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There are few published studies assessing dental students' and faculty's perception regarding environmental sustainability in dentistry (ESD) and its existence within the dental curricula along with barriers and enablers for its integration. As far as the authors know, no published study has looked into this in Saudi Arabia, and this is what the current study aims to explore. A cross-sectional survey using validated online questionnaires for dental students and faculty was carried out in 26 dental schools in Saudi Arabia. The validated questionnaire utilized 25 questions using Qualtrics (XM) software. Both descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were included in the data analysis. ESD content is not formally embedded within the dental curricula in all 26 included universities in Saudi Arabia. Although the majority of students and faculty members agreed or strongly agreed on the importance of ESD as a whole and the importance of teaching it, more than 82% and 81% of students and faculty, respectively, demonstrated a lack of basic knowledge concerning ESD. The preliminary findings of the current study suggest that there is a high demand for incorporating ESD content in dental education in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this, resources and policy changes are necessary. A top-down approach is needed, including incorporating ESD into dental education standards, using evidence-based practices in revising infection control regulations, and providing institutional support through training, materials, and incentives. National dental associations and governments should provide practical solutions and actively support dental professionals in implementing ESD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge and beliefs of parents have an impact on their children's general and oral health. The objective of this study is to assess knowledge, attitude, and behavior of parents and identify possible associated factors of early childhood caries (ECC) in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Parents aged 18 and older were invited to complete a self-administered, validated questionnaire. Questions covered demographics, knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding ECC etiology and prevention. Of the 644 parents who completed the questionnaire, 51.4% were not aware of the early signs of tooth decay, such as white lines. Pain and trauma were reported as the major reasons for a child to visit a dentist (42.4%). Only 37% of parents were aware of the importance of fissure sealant, and only 23% knew how it is applied. Compared with mothers, fathers were significantly less aware of hidden sugar and the relation between the frequency of consuming breast milk or bottled milk and caries development (p = 0.001). Similarly, fathers were more likely to believe that children could achieve effective teeth cleaning without parental assistance (p = 0.001). Preventive guidance should be provided by oral healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia to improve parents' knowledge of ECC prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Immunodeficiency virus infection is a major health crisis. It can spread to other people by transmission of the body fluid. The knowledge about this viral infection can aid in preventing its transmission and help in delivering successful dental care to these patients. Aims: To evaluate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related knowledge and attitude of dental students and also to compare knowledge and attitude between a student's gender and different clinical levels (second, third vs. fourth to seventh years). Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students at the college of dentistry in Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, KSA. Methods and Material: A validated survey was sent electronically to dental students from the second year to seventh year. The questionnaire contained 12 knowledge and 13 attitude questions about treating HIV/AIDS patients. Descriptive statistics were presented for the knowledge and attitude of the dental students about HIV/AIDS. Also, the knowledge and attitude were compared using t-test in relation to gender and clinical year. Results: The response rate was 65%. The mean and standard deviation (SD) for the knowledge score was 8.32 ± 1.60 out of 12. There was no significant difference between gender and a student's clinical level. In the majority of the attitude questions, more than half of the students had favorable attitude toward HIV/AIDS subjects. Females had more favorable attitude as well as students with more clinical years of experience. Conclusions: Dental students showed acceptable knowledge and positive attitude toward HIV/AIDS patients. Students who were females and with higher clinical years demonstrated better attitude but similar knowledge to males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The durability and longevity of composite restoration are much dependent on the accurate delivery of the energy required to polymerise the material. This study aimed to investigate the extent to which undergraduate dental students acquire and retain light‐curing skills following hands‐on training. Materials and Methods: Hands‐on training comprises faculty tutoring for critical aspects of the light‐curing procedure, such as distance and angulation of the light‐curing tip. Assessments of the students' ability to deliver a specified radiant exposure to class III and I simulated RBCs using a dental simulator (MARC‐PS®) at three different time points after the training. Data were analysed using repeated measure ANOVA. Results: Immediately after the training, students' performance on curing was improved (p <.05). Overall, the radiant exposure increased after training, but the students lost some of the benefits with time. For curing in the anterior section (anterior sensor‐class III), the mean radiant exposure values increased by approximately 20% after the training. After 2 years, the values were 15% greater than baseline values. For curing in the posterior section (posterior sensor‐class I), the mean radiant exposure values increased by approximately 150% after the training. A significant decrease (p <.05) was observed; however, the radiant exposure values were still 82% greater than the baseline after 2 years. Conclusion: A hands‐on training dedicated to light‐curing procedures facilitated acquisition and retention up to a 2‐year follow‐up of skill on how light cure composite inside the mouth. The training was more relevant for curing in posterior areas, where orientation can significantly impact light‐curing. A hands‐on training where the radiant exposure can be measure gave objective measurement metrics to guide the curing performance. This approach is an effective means of teaching practical skills to dental students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental erosion is an irreversible damage to hard tissues in the mouth due to acid dissolution not induced by microorganisms. Oral medications contributed to the etiology of dental erosion. Among these medications, antihistamine-containing syrups were reported to have a considerable erosive effect on hard dental tissues. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effect of Zamzam water on the microhardness of primary tooth enamel after erosion induced by Claritin™ syrup. Materials and Methods: The present in-vitro study was conducted on 25 primary central incisor teeth. The labial surfaces of the specimens were prepared for microhardness testing. Baseline microhardness was measured first, then the samples were submerged in the erosive agent Claritin™ syrup, for 30 min every 12 h for 12 days. Thereafter, all the teeth were placed in Zamzam water for 30 min every 12 h for 12 days. The microhardness was measured by the Vickers hardness tester and expressed as Vickers microhardness value (VH). The measurements were completed three times for the same sample: baseline, after erosion, and after Zamzam treatment. Data were analyzed statistically using one-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: The primary teeth included in this study showed a significant increase in their surface microhardness after Zamzam water treatment; the mean value of VH was increased from 33.12 ± 1.62 to 89.32 ± 8.52 (P-value <0.0001). Conclusion: Zamzam water could be introduced as a part of the management of dental erosion in the primary dentition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine adverse events after endoscopic flexible vs endoscopic rigid cricopharyngeal myotomy for treatment of Zenker's diverticulum (ZD).Data Sources: Systematic review of MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for all years according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Additional studies were identified from review citations and a by hand search of manuscripts referencing ZD.Review Methods: A structured literature search was conducted to identify studies for this systematic review. Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria were applied to assess study quality. For inclusion, each study had to provide data for at least 10 adult patients who had undergone endoscopic ZD repair reporting clear association with the postprocedure course in each case. Data extracted included all reported adverse events, recurrences, follow-up, and operative times.Results: In total, 115 studies were included. All but 8 were retrospective case series. Sixty-one reported series of patients after rigid endoscopic stapler repair, 31 after rigid laser repair, and 13 with other rigid endoscopic instruments. Twenty-nine flexible endoscopic studies were included. Mortality, infection, and perforation were not significantly more likely in either the rigid or the flexible group, but bleeding and recurrence were more likely after flexible endoscopic techniques (20% vs <10% and 4% vs 0%, respectively). Dental injury and vocal fold palsy were reported rarely in the rigid endoscopic groups.Conclusions: Adverse events are rare after endoscopic Zenker's repair. The flexible approach minimizes exposure limitations and can be completed in some patients without general anesthesia. Transoral rigid approaches result in fewer revision surgeries compared with flexible diverticulotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the long-term clinical and radiographic success of using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol (FC) as a pulp-dressing material in pulpotomy treatment in primary molars. Types Of Studies Reviewed. The authors searched MEDLINE, Thomson Reuters Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from Jan. 1,1990, to May 9, 2013. For an RCT to be included, the authors required that the primary molars treated with a pulpotomy procedure must have received stainless steel crowns as a final restoration and that rubber dam isolation was used during treatment; that the pulp must have been vital as determined clinically by means of hemorrhage control with a cotton pellet; and that the RCT must have included a follow-up period of at least two years. For each included RCT, two authors assessed the risk of bias independently. Results. The authors identified 20 trials and included five of them. A total of 377 primary molars were treated. The authors judged that none of the included RCTs had a low risk of bias. They noted no significant differences in clinical success (relative risk [RR] = 1.01; 95 percent confidence interval [Cl], 0.98-1.05) and radiographic success (RR = 1.09; 95 percent Cl, 0.97-1.21) for primary molars treated with MTA versus those treated with FC. Practical Implications. On the basis of the limited evidence, pulpotomy procedures performed in primary molars involving the use of MTA or FC showed comparable clinical success rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the long-term clinical and radiographic success of using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol (FC) as a pulp-dressing material in pulpotomy treatment in primary molars. Types Of Studies Reviewed. The authors searched MEDLINE, Thomson Reuters Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from Jan. 1,1990, to May 9, 2013. For an RCT to be included, the authors required that the primary molars treated with a pulpotomy procedure must have received stainless steel crowns as a final restoration and that rubber dam isolation was used during treatment; that the pulp must have been vital as determined clinically by means of hemorrhage control with a cotton pellet; and that the RCT must have included a follow-up period of at least two years. For each included RCT, two authors assessed the risk of bias independently. Results. The authors identified 20 trials and included five of them. A total of 377 primary molars were treated. The authors judged that none of the included RCTs had a low risk of bias. They noted no significant differences in clinical success (relative risk [RR] = 1.01; 95 percent confidence interval [Cl], 0.98-1.05) and radiographic success (RR = 1.09; 95 percent Cl, 0.97-1.21) for primary molars treated with MTA versus those treated with FC. Practical Implications. On the basis of the limited evidence, pulpotomy procedures performed in primary molars involving the use of MTA or FC showed comparable clinical success rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the necessity of using antibiotic prophylaxis in the extraction of impacted third molars. The authors performed a meta-analysis of 18 trials involving the use and non-use (placebo) of antibiotics in tooth extractions. It was discovered that participants in the antibiotic prophylaxis groups have a significantly higher risk of developing mild and transient antibiotic-related adverse events compared to the placebo groups.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Antibiotic Prophylaxis Reduces Infectious Complications But Increases Adverse Effects After Third-Molar Extraction in Healthy Patients," that was published in the previous issue.