Child Abuse and Neglect: Awareness among Dental Students.

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) have significant consequences for children's health and well-being. Dentists play an important role in identifying and reporting CAN cases. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes toward CAN among dental students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students, comparing second-year (preclinical) and fifth-year (clinical) students, both male and female, in the College of Dentistry at King Saud University during the first semester of the 2022/2023 academic year, using a questionnaire with 23 multiple-choice questions and an electronic link. The results revealed that most dental students (96%) were aware of CAN, with social media being the most utilized source of information (85%). However, the dental college was noticed as the least utilized source (50%). Most dental students recognize the significance of CAN in dentistry and expressed an intense interest in learning how to effectively deal with such cases. Only a small proportion, 16%, of dental students reported experiencing incidents of CAN in their clinical practice. In general, there were statistically significant differences between preclinical and clinical students, but there were no significant differences in awareness between female and male students when the source of information and role in dealing with CAN were taken into consideration. Both preclinical and clinical dental students were aware of CAN, although there were concerns about their ability to cope with it. The results emphasize the importance of comprehensive education and training programs across the dental curriculum about CAN.

Research on Structural Performance of Hybrid Ferro Fiber Reinforced Concrete Slabs.

Reinforced concrete structures, particularly in cold areas, experience early deterioration due to steel corrosion. Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (FRC) is an emerging construction material and cost-effective substitute for conventional concrete to enhance the durability and resistance against crack development. This article examines the structural performance of hybrid ferro fiber reinforced concrete slabs (mix ratio of mortar 1:2) comprising silica fume, layers of spot-welded mesh and different ratios of polypropylene fibers. The ferrocement slabs are compared with a conventional Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) slab (mix ratio of 1:2:4). The experimental work comprised a total of 13 one-way slabs, one control specimen and three groups of ferrocement slabs divided based on different percentages of Poly Propylene Fibers (PPF) corresponding to 0.10%, 0.30% and 0.50% dosage in each group. Furthermore, in each group, the percentage of steel ratio in ferrocement slabs varied between 25% and 100% of the steel area in the reinforced concrete control slab specimen. For evaluating the structural performance, the observation of deflection, stress-strain behavior, cracking load and energy absorption are critical parameters assessed using LVDTs and strain gauges. At the same time, the slabs were tested in flexure mode with third point loading. The experimental results showed that the first cracking load and ultimate deflection for fibrous specimens with 0.5% fiber and 10% silica fume increased by 15.25% and 13.2% compared with the reference RCC control slab. Therefore, by increasing the percentage of PPF and steel wire mesh reinforcement in the ferrocement slab, the post-cracking behavior in terms of deflection properties and energy absorption capacity was substantially enhanced compared to the RCC control slab.

Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Caries in Primary and Early Mixed Dentition: A Systematic Review.

Dental caries is a painful condition that could lead to nutritional problems which affects the overall health of the child, as well it is expensive to treat. The effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in primary and early mixed dentition is systematically reviewed in this study. This systematic review utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta- Analysis statement (PRISMA, 2020). A literature search conducted using the common electronic databases (from 2010-2021). Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, ten randomized clinical trials (RCT) have met the inclusion criteria and were considered for the qualitative assessment. Critical appraisal of these studies was done. This systematic review found that using SDF is a successful and effective method in arresting dentin carious process in the primary teeth and first permanent molars in children. Additionally, when compared to the commonly used topical fluoride products and materials, SDF showed to have better cariostatic effect. However, these findings must be cautiously viewed since more research is required to support them.