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BACKGROUND Tooth discoloration, which is often considered as a deviation from the beauty standards, is one of the significant factors that can affect an individual's mental health and well-being. Therefore, determining the relationship between tooth discoloration, its aesthetic treatment and mental health can provide answers for the improvement of treatment services. METHODS The present study is a cross sectional study. 96 participants meeting the inclusion criteria were assessed via demographic characteristics form and a standardized Goldberg’s general health questionnaire (GHQ) - 28 before starting the treatment. Following the assessment, a standard bleaching protocol was followed. Two weeks after the completion of the treatment, the patients were re-assessed using the same questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and chi square test for correlation analysis. Wilcoxon sign rank test was used to compare the scores before and after the intervention. RESULTS Higher GHQ scores were associated with younger age groups, females, unmarried persons, and lower education levels. The participants mainly showed higher mean social dysfunction scores (17.7), followed by anxiety scores (12.2) compared to somatic (7.7) and depression scores (4). The mean total GHQ scores were significantly decreased after aesthetic intervention. The mean GHQ scores were reduced from 42.5 before the bleaching treatment to 21.4 post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS Tooth discoloration showed a significant impact on mental health, mainly affecting the social functioning and the anxiety of the individuals. Tooth discoloration has a significant impact on the mental health in younger age groups, females, unmarried persons, and education status. The aesthetic intervention had significantly improved the overall mental health of the individuals. KEYWORDS GHQ, Mental Health, Tooth Discoloration

Introduction: Continuing dental education (CDE) has undergone enormous changes in recent years regarding its methodologies used, intellectual base, and the anticipation of what it should convey. Objectives: Do contemporary educational interventions based on general practice change doctors' behavior, and improve patient outcomes? It has become a more critical concern for governments and patients as well as dental practitioners. As reaccreditation and quality assurance scientific programs have become more widespread, the effectiveness of continuing dental education in changing clinical practice has come under closer inspection. There is a definite need to focus on the role of CDE during the COVID-19 Pandemic and how to implement CDE programs related to awareness of COVID-19. Results: In this review, we intend to describe various methods of educating dentists that improve patient outcomes, to examine the effectiveness of continuing dental education in clinical practice in particular, and some key points for ensuring success. Specifically, we focused on the role of CDE in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 Pandemic and various education methods that were efficient in attaining knowledge, attitude, and practical skills during the COVID-19 era.

ObjectivesMain purpose of present survey is to analyze the perception and practice of shade selection principles among postgraduates and dental practitioners in India.MethodsA well-formulated questionnaire consisting a total of 25 questions was disseminated among the postgraduates (Conservative dentistry and Endodontics, Prosthodontics, Pedodontics) general practitioners, specialist practitioners (Conservative dentistry and Endodontics, Prosthodontics, Pedodontics). The questionnaire includes knowledge and practice about shade selection principles and techniques. A total of 530 replies were accepted over google forms. Responses were obtained from 266 postgraduates, 176 specialist practitioners, 88 general practitioners. Data was analyzed in SPSS V25. Descriptive statistics were represented with percentages. Chi-square test, Fisher Exact test were utilized to find the association between level of knowledge and level of practice with demographic variables. (P

Ideal coronal restoration that provides satisfactory esthetic and functional outcome for endodontically treated and extensively damaged teeth is still an arduous task for restorative dentistry. None of the available post systems have all the ideal biological and mechanical properties. Biological dentin posts are considered as a good alternative to conventional post systems as they preserve dentin walls, which results in better distribution of forces along the root surfaces in the compromised tooth. This case report is an attempt to detail "autogenous dentin post" which serves as a homologous unit for the reinforcement of endodontically treated tooth by virtue of its biomimetic property.

COVID-19, the current pandemic has created a fearful scenario for health-care professionals. Being the frontline warriors, we need to have sound knowledge about the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and protect ourselves during this pandemic. According to the published literature, ins pite of following possible precautionary measures against transmission of disease, there is an increased number of infected health-care workers with COVID-19. The purpose of this review is to provide the information for the postgraduates, faculties, orthodontic practitioners, and to some extent, guidance on possible transmission routes, patient assessment, laboratory investigations, various radiographic imaging techniques, proper disinfectant protocol in handling the patients, orthodontic emergency management, and elective orthodontic treatment.

Aim: To evaluate and compare the effect of Sodium hypochlorite, etidronic acid, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the contact angle of AH Plus and MTA Fillapex root canal sealers. Materials and Methods: 45 freshly extracted single rooted teeth were selected and decoronated. They were then split longitudinally to obtain two halves which were trimmed as flat dentin bars of 2 mm thickness. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups of 30 each. The samples were surface treated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite in Group A, 2.5% sodium hypochlorite followed by 17% EDTA in Group B, and a combination of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and 18% etidronic acid in Group C. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups based on the sealer used, i.e., Subgroup 1-AH Plus and Subgroup 2-MTA Fillapex. The contact angle was analyzed using Rame Harte Goniometer. Results: AH Plus has significantly lesser contact angles than MTA Fillapex. The contact angle values showed the order of C1 < B1 < A1 < C2 < B2 < A2. Conclusion: Irrigating solutions affect the wettability of rootcanal sealers. AH Plus showed better wettability compared to MTA Fillapex. Irrigation with a combination of sodium hypochlorite and etidronic acid significantly decreased the contact angle, thereby increasing the wettability of sealers.

Pain during fixed orthodontic treatment can have a detrimental effect on patient treatment compliance. To overcome this, there is a definite need to establish the best pain-relieving methods suitable for orthodontic patients in terms of efficacy and use. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of chewing gum and pre-emptive tenoxicam on pain after initial archwire placement and to evaluate the pain perceptions of orthodontic patients in the two groups while performing various functions at specific time intervals.Forty-two patients were selected and randomly divided into two groups: group A (chewing gum) and group B (pre-emptive tenoxicam). Pain perception was documented by patients immediately; at 4 h; at bedtime on the day of archwire placement; the next morning; at 24 h; and at bedtime on the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th day after the initial archwire placement. Pain scores were noted during fitting of the posterior teeth, biting, and chewing using a visual analog scale. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis.Group A showed a significant increase in pain until the next morning while fitting the posterior teeth, biting, and chewing [36.2, 52.0, 33.4, respectively]], followed by a gradual decrease by the 7th day. Group B showed a significant increase in pain at bedtime on biting, with a peak value of 47.5. Pain on chewing, fitting posterior teeth, peaked the morning of the next day (100.0, 45.0). The Freidman test showed a statistically significant difference with a p-value of0.01. Higher pain scores were observed while chewing and biting compared with that while fitting the posterior teeth in both groups. The overall comparison of pain control between the two groups was not statistically significant [P0.05] between the two groups.Chewing gum was not inferior to pre-emptive tenoxicam. Thus, chewing gum is a non-pharmacological alternative to analgesics for orthodontic pain control that eliminates the chance of adverse reactions and can be used in the absence of adult observation.

Aim of the Study: We aimed to compare stress distribution in a tooth restored with fiber post and dentin post after applying the orthotropic properties using three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA). Materials and Methods: Two 3D-FEA models were constructed. The material properties were assigned, and a load of 100 N was applied at 45° to the long axis of the model onto the lingual surface incisal to the cingulum. The FEA was done by applying orthotropic properties of dentin and fiber post. The maximum stresses produced in the tooth and post referred to as von Mises stress were recorded. The Ansys software was used which depicts the stress concentrations. Results: Von Mises values showed that glass fiber post (331 MPa) and dentin post (338 MPa)-restored tooth models presented similar stress values. Conclusion: Although both fiber post and dentin post presented similar von Mises stress values, the pattern of stress distribution is more favorable in dentin post. More favorable fracture could be expected in case of dentin post. Thus, the dentin post is a promising alternative post material for rehabilitating endodontically treated teeth. Clinical Significance: Ascribing the orthotropic properties in a FEA study means that the computational simulation was similar to that of clinical scenario, and hence simulates the dynamic intraoral conditions, thereby giving the accurate results.