Bioaerosols and Airborne Transmission in the Dental Clinic.

The importance of aerosols (particles suspended in air) produced during dental procedures became more apparent than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns over transmission of infection in these aerosols led to unprecedented disruption to dental services across the world, adversely impacting patients' oral health. This article discusses the evidence related to airborne transmission of infectious diseases and the relevance to dentistry.

Cross Cultural Validation of Oral Health Index Profile for Temporomandibular Disorders in Spanish Speaking Population.

Objectives: Structured patient-centred assessment is critical for improving care. OHIP-TMDs are a validated English-language outcome measure for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) which evaluates the biopsychosocial impact of TMD. Due to language and cultural changes, the original instrument's phrasing of its items may change when translated to Spanish.

Temporomandibular disorders: INfORM/IADR key points for good clinical practice based on standard of care.

Objective: To present a list of key points for good Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs) clinical practice on behalf of the International Network for Orofacial Pain and Related Disorders Methodology (INfORM) group of the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR).

Methods: An open working group discussion was held at the IADR General Session in New Orleans (March 2024), where members of the INfORM group finalized the proposal of a list of 10 key points.

Results: The key points covered knowledge on the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Early Arthrocentesis for Temporomandibular Joint Arthralgia: A Superiority Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this superiority trial was to investigate the clinical outcomes of arthrocentesis as an early treatment supported by use of an occlusal splint vs use of an occlusal splint only in the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthralgia.

Methods: Ninety-five adults presenting with TMJ arthralgia were recruited into the study and randomised into 2 groups: Group 1 received arthrocentesis as an early treatment supported by use of an occlusal splint, whereas group 2 received treatment with an occlusal splint only. Seventy-four patients (group 1: n = 37; group 2: n = 37) completed the 1-year follow-up schedule and were included in the final analysis.

Paradigms matter: why persistent pain is different and how dentists can help.

Dental professionals often expect, and are used to treating, pain that has a clear, organic and likely pathological cause. Patients visiting the dentist are also likely to share this expectation. However, in addition to potential organic contributions to the experience of pain, the nociceptive system (pain signalling system) also plays an important role.

Calcium-sensing receptor regulates Kv7 channels via G protein signalling and modulates excitability of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived nociceptive-like neurons.

Background And Purpose: Neuropathic pain, a debilitating condition with unmet medical needs, can be characterised as hyperexcitability of nociceptive neurons caused by dysfunction of ion channels. Voltage-gated potassium channels type 7 (Kv7), responsible for maintaining neuronal resting membrane potential and thus excitability, reside under tight control of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a GPCR that regulates the activity of numerous ion channels, but whether CaSR can control Kv7 channel function has been unexplored until now.

Blame framing and prior knowledge influence moral judgments for people involved in the Tulsa Race Massacre among a combined Oklahoma and UK sample.

Introduction: How an event is framed impacts how people judge the morality of those involved, but prior knowledge can influence information processing about an event, which also can impact moral judgments. The current study explored how blame framing and self-reported prior knowledge of a historical act of racial violence, labeled as Riot, Massacre, or Event, impacted individual's cumulative moral judgments regarding the groups involved in the Tulsa Race Massacre (Black Tulsans, the Tulsa Police, and White Tulsans).

Methods And Results: This study was collected in two cohorts including undergraduates attending the University of Oklahoma and individuals living in the United Kingdom.

Implementation issues and barriers for assessing oral health in dependent patients after stroke: A qualitative study.

Objectives: To explore implementation issues and potential barriers for assessing oral health in dependent post-stroke patients.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposively identified sample of healthcare service providers who work in two National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in the north of England. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved (n = 30).

Cross-Cultural Validation of the Thai Oral Health Impact Profile for Temporomandibular Disorders.

Objectives: The Oral Health Impact Profile for Temporomandibular Disorders (OHIP-TMDs) is a validated condition-specific outcome measure to help guide decision-making in the management of the condition. There is no Thai version of OHIP-TMDs, and therefore the original English version needs cross-cultural adaptation translation, and validation with a Thai population to reduce the anomalies due to language and cultural differences. This study aimed to develop the Thai-language version of OHIP-TMDs, perform a cross-cultural adaptation to Thailand, and assess its content validity, internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity.

The use of medicaments in the management of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: A community-based cohort study.

Aim: To investigate patient outcomes from either pulpotomy or pulpectomy for the management of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, with and without application of antibiotic/corticosteroid pastes in urgent primary dental care settings in the United Kingdom.

Methodology: All patients receiving intervention for symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in three different primary care settings were invited to participate. Pre-operatively, data regarding patients' numerical ratings scale (NRS), pain score (0-10), analgesic use, oral-health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14) and need for time away from work were collected.

Constructing the brief diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (bDC/TMD) for field testing.

Background: Despite advances in temporomandibular disorders' (TMDs) diagnosis, the diagnostic process continues to be problematic in non-specialist settings.

Objective: To complete a Delphi process to shorten the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) to a brief DC/TMD (bDC/TMD) for expedient clinical diagnosis and initial management.

Methods: An international Delphi panel was created with 23 clinicians representing major specialities, general dentistry and related fields.

Oral health decline in patients after stroke: a qualitative study.

Introduction To develop and implement effective oral care interventions for patients after stroke, there is a need to understand the causes behind the decline in their oral health. This qualitative study was, therefore, undertaken to explore experiences and views of health service providers about the causes of oral health decline in this group of patients.Methods A purposively selected sample of healthcare service providers who work in two NHS Trusts in the North of England were interviewed utilising a semi-structured interview technique.

Patients' experiences of temporomandibular disorders and related treatment.

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common and therefore managed by dentists on a daily basis. However, patients with TMD consistently go undetected and therefore untreated in dentistry. The reasons for these shortcomings have not been fully explored, specifically with regard to patients' perspectives.

Presentation and primary care management of temporomandibular disorders: A survey of primary care dentists in Santiago and Newcastle.

Background: Primary care dentists are often the first point of call for people with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) but it is not known how many people present to their dentist with TMD or the forms of first-line management that are routinely offered.

Objectives: To report rates of presentation of TMD and management offered in primary care by general dental practitioners in two similarly urban areas, Santiago, Chile and North-East England.

Methods: An online survey was developed and distributed to primary care dentists in both regions.

The financial and quality of life impact of urgent dental presentations: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: This study aimed to: (i) calculate personal financial costs associated with urgent dental attendance; and (ii) investigate the pain-related disability and quality of life impact of dental conditions which result in urgent dental attendance.

Methodology: Data were collected from those presenting with urgent dental conditions to an out-of-hours dental service, a dental emergency clinic (DEC) and five primary care general dental practices across North-East England. A pre-operative questionnaire explored the impact of urgent dental conditions on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) using Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and a modified Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS).

How dental teams can help patients with temporomandibular disorders receive general dental care: An International Delphi process.

Background: Many patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) find it difficult to undergo dental care due to challenges caused by their condition, previous temporomandibular joint surgery or invasive dental procedures, and the impact of comorbid conditions. Managing routine dental care for some patients with TMD can be seen as challenging by some dental practitioners.

Objective: The objective of this study was to work with patients experiencing TMD and clinicians to co-produce recommendations aimed at helping general dentists to provide routine dental care for patients with TMD.

Establishing an empirical conceptual model of oral health in dependent adults: Systematic review.

Aim: This qualitative evidence synthesis was performed to establish a conceptual model of oral health in dependent adults that defines the construct of oral health and describes its interrelationships based on dependent adults' and their caregivers' experiences and views.

Methods: Six bibliographic databases were searched: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, OATD, and OpenGrey. Citations and reference lists were manually searched.

Dental antibiotics and referrals in general medical practice: Wales 1974-2017.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore trends and predictors for antibiotic prescriptions and referrals for patients seeking dental care at General Medical Practitioners (GMPs) over a 44-year period in Wales, UK.

Methods: This retrospective observational study analysed data from the nationwide Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank of visits to GMPs. Read codes associated with dental diagnoses were extracted from 1974-2017.

Standardised Tool for the Assessment of Bruxism.

Objective: This paper aims to present and describe the Standardised Tool for the Assessment of Bruxism (STAB), an instrument that was developed to provide a multidimensional evaluation of bruxism status, comorbid conditions, aetiology and consequences.

Methods: The rationale for creating the tool and the road map that led to the selection of items included in the STAB has been discussed in previous publications.

Results: The tool consists of two axes, specifically dedicated to the evaluation of bruxism status and consequences (Axis A) and of bruxism risk and etiological factors and comorbid conditions (Axis B).

The effect of magnetic resonance imaging on mercury release from dental amalgam at 3T and 7T.

Objectives: To measure mercury release from standardised hydroxyapatite/amalgam constructs during MRI scanning and investigate the impact of static field strength and radiofrequency (RF) power on mercury release.

Methods: Amalgam was placed into 140 hydroxyapatite disks and matured for 14-days in artificial saliva. The solution was replaced, and samples split into five groups of 28 immediately prior to MRI.