Dental enamel thickness continues to feature prominently in anthropological studies of ape and human evolution, as well as studies of preventative oral care and treatment. Traditional studies of enamel thickness require physical sectioning of teeth for linear and scaled measurements. Recent applications of microtomographic imaging allow scientists to employ larger and more diverse samples, including global samples of recent humans as well as fossil hominin teeth. Unfortunately, little is known about the degree of enamel thickness variation among human populations, particularly across the dentition. This study employed microtomography to virtually image, section, and quantify the average enamel thickness of a sample of clinically extracted Indonesian canine and premolar teeth. This virtual sample was compared to physically sectioned African and European teeth. The results demonstrate that average enamel thickness is similar among human dentitions; no significant differences were detected within tooth positions, which is surprising given developmental differences between European and African canines and premolars. When populations were combined, differences were found in average enamel thickness between maxillary and mandibular premolars, and between canines and premolars within both dental arcades. This finding is potentially due to differences in premolar morphology and a trend of increasing enamel thickness distally throughout the dentition. The finding of limited population variation within tooth positions and significant variation between tooth positions is consistent with previous two-dimensional and three-dimensional studies of human molar enamel thickness. Average enamel thickness in canines and premolars does not differ between the sexes in our sample, although male teeth tend to have larger enamel and dentine cross-sectional areas, enamel-dentine junction lengths, and bi-cervical diameters. Males have significantly greater dentine area and enamel-dentine junction length than females for maxillary canines and premolars. The results of this study suggest that enamel thickness values in mixed-populations of humans are appropriate for comparisons with fossil hominins.

The efficacy of a test dentifrice containing nano-sized (several tens to hundreds of nm) calcium carbonate (hereafter NC) on enamel lesion remineralization was studied in an in vitro system that employed collagen-coated wells for cell culture, as a model of oral surfaces for NC retention. The well surfaces were treated with the test dentifrice and briefly rinsed with distilled water. Thin sections of enamel with artificial subsurface demineralization were remineralized in the plate wells containing remineralizing solution. The dentifrice treatment was repeated twice a day (in the morning and evening) for 20 days. After remineralization, microradiographic analysis was performed to evaluate the rate of lesion remineralization on the sections. The test dentifrice showed a statistically significant mineral gain (48.8% decrease in DeltaZ % x microm from the baseline value), indicating lesion remineralization, whereas the placebo dentifrice without NC did not. An elevated Ca concentration in the remineralizing solution was also observed after a single treatment with the test dentifrice. We conclude that the test dentifrice has potential to remineralize incipient enamel lesions due to the unique properties of NC, which is retained on oral surfaces, thereafter releasing Ca ions into oral fluids (saliva, plaque).

The effects of normal pulsed Nd-YAG laser irradiation on the acid resistance of human dental enamel of pits and fissures, the cleaning of the pit and fissure contents and fluoride uptake into deep pits and fissures were examined. The acid resistance of the pit and fissure enamel was evaluated by the amount of dissolved calcium per square millimeter of the surface area. The pit and fissure enamel treated with laser irradiation obtained an acid resistance 30% higher than that of the unlased controls. The cleaning effect of laser irradiation on the pit and fissure contents was compared with chemicomechanical and mechanical methods. The laser irradiation was found to clean the pits and fissures to a greater depth without alterating the shape of pits and fissures, compared with the other two methods. The distribution of calcium, phosphorus and fluoride in the enamel of the pits and fissures was then measured by electron probe microanalyzer. At the entrance and in the deep part of the pits and fissures, the fluoride content of the enamel treated with acidulated phosphate fluoride after laser irradiation was higher than that of the enamel treated with acidulated phosphate fluoride alone. These results thus suggest that Nd-YAG laser irradiation might be effective in increasing the acid resistance of the pit and fissure enamel, while removing the pit and fissure debris contents and increasing the fluoride uptake into the pit and fissure enamel.

Musculoskeletal disorders are common among dentists, 80% of the measurement results using the instrument of Body Discomfort Map and Brief Survey in Faculty of Dentistry University of Indonesia (FKG UI) showed that musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) mainly occur in the neck, shoulder, forearm, hand and back. MSD are the most common type of occupational dental diseases in Indonesia. Objectives: To know the risk factors associated with MSD in students in FKG UI. Methods: This type of observational study with cross-sectional design of the entire profession students who work in clinic FKG UI. Examination of MSD was using Cornell MSD questionnaires (CMDQ) and risk factors were measured using a questionnaire with closed questions and Diagnostic Stress Survey. All data collected were analyzed statistically using chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: A significant relationship between repetitive movements of factors, awkward bending and twisting with musculoskeletal disorders (p<0.05) and the presence of a significant association between work stress factors with musculoskeletal disorders (p<0.001). Then the logistic regression results indicate that a variable effect on musculoskeletal disorders is a movement in the work (OR 5.01; CI 90%) and stress of work (OR 7.47; CI 90%). Conclusion: In this study we can conclude that the relationship between the working and movement of factors of work stress on musculoskeletal disorders. ABSTRAK Hubungan faktor-faktor risiko dan kelainan muskuloskeletal pada mahasiswa profesi kedokteran gigi: studi pendahuluan. Gangguan muskuloskeletal banyak terjadi pada dokter gigi, 80% dari hasil pengukuran menggunakan instrumen Body Discomfort Map dan Brief Survey di FKG UI memperlihatkan bahwa gangguan muskuloskeletal terutama terjadi pada leher, bahu, lengan bawah, tangan dan punggung. Gangguan muskuloskeletal merupakan penyakit terbanyak dari penyakit akibat kerja di Indonesia. Tujuan: Mengetahui faktor-faktor risiko yang berhubungan dengan gangguan muskuloskeletal pada mahasiswa tingkat profesi yang kerja praktik di FKG UI. Metode: Jenis penelitian observasional dengan disain potong lintang terhadap seluruh mahasiswa profesi yang kerja praktik di klinik FKG UI. Pemeriksaan gangguan muskuloskeletal menggunakan instrumen Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires (CMDQ) dan faktor-faktor risiko diukur menggunakan kuesioner dengan pertanyaan tertutup dan survei diagnostik stres. Seluruh data yang terkumpul di analisis statistik menggunakan chi-square dan uji regresi logistik. Hasil: Adanya hubungan bermakna antara faktor gerakan dalam bekerja (gerak repetitif, janggal membungkuk dan memutar) dengan gangguan muskuloskeletal (p<0,05) dan adanya hubungan yang bermakna antara faktor lingkungan (stressor kerja) dengan gangguan muskuloskeletal (p<0,001). Kemudian pada hasil regresi logistik menunjukkan variabel yang dominan mempengaruhi terjadinya gangguan muskuloskeletal adalah gerakan dalam bekerja (OR 5,01 CI 90%) dan stres kerja (OR 7,47 CI 90%). Simpulan: Pada penelitian ini dapat ...

Background Medical-dental collaboration expands patients’ access to health services, improves healthcare outcomes, and reduces the burden and cost of care, especially for those with chronic diseases. The aim of the present study is to investigate the attitude toward and awareness of medical-dental collaboration among medical and dental students attending the Universitas Indonesia. Methods All medical and dental students at the Universitas Indonesia were invited to participate in a web-based questionnaire survey that contained eight questions on attitudes toward medical-dental collaboration and two questions regarding awareness of dental-medical collaborative practices. The demographic backgrounds of all participants were obtained. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were employed for data analysis. Results A total of 1,432 questionnaires were distributed, and 1,137 (79%) were appropriately completed. In general, 992 (87%) students had a positive attitude toward medical-dental collaboration. Dental students had a more positive attitude than medical students (odds ratio [OR] = 2.694; p = 0.001), and senior students had a more positive attitude than junior students (OR = 2.271; p = 0.001). Most students (86%) were aware of medical-dental collaboration at the Universitas Indonesia and reported that emergency medicine, surgery, and otolaryngology were the three most common medical disciplines that entailed medical-dental collaboration. Conclusions : In general, the medical and dental students demonstrated positive attitudes and awareness of medical-dental collaboration at the Universitas Indonesia. Positive attitude and awareness can establish an essential foundation for fostering collaboration between medicine and dentistry, which is vital to improve resource efficiency and healthcare standards.