Objective: Understanding the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of dentists in Makkah province of Saudi Arabia regarding managing of the defective composite restorations either by repairing or replacing them and which materials are used for the same in their day-to-day practice. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey consisting of 16 questions was developed and distributed electronically among 400 dental practitioners of Makkah province. Results: Three hundred and fifty-one responses were received. Seventy-five percent of the participants have been taught the indications for replacement and repair of dental restorations during their undergraduate level. While 87% of them practice repairing and replacing the old composite restorations during their daily practice, only 48% actually follow a specific criteria to evaluate the existing composite restoration in their practice. 27.7% of the dentists felt that the partial loss of restoration was the most common indication for the repair of composite restoration followed by marginal staining of the restoration 26.6%. While the clinical diagnosis secondary caries (45.9%) was the most common indication reported for the replacement of composite restoration in our study. The responses from the dentists who participated in our study revealed that the preservation of the tooth substance (23.5%) was the most common reason behind the decision of repair of composite restoration and was cost-effective (22.6%). Majority of our participants (66.5%) felt that repair of the restoration neither protects the pulp nor increases longevity of the remaining restoration. Regarding the most common material used to repair the old composite restoration almost all the participating dentists (92%) used different types of composite systems for repair of old composite restorations. Conclusion: Partial loss of the restoration was the most common reason for the repair of old restoration whereas secondary caries was the most common reason for replacement of restoration. Most of the dentists felt that the repair of the composite restoration preserved the tooth substance and was cost-effective. Different brands and types of composites were used in the replacement and repair of dental restorations. Though the majority of the dentists in the study have been taught the indications for replacement and repair of dental restorations during their undergraduate level and they do practice repair or replacement of composite restorations, following a specific criteria to evaluate the old or existing composite restoration must be emphasized and the students must be trained during their undergraduate level for the same.

Background: Other than dental caries, a traumatic dental injury (TDI) is a common trait in youngsters. Dentists face a dilemma when dealing with children who have suffered anterior tooth damage and their worried parents. Only a few research on the frequency of TDIs among preschool children have been undertaken in India. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of TDI in Bhavnagar and the factors that contribute to it. Materials and methods: In Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India, a cross-sectional study of preschool children aged 3–5 years was undertaken. A single trained examiner screened 1,375 childrens for TDI of the primary anterior teeth. TDIs were assessed and recorded using Andreasen's visual criteria for tooth discoloration and dislocation. Parents of TDI-positive children were asked to complete a proprietary questionnaire about their children's demographics, socioeconomic status, and tooth injury specifics. The prevalence of TDI was correlated with the data supplied by the parents using the Chi-square test. Results: The prevalence of traumatic TDI to anterior teeth and related variables was 12.29%. There was a statistically significant link between gender and the prevalence of TDI (p = 0.049). Enamel fracture was found in 61.3% of cases, while pulp damage was found in 31.5% of cases. The relationship between preschool children's age, gender, zone, and socioeconomic status and the number of teeth involved was shown to be statistically negligible. Conclusion: Dental trauma was common in children aged 3–5 years old, with a prevalence rate of 12.29%. The primary maxillary left central incisor was the most injured tooth. The mandibular left lateral incisors were the teeth that were least broken. Males had a higher rate of enamel fracture, whereas females had a more considerable prevalence of pulpal injury.

Aim: This study is an in vitro comparison of 5% potassium nitrate and 8% arginine that have been applied in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to evaluate and compare changes in tubule dimensions after the application of the desensitizing agents. Materials and methods: A total of 24 disk-shaped dentin specimens were dissected from extracted premolars and molars. Dentin disks of 1 mm were obtained with the help of diamond disks. Eight specimens were randomly selected and allocated to the evaluation groups I (control group), II (5% potassium nitrate), and III (proargin). Each treatment group dentin disk specimen was treated with the respective toothpaste for 2 minutes for a period of 14 days. Each disk was subjected to a pre- and post-treatment SEM analysis to evaluate the changes occurring in the dentinal tubules. Results: The desensitizing toothpastes showed both complete and partial occlusion of dentinal tubules. There was a statistical significant difference between groups II and III, groups III and I, and groups I and II (p-value < 0.005). Conclusion: It was concluded that the two desensitizing agents were effective in the dentin tubule occlusion. In addition, efficacy of proargin toothpaste was greater compared to the 5% potassium nitrate containing toothpaste.

Introduction: Age determination is essential for human being, because of its social, legal, and judicial involvement. The tooth represents an excellent medicolegal tool for age assessment through its growth, biological behavior, and aging. The aim of this study was to find a correlation between pulp volume dimension and chronological age (AC) using the Drusini's method. Materials and methods: A total of 150 panoramic radiographs of Senegalese people aged 10–44 years were included in this study. Drusini's method was used to estimate age. The collected data were analyzed with R software version 3.6.1. Student's t-test was used for mean comparisons with a significance threshold of 0.01. Results: The average premolar height of the coronal pulp cavity (CPCH) value was 2.64 mm in men and 2.28 mm in women. The mean molar toothcoronal index—molar (TCI-M1) value was 41.59–4.04 in women and 38.78 (4.87) in men. The result of the Pearson's correlation test shows a negative correlation of –0.899, significant between molar TCI and AC (p < 0.001). A strong correlation was also noted between AC and premolar TCI (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Drusini et al.'s method could be a useful tool for age determination in a Senegalese population.

In recent years, laser technology is receiving more and more important role in modern dentistry. Recently, even in fields of orthodontics, laser technology was proposed. The use of the laser related to orthodontic treatment offers several advantages when compared with conventional methods. An increased focus on personal esthetics in orthodontics has taken hold. Laser technology has risen to forefront of adjunct care. Laser technology has created the opportunity for the most esthetic result possible in conjunction with orthodontic treatment. Laser technique now is widely applied in orthodontic treatment and proved to have many benefits. Soft tissue lasers can be used to perform gingivectomy, frenectomy, and surgical exposure of tooth with less bleeding and swelling, improved precision, reduced pain, and less wound contraction. Other laser applications include enamel etching and bonding and bracket debonding. Lower level lasers have the potential effects of pain control and accelerating tooth movement. Clinicians must be aware of the safety issues and risks associated with laser and receive proper training before the laser treatment is started. In this study we compile all the possible data for the sake of convenience and highlighting all the uses of laser technology in the various branches of orthodontics.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology which is rapidly growing. The Artificial Intelligence in healthcare system is developing with a very bright future. In dentistry, the key applications include diagnosis and treatment guidance, patient management as well as administrative activities. Thus, this AI system allows every dentist to get familiarize with this technology as the future of dentistry is going to be an amazing combination of this new magical innovation. The requirement for proper paperwork of the patient's information, quick and dependable treatment through robotics in the area of surgery has uplifted the utilization of these software technologies in assisting the dentist to diagnose and treat the patients practically and rewardingly. However, this technological advancement is still in the phases of early stage and this article is an attempt to spotlight the role of artificial intelligence in dentistry.

Odontogenic sinusitis is a unilateral infection of the maxillary sinus caused by a dental origin. An ectopic tooth in the maxillary sinus is a rare situation that can cause sinusitis as well as dentigerous cysts. Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical symptoms and radiographic findings. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman who presented with headache and hemifacial pain revealing a chronic sinusitis caused by a dentigerous cyst associated with ectopic third molar that was managed medically and surgically.