Evaluating Study Approach of Dental Students in Palestine using a Study Process Questionnaire: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Learning approach strategies are an important factor to obtain knowledge in any professional course. Surface approach learning and deep approach learning are two main types of learning strategies. Aim: The aim of present study was to evaluate the study approach strategies of dental students in Palestine. Materials and Methods: The present study follows a cross-sectional study design, which includes 250 students from first year to fifth year at Al Quds University. The present study evaluated the study approach using a questionnaire called R-SPQ-2F that was filled by all the students using Google forms. The assessment scores from the curriculum assessment examination were also compared with the scores of the R-SPQ-2F questionnaire. SPSS software was used to analyze data. Results: The results of the ANOVA show that the students in the fifth years had significantly higher mean scores of deep learning approaches than other years (P < 0.001). The students having curriculum assessment scores above 80% showed significantly more deep learning strategies than surface learning strategies (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Deep learning approach can provide better academic outcome. Newer teaching strategies that enhance the deep learning approach should be encouraged in the dental curriculum.

Mandibular Second Premolar Agenesis: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study from Palestine.

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to determine the prevalence of congenitally missing mandibular second premolars. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,843 radiographs were collected from five different cities in Palestine. Two experienced dentists independently examined the panoramic radiographs and demographic data (age and gender). Results: Among the 1,843 radiographs, 1,039 were for females (57.37%) and 804 were for males (43.63%); 13 cases had at least one congenitally mandibular second premolar. The prevalence of congenitally missing mandibular second premolars in the study population was 0.7%. There was no significant association between gender and mandibular second premolar agenesis. Unilateral agenesis was more common than bilateral, and the left side had more cases of congenitally missing mandibular second premolars than the right side. Conclusions: The prevalence of congenitally missing mandibular second premolars in this study population was 0.7%, within the range reported in other populations.

Restorative treatment decisions regarding approximal and occlusal carious lesions among general dental practitioners in Palestine

Aim: To investigate restorative decisions made by dentists and to examine what demographic characteristics are associated with the decisions for managing approximal and occlusal lesions. Methods: A questionnaire was randomly sent to 900 Palestinian dentists. It noted the demographic details of the dentists and the years of experience. The questionnaire evaluated the respondents for their treatment decisions regarding approximal and occlusal carious lesions. The data was analyzed using the IBM SPSS statistics for windows. The associations between gender and years of experience of the respondents and their restorative decisions were assessed. Results: The response rate was 58.2%. For occlusal carious lesions, 93.9% of the respondents would postpone operative treatment until the lesion was in dentine (grade 3 to 5). For approximal lesions, intervention was deemed appropriate by 92.6% of the respondents when there was radiographic evidence of a carious lesion reaching the DEJ or deeper. Around 53% preferred to prepare approximal lesions according to the traditional principles of cavity preparation. For both approximal and occlusal lesions, the participants opted for resin composites. Statistically, there was a significant association between the restorative decisions with the years since graduation and gender. Conclusion: The study showed variations between the treatment decisions of Palestinian dentists. The subjects chose conservative treatment plans but still adhered to traditional learned practices especially when cavity preparation for approximal lesions was concerned. The years since graduation and gender played a significant role in the choice of treatment opted for. Resin composites seemed to be a popular choice for treatment

Cavity Bases Revisited.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to review the current literature on cavity bases while focusing on the role of zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) and resin-modified glass ionomers (RMGI) as cavity bases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A thorough literature search between 1970 and 2020 was done using Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. The keywords of the search strategy were as below: cavity liners and bases, pulp protection, zinc oxide eugenol, and resin-modified glass ionomer. No specific inclusion or exclusion criteria were applied as to what articles would be included in this review. CONCLUSION: This review emphasizes that the available literature provides very little evidence to support the routine use of a base under amalgam or composite restorations. This review favors the adoption of "no more lining or bases" in shallow and moderate cavity preparations. However, an exception might be a "protective base" of RMGI following the application of calcium hydroxide (CH) liners in deep cavities. Bonded RMGIs are suitable cavity base materials and should always replace zinc oxide eugenol bases in daily practice.

TheraCal LC: From Biochemical and Bioactive Properties to Clinical Applications.

BACKGROUND: Direct pulp capping is a popular treatment modality among dentists. TheraCal LC is a calcium silicate-based material that is designed as a direct/indirect pulp capping material. The material might be very attractive for clinicians because of its ease of handling. Unlike other calcium silicate-based materials, TheraCal LC is resin-based and does not require any conditioning of the dentine surface. The material can be bonded with different types of adhesives directly after application. There has been considerable research performed on this material since its launching; however, there are no review articles that collates information and data obtained from these studies. This review discusses the various characteristics of the material with the aim of establishing a better understanding for its clinical use. METHODS: A search was conducted using search engines (PubMed and Cochrane databases) in addition to reference mining of the articles that was used to locate other papers. The process of searching for the relevant studies was performed using the keywords pulp protection, pulp capping, TheraCal, and calcium silicates. Only articles in English published in peer-reviewed journals were included in the review. CONCLUSION: This review underlines the fact that further in vitro and in vivo studies are required before TheraCal LC can be used as a direct pulp capping material.