A Comparison between Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block and Crestal Anesthesia in Children Undergoing Dental Extraction Procedure

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of crestal anesthesia compared to the inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in 6-9-year-old children undergoing tooth extraction. Material and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 70 children who needed bilateral mandibular primary molar extractions. The Faces Pain Scale was used to determine the efficacy of the anesthetic technique. Demographic data, onset time of anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, and blood pressure were also recorded. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and analytical tests: t-test, chi-squared test, and one-way ANOVA. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The efficacy of the IANB was significantly higher than the crestal anesthesia (p<0.05). The duration of IANB anesthesia was significantly more than the crestal anesthesia (p<0.05). The two anesthetic techniques showed no significant differences in pediatric blood pressure as a determinant of the pain evoked in children during the injection (p>0.05). Conclusion: Crestal anesthesia proved an effective method to extract primary molars. However, further studies are necessary to confirm this.

Assessing Moral Skills in General and Post-Graduate Dental Students in the Southeast of Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Objective: To assess the level of moral skills in dental students and residents. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was conducted on dental students and residents of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, selected by census sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic information checklist (age, gender, marital status, educational level (before basic sciences, after basic sciences, residency), and moral skills inventory questionnaire. The data were analyzed using a T-test and multiple regression analysis at a confidence level of 95%. Results: The total score of the moral skills questionnaire was about 44 out of 80, and there was no difference between males and females in moral skills (p=0.79). However, there was a significant difference in moral sensitivity between married and single students (p=0.036). Residents gained significantly higher moral integrity scores than students (p=0.046). Conclusion: The study highlights that the level of professional moral skills in Kerman dental students and residents was acceptable. Single students got higher scores in the moral sensitivity domain, although residents got the highest scores in the moral integrity domain. There was no significant correlation between gender and the level of moral skills (AU).

Dentists' Knowledge and Clinical Experience towards Molar-Incisor-Hypomineralization in Iran

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the knowledge and clinical experience of dentists regarding MIH in Kerman/Iran. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a census sampling method was used, and all dentists registered in Kerman medical council were asked to participate in the study. A validated and reliable researcher administered questionnaire was used to determine participants' demographic characteristics, knowledge, and clinical experience. The association between knowledge score and demographic variables was determined using an independent t-test and ANOVA. The level of significance was set as 0.05. Results: Overall, 400 specialized and general dentists in Kerman completed the questionnaire. The mean knowledge score of dentists was 6.6±1.9 of 11. Female dentists' knowledge was higher than male dentists (p<0.05). General dentists had a higher level of knowledge regarding MIH compared to specialists (p<0.05). Overall, 79.5 % had been faced with MIH during their practice years. After confronting MIH teeth, 48.8% of dentists referred patients to specialists for treatment. Providing aesthetics was considered the most difficult part of treatment (43.2%). Resin composite was the most favorable dental material for treating MIH (60.9%). Conclusion: Although most dentists in Kerman had encountered MIH defects during their clinical practice, they did not have enough knowledge of the defect and required education on all aspects of MIH diagnosis and management. Younger dental practitioners, general dentists and females presented higher knowledge of MIH.

Ferric Sulfate Versus Calcium-Enriched Mixture Cement in Pulpotomy of Primary Molars: A Randomized Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the postoperative pain and clinical and radiographic success of pulpotomized primary molars using two materials, Ferric Sulfate (FS) and Calcium-Enriched Mixture (CEM) cement, over a period of 3 and 6 months. Material and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on a total of 38 teeth selected from 19 patients aged 3-9 years. FS 15.5% and CEM cement were used as pulpotomy agents. Permanent restorations were Stainless Steel Crowns (SSCs) in both groups. Patients were recalled for follow-up at 3 and 6 months intervals for clinical and radiographic assessment. Postoperative pain was recorded by using Visual Analogue Scale up to ten days following the treatment. The data were statistically analyzed using chi-square test and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: At 6 months, a 100% clinical success rate was observed in the FS and CEM cement groups. The radiographic success rate in the FS group was 94.7%, whereas 100% in the CEM cement group at 6 months. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative pain between the teeth that received either FS or CEM cement as pulpotomy agents following the procedure (p>0.05). Conclusion: There were favorable outcomes of FS and CEM cement in pulpotomy of primary molar teeth.