Effect of dental education on knowledge and clinical behavior of turkish dentists’ regarding oral-systemic health of geriatric patients

Objective: The aim is to evaluate the perspectives of dentists’ clinical approaches in terms of their knowledge and education regarding oral-systemic health relation of geriatric patients with a digital survey. Materials and Methods: The demographics, oral-systemic health-related lectures in participants' dentistry education, the level of awareness of the oral-systemic health relationship, and behaviors related to clinical applications were investigated on a digital platform with 49 multiple-choice questions. The results were analyzed with the SPSS 24.0 program. Results: Of a total of 410 dentists (206 women and 204 men), 23% have doctoral and/or specialty titles. While 93.1% of dentists had taken systemic health-related lectures, 21.3% of them rated these courses as “adequate” and 49.3% as weak. 72% of the participants received medical history only at the initial appointment, while 17.9% of them received it at each appointment. Dentists more often associate diabetes and cardiovascular diseases with periodontitis, compared to the development of dental caries. Dentists who think that they should work with physicians in the treatments of geriatric patients with systemic diseases refer more patients to physicians per year (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Dentists have found the lectures on the relationship between oral-systemic health of geriatric patients in dentistry education inadequate. Besides, there is a lack of information on the effects of systemic diseases on caries development, intra-oral findings, and knowledge on treatment approaches. Dentists believe that defining a curriculum that emphasizes interdisciplinary work and organizing scientific activities in partnership with medical associations will play an important role in establishing awareness of oral-systemic health. Keywords Dental education; Dental health survey; Geriatric dentistry; Interdisciplinary communication; Oral health.

Proposal for a Conceptual Framework for the Development of Geriatric Dentistry

Demographic changes with an increasingly higher proportion of older adults worldwide and an epidemiologic transition resulting in more teeth retained and higher demand and expectations set up new scenarios for the oral health of the older population. Thus, geriatric dentistry must be reconfigured, transitioning from the traditional focus on prosthesis to a more holistic discipline, actively incorporating geriatric and gerontologic aspects. We describe some situations that provide the rationale for a new conceptual framework for the advancement of geriatric dentistry as a clinical specialty. On the basis of scientific evidence and our academic experience, we propose 4 concepts that should steer the discipline during the following years and become its structural pillars: minimal intervention dentistry, oral functionality, patient-centered care, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Since data and evidence are limited, a special focus on poor and developing countries is incorporated. Adjusting clinical guidelines and public health policies around these concepts will increase access to oral care for older people, including those with physical or social barriers, and will ensure better oral health–related quality of life and well-being. These concepts have deep consequences in the education and training of new dentists and specialists, at the public and private levels.

A comprehensive evaluation of knowledge and perceptions regarding geriatric dentistry among Saudi Arabian dental students

Objectives: The purpose of thestudy was to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of Arabian dental students on geriatric dentistry. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a total of 100 participants were selected [25 from 3rd-and 4th-year students (Group I) and 5th-year students and interns (Group II)]. All participants were completed a three-part [(Part I (knowledge) and II (cognitive evaluation) and III (awareness and attitude of psychosocial and health problems)] questionnaire related to geriatric dentistry. The comparisons were made among the Groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 21.0.IBM Corp) software. Results: The responses on the knowledge of the geriatric population and their oral health (Part I) questionnaire among groups were not statistically significant (p >0.05). The knowledge mean scores comparison showed a significant relationship evident among the groups (p<0.05). Overall all Group II participants achieved the highest scores for Part I (p>0.05), Part II (p<0.05), and Part III A&B (p>0.05). Conclusions: The students belong to 5th-year, and Interns achieved high scores compared to 3rd- and 4th- years students. Dental students and interns in Saudi Arabia lack positive approaches to providing primary health care to geriatric individuals despite a rapidly growing geriatric population.

Arabian undergraduates perceptions regarding barriers among the geriatric patients for failing to keep dental appointments: A cross-sectional study

Background: Regular visits to the health care providers can develop a relationship that can extend beyond the physical health alone as the patient is transiting towards older age, adapting to changes in physical health, emotional health, and social connections. Apart from limiting access to health care services, the attitudes, beliefs, comfort level of the treating doctors towards the geriatric patients can motivate or demotivate them to access dental care. Aims: To explore the Saudi Arabian undergraduate student’s perception of geriatric patients' and identify potential barriers that prevent the utilization of their dental appointment. Methods: A close-ended questionnaire with one question and eight reasons was administered to the 5th year clinical students. The students were requested to specify their agreement with each question on 5 points Likert scale. Among the barriers presented, each reason's approval was expressed as the percentage of the total number of responses. In addition, the gender comparison of mean scores was made, and an independent sample t-test was used to analyze the statements agreed by the students. All analyses were performed using SPSS (Statistical Package of Social Sciences) version 21.0 (IBM, USA) with the probability of statistical significance at 0.05 level. Results: Fifty-one students recorded their perceptions on the questionnaire administered during their clinical posting in the fifth year of the geriatric dental education program. It was concluded that students believed that geriatric patients give overwhelming importance to other problems with minor importance to oral health care. In addition, gender comparison was more evident as the percentage expressed was more in females. Conclusion: There is a need for more clinical exposure of geriatric patients during their clinical postings. Student’s acquaintance with didactic and clinical settings appears to be a critical element towards positive knowledge and attitude towards the geriatric population. Keywords: Geriatric dentistry, perception about geriatric, dental students, geriatric patients

Global Perspectives of Oral Health Policies and Oral Healthcare Schemes for Older Adult Populations

The aim of this study was to present a concise summary of the oral health policies and oral healthcare schemes for older adult populations in a number of selected countries around the world. In this paper, the current and planned national/regional oral health policies and oral healthcare schemes of nine countries (Australia, Brazil, China including Hong Kong, India, Japan, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) are reported. Barriers and challenges in oral health promotion in terms of devising oral health policies, implementing oral health schemes, and educating the future dental workforce are discussed. In response to the aging of population, individual countries have initiated or reformed their healthcare systems and developed innovative approaches to deliver oral health services for older adults. There is a global shortage of dentists trained in geriatric dentistry. In many countries, geriatric dentistry is not formally recognized as a specialty. Education and training in geriatric dentistry is needed to produce responsive and competent dental professionals to serve the increasing number of older adults. It is expected that oral health policies and oral healthcare services will be changing and reforming in the coming decades to tackle the enduring oral health challenges of aging societies worldwide.

Dentists’ Opinions in Providing Oral Healthcare to Elderly People: A Questionnaire-Based Online Cross-Sectional Survey

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the factors in dentists’ opinions related to oral health and the treatment management of the elderly. An online questionnaire-based survey was conducted among the dentist population (n = 463). Respondents were divided depending on whether they attended the geriatric dentistry course during their education, and 15 questions on the Likert scale demonstrated the difference in their attitudes. The majority of respondents (61.9%) agree that dental studies should pay more attention to acquiring sufficient knowledge and skills in the treatment of the elderly, and 56.2% would like to attend a course on that subject. Compared to those who participated in the geriatric dentistry course, those who did not consider providing oral healthcare to older people find it more difficult because of its complexity and practical obstacles (37.3% vs. 54%, p ≤ 0.001). From the results of this study, it can be concluded that there are differences in opinion about the provision of oral healthcare to the elderly between dentists who have and who have not attended a geriatric dentist course during their education. During the dentist’s education, geriatric dentistry courses should have a significant role in providing knowledge for working with the elderly population.