Effect of different production techniques on the color of porcelain-fused-to-titanium restorations.

In dentistry, the shade selection of the restoration affects the success of the restoration. For this reason, it may be decisive for clinicians to determine whether the difference in framework production influences color in metal-ceramic restorations. The study examined the effects of different framework production techniques used in porcelain-fused-to-titanium restorations on color changes. 45 square-shaped samples were manufactured using cast, milling, and laser-sintering techniques. Opaque and dentin porcelain were performed, and all samples were glazed. A spectrophotometer was used for color measurements. Before opaque application, after opaque application, and after porcelain + glaze application, it was obtained L*, a*, and b* values. Color differences (ΔE00) were calculated with the CIEDE2000 formula. ANOVA (Post Hoc: Bonferroni) and Shapiro Wilks (Normality) tests were used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). At the different laboratory steps, the difference between cast&laser-sintered groups and between milled&laser-sintered groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Before and after opaque application, the differences in L*, a*, and b* values between cast, milled, and laser-sintered groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Different framework production methods influenced the color of porcelain-fused-to-titanium restorations.

Influence of psychiatric symptom profiles of parents on sleep bruxism intensity of their children.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of parental anxiety, depression levels and psychiatric symptom profiles of parents on the occurrence of sleep bruxism in children. MATERIAL & METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 94 children aged 6 to 12 years, divided into two groups: with sleep bruxism (bruxism group-BG) and without sleep bruxism (control group-CG). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R), Symptom Checklist and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders-Parent (SCARED-P) scale were used to assess anxiety and depression levels of parents. All questionnaires were filled out by parents of children. Intraoral and extraoral examinations were carried out of children in the clinic and sleep bruxism was determined. All stress conditions were investigated by logistic regression analysis. In the comparison of the qualitative data, chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used. RESULTS: The data revealed that participants whose mothers had high anxiety and interpersonal sensitivity scores, and participants whose fathers had a medium level of obsessive-compulsive disorder were more likely to have an SB problem (p < 0.05). According to the results of BDI, the fathers' results between the BG and the CG were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, the mothers' results between the BG and the CG were statistically significant (p < 0.05) When all subscales of SCARED-P were evaluated, the separation anxiety disorder subscore was statistically significant in the bruxism group. CONCLUSION: The psychological status of parents is a significant risk factor associated with SB development in school-age children.

Assessment of burnout level among clinical dental students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak has caused especially health workers to face mental and physical problems all over the world. The aim of this study is to evaluate burnout, stress perception and perceived social support levels of clinical (the fourth and fifth year) dental students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The Sociodemographic Information Form (SIF), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Sense of Coherence-13 (SoC-13), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used for data. Questionnaires were answered directly or online by the participants. RESULTS: A total of 211 participants, 67.8% were female, 32.2% were male. Of these, 96.2% were aged 20-24 years, 84.4% were nuclear family, 11.8% were extended family, and 3.8% were blended family, and 91.5% were willingly for dentistry choice. Based on the results; the total burnout score indicated moderate burnout (41.99 ± 9.94), the SoC-13 scale indicated a strong sense of coherence (55.24 ± 7.21), the PSS-10 score (22.44 ± 3.44) indicated moderate perceived stress and the MSPSS score (65.92 ± 13.22) indicated high perceived social support. A positive correlation was found between perceived stress and burnout. Based on the personal accomplishment subscale; females, those living in extended family, and those who unwillingly choose dentistry among the clinical dental students had higher intense burnout (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated that clinical dental students were affected by the emotional stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic conditions. In the education of dentistry faculties, it would be appropriate to carry out comprehensive studies on adaptation to the changing living conditions with the COVID-19 pandemic and taking the necessary measures for the psychological distress caused by the difficulties experienced.

Evaluation of burnout and stress perception levels of Turkish dental laboratory technicians according to affecting factors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused healthcare professionals to face unequal acute workplace stress and burnout. This study aimed to analyze the potential impact of COVID-19 on the burnout and associated emotional stress conditions of Turkish dental technicians. METHODS: A 20-question demographic scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Sense of Coherence-13 (SoC-13), and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) were used to obtain data. A total of 152 participants answered these surveys directly and reported their stress burnout levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Of all participants who agreed to participate in the survey, 39.5% were females and 60.5% were males. Regardless of demographic variables, the MBI-total (37.2 ± 11.71), SoC-13 total (53.81 ± 10.29), and PSS-10 total (21.25 ± 5.5) scores indicated moderate burnout, SoC, and perceived stress levels. According to sub-scores of the MBI; mean emotional exhaustion and depersonalization indicate low-level burnout, and mean personal accomplishment indicates moderate burnout. Long working hours increase burnout. No significant differences were observed according to demographic variables, except for work experience. A positive correlation was found between perceived stress and burnout. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that dental technicians working during the COVID-19 pandemic are influenced by emotional stress due to the outcomes of the pandemic. One reason for this situation might be the long working hours. Working arrangements, under-controlled disease risk factors, and lifestyle changes may improve stress levels.Key MessagesCOVID-19 outbreak exposed psychological returns to the general population, and especially to healthcare workers.Questionnaire method was applied to evaluate the burnout and stress levels among dental laboratory technicians during COVID-19 outbreak.Moderate levels of burnout and stress perception were detected. Long working time was one of the effective factors.

Surface roughness and characteristics of CAD/CAM zirconia and glass ceramics after combined treatment procedures.

BACKGROUND: The roughening of the inner surface of a fixed ceramic restoration is an important factor for the bonding process. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of combined surface treatments (acid etching, air-abrasion and Er: YAG Laser) on surface roughness of CAD/CAM fabricated zirconia (ZrO2) and lithium-disilicate glass ceramics (LDS). METHODS: Sixty ZrO2 (Ceramill Zi) and LDS (IPS e.max CAD) specimens, (5 mm in width, 5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in height) were fabricated using CAD/CAM and sintered according to the manufacturer's instructions. All specimens subjected to three surface treatment combinations; etching with 4% hydrofluoric acide (HF), airborne-particle abrasion with 110-µm alumina (Al2O3) (AP) and Er:YAG laser (Er:YAG) (Group A-HF + AP; Group B-Er:YAG + AP, and Group C-Er:YAG + HF). Perthometer was used to measure the surface roughness of the specimens before and after the tretments. RESULTS: Group A presented the highest Ra (LDS 0.81 ± 0.27 and ZrO2 0.67 ± 0.21 after treatment) and Group C the lowest (LDS 0.45 ± 0.13 and ZrO2 0.26 ± 0.07, after treatment). Compared with before treatment, the Ra were significantly different only in Group A both ZrO2 and LDS after treatment (p < 0.05). Qualitative SEM images suggested the surface topography of the ZrO2 was smoother than the LDS. Less surface changes were observed in the Er:YAG combined procedures than HF + AP. CONCLUSIONS: HF + AP was significantly succesful in modifying the ceramic surface. Er:YAG did not sufficiently promote the surface topography, even if combined with any other treatments. Overall, surface tretments on ZrO2 not easier than LDS.

The effect of thermo-mechanical fatigue on the retentive force and dimensional changes in polyetheretherketone clasps with different thickness and undercut.

PURPOSE: Esthetic expectations have increased the use of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) clasps as alternatives to Cr-Co in removable partial dentures (RPDs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the retentive force and dimensional change of clasps with different thickness and undercut made from PEEK by the thermo-mechanical fatigue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PEEK clasps (N = 48) with thicknesses of 1 or 1.50 mm and 48 premolar monolithic zirconia crowns with undercuts of 0.25 mm or 0.50 mm were fabricated. Samples are divided into four groups (C1-C4) and were subjected to 7200 thermal aging cycles (at 5 - 55℃). The changes in the retentive force and dimensions of the clasps were measured by micro-stress testing and micro-CT devices from five measurement points (M1 - M5). One-way ANOVA, paired t-test, two-way repeated ANOVA, and post-hoc tests were used to analyze the data (P < .05). RESULTS: The retentive forces of C1, C2, C3, and C4 groups in initial and final test were found to be 4.389-3.388 N, 4.67 - 3.396 N, 5.161 - 4.096 N, 5.459 - 4.141 N, respectively. The effects of retentive force of all PEEK clasps groups were significant decreased. Thermo-mechanical cycles caused significant dimensional changes at points with M2, M4, and M5, and abraded the clasp corners and increased the distance between the ends of the clasp, resulting in reduced retentive forces (P * = .016, P * = .042, P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Thermo-mechanical aging decreases the retentive forces in PEEK clasps. Increasing the thickness and undercut amount of clasps decreases the amount of dimensional change. The values measured after aging are within the clinically acceptable limits.

Health-related quality of life in edentulous patients.

This study aimed to assess Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHQoL) and satisfaction in patients who had complete denture treatment and were diagnosed with systemic diseases. Eighty edentulous patients using new complete dentures were separated into four groups according to their diseases [diabetes mellitus (DM)/osteoporosis (OP)/hypertension (HP)/healthy (control)]. The groups answered the Turkish version of the United Kingdom-Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHQoL-UK) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) questionnaire four weeks after treatment. OHQoL-UK scores were slightly higher for females regardless of the type of disease. Compared with the control participants (57.95±5.33), the scores of the OHQoL-UK were not significantly different in OP and HP groups except for the DM group (58.7±5.37, 58.9±6.44, 45.3±5.19 respectively). DM was significantly associated with the increase of OHQoL values (p<0.05). Patients in all groups reported significantly higher "physical health" scores than other subdomains of OHQoL-UK, although positive correlations were determined among them. Presence of disease had no relationship to the VAS scores. This study shows that systemic diseases might not affect and predict patients' satisfaction with their complete dentures and OHQoL. DM is an independent risk factor for oral health. Satisfaction with the prosthesis might concern a patient's level of OHQoL.

Quality of life assessment of implant-retained overdentures and fixed metal-acrylic resin prostheses in patients with marginal mandibulectomy.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Several factors affect the prosthetic outcome of patients with mandibular defects. However, it is questionable whether fixed or removable implant-supported prostheses meet the expectations and satisfaction of the patients. The perspectives of these patients are important in managing the prosthetic treatment strategies. PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life of patients with marginal mandibulectomies with implant-retained overdentures and fixed metal-acrylic resin prostheses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two participants with marginal mandibulectomies were included in the study. They completed an oral health impact profile questionnaire designed for patients with edentulism (OHIP-Edent) for the assessment of quality of life and visual analog scales (VASs) to validate their general satisfaction before treatment. Ten participants received 4 implant-retained fixed metal-acrylic resin prostheses, whereas 12 participants were treated with 2 implant-supported overdentures. Six months after delivery of their prostheses, the participants completed the OHIP-Edent questionnaire and VAS again. For the statistical analyses, Student t tests together with descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency) were used in the 2 intergroup parameter comparisons that showed normal distribution. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for intergroup comparisons, and the Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for intragroup comparisons. RESULTS: Compared with pretreatment mean values, a statistically significant (P<.05) decrease in mean scores of all OHIP-Edent values and an increase in VAS scores were found in both groups. After patients were treated, their OHIP-Edent values in the group with an overdenture prosthesis were higher than those in the group with a fixed metal-acrylic resin prosthesis (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that implant-retained overdentures and fixed metal-acrylic resin prostheses provide better function and, thus, oral health-related quality of life for patients with marginal mandibulectomies.