Effect of game-based teaching on the oral health of children: a systematic review of randomised control trials.

Poor oral health during childhood can lead to various oral diseases and have long-term implications for dental health. Innovative and engaging oral health educational approaches such as game-based teaching have emerged as a promising modality for health education. This systematic review examined the effectiveness of game-based teaching methods on the oral health of children (4-12 yrs). Scopus, Medline and Web of Science databases were searched according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria included randomised trials that compared traditional methods of oral health education with game-based interventions in preschoolers and school-age children. The quality of the data was determined using Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (ROB-2). A total of seven studies that examined 1097 children (4-12 yrs) were included in this systematic review with the association of game-based teaching of oral health. The findings indicated that the utilization of game-based methods significantly improved children's oral health outcomes when compared to traditional teaching approaches. Specifically, the game-based interventions demonstrated positive effects on various aspects of oral health, including enhanced oral health knowledge, improved oral hygiene scores, and reductions in debris and plaque scores. The game-based interventions were found to be more effective in promoting oral health when compared to conventional methods of teaching, such as verbal instructions or educational posters. Based on the limited evidence available, game-based teaching appears to be an effective approach for promoting oral health among children, consistently demonstrating positive outcomes, including improved oral health knowledge, enhanced oral hygiene scores, and reductions in debris and plaque scores. Further well-designed trials adhering to reporting guidelines and using objective measures are necessary before outlining universal guidelines for best practice.

Effect of Curcuma longa (Turmeric), as an intra-canal medicament, on inter-appointment endodontic pain in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Inter-appointment pain (IAP) is a subtype of postoperative pain which occurs between endodontic appointments. It may begin within a few hours after the first appointment and may continue for several days. Apart from mechanical instrumentation and thorough irrigation, intracanal medicaments play a central role in the disinfection of root canals and thus decreasing IAP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Curcuma Longa as an intracanal medicament on IAP in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP). One hundred healthy adult patients having SIP in one of their single-rooted maxillary or mandibular teeth participated in this randomized, parallel, single-blinded clinical trial. After thorough biomechanical preparation, the root canals were randomly medicated with one of the following medicaments, Control (no medicament), Calcium Hydroxide, triple antibiotic paste (TAP), and Curcuma Longa. The pain was recorded using Visual analog scale at 4 h, 24 h, and every day until the seventh day. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. No statistical difference in pain scores was observed between Calcium Hydroxide, TAP or Curcuma Longa groups. It can be concluded that Curcuma Longa, Calcium hydroxide, and TAP are equally effective in controlling IAP.

Evaluation of lavender and rose aromatherapies on the success of inferior alveolar nerve block in symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: A randomized clinical trial.

Trial design: This is a prospective, block-randomized, blinded, multiple arm and parallel-group superiority clinical trial. Methods: Seventy-eight patients satisfying the recruitment standards, were randomly allocated into three groups as follows: Group I (n = 26) - Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) devoid of aromatherapy (AT); Group II (n = 26) - IANB with lavender AT and Group III - IANB with rose AT (n = 26) with the help of the ultrasonic aroma diffuser (with respective oils)for 20 min/2 h in operatories 1,2 and 3 respectively. For AT, 3-4 drops of lavender and rose-conditioned oils were added from a 100 ml solution containing 100 mg of these medicinal plants. The pre-operative (PRO) and access opening (AO) pain as well as the anxiety of patients were recorded using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) respectively. Data thus obtained was entered into the Excel sheet and subjected to statistical tests (analysis of variance and paired t-test). The p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Group I showed non-significant disparity between PRO and AO for both VAS as well as MDAS (p = 0.62, p = 0.71). However, group II (p = 0.04, p = 0.02) and group III (p = 0.03, p = 0.01) revealed significant differences between PO - AO VAS and MDAS. MDAS and VAS intergroup comparison revealed a significant difference among groups I and II (p = 0.03, p = 0.04), and groups I and III (p = 0.02, p = 0.03). However non-significant disparity was observed among groups II and III (p = 0.85, 0.34). Moreover, there was a statistically significant reduction in anxiety levels in females compared to males after rose AT (p = 0.02). Nevertheless, groups I and II did not show any gender predilection for anxiety as well as pain. Conclusion: Alleviation of dental anxiety as well as reduction in pain during AO of teeth with SIP can be achieved using Lavender and rose AT. In female patients, rose AT can be preferred over lavender AT.

Micronuclei as an indicator of genotoxic change in epithelial cells of buccal mucosa after panoramic radiographs.

BACKGROUND: The radiation released at the time of dental panoramic radiographs causes genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on epithelial cells. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to evaluate the changes in the frequencies of micronucleated cells in patients' buccal epithelial cells following dental panoramic radiography. METHODS: 74 patients were recruited for the study who were advised for panoramic radiographs. Using a wooden spatula, the buccal epithelial cells were scraped from both cheeks before to panoramic radiation exposure and ten days after the panoramic radiation exposure. Giemsa stain was used to stain the cells, and 500 cells were scored on a slide to determine the frequency of micronuclei. To determine the difference between the frequency of micronuclei before and after radiation exposure, a paired t-test was used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The proportion of micronuclei cells was 0.11% before radiation exposure and 0.57% following radiation exposure after 10 days. A statistically significant increase in the frequencies of micronuclei was noted after radiation exposure values. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the genotoxicity of epithelial cells with dental panoramic radiation exposure. It is advised to reduce the use of such radiographs and to use only when there is no other diagnostic tool that is helpful or when absolutely essential.

Comparative evaluation of cognitive behavioural therapy versus standard treatment in temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint and associated structures. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has emerged as a potential intervention for TMDs, but its comparative effectiveness against standard treatments remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of CBT versus standard treatment interventions in managing TMDs. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases using MeSH keywords and Boolean operators. Inclusion criteria encompassed clinical trials comparing CBT/CBT in combination with standard treatment interventions or a control group in individuals with TMDs. The primary outcome measured was pain. Secondary outcomes such as disability, depression and jaw function were also looked into. Two reviewers independently assessed for the eligibility of the articles and conducted data extraction. Quality assessments were performed using RoB 2.0 for randomised clinical trials. RESULTS: The initial search identified 623 articles, of which a total of eight clinical studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Seven out of eight studies demonstrated improvements in outcomes related to TMD. Pain was significantly decreased in studies that showed a positive outcome. Jaw function, quality of life and psychological well-being were superior among individuals receiving CBT alone or in combination with conventional modalities, as well as hypnotic therapy coupled with CBT-based interventions. The quality of studies assessed showed all articles to be of good quality as per RoB-2 evaluation. CONCLUSION: This systematic review highlights the potential benefits of CBT in managing TMDs, suggesting its effectiveness in improving pain outcomes and enhancing overall well-being. The findings indicate that CBT may be a valuable adjunct or alternative to standard treatment interventions for individuals with TMDs. However, further research with larger sample sizes and standardised outcome measures is warranted to establish definitive conclusions regarding the comparative efficacy of CBT versus standard treatments in TMD management.

Effectiveness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) pose diagnostic challenges, and selecting appropriate imaging modalities is crucial for accurate assessment. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy and efficacy of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying TMDs. METHODS: A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted, including studies that compared US and MRI for TMJ disorder assessments. Fixed-effects models were utilized to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the chi-squared test and I2 statistic. Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies included. RESULTS: Six studies were included, involving a total of 281 participants. The meta-analysis demonstrated that MRI was statistically somewhat better than US in identifying TMJ disorders. The summary OR was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.46-0.90), and the summary RR was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.95). Heterogeneity among the studies was low (χ2 = 2.73, df = 5, p = .74; I2 = 0%). Demographic variables revealed variations in sample size, gender ratio and mean age across the studies. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides evidence that MRI may be more effective than US in diagnosing TMDs. However, the study is limited by the small number of included studies and variations in demographic variables and study designs. Future research with larger samples and standardised protocols is essential to confirm and strengthen these findings. Understanding the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and US for TMJ disorders will aid clinicians in making informed decisions for effective TMJ disorder assessments and patient management.

Sensitivity of different part-mouth recording methods using a modified tooth wear index.

BACKGROUND: High prevalence of tooth wear (TW) worldwide makes it important to assess its level in different populations. In developing countries, a shift towards geriatric population makes the evaluation of this condition even more relevant. Most indices for tooth wear are full mouth indices, which make mass population screening challenging. The objective of this study was to establish whether part-mouth recordings using selective teeth can provide similar sensitivity of the modified tooth wear index. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out over 40 working days on 400 dentate individuals aged 14-70 years, having at least 16 scorable teeth. Firstly, full mouth tooth wear of study population was recorded and categorized into four groups based on severity and extent of tooth wear. Following this, group wise data extraction was done using the full mouth scores and six different types of part-mouth analyses was done to arrive at the system which provides the best sensitivity. These part-mouth recordings should be specific such that it can differentiate to the same groups of tooth wear in the reduced data as well. Data were analyzed by means of SPSS version 21.0 (P<0.05). RESULTS: In 83%, at least one tooth had the exposed dentine. Part-mouth recording using "12 anterior teeth" as index teeth showed a high level of sensitivity (87.8%) than others for measuring tooth wear data. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tooth wear is high and "the part-mouth recording applied to the 12 anterior teeth" is a faster and reliable method in large population surveys for measuring tooth wear.

The knowledge, attitude and perceived confidence in handling medical emergencies among dental students.

BACKGROUND: According to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services HHS 2017, when a medical disease suddenly manifests itself with acute symptoms of sufficient intensity (including extreme pain) endangering the patient's health, seriously impairing body functions or bringing an organ or its portion to be seriously dysfunctional, a medical emergency has occurred. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and perceived confidence in handling medical emergencies among dental students by the means of conducting this investigation. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among the different hierarchies of dentists of Riyadh using an online survey; 387 dentists from varying clinical levels (9 to 12) were included in this study. The questionnaire used for this study consisted of questions related to demographic data followed by questions including knowledge, attitude, and confidence towards handling medical emergencies in clinics. RESULTS: In this study, male participants represented 64.4% and female subjects represented 35.6% of the total population. Most of the undergraduates were in their 5th year of dentistry school and accounted for 36.9%, followed by 6th year 36.2% and 4th year 26.8%. 67.1% of the undergraduates never encountered any medical emergency during their study, while 32.9% encountered an emergency. Furthermore, 58.4% of the analyzed subjects recorded medical history thoroughly, while priority in an emergency was adrenaline, with a percentage of 45%. For the patient suffering syncope the Trendelenburg position was chosen. Also, the first action choice with unresponsive patients was CPR. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the findings revealed that the majority of the population never encountered an emergency in their career, but their knowledge about drug priority and patient's position was good. Most of them do not measure vital signs routinely; specifically, females do not usually measure, while males measure when needed. About Basic Life Support (BLS), participants took BLS or were interested in taking it in the future; furthermore, in group population, both have taken it and are interested in further carrying it.

Evaluation of the microleakage of new bioactive restorative materials: a comparative in-vitro study.

BACKGROUND: This in-vitro study aimes to compare the microleakage of different restorative materials namely EQUIA Forte (GC, Japan), Tetric Evoceram (Ivoclar Vivadent, Liechtenstein), and Activa BioACTIVE. METHODS: A standardized class V cavity has been created on the buccal surface of 40 sound premolar teeth. The cavity had the following measurements: 3 mm buccolingual height, 2 mm axial depth, and 4 mm mesiodistal width. The gingival margin was 1mm below the cementoenamel junction, whereas the coronal margin was on the enamel with cavosurface margins were butt joints all around. Four groups of teeth were restored according to the restorative materials. Under a stereomicroscope, the dye penetration test was used to measure the microleakage after thermocycling of the teeth. Data were compared using Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Occlusal and gingival margins did not show statistically significant differences among the four groups, but an intragroup analysis revealed a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The type of restorative material did not appear to have a substantial impact on microleakage, according to the findings of the current investigation.

Lessons to be learned when designing comprehensible patient-oriented online information about temporomandibular disorders.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a prevalent ailment with a global impact, affecting a substantial number of individuals. While some individuals are receiving treatment from orthodontists for TMD, a significant proportion of individuals obtain knowledge through websites. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose had been to evaluate, from a patient-oriented perspective, the readability of home pages of websites scored in the 10 most prominent devoted to TMD. We also determined what level of education would have been needed to get an overview of the information on the websites under scrutiny. This approach ensures that our findings are centred on the patient experience, providing insights into how accessible and understandable websites about TMD. METHODS: We determined the top 10 patient-focused English language websites by searching for 'temporomandibular disorders' in the 'no country redirect' plugin of the Google Chrome browser (www.google.com/ncr). The readability of the texts was assessed using the Gunning fog index (GFI), Coleman Liau index (CLI), Automated readability index (ARI) Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Flesch Kincald grade level (FKGL), Flesh reasing ease (FRE) (https://readabilityformulas.com). RESULTS: The mean Flesch reading ease index score was determined to be 48.67, accompanied by a standard deviation of 15.04 and these websites require an average of 13.49 years of formal education (GFI), with a standard deviation of 2.62, for ease of understanding. CONCLUSION: Our research indicates that a significant proportion of websites related to TMD can be defined as a level of complexity that exceeds the ability to read comprehension of the general population.

Elucidating hematological profile and electrolyte balance in oral cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is a serious health issue in both the developing and developed worlds, and it is one of the most common forms of cancer of the head and neck. In accordance with the 2017 World Health Organization classification, oral cancer can affect any part of the mouth, including the buccal mucosa, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the lip, the palate, the vestibule, the alveolus, the floor of the mouth, and the gingivae. Hematology and electrolyte balance have been proposed as tumor indicators and paths into cancer's genesis. Examining the patient's blood count and electrolyte levels in order to better understand their oral cancer. METHODS: Electrolyte abnormalities are common in cancer patients and may be caused by the disease itself or by treatment. Hyponatremia is the most frequent electrolyte problem in cancer patients, and it is typically caused by the syndrome of improper ADH secretion. Although electrolyte problems are associated with a worse prognosis for cancer patients, timely and effective therapy has the potential to enhance both short- and long-term results and quality of life. Hematological tests on patients with oral cancer, including differential cell count, white blood cell count, and hemoglobin level. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, oral cancer patients show statistically significant differences in a number of biochemical parameters, including electrolytes (sodium, P<0.05; potassium, P=0.89; chloride, P<0.05); differential count (neutrophils, P<0.05; basophils, P<0.05). A significant risk factor for cancer patients is an electrolyte imbalance, which has been linked to inappropriate anti-diabetic hormone release. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians will find these shifts in electrolytic level helpful in diagnosing and tracking oral cancer. Potentially malignant oral disorders and Oral squamous cell carcinoma may be better predicted using a combination of TLC, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, as shown in this study.

Progress in Biomaterials and Technologies in Dentistry.

The field of dental biomedicine continues to evolve with significant advancements that are aimed at improving oral health outcomes [...].

Feature Paper in Oral Physiology and Pathology.

In the realm of life sciences, the journal 'Life' has consistently served as a beacon for groundbreaking research and scientific discovery [...].

Dentistry and Cranio Facial District: The Role of Biomimetics.

Biomimetics has emerged as a pivotal field, bridging fundamental research and practical applications [...].

Correlation between rheumatoid arthritis and chronic periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this article is to summarize, compare, and assess possible association in individuals with or without rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for periodontitis. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Three study repositories were searched for quantitative studies examining the relationship between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis between 2000 and December 2022. Quality was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). The standardized mean difference (SMD), with a random effect model and a P value of 0.05 as the significance level, was utilized as a summary statistic measure. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Fourteen papers were included in the descriptive synthesis. Thirteen were qualified for meta-analysis. Our findings suggest a link between the two conditions in terms of clinical attachment levels (CAL), tooth loss, Plaque Index, and probing depth. The estimated SMD for CAL was found to be 0.68 (95% CI: 0.15-1.21) (P<0.01). For tooth loss, the forest plot analysis revealed an SMD of 1.62 (95% CI: 0.48-2.76) (P=0.005). Similarly, for pocket depth, the SMD was 0.53; CI: 0.07-0.99 (P>0.05). The pooled estimates for plaque index were 0.29; CI: 0.03-0.61 (P>0.05). The funnel plot showed a symmetric distribution with the absence of systematic heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Although our data suggest a link between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis, larger population-based investigations are needed to validate this connection. Case-control studies must pave the way to more rigorous investigations with well-defined populations and clinical outcomes as primary outcome measures.

Prediction of Interactomic HUB Genes in Periodontitis With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk correlates with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, suggesting systemic inflammation is present well before AMI. Studying different types of periodontal disease (PD), extremely common in individuals at risk for AMI, has been one important research topic. According to recent research, AMI and PD interact via the systemic production of certain proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, small signal molecules, and enzymes that control the onset and development of both disorders' chronic inflammatory reactions. This study uses machine learning to identify the interactome hub biomarker genes in acute myocardial infarction and periodontitis. METHODS: GSE208194 and GSE222883 were chosen for our research after a thorough search using keywords related to the study's goal from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) datasets. DEGs were identified from the GEOR tool, and the hub gene was identified using Cytoscape-cytohubba. Using expression values, Random Forest, Adaptive Boosting, and Naive Bayes, widgets-generated transcriptomics data, were labelled, and divided into 80/20 training and testing data with cross-validation. ROC curve, confusion matrix, and AUC were determined. In addition, Functional Enrichment Analysis of Differentially Expressed Gene analysis was performed. RESULTS: Random Forest, AdaBoost, and Naive Bayes models with 99%, 100%, and 75% AUC, respectively. Compared to RF, AdaBoost, and NB classification models, AdaBoost had the highest AUC. Categorization algorithms may be better predictors than important biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning model predicts hub and non-hub genes from genomic datasets with periodontitis and acute myocardial infarction.

Gingival health, plaque accumulation, and restoration outcomes in deciduous anterior teeth: evaluating zirconia crowns versus composite resin strip crowns.

BACKGROUND: Zirconia crowns, resembling crystals and with enamel-like aesthetics, are recent entrants in pediatric restorative dentistry. Despite growing use, their empirical efficacy remains under-explored. The aim of this study is to compare resin composite strip crowns and premanufactured zirconia crowns on primary maxillary incisors. METHODS: In the Pediatric Dental Clinics, 240 primary maxillary incisors (69 patients) were treated with either zirconia (120 teeth) or composite strip crowns (120 teeth). Evaluations of gingival health, plaque, secondary caries, restoration failure, and opposing teeth wear occurred at 3, 6, and 12-month intervals. RESULTS: At 3 months, zirconia crowns showed less gum bleeding (P=0.006) and plaque. Through 6 and 12 months, zirconia crowns exhibited fewer failures but higher opposing teeth wear. Strip crowns indicated greater tooth material loss. CONCLUSIONS: Zirconia crowns demonstrated superior gingival health and durability over composite resin strip crowns but caused increased wear on opposing teeth.

The quality of life in orthognathic surgery: surgery first versus traditional orthognathic surgery evaluation.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the differences in terms of Quality of life and the degree of satisfaction with the result obtained between the two groups of patients treated with the orthodontic first approach and surgery first approach, through administered questionnaires inserted in the post-operative phase. METHODS: A total of 40 patients who previously underwent orthognathic surgery were included in this study, 20 treated with the orthodontic first approach and 20 treated with the Surgery First Approach. The impact of orthognathic surgery on patients' quality of life was recorded through the administration of the OHIP-14 test, FACE-Q test scale and FACE-Q test. Comparison between the two groups was done using a nonparametric inferential statistical test, the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The results showed no significant differences in terms of quality of life between the two groups. Patients treated with orthodontic first approach presented greater psychological distress and perceived their faces as unattractive. CONCLUSIONS: A worsening of the aesthetics of the face determined by the orthodontic approach before surgery, may not be decisive in the quality of life of patients, which will certainly be better after surgery. SFA and OFA determine in both cases a marked improvement in the patient's quality of life.

Awareness of orthodontic patients towards smartphone orthodontic apps.

BACKGROUND: Mobile phone applications (apps) can potentially enhance patient care as they are easy to use and offer multifunctions. In 2019, 305 orthodontic apps were documented, many of which were patient-focused; however, there was little information on how popular these applications are with orthodontic patients. The main aim of this study was to evaluate how well patients were now aware of orthodontic applications. METHODS: A survey asking 700 orthodontic patients about their knowledge of, access to, and use of orthodontic apps to facilitate their treatment resulted in 615 responses. RESULTS: The results showed that a smartphone was owned by 96% of patients. Apple (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA) was the most used platform, followed by Android (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA). Seventy-five percent of patients have previously used social media to research information, with YouTube (YouTube, San Mateo, CA, USA) being the most popular site. Only 3% of patients knew that applications were available to aid with orthodontic therapy and 12 patients had utilized an app linked to orthodontics. Nevertheless, 88% of patients said they would be open to using an app to supplement their treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although 88% of patients said they would be prepared to use an app to help with orthodontic treatment, there is currently a low level of knowledge of the existence of apps. Given the availability of applications geared toward those patients, it is necessary to evaluate these apps' quality and, when critical, direct patients toward high-quality, efficient apps.

Impact of self-assessment on dental student's performance in pre-clinical conservative dentistry course.

BACKGROUND: Self-assessment (SA) is an interactive course that endorses the accomplishment of learning objectives through learners' identification of insufficiencies in their didactic knowledge and pre-clinical skills. This study was planned to determine whether there is any improvement in the faculty assessment (FA) score following the implementation of SA in the Pre-clinical Conservative Dentistry Course. METHODS: Fifty-four first-semester dental students were given an introductory lecture followed by a demonstration for Class I Cavity Preparation in typhodont mandibular first molar. At the end of the demonstration, the Scoring Rubric (SR) was explained point-wise in the prepared cavities. During the next session, all students performed Class I cavity preparation and they were given an assessment sheet to enter their scores (SA1). All teeth were evaluated by the Grading Faculties in a blinded manner (FA1). Each participant was explained the difference in their respective SA1 from FA1 and their queries were resolved individually. During the next sessions, Students and Grading Faculties followed the same protocol and scores were recorded as SA2, FA2, SA3 and FA3. RESULTS: The mean score of SA1 was significantly higher than that of FA1 (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was obtained between SA and FA in the second (p = 0.352) and third (p = 0.434) assessments. In contrast with first assessment, mean marks obtained in FA were higher compared to SA in both second and third assessments. There was a statistically significant improvement in mean marks obtained by the students over time (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SA endorsed student-faculty communication and enhanced student's poise and technical skills in operative pre-clinical dentistry.