(1) Purpose: To assess the oral health literacy (OHL) of parents and its association with the caries experience of their preschool children attending the Hospital University Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. (2) Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a systematic random sampling method, using a sample of 230 parent/preschool child dyads. Among 230 parents, 24 were males and 206 were females (mean age 31.43 ± 5.82); among 230 children, 92 were boys and 138 were girls (mean age 4.82 ± 1.04) attending the pedodontics clinic, HUSM, who participated and met the inclusion criteria. A structured, self-administered oral health literacy questionnaire including sociodemographic factors was used in this study. A child’s oral examination was performed to check the dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth) status. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive and Spearman’s correlation analysis and multivariate regression analysis. (3) Results: The mean dmft score of children in relation to the OHL level of parents showed a significant difference (p < 0.00). The mean dmft score of children in relation to the OHL level of parents showed the following relationships: Inadequate (7.49 ± 4.10) followed by marginal (3.28 ± 2.67) and then adequate (0.55 ± 1.55). The incidence of caries amongst children in relation to parental employment was more associated with unemployed parents (6.11 ± 4.43) than with employed parents (2.79 ± 3.65). The caries experience amongst children in relation to education of their parents revealed a significant difference (p < 0.001), and the mean dmft score was high amongst preschool children with primary school qualified parents (10.7 ± 4.10) followed by high school (7.04 ± 3.68), vocational (5.81 ± 3.57), diploma (2.61 ± 2.81), and university (1.29 ± 2.27), respectively. The results revealed a valid significant difference (negative correlation, r_s = −0.753 **) between the OHL of parents with the dmft score of their preschool children. The age and gender of parents was not significantly associated with OHL, whereas ethnicity (positive correlation, r_s = 0.283 **), education (positive correlation, r_s = 0.865 **), and employment (negative correlation, r_s = −0.490 **) were found to be significant. Conclusion: We conclude that there is a significant association between the OHL of parents with the dmft score of their preschool children. The logistic regression showed that after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, parents’ gender (OR = 0.067, 95% CI: 0.012–0.360), parents’ employment status (OR = 3.247, 95% CI: 0.897–11.754), parents’ OHL score (OR = 0.042, 95% CI: 0.016–0.114), and child age (OR = 2.195, 95% CI: 1.249–3.857) were significantly associated with dental caries in children. Our study concluded that parents’ employment status, age, gender, OHL, and child’s age were significantly associated with the caries experience of their preschool children.

Objectives: To compare the apical sealing ability of four endodontic sealers based on glucose penetration method and validate the uses of contralateral teeth to provide a well-balanced experimental group. Materials and methods : One-hundred-and-twenty (sixty pair) extracted contralateral lower premolars were selected and undergone strict radiographic protocol. Root canal anatomy of each pair contralateral teeth was matched buccolingually and mesiodistally according to inclusion criteria (single canal, mature apical foramen, canal type, canal width, length, and curvature). Matched-pair contralateral teeth were then reevaluated using CBCT and divided into right and left sides (n=60, each side). Next, all canals were instrumented up to size 30, taper 0.06. Subsequently, teeth were subdivided into five groups for each side and obturated with single cone gutta-percha (GP) and various sealers: Group 1 - GP only (control); Group 2 - EndoRez; Group 3 - Sealapex; Group 4 - EndoSeal MTA and Group 5 - BioRoot RCS. All samples were placed in an incubator at 37 ° C, 100% humidity for 72 hours. Four matched-pair teeth from each group were then subjected to thermocycling for 100 cycles, 1000 cycles and 10000 cycles, respectively. After that, they were decoronated, coated with three layers of nail varnish, and used for glucose penetration test. The concentrations of glucose (mmol/L) were measured after 24 hours. Data analyzed using One-way ANOVA complemented by post hoc Dunnett T3 Test and Paired sample T-Test. Results: EndoSeal MTA demonstrated statistically significant (p0.05) was found between matched-pair contralateral teeth. Conclusions : Bioceramic sealers demonstrated better sealing ability than resin and calcium hydroxide sealers. Using matched-pair contralateral teeth provided a well-balanced experimental group.

Objective: To compare the sealing ability and marginal adaptation of three calcium silicate-based cement (Biodentine, Pro root MTA, MTA Angelus) using a bacterial leakage model and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Methods: Recently extracted lower first premolars were randomly categorized into three experimental groups (n = 15 samples), positive control (n = 5 samples), and negative control group (n = 5 sample). Samples from the experimental groups and positive control group were subject to cavity Class I occlusal preparation followed by modified coronal pulpotomy. Different types of bioceramic dressing material were placed in 3 mm thickness accordingly, group 1 (Biodentine), group 2 (MTA Angelus), and group 3 (ProRoot MTA). No dressing material was placed in the positive control group (group 4). All samples were placed in the incubator for 24 h at 37℃, 100% humidity, for the materials to be completely set. The final restoration was placed using the Z350 resin composite. A double layer of nail varnish was applied over all the sample surfaces except the occlusal site. Whereas the samples’ surfaces in the negative control, were completely covered. A 3 mm length was measured from the root apex of the samples from each group, before proceeding with the resection. The bacterial leakage test was performed using Enterococcus faecalis TCC 23,125, and a sample from each experimental group was randomly chosen for SEM. Data analysis was conducted under the One-way ANOVA test, completed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: There is a significant difference in sealing ability and marginal adaptation between the groups. (p < 0.05). The study showed that Pro Root MTA had the superior sealing ability and marginal adaptation compared to Biodentine and MTA Angelus. Conclusion: The ProRoot MTA as a coronal pulpotomy pulp dressing material, was found to have a better marginal adaptation and sealing ability compared to three other bioceramics materials. The material would be the better choice during clinical settings and procedures.

Introduction: Recently, various modes of fluoride varnishes have evolved, each with its own recommended concentration, potentially active ingredients, and flavour, leading to a claim of additional preventive benefits. Differences in fluoride release patterns can potentially enhance or reduce the efficacy of fluoride varnishes. Numerous clinical trials have proven its ability in preventing and arresting dental caries. This study mainly focused on the investigations of the apatite demineralisation process under the effect of different fluoride varnishes by ion-selective electrodes (ISE), in an attempt to comprehend their mechanism in anti-caries. Methods: Four different fluoride varnishes (Fluor Protector S, Duraphat, ClinPro White, MI Varnish) were used to measure their effect on the demineralisation process of the hydroxyapatite (HAP) discs in 60ml pH 4.0 acetic solutions. The HAP discs were treated with these varnishes after 4-hours demineralisation and then immersed back into the same solutions for further demineralisation to observe the effect of the varnishes. Throughout the experiment, the calcium ISE was used to monitor the rate of calcium concentration. Results: The result demonstrated that ClinPro White varnish resulted in the most significant inhibition of demineralisation and signs of probable remineralisation throughout the experiment. Other fluoride varnishes treatment showed the ability to inhibit demineralisation. However, the rate of calcium dissolution was not significantly different from different varnishes. The fact that the ClinPro White showed evidence of remineralisation might be associated with the fact that the varnish contained a source of calcium and phosphate. Conclusion: The fluoride varnishes treatment is shown to be effective in inhibiting the demineralisation of apatite regardless of the difference in fluoride concentration and potentially active ingredients incorporated in some of the fluoride varnishes.

Aim: Hall’s technique (HT) has been established as a novel method for managing decayed primary molars. Despite good evidence of its effectiveness, the acceptability of HT among pedodontists, general dental practitioners, and undergraduate students are still noticeably low. The aim of this study was to review the available studies systematically by assessing the acceptability of HT under different experimental populations. Materials and Methods: A search was performed using three databases, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, published from 2003 to 2018. The keywords used in the search were “HT,” “preformed metal crown,” “acceptability,” and “primary molar.” After the relevant articles were found, the critical appraisal was made to select those that were suitable for the systematic review. The inclusion criteria of the study were surveys, clinical studies, no sample size restrictions, and only English language papers. Any conference abstracts, case reports, and unpublished data were excluded from this study. Results: On the basis of the keywords, 26 relevant articles were found and of those, 11 articles were selected for the systematic review. Conclusion: On the basis of the results of this study, it can be concluded that clinical trial can be an effective tool to assess the usage and acceptability of HT along with the questionnaire. Furthermore, there should be more questions, which can give information regarding the HT in children with special needs. Moreover, the study on the acceptability of HT could be conducted on other populations rather than Europe to evaluate the use rate of HT and its acceptability toward other regions.

Introduction. Hall’s technique preformed metal crown (HTPMC) has been used widely by pediatric dentists in developed countries as a new approach for managing decayed primary molars without local anesthesia, caries removal, and tooth preparation. Currently, inadequate information is available regarding the implementation of this technique (HTPMC) in Malaysia. This study is aimed at evaluating the implementation of HTPMC by Malaysia’s pediatric dentists and identify the co‐occurrence frequencies of the HTPMC implementation with the respondents’ demographic profile. Materials and Methods. A cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based research was conducted among 65 pediatric dentists in Malaysia. Online questionnaires were distributed to the pediatric dentists employed at public hospitals (MOH) and universities in Malaysia. Result. It was found that over half of the respondents (65.6%) employed HTPMC. The analysis of the co‐occurrence network frequency revealed that a high frequency of female pediatric dentists who were within the age group of 31‐40 years old had fulfilled their postgraduation overseas and was employed in the university mainly applied HTPMC. Conclusion. The application of HTPMC among respondent pediatric dentists in Malaysia was high. However, most respondents considered HTPMC a treatment option only to manage carious primary molar rather than a treatment of choice.