Journal of Advanced Sciences

Assess the effectiveness of school based dental sealant programs in preventing caries in children

Enas Ahmad Elamin — 2025-03-24

Background

Underprivileged child populations experience dental caries as a major public health matter. School-based dental sealant programs exist in widespread use to deliver protection against caries for both primary and permanent molars. The research investigates whether dental programs delivered in schools succeed in stopping new caries development in children during the school years.

Materials and Methods

This study involved 500 schoolchildren between 6–12 years old who attended different schools across the research area. The research sample consisted of a 250-member Intervention group that underwent first permanent molar sealant treatment while the 250-member Control group avoided undergoing the procedure. The caries incidence evaluation based on Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (DMFT) index occurred during baseline and follow-up examinations at month 12. The researchers used the chi-square test and independent t-test for performing their statistical analysis to demonstrate group differences.

Results

The participants in both groups displayed similar proportions of caries at the initial assessment period (p>0.05). The intervention group performed better than the control group in terms of mean DMFT score measurements after one year of study (p<0.001) where intervention group scored 1.2 ± 0.3 and control group scored 2.8 ± 0.5. Dental sealants demonstrated a high 57% rate of caries prevention for the intervention group participants.

Conclusion

School-based dental sealant programs serve as an effective preventative measure to lower dental cavities in children. Studies show that carrying out these preventive programs creates substantial caries prevention outcomes mainly within vulnerable population segments. It is advised to incorporate dental sealant procedures into standard school oral health programs to achieve better dental health results for children.

The Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Perceived Usefulness of Soft Skills in Patient Communication Among Dental Interns: A Cross-Sectional Study in Madhya Pradesh

Richa Bajpai — 2025-04-01

Background: Effective communication is a crucial aspect of patient care in dentistry, significantly impacting treatment outcomes, patient compliance, and overall satisfaction. Soft skills, including empathy, active listening, non-verbal communication, and professionalism, play a vital role in establishing trust and rapport with patients. However, their integration into dental education and clinical practice remains insufficient. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and perceived usefulness of soft skills in patient communication among dental interns in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 248 dental interns from various dental colleges in Madhya Pradesh. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire distributed through Google Forms, WhatsApp, and email platforms. The questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitude, and application of soft skills in clinical practice.

Results: Among the 248 participants, 86.3% acknowledged the importance of soft skills in patient communication. However, only 58.2% reported receiving formal training in communication skills during their undergraduate education. A significant proportion (64.1%) felt underprepared in handling anxious or uncooperative patients, and 72.5% expressed the need for structured soft skills training in the curriculum. While 80.6% agreed that non-verbal communication (eye contact, body language) enhances patient trust, only 49.8% actively incorporated these skills in clinical practice. Furthermore, 68.4% recognized digital communication (telemedicine, online consultations) as an essential future competency, yet 41.2% reported limited confidence in handling virtual patient interactions.

Conclusion: While dental interns recognize the importance of soft skills, their practical application remains inadequate due to a lack of formal training. The study emphasizes the need for structured communication skills training, incorporating simulated patient interactions, feedback-based learning, and digital communication strategies to enhance patient engagement and treatment efficacy.

PREVALENCE OF GUBERNACULAR CANAL IN THE MIXED DENTITION AND IMPACTED TEETH USING CBCT

Karishma Upadhyay — 2025-04-01

Background & Objective: Gubernacular canal is unique structure of dental lamina seen in erupting teeth which can be clearly visualized only in 3D imaging modalities like CBCT. The aim of this study is to access the prevalence of gubernacular canal in mixed dentition and impacted teeth using CBCT according to their age and gender.

Materials and methods: A retrospective study of 147 patients with CBCT imaging was done which included 512 impacted / erupting teeth. The presence / absence of gubernacular canal was noted according to age, gender & erupting status of teeth.

Results: Out of total 147 patients, 77 were females & 70 were males (age group- 5 to 20 years), with presence of GB canal is 126 patients (85.7%), 96 (65.3%) teeth were located in mandible & 112(76.2%) were erupting whereas 35 (23.8%) were impacted.

Conclusions: According to the present study the prevalence of gubernacular canal was high (85.7%). Results were found to be non – significant on comparing the presence of GB canal with different variables of age, gender and impacted teeth with chi – square test.

Keywords: Cone beam computed tomography; Gubernacular canal; Impacted; Tooth eruption.

COMPUTATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF STRUCTURAL, SPECTRAL, ELECTRONIC, AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF 4-TRIFLUOROMETHYL PHENYL THIOUREA AND 4-TRIFLUOROMETHYL PHENYL ISOTHIOCYANATE: INSIGHTS INTO NONLINEAR OPTICAL AND ANTICANCER POTENTIALS

Dr. S.N.Saravanamoorthy — 2025-04-11

The structural, spectral, thermodynamic, and electronic properties of the two investigated compounds, 4-Trifluoromethyl Phenyl Thiourea (4TFMPTU) and 4-Trifluoromethyl Phenyl Isothiocyanate (4TFMPIC), have been systematically analyzed using computational approach. The optimized molecular geometries confirm the stability and reliability of the calculated bond lengths and bond angles, which align closely with experimental and previously reported values. Spectral investigations, including IR and UV-Vis analyses, further reinforce the presence of functional groups and confirm the vibrational characteristics associated with the C-H, C-N, C-F, and C=S bonds. The UV spectra reveal significant electronic transitions (n → π* and π → π*), indicating the compounds' optical activity and potential applications in photonics and optoelectronics. Mulliken atomic charges and Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP) maps offer a detailed understanding of electron distribution and reactive sites. The lower energy gap of 4TFMPTU (2.12 eV) suggests greater chemical reactivity and potential utility in various chemical and biological processes. The higher global softness and electrophilicity index values also indicate that 4TFMPTU is more susceptible to electronic transitions, making it a versatile molecule for further functionalization. Polarizability and hyperpolarizability assessments indicate strong nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, particularly for 4TFMPIC, which exhibits a β value 7.95 times higher than that of urea. These findings highlight its potential in optical applications, such as sensors, switches, and other photonic devices. The docking analysis revealed strong binding affinities of both compounds with multiple target proteins, emphasizing 4TFMPTU as a highly potent breast cancer inhibitor with a binding affinity of -6.0 kcal/mol and several stabilizing interactions. Similarly, 4TFMPIC demonstrated notable binding efficacy, exhibiting a binding affinity of -5.7 kcal/mol. Both compounds displayed low excretion rates, indicating prolonged retention in the body, which may enhance their therapeutic potential. Furthermore, their role as substrates for CYP1A2 suggests improved bioavailability by reducing metabolic degradation. Both 4TFMPTU and 4TFMPIC demonstrate considerable promise as potential drug candidates, particularly for addressing breast cancer.