Morphea Involving the Lips and Gingiva: A Rare Case Report.

Morphea is a subtype of scleroderma that does not involve Raynaud's phenomenon or internal organ involvement. It is a connective tissue disease that features the excessive deposition of collagen in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, leading to a thickening of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, eventually forming a scar-like lesion. We represent a 19-year-old male Saudi patient displaying a white patch on the marginal gingiva of tooth #21 and multiple yellowish papules on the outer surface of the lip. Both teeth #21 and #22 have experienced recession and bone loss. The patient's clinical history and histopathology revealed characteristic features of localized scleroderma. A treatment was proposed involving immunosuppressants, methotrexate, and pimecrolimus cream along with topical corticosteroids and excimer laser therapy (308 nm). The patient followed the treatment plan for a full month and the white patch quickly improved for the patient. Afterward, the patient has been taking only methotrexate with a significant but gradual improvement. In this paper, we discuss the differential diagnosis to be considered and present an unusual occurrence of localized scleroderma in the oral cavity.

Evaluation of the shear bond strength of a tricalcium silicate-based material to four self-adhering glass ionomer materials: an in vitro study.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of EQUIA Forte HT with that of other restorative materials, including EQUIA Forte, glass ionomer cement (GIC), and resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) when bonded to NeoMTA 2. Materials and methods: A total of 120 holes were created in Teflon molds and filled with NeoMTA 2. The restorative materials were immediately applied using customized silicone molds. The samples were randomly divided into two main groups: one to measure the immediate SBS and the other to measure the delayed SBS. These two main groups were further divided into four subgroups based on the restorative material used: EQUIA Forte HT, EQUIA Forte, GIC, and RMGIC. Results: The study groups showed statistically significant differences in the mean SBS (p < 0.0001). The immediate SBS of the RMGIC group (mean ± SD: 5.43 ± 1.22) was significantly higher than those of the GIC and EQUIA Forte groups, with no significant difference found compared to the SBS of EQUIA Forte HT. In the delayed SBS, both the RMGIC and EQUIA Forte HT groups (4.98 ± 0.67 and 4.93 ± 0.60, respectively) demonstrated significantly higher bond strengths than the GIC and EQUIA Forte groups (3.81 ± 0.57 and 4.2 ± 0.63, respectively). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the RMGIC and EQUIA Forte HT groups or between the GIC and EQUIA Forte groups. Conclusion: Based on our findings, EQUIA Forte HT has shown promising outcomes when used as a restorative material following pulpotomies, with results comparable to those of RMGIC.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Oral Health Among Parents of Children at Risk of Infective Endocarditis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious complication primarily affecting patients with cardiac conditions. It is widely recognized that oral microorganisms contribute to the development of IE. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perception of parents of children at risk of IE by studying the preventive measures employed by them. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  A self-constructed questionnaire composed of 14 questions was distributed among parents of children aged 0-12 years with known cardiac diseases. The parents/caregivers who were attending the pediatric outpatient clinics at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) were selected randomly. Results: A total of 112 parents responded to this questionnaire. Almost 50% of the participants in this study reported that their children do not brush their teeth regularly, with only 12.5% of them brushing twice a day. Regarding the role of parents in supervising oral hygiene, 62.5% of them stated that they only provide advice but do not watch their child brush their teeth, and only 9.8% of parents are actively involved in advising and watching their children brush their teeth. In this study, 95.5% of parents agreed that maintaining good dental health was crucial for overall body health, and 58% of the participants showed interest in receiving more education about oral health and its impact on overall well-being. To assess the statistical significance, a nonparametric Pearson's chi-square test for fitness was employed. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was used to report the statistical significance of the results. Conclusion: While the parents demonstrated adequate knowledge of oral health, their attitudes toward it were lacking. So, both parents and children require a modification in their attitudes toward dental care and oral health.