This study aimed to investigate the attitudes of combat and team sports athletes towards the use, storage, and hygiene conditions of mouthguards, with the goal of understanding disparities in usage and maintenance practices and their implications for oral health. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 394 athletes (316 combat athletes and 78 team athletes). Participants completed a 28-question survey assessing their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding mouthguard use, hygiene, and maintenance. The survey included questions on demographic data, mouthguard usage habits, cleaning methods, and storage practices. Combat sports athletes exhibited significantly higher rates of mouthguard use (100%) compared to team sports athletes (29.5%) (chi square [χ²] = 258.971, p<0.001). Significant differences were also found in cleaning (χ² = 252.195, p<0.001) and storage practices (χ² = 14.195, p = 0.002), with combat athletes demonstrating better adherence to recommended guidelines. Common complaints about mouthguards included difficulties with speaking (χ² = 7.792, p = 0.005) and breathing (χ² = 11.431, p = 0.001), with combat athletes reporting fewer issues. The study highlights the need for increased awareness and education on mouthguard use among team sports athletes. Dentists and coaches play a crucial role in promoting proper mouthguard use, hygiene, and maintenance to prevent sports-related dental injuries. Emphasis should be placed on the benefits of custom-made mouthguards for improved comfort and protection.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective, randomized, controlled, single-centered, examiner-blinded clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized and visual oral health education program in addition to conventional oral hygiene education. Materials and methods: Fifty-six non-smoker, right-handed participants (aged 30.34 ± 11.46 years) without clinical signs of periodontitis were randomly grouped: the intervention group (n = 28) received a personalized visualized oral health education combined with conventional oral hygiene education, and the control group (n = 28) received conventional oral hygiene education only. All participants were assessed for improved periodontal parameters (PI, GI, BOP, and PPD) at baseline, first month, and third month. Results: A significant reduction (p < 0.001) was observed in PI, GI, and BOP during two follow-up sessions compared to the baseline for the two groups. No differences were found for inter-group (p > 0.05) or intra-group (p = 1) comparison of PPD. PI (p = 0.012), GI (p = 0.032), and BOP (p = 0.024) scores were significantly reduced at the third-month follow-up assessment in the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusions: Clinical outcomes of periodontal health were significantly enhanced by the personalized and visual oral health education program applied in this study compared to the conventional oral hygiene education program. Clinical relevance: Numerous studies reported additional interventions to the oral hygiene education program. However, we did not find any published studies investigating the role of patients’ intra-oral photographs in oral care. This study’s results demonstrated that a visually aided education program for oral hygiene motivation may help improve oral health. Clinical trial registration: Registration number is “NCT06316505” and date of registration is 18/03/2024.

Dünya sağlık örgütü (WHO) ve Amerika Gıda ve Tarım Örgütü (FAO) ‘nün probiyotik bakteri tanımı şöyledir; uygun miktarlarda kullanıldıklarında sağlık için faydalı etkileri olan yaşayan mikroorganizmalardır. Periodontal hastalıklar, dişetinde başlayan enfeksiyonun dişeti bağ dokusu, periodontal ligament ve alveol kemiğine ulaşmasıyla dişin periodonsiyumunda yıkıma neden olarak dişlerde mobilite ve ardından diş kaybına sebep olan, kronik enfamatuvar hastalıklardır. Periodontal tedavide klasik mekanik uygulamalar, dentin kanallarındaki, konkavitelerdeki ve yumuşak dokuya invaze olmuş bakterileri elimine etmekte yeterli olmamaktadır. Bu nedenle mekanik temizliğe ek olarak kullanılan antimikrobiyal ajanlar periodontopatojenleri azaltmaya katkıda bulunur. Bazı araştırmalar sonucunda probiyotikler gündeme gelmeye başlamıştır. Günümüzde yapılan pek çok araştırmada canlı bakterilerin tedavi amacıyla kullanılması ön plana çıkmaktadır.

Amaç: Bu çalışma, diş hekimliği fakültesi öğrencileri ile diş hekimlerinin kişilik özelliklerinin enneagram tipolojisine göre belirlenmesi, branş seçimlerine ilişkin tutumlarının değerlendirilmesi ve bireylerin kişilik tipi ile branşlaşma tercihleri arasındaki ilişkinin araştırılması amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Gereç veYöntemler: Çalışmaya diş hekimliği fakültesinde lisans eğitimine devam eden öğrenciler ile lisans, doktora veya uzmanlık mezunu diş hekimleri katılmıştır. Katılımcılara bilgilendirilmiş gönüllü onam formu, demografik bilgi formu ve Türklerde enneagram prensiplerine göre kişilik tiplerini belirlemek amacıyla oluşturulan “Taştan Kişilik Tipleri Ölçeği’ni (TPI)” içeren form, çevrimiçi anket portalı “docs.google” aracılığıyla gönderilmiştir. Kişilik tipini belirlemeye yönelik olarak Nesne Yönelimli Yaklaşımla Visual c# dilinde, .Net Framework 4.5 kullanılarak bir yazılım geliştirilmiştir. Bulgular: Katılımcılar arasında en yüksek sayıda birey “ağız, diş ve çene cerrahisi” alanına ilgi duyarken, bunu “ortodonti” ve ardından “periodontoloji” alanı izlemektedir. Branşlaşma isteğine dair en az tercih edilen alan ise 42 kişi ile “endodonti” olmuştur. Erkek bireylerin daha fazla oranda “ağız, diş ve çene cerrahisini” tercih ettikleri, kadın bireylerin ise “pedodonti” branşını tercih ettikleri tespit edilmiştir. Enneagram tipolojisine göre bireylerin en yüksek oranda “mükemmeliyetçi kişilik tipine” sahip olduğu, bunu “yardımsever kişilik tipinin” izlediği ve en düşük oranda “sorgulayıcı” mizaç özelliklerine sahip olduğu görülmektedir. Araştırma verileri incelendiğinde diş hekimlerinin sahip oldukları kişilik ve mizaç özellikleri ile tercih ettikleri branşlar arasında ilişki olmadığını görülmektedir. Sonuç: Çalışma neticesinde bireylerin kişilik tiplerinin, branşlama tercihlerini belirleyici bir etkisinin olmadığı görülmüştür. Anahtar Sözcükler: Diş hekimliği; enneagram; mizaç

This examiner-blinded, randomized controlled trial compared the plaque removal efficacy of a triple-headed manual toothbrush (3HB) to a conventional manual toothbrush. Forty-eight non-smoker, right-handed participants (aged 20–50 years) were randomly grouped: The first group (Conventional Manual Toothbrush-CMB) was given a manual toothbrush and the second group (3Head Brush-3HB) was given a toothbrush with a 3-head geometric design. All participants were assessed with The Rustogi et al. Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI). Clinical trial registration number of the present study is “NCT06594757”. Forty-eight eligible participants were randomized into two groups (n = 24 each). No significant differences in baseline demographics were observed. Plaque scores evaluated before and after brushing showed no significant difference between the groups in marginal, aproximal, anterior, premolar and whole mouth regions. However, there was a statistically significant decrease in plaque scores in all regions after brushing in both groups (p < 0.001). There was also no significant difference between genders in terms of plaque scores, while plaque reduction was effective regardless of age or gender in all regions after brushing (p < 0.001). The findings suggest that both toothbrush designs are effective in plaque removal. The triple-headed manual toothbrush demonstrated plaque removal efficacy statistically comparable to, but not superior to, the conventional manual toothbrush in healthy, non-impaired adults. Its clinical advantage may be specific to populations with manual dexterity challenges. Problems related to teeth and gums can be prevented and controlled by appropriate mechanical cleaning of dental plaque. In order to successfully remove microbial dental plaque, teeth should be brushed regularly, for sufficient time and with the correct technique. Toothbrush manufacturers continue to work to remove plaque better with different designs of the head of the toothbrush. It is tried to increase the plaque removal efficiency of classical brushes with different designs of areas such as bristles, handle, head angle and structure. The effectiveness of different toothbrush designs has been demonstrated in studies investigating plaque removal efficiency, especially in interproximal and gingival areas that can be cleaned more difficult. This study’s results demonstrated that removing plaque from the tooth surface by effective tooth brushing may help improve oral health. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06594757, registered on September 09, 2024 (retrospectively registered).

Covid-19, which threatens human health worldwide, affects people not only emotionally, but also by exposing them to necessary changes in their social behaviors and lifestyles. Psychological health and daily life habits have been transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Closure of universities, suspension of clinical training, and transition to online education are likely to affect students negatively. This paper focuses on the stress levels and daily lifestyle changes of students because of the pandemic. A total of 601 participants of dentistry faculty, including 402 preclinical (PC) and 199 intorn (INT) students, filled an online survey questionnaire including sociodemographic data form, “Health-promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II)” form, and “Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10)” form. IBM SPSS version 25.0. program was used for statistical analyses. HPLP-II and PSS-10 mean scores of PC and INT students were found as moderate. It was determined that variables as gender, educational grade, financial status, living with a relative who is at risk of contracting COVID-19 or having a relative who has the disease caused difference in HPLP-II and PSS-10 total mean score and the average score in the majority of subscales. The current study's findings reveal that COVID-19 pandemic has devastating effects on students' stress levels and lifestyle routines. It is vital to provide services to individuals in order to sustain healthy lifestyle behaviors in order to protect communal health.