Conceptualization of dental caries by dental students is related to their preventive oral care routine

Abstract

Objective Whether the understanding of dental caries influences how future dentists manage the disease themselves has not been previously studied. Thus, this study evaluated whether the conceptualization (understanding) of dental caries by dental students is related to their own preventive oral care routine. Methods Dental students at a U.S. dental school (n = 517) were invited to voluntarily respond to an anonymous electronic survey in spring 2018. Demographic characteristics, caries conceptualization (CC), dental care habits, and self‐caries risk determination were asked. Discursive responses to CC were analyzed by content analysis technique, and categories [c] were created. Chi‐square and Fisher's exact tests were used for analysis. Results Overall response rate was 54.5% (n = 282, 48.2% female). Three researchers independently analyzed discursive answers and classified them into 1 of 6 caries concept categories [c]: [c1] only signs of the disease (10.3%), [c2] bacterial disease‐not specifying bacterial metabolism (38.3%), [c3] bacterial byproducts‐not specifying substrate (13.8%), [c4] biological or multifactorial concept (24.8%), [c5] comprehensive multifactorial disease (8.2%), or [c6] other (4.6%). Only 33% completely defined dental caries according to the modern understanding of the disease (c4−c5). Statistical differences were found between: CC and diet modification, CC and rinsing after brushing, year of school (YS) and self‐determined caries‐risk, YS and brushing at school, and YS and rinsing after brushing (P < 0.05). Conclusion Our data suggest that the students’ understanding of the disease can influence how they will manage the disease in terms of diet modification and behavior after brushing. Moreover, self‐caries risk determination influenced students’ brushing behavior.

Clinical effectiveness of high definition fluorescence camera in detection of initial occlusal caries

“…Image was analyzed by special software (DBSWIN) version 5.15.1. The software produced a digital image that showed lesions in different colors with numerical values between 0 and 3 predicting depth and extent of the lesion Figure ( 2 ) ( 10 ).…”

“…First and foremost, dental caries is a disease that affects 60-90 % of the total of school-aged children and adults worldwide ( 1 ). To adequately manage this globally prevalent condition, it appears that a thorough understanding of dental caries and its associated variables is required ( 2 ). The management of dental caries has changed as our understanding of disease has evolved.…”

Mínima intervención en Odontología: ¿una moda emergente en tiempos de pandemia?

“…A pesar de que parece evidente que la enfermedad de caries debe ser manejada controlando sus agentes causales; la dieta y el biofilm dental, las restauraciones han sido considerado el tratamiento estándar para caries dental. La reciente actualización de la definición de caries deberá impactar su manejo 6 . La caries dental pasó de ser considerada una enfermedad infecciosa, a ser entendida como enfermedad crónica no transmisible, con un fuerte componente conductual 6 .…”

“…La reciente actualización de la definición de caries deberá impactar su manejo 6 . La caries dental pasó de ser considerada una enfermedad infecciosa, a ser entendida como enfermedad crónica no transmisible, con un fuerte componente conductual 6 . Debido a este nuevo entendimiento, el foco de la intervención se basa en el cambio conductual, preferentemente relacionado con decisiones alimentarias (dieta).…”