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Biomedical subjects

R M Schaub

Publications and source records attributed to R M Schaub.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Blueprint 2000 Education of dentists in the Netherlands. Objectives of undergraduate dental education. A summary].

Blueprint 2000 Education of dentists in the Netherlands includes nationally developed objectives for the dentist at graduation. The changing state of oral health of the population and oral health care require a dentist trained in a broad range of dental subjects. Intellectual and scientific training should be an important aspect of undergraduate education. Developments in teaching methods support these requirements. The differences in the implementation of educational developments in the three Dutch dental schools made a uniform description of objectives not yet possible. The actual objectives therefore are presented in four different ways: (1) the profile of the dentist in broad terms, (2) general objectives by way of competencies, (3) discipline-based objectives and (4) a list of problems. These problems are derived from every day practice and can serve as starting point in the learning process of the student. It is expected, that Blueprint 2000 Education of dentists in the Netherlands will be used as a basis for curriculum development. What type of objectives, or combinations, will be used will be seen in the future.

Adult↗

[Oral health care for the elderly. More than care for the mouth only].

Dental treatment is changing to oral health care, integrating curative treatment and care. This development is based on the present state of oral health of elderly people. In the future, elderly persons are expected to receive adequate oral health care. This requires gerodontic knowledge and skills, as most oral health problems of elderly persons are chronical and related to ageing processes. For about 25% of elderly people substantially adapted oral health care is needed. This geriatric oral health care can be best provided in collaboration between dentists, dental hygienists and other careproviders. This procedure is already common practice in the care for the chronically ill. Then oral health care will become more than care for oral health.

Aged↗

Perception and significance of dental appearance: the case of missing teeth.

The perception and significance of dental appearance was investigated in three groups of patients. One group had a missing front tooth replaced by partial dentures, which were taken out during the tests. A second group had some missing (pre-)molars. A third group had a complete natural dentition and they acted as control group. Color photographs of the teeth were made and a clinical examination was carried out. The psychological impact of dental appearance was measured by way of a scale of words with affective connotations. Social impact was assessed by way of changes in daily activities. Dentists and lay-persons were asked to give an opinion of the dental appearance on the basis of the pictures. It was found that a missing front tooth resulted in less positive feelings and more negative feelings and also that this condition affected daily life activities strongly. Missing (pre-)molars caused less of an aesthetic problem. Dentists and lay-persons were quite alike in their appreciation of dental appearance, whereas the respondents themselves had different opinions. An explanation for these differences and their implications for dentists are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Dental hygienists' influence on the patients' knowledge, motivation, self-care, and perception of change.

The purpose of this study was to assess the success of the dental hygienist in the dental health education of dental patients in general dental practice. Special emphasis was laid on health education in the field of periodontics. The answers on a questionnaire of 159 dental patients who visited a dental hygienist were compared with the answers of 302 dental patients who had never visited a dental hygienist. The comparison was done by means of t-test and regression analysis on specially developed scales with regard to knowledge, motivation, self-care, and perception of change. On all scales the dental patients who visited a dental hygienist scored better. This difference remained when social demographic variables and the dentist's influence were taken into account. This indicates that the dental hygienist is successful in the behavioral aspect of her work.

Adult↗

Attitudes of two groups of dentists towards dental hygienists.

The purpose of the study was to assess whether cooperation with a dental hygienist was based on pursuit of financial gain or on aspirations to improve patient care. To this end a questionnaire was sent to 972 dentists. 412 dentists replied, of whom 178 had patients treated by a dental hygienist. Questions were asked regarding practice profile, preventive orientation and dentists' opinion about the material and immaterial value of cooperation with a dental hygienist. Discriminant analysis showed that the main distinguishing factor between dentists who did and dentists who did not cooperate with dental hygienists was their opinion about the quality of the dental hygienists' work in relation to the non-financial costs for patients, insurance companies, and dentists. The difference in the dentists' opinions about the direct profitability of dental hygienists was not significant. The conclusion can be drawn that the orientation of Dutch dentists towards care for their patients plays a more important role in a dentist's decision to cooperate with a dental hygienist than is usually presumed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Significance of dental problems to the public and their comparability with general health problems.

A group of 109 subjects received a short questionnaire concerning their general health status. The subjects were invited to recall all the (health) problems experienced in the foregoing 6 months. Every participant in this study had visited the dentist, in the 6 months preceding the investigation, because of a dental problem. If these dental problems were important for the respondents they would recall them spontaneously, when a general question regarding health problems was posed. Only eight subjects mentioned dental problems spontaneously, of which seven concerned "pain-complaints". Only in two cases had the dental complaints been experienced more than 3 months ago. Eighteen respondents said that they could not remember the dental visit or their specific dental problem. Thirteen of these 18 persons visited their dentist because of an aesthetic problem. The results indicate that the impact of (some) dental problems on a person's feeling of being healthy was small. On the other hand, this study shows that the comparability of (most) dental problems and general health problems is limited. A typology of the significance of dental problems for the public and comparability with the concept of general health is presented and discussed in this study.

Adolescent↗

Social and psychologic implications of missing teeth for chewing ability.

The impact of loss of teeth on chewing ability was investigated in three groups of patients. One group already had missing teeth replaced by partial dentures, which were taken out during the tests. This group was taken as not being adapted to chew without a complete dentition. A second group had their missing teeth not replaced by partial dentures. During the test they were considered adapted to chew without a complete dentition. A third group had a complete natural dentition and they acted as control group. Tests were carried out regarding chewing ability and swallowing threshold. In addition, a clinical examination was carried out. It was found that the loss of molars significantly reduced chewing performance. Moreover the number of chewing-strokes before swallowing the food-bolus and the mean of the particle size at the point of swallowing were increased. Loss of molars resulted in less positive feelings concerning chewing. Both groups of persons with missing molars showed a similar chewing performance. The group of not adapted patients felt on average more negative about their chewing ability and they indicated more changes in daily activities because of missing teeth.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Relative importance of periodontal disease for full mouth extractions in the Netherlands.

In order to determine the relative importance of periodontal disease, caries and non-disease reasons for full mouth extractions, a combined sociodental study was carried out in an urban and a rural area in the Netherlands. In the largest proportion of patients (57%) caries was the predominant disease. In only a small group (13%) was periodontal breakdown the predominant characteristic. In 16% of the patients non-disease factors possibly played a role because in this group no generalized periodontal disease or caries was found. It was concluded that in urban and rural areas and in all age groups caries and not periodontal disease was the most important reason for full mouth extractions. Non-disease factors may play a role in the decision to carry out full mouth extractions. Patients living in areas with different dentist-population ratios have a comparable caries status and periodontal condition at the time of full mouth extractions.

Adult↗

Dentists' and patients' opinions of the dental condition at moment of full clearance.

Reasons for full mouth extraction in an urban and a rural area in The Netherlands (dentist-patient ratio 1:2500 and 1:5700 respectively) have been studied. Patients who participated in this combined sociodental research project were those who received full mouth extractions over a period of 1 yr. The combined patient response was 75% and the overall dentist response 90%. In the urban and the rural areas respectively 137 and 237 cases of full mouth extraction were recorded. When comparing the dentists' diagnoses with the conditions of the dentitions there appeared to be a fair degree of agreement in most of the cases, although some striking deviations were also found. In the relationship between the patient's opinion and the condition of the dentition some unexplained discrepancies were found: 37% of the dentitions in which the teeth and attachment were in a healthy condition were perceived as bad by the patients. Dentists and patients agreed in their perceptions of the dental conditions in 60% of the cases. In 27% there was a strong disagreement. In most of the discrepancies found plausible explanations could be given. In some cases this was not possible. As this involves a substantial minority of cases, dentists should be aware of reasons other than the clinical condition in the disabling treatment of full clearance.

Attitude↗

Decision processes preceding full mouth extractions.

Full mouth extraction is the final step in a continuous process in which not only dental but also social processes play a role. In a research project concerning the reasons for full mouth extractions in The Netherlands, it was found that over one-third of the patients had considered full mouth extractions at least once before, and 16% considered it frequently over a period of many years. Anxiety was the most important reason for not visiting a dentist. In the patients' view in 86% of the cases they were the initiator of the decision to have all their teeth extracted. According to the dentist the patients initiated full mouth extraction in 70% of the cases. Dentists and patients agreed that irregular attenders more often took the initiative than regular attenders. Most patients (87%) had discussed the decision to have all teeth extracted with one or more persons; different contacts were reported by 14% percent of the patients. According to Freidson's lay referral theory two groups could be identified: a group with a severely truncated lay referral structure and a group characterized by a more extended lay referral structure. The first group was older (46 versus 36 yr) and had a more positive attitude towards full dentures. In order to avoid problems dentists are recommended to involve (a representative of) the patient's social network when important decisions have to be taken.

Adult↗

Pathways to full mouth extraction.

The process of not attending the dentist is a vicious cycle in which anxiety plays a crucial role. A research project concerning the disease and non-disease reasons for full mouth extraction provided an opportunity to describe the dental histories in terms of dental attendance pattern and related factors which resulted in full dentures. Three profiles of dental histories could be outlined: 1) The regular attenders (19%). Because of their age (means = 47 yr), their positive attitude towards dentistry together with their positive attitude towards full dentures, it is suggested that the possibilities of keeping the natural dentition were exhausted so that full mouth extraction was an acceptable solution. 2) The symptomatic attenders (38%). Because anxiety, which was widespread in this group, was not based on negative experiences, it is suggested that anxiety is caused by social learning. Together with their positive attitude towards full dentures, the high prevalence of full dentures in their social environment and their low socioeconomic status, the conclusion is drawn that these patients lived in a culture which supports behavior that leads to total tooth loss. 3) Once regular attenders (43%). In this group anxiety leads to a negative perception of dental visits and to a negative attitude towards dentists. As a consequence dental visits are deferred, which results in deterioration of the dentition. Experiences with dentists are distorted in a negative way, which increases dental anxiety. Facilitated by a positive attitude towards full dentures, their bad dental condition finally urges them to take full dentures at early age.

Adult↗

Spontaneous recall as an indicator of the impact of dental complaints.

A hypothesis was developed that the impact or importance of oral health problems may be reflected in a person's ability to remember these problems occurring in a given period spontaneously. That means that the recollection should occur on a nonspecific stimulant, i.e. a general question regarding recall of health problems. This hypothesis was first tested on existing data. A representative sample (n = 1622) of the Dutch population was asked to list all the health problems they had experienced the preceding year. Only 13 persons mentioned an oral health problem. From more specific questions on dental matters it appeared that about 15% of the sample had experienced oral health problems in this period. One hundred and forty-six respondents indeed had received dental care because of acute pain. These data indicate that the impact of oral health problems on a person's daily life is small. Otherwise the oral health problem would have been mentioned spontaneously more often. Three possible explanations for this phenomenon are discussed.

Adolescent↗

A double-blind crossover trial of CMC- and mucin-containing saliva substitutes.

The aim of this investigation was to describe and to compare the effectiveness of a CMC- and a mucin-containing saliva substitute. 22 post-radiation patients, 17 Sjögren's Syndrome patients and 3 patients with xerostomia of unknown origin used a CMC- and a mucin-containing saliva substitute, each for 1 week in an arbitrary sequence. Neither the patient, the assistant, nor the physician were aware of the substitute being used. Each patient had to complete a questionnaire at 3 different intervals during the trial. One of the conclusions of this study is that mucin-containing substitutes are preferred by patients when compared to CMC-containing substitutes.

Adolescent↗

Caries status at the moment of total tooth extraction in a rural and an urban area in the Netherlands.

Edentulousness varies with the availability and accessibility of dental care. Comparing the dental status of groups of patients getting full dentures might give insight into the effect of different levels of supply of dental care on the dental condition. Therefore a research project has been started in the Netherlands in an urban and a rural area, having dentist-patient ratios of 1:2,500 and 1:5,700 respectively. In the urban and rural area an equal proportion had partial dentures prior to losing the last of their teeth. However, in the urban area 33% of the patients wearing partial dentures had full maxillary or mandibular dentures; in the rural area this figure was 73%. In the rural area a larger proportion had lost 21 or more teeth at the moment of total extraction. Therefore, it was concluded that in the urban area more effort was spent in maintaining the natural dentition. Looking at DMF-T figures and separate components of DMF-T, no differences could be established between people living in areas with a high and a low dentist-patient ratio.

Adult↗

Differences in total tooth extraction between an urban and a rural area in the Netherlands.

Differences in total tooth loss between an urban and a rural area (dentist-patient ratio 1:2500 and 1:5700 respectively) have been studied. Patients who participated in this study were those who received total tooth extraction during the calendar yr 1982 (urban area) and 1983 (rural area). The overall dentist response was 90%, the combined patient response was 75%. During the year, in the urban area 137 cases of total tooth extraction were recorded; in the rural area this was 237. This frequency is equivalent to 109 and 226 total tooth extractions per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. The age and sex distribution of the urban and rural population could not account for this difference. The rural population had a lower educational level and more people insured in a State Health Scheme, which is related to income. The frequency of symptomatic attenders was highest in the rural area among those who were insured in a State Health Scheme. It is concluded that differences in numbers of total extractions between the rural and urban areas cannot be explained entirely by differences in population characteristics.

Adult↗