Mouth shield to minimize airborne transmission risk of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in the dental office

Transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other infectious diseases is a significant risk during dental procedures because most dental interventions involve aerosols or droplets that could contaminate the surrounding environment. Current protection guidelines to address the high risk of droplets, aerosols, and airborne particle transmission of COVID-19 in the dental office recommend minimizing aerosol-generating procedures. In this paper, an innovative mouth shield is presented that should minimize water backsplash from the air-water syringe during dental treatment. The mouth shield can be added to the personal protective equipment to provide the dental team with extra protection. It can be made of different materials, is straightforward, inexpensive, and safe to fabricate, and is easy to use.

A Global Survey of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Healthcare Workers

Objectives

Even though several effective vaccines are available to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, wide disparities in vaccine distribution, and vaccine acceptance rates between high- and low-income countries appear to be major threats toward achieving population immunity. Our global descriptive study aims to inform policymakers on factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers (HCWs) in 12 countries, based on income index. We also looked for possible predictors of vaccine acceptance among the study sample.

Methods

A structured questionnaire prepared after consultation with experts in the field and guided by the “Report of the SAGE working group on vaccine hesitancy” was administered among 2,953 HCWs. Upon obtaining informed consent, apart from demographic information, we collected information on trust in vaccines and health authorities, and agreement to accept a COVID-19 vaccine.

Results

Although 69% of the participants agreed to accept a vaccine, there was high heterogeneity in agreement between HCWs in low and lower-middle income countries (L-LMICs) and upper-middle- and high-income countries (UM-HICs), with acceptance rates of 62 and 75%, respectively. Potential predictors of vaccine acceptance included being male, 50 years of age or older, resident of an UM-HIC, updating self about COVID-19 vaccines, greater disease severity perception, greater anxiety of contracting COVID-19 and concern about side effects of vaccines.

Conclusions

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among HCWs in L-LMICs was considerably low as compared to those from UM-HICs. The lowest vaccine acceptance rates were among HCWs from the African continent. This underlines the need for the implementation of country-specific vaccine promotion strategies, with special focus on increasing vaccine supply in L-LMICs.

A procedure for making fixed prosthodontic impressions with the use of preformed crown shells

Void-free impressions of tooth preparations for fixed prosthodontics are essential for accurately fitting restorations; however, commonly used impression methods are arduous and time-consuming. A procedure has been developed in which an impression is made in a preformed temporary crown shell for each tooth preparation and then a final over impression is made. The result is an atraumatic and uncomplicated complete-arch impression that incorporates an accurate impression of each prepared tooth.

Engraved fixed restorations to facilitate identification in forensic dentistry

A procedure for making accurate identification markings on metal crowns and fixed partial dentures with minimal cost is described. The markings can aid in identification of unknown bodies within a short period of time if this procedure becomes routine and is recognized by forensic odontologists.

Sleeve design for a fixed partial denture

A new sleeve design of a cemented cast retainer for a posterior fixed partial denture to improve retention with minimal tooth reduction while sustaining the original occlusal relationships is described.