Dental Materials Commons^™

Operation Bite Block, Jennifer Aline Robles, Laura Marie Strobbe, William Pearce Graham, Annabelle Katherine Thalken

Mechanical Engineering

Current dental bite blocks, or mouth props, are typically manufactured in fixed sizes, and often result in patient discomfort, reduced procedural efficiency, and the need for dental offices to maintain multiple product sizes. This project sought to design, prototype, and validate an adjustable dental bite block capable of accommodating a wide range of patient mouth openings while maintaining comfort, structural integrity, sterilizability, and operator usability. Working in collaboration with Dr. Alan Latta, a practicing dentist in San Luis Obispo, the design process incorporated stakeholder feedback, patent and market research, engineering analysis, and iterative prototyping to develop a solution that addresses …

Evaluation Of An Audiovisual Educational Tool With Reinforcement Messages For Orthodontic Patients: A 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial, Laura Restrepo Quijano, Maria Paula Vasco Gomez, Natalia Hurtado Velasquez, Luis Fabian Benitez Moreno

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Orthodontic treatment increases the risk of bacterial plaque accumulation; therefore, oral hygiene education is essential to prevent complications, but its impact is usually limited when it is not reinforced with effective tools. This study aims to evaluate an audiovisual educational tool with reinforcement messages, compared with a verbal explanation about the proper use of the orthodontic oral hygiene kit.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial that included 62 patients randomly assigned to an intervention group: 31 patients who received an educational video plus three reinforcement messages via WhatsApp, and a control group: 31 patients who received …

Musculoskeletal Disorders In Dentistry: An Insight Into Dental Techniques And Practices, Mehwash Kashif, Aman Ashar, Amna Rehman, Abdul Aleem, Sidra-Tul-Muntaha Hashmi, Muhammad Yousuf Ali

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common workplace hazards in dentistry resulting from poor ergonomics and static postures, which lead to back, neck, and upper limb (shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand) problems among dentists, resulting in harm to their health, productivity, and career. This study aimed to assess the frequency of MSDs, risk factors related to MSDs, and awareness of ergonomics among clinicians. Methods: Data were collected from 400 dental professionals, including house officers, postgraduate trainees, general dentists, and teachers/consultants, each with at least 12 months of practice. Data were collected using a structured, closed-ended questionnaire. Before data collection, ethical approval …

Evaluation Of Dentistry Students' Perceptions And Attitudes Towards Artificial Intelligence In Kazakhstan, Yasin Yasa, Kubeisin Altynbekov, Nazgul Onaibekova

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: Artificial intelligence’s (AI) potential to analyze medical data and improve patient outcomes is driving its rapid integration into healthcare systems. This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding Kazakhstani dental students’ attitudes toward AI in dentistry. Methods: A survey with 213 participants assessed dental students’ views on AI in dentistry at two Kazakhstani universities. A self-administered questionnaire (22 items) via Google Forms was used to gather data on demographics, baseline knowledge (information sources, understanding of AI principles, and familiarity with dental AI applications), and attitudes/perceptions. Frequency analyses and chi-square tests (p < 0.05) explored the responses. Results: The survey included 213 dental students (mean …

Quantification Of Dental Fissures Through Occlusal Topography Analysis, Duru Erkan

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Narrow, deep, and elaborate dental fissures are widely believed to increase the predisposition of enamel to develop carious lesions as these surfaces are thought to be ideal for cariogenic bacteria to adhere to. Therefore, dentists prescribe sealants as a preventative measure for patients with such fissures to avoid tooth decay. Yet to date, there is no objective data supporting the notion that fissure morphology actually affects caries susceptibility, nor is there a quantifiable, clinically practical method to characterize fissure patterns expected to increase risk of caries disease.

In this study, three new methods to quantitatively characterize fissure pattern in mandibular …

Nanomaterials And Nanorobotics In Dentistry: A Review, Yelda Kasimoglu, Derya Tabakcilar, Zeynep A. Guclu, Seiko Yamamoto-Nemoto, Elif B. Tuna, Bugra Ozen, Tamer Tuzuner, Gökhan Ince

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Nanotechnology is a branch of science focusing on the manipulation of materials measured on the nanoscale (size = 1–100 nm). Recent advances in the field of nanodentistry have resulted in the development of alternative treatment plans for common dental problems, bringing about a paradigm shift in dentistry. Nanorobots, also known as “nanites” or “nanomachines,” are theoretical microscopic devices that may be used for the diagnosis and treatment of oral health problems. This paper aims to discuss the latest innovations in the field of nanodentistry.

To Repair Or Replace: That Is The Restorative Question, Juhstin M. Brown, Clement S. Augustus

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objective/Aims: During dental visits, patients spend the majority of their time with their dental hygienist. At these recall appointments the patient’s face-to-face time with the dentist may be short. At this part of the appointment the dentist may diagnose the need for restorative treatment for the patient. Part of the hygienist’s responsibility is to explain treatment options for teeth with restorative needs. The purpose of this review of literature is to provide both options for restoration of dentition to a functional/aesthetic state.

Methods: Studies pertaining to the topic were searched using PubMed database. Keywords used in the search were amalgam, …

Aloe Vera: A Multipurpose Healer And Bacterial Eradicator, Mary X. Tran, Leira N. Jimenez, Linda K. Blackburn

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

The Aloe vera plant is a succulent known for its rich content in vitamins and minerals, thus gaining popularity over the years in healthcare products. With advancements in alternative medicine, it has been recently found useful in dentistry due to properties such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial actions that contribute to wound healing. The purpose of this study was to examine and discover how Aloe vera can be used as an alternative therapy in the dental field. The PubMed, Google Scholar and Dentistry & Oral Sciences (DOSS) databases were utilized to find current scientific evidence on the effects of Aloe …

Get In The Zone: A Survey Of Dental Professionals' Knowledge Of Ozone Therapy, Emily Hannah

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Ozone therapy has been used in medicine for many years to treat a variety of ailments. Ozone is an unstable triatomic molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. This molecule has the ability to kill bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. The researcher first was curious if there has been research done on uses of Ozone Therapy in the dental setting. After reviewing the literature there is indeed a use for Ozone Therapy to treat a host of dental problems including periodontal disease, ulcers, and carious lesions (also known as cavities). However, there are conflicting conclusions in the literature as to …

Bone Stimulation Implemented Using The L-Prf Technique Within The Clinical Setting In Kentucky And Tennessee, Kyndall A. Hudson

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Leukocyte Platelet Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) is an autologous graft that is obtained from the patient’s blood. This provides a condensed network of fibrin that is saturated with cytokines, growth factors, and platelets. L-PRF speeds up the healing process and also optimizes bone grafting results.

Dental treatment options are expanding and new techniques within the office setting are constantly being developed. Present treatment modalities can assist with the stimulation of tissue formation after dental surgical procedures, leading to various results. The placement of L-PRF provides enhanced healing following specific dental procedures using the patient’s donor tissue; therefore, reducing the opportunity for …

Exploration Of Materials Used In 3-Dimensional Printing For The Dental Industry, Holly Chang Hayden

Scripps Senior Theses

A limiting factor in the digitization of dental devices is the availability of materials suitable for use in both dentistry and the new digital technologies. As a rapidly growing industry, three-dimensional printing (3DP) has the potential to disrupt traditional manufacturing and prototyping methods. A review of both restorative materials and the current 3DP materials has lead to a focus on fiber- reinforced composites in the exploration for a new 3DP material. In addition, another area worth exploring and investing in would be 3D bioprinting as it opens up the possibility of regenerative dentistry.

Chemical Dental Plaque Control: Chlorhexidine Tooth Staining And Efficacy Of Common Whitening Procedures, Zoe Kiklis

Scripps Senior Theses

Chlorhexidine mouth rinses remove dental plaque from teeth, preventing dental caries, dental decay, and more serious systemic infections. Tooth discoloration due to extrinsic staining is the most prominent side effect of regular chlorhexidine use. Decreasing the concentration of chlorhexidine reduces staining area and severity. Staining can also be prevented and treated by tooth bleaching, a common cosmetic dental procedure that diminishes extrinsic staining by oxidizing chromagens adsorbed onto the tooth surface. In the proposed trial, common bleaching agents will be investigated for their efficacies in preventing chlorhexidine staining. Results of the trial could further the development of a chlorhexidine mouth …