BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The primary determinant for patient referral by general dental practitioners (GDPs) to periodontists differs based on the country of practice. Moreover, previous research has revealed that GDP preferences for managing periodontal patients, actual number of referrals, and the overall decision-making process have evolved over time. Understanding the periodontal referral pattern of Filipino GDPs could help identify factors that promote or inhibit referral to periodontists. These factors may in turn be used as basis for the formulation of periodontal referral guidelines for use by GDPs in the Philippines. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the factors that affect the referral patterns of Filipino GDPs to periodontists, with GDPs practicing in the City of Manila as the representative population.

A descriptive cross-sectional study design with the use of a self-administered survey was utilized for this study. Participants were 75 licensed dentists practicing in the City of Manila who were members of the Philippine Dental Association-Manila Dental Chapter. The questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, periodontal referral pattern, and the factors considered by the participants when referring patients to a periodontist. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) were used to report the study’s findings.

Majority (92%) indicated that they regularly referred patients with periodontal disease to periodontists, with a personal estimate of up to 20 periodontal case referrals monthly by 81.3% of the participants and >20 referrals for 10.7%. The clinical factors considered as most important when referring to a periodontist were the type of periodontal disease (81.3% of the participants), periodontitis severity (74.7%), and the presence of a complex medical history 61.3%). Among the nonclinical factors, the most influential were the following: uncooperative patient (32% of the participants), perceived personal skill (24%), postgraduate training of the periodontist (21.3%), and the patient’s financial capacity (13.3%).

Multiple factors affect the decision of general dental practitioners in the City of Manila when referring patients to a periodontist. Majority are influenced by clinical factors such as the type and severity of periodontal disease and the systemic condition of the patient. Although considered to a much lesser degree compared to clinical factors, the top nonclinical factors that Manila GDPs base their referral decisions include the assessment that a patient is uncooperative and the perceived adequacy of personal skills in managing periodontal patients.

Background and Objective: The primary determinant for patient referral by general dental practitioners (GDPs) to periodontists differs based on the country of practice. Moreover, previous research has revealed that GDP preferences for managing periodontal patients, actual number of referrals, and the overall decision-making process have evolved over time. Understanding the periodontal referral pattern of Filipino GDPs could help identify factors that promote or inhibit referral to periodontists. These factors may in turn be used as basis for the formulation of periodontal referral guidelines for use by GDPs in the Philippines. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the factors that affect the referral patterns of Filipino GDPs to periodontists, with GDPs practicing in the City of Manila as the representative population. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design with the use of a self-administered survey was utilized for this study. Participants were 75 licensed dentists practicing in the City of Manila who were members of the Philippine Dental Association-Manila Dental Chapter. The questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, periodontal referral pattern, and the factors considered by the participants when referring patients to a periodontist. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) were used to report the study’s findings. Results: Majority (92%) indicated that they regularly referred patients with periodontal disease to periodontists, with a personal estimate of up to 20 periodontal case referrals monthly by 81.3% of the participants and >20 referrals for 10.7%. The clinical factors considered as most important when referring to a periodontist were the type of periodontal disease (81.3% of the participants), periodontitis severity (74.7%), and the presence of a complex medical history 61.3%). Among the nonclinical factors, the most influential were the following: uncooperative patient (32% of the participants), perceived personal skill (24%), postgraduate training of the periodontist (21.3%), and the patient’s financial capacity (13.3%). Conclusion Multiple factors affect the decision of general dental practitioners in the City of Manila when referring patients to a periodontist. Majority are influenced by clinical factors such as the type and severity of periodontal disease and the systemic condition of the patient. Although considered to a much lesser degree compared to clinical factors, the top nonclinical factors that Manila GDPs base their referral decisions include the assessment that a patient is uncooperative and the perceived adequacy of personal skills in managing periodontal patients.
Human ; periodontal diseases ; referral and consultation ; dentists ; periodontists

Objective: To explore the relevant factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among dentists through Meta analysis, providing a basis for the prevention and control of WMSDs among dentists. Methods: In April 2022, cross-sectional research literatures on the prevalence correlation of WMSDs among Chinese dentists were searched in databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, and Em Base database. The search was conducted from the establishment of the database until April 2022, literatures were selected using keywords such as musculoskeletal disorders and dentists. To extract gender, age, length of service, disease classification and other related influencing factors as indicator, and prevalence was selected as the outcome indicator. After evaluating the quality of the literatures, RevMan 5.3 software was used to calculate the combined RD (95%CI) values of the included literatures. Results: A total of 15 articles were included, with a total sample size of 3646 people. Meta analysis results showed that the prevalence of WMSDs among dentists in China was 80%, and the top three parts of the incidence rates were 65% of the waist, 58% of the neck, and 50% of the back. Gender, age, length of service, region and disease classification all increased the risk of WMSDs, and the combined effect size were 75%, 78%, 71%, 77% and 82% respectively (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The occurrence of WMSDs among dentists in China is related to multiple factors such as gender, age, length of service and disease classification. The above risk factors should be taken into account in the workplace and preventive measures should be actively implemented to prolong the working life of dentists.
Humans ; Prevalence ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Dentists

Objective: To analyze the equity of national stomatologist resource allocation from 2016 to 2020, providing relevantly referenced basis for further stomatologist resource allocation. Methods: Collect data of domestic and international stomatologist resources in 2016, 2018 and 2020, and analyze the relevant data by using the health resources agglomeration degree and population agglomeration degree. Results: At present, at the international level, the number of dentists per 10 000 people ranks 46th in 2010-2019. The quantity of domestic dental resources is on the rise, with a balanced gender distribution and a concentrated age distribution mainly in 25-44 years old. At the specialized technical level, the proportion of junior titles can reach 79.5%-83.0%. The ratio of resource agglomeration of dental practitioners and assistants calculated based on geographical area and population density shows that the ratio of HRAD to PAD in the eastern provinces is greater than 1, while the ratios of most provinces in the central and western regions are less than 1. The eastern regions have excessive allocations, while ones in the central and western regions are insufficient. Conclusions: Unfairness still exists in the allocation of resources for dentists in China. At the national level, it is necessary to continue to cultivate high-quality stomatologists and intensify efforts to support the grass-roots and remote areas. The ability, quality and work competence of on-the-job personnel should be comprehensively improved. Multi-point practice of stomatologists should be standardized and popularized, promoting the rational flow of oral health personnel.
Humans ; Adult ; Dentists ; Professional Role ; Health Resources ; Resource Allocation ; China

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate and analyze the current situation of dentists in Guangdong pro-vince regarding the management of avulsed incisors, thereby providing a reference for making treatment strategies for avulsed incisors in the future. METHODS: A total of 712 dentists with different educational backgrounds and working conditions in Guangdong province were randomly selected to conduct an online questionnaire survey on the cognition of children with avulsed incisors from April 2022 to May 2022. The data were recorded by Excel software and statistics were analyzed on Stata/SE 15.1. RESULTS: A total of 712 dentists were investigated and 701 questionnaires were collected (98.46%). In addition, 65.9% of investigators came from the Department of Stomatology in a First-class Hospital or Stomatological Hospital. The results showed that the average number of avulsed teeth consulted by dentists was less than 20 per year. Although 99.7% of respondents considered normal saline as a suitable storage medium, 3.1% and 23.8% of them had a misunderstanding that the tap/alcohol could be used for root cleaning. Moreover, 93.4% was the correct selection rate of the treatment plan for processing on root surfaces before replanting by investigators. The correct selection rate of the duration using elastic fixation was only 10.7%. Meanwhile, 42.9% of investigators refused to inoculate tetanus immunoglobulin after teeth replanting. Emergency management of dental avulsion (EM) and clinical management of dental avulsion (CM) answered correctly with average scores of 14.60±11.85 and 14.48±2.67, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that working years were negatively correlated with EM and CM scores (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between CM and EM scores with the number of avulsion cases treated by physicians each year (P<0.05). In terms of the EM score of dentists' learning attitude, investigators who had received enough knowledge were higher than those who had not and insufficient knowledge reserved, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The scores of investigators who thought they had a certain degree of knowledge about dental trauma were higher than those who thought they "did not understand", and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In terms of CM scores, investigators who thought the knowledge of dental trauma was "very helpful" had higher scores than those who thought it was "not helpful", and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The scores of the investigators who thought they had "relatively sufficient knowledge" of dental trauma were higher than those who thought they had "no knowledge" or "insufficient know-ledge", and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The overall accuracy of the management of avulsed incisors among dentists was low in Guangdong province. Dentists were more likely to have a higher rate of accuracy choice in treatment options for luxation injury and avulsion to enhance the prognosis of replanted teeth.
Humans ; Child ; Tooth Avulsion/therapy* ; Incisor ; Tooth Replantation/methods* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Dentists ; Cognition ; China ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) is a biologic-based treatment modality for immature permanent teeth diagnosed with pulp necrosis. The ultimate objective of REPs is to regenerate the pulp-dentin complex, extend the tooth longevity and restore the normal function. Scientific evidence has demonstrated the efficacy of REPs in promotion of root development through case reports, case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled studies. However, variations in clinical protocols for REPs exist due to the empirical nature of the original protocols and rapid advancements in the research field of regenerative endodontics. The heterogeneity in protocols may cause confusion among dental practitioners, thus guidelines and considerations of REPs should be explicated. This expert consensus mainly discusses the biological foundation, the available clinical protocols and current status of REPs in treating immature teeth with pulp necrosis, as well as the main complications of this treatment, aiming at refining the clinical management of REPs in accordance with the progress of basic researches and clinical studies, suggesting REPs may become a more consistently evidence-based option in dental treatment.
Humans ; Consensus ; Regenerative Endodontics ; Dental Pulp Necrosis/therapy* ; Dentists ; Professional Role ; Dental Care

Objective: To study the quantity, structure and allocation equity of stomatologists, in order to provide bases and advices for improving the allocation of stomatologists in China. Methods: On the basis of data from China Health Statistics Yearbooks and Brief Book of Administrative Divisions of the People's Republic of China, the general situation of stomatologists was analyzed by descriptive analysis. Gini coefficient was used to evaluate the allocation equity in 2010 and 2020. Results: The total number of stomatologists reached 2 780 hundred in 2020, which increased by 150.5% compared with that in 2010. The overall quality structure of stomatologists had improved. The gender proportion was balanced and the age distribution was reasonable. The team was mainly composed by the young people, in which the numbers under 44 years old accounted for 71.6% (1 991 hundred/2 780 hundred). The proportion of personnel with senior professional titles decreased to 7.9% (220 hundred/2 780 hundred) while the total number increased to 220 thousand. The distribution of stomatologists by population was fair. Gini coefficients of the whole country as well as the eastern, central and western regions were less than 0.3. Conclusions: The quantity, quality and allocation equity of stomatologists were still insufficient in China. It is necessary to optimize the human resources allocation for stomatologists. It is suggested to increase the talents supply through supply-side reform, medicine-education collaboration and multi-agent participation. And it is suggested to optimize criterions to improve the quality of stomatologists.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Humans ; China ; Resource Allocation ; Oral Medicine ; Dentists/supply & distribution*

Eight dental schools were founded by Chinese dentists during modern times (1909-1949) in China, but only one of them still works. This article analyzes the establishment processes, faculty and student trainings in some of these dental schools, combining with the social background and management system at that time, to explore the difficulties encountered by Chinese dentists in founding dental schools before 1949.
Humans ; Schools, Dental ; China ; Dentists

PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to analyze treatment concepts of a cohort of German dentists for planning, fabrication, and maintenance of implant-supported fixed and removable restorations.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire including queries about experiences with implant-supported restorations as well as prosthetic and maintenance treatment concepts for supplying patients with fixed and removable implant-supported prosthetic restorations was developed and sent to 350 dental offices registered in the municipal area of Leipzig, Germany.RESULTS: An overall total of 62 returned questionnaires were included in the analyses, which relates to a response rate of 17.7%. Participating dentists were more involved in the prosthetic aspects of implant dentistry rather than surgery, while prosthetic concepts such as backward planning, digital processing, and application of all-ceramic materials were not commonly performed. Simple attachments were preferred over complex retention systems in removable implant-supported restorations. Tooth/implant-supported fixed denture prostheses as well as removable denture prostheses with supporting posterior implants were not regarded as a favorable treatment option.CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the study, the data indicate that dentists favor simple and conventional treatment approaches in implant prosthetics. Prosthetic aspects in the planning of implant-supported restorations are often neglected. Prosthetic treatment guidelines and aspects should commonly be considered in the planning phase of implant-supported prosthetic restorations, and awareness should be increased in postgraduate education.
Cohort Studies ; Crowns ; Dental Implants ; Dental Offices ; Dentistry ; Dentists ; Dentures ; Education ; Germany ; Humans ; Peri-Implantitis ; Prostheses and Implants

Background: High prevalence of oral health problems persists across all age groups among Filipinos despite the continued endeavors of the government and professional societies. This position statement aimed to generate consensus policy recommendations to protect and promote oral health in the Philippines as an integral part of the healthcare service in light of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act. Methods: An evidence-based policy brief and presentations of dental and policy experts were used as discussion points in the roundtable discussion conducted by the UP Manila Health Policy Development Hub. Key stakeholders from various sectors were convened to generate inputs for policy actions and amendments to oral health related policies. ools. Results: Thematic analysis of the discussion was organized using the WHO Building Blocks of Health Systems, which yielded practical, accessible, and population-wide interventions (2010). The following issues were highlighted: (a) health service delivery needs strong collaboration of LGUs; (b) insufficient workforce of dental professionals; (c) market availability of sufficiently fluoridated toothpaste per age group; and (d) health financing scheme on oral health services. Conclusion and Recommendations With the shift in the health system landscape brought by the UHC Act, timely and responsive inter-sectoral interventions, focusing on prevention, must be set to attain the target decrease in the prevalence of dental caries. It was also to recommend to (i) engage the academe and training institutions to increase the workforce, (ii) consider adopting international standards on sugar consumption as appropriate, and (iii) ensure sufficient funds for sustainability of oral health programs, particularly school-based caries prevention program starting in pre-schools.
Oral Health ; Public Health Dentistry ; Workforce ; Dentists ; Health Services