Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aims: Supporting the preventive approach is important in training future dentists. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of senior dental students regarding non-invasive management of dental caries.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 using total sampling method and a valid and reliable questionnaire. Knowledge, attitude and self-reported practice of senior dental students regarding caries risk assessment (CRA) and management of lesions in two paper patients were assessed. The data analysis was performed using SPSS20 and the descriptive and analytical statistics were reported.
Results: In overall, 86 students (response rate=91%) were responded. In the knowledge section, caries history in the previous year, having frequent fermentable carbohydrate, xerostomia, and low socio-economic status were considered by more than half of students as factor for caries risk assessment. More than 90% of students had a positive attitude towards CRA in children. Nearly 50% of students tend to restore enamel lesions in proximal and occlusal surfaces in high-risk scenarios. There was significant association between the OHI instruction and debris index improvement (P=0.04) in the integrated comprehensive care clinic (TUMS). The linear regression analysis showed that there was no significant association between the demographic characteristics, place of education, previous course on the level of knowledge and attitude.
Conclusion: Senior dental students despite their general knowledge and positive attitude toward caries risk assessment, tended to aggressively manage the incipient lesions in the enamel and DEJ. Delivering prevention as integrated in the comprehensive care unit in order to improve oral hygiene status of patients is recommended.

Conclusion: Many elderly people avoid the treatment of oral diseases during coronavirus pandemic due to fear of coronavirus, high dental costs, lack of access to appropriate services, and this causes irreparable problems in their health. Therefore, it is recommended to provide practical solutions to facilitate the dental treatment of elderly patients.

Background and Aims: The need to use a highly effective sealer in order to create a complete seal along the canal is essential for the basic treatment of tooth roots. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the sealing ability of cold ceramic and gutta-percha with sealer by applying the bacterial leakage and electrochemical method.
Materials and Methods: In this in-vitro experimental study, fifty human single-rooted teeth were selected and their crowns were cut from the cervical region. The canals were prepared and washed with 17% EDTA. Then the teeth were randomly divided into four groups: group 1 gutta-percha with AH26 sealer (Dentsply Detrey, Germany) (n=20), group 2 cold ceramic (Yazd, Iran) (n=20), negative and positive control groups which each consisted of 5 teeth. Samples were kept in an incubator at 37° C for 48 hrs. Two coats of nail polish were used for covering the root, except for the last 2 mm, and microleakage in the fillings was measured by the bacterial leakage and electrochemical methods. The microleakage of the two groups was statistically analyzed in the electrochemical technique by Student's t-test, and in the bacterial leakage method by Fisher's exact test.
Results: In bacterial leakage method, in the first group (gutta-percha) 7 samples (35%) and in the second group (cold ceramic) 3 samples (15%) had bacterial leakage, but no significant difference was observed between the two groups on different days (P>0.05). The mean microleakage based on the electrochemical technique in gutta-percha was significantly higher than that of cold ceramic (P=0.0001).
Conclusion: According to the lower microleakage values in the use of cold ceramic compared to gutta-percha, cold ceramic  can be used to fill root canals to reduce microleakage, although further studies are needed.

Background and Aims: Malocclusion in orthodontics is one of the dental and jaw abnormalities that can cause psychosocial and social problems. Personality traits, body image, and self-concept are different in orthodontic applicants due to the different effects of malocclusions on appearance and psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to investigate the personality traits, body image, and self-concept in patients seeking orthodontic treatment in Tabriz-Iran in 1400.
Materials and Methods: The statistical population of the study included all patients requesting orthodontic treatment whom were referred to one of the orthodontic clinics in Tabriz during 1399-1400. This study was performed on 149 patients seeking orthodontic treatment (127 females and 22 males) by Convenience Sampling method. Neo personality traits, the Body Image Concern, and Marsh body self-concept questionnaires were used. SPSS software was used for data analysis.
Results: According to the results, neuroticism, agreement, conscience, extraversion and openness to experience were high in orthodontic patients (P<0.05). The average dissatisfaction with body image was high (P<0.05). Also, the body outside self-concept was low and the self-esteem was high (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Personality factors, body image, and self-concept are three effective psychological characteristics in patients seeking orthodontic treatment. Therefore, the request for orthodontic treatment is largely due to psychological factors such as differences in personality traits, body image, and self-concept.

Background and Aims: Incorrect prescription of antibiotics for odontogenic infections can endanger patients' lives. This study aimed to determine the pattern of antibiotic prescription by general dentists in Tehran and to compare it with the guidelines recommended by maxillofacial surgeons at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2019.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 141 randomly selected dentists in Tehran. The dentists reported their antibiotic prescriptions for various odontogenic infections by completing a questionnaire. The frequency of prescribed antibiotics was calculated considering the severity of the infection, penicillin sensitivity, pregnancy and lactation status of women, and children. These were compared with the guidelines suggested by 15 maxillofacial surgery specialists at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression were used. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25.
Results: Among patients sensitive to penicillin with severe infection, 61% of the dentists prescribed the correct medication. The correct prescription rate was 0% in patients with severe infection, 24.82% in pregnant and lactating women with mild infection, 65.24% in children with mild infection, 62.41% in patients with mild infection and penicillin sensitivity, 36.69% in children with severe infection, and 33.82% in pregnant and lactating women with severe infection. The results showed that older dentists were significantly more likely prescribe antibiotics correctly for odontogenic infections (P=0.036, B=0.28).
Conclusion: General dentists in Tehran did not optimally prescribe antibiotics for odontogenic infections. Therefore, training courses to improve their clinical performance are essential.

Background and Aims: Over the past two decades, the use of mini-screws in orthodontics has become increasingly common. Various factors such as design, length, diameter, and insertion angle of the miniscrew, as well as the quality and thickness of the patient's bone, would influence the success and stability of miniscrews. This study aimed to investigate the effects of miniscrew shape, cortical and cancellous bone thickness, and insertion/removal torque on the stress distribution in the mandibular bone surrounding the miniscrew.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using finite element analysis (FEA). Bone thickness parameters were extracted from the literature, and the mandibular bone along with cylindrical and tapered miniscrew models were simulated using ABAQUS software. By altering the relevant variables, the resulting stress were evaluated.
Results: An increase in both insertion and removal torque led to a corresponding rise in the stress around the miniscrew. Stress variations were more pronounced in tapared miniscrews in response to the changes in bone thickness and torque. The influence of cancellous bone thickness on stress distribution was found to be minimal.
Conclusion: Although, the tapered miniscrews offer greater retention and stability compared to the cylindrical types, their heightened sensitivity to variations in parameters such as bone thickness and torque necessitates cautious application.