مجله دانشکده دندان پزشکی اصفهان
سال یازدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 50، امرداد و شهریور 1394)

Antibacterial agents are considered one of the adjuncts for caries prevention. Due to side effects and bacterial resistance with the use of chemical agents, use of herbal medications has attracted a lot of attention. This study evaluated the antibacterial effects of essential oil extracts of C. cyminum L. and E. globulus against three common oral lactobacilli involved in tooth caries. In this study, essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation. C. cyminum L. and E. globulus were characterized by means of gas chromatography‒mass specrtophotometry (GC‒MS). Antibacterial activity indices including MIC, MBC and zone of inhibition for the above essential oils against three bacterial strains (Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus) were determined using broth macrodilution and agar well diffusion methods. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests (α=0.05). The main components of the essential oils of C. cyminum L. and E. globulus were cuminic alcohol (30.23%) and 1.8 cineol (40.18%), respectively. MIC for all the bacterial strains was 6.71 μg/mL for C. cyminumand and 110 μg/mL for E. globulus. MBC values for L. casei, L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus were 13.43 μg/mL, 26.87 μg/mL and 26.87 μg/mL for C. cyminum and 110 μg/mL, 220 μg/mL and 110 μg/mL for E. globulus, respectively. An increase in the concentration of essential oils resulted in an increase in zone of inhibition (p value = 0). In both essential oils the maximum zone of inhibition was observed at a concentration of 880 mg/mL. L. casei had maximum and L. plantrum had minimum sensitivity to these oils (p value = 0.02). Zones of inhibition at different time intervals (24-48 h) showed no significant differences (p value = 0.78). Zone of inhibition of C. cyminum was more than that of eucslyptus (p value = 0.02). Both essential oils exhibited antibacterial effects against the bacterial strains evaluated. C. cyminum had higher antibacterial efficacy.

Access to and equal distribution of healthcare services are one of the main goals of any public health service and the patient satisfaction is an important factor in evaluating these goals. The purpose of this study was to assess barriers to the accessibility of and the satisfaction of parents of 6‒14-year-old children with these services in Isfahan in 2011. This descriptive study was carried out on 390 Isfahani parents with 6‒14-year-old children. Data was collected through a questionnaire and interviews. The questionnaire consisted of questions on demographic data, the general oral health status in children, the general healthcare behavior, barriers to access to dental services, availability of and access to such services and parental satisfaction with dental services in their children. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis using SPSS software (α=0.05). Based on this study, 78% of children had access to dental care and 22.1% faced barriers, with the main barriers consisting of the high cost of dental treatments, insufficient dental insurance coverage and dental fears in children. The average satisfaction rate with dental services was 48%. Dental visits in 22% were due to regular dental checkups and 68% for dental and gingival problems. According to this study, the rate of access to dental care in the samples was over 70%. The main barriers to access to dental services based on parents’ reports were the cost of dental care, insufficient dental insurance coverage and dental fear. Half of the parents were satisfied with dental services provided for their children.

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in childhood. Some studies have reported the harmful effects of active smoking and environmental tobacco smoke on the development of dental caries. The aim of this study was to compare the caries rate using DMFT and dmft indexes in children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke with that in children not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.

In this descriptive study 90 children aged 8‒12 were studied. The children were divided into two equal groups based on being exposed or not being exposed to tobacco smoke. In both groups, dental caries, missed teeth and filled teeth were determined using examination and recorded in questionnaires, followed by calculation of DMFT and dmft indexes for both groups. In addition, the full-mouth plaque index was determined, along with salivary cotinine enzyme levels using ELISA technique. Data were analyzed with independent t-test (α=0.05).

There were no significant differences in dmft index between children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke and children not exposed to tobacco smoke (p value = 0.35); in addition, there were no significant differences in DMFT index between the case and control groups (p value = 0.61). There were no significant differences in cotinine salivary levels between the two groups under study (p value = 0.96).

The children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke exhibited susceptibility to dental caries comparable to that in children not exposed to tobacco smoke.

The prevalence of accidental findings in maxillary sinus has been reported to be 23.6‒44%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of accidental findings in maxillary sinus in the CBCT archives of Isfahan Faculty of Dentistry. In this retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study 100 CBCT images in which the 4 walls of the maxillary sinus were visible, in patients over 12 years of age, were selected. All the samples were evaluated by an oral and maxillofacial radiology resident in relation to mucosal thickening, cysts and septa using a computer with uniform resolution and light intensity from 8 to 10 in the morning. The lesions were divided into unilateral and bilateral depending on their location. Data were analyzed with SPSS 20 using descriptive methods, chi-squared test and t-test (α=0.05). Of 100 patients evaluated, 76% had accidental findings in at least one sinus and only 24% had no accidental finding. Mucosal thickening was the most common accidental finding (63%), followed by cysts (41%) and septa (18%). Chi-squared test showed no significant differences between males and females in the frequencies of mucosal thickening, cysts and septa (p values = 0.584, 0.172 and 0.71, respectively). One-way ANOVA showed no significant relations between age and the prevalence of mucosal thickening, cysts and septa (p values = 0.949, 0.755 and 0.606, respectively). Mucosal thickening was the most common accidental finding in the maxillary sinus, followed by cysts and septa, respectively. Age and sex had no effect on the occurrence of maxillary sinus lesions.

Good apical seal plays a critical role in the success of endodontic treatment and the smear layer reduces the efficacy of the apical seal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Nd:YAG laser irradiation on the apical seal of root canal-treated teeth using the fluid filtration technique. In this in vitro study, 44 human maxillary central incisors were selected. After preparation, the specimens were randomly assigned to 4 groups: group A, the control group (n=20); group B, the laser-treated group (n=20); group C, the positive control group (n=2); and group D, the negative control group (n=2). All the groups were prepared using the crown-down technique. Group B was irradiated with Nd:YAG laser before obturation. Groups A, B and D were obturated with gutta-percha and sealer and group C was obturated with gutta-percha and without sealer. The coronal end of the specimens were sealed with amalgam and then stored in an incubator for one week. Then, the outer surface of groups A, B and C, except for 2 mm in the apical area, and group D were entirely covered with two layers of nail polish and one layer of sticky wax. Apical microleakage was then evaluated using fluid filtration technique. Data were analyzed with SPSS 18, using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and independent t-test (α=0.05). The means of apical leakage in the laser and control groups were 4.35±2.88 and 5.34±3.13 µL/min/cm H2O, respectively, with no significant differences (p value = 0.305). Under the limitations of this study, use of Nd:YAG laser in root canal therapy had no significant effect on apical microleakage.

Sports activities are one of the main etiologic factors of traumatic dental injuries. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of knowledge in athletes and their coaches regarding management of dental traumas. This cross-sectional study was performed on professional athletes of contact sports and their coaches in Mashhad using the census technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire which surveyed the athletes’ personal and occupational data and consisted of questions about the management of four dental traumas. Statistical analysis was carried out with chi-squared and Mann-Whitney tests (α=0.05). The majority of athletes (44.2%) were 20‒30 years of age and the majority of coaches (44%) were over 40 years of age. Sports activity durations in the majority of athletes (37%) and coaches (36.6%) were 1‒5 and more than 10 years, respectively. The level of knowledge in the management of dental traumas in 3.8% of athletes was moderate; with 45% having low and 43.8% having very low knowledge levels and 7.5% had no awareness at all. The level of knowledge in 6.6% of coaches was high, with 17.1% having moderate, 53.9% having low, and 17.1% having very low knowledge levels; 3% had no knowledge at all. There was no significant correlation between level of knowledge and sex, age and sporting activity duration in athletes and coaches (p value > 0.05). Under the limitations of this study, the level of knowledge in athletes and coaches was insufficient in relation to dental traumas. Therefore, it appears it is necessary to prepare educational courses to improve the knowledge and awareness of athletes and coaches on the subject.

Cross-infection control in dental offices is of great priority because of continuous contact with contaminated oral fluids and saliva. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate some principles of cross-infection control in dental health centers in Isfahan. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 117 general dentists and specialists working in private dental offices and clinics in Isfahan in 2013‒2014. The subjects were selected using simple sampling technique. Data were collected with a questionnaire consisting of 18 questions on sterilization of instruments, disinfection of prostheses received from the laboratory, impressions and personal protection techniques during treatment procedures. Data were analyzed with SPSS 20 using descriptive statistics and Kruskal‒Wallis and chi-squared tests (α=0.05). Use of eyeglasses was more common in specialists (p value < 0.001). Specialists were more careful about disinfection of prostheses after checking them in the oral cavity before sending them to the laboratory compared to general practitioners (p value = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in rinsing impressions after retrieving them from the oral cavity (p value = 0.245). However, specialists paid more attention to disinfection of impressions after removing them from the patients’ oral cavities compared to general practitioners (p value = 0.002). Under the limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that observation of the principles of cross-infection control was at a moderate level in dental treatment centers in Isfahan.

Periodontal diseases are one of the major problem in oral health. Periodontiis is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. The aim of this study was effect of periodontal treatments on Oral Health Quality of Life in patients with periodontal disease who referred to periodontology department in Kerman Dental school. This cross-sectional study was assessed on 45 patients with periodontal diseases. Data were collected by a questionnaire consisted of demographic status, site of surgery and Persian version of OHIP-14 questionnaire and periodontal status examination. Data analyzed in SPSS version 18 and using t-test and linear regression test. P value was considered at 5%level. In this study 66.6% of subjects were female and mean age of samples were 38.8±6.67 years. The mean of OHIP-14 score before and after treatment were29.33±3.00 and 23.82 ±5.74 respectively, this differences was significant. There was significant differences between severity of periodontitis and OHIP-14 score before treatment (p=0/03). There was significant differences between severity of periodontitis and gender with OHIP-14 score after treatment (p=0.04 and 0.002). It seems periodontal diseases have negative impact on oral health related quality of life, and treatment can improved quality of life.