Bloodborne Infections Relevant to Dental Practice.

The surgical nature of dental practice, which frequently includes a combination of using sharp tools and the presence of blood, puts dental practitioners at a significant risk for infection with bloodborne pathogens, mainly hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Several seroprevalence studies and case reports traced back newly diagnosed cases of hepatitis B and C to recent episodes of dental treatments. This paper provides an update on the prevalence of hepatitis B and C and HIV, the likelihood of acquiring an infection following an occupational injury, the manner in which serologic tests should be interpreted, and practical advice on ways to reduce the risk of occupational exposure.

Association between stereoacuity and simulated clinical performance among dental students: an exploratory investigation.

Introduction: Dentistry is a profession that requires a high level of the hand-eye coordination. Although considerable attention has been put on dental students' manual dexterity, little emphasis was made on students' visual competency as a variable influencing their competency. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between dental students' stereopsis and their pre-clinical performance.

World Workshop on Oral Medicine VIII: Barriers to research in oral medicine: results from a global survey.

Objectives: To explore factors influencing research interest and productivity and perceived barriers to conducting research in Oral Medicine (OM).

Methods: Invitations to participate in an online survey were e-mailed to a network of international OM practitioners and related professional organizations. Questions captured respondents' demographic/professional variables and gauged research interest, productivity, and perceived barriers to conducting research specifically in OM.

Stylohyoid Ligament Calcification and Its Association With Dental Diseases.

Objectives: This research aimed at investigating the relationship between calcification of the stylohyoid ligaments (SHLs) and odontogenic inflammatory events.

Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography scans of 175 patients were retrospectively assessed for presence of SHL calcifications. Frequencies of 4 types of odontogenic inflammatory events were assessed using the same scans, namely dental extractions, root canal treatments, furcation lesions, and periapical lesions.

Changing Professional Behaviors in the Digital World Using the Medical Education e-Professionalism (MEeP) Framework-A Mixed Methods Multicentre Study.

Background: There is increasing evidence on the exponential use of technology-based social media in medical field that has led to a proliferation of unprofessional behaviors in digital realm. Educating, training, and changing the behaviors of healthcare professionals are essential elements to restrain the rising unprofessional incidents. Therefore, this research was designed to determine the impact of an interventional workshop on the medical and dental students in improving their professional behaviors in the digital world using the newly developed medical Education e-Professionalism (MEeP) framework.

Willingness of dentists in the United Arab Emirates to perform restorative and surgical treatments for patients infected with hepatitis C.

Background: Dentists' refusal to treat patients infected with hepatitis C (HCV) continues to raise ethical concerns, particularly in countries where HCV is prevalent. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess dentists' willingness to treat patients infected with HCV and the socio-demographic variables that influence their decision.

Methods: An online questionnaire was disseminated to dentists practicing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and enquired about their willingness to perform two dental treatments: restorative and surgical, to patients infected with HCV, while hypothetically being equipped with optimal personal protective equipment.

Oral candidal carriage and its association with dental carious lesions in asymptomatic adults: a cross-sectional study from the UAE.

Background: Candida's potential association with dental caries has previously been reported in children. This research aimed at investigating the associations between Candida species in whole saliva and dental and periodontal health indices in a sample of adult patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 160 patients investigated the associations between Candida species collected by oral rinse technique, and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces (DMFS), and periodontal health indices.

The effect of styloid process medial angulation on Eagle's syndrome's self-reported symptoms: A preliminary cross-sectional study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the medial angulation of the styloid process (SP), regardless of its length, has an association with self-reported symptoms of Eagle's syndrome.

Study Design: In this cross-sectional study, we measured the length and medial angulation of the SP, including ossification of the stylohyoid ligaments, in archived cone beam computed tomography scans. Patients with valid contact details were interviewed by telephone and asked about the clinical symptoms related to Eagle's syndrome.

Anxiety among dental professionals and its association with their dependency on social media for health information: insights from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Social media can play a detrimental role during a global health emergency. In this study, we aimed at assessing the impact social media has on the anxiety level of dental healthcare workers (DHCWs) whilst living through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: An online questionnaire was disseminated to a cross-sectional sample of DHCWs from 19 countries using social media platforms.

Ulcerative Stomatitis as the Sole Manifestation of Progesterone Hypersensitivity.

Oral mucosal involvement of autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is exceedingly rare. This report presents a woman with very painful ulcerative stomatitis that recurred with every menstrual period, in the absence of other clinical manifestations. Ulcers were eventually controlled with oral tamoxifen treatment for three months.

Vitamin D and hematinic deficiencies in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Objectives: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) represents a dysfunction in focal inflammatory processes. With the emerging anti-inflammatory roles of vitamin D (VD), we wanted to investigate the association between the onset and severity of RAS and serum VD level.

Methods: Fifty-two RAS cases and sex and age-matched controls were screened for serum iron, B, folic acid, VD and red cell indices.

Pharmacists' clinical competency towards oral mucosal diseases: Results from a mystery shopper study.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical advices pharmacists would give to patients who present with various oral mucosal lesions.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred and twenty pharmacists in three major cities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were approached by senior dental students acting as mystery shoppers. Pharmacists were shown an image of one of four oral mucosal lesions representing candidosis, aphthous ulcer, erosive lichen planus and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Prevalence of hepatitis B, C, and HIV among patients attending a teaching dental hospital. A 7-year retrospective study from the United Arab Emirates.

Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence and case characteristics of hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and their transmissibility from patients to dental personnel following percutaneous and mucocutaneous injuries.

Methods: All incidents of sharp and splash injuries reported between January 2010 and January 2017 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Descriptive statistics were calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS).

The effect of rubber dam on atmospheric bacterial aerosols during restorative dentistry.

Rotatory dental instruments generate atmospheric aerosols that settle on various surfaces, including the dentist's head. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess bacterial contamination of the dentist's head and to evaluate whether it is affected by using a rubber dam. Senior dental students (n=52) were asked to wear autoclaved headscarves as collection media while performing restorative dental treatment with and without a rubber dam.

Reporting child abuse cases by dentists working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Reporting of suspicious cases of child abuse is a sensitive issue that is often hindered by uncertainty of diagnosis. This cross sectional study aimed to assess the UAE dentists' experiences in child abuse recognition, the factors that prevent them from reporting suspicious cases to authorities and their perceived training needs. A closed-ended, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 350 dentists working in the UAE.

Autopsy translates in Arabic to al-tashreeh. Could this term influence its acceptability?

It is not unusual for laypersons to object on the conduct of an autopsy of a loved one for fear of disfigurement or burial delays. In this paper, we discuss a new possible reason for objection among Arabic speaking communities related to the language. The Arabic word for autopsy is "al-tashreeh" which, when examining its other linguistic uses, might result in wrong inferences among laypersons.

Oral cancer in young Jordanians: potential association with frequency of narghile smoking.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between narghile (water-pipe) smoking and the age of patients when diagnosed with oral cancer.

Study Design: Patients with oral cancer registered in the Jordanian National Cancer Registry were asked about frequency of cigarette, narghile, and alcohol use. Relationship between age at diagnosis and risk factors was assessed using multiple regression analysis.