Early childhood caries (ECC) is a type of dental caries in the teeth of infants and children that is represented as one of the most prevalent dental problems in this period. Various studies have reported different types of prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children worldwide. However, there has been no comprehensive study to summarize the results of these studies in general, so this study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children in different continents of the world during a systematic review and meta-analysis. In this review study, articles were extracted by searching in the national and international databases of SID, MagIran, IranMedex, IranDoc, Cochrane, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (ISI) between 1995 and December 2019. Random effects model was used for analysis and heterogeneity of studies was evaluated by using the I2 index. Data were analyzed by using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (Version 2) software. In this study, a total of 164 articles (81 articles on the prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth and 83 articles on the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth) were entered the meta-analysis. The prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth in children in the world with a sample size of 80,405 was 46.2% (95% CI: 41.6–50.8%), and the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth in children in the world with a sample size of 1,454,871 was 53.8% (95% CI: 50–57.5%). Regarding the heterogeneity on the basis of meta-regression analysis, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children in different continents of the world. With increasing the sample size and the year of study, dental caries in primary teeth increased and in permanent teeth decreased. The results of this study showed that the prevalence of primary and permanent dental caries in children in the world was found to be high. Therefore, appropriate strategies should be implemented to improve the aforementioned situation and to troubleshoot and monitor at all levels by providing feedback to hospitals.

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Dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children’s worldwide, 1995 to 2019: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Dental caries is a preventable childhood disease, but public health efforts are hampered due to limited information on associated factors in vulnerable populations. Our study was aimed at estimating the prevalence of dental caries and identifying key associated factors in four major risk domains, including socioeconomic factors, child oral health behavior and practices, child feeding practices, and dietary habits among primary school children in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study design was used to recruit 578 male Saudi primary school children, aged 6–8 years, from 12 primary schools in five different regions of Riyadh. Children were clinically screened to detect carious lesions in primary teeth according to World Health Organization’s criteria. Structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on social and individual factors from the parents. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of associated factors for dental caries were computed using logistic regression models; key factors were identified by systematic selection process that accounted for multicollinearity and bias correction. Dental caries was prevalent among children (83%, 95% confidence interval 79.7–86.0%). Individual factors, including irregular brushing, late adoption of brushing habit, consulting dentist for symptomatic treatment, lack of breast feeding, sleeping with a bottle in mouth, habit of snacking between meals, low consumption of fruits, and frequent consumption of soft drinks and flavored milk, were predominantly associated with dental caries in children, instead of socioeconomic factors (p < 0.05, adjusted R-square 80%). Dental caries were prevalent in school children, and individual factors were predominantly associated with the disease.

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Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among primary school children: a population-based cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Introduction
Periodontal disease has been associated with tooth loss and reported as more prevalent among people with diabetes than among those without diabetes. Having an annual dental examination is a national goal of Healthy People 2010. Our objective was to examine whether an association exists between diabetes and tooth loss among a population reporting an annual dental visit.

Peer Reviewed: Diabetes and Tooth Loss in a National Sample of Dentate Adults Reporting Annual Dental Visits

Introduction: Root canal therapy is an accepted and successful form of tooth conservation. Educational guidelines require dental schools to ensure that their graduates are competent on graduation at performing root canal therapy. The aim of this investigation was to assess the technical quality of root canal fillings placed by undergraduate students in single-rooted teeth.



Materials and methods:  A total of 100 radiographs of root canal fillings placed by undergraduate students in single-rooted teeth were examined under even illumination in a darkened room using ×2 magnification. These were graded as ‘adequate’, where the root canal filling was within 2 mm of the radiographic apex, ‘under-filled’, where the root canal filling was >2 mm from the radiographic apex, and ‘over-filled’, where the root canal filling was extruded beyond the radiographic apex. The presence of voids, fractured instruments, and root perforations were also noted.



Results:  All teeth were obturated with gutta-percha and sealer (Roth Cement), using a cold lateral condensation technique. Of 100 teeth, 10% (n = 10) had voids. Of the remainder, 70% (n = 63) were judged to be ‘acceptable’, 21% (n = 19) were ‘under-filled’, and 9% (n = 8) were ‘over-filled’. There was no evidence of fractured instruments or root perforations in any root filling examined.



Conclusions:  The quality of root canal fillings placed in single-rooted teeth by undergraduate dental students at the University Dental School and Hospital, Cork was acceptable (63% of root fillings placed in single rooted teeth were graded as ‘adequate’). The probable reasons for this are multi-factorial, but may be linked to the amount of pre-clinical and clinical teaching in endodontics at the University Dental School and Hospital, Cork. It should be remembered that factors other than radiographic quality/evidence must be considered when determining the outcome of root canal therapy.

Quality of root canal fillings performed by undergraduate dental students on single-rooted teeth

AIM To investigate the number of roots and root canal configurations using two coding systems and the root canal diverging and merging levels in extracted maxillary premolars in an Egyptian subpopulation using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) METHODOLOGY A total of 700 maxillary premolars were examined using CBCT in an Egyptian subpopulation The number of roots was identified, and root canal configurations were classified according to Vertucci's classification and a new system for classifying root and canal morphology In addition, the position where roots bifurcated and the levels where canals merged or diverged were identified Fisher's exact test and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis, and the level of significance was set at 005 (P = 005) RESULTS More than half of maxillary first premolars were double-rooted, and the majority of maxillary second premolars were single-rooted (P < 0001) Most of the double-rooted samples had bifurcations in the middle of the root According to the Vertucci classification, canal configuration type IV was the most common in both first and second maxillary premolars According to the new system, the code 2 FP B1 P1 was the most common for maxillary first premolars, whilst 2 SP B1 P1 , 1 SP2 and 1 SP2-1 codes were the most common for maxillary second premolars The three-canalled morphology in double- and three-rooted maxillary premolars had considerable variations Root canal merging and diverging levels were comparable in both tooth types CONCLUSION Maxillary premolars in this Egyptian subpopulation had a wide range of root and canal anatomical variations Clinicians should be aware of where canals merge and diverge to facilitate the treatment of all canals The new system for classifying canal morphology describes the root and canal configurations in a more accurate and practical manner compared to the Vertucci classification

Root and canal morphology of maxillary premolar teeth in an Egyptian subpopulation using two classification systems: a cone beam computed tomography study

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dental caries in the primary and permanent teeth, and evaluate the brushing habits of school children in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods. This study was conducted at Dammam, KSA. Oral examination of the participants was conducted from February to May 2014. The total sample size for this cross-sectional study was 711. There were 397 children between the age of 6-9 years, who were examined for primary teeth caries, and 314 between the age 10-12 years were examined for permanent teeth caries. Primary and permanent dentitions were studied for decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft [primary teeth], DMFT [permanent teeth]). Results: The overall prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth was almost 73% (n=711). Among the 6-9-year-old, the prevalence of caries was approximately 78% (n=397) whereas, among the 10-12-year-old children, it was approximately 68% (n=314). Mean dmft value among the 6-9-year-olds was 3.66±3.13 with decayed (d) component of 3.28±2.92, missing (m) component of 0.11±0.69, and filled (f) component of 0.26±0.9. Mean DMFT value among the 10-12-year-old children was 1.94±2.0 with decayed (D) component of 1.76±1.85, missing (M) component of 0.03±0.22, and filled (F) of component 0.15±0.73. Daily tooth brushing had a positive effect on caries prevention, and this effect was statistically significant for caries in primary teeth. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth was not found to be as high as other researchers reported from different cities of KSA, still the prevalence was high considering the World Health Organization future oral health goals. Awareness should be provided to students, as well as, teachers and parents regarding the importance of good brushing habits and regular dental visits. Saudi Med J 2015; Vol. 36 (6): 737-742 doi: 10.15537/smj.2015.6.10888

https://smj.org.sa/content/smj/36/6/737.full.pdf

Prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth and its relation with tooth brushing habits among schoolchildren in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Evaluation of root canal morphology of maxillary second premolars in a Saudi Arabian sub-population: An in vitro microcomputed tomography study

Objectives Glass ionomer cement (GIC) is routinely placed as a restorative material in dentistry. However, due to its poor physical properties, its use is limited to cases where the level of stress on restoration is minimal. Improved formulations of GIC have been developed to overcome these drawbacks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate flexural strength of a conventional GIC (Fuji IX) against a newly developed glass carbomer cement (GCP). Materials and methods For Fuji IX and GCP, a total of 80 blocks were prepared and divided into 16 groups (n = 5). These groups were further categorized according to the storage medium (artificial saliva and Vaseline) and time intervals (24 h and 1, 2, and 4 weeks). A 3-point bending test was carried out, and statistical analysis was done using ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. Results Fuji IX showed a mean flexural strength of 25.14 ± 13.02 versus 24.27 ± 12.57 MPa for GCP. There was no significant statistical difference between both materials when compared under storage media. Both materials showed the highest value for flexural strength at 2 weeks of storage and lowest at 4 weeks. Conclusion The storage media do not affect the flexural strength of the specimens with reference to time. Time is the unique factor with relative influence on mean resistance to fracture. Further testing is required to evaluate the true potential of the newly developed GCP.

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Flexural Strength of Glass Carbomer Cement and Conventional Glass Ionomer Cement Stored in Different Storage Media over Time.

Aim

To measure the polymerization of light-cured (Variolink Veneer, VLV) and dual-cured (Variolink II, VLII) resin luting cements after light activation through different lengths of fibre post ex vivo.



Methodology

Degree of conversion after prolonged direct light activation (PLA) [12 min after LED light activation for 3 min] was determined using ATR-FTIR. Models were then produced to allow samples of VLV and VLII (n = 5 each group) to be light-activated through 3, 6 and 9 mm lengths of fibre post (Fiber Lux). Degree of conversion was assessed by ATR-FTIR and expressed as a percentage of the degree of conversion achieved after PLA. Data were analysed using anova and Tukey's test (P < 0.05).



Results

Mean [SD] degree of conversion for VLV and VLII after PLA was 57.97% [1.51] and 54.71% [3.77], respectively. Light activation of VLV through a 3 mm post produced 81.62% of the PLA value, compared with 71.03% for the 6 mm and 46.04% for the 9 mm post. Conversion after activation through 9 mm posts was significantly less than through 3 mm and 6 mm posts (P < 0.05). For VLII, activation through a 3 mm post produced 66.51% of the PLA value, compared with 54.38% for the 6 mm and 41.56% for the 9 mm post. A significant decrease in degree of conversion was noted for VLII as post length increased (P < 0.05).



Conclusions

The degree of conversion for VLV reduced after light activation through 9 mm posts when compared to 3 mm and 6 mm posts, whilst the degree of conversion for VLII decreased with every increase in post length.

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Polymerization kinetics of resin cements after light activation through fibre posts: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate students' perception of the educational climate in a medical school in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The difference in the perception of preclinical year students and clinical year students was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 2nd to 6th year students at the medical college of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. “Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure” (DREEM) was used to evaluate the educational environment. RESULTS: Out of 518, 238 students participated in the study; participation rate of 45.9%. The average DREEM score was 112.38 with a SD of 22.4. Students' perception of atmosphere got the highest score (27.1 ± 6.7) of the five DREEM subscales. The 3rd year had the highest DREEM score compared to students of other levels, while the DREEM score of preclinical students was significantly higher than that of the clinical year students. CONCLUSION: Perception of medical students about the educational climate was more positive than negative. Although the DREEM score and its subdomains showed a positive educational environment, students still mentioned some problematic areas that need to be addressed. Findings of this study could encourage other medical colleges in the KSA to focus on weak areas and address the issues raised by students, especially clinical year students.

Abdul Khabeer

Papers

Prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth and its relation with tooth brushing habits among schoolchildren in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Evaluation of root canal morphology of maxillary second premolars in a Saudi Arabian sub-population: An in vitro microcomputed tomography study

Flexural Strength of Glass Carbomer Cement and Conventional Glass Ionomer Cement Stored in Different Storage Media over Time.

Polymerization kinetics of resin cements after light activation through fibre posts: an in vitro study.

Medical students' perception of their educational environment at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia