The aim of this study was to determine the resistance to fracture of feldspathic restorations with lithium disilicate and crystallized with different ovens and programs. Methods: Sixty monolithic restorations (LD) (EMAX CAD™ LT, Ivoclar-Vivadent™) were designed with the same parameters and milled with a CAD/CAM system (CEREC SW 5.1, CEREC MCXL, Dentsply-Sirona™, Bensheim). Each restoration was randomly assigned by randomization software (RANDNUM) to one of the three groups: (a) (NF) Oven P310 (Ivoclar, Vivadent) normal crystallization program, (b) (FF) Ivoclar P310 oven (Ivoclar-Vivadent™) rapid crystallization program, or (c) (SF) SpeedFire oven (Dentsply-Sirona™). Results: There were statistically significant differences between the groups (ANOVA, p < 0.05). The NF and FF groups showed the highest values of resistance to fracture, with statistically significant differences with the SF group. Conclusions: Using a furnace from the same dental company with predetermined programs from the material manufacturer, as well as using a predetermined program for rapid crystallization, has no effect on fracture resistance, and would save clinical time when performing ceramic restorations with lithium disilicate, while keeping their mechanical properties.

The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture strength of monolithic zirconium dioxide subjected to a sintering process in two different furnaces: InFire HTC Speed and CEREC SpeedFire. Methods: Forty restorations were designed and machined using a computer aided design / computer aidded machine (CAD/CAM) system. The restorations were randomly assigned to two groups of 20 samples each, Group 1 for the SpeedFire furnace (fast sintering) and Group 2 for the InFire furnace (slow sintering). Each of the crowns was subjected to a maximum compression load recorded in Newtons (N) and a displacement control with a speed of 1 mm/min. Results: Group 1 presented an average of 1222.8 N and a standard deviation of 136.91 N. Group 2 obtained a mean of 1068.5 N and a standard deviation of 316.39 N. Conclusions: There were no significant differences between the two groups, and the mechanical strength of the material was not affected, which would imply a saving of clinical and laboratory time when performing rapid sintering on monolithic translucent zirconium dioxide restorations. However, rapidly sintered restorations have limited reliability.

The aim of this study was to compare the influence of heat treatment on fracture resistance (FR) of different ceramic materials used for CAD/CAM systems. Methods: Eighty monolithic restorations were designed using the same parameters and milled with a CAD/CAM system (CEREC SW 5.0, PrimeMill, Dentsply-Sirona™, Bensheim, Germany), forming five study groups: Group 1 (n = 10), CEREC Tessera (Dentsply-Sirona™, Bensheim, Germany) crystallized (CCT), Group 2 (n = 10), CEREC Tessera uncrystallized (UCT), Group 3 (n = 20), Emax-CAD (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) (CEC), Group 4 (n = 20), Vita Suprinity (Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) (CVS), and Group 5 (n = 20) Cameo (Aidite, Qinhuangdao, China) (CC). Results: The average FR was similar for CCT, CC, and CEC at above 400 N, while CVS and UCT had the lowest values at 389,677 N and 343,212 N, respectively. Conclusion: Among the three ceramic materials that exhibited an FR above 400 N, CCT was considered the first recommended choice for CAD/CAM systems. This material not only demonstrated the highest FR but also exhibited outstanding consistency in the related measurements without the presence of outliers. Although the CC material showed high FR, its high dispersion revealed inconsistencies in the repetitions, suggesting caution in its use.

Esta investigación tuvo por objetivo determinar los niveles de engagement y burnout en los docentes de la Universidad de Guayaquil. El estudio fue de tipo no experimental, de corte transaccional, como herramienta se aplicó un instrumento en línea a 65 docentes de la facultad de Odontología. Los resultados determinaron que existen niveles bajos cansancio emocional (2,95) y despersonalización (2,43) y altos niveles de realización personal (5,65). También se pudo identificar un alto nivel de engagement, caracterizado por vigor (5,9), dedicación (6,05) y absorción (5,79). Se encontraron diferencias significativas en cuanto al cansancio emocional entre los docentes que tienen nombramiento y los de servicios prestados y en dos de las dimensiones del burnout: realización personal y despersonalización, respecto a la antigüedad laboral. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en cuanto al género, edad y estado civil de los participantes. Se concluye sobre la necesidad de evaluar, por parte de los directivos de las instituciones de educación superior, aquellos factores que están fomentando el engagement en el trabajo y establezcan estrategias para evitar que los docentes caigan en burnout.

Background: Dental anxiety is a widespread issue that significantly impacts oral health behaviors, often leading individuals to postpone or avoid dental care. This avoidance can result in more complex and invasive treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of dental anxiety and associated factors among patients attending the dental clinic at the University of Guayaquil, Ecuador.Materials and methods: A total of 389 patients were assessed using three validated instruments: the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), the Dental Anxiety Short Scale (SDAI), and the Dental Anxiety and Fear Diagnosis (DAYMO). Statistical analyses included bivariate tests and correlation analyses using Spearman's rho and Pearson's chi-square tests.Results: Among the participants, 63.8% were female and 36.3% were male. Women reported significantly higher levels of anxiety across all assessment tools (p < 0.05). Based on the SDAI, 47% of patients exhibited moderate to severe anxiety, whereas 19% reported high anxiety levels on the MDAS. The DAYMO instrument revealed that 51.2% of participants experienced mild anxiety, and 27.8% had moderate anxiety. Common anxiety triggers included fear of pain, past negative dental experiences, and concerns about needles or oral hygiene practices.Conclusions: Dental anxiety was prevalent among patients, particularly among women, with most experiencing mild to moderate levels. These findings underscore the importance of addressing psychological factors in dental care settings to improve patient experience and outcomes.

El objetivo de este estudio es determinar los niveles de burnout existente en los docentes de las Unidades Educativas del Ecuador, régimen costa. Esta investigación es de tipo cuantitativa, con un alcance exploratorio y descriptivo desarrollando una revisión del origen, conceptos y dimensiones del burnout, a través de un estudio de campo aplicado a 701 docentes que cursaban su maestría en Gestión Educativa de una Institución de Educación Superior. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el 5% de los docentes se encuentran en Burnout, sin embargo, existe un 9% de los docentes que tiene un nivel alto de cansancio emocional y un 11% podrían ir camino al Burnout, lo que traería repercusiones negativas para el docente y la institución. Además, es importante observar los niveles medios de cada una de las dimensiones de Cansancio Emocional y Despersonalización, estas podrían llegar a niveles altos y desencadenar el síndrome. Se concluye en que deben existir políticas públicas que garanticen la salud y cuidado de los profesionales de la educación, lo que permite que estos ejecuten sus funciones de forma óptima, lo que genera beneficios en su rendimiento.