Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its sequela, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), have largely disappeared from high-income countries. However, in New Zealand (NZ), rates remain unacceptably high in indigenous Māori and Pacific populations. The goal of this study is to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for ARF to support effective disease prevention policies and programmes. A case-control design is used. Cases are those meeting the standard NZ case-definition for ARF, recruited within four weeks of hospitalisation for a first episode of ARF, aged less than 20 years, and residing in the North Island of NZ. This study aims to recruit at least 120 cases and 360 controls matched by age, ethnicity, gender, deprivation, district, and time period. For data collection, a comprehensive pre-tested questionnaire focussed on exposures during the four weeks prior to illness or interview will be used. Linked data include previous hospitalisations, dental records, and school characteristics. Specimen collection includes a throat swab (Group A Streptococcus), a nasal swab (Staphylococcus aureus), blood (vitamin D, ferritin, DNA for genetic testing, immune-profiling), and head hair (nicotine). A major strength of this study is its comprehensive focus covering organism, host and environmental factors. Having closely matched controls enables the examination of a wide range of specific environmental risk factors.

The aim was to investigate undergraduate students' experiences, perceptions of future practice and self-rated confidence levels across endodontic tasks. After ethical approval, a survey involved all fourth and fifth year students. Quantitative data were analysed in SPSS version 20.0. Qualitative data were analysed using a general inductive approach. The participation rate was 84% (n = 136 of 162). The mean number of canals completed was 2.6 by fourth years and 10.4 by fifth years. Maxillary premolars were the most common first tooth treated. Pulpal factors and root morphology were the most common reasons for experiencing difficulty. Self-rated confidence levels were lower for the more junior students and complex procedures. Students felt that an increased use of extracted natural teeth would be beneficial in their pre-clinical practice. A high level of interest was shown in future specialisation in endodontics. Students may benefit from further didactic teaching or pre-clinical instruction in selected topics.

Objective: To investigate dental therapists' perceptions of the problem of child maltreatment and their roles in child protection, their experience/recollections of past training, and how frequently they suspect (and report) abuse or neglect.Methods: Ethical approval was obtained and a postal survey was conducted of all 643 New Zealand (NZ) dental therapists with current annual practising certificates and known addresses. Data were double-entered for accuracy and analysed in SPSS version 20.0. Results:The participation rate was 49.8% (N=320 of 643). Most dental therapists (77.1%) believed rates of death due to child abuse were greater in NZ than other countries. More than 81% desired more continuing professional education courses. During the past year, 18.1% had suspected physical abuse, 30.9% had suspected neglect and 53.1% had suspected dental neglect in their patients. About half of all suspected cases were never reported. The major barrier was a fear of mistakenly reporting a non-abuse case. Conclusions and implications:Most NZ dental therapists believe they have an important role in child protection, yet their suspicions are frequently unreported. Dental therapists may benefit from appropriate support and clear advice from their employers when dealing with suspected cases of maltreatment.

SUMMARY Background and Objectives: Information on the choice of material and performance of restorations placed in a dental practice annually is limited. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is likely to affect the use of amalgam worldwide. The objective of this research was to investigate the use of restorative materials at the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry in New Zealand from 1998 to 2017. Methods: Data from the Faculty of Dentistry's database from the years of interest were compiled. These data included information on the characteristics of restorations, including information on the material used and number of surfaces involved for each restoration. The tooth in which each restoration was placed was categorized by arch, tooth type, and deciduous or permanent dentition. Results: Records identified 227,514 permanent restorations placed from January 1998 to December 2017, of which 91.7% were direct restorations. Among direct restorations, composite resin was the most commonly used material, followed by amalgam, glass ionomer, and compomer. The use of amalgam for direct restorations decreased from 52.3% of direct restorations in 1998 to 7.1% in 2017. A corresponding increase was observed in the use of tooth-colored direct restorations, particularly composites. Among indirect restorations, porcelain fused to metal, gold, and stainless steel (in pediatric applications) were the materials most frequently used. Conclusions: Despite having no official policy on reducing the use of dental amalgam, the Faculty of Dentistry is following the global trend in reducing its use, with composite resin now well established as the predominant restorative material used. If the current rate of decline persists unchecked, the Faculty of Dentistry could transition to being amalgam free by 2020, although it seems likely that the characteristics and principles of use of the material (and its removal) will be taught for some time to come. This knowledge is important to planning curriculum changes needed to prepare graduates for clinical practice.

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