Dengue is a viral infection with fatal potential complications. It is also called break-bone fever. Worldwide, dengue infection is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease. It is caused by vector Aedes aegypti and represents a major public health issue in more than 100 tropical countries. This may be associated with a variety of mucocutaneous manifestations, which may be of help in early diagnosis. Dengue viral infections are characterized by abrupt febrile illness, but can also lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Hence, it requires an early and correct diagnosis. Gingival bleeding is the most common oral manifestation of dengue infections. Many biochemical assays and hematological investigations may aid in the further diagnosis and treatment of the fatal disease. Although oral lesions are uncommon in dengue infections and if occur, may be mistaken for platelet abnormality or hemorrhagic disorders. This review emphasizes the significance of oral lesions as it may be the early indicators of dengue hemorrhagic fever.

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Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of gingivitis and investigate possible associations among gingivitis and socioeconomic, demographic variables and oral hygiene habits in a sample of adolescents in Greece. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 812 adolescents, 384 boys and 428 girls aged 13-16 years. All participants were clinically examined and answered questions regarding socioeconomic, demographic variables and oral hygiene habits. Statistical analysis of the questionnaire items was carried out by using a multiple logistic regression analysis models. Results: Five hundred and ninety-one adolescents were diagnosed as having gingivitis giving a prevalence rate 72.8%. Male gender (P < 0.05), lower parental educational (P < 0.01) and income level (P = 0.001), no regular dental follow-up (P < 0.001), no daily tooth-brushing (P < 0.001), no dental floss use (P < 0.001), presence of dental plaque (P < 0.001), and smoking (P < 0.001) were the most important associated factors of gingivitis. Conclusion: The study showed that gingivitis was associated with male gender, lower educational and income parental level, inadequate oral hygiene, the presence of dental plaque and smoking while the prevalence of this condition in the study sample was 72.8%.

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Introduction: The geographical distribution of dentistry schools has been the object of study in Brazil and in other parts of the world. Aim: To analyze the distribution of dentistry schools in Brazil by states and to correlate with the number of dentists in 2015. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The analysis of the courses distribution was carried out by states and categorized by public or private schools. All the institutions' addresses were geocoded and mapped to illustrate the spatial distribution of dental courses. To determine the association between the number of faculties by state and the number of dentists, the Spearman correlation test was applied with the level of decision (alpha = 0.05) for correlating the variables. Results: The distribution of schools and dentists were irregular. In 2015, there were 232 dental courses in operation; being 56 (24%) public and 176 (76%) private in Brazil, and all 26 states and the Federal District have dental courses. The Spearman test showed a strong positive correlation between the number of dental schools and the number of dentists. Conclusion: The distribution of dental schools has reflexes in the distribution of health professionals.

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Background: Regular use of dental services has been associated with optimal oral health. Reports in some parts of Nigeria have shown the poor utilization of dental services, but there is a paucity of information relating to oral health care seeking behavior in the South-South region of Nigeria. Aim: To determine the pattern of utilization and identify barriers to utilization of dental services among children. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done among children aged 12-15 years in secondary schools in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Information was elicited by means of a self-administered structured questionnaire. These included sociodemographic characteristics, views on dental visits, reported visits during the previous year, pattern of dental visits, and the barriers to utilization. Demographic variables and associations were tested using Chi-squared tests with the level of statistical significance set at P < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval. Results: There were 200 school children; 98 (49%) males and 102 (51%) females with a mean age of 13.3 (΁1.1) years. Dental visits were deemed important by 187 (93.5%) children, and 32.0% respondents suggested that visits should be when there are symptoms. Only 42 (21%) pupils had been to the dentist in the last 12 months. The barriers to utilization of dental services majorly included no perceived needs (64.3%). Demographic variables had no significant association with reported visits and pattern of visits. Conclusion: Utilization of dental services among these school children was low and the major barrier was no perceived need. Oral health awareness needs to be improved on the importance of a regular checkup.

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Aim: Periodontal disease is an immune-inflammatory response of tooth supporting structures to microbial dental plaque. It is influenced by various factors such as poor oral hygiene, smoking, systemic diseases, and psychological factors such as stress. This case-control study was performed to consider mental depression as a risk factor for periodontal disease. Materials and Methods: A total of 170 subjects were selected. All the subjects were assessed for the presence of depression by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision criteria and severity of depression was measured by Hamilton depression rating scale. For assessment of periodontal disease, clinical periodontal parameters oral hygiene index, gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded. Results: Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that subjects with depression had significantly higher values of debris index, calculus index, gingival index, PPD, and CAL (P < 0.001). Periodontal status was poor in patients with severe and very severe grade depression patients (P = 0.049). For all the indices/parameters, mean values of patients with > 6 months of illness were higher (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, it is concluded that mental depression significantly affects the periodontium. It may be considered as risk factor for periodontal disease.

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Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes and practices of dentists toward smoking cessation intervention (SCI); to identify the barriers that prevent them from advising their patients to quit smoking and to determine the level of interest in future training in smoking cessation. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all (122) dentists practicing in private sectors in the Emirate of Ajman, United Arab Emirates. The questionnaire was personally administered, and the dental practitioners were given explanations regarding how to complete it. Only descriptive statistics was calculated. Results: More than half of the respondents (55%) inquired about their patients smoking status, whereas 40% of the dentists documented it. The most common barrier cited by the respondents was the lack of training and preparation in the smoking cessation techniques, followed by lack of availability of educational material. Almost three-quarters of the respondent were interested in further training in SCI; being provided to them through full-day training course. Conclusions: Dentists require more access to appropriate forms of training in the SCI and more support needed to enable the dentist to help their patient to quit the habit. Providing training program to the dental practitioners in the United Arab Emirates to equip them with the required skill to deliver SCI would be highly beneficial.

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the effect of a single application of a casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate paste (CPP-ACP) in comparison with a fluoride varnish, in enamel of bovine teeth, after erosive challenge using cola soft drink. Materials and Methods: Forty-five enamel specimens were obtained from bovine teeth, selected according to the surface hardness and randomly divided into three groups: G1 - Fluoride varnish, G2 - CPP-ACP-based paste, and G3 - Control, without any treatment. The enamel specimens were treated using each group material and subjected to three daily erosive challenges by immersion of the specimens in cola soft drink for 5 min, during 5 days. Between the erosive cycles, the enamel specimens were immersed in artificial saliva. The initial profilometry (prechallenge) and the final profilometry (postchallenge) were used to evaluate the enamel loss. Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's Test (P < 0.05). Results: The single application of CPP-ACP (G2: 4.17 ± 0.77 μm) resulted in less enamel loss compared to control (G3: 4.74 ± 0.52 μm) and higher enamel loss compared to fluoride varnish application (G1: 3.01 ± 0.45 μm) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The CPP-ACP paste was effective in reducing enamel wear after erosive cycles, however, the best potential for erosion prevention was observed when using the fluoride varnish.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the energy consumption of Twisted File (TF) instrument used with rotary or adaptive motion (AM). Materials and Methods: Forty S-shaped Endo Training Blocks (Dentsply Maillefer) were used. Twenty were prepared using TF 25.06 in rotary motion (RM) group, and 20 were prepared using TF Adaptive SM2 in AM group. While engine-driven endodontic motors were connected to a digital wattmeter, the required torque for root canal instrumentation was analyzed by evaluating the electrical power consumption of the endodontic engine. Electric power consumption (mW/h), elapsed time (s), and a number of pecking motions required to reach the full working length (WL) were calculated. The data was statistically analyzed using Mann-Whitney U-test (P < 0.05). Results: Electrical power consumption during the preparation was significantly different between the groups; RM group exerted less electric power than reciprocating AM group did (P < 0.001). The required time to reach the full WL was not statistically significant between groups (P = 0.137). Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, RM group exerted less electric power than reciprocating AM group did.

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Aim: To evaluate and correlate salivary constituents and oral health status in children with Down's syndrome. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five children in the age group of 4-14 years were included in the study. The control group consisted of 25 healthy children. The study group consisting of children with Down's syndrome was divided into study Group I which consisted of 25 institutionalized children and study Group II consisted of 25 noninstitutionalized children. Caries score and oral hygiene status of each child were calculated. Unstimulated saliva was collected from each child, and salivary levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc were evaluated. Results: Lowest decayed, missing, and filled teeth scores were found in noninstitutionalized Down's syndrome children and highest oral hygiene index-simplified scores were found among institutionalized Down's syndrome children. Levels of sodium ions were seen to be highest in the control group; magnesium levels were highest in an institutionalized group of children with Down's syndrome, whereas potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc levels were found to be highest among a noninstitutionalized group of children with Down's syndrome. Salivary calcium showed a significant negative correlation with dental caries. Conclusion: Salivary calcium and zinc play a protective role against dental caries. Increased dietary calcium and zinc in addition to education regarding oral hygiene practices may improve overall oral health among children.

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Introduction: Male and female students often have different expectations and requirements regarding learning institutions. Taibah Dental College has separate male and female sections, and it is essential to determine the students' perceptions regarding the dental college. Methods: All male and female dental students who were in the 3 ^rd , 4 ^th , and 5 ^th year of study during the 2014/2015 academic year were asked to participate. The Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure, which is a self-administered questionnaire, was used to obtain the necessary data. It consists of fifty items categorized into five domains. For each item, students chose one option that best described their perceptions using a Likert-type scale. A higher score indicated higher levels of satisfaction and vice versa. Results: The 4 ^th year female students reported the lowest scores. Overall the scores were relatively low and indicated that students were generally dissatisfied. Common areas of dissatisfaction included poor learning experiences, poor teaching experiences, and type of learning atmosphere. The 3 ^rd year females reported significantly higher scores for their teaching experience compared to their male counterparts. There were significant differences for each domain between the years of study with the 4 ^th year having lowest scores. Conclusion: In general, the student's perception was low but within the range of other similar studies. The females tended to be much more dissatisfied compared to males and the 4 ^th year seemed to have the most problems.

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