The search for an efficient and safe resin removal method after debonding has resulted in the introduction of a wide array of instruments and techniques. Previously, safety of rotary instruments was limited to inspecting the surface under a scanning electron microscope that lacks a quantitative scale. In this study, comparative assessment of the enamel roughness was done quantitavely using surface profilometer. Objectives: To evaluate quantitatively the enamel surface roughness following debonding using three different resin removal methods (composite removing pliers, ultrasonic scaler and low speed Tungsten Carbide bur). Study Design: Prospective study. Setting: Orthodontic clinic of Ihsan Mumtaz Hospital Lahore and PCSIR (Lahore). Period: 6 months from June 2018 to December 2018. Material and Methods: Ninety, healthy extracted maxillary premolars were taken and subjected to profilometric analysis to register four roughness parameters. Brackets were bonded and all specimens were immersed in distilled water for one week. After debonding, teeth were randomly divided into three groups and subjected to different resin removal methods. A second roughness recording was taken and compared with roughness at baseline interval. Enamel surface roughness with three resin removal methods were also compared with one other. Data Analysis: SPSS Version 20.0 was used. Paired t test was applied within three groups separately to establish the comparison between the enamel surface roughnesses at baseline. One way ANOVA was used to establish the comparison of increase in enamel surface roughness among three study groups compared using different resin removal methods (slow speed tungsten carbide bur, ultrasonic scaler and composite removing pliers). Results: Slow speed tungsten carbide bur created the least increase in enamel surface roughness while ultra-sonic scaler had the most elevated values. Conclusion: Enamel surface roughness following debonding can be minimized with the use of tungsten carbide bur for resin removal in a slow speed hand piece.

The revolution in orthodontics has been due to replacement of cemented bands by orthodontic brackets. Acid etching is required to bond a bracket on tooth’s surface. Traditional three step acid etch procedure consisted of etching, sealing/priming and bonding. The self etch system (etchant and primer together) can be used without the need for surface preparation, saving chair side time and minimizing contamination. Objectives: To compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic bracket bonded with Conventional etching primer (Transbond XT, 3M Unitek) with self etch primer (Adper Prompt L-Pop, 3M ESPE). Study Design: Prospective study Setting: Orthodontic Clinic of Ihsan Mumtaz Hospital, Lahore and PCSIR (Lahore). Period: 6 months from June 2018 to December 2018. Material and Methods: 60 human maxillary premolars were randomly divided into 2 groups of 30 each. Group-I was bonded with conventional etching primer + composite and Group-II was bonded with self etch primer + composite. Shear bond strength was measured through Ionstron force testing machine. Statistical Analysis: For each variable, shear bond strength, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values were calculated. t-test was used to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of the two groups and P value less than and equal to 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean shear bond strength in group 1 and group II was10.5MPa and 7.36MPa respectively. Conclusion: The shear bond strength of Conventional etching primer + adhesive was significantly higher than the shear bond strength of self etch primer +adhesive group.

Objectives: To determine the effect COVID-19 pandemic had on orthodontic patients during the lockdown phase as well as to determine the knowledge of patients regarding the COID-19 disease, its spread, its symptoms, and its prevention. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. It was carried out by distributing a self-administered questionnaire to 300 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment via electronic mail and whatsapp platfortm. The questionnaire assessed the knowledge of the patient regarding the COVID-19 disease, the impact it had on their orthodontic treatment, and their perception of risk and their attitude towards the COVID-19 disease. Results: 274 out of 300 patients responded to our questionnaires; Out of them 73% were females and 47.3% were males. A large number of patients were able to correctly identify the cause, spread, symptoms, and necessary measures needed to be taken to contain the disease. Although majority of the patients considered COVID-19 to be severely dangerous and felt highly vulnerable to the disease; 54.5% were still willing to continue their treatment during the pandemic. The main reason for their willingness was the fear of increased missed appointments leading to increase in treatment time and cost. Conclusions: The pandemic has had an adverse impact on orthodontic treatment regardless. Nevertheless, patients were still inclined to continue their treatment with appropriate infection control and precautionary measures observed both by the patients themselves and the orthodontic clinical staff. Keywords: COVID-19, Health knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Pandemic

Objective: The purpose of study was to explore the level of knowledge and attitude in handling dental trauma among primary school teachers working in rural areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Method: This descriptive crossectional study was conducted in 47 primary government schools of different rural areas of district Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan. Collected sample size was 215 primary school teachers with minimum qualification of Bachelors in Arts. Data was collected using convenient sampling technique. SPSS version 25.0 was used for analysis and further results formation. Frequencies and Percentages were calculated for gender and qualification whereas mean and standard deviation was calculated for age. Results: Majority of participants reported that their knowledge about dealing with dental emergencies is not adequate 175(81.40%). Majority of participants were interested in having workshops on dealing with dental emergencies in school 160(74.42%). Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude of teachers towards management of dental trauma is lacking and a dire need of awareness programs and teacher training workshops has been felt after conducting this study as management of dental trauma is an important part of student safety management. Keywords: Dental Trauma, Teachers, Tooth Replantation, Tooth Avulsion

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of parafunctional oral habits and their association with types of malocclusions in all three planes among the adolescents. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study involved 610 students studying in 8 different schools of Raiwind, Lahore. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore. Data was collected by the primary researcher and recorded in predesigned proforma. Each student was inspected while seated in an upright position in natural day light, using disposable wooden blades to retract the cheek to record posterior dental relationships and to retract lips to record anterior dental relationships. Data was scrutinized using SPSS and chi-square test was used to find the statistical significance of the association between various parafunctional oral habits and types of malocclusions. RESULTS: The frequency of parafunctional oral habits was 57.3% among 610 adolescent students, being more prevalent in females (72.9%) than males (52.3%). The most common oral parafunctional habit was bruxism (18.0%) and least frequent was thumb sucking (8.4%). Association between oral parafunctional habits and malocclusion in all three planes was found to be significant (p=0.0). CONCLUSION: The parafunctional oral habits such as bruxism, tongue thrusting, nail biting, mouth breathing and thumb sucking are very commonly found among adolescents in the same descending order. Most common malocclusions found to be associated with parafunctional oral habits are exaggerated over-jet, open bite and deep bite. Parafunctional oral habits have a strong influence on developing malocclusion traits in all three dimensions. KEYWORDS: Parafunctional oral habits, malocclusion, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, bruxism, nail biting.