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SUMMARYPreventive dentistry for the elderly must be concerned with the four levels of prevention: initiation of disease, progression and recurrence, loss of function, and loss of life. The areas of greatest pertinence to the elderly are: caries, erosion and abrasion, periodontal disease, special considerations in restorative dentistry, oral cancer, systemic diseases with oral manifestations, and hazards within the dental office.The major problem in preventive dentistry has been the tendency by many practitioners to view it in a very narrow way, as essentially plaque control. I n many offices it is relegated to a separate alcove, taking on the trappings of a religious rite. To be effective, preventive dentistry has to be the philosophic base of a dental practice. Similarly, dentistry for the elderly should not be considered as the palliative treatment of terminal oral disease. We must recognize that there are a range of clinical entities and multiple levels of prevention as well as treatment. Elderly people have many needS. We have the capability of serving them with an ordered set of responses that recognize both the communality and the special aspects of their oral concerns.

SUMMARYA framework for developing and implementing preventive programs for handicapped persons in clinical settings has been described. The first portion of this framework requires a working knowledge of dental epidemiology in terms of reviewing the literature on disease prevalence in persons with handicapping conditions and collecting clinicai data on individual patients. The second aspect requires integration of clinical and historical assessment procedures into the office routine. After all data are analyzed, an individualized preventive program that is feasible, efficient, and cost‐effective for the patient and the practice can be developed. A knowledge of preventive approaches for individuais with handicapping conditions reported in the dental literature is essential. The final aspect of the framework is program implementation and follow‐up. By using this framework, I believe dental professionals can begin to build a knowledge base about dental disease and appropriate preventive measures for persons with handicapping conditions seeking outpatient dental care. Without this knowledge base, a rational approach to treatment planning will not be forthcoming.

People with disabilities develop more dental disease than the average population and have a harder time accessing and using resources for dental treatment. It is therefore critical to prevent dental problems in this population. This article discusses the development and use of a preventive dentistry training program consisting of a videotape, workbook, instructions for trainers, and pre‐ and post‐tests. The training program was designed to facilitate integration of dental and behavioral information into daily routines.Participants were able to demonstrate that they could learn the information in the training materials using the methodology that was employed. Further work remains to be done to revise and disseminate the materials and to demonstrate that the knowledge that the participants gained can be effectively applied in community care settings.

The aim of this study was to assess awareness and knowledge of undergraduate dental students of common caries-related preventive considerations and to highlight these factors in a concise manner to act as a guide for dental practitioners. A sample of 118 undergraduate students at a local government dental school was included. An interactive survey that contains questions related to common preventive strategies against dental caries was presented to the students. The survey contained 22 questions concerning dietary and therapeutic strategies. Students casted their votes using their mobile cellphones. The correct answer for each question was shown to the students, and further discussion was held. Data was collected, and the statistical analysis was conducted using one-sample z- and chi-squared tests at 0.05 significance level. The students answered the questions related to oral hygiene practices, xylitol, and the common knowledge regarding fluoride. The questions related to the use of chlorhexidine, dietary factors, and fluoride formulations were answered mostly incorrectly. The students seemed to grasp details of important concepts of flossing, brushing, reducing frequency of sugar exposure, and the use of fluoride products. Still, more emphasis should be given to increase students' awareness of dietary guidelines for caries prevention, since adequate knowledge of these modalities is paramount for graduating dentists.

Objectives of hospital‐based postdoctoral general dentistry programs in Canada were assessed by questionnaire. Seventy percent (14 of 20) of the program directors responded. Educational goals and objectives were assessed in professional skills and practice management, public health and preventive dentistry, oral medicine and pathology, special needs patient care, trauma and emergency care, restorative/prosthodontic care, endodontics, orthodontics/pedi‐atric dentistry, oral surgery, periodon‐tics, pharmacology, and functioning in a hospital. High rankings of proficiency were related to primary care, restorative/prosthodontic, endodon‐tic, and surgical care. Emergency care, sedation, and pharmacology were also ranked highly. Lower rankings of proficiency were reported in orthodontics, aspects of public health dentistry, practice management, and advanced oral and maxillofacial surgery. When the results of the Canadian survey were compared with those of a survey of US post‐doctoral general dentistry programs, substantial similarity was seen. The findings support continuing reciprocity in accreditation standards between the Canadian and American Commissions on Dental Education and Dental Accreditation.

Early detection of caries lesions is key to a successful restorative dental treatment plan. The aim of this study was to investigate the preferences and attitude of graduate restorative dentistry residents (RDRs) regarding novel caries diagnostic technologies (NCDT) and to provide a brief overview of available technologies for both specialized and general dental practice. This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire (17 questions) concerning RDRs' attitude, preferences, and insights regarding five available NCDTs. It was distributed among twenty RDRs at a local government dental school following a review session about NCDTs. Collected responses were analyzed statistically using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-squared with Bonferroni correction, and Kruskal-Wallis tests at a 0.05 significance level. Sixty-five percent of RDRs reported an interest in NCDTs as a discussion topic and almost half of them were positive towards their use, however, sixty percent of respondents were hesitant to diagnose caries solely using NCDTs. Fiber-optic-transillumination (FOTI) systems were ranked the best overall and with regard to all the investigated criteria (p < ; 0.05). Chosen reasons for FOTI included price followed by ease of use. In general, high price rated as the most perceived reason for not choosing a given NCDT followed by low practical applicability. Meanwhile, ease of use followed by relevant application ranked as the main reported reasons to choose an NCDTs.

Rayyan Abdallah Alwazzan, Mohammad A Baseer, Osamah Mohammed ALMugeiren, Navin Anand Ingle Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohammad A BaseerDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Namuthajiya Campus, PO Box No. 84891, Riyadh, 11681, Saudi ArabiaEmail ma_baseer@riyadh.edu.saBackground: Given the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to assess the dentist's knowledge, preventive awareness, and attitude towards COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess dental professionals' knowledge, preventive awareness, and attitude towards dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.Study Subjects and Methods: The study participants consisted of dental professionals working in government, private and academic sectors in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire (Whatsapp and Twitter) was sent to dental professionals in July 2020. The questionnaire consisted of questions on dental professional's demographic variables, their knowledge of the incubation period, the symptoms, mode of transmission, preventive awareness of COVID-19, and their attitude toward treating patients with COVID-19. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were applied to compare mean ranks and a p 90% correct responses) of knowledge of COVID-19 except for the infection among comorbid patients 283 (79.5%) and incubation period of COVID-19, 164 (46.1%). An overall high knowledge of COVID-19 (87.26%), preventive awareness (88.64%) and a positive attitude (65.26%) towards dental care were observed among the study participants. The mean knowledge ranks differed significantly in different genders (p=0.029) and marital status (p=0.023), whereas preventive awareness differed significantly across various qualifications (p=0.004). The mean attitude rank was significantly higher among Saudi (182.29) compared to non-Saudi (141.36) study participants (p=0.025).Conclusion: The dental professionals participated in this study demonstrated adequate knowledge of symptoms, preventive awareness, and a positive attitude towards dental care of the COVID-19 infected patients.Keywords: attitude, awareness, COVID-19, dental professional, knowledge