Comparative evaluation of increase in temperature on the external root surface of teeth during retrieval of broken NiTi instrument using two ultrasonic tips and two power settings: An in vitro study.

Context: An unfavorable event that can hinder endodontic treatment and affect the outcome of root canal treatment is the separation of endodontic instruments. Endodontic instrument separation can occur due to clinical or metallurgical factors. Friction between the ultrasonic tip and the remaining dentin generates heat, which is subsequently transferred to the external root surface. Elevated temperatures exceeding 10°C above body temperature for more than a minute may result in injury to periodontal or bone tissue. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare temperature rise on the external root surface of teeth during retrieval of broken NiTi instrument using two different ultrasonic tips and two power settings. Materials and Methods: In each group, a sample size of 8 was sufficient to attain a statistical power exceeding 90%, enabling the detection of a minimum mean difference of 0.9204 (delta) through a one-way ANOVA test at a 95% confidence level (alpha 0.05). After access opening and working length determination, samples were randomly distributed into two groups - Group 1 (A and B) - ProUltra tip at high and low power settings and Group 2 (A and B) - Cric Dental IR3 at high and low power settings. The temperature rise was measured using K-type thermocouple thermometer. The comparisons were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test with pairwise comparisons using the Dunn's test. Results: Group 1A and Group 1B resulted in lower heat generation compared to Group 2A and 2B and its difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Minimum temperature rise is seen in the ProUltra group at lower power settings (Group 1A) at the apical level and maximum temperature rise is seen in the Cric Dental IR3 group at higher power settings (Group 2B) at the middle third level. Conclusion: It was found that there is a significant temperature rise seen when ultrasonic tips are used for the retrieval of separated files, especially at higher power settings. The ProUltra tip demonstrated the lowest temperature rise at lower power settings, particularly at the apical level, whereas the IR3 Cric Dental tip exhibited the highest temperature rise, notably at higher power settings and the middle third level.

Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Patient Education and Communication in Dentistry.

Effective patient education and communication are integral components of quality dental care, contributing to informed decision-making, treatment compliance, and positive clinical outcomes. However, traditional methods face challenges such as language barriers, anxiety, and information retention issues. Artificial intelligence (AI) presents innovative solutions to enhance patient engagement and communication in dentistry. This review explores the transformative role of AI in redefining patient education and communication strategies, focusing on applications, benefits, challenges, and future directions. A literature search identified articles from 2018 to 2024, encompassing empirical evidence and conceptual frameworks related to AI in dental patient engagement and communication. Key findings reveal AI's potential to offer personalized educational materials, virtual consultations, language translation tools, and virtual reality simulations, improving patient understanding and experience. Despite advancements, concerns about overreliance, accuracy, implementation costs, patient acceptance, privacy, and regulatory compliance persist. Future implications suggest AI's ability to track patient progress, analyze feedback, streamline administrative processes, and provide ongoing support, enhancing oral health outcomes. However, ethical, regulatory, and equity considerations require attention for responsible AI deployment and widespread adoption. Overall, AI holds promise for revolutionizing dental patient education, communication, and care delivery, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies to address emerging challenges and maximize benefits.

The Role of Chatbot GPT Technology in Undergraduate Dental Education.

This comprehensive article explores the transformative role of Chatbot GPT, based on the GPT-3 architecture, in revolutionizing dental education. The focus is on its impact across various facets, including personalized learning pathways, integration into virtual patient simulation scenarios, 24/7 accessibility, multilingual support, interactive dental dictionary functionality, evidence-based learning, and assessment and evaluation of dental students. The objective is to showcase how Chatbot GPT enhances educational experiences, promotes inclusivity, and aligns with contemporary pedagogical principles. Chatbot GPT emerges as a powerful ally in dental education, offering personalized learning experiences, risk-free clinical simulations, continuous accessibility, multilingual support, instant terminology assistance, evidence-based learning resources, and real-time assessment capabilities. Its adaptability caters to diverse learning needs, fostering a learner-centered approach and promoting lifelong learning for both dental students and practitioners. As a versatile tool, Chatbot GPT not only transforms the educational journey but also serves as a valuable asset for continuous professional development in the dynamic landscape of dentistry.

Knowledge and attitude of dental students of Navi Mumbai on tobacco cessation counseling: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Due to the increasing awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco, quite a few tobacco users have shown interest in quitting. But, still there is lack of knowledge, lack of tobacco cessation support, and strong cultural habits which influence their inability to quit. Dentists are less likely to provide tobacco cessation advice and counseling and they feel inadequately prepared to provide tobacco cessation education to their patients as compared to physicians and other health professionals. Furthermore, tobacco cessation counseling is not yet a part of routine dental practice and is not incorporated in the dental curriculum. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of dental students of Navi Mumbai on tobacco cessation counseling. METHODS: It is a cross-sectional survey-based study. A total of 691 interns and 4th year BDS students were assessed using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: About 75.3% of the participants claimed that they were not sufficiently trained to provide tobacco cessation counseling. However, 84.2% indicated willingness to counsel their patients regarding the same. About 62.1% felt that the patients do not listen to dental students about quitting and 89.6% of students agreed that counseling patients on tobacco cessation is their duty. DISCUSSION: Dental students lacked confidence in providing counseling to tobacco users due to lack of knowledge on tobacco cessation counseling. However, majority of the participants were also motivated to undertake special training for counseling. The study highlights the importance of introducing tobacco cessation counseling program in the curriculum of dental students to create awareness about the same and to help dental professionals provide effective tobacco cessation counseling.

Incidence of amlodipine-induced gingival overgrowth in the rural population of Loni.

AIMS: Since the incidence of gingival overgrowth induced by amlodipine remains poorly defined, this study was carried out with an aim to determine the incidence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental patients who received amlodipine (N = 115), for more than 3 months were studied to determine the drug-induced gingival overgrowth. Clinical diagnosis of drug-induced overgrowth was verified by disappearance or decreased severity of gingival overgrowth after withdrawal of the causative drug. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of amlodipine-induced gingival hyperplasia among experimental patients was 3.4%, while it was not observed among the control subjects. Oral examination revealed gingival overgrowth as a lobular or nodular enlargement on interdental papilla located in the anterior interproximal regions. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, there was a significant relationship between gingival inflammation resulting from dental plaque and drug dosage, and hyperplasia.