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Purpose To evaluate the challenges of the direct filling technique, the use of dental chairside CAD/CAM milling, the use of 3D printing, and the attitudes toward 3D printing-based applications for restorative treatments among Finnish dentists. Materials and methods An electronic questionnaire was sent to 3,777 Finnish dentists. Background information, challenges linked to the direct filling technique, use of dental chairside CAD/CAM milling, use of 3D printing, and attitudes toward 3D printing-based applications in restorative dentistry were asked in the questionnaire with multiple-choice questions. The number of replies was 760, and the response rate was 20.1%. Results Poor survival rates and moisture sensitivity were the main reported challenges associated with the direct filling technique. Use of chairside CAD/CAM milling was reported by 271 (35.7%) respondents. Use of 3D printing technique was reported by 54 (7.1%) respondents. Most respondents answered that they would consider using 3D printing for manufacturing tooth fillings in the future. Conclusion If dental chairside CAD/CAM technology can provide a solution for manufacturing long-lasting indirect restorations with good esthetic properties and an effective cost-benefit ratio, the wider use of chairside CAD/CAM systems might be indicated, especially in the public sector. New 3D printing-based applications used for restorative treatments are attracting interest among Finnish dentists, but also indicate a need for further development of 3D printing techniques for cost-effective restorative treatment.

Aim To evaluate the self-reported oral health habits and their association with the occurrence of dental caries among children in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), after 6 years of activities under the auspices of the Children's Oral Health Promotion Programme (COHPP). Methods The data were collected in September 2013 in two of the most central districts of Pyongyang City, DPRK. The sample consisted of 492 children aged 10 and 13 years who had participated in the COHPP for 6 years. The children filled in a self-completed, structured questionnaire on oral health habits and were examined clinically by a dentist. The differences in mean (SD) number of decayed primary (dt) and permanent teeth (DT) and their sum (dt + DT) subdivided according to genders, age groups, districts and self-reported oral health habits were evaluated using Mann–Whitney U-test. The associations between self-reported oral health habits and the occurrence of dental caries were evaluated with chi-square test and logistic regression analyses. Results The school-aged children commonly reported healthy oral hygiene habits but sweet snacks were commonly used. The occurrence of dental caries associated statistically significantly with the frequency of sweet snacking (p=0.011) but not with the frequency of tooth brushing (p=0.725) or the use of water for thirst instead of sugary beverages (p=0.189). Conclusion A more effective promotion of healthy dietary habits with innovative approaches and close collaboration with different social actors will be needed in future.

Objectives The aim was to compare the change in dental caries status in two different intervention groups of the Children's Oral Health Promotion Programme (COHPP). Methods A longitudinal study among 500 children who had participated into the COHPP for 6 years was conducted in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Children in Group I received intensified school-based intervention and were clinically examined at the age of 7 years in 2007 (n = 250), 10 years in 2010 (n = 250) and 13 years in 2013 (n = 242). Children in Group II (n = 250) joined the programme at the age of 4 years in kindergarten in 2007, were provided with early preschool-based intervention and were clinically examined at the age of 7 years in 2010 and 10 years in 2013. Results Both the prevalence and the mean number of dt + DT decreased significantly in both groups during the follow-up. This was due to decrease in the number of dt, whereas the number of DT remained relatively constant. Poisson regression showed that the association between the group status and the change in the number of dt + DT was statistically significant when adjusted for gender but disappeared when the school was included in the analysis. Conclusions The decrease in dental caries may be partly due to the exfoliation of deciduous teeth and dental treatment received. However, the study gave some reference emphasizing the early starting of the prevention.

The study aimed to examine awareness of and compliance with healthy oral habits reported by children and their parents in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), after a preventive programme.The data were collected in 2013 with self-completed, partly structured questionnaires from 1994 children aged 10 and 13 years and from 200 parents. Association between awareness of and compliance with healthy oral habits reported by the children and their parents was evaluated using Chi square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses, children's oral health habits according to themselves and their parents were analysed using McNemar's test.Both children and their parents seemed to be familiar with healthy oral habits, although the awareness was not directly related to the reports of the children's oral practices. Most of the children reported brushing their teeth at least twice a day, using fluoride toothpaste and drinking water for thirst but frequent sweet snacking was common. Children's and their parents' reports were consistent with regard to sweet snacking frequency (p = 0.736) and the main thirst quencher (p = 0.349).Awareness of healthy oral habits appeared to be good among children and their parents. Unhealthy oral habits seemed to coincide with one another.