Objective:To evaluate the application value of mini-clinical evaluation exercise-direct observation of procedural skills (Mini-CEX-DOPS) in the assessment of the Simodont digital virtual simulation training system in general dentistry residency training.Methods:A total of 172 general dentistry residents at West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, from January 2023 to December 2024 were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups using a random number table. The control group received traditional teaching, and the training group received Simodont digital virtual simulation training and traditional teaching. Through clinical treatment of real patients, differences between groups were compared in Mini-CEX+DOPS assessment scores, exit examination scores, and teaching satisfaction. A statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 software. Categorical data were analyzed using the chi-square test, and inter-group comparisons were performed using the independent-samples t test with a significance level of α=0.05. Results:There were no significant differences in Mini-CEX scores between the two groups at the beginning of residency training at the Department of General Dentistry ( P>0.05). At the end of residency training, the Mini-CEX scores of the training group in clinical consultation, physical examination, and humanistic care were higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05); the comprehensive competency score of the training group was (7.65±0.50), while that of the control group was (6.84±0.43). The comprehensive competency scores of both groups were higher at the end of residency training compared to that at the beginning of residency training ( P<0.05). At the beginning of residency training, there were no significant differences in DOPS assessment scores between the two groups ( P>0.05). At the end of residency training, the DOPS evaluation scores were higher in the training group than in the control group ( P<0.05). The overall operation skill scores for the training and control groups were (7.61±0.45) and (6.90±0.31), respectively. The DOPS scores of both groups were higher at the end of residency training compared to those at the beginning of residency training ( P<0.05). The theoretical evaluation, professional skill, and medical record writing quality scores of the training group were higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05); the professional skill scores of the training and control groups were (86.32±4.12) and (77.39±4.58), respectively. The overall satisfaction of the training group was higher than that of the control group [95.35％(82/86) vs. 70.93％(61/86), P<0.05]. Conclusions:Based on the formative evaluation system of Mini-CEX+DOPS, the Simodont digital virtual simulation training system can improve the training effectiveness, physician satisfaction, teaching quality, and patient satisfaction in general dentistry residency training. This approach has significant application value and promising prospects for broader promotion.

Objective:To evaluate the application value of mini-clinical evaluation exercise-direct observation of procedural skills (Mini-CEX-DOPS) in the assessment of the Simodont digital virtual simulation training system in general dentistry residency training.Methods:A total of 172 general dentistry residents at West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, from January 2023 to December 2024 were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups using a random number table. The control group received traditional teaching, and the training group received Simodont digital virtual simulation training and traditional teaching. Through clinical treatment of real patients, differences between groups were compared in Mini-CEX+DOPS assessment scores, exit examination scores, and teaching satisfaction. A statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 software. Categorical data were analyzed using the chi-square test, and inter-group comparisons were performed using the independent-samples t test with a significance level of α=0.05. Results:There were no significant differences in Mini-CEX scores between the two groups at the beginning of residency training at the Department of General Dentistry ( P>0.05). At the end of residency training, the Mini-CEX scores of the training group in clinical consultation, physical examination, and humanistic care were higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05); the comprehensive competency score of the training group was (7.65±0.50), while that of the control group was (6.84±0.43). The comprehensive competency scores of both groups were higher at the end of residency training compared to that at the beginning of residency training ( P<0.05). At the beginning of residency training, there were no significant differences in DOPS assessment scores between the two groups ( P>0.05). At the end of residency training, the DOPS evaluation scores were higher in the training group than in the control group ( P<0.05). The overall operation skill scores for the training and control groups were (7.61±0.45) and (6.90±0.31), respectively. The DOPS scores of both groups were higher at the end of residency training compared to those at the beginning of residency training ( P<0.05). The theoretical evaluation, professional skill, and medical record writing quality scores of the training group were higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05); the professional skill scores of the training and control groups were (86.32±4.12) and (77.39±4.58), respectively. The overall satisfaction of the training group was higher than that of the control group [95.35％(82/86) vs. 70.93％(61/86), P<0.05]. Conclusions:Based on the formative evaluation system of Mini-CEX+DOPS, the Simodont digital virtual simulation training system can improve the training effectiveness, physician satisfaction, teaching quality, and patient satisfaction in general dentistry residency training. This approach has significant application value and promising prospects for broader promotion.

Pregnancy is a special period for developing and treating oral diseases.Oral emergencies during pregnancy need to be handled appropriately.Changes in the physiological environments and personal habits of pregnant women in-crease susceptibility to some oral diseases.However,clinical treatment strategies are limited due to the need to ensure the safety of pregnant women and fetuses.Pregnant women should obtain oral health knowledge and enhance their aware-ness.Dentists should adhere to the principle of"prevention before pregnancy,controlling symptoms during pregnancy,and treating diseases after pregnancy"for different pregnancy periods.They should also formulate appropriate treatment plans to control emergencies,prevent disease progression,and avoid harmful effects on pregnant women by using the saf-est,simplest,and most effective strategies that avoid adverse effects on fetuses.Pregnant women and dentists should combine prevention and treatment while collaborating in maintaining oral health during pregnancy.This article focuses on the principles of treatment during pregnancy,and the treatment timing,clinical management,and treatment strategies of different diseases causing oral emergencies during pregnancy are reviewed.

OBJECTIVES: To thoroughly understand the current dental chair equipment status of dental clinics in Sichuan Province and provide a reference for administrative departments. METHODS: Data were collected from a health administrative department and a regional social development yearbook. The number of existing dental clinics and dental chairs in Sichuan Province was investigated. RESULTS: In Sichuan Province, 7 103 dental clinics were determined to be equipped with 21 760 dental chairs. The Gini coefficients of per capita dental clinics in the province were 0.50, 0.22, and 0.06, and the Gini coefficients of per capita dental chairs were 0.68, 0.31, and 0.15; these coefficients had the same distribution as that reflected by the Lorenz curve. In consideration of geographic distribution, the Theil index for the distribution of dental clinics and dental chairs among cities and states were 0.690 7 and 0.822 3, respectively. The overall Theil index va-lues for the distribution of dental clinics and dental chairs in the province were 0.902 4 and 1.079 4, respectively. The difference in the distribution of dental clinics and dental chairs among cities and states in the province contributed 0.765 4 and 0.761 8 to the total difference, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The allocation of oral health resources in Sichuan Pro-vince is relatively equitable in terms of population and economic distribution but uneven in geographical distribution.
Dental Clinics ; Oral Health ; China

The outbreak of corona virus disease (COVID-19) has raised concerns among dentists to develop strategies to prevent infection of dental equipment, materials, and patients during an epidemic period. Strategies following the National Laws and Standards of China and local standards of several provinces for controlling cross-infection and instituting protective measures for medical staff in dental clinics during an epidemic period are discussed. A proposal is put forth for dental clinics that will face similar situations in the future. Further research is warranted to address potential problems that will be encountered under such dire circumstances.

Minimally invasive technology is popularly applied in alveolar surgery. However, constrained by the traditional mechanics principle, minimally invasive techniques are not thoroughly implemented in complicated procedures, such as impacted tooth extraction. In these procedures, bone injury is difficult to restrict to the mildest degree. In this paper, the basic principle of geostatics is applied to analyze the obstacles and their elimination in tooth extraction to provide the foundation for minimally invasive tooth extraction.
Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Tooth Extraction ; Tooth, Impacted

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the value of child oral health for Chengdu parents, their intentions, and factors influencing their decision to acquire oral insurance coverage for their childrens.

METHODSA total of 562 Chengdu parents were interviewed using questionnaires by convenient sampling, and the results were analyzed using SPSS 20.0.

RESULTSThe age of children (B = -1.741, P = 0.004), age of parents (B = 2.031, P = 0.003), level of oral discomfort (B = 0.569, P = 0.000), incurring/not incurring oral care expenses in the previous year (B = 1.897, P = 0.014), the last time parents' had teeth cleaned (B = 0.777, P = 0.006), and acquiring/not acquiring commercial insurance coverage (B = 1.632, P = 0.031) significantly influenced the intention of acquiring child oral insurance.

CONCLUSIONChild oral health, health and insurance awareness of parents, and other factors influenced the intention of parents to purchase oral insurance coverage for their children, which were significant to establish pediatric dental insurance.

Child ; China ; Dental Care ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance, Dental ; economics ; Oral Health ; economics ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was aimed to assess the effects of cyclic biaxial mechanical stimulation on the invasion capacity in vitro and on the expression of MMP-9 in the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) high metastatic cell lines ACC-M, and in the SACC low metastatic cell lines ACC-2. We observed the functions of mechanical stimulation in the invasion of cell in vitro and investigated the mechanism involved in the invasion of SACC. Mechanical stimuli were applied to the cells for periods of 1, 3 and 6 hours daily, lasting 2 days. The mechanical stimuli applied to the cells were 4000 micro strain and 1000 micro strain, at a frequency of three hertz. Unstrained cells were used as control. The expressions of MMP-9 on ACC-M and ACC-2 were studied with laser scanning confocal microscope and image analysis software. In vitro invasion capacity of ACC-2 and ACC-M cells was determined by Transwell. The results showed the expression of MMP-9 on the cell of ACC-M was obvious by higher than that on ACC-2. MMP-9 was closely related with the invasion and metastasis of SACC. The mechanical stimulation changed the expression of MMP-9 and the invasion capacity in different duration of mechanical stimulations. Mechanical stimulation can adjust the invasion capacity and expression of MMP-9. It can promote metastasis of the cancer. Moreover, some protein other than MMP-9 may play an important role in the metastasis of the cancer.
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Physical Stimulation ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo evaluate whether the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C cDNA which cloned from a patient with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of tongue can encode a functional protein or not.

METHODSRT-PCR was employed to clone the functional VEGF-C fragment from the surgical specimen of a lingual SCC patient. Then it was subcloned into expressive plasmid vector pBKCMV, which was transfected into E. coli to examine its expression.

RESULTSA truncated human VEGF-C cDNA fragment was amplified from the lingual SCC. The sequencing results of the fragment demonstrated that it had 99.6% similarity with the reported human VEGF-C cDNA (representing the 559-1611 bp according the sequence of Genbank Entry X94216). Induced with IPTG, the E. coli XLI-Blue MRF' containing the recombinant pBK-VEGF-C expressed a 56,000 fusion protein, which can be recognized by polyclonic anti-human VEGF-C antibody.

CONCLUSIONA functional fragment VEGF-C cDNA was cloned from a lingual SCC. It will promote more intensive research on the function of VEGF-C and its relationship with metastasis of oral SCC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Prokaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Tongue Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVEA functional VEGF-C cDNA was cloned from a patient with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of tongue in order to study the important role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C in lymphatic dissemination of malignancies in gene level.

METHODSRT-PCR was employed to clone the human VECF-C encoded cDNA from a surgical specimen of a lingual SCC patient. Then it was subcloned into plasmid vector pCRII and sequenced.

RESULTSA 1.1 kb human VEGF-C cDNA fragment was amplified from the lingual SCC. The sequencing results of the fragment demonstrated that it had 99.6% similarity with the reported human VEGF-C cDNA (representing the 559-1,611 bp according the sequence of Genbank Entry X94216).

CONCLUSIONAn encoded fragment VEGF-C cDNA was successfully cloned from a lingual SCC and provided a necessary material for further study.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Humans ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tongue Neoplasms ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; genetics