BackgroundPlans to increase the role of students in health research require data on students’ knowledge and views of research. The aim of the study was to evaluate these factors toward research among medical science students.MethodsUndergraduate and postgraduate students of three medicine, dentistry and pharmacy schools in Shiraz were enrolled in a cross-sectional descriptive study using questionnaires to provide details of the parameters of attitude to, knowledge of and barriers toward research for each individual. All data was coded for each of the parameters. Data analyses were performed by one-way ANOVA/Tukey and Student’s t, Pearson’s correlation and Chi-squared tests.ResultsA total of 384 questionnaires were returned complete. Mean student scores for attitude, knowledge and barriers were 68.97 ± 12.56, 70.99 ± 20.97 and 75.27 ± 15.38, respectively. On the knowledge parameter, 77.8% of students’ scores fell above the middle of the possible attainable score, but 90% of attitude scores came in at below the middle of the possible attainable score. Undergraduate students (70.27 ± 12.00) showed a more positive attitude to research than postgraduate students (65.57 ± 13.06) (p = 0.001). Female students (72.97 ± 20.54) had greater knowledge than males (67.09 ± 21.56) (p = 0.010). Many barriers were highlighted by students such as lack of funding support and lack of time for research.ConclusionsStudents showed favorable knowledge of research, but their attitude to the field was inadequate. More attention must be placed on these parameters in the curriculum to improve student interest in health research. The impact of barrier factors on research demonstrates that there is a need for greater availability of information in order to solve the problems and change strategies for research.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12930-015-0019-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundTo evaluate disturbances in primary tooth eruption and their management with nonpharmacological remedies.MethodsIn this nonrandomized clinical trial, 270 children aged between 8 and 36 months were selected and divided into 5 groups with 54 children initially enrolled in each group. The children were seen during an 8-day period during tooth eruption. At each appointment data were recorded from oral examination, tympanic temperature measurement and a questionnaire. The five methods used as remedies to reduce teething symptoms were: 1) cuddle therapy, 2) ice, 3) rubbing the gums, 4) teething rings and 5) food for chewing. Teething symptoms, the type of erupted tooth, symptoms of recovery and the mother’s satisfaction with treatment were evaluated.ResultsTwo hundred and fifty four children (mean age 16 ± 7.2 months) completed the study. The most frequent teething symptoms were drooling (92 %), sleep disturbances (82.3 %) and irritability (75.6 %). These symptoms were more pronounced in low birth weight children (p > 0.05). Canine eruption led to more loss of appetite than incisor (p = 0.033) or molars eruption (p = 0.014). Low grade increases in body temperature were observed only on the day of eruption (36.70 ± 0.39 °C), when body temperature was significantly different compared to the day before and the day after eruption (both p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between fever as reported by mothers and temperature readings obtained by the investigators. The most favorable results for time to recovery and the mother’s satisfaction were seen when teething rings were used, followed by cuddle therapy and rubbing the gums.ConclusionsThere was no association between teething and symptoms such as fever or diarrhea. Low birth weight children may have more teething symptoms. Teething rings, cuddle therapy and rubbing the gums were the most effective methods to reduce symptoms.Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials: code IRCT201211127402N3

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oral hygiene instruction, fluoride varnish and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) for remineralizing white spot lesions (WSL), and the effect of these on the dmft index in primary teeth. Subjects and Methods: In this 1-year, randomized clinical trial, 140 children aged 12-36 months with WSL in the anterior maxillary teeth were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups of 35 children each. Group 1 (control) received no preventive intervention. In group 2, there was oral hygiene and dietary counseling. In group 3, there was oral hygiene and the application of fluoride varnish at 4, 8 and 12 months after baseline. In group 4, there was oral hygiene and tooth mousse was applied by the parents twice a day over a 12-month period. At baseline and 4, 8 and 12 months after the intervention, the size of WSL in millimeters and the dmft index were recorded. One hundred and twenty-two children completed the study. Data were analyzed using the repeated-measures ANOVA test. Results: In group 1, the mean percent WSL area and dmft index values had increased significantly at 12 months after baseline (p < 0.001). The interventions led to significant decreases in the size of the WSL; the greatest reduction was in group 4 (63%) followed by group 3 (51%) and group 2 (10%) after 12 months. The smallest increase in the dmft index was in group 4 (0.17), followed by groups 3 (0.3) and 2 (0.42). However, there were no significant differences between the groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Oral hygiene along with four fluoride varnish applications or constant CPP-ACP during the 12- month period reduced the size of WSL in the anterior primary teeth and caused a small increase in dmft index values.

The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of different products containing fluoride, calcium and phosphate for enamel remineralization in eroded primary teeth. A total of 90 sound primary canine teeth were randomly divided into 5 groups of 18 teeth each: 1) control (polished enamel), 2) 5% DuraShield sodium fluoride varnish, 3) 500 ppm fluoridated toothpaste, 4) casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) cream, and 5) Clinpro White varnish containing functionalized tri-calcium phosphate (fTCP). Enamel microhardness (EMH) was measured in all samples before and after demineralization and after 28 days of remineralization. Also 8 samples in groups 2 to 5 and four samples of sound and demineralized enamel were examined with atomic force microscopy (AFM). All data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA (p<0.05). Mean microhardness of demineralized enamel was significantly lower than in enamel at baseline (p<0.001). Remineralization significantly increased microharness in groups 2 to 5 compared to the control group (p<0.001). Percent EMH after remineralization with CPP-ACP was significantly higher than after fTCP (p=0.029), toothpaste (p< 0.001) or fluoride varnish (p<0.001); however, there was no significant difference between toothpaste and fluoride varnish (p=0.062). Microhardness increased more after fTCP treatment than after treatment with sodium fluoride varnish (p<0.001) or fluoridated toothpaste (p=0.045). AFM images showed that enamel roughness decreased most after treatment with fTCP, followed by CPP-ACP, toothpaste and fluoride varnish. The efficacy of CPP-ACP cream for remineralizing eroded enamel was greater than fluoride toothpaste, fluoride varnish or fTCP varnish.

Background The management of noncavitated caries lesions before sealant therapy is a clinical challenge when the tooth needs sealant application. Sealing noncavitated carious lesions in pits and fissures may lead to failure of the fissure sealant (FS) due to incomplete sealing. Therefore the use of remineralizing agents such as nanoparticles has been suggested. This study investigated the ability of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nano-HA) to remineralize enamel, and their effect on sealant microleakage and shear bond strength (SBS). Methods A total of 192 third molars were demineralized and pretreated with two concentrations of nano-HA with and without sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), followed by phosphoric acid etching and resin FS application. The study groups were 1) etching + FS, 2) etching + nano-HA 0.15% + FS, 3) etching + nano-HA 0.03% + FS, 4) etching + mixture of nano-HA 0.15% and SHMP 0.05% + FS, 5) etching + mixture of nano-HA 0.03% + SHMP 0.01% + FS. The laboratory tests included microleakage in 50 teeth, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluation in 10 samples, and SBS in 100 samples. Enamel remineralization changes were evaluated in 32 teeth with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Results Nano-HA enhanced the SBS to remineralized enamel in a large percentage of nanoparticles. Mean SBS in group 2 was significantly greater than in groups 1, 3 and 4 (all P < 0.05). SBS was related to nano-HA concentration: nano-HA 0.15% yielded greater SBS (16.8 ± 2.7) than the 0.03% concentration (14.2 ± 2.1). However, its effect on microleakage was not significant. Nano-HA with or without SHMP led to enhanced enamel remineralization; however, the Calcium (Ca)/Phosphate (P) weight percent values did not differ significantly between the groups ( P > 0.05). SEM images showed that SHMP did not affect sealant penetration into the deeper parts of fissures. FESEM images showed that adding SHMP led to increased nanoparticle dispersal on the tooth surface and less cluster formation. Conclusions The ultraconservative approach (combining nano-HA 0.15% and SHMP) and FS may be considered a minimal intervention in dentistry to seal demineralized enamel pits and fissures.