The coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put enormous pressure on health care systems around the world. Dentistry has had to adjust to the new epidemic situation to not only bring relief to suffering patients but also to avoid becoming a source of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Methods: A comprehensive, cross-sectional survey was conducted between April 6 and 16, 2020 among 875 Polish dental practitioners. The aim of the research was to assess dentists’ attitudes and professional approaches resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 71.2% of dentists who responded to the questionnaire decided to suspend their clinical practice during that particular time. The main factors for this fact were the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), the respondents’ subjective perceptions of the risk of COVID-19 contraction and a general feeling of anxiety and uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 situation. The authors observed a significant decrease in the number of patients admitted weekly in April 2020 (12.06; SD, 11.55) in comparison to that in the time before the state of pandemic was declared on March 11, 2020 (49.21; SD, 24.97). Conclusions: Due to the unpreparedness of the dental sector, both in national health and private settings, most of the Polish dentists decided to voluntarily suspend their clinical practice in order to mitigate the spread of the disease. The COVID-19 outbreak has revealed numerous shortcomings in the dental care system, especially regarding the insufficient coordination of health services related to the pandemic and lack of advanced PPE. This has led to an overwhelming feeling of fear, confusion and anxiety among dental professionals in Poland and a sudden decrease in the number of performed dental procedures. Hopefully enriched with the recent experience and due to the implementation of proper strategic and long-term measures, dental practitioners will be better prepared and adapted to global health care disruptions in the future.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) generated a huge pressure on health care systems worldwide and exposed their lack of preparation for a major health crisis. In the times of a respiratory disease pandemic, members of the dental profession, due to having a direct contact with the...

As a result of the ongoing 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the medical and dental services across the world have to tackle unprecedented situations, providing essential care and professional support. The global health care crisis caused directly by the vast number of severe COVID-19 cases, and indirectly by reduced access to health care, as well as by limited secondary care provision, had a major impact on specialist services, and subsequently the deterioration of medical and dental conditions, particularly in vulnerable persons. In particular, at present, special care dentistry seems to play a unique role, dealing with a wide range of patients with underlying medical conditions and co-morbidities, phobic individuals, and persons with learning/physical disabilities. The effective adaptation of health services to the current new reality, based on an empathetic approach and recent guidelines, would allow us to maintain an adequate care provision, minimizing the long-term impact of the pandemic.

Background: Undergraduate dental curricula and courses containing ergonomic principles are introduced to students from the very beginning of dental education. Still, dentists present a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, which are a direct burden on quality of life, leading to early retirement from the profession. This study aimed to assess the state of students’ knowledge and awareness regarding the role of ergonomics in dentistry and its practical implementation. Methods: a cross-sectional study using a predesigned self-administered questionnaire was conducted among fourth- and fifth-year dental students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland (response rate of 69.2%). Results: A total of 94.6% of students declared a good, fair, or moderate level of knowledge of the subject, with a significant difference in favor of the fifth-year students (p = 0.008). Moreover, 76.1% of respondents showed a good or very good attitude toward ergonomics as a university curriculum subject. A total of 72.3% of respondents declared that the practical application of ergonomic rules in clinical dentistry is very important (five in a five-point scale). Women found dental ergonomics more important than men (p < 0.001). However, 79.3% of participants admitted not following basic ergonomic principles during clinical procedures. Conclusion: The research revealed a discrepancy between theoretical knowledge and awareness and the practical application of ergonomics in a clinical environment. Only by inculcating correct occupational standards and abiding by them from the commencement of dental education can consistency between theory and practice be achieved. This will hopefully ensure the health and well-being of dental team members throughout their professional lives.

Background: Oral health is crucial to overall well-being but is significantly neglected among incarcerated women, who face higher rates of dental caries, periodontal disease, and edentulism due to systemic barriers, behavioral risks, and socio-demographic vulnerabilities. Objective: This review evaluates the oral health status of incarcerated women, identifying key determinants and assessing intervention effectiveness. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted as per PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies published in English in the last 15 years on adult incarcerated women were included. Data on oral health outcomes, risk factors, and interventions were extracted and analyzed. Results: Ten studies revealed significantly higher rates of oral diseases among incarcerated women compared to the general population. Behavioral factors such as smoking and poor diet, combined with inadequate access to care, are major contributors. Pregnant inmates face compounded risks, with poor oral health linked to adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Conclusions: Incarcerated women experience severe oral health disparities requiring gender-responsive, interdisciplinary interventions, including preventive care, education, and integrated correctional policies. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and effective intervention strategies.

Artificial intelligence plays an increasingly important role in modern dentistry, offering the possibility of precise and quick diagnostic image analysis and supporting the process of pathology detection. Aim: The study aims to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in caries detection, with an emphasis on radiographs and intraoral imaging analysis, and to assess the potential of this technology in the quality and efficiency of dental diagnostics improvement. Methods: A review of the scientific literature covering the years 2015–2024 was carried out, analyzing the results of studies on the effectiveness of artificial intelligence algorithms in caries detection. Publications evaluating parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, and precision compared to traditional diagnostic methods were included. Results: AI algorithms, particularly convolutional neural networks, present high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in caries detection, often outperforming traditional methods in detecting early lesions. The use of artificial intelligence standardizes the diagnosis, shortens the time of analysis, and reduces errors caused by a subjective clinical assessment. Major limitations include the need for high-quality training data, implementation costs, and challenges associated with technology acceptance. Conclusions: Artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly improve caries detection, offering precision, efficiency, and algorithms standardization. However, taking full advantage of its capabilities requires further research, standardization of algorithms, and appropriate adaptation of the clinical environment.