The Role of Malocclusion and Oral Parafunctions in Predicting Signs and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine to what extent malocclusion and parafunctional habits contribute to the development of signs and symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in schoolchildren with mixed dentition in Croatia in a sample of 338 children, aged 9 to 15 years.

Methods: TMD signs and symptoms assessed by the clinician were joint function and pain, masticatory muscles tenderness, range of mandibular motion, and joint sounds. To evaluate subjective symptoms and parafunctions, children and parents were asked about the presence of headaches, jaw locking, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds, pain during mouth opening, or bruxism, as well as parafunctions like biting pencils or nails, chewing hard candies or ice, daily gum chewing, opening bottles with teeth, engaging in jaw play, thumb-sucking, and clenching/grinding teeth.

Understanding and Practices of Oral Hygiene in the Intensive Care Units: Perspectives of Medical Staff at Two University Hospital Centers.

Objective: This study assesses the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of medical staff in intensive care units (ICUs) regarding oral hygiene care for critically ill, bedridden patients.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study included 65 employees from the Intensive Care Units of the Sestre Milosrdnice Clinical Hospital Centre (CHC SM) and the Clinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the University Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb (CHC ZG). A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, methods, frequency, and attitudes towards oral care for mechanically ventilated patients.

Assessment of dental students' knowledge of infection control and prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, new guidelines for dental practice were published. This research aims to examine the knowledge of dental students and their attitudes towards current guidelines.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 76 fourth-year dental medicine students from three public universities in Croatia.

Relationship between COMT Gene Polymorphism, Anxiety, and Pain Perception during Labour.

Background: The COMT gene polymorphism is associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders and pain perception. The present study investigates the existence of anxiety and pain perception in relation to the COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene polymorphism in labouring women (during "natural" childbirth) with or without inhaled analgesia.

Methods: A total of 181 women who chose vaginal birth were enrolled in this study.

Assessment of Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effect of Modern Dental Materials .

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the biocompatibility of modern composite and amalgam dental fillings.

Material And Methods: The research was conducted on 150 healthy patients between the ages of 10 and 20 who had amalgam and composite fillings between 6 and 12 months. Under conditions, a swab of buccal cells near the fillings was taken, and the cytotoxic and genotoxic impact of composite and amalgam fillings on these cells was analyzed using the extended micronucleus test (cytomeassay).

Treatment priorities and arrival time of traumatic dental injuries-An 8-year retrospective study.

Background/aim: Most of the previous studies in the available literature discussed the time of arrival in general to the healthcare system, while a minority studied the relationship between the type of trauma and arrival. The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the arrival time of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) depending on the urgency of treatment according to Andreasen.

Materials And Methods: This 8-year retrospective study was carried out at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University Dental Clinic in Zagreb, Croatia.

Possible Risk Factors for Dental Fear and Anxiety in Children Who Suffered Traumatic Dental Injury.

Background: Children who undergo painful experiences such as traumatic dental injury (TDI) during their early years are more likely to be at an increased risk of developing dental fear and anxiety (DFA). The purpose of this study was to identify potential risk factors for DFA of these children.

Methods: The study participants were 220 parents/caregivers and their children who experienced TDI.

Relationship between Children's and Parents' Dental Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study on the Six European Countries.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between children’s and parents’ dental anxiety. Methods: 731 children of different ages and their parents from six European countries participated in this study. Dental anxiety was investigated through an online questionnaire, which consisted of general questions and the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS), which is a questionnaire that measures respondents’ reactions on a 5-point scale for four different situations.

The Effect of Transcoutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain Control during Dental Procedure in Children 9-14 Years Old.

Introduction: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological method widely used by medical specialists to manage acute and chronic pain in different circumstances. It can be used to manage pain during many dental procedures, as well as pain due to various conditions affecting the maxillofacial region. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the clinical research evidence for the analgetic application of TENS in pediatric patients.

Self-Massage and Low-Level Laser in Treatment of Masseter Myalgia: Short-Term Effect.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the efficiency of massage in the treatment of masseter myalgia compared with biostimulatory laser.

Materials And Methods: The instrument Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders was used to select subjects and monitor treatment outcome. 54 subjects with masseter myalgia of more than 3 months in duration were invited to participated and 42 cases were available at the end and analyzed.

Retention and caries-preventive effect of four different sealant materials: A 2-year prospective split-mouth study.

Aim: The aim of this observational split-mouth study was to compare the retention and caries protective effect of four different sealant materials in children aged 6-13 years during a 2-year follow-up period.

Design: Eighty children were included in this study, which was conducted in Blato (Korčula island), Croatia. Each participant received at least two different sealant materials on caries-free permanent molars in two different quadrants.

Influence of Different Surface Pretreatments of Zirconium Dioxide Reinforced Lithium Disilicate Ceramics on the Shear Bond Strength of Self-Adhesive Resin Cement.

Aim: To analyze the influence of different surface pretreatments of zirconium dioxide reinforced lithium disilicate ceramics on the shear bond strength of self-adhesive resin cement.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-four zirconium reinforced lithium disilicate disc Vita suprinity (Vita Zahnfabrick, Bad Säckingen, Germany) 14x12x2 mm specimens were fabricated according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The specimens were embedded in acrylic resin blocks and randomly divided in seven groups (n=12/each) accorrding to the treatment: Group 1- 10% hydrofluoric acid; Group 2- silane; Group 3- hydrofluoric and silane; Group 4- sandblasting with silane; Group 5- Er: YAG laser+ silane; Group 6- Nd: YAG laser + silane; and the control group, in which the specimens were not treated.

The Best Dentistry Professional Visual Acuity Measured under Simulated Clinical Conditions Provides Keplerian Magnification Loupe: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Visual acuity plays an important role in dentists' vision in their daily clinical routine. This study aimed to determine dental students' visual acuity without optical aids and when using magnification devices in simulated clinical conditions. The participants were forty-six students at the School of Dental Medicine with a visual acuity of 1.

THE ROLE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN DEFINING SALIVARY PROTEIN COMPOSITION FOLLOWING PLACEMENT OF FIXED ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES - BREAKTHROUGH IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES.

Human saliva is rich in proteins of variable functions (e.g., enzymes, immunoglobulins, cytokines) and origin (blood plasma, salivary glands, or oral microflora).

The Effect of Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on Anxiety and Fear in Children Aged 9-14 Years.

Introduction: Dental fear or dental phobia is caused by previous unpleasant dental experiences and pain. It can result in delaying or avoiding dental visits. Most often it leads to individuals avoiding visiting the dentist until physical pain completely impairs the quality of life.

Measuring tooth vibrations induced during cavity preparation with time-averaged holography and its influence on near vision acuity in dentists.

The aim of this study was to quantify vibrations and their influence on visual acuity. The study consisted of two parts, laboratory and clinical. Time-averaged holographic interferometry (TAHI) method was used in laboratory for measuring the amplitude of tooth vibrations induced by dental handpiece.

Clinical and patient reported outcomes of bleaching effectiveness.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate clinical and patient reported outcomes of different bleaching products.

Materials And Methods: Thirty participants were randomly divided into three bleaching groups (n = 10). Bleaching was performed with high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (HP) - Boost (40%) and Dash (30%), and with prefabricated splints Bite&White (6% HP).

General dentists' awareness of how to cope with medical emergencies in paediatric dental patients.

Background: General dentists (GDs) should be aware of the symptoms, signs, diagnoses and treatment of medical emergencies in paediatric patients.

Aim: To evaluate the knowledge of GDs in coping with medical emergencies, and to identify whether they are confident to diagnose and treat medical emergencies in paediatric patients.

Design: The questionnaire was conducted immediately before the beginning of national dental meetings and continuing education seminars in Croatia, attended by the GDs, in order to obtain a representative sample.

Dental Fear in Children with Repeated Tooth Injuries.

Tooth injuries are serious clinical conditions. Some children experience dental trauma only once, while others are more prone to repeated tooth injuries. Repeated dental trauma occurs in 19.

Psychosocial and Economic Status of the Parents with Children with and without Tooth Trauma.

Background: The main goal of this research is to try and understand influence of psychological and social factors in children with tendencies to repeat tooth trauma.

Subjects And Methods: Research included 147 patients, children of preschool and school age (88 boys and 59 girls). In the research patients were divided in two age groups: 5-8 and 9-12 years.

Measuring the Influence of Galilean Loupe System on Near Visual Acuity of Dentists under Simulated Clinical Conditions.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare near visual acuity of dentists without optical aids (VSC) with near visual acuity of those using the Galilean telescope system (VGA2) with magnification of x 2.5, and the distance of 350 mm in simulated clinical conditions.

Methods: The study included 46 dentists (visual acuity 1.

Medical Emergencies in Pediatric Dentistry.

Medical emergencies that are life threatening can occur in dental practice. Complications may arise because of an underlying disease or a reaction to medication. Reactions to medications may be allergic and toxic.

Recent achievements in preventive dentistry by introducing a new probiotic toothpaste.

Artificially synthesized probiotic from Lactobacillus strain, contained in the tested toothpaste, led to an innovative approach in preventive dentistry. A new concept resulting from this research can be explained due to possible mechanisms of action of probiotic bacteria, according to which equilibrium of hostile bacterial flora is achieved by mechanical elimination of cariogenic bacteria from the mouth. This research was conducted during a 4-week period on a randomly selected Croatian sample of 50 participants, with the aim to investigate the efficacy of the first probiotic toothpaste ever produced in Croatia.

Effect of LGG yoghurt on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. salivary counts in children.

The aim of this study was to establish effect of 14 day consumption of commercially available yoghurt containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC53103 - LGG (Bioaktiv LGG, Dukat, Croatia) on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. salivary counts in children. Twenty five patients, 6-10 yr old participated in the study.

Heat-treated glass ionomer cement fissure sealants: retention after 1 year follow-up.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the retention rate of glass ionomer cement (GIC) fissure sealants heated during setting time.

Methods: One hundred and twelve teeth with well-delineated fissure morphology were sealed with composite resin and GIC. Composite resin (Helioseal F, Vivadent) was used in control group A (56 teeth).