Clinical Competence of Undergraduate Dental Students in Pediatric Dentistry at a Saudi Dental School

Objective: To assess the clinical competence of undergraduate dental students in pediatric dentistry at Qassim University dental school. Material and Methods: A retrospective audit of students' clinical competency sheets of fourth and fifth-year students (n= 102) over two years was performed. Mean competency scores for each clinical procedure as well as overall scores of the students were compared according to their academic level and gender. Also, the percentage of competent students was compared according to the academic level. Chi-square and t-tests were used to analyze the data (p<0.05). Results: Compared to fifth-year students, fourth-year students were significantly more competent in pediatric dentistry (100% scored >50% overall compared to 86.9 % of fifth-year students). They had significantly higher mean overall scores (84.63 ± 9.15 compared to 67.68 ± 13.83) as well as individual scores in performing an examination, diagnosis, and treatment planning of a child patient, restorations, and stainless steel crowns than fifth-year students. In addition, females had significantly higher mean scores in the aforementioned procedures and in placing esthetic crowns (p<0.05). Conclusion: Fourth-year dental students at Qassim University were more competent clinically than fifth-year students in pediatric dentistry. Also, in most of the shared procedures, females were more competent than males. A deficiency in the competence of fifth-year students was noted in pulp therapy, stainless steel and esthetic crowns procedures, and these are currently being addressed

Antibacterial Efficacy of Silver Diamine Fluoride Compared to Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Against Streptococcus mutans in a Biofilm Caries Model

Objective: To compare the antibacterial efficacy of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) with a product containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) against Streptococcus mutans using a biofilm caries model. Material and Methods: Twenty-seven saliva-coated dentine blocks obtained from extracted human teeth were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans monospecies biofilm in this in vitro study. The biofilms were then exposed to 10% sucrose in brain heart infusion broth eight times daily for seven days. After the biofilm growth period, the dentine blocks (n=9 per group) were treated with one of the following substances: 1) sterile saline (control), 2) 38% SDF, and 3) a product containing CPP-ACP. Then, the samples were incubated at 37ºC for 48 hours, and the numbers of viable microorganisms in the biofilms were counted and compared. ANOVA and Tukey\u27s HSD tests were used to analyze the data (p<0.05). Results: The number of viable bacteria, as determined by the number of colony-forming units (CFU mL-1) of Streptococcus mutans, was significantly reduced following treatment with SDF and the CPP-ACP product (p<0.05). However, SDF showed superior antibacterial activity compared to the CPP-ACP product (mean CFU mL-1=zero compared to 96 x106) (p<0.05). Conclusion: SDF has higher antibacterial activity against cariogenic Streptococcus mutans biofilm than the CPP-ACP product. The CPP-ACP product showed antibacterial activity, but it was limited

Parental Reported Bullying among Saudi Schoolchildren: Its Forms, Effect on Academic Abilities, and Associated Sociodemographic, Physical, and Dentofacial Features

Context. Bullying among schoolchildren is a serious phenomenon and a leading health concern. Aim. To determine the prevalence of bullying, its forms, and its effect on academic abilities and school attendance, as well as associated sociodemographic, physical, and dentofacial features among Saudi schoolchildren. Methods. This cross-sectional study recruited a sample of 1131 parents of schoolchildren 8-18 years old and requested them to complete internationally accepted questionnaires for their children. Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data (p<0.05). Results. A majority (89.2%) of schoolchildren were bully victims. Physical bullying (48.9%) was the most common form of bullying. The youngest schoolchildren (8-11 years) and those who disliked school classes or neither liked nor hated them, as well as those who were truant from school, were more likely to be victims. In addition, those who had worse grades because of bullying and those who were very often bullied because of good grades or because they showed an interest in school were more likely to be victims. With regard to targeted physical features, teeth were the number one target, followed by the shape of the lips and strength, while tooth shape and color were the most common dentofacial targets, followed by anterior open bite and protruded anterior teeth. Boys and the youngest schoolchildren were more often subjected to bullying because of these features (p<0.05). Conclusions. The prevalence of bullying, mainly in a physical form, was high among Saudi schoolchildren, with a negative influence on students’ academic abilities. Problems related to teeth, in particular, which can be treated, were targets, mainly for boys and the youngest schoolchildren. More studies are required in Saudi Arabia to explore the issue further among schoolchildren themselves

Knowledge and Attitudes of Saudi Medical Students about Emergency Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries

Several studies indicate that physicians lack emergency management knowledge concerning traumatic dental injuries (TDIs), emphasizing the fact that medical students are not taught about this topic. This study aimed to assess the basic knowledge and attitudes of medical students in Saudi Arabia about emergency TDI management. This cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of medical students in their clinical years through social networking sites and asked them to answer a pretested internationally accepted questionnaire that included demographic questions, two case scenarios about crown fractures and avulsion of permanent teeth, and self-assessment questions. The data were analyzed statistically using descriptive statistics and the chi-squared test (p &lt; 0.05). A total of 761 medical students responded. Only 5.8% of the students reported receiving information about TDIs in their curriculum. Medical students, mainly those ready to graduate, were more knowledgeable of the emergency management of a crown fractured permanent tooth than an avulsed permanent tooth (p &lt; 0.0001). However, more than half of the students were unable to differentiate between a primary versus permanent fractured tooth and would manage an avulsed primary or permanent tooth similarly. Regarding students&rsquo; attitudes, less than one-quarter of the students (13.5%) were confident about diagnosing TDIs and/or providing emergency management when required (18.1%). Furthermore, only about one-tenth of the students (9.3%) were satisfied with their self-perceived knowledge, and most (71%) reported needing further education about the topic. Medical students in Saudi Arabia have insufficient knowledge about the emergency management of TDIs. Gaps in students&rsquo; knowledge of emergency management of avulsion injury were identified in addition to their low confidence level to either diagnose or immediately treat TDIs if required. Students felt dissatisfied with their current knowledge level, this being most prominent among graduating students. There is a need to elaborate the undergraduate medical curriculum in Saudi Arabia to include emergency management of TDIs

Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Dental Students and Fresh Graduates from Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to assess the knowledge level and attitudes of graduating Saudi medical and dental students and fresh graduates from those faculties about pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the relation of their knowledge level to sociodemographic variables. In this cross-sectional study, 722 graduating students and fresh graduates were requested to answer a questionnaire pretested for validity and reliability. The data were analyzed statistically. Results revealed that medical participants scored 15.45 (out of 22), with 38% of them showing good knowledge about pediatric OSA, while dental participants scored 14.59, with 25.2% of them showing good knowledge. By regression analysis, medical participants (odds ratio (OR): 1.529) were more likely to have good knowledge than dental participants, while participants who belonged to institutions located in the central region (OR: 0.546) were less likely to have good knowledge than those from southern region institutions. In addition, participants from public institutions (OR: 0.290) were less likely to have good knowledge than those from private institutions. Regarding attitudes, medical participants scored 14.13 (out of 20), and dental participants scored 14.64. We detected a significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores of dental participants. Given these findings, the knowledge level of graduating Saudi medical and dental students and fresh graduates about pediatric OSA was not optimal. The college type, institution sector, and location in the kingdom were factors associated with good knowledge. There is a need for further education and training about pediatric OSA in the undergraduate Saudi medical and dental curricula and continuing professional development programs about the topic after graduation

Knowledge of General Dental Practitioners and Specialists about Emergency Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

Context. Studies about knowledge of emergency management of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) which affect children by general dental practitioners (GDPs) and specialists in Saudi Arabia are lacking. Aim. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the knowledge level of GDPs and specialists about TDI emergency management and its relation with demographic variables in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods. A random sample of 239 GDPs and specialists was given a two-part questionnaire; the first part included demographic questions and the second part included questions related to knowledge of emergency management of luxation (intrusion and extrusion), complicated crown fracture, and avulsion injuries. Data was statistically analyzed using chi-square and ordinal logistic regression tests. The significance was set at P<0.05. Results. The mean knowledge score was 5.57 for GDPs and 6.69 for specialists (out of 12). A significant difference was observed between both groups in the management of avulsion injury. Three factors significantly improved the dentists’ knowledge: gender (female), practice type (specialist), and previous experience of encountered TDIs (P<0.05). Conclusions. GDPs and specialists in Qassim region had moderate knowledge of emergency management of TDIs. Specialists were significantly more knowledgeable than GDPs in the management of avulsion injury when compared to the rest of the injuries