Poly(aryl-ether-ketone) materials (PAEKs), a class of high-performance polymers comprised of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), have attracted interest in standard dental procedures due to their inherent characteristics in terms of mechanical and biological properties. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a restorative dental material widely used for prosthetic frameworks due to its superior physical, mechanical, aesthetic, and handling features. Meanwhile, polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic embraced in the additive manufacturing market. In the present review study, a new way to fabricate high-performance polymers, particularly PEEK and PEKK, is demonstrated using additive manufacturing digital dental technology, or 3-dimensional (3D) printing. The focus in this literature review will encompass an investigation of the chemical, mechanical, and biological properties of HPPs, particularly PEEK and PEKK, along with their application particularly in dentistry. High-performance polymers have gained popularity in denture prosthesis in advance dentistry due to their flexibility in terms of manufacturing and the growing interest in utilizing additive manufacturing in denture fabrication. Further, this review also explores the literature regarding the properties of high-performance polymers (HPP) compared to previous reported polymers in terms of the dental material along with the current advancement of the digital designing and manufacturing.

Introduction: Patient undergoes orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances have more plaque retentive area compare to normal person. Therefore, this patient requires higher standard of oral hygiene care. One of adjunctive cleaning device for oral hygiene care is water irrigator. There are several types of water irrigator available in the market such as syringe type, electricity and battery operated. However, the problem is the available water irrigators are expensive. Materials and Methods: A prototype of water irrigator was designed and constructed in USIM. The water irrigator is faucet powered so that the pressure can be easily controlled by adjusting the tap. Four dental arches with orthodontics brackets were prepared using sets of natural teeth mounted on plaster of paris. Artificial plaque was prepared and grown on the dental arches. Plaque score was recorded based on Rustogi modification of navy plaque index (RMNPI) before and after irrigation with water irrigator. The procedure was repeated using toothbrush which act as control group. All the data were collected and analysed using SPSS version 22. Results: The initial mean plaque score for water irrigator was 6.34 and 2.54 after cleaning. While the initial mean plaque score for toothbrush was 6.04 and 3.71 after cleaning. This showed that there were significantly reduction of 60% and 39% plaque score after using water irrigator and tooth brushing respectively. Conclusion(s): In conclusion, both tooth brushing and the new water irrigator can significantly remove dental plaque accumulation on the tooth surface. However, water irrigator showed better results in removal of dental plaque accumulation.

Patient with fixed appliances (braces) must have good oral hygiene to prevent dental caries, decalcification, periodontal problems and oral health diseases. Many orthodontic patients' complaint of not able to clean between their fixed appliances (braces) due to the arch wires prevented the insertion of the toothbrush. Food can also get stuck between the fixed appliances and their teeth. This could result in dental cavity and gum disease for this patient if left untreated. In this study, a new device of tooth cleaning was tested against normal tooth brushing. A new cleaning device which uses water irrigation to remove dental plaque on tooth enamel surfaces were develop for this study. Both method of tooth cleanings was compared between each other on the effectiveness to remove dental plaque on tooth enamel surfaces. In the end, water irrigator was found to be slightly more effective to clean dental plaque.

No abstract

This research is a randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of plaque removal between manual conventional and orthodontic toothbrushes in patients having fixed orthodontic treatment using Orthodontic Plaque Index (OPI). This study was conducted by two orthodontists at USIM Specialist Dental Clinic with almost perfect agreement level (Kappa score: 0.95). A total of 58 orthodontic patients were divided into 2 groups; first group were patients given manual conventional toothbrush (CTB) and the other were given orthodontic toothbrush (OTB). Consent obtained, and participants were instructed to follow standardized specific oral hygiene care regimes. Orthodontic Plaque Index (OPI) was then recorded during baseline(V0), 1 month (V1), 2 months (V2), and 3 months (V3) reviews for all participants. Out of 58 patients, only 26 participants (5 male and 21 female) completed the 3 review visits. Median values were used as data was not normally distributed. At baseline, both OTB and CTB group median values were 2.00±1.00. At first month review, V1 the median values for both groups maintained at 2.00±0.00. The same values maintained at second month review, V2 where OTB was 2.00±0.00 and CTB was 2.00±1.00. During last review visit, V3 the median values for OTB was 2.00±1.00 and CTB was 2.00±0.00. Overall mean values were 1.94 (SD=0.42) for the OTB group and 2.02 (SD=0.49) for CTB group. The mean’s significant differences of OPI score between two groups was compared using Mann Whitney's U test and the resulted p value was found to be insignificant (p>0.05) where p-value for OTB is 0.42 and p= 0.65 for CTB group. These results suggested that there were no significant differences in plaque removal ability between OTB and CTB in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.

A 45-year-old female with Class III incisor relationship on Class I skeletal pattern came to orthodontic specialist clinic after referral from prosthodontic department. She requested to have lower dentition spaces to be closed before dental implant to be fitted. She had upper and lower dentures previously but not quite happy with the aesthetic. She is fit and healthy with diabetes mellitus type 2. Fixed appliance was done on the lower arch as the upper teeth were nicely aligned. Lower retainer was fitted after fixed appliance was removed (debonded). Several week later, she came with the complain of exposed bone on her lingual oral mucosa. The aetiology of sequestration, oral osteonecrosis and the association to diabetes mellitus is discussed in this case report.

Online learning has become the next frontier and the method of choice for some education providers. This study focuses on students’ insight on online classes and ways to improve it. The cross-sectional study was done at the Dental Faculty of the Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM), which include almost all undergraduate dental students who had attended online classes. In total, 179 respondents managed to answer the full set of questionnaires with thirty different questions. The data analysis reveals that mixed physical and online classes is recommended by the students to improve their learning experience and education performance. Excellent multimedia, video presentation, fast internet connection and communication is a crucial key for the success of student education. In conclusion, online learning has become an alternative to conventional teaching in dental institutions. The flexibility of the time to study and the option to pause/ playback are some of the benefits of online learning. However, not all subject in dentistry can be taught effectively in online learning. Students practical, laboratory and clinical teaching still need to be conducted physically as hands-on training is still the best. Nevertheless, online learning is still a viable teaching method for strengthening the theoretical academic part.

This case study was done to show the possibility application of a vacuum form retainer (Essix) as an inexpensive device to correct relapse of space reopen in orthodontics (braces) patient. The modification of the retainer was simple and can be done during chair side consultation in normal dental clinic setting. Bondable molar tubes and orthodontic elastics were also use with the modified vacuum form retainer to close the space between teeth. The treatment was done in minimal time and the end result was satisfactory good. This study will open up a new technique for relapse correction in the near future as vacuum form retention appliance has become more popular among orthodontist and dentist worldwide.

Aim and purpose: White spot lesion is common phenomenon that could occur on patients with poor oral hygiene and patient with higher intake of fluoride. This condition might become worst after orthodontic fixed appliances treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of white spot lesion on first molars prior orthodontic fixed appliances. Materials and method: Thirty patients attending Orthodontics Clinic in Faculty of Dentistry, Islamic Science University of Malaysia were screened and randomly selected for this study. Patients with medical condition and without first molars were excluded from this study. Any white spot lesion on all of the first molars were examined and charted. Results: From this study, we found that almost 56.7% patients were free from any white spot lesion on all of their first molars. Seven patients have white spot lesion on all their first molars (23% of total patients). Upper right first molar have the highest tendency of white spot lesion (40% of patients have white spot lesion on this site). Summary and conclusions: Any white spot lesion should be noted and charted prior to orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. This study has shown that almost half of orthodontics patients have white spot lesion before treatment. This might be confused with decalcification that might occur after orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances.