The objective of this study was to determine the degree of correlation between emotional intelligence of dental students, patient satisfaction and related factors. A total of 123 senior students and their patients participated in the study. Students completed the 133 item Bar-On Standardised Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQI) and patients completed a seven item satisfaction questionnaire. The mean score for EI of female students was 442 and 462 for male students, for an overall average score of 452 for all dental students. Male students significantly scored higher in stress control (P = 0.0), general mood (P = 0.011) and intrapersonal scales (P = 0.024). There was a statistically significant relationship between student gender and average EI score (P = 0.007). Married students scored higher in adaptability (P = 0.019) and general mood scales (P = 0.039). Significant relationships existed between students' gender (P = 0.009), level of patient education (P = 0.0) and patient satisfaction levels. Not recording a significant relationship for the interpersonal scale (r = 0.134), there was a significant relationship amongst intrapersonal, stress control, adaptability, and general mood dimensions of the students and patient satisfaction reports. There was a statistically significant relationship between general emotional intelligence score of the students and patient satisfaction. Patients of the students with high general emotional intelligence scores were significantly more satisfied with treatment than patients of students with low EI.

The OptraFine system created smoother and more uniform surfaces in terms of quantity (p < 0.03 for Ra, p < 0.01 for Rz) and quality of roughness compared to glazing. The flexural strength of lithium disilicate ceramic after polishing with the OptraFine system was similar to that after glazing (p = 0.86). Despite similar surface roughness after polishing with the two systems, the D+Z system reduced the flexural strength of ceramic (p < 0.03).

IntroductionPeriodontal diseases are referred to as inflammatory processes in periodontal tissues in response to the aggregation of bacteria on the teeth. The aggregation rarely leads to evident infection, but the inflammatory response caused in the gingival tissue is responsible for the gradual loss of dental collagen's attachment to the alveolar bone. Left overlooked, this phenomenon might end in increased dental mobility and eventually edentulism.1 Production of destructive metabolites by gram negative and positive bacteria of the microbial plaque in the oral cavity causes gingivitis, which can play a key role in the progression of inflammation to periodontal diseases. 2Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is an immobile microaerophilic, facultative anaerobic, gram negative coccoid rod, 3 strongly associated with pathogenesis of periodontal diseases, particularly aggressive generalized periodontitis.4 Some of this bacterium's membranous proteins play an important role in attachment to and penetration in tissue cells.5 Other virulence factors secreted by this bacterium include an agent that inhibits the reproduction of fibroblasts and a leukotoxin that kills the leukocytes. 6 Despite the many complications caused by periodontitis, no treatment protocol is known to be able to fully control this disease. Currently, a combination of mechanical treatments and systemic antibiotics are used as treatment 7 ; however, periodontal pathogens are not completely removed by the mechanical removal of the biofilm; and there are problems associated with the use of antibiotics, Abstract Introduction: Considering the importance of prevention in periodontal diseases and the important role of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in induction and progression of these diseases, the aim of the present in vitro study was to compare the antimicrobial effects of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), curcumin and light-emitting diode (LED) laser, on this bacterium. Methods: Antimicrobial activity of curcumin (5 mg/ml), CHX (2%), LED (120 J/cm 2 ) and LED + curcumin (120 J/cm 2 + 2.5 mg/ml) against A. actinomycetemcomitans were tested in vitro, using micro-broth dilution test. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's HSD tests served for statistical analysis. Results: Regarding the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), CHX had a significantly lower MIC than curcumin (P < 0.05). Sorted out by bacterial growth from lowest to highest, were CHX, LED + curcumin, curcumin, and LED groups. All the differences were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) except for the LED group. Conclusion: We conclude that curcumin is an effective substance in preventing the growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans, whose impact is reinforced when used simultaneously with photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Purpose Porcelain laminate veneers (PLVs) are sometimes required to be used for teeth with composite fillings. This study examined the fracture strength of PLVs bonded to the teeth restored with different sizes of class V composite fillings. Materials and Methods Thirty-six maxillary central incisors were divided into three groups (n=12): intact teeth (control) and teeth with class V composite fillings of one-third or two-thirds of the crown height (small or large group, resp.). PLVs were made by using IPS e.max and bonded with a resin cement (RelyX Unicem). Fracture resistance (N) was measured after cyclic loading (1 × 106 cycles, 1.2 Hz). For statistical analyses, one-way ANOVA and Tukey test were used (α=0.05). Results There was a significant difference between the mean failure loads of the test groups (P=0.004), with the Tukey-HSD test showing lower failure loads in the large-composite group compared to the control (P=0.02) or small group (P=0.05). The control and small-composite groups achieved comparable results (P > 0.05). Conclusions Failure loads of PLVs bonded to intact teeth and to teeth with small class V composite fillings were not significantly different. However, extensive composite fillings could compromise the bonding of PLVs.

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