Background: Self-assembling peptides (SAP) may prevent and/or arrest caries lesions. The aim of the study was to evaluate SAP for caries prevention and arrest in primary tooth enamel in vitro. Methods: 215 extracted primary teeth were used. In the prevention experiment, self-assembling peptide for prevention (SAPP), fluoride varnish/mouthwash (FV/FMW), casein-phosphopeptide amorphous-calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), nanohydroxy-apatite (nHA) were applied. Samples were subjected to a demineralizing pH-cycling for 14-days. In the arrest experiment, 60 samples were pre-demineralized and induced lesions treated using self-assembling peptide for repair (SAPR), FV, CPP-ACP plus fluoride and resin infiltration (RI), and submitted to pH-cycling. Thirty-five samples were used as negative controls (NC). Mineral loss and its differences (Δ/ΔΔZ) were determined using transversal microradiography. Results: FV (ΔZ median: -46 [interquartile range: 189] vol%×µm) and FMW (-28 [129] vol%×µm) prevented caries significantly more effective than all other groups (p<0.05), which did not show significant preventive effects compared with NC (ΔZ=1446 [378] vol%×µm). RI (ΔΔZ=1808 [2193] vol%×µm) and FV (ΔΔZ=1494 [4274] vol%×µm) arrested lesions compared with NC (ΔΔZ=5605 [1371] vol%×µm; p<0.05), while SAPR and CPP-ACPF did not show such arrest. Conclusions: FV and FMW showed the largest caries-preventive effect, while RI and FV arrested lesion progression in primary tooth enamel in vitro. Clinical significance: Preventing and arresting caries lesion allows decreasing invasive treatment needs and patient’s morbidity and fosters the application of minimal invasive dentistry approach.

Objectives:The purpose of this survey is to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to antibiotic prescription patterns in a group of dentists in Egypt. Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted electronically using online google forms. It included inquiries in the form of close-ended questions to be answered in tickbox format, the questions mainly uncovered, the participants' "Knowledge" about the problem of antibiotic resistance and its association with professional mal-practices, and also their "Attitudes and practices" concerning antibiotic prescriptions in different clinical conditions. 500 participants answered the questionnaire over a period of three months.Results: Most of the participants prescribed Amoxicillin or Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid in conditions that warrant antibiotics usage. A close proportion preferred a treatment duration of 5-7 days. Although, 96% of the responses came in favor of antibiotic prescription in serious clinical conditions as facial cellulitis, still varying proportions of the sample chose to prescribe antibiotics for conditions that do not necessitate their usage as "localized intra-oral abscesses", "sinus tracts and fistulas", "luxation injuries" and "managing viral infections". Conclusions:Although the participants showed considerably adequate knowledge of the bacterial resistance problem, their practices showed varying degrees of deviation from the guidelines of antibiotic prescriptions set by the AAPD.

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