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ObjectiveTo determine the effect of whitening toothpastes on the surface roughness and microhardness of human teeth.MethodologySurface roughness was estimated using the Talysurf instrument, and microhardness was estimated using the Vickers hardness tester before and after the application of whitening toothpastes on mounted extracted human teeth.ResultsIn the activated charcoal group, there was a reduction in the surface roughness from 1.21 at baseline to 1.09 at 1 month and a further reduction to 1.02 at 3 months, which was found to be statistically significant. However, no statistically significant difference in surface roughness was found in the other toothpaste groups. With respect to microhardness, all 4 whitening toothpastes showed a statistically significant reduction in microhardness after 3 months of brushing. However, the reduction was significantly higher in group 2 and in group 4 compared to the others.ConclusionThis study showed that whitening toothpaste containing activated charcoal significantly reduced the surface roughness, whereas toothpastes with blue covarine and toothpastes containing activated charcoal significantly reduced the microhardness of the tooth.Clinical relevanceThis study emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to be aware of the potential disadvantages of whitening toothpastes and make evidence-based decisions when recommending the product to patients.

Background Parenting stress can affect coping strategies and behaviour problems among children in nondental settings. Objective To evaluate the associations of parenting stress with children’s coping strategies, dental fear, and behaviour during dental treatment in school-aged children. Methods This cross-sectional study included n  = 168 children aged 8–12 years who required dental treatment under local anaesthesia. The accompanying parents completed the Parental Stress Scale (PSS), and the children completed the Dental Coping Questionnaire (DCQ) and the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) prior to the start of the treatment procedure. The behaviour of the children was evaluated during their treatment period using Frankl’s behaviour rating scale. The associations of parenting stress with the measured parameters were analysed via chi-square test, Spearman’s correlation, Kruskal‒Wallis test, Mann‒Whitney U test, and generalised linear model, with statistical significance set at p  ≤ 0.05. Results No significant correlation between the PSS score and the percentage frequency of use of destructive, external, and internal coping strategies was detected. There was no significant difference in the PSS scores of parents between children who had no clinical dental fear (CFDSS score < 32), borderline dental fear (CFSS-DS score 32–38) and clinical dental fear (CFSS-DS score ≥ 39) or between children with uncooperative (Frankl scores 1 and 2) and cooperative behaviour (Frankl scores 3 and 4). No significant associations between PSS scores and the study variables were detected via the generalised linear model. Conclusion Parenting stress does not significantly influence children’s utilisation of coping strategies, dental fear or behavioural responses during dental procedures among children aged 8–12 years.

Background: Antimicrobial Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of periodontitis is being increasingly gaining attention but at present, very limited data are available on the clinical and microbiological outcomes obtained following Indocyanine Green as the photosensitizer in Maintenance patients. The objective was to evaluate the efficiency of Indocyanine(ICG)-green based photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients enrolled in maintenance therapy. Methodology: Using a split mouth study design, 24 participants enrolled in the maintenance therapy, having diagnosed as Periodontitis, were randomly subjected to scaling and root planing(SRP). The test group additionally received ICG-based (Aurogreen ®, Aurolabs, Madurai, India,1mg/ml) aPDT with an 810nm diode laser. Clinical assessment of Plaque index, modified Sulcus bleeding index, Probing pocket depth, Clinical loss of attachment and microbiological analysis of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and F.nucleatum were performed at baseline and 3 months after treatment. Results: It was observed that although there was no significant difference between the test and control group at baseline and 3 months, there was a statistically significant reduction in the mean values in both the groups at 3 months. Microbiological analysis showed substantial reduction in detection frequency of the bacteria assessed at 3 months in both the groups. Conclusion: Within the limits of the study, ICG-based aPDT did not show additional advantage over SRP alone at 3 months, though it could be a promising treatment modality in maintenance patients in terms of patient comfort and the treatment time taken. More randomised clinical trials should be employed to understand the exact mode of action of ICG based aPDT and its role in treatment of periodontal disease.

The regular use of toothpastes containing metals has been shown to be a formidable threat because of their ability to bioaccumulate and reach toxic proportions, affecting people’s health and the environment. While studies have evaluated the presence of metals in toothpaste across different countries, a paucity of studies in India fostered a need to identify the presence of the metals arsenic, lead, copper and zinc in over-the-counter toothpastes. The 20 most sold toothpastes were selected from Indian e-commerce platforms and prepared following quality control measures. The samples were then subjected to flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) to determine the presence and concentrations of these metals. The individual toothpaste samples presented the highest concentrations of 0.5371 mg/L arsenic, 0.0620 mg/L copper, 0.0544 mg/L lead and 7.4224 mg/L zinc. Although the concentrations of lead, copper and zinc were found to be below the permissible limits in all the toothpaste samples, the arsenic concentration of one sample exceeded the European Union (EU) standard. Arsenic, which has the potential to cause neural and gastrointestinal disorders, needs to be strictly monitored in toothpaste samples. Considering these findings, there is a need for consistent global guidelines on permissible amounts of metals in toothpastes, with a determined intention toward their implementation.

Background Due to their acidic nature, certain medications can have deleterious effects on tooth enamel. Fluoride is a popular method for reversing these effects. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of acidic medications, specifically anti-asthmatic drugs and vitamin C tablets, on enamel surfaces and to investigate the effects of fluoride following drug exposure. Methods An in vitro experimental study was conducted on ninety-six healthy human posterior teeth. Forty-eight samples were tested for surface demineralization via quantitative laser fluorescence (QLF), and the other forty-eight samples were tested for enamel microhardness via a Vickers hardness tester. The samples were divided into six groups: (i) Group DW_NF- samples immersed in distilled water with no fluoride exposure; (ii) Group DW_F- samples immersed in distilled water with intermittent fluoride exposure; (iii) Group VC_NF- samples treated with vitamin C only; (iv) Group VC_F- samples treated with vitamin C and fluoride mouthwash; (v) Group SB_NF- samples exposed to salbutamol inhaler with no fluoride exposure; (vi) Group SB_NF- samples exposed to salbutamol inhaler followed by fluoride exposure. For the evaluation of surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), two random samples used for QLF from each group were taken. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kruskal‒Wallis test, and post hoc test were applied as appropriate. The p value was set at 0.05. Results Following exposure to medication, significantly higher QLF values were observed in Group VC_F and Group SB_F than in Group DW-NF (control group) ( p  = 0.15 and 0.004, respectively). The difference in the QLF values was significantly greater in Group VC_NF than in the control group DW-NF, indicating greater demineralization with acidic medications ( p  = 0.034). Significant changes in surface microhardness were detected in Group VC_F compared with the control group ( p  = 0.024). Qualitative analysis of SEM images revealed erosion at the enamel surface in all groups except the control group, with the most prominent erosion in the vitamin C- and fluoride-treated groups (VC_F group). Conclusion This study demonstrated the erosive potential of vitamin C tablets on enamel surfaces. Furthermore, the use of acidic fluoride mouthwash immediately after exposure to acidic medication exacerbates enamel demineralization.

Background Dental restorative materials are recognized as artificial niches that facilitate the adherence and accumulation of oral microorganisms. To mitigate oral diseases and extend the lifespan of restorations, it is advantageous to use dental materials that exhibit low susceptibility to bacterial adhesion. Objective To evaluate and compare bacterial adhesion on two bioactive restorative materials, a glass hybrid restorative, and an alkasite with a nanohybrid resin composite as a positive control. The secondary objectives were to compare the surface roughness (SR) of the materials and determine the correlation between the bacterial adhesion and the SR. Materials and methods The samples consisted of 33 polished discs of each material: Group A: Tetric ® N-Ceram (nanohybrid resin composite), Group B: Equia Forte™ HT Fil (glass hybrid restorative) and Group C: Cention N ® (alkasite). Streptococcus mutans cultures were inoculated and after 24-hours of incubation, bacterial adhesion was measured by measuring optical density (OD) and number of colony forming units (CFUs). After 96-hours incubation, the bacterial cell count was determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SR was assessed using surface profilometer. Results Alkasite had significantly lower OD and CFUs ( p  < 0.001 and p  = 0.015 respectively). According to the SEM analysis, the glass hybrid restorative had lower mean bacterial cell count with no significant difference between the groups. The nanohybrid composite had the smoothest surface that was significantly lower than the alkasite and glass hybrid restorative ( p  = 0.002). None of the groups demonstrated a correlation between bacterial adhesion and SR. Conclusion Alkasite impedes bacterial adhesion better than the glass hybrid restorative and nanohybrid composite, while smoother surfaces are achieved with the nanohybrid composite.

Background Ocular issues such as impaired vision, ophthalmia, orbital cellulitis, and blindness are not common with dental infections. However, there is absence of set guidelines in prevention and management of ocular issues arising from dental infections. Hence the knowledge and vantage point of the dentists with respect to ocular complications arising from dental infections was evaluated. Objective This study reviews the knowledge of dentists with association of eye infection due to dental contamination. Method A cross sectional survey using standardized questionnaires were sent suing social media platform among the academicians and practicing dental clinicians. All the questionnaires were content validated by three ophthalmologists. Descriptive statistics was scrutinized and tabulated by employing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 17 (SPSS Inc., Chicago IL). Chi square tests was used. Results About 69.1%(65) and 30.9%( 29) of BDS and MDS grduates have experienced ocular complications because of dental contamination. This distribution showed no statistical significance (p = 0.25). 73.8% (183) and 28.2%( 65) had compliance with the eye protection, 77.7% (160) of BDS graduates and 22.3% (46) of MDS graduates preferred safety eye wear. This distribution showed statistical significance (p = 0.00). About 76.2% (279) of BDS graduates and 23.8%( 67) of MDS graduates faced ocular infections because of different types of splashes which included water, blood and saliva. (p = 0.23) Conclusion This study puts an emphasis on the knowledge assessment among the dental practitioners on the importance of preventive barriers, and how special protective gear is required for doing cases undergoing dental treatment.

Background: Microplastic particles are used as ingredients in personal care products such as face washes, shower gels and toothpastes and form one of the main sources of microplastic pollution, especially in the marine environment. In addition to being a potential pollutant to the environment, the transfer of microplastics to humans can become a severe threat to public health. This systematic review was conceptualized to identify evidence for the presence of and characteristics of microplastics in toothpaste formulations. Methods: The PICOS Criteria was used for including studies for the review. Electronic databases of Scopus, Embase, Springer Link, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched, as well as hand and reference searching of the articles was carried out. The articles were screened using the software application, Covidence® and data was extracted. Results: This systematic review showed that toothpastes from China, Vietnam, Myanmar and the UAE, reported no evidence of microplastics and those from Malaysia, Turkey and India reported the presence of microplastics. The shape of the microplastics present in these toothpastes were found to be granular, irregular with opaque appearance and also in the form of fragments and fibers and the percentage weight in grams ranged from 0.2 to 7.24%. Malaysia releases 0.199 trillion microbeads annually from personal care products into the environment and toothpastes in Turkey release an average of 871 million grams of microplastics annually. Similarly, in India, it has been reported that 1.4 billion grams of microplastic particles are emitted annually from toothpaste. Conclusions: The findings of this systematic review provide evidence that toothpastes, at least in some parts of the world, do contain microplastics and that there is a great risk of increase in the addition of microplastics to the environment by the use of toothpaste.

Background The cross-infection created between dental staff and patients by COVID-19 had no established protocols for the dental problems caused by the pandemic. Hence, the dentists’ knowledge regarding the oral symptoms of COVID-19 were assessed. Objective This study reviewed the knowledge regarding oral manifestations of COVID-19 among dentists and the effect of waves 1 and 2 on dental community. Methods In phase I, a cross-sectional survey with standardised and validated questionnaire was distributed among dentists using social media. In phase II, a qualitative in-depth interview of 8 dental clinicians (samples due to data saturation) was done to investigate the effects waves 1 and 2 on dentistry. Descriptive data was analysed via chi-square tests and Phase II analysis was carried out via Atlas-Ti software. Results About 84.4% dental surgeons, 15 (3.7%) BDS, 48 (11.9%) MDS aspirants had good knowledge about the basic details and the oral manifestations of COVID-19, and the results were statistically significant with the participants’ knowledge about COVID-19 ( p  = 0.001), oral manifestations ( p  = 0), recommended personal prevention ( p  = 0.01), the necessity of RT‒PCR ( p  = 0) and disease fatality ( p  = 0.015). In phase II, four themes were formed from interviews: Source of 1st information, Outlook towards COVID-19, Impact and Self-retrospection. Conclusion This study highlights the knowledge assessment among dental clinicians on the requirement of educational training programs about infection control practices to be followed in dentistry. The in-depth interviews of the dental clinicians revealed the need for strict infection control protocols following the pandemic.

Therapeutic radiotherapy, commonly used in the treatment of head and neck cancers, may alter the mechanical and surface properties of restorative dental materials. Understanding these changes is essential for ensuring the long-term success of restorations in oncology patients. An study was conducted on 90 disc-shaped specimens (  = 30 each) of three restorative materials: 3M™ Filtek™ Bulk Fill, Charisma Topaz One, and Cention N. Samples were subjected to two radiation protocols: (i) 70 Gy in 35 fractions (2 Gy/day), and (ii) 45 Gy in 5 fractions (9 Gy/day). Vickers microhardness testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed 48 h post-irradiation. Filtek™ Bulk Fill exhibited the highest pre-radiation hardness (83.1 ± 2.3 HV), followed by Charisma Topaz One (74.5 ± 2.8 HV) and Cention N (69.8 ± 2.1 HV). After exposure to 70 Gy, a statistically significant reduction in microhardness was observed across all materials (  < 0.05), with Bulk Fill remaining the least affected (74.3 ± 2.1 HV). SEM images confirmed surface degradation in all groups, with varying degrees of filler particle exposure. Ionizing radiation alters both microhardness and surface morphology of restorative materials, with bulk-fill composites demonstrating greater resilience. These findings warrant further investigation to understand long-term clinical implications.