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Introduction: The study aimed to investigate the influence of various factors on the localization of the second mesiobuccal (MB2) canal in maxillary molars, a commonly missed canal during endodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive assessment of maxillary molars treated over three years with a dental operative microscope was conducted. Factors such as patient gender, age, tooth type, pulp status, pre-operative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and treatment modality were examined. Statistical analyses included chi-square and multiple logistic regression. Results: Among 333 treated maxillary molars, the MB2 canal was identified in 60.1%. The prevalence of MB2 canals was significantly higher in the first molars (72.3%) compared to the second molars (40.2%; P=0.001). Multiple logistic regression models showed that gender, tooth type, and treatment modality emerged as significant determinants of MB2 canal localization: males [odds ratio 3.01(CI 95%:1.71-5.32), P<0.001], first molar tooth [odds ratio 4.26 (CI 95%:2.53-7.18), P<0.001] and secondary endodontic treatment [odds ratio 0.06 (CI 95%: 0.004-0.890), P<0.04]. Conclusions: Patient gender, tooth type, and treatment modality play pivotal roles in the identification of the MB2 canal. Additionally, the availability of pre-operative CBCT imaging was associated with a heightened ability to locate the MB2 canal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Success in anesthesia administration relieves the perception of pain during surgery. Lidocaine is the most commonly used local anesthetic agent in clinical medicine. Moreover, anesthetic agents’ temperature changes can influence cell membrane permeability. Here, the effectiveness of different temperatures of Lidocaine (Lid.) on anesthesia success rate has been investigated in rats. Methods: Wistar male rats were pretreated by fast injection of lidocaine or saline into the hind paw or intradermal cheek at Room Temperature (RT) and Body Temperature (BT) (22°C and 37°C, respectively). Then, rat behaviors were evaluated by formalin-induced hind paw pain and orofacial pain tests, respectively. Moreover, using a single-unit recording technique, the spontaneous activity of the marginal nerve was recorded at room temperature in the RT-Lid. and BT-Lid. groups. Results: Data analysis revealed that lidocaine had significant antinociceptive effects in both the BT-Lid. and RT-Lid. groups compared to the control groups (P<0.05). Also, the number of spikes in the BT-Lid. and RT-Lid. groups were significantly lower than their baselines (P<0.05). However, lidocaine at body temperature decreased the total time spent licking the hind paw, the number of lip rubbings, and the number of spikes firing by about 10%-15% compared to room temperature. Conclusion: In both behavioral and neural levels of the study, our results showed that an increase in the temperature of lidocaine toward body temperature could increase anesthesia success rate compared to administration of lidocaine at room temperature. These findings can be considered in the treatment of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) assesses the subjective perception of oral health and its impact on the quality of life. The aim of this study is to measure the OHRQoL and its determinants among adult people living in Kerman, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 5657 adult people (18-64 years) residing in the Kerman district, both in the rural and urban areas, were enrolled in the study between September 2014 and April 2018. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and the oral health indices, such as the total decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT), community periodontal index (CPI), gingival index (GI), and xerostomia, were measured by an experienced dentist. The demographic variables of gender, age, educational status, and marital status were also recorded. The impact of the studied variables on OHRQoL was evaluated with multiple logistic regression. Results: Participants were 2239 (39.58%) men, and average age was 45.39. The mean scores for OHRQoL, DMFT, CPI and GI were respectively: 24.07 (7.76), 10.7 (6.86), 0.76 (0.96), 0.63 (0.8). The frequency of people with xerostomia was 37.4. 301 (53.3%) of people had poor quality of life related to oral health. In multivariable analysis, there was a statistically significant increase in OHRQoL with an increase in the DMFT (P < 0.001), xerostomia (P < 0.001), CPI, (P < 0.001). Men had a significantly higher OHIP score than women (P < 0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, DMFT, xerostomia, and CPI scores are strongly related to OHIP scores. In addition, between CPI and GI scores, the CPI score is the better predictor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Promoting oral health is a complicated issue among drug abusers and opium is the most frequent drug abused in Iran. This study aims to find the oral health determinants of opium users in Kerman, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was a part of the second phase of Kerman coronary artery disease risk factors study (KERCADRS, 2014-2018). In this survey, the data of 1140 opium users were analyzed. The information about using a toothbrush, dental floss, number of dental visits at last year, age of first use of opium, duration, and opium consumption frequency was recorded. The total number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and Community Periodontal Index (CPI) was recorded by an oral examination. Poisson and logistic regressions analyses were used for assessing the relationship among variables. Findings: The mean age of participants was 52 ± 12 years. 74.4% were men and 24.6% were women. The average DMFT index was 15.7 ± 7.6 and the prevalence of a healthy CPI score was 18.5%. Educational level (P < 0.001), brushing (P < 0.001), flossing (P < 0.001), dental visit (P < 0.001), first age of using opium (P < 0.001), frequency of consumption (P < 0.001), and age (P < 0.001) were associated with DMFT index. Only using floss (P < 0.001), dental visit [odds ratio (OR) = 1.80, P = 0.030], frequency of consumption (OR = 2.92, P < 0.001), and age (P = 0.001) were associated with CPI score. Conclusion: The frequency of opium consumption has the same effect on caries incidence as oral hygiene habits. Moreover, using dental floss has a more significant effect on the periodontal health of participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The effect of age, gender and other demographic factors on relationship between smoking and dry mouth remained unknown. The aim of this study was to measure the relationship between dry mouth and smoking specifically by considering demographic characteristics.Methods: In this case-control study, 5640 subjects who were randomly selected from 10000 participants of the second phase of Kerman coronary artery disease risk factors study (KERCADRS) during 2014-2018, were included. Demographic characteristics and smoking frequency in the participants were recorded by a checklist. Six-item Fox questionnaire was filled out by the participants to determine dry mouth as a dependent variable. The interaction terms of daily cigarette smoking with sex, age, educational level, and marital status were entered to the model and non-significant terms were removed by the hierarchical model selection.Results: It was revealed that 3429 (60.8%) of controls had not dry mouth and 2211 (39.2%) of cases had xerostomia. Statistical analysis revealed that smokers are more likely to have dry mouth in all ages and both sexes (p<0.001). As men get older, the chance of having dry mouth increases more rapidly among them than female smokers (p<0.001). In addition, female smokers have more chance to have dry mouth compared to male smokers (p<0.001).Conclusion: Age, sex, and daily cigarette smoking affect the prevalence of dry mouth in the very complex way. Cigarette smoking was associated with more chance of having dry mouth especially in female smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since secondary caries is one of the main problems of dental composites. The creation of an antibacterial property in these composites is essential. The objective of this study was to synthesize 3-(2, 5-dimethylfuran-3-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5(4H)-one and check its biocompatibility and antibacterial properties in flowable dental composites. Materials and Methods: In this animal study, the antibacterial activity of flowable resin composites containing 0–5 wt% 3-(2,5-dimethylfuran-3-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5(4H)-one was investigated by using agar diffusion and direct contact tests on the cured resins. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA test (P < 0.001). Thirty male albino Wistar rats were used, weighing 200–250 g. Animals were randomly divided into three groups of ten; each animal received three implants, 3-(2, 5-dimethylfuran-3-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5(4H)-one, penicillin V, and an empty polyethylene tube. A pathologist, without knowing the type of material tested and the timing of the test, examined the samples. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis test (P < 0.001). Results: According to our findings, although the agar diffusion test reveals no significant difference between the groups, the direct contact test demonstrates that, by increasing the 3-(2,5-dimethylfuran-3-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5(4H)-one content, the bacterial growth was significantly diminished and the 3-(2,5-dimethylfuran-3-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5(4H)-one has a good biocompatibility (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Incorporation of 3-(2,5-dimethylfuran-3-yl)-IH-pyrazole-5(4H)-one into flowable resin composites can be useful to prevent Streptococcus mutans activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the present investigation was to compare the efficacy of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) mixture to pure MTA, as a pulp capping material. Methods and Materials: The pulp of 24 lateral incisors and canines from four dogs were exposed and capped either with MTA or MTA+0.2% CHX. After 2 months the animals were sacrificed and the teeth were prepared for histological evaluation in terms of calcified bridge formation, the degree of inflammation and presence of necrosis. The Fisher’s exact test was used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that formation of complete calcified bridge in MTA specimens was significantly more than MTA+CHX (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the degree of inflammation and necrosis between MTA and MTA+CHX groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Mixing MTA with CHX as pulp capping agent had a significant negative impact on formation of calcified bridge on directly capped dog’s teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Quoting an article in well-known text books is held as a credit for that paper. The numbers of Iranian publications mentioned in endodontic text books have increased during recent years. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the number of Iranian articles quoted in eminent endodontic text books. Methods and Materials: Three known text books (Ingle’s Endodontics, Seltzer and Bender’s Dental Pulp and Cohen’s Pathways of the Pulp) were chosen and all the editions of the text books since 2000 were investigated for quoted Iranian publications. Only Iranian authors with affiliations from a domestic university were chosen. All references at the end of each chapter were read by hand searching, and results were noted. The trend and percentage of Iranian publications in different editions of the text books were also calculated. The number of citations of these publications in Google Scholar and Scopus databases were also obtained. Results: The number of Iranian publications in all well-known text books have notably increased since 2000. The number and percentage of Iranian publications in the latest edition of Cohen’s Pathways of the Pulp was higher compared to other text books as well as the previous edition of the same text. Conclusion: Number and percentage of Iranian publications in the field of endodontics in all three text books have remarkably increased since 2000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Considering the importance of entering doctoral students to universities with hard competition, in order to detect the predictive power of entrance exam grade in educational achievement in early years, we attempted to investigate the efficacy of entrance exam with basic scientific test. Methods: The existing data from national organization for education testing and education center of Kerman University of medical sciences were collected in 300 students (medical, dental, pharmacology) in consecutive years (2005-6). Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis were used. Results: In multivariate regression model, the only two predictive lessons for success in basic scientific test in medical students were biology and Arabic language with determine coefficient (DC) 0.44, in dental students was chemistry (DC = 0.48) and in pharmacology students were biology and physics (DC=0.46).In addition, there was no correlation between ranking in entrance exam and basic scientific test grade in all groups. Conclusion: As we did not predict, there was no strong relationship between entrance exam grades and basic scientific test. This is the important point that we must know about this weak relationship. These issues could show the low validity of entrance exam, basic scientific tests or remarkable changes in educational level of students before entering university and early years of entering universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study was carried out to estimate toothache prevalence among adult residents in Kerman. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among individuals aged over 18 years (n=1800). The relevant data on the prevalence of toothache and associated factors were collected by interviewing the individuals in their homes and filling out a questionnaire designed by the examiners. Prevalence of toothache and associated factors that patients recalled previous to their interview were analyzed by chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Nine hundred ninety-one individuals (55.1%) reported toothache during the 6 months before the interview. The participants who flossed daily, had regular dental visits, and had higher education showed a significantly lower prevalence of toothache (P<0.05), whereas regular tooth brushing and economic level of residency had no significant effect on the prevalence of toothache. Individuals between the ages of 26 and 45 [odds ratio (OR)=2.0], with a family size of more than 4 (OR=1.5), not using dental floss (OR=1.5), or having a mental or psychological illness (OR=1.5) were more likely to have a history of toothache. Conclusion: High prevalence of toothache (more than half) among residents of Kerman shows a serious and major public health problem. Toothache prevalence in middle aged adults, lower education, bigger family size, lower dental hygiene habit and/or those having mental or psychological illness were more common in the city of Kerman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Quoting an article in well-known textbooks is held as a credit for that paper. The numbers of Iranian publications mentioned in endodontic textbooks have increased during recent years. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the number of Iranian articles quoted in eminent endodontic textbooks., Methods and Materials: Three known textbooks (Ingle's Endodontics, Seltzer and Bender's Dental Pulp and Cohen's Pathways of the Pulp) were chosen and all the editions of the textbooks since 2000 were investigated for quoted Iranian publications. Only Iranian authors with affiliations from a domestic university were chosen. All references at the end of each chapter were read by hand searching, and results were noted. The trend and percentage of Iranian publications in different editions of the textbooks were also calculated. The number of citations of these publications in Google Scholar and Scopus databases were also obtained., Results: The number of Iranian publications in all well-known textbooks have notably increased since 2000. The number and percentage of Iranian publications in the latest edition of Cohen's Pathways of the Pulp was higher compared to other textbooks as well as the previous edition of the same text., Conclusion: Number and percentage of Iranian publications in the field of endodontics in all three textbooks have remarkably increased since 2000.

Introduction: As the result of epidemiological transition and aging of Iranian population, the frequencies of systemic diseases among patients in of need endodontic treatment has increased, especially within developed cities. However, there have been no concise reports of systemic diseases in Iranian patients. Based on this need, the present investigation was conducted to assess the frequency of systemic disease among patients referred to endodontic private practice in three main cities in Iran., Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study, the frequency of systematic diseases were abstracted from the health records of patients who were referred to three private practices limited to endodontics in Kerman, Mashhad, and Tehran between 1994 to 2011., Results: Overall, 15,413 records of patients were assessed. The patterns of systematic diseases among endodontic patients in these three cities were different. The overall frequency of systemic disease in Kerman was significantly higher than two other cities (Kerman: 55.03%, Mashhad: 24.32%, Tehran: 22.16%; P<0.001). The most commonly occurring diseases were cardiac disease, hypertension, allergy and neurological disorders., Conclusion: Since the number of endodontic patients with systematic diseases is considerably significant and varied, special training and educations for treatment of medically compromised patient should be considered at both post- and undergraduate training.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the histopathologic reaction of four suturing materials: silk, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyglycolic acid, and catgut in the oral mucosa of albino rabbits., Materials and Methods: The twenty-one male mature albino rabbits which were used in this study were randomly divided into three groups of seven each. Silk, PVDF, polyglycolic acid and catgut suture materials were tested in the oral mucosa of these animals. The animals were sacrificed 2, 4, and 7 days after suturing. Two pathologists evaluated the samples by determining the presence and level of inflammation, granulation tissue, and fibrosis formation. Data were statistically analyzed by Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests., Results: Histological features of the samples showed that PVDF and plain catgut suture materials produced more fibrous tissue (favorable response) on the fourth day in comparison with silk suture (P=0.02). Also, in the 7-day samples PVDF sutures produced the mildest inflammation when compared with the silk sutures (P=0.015)., Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be convey that PVDF suture materials created mild tissue reactions and can be a reasonable candidate for suturing oral tissues.