate dental students reported in the literature. This overview is needed for the development of a new questionnaire measuring the level of stressors including students, staff and process of dental education. In addition, the review can be used to modify dental curricula to decrease such stress and produce better dentists. Our study consisted of a systematic review of 49 peer‐reviewed articles published between 1966 till October 2008 in English, discussing different aspects of stress amongst undergraduate dental students. These aspects are demographic variables of stress, sources of stress, impact of stress, indicators of stress, instruments measuring stress level and management of stress. Major sources of reported stress were related to examinations, clinical requirements and dental supervisors. Studies suggest using signs and symptoms for early detection of stress and proper intervention.     

Incidence and prevention of osteoradionecrosis after dental extraction in irradiated patients: a systematic review

This systematic review aims to identify and review the best available evidence to answer the clinical question ‘What are the incidence and the factors influencing the development of osteoradionecrosis after tooth extraction in irradiated patients?’. A systematic review of published articles on post-irradiation extraction was performed via electronic search of the Medline, Ovid, Embase and Cochrane Library databases. Additional studies were identified by manual reference list search. Evaluation and critical appraisal were done in 3 stages by two independent reviewers and any disagreement was resolved by discussion with a third party. 19 articles were selected for the final analysis. The total incidence of osteoradionecrosis after tooth extraction in irradiated patients was 7%. When extractions were performed in conjunction with prophylactic hyperbaric oxygen, the incidence was 4% while extraction in conjunction with antibiotics gave an incidence of 6%. This systematic review found that while the incidence of osteoradionecrosis after post-irradiation tooth extractions is low, the extraction of mandibular teeth within the radiation field in patients who received a radiation dose higher than 60 Gy represents the highest risk of developing osteoradionecrosis. Based on weak evidence, prophylactic hyperbaric oxygen is effective in reducing the risk of developing osteoradionecrosis after post-radiation extractions.     

Back pain prevention program: An evaluation after a 10-year implementation amongst dental students

Background

Many studies show a higher prevalence of back pain for dentists and dental students than in the general population. This leads to a need to integrate an effective back pain prevention program (BPPP) into the student's curriculum. We have implemented such a program for 10 years, and the objective was to evaluate its effectiveness.

Material and Methods

Data from 102 dentists and students who benefited from the BPPP were collected. Back pain prevalence and its intensity (0–10 scale) regarding neck, upper back and lower back location were studied, as well as sex, age, implementation or not of elements of the BPPP into daily practice, and if so at what moment of the professional life. For identical items, answers were compared with those from a national survey conducted amongst French students and practitioners in 2018.

Results

Amongst the BPPP beneficiaries, 60% were suffering from chronic back pain versus 77% in the previous national survey (p < .001). Mean pain intensity was lower in each location for the BPPP beneficiaries on the 0–10 scale: neck 1.91 vs. 2.40 (p = .05); upper back 1.94 vs. 2.72 (p < .001); lower back 2.26 vs. 2.67 (p = .15). Respondents who implemented elements of the BPPP from the start of their clinical practice showed a prevalence of chronic back pain of 48.4%, against 77% for respondents who did so only from the first year or after (p < .05).

Conclusion

Our BPPP seems to show a positive preventive effect on dentists and students after a 10-year implementation. It is a solid basis that can however be further improved.     

Patients treated by dental students in outreach: the first year of a pilot project

This paper describes the patients treated by 4th year undergraduate students during the first year of a pilot outreach course to teach Restorative Dentistry in community clinics in 2001-02. Data were collected from 908 summaries of patient treatment completed by the students, and from 139 patient questionnaires. Some 75% of patients were aged between 16 and 64, 58% were female, and 16% had dental phobia or anxiety. Most lived locally to the clinic and 41% made their initial contact as an emergency or drop-in. Some 37% made only a single visit (including children treated as emergencies) but 22% made six or more visits. Did not attend (DNA) was a problem and 18% of patients DNA to complete their treatment. Students undertook the full range of restorative procedures, with the emphasis on direct restorations, preventive treatment and advice, scaling, extractions and emergency treatment. Patients' main reasons for attending the clinic were lay recommendation, the need for treatment, convenience, free treatment, or the lack of access to a dentist. Some 30% said they did not have or did not know of an alternative source of dental care, and half had not seen a dentist for at least 2 years. The study demonstrates that despite difficulties related to attendance, a suitable patient base can be established offering students the opportunity to provide comprehensive care for adults in a primary care setting.     

Incidence ot pain conditions in dental practice in a Danisin county

From September 1981 to February 1982, an epidemiologic study was carried out on the incidence of pain conditions among patients between 18 and 70 yr of age in 30 dental practices in Ribe County, Denmark. A total of 35 464 patients consulted the 50 participating dentists during the study period. 823 patients consulted the dentist due to pain. The most frequent cause of pain was caries sequelae (pulpitis (35%) and acute apical periodontitis (31%)). There was a significant difference in the distribution of the diagnoses between patients with regular and non-regular dental care. Although the data in the present study may not be representative for the entire Danish population, it seems reasonable to assume that in Denmark there are at least 70 000 annual consultations to a dentist due to pain. Furthermore, a minimum of 4000 patients can be expected to be absent from work annually, due to illness caused by dental pain.     

Incidence of dental caries among a group of university students in Turku

The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of dental caries in a group of university students during a 4-year interval between registrations. Eventual differences in the periodontal and oral hygiene conditions were also examined. In addition, the reasons for high prevalence of caries in freshmen were investigated. The material consisted of 116 students, initially examined clinically and radio-graphically in 1967, and later in 1971. The amount of untreated caries diminished from originally 15.0 to 9.9 decayed surfaces per student. Untreated caries was constantly less frequent among females than males. The caries incidence was 1.9 surfaces per year which corresponds to previous estimations of the caries increment in Finland. An improvement in the gingival conditions, eventually due to the decrease of untreated carious lesions, was registered. The difference between mean PH-values in 1967 and 1971 was not significant. Classification in subgroups according to gingival and oral hygiene conditions showed, however, that the group possessing poor oral hygiene conditions diminished in size. The indices of GI and PII were higher among males than females.

The poor dental conditions among the freshmen could be attributed to a mean of 6.4 years since the termination of previous regular dental treatment.     

Psychological intervention in acute dental pain: review

Acute dental pain is an unpleasant experience. This article studies acute dental pain and examines the role of psychological intervention. After identification of the psychological factors associated with dental pain we go on to assess the role of psychological interventions.     

Effectiveness of a national board review course for dental students

In view of national concerns about student aptitude and overcrowded curricula, the effectiveness of review courses must be evaluated objectively. The present study is a statistical analysis of the impact of a review course on National Board Examination (NBE) Part I performance at the University of Detroit. The performance of dental students who had taken the course between 1985 and 1987 (N = 175) was compared to that of the prior three classes (N = 212). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to adjust and compare mean scores on the NBE, using entering GPA and DAT scores, both measures of aptitude, as covariates. Only two of the five NBE scores demonstrated significant improvement. While aptitude contributed as much as 23 percent to NBE performance, the contribution of the review course was limited to 1.5 percent. The review course was most effective in areas that (1) were covered during the greatest number of terms, (2) were presented most recently, or (3) had the least number of topics on the NBE. This strategy for evaluating course effectiveness permits a dental school to easily assess the value of an NBE review course, as well as identify strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum.