BackgroundStudies evaluating dental assistants’ knowledge about tooth avulsion and its management are rare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about tooth avulsion and its management among dental assistants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and to assess its relationship with their educational background.MethodsA convenience sampling methodology was employed for sample selection. Over a period of four months starting in February, 2013, 691 pretested 17-item questionnaires were distributed. A total of 498 questionnaires were returned for an overall response rate of 72.1%. Six questions were related to knowledge about permanent tooth avulsion and one question was related to knowledge about primary tooth avulsion. Correct answers to these questions were assigned one point each, and based on this scoring system, an overall knowledge score was calculated. An analysis of covariance was used to test the association between the level of knowledge (total score) and the educational qualifications of the respondents (dental degree and others). A P-value of 0.05 was considered the threshold for statistical significance.ResultsThe majority of the respondents (n = 387; 77.7%) were non-Saudis (377 were from the Philippines), and 79.1% (n = 306) of the Filipinos had a dental degree. The question about recommendations for an avulsed tooth that is dirty elicited the highest number of correct responses (n = 444; 89.2%), whereas the question about the best storage media elicited the lowest number of correct responses (n = 192; 38.6%). The overall mean score for knowledge about tooth avulsion was 6.27 ± 1.74. The mean knowledge score among the respondents with a dental degree was 6.63 ± 1.37, whereas that among the respondents with other qualifications was 5.71 ± 2.08.ConclusionsThe educational qualifications of the surveyed dental assistants were strongly correlated with the level of knowledge about tooth avulsion and its management.

BackgroundThere is a lack of adequate information on dentists’ knowledge about tooth avulsion and its management in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about permanent tooth avulsion and its management among dentists working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA total of 550 dentists were contacted to request their participation in this 19-item questionnaire survey over a three-month period starting in January 2015 using convenience sampling methodology. A questionnaire consisting of demographic items and multiple-choice questions regarding knowledge of avulsion and its management was used. The level of knowledge was assessed using a scoring system that assigned one point for each correct answer and zero points for wrong answers, with a maximum possible score of ten points. An independent t-test was used to compare the level of knowledge (mean score) based on particular variables, such as sex, nationality, type of practice, current employment, working hours and whether the respondents had attended a continuing dental education (CDE) programme on avulsion management. The level of significance was set at P< 0.05.ResultsA total of 470 completed questionnaires were collected with data suitable for statistical analysis. The majority of the respondents were Saudi (n = 331; 72.1 %) and general practitioners (n = 278; 59.3 %). Most of the participants correctly responded to the knowledge-based questions, except the questions regarding the best storage medium (milk: 24.1 %) and the duration of follow-up by clinical and radiographic examination (5 years: 15.6 %). The mean knowledge score was 5.94 ± 1.57. Gender (P = 0.001), current employment (P = 0.045) and working hours per day (P = 0.020) had a significant effect on the mean knowledge score.ConclusionsThe surveyed dentists were found to have a moderate knowledge of avulsion and its management, although a relative lack of knowledge was observed regarding the duration of follow-up after replantation.

The new DECLEI scale identified several areas of strength and some aspects that could be improved. Overall, the dental students rated the clinical undergraduate programme as more positive than negative.

Statement of Problem Composites and compomers are popular in dental practice. However, little is known about their esthetic appearance as veneering restorative materials over amalgam restorations. Purpose This in vitro study was designed to assess the color differences of composite and compomer restorative materials, placed in thicknesses of 1 mm and 2 mm over amalgam. Material and Methods Thirty six cylindrical Teflon molds were filled with amalgam (13 mm diameter, 2 mm thickness) and stored at 37°C and 100% relative humidity for 7 days. Nine veneers (for each thickness of 1 and 2 mm) were fabricated from four types of tooth-colored restorative material, Dyract AP (DYR), Compoglass F (COMP), Herculite XRV (XRV), and Vitalecense (VIT), over amalgam specimens using Teflon-split molds and following the manufacturers’ instructions. A spectrophotometer was used to measure the color difference ΔE* between the two thicknesses. Results Color difference ΔE* values for 1 mm thickness veneers [XRV (2.52), Comp (5.46), VIT (6.73), and DYR (6.88)] were statistically significantly higher than the 2 mm thickness [XRV (1.32), Comp (3.24), VIT (4.89), and DYR (4.83)]. Although the XRV material had the lowest ΔE* values, no statistically significant difference was found between the two thicknesses. The color measurements at L*, a*, and b* showed most materials became darker in color at either thickness. Conclusion The thicker veneer specimens were found to be closer in color to the controls than the thinner specimens. Only XRV had color differences (ΔE*) small enough to be considered clinically acceptable (2.52 and 1.32 at 1 mm and 2 mm, respectively). Clinical Implications In this in vitro study the color of XRV was affected the least when veneered on amalgam. Opaquers may be needed to be used with thinner veneers to minimize the effect of amalgam background. Citation Al-Jazairy YH, El-Hejazi AA. The Color Differences Between Different Thicknesses of Resin Veneered Over Amalgam. J Contemp Dent Pract 2005 November;(6)4:038-045.