Aim To evaluate preclinical education in Endodontology at Austrian, German and Swiss dental schools using an online survey. Methodology An online survey divided into nine categories was sent using SurveyMonkey software to 37 dental schools, before the spread of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The questionnaire included 50 questions to evaluate preclinical endodontic education, such as faculty‐to‐student ratios, topics taught and materials used, in preclinical phantom head courses. Seven and 14 days after the first e‐mail contact, dental schools received a reminder e‐mail. After four and six weeks, the dental schools were contacted by telephone and asked to participate in the online survey. The processing time was eight weeks in total. Results The response rate was 89%. Preclinical endodontic education at the participating dental schools differs considerably. Theory classes ranged from 1 to 70 h (15 h mean), and practical classes ranged from 3 to 78 h (39 h mean). The faculty‐to‐student ratio varied between 1:4 and 1:38 (1:15 mean). Forty‐five per cent of the dental schools had a specialist in endodontics teaching theory. Several dental microscopes were available for preclinical teaching purposes at 82% of the dental schools. The majority (82%) taught root canal preparation with rotary or reciprocating NiTi instruments. Overall, 85% of the dental schools taught lateral compaction, amongst other methods, for canal filling. Conclusion A substantial divergence amongst the dental schools regarding the time dedicated to theory and practical instruction in Endodontology was reported. However, convergence in the use of root canal treatment techniques and materials was reported.
BackgroundBacterial resistance development is one of the most urgent problems in healthcare worldwide. In Europe, dentistry accounts for a comparatively high amount of antibiotic prescriptions. In light of increasing levels of bacterial resistance, this development is alarming. So far, very few interventional studies have been performed, and further research is urgently needed. By means of a complex educational intervention, the DREAM trial aims at optimising antibiotic prescribing behaviour of general dentists in Germany.MethodThis is a cluster-randomised controlled trial, where each cluster consists of one dental practice and all of its patients in a defined period. Participants are general dentists practicing in the German region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Randomisation takes place after baseline data collection (6 months) and will be stratified by the antibiotic prescribing rates of the participating dental practices. Dentists randomised into the intervention group will participate in a complex small group educational seminar that aims at: increasing knowledge on bacterial resistance, pharmacology, and prophylaxis of infectious endocarditis; increasing awareness of dentist-patient communication using video-taped vignettes of dentist-patient communication on antibiotic treatment; improving collaboration between general dentists, general practitioners, and practice-based cardiologists on the necessity of antibiotic prophylaxis; enhancing awareness of the dentists’ own prescribing habits by providing antibiotic prescribing feedback; and increasing patient knowledge on antibiotic treatment by providing patient-centred information material on antibiotic prophylaxis of endocarditis. The dentists randomised into the control group will not receive any educational programme and provide care as usual. Primary outcome is the overall antibiotic prescribing rate measured at T1 (period of six months after intervention). In a subgroup of adult patients affected by odontogenic infections, microbiological analyses for antibiotic resistance of oral streptococci are performed.DiscussionMajor aim of the study is to improve the process of decision making with regard to antibiotic prescribing. The approach is simple to implement and might be used rapidly in graduate and post-graduate medical education. We expect the results of this trial to have a major impact on antibiotic prescription strategies and practices in Germany.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN09576376
In the field of dental technology, the length of ceramic pontics is limited to avoid mechanical failure. To reduce thermal-induced residual stress within the ceramic, using smaller subcomponents and subsequent bonding with silicate-based glass solder may be a favorable approach. Thus, the bending strength of zirconia compounds bonded with different silicate-based glass solders was investigated. For this purpose, rectangular specimens made of zirconia were bonded by glass solder. Parameters such as the scarf angle (45° and 90°), two different glass solders, as well as the soldering process (pressure and surface treatment) were varied. All specimens were subjected to quasi-static four-point bending tests according to DIN EN ISO 843-1. Additionally, the quality of the glass solder connection was evaluated using μCT and fractography. In the present study, zirconia compounds were sucessful bonded of zirconia compounds using silicate-based glass solder was. No significant differences in terms of bending strength were observed with respect to the different bonding parameters analyzed. The highest bending strength of 130.6 ± 50.5 MPa was achieved with a 90° scarf angle combined with ethanol treatment of the specimens before soldering and an additional application of a pressure of 2 bars in a dental pressure pot before subsequent soldering. Nevertheless, the bending strengths were highly decreased when compared to monolithic zirconia specimens (993.4 ± 125.5 MPa).
Dentists account for up to 10% of all prescribed antibiotics in primary care, with up to 80% being inappropriate. Targeted approaches to change prescription behavior are scarce. This study aimed at identifying specific barriers and facilitators for prudent antibiotic use in German dentistry by using qualitative methods. Nine in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions with another nine dentists were conducted and analyzed thematically. Dentists described being conflicted by the discordance of available treatment time and the necessity of thorough therapy. Lacking the opportunity of follow-up led to uncertainty. Dentists felt a lack of medical competency concerning prophylaxis for infectious endocarditis. A lack of empowerment to make therapeutic decisions interfered with guideline-conformity. The communication with fellow physicians is conflictual and improvement was wished for. In consequence, dentists felt pressure by potential medico-legal liability. Patients demanding quick and easy pain relief put extra strain on the interviewed dentists. Our hypotheses concord with preliminary data, mainly from the UK, but highlighted specifically medico-legal concerns and interprofessional communication as even greater barriers as described before. Tailored interventional concepts based on our findings may have the potential to lower antibiotic prescriptions in German primary dental care.
Purpose Zirconium dioxide ceramic has been successfully introduced as a framework material for fixed dental prostheses. To reduce manufacturing constraints, joining of subcomponents could be a promising approach to increase the mechanical performance of long‐span fixed dental prostheses. In this experimental study, the biomechanical behavior of monolithic and soldered framework specimens for fixed dental prostheses made of Y‐TZP was investigated. Materials and methods Framework specimens (n = 80) of 5‐unit fixed dental prostheses made of Y‐TZP were prepared and divided into 10 equal groups. The specimens were monolithic or composed of subcomponents, which were joined using a silicate‐based glass solder. Thereby, three joint geometries (diagonal, vertical with an occlusal cap, and dental attachment‐based) were investigated. Moreover, the groups differed based on the mechanical test (static vs. dynamic) and further processing (veneered vs. unveneered). The framework specimens were cemented on alumina‐based jaw models, where the canine and second molar were acting as abutments before a point‐load was applied. In addition, µCT scans and microscopic fractography were used to evaluate the quality of soldered joints and to determine the causes of fracture. Results The determined fracture loads of the different unveneered framework specimens in static testing did not vary significantly (p = 1). Adding a veneering layer significantly increased the mechanical strength for monolithic framework specimens from 1196.29 ± 203.79 N to 1606.85 ± 128.49 N (p = 0.008). In case of soldered specimens with a dental attachment‐based geometry, the mechanical strength increased from 1159.42 ± 85.65 N to 1249.53 ± 191.55 N (p = 1). Within the dynamic testing, no differences were observed between monolithic and soldered framework specimens. µCT scans and fractography proved that the dental attachment‐based joining geometry offers the highest quality. Conclusion Using glass soldering technology, subcomponents of 5‐unit framework specimens made of Y‐TZP could be joined with mechanical properties comparable to those of monolithic frameworks.
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