Child abuse is a disturbingly common finding in society today. In view of the high proportion of orofacial injuries seen in victims of child abuse, dentists are in a strategic position to recognize and report suspected cases. The present study of 347 dentists in Victoria, A u s t r a l i a , assessed the level of knowledge and attitudes among dental professionals on the important issue of child abuse. While a high level of interest was shown by the participants towards this issue, a need for further information and training in the recognition and reporting of child abuse was seen in the survey findings. While dentists at present are not legally mandated in all states of Australia to report suspected cases of child abuse, the dental profession is in a key position to play an active role in the identification and reporting of this substantial community problem.

An assessment of whether to rehabilitate a tooth requiring endodontic treatment or to replace it with a dental implant can often involve a challenging and complex decision-making process. This paper reviews the literature pertaining to both treatment modalities and identifies key issues that need careful consideration in planning the most appropriate course of care in a given clinical situation. A need to appreciate advances across both disciplines is highlighted, allowing the development of effective interdisciplinary evidence-based treatment strategies to maximize treatment outcome.

Background: Continuing professional development (CPD) programmes have traditionally been seen as an important means by which dentists keep up-todate with current advances in the field. Recent legislative changes in Victoria have resulted in the introduction of mandatory CPD for dentists. Despite this, there is limited available information on the effectiveness of the translation of these programmes into clinical practice. Methods:Participants undertaking CPD programmes in endodontics and implant dentistry were surveyed using three questionnaires over three time-frames: pre-CPD, post-CPD and three months following the programme (delayed). The course format of the programmes involved both didactic lecture and interactive hands-on components.Results: Overall response rates of 94 per cent for pre-CPD and post-CPD questionnaires, and 77 per cent for the delayed impact-on-practice questionnaire were achieved. Programmes in both disciplines were found to be effective in facilitating the uptake of the new technologies taught in the courses. The time-series design of the present survey was effective in identifying dentists' background knowledge, experiences and biases, and in evaluating the translation of CPD programmes into clinical practice. Conclusions: A variety of discipline-related and participant-related factors were identified which may influence the uptake of learned concepts and techniques by participants undertaking CPD programmes. Educators must be cognizant of these issues to ensure that these programmes positively impact on clinical practice, in particular the adoption of technological advances or technical aspects and relating it to the biological goals of treatment, thus facilitating an overall improvement in health care outcomes.

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