Introduction: This study identifies the caries risk in adult patients using the Swedish software product Cariogram. Early detection and timely management of risk factors for caries development are crucial for its prevention and non-operative preventative treatment. Aim: To identify patients at high risk for caries and implement a prophylactic program aimed at the individual patient based on the assessment of the individual risk factors. Materials and methods: The study included 59 women and 41 men aged 19–65 years. A detailed medical history was obtained from all patients who underwent thorough clinical examination, evaluation of saliva with Saliva-Check Buffer (GC) test and of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus levels using the CRT Bacteria kit (Ivoclar Vivadent AG products), and assessment of the caries risk using the Cariogram software. Results: The results showed that the most important risk factors were as follows: DMFT, (rs [100] = 0.358, p<0.001), levels of Lacto-bacilli (rs [100] = 0.321, p<0.001), levels of Streptococcus mutans (rs [100] = 0.302, p<0.05), plaque amount (rs [100] = 0.291, p<0.05), food intake frequency (rs [100] = 0.252, p<0.05), and diet content (rs [100] = 0.220, p0.05), saliva rate (rs [100] = 0.018, p>0.05), and saliva buffer capacity (rs [100] = 0.144, p>0.05). Conclusions: Cariogram is a very useful method in clinical practice for evaluation of the caries risk and its preventive, non-operative management. 

The purpose of this clinical study was to investigate the types of microorganisms in deep proximal caries lesions and the efficacy of elimination of microorganisms after a 24 s ozone application to proximal cavity lesions prepared for restoration. Sixteen caries-active volunteers (female: 8, male: 8; age range: 35–55), with proximally situated deep caries lesions on premolars or molars, were included in the study. Each patient underwent two microbiological investigations. First, the caries decay before treatment was assessed. Second, the dentine tissue was assessed after the removal of necrotic tooth decay and 24 s ozone application. The prevalence of oral streptococci was determined. In addition, we isolated Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis and Peptostreptococcus spp. from deep proximal caries lesion in caries-active patients. All microorganisms found in the deep proximal caries lesions were destroyed following 24 s ozone application. Our findings suggest that S. anginosus group, C. albicans and E. faecalis should be considered as an index for caries activity in caries-active patients, but additional studies are necessary to confirm this suggestion. This study demonstrated that 24 s of gaseous ozone application to the deep proximal caries lesions effectively eliminated microbial species.

Additive manufacturing is increasingly integrated into dental technology, yet the mechanical performance of 3D-printed denture base resins remains strongly influenced by printing orientation and post-curing duration. This study evaluated the combined effect of three printing orientations (0°, 45°, 90°) and three post-curing times (30, 45, 60 min) on the flexural strength and surface microhardness of a denture base resin. Specimens designed in Blender and fabricated using NextDent Denture 3D+ resin were subjected to three-point bending tests (n = 5 per group) and Vickers microhardness measurements (n = 10 per group). One-way ANOVA assessed main and interaction effects. Printing orientation had a significant influence on flexural strength, with horizontally printed specimens exhibiting the highest values, whereas vertically printed specimens were consistently weaker. Post-curing time did not significantly affect flexural strength within any orientation. In contrast, microhardness increased progressively with longer post-curing durations, regardless of orientation, indicating continued surface polymerisation. Because flexural strength and hardness responded differently to curing duration, no single post-curing time was universally optimal; however, 0° printing consistently produced the strongest specimens for this resin–printer system. This trade-off is clinically relevant, because dentures require high flexural strength to resist fracture and sufficient hardness to minimise wear.

Introduction: Advertising today is increasingly seen to be targeting children as they can be easily persuaded. The influence on them is reinforced by children’s difficulty in perceiving messages critically, in distinguishing the real from the imaginary, in their great confidence in messages from the media and popular characters and personalities, and in their inability to recognize risk and their propensity for imitation. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of television advertising on children’s nutritional preferences and the intensity of dental caries in children aged 6 to 12 years.Materials and methods: The study included 277 children (158 boys and 119 girls) aged 6 to 12 years from different schools in Sofia. A survey was used to assess the nutritional preferences of these children who are under the influence of watching television commercials. The DMF (T+t) index introduced by Klein, Palmer & Knutson (1938) was used to assess the intensity of dental caries. A correlation analysis was performed between the time spent watching TV and the development of dental caries. Results: Many children buy on their own or ask their parents to buy advertised sweet candies, fizzy drinks and fruit juices, which are a risk factor for the development of dental caries. The results show that the longer they spend in front of the TV, the stronger the pronounced caries activity in children, supported by a statistically significant difference (p<0.001), Rho (277)=0.438. Conclusions: The studied children aged 6 to 12 years have unhealthy dietary preferences for low molecular weight carbohydrate foods, increasing their oral risk profile. Prolonged standing in front of the TV screen correlated with an increase in the intensity of dental caries in half of the children.

Background: The ability to self-assess is a critical skill that all health professionals must be able to do, in order to achieve competence. This is essential for the doctors of dental medicine. During their education and practice they apply different clinical and para-clinical procedures. \ud The aim is to evaluate the students' self-assessment skills during the education of clinic and pre-clinic of prosthetic dentistry.\ud Material and methods: After the completion of certain work - preparation for full veneer crown, a questionnaire was provided to each student in preclinical course (n=30) and clinical course (n=30) for self-evaluation. The questionnaire involved: axial reduction, occlusal reduction, facial and lingual reduction, smoothing and finishing. The answers were based on the standard for the university grading scale. Than, the same questionnaire was fulfilled by the assistant professor without seeing students' self-evaluation.\ud Results and Discussion: Results have been reported in percentages. 100% respond rate has been achieved. The students from the preclinical course tend to overestimate their performance (50%). The students from the clinical course tend to submit overall lower grades than the faculty evaluation (25%).\ud Conclusions: The students from clinics have better self-assessment skills. The discrepancy was most pronounced in the junior students. The different evaluations (self-assessment and assistant professor's) help students to improve their understanding of certain principles and improve the teaching effectiveness of education of prosthetic dentistry