Does Social Media have any Influence during the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Update.

AIM: The study aimed to explore the role, impact, and influence of social media on the population during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)pandemic. BACKGROUND: During pandemics, communication is an important factor to disseminate the information, create awareness and provide timely updates from authorized personnel to the masses. Social media progressed to function as a mediator of transmission of information between the government and authorities and the public during the COVID-19. REVIEW RESULTS: Though several strengths were observed yet liabilities did not go unnoticed regarding the role essayed by social media during this pandemic period. When used responsibly, these technologies can aid in the rapid dissemination of crucial facts, important scientific discoveries, and information regarding diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up as well as comparing different strategies across the world. It is recommended to follow certain fundamental standards while exchanging information on social media networks during the COVID-19 era in order to utilize these technologies responsibly and effectively. CONCLUSION: In this research, we have made an attempt to synthesize the vital facts regarding the impact, benefits, and drawbacks of using social media during COVID-19. Eventually, the decision of evaluation, acceptance, and denial of the information received rests with the individual. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Social media use has become intangible with health care. Instead of venturing out the negative effects, we need to focus on utilizing social media for the betterment of the public and to the advantage of the public to increase awareness levels, spread knowledge, and cooperate to tap the benefits to the maximum extent possible to prevent the disease spread.

Influence of Human and Bacterial Enzymes on Resin Restorations: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Esthetic satisfaction has been a prime concern for patients. This has led to a surge in the development of esthetic restorations and dental composites in the field of restorative dentistry over the past decade. Resins are the most preferred restorative material. However, their failure rate was observed to be high. AIM: This review is aimed for clinician, discussing the influence of human and bacterial enzymes on resin restorations. REVIEW RESULTS: Composite restoration failure is multifactorial with an interplay of mechanical functions such as masticatory forces and abrasion with biological factors such as host modulated and bacterial enzymes. Salivary esterases and bacterial esterases act on the ester-link bond of resin restoration to form byproducts of methacrylic acid and Bis-hydroxy-propoxy-phenyl-propane. Salivary enzymes form microgaps between the resin-tooth interface and provide a suitable environment for bacterial growth. Bacteria colonize the resin-tooth interface to weaken the resin bond strength. The presence of bacteria draws neutrophils into the hybrid layer. The activation and degranulation of neutrophils leads to enzyme secretions that act on bacteria. However, this can also have adverse effects on resin restoration. Acids prompt the activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Proteinases secreted by MMPs uncoil the collagen fibrils of the dentin matrix and degrade tooth structure. The salivary esterases, bacterial esterases, neutrophils, and MMPs work synergistically to degrade dental resin material, resin-tooth interface, and dentin. This causes failure of dental resin restorations and secondary caries formation. CONCLUSION: Biological degradation of resin restorations is inevitable irrespective of the material and techniques used. Salivary esterases such as cholesterol esterase and pseudocholinesterase and cariogenic bacterial esterase can degrade dental resin, weakening the hybrid layer at the resin-tooth interface, affecting the bond strength, and causing failure. Ester-free resin and incorporation of antimicrobial materials, esterase, and MMP inhibitors are strategies that could ameliorate degradation of the restoration.

Techniques for Extraction Socket Regeneration for Alveolar Ridge Preservation.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar bone undergoes volumetric changes after extraction due to physiologic bone remodeling. The amount of alveolar bone available during prosthodontic treatment can affect the esthetic outcome of the treatment and make implant placement challenging. Socket preservation techniques are advocated postextraction to maintain the bone's vertical and horizontal alveolar bone dimensions and prevent its atrophy. AIM: This review is oriented toward a clinician, describing the different materials and techniques in practice today for socket preservation. REVIEW RESULTS: A variety of methods have been studied as a means to stop alveolar ridge resorption. While immediate implant placement was recommended as a socket preservation technique, clinical trials have not demonstrated favorable results. The main techniques favored by clinicians today involve bone grafts, bone substitutes, barrier membranes, and combinations thereof. As with periodontal defects, these materials show favorable outcomes in alveolar bone regeneration and ridge preservation. Tooth bone grafts, both autogenous and allogenous, have been recommended recently for ridge preservation as they are chemically similar to bone and can induce osteogenesis. The use of autologous platelet concentrates has yielded contradictory results in studies. Cutting-edge approaches entail using growth factors and tissue engineering concepts. While these strategies are still in the development stages, it has peerless potential in preserving and regenerating alveolar bone. CONCLUSION: Alveolar ridge resorption is an unavoidable physiological process after extraction and leads to severe bone deficiencies, affecting esthetics. These changes in alveolar ridge dimensions make implant placement difficult and affect the longevity of the implant. Clinical intervention can prevent alveolar bone resorption and preserve the ridge. Bone grafts and substitutes including concentrates remain the best choices in ride preservation. The use of growth factors and tissue engineering concepts requires further clinical trials before widespread use in clinical practice.

Knowledge and Attitude of Undergraduate Students and Interns about Human Tooth Bank: A Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Human tooth banks (HTBs) are philanthropic institutions that assist to alleviate academic pressure by supplying human teeth essential for preclinical laboratory activities and experimental research. The primary focus of this research was to assess the knowledge and attitude of undergraduate students and interns who have taken up dentistry as their field of study in Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, about HTB. Materials and methods: An online structured self-explanatory questionnaire containing 16 questions was sent via email to the undergraduate students and interns. The Google e-forms questionnaire contained a consent attached for participating in this cross-sectional observational study. Results: A good response rate of 93.3% was recorded, but the results were surprising as 66.43% of the participants did not have the slightest idea regarding the concept of a tooth bank, while only a meager 17.4% of them supported the idea of getting the teeth preauthorized from HTBs before using it on patients. A majority (80.36%) of students unanimously promoted the idea of having facilities like HTBs, but only 15.36% of students had stored teeth at a teeth bank previously. Conclusion: There is an overwhelming lack of awareness among students regarding HTBs and the legal procedures involved in procuring teeth from them. It is necessary to do all that's required to create awareness about the perks of linking HTB with various dental institutions and the legal process involved to use human teeth. How to cite this article: Vishwanathaiah S, Eshaq RH, Maganur PC, et al. Knowledge and Attitude of Undergraduate Students and Interns about Human Tooth Bank: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(1):60-64.

Pharmacological Means of Pain Control during Separator Placement: A Systematic Review.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of adjuvant analgesics/anesthetics in pain control after separator placement compared with no medication. BACKGROUND: Separator placement to create space for cementing bands is the first clinical procedure done in orthodontics. Pain in this stage can negatively affect patient compliance and trust in the clinician. To date, there is no universally accepted regimen for pain control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. One hundred and thirty-two potentially relevant studies were found. A total of eight randomized clinical trials including 642 subjects were selected. Data were extracted into customized forms, and selected studies were assessed for risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: Results showed the use of analgesics led to lower reported pain scores at almost all time intervals. NSAIDs resulted in a statistically significant reduction in pain compared to a control group. CONCLUSION: According to the available literature, the use of analgesics is effective in controlling orthodontic pain due to separators. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen show a stable analgesic effect. CLINICAL IMPLICATION: Acetaminophen 650 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg taken 1 hour prior to separator placement can reduce pain associated with the procedure.

Does Dental Fear in Children Predict Untreated Dental Caries? An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.

Despite free health care services in Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of caries in children is substantially greater in comparison to other high-income countries. Dental fear in children may be an important issue that needs attention. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the role of dental fear in predicting untreated dental caries in schoolchildren. This analytical cross-sectional study included children aged 8-10 years residing in Saudi Arabia. Dental status via oral examinations was surveyed with the WHO standardized chart and the Children Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale was used to score dental fear. Descriptive, binary, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to report the findings at 5% statistical significance. Overall, there were 798 schoolchildren with an average fear score of 36. Nearly 70.4% reported fear of someone examining their mouth. About 76.9% had at least one carious tooth in their oral cavity. Children with dental fear were 1.8 times (OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.26, 2.56) more likely to have at least one untreated carious tooth in their oral cavity than those who did not express fear during oral examinations and dental procedures. Thus, the current study concludes that fear of dentists and dental treatment procedures successfully predicts untreated carious teeth in schoolchildren.

Novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) awareness among the dental interns, dental auxiliaries and dental specialists in Saudi Arabia: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Dental health care workers (DHCW's) are invariably at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. The objectives were; to investigate the current knowledge on COVID-19 among the DHCW's; and to conduct quasi-experiment among the DHCW's who were unaware of the disseminated COVID-19 information. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional study targeting dental interns, auxiliaries, and specialists with a two-staged cluster sampling technique was performed. A 17-item questionnaire was subjected to reliability and validity tests before being administered. The participants for quasi-experiment were separated from the original sample after their initial response. Chi-square test assessed responses to knowledge statements between the participants. Difference in mean knowledge scores between the categories of DHCW's and sources of COVID-19 information was assessed using ANOVA. Data from the quasi experiment (pre vs post knowledge intervention) was subjected to paired t-test. Percentage of DHCWs providing correct or wrong responses to each knowledge statement at baseline and after 7 days were compared using McNemar test. RESULTS: The overall sample consisted of 706 (N) participants, and the DHCW's with no prior knowledge on COVID-19 (N=206) were part of the quasi experiment. Findings from cross-sectional study revealed that knowledge was significantly (p<0.05) related to the qualification level (interns vs auxiliaries vs specialists). However, the difference in the source of information (WHO/CDC vs Journal articles vs MoH) did not demonstrate any effect. Number of participants with correct responses to knowledge questions had significantly (p<0.05) increased after intervention. Also, the overall mean knowledge score (10.74±2.32 vs 12.47±1.68; p<0.001) had increased significantly after the intervention. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the basic knowledge on COVID-19 among the DHCW's in Saudi Arabia is acceptable. Timely dissemination of information by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia had a positive impact on the COVID-19 knowledge score of the DHCW's.

COVID-19 and Periodontitis: A Reality to Live with.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a r ecent pandemic that is advancing at a r apid r ate. The future course of the disease includes severe r espiratory infection and also leads to death if unattended. Meticulous measures are necessary before attending any patient. The dental operatories and the clinic surroundings must be well sanitized so as to prevent the spread of pandemic. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This r eview discusses in brief about the pathophysiology and course of COVID-19. Further, we discussed in detail the management aspects of patients in periodontal perspective and the sanitization procedures required for the dental clinic. REVIEW RESULTS: The SARS coronavirus enters the human circulation via the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) receptors which are also found on the oral mucosal surfaces. Furin and Cathepsin L are the pro-inflammatory molecules released during pathogenesis of periodontitis and mediate the molecular pathways that help the virus invade into the host. The clinic set-up should be modified to best suit the pandemic conditions. This includes the three phases, i.e., phase I: preparatory phase; phase II: implementation phase; and phase III: follow-up. The patient management is explained based on the emergency needs of the patient based on the recent AAP classification of periodontal diseases and conditions 2017 as emergency, urgent, and elective treatment needs which have been explained in detail. CONCLUSION: It can be strongly concluded that there is direct relationship between oral health and systemic health. The treatment procedures and sanitization protocols must be definitely modified. Further consensus and systematic reviews help us arriving at a more standardized protocol. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This review would help clinicians modify the way they treat patients in the clinic and provide better services depending upon the emergency needs of the patient.