Yes / Effective communication can aid in improving oral healthcare measures such as treatment outcomes and satisfaction of edentulous patients (EDPs) toward the treatment process. The triangle of communication (ToC) involves communication between the dentist, dental technician (DTech), and EDPs. This research aimed to explore the ToC between dental professionals (DPs) and patients undergoing complete denture prostheses (CDP) treatment in Fiji. Materials and Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted among DPs under purposive sampling where focus group discussions were conducted at the four dental prosthetic clinics in Fiji. A semi-structured questionnaire with open-ended questions was applied to participants virtually via Zoom. The collected data were collated and analyzed manually using thematic analysis. Results: A total of 28 DPs participated in the study. Three themes were identified while exploring the ToC from DPs’ perspectives on CDP treatment and care in Fiji: staff communication—dentist and DTech, ToC and information sharing (dentist–DTech and EDPs), and stage-by-stage procedural checks for CDP between DPs. Effective collaboration between dentists and DTechs is an essence of a successful CDP treatment outcome. Most DPs agreed to undergo continuous communication throughout the treatment to keep EDPs engaged throughout the treatment process. In addition, stage-by-stage procedural checks in dental clinics as well as in dental laboratories improved the quality of CDPs. Conclusion: DPs highlighted predominantly the ToC between DPs and EDPs when receiving CDP treatment in Fiji as an essential tool for effective DP and patient engagement. Discussions should be complemented with the use of verbal, nonverbal, and written modes together with the utilization of interpreters to improve CDP treatment and care in Fiji.

Yes / Aim: This research aims to determine the organizational preventative strategies implemented by dental clinics in Fiji during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted amongst Dental Officers (Dos) and Dental Managers (DMs) who were working at government dental clinics, private dental clinics, and the School of Dentistry and Oral Health clinic (SDOH), in the Central Division, Fiji. A semi-structured open-ended questionnaire was used for data collection through in-depth interviews via zoom. A manual thematic analysis of the data was conducted. Results: Thirty Dos and 17 DMs participated in this study. 16 themes emerged from data analysis: Major Strategies implemented, Staff perception about strategies in place, Triaging and Screening, Hand hygiene, Waiting room changes, Operational Capacity, Universal precautions, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), Disinfection and decontamination protocols, Ventilation, Sterilization, Pre-procedural mouth rinse, Waste management, Vaccination status, Bubbles and Adaptation of Protocols. The Dos were generally satisfied with the strategies implemented by the DMs. The DMs along with other Dos had used various guidance documents to devise tailor-made ones suited for dental clinics in Fiji. Conclusion: Various strategies were adopted from several guidelines and tailor-made Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each workplaces were developed by the various DMs. The majority of Dos were in favor of and satisfied with the protocols in place. Future research can be conducted in other divisions and include other health care professionals as well apart from just Dos and DMs.

Bakgrund: Ett lämpligt näringsintag är viktigt för främjandet och bevarandet av både den allmänna och orala hälsan. Karies är en multifaktoriell sjukdom där kosten har en betydelsefull roll. Kosten kan bidra till både kariesförekomst och kariesprevention. Functional food definieras som ”livsmedel som ger hälsovinster utöver basnutritionen” och ”livsmedel som har en eller flera tillsatser som modifierats för att bidra till en hälsosam kosthållning”. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att kartlägga kunskapsnivån och tillämpningen av information till patienterna om Functional food i det kariesförebyggande arbetet inom Folktandvården, Landstinget Kronoberg. Metod: Enkätstudiens urval bestod av tandläkare, tandhygienister och tandsköterskor, totalt 106 deltagare, från 17 olika Folktandvårdskliniker tillhörande allmäntandvården i Landstinget Kronoberg. Enkäten bestod av 24 frågor som bedömdes enligt ett graderat poängsättningssystem. Resultatet redovisades deskriptivt med hjälp av tabeller och diagram. Statistiska analyser utfördes med hjälp chitvåtest. Resultat: Majoriteten av deltagarna kategoriserades i grupperna: låg kunskapsnivå samt låg till medelhög tillämpningsnivå av Functional food i det kariesförebyggande arbetet. Merparten av deltagarna hade ett stort intresse av att få ytterligare kunskap. Slutsats: Tandvårdspersonalen önskade mer kunskap om Functional food för en ökad tillämpning i patientarbetet, givet att vetenskaplig evidens uppnås. / Background: An adequate nutrition is essential for the promotion and maintenance of the general and oral health. Dental caries is a multifactorial disease in which diet is a important factor. Functional foods are defined as "foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition" and "foods that has one or more additives, modified to contribute to a healthy diet". Aim: The aim of the study was to identify the level of knowledge and application regarding information to patients about Functional food in caries prevention work in Public dental services, County Council of Kronoberg. Method: The survey included 106 participants consisted of dentists, dental hygienists and dental nurses from 17 different Public dental services. The survey consisted of 24 questions. The results were presented descriptive, with tables and charts, as well as statistically analyzes using chi-square tests. Results: The majority of participants were categorized into the groups: low level of knowledge and medium or low application level of Functional food in the caries prevention work. Most of the participants had a great interest in obtaining additional knowledge. Conclusion: Dental professionals would like to get more knowledge about Functional food for an increased application in patient care, provided that scientific evidence is obtained.

Thesis (MPH. ) --University of Limpopo, 2014 / This dissertation reports on findings from a qualitative research that sought to investigate adherence and compliance to radiation safety protocols by radiographers and dental professionals in the Waterberg District. The study also sought to determine the knowledge the participants had on the chronic ill-effects of occupational exposure to radiation, safety protocols and their professional experience in dealing with occupational exposure to radiation. Altogether 60 participants from 8 health institutions in the Waterberg district took part in the study. They were compromised of males and females with ages ranging from 22-60 years. The response rate was 75% (n=45/60). The empirical data of the study shows a consistent yet disconcerting pattern among practitioners about safety compliance, safety protocols and their understanding of long term effect of occupational exposure to radiation. Despite their impressive knowledge of X-rays being a source of ionizing radiation, the level of their understanding of ill-effects thereof was of great concern. The general failure by both professionals in complying with the most basic safety protocols is worrisome. In a nutshell, yet some of the practitioners were found to be greatly exposed to radiation, their daily practices were found not consistent with procedures dictated by the guidelines on the use of medical X-ray equipment. Overall, only 59% of radiographers always wore their dosimeters, a basic monitoring and protective tool to measure their radiation exposure. In the study, only 38% of the dentists were found to be compliant and overwhelmingly alluded this to their employers being unable to supply them with crucial protective clothing, a finding that the researcher cannot dispute as indicated in the responses by the two groups. The failure of the employer in enforcing monitoring and assuring safety to the employees, patients and the general public emerged from this study. Various non-compliance patterns could be attributed to the participants and others to the employer. Protocols as clearly stipulated in R1332 of Hazardous Substance Act 15 of 1973 and other guidelines are not adhered to.

Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka tandvårdspersonals erfarenhet, agerande och faktorer vid misstanke om att barn far illa samt vilka hinder som påverkar beslutet att göra en orosanmälan. Metod: En allmän litteraturstudie baserad på 20 vetenskapliga artiklar av kvantitativ ansats. Datainsamlingen utfördes i databaserna DOSS, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed och Google Scholar. Urvalet begränsades med inklusions- och exklusionskriterier. Valda artiklar besvarade litteraturstudiens syfte, var publicerade mellan år 2017-2022 och kvalitetsgranskades för att säkerställa hög kvalitet. Resultat: Majoriteten av tandvårdspersonalen hade erfarenheter av att möta barn som misstänks fara illa. Vanliga ageranden vid misstanke var att dokumentera skador, rapportera till polis eller klinikchef, fråga barnet och föräldrarna samt följa upp observationerna. Anmälningsfrekvensen till barnskyddsmyndigheter var genomgående låg. Hinder för orosanmälan var oro för negativa konsekvenser, osäkerhet om misstankens tillförlitlighet, bristande kunskap samt att riktlinjer och rutiner saknades. Slutsatser: Tandvårdspersonals erfarenheter av att möta barn som misstänks fara illa, tydliga riktlinjer och rutiner, kunskap i ämnesområdet och den subjektiva uppfattningen är faktorer som påverkar anmälningsbenägenheten. Vidare forskning behövs för att undersöka vilka åtgärder som kan leda till en ökad anmälningsbenägenhet hos tandvårdspersonal och på så vis möjliggöra att fler barn kan få leva ett liv fritt från våld. / Aim: The aim was to examine dental healthcare professionals experience, actions and factors when suspecting child maltreatment and to determine barriers that affect the decision to report a concern. Method: A literature study based on 20 scientific articles of a quantitative approach. Data collection was performed using the databases DOSS, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to limit the sample. The selected articles that answered the purpose of the literature study were published between 2017-2022 and were quality-reviewed to ensure high quality. Results: The majority of dental professionals had experienced suspected cases of child maltreatment. Common actions in case of suspicion were to document injuries, report to the police or clinic manager, question the child and the parents and follow up the observations. The frequency of reports to the child protection authorities was consistently low. Barriers to reporting were concern about negative consequences, uncertainty about the reliability of the suspicion, lack of knowledge, guidelines, and routines. Conclusions: Dental professionals experiences of meeting children who are suspected of being maltreated, clear guidelines and routines, knowledge in the subject area and the subjective perception are factors that influence the tendency to report. Further research is needed to investigate which measures can lead to an increased propensity to report among dental professionals and in such a way enable more children to live a life free of violence.

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