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This study aimed to evaluate the level of oral health knowledge among teachers in a city of the Brazilian Amazon region (Belem, Pará) and explore the association between teachers' knowledge and their proposed actions in the event of dental trauma accidents within the school environment. The descriptive cross‐sectional study involved 170 elementary teachers from public schools in the Metropolitan Region of Belem, Para State, Brazil. A self‐administered questionnaire with multiple‐choice questions was utilized to assess teachers' oral health knowledge across various domains. The questionnaire comprised seven targeted sections: the first section focused on demographic and professional aspects of the educators, while the remaining six sections addressed the oral health knowledge related to oral health education, dental caries, dental trauma (specifically dental avulsion), periodontal disease, visits to the dentist, and the educator's role in promoting oral health. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and χ2 tests using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS; 20.0 version). Most of the sample were female (92.2%) and around 41–60 years (36.0%). Most teachers had over 5 years of teaching experience (87.0%) and held an undergraduate degree (63.0%). A significant association was found between teaching experience and the choice of storage method for avulsed teeth following dental trauma (p = 0.005). However, the teachers examined in this study exhibited inadequate knowledge concerning the appropriate treatment for cavities and the recommended age for a child's first dental appointment. These findings underscore the crucial role teachers play in promoting oral health among students, particularly in regions characterized by social inequality and limited access to basic sanitation and healthcare services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of natural products such as essential oils has been suggested due to their promising pharmacological effects and economic viability. This study aimed to determine hydrogenic potential (pH), titratable acidity (TA), and ion concentrations of five solutions containing essential oils (EO), when used as a EO-containing solutions, and evaluate ion concentrations, enamel surface loss, and morphology alterations in enamel. Materials and methods: The pH, TA, calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and sodium (Na) concentrations of five EO-containing solutions were measured. Bovine enamel specimens were submitted to two daily 30-s immersions in artificial saliva, citric acid, distilled water, BaCloTea (Basil, Clove e Tea Tree), GeLaTeaPep (Geranium, Lavender, Tea Tree and Peppermint), EucaLem (Eucalyptus and Lemon), Cinnamon, or Spearmint solutions for 14 days. Ca, K, Na, and phosphorus (P) were quantified through ions chromatography, enamel surface loss was determined by profilometry, and surface morphology was qualitatively analyzed through scanning electron microscopy. Data were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey (p < 0.05). Results: The five EO-containing solutions presented significantly lower pH values than distilled water (p < 0.05). The GeLaTeaPep group presented a significantly higher TA value than BaCloTea (p < 0.05), which in turn showed a significantly higher TA value than the other solutions (p < 0.05). The distilled water presented significantly higher Ca, K, and Na concentrations than all EO-containing solutions (p < 0.05). The enamel exposed to EO-containing solutions showed lower Ca and P concentrations than artificial saliva (control) as well as significantly higher surface loss; however, the surface morphology was similar to the artificial saliva. Conclusion: EO-containing solutions have low pH, TA, and low concentrations of Ca, Na, and K. Moreover, enamel exposed to these solutions showed low Ca and P concentrations and slight surface loss without morphology alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells in response to substances released by the pulp capping agents, Biodentine (BD), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and two-paste calcium hydroxide cement (CHC), along with their physicochemical characteristics. The dimensional stability test showed that of the materials studied, only BD met the standards recommended by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for pulp capping materials and thus can be used safely. In the chemical tests, BD was the most stable material. In the Alizarin red S test, BD formed the higher amount of mineralized nodules in the mineralizing medium and also formed mineralized nodules in a non-mineralizing medium. BD releases substances that can significantly induce formation of the human dental pulp stem cell-mineralized extracellular matrix, with physicochemical characteristics that are more conducive to pulp repair than those of MTA and CHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the influence of the irradiation with a short-pulse Er:YAG laser on the adhesion of composite resin to sound and eroded dentin (SD and ED). Forty-six samples of occlusal dentine, obtained from human molars, had half of their surface protected, while the other half was submitted to erosive cycles. Afterward, 23 samples were irradiated with Er:YAG laser, resulting in four experimental groups: SD, sound irradiated dentine (SID-Er:YAG, 50 μs, 2 Hz, 80 mJ, and 12.6 J/cm2), ED, and eroded irradiated dentin (EID-erosion + Er:YAG laser). A self-etching adhesive system was used, and then cylinders of composite resin were prepared. A microshear bond strength test was performed after 24 h storage (n = 20). The morphology of SD and ED, with or without Er:YAG laser irradiation, was evaluated under scanning electron microscopy (n = 3). Bond strength values (MPa) were subjected to analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test. Statistically significant differences were found among the experimental groups: SD (9.76 ± 3.39 B), SID (12.77 ± 5.09 A), ED (5.12 ± 1.72 D), and EID (7.62 ± 3.39 C). Even though erosion reduces the adhesion to dentin, the surface irradiation with a short-pulse Er:YAG laser increases adhesion to both ED and SD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]