Enhancing Oral Hygiene in Children With Hearing Impairment: The Impact of Skit Video Interventions -A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of 3 interventions-skit video, pictorial, and sign language-in improving the oral hygiene of children with hearing impairment. Materials and Methods. Sixty children randomly divided into 3 groups: Skit video, Pictorial, and Sign language. The mean gingival and Oral Hygiene Index scores were recorded before and after interventions. A 1-way ANOVA was used for statistically significant difference between pre and post intervention scores. Results. A significant difference in mean oral hygiene and gingival index scores before and after interventions was found in Group A (P < .005). A statistically significant difference was also found between group A and B in inter group comparison of OHI and GI scores post intervention (P < .004). Conclusion. Skit video and pictorial intervention effectively improves oral health resulting in reduced mean oral hygiene and gingival scores.

The efficacy of iatrosedation and music listening techniques in attenuating dental anxiety in patients undergoing dental crown preparation: A randomized clinical trial.

Dental anxiety is a common problem encountered in dental clinics that affects both patients and dentists. Adequate management of dental anxiety is critical for optimal treatment outcomes for the patient. This study aims to assess the efficacy of two anxiety-reduction techniques (iatrosedation and music listening) for dental crown preparation in adult patients. In this clinical trial, 60 patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Group 1, iatrosedation; Group 2, music listening; and Group 3, control. Patients in all three groups underwent dental crown preparation. To measure the anxiety levels of the patients, heart rate was calculated using a pulse oximeter, and verbal rating scale scores were assessed. One-way analysis of variance, post hoc analysis, and Spearman's correlation were used to compare the mean values of the three groups. Significant differences were observed in the heart rate and verbal rating scale scores among individuals in the study groups. A more substantial reduction in anxiety levels was found in patients exposed to iatrosedation (Group 1), which was followed by music listening (Group 2). Recorded heart rate and verbal rating scores were the highest in the control group patients. The iatrosedation technique significantly reduced dental anxiety for patients undergoing dental crown treatment; however, music listening was less effective than iatrosedation. Educating patients regarding the dental care they are about to receive is vital for reducing their anxiety.

The effectiveness of single antibiotic paste nitrofurantoin V/S double antibiotic paste in alleviation of post-operative pain of patients suffering from symptomatic irreversible pulpitis-A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The present research evaluated and compared effectiveness between nitrofurantoin and double antibiotic paste in alleviating post-operative pain in patients suffering from symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Methods: There were 60 subjects enrolled who were allotted among three groups: Group 1 - Nitrofurantoin, Group 2 - double antibiotic paste, and Group 3 - Control. Succeeding access opening and chemo mechanical preparation, intracanal medicament was placed in the root canals. Using a numerical pain scale, pain scores were measured at the following time intervals: preoperative, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. One-way ANOVA and post hoc statistical analysis were conducted, with a p-value of ⩽ considered as statistically significant. Results: Preoperatively, most patients experienced moderate to severe pain. The patients in groups 1 and 2 reported considerable reduction in their pain scores (p ⩽ 0.001) on each time interval. However, patients in group 3 experienced a higher level of pain even at 72 h. No considerable distinction was found among participant's pain scores of groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.193). Conclusion: For effective pain-relieving, both nitrofurantoin and double antibiotic paste can be successfully used in patients suffering from symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. However, when calcium hydroxide was used, patients experience high levels of pain.

Frequency and etiological denominators of alveolar osteitis at Northern Province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-An observational study.

Objective: Alveolar osteitis is a painful complication that often arises after tooth extraction, presenting a significant clinical challenge. It is imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of both its occurrence and the contributing factors to enhance the quality of dental care. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and prevalence of alveolar osteitis among patients and compare these variables based on demographic characteristics (age and sex), the number of teeth extractions, operator experience, health status, and smoking habits in the target population. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted from May 2019 to April 2020. It included all patients above 16 years of age, of both genders, who underwent permanent tooth extraction for various reasons. Patient demographics, smoking habits, health status, operating dental surgeon's clinical experience, extraction technique, and the number of teeth extracted were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Chi-square test and regression analysis were used to assess differences between age, sex, smoking habit, dentist category, and the number of teeth extractions in relation to alveolar osteitis. Results: A total of 679 permanent tooth extractions were performed in 438 patients. Alveolar osteitis was observed in 107 cases (15.7%) following tooth extractions. Among these, 36 cases (33.6%) occurred in single tooth extraction cases, while 71 cases (66.4%) were present in patients with multiple extractions. Moreover, 67 cases (62.6%) of alveolar osteitis were found in cigarette smokers. In addition, 61 cases (57%) of dry sockets were reported after tooth extractions performed by dental interns, while 46 cases (43.0%) were noted in extractions performed by experienced dental surgeons and specialists. Conclusion: The study found a 15.7% incidence of alveolar osteitis in tooth extraction patients in the Al-Jouf region. Alveolar osteitis was more prevalent in males and the age group of 56-77 years. Multiple tooth extractions were associated with higher alveolar osteitis incidence, while operator inexperience increased post-extraction complication risks. In addition, a promising novel protocol and risk assessment scoring system have been devised which require further validation and future research.

Comparison of triamcinolone with pentoxifylline and vitamin E efficacy in the treatment of stage 2 and 3 oral submucous fibrosis: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of triamcinolone in combination with pentoxifylline and vitamin E in the treatment of patients with level two and three oral submucous fibrosis. Methods: The study aimed to compare the efficacy of corticosteroid injections (triamcinolone) versus pentoxifylline and vitamin E in the therapy of patients with stage two and three oral submucous fibrosis. A total of 42 participants with indications and features of oral submucous fibrosis were enrolled between January 2020 and September 2021. The patients' age and mouth opening were evaluated, and descriptive statistics and paired t-test were used for analytical investigation. Results: The study showed a statistically significant improvement in both treatment groups (p = 0.001) concerning pre- and post-treatment deviations. However, when comparing the standard differences in treatment outcomes between the two study groups, only mouth opening exhibited a statistically significant difference (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The findings indicate that a treatment regimen combining pentoxifylline and triamcinolone can significantly alleviate oral submucous fibrosis symptoms, including mouth opening, pain, and flaring agitation, thereby enhancing the affected individual's quality of life.

An insight into perceptions of general pathologists about the need for oral pathology services: An observational study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the degree of perception of oral pathology as a specialty among the general pathologists and the need of utilizing oral pathologists in assisting to identify oral lesions in diagnostic challenges. Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among qualified general pathologists to collect the data. The survey items focused on various aspects, including the analysis of oral pathology as a specialty, the importance of employing oral pathologists for identifying oral lesions in diagnostic challenges, and the difficulties encountered in managing such lesions. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. For comparing the relationship between work experience and the referral of odontogenic cysts and tumors cases, a Chi-square test was employed. A significance level of p ⩽ 0.05 was deemed as statistically significant. Results: Two hundred and fifty general pathologists responded to the questionnaire. Two hundred and thirty two (92.8%) participants showed awareness of oral pathology as a specialty. For the diagnosis of oral, jaws, and salivary glands pathologic lesions, the majority 198 (79.2%) respondents believed that oral pathologists are required for the diagnosis. Regarding the referrals of lesions to oral pathologists, 137 (54.8%), participants did not refer. In terms of training in oral pathology, all of the participants agreed that they would undertake short-term posting in oral pathology. For challenging cases, all the general pathologists believed that oral pathologists should be part of the team. Conclusion: The general pathologists recognized oral pathology as a specialty and feel the need for an oral pathologist opinion in diagnosis. However, most of the general pathologists did not refer the complex cases to oral pathologists. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to encourage oral pathologists and their hiring at histopathology laboratories that are diagnosing complex head and neck cases.

Nasolabial Flap in the Management of Oral Sub Mucous Fibrosis: A Series of Cases.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the nasolabial flap in the management of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). The descriptive case series included 75 patients diagnosed with OSMF who underwent surgical intervention under general anesthesia. Preoperative mouth opening measurements were compared with postoperative measurements taken after 2 months. Regarding mouth opening, out of the 75 patients, 4 (5.3%) had unsatisfactory results after treatment, while 22 (29.3%) experienced satisfactory outcomes. The majority of patients, 49 (65.3%), achieved normal mouth opening (more than 30 mm) following the Nasolabial flap procedure. This indicates that the Nasolabial flap yielded favorable results in terms of restoring normal mouth opening and benefiting the patients. Based on the findings of this study, the Nasolabial flap was determined to be a viable surgical option for managing oral submucous fibrosis due to its ease of operation, reliable flap vascularity, and low post-operative complication rate. The only drawback identified was the presence of a surgical scar, which can be addressed through secondary correction procedures.

Effectiveness of precooling with ethyl chloride versus honey in alleviating intra-oral injection pain in adult patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess and compare the effectiveness of precooling with ethyl chloride versus honey in alleviating the pain of dental injection. Methods: About 90 patients were recruited for this randomized controlled trial. In each of the following three groups, 30 patients were allocated: Group 1, precooling with ethyl chloride; Group 2, honey; and Group 3, control. The pain score of patients in each group was measured after injecting the dental local anesthesia using a visual analog scale. Paired t-test and multiple linear regression tests were used for statistical analysis. A p value of ⩽0.05 was considered to be as significant. Results: The mean pain scores of participants residing in different groups were as follows: Group 1: 2.83 ± 1.46, Group 2: 4.33 ± 1.62, and Group 3: 7.80. After administrating ethyl chloride, the majority of the 18 (60%) patients reported to suffer from "mild pain." Furthermore, in patients who were given honey in Group 2, most of the 21 (70%) patients reported suffering from "moderate pain." In Group 3 (control) where no anesthetic modality was used, the majority of the 25 (83.33%) patients experienced "severe pain." A significant difference was noted among the pain scores of three groups (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The administration of local anesthetic is part of almost all dental procedures. Precooling with ethyl chloride resulted in a greater reduction in pain scores than honey upon administration of local anesthesia injection.

Comparative evaluation of Sapindus Mukorossi extract with 17% EDTA on smear layer removal in various parts of the tooth root.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of an experimental root canal irrigant and 17% Ethylene-di-amine tetra acetic acid for removal of the smear layer in the coronal, middle and apical portions of the root canal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety human single rooted maxillary and mandibular teeth were selected for this study. The teeth were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group as follows: Group A (Ethanolic extract of Sapindus Mukorossi), Group B (17% EDTA), and Group C (Distilled water). The root canals of all three groups were prepared with stainless steel K-files by means of the standard step-back technique and irrigated with 5.25% sodium hypo chloride. The teeth were decoronated, following the irrigation and divided longitudinally into two-halves and visualized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) for the amount of smear layer present utilizing the three-point score system. The observations were noted both before and after the treatment. Nonparametric tests were applied for the comparison and p-value ⩽ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: It was evident from that smear layer was completely removed in coronal portion of 27 out of 30 teeth in-group A. For middle and apical areas of group A, 24 and 19 teeth showed complete smear layer removal. In-group B it was found that there were 24, 21, and 3 teeth at coronal, middle and apical, areas respectively where smear layer were completely absent. Intra group comparison showed a significant difference (p = 0.002) in smear layer removal was found for group A at coronal, middle and apical thirds. Similarly, a significant difference (p = 0.001) was also found for group B; however heavy smear layer was found among the three parts of the canal for group C. CONCLUSIONS: Ethanolic extract of Sapindus Mukorossi have higher effectiveness in removing the smear layer from the root canal in comparison to 17% EDTA.

Physical activities pre- and post-COVID-19 vaccination and its implementations: A narrative review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a severe communicable pulmonary medical problem that has been a challenging disease for everyone in the globe, but vaccines development and administration against this severe acute respiratory syndrome-inducing disease (coronavirus disease 2019) are currently yielding fabulous results. The mean duration of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic for this study spanned from 2020 until 2022. These manifestations are accompanied by symptoms of respiratory tract illnesses such as non-productive cough, sore throat, and nasal discharge. Relevant reviews on coronavirus disease 2019 manifestations and outcomes, consisting mainly of the infections/outbreaks, experimental information, and pre- and post-serovaccination details that occurred, were described. After a typical vaccination course, the study aims to summarize and understand more about the effectiveness of exercise on the pre-and post-coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination and its implementations. Physical activity is an immunological function adjuvant to decrease communicable disease risk and enhance immunity post-viral infection vaccination. Moderate-intensity resistance exercisesession directly before getting the influenza vaccine decreases vaccine responses in older adults, such as redness, pain, or inflammation at the injection spot or other adverse consequences compared to the inactive circumstance. However, it was reported that exercise after a shot is generally safe as long as vaccinated people feel well enough. Though exercise before or after vaccination has no negative impact on the protection afforded by the vaccine, people can exercise immediately after receiving the vaccine, as any changes in blood flow will not affect the vaccine's response. One episode of light-to-moderate-intensifying exercise after vaccination may improve the antibody reactions to influenza or the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine. Vaccination administered pre- and post-regular exercise is an effective approach for boosting antibody responses due to its immunostimulant effects. Future research should investigate how different vaccine antibodies respond to low, moderate, and high physical activity levels.

The Association of Socioeconomic and Lifestyle Factors with the Oral Health Status in School-Age Children from Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The data on how lifestyle factors of school-going children affect their oral health are not sufficient; therefore, there is a need to analyze the adverse effects of poor lifestyle habits and the role of mothers' education on oral health. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors with the oral health status of school-going children through a structured questionnaire and oral examination. Ninety-five (26.5%) children were from class 1. One hundred eighty-seven (52.1%) mothers were educated while 172 (47.9%) were uneducated. Two hundred seventy-six (76.9%) children had never visited the dentist. The results indicate that dental health behavior is associated with lifestyle factors as well as socio-demographic variables. Parent education and awareness regarding oral health plays a major role in determining the oral health of children.

Outcome Assessment after Reconstruction of Tumor-Related Mandibular Defects Using Free Vascularized Fibular Flap-A Clinical Study.

The objective of this study was to analyze the outcomes of the free vascularized fibular flap in the reconstruction of mandibular defects, and to assess the oral health impact profile of these patients before surgery and after oral rehabilitation. Patients requiring reconstruction of defects greater than 6 cm were selected for this study. The defect size and type, the size of the required skin paddle, the need for second flaps, the intraoperative complications, and the type of closure were documented. Patients were evaluated postoperatively for function, aesthetics, and donor- or reconstruction-site complications. The validated oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) questionnaires were filled before and after surgery and after dental rehabilitation. This study included 11 cases of squamous-cell carcinomas, 2 cases of malignant nerve sheath tumors, and 1 case each of malignant melanoma, ameloblastoma, giant-cell tumor, osteosarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. The analysis revealed a significant association (p = 0.030) of gender with free vascular flap complications, while no significant association (p > 0.05) was found when donor- and recipient- site complications, as well as the type of resection (Brown's classification), were compared with free vascular flaps. Moreover, the total OHIP-14 scores for patients before surgery, after surgery, and after dental rehabilitation were 12.03 ± 1.34, 10.66 ± 1.41, and 08.33 ± 0.62, respectively. The oral health-related quality of life was markedly improved after the reconstruction of the mandibular defects with free vascularized fibular flap and dental rehabilitation. The overall success rate of fibular flap in our study was 72.2%, which is lower than that reported in the literature. This may be attributed to the fact that almost all of our cases included large segmental defects that extended across the midline of the mandible.

The Evaluation of Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Malignant Tumors Involving the Maxillary Sinus: Recommendation of an Examination Sieve and Risk Alarm Score.

This observational study was conducted to evaluate the clinical signs and symptoms of maxillary sinus tumors and to propose a clinical examination sieve and a unique risk alarm score to be used for timely patient referral and vigilance. The study consisted of 70 patients between 20 to 82 years of age from both sexes. The clinical information gained was collected from the upper dentoalveolar segment, orbit, and nasal sites. Regarding the early clinical sign and symptoms of patients, nasal obstruction was found in 67 patients (95.7%), facial swelling in 69 patients (98.6%), paresthesia in 41 patients (58.6%), and epistaxis in 50 patients (71.4%). Furthermore, in terms of the late signs and symptoms, a palpable mass in buccal sulcus was observed in 65 (92.9%) of the patients, lymphadenopathy in 24 (34.3%), paresthesia in 38 (54.3%), and diplopia in 22 (31.4%). Furthermore, general sign and symptoms like exophthalmos was present in 35 patients (50%), anosmia was observed in 37 patients (52.9%), and oroantral fistula was noted in 37 patients (55.9%). Additionally, 67 (95.7%) of the patients complained of nasal obstruction. Similarly, facial asymmetry was observed in 69 (98.6%) of the patients and double vision was observed in 24 (34.4%). Tumors of the maxillary sinus have a very insidious course of spread and uncertain clinical signs and symptoms. What makes diagnosis worse is the fact that the symptoms of these tumors are so well hidden in the sponge-like nature of the midfacial region that they are easily misinterpreted by patients. Therefore, diagnoses must be made early, dentists must be vigilant, and patients must be fully investigated at the slightest suspicion of a tumor, albeit benign.

Comparison of General Anxiety among Healthcare Professionals before and after COVID-19 Vaccination.

Vaccination plays a crucial role in controlling the rate of coronavirus transmission and infectivity. Healthcare professionals are, in fact, at the greatest risk of contracting coronavirus due to their proximity and prolonged exposure to infected patients; this certitude alone enhances the stress and anxiety among patients and professionals alike. In this study, we aimed to assess the levels of anxiety experienced by healthcare professionals in their practices before and after getting vaccinated. This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2021. An electronic survey was distributed among the non-vaccinated and vaccinated healthcare workers. The survey consisted of the following parts: demographic characteristics, coronavirus-related questions, questions related to the specific field of healthcare professions, general anxiety questions, and working-hour-related questions. The Modified General Anxiety Scale (GAD-7) was used along with the paired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearmen's test for comparison. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 798 healthcare professionals participated in the study. In this study, the majority of participants were females, with 598 (74.9%) being between the ages of 21 and 30, and 646 (80.9%) participants were graduates, with the majority being dentists. Non-vaccinated healthcare professionals had severe anxiety (30.9%), whereas, in vaccinated participants, anxiety levels were minimal (56.9%). A statistically significant correlation was discovered when comparing the scores of the vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals as well as when comparing the professions of vaccinated participants, whereas no association was found with the gender and education level of participants. Vaccination is necessary for all entitled individuals to control the spread of coronavirus. It was discovered that there was an increase in anxiety levels before the vaccination was introduced. The anxiousness was greatly lessened following mass immunizations. Our research will help to raise public awareness of stigmatized mental health disorders in the healthcare industry.

Development, Application, and Performance of Artificial Intelligence in Cephalometric Landmark Identification and Diagnosis: A Systematic Review.

This study aimed to analyze the existing literature on how artificial intelligence is being used to support the identification of cephalometric landmarks. The systematic analysis of literature was carried out by performing an extensive search in PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Scopus, and Science Direct databases. Articles published in the last ten years were selected after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 17 full-text articles were systematically appraised. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (CHSRI) and Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS) were adopted for quality analysis of the included studies. The artificial intelligence systems were mainly based on deep learning-based convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in the included studies. The majority of the studies proposed that AI-based automatic cephalometric analyses provide clinically acceptable diagnostic performance. They have worked remarkably well, with accuracy and precision similar to the trained orthodontist. Moreover, they can simplify cephalometric analysis and provide a quick outcome in practice. Therefore, they are of great benefit to orthodontists, as with these systems they can perform tasks more efficiently.

Impact of Social Media on Aesthetic Dentistry: General Practitioners' Perspectives.

The objective of this study was to investigate general dentists' observations of various aesthetic dental procedures among social media users. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Prosthodontics, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, over a duration of six months. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire comprising 21 predefined responses. The questionnaire was uploaded and disseminated through Google Surveys by forwarding web page links through emails and WhatsApp. The data collected were analysed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-Version 25). The majority (90.7%) of the dental practitioners surveyed believed that there is an increase in the demand for aesthetic dental procedures and social media is a major contributor to it. Moreover, most of the 377 (81.8%) participants agreed that social media is a beneficial platform enabling them to educate, advertise, and communicate with patients. Concerning popular aesthetic procedures, teeth whitening (54.7%), Hollywood smile (17.1%), dental veneers (11.9%), and Invisalign (10.4%) were the most commonly demanded aesthetic procedures. The patients showed desire for these procedures because they were trending on social media platforms. Almost half of the general dental practitioners used social media to post their content related to aesthetic dentistry and to promote their work. They preferred using before and after pictures (48.6%) for advertising their content related to aesthetic dentistry. Within the limitations of the study, it is concluded that the demand for aesthetic dentistry is rapidly growing, and social media is the main driving force behind this revolution as the general population has direct access to the profiles of celebrities and influencers, who all appear to have 'the perfect smile'. This shift in people's self-image has created a surge in patients seeking cosmetic treatments.

Evaluation of Social Media Usage by Dental Practitioners of Pakistan for Professional Purposes - A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In the past couple of years, the use of social media has been on a tremendous rise with greater attention in the field of healthcare, including dentistry. The use of social media for professional purposes is emphasized as unprofessional use can be detrimental. This study aims to evaluate the use of social media by dentists for professional purposes. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between December 2021 and March 2022. An online questionnaire was formulated using Google Forms and distributed to the dental professionals through various social media platforms such as Twitter©, Facebook©, Instagram©, Snapchat©, WhatsApp©, and Email©. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: demographic characteristics and questions about the use of social media for professional purposes. For data analysis, SPSS version 25.0 was used, where a multiple linear regression test was used to compare the responses of the participants with their demographic characteristics. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 404 dentists participated in this study with a response rate of 89.7%. The majority of the 276 (68.3%) dentists believed to have a professional account to use social media for professional purposes. Most of the 280 (69.3%) dentists agreed social media improved knowledge and communication skills with the patients. About 248 (61.4%) dentists considered the use of social media for general purposes during clinical hours led to wastage of time. About 160 (39.6%) dentists considered connecting with patients on social media to be inappropriate. Conclusion: The use of social media is on the rise at a tremendous rate in different fields of work, including dentistry. Social media is a great tool for dentists to help expand and grow their clinical practice. However, the professional use and ethics whilst using social media should be considered by the dentists.

Evaluation of Shear Bond Strength between Resin Composites and Conventional Glass Ionomer Cement in Class II Restorative Technique-An In Vitro Study.

The success of dental restorations depends mainly on the ability to bond to other filling materials and tooth substances, in order to resist the multitude of forces acting on the bond within the oral cavity. Although the shortcomings of composite resins have been significantly reduced over the past three decades, microleakage due to shrinkage under masticatory loads is unavoidable. In order to overcome such problems, two materials laminated with matched properties can be used to achieve optimum results. The sandwich technique is an approach in which dentine is replaced by glass ionomer cement (GIC), and enamel is replaced by composite resin. In the past, numerous materials have been proposed with adequate properties to be used in this manner, but the results are conflicting in terms of bonding to the various forms of GIC, and the appearance of microcracks or gap formation during functional loading. This study aimed to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) and mode of failure between the following core materials: composite resins (CR) (Methacrylate Z350™, Ceram X™, and Spectrum™) with a base material of glass ionomer cement (GIC, Ketac Molar™). Eight samples were made with the help of polytetrafluoroethylene sheets (TEFLON, Wilmington, DE, USA). Each sheet consisted of holes which were 4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness. The combination of materials was sandwiched. The samples were stored in distilled water and then placed in an incubator for 24 h in order to ensure complete polymerization. The samples were thermocycled for 500 cycles between 5-55 °C/ 30 s. Following thermocycling, SBS testing was performed using a universal testing machine. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed on representative samples for the bond failure analysis between GIC and the composite resins. The Ceram-X™ nanocomposite showed significantly higher bond strength than Methacrylate Z350™ or Spectrum™ (p = 0.002). The Methacrylate Z350™ and the Spectrum™ composite specimens demonstrated a similar SBS (p = 0.281). The SBS of the Ceram X™ to GIC was the highest compared to Methacrylate Z350™ and Spectrum™. Therefore Ceram X™ may produce a better bond with GIC, and may protect teeth against recurrent caries and failure of the restoration. Methacrylate Z350™ is comparable to Spectrum™ CR and can be used as an alternative. A combination of adhesive and mixed failure was observed in Methacrylate Z350™ CR and GIC, while adhesive failure was predominantly found in both Ceram X™ and Spectrum™ with GIC restorations.

A Comparative Study on Alvogyl and a Mixture of Black Seed Oil and Powder for Alveolar Osteitis: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Alveolar osteitis (AO) is the most common complication faced by exodontia patients and is usually seen 24-74 hours after tooth extraction, heralded by severe throbbing pain. Nigella sativa is commonly known as black seed known to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties along with other reparative properties that enhance bone formation. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of Alvogyl and a mixture of Nigella sativa powder and oil in the treatment of dry sockets. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients above the age of 18 and below 70 years, from both genders, who underwent extraction of teeth and were clinically diagnosed with a dry socket at the clinic of the College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia, were included in this study. Pain scores were assessed after placement of the dressing at the following intervals: 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 2nd day, 4th day, and 7th day. Patients were randomly allocated to three groups, namely, Group 1 (Alvogyl), Group 2 (mixture of Nigella sativa's powder and oil), and Group 3 (control). Pain relief and healing of the socket were compared between the three groups. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis through Spearman's correlation test, independent t-test, ANOVA, and post hoc test. Results: A mixture of Nigella sativa powder and oil showed a statistically significant difference in relieving pain compared to the Alvogyl group. A mixture of Nigella sativa's powder and oil required fewer dressings when compared to the Alvogyl group. Conclusion: A mixture of Nigella sativa powder and oil is the more efficacious dressing material for the management of dry sockets compared to Alvogyl. It provides immediate and complete pain relief and fewer numbers of repeated visits.

The Effectiveness of Lasers in Treatment of Oral Mucocele in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review.

The mucocele is the most common minor salivary gland associated disease of the oral cavity. It is also considered one of the most common biopsied oral lesions in pediatric patients. In recent years, extensive evidence has been published about the usage of lasers in treating mucoceles in pediatric patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of laser irradiation in the treatment of pediatric mucocele. An electronic search of databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar) was carried out in order to identify all relevant articles using a combination of the following keywords: "Pediatric", "Oral", "Mucocele", "Dental", "Oral Medicine", "Soft Dental Lasers", "Hard Dental Lasers", and "Lasers," for all case reports, case series, case-control and cohort studies published from 2007 to 2021. After limiting the search results, removing duplicate titles, and eligibility evaluation, 17 papers were enrolled in the study. Out of the total studies included, 10 articles were related to the diode (635 nm, 808 nm, 810 nm, and 980 nm), 5 to CO2 (10,600 nm), 3 to Er, Cr: YSGG (2780 nm), and 1 involving KTP lasers (532 nm). All studies indicated successful clinical results on mucocele excision with better intra- and post-operative indicators. The general characteristics and outcomes were summarized, and the quality of the studies was assessed using CARE guidelines in this systematic review. The reduction or absence of pain and bleeding, hemostasis, reduced operating time, minimal analgesic consumption, and an antibacterial effect were among the advantages of laser irradiation in the included studies. The laser has proven itself to play an effective role in the treatment of oral mucocele in paediatric patients.