A 1-year Clinical and Radiographic Assessment of Regenerative Endodontic Therapy for Necrotic Primary Molars: A Randomized controlled Trial.

Background: Preservation of necrotic primary teeth is important. Pulpectomy is the gold standard treatment in this situation. Reinfection is the main cause of failure in pulpectomy. The application of regenerative endodontic therapy in mature teeth has the rationale of restoring dental-pulp-like tissue and preventing reinfection. Aims and objectives: The current study was designed to clinically and radiographically assess regenerative endodontics therapy in necrotic primary molars in comparison to zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) pulpectomy. Materials and methods: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial with three parallel arms and a 1:1:1 allocation ratio was conducted. A total of 54 necrotic primary molars in 39 healthy children aged 4-7 years old were randomly allocated as follows group I-control group, in which ZOE pulpectomy was performed. Group II and III-experimental groups, in which regenerative endodontic therapy (RET) was performed. Modified triple antibiotic paste (mTAP) and Metapex™ were used as intracanal medicaments in groups II and III, respectively. Clinical and radiographic assessments were recorded at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the qualitative data, while Friedman's test was used to study the changes by time within each group. Results: Nonstatistically significant differences were reported between the three groups at the 6 and 12 months follow-ups regarding the clinical or radiographic assessment (p-value = 0.327 and effect size = 0.22), (p-value = 0.055 and effect size = 0.118), respectively. Conclusion: Regenerative endodontic therapy (RET) yielded comparable results to pulpectomy. However, the use of 5 mg/mL mTAP in RET represented the highest level of clinical as well as radiographic insignificant failure. Clinical significance: Regenerative endodontic therapy (RET) provides an acceptable biological alternative to pulpectomy. Trial registration: The protocol was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov with the registration number (NCT04190914). 12/5/2019. How to cite this article: Abdelmoneim DD, Abdelaziz AM, Allam GG, et al. A 1-year Clinical and Radiographic Assessment of Regenerative Endodontic Therapy for Necrotic Primary Molars: A Randomized controlled Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(2):295-301.

Effect of Ionizing Radiation on the Mechanical Properties of Two Dental Materials Commonly Used in Primary Teeth.

Aim: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of radiotherapy on flexural strength, microhardness, and surface roughness of bulk fill composite (X-tra fil) and glass ionomer (EQUIA Forte HT). Materials and methods: A total of 40 specimens were prepared for each test and were divided into two groups according to the material used (composite or glass ionomer cement), and each group was divided into two subgroups (n = 10) according to radiation condition, irradiated subgroup, subjected to 50 Gy by multienergy linear accelerator delivered in one shot and control subgroup. Results: Control samples of flexural strength and microhardness had a significantly higher value than irradiated samples in both materials. Regarding the surface roughness, irradiated samples had a significantly higher value than the control samples in both materials. Conclusion: Irradiation with a linear accelerator had a negative impact on the flexural strength and microhardness of both materials. Moreover, it increased the surface roughness for both materials. Bulk fill composite is the dental restorative material of choice in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy due to its high mechanical properties before and after radiation. How to cite this article: Nagi BM, El-Korashy DI, Amin A El-S, et al. Effect of Ionizing Radiation on the Mechanical Properties of Two Dental Materials Commonly Used in Primary Teeth. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(5):758-762.

"Knowledge, clinical experience, and perceived need for training regarding molar-incisor hypomineralization among a group of Egyptian dental students: a cross-sectional study".

BACKGROUND: Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) is a common oral health condition that can lead to difficulties and complications for both dental professionals and patients. It also has a negative impact on the oral health-related quality of life. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, clinical experience, and perceived need for training of a group of Egyptian dental students regarding MIH. METHODS: Paper-based survey administration method was used to collect the responses of dental students regarding their knowledge, clinical experience, and perceived need for training about MIH. The survey consisted of two sections of questions regarding clinical features, etiological factors, prevalence, materials used in treating these teeth, factors affecting the choice of restorative materials, and their preferences regarding clinical training of MIH. Descriptive statistics was used for the data analysis by using SPSS® Statistics Version 26. RESULTS: About two-thirds of the respondents were familiar with MIH (69.2%). The vast majority of students (87.8%) had difficulty distinguishing MIH as a developmental defect that differs from other tooth conditions (p < 0.001); most commonly enamel hypoplasia. The most common defects seen by the respondents were yellow/brown opacities (59.1%). Nearly half of the students (45.2%) choose composite resin as the material of choice for the treatment of MIH-affected teeth with aesthetics being the most common factor affecting the selection of restorative material. Almost all students expressed their needs for further clinical training on MIH, especially on treatment aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Most students are familiar with MIH theoretically. However, there is an urgent need to include clinical training on MIH diagnosis in the practical sessions of pediatric dentistry courses.

Intra- and inter-examiner variability in evaluating preclinical pediatric dentistry operative procedures.

Many investigators have reported attempts to develop reliable laboratory and clinic evaluation systems. However, few studies, regardless of level of success, have used an analytic procedure to identify those components of the evaluation system that, if refined further, could improve reliability. The purpose of this study was to compare intra- and inter-examiner variability in two evaluation methods: glance and grade (global), and checklist and criteria (analytical). Three faculty staff members with more than ten years of clinical and teaching experience evaluated operative procedures performed on plastic teeth representing the primary teeth by thirty dental students in pediatric dentistry preclinical laboratory sessions. The preparations were graded blindly by each of the three evaluators (A, B, and C) three times without magnification. The values were statistically analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank test and Friedman test setting value of significance at 5 percent. The study revealed that, among the three examiners, the intra-examiner variability was nonsignificant in most situations. On the other hand, there was statistically significant variability between evaluators (i.e., inter-examiner) for almost all preparations. Neither cutting off the scores nor using either evaluation method (glance and grade or criteria and checklist) caused an improvement in variability. The problem of inter-examiner reliability and variability still existed.