A Comparative Study of the Microleakage of Resilon/Epiphany and Gutta-Percha/AH-Plus Obturating Systems

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the apical sealing ability of Resilon/Epiphany-filled root canals with those that were obturated with gutta-percha/AH-Plus endodontic sealer. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 extracted human single-rooted teeth were selected; 25 teeth for each test group and five for each control group. After conducting conventional endodontic treatment, the teeth were immersed in physiologic saline solution for thirty days, and subsequently sealed and stored in methylene blue dye solution for seven days. The teeth were sectioned to evaluate the linear apical leakage using a stereoscopic microscope. The data were statistically analyzed by non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The results showed significant differences between the two groups of endodontic sealers (P<0.001). Conclusion: Within the limitation of the present in vitro study, Resilon/Epiphany sealer had better apical sealing ability than gutta-percha/AH-Plus sealer

A Retrospective Evaluation of the Prevalence of Cracked Teeth Among an Adult Population in Nevada

Objective: To identify the distribution and characteristics of cracked teeth in a Southern Nevada population attending the dental clinics of the School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (SDM, UNLV). Methods: A retrospective keyword search of the clinical notes of SDM, UNLV patient charts in AxiUm™ was performed using the search terms “crack” and “fracture” to discern the number of patients that had clinically identifiable teeth with cracks, and which teeth (if any) had documented symptoms consistent with the cracks. The inclusion criteria for the record search were individuals ≥ 18 years old, seen at the dental clinic between 2010 and 2018. Demographic data were analyzed using a Chi-square test against the demographics for Clark County’s population. Results: 893 patients presented with cracked teeth, of which 41% had documented symptoms. Patients in the 45-54 age range had the highest number of teeth with cracks (P \u3c 0.001). Males comprised 49% of the cases. Caucasians (58.9%) and African Americans (21.1%) represented a majority of the population with cracked teeth (P \u3c 0.0001). 1st and 2nd molars had the highest predilection for fractures (59.8%). Conclusion: Mandibular and maxillary first and second molars were amongst the highest teeth affected with cracks

The Impact of Impression Coping Geometrical Design on Accuracy of Implant Impressions: An Experimental Study

Aim This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of implant impression coping geometrical designs on the accuracy of open and closed impression techniques and in the parallel and nonparallel implant positions. Material and methods Three custom-made acrylic resin models of three tested implant systems (Straumann (R), SIC Invent (R), and Osstem (R)) with diverse coping geometrical designs were evaluated in simulated cases of two parallel and two nonparallel implants. The horizontal and vertical discrepancies were measured and analyzed. Results No statistically significant differences between the two impression techniques in either parallel or nonparallel implants were observed. The high retentive design of the Osstem system showed a statistically significant difference. Conclusion The geometrical design of the impression copings did not affect the accuracy for either the open and closed tray techniques. However, the high retentive coping design of the Osstem implant affected the accuracy in the open tray technique

Coronal microleakage for readymade and hand mixed temporary filling materials

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the sealing ability of the readymade temporary filling and hand mixed materials by assessing coronal microleakage.MATERIALS & METHODS: Standardized access cavities were prepared in 80 intact human permanent premolar teeth. They were divided randomly into four experimental groups (n=20). The teeth were restored using one of the temporary materials including Cavisol, Litrak, Zinc phosphate cement, Zinconol (IRM). Thermocycling was applied on the specimens. Methylene blue dye was applied and penetration was evaluated under stereomicroscope. Grading of the microleakage pattern was from 1 to 3, with 3 providing the best seal. Results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test (P < 0.05).RESULTS: Microleakage of Cavisol and Litrak samples achieved grade 3; whereas zinc phosphate cement and Zinconol samples absorbed the dye into the bulk of the materials. Cavisol was found to exhibit the best seal amongst the four tested materials followed by Litrak, zinc phosphate cement, and Zinconol. There was a statistically significant difference in the microleakage scores obtained between the materials (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Among the four materials tested, readymade temporary filling provided the best sealing ability over hand-mixed. This study emphasizes the importance of correct placement and sufficient thickness of temporary filling materials in endodontic access cavities to ensure a tight seal.

Prevalence of Hyperdontia, Hypodontia, and Concomitant Hypo-Hyperdontia

Background/purpose: Anomalies in human dentition are some of the most common occurrences of congenital abnormalities. Present study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypodontia, hyperdontia and concomitant hypo-hyperdontia (CHH) among patients attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Dental Medicine clinics. Materials and methods: Retrospective search was conducted on patients’ clinical notes in AxiUm. Search included using keywords such as “hypodontia”, “hyperdontia”, “supernumerary teeth” and “congenitally missing”. Panoramic radiographs were used to confirm the hyperdontia, hypodontia or CHH for patients attending the UNLV SDM clinics from 2010 to 2018. Collected data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: 1101 patients were populated using the keywords. From these populated patients, 186 had hyperdontia, 23 hypodontia, and 3 presented with CHH. The distribution of males and females was 54.7% and 45.3% respectively. Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, Caucasians and ethnically unspecified patients represented 43.39%, 14.25%, 3.30%, 8.02%, and 31.13%, respectively, of those patients with a dental anomaly. Hyperdontia was most common amongst Hispanic patients with 39.24%, followed by the unspecified patients at 32.8% as well as amongst males at 56.45% (P value of 0.03). Unidentifiable supplemental teeth were overall the greatest in number with the lower right premolars, tooth 44, being the most common. This was demonstrated in the Hispanic patients whereas within the African American patients a 4th molar was in excess. Conclusion: Hispanic patient population has a significant link to dental anomalies, specifically hyperdontia while the presence of the fourth molar was prominent among African American patients

Coronal microleakage for readymade and hand mixed temporary filling materials

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the sealing ability of the readymade temporary filling and hand mixed materials by assessing coronal microleakage. MATERIALS & METHODS: Standardized access cavities were prepared in 80 intact human permanent premolar teeth. They were divided randomly into four experimental groups (n=20). The teeth were restored using one of the temporary materials including Cavisol, Litrak, Zinc phosphate cement, Zinconol (IRM). Thermocycling was applied on the specimens. Methylene blue dye was applied and penetration was evaluated under stereomicroscope. Grading of the microleakage pattern was from 1 to 3, with 3 providing the best seal. Results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Microleakage of Cavisol and Litrak samples achieved grade 3; whereas zinc phosphate cement and Zinconol samples absorbed the dye into the bulk of the materials. Cavisol was found to exhibit the best seal amongst the four tested materials followed by Litrak, zinc phosphate cement, and Zinconol. There was a statistically significant difference in the microleakage scores obtained between the materials (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Among the four materials tested, readymade temporary filling provided the best sealing ability over hand-mixed. This study emphasizes the importance of correct placement and sufficient thickness of temporary filling materials in endodontic access cavities to ensure a tight seal

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10&nbsp;years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37&nbsp;years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

The Dental Educational Environment of Online and Blended Learning during COVID-19, and the Impact on the Future of Dental Education

Blending face-to-face and online learning should create a focused environment that supports deep and meaningful teaching and learning that engages learners in a more active and collaborative educational experience. The present study aimed to evaluate students&rsquo; online and blended learning educational environment self-perception at the Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Undergraduate dental students who participated in blended learning with online lectures were invited to participate. The sample was a non-probability convenient sample, which included all clinical dental students invited to participate, who were enrolled in the fifth, sixth, and seventh (clinical year) years. All 69 students in these three clinical years were invited to participate. Electronic consent to participate and a self-administered questionnaire of two parts were completed. Part one of the questionnaire utilized the five subscales of the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire; part two was developed in addition to evaluate the online teaching and learning subscales. Results: Descriptive statistics and analyses of variance were performed; Pearson correlations were made between the additional supplemental online teaching subscale and the original DREEM subscales. The mean students&rsquo; perception of the teacher was high, followed by the academic self-perception and then the learning perception. Students&rsquo; social self-perceptions had the lowest reported scores. Students&rsquo; perceptions varied by year of education in all subscales except for the online domain. In comparing all domains (DREEM and the online component), graduating students (final year) had a more favorable perception than other students. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study, online and blended learning were positively perceived, excluding the social self-perception and the perception that the online teaching time was not well used

The Dental Educational Environment of Online and Blended Learning during COVID-19, and the Impact on the Future of Dental Education

Blending face-to-face and online learning should create a focused environment that supports deep and meaningful teaching and learning that engages learners in a more active and collaborative educational experience. The present study aimed to evaluate students’ online and blended learning educational environment self-perception at the Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Undergraduate dental students who participated in blended learning with online lectures were invited to participate. The sample was a non-probability convenient sample, which included all clinical dental students invited to participate, who were enrolled in the fifth, sixth, and seventh (clinical year) years. All 69 students in these three clinical years were invited to participate. Electronic consent to participate and a self-administered questionnaire of two parts were completed. Part one of the questionnaire utilized the five subscales of the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire; part two was developed in addition to evaluate the online teaching and learning subscales. Results: Descriptive statistics and analyses of variance were performed; Pearson correlations were made between the additional supplemental online teaching subscale and the original DREEM subscales. The mean students’ perception of the teacher was high, followed by the academic self-perception and then the learning perception. Students’ social self-perceptions had the lowest reported scores. Students’ perceptions varied by year of education in all subscales except for the online domain. In comparing all domains (DREEM and the online component), graduating students (final year) had a more favorable perception than other students. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study, online and blended learning were positively perceived, excluding the social self-perception and the perception that the online teaching time was not well used

A Comparative Study of the Microleakage of Resilon/Epiphany and Gutta-Percha/AH-Plus Obturating Systems

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the apical sealing ability of Resilon/Epiphany-filled root canals with those that were obturated with gutta-percha/AH-Plus endodontic sealer. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 extracted human single-rooted teeth were selected; 25 teeth for the two test groups and five for each control group. After conducting conventional endodontic treatment, the teeth were immersed in physiologic saline solution for thirty days, and subsequently sealed and stored in methylene blue dye solution for seven days. The teeth were sectioned to evaluate the linear apical leakage using a stereoscopic microscope. The data were statistically analyzed by non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The results showed significant differences between the two groups of endodontic sealers (P<0.001). Conclusion: Within the limitation of the present in vitro study, Resilon/Epiphany sealer had better apical sealing ability than gutta-percha/AH-Plus sealer