The results of the study show that in this country there is no established practice for children to make their first dental visit before they turn one year of age. The predominant cause to make the first visit is caries and its complications. It is necessary to work out recommendations on the age for the first visit to the pediatric dentist and related prophylactic measures.

Further studies are needed to more precisely determine the role of aesthetic perception in determining the indications for the complex treatment of dental fluorosis.

Variety of health technologies applied in medical and dental practice are associated with formation of fine water droplets/aerosols. This presents a potential risk of both the patients and the personnel acquiring Legionnaires' disease. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of Legionella antibodies in the personnel (medical and dental) and a control group. The serum antibody index (Ab index) to L. pneumophila Sg1-6 (IgG + IgM) was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. L. pneumophila Sg 1-6 antibodies (Ab index > 5) were found in 27/66 (40.91%) of the personnel vs. 7/90 (7.78%) of the control subjects (x 2 = 24.55, p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the seropositivity levels in the groups in terms of sex, concomitant chronic diseases, intake of medications affecting the immune response, smoking and history of pneumonia. Association was observed with the professional categories of the personnel (x 2 = 6.836, df = 2, p < 0.05): more than 50% of the physicians were seropositive for L. pneumophila. The logistic regression analysis proved the role of seropositivity associated factors such as age, use of protective equipment and workplace (building with proven presence of L. pneumophila in the water system). The seroprevalence rate of Legionella antibodies in the personnel can be associated with occupational risk exposure, especially in the absence of systematic and regular use of protective equipment during work and the lack of an established system for regular monitoring and preventive maintenance of the water systems in the healthcare facilities.

BACKGROUND: Dentistry is risky for acquiring and spreading a lot of infections. Patients in dental practice, especially those treated with dental prostheses, are at high risk both for acquisition and as a source of infectious diseases. AIM: Our study aims to estimate the level of knowledge about transmission of infections, hygienic disinfection of hands, and dental impressions among dental students during a pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online anonymous survey was conducted among 106 students of dental medicine from the Faculty of Dental Medicine - Plovdiv, Bulgaria. RESULTS: According to 8.5% of students, hands are a factor for transmission of infections only if they are visibly contaminated and 2.8% do not think that hands are a factor. 19.3% believe that dental impressions could be a factor in transmitting microorganisms from the dentist to the dental technicians only if they are visibly contaminated and 1.8% deny this possibility. CONCLUSION: In our country, it is necessary to be done and implement in practice a protocol for disinfection of impressions and prostheses, as they are epidemiological factors for the transmission of microorganisms between the dental office and the dental laboratory. The results in practice, after the implementation of the protocol, should be checked regularly.

Background. Quality control and risk management in the field of dental services is an important part of improving patient safety as well as that of the dentists. The introduction of a risk management model would simplify and facilitate this process. Aim. The aim of the study is to gather information about the structurе and organization of work processes in Bulgarian dental practices, which will serve as a basis for building a risk management model. Material and Methods. A survey was conducted among randomly selected dental associations in Bulgaria-Plovdiv, Sofia, Varna, and Burgas through an anonymized questionnaire, containing 30 questions. The respondents meet the main criteria, namely, to be dentists and to practice in Bulgaria. The study includes demographic data, information on the attitude of Bulgarian dentists towards issues related to quality management, and safety and risk in respect to dental practice. The results have been processed and analyzed through descriptive and graphical analysis using the statistical program SPSS 20.0. Results. A total of 103 Bulgarian dentists took part in the study, out of which 25.24 % ± 4.28 % have acquired a specialty. Women are 52.43 % ± 4.92 % , and men − 47.57 % ± 4.92 % . The largest is the relative share of the respondents in the age range of 25-35 years − 63.10 % ± 4.75 % and with work experience of 6-15 years − 52.43 % ± 4.92 % . Most of the respondents do not define in writing the main tasks and activities − 52.43 % ± 4.92 % , and do not use checklists in their practice -54.73%. The majority of the respondents do not hold regular meetings with their teams − 50.49 % ± 4.93 % , as well as they do not conduct surveys among their patients − 68.93 % ± 4.56 % . The majority of the respondents − 41.75 % ± 4.86 % are guided by their personal judgment in respect to whether the written information provided to patients is comprehensible and accessible. The majority of dentists − 45.63 % ± 4.91 % take informed consent only for expensive procedures in written and oral form − 53.40 % ± 4.92 % . Out of all the respondents, 75.73 % ± 4.22 % have not analyzed the risk of slipping in their practices for the last two years. Conclusion. There is a lack of written definition of the main tasks and processes, as well as no use of checklists in the practices of most of the interviewed dentists. Meetings with teams are held irregularly. There is a lack of surveys among patients, as well as no objective feedback from patients regarding the comprehensibility of the information materials provided. Informed consent is obtained from patients mainly in written and oral form and only for costly manipulations. In the practices of most of the interviewed dentists, there has been no assessment of the risk of slipping and falling for the last 2 years.