Dental Students' Perceptions Towards E-learning in Comparison With Traditional Classroom Learning.

INTRODUCTION: Electronic learning (e-learning) has evolved into a popular educational approach since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While this represents an additional model for teaching, traditional classroom learning fosters the development of interpersonal skills and enables students to share and discuss specific topics. However, existing research on the comparison of both these modes of learning in the field of dental education is inadequate. This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of dental students towards both electronic and classroom learning. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted between November 2022 and January 2023 among dental students in Saudi Arabia. Students were questioned on their comparative perceptions of e-learning and classroom learning before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Questionnaire responses, including demographic data, were collected and tabulated, using electronic data management software. The tabulated data were analyzed to provide descriptive statistics and compare electronic and classroom learning with demographic variables and previous experience with e-learning. RESULTS: Most respondents reported possessing average information technology (IT) skills and prior experience with e-learning. Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) (Reston, VA: Blackboard Inc.), Zoom (San Jose, CA: Zoom Video Communications Inc.), and Microsoft Teams (Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation) were the most commonly used and advantageous e-learning platforms. While the majority of participants found both methods acceptable for problem-based learning sessions and theoretical lectures, they reported e-learning to be less effective than classroom learning for clinical and practical sessions. Regarding e-learning as a preferred method over classroom learning, most responses were "neutral" or "uncertain." Comparing the mean ranks of the ordinal responses for the different teaching methodologies and the nominal responses for e-learning as the preferred method, no statistically significant interactions were observed for demographic characteristics, IT-skill levels, or prior experience with e-learning. CONCLUSION: Although enhanced performance and learning capacity are enabled through e-learning, the advantages of personal interactions and the feasibility of practical and clinical dental sessions are achieved only through classroom learning.

Whole Salivary Cotinine Levels and Interleukin 1-ß Levels among Young Adults Involuntarily Exposed to Vapor from Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems.

PURPOSE: To the assess whole salivary cotinine and interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) levels among individuals involuntarily exposed to vapor from electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) (test group) and unexposed individuals (control group). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic data and information related to ENDS vapor exposure were collected using a questionnaire. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected, unstimulated whole-saliva flow rate (UWSFR) was calculated, and cotinine and IL-1ß levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sample-size estimation and statistical analysis were performed. Regression analysis was performed to determine the correlation between whole salivary cotinine and IL-1ß levels. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Forty-eight individuals (24 and 24 in test and control groups, respectively) were included. Mean ages of individuals in the test and control groups were comparable. In the test group, the mean duration for which the individuals inhaled vapor from ENDS in each session was 22.3 ± 9.5 min and they were exposed to ENDS vapor 12.2 ± 2.4 times daily. There was no difference in the UWSFR between patients in the test (0.21 ± 0.02 ml/min) and control (0.22 ± 0.04 ml/min) groups. Whole salivary cotinine (p < 0.001) and IL-1ß (p < 0.001) levels were significantly higher in the test than control group. CONCLUSION: Young adults involuntarily exposed to vapor from ENDS express elevated whole salivary cotinine and IL-1ß levels. Long-term exposure to ENDS vapor may potentially predispose vulnerable populations to oral and systemic inflammatory diseases.

Analgesic Efficacy of Curcuma longa (Curcumin) after Surgical Periodontal Therapy.

PURPOSE: To compare the analgesic efficacy of orally administered Curcuma longa (curcumin) and mefenamic acid (MA) after surgical periodontal therapy (SPT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-six periodontitis patients were randomly divided into two groups. In the test group, patients received curcumin capsules (200 mg), and in the control group, patients received MA (500 mg). All patients underwent post-operative antibiotic therapy using 500 mg amoxicillin and 400 mg metronidazole for 7 days. Post-operative pain and discomfort were evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS) and verbal rating scale (VRS), respectively. Evaluation were performed after 24 (T1), 48 (T2), and 72 h (T3). Group comparisons were done using Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. The level of statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. RESULTS: All patients had stage 3/grade C periodontitis. The mean age of individuals in the test and control groups were 58.4 ± 7.3 and 57.2 ± 5.2 years, respectively. A family history of periodontal diseases was reported by 37.5% and 47.4% individuals in the test and control groups, respectively. In the test and control groups, the total mean duration of periodontal surgery was 168.2 ± 12.2 and 173.4 ± 10.7 min, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean NRS and VRS scores among patients in the test and control groups. In both groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the change in NRS scores at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with MA, curcumin is ineffective for pain and discomfort management after SPT. The possibility of the results being biased due to lack of operator blinding cannot be overlooked.

Evaluation of serum neuron specific enolase levels among patients with primary and secondary burning mouth syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Burning mouth syndrome is a painful condition of the oral cavity with ambiguous pathogenesis and diagnosis. Neuron-specific enolase is increased in several conditions including peripheral neuropathy of diabetes, ophthalmopathies, spinal cord injuries and tumors. Evidence on association of burning mouth syndrome and neuron-specific enolase is limited. AIM: This study aims to evaluate neuron-specific enolase levels in primary and secondary burning mouth syndrome patients and compare the levels of neuron-specific enolase with associated conditions in secondary burning mouth syndrome. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients of more than 18 years of age with no gender predilection and having clinical symptoms of burning mouth syndrome and 135 healthy subjects were included. All the patients fulfilled Scala's criteria for the diagnosis of burning mouth syndrome, including "primary" (idiopathic) and "secondary" (resulting from identified precipitating factors) burning mouth syndrome patients. Blood samples were obtained from burning mouth syndrome patients. Serum neuron-specific enolase was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To compare means and standard deviations, among primary and secondary burning mouth syndrome, data was analysed with analysis of variance and multiple comparisons test. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants for burning mouth syndrome and healthy subjects was 53.30 and 51.6 years, respectively. Amongst the secondary burning mouth syndrome group, 32 (25%) of the patients had menopause, 15 (11.7%) had diabetes, eight (6.2%) of the patients had nutritional deficiency, seven (5.4%) had combined diabetes, menopause, and depression, six (4.6%) had combined diabetes and depression, four (3.1%) were diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome. A minor percentage of 2.3% (three) had gastroesophageal reflux disease, while the remaining three (2.3%) patients in the secondary burning mouth syndrome group were on anti-depressants. There was a statistically significant increase in the levels of neuron-specific enolase in primary burning mouth syndrome as compared to the secondary burning mouth syndrome and healthy groups. Among the subgroups of secondary burning mouth syndrome, diabetic individuals showed a significant increase in neuron-specific enolase level when compared with other conditions in the secondary burning mouth syndrome patients.Discussion and conclusion: The raised serum neuron-specific enolase levels in patients suffering from primary burning mouth syndrome highlight a possible neuropathic mechanism. It was also increased in the sub-group of secondary burning mouth syndrome patients having diabetes. Although it cannot be ascertained whether the deranged values in the diabetic group were due to burning mouth syndrome or due to diabetes, the raised quantity of neuron-specific enolase in the primary burning mouth syndrome group is a reliable diagnostic indicator. Future studies on the assessment of neuron-specific enolase levels as a diagnostic tool for onset and management of primary and secondary burning mouth syndrome are recommended.

Peri-implant Sulcular Fluid Galectin-1, Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor and IL-1ß Levels under Peri-implant Inflammatory Conditions.

PURPOSE: Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and interleukin 1-beta (IL-1ß) are inflammatory biomarkers, whereas galectin-1 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. The relationship between suPAR, galactin-1 and IL-1ß levels in peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF) in relation to dental implants remains unaddressed. The aim was to assess suPAR, galectin-1, and IL-1ß levels in PISF under peri-implant inflammatory conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic data and information related to jaw location and duration of implants in function as well as systemic health was retrieved from patients' dental records. Peri-implant plaque and gingival indices (PI and GI, respectively), probing depth (PD) and crestal bone loss (CBL) were recorded. The PISF was collected and levels of suPAR, galectin-1 and IL-1ß were determined using standard techniques. Sample-size estimation and statistical analyses were done. Correlation of suPAR and galectin-1 with IL-1ß were assessed via logistic regression. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (45 males and 27 females) with peri-implant diseases were included. Thirty-six patients (22 males and 14 females) had peri-implant mucositis; 36 (23 males and 13 females) had healthy peri-implant tissues. The PISF volume was statistically significantly higher among patients with (0.52 ± 0.05 µl) than without peri-implant diseases (0.06 ± 0.01 µl) (p < 0.001). The PISF levels of suPAR (p < 0.01), galectin-1 (p < 0.01) and IL-1ß (p < 0.01) were statistically significantly higher among patients with than without peri-implant diseases. In patients with peri-implant mucositis, PISF suPAR (p < 0.001) and galectin-1 (p < 0.001) levels correlated with PISF IL-1ß levels. In patients with peri-implant mucositis, increasing peri-implant PD and IL-1ß levels directly correlated with increased PISF suPAR (p < 0.001) and galectin-1 (p < 0.05) levels. CONCLUSION: Increased PISF levels of suPAR, galectin and IL-1ß suggest that these proteins possibly contribute towards the pathogenesis of peri-implant inflammation, and are potential biomarkers of peri-implant diseases.

Assessment of Unstimulated Whole Salivary Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) and Cellular Micronuclei Levels in Snuff (Naswar) Users and Non-Users for Early Diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The aim of the study was to investigate the unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and cellular micronuclei in snuff dippers (Naswar) compared to healthy control subjects. The case control study was conducted over 9 months at a tertiary care center. Sixty patients were divided into two groups: Snuff dippers (SD) (Naswar) and non-snuff dippers (NSD) (control subjects). The included self-reported SD used Snuff twice daily for more than 12 months. UWS was collected and salivary TNF-α assessment was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For cellular micronuclei, buccal mucosa was brushed to obtain cells in Naswar users, fixed with a dibutylphthalate polystyrene xylene (DPX) mounting to view micronuclei. Means and standard deviations were compared using the t-test and outcomes were related using Pearson correlation, considering p ≤ 0.05 as significant. The mean age of participants was 38.85 ± 11.56 years. The mean duration of snuff use was 20.43 ± 12.79 years and the common site for Naswar placement was the lower vestibule (n = 19, 63.3%). TNF-α levels among SD were 9.6 ± 3.3 pg/mL, which were significantly higher than levels in NSD, 5.2 ± 3 pg/mL (p < 0.05). The number of cellular micronuclei in SD was 30.7 ± 7.8, which was comparatively higher than in NSD, which was 9.2 ± 3.3 (p < 0.05). The duration of snuff use was positively correlated to TNF-α levels (p = 0.048) rather than the micronuclei number (p = 0.97). SD showed higher levels of TNF-α and cellular micronuclei compared with NSD (control subjects); a positive correlation was shown with the duration of snuff use. We conclude that TNF-α and micronuclei are potential salivary biomarkers for an oral biological effect in snuff (Naswar) users.

Association of Self-Perceived Psychological Stress with the Periodontal Health of Socially Deprived Women in Shelter Homes.

The present study aimed to assess the effect of self-perceived psychological stress on the periodontal health of socially deprived women. The study included three hundred and eighty-five socially deprived women residing in shelter homes. The presence of stress and its severity was assessed by using Sheldon Cohen's 10-item perceived stress scale (PSS), and periodontal health status was assessed utilizing the community periodontal index. Statistical analyses were performed using an independent sample t-test, a one-way ANOVA, the Pearson chi-Square test, and binary logistic regression. Results: A total of 385 samples were included, the majority of whom (n = 297; 72.5%) belonged to the age group of 15-30 years. There were 34 (8.8%) participants who were educated up to graduate level. A total of 47.8% of the women were found with healthy periodontal status, and 52.5% of the samples were diagnosed with major psychological stress. Half of the samples (201-52.2%) had a periodontal problem. The mean PSS was found statistically significant concerning age group, education, and psychological stress level. In the univariate logistic regression analysis, a significant association of periodontal status was observed with the age group 31-45 years [(OR = 1.76; 95% C.I (1.11-2.78)] and with a major psychological stress level [(OR = 2.60; 95% C.I (1.72-3.93)]. Psychosocial stress among socially deprived women was found to be a risk factor for periodontal disease.

Influence of Surgical Flap Design (Envelope and Szmyd) for Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars on Clinical Periodontal Parameters: A Clinical Trial.

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of flap designs (Envelope flap (EF) and Szmyd flap (SF)) for impacted mandibular third molar extraction, on periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and bone levels (BL) of second molar. Sixty patients indicated for third molar extractions with healthy second molars were allocated into two groups: EF and SF (n = 30). Third molars were assessed for angulation, root patterns, depth of impactions and relation with ramus (Pell and Gregory classification). Extraction of third molars was performed and PPD, CAL and BL around second molars at 0, 3 and 6 month (mon) follow-ups (FU) were assessed clinically and radiographically. ANOVA, Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were employed to compare periodontal factors between EF and SF groups, considering p ≤ 0.05 as significant. Sixty participants with a mean age of 23.22 ± 3.17 were included in the study. Based on angulation, the most common impaction in the EF and SF groups was mesio-angular (EF, 50%; SF, 36.7%). Buccal and distal PPD showed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in both EF and SF patients from baseline to 6 mon. EF patients showed significantly higher distal and buccal CAL (6.67 ± 0.18 mm; 6.91 ± 0.17 mm) and BL (7.64 ± 0.16 mm; 7.90 ± 0.15 mm) as compared to SF patients (CAL, 6.76 ± 0.26 mm; 6.91 ± 0.17 mm-BL, 7.42 ± 0.38 mm; 7.34 ± 0.34 mm) at 6 mon FU. SF showed better soft tissue attachment (PPD and CAL) and bone stability (less bone loss) around second molars compared to EF after third molar extractions regardless of the patient, tooth and operator factors.