International Journal of Dentistry
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Acceptance rate29%
Submission to final decision89 days
Acceptance to publication21 days
CiteScore2.700
Journal Citation Indicator0.790
Impact Factor-

Dental Students’ Positive and Negative Views on Aging at an Undergraduate Course at the University of British Columbia, Canada

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 Journal profile

International Journal of Dentistry publishes original research articles and review articles in all areas of dentistry, including periodontal diseases, dental implants, oral pathology, as well as oral and maxillofacial surgery.

 Editor spotlight

Chief Editor, Dr Patricia Pereira, is based at the University of Florida, USA. Her main research interests are cosmetic and esthetic dentistry, involving direct and indirect bonded restorations.

 Special Issues

We currently have a number of Special Issues open for submission. Special Issues highlight emerging areas of research within a field, or provide a venue for a deeper investigation into an existing research area.

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Research Article

Radiographic Examination before Dental Extraction from Dentists’ Perspective

Background. It is generally agreed that radiographic examination is important before dental extraction. It provides information about the roots and the surrounding tissues. In terms of practice, it does not seem to be a universally implemented protocol regarding the use of dental radiology before dental extraction. Besides, the type of radiographic technique is not specified. Some references prefer periapical dental radiographs. Others prefer orthopantomography), or even cone beam computed tomography Delpachitra et al. (2021) [1]. In terms of the dental practice, it is not clear whether there is a universally adopted protocol regarding the use of dental radiographs before dental extraction. Aim of the study. To assess dental professionals’ perspective toward radiographic examination before conventional dental extraction. Materials and Methods. A Google form questionnaire was circulated to different dental professionals using mainly ResearchGate, in addition to different social media platforms. Results. One hundred and forty-five dentists participated in the questionnaire. The respondents were divided according to the country of current practice: national (Iraqi), regional (Middle Eastern), and international participants. Out of 144 respondents, 51.4% percent of the participants were international, while 40.3% were Iraqis, and 8.3% were from the Middle East. The need for dental radiography in all dental extraction procedures was reported in the majority of responses (n = 86). Only 11 dentists think there is no necessity for radiographic examination before conventional extraction. The chi-square test showed a highly significant relationship between the country of current practice and the need for X-ray examination for conventional dental extraction ( < 0.01). Seventy-six dentists prefer periapical radiographs. Thirty-five preferred orthopantomography. A highly significant relationship was found between the country of practice and the X-ray technique ( < 0.01). Conclusion. The study showed that there is no universally adopted protocol regarding the use of dental radiography before dental extraction. The country of practice appears to govern the dentists’ decisions regarding the need for an X-ray and the type of radiography prior to dental extraction. Periapical radiographs for posterior teeth seem to be the preferable choice before dental extraction.

Research Article

Dental Caries in Permanent First Molar and Its Association with Carious Primary Second Molar among 6–11-Year-Old School Children in Sunsari, Nepal

The permanent first molar (PFM) plays an essential role in maintaining the dental and overall health of an individual. It is the most susceptible tooth to dental caries due to its early eruption and location near the primary second molar in the oral cavity. We assessed the clinical status of the PFM and its association with carious primary second molars among 6–11-year-old children in Sunsari, Nepal, from January 2019 to December 2021. We recorded DMFT/DMFS and dft/dfs indices of the first permanent molar and secondary primary molar. Chi-square, logistic regression, and Spearman rank correlation (rs) were used to explore the association between carious molar lesions. Of the 655 children, only 612 had all first permanent molars. The prevalence of caries was higher in the second primary molar (70.9%) than in the PFM (38.6%). In both molars, the occlusal surface was the most commonly affected surface by dental caries. A significant association () was found between the decayed primary second molar and the decayed PFM. A moderate but statistically significant correlation () was found between the occurrence of dental caries in both the molars.

Research Article

Clinical Presentation of Wide Field of Cancerization Associated with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background. The late presentation of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients in Sudan, with advanced stages and wide field of cancerization (WFC), has a negative impact on these patients. The present study aimed to investigate the different clinical presentations of mucosal changes in WFC associated with OSCC in Sudanese patients. Methods. This a prospective longitudinal study of 93 OSCC cases. Tumor’s associated field of cancerization was identified and related clinical mucosal changes were described. Results. Out of the 93 patients, 57 (61.3%) were males and 36 (38.7%) were females. Eighty-two percent of the patients presented with stage IV tumors. Ninety-two patients had multiple sites involved in the oral cavity with overlap of sites involved. The Gingivobuccal mucosa (74.2%) was the most frequent site involved. Eighty-three (89.2%) of the lesions were surrounded by mucosal changes, of them 32 (38%) surrounded by a grizzle (mixed dark and white) discoloration and 21 (26%) were surrounded by a white-smoke discoloration followed by 17 (20%) and 13 (16%) surrounded by cotton-white and Café au lait discolorations, respectively. Forty-four (47.3%) lesions had overlapping presentations and surrounded by erythematous patches. Conclusion. The present study showed that OSCC patients in Sudan present with advanced lesions, mostly associated with WFC, particularly the Toombak dippers. The different mucosal changes seen in the WFC associated with OSCC in these cases are in accordance with the known five mucosal presentations.

Research Article

Does a New Modification of the Two-Step Injection Technique for Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block Reduce Pain Compared to the Conventional Technique? A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background. The ability to control pain is an essential part of dental procedures and the need for optimal pain control and reduction of discomfort is the primary concern of every dentist. This study aims to compare the pain and vital signs during inferior alveolar nerve block between conventional and a new modification of the two-step injection techniques. Methods. In this institutional single-blind randomized clinical trial, attendees of dental school at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences from February to May 2022 were included. Inclusion criteria were 20–60 years old and healthy (ASA1) individuals who were willing to participate in this study. Individuals who were taking medications affecting their understanding of pain and patients with active infections at the injection site were excluded. These individuals were divided into two groups. First, superficial anesthesia was performed and afterward, conventional and two-step injection techniques were performed. For the two-step injection method, 6 mm of the needle was injected into the mucosa and one-third of the local anesthetic solution was released from the computer-controlled injection toolkit. Afterward, a 25 mm 30-gauge needle was reinserted into the previous hole delivering the remaining local anesthetic. The pain during injection was measured by a patient-reported numerical rating scale (NRS). Moreover, vital signs were monitored immediately before and after the injection. Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Mann–Whitney U test, independent T-test, and Fisher’s exact χ2 test were performed for statistical analysis (α = 0.05). Results. This study involved 32 adults aged between 20 and 50 years old with 1 : 1 female/male sex distribution. The pain score was significantly higher in the conventional injection technique compared to the two-step injection technique in all sex and age groups. There were no significant differences in vital signs between the conventional and two-step injection techniques. There was no significant difference in the mean pain scores of females and males, regardless of their injection techniques. Conclusion. Utilizing the two-step injection technique in patients for inferior alveolar block reduces pain during injection without altering patients’ vital signs significantly. This trial is registered with IRCT20220106053646N1.

Research Article

A Comparative Evaluation of Antibacterial Efficacy of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract, Octenidine Dihydrochloride, and Sodium Hypochlorite as Intracanal Irrigants against Enterococcus faecalis: An In Vitro Study

Objectives. The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the microbial efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaf extract, octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT), NaOCl, and their combinations as intracanal irrigants against Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods. Sixty single-rooted mandibular premolars were decoronated followed by root canal preparation. Each root specimen was autoclaved, inoculated with E. faecalis, and incubated at 37°C for 48 hr. Then, the specimens were divided into six groups based on the irrigation solution used: 2.5% NaOCl (Group 1), 0.1% OCT (Group 2), M. oleifera leaves extract (Group 3), a combination of M. oleifera extract and 1.25% NaOCl (Group 4), a combination of M. oleifera extract and OCT (Group 5) and normal saline (Group 6). Microbial samples were taken from each root canal before (S1) and after (S2) irrigation and the bacterial viability was assessed using colony-forming units (CFU) on bile esculin agar plates. Results. Comparing the number of CFU/ml before and after irrigation showed a significant reduction () in all studied groups. Comparison between the CFU/ml after irrigation by NaOCl and each of the combination groups showed a significant difference. Conclusion. M. oleifera leaves extract and 0.1% OCT solutions have antibacterial effect against E. faecalis comparable to 2.5% NaOCl and might be used as root canal irrigants. The combination groups showed better antimicrobial activities than individual irrigants. However, further studies are required to investigate the biocompatibility and possible toxic effects of the tested irrigants.

Research Article

Surface Microstructure of Two Bioceramics: Calcium-Enriched Mixture and Cold Ceramic in Setting Environments with Different pH Values

Introduction. The pH of the setting environment could alter the surface characteristics of bioceramics. The present study aimed to assess the surface microstructure of calcium-enriched mixture (CEM cement) and cold ceramic (CC) in setting environments with different pH values. Materials and Methods. 12 dentin blocks with 3 mm height and internal diameter were prepared. CEM cement and CC were prepared and packed into the blocks. Samples in each bioceramics group (n = 6) were divided into 3 subgroups (n = 2) and exposed to acid, pH of 7.4, and alkaline pH for 1 week. Specimens were prepared for evaluation under a scanning electron microscope using backscattered electron (BSE) detectors. Monitoring of pH changes was rendered with a pH meter through the setting process. Results. BSE detection in an acidic environment showed more amorphous microstructures in CC specimens in comparison to CEM cement. In pH of 7.4 and alkaline pH, more unhydrated structures were observed in CEM cement compared with CC samples. During the first 48 h of the setting process, the pH changes of setting environments were more rapid in the CEM cement group in comparison to CC samples. Conclusion. pH changes during the setting process of cement could affect the surface microstructure and physical properties. In acidic environments, the crystallization of CC cement is more disrupted than that of CEM cement.

International Journal of Dentistry
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate29%
Submission to final decision89 days
Acceptance to publication21 days
CiteScore2.700
Journal Citation Indicator0.790
Impact Factor-
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Article of the Year Award: Outstanding research contributions of 2021, as selected by our Chief Editors. Read the winning articles.