Patients' attitudes toward artificial intelligence in dentistry and their trust in dentists.

OBJECTIVES: This study intended to evaluate patients' attitudes toward the use of AI in dental radiographic detection of occlusal caries and the impact of AI-based diagnosis on their trust in dentists. METHODS: A total of 272 completed questionnaires were included in this study. In the first part of the study, approval was obtained from the patients, and data were collected about their socio-demographic characteristics. In the second part the 11-item Dentist Trust Scale was applied. In the third and fourth parts, there were questions about two clinical scenarios, the patients' knowledge of attitudes toward AI, and how the AI-based diagnosis had affected their trust. Evaluation was performed using a Likert-type scale. Data were analyzed with the Chi-square, one-way ANOVA, and ordinal logistic regression tests (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The patients believed that "AI is useful" (3.86 ± 1.03) and were not afraid of the use of AI in dentistry (2.40 ± 1.05). Educational level was considerably related to the patients' attitudes to the use of AI for dental diagnostics (p < 0.05). The patients stated that "dentists are extremely thorough and careful" (4.39 ± 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: The patients displayed a positive attitude to AI-based diagnosis in the dental field and appear to exhibit trust in dentists. The use of Al in routine clinical practice can provide important benefit to physicians as a clinical decision support system in dentistry and understanding patients' attitudes may allow dentists to shape AI-supported dentistry in the future.

Comparison of different final irrigant agitation techniques for the removal of Enterococcus faecalis biofilms from root canals: an in vitro study / Comparação de diferentes técnicas finais de agitação de irrigantes para a remoção de biofilmes de Enterococcus faecalis de canais radiculares: estudo in vitro

Objective: The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the effectiveness of different final irrigant agitation techniques in the removal of Enterococcus faecalis biofilms from root canals. Material and Methods: In total, the root canals of 85 extracted single-rooted human maxillary incisors teeth were prepared using the Revo-S system to a 40/06 size. The apical foramen of each tooth was sealed by light-cured resin composite material to obstruct bacterial leakage. The specimens were sterilized in an autoclave at 121°C for 15 min and stored until further use. All teeth except five (negative control group) were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and incubated in a CO2 chamber at 37°C for 7 days; the trypticase soy broth was changed every 2 days. For the determination of possible biofilm formation, five of the 80 teeth were randomly selected as a positive control group; one tooth of positive control group was analysed for biofilm development by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and these teeth received no final irrigant agitation procedure. Then, the remaining 75 teeth were randomly divided into five test groups (n=15 each) and were sequentially irrigated with 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and 5% NaOCl. Following each irrigant application, different final irrigant agitation techniques were introduced for 60 s (3×20-s sessions). Group 1 received manual­ dynamic agitation, group 2 received passive ultrasonic agitation (PUI), group 3 received EndoActivator agitation, group 4 received photoninitiated photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) with the Er:YAG laser and group 5 received conventional syringe irrigation. Colony-forming units (CFUs) were counted in samples from the positive control and test groups. Data were analysed using Kruskal­ Wallis and post-hoc Mann­Whitney U multiple comparison tests. Results: E. faecalis elimination was significantly better in the experimental groups than in the positive control groups (p < 0.001). Manual­dynamic agitation and conventional syringe irrigation, with no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: Essentially, CFU reduction was significantly greater in the PUI, EndoActivator and PIPS groups than in the manual­dynamic agitation and conventional syringe irrigation groups (p <0.001) , with no significant differences among the former three groups. (AU)

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo in vitro foi comparar a eficácia de diferentes técnicas finais de agitação de irrigantes na remoção de biofilmes de Enterococcus faecalis de canais radiculares. Material e Métodos: No total, os canais radiculares de 85 dentes incisivos superiores unirradiculares humanos extraídos foram preparados usando o sistema Revo-S para um tamanho 40/06. O forame apical de cada dente foi selado por material compósito de resina fotopolimerizável para obstruir o vazamento bacteriano. Os espécimes foram esterilizados em autoclave a 121 ° C por 15 min e armazenados até uso posterior. Todos os dentes, exceto cinco (grupo controle negativo), foram inoculados com Enterococcus faecalis e incubados em câmara de CO2 a 37 ° C por 7 dias; o caldo de soja tripticase foi trocado a cada 2 dias. Para a determinação da possível formação de biofilme, cinco dos 80 dentes foram selecionados aleatoriamente como grupo controle positivo; um dos dentes do grupo controle positivo foi analisado para o desenvolvimento do biofilme por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e estes dentes não receberam nenhum procedimento final de agitação irrigante. Em seguida, os 75 dentes restantes foram aleatoriamente divididos em cinco gruposteste (n = 15 cada) e irrigados sequencialmente com hipoclorito de sódio a 5% (NaOCl), ácido etilenodiaminotetracético a 17% e NaOCl a 5%. Após cada aplicação de irrigantes, diferentes técnicas finais de agitação foram introduzidas por 60 s (3 x 20 s sessões). Grupo 1 recebeu agitação manual-dinâmica, grupo 2 recebeu agitação ultra-sônica passiva (PUI), grupo 3 recebeu agitação EndoActivator, grupo 4 recebeu fotoacústica iniciada por fóton (PIPS) com o laser Er: YAG e grupo 5 recebeu irrigação convencional com seringa. As unidades formadoras de colônia (CFUs) foram contadas em amostras dos grupos controle positivo e teste. Os dados foram analisados utilizando testes de comparação múltipla Kruskal-Wallis e post-hoc Mann-Whitney U. Resultados: A eliminação de E. faecalis foi significativamente melhor nos grupos experimentais do que nos grupos de controle positivo (p < 0,001). Agitação manual-dinâmica e irrigação com seringa convencional, sem diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos. Conclusão: Essencialmente, a redução de UFC foi significativamente maior nos grupos PUI, EndoActivator e PIPS do que nos grupos de agitação manual-dinâmica e de seringa convencional (p < 0,001), sem diferenças significativas entre os três grupos anteriores (AU)