micro-computed tomography study of the root canal morphology of mandibular first premolars in an Emirati population

Objective: To investigate variations in the root canal morphology of mandibular first premolars in a population from the United Arab Emirates using micro-computed tomography [micro-CT] and conventional radiography

Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional images of 50 extracted human mandibular first premolars were produced using a micro-CT scanner, and conventional radiography was also used to record the number of roots, the root canal system configuration, the presence of a C-shaped canal system and lateral canals, intercanal communications, and the number and location of apical foramina. The interpretations of micro-CT and conventional radiography were statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test

Results: Variable root canal configurations based on Vertucci's classification were observed in the teeth [i.e., types I, III, IV, V, and VII]. The examined teeth exhibited the following 2 additional root canal configurations, which did not fit Vertucci's classification: type 1-2-3 and type 1-3. A C-shaped canal configuration was present in 14 [28%] cases, and lateral canals were present in 22 [44%] cases. Apical deltas were found in 25 [50%] cases, intercanal communications were seen in 6 [12%] cases, and apical loops were seen in 2 [4%] of the samples. Micro-CT and X-ray imaging identified 39 [78%] and 34 [68%] apical foramina, respectively. A single apical foramen was detected in 33 [66%] samples, and 2 or 3 apical foramina were detected in 14 [28 %] and 3 [6%] samples, respectively. In 18.5 [37%] samples the apical foramina were located centrally, and in 31 [62%] they were located laterally

Conclusion: A complex morphology of the mandibular first premolars was observed with a high prevalence of multiple root canal systems

Should surgical burs be used as single-use devices to avoid cross infection? a case-control study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the rate of bacterial contamination of reused and new unused burs after different sterilization sessions

Materials and Methods: The test group consisted of 40 used fissure burs, and the control group of 40 unused new fissure burs [total n = 80]. The burs from both groups were precleaned according to standard protocols and then subjected to two sterilization sessions [high- and low-steam pressure autoclaving]. After each sterilization session, the burs were transferred into incubation tubes which contained thioglycollate culture medium and were monitored daily for a period of 48 h to detect any bacterial growth. Data were collected and statistical analysis was done using Fisher's exact test

Results: Of the 40 burs of the test group, 2 burs [5%] showed positive bacterial growth, whereas no bur from the control group showed any sign of bacterial growth after high-pressure autoclaving. The colony structure and Gram staining were compatible with the growth of Staphylococcus epidermis . After a second sterilization session at low-pressure steam autoclaving, no bacterial growth was observed for the test group, but 1 bur [2.5%] from the control group showed bacterial growth and Gram-positive staining matched well with the growth of Brevibacterium species

Conclusions: The new and unused burs were 100% sterile after high-pressure steam autoclaving, whereas 5% of the reused burs appeared positive with bacterial contamination. After low-pressure steam autoclaving, reused burs were 100% sterile, but 1 new bur demonstrated bacterial contamination

Tooth-Bleaching: a review of the efficacy and adverse effects of various tooth whitening products

Tooth bleaching [whitening] is one of the most common and inexpensive method for treating discolouration of teeth. Dental aesthetics, especially tooth colour, is of great importance to majority of the people; and discolouration of even a single tooth can negatively influence the quality of life. Therefore, a review of the literature was carried out [limited to aesthetic tooth-bleaching] to provide a broad overview of the efficacy and adverse effects of various tooth whitening products on soft and hard oral tissues

Self-reported anxiety of dental procedures among dental students and its relation to gender and level of education

Objectives: The study aimed to identify the dental procedures that elicit the highest level of anxiety by various dental procedures and to determine the correlation of anxiety with students' gender and varying perceptions of anxiety across years of dental education

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Sardar Begum Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan during June 2014. The Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale [DAS] was distributed to all students. This instrument had 26 items examining the anxiety levels experienced for different dental procedures. Options ranging from 1 to 4 were provided for every item, where 1 represented low anxiety and 4 represented the highest anxiety

Results: The overall response rate was 67.3% [n = 101; 64 females and 37 males]. Among the top five dental procedures eliciting the highest anxiety levels, females were found to be more anxious than males for all procedures [fear of injection/needle, root canal treatment, extraction, and application of cold air] except the need for further treatment. Pre-clinical students [1[st] and 2[nd] year] were found to be more anxious than clinical students [3[rd] and 4[th] year]. Significant differences [p < 0.05] were found for three procedures: rubber dam placement, inability to stop dentist, and impression taking. Clinical students reported high anxiety for the latter, and pre-clinical students reported higher anxiety for the former two procedures

Conclusions: Higher anxiety levels were reported by females and pre-clinical students than their respective counterparts. Educational sessions and graded exposure therapy at an initial stage of dental educational training may decrease the anxiety associated with dental procedures

Students' perspectives on the relevance of internet-based educational videos in dental education

This cross-sectional study sought to obtain the perceptions of third year students of the University of Dammam faculty of dentistry about the usefulness of Internet-based educational videos in assisting oral biology lectures. The study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, University of Dammam during March 2014. A validated questionnaire containing 10 questions was distributed to all of the participants. The first eight questions, related to the usefulness of videos during lectures, required dichotomized [agree/disagree] responses. For the last two questions [number of videos to be added and the time period allocated to these videos in each lecture], multiple options were provided for selection. The data were analysed statistically by using the chisquare test. The sample size was 70 students [39 male and 31 female], with an overall response rate of 97%. The majority of students positively perceived the role of videos in assisting lectures. However, significant differences [p < 0.05] were found between male and female students regarding their understanding of lectures with/without videos and retention of knowledge gained from lectures with videos. Videos should be included in the lectures, so long as any video included is analogous to the desired learning outcomes of the lecture

review of the effect of various ions on the properties and the clinical applications of novel bioactive glasses in medicine and dentistry

Bioactive glass is a novel material that dissolves and forms a bond with bone when exposed to body fluids. Bioactive glasses are silicate-based, with calcium and phosphate in identical proportions to those of natural bone; therefore, they have high biocompatibility. Bioactive glasses have wide-ranging clinical applications, including the use as bone grafts, scaffolds, and coating materials for dental implants. This review will discuss the effects of ions on the various compositions of bioactive glasses, as well as the clinical applications of bioactive glasses in medicine and dentistry

Interpretive versus didactic learning approach towards oral biology: a student's perspective

This study analyzed the preference of dental students for oral biology questions that require either an interpretive or a descriptive approach to answer and to compare the preferences with their final examination result retrospectively. A questionnaire requiring student academic number and containing two questions [one asked with an interpretive approach/the other asked with a descriptive approach] from random topics of oral biology course was distributed among students who have already appeared in the final examination. Majority of the students who had achieved good grades [A+, A, B+, B] preferred interpretive questions whereas majority of the students with average grades [C+, C, D+, D] selected descriptive questions. Common reason for picking interpretive question was that it enhances critical thinking. The descriptive questions were argued to provide students with a chance to explain more. Hence, students should be encouraged to learn interpretively to promote enquiry based learning [EBL] and critical thinking

Self-reported differences between oral health attitudes of pre-clinical and clinical students at a dental teaching institute in Saudi Arabia

To compare the attitudes of preclinical and clinical dental students toward their own oral health using the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioral Inventory [HU-DBI]. The English-language version of the 20-item HU-DBI was distributed to all preclinical and clinical students at the College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dichotomized [agree/disagree] responses to 12 HU-DBI items were used in this study, with a maximum possible score of 12. Responses to the remaining eight statements reflected general oral health attitudes and were excluded from the analysis. Data were analyzed statistically. The overall response rate was 72.2% [preclinical, 72.5%; clinical, 72%]. The mean HU-DBI score was significantly higher among clinical than among preclinical dental students [7 vs. 5.8; P < 0.05]. Higher proportions of preclinical than clinical students did not worry about visiting the dentist but postponed dental visits until they experienced toothache. Furthermore, more preclinical than clinical students reported that their gums bled upon brushing, used a child-sized toothbrush, had observed white, sticky deposits on their teeth, and used strong strokes for toothbrushing. More clinical than preclinical students reported that they did not feel that the condition of their teeth was worsening despite brushing, worried about the color of their teeth, brushed each of their teeth carefully, and checked their teeth in the mirror after brushing. Dental health awareness programs should be implemented and information about positive oral health attitudes should be provided to the students at an initial stage of dental training