Changes in dentist and dental hygienist numbers in the European Union and economic area.

Aim: To investigate the extent to which changes in the numbers of dental hygienists and dentists have occurred in the Member States of the European Union and Economic Area (EU/EEA) during the last ten years and discuss the changes in relation to the possibilities of sharing tasks between the two groups.

Methods: Numbers for active dentists, registered hygienists and EU/EEA member state populations in 2007 were taken from the website of the Council of European Chief Dental Officers (CECDO) (www.cecdo.

Dental hygienists in Europe: trends towards harmonization of education and practice since 2003.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the trends in dental hygienists' education and regulation in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) to examine whether, since 2003, there has been harmonization in dental hygiene education.

Methods: Information and data were obtained via piloted questionnaires and structured interviews with delegates from the International and European Dental Hygienists' Federations and representatives of the Council of European Chief Dental Officers and by literature review.

Results: In the EU/EEA, dental hygienists are legally recognized in 22 countries.

Dental hygiene education in Nepal.

Aim: This article provides information about the history, recent curriculum changes and the legal status of the dental hygiene education in Nepal. It also intends to show, how, even in a poor developing nation, the personal drive of a native Nepalese citizen with a vision and the proper connections can lead to the establishment of a new profession, until then unknown.

Method: Data were obtained from the founder of the first dental hygiene school in Nepal through qualitative interviews, and through personal visits to two Nepalese dental hygiene schools in Kathmandu and in Pokhara.

Enabling general physicians to perform periodontal screening during nationwide periodic health examinations.

Unlabelled: Since 2005, Austrian physicians have screened for periodontal diseases during free-of-charge periodic health examinations (PHE). Various printed and online materials were designed to inform patients and to support general physicians (GPs) to perform this intervention.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine whether existing clinical decision support (CDS) resources effectively enhance the potential benefits of periodontal screening (PS) by physicians.

Evidence-based rationale supports a national periodontal disease screening program.

Introduction: The evidence-based decision-making process that led to the inclusion of periodontal diseases (PD) in the newly revised Austrian National Periodic Health Examination (PHE) is described. Although intraoral inspection by physicians had already been a routine part of the PHE, obvious signs of PD, which are highly prevalent in Austria, have been largely ignored.

Objective: The objectives of this periodontal screening (PS) program are to direct persons with a series of identifiable risk factors to seek proper care.