Evaluating the Effects of Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) and Teucrium Polium Extracts on Salivary Streptococcus Mutans Levels in Children.

Statement of the Problem: Camelia Sinenis or green tea (GT) and Teucrium polium (TP) are known to have a great antimicrobial potential on salivary Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Their efficacy should be examined compared to the gold standard antimicrobial agents. Purpose: To evaluate the effects of Camelia Sinenis or green tea (GT) and Teucrium polium (TP) extracts in comparison with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) on salivary S. mutans levels. Materials and Method: This double-blinded randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 90 preschool children aged 4 to 6 years and assigned randomly (simple randomization) to three groups as GT, TP, and CHG. Unstimulated saliva samples were then collected in three times as before application of agents, after half an hour, and after one week. To determine S. mutans levels, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique was additionally utilized. Statistical analysis was also fulfilled using Shapiro-Wilk test, Friedman test, Chi-square test, paired sample t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Mann-Whitney U test at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The results of this study established a significant difference between mean salivary S. mutans levels after administration of the three compounds. Although the mean of S. mutans levels reduced significantly following the application of CHG and TP after half an hour, the mean salivary S. mutans levels in the group receiving GT declined in a significant manner only one week later (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that GT and TP extracts had considerable effects on salivary S. mutans levels compared with CHG.

Assessing Moral Skills in General and Post-Graduate Dental Students in the Southeast of Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Objective: To assess the level of moral skills in dental students and residents. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was conducted on dental students and residents of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, selected by census sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic information checklist (age, gender, marital status, educational level (before basic sciences, after basic sciences, residency), and moral skills inventory questionnaire. The data were analyzed using a T-test and multiple regression analysis at a confidence level of 95%. Results: The total score of the moral skills questionnaire was about 44 out of 80, and there was no difference between males and females in moral skills (p=0.79). However, there was a significant difference in moral sensitivity between married and single students (p=0.036). Residents gained significantly higher moral integrity scores than students (p=0.046). Conclusion: The study highlights that the level of professional moral skills in Kerman dental students and residents was acceptable. Single students got higher scores in the moral sensitivity domain, although residents got the highest scores in the moral integrity domain. There was no significant correlation between gender and the level of moral skills (AU).

Impact of Laughter Therapy on Anxiety and Pain in Pediatric Dentistry: A Double-Blinded Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of laughter therapy on reducing anxiety and pain during dental procedures in children 5-7 years of age. Material and Methods: 48 children aged 5-7 years were included in this cross-over double-blinded clinical trial after the parents completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorder questionnaire (SCARED). After allocation into two groups: laughter intervention (A) and neutral intervention (B), the anxiety as well as pain were determined by Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale Faces questionnaire (MCDASF) and the Wong-Baker Faces Scale, respectively. Also, the child's behavior during the treatment was recorded using the Sound, Eye, Motor scale (SEM). Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 using Paired t-test, Independent t-test, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon's test. Results: The mean score of anxiety in the laughter intervention group (17.42±2.74) was significantly less than (22.06±2.16) in the neutral intervention group (p=0.000) and lower in boys in both groups (p=0.000, p=0.047). The mean pain severity reported by the children in the neutral intervention group (5.33±1.81) was higher than in the laughter intervention group (2.38±1.87; p=0.00) and higher in girls in both groups (p=0.02; p=0.03). Conclusion: The laughter intervention before dental procedures had a significant effect on reducing anxiety and pain during dental treatment (AU).

Assessing the Knowledge of Students about Dental Bleaching in Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: An attractive smile and white teeth give self-confidence and provide impression of health, which help individuals for social and interpersonal success. Increasing demand for tooth bleaching and lack of relevant information on the other hand, necessitate a new investigation to assess the knowledge of the students about dental bleaching in Kerman. PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the overall knowledge of the students of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman regarding dental bleaching and their tendency to perform it. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This cross-sectional study enrolled 384 students who were selected by simple random sampling. A valid and reliable self-administered researcher-made questionnaire was employed to collect data about demographic information, health behavior, tooth bleaching, and the tendency to perform . This tool contained 8 questions with the focus on the knowledge of dental bleaching. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 21 and regression analysis at a significant level of 0.05. RESULTS: Overall, 59.55% of participants were male and 40.45% were female students. Most likely, the source for gaining information was internet. In this regard, 29 individuals were dissatisfied with tooth color, 27 ones with the appearance of teeth, 13.5% have done tooth bleaching, and 69% had tendency to do that. The preferred knowledge was about the difference between scaling and root planning (SRP) and bleaching. There was no significant difference between age, gender, and marital status variables with the knowledge of dental bleaching. Tooth color satisfaction increased the tendency to do bleaching about 1.87 times. CONCLUSION: The study highlights that 69 % of the students had a tendency to do the bleaching, their knowledge was moderate, and there was no statistical relationship between knowledge, gender, and marital variables. Color variable had an overall positive effect on the tendency to do the bleaching.

Baby-Risk of malocclusion assessment index: An assessment tool for preventive orthodontic treatment needs in a selected population of children in southeast of Iran.

CONTEXT: Preventive orthodontic treatments are performed in the primary or mixed dentition period and provide a proper development of occlusion to avoid dentofacial anomalies. AIMS: This study aims to evaluate the Baby-Risk of Malocclusion Assessment Index (ROMA) index regarding ease of use, reproducibility, and the epidemiological assessment of major orthodontic problems in children aged 4-6-year-old in Kerman (Iran) kindergartens. SETTING AND DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1000 children aged 4-6 in Kerman (Iran) kindergartens, selected by cluster sampling, and data were collected using the Baby-ROMA index. METHODS: After recording a demographic data collection form, the clinical examination of the teeth was carried out by a dental student. The data were analyzed with SPSS 18 using t-test, analysis of variance, Chi-squared test, and Mann-Whitney test at a significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: In this study, the most common cause of malocclusion was dental caries (7.5%), followed by crossbite (6.1%). Furthermore, 31.6% of the subjects had one type of malocclusion, and 20.5% needed monitoring the occlusion before the growth spurt, while 11.1% needed immediate orthodontic treatment (mostly 6-year-old children). Moreover, 15.3% of the subjects had systemic problems; 3.4% had craniofacial, 22% had dental, and 2% had functional problems. The prevalence of class I canine relationship in the right canines was 82.32%, with 82.5% on the left side. The prevalence of open bite was higher in females with thumb-sucking habit. CONCLUSION: The Baby-ROMA index presented good reliability and ease of use for evaluating early orthodontic treatment needs in primary and mixed dentition periods.