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The aims of the present study is to determine dental caries experience, prevalence and severity in a group of 13–15 years old. Materials and Methods: A random sample of 516 intermediate school students were examined and dental caries was recorded by DMFT values. Also, the significant caries index, care and treatment need indices were used. Results: Mean DMFT values for the total sample was 5.17 with a statistically significant age difference, females tended to have more caries than males with significant gender difference. The significant caries index was 7.98, care index which shows the restorative care was 10.39. Discussion: There has been an increase in dental caries prevalence and severity in Mosul compared with a previous study that was undertaken during the United Nations’ sanctions on Iraq, due to the availability and relative cheapness of sugars and confectionaries after 2003. Conclusions: To improve children’s oral health, community school–based oral health educational programs should be established starting from primary and extending to intermediate schools, stressing on sugar restriction and oral hygiene measures, fissure sealants and fluorides can also be used effectively.

Aims of the Study: The aim of the present study is to identify the effectiveness of tgpaste of calcium hydroxide with barium sulfate in inducing a calcified apical barrier of an incompletely formed root in necrotic permanent incisors of children. Materials and Methods: Twenty children with twenty teeth with pulpal necrotic and an incompletely formed apex were included in this study. Working length determination, instrumentation, irrigation and dryness were carried out for the root canals then paste of non setting calcium hydroxide injected inside the canal and after each 3 months the patients were recalled to check the calcified apical barrier formation. Results: The average age of patients was 8 years. The mean duration for apical barrier formation was 6.813+1.1 months (range 6–12 months). Discussion: The use of calcium hydroxide in apical barrier formation has shown promising results. Because of its enhanced success rate, easy availability for clinician and affordability for patients, it has gained widest acceptance all around the world. Conclusions: It is generally agreed that calcium hydroxide is the major ingredient responsible for stimulating the desired calcific closure of the apical area of non–vital immature permanent incisors.

Aims: To find out the most frequent dental arch form in Mosuli adults. Establishment of the normative values of the upper dental arch dimensions. Materials and Methods: The sample of this study involved students from Mosul University, 95 students (58 females, 37 males) were selected. The age of the sample ranged between 18–25 years old. They were normal healthy individuals of Mosul origin. Full complement of permanent dentition, bilateral Class I molar and canine occlusion. The data recorded in this research were subjected to computerized statistical analysis using SPSS programs, including descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum), Student’s t–test was applied to test the significant differences between the genders. Results: There were highly significant differences between males and females of the vertical measurements, that males had larger arch length than females. Also, males had larger arch width with a highly significant difference at p < 0.01 in all width dimensions in maxillary arches. It could be noticed that the most prevalent arch form among the sample was the Mid form followed by the Narrow and Wide then flat & pointed forms. Conclusions: The mid arch form is the most frequent arch form followed by other types. All the measured dimensions (width and length) have significantly greater mean value in males than in females with significant difference for linear measurements. no significant difference in ratio between genders.

Aims: This in vitro study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the effect of acid etching and/or diode laser (1064 nm) irradiation on shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets. Materials and Methods: Thirty freshly extracted human premolars were included in this study. Laser irradiation was done by using the new 1064 nm diode laser with output power of 2.5 Watt in continues mode, also use stainless steel orthodontic brackets (Roth, 22–slot size), and use orthodontic flowable composite resin which needs no bonding fluid. The 30 human teeth were divided into 3 groups (each group consist of 10 teeth): Group A–use acid etching (37% phosphoric acid) for 1 minute to bond bracket to tooth surface (control group), group B–use laser irradiation for 30 seconds with Indian ink (coated on teeth). Group C–use laser irradiation for 30 seconds with Indian ink after that use acid etching for 1 minute. Shear bond strength measured by using unconfined shear testing machine at a cross head speed of 5 mm/min. Results: The shear bond strength means were as follows: Group A: 11.27 MPa, group B: 6.21 MPa, group C: 14.04 MPa. The acid etching after 1064 nm diode laser irradiation (group C) has significantly higher bond strength (p ˂ 0.05) than remaining groups. In group B, orthodontic brackets had significantly lower shear bond strength (p ˂ 0.05) than remaining groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that acid etching after laser irradiation enhances and improves the bonding of orthodontic composite resin to human enamel. In the same time 1064 nm diode laser irradiation with ink coating is not consider as a replacement to acid etching in bonding of orthodontic brackets to human enamel