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This technology report outlines the design and construction of a simple Arduino-based pH sensor using universal pH paper; it can be assembled for less than $40 and is ideal for use in laboratory classrooms teaching students with visual disabilities. The device is simple to construct and suitable for adoption in school chemistry laboratories because of its miniature size, user-friendliness, and flexible coding. The Arduino-based pH sensor allows the visually impaired to use and interpret universal pH paper in measuring pH, which could not be previously attempted. A change in color of the indicator paper, as detected by the RGB color sensor, generates a distinctive audible tone that corresponds to the pH value being measured. This device can function as a helping hand in the learning process by facilitating a more exciting and meaningful laboratory exercise experience not only for the visually impaired but also for their normal-sighted peers.

Oman Dental College partnered with local health agencies in Zanzibar, Tanzania, for an international dental outreach project. This earlystage engagement aims to address Zanzibar's pressing dental health needs and to provide a transformative educational experience for student volunteers. Informed by the intertwined histories of Oman and Zanzibar, the project delivered preventive and curative dental services, emphasizing the need for sustained oral hygiene education. Initial impact measurements revealed the high prevalence of dental decay, highlighting a need for preventive measures. Volunteers reported educational gains and a deeper understanding of Oman-Zanzibar heritage. Challenges such as electricity, internet connectivity, and sterilization conditions were identified for future improvement. This project provides valuable lessons for community engagement, especially the importance of preparation, adaptability, and long-term community involvement for sustained impact. Future directions include training local health care workers and developing community-based oral hygiene programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition characterized by an intractable burning sensation in the oral cavity without visible mucosal lesions. Current treatment options are diverse but often limited by variable efficacy and patient tolerance. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of turmeric combined with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCl) in treating BMS. Methods: In this retrospective, single-arm study, 28 non-smoking female patients with BMS were treated with a daily regimen of turmeric and vitamin B6 for 60 days. The pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) before treatment initiation (baseline VAS, BVAS) and after the treatment period (final VAS, FVAS). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was utilized to analyze changes in the VAS scores. Results: The mean BVAS score was 5.61 (SD = 1.87), indicating moderate pain at baseline. Post-treatment, the mean FVAS score significantly decreased to 2.14 (SD = 1.35). The median delta in the VAS scores demonstrated a substantial reduction in pain intensity (median delta = 4.0; mean delta = 3.46; SD = 2.05). Statistical analyses revealed a significant reduction in the VAS scores (W = 0.0, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The combination of turmeric and vitamin B6 was found to significantly reduce pain scores in patients with BMS, indicating this therapeutic approach may be a promising alternative for BMS management. Larger-scale clinical trials are warranted to further validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The current study introduces a novel, algorithm‐based software developed to objectively evaluate dental cavity preparations. The software aims to provide an alternative or complement to traditional, subjective assessment methods used in operative dentistry education. Materials and Methods. The software was tested on cavity preparations carried out by 70 participants on artificial molar teeth. These cavities were also independently assessed by an experienced academic panel. The software, using 3D imaging, calculated cavity dimensions and assigned an error score based on deviation from ideal measurements. Statistical analyses included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Cohen's kappa, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3k), Spearman's rho, Kendall's tau correlation coefficients, and a confusion matrix. Result. The software demonstrated a high degree of accuracy and agreement with the panel assessments. The average software and panel scores were 64.1 and 60.91, respectively. Sensitivity (0.98) was high, specificity (0.55) was moderate, and the ICC3k value (0.857) indicated a strong agreement between the software and the panel. Further, Spearman's rho (0.73) and Kendall's tau (0.56) suggested a strong correlation between the two grading methods. Conclusion. The results support the algorithm‐based software as a valid and reliable tool for dental cavity preparation assessments. The software's potential use in dental education is promising, though future research is necessary to validate and optimize this technology for wider application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the comparative diagnostic accuracy of dental students and artificial intelligence (AI), specifically a modified ChatGPT 4, in endodontic assessments related to pulpal and apical conditions. The findings are intended to offer insights into the potential role of AI in augmenting dental education. Involving 109 dental students divided into junior (54) and senior (55) groups, the study compared their diagnostic accuracy against ChatGPT's across seven clinical scenarios. Juniors had the American Association of Endodontists (AEE) terminology assistance, while seniors relied on prior knowledge. Accuracy was measured against a gold standard by experienced endodontists, using statistical analysis including Kruskal-Wallis and Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner tests. ChatGPT achieved significantly higher accuracy (99.0 %) compared to seniors (79.7 %) and juniors (77.0 %). Median accuracy was 100.0 % for ChatGPT, 85.7 % for seniors, and 82.1 % for juniors. Statistical tests indicated significant differences between ChatGPT and both student groups (p<0.001), with no notable difference between the student cohorts. The study reveals AI's capability to outperform dental students in diagnostic accuracy regarding endodontic assessments. This underscores AIs potential as a reference tool that students could utilize to enhance their understanding and diagnostic skills. Nevertheless, the potential for overreliance on AI, which may affect the development of critical analytical and decision-making abilities, necessitates a balanced integration of AI with human expertise and clinical judgement in dental education. Future research is essential to navigate the ethical and legal frameworks for incorporating AI tools such as ChatGPT into dental education and clinical practices effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to provide insight into the role of camel's saliva in protecting enamel against erosion and to evaluate the levels of salivary sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphate ions among 2 groups of camels, those with low-grade tooth surface loss and those with high-grade tooth surface loss. Twenty-eight healthy camels, 5 males and 23 females, aged 20 months to 10 years, were divided into 2 groups. Group I comprise camels with "low-grade tooth surface loss" and Group 2 with "high-grade tooth surface loss." Unstimulated saliva was collected by a draining method. The samples were then analyzed for sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphate concentrations using automated chemistry analysis. Data were then statistically analyzed using the unpaired Student's t- test and Pearson correlation coefficient test. The study found the salivary calcium and phosphate concentrations were significantly lower in the "high-grade" erosion group, in comparison with the other group (P <.0001 and P =.0257, respectively). The results also revealed that the more extensive the tooth surface loss, the more carious lesions the subject had (P =.023), and that caries are more common in the anterior teeth, particularly the incisors. The authors conclude that alterations in inorganic elements of saliva, particularly the calcium and phosphate ions, play a major role in the development of resistance to tooth surface loss. This work may represent a direction for future research to develop custom-made preventive supplements, which can protect camelid teeth against tooth surface loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, oral health is frequently marginalized due to limited dental care access. This cross-sectional study assesses the outcomes of dental outreach camps in Zanzibar, Tanzania, organized in 2019 and 2023, to understand their impact on addressing local oral health needs over a four-year span. Methods: The study involved a thorough examination and analysis of clinical dental health data from both outreach camps. In 2019, 224 patients were examined, and in 2023, the number increased to 354. The assessment covered various dental health parameters, including dental caries, DMFT/dmft indices, enamel fluorosis, dental trauma, oral mucosa lesions, and non-carious tooth surface loss. Results: The analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in dental caries among adolescents and teens, decreasing from 62.5% in 2019 to 35.59% in 2023 (p < 0.0001). Similarly, the prevalence of teeth missing due to caries showed marked reductions from 40.2% to 9.04% in adolescents and teens (p < 0.0001) and from 25.89% to 11.86% among preschool and school-aged children (p = 0.004). Moreover, a significant change was observed in the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) scores, with cases showing no erosive tooth wear (BEWE = 0) decreasing from 49.1% to 33.3% (p = 0.016), and cases with initial loss of enamel surface texture (BEWE = 1) increasing from 47.3% to 61% (p = 0.044). Conclusions: The outreach camps conducted in 2019 and 2023 showed tangible improvements in certain dental health metrics, particularly a reduction in dental caries and missing teeth due to caries among adolescents and teens. However, the uptick in non-carious tooth surface loss points to emerging dental health concerns. These results underline the importance of sustained and targeted dental health interventions to improve oral health outcomes in underserved communities such as Zanzibar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: In dental education, understanding optimal assessment methods and factors like stress and confidence is essential. This research assessed second-year dental students' performance in fixed prosthodontics using multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and preclinical practical exams, examining impacts of gender, stress, and confidence. Materials & Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, 495 students from a single faculty underwent assessment. Selected via convenience sampling, they were exposed to MCQs and practical exams in fixed prosthodontics. An expert-reviewed questionnaire gauged their stress and confidence. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Pearson's correlation. Additionally, a balanced sub-set of 176 students (88 males and 88 females) was chosen for gender-based analysis. Results: Findings indicate statistical parity between MCQ and practical exam performances (p>0.001). Females slightly outperformed in MCQs, while males excelled in practicals, without reaching statistical significance (p>0.05). Stress correlated with practical exam outcomes (r=0.34, p=0.001), and confidence with MCQ scores (r=0.41, p<0.0001). Conclusion: The research underscores near-equivalence of MCQs and practical exams for student assessments in fixed prosthodontics. Recognizing the roles of stress and confidence in assessments offers insights for balanced evaluations. Dental faculties should integrate these findings, and future work should pivot towards tool validations for enriched learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the impact of workforce diversity on organizational performance within Zambian firms, specifically focusing on how diversity constructs like gender, age, and cultural background are mediated through leadership and organizational policies and procedures. Employing a cross-sectional research design, primary data were collected from 197 informants using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to test the relationships among the variables. The analysis revealed strong positive correlations between organizational performance and leadership (68%) and organizational policies and procedures (81.1%). Both models confirmed statistically significant relationships (p < 0.01) between performance outcomes and diversity constructs, including gender, age, and cultural background, as well as mediating variables like leadership and policies. The findings offer theoretical foundations and practical insights into the nexus between diversity constructs and performance outcomes in the context of Zambian firms, emphasizing the crucial mediating roles of leadership and policies. This study contributes to the existing literature by focusing on an under-researched context i.e. Zambian firms and by introducing the mediating roles of leadership and organizational policies and procedures in the relationship between diversity and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]