Background and Objectives: Edentulism is considered to be an impediment impacting both patients’ quality of life and their nutrition. Conventional complete dentures are still a preferred treatment. However, there is no consensus on the most important factors which could substantially reduce the risk of patient dissatisfaction. This study evaluated the following determinants concerning patient satisfaction with complete maxillary and mandibular dentures: sex, denture-related functional and aesthetic aspects, and the degree of bone resorption. Materials and Methods: This study included 70 patients aged 34–81 years of age. All complete dentures were made by following the same technology. Visual analogue scales were used to assess patients’ overall satisfaction with dentures, comfort, ability to speak and chew, denture aesthetics, stability, and ease of prosthesis cleaning. Satisfaction with upper and lower dentures was rated separately. The degree of bone resorption was classified by using the Kalk and de Baat (1989) method. Results: The mean (SD) age of the study participants was 67.3 (10.4) years; 65.7% (n = 46) were females and 34.3% (n = 24) were males. There were no significant sex-based differences in resorption of the maxilla or mandibula. There were significant differences between maxillary and mandibular dentures, with lower mean satisfaction scores concerning chewing and maxillary complete dentures, and in regard to stability and comfort for mandibular complete dentures. There was a non-significant overall lower satisfaction with increased age. In multivariate analysis for mandibular complete dentures, aesthetics and stability significantly predicted the patient’s comfort levels, and the patient’s comfort significantly predicted overall satisfaction. For maxillary complete dentures, patient comfort and aesthetics significantly predicted overall patient satisfaction. Conclusions: Age, sex, and degree of resorption were not associated with patient satisfaction with complete dentures. Overall, patient satisfaction with both maxillary and mandibular complete dentures was related to their comfort level and denture aesthetics, and patient comfort itself was associated with stability of the mandibular denture.

Aims: To provide evidence‐based and peer‐reviewed recommendations for the development of dental continuing professional development (CPD) learning e‐modules.Methods: The present recommendations are consensus recommendations of the DentCPD project team and were informed by a literature research, consultations from e‐learning and IT expert, discussions amongst the participants attending a special interest group during the 2012 ADEE meeting, and feedback from the evaluation procedures of the exemplar e‐module (as described in a companion paper within this Supplement). The main focus of these recommendations is on the courses and modules organised and offered by dental schools.Results and discussion: E‐modules for dental CPD, as well as for other health professionals’ continuing education, have been implemented and evaluated for a number of years. Research shows that the development of e‐modules is a team process, undertaken by academics, subject experts, pedagogists, IT and web designers, learning technologists and librarians. The e‐module must have clear learning objectives (outcomes), addressing the learners’ individual needs, and must be visually attractive, relevant, interactive, promoting critical thinking and providing feedback. The text, graphics and animations must support the objectives and enable the learning process by creating an attractive, easy to navigate and interactive electronic environment. Technology is usually a concern for learners and tutors; therefore, it must be kept simple and interoperable within different systems and software. The pedagogical and technological proficiency of educators is of paramount importance, yet remains a challenge in many instances.Conclusions: The development of e‐courses and modules for dental CPD is an endeavour undertaken by a group of professionals. It must be underpinned by sound pedagogical and e‐learning principles and must incorporate elements for effective visual learning and visual design and a simple, consistent technology.

Introduction: By maintaining skills and keeping dentists up‐to‐date, continuing professional development (CPD) supports safe clinical practice. However, CPD for dentists across Europe is not harmonised.Aim: One aim of the ‘DentCPD’ project (www.dentcpd.org) was to identify and agree essential CPD requirements for EU dentists. As part of the process, data were collected on existing approaches to CPD for EU dentists. This paper reports those findings.Methods: Informed by a review of the literature and internet search, the CPD for Graduate Dentists questionnaire gathered data from dental educators on CPD systems, requirements, provision and accreditation in Europe. It sought opinion on mandatory CPD and e‐learning.Results: Responses were received from 143 individuals from 30 EU countries. About half the countries had a compulsory CPD system which typically included mandatory core topics. Elsewhere CPD was optional or based on recommended hours. University dental schools and professional dental associations were the most common CPD providers. National regulatory bodies were the most common accrediting body. Only 41% of respondents thought they knew the criteria for successful accreditation of CPD. Eighty‐one percent agreed that ‘CPD should be obligatory for all dentists’.Conclusion: These results present an overview of the status of CPD for EU dentists. Despite a notable trend towards regulated CPD systems, current requirements for dentists to engage in CPD show variation. The harmonisation of requirements would enhance both dentist mobility and safe clinical practice.

Baiba Springe, DDS/Anda Slaidina, DDS, PhD/Una Soboleva, DDS, MSc, PhD/Aivars Lejnieks, MD, PhD: Purpose: This prospective, cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and the width and height parameters of the mandibular residual ridge. Materials and Methods: BMD was determined in the lumbar spine and femoral necks by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 45 edentulous, postmenopausal women (mean age, 72.08 ? 8.53 years) who had used conventional complete dentures for at least 3 years. Measurements of the mandibular residual ridge were performed using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Height and width measurements were performed in the midline and adjacent to the mental foramina. Data were analyzed with descriptive and analytic statistics. The relationship between BMD and mandibular height and width measurements was assessed using analysis of variance as well as linear and multivariate regression analyses. Eight patients were excluded from the study because they did not complete both of the required imaging analyses (DXA and/or CBCT). Results: There was no statistically significant relationship between BMD and mandibular bone height measurements in the midline and both regions of the mental foramina, and no statistically significant relationship existed between BMD and mandibular bone width measurements in the midline and both of the mental foramina regions. Conclusions: Postmenopausal women with reduced general BMD do not appear to have a reduction in the size of the mandibular residual ridge. Int J Prosthodont 2014;27:270?276. doi: 10.11607/ijp.3283

Aim: Free movement of dental professionals across the European Union calls for more uniform continuing education in dentistry to ensure up‐to‐date, high‐quality patient care and patient safety. This article provides guidelines for the management and delivery of high‐quality continuing professional development (CPD) by European dental schools and other CPD providers.Method: The guidelines are based on an extensive literature inventory, a survey of existing practices (both available as separate publications), discussions during meetings of the Association for Dental Education in Europe in 2011 and 2012 and debate amongst the members of the DentCPD project team representing six dental schools.Results: On the basis of the literature review, survey and discussions, we recommend that (i) every dentist should be given the opportunity for CPD, (ii) providers should be quality‐approved and impartial, (iii) educators should be approved, impartial, suitably trained, and with educational expertise, (iv) the mode of CPD delivery should suit the educational activity, with clear learning objectives or outcomes, (v) effort should be made to assess the learning, (vi) participant feedback should be collected and analysed to inform future developments and (vii) uniform use of the pan‐European system of learning credit points (ECTS) should be implemented.Conclusion: Implementation of these guidelines should make dental CPD more transparent to all relevant parties and facilitate the transferability of earned credits across the European Union. It will also enable better quality control within dentistry, resulting in enhanced dental care and ultimately the improvement in patient safety.