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Introduction The aim of this study was to better understand the interfaces of being correct or incorrect and confident or unconfident; aiming to point out misconceptions and assure valuable questions. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of second-year dental students (n = 29) attending a preclinical endodontics course. Students answered 20 multiple-choice questions (“basic” or “moderate” level) on endodontics, all of which were followed by one confidence question (scale). Our two research questions were: (1) How was the students’ performance, considering correctness, misconceptions, and level of confidence? (2) Were the questions valuable, appropriate and friendly, and which ones led to misconceptions? Four situations arouse from the interrelationship between question correctness and confidence level: (1st) correct and confident, (2nd) correct and unconfident, (3rd) incorrect and confident (misconception) and (4th) incorrect and unconfident. Statistical analysis (α = 5%) considered the interaction between (a) students’ performance with misconceptions and confidence; (b) question’s difficulty with correctness and confidence; and (c) misconceptions with clinical and negative questions. Results Students had 92.5% of correctness and 84.6% of confidence level. Nine students were responsible for the 12 misconceptions. Students who had more misconceptions had lower correctness (P P = 0.047). ‘Moderate’ questions had more incorrectness (P P = 0.02) than ‘basic’. All questions were considered valuable [for example, the ones that presented images or required a mental picture of a clinical scenario, since they induced less misconception (P = 0.007)]. There was no difference in misconceptions between negative questions and other questions (P = 0.96). Conclusion Preclinical endodontic students were highly correct and very confident in their responses. Students who had more misconceptions had also the lowest performance in the assessment. Questions were valuable; but some will worth further improvement for the future. A multiple-choice assessment, when combined with confidence questions, provided helpful information regarding misconceptions and questions value.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are increasingly popular in many countries and became a public health concern. In some places, such as, in Brazil, electronic smoking devices were banned from the market. Even though e-cigarettes are illegal in Brazil, it is important to emphasize the need to educate dental professionals regarding the potential hazards of vaping on the oral and systemic health. This study questioned Canadian dental patients about e-cigarettes, aiming to share information with dental professionals around the world regarding this contemporary issue. One hundred sixty-three (163) adult dental patients who attended a Canadian university dental clinic in the period February-May 2018 answered a closed-ended questionnaire to investigate their knowledge about e-cigarettes and their usage habits. Data was descriptively reported (frequencies and percentages). Only 7 (4.29%) patients (≥ 18 years old) had never heard about e-cigarettes. Overall, patients believed that conventional cigarettes are more harmful to the general (88.95%), and oral health (91.41%), in comparison to the negative effects caused by e-cigarettes to the general (69.93%), and oral health (69.32%). Prosthodontic crowns and implants were cited as structures that might not be affected by e-cigarettes. Twenty-one (12.88%) patients had already tried an e-cigarette (half of those were non-smokers). The reasons to try e-cigarettes were: ‘they help to quit smoking and they are a safer alternative to smoking’. The harmfulness of e-cigarettes compared to conventional cigarettes was pointed as: i) both types are equally harmful > ii) e-cigarettes are harmful, but not as bad as conventional cigarettes > iii) e-cigarettes are more harmful. Patients were aware of the negative effects of e-cigarettes, but to a lesser degree when comparing their knowledge to conventional cigarettes. A few participants have already tried an e-cigarette and almost half of those were non-smokers. Cigarros eletrônicos são cada vez mais populares em muitos países (como por exemplo, no Canadá) e se tornaram um problema de saúde pública. Em alguns lugares, como no Brasil, os aparelhos eletrônicos para fumar foram banidos do comércio. Apesar de os cigarros eletrônicos serem ilegais no Brasil, é importante que se enfatize a necessidade de educar os profissionais da odontologia em relação aos perigos potenciais do ‘vaping’ para a saúde oral e sistêmica. Este estudo questionou pacientes de uma faculdade de odontologia do Canadá sobre cigarros eletrônicos, com o objetivo de informar profissionais da odontologia a respeito deste problema contemporâneo. Cento e sessenta e três (163) pacientes adultos que procuraram atendimento na clínica dentária de uma faculdade de odontologia do Canadá no período de fevereiro a maio de 2018 responderam um questionário fechado objetivando investigar o conhecimento dos pacientes sobre cigarros eletrônicos e os hábitos de uso. Os dados foram descritivamente reportados (frequências e percentagens). Somente 7 (4,29%) pacientes (≥ 18 anos) nunca tinham ouvido falar sobre cigarros eletrônicos. De uma forma geral, os pacientes acreditam que os cigarros convencionais são mais prejudiciais à saúde geral (88.95%) e oral (91.41%), em comparação com os efeitos negativos causados pelos cigarros eletrônicos para a saúde geral (69.93%) e oral (69.32%). Coroas de próstese e implantes dentários foram citados como as estruturas que talvez não sejam afetadas pelos cigarros eletrônicos. Vinte e um (12,88%) pacientes já tinham fumado um cigarro eletrônico (metade destes eram não fumantes). As razões para fumar cigarro eletrônico foram: “eles ajudam a parar de fumar e são uma alternativa segura ao cigarro”. A nocividade dos cigarros eletrônicos comparada aos cigarros convencionais foi citada como: i) ambos são igualmente prejudiciais > ii) cigarros eletrônicos são prejudiciais, mas não tanto quanto os cigarros convencionais > iii) cigarros eletrônicos são mais prejudiciais. Os pacientes estavam cientes dos efeitos negativos causados pelos cigarros eletrônicos, mas em um grau menor quando comparado com o conhecimentos que tinham sobre os efeitos dos cigarros convencionais. Poucos participantes já tinham fumado um cigarro eletrônico e a metade destes eram não-fumantes.

Aim To compare the frequency of misconceptions amongst dental students resulting from assessments in different subject areas using different types of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). We wanted to know whether misconceptions, or strongly held incorrect beliefs, differed by subject area or question type. Methods A total of 104 students completed two assessments that included 20 MCQs on endodontics and 20 MCQs on dental implants. On each examination, 10 questions were scenario-type questions requiring interpretation or analysis and 10 questions were factual-based, knowledge questions. Incorrect responses and confidence levels by student and subject were recorded for a comparison of average misconceptions by question type and for correlations between scenario and knowledge question types for misconceptions on both assessments. Results Students were overly confident on their incorrect responses and misconceptions for both assessments. On the endodontic examination, students held a statistically significant higher number of mean misconceptions on scenario questions than for knowledge questions, but the difference was not statistically significant for the dental implant examination. There was a moderately weak relationship between scenario and knowledge questions for misconceptions on the endodontic (r=.31) and dental implant (r=.20) assessments, suggesting students who have misconceptions on knowledge questions are somewhat more likely to have misconceptions on scenario questions. Conclusion Students had a consistent rate of overconfidence (75%) in their incorrect responses regardless of question type or dental subject. Questions that prompted a higher per cent of incorrect responses were more likely to detect misconceptions, as students were highly confident in their mistakes, for both assessments.

Objetivo: A literatura relata que o Cadmio (Cd) é altamente tóxico para o corpo humano e para os tecidos dentais. Soluções irrigadoras como o hipoclorito de sódio (NaOCl) usadas no tratamento de canal radicular são compostas por diversos metais. Contudo, não há estudo em relação à presença de Cd nestas soluções. Este estudo objetivou verificar a existência de Cd em soluções de NaOCl 2.5% procedentes de diferentes origens, sendo até o momento, o primeiro estudo deste tipo. Métodos: Três soluções de 2.5% de NaOCl de diferentes origens foram avaliadas em relação ao conteúdo de cloro e a presença/quantidade (mg/L) de Cd por meio do teste de Voltametria de Redissolução Anódica (ASV). O método de Titulação Oxidação-redução (OR) foi empregado para quantificar o cloro livre. Os tipos das soluções de NaOCl foram provenientes das seguintes origens: i) manipuladas em farmácia, ii) industrializada e comercializada em dentárias, e iii) industrializada e comercializada em supermercados. Resultados : O teste ASV mostrou que a quantidade de Cd era de 0.14 mg/L para soluções provenientes da dentária. O método OR encontrou a seguinte quantidade de cloro livre: 1.15%; 1.52% e 2.24% para as soluções provenientes da farmácia, dentária e supermercado, respectivamente. Conclusão: Todas as amostras apresentaram níveis de Cd acima dos limites permitidos pela legislação do local onde o estudo foi conduzido (0.01 mg/L). Objective: The literature reports that Cadmium (Cd) is highly toxic to human body and dental tissues. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) irrigating solutions used in root canal treatment are composed of several metals. However, there is no study regarding the presence of Cd in these solutions. This study aimed to verify the existence of Cd on 2.5% NaOCl solutions proceeding from different origins, being to date the first of the kind. Methods: Three solutions of 2.5% NaOCl from different origins were assessed in relation to the chlorine content and the presence/amount (mg/L) of cadmium by the Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) test. Oxidation-Reduction Titration (OR) method was performed to quantify the available chlorine. The types of NaOCl solutions were from: i) hand manipulated at a pharmacy, ii) industrialized and commercialized at a dental supply store and iii) industrialized and commercialized at a grocery supermarket. Results : The ASV test showed the amount of cadmium was 0.14mg/L for solutions coming from the pharmacy and the supermarket, and 0.13 mg/L for the solution coming from the dental supply store. OR method found the following amount of available chlorine: 1.15% and 1.52% and 2.24% NaOCl for solutions proceeding from the pharmacy, dental supply store and supermarket, respectively. Conclusion : All samples presented levels of Cd above the permissible limits stated by the legislation from where the study was conducted (0.01 mg/L).