ObjectivesTo assess the knowledge of Jordanian dentists toward phase down of dental amalgam as recommended by the Minamata Convention, and their training and competency in placing posterior composites.MethodsThis study was conducted through structured questionnaire interviews with randomly selected cohort of dentists in Jordan between March 2015 and June 2015. Out of 230 dentists who were invited, 196 (85.2%) agreed to participate. Dentists were asked if they know about the Minamata Convention. They were also asked about their training in placement of posterior composite.ResultsOut of the 196 interviewed, only 13.8% know about Minamata Convention and 17% had an undergraduate training in favor of placing composites in posterior teeth. Approximately 50% of those dentists were not trained in using rubber dam when placing posterior composites, while only 38.3% had training in sectional matrix placement. Undergraduate training did not influence (p=0.00) the dentists’ decision to remove old amalgam based on patient’s demands. Only 28.1% were of the opinion of discontinuing the use of amalgam due to its alleged health and environmental hazards. There was no general agreement on the type of composite, liner, and bonding strategy when placing posterior composites.ConclusionDentists are not well informed on the Minamata Convention and the phase down of amalgam. Training in posterior composite placement should be given more room in undergraduate curriculum and continuous dental education.

Objectives This longitudinal within subject controlled randomized observational investigation studied the impacts of three‐sided sonic‐powered toothbrush versus conventional manual toothbrush on oral health‐ and oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) and assessed the relationship between personality factors and OHRQoL. Methods A total of 96 participants (48 females and 48 males; mean age = 22.61 years, SD = 1.21) were recruited into this investigation and were randomly allocated into two groups. The participants were instructed to control oral hygiene for 1 month using either a three‐sided sonic brush (Triple Bristle, Dayton, Tennessee, USA) (sonic group) or a conventional manual toothbrush (manual group). Dental plaque was assessed via Turesky‐Modified Quigley–Hein Plaque Index (TMQHPI). Bleeding on probing (BOP) was recorded as 1 if present and zero if absent. The NEO Five‐Factor Inventory (NEO‐FFI) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14) were used to assess personality factors and OHRQoL, respectively. TMQHPI, BOP and OHIP were assessed at study baseline and 1 month later. Results The TMQHPI, BOP and OHIP‐14 scores were reduced after 1 month in both groups (p < 0.05), and were more reduced among the three‐sided sonic brush users (p > 0.05). Higher neuroticism scores were associated with worse OHRQoL (p < 0.05) in both groups after 1 month. Conclusions The three‐sided sonic‐powered toothbrush was associated with superior oral health and OHRQoL in comparison with the conventional manual toothbrush. Utilizing three‐sided sonic toothbrush, less plaque deposits and lower neuroticism scores contributed towards and predicted better OHRQoL after 1 month of oral hygiene maintenance.

Purpose/objective This study aimed to identify factors that were associated with high burnout and investigate the prevalence of burnout among academic dental staff during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Method A cross‐sectional online survey was carried out among academic dentists who are working in multiple dental schools in Arab countries. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was used to assess participants’ work‐related burnout. Logistic regression was used to assess the factors that increase the risk of burnout among academic dentists. Results Of the 254 participants who took part in the study, 141 were males (55.5%). The average age of the participants in the study was 42.1 years (standard deviation = 10.0). The prevalence of burnout among participants was 44.9% ( n = 114). Using a fully adjusted logistic regression model, age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.09, p = 0.008) and gender (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31–0.94, p = 0.03) were significant variables associated with high overall burnout. Female individuals had a substantially reduced risk of experiencing high personal burnout than male participants (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32–0.98, p = 0.043) in the personal burnout subdomain. While in the patient's burnout subdomain, age (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00–1.08, p = 0.048), type of speciality (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.02–5.83, p = 0.044), and teaching place (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.21–5.11, p = 0.013) were associated with higher burnout. Conclusion This study concluded that gender and age are characteristics that increase the risk of higher burnout among academic dentists during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

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