Background: Traumatic dental injuries involving the pulp are quite common and there is a need to evaluate the quality of evidence on the success of vital pulp treatment (VPT) interventions in traumatised permanent teeth.Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the success of VPT in the management of traumatised human vital permanent teeth diagnosed with complicated crown or crown‐root fractures.Methods: An electronic search of the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Clinical Trial Registries and the grey literature was performed until 25^th/8/2021. Controlled clinical trials, cohort studies, case‐control studies, case series with at least five cases and a minimum of 12‐months follow‐up were included. Non‐English language literature was excluded. Two independent assessors performed study selection, data extraction and quality assessment using the National Institutes of Health’s quality assessment tool. Disagreements were resolved through consensus/with a third assessor.Results: A total of 14‐studies (2‐controlled clinical trials, 1‐case‐control, and 11‐case series) published between 1978–2020, with a total of 1081 permanent teeth and an age range between 6–42 years‐old were included. Bias analysis ranged considerably from ‘good’ to ‘poor’. Meta‐analysis was not performed due to data heterogeneity, unclear reporting, and limited number of controlled clinical studies. Partial pulpotomy was the main reported clinical procedure with an overall success rate between 82.9–100%. Complete pulpotomy and direct pulp capping were associated with lower success rates of 79.4–85.7% and 19.5%, respectively. Calcium hydroxide was the main pulp capping material with favourable clinical and radiographic success (79.4–100%). Biodentine^®, mineral trioxide aggregate and IRoot^® BP were also associated with a high clinical and radiographic success, 80–91%, 80–100%, and 90–100%, respectively, albeit in fewer studies.Discussion: Although a high success rate has been reported when using VPT in managing pulpally involved traumatised teeth, the results of this systematic review clearly highlighted a paucity and low quality of the available evidence.Conclusions: Overall high success of VPT in the management of traumatised vital permanent teeth were reported, although based on limited evidence of well‐conducted clinical studies.Registration: PROSPERO database (CRD42020205213).

Propolis is a resinous substance produced naturally by bees, and it consists of the exudates of plants mixed with enzymes, wax, and pollen. Propolis continues to gain considerable scientific interest due to its potential health benefits. The modern-day use of propolis in pharmaceutical preparations, such as toothpastes, mouthwashes, chewable tablets, mucoadhesive gels, and sprays, is increasing. However, the effectiveness of using propolis-containing pharmaceuticals in dentistry is not clear. The present paper aims to review the literature on the dental applications of propolis in preventive dentistry, periodontics, oral medicine, and restorative dentistry and discuss its clinical effectiveness. A literature search was conducted using Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. In total, 104 studies were included, of which 46 were laboratory studies, 5 animal studies, and 53 human clinical studies. Overall, the laboratory studies revealed a range of antimicrobial effects of propolis on oral pathogens. Clinical investigations of propolis in biofilm and dental caries control as well as adjuvant periodontal therapies reported positive outcomes in terms of plaque control, pathogenic microbial count reduction, and periodontal tissue inflammation control. Additional investigations included the use of propolis for the management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, oral mucositis, and cavity disinfection after caries removal as well as the development of a range of restorative dental materials. Based on the reported outcomes of the studies, the clinical usage of propolis has potential. However, the majority of the evidence is derived from studies with flaws in their methodological design, making their results and conclusions questionable. As a consequence, properly designed and well-reported clinical studies are required to affirm the effectiveness of propolis for dental applications. Additionally, the safety of propolis and the optimal concentrations and extraction methods for its clinical use warrant further investigation. Utilisation of standardised propolis extracts will help in quality control of propolis-based products and lead to the achievement of reproducible outcomes in research studies.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of exposure to additional preclinical endodontic training on undergraduate students’ technical quality of root canal treatment and overall confidence levels in endodontics. Methods. Technical quality of root canal treatment performed clinically by fifth-year undergraduate students was evaluated and divided into two groups: Group 1, teeth treated by students who had attended both a preclinical endodontic block course and an elective preclinical course. Group 2: teeth treated by students who had not attended the elective preclinical course. All students were also invited to participate in a survey to rate their undergraduate endodontic training and confidence levels performing endodontic treatment. Statistical analysis of data was performed using Person chi-square test, Fisher Freeman Halton exact test, and t-test. A -value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. There was no significant difference between the two groups in overall obturation quality ( ). However, more teeth treated by attendees were of adequate obturation length ( ) and lacked procedural errors ( ). Significantly more elective course attendees rated their undergraduate endodontic training as adequate ( ), but there was no significant difference in the level of confidence between the attendees and the non-attendees. Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, additional preclinical training showed minimal effect on overall quality of root canal treatment performed clinically by undergraduate students and did not enhance their confidence levels; however, it was associated with more satisfaction with their undergraduate endodontic education.

Background: The integration of haptic simulators in contemporary dental education has been reported to improve students’ hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills during pre-clinical education to facilitate a smooth transition to the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to assess the integration of haptic virtual reality simulation (HVRS) in undergraduate dental curricula in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Methods: All dental schools offering undergraduate dental programs in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study design. Data was collected using an online survey on a voluntary basis and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: Out of 34 dental schools, responses were received from 30 dental schools (response rate 88.2%). In terms of haptic integration, only two (6.7%) dental institutions have adopted haptic simulation in undergraduate dental education. However, a considerable proportion of schools (n = 13, 46.4%) expressed an interest in the future use of haptic technology. The key strengths of HRVS included the integration of modern technology, opportunities for self-directed learning, development and consolidation of manual skills, and boosting self-confidence amongst undergraduate dental students. Financial cost and limited patient cases in the HRVS library were regarded as the main barriers to widespread use of this technology. Conclusion: Although the Gulf Cooperation Council countries have strong economies with a high gross domestic product (GDP), only a limited number of dental schools have incorporated haptic technology in their curricula. Nevertheless, a high proportion of dental schools in the region are actively considering purchasing and implementation of haptic devices in undergraduate dental programs.

Background: Career choice is a complex, multifaceted process affecting all aspects of life. Motivational factors of aspiring dentists are crucial to inform institutions and aid with the admission process. The aim of this study was to explore undergraduate dental students’ perceived motivation for their career choice in the first dental institution in the State of Qatar to bridge the gap in knowledge in this area. Methods: Homogeneous purposive sampling technique was employed to collect data from all year 2 and year 3 undergraduate dental students to gain a deeper insight into their motivation of career choice. An explorative qualitative method using face-to-face focus group sessions were utilized. All focus groups were conducted in English and contained a moderator and observer. A topic guide was used to ensure data collection standardization. Participants’ views were recorded and filed notes obtained. Data was transcribed and analysis performed utilizing an inductive thematic approach. Results: A total of 34 students (89.5%) from year 2 and 3 participated in the focus groups. Data analysis revealed six main themes emerging from this study namely; altruism and patient care, family influence factors, childhood aspirations, hands-on practical skills, professional and social status, and the opportunity to reconsider and transfer. Based on frequency, altruism, opportunities to learn hands-on practical skills and professional status appeared to be the main drivers influencing students’ choice of dentistry as a professional career. Conclusion: This qualitative study presents the first national study providing insightful information regarding current undergraduate dental students’ decision process in relation to their profession selection, and shows that opportunities to provide patient care seems to be the key to motivation. There was also a strong inclination towards performing hands-on practical tasks as a dentist, and developing a professional status. Interestingly, financial reward did not feature as a motivational factor in this study. The study highlights the influence of socio-cultural and economic factors on choosing dentistry as a career. This data could help dental institutions better understand future applicant’s motivations to join dentistry and assist with the academic recruitment/admission process and targeting students with a potential to excel in the profession.

Background/Aim: The knowledge of standardized care guidelines is critical to the confidence of practitioners in managing dental trauma. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the awareness, use and impact of the International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines, and the online Dental Trauma Guide on general dental practitioners' self‐reported confidence and knowledge in managing traumatic dental injuries in the primary and permanent dentitions.Materials and Methods: A cross‐sectional, pre‐piloted, 27‐item self‐administered questionnaire survey was distributed electronically to general dental practitioners' working within five member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar) between September and December 2020. Data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test analysis for relevant comparisons.Results: A total of 294 respondents completed the survey, with the majority being from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (47.4%) and Qatar (27.3%). A lack of evidence‐based knowledge in managing traumatic dental injuries was evident among more than half of the respondents. Respondents who were cognizant of the recent International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines (2020) and those who use the Dental Trauma Guide routinely demonstrated a higher self‐reported confidence level in managing both simple and complex primary dentition trauma, as well as simple traumatic dental injuries in the permanent dentition (p < .05).Conclusion: This survey highlights critical deficiencies in the knowledge of a large number of the respondents in the management of dental trauma which is likely to cause irreversible long‐term patient effects.