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Objective: Enterococcus faecalis, Gram-positive facultative anaerobe capable of invading the dentinal tubules, is resistant to several irrigating solutionsand intracanal medications. Motivated by the antibacterial effect exhibited by garlic extract against a wide variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negativebacteria, as well as anaerobic bacteria such as Lactobacillus and E. faecalis, we aimed in this study to analyze the efficacy of garlic extract against theviability of E. faecalis from clinical isolates of nonvital primary root canals.Methods: We used MTT assay to determine the viability of E. faecalis after exposure to increasing concentrations of garlic extract (10%, 25%, 50%,and 100%) and chlorhexidine (CHX) 2% as a positive control.Results: We performed the analysis using the Kruskal–Wallis test and the post hoc test for multiple comparisons at a 0.05 significance level. At allconcentrations, garlic extracts decreased the viability of E. faecalis. We found no significant differences between the viability values for 25%, 50%,and 100% garlic extracts (p>0.05); however, they were significantly different from the 10% extract and CHX 2% (p

Introduction: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is a natural antibacterial agent with the ability to kill microorganisms whose cell membranes contain lipids, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Actinomyces sp. and Prevotella spp. No study on the antibacterial effects of VCO on the chromogenic bacteria that causes dental black stains. Objective: To analyze the effects of VCO, which administered in various concentrations to Actinomyces sp. and Prevotella sp. Methods: Actinomyces sp. and Prevotella sp. were isolated from the dental plaque of a child diagnosed with black stain. Each streak of bacteria was cultured on a selective medium and confirmed visually and through Gram staining. Each bacterial culture was exposed to VCO in concentrations of 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100%. Afterward, viability testing with a methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium assay was conducted, and the results were read using an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reader. Results: The administration of 12.5% VCO reduced bacterial viability; however, 25% VCO significantly reduced the viability of Actinomyces sp. and 100% VCO significantly reduced the viability of Prevotella sp. Conclusion: Actinomyces sp. is more sensitive to VCO than Prevotella sp.

Objective: Anxiety is regarded as a major problem in children undergoing dental treatment. One of the physiological responses to anxiety is an increased pulse rate. Young children respond aggressively to anxiety and are in need of psychological intervention. Pop-up books can be used as an instrument to improve their interest and to help them understand the substance of dental health education.The objective of this study was to utilize pulse rate measurements to investigate the intervention of a pop-up book in reducing anxiety. A total of 78 children aged 4–6 years were divided into two groups: An intervention group with the pop-up book Aku dan Gigiku and a control group without intervention. The pulse rates of both groups were measured. This study comprised an experimental clinical research design. The independent t-test was used to measure comparisons of decreased pulse rate between the two groups.Result: The result showed that there was a statistically significant difference in decreased pulse rate with and without the intervention of the pop-up book Aku dan Gigiku. Pop-up books are often used as an educational medium for children because they present interesting illustrations and are easy to understand.Conclusion: As a medium of dental health education, pop-up books can contribute significantly to reducing anxiety in children.

Objective: Patients generally experience some level of anxiety during dental treatments. Salivary alpha amylase (SAA) can be used as a biomarker for anxiety. This study aimed to compare SAA levels between children who had never and had undergone tooth extraction procedures with a local anesthetic injection.Methods: Thirty-seven participants aged 6–11 years who were to undergo the extraction of primary teeth at the Dental and Oral Educational Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Indonesia, were enrolled. The subjects were divided into two groups: One group consists of 20 children who had never undergone a tooth extraction, and the other group consists of 17 children who had undergone tooth extraction. From all children, one saliva sample was collected using a portable saliva strip 10 min before (t0), shortly after (t1), and 10 min after (t2) local anesthetic injection, and the SAA activity was determined using a portable Nipro Cocoro Meter device. The SAA levels of both groups were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test.Results: There were significant differences in SAA levels at t0 (p=0.001), t1 (p=0.018), and t2 (p=0.021) in both groups. Anxiety is a combination of behavioral and physiological reactions. SAA release is regulated by autonomic innervation, and the SAA level increases owing to acute stress.Conclusion: Dentists should note patients’ negative dental experiences to provide more effective and less traumatic treatment.

Objective: Several studies have tried to objectively assess pain measurements. The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale (WBFPS) is an instrument that is commonly used to assess pain intensity in children. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between the WBFPS and salivary alpha-amylase (SAA) level during a tooth extraction procedure with a local anesthetic injection in children aged 6–11 years.Methods: Twenty-five children aged 6–11 years who were to undergo the extraction of a primary tooth at the Dental and Oral Educational Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Indonesia, were enrolled in this study. From all children, saliva was collected using a disposable saliva strip shortly after local anesthetic injection, and the SAA activity was then determined using a portable Nipro Cocoro Meter device. The WBFPS was measured at the same time. The correlation between the WBFPS and the SAA level was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation test. The statistically significant level was set at p≤0.05.Results: There was a significant correlation between the WBFPS and SAA level (p=0.002, r=0.581).Conclusion: Our data suggest that the SAA level might be a good index for objective pain intensity assessment.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the pop-up book Aku dan gigiku as an intervention strategy in reducing anxiety in young children before dentaltreatment.Methods: 78 children aged 4–6 years were randomly divided into two groups: An intervention group with the pop-up book intervention and a control group without the pop-up book intervention. They were placed in a waiting room, and their blood pressure was measured. The experimental design of this clinical research was statistically analyzed using independent t-tests to compare decreased blood pressure between the intervention and control groups.Results: The result of the study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in decreased blood pressure with the intervention of the pop-up book Aku dan gigiku. As dental anxiety leads to undesirable distresses, it generates physiological changes such as blood pressure. Interventions should thus be undertaken to reduce dentalanxiety, and the pop-up book is an example of an intervention medium as it educates children and presents interesting illustrations.Conclusion: The pop-up book Aku dan gigiku thus appears to be an effective method in reducing anxiety in children aged 4–6 years when used as an intervention strategy before dental treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the antibacterial effects of 0.1% chlorine dioxide and 0.1% chlorhexidine mouthrinses on the bacterial viability of Actinomyces sp. as an agent of black stain. Methods: The authors conducted a clinical trial involving 16 children ages 6–11 with at least 8 black-stained teeth. Subjects were randomized into 2 groups and instructed to rinse with chlorine dioxide or chlorhexidine mouthrinse twice daily. At baseline and after 7 days, samples of black stain plaque were collected, and Actinomyces sp. was cultured. Its bacterial viability was evaluated using an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay. Results: After 7 days, Actinomyces sp. viability was remarkably reduced in both groups, and there was a significantly higher reduction in viability in the 0.1% chlorine dioxide group than there was in the 0.1% chlorhexidine group. Conclusion: Mouthrinse containing 0.1% chlorine dioxide has a greater antibacterial effect against Actinomyces sp. than mouthrinse containing 0.1% chlorhexidine.