Use of Reparative Agents Topical Fluoride Activated by CO₂ Laser and Curodont™ Repair and NR-5™ on Vickers Hardness and Micro-Shear Bond Strength of Eroded Enamel to Composite Restoration

Aim: This study aims to assess the impact of various reparative remineralizing agents, specifically topical fluoride (TF) and a combination of a carbon dioxide laser (CO2 laser) with TF, as well as regenerative agents such as Curodont™ Repair and NR-5™, on two key factors—the micro-Vickers hardness (VH) of eroded enamel and the micro-shear bond strength (µSBS) of composite restoration. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 single-rooted premolars with intact enamel were sectioned mesiodistally into two halves, making a sample size of 100 specimens. All of the samples were then exposed to Coca-ColaTM for 2 min each day over 1 month to induce erosion on the enamel surface. The specimens were then embedded in acrylic cold-cure resin facing a flat surface upward. The samples were then arbitrarily divided into five groups based on the remineralizing and regenerative agents used, as follows (n = 20): Group 1: No remineralizing agent, Group 2: Curodont™ Repair, Group 3: NR-5™, Group 4: TF, and Group 5: CO2 laser + TF. The VH of the pretreated enamel surfaces was analyzed and µSBS testing and failure mode of composite restoration were performed using a universal testing machine (UTM) and stereomicroscope. ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc were performed for data analysis. Results: In Group 3, the (NR-5™)-treated teeth exhibited the highest VH values and µSBS. In Group 1, the (No remineralizing agent)-treated specimens displayed the lowest VH and the lowest µSBS. An intergroup comparison analysis unveiled that Group 3, Group 4 (TF), and Group 5 (CO2 laser + TF) presented comparable outcomes of microhardness and bond strength. The Group 2 (Curodont™ Repair) samples exhibited no significant difference in VH and µSBS, as compared to Group 1. Conclusions: The use of a combination of NR-5™ technology and a CO2 laser in conjunction with TF has been shown to significantly augment the natural mineralization process. This enhancement results in increased microhardness and an improved bond strength in the treated enamel

BIAXIAL FLEXURAL STRENGTH AND HARDNESS OF RESIN-MATRIX CERAMIC CAD/CAM MATERIALS

This study evaluated the biaxial flexural strength (BFS) and hardness of four resin-matrix ceramic CAD/CAM materials namely, Vita Enamic (EN), Lava Ultimate (LU), Cerasmart (CS), Crystal Ultra (CU) and one glass-matrix ceramic material, Vitablocs Mark II (VM2). Disc-shaped specimens (12 mm in diameter and 1.2mm in thickness) were prepared from the CAD/CAM materials and were accordingly allocated into two groups. One group was used for baseline measurements and the other group was subjected to ageing by thermal-cycling (TC) for 10,000 cycles. The BFS and hardness was evaluated by a universal testing machine and a Vickers hardness tester, respectively. A two-way ANOVA, one-way ANOVA with Tukeys post hoc test, and Students t-test (=0.05) were used to analyse the data (α=0.05). The highest and lowest BFS was seen in CS and VM2 and the difference in the BFS among the materials was statistically significant (p˂0.05). The comparison between the baseline and TC groups showed significant difference in the BFS for EN (p ˂0.001), LU (p˂0.001), and CS (p˂0.012) but no difference was seen for VM2 (p= 0.238) and CU (p˂0.159). The Vickers hardness number (VHN) ranking of the materials for the baseline and TC specimens, was VM2˃EN˃LU˃CS˃CU and VM2˃EN˃LU˃CU˃CS, respectively. Following the TC, all the materials showed a significantly lower VHN (p ˂ 0.05) except for VM2 (p= 0.727). The CS material had the highest BFS among the baseline and TC groups; however, it had the lowest hardness among the materials in the baseline group and had comparable values to CU after the TC. Ageing by thermal-cycling significantly lowered the BFS of the CAD/CAM materials except for VM2 and CU, and lowered the hardness of the resin-matrix ceramic materials

FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF DENTAL CAD/CAM RESIN-MATRIX CERAMICS EXPOSED TO AN ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT

This study aimed to assess the effects of an acidic environment on the fracture toughness of dental CAD/CAM resin-matrix ceramics. One hundred rectangular specimens (18 × 4 × 3 mm³) were obtained from four CAD/CAM resin-matrix ceramic blocks - Crystal Ultra (CU), Vita Enamic (VE), Lava Ultimate (LU), Cerasmart (CS) - and a Vitablocs Mark II (VMII) glass-matrix ceramic. Specimens from each material group were aged either in artificial saliva or cola for one week (n=10). The fracture toughness (KIc) was evaluated using the single-edge v-notch beam (SEVNB) method in a three-point bending set-up. The fractured specimen surfaces were analysed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The data were analysed using a two-way ANOVA with the post hoc Bonferroni and paired t-test (p˂.05). The two-way ANOVA suggested that the materials significantly affected the KIc (p˂.001), while the ageing environment had no significant effect on the KIc (p=.285). The highest KIc was observed in the CU group aged in cola (1.53±0.12 MPa m1/2), while the lowest mean KIc was observed in the CS group aged in saliva (1.17±0.08 MPa m1/2). All the tested CAD/CAM resin-matrix ceramics showed improved fracture toughness in an acidic environment compared to the artificial saliva. However, the fracture toughness of the CS and CU groups significantly improved in an acidic environment compared to the artificial saliva, demonstrating the ability of these materials to resist an erosive acidic environment

Factors Affecting the Satisfaction of Women Employees in Health Sector: A Perception Study in Saudi Arabia

Rawan M Maawadh,1 Thekra N Al-Maqati,1 Maryam Hamad Alenezi,2 Eman Alenezi,3 Amal Alsubaie,4 Amal Mohsen Alghamdi,5 Afrah AlSubaie,6 Mashael Mufleh Alruwaili,7 Haya Ali AlAnazi,7 Entisar Albugami,8 Naifah Ahmed Alanazi,9 Khaled Ahmed Alhmdan,10 Fahad Farhan Alshammari,11 Abeer Madkhali12 1Clinical Laboratory Science Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Science, Dammam, 31448, Saudi Arabia; 2Medical Admin & Excellence Allowance Committee Department, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 3Preventive Medicine Department, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 4Family Medicine Department, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 5Internal Medicine Department, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 6Urology and Nephrology Department, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 7Patient Education Department, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 8Family Medicine Department, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 9Cardiac Department, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 10Health Informatics Department, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 11Laboratory Department, King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 12Quality and Patient Safety Administration Department, Dammam Medical Complex, Dammam, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Rawan M Maawadh, Clinical Laboratory Science Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Science, P.O. Box 33048, Dammam, 31448, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: Broad evidence points out that women workers in Saudi Arabia face a range of inequitable work practices despite continued efforts for gender equality. The study aims to assess the satisfaction of Saudi women working in the health sector among certain factors in the work environment, factors that enable them to gain opportunities and benefits and make decisions.Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which involved the use of closed-ended surveys on 261 Saudi women working in the healthcare sector.Results: Most of the females were aged between 25 and 34 years (59%) and more than half of them worked in the governmental sector (53%). Fifty-eight percent of the females hold clinical jobs, 25% of the administrative jobs were 37% of them have more than 19 years of working experience. The finding showed a significant association between female workers in health sector satisfaction with factors related to the workplace environment, training, and development, and their involvement in decision-making.Conclusion: Most women felt empowered when they received equitable tasks and were able to reach managerial-level positions in their organizations. Establishing a positive work environment characterized by opportunities has the potential to enhance women workers’ satisfaction.Keywords: satisfaction, woman, education, training, opportunitie

Obesity-Related Knowledge and Practice Among the Healthcare Professions Students in Saudi Arabia

Salah H Elsafi,1 Reem H Al-Dossari,1 Ruaa A Al-shaqi,1 Wateen E Fakirah,1 Rawan F Al-Dossari,1 Omniyyah J Al-sharif,1 Rawan M Maawadh,1 Lenah D Al Musallam,1 Abeer Alaohali,2 Abdulelah M Abu Hassan,3 Othman A Alfahad,4 Yaser A Al Naam,1 Eidan M Al Zahrani5 1Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 2Dental and Oral Health Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 3Faculty of Medicine, University of Almaarefa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Biomedical Technology, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 5College Deanship, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Salah H Elsafi, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 33048, Dhahran, 31932, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966138405448, Email [email protected]: The objectives of this study are to identify the prevalence and the factors behind overweight and obesity among the healthcare profession’s students.Methods: A well-structured and validated questionnaire was distributed to a heterogeneous purposive sample of the healthcare profession’s students in Saudi Arabia.Results: About 21.0% and 15.5% were overweight and obese, respectively. The average knowledge score was 70.6% and increased with age and among obese participants. The average attitude score was 74.8% with no variation within age, body mass index (BMI), and gender. The average practice score was only 36.7%. There was a significant variation of the practice within the different age groups (P = 0.021). There was a significant association between the participant’s knowledge and attitude, and practice.Conclusion: The average practice score was poor. Despite their good knowledge and positive attitude, the students are exposed to heavy junk food marketing, which encourages overconsumption by instilling positive emotional associations with the junk food. They are mostly physically inactive, anxious and sleep deprived, which can lead to poor eating habits. For this group, various strategies and motivators will likely be needed.Keywords: obesity prevention, awareness, practice, healthcare students, Saudi Arabi