A Pharmacy-Based Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Antibiotic Prescription Pattern by Medical and Dental Practitioners in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: The misuse and overuse of antibiotics in dental practice are well known and have become widespread worldwide. Its potential effect and high risk of serious reaction have emphasized the need to reduce and limit the precipitation. In this study we aimed to identify the prevalence, type, dose, and duration of antibiotics prescribed by general medical and dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed from April 2020 to December 2020. A total of 45,100 antibiotic prescriptions were collected from different governmental and private pharmacies and screened to be included in this study. Data extraction from all prescriptions followed a standardized form that included the following information: Doctor specialty, type of antibiotic, duration, and dose of antibiotic. Results: A total of 38,175 antibiotic prescriptions prescribed by licensed doctors practicing in governmental or private hospitals were included in this study. Thirty-five thousand one hundred and seventy-eight (92%) outpatient antibiotics were prescribed by medical practitioners, and 2997 (8%) antibiotics were prescribed by dentists. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic was Augmentin (60%), followed by metronidazole and amoxicillin (35%). The most common dose and duration prescribed by dentists for Augmentin was 625 mg, 3 times per day for 5 days, whereas that of metronidazole was 500 mg, 3 times per day for 7 days. Prescribed dose and duration of amoxicillin was 500 mg, 3 times per day for 7 days. Conclusions: This study helps in understanding healthcare practitioners' patterns and adds to the knowledge on how to deal with odontogenic infections. Further national studies are recommended to include more regions in Saudi Arabia and to illustrate the misuse of outpatient antibiotics.

Efficacy of clear aligner therapy over conventional fixed appliances in controlling orthodontic movement: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current systematic review was to answer the clinical research question "Is Clear Aligner Therapy (CAT) effective in controlling the orthodontic movement?" by bringing together the most up-to-date information about the available evidence for CAT. METHODOLOGY: On January 1, 2023, a search was conducted in PubMed, ERIC, Embase, and CINHAL for any research papers published in the previous 10 years that provided an overview of the PICO questions. Both the titles and abstracts of the selected studies were evaluated independently by two different authors, and if there was any disagreement between the two review authors, a third reviewer was brought in to settle it. RESULTS: Among included studies, three were retrospective non-randomized and two studies were prospective randomized clinical trials. Various authors reported better outcome for fixed orthodontic appliances than for clear aligner treatment (CAT) in relation to mandibular incisor proclination. The mean objective grading system score was better for braces (17) than for CAT (12) with no clinically significant difference, while staging had a significant impact on treatment efficacy. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that clear aligners may be an effective alternative to traditional braces, but more research is needed to confirm these findings and determine the optimal size of future prospective studies evaluating this treatment.

Orthodontics and Endodontics Clinical Practice Correlation: A Narrative Review.

Research on the connection between endodontic therapy and orthodontics is lacking. This overview of the literature synthesizes the findings from the fields of orthodontics and endodontics and explains how they are related. Beginning with the diagnosis, treating the patient at the appropriate time, moving endodontically treated teeth and traumatized teeth, resorbing roots by orthodontic mechanics, and managing traumatized teeth with orthodontic therapy. Multiple electronic databases were utilized including (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science) to perform manual literature searches. A total of 31 articles were reviewed and summarized in this paper in keywords like "Endodontically Treated Teeth and Orthodontic Treatment," "Endodontically Treated Tooth and Orthodontic Movement," "Orthodontic Treatment in RCT Teeth," "Root Canal Treatment with Orthodontic Movement," "Trauma with Orthodontic Movement," "Orthodontic and Endodontic." Orthodontic treatment of endodontically treated and traumatized teeth is a subject of controversy. The lack of research on the topic makes it a hard decision to make when to treat these teeth. Especially given that both orthodontic and endodontic treatments have multiple consequences on each other's outcomes. Thus, it is crucial for clinicians to understand how they integrate and have a guideline to refer to during decision-making. Successful orthodontic tooth movement could be carried out immediately after endodontic treatment. However, traumatized teeth need a follow-up period before initiating orthodontic movement, which ranges from three months to 12 months depending on the type of trauma and severity. Careful radiographic and clinical follow-up should be done during the healing period. Collaborative teamwork is important between orthodontists and endodontists for the success of treatment, and to achieve satisfactory outcomes.

Clear Aligner Therapy: Up to date review article.

The advantages of Clear Aligners Therapy (CAT) include the braces being virtually invisible, comfortable to wear, and removable for eating and brushing; that way, CAT can be used to treat a wide range of orthodontic issues. In 1999, the company Align Technology introduced the frst commercial clear aligner system called Invisalign. The Invisalign system was initially only available to orthodontists, but later became available to general dentists as well. The system quickly gained popularity among patients who were looking for a more discreet and comfortable alternative to traditional braces. In 2000, Align Technology received FDA clearance for the Invisalign system, which further increased its popularity. The biomechanics of clear aligners involve the use of custom-made tooth aligners that are specifcally shaped to guide teeth into desired positions. These aligners are typically made from flexible materials such as polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate and are adjusted to apply the necessary forces for tooth movement. Attachment devices, such as power ridges or buttons, are often used to enhance or assist in specifc tooth movements and for retention of the aligner. The use of attachments allows for the exertion of desired force on the teeth, which is crucial for the success of Clear Aligner Therapy. CAT should be used if patients are concerned about the esthetic appearances of their teeth-for example, actors and other individuals that rely on their appearances in public in a professional context-and if the misalignment is not severe, so that clear aligners can still work. One should not use CAT in cases of severe crowding or spacing issues that require extractions. If the patient has complex jaw discrepancies or skeletal issues or if teeth need to be moved extensively in multiple directions, CAT is likely not going to be strong enough. In conclusion, Clear Aligner Therapy is a safe, effective, and convenient orthodontic treatment option that offers patients a virtually invisible way to achieve a straighter, more beautiful smile. With continued advancements in technology and a growing body of research supporting its effectiveness, the future of Clear Aligner Therapy looks bright.

Guidelines for Orthodontic Management of Individuals With Mental Illness Using Psychiatric Medication: A Systematic Review.

The majority of mentally challenged individuals anticipate treatment with inflated levels of concern more than conventional orthodontic patients. However, there are no systematic reviews on behavioral modification techniques and orthodontic therapy for people with mental illness. Therefore, the goal of the review was to highlight the orthodontic concerns for people with mental disabilities with the intent to address the problems that emerge when providing orthodontic care. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and population, exposure, and outcome (PEO) criteria were followed in conducting the review. An electronic search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Oral Health Group, and Dentistry and Oral Science Source databases searched through EBSCO and Google Scholar for potentially relevant publications in the English language from January 2002 to December 2022. Studies reporting behavioral modification strategies and/or physical constraints used during orthodontic treatment of mentally challenged patients were included in the review. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for case reports and research reviews and synthesis. The initial electronic and manual search yielded 233 articles. After eliminating duplicates and reviewing the title/abstracts, 75 articles were selected for independent full-text review. Based on the eligibility criteria, 12 studies were finally chosen for qualitative synthesis. Four of these studies were case reports, while eight were comprehensive reviews. The JBI critical assessment criteria for case reports revealed that two studies had moderate-quality evidence, one case report with high-quality evidence and the other with low-quality evidence. The quality of the selected comprehensive literature reviews assessed using JBI critical assessment for reviews and research syntheses was judged to have poor-quality evidence. A thorough literature search on the topic did not reveal a single systematic review, and all of the reviews that were chosen were exhaustive. Parental cooperation and patient motivation are crucial components of a successful treatment regimen. A better prognosis is determined by the choice of appropriate orthodontic mechanotherapy along with the utilization of an array of behavior modification modalities and the availability of a team with expertise.

Ozone Therapy in the Management and Prevention of Caries.

The article covered the function and results of ozone treatment in managing and preventing dental caries. Specifically, the author examined ozone and its benefits, including bactericidal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Ozonated water, ozonated olive oil, and ozone gas are forms of ozone used in dentistry. The authors provided examples of studies regarding the positive impact of ozone therapy on patients with caries. Also, the research authors described several effects of ozonated water, namely, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, activation of intracellular metabolism of the oral mucosa and dental wounds, advancement of local blood circulation, provocation of regenerative functions, and hemostatic effect in capillary bleeding. The ozone generator and equipment for creating an ozone-oxygen (O3/O2) gas mixture were mentioned as required in dentistry to produce ozone.

Exposure to parental and sibling smoking and future intentions to smoke among 13-15 years old school age children in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: prevalence of smoking in school children is alarming in Saudi Arabia and little is well-known about the aspects stimulating such behaviours in secondary school children. The aim of this study was to assess the association between influence of parent/sibling/peer smoking and future intentions to initiate smoke among 13-15 years old school children in Al Ras town, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: a cross sectional survey was conducted in Al Ras city during first quarter of 2019. Data was collected from 492 secondary school children who were selected through multistage stratified cluster sampling. Pretested, self-administered Arabic questionnaire was used to collect data about socio-demographic and prevalence of current smoking behaviours and associated factors. Descriptive statistics was done initially, following by binomial regression to assess the predictors of current smoking and future smoking intentions. RESULTS: the overall prevalence of smoking in respondents was 22.7% and statistically significant difference in smoking prevalence's between boys and girls was observed (40% vs 5.6%). Among the predictors of current smoking, smoking habits in siblings and getting pocket money over 200 Saudi riyals are found to be significant. Siblings smoking (odds ratio: 6.4) and poor academic performance (odds ratio: 3.2) were the two most important factors influencing children's intentions of smoking. CONCLUSION: smoking prevalence in secondary school children of Al Ras was similar to national data. Since, influence of siblings, getting more pocket money and poor academic performance were found to important predictors of children smoking behaviours and attitudes, health education programs should address these factors to be effective.