BackgroundPregnant women are vulnerable to a wide range of oral health conditions that could be harmful to their own health and future child. Despite the usefulness of regular dental service utilization in prevention and early detection of oral diseases, it is notably low among pregnant women. In this qualitative study, we aimed to explore barriers and facilitators influencing pregnant women’s dental service utilization.MethodsUsing a triangulation approach, we included pregnant women (n = 22) from two public health centers, midwives (n = 8) and dentists (n = 12) from 12 other public centers in Tehran (Iran). Data was gathered through face-to-face semi-structured interviewing and focus group discussion methods. The analysis of qualitative data was performed using conventional content analysis with MAXQDA10 software.ResultsReported barriers of dental service utilization among pregnant women were categorized under emerging themes: Lack of knowledge and misbelief, cost of dental care, physiological changes, fear and other psychological conditions, time constraint, dentists’ unwillingness to accept pregnant women treatment, cultural taboos and lack of interprofessional collaboration. Solutions proposed by dentists, midwives and pregnant women to improve dental care utilization during pregnancy were categorized under three themes: Provision of knowledge, financial support and establishing supportive policies.ConclusionsUnderstanding perceived barriers of dental service utilization during pregnancy can serve as baseline information for planning and formulating appropriate oral health education, financial support, and legislations tailored for lower income pregnant women, midwives and dentists in countries with developing oral health care system.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiation and conventional dental bur cavity preparation on in vitro microleakage of class V cavities restored with different adhesive restorative materials and two types of self-etching adhesives in primary teeth. Standard class V cavities were prepared on 80 extracted primary, and the teeth were randomly divided into eight subgroups prepared either by dental bur or Er:YAG laser irradiation and then restored with self-cured glass ionomer (GI), resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI), resin composite and Clearfil SE Bond (two-step self-etching adhesive), and resin composite and Clearfil S3 Bond (one-step self-etching adhesive). Restorations were finished and stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h and then subjected to thermocycling. All the teeth were sealed with nail varnish, placed in a silver nitrate solution, and then vertically cut in a buccolingually direction. Subsequently, the specimens were evaluated for gingival and occlusal microleakage using a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney test. Wilcoxon test was used for comparing occlusal microleakage with gingival microleakage at p < 0.05. A higher degree of occlusal and gingival microleakage values for the teeth restored with GI or RMGI was obtained by both preparation methods compared with that of resin composites and the two self-etching primers. Er:YAG laser irradiation resulted in a significantly higher degree of microleakage only at the gingival margins for teeth restored with GI or RMGI, or composite and Clearfil S3 Bond compared with the bur preparation. The Er:YAG laser-prepared teeth restored with composite and Clearfil SE Bond demonstrated a better marginal seal on occlusal and gingival margins compared with that of bur-prepared cavities. The degree of microleakage in class V cavities was affected by the type of adhesive restorative materials, type of self-etching adhesive, cavity margin location, and tooth preparation method either by Er:YAG laser or dental bur.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG laser on tensile bond strength of composite resin to dentine in comparison with bur-prepared cavities. Fifteen extracted caries-free human third molars were selected. The teeth were cut at a level below the occlusal pit and fissure plan and randomly divided into three groups. Five cavities were prepared by diamond bur, five cavities prepared by Er:YAG laser, and the other group prepared by Er,Cr:YSGG laser. Then, all the cavities were restored by composite resin. The teeth were sectioned longitudinally with Isomet and the specimens prepared in dumbbelled shape (n = 36). The samples were attached to special jigs, and the tensile bond strength of the three groups was measured by universal testing machine at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. The results of the three groups were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tamhane test. The means and standard deviations of tensile bond strength of bur-cut, Er:YAG laser-ablated, and Er,Cr:YSGG laser-ablated dentine were 5.04 ± 0.93, 13.37 ± 3.87, and 4.85 ± 0.93 MPa, respectively. There is little difference in tensile bond strength of composite resin in Er,Cr:YSGG lased-prepared cavities in comparison with bur-prepared cavities, but the Er:YAG laser group showed higher bond strength than the other groups.

BackgroundBurnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire (BCSQ-12-SS) is a short valid questionnaire for assessment of burnout in students. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of Persian-translated version of the BCSQ-12-SS and assess the burn out clinical subtypes and their correlates in dental students.MethodsIn this psychometry study, the BCSQ-12-SS questionnaire in domains of overload (4 questions), lack of development (4 questions), and neglect (4 questions) was translated to Persian and back-translated. Six experts determined the content and face validity of the Persian version. The questionnaire was then piloted on 167 dental students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2016. Data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) for construct validity and Linear Regression modeling in IBM SPSS and AMOS SPSS. To assess reliability, the questionnaire was filled out by 15 students twice and Kappa coefficient and Composite Reliability (CR) were calculated.ResultsContent validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI) values and Cronbach’s alphas were all over 0.8. Kappa coefficient ranged from 65 to 82.5%. The average burnout score was 29.6 out of maximum score of 60. There were no significant differences in burnout scores across the different semesters (8,10 and 12). Financial support by the family significantly affected the total score of burnout and lack of development. In addition, gender, mother’s education, residential status of student, preparing for post graduate exam and financial support by the family affected the overload.ConclusionThe BCSQ-12-SS has good psychometric properties and therefore can be used to assess burnout in IRANIAN dental students. The BCSQ-12-SS may provide an opportunity to identify individuals at risk for burn out and provide counseling to assist in dental student development.

One of the most important current medical concerns across the globe is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, which has been designated by the World Health Organization as a novel viral pneumonia named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 has substantially affected all aspects of human lives and forced most people to self-quarantine themselves and stay home in order to remain safe. As pediatric dentists as a part of the health care system deferring elective procedures, we are obliged to manage emergency situations such as cellulitis, severe tooth pain, and dental trauma. Therefore, we need to beware of the symptoms and risks of the emerging disease and, accordingly, change the policies in our offices to minimize the risk of transmission while checking up and treating our patients in the safest possible way. Knowledge Transfer Statement: This article aims to acquaint clinicians treating pediatric patients with COVID-19 hazards and delineate the steps required for minimizing cross-infection in case of providing emergency treatment to children in dental offices.