ORIGINAL ARTICLE Effect of Tobacco on Unstimulated Salivary pH and Flow Rate JaishLal, Mariachelliah Singarayan Padmavathy, Kesavaram Raghavendra, Jayesh S. Sulmuna, Raj Sathyapriya, Bhaskaran Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effect of smoking (tobacco) and chewing (betel quid) on the alteration of salivary pH and flow rate. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 45 participants divided into three groups: G1: Chewers (n=15); G2: Smokers (n=15), and G3 (Control): Healthy individuals (n=15). Unstimulated saliva was collected by the passive drooling method. Salivary pH was measured using a pH meter, and flow rate using a micropipette. One-way ANOVA compared groups; a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Statistical significance was observed in the mean salivary flow rate between Chewers (8.0403) vs. Controls (11.5) (p<0.001) as well as Smokers (7.9333) vs. Controls (11.5) (p<0.001). Statistical significance was observed in the mean salivary pH between Chewers (6.6133) vs. Smokers (6.4067) (p=0.007), Chewers (6.6133) vs. Controls (7.31) (p<0.001) as well as Smokers (6.4067) vs. Controls (7.31) (p<0.001). Conclusion: Salivary pH was more acidic in individuals with smoking than those with chewing habits. Flow rate was less in individuals using tobacco (smoking and smokeless) compared to controls. Long-term consumption of tobacco is one of the risk factors for alterations in salivary pH and flow rate. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Increasing the Number of Osteoblasts and Decreasing RANKL Expression on Diabetic Periodontitis in Rats Post-Administration of Nanoliposome Papaya Seed Extract Listari, Khusnul Munika Pusporini, Ratih Nugraeni, Yuli Hidayat, Lukman Hakim Festari, Vitha Dwi Firdaus, Jasmine Dewinta Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the impact of nanoliposome papaya seed extract on the number of osteoblasts and RANKL expression in a diabetic periodontitis rat model. Material and Methods: Thirty-six Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups; each group was Group T0 (rats induced to become diabetic periodontitis without treatment), Group T1 (rats induced to become diabetic periodontitis and given 96% papaya seed extract) and Group T2 (rats induced to become diabetic periodontitis and given 96% nanoliposome papaya seed extract). They were assessed at three points in time: day 3, day 7, and day 14. The extracts were given orally at 0.5 ml and drops as much as 0.03 ml on the gingival sulcus, and treatments were given once a day in each group at a predetermined time. Osteoblast cells were counted by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and RANKL expression was counted by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. The difference in osteoblast cells and RANKL expression between groups were analysed by one-way ANOVA and post hoc tests. Results: There was a significant difference in the number of osteoblasts on day 14 in the groups; a significant difference was also seen in RANKL expression on day 7 and day 14 in the groups. Conclusion: Administration of nanoliposome papaya seed extract affects the enhancement of the number of osteoblasts and reduction of RANKL expression in vivo. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE COVID-19: Factors Associated with Dental Students' Fear of Infecting their Relatives as a Result of Clinical Practice Oliveira Júnior, Marcos de Souza, Fernanda Costa Gomes, Rayanne Camylle Nunes Vargas-Ferreira, Fabiana Mattos, Flávio Freitas Abreu, Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães de Martins, Renata de Castro Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the factors associated with the fear of dental students infecting their relatives with COVID-19 as a result of clinical practice. Material and Methods: Online questionnaires were sent by e-mail and social media to dental students from a Brazilian School of Dentistry. The outcome was "fear of infecting the family." The independent variables were sociodemographic data, personal protective equipment use, adoption of infection control measures, and knowledge and feelings about the pandemic and the future of Dentistry. Data analysis used Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests (p≤0.05). Results: With 65 participants, the prevalence of fear was 61.5%. Measures to prevent COVID-19, such as frequent hand cleansing (p=0.028) and avoiding the use of aerosol-generating instruments (p=0.027), not having or not knowing if they have been infected by the disease (p=0.038), and feelings of more significant anxiety during the pandemic period (p=0.047), and that Dentistry will undergo major post-pandemic changes (p=0.020) were associated with fear. Conclusion: Changes in behavior about biosafety and feelings of anxiety and uncertainty about the disease were associated with the dental students' fear of infecting their relatives with COVID-19 as a result of clinical practice. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Toothache and Associated Factors in Brazilian Indigenous Populations: A Critical Review Velten, Deise Berger Calmon, Marcela Vieira Miotto, Maria Helena Monteiro de Barros Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To know the information available in bibliographic sources about dental pain and its associated factors in Brazilian Indigenous individuals. Material and Methods: Critical review in which a literature search was conducted in the databases: BVS encompassing LILACS, MEDLINE and also PubMed and Scielo. Descriptors in Portuguese and English were used, and the Boolean operator “AND” was used to cross the information. Results: After completing literature searches in the databases and other sources the authors obtained 285 articles, and after exclusion of duplicate journals and articles whose titles, abstracts and texts were not related to the researched subject, 02 articles were included in the review. Conclusion: There are few studies on the topic researched, which highlights the need to develop more research in this area to enable comparisons and obtain the best scientific evidence on the researched topic. The Indigenous adult and adolescent population, when compared to the general population, showed a higher percentage of people with toothache that was associated with poor self-perception of oral health. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Effect of the Printing Angle on Flexural Strength, Microhardness, and Surface Roughness of Three-Dimensionally Printed Resin for Provisional Restorations Queiroz, Nádia Vieira Martins, Anderson Sérgio Antunes, Alberto Nogueira da Gama Barros, Vinícius de Magalhães Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the influence of three angles (0°, 45°, and 90°) on the mechanical properties and surface characteristics of the specimens produced by a 3D printer and resin for provisional restorations. Material and Methods: In this in vitro study, ten bars (4 × 2 × 10 mm) were produced for each experimental group (n = 10), designed in the Meshmixer software and printed on a 3D printer. The bars were tested immediately, without aging. They were subjected to a three-point bending test in a universal testing machine, and the surface roughness was measured by a contact profilometer. Microhardness was measured by a microhardness tester and the surface roughness of the specimens was evaluated with a scanning electron microscope. Results: The flexural strength of the 0° group (236.20 ± 29.73) was significantly higher than those of the 45° (155.80 ± 36.19) and 90° (138.70 ± 48.20) groups. Similarly, the surface roughness of the 0° group (0.10 ± 0.06) was significantly lower than the 45° (1.62 ± 0.55) and 90° (0.97 ± 0.22) groups. Microhardness was similar among the groups. Conclusion: The 0° angulation, with deposition of the layers on the printed object so that they are oriented perpendicular to the direction of application of forces, resulted in the best resistance to bending and lower roughness, which may contribute to better clinical behavior. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Dental Caries Risk and Quality of Life of Middle Age and Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia Hamzah, Zahreni Handayani, Ari Tri Wanodyo Shita, Amandia Dewi Permana Meilawaty, Zahara Kartikasari, Nadia Aini, Shakila Nur Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the correlation between caries risk and OHRQoL in middle age and the older population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Material and Methods: The subjects ranged in age from >45. The participants were asked to complete the Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaires. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitey Test, Kruskal-Wallis Test, and Spearman Test with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: Two hundred sixteen people participated in this study. The average CAMBRA score for middle-aged and older people was 5.31 ± 1.111 and 5.27 ± 1.094, respectively. The mean scores for the OHIP-14 were 34.90 ± 6.164 for older adults and 35.79 ± 5.908 for middle-aged people. The correlation between caries risk and OHRQoL showed r=-0.400; p=0.00 for the middle age group and r=-0.143; p=0.170 for the older adults. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, there was no association between caries risk and OHRQoL in the older adult population and a low correlation between caries risk and OHRQoL in the middle-aged group. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Knowledge of the Methods Used by Dentists for Diagnosis and Treatment of Caries Lesions: A Pilot Study Dias, Bárbara Stephanie Leal Cajazeira, Marlus Roberto Rodrigues Andrade, Marcia Rejane Thomas Canabarro Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the methods used by dentists for diagnosis and treatment of dental caries lesions. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was developed by sending a validated questionnaire to dentists in the southeastern region of Brazil with questions about detection methods and the indicated procedures for treating lesions. Results: Three hundred and ninety-eight responses were identified after distributing the questionnaire. The state with the highest percentage of respondents was Espírito Santo (n=140). The respondents' mean time since dental school graduation was 12.9 years (±11.4). Regarding the diagnosis, 39.4% of the dentists used the explorer probe to detect occlusal lesions, 79.6% performed drying with an air jet, 65.8% of dentists performed biofilm removal and follow-up for active initial occlusal lesions, and 60.3% applied fluorides. For active caries lesions reaching the enamel dentinal junction, the dentists performed selective caries removal followed by restoration for both occlusal lesions (79.6%) and proximal lesions (78.1%). Conclusion: Visual-tactile and radiographic examinations were the detection methods of most dentists. A conservative approach was identified more frequently for initial, non-cavitated lesions and an operative approach for dentine tissue lesions. Conservative, non-invasive treatment still seems challenging for professionals when lesions reach the dentine tissue. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Comparison of Surface Defects in Different Rotary Files: An in-Vitro Study Chopra, Krish Ballal, Nidambur Vasudev Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the surface defects in Wave One Gold and Jizai rotary files after 1 and 3 uses. Material and Methods: Ninety-six resin blocks with stimulated canals and 12 files per system were used. The files were pre-examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to exclude files with pre-existing cracks and craters. Instrumentation and SEM evaluation of the files were performed after 1 and 3 uses, respectively. Two independent operators analyzed the images, and scoring was carried out for each file's coronal, middle, and apical thirds. The surface defects at different thirds of the file systems were analyzed using the Chi-Square test and Kendel Tau’s test. Results: After one use, both the file systems did not produce any significant surface defects in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds. However, after three uses, there was minor plastic deformation in the coronal and middle thirds of the Wave One Gold file system. Jizai file system did not produce any surface defects in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds. Conclusion: After one use, no surface defects were created in Wave One gold and Jizai rotary files. Wave One Gold exhibited more significant surface defects after three uses in the coronal and middle thirds. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Analysis of Chemical Properties of Fermented Milk Beverages Containing Probiotics and Influence on Enamel Demineralization: An in Vitro Study Romão, Dayse Andrade Santos, Ingrid Nazaré Araújo de Oliveira Paes, Letícia Ramalho Santos, Maria Rakel de Cerqueira Caju, Gessica Brito Lima Santos Júnior, Valdeci Elias dos Vasconcelos, Rafaela Andrade de Rodrigues, Raphaela Farias Silva, Douglas Ferreira da Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the properties of fermented milk beverages containing probiotics and their potential demineralization on enamel after consumption. Material and Methods: Seven fermented milks were analyzed by titratable acidity and pH, and five were considered for erosive cycling. The beverages' calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) were measured. For measurement of potential erosive, bovine dental enamel blocks (n=8) were individually treated (2 min - 4x/day for five days) with 1% citric acid solution pH 3.5 (control) and strawberry, grape, traditional, and orange fermented milk beverages. At treatment intervals, the blocks were immersed in artificial saliva (1h). The samples were evaluated by profilometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at the end of cycling. The results were submitted to ANOVA and 5% Tukey tests. Results: For titratable acidity, the traditional flavor had the lowest value, 3.36 ± 0.46 mmoles, and the grape flavor had the highest value, 10.7 ± 0.1 mmoles. The lowest pH value was the strawberry flavor at 3.61 ± 0.07, and the highest was the orange flavor at 4.10 ± 0.07. The orange flavor showed the highest values of Ca (48.19%) and P (9.69%). The fermented milk beverages promoted surface loss; however, citric acid promoted higher values. Conclusion: Fermented milk is an acidic beverage with variations in inorganic components. Their erosive potential is lower compared with citric acid. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Effect of Fluoridated Solution based on Silver Nanoparticles Associated with High Fluoride Dentifrice on Dental Erosion Zanin, Gabriela Torres Ribeiro, Edgar Pedreiro Matos, Arilson de Oliveira, Rebeka Beatriz Silvério de Lopes, Murilo Baena Guiraldo, Ricardo Danil Berger, Sandrine Bittencourt Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the effect of fluoridated solution based on silver nanoparticles (AgNano) associated or not with toothpaste containing high fluoride concentration (TP) on dental erosion. Material and Methods: Ninety-six enamel blocks from bovine incisors were prepared and analyzed for microhardness and initial roughness. Then, divided into 8 experimental groups (n = 12): G1 - brushing with water (H2O); G2 - brushing with TP; G3 - AgNano + TP; G4 - AgNano + H2O; G5 - SDF + TP; G6 - SDF + H2O; G7 - FV + TP; G8 - FV + H2O. SDF, AgNano, and FV were applied and, after 24 hours, all samples were submitted to erosive challenge with 0.3% citric acid (pH 2.6) and brushing with TP or H2O for 5 days. After treatments and erosion challenge, microhardness and roughness were again evaluated. The data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey's test (microhardness) and Kruskal-Wallis test (roughness), α=0.05. Results: There was no difference between treatments (AgNano, SDF, and FV), (p>0.05); however, brushing with toothpaste with high fluoride concentration significantly decreases loss of enamel microhardness. Conclusion: AgNano associated or not with toothpaste containing high fluoride concentration was not able to reduce dental erosion in the enamel, as well as SDF and FV. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Orthodontic Retention Protocols: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Different Retention Protocols in Maintaining Post-Treatment Tooth Alignment Pattanaik, Snigdha Veeraraghavan, Vishnu Priya Dasari, Arun Kumar Aileni, Kaladhar Reddy Patil, Santosh Rayagouda Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of various orthodontic retention protocols, including removable retainers, fixed retainers, and a combination of both. Material and Methods: A cohort of orthodontic patients (n=240) was divided into four groups: Removable Retainer Group, Fixed Retainer Group, Combination Protocol Group, and Control Group. Tooth alignment stability, patient satisfaction, compliance, and adverse event occurrence were assessed over two years. Data analysis included regression analysis and comparisons between groups. Results: Fixed retainers demonstrated superior effectiveness in maintaining tooth alignment stability compared to removable retainers and the combination protocol, with the slightest deviation from baseline alignment. The Fixed Retainer Group also reported the highest patient satisfaction and compliance rates. Adverse events and complications, such as retainer breakage and discomfort, were more frequent in the Removable Retainer Group. Conclusion: Fixed retainers offer superior tooth alignment stability, patient satisfaction, and compliance, while adverse events are relatively infrequent and manageable. However, patient preferences and needs should be considered when choosing the most appropriate retention strategy. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: Association with Oral Health-Behavior of 5-year-old Children and Early Childhood Caries Assessed by Mothers Setiawati, Febriana Febrian, Ajeng Fitriana Khairinisa, Safira Darwita, Risqa Rina Badruddin, Iwany Amalliah Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the differences in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) for children aged five with early childhood caries (ECC) based on oral health behavior risk factors in Indonesia. Material and Methods: 181 mother-child pairs participated in this study. Due to the pandemic during data collection, ECC status was examined by mothers through online guidelines provided by the researcher by four clinical stages of ECC. Parents completed questionnaires regarding their child's oral health behavior (tooth brushing, feeding, and dental visit related) and perceived quality of life using the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old children (SOHO-5) Questionnaire. Children are also involved in rating their quality of life. Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis were used to identify differences between multiple characteristics of children's oral health behavior. Results: OHRQoL is significantly correlated with ECC status. There are significant differences between oral health education (p=0.045 and 0.046), falling asleep while feeding (p<0.001 and 0.021), the frequency of sugar consumption (p=0.002 and 0.001), and the condition of the teeth (p<0.001) compared to children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) perceived by their mothers and themselves, respectively. No significant differences were found between the frequency of tooth brushing in a day, assisted child while tooth brushing, the starting age of a child's teeth brushed, dentist visits, food intake, and number of siblings (p>0.05). Conclusion: Oral health behavior related to early childhood caries and consequences in decreasing quality of life, both perceived by mothers or children themselves. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Antimicrobial Activity of Soyabean (Glycine max) and Pumpkin Seeds (Cucurbita pepo) Extracts against Common Oral Pathogens: An in vitro Study Nagarajappa, Ramesh Dhar, Upasana Satyarup, Dharmashree Jena, Marlin Mohapatra, Abhilash Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of soyabean and pumpkin seeds methanolic extract against oral microbiome. Material and Methods: An in vitro study compared the antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of soyabean and pumpkin seed along with 0.2% chlorhexidine (positive control) by Agar well diffusion method against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus and Candida albicans. Suitable dilutions of each seed extract determined Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Qualitative phytochemical analysis and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was done to determine the phytochemical components. Results: Both the methanolic extracts showed the highest zone of inhibition, 26±0.31 mm and 24±0.82 mm, followed by 22±0.87 mm and 21±0.55 mm against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus pyogenes, respectively. The zone of inhibition was higher at concentrations in both extracts, which was not statistically significant (p>0.05). MIC values fluctuated from 1.56 to 4.5 mg/ml and 3.5 to 5.0 mg/ml for soyabean and pumpkin seed extract, respectively. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, tannins, and flavonoids. Conclusion: Both extracts were effective against S. mutans and S. pyogenes and contain compounds with therapeutic potential. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Dental Caries Spectrum Profile and Dental Visits by Preschool Children: Application of Andersen’s Model Almeida, Fernanda Vieira Pauli, Laís Anschau Azevedo, Marina Sousa Costa, Vanessa Polina Pereira Maroneze, Marília Cunha Goettems, Marília Leão Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the frequency of preschool children who attended a dental visit and identify associated factors. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with children aged 2-5 years enrolled in preschools (n=200) in southern Brazil. Parents/guardians completed a questionnaire, and oral exams were performed using the CAST instrument. The outcome was whether the children had consulted a dentist in their lifetime. Andersen's behavioral model was applied to assess associated factors, including predisposing factors (sex, age, maternal education), enabling factors (family income), need factors (dental caries severity, dental pain, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and oral hygiene habits), and psychosocial factors (dental fear). Associations were tested using Poisson's regression, obtaining the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The majority of the children had never visited a dentist (71%; n=141), while 15% (30) had done so for prevention and 14% (29) for oral health problems. Need factors associated with having consulted a dentist included severe dental caries (PR=3.11; 95%CI=1.85-5.20), dental pain (PR=2.04; 95%CI=1.32-2.17), toothbrushing performed by parents (PR=1.99; 95%CI=1.05-3.77), and presence of an impact on OHRQoL (PR=1.87; 95%CI=1.21-2.89). The psychosocial factor of the absence of dental fear (PR=2.28; 95%CI=1.45-3.59) was also associated with the outcome. Conclusion: Most preschool children have never visited a dentist. Using a dental service was associated with both need and psychosocial factors. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE An In-Vitro Analysis of the Mechanical and Anti-Bacterial Properties of Betel Leaf Extract with Chitosan Coating on Orthodontic Aligners Vas, Nazleen Valerie Jain, Ravindra Kumar Kaliaperumal, Kumaravel Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To aim at the preparation and characterization of a chitosan and betel leaf extract biopolymer followed by an assessment of mechanical and antibacterial properties. Material and Methods: A chitosan-betel leaf stock solution was prepared and dip-coated on thermoformed aligner cubes. The groups (five samples per group) involved were one control (only chitosan coating) and three test groups based on the duration of coating (coating with chitosan and betel extract coated for 5, 10, and 15 minutes, named B5, B10, and B15 respectively). The coating of the samples was confirmed by an FTIR test and anti-microbial properties were assessed by the disc diffusion method. Wear resistance assessment of the coating was carried out by scratch test. Results: Coating of the aligners with the extract was confirmed with FTIR. The zone of inhibition against S. mutans was noted to be the widest for aligners coated for 15 minutes (7± 0.5mm), and the intergroup difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The samples dip-coated for 15 minutes demonstrated the highest wear resistance (3.2 ±0.17 N) with statistically significant intergroup differences (p<0.05). Conclusion: Betel leaf extract prepared and incorporated with chitosan biopolymer was successfully coated on thermoformed aligners. A higher antibacterial activity and scratch resistance were evident with aligners dip-coated for 15 minutes, owing to the antibacterial activity of Piper betel. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Manufacturing Technique of an Impression Compound Applicator Gun Lages, Frederico Santos Castilho, Lia Silva de Dias, Danilo Rocha Vilaça, Ênio Lacerda Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To describe a practical way of applying impression compound in stick form using a safe electrical instrument. Material and Methods: Impression compound is a thermoplastic, rigid, reversible molding material in dentistry that requires a temperature of 55-60 °C for plasticization. Take a hot-glue gun for 7 mm tubes, which is the same dimension as the stick of impression compound. The gun nozzle has to be enlarged with a drilling machine and a drill to work to a suitable diameter with the impression compound according to the operator’s preference. A temperature controller needs to be installed to release the compound in a consistency and temperature suitable for use. If the dentist wants to know the exact temperature of 55-60 °C, they can use an infrared thermometer to measure the position of the regulator on the gun's nozzle. Conclusion: Impression compound continues to be widely used for specific procedures, including impressions in severely resorbed ridges and maxillofacial prostheses, which can benefit from the manufacture of the device described. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE COVID-19 and Self-Reported Mental Health of Dental Graduate Program Students and Faculty Members Barbosa, Lilian Lopes Campos, Erick Carvalho Sousa, Emerson Tavares de Carlo, Hugo Lemes Santos, Rogério Lacerda dos Laxe, Laisa Araújo Cortinês Munchow, Eliseu Aldrighi Barbosa, Taís de Souza Carvalho, Fabíola Galbiatti de Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the impact of social distancing and academic circumstances on the self-reported mental health of dental professors and students of master’s and doctorate programs in Brazil during pandemic. Material and Methods: Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaires between September 2020 to January 2021 for students (n=314) and professors (n=294). The survey consisted of 42 questions related to: 1) sociodemographic characteristics; 2) circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic; 3) academic circumstances; and 4) Brazilian version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed by Chi-squared statistical test and multiple logistic regression model (α=0.0S). Results: The students had higher levels of self-perception of DASS-21 symptoms compared to professors. Being part of the COVID-19 risk group contributed positively for professors’ anxiety. The satisfaction with productivity and pressure to publish papers increased the likelihood of depression and stress for both groups. For students, not having children decreased the likelihood for depression and stress and being married increased the likelihood of DASS-21 symptoms for professors. Conclusion: The social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the self-reported mental health of dental graduate program members, mainly associated with being married and in the risk group, and being under pressure to publish papers. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Evaluation of the Confidence Levels in Treatment Planning Decisions among Dental Students Peixoto, Ana Carolina Nunes Freitas, Thiago Schwab de Corrêa, Jôice Dias Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate confidence levels in treatment planning decisions among dental students. Material and Methods: A questionnaire about difficulties in diagnostic and performing procedures was distributed to dental students in their third to final year at a private university in Brazil. Respondents rated their confidence on a scale from “none to mild” to “moderate to maximum. The Chi-square test was used to assess whether there was a difference in the students’ responses according to the stage they were in in the course. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: 137 students participated, and 40% did not consider social data essential in treatment planning. The highest difficulty levels were reported in the diagnosis of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) (83%) and oral lesions (79%). The main difficulties in the treatment were reported as therapy for TMD (84%), rehabilitation therapy (70%) and patients with medical conditions (65%). 91% do not feel confident in handling emergencies. When comparing senior students to those in mid-course, significant differences were noted in diagnosing carious lesions (24% vs. 58%) and TMD cases (95% vs. 75%). Conclusion: This study highlighted that a significant portion of dental students do not consider social determinants of health as relevant to treatment planning, as well as issues related to student confidence in TMD treatment and managing patients with medical conditions. Dental schools should monitor the confidence levels of their students, creating an opportunity to address these deficits. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Influence of the Social Support, Smoke and Alcohol Use on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Pregnant Bolsson, Gabriela Bohrer Knorst, Jessica Klöckner Savian, Cristiane Medianeira Casarin, Maísa Dotto, Patricia Pasquali Santos, Bianca Zimmermann Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the influence of social support, smoking, and alcohol use on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of pregnant women. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a random sample of 256 pregnant women at a public healthcare service in southern Brazil. OHRQoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to collect demographic, socioeconomic, social support, and deleterious habits data. Clinical examinations were performed to diagnose dental caries (DMFT index) and gingivitis (marginal gingival bleeding). A Poisson regression model was used to investigate the influence of pregnant’ characteristics on OHRQoL. With this approach, we calculated rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: The mean overall OHIP-14 score in the sample was 9.74 (SD=9.00). Pregnant women who presented poor social support reported the worst OHRQoL. Regarding deleterious habits, women who drank alcohol (RR=1.18; IC 95%: 1.05-1.33) and smoked (RR=1.20; 95% IC: 1.07-1.35) during pregnancy had higher means in OHIP-14. In addition, older and non-white women who presented untreated dental caries, ≥15% of marginal gingival bleeding, and low household income also reported worse OHRQoL. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that low support social and poor habits during pregnancy influence women’s OHRQoL. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Internet Addiction: Prevalence and Factors among Indian Dental Students Nagarajappa, Ramesh Dhar, Upasana Mohapatra, Abhilash Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the prevalence and determine the factors associated with Internet Addiction among Indian dental students. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 dental students from different academic years of the Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar. Information on demographic characteristics, purpose, and duration of Internet use was recorded. Internet Addiction was assessed using Young’s 20-item Internet Addiction Test (IAT) questionnaire. Chi-square, One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson’s Correlation tests were used for statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at p≤0.05. Results: The prevalence of Internet Addiction was found to be 20.4%. Third-year students showed the highest mean Internet Addiction (46.74 ± 10.26) score. Social networking was the main purpose of Internet use. Bivariate analysis showed that daily hours of Internet use were strongly associated with Internet Addiction, which was statistically significant (p=0.033). The major domains identified in our study towards the contribution of Internet Addiction were Dependence (10.74 ± 2.79) followed by Overuse (10.52 ± 2.58), Emotional state (9.70 ± 3.10), Inhibiting the Flow of Life (8.16 ± 2.74) and Non-restraint (6.37 ± 1.98). Conclusion: Internet Addiction often coexists with other psychological problems. Therefore, early interventions should be implemented, and students should be aware of the adverse effects of spending unnecessary time online. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Cephalometric Evaluation of Pharyngeal Airway Space among Different Skeletal Malocclusions in United Arab Emirates Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study Rodrigues, Jensyll Samsudin, Ab Rani Ismail, Ahmed Bayatti, Saad Al Pattanaik, Snigdha Kamath, Vinayak Gopinath, Vellore Kannan Mahmoud, Yazan Shetty, Shishir Ram Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the relationship between skeletal malocclusion and upper pharyngeal airway space in the United Arab Emirates population using linear cephalometric measurements. Material and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on lateral cephalogram radiographs acquired from the University Dental Hospital. Through convenience sampling, 70 lateral cephalograms were selected from 200, meeting the inclusion criteria for this study. Study subjects were divided into three groups: Class I (n=2S), Class II (n=2l), and Class III (n=24). The study groups were compared based on the linear upper pharyngeal airway space measurements. Results: The three groups observed significant differences between the upper pharyngeal airway measurements. No differences in parameters were noted within the male and female study subjects. A highly significant difference (p<0.00l) in the Palatal Pharyngeal Distance was observed among the groups. Similarly, when the mean Middle Pharyngeal Distance and mean Inferior Pharyngeal Distance were compared among the three study groups, a highly significant difference (p<0.001 and p<0.004, respectively) was observed. Conclusion: The highest variation in the linear dimensions of the upper pharyngeal airway space among the different skeletal malocclusion was observed in the Nasopharynx, Skeletal Class III having the most prominent dimensions followed by Class I and the least in Class II skeletal malocclusion. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Regional Inequalities in the Availability of Equipment, Supplies and Specialized Reference in Oral Radiology in Brazilian Primary Health Care Silva-Junior, Manoelito Ferreira Bittarello, Felipe Monteiro, Vitória Borges, Pollyana Kassia de Oliveira Baldani, Marcia Helena Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the availability of equipment, supplies and specialized reference in oral radiology in primary care health by comparing Brazilian geographic regions. Material and Methods: The time series analysis was carried out with secondary data extracted from official databases of the Brazilian Ministry of Health of the external evaluation cycles of the National Program for Improvement of Access and Quality of Primary Health Care (PMAQ-AB). The comparisons of Brazilian regions were performed using Chi-square and Z tests adjusted by the Bonferroni method, and among cycles (years) using the Cochran’s Q test (p<0.05). Results: In Brazil, there was an increase in the availability of X-ray equipment between 2014 and 2018 (21.9% vs. 36.3%), and supplies where there was X-ray equipment, which included lead aprons (75.6% vs. 86.4%), dark chamber (darkroom) (86.4% vs. 93.9%) and chemical products for the X-ray film processing (80.7% vs. 86.1%) (p<0.001). The specialized reference in oral radiology was higher in 2018 (71.4%) compared to 2012 (46.8%) and 2014 (66.9%) (p<0.001), with the same trend in the Northeast region (p<0.001). North and Northeast showed growing numbers for most items evaluated, with a reduction in regional inequalities. Conclusion: The availability of equipment, supplies, and specialized reference among Brazilian regions increased. Although regional inequalities persist in Brazil, a reduction was observed in the analyzed period. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Cross-Sectional Microhardness and Chemical Composition of Primary Teeth with Green Discoloration due to Hyperbilirubinemia Macedo, Adriana Furtado Diniz, Michèle Baffi Azevedo, Ramiro Anthero de Fujita, Reginaldo Raimundo Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the chemical components and cross-sectional microhardness of primary teeth with hyperbilirubinemia-induced green pigmentation. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of two anterior and two posterior green primary teeth discolored by bilirubin and regular primary teeth, paired according to child age and tooth type. Scanning energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to investigate the mass percentage of calcium, phosphorus, and carbon, and a microhardness tester was used to assess the cross-sectional microhardness of enamel and dentin. The collected data were analyzed using the Student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney (p<0.0S). Results: There was a significant decrease in calcium in the dentin of the green discoloration group compared with the control group. Although the differences in cross-sectional microhardness were not significant, all data showed lower microhardness in both enamel and dentin in the green discoloration group. Conclusion: The calcium content in the dentin of green-discolored primary teeth is lower than in regular primary teeth, but the microhardness of enamel and dentin is not affected. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Respiratory Problems and Different Manifestations of Bruxism in Children: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study Gonçalves, Juliana de Lima Marubayashi, Lucas Masaru Torres, Carolina Paes Galo, Rodrigo Díaz-Serrano, Kranya Victoria Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To comparatively analyze associations between respiratory problems and adenoidectomy with the different manifestations of bruxism in children. Material and Methods: Were analyzed retrospectively on secondary data from the database of a service specializing in bruxism and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) of 279 children, aged 6 to 12 years, from October to November 2022. Two trained and calibrated examiners performed data extraction, checked and organized it. Descriptive and comparative analysis was carried out using the chi-square test, and Pearson’s association test was used for the relationship between variables, both with a significance level of 5%. Results: The sample included secondary data from 2S9 dental records of children with a mean age of 8.6 years (±7.7), 44% male and 51% female. Probable bruxism was diagnosed in 55% of these children. A negative association between adenoidectomy and teeth clenching while awake (p=0.002), clenching during sleep (p=0.004), and grinding during sleep (p=0.040) was observed. Conclusion: The respiratory problems analyzed were not associated with the occurrence of bruxism in its different types of manifestation. However, all manifestations of awake and sleep bruxism were less frequent in association with adenoidectomy. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Dental Trauma Care According to the Perception of Pediatric Dentists in Brazil during the Initial COVID-19 Pandemic Period: A Cross-Sectional Study López, Muriel Denisse Rivera Soares, Carolina M. Goettems, Marília Leão Azevedo, Marina Sousa Cademartori, Mariana Gonzalez Costa, Vanessa Polina Pereira da Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate dental trauma care including teledentistry use by Brazilian pediatric dentists in the early pandemic period (2020/2021). Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study, collected through a self-administered online survey, sociodemographic characteristics, use of teledentistry as a resource for remote Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDIs) care, and variables regarding trauma, such as etiology and type of trauma. Data were described by frequencies and analyzed with the chi-square test. Results: Of 374 pediatric dentists, 323 attended TDIs during the pandemic period. Majority of the participants were women (88.5%). Associations were found between some characteristics of pediatric dentists with having attended dental trauma, specifically age 21-39 years (p=0.001) and graduation time (p<0.00l). TDI appointments increased compared to the pre-pandemic period. Teledentistry was used as a valuable resource for remote orientation and monitoring patients who suffered TDIs. Etiology and trauma types remained the same compared to the period before the pandemic. Conclusion: Teledentistry was a useful resource for guidance and monitoring trauma. However, to be implemented in daily practice, it is necessary to develop regulatory norms. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Colored Compomers in Pediatric Dentistry Practice: Can Personality Profile, Parenting Style and Socioeconomic Factors Influence Preference? Belém, Fernanda Vieira Bendo, Cristiane Baccin Paschoal, Marco Aurélio Benini Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the preference of parents/caregivers and their children regarding using colored compomer (Twinky Star®, Voco, Germany) as a restorative option and factors associated with its choice. Material and Methods: A dental mannequin containing colored compomers and traditional materials (composite resin, glass ionomer cement, and amalgam) was presented to 260 pairs of adults and children aged 5-11 years, who were examined for dental caries to verify the preference of dental materials in two public health services. The parenting style and child personality profiles were assessed. Bivariate analysis and Poisson regression were performed. Results: Most adults (74.2%) preferred traditional materials, and family income (p=0.00l) and educational level (p<0.001) were associated with this choice. Age up to 7 (p<0.001) was a variable associated with children’s choice of colored restorations (72.3%). Children younger than seven years old showed a prevalence of choosing colored compomers 1.20 times higher than their older counterparts. In contrast, adults with children younger than seven years old and less than 11 years of education presented 1.74 and 2.17 higher prevalence of choosing colored compomers, respectively. Conclusion: Caregivers with higher educational levels showed more excellent resistance to colored restorations, and children younger than seven years old had better acceptance of the material with playful proposals. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Knowledge and Prevalence of Dental Trauma among Amateur Soccer Players in a Brazilian Subpopulation: A Cross-Sectional Study Matos, Felipe de Souza Ferreira, André de Lima Ribeiro, Ana Beatriz Bomfîm Gomes Bezerra, Vinicius Grangeiro Leite Silva, Douglas Teixeira da Oliveira, Millena Barroso Paranhos, Luiz Renato Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the knowledge and prevalence of dental trauma among amateur soccer players in a Brazilian subpopulation. Material and Methods: The players responded to a 20-item questionnaire on personal characteristics and the prevalence, education, and management of dental injuries between June and August 2023. Five questions with a five-point scoring system evaluated participant knowledge about managing coronal fractures and avulsion. The Mann-Whitney U-test and the Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.05) compared the subcategories of personal characteristics and education on dental trauma management. Results: Two hundred forty-four (244) amateur soccer players participated in the study, with 55 (22.55%) reporting experiences of traumatic dental injury during games and a higher frequency of coronal fractures. The median score for correctly managing coronal fractures and avulsion was 2.0 points. Athletes with health education/occupation showed a higher median value (3.0 points). Only 9.43% of participants use or have used a mouthguard during sports practice. The study identified a 22.55% prevalence of dental trauma among amateur soccer players. Conclusion: The knowledge of athletes about managing coronal fractures and avulsion is insufficient and requires improvement. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Development of a Questionnaire to Describe Endodontic Treatments in Primary Teeth among Brazilian Dental Practitioners: Face and Content Validity Lima, Ricardo Barbosa Moura, Ana Paula Gomes e Queiroz, Alexandra Mussolino de Nelson-Filho, Paulo Silva, Léa Assed Bezerra da Silva, Raquel Assed Bezerra da Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To develop a questionnaire to describe endodontic treatments in primary teeth among Brazilian dental practitioners, focused on face and content validity (FCV). Material and Methods: An online validation process involved ten judges (panel of experts) and 32 dental practitioners (pre-test). The initial questionnaire (33 items) was developed after a literature review and divided into two parts: 7 questions for characterizing Brazilian dental practitioners (Part 1) and 26 questions for characterizing the endodontic treatment in primary teeth carried out by them (Part 2). The questionnaire was assessed for appearance, comprehension, and relevance using a 4-point Likert scale. Validity was achieved when the Validity Index was equal to or greater than 80% (0.8), considering responses 3 or 4 acceptable. Results: Two rounds were necessary for all items of the data collection instrument to be validated. The Validity Index for the entire instrument was established at 0.97 among the experts and 0.9S among the pre-test participants. The appearance, comprehension, and relevance criteria within the panel of experts achieved Validity Indices of 0.94, 0.97, and 0.99, respectively. The pre-test participants’ values were 0.97, 0.94, and 0.94, respectively. The approximate response time for the data collection instrument ranged between 5-6 minutes. Within the expert panel, 70% of the judges rated the difficulty of filling it out as "easy." Among the pre-test participants, 56.3% judged it "very easy." Conclusion: After this validation process, the questionnaire has acceptable face and content validity and is uncomplicated and quick to fill out. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Delay in Treatment Initiation for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer in Brazil Araújo, Israel Monteiro Borges, Márcio Vinícius Campos Santos, Luís Gustavo Souza Rocha, Jessilene Ribeiro Pereira, Érika Martins Rodrigues, Vandilson Pinheiro Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the interval between diagnosis and initiation of treatment for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil. Material and Methods: A time series study was conducted using secondary data extracted from the DATASUS system. The three-year period from 2019 to 2021 was selected to represent the baseline, onset, and peak of reported COVID-19 cases. The dependent variable of the study was the delay in starting anticancer treatment (>60 days after histopathologic diagnosis). Time series were analyzed using joint-point regression and monthly percentage changes (MPC) were estimated. Results: For oral cavity cancer, there were two periods of decrease in the delay in treatment initiation, from January 2019 to June 2020 (MPC= −0.7S, 95% CI = −0.3 to −3.2, p=0.004) and from November 2020 to December 2021 (MPC= −1.41, 95% CI = −2.2 to −0.6, p=0.00l). For oropharyngeal cancer, there was an increase in the percentage of delays in treatment initiation from January 2019 to February 2020 (MPC= 0.86, 95% CI = 0.2 to 1.5, p=0.014) and from May 2020 to December 2020 (MPC= 3.66, 95% CI = 1.2 to 6.2, p=0.005), with a decrease from December 2020 to December 2021 (MPC= −1.40, 95% CI = −2.3 to −0.5, p=0.003). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil had a greater impact on treatment initiation delay for oropharyngeal cancer than for oral cavity cancer. However, the percentage of delay in treatment initiation for oropharyngeal cancer showed fluctuation, with an increase in the pre-pandemic period and a decrease after December 2020. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Impact of Parents’ Positive Attitude on the Pacifier Sucking Habit Duration and Occurrence of Anterior Open Bite in Children: A Cross-Sectional Survey Paiva, Ana Clara Ferreira Bittencourt, Jéssica Madeira Martins, Letícia Pereira Paiva, Saul Martins Bendo, Cristiane Baccin Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the influence of the parents’ attitude on the duration of the pacifier sucking habit and the occurrence of anterior open bite (AOB) in children. Material and Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Ribeirão das Neves, Brazil, including 497 children aged 4–6 years. The pacifier use was reported by the parents and categorized as "never used", "used up to 24 months" and "used more than 24 months". Perceived parental positive attitude was measured by two self-reported questions "I have enough energy to do what has to be done" and "I have self-discipline". Socioeconomic variables were collected. Children were examined by two examiners to the diagnosis of AOB according to Forster and Hamilton criteria. Adjusted logistic and multinomial regressions were performed (p<0.05). Results: Children who used pacifiers more than 24 months were 6.21 times more likely to have AOB than those who did not use pacifier (95% CL 2.98–12.92). Children who discontinued pacifier use within 24 months had parents with higher energy than those who keep the habit for more than 24 months (OR: 1.22; 95% CL 1.01–1.47). Parents from children who never used or used pacifier for less than 24 months were more self-disciplined than those who used for more than 24 months (OR 1.18; 95% CL 1.01–1.37; OR 1.29; 95% CL 1.06–1.56). Conclusion: High energy and self-discipline of parents were active factors in the discontinuation of pacifier sucking habit in less than 24 months. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Prevalence and Risk Factors for Bruxism in Children with Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome: A Case-Control Study Amorim, Arine Alcoforado Lima, Maria Claudia de Freitas Silva, Paulo Goberlânio de Barros Cavalcante, Samara Kelly da Silva Carvalho, Ellaine Doris Fernandes Andrade, Maria Denise Fernandes Carvalho de Sampaio, Fernanda Araújo Alencar, Phillipe Nogueira Barbosa Souza, Maysa Luna de Oliveira, Letícia Tavares de Carvalho, Isabella Fernandes Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of possible sleep and awake bruxism and its related risk factors in children with Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome. Material and Methods: The case group consists of 20 children with congenital Zika, age range from S to 6 years old, and the control group consists of 120 regular children of the same age group. A questionnaire was used to assess bruxism and associate possible risk factors such as medications, systemic disorders, and sleep relationships, and a validated Oral Behaviors Checklist (OBC) was applied. Absolute and percentage frequencies of each outcome variable and mean and standard deviation of each item of the OBC questionnaire were calculated, respectively, compared between case and control groups using Fisher’s exact or Pearson’s chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Only 25% of the children with microcephaly do not present swallowing difficulty, significantly lower compared to the 95.8% of the children in the control group who do not (p<0.001). The occurrence of bruxism was significantly higher in the case group (47.4%) compared to the control group (10.2%). In addition, 89.8% of children did not grind their teeth in the control group, compared to only 52.6% in the case group. There was a statistically significant difference between the case and control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Dysphagia, feeding routes, and reflux in children with cerebral palsy are risk factors for possible awake bruxism, and children with congenital Zika virus syndrome showed a prevalence for possible bruxism compared to regular children. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Oral Symptoms and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among Malaysian Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Mohamad, Noraini Hui, Goh Pin Ahmad, Wan Muhamad Amir Wan Yudin, Zainab Mat Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the association between oral health-related symptoms and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among diabetic patients. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 202 diabetic patients. The Malay version of the Short Oral Health Impact Profile [S-OHIP(M)] questionnaire was used to assess OHRQoL. A higher S-OHIP(M) score indicates greater oral impact and worse OHRQoL. The prevalence of oral impact was determined by the percentage of participants who reported experiencing one or more impacts ‘very often’ or ‘fairly often’. An additional self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain perceived oral health symptoms. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent t-test, and ANOVA. Results: 45.6% of respondents reported at least one oral health symptom. The most common symptoms were bad breath (30.2%), cavities (29.7%), and toothache (16.8%). The prevalence of oral impact was 33.7%, and the total mean S-OHIP(M) score was 6.15 (SD=6.09). The mean of the S-OHIP(M) score was significantly higher in participants with toothache, cavities, sore gums, swollen gums, bleeding gums, mobile teeth, and bad breath. Conclusion: Oral health symptoms are significantly associated with poorer OHRQoL among diabetic patients. Preventive care and timely treatment of oral health issues are critical to improving the overall quality of life and well-being of this population. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia: An Analysis of Cases from a Tertiary Care Center Madi, Medhini Kumar, Mathangi Vineetha, Ravindranath Pentapati, Kalyana Chakravarthy Srinivasan, Ranjanee Varchas, Pavithra Prabhu, Arvind Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with trigeminal neuralgia in a tertiary care setting. Material and Methods: The data of patients diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia over a nine-year period in this tertiary care center from the archives of the Medical Records Department were included. Two observers documented the clinical data and treatment outcomes in a specially designed proforma. A p-value of <0.0S was considered statistically significant. A comparison of categorical variables was done using the Chi-square/Fisher exact test. A comparison of continuous variables was done using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: There were 34 males and 24 females with a mean age of onset of neuralgia at S2.02 years. The estimated prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia from this tertiary care center in Karnataka, India, is 0.007%. There was a female dominance regarding the reported symptoms that triggered pain (p=0.031), with talking and chewing being the most common triggers. Primary and classical variants were the most common types. Medical management was the sole treatment of choice for nine participants; surgery was performed for 49 and 14 participants underwent a combination therapy. Conclusion: No single best treatment option has been established for this disorder. Further clinical trials with promising pain management regimens need to be conducted to strengthen the existing evidence for improving the quality of life of these individuals. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Evaluation of Canalis Sinuosus on CBCT Images of Patients Candidate for Dental Implant Treatment in Iranian Population Salari, Ashkan Ostovarrad, Farzane Banan, Shahrzad Alavi, Fereshteh Naser Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the frequency, diameter, location and path of canalis sinuosus (CS) on CBCT scans of patients candidate for dental implant treatment. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 CBCT images of the maxilla were evaluated and parameters were assessed: age, gender, the canal presence and diameter, the distance between the CS and the nasal cavity floor (NC), the buccal cortical bone (BC) and the most prominent point of the alveolar ridge crest (RC). Quantitative variables were analyzed with an independent t-test, and qualititative variables were analyzed with chi-squared and McNemer tests (p<0.05). Results: CS was detected on 100 CBCT images in the present study. There were significant relationships between the CS frequency and age and gender; however, there was no significant relationship between CS and the maxillary side. The means of BC, RC, NC and the canal diameter were 9.2±2.19, 15.15±3.13, 8.14±2.43, and 0.99±0.26 mm, respectively. There were significant relationships between the canal diameter, NC and BC with gender. However, there was no significant relationship between RC and gender. Conclusion: Canalis sinuosus was detected, with an approximate diameter of 1 mm, in 50% of the subjects in the incisor-canine area. The use of CBCT for accurate diagnosis of canalis sinuosus is suggested before surgical procedures in the palatal aspect of the anterior maxilla. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Endodontists’ Self-Assessment about Pharmacological Strategies for Management of Endodontic Pain Coelho, Letycia Accioly Simões Luiz, Marcos Dezotti Weckwerth, Artur Villas Bôas Vivan, Rodrigo Ricci Duarte, Marco Antônio Hungaro Alcalde, Murilo Priori Conti, Paulo César Rodrigues Costa, Yuri Martins Bonjardim, Leonardo Rigoldi Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the pharmacological strategies of a group of Brazilian endodontists regarding endodontic pain. Material and Methods: Specialists answered a questionnaire with two main themes: 1) Pharmacological prescription patterns and 2) Endodontic procedures and risk of postoperative pain. The collective data were presented as descriptive statistics. Results: Almost all endodontists reported using drugs for pain management, mainly for apical abscess (65.8%) and irreversible pulpitis (61%), as well as more after (59.6%) than before (23.3%) endodontic procedure. Dipyrone (72.6%) and ibuprofen (56.8%) were the most prescribed systemic drugs. The most used local anesthetics were mepivacaine (58.2%) and articaine (57.5%). When necessary, 74.7% of specialists use supplementary anesthesia with an additional technique. Extravasation of filling materials (81.5%), limit of apical obturation (71.2%), and instrumentation (66.4%) 1 mm beyond were the main endodontic procedures to increase the risk of postoperative pain. Conclusion: While most strategies employed by Brazilian Society of Endodontics members are evidence-based, divergences in responses highlight the need for further research. This underscores the importance of more profound insights and potential standardization in pain management strategies among professionals. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Prevalence of Self-Reported Halitosis and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study among Dental Patients Alievi, Marina Freitas, Stêvan da Silva Moresco, Rafaela Cherobini Rigo, Lilian Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of self-reported halitosis among patients attending the dental clinic of a university in southern Brazil and identify associated factors. Material and Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study included 269 individuals over 18 who attended the clinic for six months. A questionnaire was used to collect data on self-reported halitosis, sociodemographic characteristics, oral hygiene habits, medication use, systemic diseases, smoking and drinking habits, and self-perception of oral health. The relative and absolute frequencies of the variables were analyzed, and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain odds ratios (OR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the sample was 44.86 (±16.55), and 65% were female. The study found a self-reported prevalence of halitosis of 27.9%. Individuals who reported xerostomia were more likely to have self-reported halitosis (OR=2.15; 95% CI: 1.22-3.78). Furthermore, those who visited the dentist more than a year ago were more likely to have self-reported halitosis compared to those who visited no more than six months ago (OR=1.93; 95% CI: 1.09-3.41). Conclusion: The study showed a high prevalence of self-reported halitosis among patients and revealed an association with individuals who reported having xerostomia and who have been attending dental appointments for a longer time. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Genetic Polymorphisms in the DR2D, ANKK1, COMT, 5HTT Genes and Dental Fluorosis: Is There Any Interplay? Souza, Luíse Gomes de Spada, Paula Cruz Porto Souza, Juliana Feltrin de Oliveira, Daniela Silva Barroso de Wambier, Letícia Maira Küchler, Erika Calvano Brancher, João Armando Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms in DRD2, ANKK1, COMT, and 5HTT genes and dental fluorosis (DF). Material and Methods: 256 adolescents were examined, and dental fluorosis was diagnosed using the modified Dean index. Genomic DNA was collected, and seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), two in the DRD2 (rs6275 and rs6276), one in the ANKK1 (rs1800497), two in the COMT (rs6269 and rs4818), and two in the 5HTT (rs3813034 and rs1042173) were selected. Allele, haplotype, and diplotype frequency comparisons were performed. Multifactorial Dimensionality Reduction investigated SNP-SNP interactions. Allele and haplotype frequency comparisons were performed by PLINK version 1.06. The Fisher exact test performed genotypic analysis, and Poisson Regression was adjusted by gender. Results: In the allelic frequency analysis, rs6275 was associated with DF (p=0.040), and rs6276 was borderline (p=0.07), being confirmed in the haplotype (p<0.05) and diplotype (p=0.007) analysis. Conclusion: The data suggest that DRD2, ANKK1, COMT, and 5HTT genes synergistically interact to increase the dental fluorosis risk. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Evaluation of the Effect of Diode Laser on Healing after Gingivectomy Mehrotra, Shalabh Ahuja, Amit Chowdhary, Zoya Adhupia, Kritika S. Bajaj, Aashima Loitongbam, Monika Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of photobiomodulation of diode laser on the healing of gingiva following gingivectomy. Material and Methods: 15 patients with inflammatory gingival enlargement in the age group 18-65 years were enrolled for the study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were divided into two groups, i.e., control and test, with a total of 30 sites. Gingivectomy was performed with a scalpel, and the test site was irradiated with a diode laser, which was repeated after 7 days, finally, the patients were recalled after 21 days for re-evaluation. Soft tissue parameters were recorded at baseline and 21 days, and visual analog scale was recorded at 7 days. Also, tissue was excised and sent for histological analysis both at baseline and 21 days, and the data was subjected to statistical analysis. Results: A clinically significant improvement was observed in patient response to pain in the test group compared to the control group (p=0.001). There was an observable improvement in tissue color in the soft tissue analysis (p=0.001) and a significant reduction in the inflammatory component in the histological analysis in the test group as compared to the control group (p=0.001). Conclusion: Diode laser has a photobiomodulation effect on wound healing after gingivectomy, thus enhancing the rate of healing and decreasing post-operative pain. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Non-Instrumental Pulp Therapy for Deciduous Molars: A Global Bibliometric Analysis of Clinical Studies Carvalho, Rayza Verônica Soares Lima, Marina de Deus Moura de Lima, Cacilda Castelo Branco Moura, Marcoeli Silva de Oliveira, Caroline Barros Moura, Lucia de Fátima Almeida de Deus Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the bibliometric characteristics of clinical studies about the non-instrumental technique with antibiotic paste. Material and Methods: The Web of Science database 'Core-Collection' was searched by two researchers. The following bibliometric parameters were examined: number of citations, authorship, institution, country, journal title and impact factor, study design, year of publication, and keywords. Scopus and Google Scholar databases were used to compare the number of article citations. The VoSviewer software was used to generate collaboration networks. Results: 452 articles were recovered with the search key, and 18 articles were included. The number of citations ranged from 0 to 80, and the number of authors ranged from 2 to 7. Japan had the highest number of citations (n=80). Clinical trials were the most common study design (n= 6). The journals that published the most articles were Pediatric Dentistry (22.2%), Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (16.6%), Contemporary Clinical Dentistry (11.2%), and International Journal of Pediatric Dentistry (11.2%). Most papers originated from Brazil, the United States of America, and India. Conclusion: The study showed increased publications with a clinical focus in the last decade on the LSTR/NIPT technique, with Brazil leading in the number of relevant publications. It also provided clinicians and researchers with articles on an alternative technique for pulp therapy in deciduous teeth with pulp necrosis. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Macro-Regional Disparities in Specialized Dental Care for Children in the Brazilian Unified Health System: An Ecological Study Lima, Ricardo Barbosa Moura, Ana Paula Gomes e Aguiar, Débora Amorim Alves de Nelson-Filho, Paulo Silva, Léa Assed Bezerra da Silva, Raquel Assed Bezerra da Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate macro-regional disparities in specialized outpatient dental care for children in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Material and Methods: An ecological study was conducted using a longitudinal, retrospective, and quantitative approach. The number of outpatient dental procedures (ODPs) performed by Pediatric Dentists in the SUS was retrieved by the Outpatient Information System (SIA/SUS), considering the period between 2008 and 2022, as well as the five macro-regions of Brazil. Statistical analysis was based on descriptive and analytical approaches. The significance level was adjusted to 5%. Results: More than 29 million outpatient dental procedures were performed in the last 15 years by Pediatric Dentists in the SUS. The incidence rate of ODPs was significantly lower in the Northeast macro-region compared to the other macro-regions and the national estimate (p<0.05). The north was the only macro-region that showed a decreasing temporal trend over the last 15 years (p=0.026), while the others were stationary (p>0.05). However, when the COVID-19 pandemic years were removed, testing from 2008 to 2019, the trend was also stationary (p=0.351). In addition, the North macro-region was the only one not correlated with the national estimate (p=0.478), showing a distinct pattern in the incidence rate of ODPs over the last 15 years. Nonetheless, The variability of this particular variable was striking across all macro-regions, but it was especially pronounced in the north. Conclusion: There are macro-regional disparities in specialized dental care for children in the Brazilian Unified Health System. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Awareness and Practice of Deep Margin Elevation among Dental Practitioners in India: A Cross-Sectional Survey Padaru, Mythri Shetty, Preethesh Rai, Namith Bhat, Raksha Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice of deep margin elevation (DME) amongst dental practitioners in India, thereby increasing awareness. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among academicians, private practitioners, and post-graduate students, comprising 266 participants. Twenty-three close-ended web-based questionnaires were circulated through Google Forms. Data was analyzed using the Chi-square test, and descriptive analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Results: Although most respondents were aware of DME, only 27.4% claimed to have used this approach in daily practice. 60.4% reasoned out that DME was a technique-sensitive procedure. However, 50% of participants prefer to use DME as a substitute for surgical crown lengthening. There was a significant association between awareness regarding the term DME, knowledge of the procedure, and the study participants' cadre (p=0.024 and p=0.214, respectively). Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude, and practice of DME among dental practitioners in India are adequate. However, few dentists use this method to treat extensive subgingival decay in clinical practice. This can be attributed to the lack of literature on the subject and the perceived difficulties of the procedure. There is a need for more clinical research to understand the long-term prognosis of teeth restored using this technique and to encourage its usage in practice. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Cephalometric Differences in Gummy Smile and Non-Gummy Smile Children: A Case-Control Study Beltrán, Stefania Mesa Jaramillo, Lucia Victoria Bernal de Zapata-Noreña, Oscar Giraldo-Fernández, Mónica Patricia Barbosa-Liz, Diana Maria Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To describe and compare children and adolescents' vertical and sagittal cephalometric characteristics with and without a gummy smile (GS). Material and Methods: From a population of 204 patients (7-17 years old) and after applying the selection criteria, a sample of 156 subjects were included: 37 cases (GS) and 119 controls (no GS [NGS]), in a proportion of 1:3. An operator calibrated performed linear and angular measurements on standardized digital lateral radiographs, and the skeletal, dental and soft tissue structures were then analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 9.97 ± 2.12. There were differences in maxillary size and position (p<0.05), mandibular size and rotation (p<0.05), and anterior vertical proportions between SG and NSG patients. The logistic regression model (R2=0.63) showed that increased occlusal plane/palatal plane (OP/PP) and occlusal plane/mandibular plane (OP/MP) angles increase the possibility for GS, with an OR of 2.05 (95% CI: 1.30-3.22) and an OR of 2.32 (95% CI: 1.42-3.75), respectively. No statistically significant differences were found in sex or habits between the GS and NGS patients. Conclusion: Class II skeletal malocclusion with maxillary prognathism and mandibular retrognathism, the hyperdivergent growth pattern, and increased values for OP/PP and OP/PM were associated with GS in children and adolescents. This relationship was established in childhood and adolescence. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Association between Possible Sleep Bruxism and Anxiety Disorders, Circadian Cycle and Sleep Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Cross Sectional Study Soares-Silva, Larissa Tavares-Silva, Claudia Pires, Pedro Paulo Maia, Lucianne Cople Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the frequency and association between anxiety disorders (AD), sleep disorders (SD), and the circadian cycle (CC) with possible sleep bruxism (SB) in children/adolescents. Material and Methods: The clinical records of children/adolescents, between 7-11 years, who were treated at the pediatric dentistry clinic/UFRJ (January/2018 to March/2020), were evaluated. SCARED and CIRENS questionnaires and, SD were analyzed. The chi-square test, t-test, and Cohen’s D were applied. Results: Of 85 clinical records were evaluated, 41 (48.2%) were from girls and 44 (51.8%) from boys of 7 (3.5%), 8 (5.9%), 9 (25.9%), 10 (24.9%) and 11 (40%) years old. There were identified in 40 (47.1%) participants with AD, while SB was identified in 28 (32.9%). The most prevalent CC was "neither morning nor night" (75.3%), followed by "morning type" (20%). No association was found between CC and SB (p>0.05). Likewise, no association was found between AD and SB, SD and AD (p>0.05). However, an association was identified between SD and SB (p<0.05). In addition, the shorter the sleep duration, the greater the likelihood of bruxism (p<0.01). For effect size Cohen’s d was 0.955, considered large. Conclusion: It was not possible to identify an association between the CC and psychological factors, such as anxiety, with the presence of SB. However, sleep disorders and sleep duration demonstrated a relationship with sleep bruxism. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Effectiveness of Drinking a Sweet-Tasting Snack Before Local Anesthetic Injection on Pain Perception among 5-Year-Old Children: A Split-Mouth Cross-Over Study Poureslami, Hamidreza Nejad, Jelveh Hashemi Poureslami, Parnian Rad, Maryam Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the pain-relieving property of consuming sweet-tasting solution before dental injections. Material and Methods: In this single-blinded split-mouth study, fifty-two 5-year-old children who needed bilateral mandibular deciduous molars pulpotomies participated. The effect of drinking a cool liquid snack containing 10 milliliters of 12% sucrose solution (study group) or cool tap water (control group) with a straw before inferior alveolar nerve block injection was assessed regarding pain perception. The degree of discomfort was recorded after dental injections using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale (WBFPS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and the Independent Sample Test. The statistical significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: Significantly lower WBFPS scores were reported for the test group (2.9231) compared to the study group (5.0000) (p<0.001). Conclusion: Drinking a cool sucrose solution with a straw before dental injections can aid in reducing the associated discomfort, resulting in better interaction with the child during dental sessions. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) in the Oral Health Care Network of São Paulo-SP (ARTSUS-SP): Development of an Evidence-Informed Public Health Strategy Martins, Fábio Carneiro Gabriel, Mariana Frias, Antônio Carlos Raggio, Daniela Prócida Teixeira, Doralice Severo da Cruz Haddad, Ana Estela Carrer, Fernanda Campos de Almeida Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To describe and analyze the context and decision-making process to deal with a major problem: the high prevalence of dental caries and the great difficulty in moving students from schools to the Basic Health Units of the Unified Health System for carrying out treatments in a metropolis. Material and Methods: To conduct this work, we used the "3-i+E Framework", which can help explore how key factors interact to influence, define, and structure policy choices. The data were collected from different sources using a qualitative exploratory approach. A documentary analysis of the minutes from meetings of a committee of specialists and an analysis of interviews with key informants were carried out. Results: As for institutions, governmental structures, policy networks, the oral health care network implemented at the municipality level were considered fundamental aspects that enabled the development of the strategies. As for ideas, three factors were highlighted: 1) the teaching-service relationship, which was fundamental for the decision to be based on scientific evidence; 2) managers valued scientific evidence, and 3) university was effective in communicating research results. With regard to interests, the decision-making was consolidated from the convergence of interests of public officials, politicians and researchers. Conclusion: The problem and its solutions were addressed at the political agenda by a window of opportunity, and the decision-making process was well-informed. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Color Alteration of Resin Composites by Cigarette Smoke with Various Levels of Tar, Nicotine, and Carbon Monoxide Theobaldo, Jéssica Dias Vieira-Junior, Waldemir Francisco Ferretti, Marcela Alvarez Costa, Lorena Barros Marchi, Giselle Maria Lima, Debora Alves Nunes Leite Aguiar, Flávio Henrique Baggio Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of various types of cigarettes on the color of microhybrid (MH) and nanofilled (NF) resin composites. Material and Methods: Disc-shaped specimens (5 × 2 mm; n = 10) of MH (Filtek Z250, 3M) or NF (Filtek Z350XT, 3M) were exposed or not (control) to cigarette smoke (20 cigarettes daily × 5 days) from four commercial cigarettes with increasing concentrations of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide (MSL < MFP < MBI < MR). The cigarettes had an additional filter (MFP) or added flavoring (MBI). The color parameters (L*, a*, b*, ∆Eab, ∆E00) were determined considering baseline versus after exposure to cigarette smoke. Data were submitted to Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn tests (α=0.05). Results: Significant differences were observed for ∆L* (toward black), ∆a* (toward red), ∆Eab, and ∆E00 of both resin composites compared with the control (p<0.05) regardless of the type of cigarette, with higher values for NF (p<0.05). For the MH, MBI provided higher negative ∆L* variation compared to MSL and MR (p<0.05). For the NF, higher ∆a* values were observed for MR and MSL, with significant differences from MFP and MBI (p<0.05). Regardless of the cigarette, ∆Eab and ∆E00 exceeded the limits of perceptibility and acceptability of color alteration. Conclusion: Color alteration of resin composites was modulated by the cigarette and resin composite type, the NF resin composite being more susceptible to staining. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Incorporation of AgVO3 into Glass Ionomer Cement: Ionic Release Pardi, Mariana Ribeiro, Kaio Luca Gimenes Marques, Manoela Borges e Souza Costa, Carla Regina Silva, Estephane Botan de Brito Schiavon, Marco Antônio Reis, Andréa Cândido dos Lepri, César Penazzo Castro, Denise Tornavoi de Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the surface properties and ion release of a glass ionomer cement (GIC) incorporated with nanostructured silver vanadate (AgVO3). Material and Methods: Specimens were obtained with AgVO3 (1%, 2.5%, and 5%) and without nanomaterial. Charge dispersion was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The release of silver (Ag+) and vanadium (V4+/V5+) was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The release of fluoride was determined using an ion-selective electrode. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Bonferroni post-test (α=0.05). Results: Photomicrographs and EDS suggested the presence of AgVO3. The 2.5% and 5% groups showed a greater release of Ag+ (p<0.05). A greater release of V4+/V5+ was observed with 5% (p<0.05). There was a greater release of V4+/V5+ than Ag+ in the 2.5% (p=0.006) and 5% (p<0.001) groups. All groups showed a greater fluoride release on day 7 and a progressive decrease (p=0.004). On day 7, groups with 1% (p=0.036) and 2.5% (p=0.004) showed greater release than control. Conclusion: All concentration test altered the surface properties of GIC, with greater release of Ag+ and V4+ /V5+ in the group with 5%. In all groups, there was a greater release of fluoride on day 7 with a subsequent decrease. AgVO3 at concentrations of 1% and 2.5% favored fluoride release on day 7. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Demand for Endodontic Treatment and its Impact on Quality of Life Avancini, Bruna Scarlot Maria, Lorrayne Cesario Botacin, Wellen Gobi Santos, Pamela Barbosa dos Miotto, Maria Helena Monteiro de Barros Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the impact on quality of life-related to the need for endodontic treatment and possible association with sociodemographic variables. Material and Methods: It was carried out through the application of a sociodemographic script and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The association between variables was verified using Fisher's exact test and the strength of the association between the independent variables and the impact on quality of life was calculated using the odds ratio (OR). Results: The impact on quality of life was declared by 87.8% of the participants, with physical pain (67.3%) and psychological discomfort (76%) being the most impacted domains. In terms of education level, participants who completed high school or more reported an 88.4% impact on the disability dimension, with around 2.4 times greater chances of suffering impact on this dimension. Individuals living alone reported a greater impact on the psychological disability dimension (54.8%). Participants with limited or no access to dental services, especially through the Unified Health System (NHS), reported a greater impact on the psychological disability dimension (61%). Conclusion: The need for endodontic treatment has a significant impact on quality of life, as stated by 87.8% of the participants, especially in the psychological discomfort (76%) and physical pain (67.3%) domains. These findings were associated with the following sociodemographic variables: gender, race/color, marital status, schooling, socioeconomic status and type of access to oral health services. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Dental Anxiety and Self-Esteem in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Maxillofacial Orthopedics Mendoza, Gema Nataly Barreiro Zambrano, Thainah Bruna Santos Wied, Alexandra Ludwika Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the correlation between dental anxiety and self-esteem in pediatric patients undergoing six months of maxillofacial orthopedic treatment in Portoviejo, Ecuador. Material and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 92 children aged 7 to 11 with malocclusions. Participants completed a dental anxiety scale questionnaire and the House-Tree-Person (HTP) psychological graphic test before and after the installation of maxillofacial orthopedics. Confidence interval analyses were performed for qualitative variables, while mean values with standard deviations were calculated for quantitative variables. The relationship between self-esteem and dental anxiety was assessed using a chi-square test. Results: The mean age of participants was 9 years, with 86.96% residing in urban areas. Sociodemographic variables showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in dental anxiety between the initial and final periods (p<0.05), with a decrease in anxiety observed after six months of treatment. As measured by the House drawing, self-esteem was significantly higher in the first period evaluated (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study found a decrease in anxiety after six months of maxillofacial orthopedic treatment. Higher self-esteem was associated with better oral health practices, highlighting the importance of the orthodontist's role in evaluating behavior to enhance treatment success and the mental health of pediatric patients. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Breakdown in Hypomineralization in Deciduous Teeth: An Association between Anthropometric, Orthodontic and Dental Caries Data Calado, Rafael Vrijdags Mendonça Neto, Paulo Tavares Araujo, Lisa Danielly Curcino Pugliesi, Daniela Maria Carvalho Nascimento, Patrícia Batista Lopes do Romão, Dayse Andrade Santos Júnior, Valdeci Elias dos Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association of dental tissue fracture related to hypomineralization and its association with anthropometric, orthodontic, and dental caries in deciduous teeth. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 313 children aged 6 to 10. Data were collected through clinical examination based on criteria from the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (EAPD) for the diagnosis of hypomineralization. Facial biotype analysis was conducted based on collected data. Orthodontic data were collected in terms of Angle classification and malocclusions. The diagnosis of dental caries was guided by ICDAS II (International Caries Detection and Assessment System) parameters. Statistical analysis involved descriptive analysis, Fisher's exact test, and the chi-squared test. Results: 23.3% of children had hypomineralization in deciduous, and 20.4% had post-eruptive breakdown preceded by hypomineralization (PEBH). The analyses indicated that weight, height, facial biotype, and malocclusions are not significantly associated with PEBH. Dental caries was associated with the presence of hypomineralization (p<0.001) and breakdown in deciduous teeth (p<0.001). Conclusion: An association between dental caries, hypomineralization, and PEBH was found for deciduous teeth. Orthodontic and anthropometric parameters were not associated with post-er uptive breakdown preceded by hypomineralization. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Impact of Artifacts Caused by Intraoral Dental Materials in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Josephraj, Divya Vineetha, Ravindranath Sankaran, Priya Pattath Koteshwara, Prakashini Kumar, Mathangi Pentapati, Kalyana Chakravarthy Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of artifacts produced by various intraoral dental materials in magnetic resonance imaging sequences and assess their impact on the diagnostic quality of the resultant images. Material and Methods: A clinical examination was conducted on forty-six patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging for various brain pathologies. Parameters were recorded, including the location, span, and type of intraoral dental material. The impact of these artifacts on the diagnostic quality of the resultant image sequences was assessed. The reliability of the intraand interobserver was calculated, and Fischer's exact test was applied. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The most common signal intensity artifact observed was hypointense with hyperintense rim artifacts in FLAIR (95.5%). The most common shape of the artifacts observed was circular/void shape (84.4%). There was a statistically significant difference between the various classes of intraoral dental materials and diagnostic acceptability (p=0.017). In the present study, 28% of the study population images were graded diagnostically unacceptable in the sequences evaluated (FLAIR 37.8%, T2 3.3%, SWI 24.4%, DWI 25%). Conclusion: Dental material artifacts interfered with the interpretation of magnetic resonance imaging at varying levels of diagnostic acceptability depending on the indication for which the imaging was performed. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE The Use of Machine Learning to Support the Diagnosis of Oral Alterations Prado, Rosana Leal do Marsicano, Juliane Avansini Frois, Amanda Keren Brancher, Jacques Duílio Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the accuracy of deep learning models in detecting cellular alterations in histological images of oral mucosa. Material and Methods: The study compares three convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures for classifying histological images: EfficientNet-B3, MobileNet-V2, and VGG16. Efficient and focused on computer vision, each has specific advantages. A Kaggle database with 5192 images was used, divided into training (70%), validation (15%), and test (15%) sets. The CNNs were implemented using the Keras library, trained with pre-trained ImageNet weights, and evaluated using accuracy and AUC metrics. Results: The findings indicate that EfficientNet-B3 achieved the lowest training and validation losses at epoch 30, with the highest accuracy and stability during training. Evaluation metrics showed EfficientNet-B3 with 98% accuracy and 99% sensitivity for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) images, outperforming MobileNet-V2 and VGG16. MobileNet-V2 achieved 97% accuracy and 96% sensitivity, while VGG16 reached 94% accuracy and 93% sensitivity for OSCC images. All models exhibited high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating between normal and OSCC images, as demonstrated by ROC curves. EfficientNet-B3 had the highest AUC (0.982), followed by MobileNet-V2 (AUC=0.967) and VGG16 (AUC=0.937). These findings underscore the effectiveness of EfficientNet-B3 for accurately detecting cellular alterations in histological images of oral mucosa. Conclusion: Our study reveals the superior performance of CNNs, particularly EfficientNet-B3, in classifying histological images of OSCC. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Analysis of the Internal Morphology of Root Canals in Teeth with Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization Using Cone Beam Tomography Reis, Maria Gabriella Correia Pontes Leite, Ragner Bello Leite, Pedro Henrique de Alencar e Silva Costa, Vânio Santos Marcelos, Priscylla Gonçalves Correia Leite de Pugliesi, Daniela Maria Carvalho Romão, Dayse Andrade Nascimento, Patricia Batista Lopes do Santos Júnior, Valdeci Elias dos Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the internal morphology of root canals in hypomineralized molars and compare them with healthy teeth and different lesion discolorations using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and Methods: CBCT scans of Nineteen teeth were collected: five hypomineralized teeth with a creamy-white color (maxilla=2; mandible=3); eight hypomineralized teeth with a brownish-yellow color (maxilla=3; mandible=5); six healthy teeth (maxilla=4; mandible=2). Parameters such as the number of canals, foramina, accessory canals, relevant distances, and linear measurements were evaluated. The Kruskal-Wallis test and descriptive analysis were performed to assess differences between the groups, with a 5% margin of error. Results: The number of major foramina was higher in hypomineralized teeth with yellow-brown discoloration in the lower arch (p=0.029) compared to the other groups. Hypomineralized teeth exhibited smaller linear measurements when compared to healthy teeth. Conclusion: Hypomineralized teeth tended to have more complex root canal systems when compared to healthy teeth. Further research should be conducted to evaluate these parameters in larger samples. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Baseline Maternal and Newborn Variables in a Birth Cohort Study in Southern Brazil Kramer, Paulo Floriani Coelho, Elisa Maria Rosa de Barros Amorim, Lívia Mund de Santos, Gabriela Fernandes Kern dos Rodrigues, Priscila Humbert Feldens, Carlos Alberto Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: Describe baseline maternal and newborn variables in a birth cohort study. Material and Methods: A birth cohort study was conducted in Canoas, Brazil. Sociodemographic, behavioral, anthropometric, and clinical baseline variables from mothers and newborns were collected cross-sectionally at the University Hospital's maternity. Maternal data included age, level of education, family structure, smoking, number of prenatal appointments, type of delivery, gestational age, and any comorbidity. Child data included sex, birth weight, length, head circumference, and breastfeeding in the first hour of life. Data were described as absolute and relative frequency, central tendency, and dispersion measures. Results: The baseline sample comprised 1181 mother-child pairs. Average maternal education (SD) was 9.7 (2.3) years, with 28.3% of mothers not reaching secondary education while 12% were adolescents; number of prenatal appointments was at least 6 in 85.3%, while 58.8% of mothers had comorbidities. Cesarean delivery represented 43.2% of births, with 27.7% of pregnancies not reaching 37 weeks. The prevalence of low birth weight was 6.3%, and 77.1% of children breastfed in the first hour of life. Conclusion: Baseline data present indicators that should be the subject of public policies and health services programs, with emphasis on a reasonable proportion of mothers with low levels of education and smokers and a high proportion of maternal comorbidities and cesarean deliveries. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Inclusion of Pediatric Dentistry in the Curricular Structure of Dental Courses in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Coelho, Elisa Maria Rosa de Barros Heck, Amanda Baptista da Silva Santos, Gabriela Fernandes Kern dos Ferreira, Simone Helena Weber, João Batista Blessmann Kramer, Paulo Floriani Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the inclusion of pediatric dentistry in the curricular matrix of dental courses in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Material and Methods: A descriptive exploratory study was conducted. Searches were conducted from the e-MEC systems in December of 2023. The variables of interest were the categorization of the course (public or private), total course load, structuring of the teaching of pediatric dentistry (curricular, elective/optative or extension), course load of pediatric dentistry, number of semesters and nomenclature. Results: There are 28 dental courses in the state (three public and 25 private). Total course load ranged from 4,000 to 4,700 hours and 80% of the courses had ten semesters. Pediatric dentistry is curricular and normally available between the seventh and ninth semesters, with a total hourly load between 120 and 420 hours, generally in two consecutive semesters. Conclusion: The state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, underwent an exponential expansion of dental courses, especially in the form of private schools. The courses follow the national curricular guidelines (NCGs), and pediatric dentistry is a curricular discipline normally offered in the last semesters of the course. Considerable divergence, however, was found in the course load for pediatric dentistry. There is an evident need for the definition of theoretical content and minimum clinical training to enable students to develop skills for treating children. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Shaping Ability of the Root Canal System Using Reciproc and Reciproc Blue in Preparation of Artificial Canals Majdi, Hawazin Merdad, Khalid Abuhaimed, Tariq Mirdad, Lujain Alkhattab, Omar Bakhsh, Abdulaziz Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of repeated usage of Reciproc and Reciproc Blue on their shaping ability and to determine the maximum number of artificial canals that they can prepare until fracture. Material and Methods: The two file systems, Reciproc and Reciproc Blue, were used to instrument a total of 436 resin blocks. The blocks simulated standardized root canals with a 35° angle of curvature. The rotary systems were divided into two groups (n=21). All canals were prepared to an apical size of 25 according to the manufacturer's instructions. A computer imaging program was then used to analyze canal straightening after preand post-instrumentation digital photography was superimposed. Results: Both Reciproc and Reciproc Blue instruments respected the original canal curvature. There were no significant differences between the instruments in terms of maintaining canal curvatures. Moreover, there were no significant differences in preparation time and the number of canals prepared before failure between the two instruments. Conclusion: Reciproc and Reciproc Blue were safe to use under the conditions of this study. Reciprocal motion files with or without heat treatment had comparable preparation time, shaping abilities, and the ability to maintain root canal curvatures. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Effects of an Educational Comic Book on Knowledge Related to the Safe Use of Fluoride Toothpaste in Children Perez, Henrique Cesar de Souza Souza, Luciane Zanin de Flório, Flávia Martão Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of an educational comic book on indirectly supervised tooth brushing practices in early childhood education. Material and Methods: This is a quantitative action research aimed at evaluating the effect of a comic book on the necessary knowledge for indirectly supervised tooth brushing practices in early childhood education. Thirty-eight teachers from three daycare centers in the city of Porto Real, Brazil, participated in the year 2021, being carried out in three stages: 1: teachers answered a questionnaire for the identification of their sociodemographic and professional profile, in addition to prior knowledge about oral health. They also sent a photo of the toothbrush after applying the amount of toothpaste they used during the indirect supervised tooth brushing at the daycare center; 2: reception and 30 days to read the comic book; 3: answer to a new instrument on knowledge about oral health. Sending a new photo of the toothbrush with the toothpaste. Results: The amount of paste applied to toothbrushes decreased after reading the comic book from 58.1% to 27.8% of tufts, on average (p<0.05). Reading the comic allowed an increase in the frequency of respondents who acquired knowledge about the term “dental fluorosis” (p<0.05). Conclusion: Reading the comic book allowed a change in the knowledge required for the practice of indirect supervised tooth brushing. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Early Childhood Caries and Associated Risk Factors among Preschool Children in Southeast Iran Kamyabi, Homa Kalantari, Parisa Horri, Azadeh Abbasi, Fereshteh Kalantari, Mahsa Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of ECC and evaluate its association with possible risk factors in a group of preschool children in Kerman, Iran. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kerman on healthy preschool children (up to 6 years old) in June and October 2021. The children were randomly selected from kindergartens using a clustered sampling method, and their height, weight, dental caries, and occlusion were evaluated. Parents completed a questionnaire assessing feeding habits (breast/bottle feeding) and oral habits during the first two years of life. Data were analyzed by logistic regression and chi-squared test using SPSS 27 (p<0.05). Results: Of 530 examined children, 300 (56.6%) had ECC. Feeding habits (breast/bottle feeding) during the first two years of life, nail-biting, and age had a significant relationship with ECC (p<0.05). Although ECC in underweight and obese children was more prevalent than in children with normal weight, the relationship between ECC and body mass index (BMI) was not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of ECC in preschool children was high. ECC's most important risk factors were age, nutritional habits, nail-biting, and underweight or obese children. Therefore, attention to feeding habits and correction of oral habits can reduce ECC. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Silver Diamine Fluoride Use among Dental Students and Pediatric Dentists: An Observational Study Gaiotto, Juliana da Silveira Melo, Letícia Santos Alves de Tanaka, Marcia Hiromi Cordeiro, Rita de Cássia Loiola Tagliaferro, Elaine Pereira da Silva Zuanon, Angela Cristina Cilense Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) among undergraduate dental students and graduate students/specialists in pediatric dentistry in Brazil. Material and Methods: The data were collected with online questionnaires sent to the participants (n=404) by e-mail and were analyzed by logistic regression models (α=0.05). Results: A total of 26.2% were unfamiliar with SDF. The product effectiveness (84.8%) was the main reason reported by respondents who used SDF in pediatric dental care. Professionals who had graduated for 1-15 years (OR=4.83), those with more than 15 years since graduation (OR=21.58), postgraduate students, graduates and professors (OR=10.01), or professionals who work in a dental office (OR=7.73) were more likely to have used the SDF. Most participants (67.8%) reported that they would use SDF even considering the unfavorable aesthetic result, especially those who would consider its use in a pandemic situation (OR=26.90), who know the SDF (OR=3.39), professionals who had graduated for 1-15 years (OR=2.40) or those with more than 15 years of graduation (OR=2.93). Conclusion: Most participants who know and use SDF are professionals who have graduated for longer and have more contact with the academic environment. Its use has become more considered by participants within a pandemic context. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Erosive Effect of Long-Term Liquid Oral Pediatric Medicines on Permanent Tooth Enamel Santos, Fábio Gomes dos Pereira, Ana Maria Barros Chaves Farias, Isabela Albuquerque Passos Passos, Tibério Andrade dos Oliveira, Andressa Feitosa Bezerra de Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate in vitro the erosive effect of long-term liquid oral pediatric medicines on human enamel teeth and the preventive action of fluoride in an erosive challenge. Material and Methods: Three commonly used medicines were selected for this study, and their endogenous pH was measured in triplicate. Thirty permanent tooth enamel specimens were prepared and divided into six groups (n=5): E1 (Zetalerg), E2 (Betamethasone), E3 (Anemifer), E4 (Anemifer+Duraphat), E5 (Coke), and E6 (artificial saliva). Specimens were immersed in 5 ml of medicine solution for 5 min, 2x/ day for 12 days, and stored in artificial saliva at 37°C between immersions. Data analysis was performed according to the enamel surface morphology using SEM. Results: The medicines showed an acidic pH range from 2.09 to 4.14. All the specimens exposed to pediatric medicines presented some pit-like erosion pattern under SEM analysis, except for the E4 group. The degree of destruction was inversely proportional to pH formulation values. Morphology alterations could be ranked as follows: E3>E2>E1=E5. The E4 group, protected with varnish fluoride, did not present signs of surface erosion wear like E6. Conclusion: All the pediatric medicines used promoted some enamel tooth wear, with higher severity with low pH medicines. The presence of fluoride reduced the deleterious effect of pediatric medicines on human tooth enamel. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Radiographic Evaluation of the Lower First Permanent Molars of Children from Southeastern Brazil Paula, Luciana Arruda Mendes de Verner, Francielle Silvestre Visconti, Maria Augusta Junqueira, Rafael Binato Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the health condition of the lower first permanent molars of children aged 6 to 12 years from the Southeast states in Brazil (Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo). Material and Methods: 1300 digital panoramic radiographs (2600 lower first permanent molars) from a database were analyzed by a calibrated examiner for the presence of carious lesions in dentin, pulp involvement, presence of restorative and/or filling material, and periapical lesion. Results: Data were analyzed using the R software (p<0.05; 95% IC). The right and left sides were compared using the McNemar's test. 51.1% of the sample were male, and 48.9% were female (mean of 9.2 years; SD = 1.9). 6.4% of the teeth had carious lesions, 7.3% had restorative material, and 0.3% were absent. The mixed linear regression model showed that age advance was proportional to the increase in the number of missing teeth (p=0.012), decayed, restored, and periapical lesions (p<0.001). There was a higher incidence of restored teeth in females (8.5%) than in 6.1% of males (p=0.019). Conclusion: There was a low incidence of dentin dental caries lesions and a low rate of loss of the permanent lower molar in children from Southeastern Brazil. As the individual ages, alterations in the lower first molars increase. There was no association with sex, except for the presence of restorations. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Syphilis and Urogenital Diseases during Pregnancy and Developmental Defects of Enamel: A Brazilian Prenatal Cohort (BRISA) Costa, Elisa Miranda Pinho, Judith Rafaelle Oliveira Saraiva, Maria da Conceição Pereira Ribeiro, Cecília Cláudia Costa Alves, Claudia Maria Coêlho Thomaz, Erika Barbara Abreu Fonseca Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of syphilis and urogenital diseases (SUD) during pregnancy on developmental defects of enamel (DDE) using causal inference models. Material and Methods: This study is a prospective cohort - the Brazilian Ribeirão Preto and São Luís Cohort Study (BRISA) - including 865 mother-child dyads, evaluated in three moments: prenatal care (22nd and 25th weeks of gestational age); baby birth; and between 12.3-36 months of age. The outcome was assessed according to the modified DDE index. The exposition, SUD, comprised at least one of the following infections: bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infection, and syphilis. The covariables included in the theoretical model were socioeconomic situation (SES), low birth weight, mother’s age, number of prenatal care visits (PCV), hypertension, diabetes, medication use during pregnancy, and child’s age. Based on the proposed directed acyclic graph (DAG), SES and the number of PCV were the minimal set of covariables for the adjusted model. The effects were estimated by causal inference using a marginal structural model (Average Treatment Effect - ATE coefficients). Results: SUD did not interfere in the incidence of DDE (ATE: -0.92; CI95%: -0.23-0.49; p=0.202). Conclusion: SUD during pregnancy does not have a causal effect on DDE on primary dentition. Another possibility is that other infections not included in the model may have confounded the association, biasing toward the null hypothesis. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Comparison of Novel Bioactive Materials in Indirect Pulp Therapy in Deciduous Teeth: An in Vivo Study Acharya, Sonu Gurunathan, Deepa Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the clinical success of Biodentine, NeoPutty, and calcium hydroxide as pulp capping materials for indirect pulp capping in carious primary teeth. Material and Methods: Indirect pulp treatment was performed on 36 deciduous molars in patients with deep carious lesions. The teeth were randomly assigned to three groups (n=12): Biodentine, NeoPutty, and calcium hydroxide. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 21.0. Pearson's Chi-square test was employed to compare success and failure rates of the materials at three different time intervals (30, 90, and 180 days) and overall success and failure rates regardless of the time intervals. Results: Different pulp capping materials yielded varying success rates. The NeoPutty demonstrated a success rate of 91.67%, the Biodentine 83.33%, and the calcium hydroxide 58.33% after 6 months. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Indirect pulp treatment with calcium silicate-based materials, such as Biodentine and NeoPutty, showed superior results compared to calcium hydroxide. Although differences in success rates were observed among the materials, they did not reach statistical significance. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Nanocomposite: Subcutaneous Connective Tissue Response and Polymerization Shrinkage Resistance Garcia-Júnior, Edélcio Lopes, Beatriz Kelly Barros Carvalho, Fabricio Kitazono de Silva, Raquel Assed Bezerra da Souza, Fernanda de Carvalho Panzeri Pires de Consolaro, Alberto Silva, Lea Assed Bezerra da Nelson-Filho, Paulo Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the in vitro polymerization shrinkage resistance and in vivo tissue response of the resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) Ketac N100 after implantation in the subcutaneous connective tissue of isogenic mice. Material and Methods: A total of 90 isogenic BALB/c mice were randomly distributed into nine groups, with each group receiving an implant of one of the following materials: ChemFil, Ketac N100, Compoglass, and Filtek Z350, as well as empty tubes serving as controls. The in vitro polymerization shrinkage was evaluated using Ultralux with an irradiance of 480mW/cm2, while in vivo tissue response was assessed through histological examination of tissue samples at 7, 21, and 63 days post-implantation. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with an F-test, adopting a significance level of 5% and using Tukey's test for multiple comparisons. Results: Compoglass and Filtek Z350 exhibited similar levels of polymerization shrinkage, with no significant differences between them. Ketac N100 demonstrated polymerization shrinkage stress comparable to Filtek Z350 resin, indicating its performance is closer to composite resin than conventional glass ionomer. The histological analysis of the in vivo tissue response revealed that Ketac N100 had a favorable biocompatibility profile, similar to ChemFil and Filtek Z350, with no significant adverse tissue reactions. Conclusion: Ketac N100 exhibited a favorable tissue response and intermediate polymerization shrinkage, closer to composite resins than conventional glass ionomers. Both in vitro and in vivo analyses demonstrated the material's potential for clinical use. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Color Stability, Surface Roughness, and Microhardness of Resin-Based Composites After Immersion in Beverages Commonly Consumed by Children or Accelerated Artificial Aging Daltoé, Mariana Oliveira Soares, Eduardo José Vivanco, Rocio Geng Segato, Raquel Assed Bezerra Gatón-Hernández, Patrícia Nelson-Filho, Paulo Pires-de-Souza, Fernanda de Carvalho Panzeri Silva, Léa Assed Bezerra da Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the color stability, surface roughness, and microhardness of resin-based composites (RBCs) after accelerated artificial aging (AAA) or immersion in beverages consumed by children. Material and Methods: Seventy specimens were prepared from each RBC (Z350-Z350, SS-Spectra Smart, AF-Admira Fusion, and EA-Estelite Asteria). Initial color, ∆E00, surface roughness, ∆Ra, and microhardness, ∆KHN readings were done. Specimens were separated into five groups (n=14): AAA (300 hours) and immersion (30 minutes daily/30 days) in Coca-Cola (CC), Grape juice (GJ), Chocolate milk (CM), or distilled water (DW). After the final readings, color and microhardness data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, Tukey, and surface roughness by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's test. Results: SS exhibited the most significant color change in AAA, which differed from CC and GJ; the minor change occurred after CM and DW, which were distinct from each other. AF did not show a difference between the treatments. All RBCs exhibited a decrease in microhardness, except for SS, after AAA and EA in CC and DW. There was no difference in the surface roughness after treatments, except for AAA, which presented a minor change for Z350 and AF, differing from the other treatments. Conclusion: The beverages didn’t alter the surface roughness but decreased the microhardness of the RBCs, except for CC, which increased the microhardness of EA. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Parents/Guardians’ Gender Preferences, Confidence, and Empathy for their Children’s Dentist Carvalho, Gabrielle Prado, Ivana Meyer Moura, Larissa Kelen Cardoso-Santos, Yanna Freitas, Talyta Couto Nogueira, Raquel Fabiane Carnevalli, Iga Serra-Negra, Junia Maria Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the factors that influence parents’/guardians’ gender preference, confidence level, and empathy level in the dentist treating their child, as well as the factors associated with parents’/guardians’ preference for the dentist's gender identification. Material and Methods: A total of 104 parents/guardians of patients from the pediatric dental clinic of a Brazilian University participated in this cross-sectional study. Data collection occurred in the clinical waiting room by applying a questionnaire about sociodemographic information, characteristics of the dentist that most caught parents’/guardians’ attention, whether the child’s dentist’s gender identification matters to parents’/guardians’, and analog scales designed by the research team gauging preferences in dentist's gender, confidence level and empathy level in their child’s dentist. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p<0.05). Results: Most participants were female (74%) and mothers of patients (63.5%). The proportion of parents/guardians lacking confidence about their child's dentist was higher among those who considered the dentist’s gender identification significant (p=0.045). The empathy scores of parents/guardians toward their child's dentist were higher among female parents/guardians (p=0.012). Parents/guardians who reported caring about the dentist’s gender identification had lower preference scores for an LGBTQ+ dentist (p=0.018). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the preference for female or male dentists. A low preference for LGBTQ+ dentists was observed among parents/guardians, demonstrating homophobic behavior. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Prevalence of Dental Anomalies in Deciduous and Permanent Dentition of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients Olsson, Bernardo Fernandes, Letícia Fontanella Pereira, Halina Grossmann Silva, Beatriz Jervásio Cardoso, Nicoly Ghilardi Cruz, Giuseppe Valduga Mendes, Caroline de Souza Scariot, Rafaela Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the association between oral cleft (OC) phenotypes and dental abnormalities (DA) in both permanent and deciduous dentition of patients with Cleft Lip and/or Palate (CL/P). Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included CL/P patients older than 4 years of age who had orthopantomograms good enough for DA evaluation. The DA evaluated were tooth agenesis, giroversion, root dilaceration, conoidism, fusion, ectopic tooth, concrescence, tooth twinning, and dental transposition. Sample size calculation was performed. The prevalence of DA in deciduous and permanent dentition was reported, both for maxillary and mandibular teeth. Results: A total of 159 patients were included in this study. There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of women and men with cleft palate, being cleft palate more prevalent in women (p=0.005). Regarding sexual dimorphism, no statistically significant difference was found between OC phenotypes (p>0.05). Concerning the prevalence of DA in the cleft region, it was observed that DA are more prevalent in permanent dentition (60%) than in deciduous dentition (24%). Conclusion: Oral cleft phenotypes are associated with sex, but dental abnormalities are not, both in permanent and deciduous dentition. The prevalence of dental abnormalities is higher in the cleft region, but mandibular teeth may also be affected. Dental abnormalities in the oral cleft region shows to be more prevalent in permanent dentition than in deciduous dentition. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Knowledge and Perception of Brazilian Dental Students about Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization Martins, Thalys Gustavo Oliveira Carvalho, Naiara Oliveira Rocha, Cristiane Tomaz Neves, Beatriz Gonçalves Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and perception of Brazilian dental students regarding molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with dental students from a dental school in the Northeast region. A self-administered questionnaire was applied, containing questions about MIH, including etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Clinical photographs assessed students’ ability to differentiate MIH from other enamel defects. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used for associations, and the Kruskal-Wallis test for comparisons, considering the academic year as the independent variable. Results: 67 students participated, primarily enrolled in the third and fifth years. The majority (68.7%) reported familiarity with MIH, and 82.1% recognized it as a qualitative defect. MIH awareness was significantly associated with fifth-year students (p=0.01). Genetic factors were considered as an etiological factor by 80.6%. None of the students felt "very confident" in diagnosing MIH. No difference was observed in confidence levels across academic years. Enamel hypoplasia (64.2%) was cited as the most challenging differentiating condition from MIH. Students demonstrated uncertainty in diagnosing severe MIH (20.9%), whereas fluorosis was the defect most easily recognized (71.6%). Conclusion: Dental students demonstrate knowledge of MIH and recognize some clinical characteristics but lack confidence in diagnosing it. This highlights the need for enhanced dissemination and teaching of MIH in undergraduate dental education. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Evaluation of Dentists' Knowledge in a Brazilian city about Managing Dental Injuries in Children According to IADT Guidelines: A Cross-Sectional Study Matos, Felipe de Souza Marinho, Maria Cecília Pereira Lins-Candeiro, Caio Luiz Ribeiro, João Marcos da Costa Vieira, Walbert de Andrade Paranhos, Luiz Renato Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the knowledge level of dentists in Mossoró, RN, Brazil, regarding dental trauma management based on the current guidelines of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT). Material and Methods: Dentists working in Mossoró and regularly registered with the Regional Dentistry Council of Rio Grande do Norte responded to a printed or digital questionnaire investigating sociodemographic and professional profiles with 12 questions about dental trauma management. Jamovi 2.3.28.0 software assisted the statistical comparisons between subcategories relating to the participants' sociodemographic and professional profiles, with a 5% significance level. Results: 69 dentists participated in the study. The mean percentage of correct answers was 50.24%, including all inquiries. The lowest rates of correct answers regarded tooth intrusion and avulsion (14.5% and 31.88%, respectively). The overall median score for the proper management of dental trauma was 6.0 points, considering a maximum possible score of 12, categorizing the participants' overall knowledge as acceptable. Sex, clinical experience, postgraduate degree, primary activity sector, the number of previously treated cases, and self-reported knowledge of dental trauma did not significantly affect dentists' knowledge level. Conclusion: The knowledge level of dentists in Mossoró regarding dental trauma management is acceptable based on current IADT guidelines. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Evaluation of Staining Reduction of Teeth Endodontically Treated with CTZ Paste through the Use of Polytetrafluoroethylene Isolation Tape Barbosa, Lucas de Lima Oliveira Silva, Jaine Viviane Cosme-Silva, Leopoldo Pugliesi, Daniela Maria Carvalho Nascimento, Patrícia Batista Lopes do Romão, Dayse Andrade Marcelos, Priscylla Gonçalves Correia Leite de Oliveira, Daniel Pinto de Santos Junior, Valdeci Elias dos Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the level of staining in teeth endodontically treated with CTZ paste with/without the use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) insulating tape and to identify the restorative material which is the most stable to pigmentation under different rhizolysis conditions. Material and Methods: 50 human deciduous incisors were selected. The teeth received CTZ filling and were divided according to whether or not PTFE was used, as well as by the length of the remaining root (1/3 or 2/3 of the root) and by the restorative material (Modified Resin Glass Ionomer Cement or Opus Bulk Resin Fill Flow). Coloration was assessed once a week for six weeks through follow-up photographs. Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's Exact tests were used for intergroup and intragroup comparisons after six follow-up examinations (p < 0.05). Results: After six weeks of evaluation, it was possible to notice that 100% of the teeth without PTFE had their crowns stained by CTZ. Only 33.33% with PTFE showed staining (p<0.01). There was no statistical difference regarding the type of filling material (p=0.695) or the residual length of the roots (p=1.00). Conclusion: Using PTFE is an effective resource in preventing coronal staining in primary teeth endodontically treated with CTZ paste, regardless of the restorative material used to close the endodontic access or even the length of the root remnant. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Effect of Robusta Coffee Bean Extract as Immunoregulator on Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Paracrine Pathway Sari, Desi Sandra Martin, Millenieo Fadiyah, Syafika Nuring Ningsih, Indah Yulia Ermawati, Tantin Meilawaty, Zahara Rachmawati, Dessy Maduratna, Ernie Rantam, Fedik Abdul Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the effect of Robusta Coffee Bean Extract (RCBE) on Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cells (DPSCs) culture in secreting cytokines, growth factors, and cell differentiation. Material and Methods: DPSCs culture from premolar human teeth only and DPSCs culture from premolar human teeth given RCBE with concentrations of 0.0625%, 0.125%, 0.25%, and 0.5% for 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. The secretome of the DPSCs culture was examined for TNF-α, IFN-γ, IGF, and VEGF, examination of SOX2 and Oct4, and Wnt differentiation markers by ELISA. Statistical analysis used ANOVA and continued with LSD. Results: There was a significant reduction in the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ at 0.25% RCBE concentration at 72 hours of immersion (p<0.05). Growth factor levels of IGF and VEGF increased when given 0.25% RCBE compared to the other groups, and the differentiation markers SOX2 and Oct4 and Wnt also increased at a concentration of 0.25% at 72 hours of immersion (p<0.05). Conclusion: Giving RCBE with a concentration of 0.25% can reduce inflammatory cytokines and increase growth factors and differentiation markers in DPSCs cultures. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Perception of Family Health Strategy Workers on Oral Health Care Provided to Women and Children in the First 1,000 Days Sousa, Francenilde Silva de Thomaz, Erika Barbara Abreu Fonseca Cutrim, Jullyanna Dias Prado, Isabelle Aguiar Nunes, Ana Margarida Melo Lamy, Zeni Carvalho Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the perceptions of professionals from Primary Health Care Units (PHCU) concerning oral health care (OHC) provided during the first 1,000 days of life. Material and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted from August 2019 to July 2020. Collective interviews (focal groups) were conducted on health rights in the first 1,000 days in nine PHCUs in two contrasting municipalities in Maranhão. Seven collective interviews were conducted with 57 professionals from all PHCUs in municipality A and a health district in B. Content analysis was used in the thematic modality to perform data analysis. Results: Nine professionals spoke about oral health in the first 1,000 days. The statements were organized into two categories. In one of the categories, professionals mentioned barriers to accessing dental care due to myths about the possibility of treatment, which were not restricted to the users' knowledge but to that of the health professionals themselves. In the second category, the participants mentioned health education problems in which professionals are not heard and/or not understood by the community. Conclusion: There is a flaw in the training/continuing education of professionals concerning oral health in the first 1,000 days of life, especially regarding dental care during pregnancy. The participants still cannot help the population recognize dental care as a health right. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Ketorolac and Dexamethasone Injection Comparison on Postoperative-Pain in Impacted Mandibular Third Molars Surgery in Pterygomandibular Space: A Randomized Clinical Trial Farokh-Gisour, Elham Hajmohamadi, Saeed Shokrizadeh, Mahboobeh Shahrbabaki, Sina Yousefnia Kamyabi, Homa Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the effects of ketorolac and dexamethasone on postoperative pain in patients who underwent impacted mandibular third molars surgery. Material and Methods: A double-anonymized clinical trial study involving 60 patients with impacted third molars. The samples were randomly divided into two groups by block randomization method: DG: Dexamethasone (8 mg) and KG: Ketorolac (30 mg). The severity of pain was assessed using the visual analog scale and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale immediately and during the first to seventh days after the surgery. Results: Among the participants, 65% were female, and the mean age was 40.8 years. The study groups did not show a significant difference in the frequency of the two sexes or mean age (p=0.529 and p=0.214). The average pain scores were significantly greater in the DG compared to the KG during the first week (p<0.001). Conclusion: Injection of dexamethasone into the pterygomandibular space can help to decrease the postoperative pain following lower third molar surgery. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE A Comprehensive Survey of Natural Smile Perception Mannaa, Alaa Ibrahim Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To comprehensively analyze smile perception by examining various smile parameters and identifying potential group differences. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing a photographic-based electronic survey. Participants' demographic data were collected, and their perception of smile photos, altered across 12 parameters, was assessed using a Likert scale. The study included laypersons, dental students at different academic levels, and dental professionals. Statistical analyses were performed to analyze ratings and determine group differences. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: A total of 435 participants completed the survey. Neither ordinal regression nor linear regression yielded any significant associations between individual photos and perception across groups (p>0.05). However, chi-square analysis revealed six events with statistically significant differences among groups, with laypersons exhibiting significant differences in four of them (p=0.009, p=0.012, and p=0.017). Conclusion: The limited statistically significant differences in perception between the study groups could be a consequence of the naturally-looking photo edits that may have posed challenges in recognizing subtle alterations and eye fatigue from viewing numerous duplicate photos. Future research should address such limitations to enhance our understanding of smile perception across diverse groups. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Prevalence of Craniofacial Anomalies - 14 Years of Experience in a Brazilian Referral Service Reis, Kélisson Duarte Marques, Cintia Eliza Oliveira, Fabrício Emanuel Soares de Trezena, Samuel Martelli, Daniella Reis Barbosa Souza, Danyele Cambraia Franco de Martelli Júnior, Hercílio Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To delineate the frequency of congenital craniofacial anomalies (CCAs) in a Brazilian reference center. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective epidemiological study was conducted, updating information from the reference center. Data were extracted from the medical records of patients assisted between January 2009 and December 2022 at the Craniofacial Anomalies Rehabilitation Center (Centro Pró-Sorriso) in Alfenas, Brazil. Previous studies were used as a reference for the classification of CCAs. Data were analyzed using statistical software for absolute and relative frequency descriptive analysis. A 95% confidence interval was adopted. Study approved by ethics and research committee. Results: 817 records were analyzed, comprising 53.5% males and 46.5% females. Identified 954 congenital anomalies (CAs); of these, 86.9% of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P), 16.0% of CAs without CL/P, and 2.8% of syndromes or sequences recognized in the absence of CL/P. The CAS most commonly associated with any CL/P were cardiovascular system anomalies (23%), and the most common CL/P was cleft palate (48.7%). Conclusion: Among the CAs, CL/P was the most prevalent, exhibiting a higher ratio in males. Following CL/P, ear anomalies were the most commonly observed; however, when associated with the presence of any CL/P, cardiovascular system anomalies were more numerous. Regarding the presence of syndromes and/or sequences, Goldenhar Syndrome was more prevalent in cases without an association with clefts. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE COVID-19 Pandemic Onset and its Impact on a Pediatric Dental Outpatient Clinic: A University-Based Study Moura, Ana Paula Gomes e Lima, Ricardo Barbosa Robles, Helena Fujisaka Aguiar, Débora Amorim Alves de Lucisano, Marília Pacífico Nelson-Filho, Paulo Silva, Léa Assed Bezerra da Segato, Raquel Assed Bezerra Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental care provided at a university-based pediatric dental outpatient clinic. Material and Methods: This was an observational. The monthly numbers of dental procedures were obtained from clinical records. For comparison purposes, three intervals were set: pre-pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020), first year (March 2020 to February 2021), and second year (March 2021 to February 2022) after the COVID-19 pandemic onset (n = 12 in each). The significance level was set at 5%. Results: 1,813 patients were treated, and 6,457 dental procedures were performed. There was no productivity between April 2020 and February 2021. When comparing the pre-pandemic interval and the second year, it was observed that there was a lower monthly number of dental procedures, estimated at -71% (95%CI = -43%, -85%). This reduction was observed in preventive, restorative, endodontic, surgical, and orthodontic/orthopedic dental procedures. However, there was a reduction in the ratio between restorative and surgical (-41%, 95%CI = -4%, -65%) and preventive and surgical (-43%, 95%CI = -4%, -66%), as well as an increase in the ratio between surgical and endodontic (130%, 95%CI = 38%, 291%) dental procedures. Conclusion: The performance of dental procedures at this oral health service was significantly reduced after the COVID-19 pandemic onset. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Factors Associated with Complex Treatments for Injured Deciduous Teeth: A Retrospective Study Bernardes, Iara Cecília Moraes, Fernanda Carneiro de Silva, Anna Vitória Mendes Viana Zarzar, Patrícia Maria Pereira de Araújo Vieira-Andrade, Raquel Gonçalves Ferreira, Fernanda Morais Fernandes, Izabella Barbosa Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the occurrence and factors associated with complex treatments (endodontic treatment or extraction) for injured deciduous teeth. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out with the dental records of 505 children aged one to seven years old with traumatic dental injuries treated at the Clinic for Traumatic Dental Injuries in Primary Dentition at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Sociodemographic characteristics, information about the dental injury, and the types of treatment performed were collected from the patient's records. Descriptive and Poisson regression analyses were performed (p<0.05; 95% CI). Results: Complex treatments were performed in 31.7% of children with traumatic dental injuries to primary teeth. Of these children, 4.8% underwent pulpectomy, and 26.9% underwent extraction. Factors associated with the occurrence of complex treatments were the child's age ≥3 years at the time of the injury (RR=1.61; 95% CI: 1.24-2.09; p=0.001), family income less than twice the minimum monthly salary (RR= 1.29; 95% CI: 1.01-1.66; p= 0.041), coronary fractures with pulp involvement (RR=2.82; 95% CI: 1.98-4.02; p<0.001) and not seeking immediate care (RR= 1.29; 95% CI: 1.01-1.65; p=0.048). Conclusion: The occurrence of complex treatment after traumatic dental injuries in the primary dentition was approximately 30% and was associated with the child's older age, lower family income, type of injury, and failure to seek immediate treatment. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Impact of Different Photoinitiers of Adhesive Systems on Mechanical Properties, Sorption, Solubility, and Microtensile Bond Strength to Dentin Saraiva, Luciane Ribeiro Macêdo, Rayssa Ferreira Cavaleiro de Martins, Anna Júlia Leão Pereira Lima, Darlon Martins Carvalho, Edilausson Moreno Bauer, Jose Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the influence of photoinitiators on the physicochemical properties of simplified conventional adhesive systems. Material and Methods: Three adhesive systems were tested: Adper Single Bond 2 (3M), Ambar (FGM), and Ambar APS (FGM). For the cohesive strength (CS) test, specimens (n =10) were prepared and subjected to mechanical testing in a universal testing machine (Instron 3342). For the cross-link density (CLD) test, eight specimens of each material were prepared and subjected to Knoop microhardness measurements before and after immersion in ethanol for 24 hours. For the sorption and solubility (SS) test, ten specimens (n=10) of each material were prepared and tested over 28 days. For the dentin bond strength (BS) test, human molars (n=6) were restored, sectioned, and tested in a universal testing machine at a 1 mm/min speed. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, two-way repeated measures ANOVA, and Holm-Sidak for mean contrasts (α=0.05). Results: Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the materials in the BS (p=0.40), CS (p=0.356), CLD (p=0.189), and solubility (p=0.157) tests. However, for the sorption test, a significant difference was observed between the adhesive systems, with Single Bond showing the highest values compared to Ambar and Ambar APS, which were similar. Conclusion: The APS photoinitiation system provides no advantage in the analyzed properties. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE The 50 Most-Cited Articles about Diet During the First 1000 Days of Life and Early Childhood Caries: A Bibliometric Analysis Rodrigues, Najara Raquel Paz Lima, Ana Clarice Silva Moura, Lúcia de Fátima Almeida de Deus Lima, Cacilda Castelo Branco Lima, Marina de Deus Moura de Martins-Júnior, Paulo Antônio Moura, Marcoeli Silva de Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of the 50 most cited articles on the relationship between diet during the first 1000 days of life and early childhood caries (ECC). Material and Methods: Web of Science Core Collection (WoS-CC) database was searched. The following data were extracted from each article: article title, the number of citations, authors, country, keywords, year of publication, study design, and topic. Poisson regression was used to determine associations between citations and bibliometric data (p<0.05). Results: The Articles were published between 1992 and 2019 and had been cited from 36 to 3252 times. The United States led the publications (26%), followed by Australia (16%), England (14%) and Brazil (12%). Most studies were cross-sectional [38%]; the most cited article was the literature review (56%). The most cited topic was ECC and breastfeeding (53%). Literature reviews (RR = 5.287; 95% CI = 2.92-9.58) published by authors from Brazil (RR = 3.653; 95% CI = 1.35-9.88) and on ECC and breastfeeding (RR = 2.434; 95% CI = 1.32-4.48) had a higher citation rate in WoS-CC. Conclusion: The relationship between the diet during the first 1000 days of life and ECC has received increased research attention in the last decade. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Consumption of Cariogenic Ultra-processed Foods and Maternal Report of Dental Caries and Dental Pain among Preschool Children Rocha, Amanda Cristina Crema, Aline Fabris de Araujo Menoncin, Bruna Letícia Vessoni Fraiz, Gabriela Macedo Crispim, Sandra Patricia Fraiz, Fabian Calixto Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the association between cariogenic ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption and maternal reports of dental caries and dental pain among preschool children. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 505 mothers of children aged 3 to 5 years enrolled in the Municipal Public School System in a large southern Brazilian city (Curitiba, Paraná). Socioeconomic data, maternal reports on dental caries and dental pain among children, and frequency of consumption of cariogenic UPFs among those children were collected. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses with robust variance were used for the data analysis (α=0.05) and presented in prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: The presence of dental caries and dental pain among children in the upper tercile of consumption of cariogenic UPFs was, respectively, 11.6% (95%CI:1.028-1.213) and 8% (95%CI:1.001-1.165) higher than that in the lower tercile. Dental caries and dental pain increased, respectively, by 12% (95%CI:1.074-1.169) and 10.3% (95%CI:1.060-1.149) for each year of the child. Moreover, a higher household income was a protective factor for dental caries (PRa:0.978; 95%CI:0.959-0.997) and for dental pain as well (PRa:0.977; 95%CI:0.958-0.997) among the children. Conclusion: A higher consumption of cariogenic ultra-processed foods (UPFs) was found to be associated with maternal reports of dental caries and dental pain among preschool children. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Influence of Different Immersion Solutions and Polishing Protocols on the Roughness of Conventional and CAD/CAM Restorative Materials Lorenzetti, Camila Cruz Silva, Aryvelto Miranda Castro-Núñez, Gabriela Mariana Viola, Kennia Scapin Bortolatto, Janaína Freitas Campos, Edson Alves de Saad, José Roberto Cury Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effects of immersion solutions and polishing protocols on the surface roughness of different restorative materials. Material and Methods: Specimens from composite resin (CR) (Filtek Z350 XT) and CAD-CAM blocks of resin nanoceramic (NC) (Lava Ultimate Restorative), hybrid ceramic (HC) (Enamic), and zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZL) (Celtra Duo) were assigned to two protocols: only polishing rubbers (PR) (Ceramisté rubbers®) or PR + paste (Porcelize®) (PR+P). Surface roughness was measured before (T0), after 30 days (T1), and 60 days (T2) of immersion in solutions of artificial saliva (SA), coffee (CF), and Coca-Cola® (CO). Roughness changes were compared using ANOVA and Tukey test (α=0.05). Results: Time (p≤0.003) and the interaction of time and immersion solution (p≤0.03) significantly affected all materials. The interaction of time, immersion solution, and polishing significantly affected ZL (p=0.003) and NC (p=0.013). The highest surface roughness values were observed with CF solution at T2. Conclusion: Different polishing protocols did not significantly affect the restorative materials tested. The CF solution affected the surface roughness of composite resin and feldspathic-composite hybrid ceramic after 60 days, regardless of the polishing protocol. The effects of immersion solutions and polishing protocols vary and depend on the properties of each restorative material. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE PlayTeeth Tool Development: An Innovative Dental Care Tool for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder Paulo, Djessyca Miranda e Ribeiro, João Marcos da Costa Flores-Mir, Carlos Paranhos, Luiz Renato Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To associate the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) validated techniques with technology in dentistry by developing software to mediate and facilitate dental care. Material and Methods: A literature review was performed to retrieve information about those techniques. The software for tablets and smartphones was developed based on the data extracted. The results were considered to determine which characteristics the tool should present, such as settings, colors, and gameplay patterns. Results: The main characteristics are illustrations with vibrant colors and background music and two characters to be chosen. The application has three interactive environments: kitchen, bathroom, and dental office, so the patient goes through all of them interacting with health promotion content. Conclusion: An application is presented that aims to facilitate such care in a practical, accessible, and free manner, improving the interaction between dentists and patients. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Comparative Analysis of Dental Patients' Perspectives on Teledentistry Methods During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Semarang, Indonesia Wardhana, Erdianto Setya Failasufa, Hayyu Suhartono, Budi Firdausy, Muhammad Dian Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To understand patients' perceptions of using teledentistry through virtual clinics versus telephone consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with an analytical and quantitative approach. The sample consisted of 644 dental patients with experience using teledentistry services in Semarang, Indonesia. The research instrument was a questionnaire with a Likert scale, and the study was conducted in a hybrid manner, both online and through direct visits to dental practices. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: The average score for the teledentistry via virtual clinic user group was 73.25, while for the telephone user group, it was 29.50. A significant difference in patient perceptions regarding teledentistry via virtual clinics and telephone was found (p<0.05). Conclusion: Patient perceptions of teledentistry through virtual clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic showed a significantly greater positive response than teledentistry via telephone. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Assessing the Quality of YouTube® Videos on Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Inhalation: A Multi-Dimensional Approach for Pediatric Dentists Ali, Sanaa N. Al-Haj AlHarbi, Nehal Almutairi, Hessah H. Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the content, credibility, quality, and alignment with American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) guidelines of YouTube® videos on Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen (N2O/O2) Inhalation for pediatric dentists. Material and Methods: Two hundred YouTube® videos on N2O/O2 inhalation were assessed using an AAPD-aligned checklist for content, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks for credibility, and Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI) elements for quality. A total score combining these three tools determined each video's overall quality. Analysis used Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman's correlation, while reliability was assessed using Cohen's kappa. Results: Of the initial 200 videos, 82 were thoroughly analyzed, with only 15.9% contributed by pediatric dentists. Mean scores were: JAMA 0.62/4 (SD=0.87), VIQI 4.68/10 (SD=2.10), content 8.01/33 (SD=7.50), and total 26.39/100 (SD=20.44). Most videos failed JAMA credibility criteria (63.4-96.3% absence rates). For VIQI, 75.6% rated poor for visual clarity. Significant positive correlations existed between video duration, interaction index, and total score (p<0.05). Most videos demonstrated limited coverage of crucial aspects, such as contraindications, pre-operative instructions, behavior management, delivery systems, monitoring, staff safety, occupational risks, and legal documentation. Conclusion: Existing YouTube® content on N2O/O2 inhalation falls short of AAPD guidelines and quality standards (including content, credibility, and technical aspects), underscoring the need for pediatric dentists to validate information with reliable sources. There is an immediate call for high-quality, guideline-adherent content. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Perception of Oral Health Assistants and Technicians Regarding Dental Care for People with Disabilities Rosa, Saulo Vinicius da Corrêa, Emilly Godinho Pompermayer, Adriane Bastos Souza, Vanessa Bacelar Vettorazzi, Maria Lucia Tozetto Girata, Doriana Cristina Gaio Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the perceptions of oral health assistants and technicians regarding dental care for people with disabilities in Paraná. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which self-reported data about the perception of dental care for people with disabilities were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire to oral health assistants and technicians in Paraná. The questions addressed sociodemographic data, training, and knowledge about caring for people with disabilities. Data collection took place during the year 2023 and the questionnaire was sent to participants online. The data were analyzed via descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. Results: A total of 160 responses were obtained, the majority of which were from women (97.5%), self-declared white (37.5%), married (49.4%), with an average age of 38.3 years. Concerning training, 40% were assistants and technicians in oral health, and 82.5% worked in the public sector. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between public and private institutions if the professional had a subject or class during their training that dealt with the subject of dental care for people with disabilities. Conclusion: Oral health assistants and technicians clearly understand dental care for people with disabilities. |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Root Canal Morphological Variations of Mandibular Third Molars Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography Nadar, Ashima Purayil, Tina Puthen Patil, Vathsala Pentapati, Kalyana-Chakravarthy Vineetha, Ravindranath Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the variations in the root canal morphology of mandibular third molars (M3M) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and Methods: A total of 186 CBCT images were analyzed to assess the root and root canal morphology of M3M using Vertucci classification. Gender influence on morphology was also examined. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Results: Most M3M exhibited two roots, followed by a single root and three roots, with no significant difference in number of roots between sexes on either side (p=0.512 and p=0.598). Three canals were most common in both sexes, but four canals were significantly more common in males on the right side. No significant sex difference was observed for the left side (p=0.245). Distal roots predominantly showed Type I canal configuration on both sides, while mesial roots exhibited Type IV on the right and Type I on the left. Conclusion: Mandibular third molars in the South Indian population had two roots and three canals, with four canals more common in males on the right. Distal root mostly exhibited Type I canal configuration, whereas mesial root varied, highlighting the importance of understanding the complexity for endodontic treatment planning. |
SHORT COMMUNICATION Teledentistry in Oral Diagnostic: Unveiled Myths and Challenges to Be Overcome Carvalho, Livian Isabel de Medeiros Araújo, Eduarda Gomes Onofre de Martins, Hélder Domiciano Dantas Lucena, Edson Hilan Gomes de Bonan, Paulo Rogério Ferreti Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To reveal the capabilities of the Teleinterconsulting application in Stomatology, shedding light on how this tool operates within our own experience. Material and Methods: This observational and cross-sectional study was carried out using data obtained from the pilot study of the Teleinterconsulta application in Stomatology in Paraíba, Brazil, from April 2021 to October 2023. A descriptive analysis of the data was carried out, including an analysis of the experiences of the situation. Results: This study involved the participation of 22 dentists who acted as consultants in the application, which already has more than 400 registered dentists who participate in the healthcare network. Conclusion: Teleconsultation in Stomatology can be a powerful tool that can contribute to the early diagnosis of potentially malignant diseases. We anticipate that this brief communication will inspire professionals to adopt and integrate technologies that allow teleconsultation, promoting greater openness to e-health practices. |
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW Evaluation of the Clinical Outcomes of Regenerative Endodontic Procedures Using Autologous Platelet Concentrate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Mousavi, Elnaz Nasrabadi, Navid Jamali, Samira Haddadi, Arian Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the clinical outcomes of regenerative endodontic procedures using autologous platelet concentrate. Both regeneration and apexification procedures were examined and compared with each other. Material and Methods: The PRISMA 2020 Checklist has been utilized to carry out the systematic review and meta-analysis for the present study. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, Embase, and ISI Web of Knowledge have been reviewed for systematic literature until May 2023. A fixed-effect model and a Mantel-Haenszel methodology have been used to measure the risk ratio’s 95% confidence interval. Then, Metaanalyses were carried out utilizing Stata/MP version 17. Results: Duplicate studies were eliminated from the first review, 849 studies’ abstracts were reviewed, two authors reviewed 103 papers’ full texts, and finally, 20 articles were selected. The survival rate in regenerative endodontic procedures between apexification and regenerative endodontic procedures was −0.01 (RR: −0.01, 95% CI: −0.05, 0.02; p=0.35). Conclusion: Throughout the present meta-analysis, regenerative endodontic therapy is an effective intervention with a high survival and success rate in managing immature necrotic permanent teeth. |
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW BRAF V600E Mutation in Odontogenic Keratocyst: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Cunha, Jéssica da Silva Ribeiro, Lucas Nascimento Martins-de-Barros, Allan Vinícius Severino-Lazo, Raisa Jordana Geraldine Anjos, Raíssa Soares dos Almeida, Renata de Albuquerque Cavalcanti Islam, Mohammed N. Carvalho, Marianne de Vasconcelos Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the frequency of the BRAF V600E mutation in odontogenic keratocyst, correlating the methods of evaluation and detection of the mutated protein. Material and Methods: This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42022379570). An electronic search was performed up to January 20th, 2024, in the databases of Medline, Scopus, Embase, and gray literature (Google Scholar, BDTD). One hundred and sixty-six cases in seven studies were included. The methodological quality of the studies was performed according to the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: Only two of the seven studies reported positivity for the BRAF V600E mutation, both by molecular methods. In the remaining five studies, the BRAF V600E mutation was not present, one evaluated by RT-PCR, three by DNA sequencing, and one by IHC. Conclusion: Through analysis of the articles, the BRAF V600E gene mutation alone does not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of OKC. Further research and new studies are necessary. |
SCOPING REVIEW Barriers to Dental Services Utilization among Adult Population in India: A Scoping Review Vundavalli, Sudhakar Indiran, Meignana Arumugham Doppalapudi, Radhika Siddanna, Sunitha Baig, Muhammad Nadeem Issrani, Rakhi Prabhu, Namdeo Abstract in English: ABSTRACT Objective: To provide comprehensive information about barriers to using dental services in India. Material and Methods: Original research articles published on factors and(or) barriers to dental and oral health care services utilization were extracted from four electronic databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE. The selection process involved looking for English-language articles published between 2005 and 2023 that addressed one or more areas of dental and oral health care barriers in India. Selected articles were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: 188 original studies were retrieved from the four databases, and 23 were extracted. The barriers to dental and oral health care service utilization were classified into three major themes: sociodemographic factors, dental care access, and individual factors. The findings of the selected articles showed that the high cost of dental care, educational level, fear of dental treatment, poor perception about teeth, and(or) lack of felt need and lack of time were the most frequently reported barriers. Conclusion: Appropriate utilization of dental and oral health care services was one of the key principles in achieving "Health for All."Dental care delivery systems should address the barriers to its utilization by incorporating policies to overcome the utilization barriers and community-based oral health awareness programs. |