Comparison of photobiomodulation and photodynamic therapy as adjuncts to mechanical debridement for the treatment of peri-implantitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) as adjuncts to mechanical debridement (MD) for the treatment of peri-implantitis. The present study is based on the null hypothesis that there is no difference in the peri-implant inflammatory parameters (modified plaque index [mPI], modified gingival index [mGI], probing depth [PD]) and crestal bone loss (CBL) following MD either with PBMT or PDT in patients with peri-implantitis.

METHODS

Forty-nine patients with peri-implantitis were randomly categorized into three groups. In Groups 1 and 2, patients underwent MD with adjunct PBMT and PDT, respectively. In Group 3, patients underwent MD alone (controls). Peri-implant inflammatory parameters were measured at baseline and 3-months follow-up. P-values < 0.01 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

At baseline, peri-implant clinicoradiographic parameters were comparable in all groups. Compared with baseline, there was a significant reduction in mPI (P< 0.001), mGI (P< 0.001) and PD (P< 0.001) in Groups 1 and 2 at 3-months follow-up. In Group 3, there was no difference in the scores of mPI, mGI and PD at follow-up. At 3-months follow-up, there was no difference in mPI, mGI and PD among patients in Groups 1 and 2. The mPI (P< 0.001), mGI (P< 0.001) and PD (P< 0.001) were significantly higher in Group 3 than Groups 1 and 2. The CBL was comparable in all groups at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

PBMT and PDT seem to be useful adjuncts to MD for the treatment of peri-implant soft-tissue inflammation among patients with peri-implantitis.

A nationwide survey assessing the satisfaction of dental colleges graduates with their undergraduate experience in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE

To date, there are no publications on the Saudi graduates' perceived value of their dental curriculum. The aim of this nation-wide survey was to investigate graduates' satisfaction with specific disciplines of their dental education and training. The first part of this study addressed findings according to the respondents' gender and the number of years of postgraduate experience (Graduate-related factors).

METHODS

An electronic questionnaire was emailed to registrants of the Saudi Dental Society, specifically dental interns, general dentists, and specialized dentists who graduated from private and governmental dental colleges in Saudi Arabia (n = 2185).

RESULTS

The response rate was 36.4 %. The number of male respondents was (n = 352, 44.2 %), the remainder being female (n = 444, 55.8 %). The number of recent dentists (≤ 5 years since graduation) was (n = 428, 53.8 %) and experienced dentists (n = 368, 46.2 %). There were statistically significant gender variations in satisfaction levels, and among dentists with different post-graduation experiences. Although male and female dental students are taught similar curriculums and have similar graduation requirements, there were statistically significant differences in various subjects covered. Similarly, recent and experienced dentists reported statistically significant differences in satisfaction in various subjects.

CONCLUSION

This study provides graduates' perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of their dental education in Saudi Arabia. The findings help in curriculum reform and collaborations between the dental colleges nationally. Ultimately this can lead to formulating a national dental accreditation and assessment body.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The findings of this study provide graduates' perspective on the dental education received in Saudi Arabia. This will help stimulate discussion and collaboration within and amongst the colleges on improving their curriculum in this fast-paced, evolving field of dentistry.

Barriers to Professional Dental Care among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Aims were to: (1) investigate the parental difficulties toward their ASD children dental care and, (2) analyze factors influencing their access to such services. Questionnaires were completed by 142 mothers of ASD children. Children aged between 2.5 and 14 years old, with 3.9:1 male to female ratio. 68.3% perceived difficulties in finding dental care. Most barriers were: Cost (75.4%), finding a dentist to treat ASD child (74.6%), and behavior of their ASD child (45.1%). There was no difference among age and "difficulty finding dental care" (p = 0.429). Having medical insurance and previous bad experience showed significant effects on the difficulty in finding dental care (p < 0.05). Children with ASD and their parents encounter various barriers to dental services.

Association between Dental Caries and Obesity in Children and Young People: A Narrative Review

OBJECTIVES

To explore the association between obesity and dental caries in children and adolescents. Furthermore, to consider the possible reasons behind this relationship.

METHODS

A database search for papers published between January 2015 and May 2018, inclusive, addressing the association between obesity and dental caries was conducted. A review and critical appraisal of all included studies was performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies were included in this review from different populations worldwide. Eight studies assessed the primary dentition, nine studies were conducted on permanent dentition, and remaining nine studies on both dentitions. The results regarding the association between obesity and dental caries were conflicting and inconsistent. Nine studies concluded that there was no relationship between obesity and dental caries. A positive association was reported in five studies, while the inverse association was reported in eleven studies. Studies included in this review had significant variations in methodology and the investigated cofactors. Possible explanations of the controversial association between obesity and dental caries are discussed in this review.

CONCLUSION

Both obesity and dental caries are multifactorial diseases, and their association is far more complex that can be explained by a single common risk factor, presenting evidence for the complexity of this association.

Performance of dental students versus prosthodontics residents on a 3D immersive haptic simulator

This study evaluated the performance of dental students versus prosthodontics residents on a simulated caries removal exercise using a newly designed, 3D immersive haptic simulator. The intent of this study was to provide an initial assessment of the simulator's construct validity, which in the context of this experiment was defined as its ability to detect a statistically significant performance difference between novice dental students (n=12) and experienced prosthodontics residents (n=14). Both groups received equivalent calibration training on the simulator and repeated the same caries removal exercise three times. Novice and experienced subjects' average performance differed significantly on the caries removal exercise with respect to the percentage of carious lesion removed and volume of surrounding sound tooth structure removed (p<0.05). Experienced subjects removed a greater portion of the carious lesion, but also a greater volume of the surrounding tooth structure. Efficiency, defined as percentage of carious lesion removed over drilling time, improved significantly over the course of the experiment for both novice and experienced subjects (p<0.001). Within the limitations of this study, experienced subjects removed a greater portion of carious lesion on a 3D immersive haptic simulator. These results are a first step in establishing the validity of this device.