Dental Education for Prevention of Oral Cancer in Turkey: Needs for Changing the Curriculum.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of dental students on oral cancer in Istanbul, Turkey. A self-administered questionnaire adapted from Tanriover et al. consisting of 48 questions was distributed to 311 students enrolled in the fourth and fifth grades of a dental faculty in Istanbul, Turkey. Questions were grouped under 5 main headings: socio-demographic features, knowledge on risk factors and diagnostic procedures, history taking regarding to alcohol and smoking status, opinions and behaviors of oral cancer, and distribution of dental students according to diagnostic practice of oral cancer. The frequencies and percentages were calculated with descriptive analysis. The differences in distributions were analyzed using the chi-squared test. The p value was set at 0.05 for statistical significance. The overall response rate was 98% (305/311). The majority of the students identified tobacco and alcohol as risk factors (82% and 75.1%, respectively), while older age and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables were less likely to be known (60.2% and 52.8%, respectively). Almost one-fifth of the students stated that they have never performed oral cancer examinations during their first or subsequent dental examinations of their patients. Female students thought that dentists were authorized to make oral cancer examinations with a higher frequency compared to males (65.8% and 34.2%, respectively; p = 0.006). On the other hand, female students reported that they did not receive adequate education regarding cessation of smoking with a higher frequency compared with males (69.2% female and 30.8% male respectively; p = 0.0001). As this present study revealed that future dentists had insufficient knowledge in some of the main concepts on oral cancer risk factors, and they lacked the confidence in performing oral examinations in their patients, it is concluded that there is a need for a more structured teaching program with greater emphasis on the early signs and risk factors of OC. Reorganization of the dental curriculum, and courses which further draw attention on the responsibility of the dental practitioner in the detection of oral cancers will be beneficial for the creation of awareness on this significant topic among future dental workforce. Understanding the knowledge and perception of dental students on oral cancers is not only limited to a specific country but it is a worldwide critical issue in which information should be exchanged.

Evaluation of Surface Roughness Characteristics Using Atomic Force Microscopy and Inspection of Microhardness Following Resin Infiltration with Icon®.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness via atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as to evaluate the microhardness values of Icon® in comparison with sound and demineralized enamel in a large subject group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Enamel samples were prepared from sound bovine incisors and randomly allocated into either AFM (n = 60) or microhardness (n = 60) groups. The AFM group was divided into control (n = 30) and Icon® (n = 30) subgroups. The microhardness group was also divided into three subgroups: control (n = 20), demineralization (n = 20) and Icon® (n = 20) groups. The demineralization and Icon® subgroups were subjected to a demineralizing solution (pH: 4, 2 hours). Following the formation of shallow white spot lesions and application of the infiltrant, each sample was examined according to its parameter. RESULTS: AFM images suggested that Icon® had a significantly rougher surface than the control group. When the AFM results were evaluated numerically, it was evident that the Icon® group possessed statistically higher Sa, Sq, mean height, and maximum deviation values compared to the control group. The mean Vickers hardness values of all groups were determined to be significantly different from one another. Hardness values in the demineralization group were determined to be significantly lower than the control and Icon® groups. No statistically significant difference was observed between mean Vickers hardness values for the contol and Icon® groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present in vitro study shows that more studies are required to improve the surface quality of this infiltrant material. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The present in vitro study shows that the resin infiltration technique results in increased microhardness of demineralized enamel. However, it was observed that the infiltrant material creates a significantly rougher surface compared to healthy, untreated enamel. (J Esthet Restor Dent 29:201-208, 2017).

Antibacterial surface properties of various fluoride-releasing restorative materials in vitro.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial surface properties of high-viscosity glass ionomers (Fuji IX GP, Ketac Molar), a resin-modified nano-ionomer (Ketac N100), resin-modified glass ionomers (Fuji II LC, Vitremer), a compomer (Compoglass F) and a resin-based composite (Filtek Z250). METHODS: ISO-standardized specimens 6 mm in diameter were prepared for each restorative material. The antibacterial properties of the materials were tested in an agar diffusion assay using Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175) for 24 and 48 hours. An inhibition zone greater than 6 mm was defined as diffuse inhibition, whereas zones ≤6 mm were described as contact inhibition. RESULTS: All tested materials exhibited a contact antibacterial effect against S. mutans. Vitremer showed the most remarkable antibacterial diffuse inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: These materials might cause antibacterial effects against S. mutans when placed on cavity surfaces in both enamel and dentine, thereby preventing secondary caries formation.

Transalveolar repositioning of an impacted immature permanent mandibular canine.

The purpose of this case report is to discuss the four-year follow-up of a transalveolar transplantation of an impacted immature permanent mandibular left canine. A nine year-old-boy was referred to the dental school because of a mandibular swelling associated with the impacted canine. Under local anesthesia, the tooth was extracted and transplanted in its own space, followed by a two-week orthodontic fixation. The radiographic examination two months later revealed the presence of external inflammatory root resorption, which was treated with an apexification. The overall status of the transplanted tooth and the surrounding hard and soft tissues four years post-treatment indicates a successful outcome.

Craniodentofacial Manifestations in a Rare Syndrome: Orofaciodigital Type IV (Mohr-Majewski Syndrome).

Background. The orofaciodigital syndromes (OFDS) are a heterogeneous group of syndromes that affect the face, oral cavity, and the digits. OFDS type IV (OMIM %258860) is rare and characterized by broad nasal root and tip, orbital hypertelorism or telecanthus, micrognathia, hypoplastic mandible, and low-set ears. Oral symptoms may include cleft lip, cleft or highly arched palate, bifid uvula, cleft or hypoplastic maxillary and mandibular alveolar ridge, oral frenula, lingual hamartoma, and absent or hypoplastic epiglottis. Dental anomalies are common and generally include disturbances in the number of teeth. Case Report. This report presents a six-year-old girl, referred with the chief complaint of missing teeth. She was diagnosed as having OFDS type IV based on clinical findings. Her parents reported three deceased children and two fetuses that had the same phenotype. She was the seventh child of consanguineous parents who were first cousins. Conclusion. This is a very rare syndrome. Many reported OFDS type IV cases have consanguineous parents, consistent with an autosomal recessive trait. Manifestation of cleft palate in the healthy sibling may be mild expression of the disorder or an unrelated isolated cleft.