Background and Objectives: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are unpleasant experiences for children and they necessitate to be treated as soon as possible. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of general dental practitioners (GDPs) regarding emergency management of TDIs in Ahvaz, Iran.Subjects and Methods: In this study, a two-part questionnaire was responded by 100 GDPs. The first section included questions on demographic information and the second section was composed of questions on different dental Injuries. One score was assigned to each correct answer; the total score of 10 to 30 was considered as low knowledge and practice, while scores 30-50, 50-70 and above 70 were considered as moderate, good, and high levels of knowledge and practice, respectively. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation, t-test and regression.Results: With regards to the level of GDP’s knowledge, the mean score was 59.2%. A total of 100 (51%) dentists showed a good level of knowledge. A significant association was found between knowledge and practice of GDPs in their practice encountering and treating TDI (P=0.001).Conclusion: The overall knowledge of GDPs about management of TDI in the selected community was good.

BackgroundEarly childhood caries (ECC) is the most common dental disease among children, which can affect children’s primary teeth during their teething. This study evaluates an intervention for preventing early childhood caries in a pediatric population in Ahvaz, Iran.MethodThe population of this study (IRCT2017070210804N10) consists of 104 women with 12 to 36 months of age without dental caries referred to a health care center in Ahvaz, Iran. The children were randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group in equal numbers. First, the demographic information of participants was collected through a questionnaire containing components of perceived threat, health literacy, and oral health behaviors using a valid and reliable questionnaire. The ECC status of the children was established by a dentist. Control group received “standard well baby care”. The experimental group received standard well baby care in addition to educational interventions, including lecture and group discussion. After 6 months, the participant completed the questionnaire for the second time, and the children’s teeth were reexamined. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15 at a significance level of p < 0.05.ResultsThe mean ages of women and children were 31 ± 6.68 years and 18 ± 7.21 months, respectively. Before the intervention, no significant difference was documented between the groups for the study variables, p > 0.05. However, after the intervention, a significant difference was observed between the perceived threats (41.15 ± 4.46 in the experimental group and 38.26 ± 4.21 in the control group, p = 0.001), health literacy (20.98 ± 2.15 in the experimental group and 19.76 ± 2.70 in the control group, p = 0.01), oral health behaviors (7.75 ± 2.30 in the experimental group and 6.15 ± 2.65 in the control group, p = 0.01), and the incidence of ECC (13% in the experimental group and 35% in the control group, p = 0.001).ConclusionThis intervention had positive effects on the perceived threat, health literacy, and health behaviors; and the intervention could reduce the incidence of ECC. The finding of this study provided a suggestion for evidence-based decision-making processes regarding ECCs prevention programs.Trial registration IRCT2017070210804N10 (retrospectively registered)

Dental caries, caused by oral microbiota, is one of the most common human diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of consumption of probiotic yogurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 on salivary Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in students with initial stages of dental caries. In this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, 66 students (18–30 years) with initial stages of dental caries were selected and randomly assigned into 2 groups: the intervention group received 300 g/day of probiotic yogurt and the control group received 300 g/day of conventional yogurt for 2 weeks. An unstimulated fasting saliva sample was collected pre- and post-intervention. Bacterial counting was performed for salivary S. mutans and lactobacilli. A significant reduction in salivary S. mutans and lactobacillus counts was observed in the intervention group compared to their baseline and compared to the control group. In conclusion, it is suggested that the consumption of probiotic yogurt containing B. lactis Bb12 may modify the oral biofilm.

Nickel and chromium existing in stainless-steel crowns (SSCs, used in pediatric dentistry) might be cytotoxic and allergenic. However, no in vivo studies have examined their salivary levels in children using SSCs, or in young children without SSCs. Also, the effect of acidity on metal ion release has not yet been evaluated in any previous in vivo studies in the whole literature. Therefore, this preliminary before-after clinical trial was conducted. Salivary nickel/chromium levels of 30 children before and after 2 months of placement of SSCs were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Salivary pH was measured with a digital pH meter. The effects of treatment, pH, number of SSCs, gender, and age on salivary ions were analyzed statistically (α = 0.05, β = 0.15). Salivary nickel concentrations increased from 4.9010 ± 4.7390 to 5.6320 ± 4.7210 μg/L (P = 0.000, paired t test). Chromium increased from 0.3273 ± 0.5214 to 0.4199 ± 0.6404 μg/L (P = 0.016). Saliva pH increased from 6.81 ± 0.52 to 7.04 ± 0.47 (P = 0.000). Ion levels were not correlated with pH (P > 0.14), except chromium in the follow-up (rho = - 0.435, P = 0.016). Nickel increase (but not chromium increase) was correlated with pH increase (rho = 0.367, P = 0.046). Age was only correlated with baseline chromium (rho = 0.373, P = 0.042). Being male was associated with baseline/follow-up nickel levels (P ≤ 0.030). SSC number was not correlated with ions or pH (P > 0.36). It was shown for the first time that SSCs might increase salivary nickel and chromium concentrations and reduce saliva acidity. Nickel increase might be in line with pH elevation. The raised pH might be associated with reduced chromium release. Boys might have higher nickel levels than might girls, with or without SSCs.

Developing and modifying the policies of orphanages requires the availability of accurate information. This study aimed to compare caries and oral hygiene status among orphan and non-orphan children. This descriptive cross-sectional study took place in governmental orphanages and schools of both genders in Mashhad, Iran. The prevalence of caries was assessed using the Decayed, Missing and Filled Tooth (DMFT) index, and oral health status was assessed using the Oral Hygiene Index – Simplified (OHI-S). The results were statistically analyzed using a t-test and Chi-Square test. The mean DMFT was 3.36 in orphans and 2.10 in non-orphan children, which was not statistically significant (p=0.6). The mean dmft was 9.01 in the orphan group and 5.26 in the non-orphan group, which was statistically significant (p=0.003). The average OHI-S index was 2.30 in the group of orphan children and 1.05 in the non-orphan children, presenting a statistically significant difference (p=0.00). The prevalence of caries, especially in deciduous teeth, was high among orphan children. The oral health status of these children was worse than that of children living at home. Consequently, there is a need for proper planning to promote the oral health of children living in orphanages.