This study aimed to compare the analgesic effectiveness of virtual reality vs. topical anesthesia gel during the administration of local anesthesia (injections to numb the gums) in adult dental patients; as well as to determine which approach is preferred by the patients. Twenty-one adult patients received dental anesthetic injections bilaterally for their maxillary premolars area. We predicted that VR would be more effective than a topical anesthetic gel at reducing pain during injections into the gums. Using a within subject design, each patient received two injections during a single dental visit. Pain was measured after each injection. One side was of the mouth was injected under the influence of the topical anesthesia (TA) 20% benzocaine. The other side of the mouth was injected when the patient was in virtual reality (VR) watching an animated movie using an Oculus Quest® helmet to distract them during the other injection, treatment order randomized. Immediately after each injection, the patients were directed to rate their pain experience using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain-rating Scale (W-BFPS), and to choose which delivery system they preferred. Heart rates were recorded prior to and after the injections using a finger pulse oximeter. Participants reported the predicted pattern of a lower W-PFPS score (less pain intensity) during needle injection while in VR than the injection with topical anesthesia gel, however, the difference was not statistically significant. A statistically significant majority of the participants (p = 0.021) preferred VR to TA. No statistically significant difference heart rate during VR vs. TA was found. Although dental patients reported less pain during VR distraction vs. topical gel anesthetic, the difference was not significant. A statistically significant majority of patients preferred virtual reality over topical anesthesia during their future injections. However, no significant difference in heart rate was found.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of initial irrigation with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and final irrigation with QMix, 40% citric acid, and 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on smear layer removal and dentin erosion. Methodology: Forty extracted human mandibular premolar teeth were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10) according to the type of final irrigants used: 17% EDTA, QMix, citric acid, and control (normal saline). Canals were mechanically prepared using ProTaper Next instruments to an apical size of X3. Subsequently, the roots were sectioned in a buccolingual direction. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the presence of the smear layer and the amount of dentin erosion in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds of the root canals. Results: In regards to smear layer removal, there was a significant difference between the control group and the other tested groups. Moreover, it was significantly higher in the coronal and middle thirds than in the apical third. However, there were no significant differences between the groups of EDTA, QMix, and citric acid. Concerning dentin erosion, citric acid produced significantly more dentin erosion than the other tested groups. Conclusion: Final irrigation with solutions had a higher ability to remove the smear layer in the coronal and middle thirds compared to the apical third. Of all the solutions tested, 40% citric acid had the most pronounced impact on dentin erosion, followed by 17% EDTA and QMix.

To compare cyclic fatigue resistance and bending for three different nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary files. A sample of 90 NiTi instruments size (25.06) was divided into three groups with 30 files in each: Race Evo files (FKG Dentaire, Switzerland); Tia Tornado Blue files (TiaDent Inc., Texas- USA); One Curve files (Micro-Mega, France). Then each group was subdivided into two groups with 15 files in each; a bending test was performed for one group, and a dynamic cyclic fatigue test at body temperature was performed for the other group. Files fractured by cyclic fatigue were randomly picked from all tested groups for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) (Jeol, Tokyo, Japan). In addition, the test included measuring the broken part of the files tested using (Electronic Micrometre Calliper with LCD Screen, Inch and Millimetre Conversion, Adoric- Taiwan). Data were statistically analyzed using a one-way ANOVA with Tukey-HSD post hoc test. It was found that maximum load [gf] was less (meaning more flexible) in the group of Tia Tornado Blue with a statistically significant difference in comparison with Race Evo and One Curve. The number of cycles to fracture (NCF) in the Race Evo group was significantly higher than the groups of One Curve and Tia Tornado Blue. Within the limitation of the study, it could be concluded that Race Evo files were more resistant to cyclic fatigue fracture and Tia Tornado Blue files were more flexible compared to the other tested files.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of glide path and coronal flaring on the dentin volume removal and percentage of touched walls in curved canals using two heat-treated rotary files. The mesiobuccal canal of forty-eight, randomly selected, extracted mandibular molars was divided into two groups of 24 each, according to the type of instrument used (RACE EVO and EdgeSequel rotary files). Each group was further divided into three subgroups; Group (A): Control using one file shaped to 04/30, Group (B) with a glide path (EdgeGlidePath (EGP)), and Group (C): with a glide path and coronal flaring (EGP and EdgeTaper Platinum (ETP) SX file respectively). The root canals were then instrumented using the assigned instruments. The assessment was carried out using micro-CT. The comparison of the mean values of the tested groups about dentin volume removal and percentage of untouched walls did not reach statistical significance (p<0.05). Glide path and coronal flaring had an insignificant effect on the dentin volume removal and percentage of untouched walls in curved canals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of teaching endodontics to undergraduate students at Riyadh Colleges. This study was undertaken by assessing the technical quality of root canal obturation and the presence of procedural errors in root canal treatment cases performed by the final year dental students in clinics. All of the root canal treatment cases performed by the final year dental students in the 2nd semester of 2012 to 2013 were examined, with a total of 450 root canals from 241 teeth. The quality of root canal obturation was examined in relation to the length of the root filling based on the radiographic apex, the density of the obturation according to the presence of voids, and the taper of root canal fillings. The overall acceptable quality of the evaluated root canals was 36%. Of these canals, acceptable length, density, and taper were reported in 76.6, 46.4, and 73.8%, respectively. Overall, 9.3% of the treated root canals had procedural errors, and majority of these errors were found in canals of posterior mandibular teeth. Apical transportation was the most encountered error; it was found in 3.1% of the treated canals. The technical quality of the root canal treatments conducted by the students in this study was comparable to other studies. However, introducing new techniques and armamentaria might improve this quality. Key words: Technical quality of obturation, undergraduate education, evaluation, education development.

Introduction: A successful root canal treatment ensures complete sealing of the root canal to abstain from re-infections. The efficiency of antimicrobial activity of the sealers is important for achieving long term success in root canal therapy. Aim: This study compared the antibacterial properties of three calcium silicate-based root canal sealers against Enterococcus faecalis at varying incubation time periods. Materials and Methods: This in vitro cross sectional experimental study was designed with three root canal sealers, namely, Endosequence/BC Sealer, CeraSeal, and BioRoot RCS. Freshly mixed selars were placed in agar plates infused with Enterococcus faecalis . Incubation at 37°C under anaerobic conditions was done for 1 week, during which measurements of the inhibition zones were recorded at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 7 days. Data were compared using ANOVA, and Tukey's tests ( P < 0.05). Results and Discussion: Bacterial growth inhibition was demonstrated by all the sealers tested, with antimicrobial activity being highest for BioRoot RCS and least for CeraSeal. An increase in duration of incubation, positively affected the antimicrobial properties. Conclusion: Significant difference ( P < 0.05) of bacterial inhibition was observed among different time duration of 24 h compared to 48 h, 72 h, and 7 days, for all tested materials. Moreover, BioRoot RCS showed significant bacterial inhibition to tested microorganism.