Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “DENTISTS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Possible health care professional-to-patient HIV transmission. Dentists' reactions to a Centers for Disease Control report.

On July 27, 1990, the Centers for Disease Control reported possible transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from a dentist to a patient as a result of patient care. We surveyed a random national probability sample of 300 dentists with a 26-item survey in August and September 1990 to assess reactions to the report (response rate, 59%). Respondents tended not to believe the report (mean was 3.2, median 3.0, where 1 indicated "do not believe" and 7 indicated "believe"). Our sample also tended to believe that transmission of HIV from dentists to patients was unlikely in the future (mean was 2.0, median 2.0, where 1 indicated "not at all likely" and 7 indicated "very likely"). Fifty-one percent of our sample recommended that dentists infected with HIV should discontinue practice, while 38% recommended continuing practice with changes in procedures. Seventy-four percent believed patients should be told if their dentist was infected with HIV. In summary, dentists doubted the possibility of dentist-to-patient transmission of HIV and did not believe the Centers for Disease Control case report, but they did believe infected dentists should refrain from clinical work or modify their practice.

American Dental Association↗
PubMed1990

Professional satisfaction among California general dentists.

Dentists' assessments of their jobs provide insights about issues in the dental profession needing attention. This study assessed professional satisfaction among 558 California general dentists using the 54-item, multi-faceted Dentist Satisfaction Survey (DSS). Although dentists tended to be satisfied with various facets of their jobs and careers, substantial variation in the levels of satisfaction was noted. The most satisfied dentists were older, reported higher incomes, attended more continuing education, and employed more dental auxiliaries than dentists who were the most dissatisfied. Fifty-eight percent of the variation in overall job satisfaction was explained by quality of nonwork life and satisfaction with five facets of the profession: respect received from being a dentist, the actual process of delivering care, income derived from dentistry, relationships with patients, and reduced levels of job-related stress. Dentists were most dissatisfied with the threat of malpractice, level of income, demands of managing the practice, and amount of personal time. Professional organizations should direct programs to address these issues. Dental educators should use these findings to counsel predoctoral students about the realities of dental practice and as an outcome measure of their programs. Moreover, these findings document the perceptions of the practicing profession and support several components of the SELECT recruitment strategy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Research on the fatigue of dentists].

Fatigue of the dentist is mainly caused by his forced working posture. Although several studies of the cause of the fatigue and its recovery way have been done, it seems that they are not practically applied to the dental field. In this study authors obtained some basic information for the fatigue of dentists and analysed them in view point of the experience year and working posture of dentists. The results were as in the following: 1) Rate of dentists to feel the fatigue after dental treatment was 26.7% in "often" on the average, and 90% including such dentists as "occasionally". There was few difference between the fatigue and the experience year and working posture, except for a number of the dentists experienced below 10 years, who felt the fatigue in "occasionally". 2) The characteristics of physical parts for appearance of the fatigue were as follows. (1) In the standing working group, "languor" of crus and back in the dentist group experienced below 10 years, and "pain" of waist in the group experienced over 30 years were recognized. The complaints of the fatigue were not so complicated. (2) In the sitting working group, "stiffness", "pain" and "languor" of waist were recognized complicatedly. The fatigue of fingers and arms were recognized only in this working group of posture. (3) In the standing and sitting combined working group, "stiffness", "pain" and "languor" of waist were recognized complicatedly in the dentists experienced over 30 years, and their rates were in high degree.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Sero-epidemiological study on hepatitis A and B virus infection among dentists in the Philippines.

Dentists in the Philippines were surveyed for evidence of past hepatitis A and B virus infections. Of the 234 dentists examined, 201 (85.9 per cent) were found to have been infected by HA virus and 137 (58.5 per cent) had been infected by HB virus. The proportion with evidence of past HB virus infection increased as the years in dental practice increased. This increment with age was not found in the general population of the Philippines. It is considered that the incremental pattern could be attributed to the summation of risk during many years of providing dental treatment. Comparing the proportion of dentists with HBV antibodies (anti-HBs/c) in the Philippines, Japan, USA and Denmark, the Philippine dentists were found to be more frequently infected than dentists in the other countries. However, the increment in the proportion positive for HBV as the years in practice advanced was consistent with that found in Japan. The prevalence of post HA virus infection in Philippine dentists was higher than the proportion for dentists in Japan but in both countries it is probable that dentists are infected at the same rate as the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Dentists' incomes, fees, practice costs, and the Economic Stabilization Act: 1952 to 1976. Bureau of Economic and Behavioral Research.

Throughout the 20-year period from 1952 to 1972, dentists' net incomes, adjusted for inflation, increased and provided greater monetary rewards to the practice of dentistry. Evidence discloses a close association between the purchasing power of dentists' net incomes and the general level of economic activity (measured by the GNP inconstant dollars). Dentists are not immune to temporary recessions. The period from 1972 to 1974, with the imposed fee guidelines of Nixon's Economic Stabilization Act, was unusual. With effective fee guidelines during the latter two phases coupled with freely fluctuating input prices, dentists were caught in an income squeeze. During 1972 to 1974, the purchasing power of dentists' net incomes fell at a rate of 10.1% per year as the price index of practice costs outpaced dentists' fees. After the Economic Stabilization Act expired in 1974, trends returned to normal. Dentists' net incomes increased at rates consistent with changes in the GNP and dentists' fees increased slightly faster than the "Price Index of Cost of Conducting a Dental Practice."

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1982

The dentist-patient relationship.

A report of the progress of research in the area of the dentist-patient relationship since Linn's review in 1971 is presented. It discusses several models of the doctor-patient relationship, dentists' perceptions of patients and their influence on treatment outcome, patients' perceptions of the dentist and satisfaction of both the dentist and the patient with the dentist-patient relationship. Most of the emphases in research noted by Linn--largely in patient management strategies--continue to be emphasized today. It was observed that both patients and dentists express a high degree of satisfaction with the dentist-patient relationship. Because of this, it was hypothesized that dentists and patients select each other. Data from studies supporting this hypothesis are presented. Implications for increasing access to underserved groups were also discussed. Many areas continue to require good research and almost all require cross-national research.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Knowledge and beliefs of dentists regarding temporomandibular disorders and chronic pain.

To assess the knowledge and beliefs of practicing dentists regarding temporomandibular disorders and chronic pain, a random sample of dentists in the Kansas City metropolitan area was surveyed. A survey instrument examining knowledge and beliefs in four domains (psychophysiological, psychiatric disorders, chronic pain, and pathophysiology) was used. The responses of the practicing dentists were compared to the responses of panels of experts. Results indicated that dentists generally agreed with experts in the psychophysiological and psychiatric disorders domains but disagreed with the experts in the chronic pain and pathophysiology domains. Specialists and general dentists did not differ from one another in their responses. The findings partially replicate an earlier, similar survey of dentists in the Seattle, Washington, area. The findings suggest that the role of psychiatric disorders and psychophysiologic factors in the etiology of temporomandibular disorders is widely acknowledged by practicing dentists. However, there is considerable discrepancy between practicing dentists and temporomandibular disorder experts on the pathophysiology of temporomandibular disorders and how best to diagnose and treat these chronic conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Absence of HIV transmission from an infected dentist to his patients. An epidemiologic and DNA sequence analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a general dentist with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection transmitted HIV to any of his patients. DESIGN: A cohort study in which all patients treated by a dentist who developed the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were identified and attempts were made to contact all patients for HIV antibody testing. SETTING: A general dentistry clinic operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs in southeastern Florida. PARTICIPANTS: All patients treated by a dentist during the 5 3/4 years before he developed AIDS were identified in a computerized registry of dental care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Attempts were made to contact all living patients for counseling and HIV antibody testing. Living patients with newly identified HIV infection were interviewed, and DNA sequence analysis was performed to compare genetic relatedness of their HIV to that of the dentist. Death certificates were obtained for decreased patients, and the medical records of those with diagnoses suggestive of HIV disease or drug abuse and those dying under the age of 50 years were reviewed in detail. RESULTS: There were 1192 patients who had undergone 9267 procedures, of whom 124 were deceased. A review of the death certificates of the deceased patients identified five who had died with HIV infection, all of whom were either homosexuals or users of illicit intravenous drugs. We were able to locate 962 (92%) of the remaining 1048 patients, and 900 agreed to be tested. Infection with HIV was documented in five of the 900 patients, including four who had clear evidence of risk factors for acquiring HIV infection. One patient who had only a single evaluation by the dentist denied high-risk behavior. Comparative DNA sequence analysis demonstrated that the viruses from the dentist and these five patients were not closely related. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the risk for transmission of HIV from a general dentist to his patients is minimal in a setting in which universal precautions are strictly observed. Programs to ensure compliance with universal precautions would appear preferable to programs for widespread testing of dentists.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A survey of general dentists in Ontario, Part I: Sealant use and knowledge.

This study assessed the use of pit and fissure sealants by Ontario dentists, as well as variations in the knowledge and practices of this population with respect to certain aspects of the preventive technique. A mail questionnaire on dental practices and knowledge was answered by 1,276 general dentists in Ontario. Most dentists (90 per cent) provided sealants to their patients, and reported using sealants on an average of 45 per cent of their patients between the ages of six and 16 years. While most dentists knew that sealants have been proven effective in preventing caries (90 per cent), many incorrectly believed that sealants are cost-effective to apply to both primary molars and permanent premolars (40 per cent and 68 per cent respectively). Bivariate analyses showed that many of the reported characteristics are statistically significant. The variables that were consistently associated with sealant use include: knowledge of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of sealants; year of graduation from dental school; level of dental hygienist employment; and continuing education participation. Although multivariate analyses identified many of these variables as statistically significant, only a moderate amount of the variation in sealant use for patients aged six to 16 was explained (R2 = 0.22). Due to misinformation about the cost-effectiveness of sealants, some dentists may overuse them in certain instances. Conversely, misinformation about the effectiveness of sealants and the risk of further decay after sealant placement has resulted in some dentists under-utilizing them. Continuing education courses are needed to update dentists' knowledge and beliefs regarding dental sealants. In addition, dentistry's professional bodies should develop clinical practice guidelines to aid dentists in their treatment planning decisions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Item of service remuneration in general practice in the UK: what can we learn from dentists?

In response to the UK Government's proposal to increase the proportion of general practitioner income accruing from capitation payments the General Medical Services Committee of the British Medical Association has called for an extension of fee for item of service provision in general practice. In this paper the allocation of resources in primary care dentistry, where fee for service provision is currently used, is analysed in order to shed light on the debate. Since dentists' fees are set in accordance with average dentist time inputs, differences in cost per treatment course reflect differences in course content. Multiple regression techniques are used to estimate a cost per treatment course function. Using cross-sectional data for family practitioner committees in England and Wales for 1982 a significant negative correlation is found between cost per course and population per dentist after allowing for patient demand and need characteristics. A 10% decrease in population per dentist is associated with a 2.5% increase in cost per course. The observation cannot be explained by dentists rationing treatment in the presence of excess demand owning to the nature of the dentist contract. These results imply that in areas of greater supplies of dentists additional course content is being induced by dentists in order to maintain workloads. Hence although fee for service provision offers a financial incentive to increase service provision it offers no incentive to allocate services efficiently, that is in accordance with greatest need. The extension of fee for service provision in general medical practice would appear to be inconsistent with an objective of allocating scarce primary care resources in accordance with patient need.

Capitation Fee↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Procedures provided to Medicaid recipients by pediatric, general and public health dentists in the commonwealth of Virginia: fiscal years 1994 and 1995.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report any differences found among the mean percentages of procedures performed by three types of dental providers for each type of service performed. The study focused on the types of services provided by dentists to Medicaid children in Virginia. METHODS: Medicaid claims field for dental patients younger than age 21 were obtained and analyzed for fiscal years 1994 and 1995. Dental providers were categorized according to their practice: general practice (GP), pediatric dentist (PD) and public health dentist (PH). Each type of practitioner (GP, PD, and PH) was evaluated for percentages of diagnostic, preventive, and corrective services provided to their Medicaid patients. The preventive category was subdivided into preventive services (scaling, prophy, fluoride and oral hygiene instruction) and sealant services. RESULTS: For each type of service, the mean percentages of procedures performed were compared among the three types of dental providers. The evaluation of the diagnostic procedure variable resulted in the finding that GP practitioners performed a significantly greater percentage of diagnostic procedures to their Medicaid patients than do PD and PH dentists (p < 0.0001). The percentage of preventive procedures performed by PD and GP dentists was not significantly different but was significantly lower than those performed by PH dentists (p < 0.0001). Finally, PD dentists performed a significantly greater percentage of corrective procedures than both GP and PH dentists (p > 0.0037). CONCLUSION: Differences were found among the mean percentages of procedures performed by the three types of dental providers for each type of service performed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Colorado pit and fissure sealant survey: attitudes toward and use of pit and fissure sealants by Colorado general dentists.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey of Colorado general dentists regarding the use of and attitudes toward pit and fissure sealants. The survey consisted of a questionnaire to determine the utilization levels of sealants by general dentists, reasons for limited placement or non-utilization of sealants, whether sealant placement was delegated to dental auxiliaries or not, and if continuing education courses on sealants had been attended by the dentists and/or their dental auxiliaries. A total of 544 completed questionnaires were available for study. The results indicated that sealants were used by 82.7% of the dentists. Approximately 70% of the practitioners reported that they utilized sealants either routinely or occasionally. Reasons for limited placement or non-utilization of sealants were, in descending order: 1) Not covered by insurance; 2) Inadvertent sealing in of caries; 3) Sealants do not last; 4) Sealants too expensive; 5) Not familiar with sealant technique; 6) Sealants not effective. Placement of sealants was delegated as follows: 1) Dentists, 64.8%; 2) Hygienists, 17.8%; 3) Assistants, 17.4%. Continuing education courses had been attended by 29.1% of the dentists surveyed. Only 6.6% of the dentists indicated that their staff had attended continuing education courses on sealant placement. A relatively high percentage of Colorado dentists are utilizing sealants on a frequent basis. Major reasons for limited usage or non-utilization of sealants relates to lack of insurance coverage and concern regarding sealing in of caries. A need for continuing education courses on sealants appears to exist.

Colorado↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The use of behavior management techniques by dentists across practitioner type, age, and geographic region.

The purpose of this project was to describe the behavior management procedures employed for child dental patients based on practitioner type (general dentist vs. pediatric dentist), age, and geographic location. A survey of practice characteristics, which included questions relating to child behavior management, was mailed once to a national random sample of 3000 dentists--2000 general dentists and 1000 pediatric dentists. The pediatric dentists who responded employed a broader spectrum of management techniques than did the general dentists. Significant regional and practitioner age differences were reported in the use of behavior management techniques. The use of sedation and general anesthesia was reported more frequently in the western regions. Of the five age groups, the 40- to 49-year-old age group reported using the broadest spectrum of behavior management techniques. The survey revealed practitioner type, age, and regional differences in the child behavior management procedures employed by dentists.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Dentist-related factors influencing the amount of prosthodontic treatment provided.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate, using multivariate methods, the associations between indicators of the amount of prosthodontic treatment and dentist-related factors. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 2,059 general dentists, response rate was 76%. Two indicators of prosthodontic activity were used as dependent variables: 1) reported weekly working hours used for prosthodontics and 2) reported numbers of produced single crowns, fixed partial dentures, and removable dentures. Independent variables were 'social and demographic attributes', 'job situation' and 'attitudes of dentists'. Multiple regression analysis was used in models with continuous dependent variables and logistic regression analysis for categorical dependent variables. RESULTS: 'Weekly working hours used for dental care of adults' showed a strong association in all models with the dependent variable 'weekly working hours used for prosthodontics'. Male dentists provided more prosthodontic services than female dentists, even if reporting less time used for prosthodontics. Private practitioners produced more fixed prosthodontics than dentists employed in the public dental health service. Dentists in the public dental health service reported a higher production of removable dentures than private practitioners. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that factors, besides those in the rational clinical model for decision-making, e.g. gender and delivery system, play a role in the provision of prosthodontic services.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Some variables affecting dentists' assessment of patients' distress.

Dental students estimated the pain distress and discomfort of their patients after patients received a Class II restoration (simple filing). Dentist's estimates of patient pain accounted for 36% of the variance in patient self-report responses. Dentist accuracy was significantly lower, however, for estimates of anxiety and distress. Dentist accuracy was unaffected by patient's degree of self-monitoring. There was a tendency for female dentists to demonstrate greater accuracy than male dentists, but this effect was nonsignificant. In addition, dentists' accuracy in assessing overall patient discomfort was significantly lower in that segment of the treatment procedure that was most stressful for the dentists. This article discusses theoretical explanations for this latter effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevention of endocarditis: communication between doctors and dentists.

Successful implementation of guidelines to prevent infective endocarditis (IE) depends upon the dental practitioner being aware of which of his patients are at risk. This was studied by sending a questionnaire to at risk patients and their dentists in the Grampian area. Of 145 respondents (53% response rate) with predisposing cardiac disorders, only 63 reported having seen their dentist in the past 2 years, although for dentate patients 47/61 had seen a dentist in the past 2 years. The dentists of 59 of these cases were then surveyed and replies received in 53 cases. Nineteen had no record of the patient having a cardiac disorder. In only 17 of the remaining cases was information on the cardiac disorder well enough recorded to warrant prophylaxis for at risk procedures. The dentist was usually told of the disorder only by the patient. Sixty-three per cent of dentists felt that communication between them and the patient's doctor was unsatisfactory. It is necessary to improve doctor/patient/dentist communication so that current recommendations on prophylaxis can be implemented to the full. This should be done through the patient's GP or consultant, who should communicate directly with the dentist. Details could also be inserted on warfarin cards and 'cardiac alert cards' expanded.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

Danish dentists' knowledge, attitudes and management of procedural dental pain in children: association with demographic characteristics, structural factors, perceived stress during the administration of local analgesia and their tolerance towards pain.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to describe Danish dentists' knowledge of, attitudes towards and management of procedural pain during paediatric dental care, and to assess the importance of demographic characteristics, structural factors, perceived stress during administration of local analgesia and the dentists' own tolerance towards procedural dental pain. DESIGN: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in Denmark in May 2001. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were a random sample of 30% of Danish dentists treating children. Usable information was obtained from 327 (80.3%) of the dentists in the sample. RESULTS: One-quarter of the respondents answered that a 3-5-year-old child could report pain only with uncertainty. More than 80% of the dentists stated that they never compromised on painlessness. Very few agreed to the statement that children forget pain faster than adults. One-third agreed to, or were neutral to, the statement that all restorative care in primary teeth could be performed painlessly using N2O-O2 sedation alone. The majority of the respondents reported using three or more methods to assess the effect of their pain control methods. Almost 90% reported using local analgesia for restorative work 'always' or 'often'. A similar proportion reported using topical analgesia before injection 'always' or 'often'. Administering a mandibular block to preschool children was the procedure perceived as the most stressful (33.6%) pain control method. Demographic factors (gender), structural factors (always working alone and treating 3-5-year-old children daily), perceived stress during the administration of a mandibular block in preschool children and the dentists' own willingness to accept potentially painful dental treatment without local analgesia were associated with knowledge of, attitudes towards and management of procedural dental pain in children. CONCLUSIONS: Danish dentists treating children demonstrate concern about procedural dental pain in children. Factors amenable to change via training and reorganization into larger clinical units seem to determine their knowledge of, attitudes towards and management of procedural dental pain in children.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The practice of dentistry by male and female dentists.

Increasing numbers of women are entering the once male-dominated dental profession in Australia. Determining what differences exist in the practice of dentistry between male and female dentists has therefore become an important task. The purpose of the present study was to examine differences in practice between male and female dentists. Data were available from a weighted, stratified random sample of 730 dentists (486 male and 294 female dentists) in each State or Territory of Australia. Using discriminant analysis age, practice setting, number of other dentists in the practice, inputs to the practice of dentistry either hired, acquired or contributed, direct demand and community size were all found significant in separating male and female dentists. It was more difficult to separate younger male and female dentists, indicating some convergence between the sexes. However, some differences persisted. Possible reasons for the differences are discussed and some implications noted.

Adult↗