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One critical tactic that leads to a better understanding of the ethical status of dentists is to assess their ethical attitude by using an appropriate scale. This study aimed to design and evaluate the validity and reliability of the ethical attitude of dentists scale (EADS). This study was conducted based on a mixed‐method design. The first qualitative part of the study was conducted in 2019 and the items of the scale were produced from the ethical codes compiled in a previous study. In this part, the psychometric analysis was conducted. The reliability was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient. Factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity (n = 511), and the following three factors were extracted with a total variance of 48.03. 1) Maintaining the standing of the profession in relationships. 2) Providing dental services while maintaining trust in the profession, and 3) Providing information for the benefit of the patient. In confirmatory factor analysis, appropriate values were obtained for the goodness of fit indices, and Cronbach’s alpha was 0.68 - 0.84 for the various factors. Based on the results mentioned above, this scale showed an appropriate validity and reliability for measuring the ethical attitude of dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In clinical conditions, orthodontic brackets are exposed to periodic stresses mainly induced by mastication and intraoral forces. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of cyclic loading to simulate masticatory forces on shear bond strength (SBS) of metal brackets bonded to teeth using self-etch and total-etch bonding systems. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four caries- and crack-free bovine mandibular incisors were selected and randomly assigned to two groups based on the type of bonding system. After bonding, all samples were thermocycled (500 cycles) followed by cyclic loading of the half of the specimens in each group by applying 40 N load with 2 Hz frequency for 10,000 cycles. The SBS was measured using a universal testing machine. The adhesive remnant index (ARI) score was calculated subsequently. Data were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, two-way ANOVA and Mann-Whitney test. Results: The SBS was 10.09±3.78 MPa and 14.44±6.06 MPa for self-etch and total-etch bonding systems in cyclic loading group, respectively. The SBS was 9.43±5.3 MPa and 11.31±5.42 MPa in self-etch and total-etch groups without cyclic loading, respectively. Cyclic loading did not cause any significant difference in SBS (P>0.05). The ARI scores of the groups were significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusions: The present results demonstrated that low masticatory forces at 10,000 cycles did not have a significant impact on bracket-adhesive SBS; however, they significantly changed the ARI score. Even though the total-etch bonding system yielded higher SBS than the self-etch system, the performance of both was clinically acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Many studies have evaluated re-etched enamel by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); however, there is no evidence regarding the use of Erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser at primary and secondary bonding instead of acid etching with regards to enamel surface changes. The purpose of the present study was to determine that whether or not the methods of primary and secondary enamel preparation affect enamel characteristics after rebonding, by using SEM analysis. Materials and Methods: Twelve freshly extracted premolars were divided into 4 groups. The samples in each group were conditioned by acid etchant or Er:YAG laser at primary conditioning, according to the instructions. Afterwards, they were bonded with orthodontic brackets. After debonding, the samples were prepared for second conditioning. Also, two samples were conditioned only once with acid etchant or laser, to compare enamel morphology changes with those after re-etching. Finally, buccal enamel surfaces were evaluated using SEM. Results: Enamel etching patterns were observed in the samples which had been acidconditioned at first or at both conditionings. The samples irradiated by Er:YAG laser showed amorphous and irregular surfaces, with no signs of typical etching patterns. A large deep gap was seen in one of the samples irradiated with laser at primary and secondary conditionings, which might have penetrated the underling layers of enamel and dentin. Conclusions: Enamel surface preparation with Er:YAG laser produces irregular and indistinct morphologic changes, completely different from those produced after acid etching at both conditioning and reconditioning. Therefore, it is recommended to use this laser with caution to avoid permanent enamel damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule that mediates mechanical bone loading. Cyclic guanosine 3', 5' monophosphate (cGMP) is a NO-induced effector molecule. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of NO-cGMP pathway on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in rats by use of two phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors namely sildenafil and tadalafil as chemical tools. Materials and Methods: Forty-five male Wistar rats were divided into three equal groups (n=15) based on the substance they received. The first group received daily injections of tadalafil; the second group received daily injections of sildenafil and the third group received daily injections of normal saline. The orthodontic appliances consisted of nickel-titanium closed-coil spring ligated between the maxillary right incisor and the first molar of the animals for 21 days. The amount of tooth movement was measured in all three groups at the end of this period. Histological analysis was performed to assess root resorption lacunae, osteoclast number and periodontal ligament (PDL) thickness. Results: All appliance-treated molars in the experimental and control groups showed evidence of tooth movement. The mean OTM was calculated to be 0.39±0.16, 0.32±0.16 and 0.26±0.16mm in tadalafil, sildenafil and control groups, respectively and there were no significant differences in OTM among the study groups (P>0.05). In the tadalafil group, significantly greater root resorption on the tension side was seen when compared with controls (P≤0.05). Conclusions: Tadalafil and sildenafil PDE-5 inhibitors affecting the NO-cGMP pathway did not affect OTM in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Scientometric methods and the resulting citations have been applied to investigate the scientific performance of a nation. The present study was designed to collect the statistical information of dental articles by Iranian authors published in PubMed. Materials and Methods: We searched the PubMed database for dental articles of Iranian authors until June 31, 2015. All abstracts were manually reviewed in order to exclude false retrievals. The number of articles per dental subspecialties, distribution of research designs, Scopus/Google Scholar citation of each article, number of authors and affiliation of the first/corresponding author were extracted and transferred to Microsoft Excel. The data were further analyzed to illustrate the related scientometric indicators. Results: A total of 3,835 articles were retrieved according to the selection criteria. The number of PubMed-indexed publications between 2008 and 2015 showed a seven-fold increase. The majority of articles were written by four authors (24.56%). Systematic reviews and clinical trials constituted 9.20% of all publications. The number and percentage of articles with =4 citations from Google Scholar (n=2024; 52.78%) were higher than those from Scopus (n=1015; 26.47%). According to affiliated departments of the first authors, the top three dental subspecialties with the highest number of publications belonged to endodontics (19.82%), orthodontics (11.13%) and oral and maxillofacial surgery (10.33%). Moreover, the majority of articles originated from Shahid Beheshti- (14.47%), Tehran- (13.72%) and Mashhad- (12.28%) University of Medical Sciences. Conclusions: Analysis of PubMed-indexed dental publications originating from Iran revealed a growing trend in the recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major is a serious and increasing problem affecting many rural areas of 17 out of 31 provinces in Iran. Little is known about sand fly fauna and leishmaniases in Eastern Iran and no study has been carried out in Sarbisheh County. The aim of this study was to determine sand flies composition and probable Leishmania infection to find the probable vectors of leishmaniasis in Sarbisheh district. Methods: Sand flies were caught using both sticky papers and CDC light traps in August 2010. They were identified morphologically and analyzed for Leishmania infection by amplification of ITS-rDNA. Results: Totally, 842 specimens were caught and 8 species recorded. They belonged to the genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia: P. (Phlebotomus) papatasi, P. (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti, P. (Pa.) caucasicus, P. (Pa.) mongolensis, P. (Pa.) jacusieli, S. (Sergentomyia) dentata, S. (Se.) sintoni and S. (Sintonius) clydei. All collected females were processed for Leishmania DNA detection by PCR amplifying of Internal Transcribed Spacer1 (partial sequence), 5.8S (complete sequence) and ITS2 (partial sequence) fragments. Thirteen females were positive for Leishmania DNA. The sequencing of the 430 bp amplicons indicated that 9 P. papatasi and 3 females belonging to the Caucasicus group carried L. major DNA whereas one P. sergenti carried L. tropica DNA. Conclusion: Phlebotomus papatasi and P. sergenti are, like in several places, the probable vectors of cutaneous leishmaniases in this emerging or unknown focus of cutaneous leishmaniases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Statins are used as cholesterol-lowering drugs by many patients and have been recently shown to affect bone metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of atorvastatinon on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of 12 samples each. Group A, served as control with no medication while groups B and C received a daily gavage of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as vehicle and atorvastatin (5 mg/kg) as test substance, respectively. In all three groups, 6mm nickel-titanium closed-coil springs were ligated between the maxillary incisors and first left molars to deliver an initial force of 60g. Tooth movement was measured following sacrifice, 21 days after appliance insertion. Root resorption, PDL width and osteoclast number were histologically evaluated and compared between the groups. Results: The mean amount of tooth movement was 0.62 mm in group A, 0.59 mm in group B and 0.38 mm in group C. OTM reduction following administration of atorvastatin was statistically significant (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the studied histologic variables among the three groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results obtained in the current study, atorvastatin appears to reduce tooth movement in rats; however its effect on osteoclasts, especially osteoclastic function, requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Incidence of white spots due to demineralization of enamel and gingival problems is an unacceptable result of orthodontic treatment. Plaque accumulation and bacterial biofilm growth are responsible for these phenomena. The resin-based dental composites used as bonding agents in orthodontics play a major role in mentioned problems. As recent researches assert the antimicrobial effects of chitosan (CS) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), it seems that adding these nanoparticles to the composite can be beneficial in reducing the number and function of microorganisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of ZnO-NP and CS-NP-containing orthodontic composite. Methods: Antibacterial effectiveness of ZnO-NPs and CS-NPs was assessed in four groups against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Lactobacillus acidophilus grown both planktonic and as a biofilm on composites. One group as the unmodified control group and three groups consisting of three different concentrations of ZnO-NPs and CS-NPs mixture: 1%, 5% and 10% (1:1 w/w). 108 CFU/ml microorganism suspensions were provided with spectrophotometer. Biofilm formation was quantified by viable counts. Disc agar diffusion (DAD) test was carried out to determine antimicrobial effects of nanoparticles by measuring the inhibition diameter on brain heart infusion agar plates. Finally, viable counts of microorganisms on days 3, 15 and 30 were collected for the antimicrobial effects of eluted components from composite discs. Results: In biofilm formation test, a reduction in bacterial counts was observed with 10% nanoparticle-containing composites compared with their unmodified counterpart. In the DAD test only 10% nanoparticle-containing specimens showed statistically significant inhibition. The only noticeable datain eluted component test was on day 30 for 10% nanoparticle-containing discs, inhibiting L. acidophilus. Conclusion: It seems that a mixture of ZnO-NPs and CS-NPs has induced an antibacterial activity in resin composite; especially in 10% weight concentrations which was significantly higher than other groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to investigate the effect of a new Iranian toothpaste and a commercially available toothpaste containing desensitizing agent (5% potassium nitrate) on dentine hypersensitivity in a 24-week study. Materials and Methods: Fifty healthy volunteers, who had at least two sensitive root surfaces, completed the study period. The participants were randomly given one of the two toothpastes; Iranian (antihypersensitive Pooneh) or commercially available (fresh mint Sensodyne) toothpaste. Visual analogue scales (VASs) indicating the intensity of tooth hypersensitivity responding to tactile, airblast and cold-water stimuli were examined at baseline and weeks 2, 4, 12 and 24. Results: Overall, VAS scores for tactile, airblast, and cold-water tests significantly reduced compared with the baseline in both groups (all P values <0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the measured parameters. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the Iranian dentifrice (antihypersensitive Pooneh) was as effective as the commercially available one (fresh mint Sensodyne) in reducing tooth hypersensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cephalometry and its related analyses have an important role in the evaluation of orthodontic patients. Access to an analysis that gives maximum in-formation in the least possible time is an effective way to indicate craniofacial disharmony; therefore, craniofacial templates are very useful tools. The purpose of the present study was to provide orthodontic craniofacial templates for 8-14-year-old Iranian girls. Materials and Methods: One thousand two-hundred and nine girls (age range, 8-14 years) were examined. Eighty of these cases were finally chosen for the study and their lateral cephalograms were traced. Both Basion-Nasion (Ba-N) and Sella-Nasion (S-N) lines were selected for superimposition in this study. Based on these two mentioned lines, a template for each age was designed. Simple linear regression and multivariant regression analysis were used to evaluate the angles and to landmark the vectors, respectively. Results: Findings show that most points change significantly at different ages in the S-N method. In the Ba-N method, all points except for S and Ba have significant changes at different ages. Conclusion: Templates that resulted from both methods were the same and alteration in the reference line and points does not change the total form of the average tracings of each age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Templates are very useful tools for diagnosis of malocclusions. A number of templates have been provided for some populations in previous years. Since craniofacial characteristics of different ethnic groups are not the same, each population needs its own norms. The aim of this study was to provide orthodontic craniofacial templates for 8-16 year old Iranian boys and compare dentoskeletal features between Iranian and western populations. 3330 boys with the age range of 8-16 years were examined in Tehran, and 107 cases were finally chosen for the study and their lateral cephalograms were traced. Since there is no universal, consensus about the selection of one specific point or line for cephalometric superimposition, both the sella nasion (SN) and basion nasion (Ba-N) lines were chosen for this purpose. Based on both SN and Ba-N lines, a template was prepared for each age. Simple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the angles and the multivariant regression analysis for evaluation of landmark vectors. Posterior cranial base, maxillary and mandibular lengths, upper and lower anterior facial heights (N-ANS and ANS-Me) and posterior facial height (S-Go) are greater in Iranian population. But anterior cranial base, height and inclination of the incisors and molar height are similar in two populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]