Oral health practices and self-reported adverse effects of E-cigarette use among dental students in 11 countries: an online survey

Objectives: E-cigarette use has become popular, particularly among the youth. Its use is associated with harmful general and oral health consequences. This survey aimed to assess self-reported oral hygiene practices, oral and general health events, and changes in physiological functions (including physical status, smell, taste, breathing, appetite, etc.) due to E-cigarette use among dental students. Methods: This online, multicounty survey involved undergraduate dental students from 20 dental schools across 11 different countries. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, E-cigarette practices, self-reported complaints, and associated physiological changes due to E-cigarette smoking. Data were descriptively presented as frequencies and percentages. A Chi-square test was used to assess the potential associations between the study group and sub-groups with the different factors. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS at P < 0.05. Results: Most respondents reported regular brushing of their teeth, whereas only 70% used additional oral hygiene aids. Reported frequencies of complaints ranged from as low as 3.3% for tongue inflammation to as high as 53.3% for headache, with significant differences between E-cigarette users and non-users. Compared to non-smokers, E-cigarette users reported significantly higher prevalence of dry mouth (33.1% vs. 23.4%; P < 0.001), black tongue (5.9% vs. 2.8%; P = 0.002), and heart palpitation (26.3%% vs. 22.8%; P = 0.001). Although two-thirds of the sample reported no change in their physiological functions, E-cigarette users reported significant improvement in their physiological functions compared to never smokers or tobacco users. Conclusion: Dental students showed good oral hygiene practices, but E-cigarette users showed a higher prevalence of health complications.Dental Biomaterials Research Chair, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University. The funder has no role in the design of the study as well as in the methodology, analysis, and interpretation of the data

Knowledge, beliefs, attitude, and practices of E-cigarette use among dental students: A multinational survey

E-cigarette use is a trend worldwide nowadays with mounting evidence on associated morbidities and mortality. Dentists can modify the smoking behaviors of their patients. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, beliefs, attitude, and practice of E-cigarette use among dental students. This multinational, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study recruited undergraduate dental students from 20 dental schools in 11 countries. The outcome variable was current smoking status (non-smoker, E-cigarette user only, tobacco cigarette smoker only, dual user). The explanatory variables were country of residence, sex, age, marital status, and educational level. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the explanatory variables associated with E-cigarette smoking. Of the 5697 study participants, 5156 (90.8%) had heard about E-cigarette, and social media was the most reported source of information for 33.2% of the participants. For the 5676 current users of E-cigarette and/or tobacco smoking, 4.5% use E-cigarette, and 4.6% were dual users. There were significant associations between knowledge and country (P< 0.05), educational level (B = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.21; P = 0.016) and smoking status (P< 0.05). The country of residence (P< 0.05) and smoking status (P< 0.05) were the only statistically significant factors associated with current smoking status. Similarly, there were statistically significant associations between attitude and country (P< 0.05 for one country only compared to the reference) and history of previous E-cigarette exposure (B = -0.52; 95% CI: -0.91, -0.13; P = 0.009). Also, the practice of E-cigarettes was significantly associated with country (P< 0.05 for two countries only compared to the reference) and gender (B = -0.33; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.13; P = 0.001). The knowledge of dental students about E-cigarette was unsatisfactory, yet their beliefs and attitudes were acceptable. Topics about E-cigarette should be implemented in the dental curriculum.Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, for funding through the Vice Deanship of Scientific Research for Research Chairs. Qatar National Library for the open access funding

Comparaison morphologique de deux empreintes myodynamiques : étude pilote

Numerous studies have compared dentures fabricated using neutral zone and conventional techniques. However, studies comparing swallowing and phonetic techniques for location and shape assessment of the neutral zone using the same material could not be found in the literature.The purpose of this study was to compare the outline form of the phonetic and swallowing neutral zone impression techniques for the same subject. Five edentulous patients with advanced mandibular ridge resorption were included in this study. For each subject, 2 trays were prepared in autopolymerizing acrylic resin. Impressions were made using the same autopolymerizing resin. Nonetheless, one method used phonetics to shape the neutral zone while the second used swallowing. The resulting neutral zone impressions were leveled at the same occlusal height. Lines indicating molar, premolar, canine regions and the midline were marked on one impression and duplicated onto the cast and onto the second impression. Zinc oxide paste was used to mark the lines made on the impressions. Vertical cuts were made using cone beam technology and cuts showing zinc oxide were selected. After measurement of the occlusal height, cuts were superimposed and measured to determine shifting of the buccal and lingualcontours. Piezography was found significantly larger than the neutral zone in the right molar and premolar regions whereas the neutral zone was found significantly larger in the left canine region. Buccal shifting measurement showed a significantly lingual position of the neutral zone in the right molar and premolar regions, a significantly buccal position of the neutral zone in the right and left canine regions and the midline. Lingual shifting measurement showed a significantly lingual position of the neutral zone in the right molar and premolar regions, a buccal positioning of the left molar, right canine regions and the midline (p ≤ 0.005). Within the limitations of the present study, swallowing and phonetics showed different positions of the neutral zone. The phonetic neutral zone appeared to be larger than the swallowing neutral zone with a more lingual position of the anterior region