Rubric for peer evaluation of oral presentations: Use and perceptions among experienced and non-experienced students.

Purpose: A properly designed rubric for oral presentations should be useful both to assess students' performance and to help them prepare for the task. However, its use and perceptions might be influenced by scholars' previous familiarization with rubrics during pre-university courses. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the previous experience of students in the use of rubrics can influence their assessment of oral presentations and to compare their ratings with those assigned by educators.

Influence of the incorporation of small-group practical seminars to a traditional lecture for the understanding of root canal morphology classification systems.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess if the incorporation of small-group practical seminars into a traditional lecture format improved the understanding and learning of the root canal classification systems in undergraduate students.

Materials And Methods: A small-group practical seminar was designed for 3rd year undergraduate students. The seminar consisted of the analysis of a guided summary of root canal morphology classifications, a participative discussion of several cases and drawing exercises of several internal anatomies based on the different classifications in templates presenting the external anatomy of different dental groups.

Effect of exposure to etidronic acid on the bond strength of calcium silicate-based cements after 1 and 21 days: an in vitro study.

Background: After reparation of root perforations with calcium silicate-based cements (CSBC), the surface of the material is expected to be exposed to root canal irrigants (RCI) while resuming the root canal treatment.

Methods: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of exposure to a mixture of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and etidronic acid (HEBP) or other irrigants on the Push Out Bond Strength (POBS) of CSBC after two different setting times. 240 root slices 1 mm thick were obtained from single-rooted human teeth.

Body temperature fatigue behaviour of reciprocating and rotary glide path instruments in sodium hypochlorite solutions alone or combined with etidronate.

The aim of the study was to compare cyclic fatigue (CF) resistance of reciprocating and rotary glide path instruments in the presence of irrigation solutions at body temperature. CF resistance of 100 instruments (50 ProGlider and 50 WaveOne Gold Glider) was tested in sodium hypochlorite solutions alone (NaOCl) or in combination with etidronate (NaOCl/HEBP). The CF platform with a simulated canal (curvature = 60°/radius = 3 mm) was submerged in a temperature-controlled bath with the solutions kept at 37 ± 1°C controlled by a precision mercury glass thermometer.

Effect of exposure to root canal irrigants on the push-out bond strength of calcium silicate-based cements.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the push-out bond strength (POBS) of three calcium silicate-based cements (CSBC) after exposure to saline, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and a mixture of NaOCl and etidronic acid (NaOCl+HEBP) in simulated perforation.

Materials And Methods: A total of 180 dentin slices were perforated and then filled with either Biodentine (BD), ProRoot MTA (PMTA), or Total Fill (TF). After 1 week, specimens in each group were divided into 4 subgroups (n = 15) according to the root canal irrigant (RCI) that their coronal surface was exposed to: saline, 5.

Differences in cyclic fatigue resistance between ProTaper Next and ProTaper Universal instruments at different levels.

Introduction: New designs and alloys have been developed to increase cyclic fatigue (CF) resistance of rotary files. The aim of this study was to compare CF resistance of ProTaper Universal (PTU; Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK) and ProTaper Next (PTN, Dentsply Tulsa Dental) instruments at different points of curvature.

Methods: A total of 420 files (240 PTU, S1, F1, F2, and F3 and 180 PTN, X1, X2, and X3) were divided in 14 groups of 30 instruments each.

Microtensile bond strength test bias caused by variations in bonded areas.

Purpose: While it has been shown that no method produces specimens with exactly the same cross-sectional bonded area (BA), BA variations within and between studies are a well-known covariate in microtensile test results. However, no method has yet been described to accurately account for its influence. A procedure is presented that allows controlling for variations of BA effects on results.

Cyclic fatigue resistance of K3, K3XF, and twisted file nickel-titanium files under continuous rotation or reciprocating motion.

Introduction: New designs and alloys and different motions have been introduced to increase the cyclic fatigue (CF) resistance of nickel-titanium (NiTi) files. The aim of this study was to compare the CF resistance of K3 (SybronEndo, Orange, CA), K3XF (SybronEndo), and TF (SybronEndo) files under continuous rotation and reciprocating motion.

Methods: A total of 210 files (30-tip diameter, 0.

Differences in cyclic fatigue resistance at apical and coronal levels of Reciproc and WaveOne new files.

Introduction: Recent improvements in alloys, kinematics, and concepts have been combined to increase the cyclic fatigue resistance of nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments. The aim of this study was to compare the cyclic fatigue resistance of new M-Wire reciprocating WaveOne (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and Reciproc (VDW GmbH, Munich, Germany) files at 2 levels.

Methods: Sixty Reciproc and 60 WaveOne new files were fixed to a specifically designed device and tested in tempered steel canals with a 3-mm radius and a 60° angle of curvature.