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Dental therapists: a global perspective

Nash DA, Friedman JW, Kardos TB, Kardos RL, Schwarz E, Satur J, et al.

Int Dent J, 2008 Apr;58(2):61-70.
PMID: 18478885

In 1921, New Zealand began training school dental nurses, subsequently deploying them throughout the country in school-based clinics providing basic dental care for children. The concept of training dental nurses, later to be designated dental therapists, was adopted by other countries as a means of improving access to care, particularly for children. This paper profiles six countries that utilise dental therapists, with a description of the training that therapists receive in these countries, and the context in which they practice. Based on available demographic information, it also updates the number of dental therapists practising globally, as well as the countries in which they practice. In several countries, dental therapy is now being integrated with dental hygiene in training and practice to create a new type of professional complementary to a dentist. Increasingly, dental therapists are permitted to treat adults as well as children. The paper also describes the status of a current initiative to introduce dental therapy to the United States. It concludes by suggesting that dental therapists can become valued members of the dental team throughout the world, helping to improve access to care and reducing existing disparities in oral health.

Matched MeSH terms: Dental Auxiliaries/education; Dental Auxiliaries/statistics & numerical data*
Fulltext The Modern and Digital Transformation of Oral Health Care: A Mini Review

Alauddin MS, Baharuddin AS, Mohd Ghazali MI

Healthcare (Basel), 2021 Jan 25;9(2).
PMID: 33503807 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9020118

Dentistry is a part of the field of medicine which is advocated in this digital revolution. The increasing trend in dentistry digitalization has led to the advancement in computer-derived data processing and manufacturing. This progress has been exponentially supported by the Internet of medical things (IoMT), big data and analytical algorithm, internet and communication technologies (ICT) including digital social media, augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR), and artificial intelligence (AI). The interplay between these sophisticated digital aspects has dramatically changed the healthcare and biomedical sectors, especially for dentistry. This myriad of applications of technologies will not only be able to streamline oral health care, facilitate workflow, increase oral health at a fraction of the current conventional cost, relieve dentist and dental auxiliary staff from routine and laborious tasks, but also ignite participatory in personalized oral health care. This narrative article review highlights recent dentistry digitalization encompassing technological advancement, limitations, challenges, and conceptual theoretical modern approaches in oral health prevention and care, particularly in ensuring the quality, efficiency, and strategic dental care in the modern era of dentistry.

Matched MeSH terms: Dental Auxiliaries
Senior dentists' perceptions of dental therapists' roles and education needs in Malaysia

Nor NA, Murat NA, Yusof ZY, Gamboa AB

Int J Dent Hyg, 2013 Nov;11(4):280-6.
PMID: 23802751 DOI: 10.1111/idh.12038

To describe the perceptions of senior dental officers (SDOs) on the roles of dental therapists (DTs) and their education needs in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Dental Auxiliaries/education*; Dental Auxiliaries/organization & administration
An investigation of the effect of prolonged glove wearing on the hand skin health of dental healthcare workers

Boyle DK, Forsyth A, Bagg J, Stroubou K, Griffiths CE, Burke FJ

J Dent, 2002 Jul-Aug;30(5-6):233-41.
PMID: 12450714

Glove wearing during patient treatment has been central to dental surgery infection control for over 15 years. However, little is known about the cutaneous effects of glove wearing on the hands of dental healthcare workers (DHCWs). The objective of this project was to assess the hand skin health of DHCWs before and after wearing gloves of two types and to compare this with a control group of non-DHCWs.

Matched MeSH terms: Dental Auxiliaries*
Importance-performance analysis of dental satisfaction among three ethnic groups in malaysia

Dewi FD, Gundavarapu KC, Cugati N

Oral Health Prev Dent, 2013;11(2):131-9.
PMID: 23757453 DOI: 10.3290/j.ohpd.a29735

PURPOSE: To find the differences in patient satisfaction related to dental services among three ethnic groups - Chinese, Indian and Malay - at AIMST University Dental Centre and analyse them with an importance-performance grid, identifying the weak and strong points, in order to provide better service.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This questionnaire-based study consisted of convenience samples of 174 patients of Chinese, Indian and Malay ethnicity. Importance-performance analysis for 20 attributes were compared using Likert's scale. The data obtained were statistically analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test.
RESULTS: Chinese and Indians both emphasised low performance on the interpersonal relationship attribute in terms of the receptionist's courtesy, whereas the Malay participants were concerned with convenience attributes. All the ethnic groups favoured maintaining existing major attributes towards technical competency, interpersonal relationship and facility factors. This study demonstrated priority differences between the ethnic groups' perception of the quality of dental services, where ethnic Chinese showed the highest gap (measure of dissatisfaction) between importance and performance compared to ethnic Malays, followed by ethnic Indians.
CONCLUSION: The patients from the three major ethnic groups of Malaysia were generally well satisfied. Perhaps more priority should be placed on improving the interpersonal relationship attribute, especially with the receptionists.

Matched MeSH terms: Dental Auxiliaries