The intent of the KAP (knowledge, attitude, practices) survey is to collect information about a specific target group related to their knowledge, what they consider to be known, and what they do about a particular topic. The aim of this study was to identify the level of importance of oral health, especially the level of knowledge, attitude and practices of rural patients around Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Material and methods: A questionnaire consisting of five parts was used, trying to assess the self-perception of oral health, knowledge and attitude towards oral health, dental hygiene practices and eating habits. A clinical examination was also performed in order to identify the number of missing teeth, the caries and the presence of calculus. Results: The study revealed that most patients have an average and good self-perception of oral health, although three-quarters of them have calculus deposits, and about half of them have more than three carious lesions and at least one extracted tooth. There is also a discrepancy between declared knowledge of oral health, eating habits and dental practices. Conclusions: The basic knowledge of rural patients about oral health can be considered satisfactory, but the practices, unfortunately, do not reflect this knowledge.

A series of counting, sequence and layer matrices are considered precursors of classifiers capable of providing the partitions of the vertices of graphs. Classifiers are given to provide different degrees of distinctiveness for the vertices of the graphs. Any partition can be represented with colors. Following this fundamental idea, it was proposed to color the graphs according to the partitions of the graph vertices. Two alternative cases were identified: when the order of the sets in the partition is relevant (the sets are distinguished by their positions) and when the order of the sets in the partition is not relevant (the sets are not distinguished by their positions). The two isomers of $C_{28}$ fullerenes were colored to test the ability of classifiers to generate different partitions and colorings, thereby providing a useful visual tool for scientists working on the functionalization of various highly symmetrical chemical structures.

Do the new, modern dental resin composites improve the sealing in cavities restorations? The present study was designed to compare the effect of two different, but most used layering techniques of the dental composite in reducing the marginal microleakage when a brand-new material is used; Class I black cavities were prepared on 120 human extracted teeth and then restored using oblique and horizontal layering technique. The dye penetration analysis, the atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) technique were used to assess the adaptation of the restorative material to the dental structures. Some better results were obtained for oblique layering technique, but the differences to the other method have not been statistically validated. The composite layering technique still remains an open quest and, moreover, in vivo studies should be designed in order to assess microleakage in real conditions of the oral environment.

(1) Background: Which are the adhesion characteristics of four root canal sealers: two experimental (dual cure resin based endodontic sealer (E1-DCR) and bioceramic based sealer (E2-BC)), and two commercial (RealSeal and TotallFill BC (FKG Germany)). (2) Methods. One-hundred-twenty extracted monoradicular teeth received mechanic-antiseptic preparation and then endodontic filling using gutta-percha in combination with one of the four sealers. Samples from the apical third were selected from each tooth and were randomly distributed for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and push-out bond strength. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy was made exclusively for experimental sealers. (3) Results. The two experimental materials did not present a significant difference in apical sealing ability based on SEM evaluation. Gaps were identified in case of RealSeal samples and also lower penetration into the dentinal tubules compared to TotalFill BC. On AFM analysis a more pronounced penetration into the tubules was observed in case of E2-BC sealer was observed. E1-DCR registered a lower bond strength (0.7177 ± 0.55) in the apical third compared to Total Fill BC (p = 0.01). (4) Conclusions. Within the limitations of the current study, it can be stated that the two experimental sealers’ characteristics are comparable to that of the two consecrated materials.

This work presents an original and very interesting approach to a calculus problem involving beams with intermediate supports through the transfer-matrix method, a very easy method to program to quickly obtain good results. To exemplify the applicability of this approach in dentistry, the calculus of a dental bridge on three poles is explored. Dental restorations are very important for improving a person’s general state of health as a result of improving mastication and esthetic appearance. The approach used in this study consists of presenting a theoretical study about an indeterminate beam with an intermediate support and then particularizing it for application in a dental restoration case, with a dental bridge on three poles and two missing teeth between the three poles. The bridge is assimilated to a simple static indeterminate beam. This paper is unique in that it involves the application of the transfer-matrix method for a case study in dental restoration. The assimilation of a dental bridge with a statically undetermined beam, resting on the extremities and on an intermediate support, is an original approach. The results obtained in the presented case study were validated by comparison with those obtained through the classical calculation of the Resistance of Materials, with Clapeyron’s equation of three moments. Due to the ease and elegance of solving various problems with the TMM, this approach will continue to be relevant to other original case studies with different modeling requirements, and these applications will be presented in future research.

Background: oral lichen planus (OLP) is a mucocutaneous disease that affects about 4% of the global population. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was linked to lichen planus. The current study aimed to assess the impact of OLP associated or not with HCV infection on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Methods: The study included patients diagnosed with OLP who filled in the Romanian version of OHIP-14 questionnaire at their first appointment and 6 months later, after the OLP treatment. A control group of OLP-free subjects similar as age and sex was also included in the study. Results: 68 patients with OLP and 46 controls were included in the study. The OHIP scores are significantly higher on OLP group than controls (p-value < 0.0001) and significantly reduced at 6-month follow-up (p-values: < 0.0001 pre- vs. post-treatment in OLP group). Patients with and without HCV associated with OLP demonstrated a similar oral quality of life (p-values > 0.05). Conclusions: the OHRQoL for patients suffering from OLP is compromised but is improved after treatment. The HCV associated with OLP did not influence the overall OHRQoL, but the patients who associate HCV reported more frequently aching in the mouth and discomfort eating food at six-month follow-up.