The Impact of Repeated Steam Sterilization Cycles on the Efficacy of Chairside Adjustment Kits for Polishing Monolithic Multi-Layered Zirconia Dental Restoration Material.

BACKGROUND Before insertion, chairside adjustment kits are heat sterilized for positioning and polishing dental restorations. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 2 steam sterilization cycles on the efficacy of polishing highly translucent monolithic zirconia (HTMLZ) dental restoration material. MATERIAL AND METHODS 100 HTMLZ disc-shaped specimens were adjusted (grinding, finishing, polishing) with EVE Diacera kit. Two steam sterilization techniques [standard (Gp S), immediate/flash (Gp (F)] of CAK were further subgrouped based on number of sterilization cycles [cycle 1 (control), cycle 5, 10, 15, and 20 (experimental)] (n=10 each). Each subgroup accordingly was evaluated for average surface roughness (Ra) and root mean square roughness (Rq) using a profilometer. Mean and standard deviation of 5 subgroups were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA/post hoc Tukey's test. Scanning electron microscopy complemented Ra, Rq measurements. Statistical differences of P≤0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS HTMLZ specimens in both groups showed increased (Ra/Rq) values after repeated sterilization of EVE Diacera kit, with Gp F showing lesser increase than Gp S (20 cycles). Gp F at 10 cycles and Gp S at 15 cycles showed clinically unacceptable roughness threshold (0.25 µm). Differences between subgroups for Ra and Rq values were significant (P≤0.05) with less differences within groups observed in early cycles (1, 10). Results validate the manufacturer's recommendations of using flash sterilization/10 cycles for EVE Diacera kit. CONCLUSIONS Repeated sterilization reduces efficacy of chairside adjustment kit to produce smooth surfaces on HTMLZ. This study recommends flash sterilization to a maximum of 10 times to get the clinically acceptable results of Ra and Rq.

Knowledge and Role of Paediatricians/Paediatric Residents in Infant Oral Healthcare and Dental Home across Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The prevention of oral diseases in children is highly achievable through providing early exposure to oral healthcare habits, which would make children more receptive towards dental services. A cross-sectional study used a structured, self-explanatory questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge and role of 190 paediatricians and paediatric residents towards infant oral healthcare and the dental home across Saudi Arabia. The authors sent a link to the questionnaire, comprising 36 questions, by email, as a Google e-form. The response rate obtained was 87.36%. A major proportion (95.8%) of the respondents considered that paediatricians play an important role in promoting oral health. Around 45.8% of the practitioners recommended tooth brushing after the eruption of the first tooth. About 38% of the practitioners were unaware of the children's first dental visit. The majority (95.2%) agreed that there should be an increased awareness regarding home dental habits. Most of them (78.3%) examined the oral cavity for dental problems as a part of routine childcare, and the majority (75.3%) admitted that they did not evaluate fluoride needs. A statistically significant higher mean knowledge score was observed for practitioners with more than 30 years of experience (9.35 ± 2.29), and there was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.486) between the knowledge score and mean score for the role of paediatric practitioners. Overall, the study concluded that the knowledge of paediatricians and paediatric residents in SA towards infant oral healthcare and the dental home was inadequate, and their role in maintaining oral health was found to be moderately satisfactory.