Self-medication, self-assessment and knowledge of dental medicine students about analgesics.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the rate of self-medication among dental students and any differences and/or associations between self-medication, self-assessment and knowledge among students in later years of the same study.

Material And Methods: The study was conducted between April and July 2020 at the School of Dental medicine, University of Zagreb. All students were given access to an online survey to learn more about their self-medication habits, pharmacological knowledge and analgesic self-assessment.

Self-perception and self-recognition of facial profiles in adolescents referred to orthodontic treatment.

Objectives: To investigate self-recognition and self-perception among participants with straight, convex, and concave profiles.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire with questions about demographic information, self-perception of the facial profile, satisfaction with profile esthetics, expectations about profile changes after completing orthodontic treatment, motivational factors, and self-recognition. For the self-recognition question, profiles of the respondents were blackened and inserted into the questionnaire.

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.

Color and Chemical Stability of 3D-Printed and Thermoformed Polyurethane-Based Aligners.

The significant rise in the use of clear aligners for orthodontic treatment is attributed to their aesthetic appeal, enhancing patient appearance and self-confidence. The aim of this study is to evaluate the aligners' response to common staining agents (coffee, black tea, Coca-Cola, and Red Bull) in color and chemical stability. Polyurethane-based thermoformed and 3D-printed aligners from four brands were exposed to common beverages to assess color change using a VITA Easyshade compact colorimeter after 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 7 days, as well as chemical stability using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.

Postoperative Morbidity after Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia in Children with and without Disabilities.

General anesthesia induces reversible unconsciousness, eliminating sensation and enabling painless medical procedures. Vital for dental care, it addresses patients with medical conditions, those needing extensive procedures, and those unable to cooperate due to fear. Dental care for patients with disabilities is a significant unmet need, with studies showing increased oral disease prevalence.

Perceived Stress, Salivary Cortisol, and Temperament Traits among Students of Dental Medicine: A Prospective and Interventional Study.

Academic stress affects students' psychological and physiological well-being. Dental undergraduate programs are known for their demanding curriculum, leading to significant stress symptoms. The objective was to determine if salivary cortisol levels were higher in students exposed to academic stress, assess the relationship between stress severity/temperament and cortisol values, and explore relaxation technique effects.

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.

Epstein - Barr Virus Salivary Shedding in Patients with Acute Infectious Diseases: A Pilot Study.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widely disseminated herpesvirus for which antibodies have been demonstrated in over 90% of adults worldwide. After subclinical primary EBV infections, as well as after infectious mononucleosis, the virus can be shed in saliva for a prolonged period of time.

Aim: Diseases and disorders that can induce EBV salivary shedding include mental disorders and sex, connective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, malaria and HIV infection.

"Examining the link between tooth agenesis and papillary thyroid cancer: is there a risk factor?" Observational study.

Background: Mutations in one or multiple genes can lead to hypodontia and its characteristic features. Numerous studies have shown a strong genetic influence on the occurrence of hypodontia, and identified several genes, including AXIN2, EDA, FGF3, FGFR2, FGFR10, WNT10A, MSX1, and PAX9, that are directly associated with dental agenesis and carcinogenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence and pattern of tooth agenesis, microdontia, and palatally displaced canine (PDC) in women diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), compared to a control group of women without any malignancy or thyroid disease.

Differential Stability of One-layer and Three-layer Orthodontic Aligner Blends under Thermocycling: Implications for Clinical Durability.

Objectives: To optimize the therapeutic usefulness of aligners, it is crucial to understand how their mechanical properties alter with time.

Materials And Methods: Specimens from four different brands, including Duran+, CA® Pro, Zendura A, and Zendura FLX, were produced for material testing of thermoplastic orthodontic aligners (TOA) using dimensions measuring 4mm x 10mm. Each brand's 24 samples were split into three groups as follows: G1 being thermoformed, G2 being thermoformed and underwent 500 thermocycles (simulating 7 days), and G3 being thermoformed and underwent 1000 thermocycles (simulating 14 days).

Influence of Post-Processing on the Degree of Conversion and Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Polyurethane Aligners.

Background: This study explores how different post-processing methods affect the mechanical properties and degree of conversion of 3d-printed polyurethane aligners made from Tera Harz TC-85 resin.

Methods: Using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, the degree of conversion of liquid resin and post-processed materials was analyzed. This investigation focused on the effects of various post-curing environments (nitrogen vs.

Awareness and usage of mobile applications as an orthodontic diagnostic tool among Croatian orthodontic clinicians.

Objective: To assess the impact of gender and orthodontic qualification length on the awareness, knowledge and usage of orthodontic diagnostic mobile applications, non-diagnostic mobile applications and social media platforms among orthodontic clinicians.

Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.

Setting: The Republic of Croatia.

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.

Proposition of New Testing Procedure for the Mechanical Properties of Bulk-Fill Materials.

This study analysed flexural properties, microhardness, and the degree of conversion (DC) of five bulk-fill composites under clinically relevant conditions (4 mm thick specimens) in comparison to 2 mm specimens according to ISO 4049. Additionally, the effect of rapid polymerisation on 4 mm specimens was evaluated after accelerated aging. DC was measured using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry at 2 and 4 mm thick layers, while flexural properties and Vickers microhardness were tested using 16 × 2 × 2 mm or 16 × 2 × 4 mm specimens.

Prolonged Face Mask Wearing Worsens Self-Reported Dry Eye Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Dental Healthcare Practitioners.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate self-reported MADE during the COVID-19 pandemic in dental healthcare practitioners and identify their possible risk factors.

Material And Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was sent to doctors of dental medicine in the time period from February 2022 to August 2022. The online questionnaire included demographic characteristics and clinical characteristics: presence and deterioration of DED symptoms while wearing the face mask, personal protective face equipment, use of contact lenses, history of eye surgery, current use of medications, number of hours wearing face mask, and evaluation of subjective DED symptoms using modified Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI).

Resistance of PETG Materials on Thermocycling and Brushing.

The aim was to assess the impact of thermocycling and brushing on the surface roughness and mass of PETG material-the most commonly used for orthodontic retainers. A total of 96 specimens were exposed to thermocycling and brushing with three different kinds of toothbrushes depending on the number and thickness of the bristles. Surface roughness and mass were evaluated three times: initially, after thermocycling, and after brushing.

Changes in Medication Prescribing Due to COVID-19 in Dental Practice in Croatia-National Study.

The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has affected clinical practice and, consequently, drug prescribing in dental practice. We investigated how the pandemic affected the prescribing behavior of dentists in Croatia. Data on prescribing practices for this study were provided by the Croatian Health Insurance Institute.

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.

Color Stability of Orthodontic Ceramic Brackets and Adhesives in Potentially Staining Beverages-In Vitro Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the color stability of esthetic ceramic brackets and adhesive samples after immersion in most commonly consumed beverages. A hundred ceramic brackets from five different manufacturers (Forestadent, G&H, GC, DynaFlex, and American Orthodontics) and 120 samples of adhesives (3M™Transbond™ XT and American Orthodontics BracePaste color change adhesive and BracePaste adhesive) were immersed into four different solutions: coffee, Coca-Cola, the vitamin drink Cedevita, and artificial saliva (control group). The samples were kept in an incubator at 37 °C.