Evaluation of the effectiveness of a mobile application in the management of dental anxiety: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The software, which was developed according to the principle of perceived control, can be installed on tablets and smartphones and used by patients to help them control their anxiety. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a specially designed mobile application developed to provide patients with a sense of anxiety control during the various stages of endodontic treatment. The patients' anxiety was assessed by measuring their salivary cortisol levels. METHODS: A total of 46 patients requiring endodontic treatment were recruited. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group used the special communication application, while the control group did not. Salivary samples were collected from all patients preoperatively, postanaesthesia, and postoperatively. The samples were analysed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the cortisol levels. RESULTS: A significant difference in cortisol levels was observed between the experimental and the control group (Mann-Whitney U-test, p < .05). This difference was significant in the experimental group in each step (p < .01). No difference was found in the control group steps (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Perceived control of anxiety using the specially designed software was effective in reducing salivary cortisol levels.

Microhardness evaluation of root dentin after using resin sealer solvents.

Background. This study aimed to assess the effects of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and ethyl acetate (EA) on dentin microhardness, used as resin sealer solvents. Methods. Eighty halves of single-rooted teeth were randomly divided into four groups to apply MEK, EA, chloroform, or saline solution. Vickers hardness values were measured for three root levels before and after the direct application of solvents for 5 and 15 minutes or a 1-minute application with ultrasonic agitation. The results were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, and adjustments were made for comparisons with Bonferroni tests. Results. The dentin microhardness decreased in all the solvent groups (P < 0.05). The changes in microhardness increased with prolonged exposure times, except for the saline solution group. Chloroform exhibited the most significant decrease in value. Furthermore, ultrasonic agitation elicited a more substantial decline in values. Conclusion. MEK and EA might be preferred over chloroform as a solvent for resin sealers because they offer an attenuated decrease in dentin microhardness and do not have gutta-percha-dissolving properties.