Knowledge Analysis of Pit and Fissure Sealants among the Dental Students of South India

Illustration of self-perceived knowledge, skills, and interests in undergraduate dental students using a visual metaphor- results of a monocentric cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Self-assessment and self-reflection of competencies are crucial skills for undergraduate students. This monocentric cross-sectional study aims to assess the self-perceived knowledge, skills and interests in conservative dentistry and periodontology of third-, fourth-, and fifth-year dental students by the Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self-measure (PRISM).

METHODS

Seventy-five undergraduate dental students (n = 25 of each year) who studied between 2021 and 2022 at the Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Periodontology at the University of Leipzig, Germany, were included. All of them underwent a PRISM-based interview regarding their perceived knowledge, practical skills, and interests in conservative dentistry as well as its sub-disciplines. The distances in the PRISM task (in millimeters) were measured and compared between the groups. Spearman's Rho was used to reveal correlations between knowledge, skills, and interests in the cohort.

RESULTS

Perceived theoretical knowledge and practical skills differed significantly between groups for the sub-disciplines periodontology, cariology, restorative dentistry and preventive dentistry (p < 0.05). However, students' interests did not significantly vary between groups (p > 0.05). In the field of conservative dentistry and its sub-disciplines, significant moderate to high positive correlations were found between knowledge and skills (p < 0.01), and weak to moderate positive correlations were found between interests and knowledge (p < 0.05). Regarding the relationship between perceived interests and skills, only restorative dentistry, endodontology and periodontology were significant and only moderate to weak correlations were found (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PRISM revealed differences in perceived knowledge and skills between third-, fourth-, and fifth-year dental students. Correlations were found between perceived knowledge and skills, as well as between interests and knowledge. PRISM may be a promising tool to support students and teachers in dental education.

Comparison of the Effect of Different Bonding Agents on the Microleakage of Two Hydrophilic Pit and Fissure Sealants: An Ex Vivo Study

Aim

To compare the impact of fifth- and seventh-generation bonding agents on the microleakage between Embrace WetBond sealants and Ionoseal.

Materials and methods

Forty extracted human premolar teeth were used for the study and grouped according to different sealants and bonding agents-group I: Embrace WetBond sealant with fifth-generation bonding agent; group II: Embrace WetBond sealant with seventh-generation bonding agent; group III: Ionoseal with fifth-generation bonding agent; group IV: Ionoseal with seventh-generation bonding agent. For microleakage evaluation, all the teeth were subjected to invasive sealant placement using the respective sealant materials in combination with bonding agents as specified. The treated teeth were stored at 37°C for 24 hours and then thermocycled for 100 cycles at temperatures of 5°C and 55°C with a dwell time of 30 seconds. In order to assess microleakage, the samples were immersed in 0.2% methylene blue dye for 24 hours, then sectioned in buccolingual direction, and evaluated under stereomicroscope.

Results

The mean microleakage scores in group III were highest at 0.90 ± 0.57, while the least was in group IV at 0.30 ± 0.68, indicating that Ionoseal with seventh-generation bonding agent was the most effective. However, when the mean microleakage scores of the four groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test, it indicated that the differences were not statistically significant.

How to cite this article

V R, P P, A A, et al. Comparison of the Effect of Different Bonding Agents on the Microleakage of Two Hydrophilic Pit and Fissure Sealants: An Ex Vivo Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(3):270-273.

Knowledge and opinions of French dental students related to caries risk assessment and dental sealants (preventive and therapeutic)

OBJECTIVES

A national questionnaire study was performed to document knowledge and opinions of French dental students (FDSs) about minimal intervention (MI) in dentistry especially caries risk assessment (CRA) and dental sealants (DSs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire was administered to the fifth-year dental FDSs (n = 1370) from the 16 French dental schools. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The response rate was 84.5%. A large majority of respondents (87.8%) linked MI with minimally invasive dentistry and 77.4% considered MI as a concept based on prevention. About 80% stated they use CRA in clinical practice, mostly without any specific form. If 80.4% of the respondents would base their treatment plans on CRA, only 55.1% would regularly plan preventive regimens according to individual risk level. However, while 96.6% declared they perform preventive DSs, only 44.3% considered therapeutic sealants as a routine treatment. Although 75.1% of FDSs stated that they had sufficient learning and training related to CRA, 55.9% thought that they need further education about preventive and therapeutic DSs.

CONCLUSION

Although FDSs seem to be aware of the importance of CRA and preventive strategies, this study shows the need to harmonize the teaching in cariology according to the latest European recommendations.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A national questionnaire study showed variability towards knowledge and opinions of FDSs related to MI in cariology. This may impact care provisions in their future professional life showing the urgent need to harmonize the teaching of MI in cariology in France.