The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of using a 445 nm laser on dental implants by comparing it with a laser with 970 nm wavelength. Two models, a pig mandible and glass ionomer cement, were used to evaluate the temperature increase in dental implants during laser irradiation with both wavelengths. Temperature was measured every second at four different places on the dental implants. Different power settings, effects of water cooling, distance of the laser fibre to the dental implant and continuous comparison to a pulsed laser beam were tested. Surface alterations on titanium discs after laser irradiation for 4 min at 2.0 W, were analysed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The maximum temperature and time to reach each of the thresholds were comparable between the 445 nm and 970 nm lasers. Neither the 445 nm nor the 970 nm wavelength showed any signs of surface alterations on the titanium discs. Using a 445 nm laser on dental implants is as safe as using a 970 nm laser, in terms of temperature increase and surface alterations. Applying a generous amount of cooling water and irradiating in short intervals is important when using lasers on dental implants.
Aims and Objectives:
The aim of the present study was to identify the dental hygienists (DHs)’ working areas and compare these findings between Sweden and Portugal.
Materials and Methods:
A web-based questionnaire was sent by E-mail to all 2943 members of the Swedish DH Association and 381 members of the Portuguese DH Association. The questionnaire contained questions about; number of years of work, which patient groups they worked with, if they had got sufficient knowledge from the education and what different tasks they worked with. Independent sample
t
-test, relative risk, and logistic regression analysis were used as statistical methods.
Results:
The response rate for Sweden was 31% (
n
= 923) and the corresponding figure for Portugal was 53.5% (
n
= 204). The most common tasks for the DHs, in both countries, were to diagnose and treat patients with periodontitis and to diagnose and perform caries prevention. In Portugal, 86.5% worked with orthodontic patients compared to 32.3% in Sweden (
P
= 0.001). The logistic regression analysis showed that there was a 25% (
P
= 0.02) higher probability that Swedish DHs took more X-rays and 38% (
P
= 0.042) probability that they had more communications skills compared to the Portuguese DHs.
Conclusion:
The DH profession in Sweden and Portugal was overall quite similar. Despite a few local differences, both the academic education and scope of practice corresponded well between the countries. The few discrepancies could be explained by differences in legislations in each country.
Objective:The aim of the present study was to compare the self-reported oral health knowledge, habits and attitudes of adults in Portugal, Romania and Sweden, each benefitting from a different oral health system.
Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1081 adults in the three countries, using an adapted version of the WHO oral health questionnaire.
Results:The mean age of the respondents was 46.85 with 95% CI (45.84, 47.86).Over 85% of the Portuguese and the Swedish, but only 55% of the Romanians, reported having 20 or more teeth left (P < 0.001). Most Swedes visit the dental office regularly, but only 50.5% of the Portuguese and 20.6% of the Romanians do so (P < 0.001). Interdental cleaning aids and fluoridated toothpaste were used the most in Sweden and the least in Romania. Daily consumption of sweets was lowest for Portugal and highest for Romania (P < 0.001), and daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables was lowest for Sweden (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:There is a difference between the three countries regarding oral health, diet, dental attendance and oral health-related quality of life, with Romania being in most need of improvement in these areas. The differences could be explained by the distinct healthcare systems adopted by the countries.
K E Y W O R D Sadults' oral health, attitudes, comparative study, habits, oral health related quality of life
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