Evaluation of the Dunning-Kruger Effects among Dental Students at an Academic Training Institution in UAE.

Background: The Dunning-Kruger effect (cognitive bias) is a psychological phenomenon that implies that individuals with a lack of knowledge and skills have an unrealistically optimistic image of their abilities compared to others. Purpose: The study aimed to examine the presence of the Dunning-Kruger effect in fifth (final) year dental undergraduate students at Gulf Medical University, UAE, in clinical domains related to pediatric dentistry. Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Gulf Medical University, College of Dentistry, to evaluate cognitive bias among 5th-year dental students at GMU in the competency domains of communication, diagnosis, and clinical skills in Pediatric dentistry. Results: Overall, compared to the level of confidence of students in September, there was a decline in the level of confidence in January. With an increase in time, the percentage shifted to a higher level in May across all domains. Conclusion: Characteristic patterns of fluctuations in students' self-confidence during clinical exposure are observed. The research results prove that the Dunning-Kruger effect, the cognitive bias of the perception pattern, is present in the examined group of dental students.

MOEBIUS SYNDROME: CHALLENGES OF AIRWAY MANAGEMENT.

Moebius syndrome is a rare nonprogressive congenital neurological disorder with a wide range of severity and variability of symptoms. This diversity is a consequence of dysfunction of different cranial nerves (most often facial and abducens nerves), accompanying orofacial abnormalities, musculoskeletal malformations, congenital cardiac diseases, as well as specific associations of Moebius and other syndromes. The authors present anesthesia and airway management during the multiple tooth extraction surgery in a 10-year-old girl with Moebius syndrome associated with Poland and trigeminal trophic syndromes.

Migration of fluoride ions from the permanent teeth into saliva in children with glass ionomer cement restorations: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Glass ionomer cements (GIC) belong to the group of polycarboxyl cements, and one of the principal characteristics of these materials is their anticariogenic potential of fluorine release into saliva and enamel-dentin substance. The aim of this study was to examine the content of released fluorine from GIC restorations (Fuji IX, GC, Japan) of young permanent teeth in the medium of artificial saliva and similar releases in the same medium by the restorations of these teeth treated with a low concentration fluoride solution. METHODS: We examined 12 premolars extracted from orthodontic reasons. The GIC restored teeth were divided into the group treated daily with low concentration fluoride solution (334 ppm) and the control, not treated group. The samples of artificial saliva were analyzed for fluorine ion content using an ion selective electrode. RESULTS: Our comparative analysis of the mean values using the Student's t-test demonstrated a statistically significant difference in fluorine ion concentration in artificial saliva of fluoridated and non-fluoridated teeth with GIC fillings after 14 and 21 days (p < 0.05), while the difference detected after 7 days was with no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The results of this in vitro study indicated that low-concentration fluoride solutions could serve to refluoridate GIC fillings and contribute to an increased fluorine content in saliva. The process of refluoridation of GIC fillings should be advised 2-3 weeks after the restoration, since the release of fluorine from GIC fillings diminishes in time.

[Analysis of enzyme activity and the level of malondialdehyde in the saliva of children with gingivitis].

INTRODUCTION/AIM: By analysing activity of some of the enzymes normally present in the saliva and the level of malondialdehyde in gingivitis, it is possible to estimate the functional condition of parodontium, and the examined parametres can be considered as biochemical markers of its functional condition. The aim of this paper was to examine activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase and the level of malondialdehyde in the saliva of children affected with gingivitis, as well as the values of the mentioned parametres in relation to the level of the inflammation of gingiva. METHODS: The research included 120 children at the age of 12.2 with permanent dentition. Löe and Silness gingival index was used to estimate the condition of gingiva, based on which the childen were classified into four groups: the children with healthy gingiva (the control groups), the children with mild, moderate and severe inflammation of gingiva (the study group). Enzymes of the saliva were determined by the use of original tests and measured by the autoanalyser (Bio Systems A25, Spain). A modified method with tiobarbituric acid was used to determine malondialdehyde in nonstimulated mixed saliva. RESULTS: The results of the examined enzyme activity and the level of malondialdehyde in the saliva of the study groups showed statistically considerably higher values for the level of malondialdehyde (p < 0.001), for the activity of aspartate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyl transferase (p < 0.01), as well as for alanine aminotransferase (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control group, whereas the activity of lactate dehydrogenase did not show a statistically significant increase. In relation to the level of the inflammation of gingiva, the results of the examination of the enzyme activity in the study groups showed statistically significantly higher values in the group with severe inflammation in comparison with those with mild, as well as the moderate inflamatiory, except for the gamma glutamyl transferase, and in the group with moderate inflammation compared to that with the mild one, except for alanine aminotransferase. The results of the examination of the level of malondialdehyde in the saliva of the study groups did not show a statistically significantly increase in relation to the level of the inflammation of gingiva. CONCLUSION: There is a higher level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activity together with the higher level of malondialdehyde in the saliva of children with gingivitis in comparison with the activity of the same enzymes and the level of malondialdehyde in the saliva of children without gingivitis. The activity of the examined enzymes in the saliva of children with gingivitis increases in relation to the intensity of the pathological process, whereas the level of malondialdehyde shows no significant difference in relation to the level of the inflammation of gingiva.

[The quantity of information which parents and their seven-year-old children have on the affects of nutrition, oral hygiene and fluoride prophylaxis on dental health].

INTRODUCTION: Health education plays a crucial road in maintaining good oral health of human population and, primarily, in reducing the incidence of caries as one of the most frequent oral diseases. This implies the need for a change in the behaviour of individuals, groups or the society as a whole, in terms of the following: establishing a proper nutrition regime, establishing the habit of maintaining oral hygiene and the use of fluorides. The goal of the paper is to determine the quantity of information which parents and their seven year old children have on the effects of nutrition, oral hygiene and fluoride prophylaxis on dental health in rural and urban environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey included 450 seven-year-old children and their parents in urban and rural environments. The quantity of information about proper nutrition, oral hygiene and fluoride prophylaxis was determined based on specific questionnaires for children and their parents. RESULTS: The quantity of information about the effects of proper nutrition, oral hygiene and fluoride prophylaxis on dental health of seven year old children is significantly larger in urban, as compared to the rural environment. The quantity of information of parents about the effects of proper nutrition, oral hygiene and fluoride prophylaxis on dental health is larger in urban, as compared to the rural environment. CONCLUSION: This research suggests a need to intensify health education activities, especially in the rural environment.

[The importance of health education in prevention of oral health in children].

HEALTH EDUCATION: The aim of education is to impart knowledge on the causes of disease and decay of the teeth and periodontium, on the ways and possibilities of disease prevention and adequate treatment; to point out to the necessity of proper nutrition, regular and proper oral hygiene, proper use of fluoride products as well as to the significance of regular check-ups with a dentist. NUTRITION: Frequent intake of carbohydrates leads to a higher prevalence of caries. Taking into consideration that it is neither obtainable nor recommendable to completely eliminate glucoses from the nutrition components, it is necessary to advice parents and children to take glucose (if possible) only along with the regular meal when the saliva flow is increased. ORAL HYGIENE: In order to establish oral hygiene as an important prophylactic measure influencing successful protection of oral health of the whole population, it is necessary to inform as many people as possible about oral hygiene effectiveness and its necessity in preventing oral and dental diseases; to develop the habits of regular oral hygiene maintenance in the youngest children as well as to refer them to the use of most adequate paraphernalia and agents for performing the daily oral hygiene procedures. FLUORIDE PROPHYLAXIS: Undoubtedly, fluoride is currently the most efficient agent for the prevention of dental pathology. The anticaries efficacy of fluoride is a consequence of the cumulative effect of several different mechanisms. They can occur on the dental surface or directly influence the mineral phase in the enamel. Each dental hygiene preventive program must include the content about the use of fluoride as the basic prophylactic measure. It is recommended to be the sum of the combined effect of systemic (endogenic) and local (exogenic) application. CONCLUSION: Regarding high prevalence of caries in children, the issue of prophylaxis is of great significance and current interest. In that respect, health education should point out to the significance of proper nutrition, regular oral hygiene and fluoride prophylaxis, all aimed at preventing dental diseases. It is certain that parents must take an active part in these activities both as educators and controllers of the proposed measures.

[Caries risk estimation in children regarding values of saliva buffer system components and carboanhydrase activity].

BACKGROUND/AIM: One of the preconditions for efficacious systematic reduction of caries prevalence and prophylaxis is the determination of risks of this disease appearance. The aim of this study was to prove the significance of salivary carboanhydrase activity determination in estimation of caries risk in children. METHODS: The study included 123 children of average age of 13.4+/-0.3 years and permanent dentition. The children were divided into two groups according to caries risk (low and high caries risk groups). Two samples of saliva--unstimulated and stimulated one were taken from each child. Salivary carboanhydrase activity, as well as pH value, bicarbonate and phosphate buffer levels were estimated in both group of saliva samples. RESULTS: The investigation showed significantly higher carboanhydrase activity (p < 0.001) in both saliva samples in low caries risk group compared to high caries risk one. In children with low caries risk, both unstimulated and stimulated saliva show significantly higher bicarbonate and phosphate buffer concentrations (p < 0.001), as well as pH values. CONCLUSION: The lower caries incidence could be expected in children with high carboanhydrase activity and higher salivary buffer system parameters levels. The presented results suggest that salivary carboanhydrase activity represents the important marker of individual susceptibility for caries appearance in children.