Background A major shift has occured in the trend of dealing with dental caries from primary to secondary prevention, specially after SDF approval off-label by US FDA in recent years and Hall Technique (HT) in the last decade. Objectives To determine the frequency of awareness and use of Silver Diammine Fluoride (SDF) and Hall technique among dental professionals in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in a public hospital, metropolitan city of Middle Eastern region between March 15, 2019 & January 31, 2020. Dental practitioners were requested, with their consent, to fill up a digitally designed survey. Chi-square test on SPSS-20.0 was applied to compare frequency of awareness and use of SDF and HALL Technique among the survey participants. Results The awareness of SDF was found to be 73.6% among specialists, 54.9% among graduates and 29.6% among students whereas awareness of HALL technique for stainless steel crown in pediatric dentistry was found statistically similar in all participants groups i.e. 42.7% in students, 55.5% in graduates and 54.9% in specialist group (p = 0.125). Conclusion The results show potential with regards to awareness of dental specialists & postgraduate residents but inadequate among general dentists and students though all were keen advocates and found committed to its use to help the community. It points towards a further need of the of education for all groups. Those non- invasive techniques are very useful tools in general but specifically during Covid-19 pandemic where they can play a major role in preventing the spread of infection, arresting decay, alleviating pain and anxiety without resorting to aggressive treatment like pulp treatment/extraction. Low response rate may be improved in future through the respondents’ counselling and regular follow up.

Introduction Many countries have diverse population and hence, studies have been conducted to find the relation between ethnic or racial groups within a society and incidence or mortality due to COVID‐19. Objectives Aim of the study was to evaluate the racial effect on severity of disease and in‐hospital outcome in individuals diagnosed with COVID‐19. Material and Methods This retrospective study based on records of 804 tested positive COVID‐19 patients presented at Dammam Medical Complex and Braira quarantine during March to May 2020 was conducted after approval from the ethical board. Patient’s records included the routine patient’s consent statement about explanation of all the investigations and procedures prior to be performed. Data were retrieved included in analysis were age, gender, country of origin, racial background (Arab, Caucasian, Asian, Black, Latin, and Hispanic), severity of COVID‐19 and outcome. Results Out of total 804 confirmed patients of covid‐19, there were 647 (80.5%) males and 157 (19.5%) females (M: F ratio = 4.1: 1). Male preponderance was seen in all racial groups, and significantly higher in Asian than the Middle Eastern race (91.2% vs. 70.3%, p=0.000). Mean age of Asians was significantly higher than the mean age of the Middle Eastern and Black & Caucasian races (42.8±10.0 vs. 39.6±16.3 vs. 37.0±10.3, p=0.003). proportion of deaths was significantly high among Asians (5.4%) compare to Middle Eastern patients (1.2%) (p‐value 0.001). Conclusion Severity and in‐hospital outcome were varying significantly among the racial groups. East & South Asian COVID‐19 patients had more severe symptoms and less recovery rate compare to other groups, late presentation may be a contributory reason.

Introduction: The presence of tissue damage in the lungs, kidneys, heart, or other organs can be detected by monitoring the level of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood and considered a reliable biomarker in early prediction of patients’ prognosis. Aim: To determine extent of correlation between LDH level with the spectrum and in-hospital outcome of Coronavirus Disease2019 (COVID-19) infected patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective research was undertaken during March 2020 to May 2020, based on the data of 205 COVID-19 infected patients, reported at Dammam Medical Complex, Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Patients’ records were retrieved and the following data were recorded-age, gender, nationality, co-morbidities, lactate dehydrogenase level, number of days since the patient tested positive (Up to 7,14 and >14 days), COVID-19 symptoms [mild, moderate, or severe as per British Thoracic Society guidelines (CURB (Confusion, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Respiratory Rate, Blood Pressure)-65)]. The data was collected and tabulated as mean±SD, frequency and percentages. Analysis was carried out using specialized software of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: On analysis of the collected data of all 205 included patients, the LDH level was found significantly high among males, 46-60 years old, and among non-Saudi patients. The severity of COVID-19 symptoms and LDH levels were found to have a strong relationship (p-value<0.001). Patients between the ages of 46 and 60 were more likely (4.3 times) to have poor outcomes, and diabetes mellitus was predicted to be 2.32 times more likely to be associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes. Raised LDH levels were >5 times more likely to lead to in-hospital poor outcomes compared to those with borderline LDH levels. Conclusion: LDH level is a reliable predictor for the cause of COVID-19. The results of the present study suggest that patients aged 46-60 years, diabetic patients, or those suffering from severe symptoms of COVID-19 have raised levels of LDH.

Introduction: Children with Special Healthcare Needs (CSHCN) are considered difficult to maintain oral hygiene and challenging for caregivers and dentists to attain cooperation in dental treatment under general anaesthesia. Family Impact Scale (FIS) and Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) are useful tools to assess patient’s oral health quality of life and caregivers perception. Aim: To assess the impact of dental treatment under general anaesthesia on the quality of life and oral hygiene of CSHCNs, as perceived by caregivers. Materials and Methods: This prospective follow-up survey study was carried out at Dammam Medical Complex, Saudi Arabia, from December 5th, 2019 to December 15th, 2021. The CSHCN of either gender, aged 12 years, and falling within the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) definition of special-needs patients referred for invasive procedures under general anaesthesia (American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class I or II), were included. The baseline and, after a one-year follow-up, information obtained from two surveys that were altered from Thompson’s P-CPQ and FIS were decoded into the numeric ordinal scales Never (“0”), Once or Twice (“1”), Sometime (“2”), Always (“3”), and Daily (“4”). Analysis of the collected data was done by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: A total of 84 participants were caregivers of CSHCN who underwent dental procedures under General Anaesthesia (GA), of whom 77 (91.7%) were mothers and 7 (8.3%) were fathers of the CSHCN. The mean age of children was 8.29±2.14 years (Range= 3-12 years); 38 (45.2%) were males and 46 (54.8%) were females. The median FIS after treatment was zero, compared to the median before treatment which was 2, revealing a significant impact on being absent from work, a child requiring more care, the impact of presence, sleeping disturbances, feeling angry, feeling guilty, and a child disputing or blaming either parent (p<0.001). Following the pattern of one year post-treatment FIS, median was 0 (Never) for all items including halitosis, pain, food trapped in palate and teeth, swallow, breath, time, sleep, irritable, frustrating, nervous, shy, absent, laugh, and continue school (p<0.001). Conclusion: The modified FIS and P-CPQ evaluations before and after dental treatment under GA revealed a significant improvement in the oral health quality of life for those CSHCN, as well as the impact on their caregivers. Regular check-ups would be useful for early and non invasive intervention without GA.