The Saudi Dental Journal

Editorial Board

2012-01-01

The need for a ‘Patient Safety in Dentistry Initiative’ in the Gulf States

Raman Bedi, Sundeep Thusu, Sukhmeet Panesar — 2012-01-01

Patient safety is gaining increased attention throughout the world and especially since the establishment of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Alliance for Patient Safety (). However, patient safety in dentistry is still in its infancy. In the Gulf States with the diversity of its dental workforce, many of whom were trained overseas, monitoring adverse incidents in dentistry is essential.

Prevalence of orofacial clefts in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries: A systematic review

Heba Jafar Sabbagh, Peter Anthony Mossey, Nicola P.T. Innes — 2012-01-01

Abstract: Cleft lip and/or palate are among the most common birth defects in the world. The prevalence of these conditions varies considerably across geographic areas and ethnic groups.Objective: The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic review and appraisal of the literature on the prevalence of cleft lip and/or palate in Saudi Arabia and comparable Middle Eastern countries.Materials and methods: All published articles on orofacial clefts (OFC) in Saudi Arabia and its bordering countries in the Middle East with similar and comparable population characteristics were reviewed in July 2010.Results: After reviewing the articles, only eight matched the inclusion criteria. Three studies were carried out in two regions in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Al-Qaseem). The other five studies were set in Dubai, Oman, and Jordan. The prevalence of cleft lip and/or palate reported in these studies varied greatly from 0.3 to 2.4 per 1000 live births. The birth prevalence of orofacial clefts in males was reported to be higher than in females. The isolated cleft palate prevalence was reported to be higher in females in most of the studies.Conclusion: The eightfold variation in the prevalence of orofacial clefts between highest and lowest prevalence is likely to be due, at least in part, to problems with ascertainment, but there may also be underlying genetic or environmental factors that require further investigation.

Factors associated with hematoma of the floor of the mouth after placement of dental implants

Bassel Tarakji, Mohammad Zakaria Nassani — 2012-01-01

Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this article is to determine factors associated with hematoma during placement of dental implants in the anterior mandible and to provide the dental practitioner with preventive measures to avoid such a life-threatening complication.Methods: All available clinical case studies from (1986 to 2010) published in English or with English abstract were reviewed and analyzed.Results: Nineteen studies have been identified and written in the literature. Most of the reported studies were case series and they showed that hematoma is a very rare complication, but general dental practitioners do not pay attention to the significance of the mandible anatomy in the anterior area and the possibility of perforation of the lingual cortex during placement of the dental implants in that position.Conclusions: The use of dental CT in planning the implant treatment coupled with accurate determination of implant length in order to provide detailed data about the mandible anatomy are highly recommended to avoid the occurrence of hematoma in the floor of the mouth and the airway obstruction that may lead to death during placement of dental implants in the anterior mandible.

Elevation of white blood cells and platelet counts in patients having chronic periodontitis

Abdulaziz Al-Rasheed — 2012-01-01

Abstract: Background and aim: Many risk factors that might contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis have been proposed, including chronic inflammation and infection. Furthermore, systemic inflammatory responses to periodontal bacteria have been suggested as a pathogenetic link between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts in chronic periodontitis patients.Materials and methods: Fifty patients with chronic periodontitis and 50 patients with healthy periodontium were included in this study. Oral hygiene status, pocket probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured. During clinical evaluation, venous blood samples were taken to analyze the WBC and platelet counts. Statistical analysis was utilized to compare differences across groups.Results: Periodontitis patients demonstrated a significantly higher WBC count (7.22±1.42×109cells/L) than that of control patients (5.64±1.56×109cells/L; P<0.001). The platelet count of patients with chronic periodontitis (290.73±56.56×109cells/L) was also significantly higher compared to the healthy group (223.37±50.27×109cells/L; P<0.001).Conclusion: Levels of WBCs and platelets are elevated in periodontitis patients compared to healthy controls.

Shear bond strength between light polymerized hard reline resin and denture base resin subjected to long term water immersion

Mohammad Q. Al Rifaiy — 2012-01-01

Abstract: Statement of the problem: The effect of long-term water immersion on the shear bond strength between denture base resin and Triad visible-light-polymerized (VLP) direct hard reline resin is not known.Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the bonding characteristics of Triad VLP direct hard reline resin to heat-polymerized denture base resin subjected to long-term water immersion.Material and methods: Ninety circular disks, 15mm in diameter and 3mm thick, of denture base resin were polymerized from a gypsum mold. Sixty specimens were subjected to water immersion and 30 were stored at ambient room temperature for 4months. Thirty water-immersed specimens were dried with gauze (group 1), while the other 30 water-immersed specimens were dried with a hair dryer (group 2). The dry specimens (n=30) represented the control group (group 3). All specimens were air abraded and painted with bonding agent before packing Triad VLP direct hard-reline resin. Specimens in each group were subjected to thermal cycling for 50,000 cycles between 4°C and 60°C water baths with 1-min dwell time at each temperature. The bond strength at which the bond failed under stress was recorded using a universal testing machine. One-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc comparison were applied to find significant differences between groups (α=0.05).Results: Significant differences in mean shear bond strength among the specimens existed because of variable water content in the denture base resin (P<0.05). Group 3 (dry) was higher than group 2 (desiccated), and the lowest was group 1 (saturated).Conclusion: The shear bond strength of Triad VLP direct hard reline resin to denture base resin depended on the water content in the denture base resin. The dry denture base resin demonstrated superior bond strength compared with the desiccated and water-saturated denture base resins.

Career characteristics and postgraduate education of female dentist graduates of the College of Dentistry at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Yousef H. Al-Dlaigan, Sahar F. AlBarakati, Fadheelah Al-Habeeb, Manar Al-Hulaily — 2012-01-01

Abstract: Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the number of female bachelor of dental surgery graduates who earned postgraduate education degrees from King Saud University, their specialties, degrees of qualification, and countries of graduation.Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted through face-to-face or phone interview among 677 female dentists who graduated from the College of Dentistry at King Saud University between 1984 and 2006.Results: Five hundred forty-five (81%) graduate female dentists responded, of whom 54% had completed postgraduate dental education. In the Saudi Board, 17% had obtained degrees in advanced restorative dentistry, 15% in pediatric dentistry, 14% in advanced general dentistry, 11% in orthodontics, 10% in prosthodontics, 8% in operative dentistry, 5% in endodontics, 5% in periodontics, 3% in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and 11% in other specialties. Fifty-nine percent had master’s degrees, 7% had doctorates, 32% had board certificates, and 2% had fellowship certificates.Conclusion: More than half (54%) the female dentists surveyed had pursued postgraduate education. This investigation highlighted the different specialties enrolled by female dentists. Orthodontic post graduate program displayed the highest percentage of interest. Understanding the unavoidable social family needs and the demand for higher education by female dentists provides ideas as more programs should be planned to accommodate the needs of Saudi female dentists. This type of study should be repeated due to the increasing interest of female dentists in higher education.

An evaluation of microleakage of various glass ionomer based restorative materials in deciduous and permanent teeth: An in vitro study

Teena Singla, I.K. Pandit, Nikhil Srivastava, Neeraj Gugnani, Monika Gupta — 2012-01-01

Abstract: Aim: To evaluate the microleakage of recently available glass ionomer based restorative materials (GC Fuji IX GP, GC Fuji VII, and Dyract) and compare their microleakage with the previously existing glass ionomer restorative materials (GC Fuji II LC) in primary and permanent teeth.Method: One hundred and fifty (75+75) non-carious deciduous and permanent teeth were restored with glass ionomer based restorative materials after making class I cavities. Samples were subjected to thermocycling after storing in distilled water for 24h. Two coats of nail polish were applied 1mm short of restorative margins and samples sectioned buccolingually after storing in methylene blue dye for 24h. Microleakage was assessed using stereomicroscope.Result: Significant differences (P<0.05) were found when inter group comparisons were done. Except when GC Fuji VII (Group III) was compared with GC Fuji II LC (Group II) and Dyract (Group IV), non-significant differences (P>0.05) were observed. It was found that there was no statistically significant difference when the means of microleakage of primary teeth were compared with those of permanent teeth.Conclusions: GC Fuji IX GP showed maximum microleakage and GC Fuji VII showed least microleakage.

Setting up of teeth in the neutral zone and its effect on speech

2012-01-01

Abstract: Rational goals for denture construction are basically directed at the restoration of esthetics and masticatory function and the healthy preservation of the remaining natural tissues. Little concern has been given to the perfection and optimization of the phonetic quality of denture users. However, insertion of prosthodontic restorations may lead to speech defects. Most such defects are mild but, nevertheless, can be a source of concern to the patient. For the dental practitioner, there are few guidelines for designing a prosthetic restoration with maximum phonetic success. One of these guidelines involves the setting up of teeth within the neutral zone. The aim of this study was to evaluate, subjectively and objectively, the effect on speech of setting up teeth in the neutral zone. Three groups were examined: group I (control) included 10 completely dentulous subjects, group II included 10 completely edentulous patients with conventional dentures, and group III included the same 10 edentulous patients with neutral zone dentures. Subjective assessment included patient satisfaction. Objective assessment included duration taken for recitation of Al-Fateha and acoustic analysis. Subjectively, patients were more satisfied with their neutral zone dentures. Objectively, speech produced with the neutral zone dentures was closer to normal than speech with conventional dentures.

Orthodontic elastic band-induced periodontitis – A case report

Montaser N. Al-Qutub — 2012-01-01

Abstract: Periodontal problems due to the use of elastic bands have been documented in the past. A 9-year-old girl reported to a periodontist with complaints of bleeding from gums and tooth mobility of upper right central incisor. This case, reports the early diagnosis and treatment of an acute localized periodontitis arising from the incorrect use of orthodontic elastic rubber bands to close a maxillary midline diastema. The elastic band induced periodontitis was treated with a combination of surgery, splinting, antibiotics and orthodontics. Removal of the etiologic agent improved the condition of the tooth.

MTA resorption and periradicular healing in an open-apex incisor: A case report

Saeed Asgary, Sara Ehsani — 2012-01-01

Abstract: This case report describes the periradicular healing and resorption of an unintentional extrusion of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in an open-apex central incisor. A 22-year old female with a symptomatic open-apex right maxillary central incisor associated with a periradicular lesion was referred for evaluation and treatment. After chemomechanical debridement, the apical third of the root canal was filled with MTA to create an apical plug. Postoperative radiographs showed the extrusion of MTA into the periradicular lesion. The tooth was then restored with a post and crown. At the 2-year follow-up, the tooth was asymptomatic and radiographs revealed complete healing of the periradicular area. At the 7-year follow-up, complete resorption of the extruded MTA was evident. The results of this case study indicate that complete resorption of extruded MTA is possible in the long term; however, the extrusion of MTA in open-apex tooth should still be avoided.