Purpose: To evaluate dental students' perspectives of using haptic virtual reality simulator (HVRS) in the training of pulpotomy procedures in primary teeth, and to compare its perceived educational effectiveness with conventional mannequin‐based simulator.Material and Methods: Twenty‐four fourth‐year dental students from the University of Valencia were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 12 each). One group performed pulpotomy training first with a mannequin‐based model and then with HVRS, while the other group followed the reverse sequence. Both training modalities involved standardised instruction and hands‐on practice. Following both sessions, participants completed a 12‐item Likert‐scale survey assessing perspectives of realism, skill acquisition, confidence and overall satisfaction. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U tests and Spearman correlation analyses were used to examine group differences and item associations. In addition to self‐reported data, procedural timing was also recorded to provide complementary objective insight into student performance.Results: Students in the HVRS group reported significantly higher agreement on items related to tactile realism, differentiation of tooth structures and improvement of fine motor skills. Strong correlations were observed between perceived realism and confidence (ρ = 0.88), as well as between satisfaction and the desire to apply HVRS in additional procedures (ρ = 1.00). The internal consistency of the questionnaire was high (Cronbach's α = 0.91).Conclusions: HVRS was perceived as a realistic and motivating tool for pulpotomy training in paediatric dentistry. Students highlighted its value as a complementary method to conventional simulators, supporting psychomotor skill development and learner confidence. These findings suggest that HVRS may enhance educational outcomes when integrated into preclinical dental curricula.

Background: Evaluating the effectiveness and survival rates of space maintainers is crucial for optimal pediatric dental care. The present study’s goal is to evaluate the survival rate of different types of space maintainers—removable, fixed with a metal base, or fixed with a resin base—indicated for children as a consequence of premature loss of primary teeth. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA recommendations and was previously registered in PROSPERO under registration number: CRD42024534183. The search was performed in five different databases PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science. This was supplemented by a manual database search. From the initial electronic search of the five databases, 72 articles were identified after removing duplicates. After reading the titles and abstracts, 46 articles were excluded, leaving a total of 26 studies. Upon reading the full texts, 15 were excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria, resulting in a total of 11 articles included in the systematic review. Results: The total number of patients treated in the studies was 479, with four observational studies and seven randomized clinical trials. Fixed space maintainers, such as band and loop (BL) or lingual arch (LA), are preferred due to their long-term stability and lower risk of loss. In contrast, removable maintainers, such as Hawley plates, are suitable temporarily but require more patient cooperation and may be less tolerated. Conclusions: Space maintainers help prevent the migration of adjacent teeth and the need for more invasive orthodontic treatments in the future. Additionally, they contribute to adequate masticatory function and speech development.

Background: The emergence of ChatGPT has sparked growing interest in its application within university‐based dental education. As a conversational large language model (LLM), ChatGPT offers unique opportunities for content explanation, exam simulation and learner support. However, its educational utility, limitations and ethical implications remain underexplored. Objective: This systematic review aims to synthesise existing evidence on the pedagogical uses, perceived benefits, limitations and curricular integration of ChatGPT in dental education at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Material and Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. After screening and applying eligibility criteria, studies which met the eligibility criteria were included for full analysis. Thematic synthesis was performed across six domains: perceptions, educational uses, perceived benefits, risks and limitations, curricular integration and model comparison. Results: After completing the database search, 60 studies were identified. ChatGPT was predominantly perceived as useful, especially in enhancing autonomous learning, exam preparation and understanding clinical concepts. Most studies highlighted GPT‐4's superior performance compared to GPT‐3.5. Nevertheless, concerns regarding misinformation, overreliance and reduced critical thinking were frequently reported. Integration into curricula remained informal and complementary, with limited structured implementation. Study quality was heterogeneous, and many reports lacked methodological transparency. Conclusions: ChatGPT shows promise as a supportive tool in dental education, but its integration requires ethical and pedagogical oversight. Future research should use standardised frameworks to assess its effectiveness and risks.

Erosive tooth wear is an increasingly common pathology in the youth population. It refers to the chronic, localized, painless loss of dental hard tissues caused by non-bacterial acids, often originating from external sources like acidic beverages. Energy drink consumption is on the rise, frequently preceding physical exercise to enhance perceived energy levels. However, there are other types of beverages that also provide energy, such as pre-workout drinks, classified as sports drinks. The main objective of this research study has been conducted with the purpose of analyzing the pH of energy drinks and pre-workout beverages, and studying the frequency of consumption of such beverages in amateur athletes who practice sports. A total of 67 beverages were examined, comprising 43 energy drinks and 24 sports supplementation beverages, also known as pre-workout or pre-training beverages. The participants were given a survey to complete. They were asked to respond whether they consumed any type of pre-workout or energy drink, and they were also asked about the timing of consumption. The findings indicated an average pH of 3.3 among the studied beverages, indicating a pH below the critical threshold. Out of the 113 participants, 51% reported taking some form of supplementation. Consequently, it was concluded that most of the analyzed beverages recorded pH values low enough to classify them as erosive, posing a threat to enamel surface. When analyzing the frequency of consumption of energy drinks and pre-workout beverages in amateur athletes, we observed that most participants aged 29 years or younger took supplements 3 to 5 times a week, while the older age groups more frequently took supplements 1 to 2 times a week.

Background: Dental anxiety is a common challenge in paediatric dentistry, often leading to avoidance of treatment and compromised oral health. Non-pharmacological interventions such as music therapy have gained increasing attention as safe and cost-effective alternatives to pharmacological approaches. Although several clinical studies have examined the impact of music on children’s dental anxiety, the evidence has not yet been systematically summarised with quantitative synthesis. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy in reducing dental anxiety and fear among paediatric patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to August 2025. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating music therapy for dental anxiety in children were included. Primary outcomes were self-reported dental anxiety/fear scales and physiological measures (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation). Risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2, version 2019; Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK) Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model with Review Manager (RevMan, version 5.4; Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK). Results: Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 476 children aged 4–14 years were included. Music therapy significantly reduced self-re-ported dental anxiety compared with control groups (SMD = −0.48, 95% CI: −0.72 to −0.25, p < 0.001). Heart rate was also significantly reduced (SMD = −0.42, 95% CI: −0.68 to −0.16, p = 0.002), whereas changes in blood pressure and oxygen saturation were not statistically significant. The overall risk of bias was moderate, with most concerns related to blinding. Conclusions: Music therapy is an effective non-pharmacological intervention to reduce dental anxiety in children, particularly improving subjective anxiety and physiological arousal as measured by heart rate. Its integration into paediatric dental practice may enhance cooperation and treatment outcomes, offering a safe, inexpensive, and child-friendly approach.