Oral Health-related Quality of Life of Children with Special Health Care Needs in Riyadh: A Cross-sectional Study.

PURPOSE: To assess children's OHRQoL and associated factors among a sample of children with special needs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 6- to 12-year-old children was obtained using convenience sampling from rehabilitation centers. Data were collected through a questionnaire and dental examination. The questionnaire included items related to the children's and their families' characteristics, oral health-related quality of life scales (Parental-Caregivers Perceptions Questionnaire [P-CPQ] and Family Impact Scale [FIS]), perceived health status, and dental care utilisation. Clinical examination was performed by a trained and calibrated dentist. The data were analysed using SPSS; descriptive and inferential data analyses were also performed using SPSS. RESULTS: The mean P-CPQ was 1.10 ± 0.74, and the mean FIS was 1.39 ± 0.88. There was a statistically significant correlation between P-CPQ and caries (r = 0.36, p = 0.02). After controlling for confounders, caries was associated with poor P-CPQ (B = 0.06, p = 0.024). Compared to low-income families, higher-income families had better P-CPQ (4000-8000 SAR: B = -1.36, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Poor oral health-related quality of life in Saudi children is associated with caries and low income. Preventive measures addressing social determinants are vital to control caries and promote oral health in children with special health-care needs.

The effect of an antibacterial mixture and non-instrumentation endodontic treatment in primary teeth: A systematic review and meta-analyses.

Studies assessing the clinical and radiographic success of LSTR in terms of the presence of pain, mobility, swelling, fistula/sinus tract, interradicular radiolucency, and root resorption have not been performed. We therefore performed a systematic review with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of lesion sterilization and tissue repair (LSTR), using three antibacterial mixtures (3Mix), in treating primary teeth. Well-defined search strategies developed for four electronic databases, Web of Science, OVID, PubMed, and Scopus, were used in this study. Two independent reviewers selected relevant articles from 3,232 studies by screening titles and abstracts. Based on the inclusion criteria, 25 articles were selected. Eight analyses of clinical and radiographic results were conducted based on 6, 12, 18, and 24-month follow-up intervals. Data extraction and quality appraisal were performed by three independent reviewers. The composition of antibiotic mixtures used for LSTR varied substantially, with inconsistent radiographic and clinical success rates across the included studies. A quantitative grouping of the studies showed no significant differences between 3Mix and the control medicaments regarding radiographical and clinical success (p-value > 0.05). The available evidence on different LSTR using 3Mix is scarce, and the study findings were inconsistent. Therefore, additional clinical trials on 3Mix with different compositions are needed.

Dental students' attitude towards propranolol non-medical use: A multi-institutional cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: The lives of college students are full of various stressors. Students seek a number of stress-relieving modalities as self-prescribed beta-blockers to improve their academic performance. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of beta-blockers (propranolol) usage amongst Saudi dental students and their attitude towards its use to enhance academic performance. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving a convenient sample was conducted on a group of undergraduate dental students enrolled in Riyadh dental schools during the academic year of 2019/2020. A paper format closed-ended questionnaire was used. RESULTS: A sample of 680 students participated in the survey (43% response rate). Approximately 12% of dental students used propranolol for non-medical reasons. The prevalence did not differ significantly with the gender or year of study. A significantly higher percentage of students from private dental schools reported using propranolol for non-medical reasons (odds ratio (OR), 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7-5.4; p < .001). Propranolol users were significantly more likely to connect with other students using the medication. Both students, those who used and those who did not use propranolol, similarly, highly endorsed the need for being informed about the risk of using propranolol. Compared with non-users, there was more disagreement amongst propranolol users on the necessity for placing school regulations controlling medication use. CONCLUSION: The use of propranolol to enhance academic performance amongst dental students in Saudi Arabia should not be disregarded. The study findings emphasise the importance of regulating students' usage of beta-blockers to promote a fair academic environment.

Fear Factor in Seeking Dental Care among Saudis during COVID-19 Pandemic.

The recent coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to major lifestyle changes. The present study sought to assess factors associated with fear to seek dental care during COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. An online questionnaire was filled by a convenient sample of adult Saudi residents through mobile instant messaging application. The following measures were collected: sociodemographic characteristics, fear of COVID-19 using validated Fears of Illness and Virus Evaluation scale, fear to seek dental care, perceived health status, and COVID-19 experience. There were 826 participants involved in this study (541 females and 285 males, mean age: 38.8 ± 13.29 years). Fear to seek dental care was significantly higher among females, younger age groups, people who perceived poor general and oral health, and people who perceived high risk of contracting the virus in dental clinics. After controlling for confounders, fear to seek dental care was significantly higher among the age group of 35-44 years, those who perceived high and moderate risk of COVID-19 infection in dental clinics, and among participants who reported untreated dental conditions. Fear that Others Get Sick, Fear of the Impact on Social Life, and Behaviors Related to Illness and Virus Fears were significantly associated with high levels of fear to seek dental care. Within the study's limitations, fear of COVID-19 negatively impacted the study population's willingness to seek dental treatment. Factors such as age, perceived risk of COVID-19 infection in dental clinics, and untreated dental conditions were associated with fear to seek dental care.

Psychometric Validation of the Arabic Fear of Illness and Virus Evaluation.

Global infectious pandemics can affect the psychology and behavior of human beings. Several tools were developed to evaluate the psychological impact of such outbreaks. The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Arabic translated version of Fear of Illness and Virus Evaluation scale (FIVE). FIVE is a 35-item tool consisting of four subscales that measure Fears about Contamination and Illness, Fears about Social Distancing, Behaviors Related to Illness and Virus Fears and Impact of Illness and Virus Fears. The tool was translated into Arabic by using a forward-backward translation. The online questionnaire contained the following sections: demographics, FIVE, Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and face validity questions. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to recruit participants via a mobile instant messaging application. Reliability, concurrent validity, face validity and factor analysis were examined. The data consisted of 509 adult participants who reside in Saudi Arabia. The internal consistency of the Arabic FIVE subscales was high (0.84-0.91) with strong concurrent validity indicated by positive correlations of FIVE subscales with FCV-19S. Factor analysis suggested slightly different factor structures (Fears of Getting Sick, Fears that Others Get Sick, Fears of the Impact on Social Life and Behaviors Related to Illness and Virus Fears). Our data showed a better fit using the proposed structures. The Arabic version of the FIVE showed robust validity and reliability qualities to assess fear of COVID-19 on Arabic adult population.

Perception of Altered Smile Esthetics by Orthodontists, Dentists, and Laypeople in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Mini-esthetics is an important concept in orthodontics concerned with relatedness of dentition to the face. PURPOSE: We compared the perception of altered smile esthetics between orthodontists, dentists, and laypeople in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 216 participants (orthodontists, dentists, and laypeople) were conveniently surveyed. An image representing the ideal smile was altered in terms of buccal corridor, gingival display, and midline diastema. Using Likert scale, participants were asked to rate the attractiveness of the altered images. RESULTS: The three surveyed groups preferred wide rather than narrow buccal corridors. Also, as the amount of gingival display and midline diastema increased, the smile was rated less attractive. Age of participants was significantly associated with more precise recognition of gingival display and midline diastema, P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively. CONCLUSION: The concept of an ideal smile holds true across the heterogenous groups we studied despite gender and professional background.

Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders can be Successfully Examined Using Dental Desensitization.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Predicting successful dental examinations for children with autism spectrum disorder in the context of a dental desensitization program. Nelson T, Chim A, Sheller BL, McKinney CM, Scott JM. J Am Dent Assoc 2017; 148(7): 485-92. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Not available TYPE OF STUDY: Cohort study.