International Journal of Dentistry最新文献

{"title":"Macrophage-Marker Response and Exploratory Hepatorenal Safety of a Tricalcium Silicate-Biogenic Calcium Carbonate (<i>Achatina fulica</i>) Hybrid Pulp-Capping Material in a Mechanically Exposed Rat Molar Pulp Model: An In Vivo Study.","authors":"Endo Sadewa, Nurhayaty Natsir, Nurlindah Hamrun, Noor Hikmah, Nisrina Ekayani Nasrun, Kezia Rachellea Mustakim, Juni Jekti Nugroho","doi":"10.1155/ijod/8074092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijod/8074092","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objectives: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aimed to evaluate, in vivo, the macrophage marker response and exploratory hepatorenal safety of a complete candidate formulation of 75% tricalcium silicate (TCS) and 25% biogenic calcium carbonate (CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;) from &lt;i&gt;Achatina fulica&lt;/i&gt; shells, applied to mechanically exposed rat molar pulp, and compared with the manufacturer-prepared commercial calcium silicate standard.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Materials and methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Forty-eight male Wistar rats underwent mechanical pulp exposure of the maxillary first molars and were randomly allocated to three groups (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 16): negative control (saline), positive control (undiluted commercial calcium silicate cement, manufacturer-hydrated, designated \"100% TCS\" for brevity), or the water-activated hybrid (75% TCS + 25% &lt;i&gt;A. fulica&lt;/i&gt; CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;), with euthanasia on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 4/subgroup). Characterization was performed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The pulpal response was assessed by immunohistochemical cell counts for CD68 (pan-macrophage), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (M1-associated), and CD163 (M2-associated), and systemic safety by hepatorenal biochemistry (AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine) and blinded liver/kidney histopathology. The prespecified significance threshold was set at &lt;i&gt;α&lt;/i&gt; = 0.05. Primary inference was drawn from between-group comparisons pooled across the four time points (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 16 per group), with time-point-specific comparisons (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 4) reported descriptively.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;FTIR confirmed the presence of characteristic carbonate functional groups, and EDX indicated a calcium fraction of 23.7% on the analyzed surfaces, while chlorine decreased from 13.9% to 4.7% after hydration-liquid substitution. Compared to the commercial standard, the hybrid was associated with lower pan-macrophage infiltration (CD68) and M1-associated marker (iNOS) counts at each timepoint and higher M2-associated marker (CD163) counts, peaking at day 14 (all omnibus comparisons &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). Hepatorenal parameters and organ histopathology in the hybrid group were milder than those in the commercial standard group, although all four biochemical parameters remained above those of the operated saline control group, and hepatic portal inflammation was modestly higher in the hybrid group (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.009).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Compared with the commercial standard, the water-activated 75:25 hybrid was associated with lower pro-inflammatory (M1-associated) and higher proresolving (M2-associated) macrophage-marker levels and with milder renal histopathology and minimal hepatic injury relative to the commercial standard. Because these associations reflect marker immunoreactivity in independent cross-sectional samples rather than tracking individual cells, they support further pre","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"8074092"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13655510/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149181651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacterial Colonization in Monofilament Sutures of Different Materials Following Periodontal Surgeries: A Microbial Analysis Study.","authors":"Abdulaziz Alsakr, Lamia Mohammed Alammar, Mohammed Nasser Alasqah, Abdullah Saad Alqahtani, Khalid Gufran","doi":"10.1155/ijod/6008407","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijod/6008407","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study sought to assess and compare the extent of bacterial colonization on various monofilament suture types, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyglycolide-co-caprolactone (PGCL Monocryl), triclosan-coated polydioxanone (Monocryl Plus), and polyamide (nylon). The investigation also aimed to identify predominant bacterial species colonizing these materials and evaluate their potential impact on wound healing and infection control.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An in vitro experimental design combined with clinical sampling was employed. Sutures were retrieved from patients following periodontal surgery between days 7 and 10. Microbiological culture methods, colony-forming unit (CFU) quantification, bacterial identification through Vitek2, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to analyze both aerobic and anaerobic bacterial growth. Statistical analysis was performed to compare bacterial adhesion among the different suture types.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed that PTFE sutures exhibited the lowest bacterial colonization, recording mean aerobic and anaerobic counts of 9.8 × 10⁸ CFU/mL and 8.49 × 10⁸ CFU/mL, respectively, likely due to their smooth and hydrophobic surface characteristics. In contrast, PGCL Monocryl demonstrated the highest levels of colonization, with aerobic and anaerobic counts of 13.3 × 10⁸ and 13.68 × 10⁸ CFU/mL, and harbored bacteria such as <i>Lactococcus garvieae</i>, <i>Staphylococcus warneri</i>, and <i>Streptococcus sobrinus</i>. Monocryl Plus and nylon showed moderate colonization levels, with the triclosan coating on Monocryl Plus reducing but not preventing bacterial attachment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PTFE demonstrated the lowest numerical bacterial colonization among the evaluated suture materials. However, the differences between the groups were not statistically significant and should therefore be interpreted with caution. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>The study provides preliminary evidence on bacterial colonization of different monofilament suture materials. These findings may assist clinicians in selecting suture materials, but larger clinical studies are required before definitive recommendations can be made.</p>","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6008407"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13653258/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149164514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comparative Evaluation of Contemporary Aesthetic Perceptions Between Dental Students and Laypersons.","authors":"Beyza Betul Sencan, Sumeyye Kılıclar","doi":"10.1155/ijod/7428492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijod/7428492","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Aesthetic perception of the smile plays a critical role in social interactions and facial attractiveness. With the increasing influence of social media, aesthetic standards have become more dynamic and may differ between individuals with professional dental education and laypersons. This study aimed to compare dental aesthetic perceptions between dental students and laypersons and to investigate the influence of social media.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 242 participants aged 18-30 years, comprising 130 dental students and 112 laypersons. A 10-item online questionnaire was used. Questions 2-6 assessed preferences for tooth colour, gingival display, lip fullness, diastema and 'bunny teeth'. Questions 7-10 evaluated social media use and its perceived influence. Data were analysed using R software, with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>White tooth colour and normal alignment were preferred in both groups. Dental students showed a higher preference for reduced gingival display. No significant differences were found for lip fullness or diastema. Social media use was high(96.6%), with Instagram the most used platform (80.3%) and more influential among dental students. Most participants reported that social media affects their aesthetic perception.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Dental students and laypersons showed largely similar aesthetic preferences, with minor differences. Social media has a notable influence on aesthetic perception in both groups.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>Most participants, including dental students, reported that social media influences their perception of dental aesthetics. Recognising this influence may help clinicians better understand patient expectations and improve communication in aesthetic dental practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7428492"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13651007/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149166709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilisation and Shortages of Dental Medicines in Australia From 2014 to 2025: A Retrospective Time-Series Study.","authors":"Jack Janetzki, Joon Soo Park, Amy Page, Debra Rowett, Wern Chern Chai, Lisa Kalisch Ellett","doi":"10.1155/ijod/7203795","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijod/7203795","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dental prescribing in Australia under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) has evolved alongside antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, opioid regulation, and medicine shortages. Understanding national utilisation trends is important to inform policy and safe prescribing practices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis of publicly available PBS and Repatriation PBS (RPBS) Section 85 and Section 100 Date of Supply data was conducted from February 2014 to August 2025. Dental schedule item codes were identified via the PBS Publications Archive. Monthly dispensing rates per 100,000 population were calculated using Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates. Medicines were classified by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification third level code, with trends assessed by therapeutic class and formulation. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) shortage reports were used to contextualise utilisation changes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty-nine dental medicines were included in the PBS dental schedule during the study period, with 50 remaining in August 2025. Antibiotics were commonly utilised, with amoxicillin 500 mg capsules consistently most dispensed. Paracetamol with codeine remained the second most dispensed medicine despite regulatory changes. Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid use increased, while clindamycin declined except during metronidazole shortages. Oxycodone dispensing rose markedly from 2023, whereas ibuprofen use declined.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Dental medicine utilisation shifted over time, likely reflecting stewardship efforts and supply disruptions. Ongoing review of the PBS Dental Schedule is warranted to ensure alignment with contemporary clinical guidance and optimise safe prescribing.</p>","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7203795"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13647207/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149136563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is There Evidence Supporting the use of Dermatoglyphics as an Auxiliary Diagnostic Method for Periodontitis? A Scoping Review.","authors":"Sara Maria do Amaral Melo, Maria Teresa Andrade do Amaral, Maria Luiza Lima Santana, Túlio Eduardo Nogueira, Virgílio Moreira Roriz","doi":"10.1155/ijod/5546489","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijod/5546489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To identify and synthesize the scientific evidence regarding the use of dermatoglyphics as an auxiliary method in the diagnosis of periodontitis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines and reported following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Multiple electronic databases and sources of gray literature were searched without language or time restrictions. Studies evaluating individuals with periodontitis using dermatoglyphics as a complementary diagnostic approach were included. Study selection, data extraction, and analysis were independently performed by two reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tools for analytical cross-sectional studies, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 24 studies were included, comprising 21 cross-sectional studies and three case-control studies. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in both periodontal diagnostic criteria and fingerprint collection methods. None of the included studies reported diagnostic accuracy measures for dermatoglyphic patterns (DPs) in comparison with a clinical periodontal diagnosis. A predominance of the ulnar loop fingerprint pattern was frequently reported among individuals with periodontitis, although some studies also described a higher prevalence of whorl patterns.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although the results may suggest an association between certain DPs and the presence of periodontitis, the current evidence is insufficient to support its clinical application. There is a clear need for well-designed multicenter studies with methodological rigor and standardized diagnostic criteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5546489"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13647206/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149136617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Psychological and Social Impact on Patients Rehabilitated With Conventional and Modern Technology-Based Maxillofacial Prosthetics.","authors":"Shahad Fadhil Bunyan, Shahad Mohammed Shakir, Zryan Jaza Hama Salih, Wisam Jasim Mohammed, Quasy Abdulateef Hasan","doi":"10.1155/ijod/3504249","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijod/3504249","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This research sought to assess the psychological and social impacts of contemporary technology-driven maxillofacial prosthetics in comparison to traditional counterparts. A comparative investigation was performed on 60 patients rehabilitated with digital <i>n</i> = 30 and traditional <i>n</i> = 30 prostheses at Ghazi Al-Hariri Hospital for Surgical Specialties, Iraq. Data were acquired using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a modified University of Washington Quality-of-Life (UW-QOL)-derived questionnaire, and a patient satisfaction questionnaire. SPSS v26 was used to perform descriptive statistics, independent <i>t</i>-tests, Pearson correlations, and regression analysis. The significance level was set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. Patients rehabilitated with digitally fabricated prostheses reported significantly lower anxiety scores 5.70 vs. 6.97, <i>p</i> = 0.002 and depression scores 9.27 vs. 12.17, <i>p</i> < 0.001 than those rehabilitated with conventional prostheses. Quality-of-life scores were significantly higher in the appearance, social interaction, and emotional well-being domains, overall mean = 4.3 vs. 3.5, <i>p</i> < 0.001. Users of digitally fabricated prostheses also reported significantly higher patient satisfaction, 4.6 vs. 3.8, <i>p</i> < 0.001. Patient satisfaction was positively correlated with quality oflife, <i>r</i> = 0.72, <i>p</i> < 0.001, and negatively correlated with anxiety, <i>r</i> = -0.68, <i>p</i> < 0.001. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis identified prosthesis type and overall patient satisfaction as significant predictors of quality of life, with the final model explaining 61.0% of the variance in modified UW-QOL scores <i>R</i> ² = 0.61, <i>p</i> < 0.001. Contemporary digital maxillofacial prosthetics were associated with better patient-reported psychological health, esthetic self-assurance, and social reintegration compared to conventional methods. It is important to combine digital processes, psychological therapy, and cooperation across different fields.</p>","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3504249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13643825/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149136637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of Continuing Education Interventions in Improving Dentists' Proficiency in Oral Cancer Screening: A Systematic Review and Quality Appraisal.","authors":"Marina Sulyman, Mariam Demian, Jyothi Tadakamadla, Elizabeth Fitriana Sari","doi":"10.1155/ijod/8479848","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijod/8479848","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early detection of oral cancer (OC) is critical for improving survival outcomes; however, delayed diagnosis remains common worldwide. By performing routine OC screenings, dentists play a central role in its early detection yet persistent gaps in knowledge, confidence and clinical skills remain. While previous reviews have focused on diagnostic adjuncts and technologies for OC detection, the effectiveness of continuing educational interventions targeting dentists' screening proficiency has not been systematically appraised.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To systematically review and qualitatively appraise the effectiveness of continuing educational interventions in improving dentists' proficiency in performing OC screenings.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A systematic review and quality appraisal was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were undertaken in MEDLINE, PubMed and CINAHL, supplemented by Google Scholar and citation tracking from inception to January 2026. Eligible studies were English-language primary research evaluating OC educational interventions for dentists with pre and postintervention outcome assessment. Owing to substantial heterogeneity in study design, intervention characteristics and outcome measures, meta-analysis was not feasible. A qualitative synthesis was undertaken, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. This study has been registered in PROSPERO (REF: CRD420250591937).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine studies involving sample sizes ranging from 47 to 442 participants were included, encompassing online, face-to-face, blended and campaign-based educational interventions. All nine studies reported improvements in dentists' knowledge and awareness following the interventions. Five studies reported improvements in diagnostic accuracy and lesion recognition, five reported increased confidence or self-efficacy, and three reported improvements in OC screening or referral practices. Most interventions were of short duration and relied predominantly on self-reported outcomes. Limited undergraduate training, unclear referral pathways and inadequate infrastructure were commonly reported barriers to the implementation of OC screening. The certainty of evidence, assessed using the GRADE approach, ranged from very low to low across the evaluated outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Continuing educational interventions may enhance dentists' proficiency in OC screening, particularly when interactive and practice-oriented methods are used. Nevertheless, integrated approaches combining standardised curricula, longitudinal training and system-level support are required to translate educational gains into sustained practice change, earlier OC detection and improved outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"8479848"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13646708/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149136609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oral Hygiene Practices and Fluoride Toothpaste Use in Children Under 3 Years Old in Lima, Peru: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Rosa J Muñoz-Nuñez, Josselyn R Ramirez-Escapa, Ailín Cabrera-Matta","doi":"10.1155/ijod/7483990","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijod/7483990","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and background: </strong>Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common noncommunicable disease in children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The daily use of fluoride toothpaste is the most effective strategy for caries prevention and control. This study aims to determine the oral hygiene practices and use of fluoride toothpaste in children under 3 years old.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Using a questionnaire about oral hygiene habits, this cross-sectional study surveyed 502 parents and caregivers of children under 3 years old during pediatric check-ups at a hospital in Lima, Peru. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data; absolute and relative frequencies were calculated for categorical variables. Quantitative variables were assessed using graphical methods, descriptive statistics, and summarized as medians and interquartile ranges due to their nonnormal distribution. Fisher's exact test was applied to assess the association between the toothpaste type and the child's age, with a significance level of 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Some form of oral hygiene was reported in 79.5% (<i>n</i> = 399) of children. While 27.5% (<i>n</i> = 138) of parents/caregivers brushed their children's teeth with toothpaste at least twice daily. Only 19.3% (<i>n</i> = 97) of them used a toothpaste with at least 1000 ppm F on a daily basis. The most commonly used amount of toothpaste was 1/8 of the brush head (45.5%). The most common sources of recommendation regarding the type of toothpaste were dentists, physicians, and pharmacy staff.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite current global recommendations, only a small proportion of children under 3 years of age used fluoride toothpaste containing at least 1000 ppm, and age-related differences were observed. These findings highlight the need for pediatric dentists to strengthen parental education and to support the training of both dental and nondental health professionals in evidence-based oral hygiene practices in early childhood.</p>","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7483990"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13643937/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149136573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging the Divide in India's Tobacco Epidemic: A Review of the Effectiveness of Four Core Policy Interventions.","authors":"Rekha P Shenoy, T A Abdul Salam, M Alfiya, Amanna Supriya","doi":"10.1155/ijod/1393877","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijod/1393877","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Tobacco is one of the major risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Indian population. The decreasing trend of tobacco use reflects significant progress in tobacco control, which can be attributed to key policies like price rise, smoke-free areas, ban on advertising and promotion and pictorial warnings on tobacco products. This narrative review was undertaken to assess effectiveness of these four policies in reducing tobacco burden in India.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Articles were obtained by searching through all major databases. Peer-reviewed articles published in the last 20 years, reports of the Government of India and nationally representative surveys focusing on at least one intervention were included. Selected publications and reports went through two-stage screening process before inclusion. Findings were grouped according to the four policies under evaluation.</p><p><strong>Main text: </strong>Twenty-three articles and reports were selected to derive the results. Inverse association was found between product price and consumption/affordability. Smoke-free laws in public spaces were associated with reduced second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure at home. Point of sale (POS) advertising remains prominent in India, which is a cause for concern. Awareness about pictorial warnings was significantly high among both consumers and non-consumers who believed they heightened awareness about health hazards and assisted in reducing or quitting use. However, high-dependence users were not influenced by statutory warnings or price increases.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>To achieve full compliance with COTPA (The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products [Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution] Act), 2003, multisectoral interventions will require partnership of government agencies, civil society organisations and the community. While tobacco products are taxed heavily to make them less affordable and smoke-free legislation have reduced SHS exposure, advertising in all forms should be prohibited and pictorial warnings mandated on cigarette sticks. Implementing tobacco endgame strategies may provide the critical breakthrough.</p>","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1393877"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13640048/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison Between the Likert Scale and the Visual Analog Scale for the 3D Esthetic Assessment of Primary Cleft Lip Repair: A Prospective Study.","authors":"Edoardo Staderini, Federica Guglielmi, Carmen Chiara Nacca, Licia Leccese, Antonino Fiorino, Massimo Cordaro, Mario Zama","doi":"10.1155/ijod/3592943","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijod/3592943","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To compare the agreement, reliability and convergent validity of the five-point ordinal Likert scale and a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS) for three-dimensional (3D) esthetic assessment of primary unilateral cleft lip repair using a counterbalanced crossover design.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Fifty lay observers (25 males, 25 females) evaluated 3D stereophotogrammetric facial models of 10 children with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate at three time points: preoperative (T0), 1-month postoperative (T1), and 6-months postoperative (T2). Nine morphological items were assessed using both the five-point Likert scale and a 100 mm VAS. A counterbalanced crossover design with a 2-week washout period and inversion of scale order was implemented to minimize recall and order effects. Pairwise agreement analyses between the categorized VAS and the five-point Likert scale (interscale, test-retest, presentation-mode, and longitudinal agreement) were assessed using Cohen's kappa (<i>κ</i>). Overall inter-rater reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), while convergent validity between the categorized VAS and the five-point Likert scale was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pairwise agreement between the categorized VAS and the five-point Likert scale ranged from <i>κ</i> = 0.54 to <i>κ</i> = 0.80, indicating moderate-to-substantial agreement. Overall inter-rater reliability was excellent for both instruments (ICC = 0.849-0.982). Test-retest agreement was slight to fair (<i>κ</i> = -0.05 to 0.49), while agreement between full-face and cropped image presentation was generally limited (<i>κ</i> = -0.01 to 0.43). Longitudinal agreement across surgical stages was uniformly slight (<i>κ</i> = -0.05 to 0.18), reflecting expected changes in postoperative morphology rather than measurement instability. Convergent validity between the categorized VAS and the five-point Likert scale was excellent (Spearman's <i>ρ</i> = 0.948-0.974; all <i>p</i>  < 0.001). Subgroup analyses by evaluator sex and cleft index revealed no consistent patterns.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Both the five-point Likert scale and the VAS demonstrated excellent overall inter-rater reliability and excellent convergent validity. However, because agreement analyses required categorization of the continuous VAS, the present findings do not establish whether preservation of its continuous measurement properties would provide additional discriminatory capability.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>For 3D esthetic assessment of primary unilateral cleft lip repair, both the five-point Likert scale and the VAS provide reliable group-level evaluations. Standardized image presentation protocols and the use of multiple evaluators are recommended to improve the consistency of esthetic auditing.</p>","PeriodicalId":13947,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Dentistry","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3592943"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13640046/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}