Journal of Dental Medicine

A review on workflow and components in digital dentistry

Omid Fatahi Valilai

Background and Aims: In recent years, the dentistry workflow has developed considerably. By the introduction of computers and their various applications, the effectiveness and efficiency of treatment has increased enormously. Considering engineering concepts in the workflow, it is necessary for participants to assess different steps and data transferring between various software and hardware devices. This research investigated the interaction between dentists, laboratories and production centers through the required steps for accomplishing treatment by different applications of software and digital hardware devices.
Materials and Methods: Review in this article was based on searching Google scholar database considering key words: digital dentistry, workflow, computer aided design and manufacturing, dental CAD/CAM. This search was limited to the English articles published after the year 2000.

Conclusion: It is necessary in dentistry to use digital technologies to improve the efficiency of treatments. Thus, the participants in this field must have appropriate knowledge to choose and apply these tools. Moreover, the participant should help providers of digital solutions for better development of software packages and related hardwares.a

Nanoparticles in orthodontics: A review article

Abolghasem Bahador

Background and Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the application of nanoparticles in orthodontics.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using a review method by searching Scopous, Google Scholar and Web of science. Key words (Nano silver, Nano ZnO, Nano Chitosan, Nano Curcumin and Nanoparticles) were used. These searches were limited to the English ariticles after the year 2010.
Conclusion: According to the published studies, silver nanoparticles, curcumin, titanium oxide, chitosan, zinc oxide, quaternary ammonium derivatives exhibit appropriate antibacterial properties. Further studies are recommended to investigate the effect of each of these nanoparticles on the bond strength. In order to reduce the decay, there is lack of evidences regarding the addition of ACP nanoparticles and nanoparticles of calcium- phosphate and fluoride. Therefore, further studies are recommended. Studies have shown that the addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles to orthodontic wires could reduce the friction between the wire and the bracket. While, adding titanium oxide nanoparticles to bracket increased the friction. Although, evidences in this regard are inadequate but it seems that nanoparticulates are less toxic than conventional materials.aa

Survey of dentist’s professional appearances from patients’ point of view at Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Hossein Tamaddon

Background and Aims: The dentist's attire and appearance affects his/her relationships with the patients. It is also essential to sync the professional attire in dentistry with the habits and Islamic culture of Islamic Republic of Iran, meet the patients' desires, and pay attention to the infection-control-requirements as well.The objective of the present study was to determine the patients' viewpoints about the professional appearance of the dentists at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Dental School in 1395-96.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 103 patients (54 females and 49 males) were studied. (=α0.05 and standard variation=4.5). The questionnaire were included color photographies of a female dentist and a male dentist dressed in different attires. The patients were asked to select the cleanest, and the most trustable, competent, and experienced dentist according to the 4 different attires. The frequencies and percentages of the participants’ answers to the questionaire were descriptively reported.
Results: All patients preferred dentists to use white coat during their treatment. For the male dentists, most patients (45.6%) favored simple hair model. For the female dentists, most patients (35.9%) considered veil as the more acceptable Hejaband, and 54.4% of them preferred light makeup.
Conclusion: All patients preferred their dentists to dress in the professional attire with a white coat. They believed that wearing formal-professional-dressing by the dentists may show them look cleaner, and more trustable, more competent, and experienced.

Development of a persian version of the children’s fear survey schedule-dental subscale (cfss-ds) among 8-12 year-old female students in Tehran

Mahdia Gholami

Background and Aims: Children’s Fear Survey Schedule- Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) is considered as the most popular instrument available to assess dental fear in children. The aim of this study was to develop a Persian version of the CFSS-DS among 8-12 year-old female children resident in Tehran.
Materials and Methods: At first, the questionnaire was translated in Farsi and back translated in English afterwards. While, the back translated version was confirmed, we considered the Persian version as the final instrument. Content validity and reliability of the questionnaire was assessed. We used test-retest method to evaluate the reliability, 287 female students aged 8 to 12 from 7 schools in 6^th district of education ministry of Tehran were interviewed two times with interval of seven days. In addition, the infraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and percentage of agreement were calculated. The score of dental fear was measured with range of 13 to 65 and changed to a number between 0 and 100. The relationship between dental fear score and the independent variables including age, history of hospitalization, last medical visit, and history of dental treatment were evaluated using the linear regression models.
Results: The mean score of dental fear was calculated 20.52. The score of dental fear was significantly associated with the last medical visit (P=0.04) and past dental history (P<0.001). The percentage of agreement was more than 80% for all the questions. In each question, Kappa was evaluated as moderate to good and ICC was good to very good (more than 0.4).
Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that the Persian version of CFSS-DS was valid and reliable among 8-12 year-old children.

The relationship between fatigue, stress and job performance with some demographic variables in dental prosthesis technicians

Malihe Kolahdouzi

Background and Aims: Making dental prostheses is sensitive and accurate work and requires powerful and skilled hands. Because of this, the dental prosthesis technicians may suffer harmful effects such as stress and fatigue during the course. The aim of this study was to investigate fatigue, stress and job performance and their relationship with some demographic variables in this community.
Materials and Methods: The present study was cross-sectional and done in 2016. The study population was a group of dental prosthesis technicians that had participated in a national congress in Tehran. Sampling was done by census Two standardized questionnaires on the subjects of fatigue and stress which were distributed among 100 female and male participants and sampling was done by census. Then, the obtained data was analyzed using SPSS16 software and applying descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test, and ANOVA, T-test.
Results: From the 100 samples, there were 16 females and 84 males with mean age 34.71±7.90 and average work experience of 10.82± 9.01 years. 82 percent of the subjects were married and 42 percent of them were smokers. The results showed that 100 percent of dental prostheses technicians were facing with moderate to severe stresses. The stress and fatigue scores in married ones were higher than the single ones. The results showed a significant relationship between smoking, stress, and fatigue scores (P<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the high level of job stress in the dental prostheses technicians, this problem must be considered, minimized, and more attention should be paid to their psychological and emotional problems.

Evaluation of head and neck cancer patients’ knowledge regarding complications of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients referring to Kerman University of Medical Sciences treatment centers

Mahsa Kalantari

Background and Aims: Cancer is the 3rd cause of death after heart disease and injuries in Iran. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the most effective procedures in cancer therapy, but their side effects are still unknown for many patients. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the patients’ knowledge with head and neck cancer regarding the complications of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical research was based on the information extracted from personal questionnaires and files of cancer patients who referred to the centers of Kerman University of Medical Sciences during a 6 months period in 2017. The data were analyzed by chi-square test at the significance level of 0.05.
Results: Our findings showed that most of the patients (76.48%) had low information level. There was no statistically significant association between the knowledge with demographic variables (P>0.05). However, patients with chronic disease had higher level of information. Only 10% of patients had received information by their physicians.
Conclusion: It seems there is not effective education regarding the rated radiotherapy and chemotherapy complications, because their knowledge was not in acceptable level. Considering the importance of this issue, it is necessary to perform educational program to improve patients' ability and skills to cope whit the chemotherapy and radiotherapy complications and their side effects.

The comparison between low level infra-red laser and triamcinolone acetonide mouth rinse in treatment of oral lichen planus lesions

Soheila Mohammadian

Background and Aims:The erosive and ulcerative forms of Oral lichen planus causes pain and irritation, affects the nutrition and biological quality of the patient. Considering the high prevalence of the disease, the complications of conventional treatments and the resistance to classical drug therapy, the aim of this study was to compare the effect of infrared low level laser and triamcinolone acetonide mouth rinse on treatment of oral lichen planus lesions.
Materials and Methods:In this double blind clinical trial, 24 patients were selected randomly according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided into two groups of 12. Before and after the study, pain and burning sensation index (VAS), apparent shape and score of the lesion and size of the lesion were recorded in the patients. We treated the first group with low level infrared laser (810 nm) twice a week with 0.5-2 j/cm² energy density and 300 mW/cm² power density up to a maximum of 10 sessions. For the second group, we prescribed a mouth rinse of triamcinolone acetonide 0.2% four times a day with antifungal drugs for a month. Then, the study`s criteria were recorded after the completion of treatment. All data were statistically analyzed using the repeated measure ANOVA test to compare the quantitative changes over time, The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the rank variables between two groups at any time and Friedman test for each group between different times.
Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of severity of pain (P=0.255), score and size (P=0.186), and appearance (P=0.178) of the lesions among two groups. Although the two groups showed a significant decrease in all three indicators.
Conclusion:Considering that in both groups, all three indices were improved and these improvements were similar, it seems that laser therapy can be effective. It could be used as a therapeutic alternative in treating patients with OLP (Oral Lichen Planus) especially in cases with contraindication in corticosteroid administration or lack of appropriate therapeutic response or when there is resistance to treatment.

Comparison of dentinal tubules closure under the effect of carbonated nano structural hydroxyapatite toothpaste produced inside the country with fluoride toothpaste

Fahime Shafiee

Background and Aims: Increased tooth sensitivity is a common dental problem. One of the mechanisms of dentin hypersensitivity treatment is blocking dentinal tubules. The aim of this study was to compare the average closing dentinal tubules affected by carbonated Nano-hydroxyapatite and fluoride toothpaste using scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Materials and Methods: The enamel of gingival buccal crown surfaces of 42 sound maxillary premolars teeth were removed until the dentin surfaces were exposed. The dentine specimens of 3×3 mm were prepared. The specimens were washed by distilled water after etching and randomly divided into 6 groups. 3 groups were interfered with the carbonated nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste and the other three groups interfered with Colgate toothpaste in 3, 7 and 14 days. The samples were examined by SEM to check the status of dentinal tubules. Then, they were evaluated by two researchers according to the Hulsmann index. Data were analyzed by using SPSS23 software and Kruskal-Wallis statistical test. The significance level of 0.05 was considered.
Results: The amount of dentinal tubules closure by the two toothpastes was significantly different. This difference was higher in the hydroxyapatite toothpaste than fluoride which were (P=0.024, 0.004 and 0.000), respectively. There were no significant differences among the groups in 3,7 and 14 days (P=0.230, 0.069, 0.537).
Conclusion: The toothpaste containing carbonated nano structural hydroxyapatite was more successful in closing dentinal tubules than Colgate toothpaste in short period of time.