مجله تحقیق در علوم دندانپزشکی
سال بیست و دوم شماره 4 (پیاپی 86، زمستان 1404)

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an efficient cariostatic agent with the main disadvantage of tooth staining. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of glutathione (GSH) in reducinng SDF-induced tooth discoloration in primary teeth.

This in-vitro study was performed on 18 extracted primary canines with dentinal caries. Samples were randomly allocated into two treatment groups: SDF 38% (n=9) and SDF 38% mixed with GSH 20% (n=9). Color measurements were performed at four time points: baseline and days 1, 14, and 30 post-treatment using a spectrophotometer and the CIE L*a*b* system, and color changes (ΔE) were reported. Shapiro–Wilk and Independent T tests were used for statistical analysis.

The mean color change (ΔE) values were significantly higher in group1 (SDF) than in group2 (SDF + GSH) at all time points (p <0.001).

The use of glutathione can effectively reduce SDF-induced tooth discoloration in primary teeth and may be used as an adjunctive agent to improve the esthetic outcomes of SDF treatment.

Children's oral health behaviors are influenced by their parents. Educating parents can significantly impact their awareness and practices concerning their children's oral health. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of education on parents' knowledge and attitudes.

In this interventional study with a pre-test/post-test design, 100 parents of children visiting the pediatric department of the Dental School at Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, were enrolled. The parents were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. They completed a questionnaire consisting of three sections: demographic information, knowledge, and attitude. The control group received routine oral health education from the pediatric department. The intervention group received the same routine education plus additional educational content provided via a pamphlet. Two weeks later, both groups completed the same questionnaire again. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and T-tests in SPSS software version 25. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Among the participants, there were 73 females and 27 males. No significant differences were found in the demographic characteristics between the two groups (p>0.05). Before the intervention, no significant difference was observed in the knowledge and attitude scores between the two groups (p>0.05). After the educational intervention, the mean scores of knowledge and attitude increased significantly in both groups; however, this increase was significantly greater in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.05).

The results of this study indicate the positive effect of education on improving parents' knowledge and attitudes regarding children's oral health.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between oral health characteristics and migraine headaches, providing insight into how oral health management may play a role in migraine prevention and treatment.

A case-control study design included 96 participants, with 48 migraine patients and 48 matched controls were used. Data on oral health behaviors, bruxism, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, facial pain, dental erosion, and the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index were collected using a questionnaire and clinical examinations. The significance level was set at 0.05.

Patients with migraine showed poorer oral health behaviors, including fewer visits to the dentist (p=0.024) and lower frequency of tooth brushing (p=0.007). The migraine group also showed a higher frequency of bruxism (p=0.003), TMJ pain (p=0.005), dental erosion (p=0.031), and facial pain (p<0.001). In addition, the DMFT index was significantly higher in the migraine group (p=0.045), indicating poorer dental health outcomes in this group.

The findings suggest a significant association between migraine headaches and oral health status. These results highlight the importance of incorporating oral health management into migraine treatment strategies.

 Zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures are among the common facial fractures that can be associated with multiple complications. Additionally, some complications may persist after surgery or even arise as a result of the surgical procedure itself. Awareness of the incidence of these complications can provide valuable insights into the surgical prognosis and efforts to manage and minimize them. Therefore, this study evaluated the incidence of complications associated with ZMC fractures before and after surgery.

In this descriptive study Patients who underwent surgical treatment for ZMC fractures at Velayat Hospital, Rasht, from 2017 to 2023 were recruited. Complications resulting from these fractures, including ectropion, infraorbital nerve dysfunction, diplopia, blurred vision, enophthalmos, malar depression, trismus, vertical dystopia, infraorbital step, and malocclusion, were assessed following trauma and after surgery.

A total of 153 patients (125 men and 28 women) were evaluated. Motorcycle accidents were the most common cause of these fractures. The incidence of diplopia was 0.65% after trauma and 18.3% after surgery. The incidence of blurred vision was 20.9% after trauma and 1.3% after surgery. The incidence of enophthalmos was 16.3% after trauma and 1.3% after surgery. The incidence of infraorbital neuropathy was 43.7% after trauma and 26.1% after surgery. The incidence of trismus was 21.5% after trauma and 3.2% after surgery. The incidence of malar depression, vertical dystopia, and malocclusion after trauma was 78.4%, 11.1%, and 6.5%, respectively, all of which resolved after surgery. Ectropion had an incidence of 1.3% after surgery, and the incidence of infraorbital step was 34.6% after trauma and 1.9% after surgery.

The results demonstrate a high surgical success rate in significantly reducing complications of ZMC fractures. Given the relatively high incidence of postoperative infraorbital neuropathy, it is recommended that this complication receive greater clinical attention. These findings offer surgeons a more precise understanding of complication patterns before and after surgical intervention. Future studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are recommended.

 Successful endodontic treatment depends on a thorough understanding of the anatomical and morphological variations of teeth. The present study aimed to evaluate the root canal anatomy and morphology of mandibular second molars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed CBCT images of 385 fully developed, untreated mandibular second molars taken for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes at a radiology center in Zahedan. The variables examined included: the number of roots and canals per root, root canal morphology according to Vertucci’s classification, and the prevalence of C-shaped canals. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24, and the Pearson chi-square test was applied for statistical analysis (α = 0.05).

Among the 385 mandibular second molars analyzed, most had two roots (80.3%) and three canals (66.5%). The most common morphology in the mesial root was Type II (47.1%), followed by Type IV (35.6%) and Type I (11.2%). The distal root predominantly exhibited Type I morphology (93.6%), followed by Type II (4.2%). C-shaped canal configuration was observed in 18.4% of the teeth. No statistically significant difference was found between males and females regarding the frequency of root number and C-shaped canals.

Given the relatively high prevalence of C-shaped canals, clinicians should exercise special attention in identifying and managing these configurations. CBCT imaging is a reliable tool for assessing dental morphology.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability level of Iranian predoctoral students based on the results of the first competence-based-assessment exam and effective factors on it.

All Iranian dental students who entered in 2018, had completed all 180 academic credits, and participated in the clinical competency assessment were included. The frequency of success rate in the theoretical and practical exam for each university and educational department and examining the relationship between the age of the university's establishment, gender frequency and the composition of faculty members with the successment rate were investigated. Data were analyzed using SPSS26, employing Pearson correlation, ANOVA and linear regression tests, with 0.05 significance level.

1358 students participated in the study. 1261 person (92.8%) were able to pass the theoretical and 1010 person (74.3%) the practical tests. There was no significant correlation between the passing percentage in theoretical and practical exams (P=0.178). The highest and lowest pass rate was in oral health (98%) and pathology (93%). A positive correlation was observed between the total test score with the number of full-time faculty members and the number of associate professors and practical and total exam scores.(p<0.05)

The findings indicated that the number and academic rank of faculty members, university type, and available educational resources were among the main factors influencing students’ success, particularly in the practical exam. Furthermore, the study was limited by the use of secondary, university-level data, and the lack of access to individual-level information, which could have provided a more in-depth evaluation of the results. Those were not available in order to ethical consideration

Dental compressors are critical for powering clinical equipment, yet their optimal management remains underemphasized in dental curricula. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental students at Tehran Islamic Azad University (2024) regarding compressor use, aiming to identify gaps in training and improve clinical competency. 

A cross-sectional study included 142 final-year undergraduate students and 69 postgraduate residents. A validated researcher-developed questionnaire assessed three domains: (1) knowledge (16 MCQs on function, maintenance, and safety), (2) attitudes (4 Likert-scale items), and (3) self-reported practical skills (5 questions). Initially, the validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by five dentists and five biomedical engineers. Data were analyzed via SPSS 26 using linear regression (p < 0.05). 

Postgraduates outperformed undergraduates in knowledge (8.16 ± 2.318 vs. 7.19 ± 2.423, p = 0.006) and attitudes (12.99 ± 2.422 vs. 10.72 ± 2.471, p < 0.0001). However, no significant difference was observed in practical skills (postgraduates: 1.88 ± 1.008 vs. undergraduates: 1.86 ± 1.200, p = 0.882). Regression analysis indicated knowledge (p < 0.0001) and attitudes (p= 0.060) significantly influenced practice scores.  

Despite postgraduates’ superior theoretical knowledge and attitudes, both groups exhibited comparable practical deficiencies. The disconnect underscores the need for curriculum reforms integrating hands-on training with theoretical instruction to enhance safe, effective compressor management.

Advances in health technology have led to the development of methods such as telemedicine, which help improve access to specialized services, especially in underserved areas. Teleoncology, as a subfield of this technology, enables the diagnosis and follow-up of cancer patients remotely. Oral teleoncology, as a new branch, has revolutionized oral cancer care and is associated with reduced complications and improved treatment outcomes. The experience of the COVID-19 era has shown that this method can be a suitable alternative to face-to-face visits, although limitations such as reduced human interaction and challenges in clinical assessment still persist.

This study was a field review that aimed to investigate the applications of oral teleoncology in the period 2015 to 2024. Articles were searched without time limits through Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. From a total of 629 identified articles, after eliminating duplicates and irrelevant items, 25 final eligible studies were selected and thematic analysis was performed on them.

Oral tele-oncology, as an efficient and accepted method by patients, enables education and follow-up of oral cancer treatment through communication technologies such as telephone calls and video conferencing. This approach helps improve the quality of medical care by reducing waiting time for consultation, facilitating interaction with the treatment team, reducing costs of in-person visits, and providing psychological and social support. Providing optimal care to patients with oral cancer requires the cooperation of a multidisciplinary team of medical and dental specialists, which facilitates access to these specialized services, especially in deprived areas. However, factors such as the advanced age of some patients, the level of digital literacy, language differences, and technical complexities can create barriers to the widespread use of this technology.

Oral tele-oncology, as a new method, facilitates access to specialized oral cancer care and improves the quality of treatment outcomes. Despite challenges such as technical limitations and digital literacy, infrastructure development, and multidisciplinary teams, this technology can play an important role in optimizing health services.