Journal of Dental School

Objectives Color of ceramic veneers is affected by the thickness and translucency of ceramics as well as the color of the underlying tooth structure. This study aimed to assess the effect of ceramic and composite systems with two different thicknesses on masking of a substrate with C4 color shade.

Methods In this in vitro, experimental study, 90 discs measuring 8 mm in diameter and 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm in thickness were fabricated from IPS e.max Press ceramic with high (HO) and low (LT) translucency, and IPS Empress Direct composite with A1 enamel and dentin shades. The samples were separately placed over a C4 substrate, and the CIE L*a*b* color parameters and color change (∆E) were measured for the seven groups using a spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD test, and two-way ANOVA.

Results Type of material had no significant effect on ∆E (P=0.086), and the ∆E of ceramic and composite was the same while the mean ∆E in 0.8 mm bilayer samples was significantly higher than that of 1.2 mm bilayer samples (P=0.002). The interaction effect of type of material and thickness on ∆E was not significant (P=0.113).

Conclusion The masking ability is not influenced by the type of material, but thickness of material and degree of translucency affect it. None of the tested materials could completely mask the underlying color, and selection of a material for this purpose should be based on clinical conditions.

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the level of knowledge regarding traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) among mothers and evaluate the efficacy of a simple educational leaflet, as an informative tool, to raise their awareness in this respect.

Methods: A total of 150 mothers with their children receiving dental care were included in this study and assigned to two groups of intervention and control. Before the intervention, a questionnaire was distributed among all the recruited mothers (time 0). After its completion, an informative leaflet with basic first aid information regarding what to do in case of TDIs was given to the mothers in the intervention group and their knowledge level was examined immediately after reading the leaflet (time 1). The knowledge of both groups was evaluated again after 3 months (time 2). The data were analyzed by SPSS version 21.

Results: The mean knowledge score was 6.53 out of 10 at baseline. A significant increase in knowledge score was noted in the intervention group (9.20) at time 1 (P<0.001). The knowledge score improved in both the intervention (8.57) and control groups (7.61) after 3 months (P< 0.001). The intervention group had significantly higher score than the control group at time 2 (P< 0.001). 

Conclusion: The informative leaflet enhanced the knowledge level of mothers regarding TDIs. Use of leaflets is suggested as an effective tool to inform mothers about the management of TDIs.

Introduction: One of the factors affecting increased patients' satisfaction and improved health and medical results is to create a good relation between dentists and patients. The current study assessed 5^th semester dental students in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences of the first semester 2016-2017  attitudes towards communication skills learning (CSL) .

Materials and Methods: In a quasi-experimental study, first communication skills attitude scale (CSAS) 26 item questionnaire was translated into Persian and was reviewed by two faculty members of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Forty students of semester 5 in the school of dentistry 2016-2017 answered the questionnaire in three domains of needs, operation and application as self-declaration at two time points before and after passing the course of Doctor- Patient Communication Skills, on communication with the patient. Data were analyzed using T-test, as well as Wilcoxon signed ranks test.

Results: This quasi-study showed a significant difference in terms of positive changes occurred in students' attitudes in general (p<0.001). An improvement in their attitudes was observed in the domains of requirement (p<0.001), implementation (p=0.002) and application (p<0.001) after passing the course in comparison with their attitudes before the course. Man-identified students showed a significant positive changes in their attitude after passing the course in domains of requirement (p<0.001), implementation (p=0.011) and application (p<0.003).  The only positive change in woman-identified students' attitudes was observed in the domain of application (p=0.004). Positive attitude changes in man-identified were significantly higher than woman-identified  in all domains (p=0.023). In comparison with other ages, a significant difference was observed in the positive changes in attitude in 21 year old students (p=0.002).

Conclusion: The results showed the positive change in students' attitude after passing that course.

Objective: To reach the World Health Organization's goal of improving community oral health, Iranian oral health policy-makers expanded the scope of oral health by including dental public health (DPH) courses in the latest dental curriculum to improve students' competencies. The aim of the current study was to evaluate DPH competencies in senior dental students at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, according to specified educational objectives.

Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 195 senior dental students (enrolled in 2014-2015) filled up an online standardized questionnaire. The instrument included demographic information as well as 31 statements about ten domains of DPH. Participants used self-assessment method to report the level of their competencies on a Likert scale of 0-10; Zero indicating "not competent at all", and 10 indicating "fully competent" for each statement. Then the mean score was calculated for each domain. Data analysis was conducted using Independent samples, T-test, One-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Kruskal-Wallis via SPSS version 21.

ResultsThe sum of scores for each participant was within the range of 63 to 310, and the mean (SD) was 216.68 (±43.69). Students were most competent in "Providing preventive dental care" (8.22±1.59), "Adherence to professional ethics" (7.56±1.68), and" Understanding determinants of oral health" (7.50±1.52). They were least competent in "Understanding components and functions of healthcare system" (5.96±2.06), "Planning" (6.06±2.45), and "Oral health research" (6.24±2.44). The mean score for females' (223.30±38.21) was significantly higher than males' score (207.15±49.25), (P=0.011).

Conclusion: Although higher competencies were achieved in "Providing preventive dental care", "Adherence to professional ethics", and" Understanding determinants of oral health"; there are more areas to be accomplished, such as "Understanding components and functions of healthcare system", "Planning", and "Oral health research". These findings could be helpful either in revising the content materials, teaching methods, or both.

Objectives Many adult patients requiring orthodontic treatment have posterior restorations. Bracket bonding to dental restorations is a clinical challenge. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of universal adhesive with the conventional method on shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets to amalgam restorations.

Methods Ninety cavities were filled with admixed amalgam and divided into six groups (n=15) according to the surface pretreatment (no mechanical preparation, diamond bur preparation, and sandblasting) and type of bonding agent (alloy primer plus Transbond XT or universal adhesive). Mandibular central incisor brackets were bonded to the restoration surfaces. The primary outcome was the bond strength in megapascals (MPa) which was compared by two-way ANOVA. The mode of failure was the secondary outcome determined by determination of the adhesive remnant index (ARI). The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the ARI scores among the groups.

Results Among the groups with the conventional method, the sandblasted subgroup showed the highest SBS (P<0.05). The three subgroups of universal adhesive were not significantly different in terms of SBS (P=1). Overall, the highest SBS was noted in the sandblasted/conventional adhesive group.

Conclusion The results demonstrated that sandblasting plus alloy primer and Transbond XT bonding agent could be recommended for bracket bonding to amalgam restorations. Further studies using other bonding agents are recommended

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess dental fear and its relationship with demographic information and dental caries experience in 6 to 12-year-old children residing in Urmia city in 2020.

Methods In this cross-sectional study, 185 children referred to the Pediatrics Department of Alborz Dental Clinic were included. The Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) was used to evaluate dental fear experience of children. Demographic characteristics including sex, gender, parents’ educational level and birth order were also recorded. Intraoral examination was performed by a pedodontist, and dental caries experience was recorded based on the DMFT index. The data were analyzed by the Chi-square and logistic regression test using SPSS version 16.0.

Results Of 185 children, 83 were boys and 102 were girls; 136 participants had no dental fear while 49 had dental fear. The prevalence of dental fear was 26.48%. There were significant correlations between children's age (P=0.006) and birth order (P= 0.007) with their dental fear. But there was no significant correlation between gender or father’s educational level with dental fear experience (P=0.812), or dmft/DMFT index (P=0.128). Also, dental injection (71%) and drilling (49%) followed by the noise of drilling (45%) caused the highest mean fear among children.

Conclusion The findings of the present study suggest that dental fear experience is probably not correlated with caries experience in 6 to 12-year-old children.

Abstract

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined as “intra-oral burning or dysesthetic sensation, recurring daily for more than 2 hours per day for more than 3 months, without clinically evident causative lesions”. It can be associated with related symptoms, such as xerostomia and dysgeusia. The etiology of BMS remains unknown, although a number of local, systemic and psychological factors have been proposed as being of etiopathogenic importance. BMS has been classified into two categories: ‘Primary or essential/idiopathic’ BMS and “Secondary” BMS, primary where the local or systemic causes cannot be identified, and involving peripheral or central neuropathological pathways. While the secondary type is associated with local, systemic or psychological factors. Here we report a case of BMS that was caused due to an underlying gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and also explains about the importance of treating the underlying condition.