Primary tooth vital pulp therapy techniques taught in dental schools in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Worldwide, dental schools employ varying approaches to teaching vital pulp therapy (VPT) for primary teeth. However, little is known about the VPT techniques taught in dental schools in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the approaches of VPT for primary teeth taught in undergraduate dental schools in Saudi Arabia. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2022, using an online questionnaire distributed to pediatric dentistry faculty members at all dental schools in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire collected information on socio-demographic characteristics, educational background, work setting, and VPT teaching approaches. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models assessed the association between participants' characteristics and the VPT techniques taught. Seventy-seven faculty members from 17 out of 27 dental colleges in Saudi Arabia participated in the study. Most respondents reported teaching indirect pulp capping (95%), with glass ionomer cement and calcium hydroxide being the most popular materials. Only 11 participants (14%) taught direct pulp capping, with mineral trioxide aggregate and calcium hydroxide being the most commonly used materials. Pulpotomy procedures were taught in all dental schools, with formocresol being the most commonly used medicament (84%). No significant associations were found between faculty member characteristics and the likelihood of teaching indirect pulp capping. However, older age categories had a significantly higher chance of teaching direct pulp capping (trend odds ratio: 2.27, p = 0.02). In conclusion, most faculty members (95%) reported teaching indirect pulp capping using glass ionomer cement and calcium hydroxide for primary teeth. Only 14% of the respondents taught direct pulp capping, and the use of mineral trioxide aggregate for direct pulp capping appears to be increasing. Formocresol was the most commonly used pulpotomy medicament. Further research is needed to investigate factors that influence the teaching of VPT for primary teeth in Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of fissure sealant retention rates using Isolite in comparison with rubber dam and cotton roll isolation techniques: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Clinical studies comparing retention rates of pit and fissure sealants placed under Isolite, rubber dam, and cotton roll combined have not been conducted until now.

AIM

To evaluate the retention rate of pit and fissure sealants (PFS) placed under three different isolation techniques (Isolite system [IS], rubber dam isolation [RDI], and cotton roll isolation [CRI]).

DESIGN

One hundred and forty-four teeth from 48 children aged 6-15 years attending paediatric dental clinics at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia were randomized to receive three PFS using three isolation techniques. The children that met the inclusion criteria were randomized by a simple block random allocation method. All PFS were placed by an operator and evaluated by a blinded evaluator. The evaluation scores were recorded at baseline and followed up over a period of 12-22 months.

RESULTS

The children's mean age was 8.58 ± 1.93 years. Seven patients were lost to follow-up. A total of 123 teeth were clinically evaluated; of these teeth, 22% had completely retained sealants, whereas approximately 66% had a partial loss of sealants, and approximately 12% had a complete loss of sealants. There were, however, no significant differences between the three isolation techniques on the retention rate of pit and fissure sealant.

CONCLUSION

The types of isolation had no impact on the retention rate of pit and fissure sealant.

Dental students' attitude towards propranolol non-medical use: A multi-institutional cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION

The lives of college students are full of various stressors. Students seek a number of stress-relieving modalities as self-prescribed beta-blockers to improve their academic performance. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of beta-blockers (propranolol) usage amongst Saudi dental students and their attitude towards its use to enhance academic performance.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involving a convenient sample was conducted on a group of undergraduate dental students enrolled in Riyadh dental schools during the academic year of 2019/2020. A paper format closed-ended questionnaire was used.

RESULTS

A sample of 680 students participated in the survey (43% response rate). Approximately 12% of dental students used propranolol for non-medical reasons. The prevalence did not differ significantly with the gender or year of study. A significantly higher percentage of students from private dental schools reported using propranolol for non-medical reasons (odds ratio (OR), 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7-5.4; p < .001). Propranolol users were significantly more likely to connect with other students using the medication. Both students, those who used and those who did not use propranolol, similarly, highly endorsed the need for being informed about the risk of using propranolol. Compared with non-users, there was more disagreement amongst propranolol users on the necessity for placing school regulations controlling medication use.

CONCLUSION

The use of propranolol to enhance academic performance amongst dental students in Saudi Arabia should not be disregarded. The study findings emphasise the importance of regulating students' usage of beta-blockers to promote a fair academic environment.

The Use of a Dental Storybook as a Dental Anxiety Reduction Medium among Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

This randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a specially designed dental storybook in reducing dental anxiety among children. Eighty-eight children (6−8 years old) were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group (received the storybook) and the control group (did not receive the storybook). Three dental visits (screening, examination and cleaning, and treatment) were provided for each child. Anxiety was assessed following each visit using the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) and the Venham clinical anxiety scale (VCAS). The behavior was assessed using the Frankl’s Behavior Rating Scale (FBRS). The intervention group showed significantly lower anxiety and more cooperative behavior during treatment than the control group (p < 0.0001). The intervention group showed a significant decrease in anxiety scores and more cooperative behavior across time according to the CFSS-DS (p = 0.001) and Frankl behavior scale OR = 3.22, 95% CI 1.18−8.76. Multivariate models found that using the storybook was a significant independent factor in reducing anxiety and improving behavior after controlling for sex, previous visits, family income, and mother’s education. In conclusion, the dental storybook can decrease children’s dental anxiety and improve their behavior during dental treatment.

Impact of a Dental Storybook on Parents' Knowledge of Children's Oral Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of a dental storybook on parents' knowledge about oral health of their children and to assess their perception of its effect in reducing dental anxiety levels among their children, as well as improving their oral health knowledge.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a two-arm parallel, single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) which was performed at the pediatric dental clinics in the Dental University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Parents of 88 children (6-8 years old) were included in the present study. Parents and their children were randomly divided into two groups as follows: the intervention group (received the storybook and verbal oral hygiene instructions) and the control group (only received verbal oral hygiene instructions; same information included in the book). Three dental visits, including screening, examination/cleaning and treatment, were provided for each child. In the screening visit, baseline parental oral health knowledge was evaluated for all parents. Afterward, parental oral health knowledge was re-evaluated in the examination visit. In the treatment visit, a parental perception questionnaire was administered to parents following treatment to evaluate their satisfaction regarding the use of the storybook in reducing anxiety levels among their children.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in the total knowledge score at the follow-up visit in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.0001). Overall, the majority of parents perceived the storybook as a useful source of information, and they found it to be effective in reducing dental anxiety levels among their children.

CONCLUSION

The dental storybook is an effective educational tool that can help parents become more knowledgeable about their children's oral health. Moreover, parents perceived the storybook as an effective tool for enhancing their oral health knowledge and lowering their children's dental anxiety.

Association between Parity and Dental Caries Experience among US Women: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the association between parity and dental caries among US women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2001-2004) data for parous women aged 20-45 years were used for our analysis (n = 1,914). The association between parity (number of pregnancies resulted in live births) and caries experience [the decayed, missing, and filling teeth (DMFT) index] was analyzed using bivariate and multivariate regression analyses. SAS software version 9.1 was used for the statistical analyses. We used survey procedures (e.g., SURVEYFREQ, SURVEYMEANS, and SURVEYREG) that incorporate information on the appropriate weights to account for NHANES's complex sampling design.

RESULTS

The bivariate analysis showed a trend of increase in dental caries experience among parous women as the number of live births increased (p = 0.007). After adjusting for confounders, such as age, socioeconomic status (SES), dental care coverage, and utilization, a significant association was still observed between parity level and dental caries experience (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that higher parity can be associated with dental caries experience among US women of reproductive age.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Clinicians should be aware of this finding to promote better oral health care and education among women with increased parity.

Burden of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Recent Dental Graduates in Saudi Arabia: A National Survey

Introduction: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are one of the most prevalent occupational hazards affecting dental professionals. Aim: To assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of MSDs among recent dental graduates in Saudi Arabia and evaluates their practice of ergonomics as well as the impact of MSDs on their daily activities. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among all dental interns (n=1552) who graduated from dental schools in Saudi Arabia in the academic year 2018-2019. Data was collected between January 2019 to March 2019 through online survey via SurveyMonkey™. Through the questionnaire, data about participants’ demographics, symptoms of MSDs in the previous 12 months, preventive ergonomic working practices, effects of MSDs on their daily activities, and coping strategies were collected. Descriptive statistics, including mean±Standard Deviation (SD) were computed for continuous variables, while frequencies and percentages were computed for categorical variables. Results: In total, 889 dental interns participated in this study (response rate of 57.3%). A total of 54.3% of the participants experienced symptoms of MSDs in atleast one body part in the previous 12 months. The neck (41%), shoulder (37%), and lower back (31.9%) were the most affected regions. Female interns demonstrated a significantly higher risk of presenting with MSDs than male participants (OR: 2.3, CI: 1.7, 3.1). Alternative therapy was the most reported strategy for dealing with pain (44%, n=190). In total, 58.2% of the interns who presented with MSDs had their daily activities affected (n=251). Conclusion: MSDs are significant health problems among recent dental graduates in Saudi Arabia affecting the daily activities of the majority of those affected. Females were at higher risk of developing MSDs than males. To prevent this issue, dental school authorities should develop and implement strategies to ensure effective integration of ergonomics education in dental school curricula.