In this report, we present the case of a 68‐year‐old male patient with a complaint of mastication and speech limitations one year after the prescription of a fixed bridge and the construction of “connected” crowns by a “street dentist.” A thorough oral examination revealed a multilobulated swelling in the right buccal mucosa that extended to the buccal sulcus. The lesion, which was first noticed as a small, asymptomatic swelling by the patient one year prior, seemed to have undergone enlargement since the prostheses were prescribed. The lesion was completely removed via surgical excision under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination of the excisional mass revealed mature adipocytes and features consistent with conventional or classic lipoma. This case highlights the importance of receiving dental treatment from a qualified professional, whose responsibilities include performing a thorough examination of the oral cavity during treatment planning and delivery, review appointments, and regular dental visits. Such investigation is important to allow for early disease detection and control, especially for patients with complex treatment needs as well as those who may present with asymptomatic and slow‐growing lesions such as lipomas.

A BSTRACT Aims and Objectives: A “caregiver” is responsible for managing the basic needs of others, including individuals with special needs (IWSNs). Caregivers play an important role in the well-being of IWSNs, though caring can lead to a decline in health and quality of life. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the perceived healthcare challenges faced by caregivers of IWSNs in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two primary caregivers were interviewed via audio-recorded semistructured focus group discussions to investigate their perceived barriers and challenges in caring for IWSNs. The qualitative data were then analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: Thirty-two participants took part in a total of nine discussion sessions, where the majority were females ( n = 29; 90.63%) and from the Malay race ( n = 30; 93.75%). Most of the IWSNs under their care had autism ( n = 11; 34.38%) and were between 6 and 10 years of age ( n = 13; 40.63%). The main themes identified were related to healthcare services, support systems, caregivers’ personal factors, and IWSN issues. Within the healthcare services domain, themes regarding the accessibility and appropriateness of healthcare facilities and the attitudes of staff were uncovered, whereas in the support system domain, themes pertaining to community and peer, family, and governmental support were discussed. In the domain of caregivers’ personal factors, themes regarding stress with the burden of care and feelings of guilt were noted, and in the area of IWSN factors, the theme of behavioral difficulties exhibited by IWSNs was discussed. Conclusion: Primary caregivers in Malaysia face challenges with healthcare facilities and staff, gaining support from the community, family, and government, burning out, and feeling guilty as well as behavior issues of their IWSN. Thus, understanding these challenges is vital in providing healthcare services that cater to not only IWSNs but also their caregivers to ensure the success and well-being of all involved.

ObjectivesThis study aims to analyze the impact and students’ perceptions of online peer‐assisted learning (OPL), developed as an alternative and innovative approach to Special Care Dentistry (SCD) training during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Online peer‐assisted learning (OPL) is an alternative pedagogical approach that combines online education and peer‐assisted teaching.MethodsThe OPL session was conducted by two postgraduate students in SCD (as teachers), to final year undergraduate dental students (as learners) (n = 90), supervised by two specialists in SCD‐related areas (as supervisors). Vetted online pre‐ and post‐intervention quizzes were conducted before and after the session, respectively, followed by an online validated feedback survey of the students’ learning experiences. Meanwhile, a reflective session was conducted between the postgraduate students and supervisors to explore their perceptions of OPL. Quantitative data was analyzed via paired t‐test (significance level, P < .05). Qualitative data was analyzed via thematic analysis.ResultsOverall, 68 (response rate = 75.6%) and 81 (response rate = 90.0%) undergraduate students completed the quiz and feedback survey, respectively. There was a significant difference in total mean scores, and mean scores of 7 (out of 10) individual items on the quizzes. Most students offered positive reviews of multiple aspects of OPL. They acknowledged the benefit of OPL for its content and preparation process, technology utilized, and experts’ roles. Postgraduate students perceived that OPL encourages knowledge‐recall and utilization of technology‐based educational tools, while improving their teaching skills.ConclusionStudents provided positive responses toward the implementation of OPL as an innovative approach to the teaching and learning of SCD during the COVID‐19 pandemic.