Knowledge about dental care in patients with head and neck cancer among senior dental school students: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: The dentist's central role in treating head and neck cancer patients is to care for the patient's oral cavity before, during, and after radio/chemotherapy. This research aimed to determine dental students' knowledge about head and neck cancer patients' dental care. METHODS: One hundred and four fifth and sixth-year dental students participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. The data collection tool was a questionnaire that collected demographic information (gender, year of study) and four questions consisting of attendance to courses or workshops, passing a dedicated course at the university, willing to participate in a course or workshop on the treatment of head and neck cancer patients and self-evaluating information about the treatment of head and neck cancer patients. Final part 36 questions about oral and dental care for head and neck cancer patients before, after, and during treatment. The data were analyzed with SPSS 26 statistical software and using t-tests, ANOVA, and linear regression at the 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: Most of the participants were in their sixth year (48.9%). A total of 48.1% of the people reported that their information about dental treatments in patients with head and neck cancer was bad. 85% of participants agreed with the necessity of evaluating the patient's mouth and teeth before starting the treatment. The lowest percentage of correct answers was related to the ideal duration of tooth extraction and a poor prognosis before the start of cancer treatment. The regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between years of education, willingness to participate in courses, and students' knowledge evaluation and knowledge. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that students' awareness of oral and dental treatment and care for patients with head and neck cancer is insufficient. It is recommended that teaching staff pay more attention to the lack of knowledge and effort to educate students by holding special courses and workshops.

Clinical, radiological, and histological correlation in diagnosis of pulpitis.

Background: To establish an endodontic diagnosis, a clinician should consider a variety of factors. Various studies have failed to demonstrate a strong correlation between histological findings with clinical and radiographic assessments. This study sought to evaluate the histopathological features of reversible and irreversible pulpitis diseases and their correlation with clinical diagnosis in extracted human molar teeth. Materials and Methods: In this experimental ex vivo study, 75 molars with caries and three intact molars were used. According to the radiographic findings and clinical criteria and the need for root canal therapy, samples were categorized as having normal/reversible pulpitis and irreversible pulpitis. Immediately after extraction, an exposure was made at 2 mm below the cementoenamel junction. Formalin-fixed specimens were decalcified, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examinations using light microscopy. Variables including the type and severity of the inflammation, hyperemia, necrosis, fibrosis and the existence of an odontoblastic layer and dentin bridge were evaluated. The Fisher's exact test and the Chi-squared test were used for statistical analysis. P <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Acute inflammation, hyperemia and pulp exposure were significantly more common among subjects with irreversible pulpitis (P < 0/005). However, fibrosis was significantly higher in the reversible group (P < 0/005). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the other variables. Conclusion: Some discrepancies between clinical, radiographic and histological findings were observed in our experimental study. Indeed, effective clinical practice requires consideration of all discrepancies found.

Histological assessment of pulpal responses to resin modified glass ionomer cements in human teeth.

BACKGROUND: The biocompatibility of resin-modified glass ionomers (RMGIs) as a lining material is still under question. The present study evaluated the response of the pulp-dentin complex following application of resin-modified glass-ionomer cement, calcium hydroxide and conventional glass-ionomer in deep cavities prepared in human teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this controlled clinical trial, 30 deep class V buccal cavities (3 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm) were prepared in human premolars treatment planned to be extracted for orthodontic reasons and divided into 3 groups. Groups were lined by a RMGI (Vivaglass), conventional glass Ionomer (Ionocid) and calcium hydroxide respectively. The cavities were subsequently filled with amalgam. Each group was then divided into two sub-groups according to time intervals 5 and 30 days. The patients were referred to Kerman Dental School and in accordance with orthodontic treatment plan; premolars were extracted and then prepared for histological assessment. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid Schiff techniques. All of the samples were examined using a number of criteria including odontoblastic changes, inflammatory cells response, reactionary dentin formation and presence of microorganisms. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: There was no significant difference among odontoblastic changes, reactionary dentin, presence of bacteria and inflammatory cells response of the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ionocid and Vivaglass resin-modified glass ionomers can be used as lining materials in human teeth.

Efficacy of an electric toothbrush on plaque control compared to two manual toothbrushes.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare an electric toothbrush with two manual toothbrushes, in their relative efficacy to control plaque. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial. SETTING: Kerman Dental School, Iran. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five volunteer dental students were randomly assigned to one of three groups. All subjects received a baseline plaque assessment using O'Leary plaque index, and then a prophylaxis to achieve the plaque index of zero. Subjects were trained to brush twice daily, with their assigned device and return after 1week and then after 2weeks for plaque assessment. Chi-squared and ANOVA were mainly used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Plaque assessment using O'Leary plaque index. RESULTS: Although Jordan toothbrush consistently resulted in lower plaque indices compared to both manual toothbrushes, those differences were not statistically significant, F(2, 42)=2.45, P=0.10. Plaque reduction from week 1 to week 2 was significant in Jordan Power group (60%, from 13.46 to 5.44, P=0.010) and Panbehriz Classic group (53%, from 20.92 to 9.91, P=0.007). CONCLUSION: The results of this study shows no evidence of statistically significant difference in respect to plaque control, between Jordan Power electric toothbrush and either of Oral-B Advantage or Panbehriz Classic manual brushes in a group of dental students after 2weeks.