Attitudes of Students of Differenet Schools of University of Zagreb on Tooth Bleaching

Effect of phytopigments on discoloration of nanohybrid composite: An in vitro study

Objective

The purpose of this study is to comparatively evaluate the effect of discoloration of nanohybrid composite by four different phytopigments.

Materials and Methods

Fifty disk-shaped samples of nanohybrid (3M Filtek Z350) resin composites were prepared using an acrylic template of dimension 5 mm × 3 mm. They were randomly divided into five groups and immersed in solutions of tomato powder, beetroot powder, java plum powder, and turmeric powder. Distilled water was used as the control group. The samples were placed in respective solutions for 3 h daily and stored in artificial saliva for the rest of the day for 28 days. Color values (L*, a*, b*) were measured by colorimeter using the CIE L*a*b* system at the end of the 7th and 28th days of immersion. Color differences ΔE*ab were statistically analyzed.

Results

All the samples showed a change in color of nanohybrid composite resin to varying degrees. The mean ΔE*ab value obtained with beetroot solution was the highest among all the groups at the end of the 7th and 28th days, depicting that beetroot solution showed maximum mean color variation, followed by java plum solution, turmeric solution, and tomato solution.

Conclusion

All the phytopigments used in this study have the potential to discolor the nanohybrid composite resin, with beetroot causing the most severe discoloration.

Oral health knowledge, practice and associated factors among Junior High School students of Koforidua, Ghana: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Oral disease poses a significant public health burden for many countries and affects individuals throughout their lifetime, causing pain, disfigurement, impairment of function and reduced quality of life. Among children and adolescents globally, there is a recognized trend of poor oral hygiene, attributed to the accumulation of plaque and calculus deposits that increase with age. This study assessed the knowledge, practice and factors associated with the practice of oral hygiene among Junior High School students (JHS) in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

METHODS

A school-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 233 JHS students in Koforidua township using a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency, percentage, and Pearson's Chi-square test, were conducted. The results were interpreted using tables and graphs.

RESULTS

Findings from the study revealed that more than half 126 (54.1%) of the respondents had a good level of knowledge of oral hygiene. The majority 130 (55.8%) of them also had good oral hygiene practice. The findings further indicated that a significant relationship was found between the class or education level of students and good oral hygiene practice (χ2 = 17.36, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Overall, the current study found that over half of the JHS students had good knowledge as well as practice of oral hygiene. This reinforces the significance of oral health education and awareness campaigns, especially in school settings, to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to oral hygiene. The study however found only class or education level of students to be statistically associated with the practice of oral hygiene. While other variables did not reach statistical significance, our research serves as a starting point for further investigation and exploration of the various factors that may contribute to oral hygiene practices.

Knowledge, Practices, and Perceptions about Tooth Whitening among Female Population in Saudi Arabia - A Cross-Sectional Study

Background:

Tooth-whitening procedures have gained wide popularity among the Saudi population. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and perception about tooth-whitening procedures among Jeddah's general population.

Materials and Methods:

A face-to-face interview was conducted on randomly selected female patients attending dental clinics. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used to record the response by calibrated interviewers. The responses regarding knowledge, attitude, and perceptions were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis.

Results:

The findings showed that the prevalence of tooth whitening among the participants was 43.7%, and about 8.7% reported that they did it once every year. In-office bleaching was the most preferred method (31.4%), followed by whitening toothpaste (8.7%). An increased frequency of bleaching was reported by participants belonging to younger age group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The knowledge related to the mechanism of action and adverse effects was average among the participants. Younger age groups were more concerned about tooth-whitening procedures compared to the older ones.