Needs assessment for faculty development in dental education, at the University of Health Sciences, Lao PDR

Due to the short history of dental education in Laos, the educational system is still incomplete, with only a few faculty development (FD) programs. This study aims to identify the needs assessment for FD, in Lao dental education. A survey was conducted, with dentists from the Faculty of Dentistry, in 2022. Data on demographics, perceived importance, and ability, on the 13 roles and competencies of teachers, as well as the 26 FD items’ needs assessment were collected. Data were compared between the two groups (lecturers and assistant teachers), and analyzed to identify different needs. Sixty-seven responses were included, after excluding inappropriate ones. Lecturers and assistant teachers expressed their needs for developing a syllabus, and teaching using simulation. Lecturers revealed the need to improve their roles as resource developers, followed by learning facilitators and lecturer in a classroom setting. Assistant teachers reported their prioritized needs for improving their role as on-the-job role models, followed by lecturer in a classroom setting, and mentor, personal adviser, or tutor. Assistant teachers showed higher educational needs scores than lecturers, in most questionnaire items. Although the needs assessment of FD indicates different needs, based on the differing roles and responsibilities, assistant teachers’ needs scores are generally higher. An FD program could prioritize the most common needs of both groups at an early stage, but the topics most needed by each group should also be considered. This study can inform a future FD program, to improve Lao dental education

Comparison between Occlusal Errors of Single Posterior Crowns Adjusted Using Patient Specific Motion or Conventional Methods

Recently, digital technology has been used in dentistry to enhance accuracy and to reduce operative time. Due to advances in digital technology, the integration of individual mandibular motion into the mapping of the occlusal surface is being attempted. The Patient Specific Motion (PSM) is one such method. However, it is not clear whether the occlusal design that is adjusted using PSM could clinically show reduced occlusal error compared to conventional methods based on static occlusion. In this clinical comparative study including fifteen patients with a single posterior zirconia crown treatment, the occlusal surface after a clinical adjustment was compared to no adjustment (NA; design based on static occlusion), PSM (adjusted using PSM), and adjustment using a semi-adjustable articulator (SA) for the assessment of occlusal error. The root mean square (RMS; mu m), average deviation value (+/- AVG; mu m), and proportion inside the tolerance (in Tol; %) were calculated using the entire, subdivided occlusal surface and the out of tolerance area. Using a one-way ANOVA, the RMS and +AVG from the out of tolerance area showed a statistical difference between PSM (202.3 +/- 39.8 for RMS, 173.1 +/- 31.3 for +AVG) and NA (257.0 +/- 73.9 for RMS, 210.9 +/- 48.6 for +AVG). For the entire and subdivided occlusal surfaces, there were no significant differences. In the color-coded map analysis, PSM demonstrated a reduced occlusal error compared to NA. In conclusion, adjustment occlusal design using PSM is a simple and effective method for reducing occlusal errors that are difficult to identify in a current computer-aided design (CAD) workflow with static occlusion.11Nsciescopu

Spontaneous Osteogenic Potential of Periosteum after Segmental Mandibulectomy in Patients with Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ): A Retrospective Study of 14 Cases

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) has chiefly involved patients receiving medications for the treatment of bone-related malignancies. The surgical methods are now cautiously recommended as the treatment option for MRONJ. The purpose of this retrospective study was to report new bone formation and examine possible factors influencing spontaneous bony bridge formation by using an R-plate for reconstruction without any graft material after segmental mandibulectomy in patients with MRONJ. A cohort of 54 patients who underwent mandibulectomy between 2017 and 2022 by a single operator were included. Of them, 14 MRONJ patients (12 females and 2 males) were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Data on new bone formation, bony bridge formation, R-plate fracture, patient age, and type and duration of medication were collected. The mean age of the patients was 74.8 ± 9.3 years. All patients showed new bone formation, and 71.4% showed bony bridge formation within a year after surgery. The older the patient, the lower was the tendency for bony bridge formation in the defect (p = 0.035). Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test. Preservation of the periosteum might be one of the most important contributing factors to new bone formation, serving as an optimal treatment option for reconstruction after segmental mandibulectomy in patients with MRONJ

Relationship between insomnia and working from home among Korean domestic workers: results from the 5th Korean working condition survey

Abstract Background Social distancing has been increasingly implemented following the COVID-19 pandemic and more people have been working from home. Consequently, the screen time has increased, which can disrupt the natural sleep-wake cycle and delay sleep onset. Given that studies on the health of employees who work from home remain insufficient, particularly with respect to the risk of sleep disorders including insomnia, this study aimed to assess the relationship between working from home and insomnia among workers using data from the 5th Working Conditions Survey conducted in Korea. Methods Of 30,108 wage workers, we enrolled 818 employees who worked from home and 4,090 employees who worked from the office, a 1:5 pair sample based on sex and occupational group. Personal and occupational characteristics, working from home, and insomnia were included in the analysis. Age, education, employment status, working years, working hours per week, work-life balance, self-perceived health, depression, and anxiety were all adjusted as potential confounding variables. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed using working from home as an independent variable and insomnia as a dependent variable to determine the correlation between working from home and insomnia. Results Working from home was associated with sleep onset latency disorder, OR = 3.23 (95% CI: 2.67–3.91), sleep maintenance disorder, OR = 3.67 (95% CI: 3.02–4.45), and non-restorative sleep, OR = 3.01 (95% CI: 2.46–3.67); working from home had a statistically significant relationship with all three types of insomnia. Conclusions Within the limits of the study, these findings can be used as a fundamental basis for the implementation of policies and guidelines to prevent insomnia in workers who work from home

Digital Workflow for Edentulous Patients with Implant-Supported Fixed Prostheses: A Fully Digital Technique

Dentists have made prostheses using traditional methods, which are inconvenient and time-consuming. It includes functional impression taking, plaster model production, wax rim production, intermaxillary relationship and occlusal plane setting, artificial tooth arrangement, denture polymerization, polishing, etc. To make prostheses in this way, the patient has to visit the dentist several times, and it takes a long time for them to receive treatment. In addition, the potential for errors associated with the denture-manufacturing process and the use of denture materials has always existed. However, the recent use of digital technology in dentistry has made it possible to create digital prostheses. Several techniques for the immediate loading of implants with a fixed prostheses in edentulous patients have been developed. However, these techniques are partially digital techniques that include laboratory work for prosthesis fabrication. This article aimed to describe a fully digital technique for implant-supported fixed prostheses. It includes intra-oral scanning of edentulous patients, implant placement planning, and final prosthesis fabrication. This technique facilitates a simple and more efficient immediate restoration after implant placement without using stone casts

Additional file 1 of Relationship between insomnia and working from home among Korean domestic workers: results from the 5th Korean working condition survey

Supplementary Material

Effect of Ultraviolet Irradiation on Osseointegration of Dental Implants: A Comparative Histomorphometric Study in Canine Models

Recent studies have focused on achieving sound osseointegration applying methods of surface reprocessing of dental implants using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. However, there have been few reports on the effect of UV irradiation on osseointegration in both the short and long term, and experimental studies using the canine model do not exist. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the short- and long-term degree of osseointegration of dental implants according to UV irradiation using a histometric analysis in canine models. Four beagles were used for this study and 24 dental implants were placed. Six implants were inserted with flapless protocols in each mandible. Half of the implants were UV-irradiated prior to implantation. UV-treated and untreated implants were placed one after the other; implant stability was recorded using the implant stability test (IST) immediately after implantation and every seven days thereafter. Two of the beagles were sacrificed after four weeks and the other two after 12 weeks. The implants were removed in block sections and were evaluated histomorphologically and statistically. As a result, we found no statistically significant differences in the mean IST values and in bone-to-implant contact (BIC) in all groups at 4 and 12 weeks

Modified submental intubation techniques for maxillofacial surgery - A report of five cases -

Background Submental intubation has been the recommended airway management procedure for maxillofacial surgery since proposed by Altemir in 1986. We adopted various submental intubation modifications based on modified intubation protocols and report on the effectiveness and problems of each modified method. Case Among a total of 13 submental intubation cases during the last five years, five representative methods are described. The proximal end of the endotracheal tube was protected by a nelaton catheter in case 1, by a suction connector in case 2, and by a dental needle cap in case 3. In case 4, a nasal speculum was used to expand a single route, and in case 5, a laparoscopic trocar was used to secure a single route. Conclusions Use of a laparoscopic trocar might be the most effective way to obtain a single submental route. However, considering cost, use of a nasal speculum is also an effective suboptimal solution

Reliability of a Trapezium Miniplate with Endoscope-Assisted Internal Fixation in Mandibular Subcondylar Fractures: A Three-Dimensional Analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of a trapezium plate for open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of mandibular subcondylar fractures with the simultaneous use of an endoscope. We selected and retrospectively studied 18 patients (12 males and 6 females) with unilateral mandibular subcondylar fractures who visited the Wonju Severance Christian Hospital. The mean age of the patients was 43.43 ± 15.76 years. Patients underwent ORIF with trapezium miniplate application through an intraoral incision under general anesthesia. The clinical and radiographic findings of the fractured side were compared with those of the non-operated side at 6 months follow-up. All occlusions became stable, and transient functional disturbances disappeared within 6 months of periodic follow-up. Functional mandibular movement recovered within the normal range, with an average mouth opening of 41.5 mm, protrusion of 7.5 mm, and lateral excursion of 7 mm at 6 months. Radiographic controls and statistical analysis confirmed a decent anatomical reduction in all 18 cases. In conclusion, the use of a trapezium miniplate with endoscope-assisted ORIF in mandibular subcondylar fractures can be useful for fixation and functional recovery