Khalid Almas | University of Connecticut Health Center (original) (raw)

Papers by Khalid Almas

Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, Aug 1, 2020

Recently, there have been many global outbreaks of diseases. The latest is the coronavirus diseas... more Recently, there have been many global outbreaks of diseases. The latest is the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The virus has spread worldwide and is transmitted mainly through droplets or by touching contaminated surfaces. Globally, healthcare systems are challenged due to a lack of workplace safety and professional obligations in addition to the rapid spread of the virus. Dental facilities are at greater risk due to the nature of dental care. The aim of this review study was to provide a situational analysis within dental facilities during the new COVID-19 outbreak. Published papers concerning dental facilities and COVID-19 were retrieved from PubMed, search engines, and organizational websites. All data were reviewed, arranged into themes, and then categorized either as strengths or weaknesses with respect to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in dental facilities, and accordingly, threats and possible opportunities to the handling of the pandemic were identified. Preparedness of dental facilities during the current pandemic is a weakness that needs to be addressed promptly. Shortage of dental care providers, cyber security, economic losses, and ethical challenges are possible threats due to the current outbreak. Coordination and prompt communication among all healthcare providers during such outbreaks is a strength that needs to be supported. This strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis can be a useful tool for guiding decision-making as it is crucial during the current pandemic to work on weaknesses, avoid threats, and utilize all future opportunities.

Journal of Periodontology, Apr 1, 2010

Background: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are an important group of drugs used for the treatment of metab... more Background: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are an important group of drugs used for the treatment of metabolic and oncologic pathologies involving the skeletal system. Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a complication observed in patients using oral or intravenous (IV) BPs. It was suggested that all patients undergoing BP therapy who are expected to receive dental implants should be informed of the possible risks of development of ONJ. The aim of this literature review is to assess the osseointegration of dental implants in patients undergoing BP therapy. Methods: The MEDLINE

PubMed, Mar 1, 2016

Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease of the peri-implant mucosa with the loss of supportin... more Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease of the peri-implant mucosa with the loss of supporting bone. Because of the absence of an un-inflamed connective tissue zone between the healthy and diseased sites, peri-implant lesions are thought to progress more rapidly than periodontal lesions, suggesting the importance of early diagnosis and intervention if possible. A number of risk factors have been identified that may lead to the initiation and progression of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis, eg., previous periodontal disease, poor plaque control, inability to clean, residual cement, smoking, genetic factors, diabetes, occlusal overload, rheumatoid arthritis, increased time of loading and alcohol consumption. At present there is not much literature available, highlighting the relationship between implant surface characteristics and peri-implant diseases. Implant surface characteristics vary with respect to topography, roughness and clinical composition, including turned, blasted, acid etched, porous sintered, oxidized, plasma sprayed and hydroxyapatite coated surfaces and their combinations. So the aim of this review is to explore the relationship between the characteristics of implant surface, the prevalence and incidence of peri-implantitis. This would help to identify plausible influence of surface characteristics, oral hygiene instructions and maintenance of implants for the long-term uneventful success of implant therapy.

Dental Clinics of North America, Jul 1, 2019

The journal of contemporary dental practice, 2003

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of oral hygiene practices and halitosis a... more The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of oral hygiene practices and halitosis among undergraduate students from King Saud University, College of Dentistry. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among all 481 students; 263 male and 218 female students. A questionnaire was developed to assess the self-reported perception of oral breath, awareness of bad breath, timing of bad breath, treatment received for bad breath, oral hygiene practices, caries and bleeding gums, dryness of the mouth, smoking and tea drinking habits, and tongue coating. The response rate was 77%. Forty four percent of male and 32% of female students reported the self-perception of breath odor. Self-treatment was sought by 12% male and 22% female. Six percent of males and 4% of females experienced bad breath interference at their work. Seventy-eight percent of male and 62% of female students experienced bad breath after waking up. Brushing was prevalent among 81% of male and 99% of female students. Both miswak (chewing sticks) and tooth brushing were used by 53% male and 83% female students. Fifty seven percent of male students and 44% of female students reported caries. Bleeding gingiva was experienced by 26% of males and 14% of females. Dry mouth was common among 14% of males and 17% of females, while smoking was prevalent among 13% of males and 2% of females. Tea drinking was common among 44% of males and 37% of females, while tongue coating was equally common among both males and females (21% and 20%), respectively. The results indicate female students had better oral hygiene practices, significantly less self-reported oral bad breath, and smoked less compared to male students. There was no difference in tongue coating among male and female students. Further research is needed to examine oral malodor clinically and objectively by the standard procedures available. Students should be motivated to be a health symbol and keeping their mouths free from oral malodor.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Apr 3, 2023

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal, Aug 26, 2021

The Saudi Dental Journal, Dec 1, 2022

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the current state of research on tooth extraction socket p... more PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the current state of research on tooth extraction socket preservation. The main aim of this study was to consolidate the research published on extraction socket preservation from 1968 to 2020 in Scopus indexed journals.MethodologyThe bibliometric method, a quantitative analysis investigating publishing trends and patterns, was used. Scopus database was used to retrieve the bibliographic records of published scholarly output. The analysis was performed using software and visualization tools like MS Excel, VOSviewer, Cite Space, Biblioshiny (RStudio), and BibExcel.ResultsThe result showed a gradual increase in research, whereby a substantial increase was observed from 2005 to 2006. Six hundred nineteen articles were published in 173 journals with total citations of 12091. Most published articles were from the USA, Italy, Germany, and China. The authorship pattern showed an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach among researchers.ConclusionThis bibliometric analysis can guide researchers, funding agencies, industry, and institutions.

oral health and dental management, Sep 30, 2016

Background: The key reason for failure of an endodontic treatment is incomplete debridement and s... more Background: The key reason for failure of an endodontic treatment is incomplete debridement and sterilization because of complex root canal system anatomy which makes elimination of microorganisms difficult. In spite of the chemical and mechanical debridement of root canals, studies have reported that some microbes like Enterococcus faecalis thrive in periapical lesions, triggering a failure of an endodontic treatment. Considering the vanity, adverse effects and toxicity issues of synthetic medications, the herbal alternatives have been sought for endodontic irrigation. Objectives: To review the current evidence on the efficacy of different plant derivatives against Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and methods: Studies were identified through systematic search of the following electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar and Cochrane database of systematic reviews. The results from the relevant published literatures are discussed. Summary and Conclusion: The conclusion drawn from in vitro and in vivo studies seems encouraging and as proven in clinical studies, Propolis and Salvadora persica have been proven to be efficacious against Enterococcus faecalis. More laboratory and clinical research is required to assess the safety, efficacy and biocompatibility of other plant extracts, before finally recommending them as alternative endodontic irrigants.

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Aug 5, 2010

Aim: The adverse effects of areca nut (AN) chewing habit on oral health have been reported. Howev... more Aim: The adverse effects of areca nut (AN) chewing habit on oral health have been reported. However, the hazards related to the habit are not restricted to the oral cavity but they can also jeopardise the systemic health. Since no review reporting the harmful effects of AN chewing on systemic health is yet available, the aim of the present study was to review the systemic conditions associated with AN usage. Methods: To address the focused question ''What are the deleterious effects of AN usage on systemic health?'', the MEDLINE PubMed databases were explored from 1966 up to and including May 2010. The eligibility criteria included: human studies, individuals using AN, use of controls, and articles published in English. Handsearching was also performed. Unpublished data was excluded. Results: The review included 28 articles. Seven studies associated AN chewing with cardiovascular disorders and three studies related the habit with cerebrovascular disorders. Eight studies related AN chewing with obesity, hyperglycaemia, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Five studies related AN chewing with the development of hepatic disorders. Two studies associated the chewing habit with oesophageal inflammation and fibrosis. Three studies associated AN chewing with respiratory discomfort. Renal disorders were related with the chewing abuse in two studies. Two studies showed an adverse effect of AN chewing on birth outcome. Conclusions: AN chewing adversely affects systemic health by damaging the vital organs.

Cureus, Apr 16, 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory s... more Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. (SARS-CoV-2). It spreads mainly through saliva droplets or nasal discharge. Dentists are among the professionals with the greatest risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19. We compared the efficacy of surgical masks versus N95 respirators in preventing COVID-19 infection in dental settings. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Search terms corresponded to a predefined PICOS (patient/population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes) question. The risk of bias was evaluated using AMSTAR-2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2), ROBIS (Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews), and Health Evidence tools. A total of 191 articles were screened, and nine of them were further evaluated for eligibility, of which five articles (fulfilled the selection criteria) and were included in this study. Two studies concluded that surgical masks could provide equivalent protection to N95 respirators. Another study found that N95 respirators were superior to surgical masks. The fourth study found that better protection can be achieved when using surgical masks by the aerosol source than when the recipient uses an N95 respirator, while the last study concluded that surgical masks or N95 respirators alone do not provide full protection. Thus, according to this systematic review, N95 respirators provide better protection against COVID-19 infection compared to surgical masks.

Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences, Jul 6, 2018

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the marginal bone levels around plat... more Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the marginal bone levels around platform-switched dental implants placed subcrestally in partially or totally edentulous patients who had been treated in a private practice. Methods: A total of 200 implants placed in 64 patients, with a mean follow-up time of 5.3±1.7 years, were included in the study. Implants were placed 0.5 mm subcrestally via one-or two-stage surgical approach. Data regarding the distribution and diameter of the implants, the type of the prosthetic restoration, and marginal bone levels were assessed by one calibrated examiner. Results: Overall, the mean marginal bone loss was found to be 0.82±1.6 mm, and 66% of the implants (n=81) showed no bone loss, whereas 28% (n=35) showed bone loss >1mm, and 20% (n=25) showed bone loss >2mm. Out of 18 implants in use for 1-3 years, 14 of them showed no bone loss. Among implants that were in function for 3-5 years, 25% (n=15) showed bone loss >1mm, and 12% (n=7) showed bone loss >2mm. In this study, the majority of the implants were in use for more than 5 years (n=122). Out of them, 66% (n=81) showed no bone loss, whereas 28% (n=35) showed bone loss >1 mm, and 20% (n=25) showed bone loss >2mm. Conclusion: Within the limits of this retrospective study, one can say that slight amount of marginal bone loss is observed around the platform-switched implants placed subcrestally in a long-term follow-up. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Glossary of dental implantology / , Glossary of dental implantology / , کتابخانه دیجیتالی دانشگاه... more Glossary of dental implantology / , Glossary of dental implantology / , کتابخانه دیجیتالی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی و خدمات درمانی شهید بهشتی

The Scientific World Journal, 2022

Objective. To assess the prevalence of medical conditions, oral hygiene practices, and dental vis... more Objective. To assess the prevalence of medical conditions, oral hygiene practices, and dental visits among patients who attended a teaching dental hospital in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Materials & Methods. This retrospective cross-sectional study used patient records from 2009 to 2015 from the dental hospital of the College of Dentistry Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam. Patients’ demographics, medical history, oral hygiene practices, reasons for attending the facility, attendance patterns, and smoking habits were studied. Results. The study included 1502 records of patients with 65.1% of males and 34.9% of females. The prevalence of medical conditions was 25.7% in the study. The most common medical conditions included diabetes mellitus (7.2%), hypertension (6.5%), and anemia (4.7%). Only 21.8% reported visiting the dental hospital in the past one year. The prevalence of smoking was 16.7%, and this did not differ significantly between healthy and medically compromised patie...

The aim of the study was to compare the remineralization potential of a novel dentifrice consisti... more The aim of the study was to compare the remineralization potential of a novel dentifrice consisting of a fluoride-containing bioactive glass (BiominF®) with that of a dentifrice containing bioactive glass (BG) and sodium monofluorophosphate (Novamin®). Fifteen enamel blocks were divided randomly into three groups: 1: (n = 3; control, no treatment, storage in artificial saliva for 24 hr), 2: (n = 6; Novamin® toothpaste group), and 3: (n = 6; BiominF® toothpaste group). Toothpaste slurries were prepared by mixing 1 g toothpaste with 5 mL artificial saliva (AS). The specimens were exposed to 6 wt% citric acid (pH, 2.2) for 5 min to mimic demineralization, and specimens in groups 2 and 3 were then stored in the toothpaste slurries for 5 min and 24 hr (n = 3 each). Mean enamel volume changes were evaluated by micro–computed tomography, and mean surface loss or gain was investigated using a profilometer. The Wilcoxon rank sum test and one-way analysis of variance with post-hoc testing wer...

Introduction: In situ dating techniques by laser ablation are developed to obtain ages of rocks w... more Introduction: In situ dating techniques by laser ablation are developed to obtain ages of rocks with minimum sample preparation. They are promising tools for analyzing samples directly on a planetary surface, like Mars or the Moon, with a robotic lander or rover. Applying radiometric in situ geochronology on other planets or moons offers the possibility of studying planetary processes and solar system evolution with higher precision compared to crater counting of terrains and without relying on returned samples. Among the various approaches, this work overviews two methods: Potassium (K) Argon (Ar) and Rubidium (Rb) Strontium (Sr). Both lend themselves to in situ dating and could be suitable for hybrid dating on a rover or lander to interpret absolute ages and provide geological context. Two chondritic meteorites, Pultusk and Bjurböle, in addition to one Martian analog sample, AMP 3.8, have been used to investigate in situ methodology on extraterrestrial material. Techniques: The K-...

F1000Research, 2021

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitude of the ... more Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitude of the public in Pakistan (using social media) towards COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 1120 individuals nationwide. A self-developed, pre-tested questionnaire was used that comprised of sections covering demographic characteristics, medical history, hygiene awareness, COVID-19-related knowledge, and learning attitude. Descriptive statistics were used for frequencies, percentages, averages and standard deviations. Inferential statistics were done using the Student’s t-test and ANOVA. Results: The average age of participants was 31 years (range 18-60 years). In total 56 individuals (5%) had completed primary or secondary school education; 448 (40%) were employed (working from home) and 60% were jobless due to the COVID-19 crisis. Almost all the study subjects (1030 (92%)) were washing their hands multiple times a day. A total of 83% had awareness regarding quarant...

The Saudi Dental Journal, 2021

Objective With this cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate factors associated with moderate ... more Objective With this cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate factors associated with moderate and high risk of periodontal disease (PD) progression in the Saudi population. Methods We reviewed 281 patients’ clinical charts from predoctoral periodontal clinics at the dental teaching hospital in the College of Dentistry (COD) at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. After obtaining ethical approval, we determined the Periodontal Risk Assessment (PRA) of the included patients based on the modified criteria developed by Lang and Tonetti (2003). We used logistic regression on stratified data and divided the results into two categories (low-moderate and high risk) to assess the effect modifier for potential risk factors. We used SPSS version 22 for data analysis, and considered a P-value ≤ 0.05 to be statistically significant. Results Out of the 281 patients, 104 (37.0%) were male and 177 (63.0%) were female, with a mean age of 39.9 ± 14.0 years; 78.1% were Saudi nationals, 77% were married, and 44.6% were in the age group of 30 to 49. The PRA revealed 86 (30.5%) to represent high risk, 108 (38.3%) denoted moderate risk, and 88 (31.2%) signaled low risk for periodontitis. Logistic regression analysis showed that males were three times more likely to have high PRA (OR = 3.24) and to be married (OR = 2.77), as well as to be active smokers (OR = 8.87). The highest predictive factors of high PRA were 8 or more pockets ≥ 5 mm (OR = 29.0), those with active diabetes mellitus (DM; OR = 10.2), and those with 8 or more missing teeth (OR = 9.15). Conclusion Saudi males who are married and have residual periodontal pockets, are actively diabetic, and with missing teeth are at high risk of PD. Further research is needed with a larger sample size comparing the general population with and without PD.

The Scientific World Journal, 2021

Objective. To evaluate the reasons for permanent teeth extractions and related factors among adul... more Objective. To evaluate the reasons for permanent teeth extractions and related factors among adult patients visiting dental clinics in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods. This retrospective cross-sectional study included data of patients who underwent teeth extractions. Data were collected from public and private dental clinics in different cities of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (January–March 2020). The demographic information of patients and their reasons for teeth extractions were obtained from participating dentists. Results. The study included data of 696 patients with 55.9% of males and 44.1% of females. The mean number of teeth extractions in the sample was 1.86 ± 1.8, and it increased significantly with advancing age ( P ≤ 0.001 ). Saudi (1.97 ± 1.98) versus non-Saudi patients (1.55 ± 1.11) ( P = 0.02 ) and patients in public practice (2.03 ± 1.95) versus patients in private practice (1.50 ± 1.38) ( P ≤ 0.001 ) showed significantly higher tee...

European Journal of Dentistry, 2020

Objective The aim of this study is to assess knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices of dent... more Objective The aim of this study is to assess knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices of dental professionals regarding the prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Pakistan. Materials and Methods General dentists and dental specialists working in public and private dental practices, hospitals, and academic institutions participated in this cross-sectional study. A pilot-tested questionnaire was sent to dental professionals through an online link in Pakistan and data collection was completed in April-May 2020. The knowledge score was calculated from 22 variables about the COVID-19. Results The study included data of 343 dental professionals with 47.2% of males and 52.8% of females. The mean knowledge score was 16.78 ± 2.25, and it significantly differed between general dentists (16.55 ± 2.36) and dental specialists (17.15 ± 2.04) (p = 0.020), and those with up to 10 years of experience (16.58 ± 2.28) and those with more than 10 years of experience (17.05 ...