Salvadora Persica (miswak stick) has been widely used as an aid for oral hygiene in dentate patient. Due to the fact that there is no side effect of using miswak stick as cleaning aids on teeth but it has been never introduced to edentulous patient as an oral aid for denture and oral care, this study introduced a new approach in edentulous patient the role of miswak stick. This approach may prevent the incidence of denture stomatitis in complete denture wearer. Study aimed to share the clinical finding of two (2) patients aged 35 and 65-years-old who were wearing denture and affected by denture stomatitis. Both patients were introduced with the miswak stick as an oral hygiene tools on the edentulous mucosa. After 12 weeks, postoperative assessment (clinical and photographic) were evaluated and analyzed by comparing the mapping of denture stomatitis inflammation surface area using ImageJ FIJI software and the inflammation clinical presentation. The results showed the inflammation surface area has reduced by 22.74% to 49.59%, respectively. Within the limitation of the study, the use of the miswak stick helps the reduction of the inflammation caused by denture stomatitis. Therefore, miswak stick can be introduced as one of oral hygiene aid for edentulous arch. Keywords: Salvadora Persica, miswak, denture stomatitis, denture, oral hygiene

As with other university programs, dental school has been affected during the Covid-19 pandemic due to physical distancing and clinical restriction. Covid-19 pandemic changes the original method of study with the swift shift to online learning, which may affect students’ performance. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of online learning methods on the final examination performance for dental undergraduate students in their clinical years in a public university in Malaysia. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey tests were conducted to compare the effect of learning methods on the mean examination score, by comparing clinical students from the year of 2018 and 2019 face-to-face (f2f) learning method as compared to fully online learning in 2020. The analysis shows that there is a statistically significant difference on final exam performance at p < 0.05 for Year 3 [F (2, 102) = 11.68] and Year 5 [F(2, 95) = 22.32]. Post-hoc Tukey HSD test indicates that the mean examination result for 2019 is significantly different from 2020 and 2018 even though the same learning method was employed for the latter. There was also no statistically significant difference for when the 2020 cohort is compared to the 2018 cohort for both Year 3 and Year 5. There was no statistically significant difference in mean examination score across all cohorts for Year 4 students. Although limited in scope, the conclusion of this study was that, f2f learning method has no significant difference with online learning in terms of final examination performance.

Introduction: Undergraduate (UG) dental students are trained for fixed prosthodontics course clinically in teaching institutions during the clinical years. However, there is a lack of objective data on the quality of fixed prostheses preparations done by UG students on their patients for academic and clinical staff. Aim: To evaluate the full-coverage crown preparations performed by UG dental students in the university clinical teaching programme. Materials and Methods: This study was a clinical audit done in the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam, Malaysia (USIM) from April to July 2018. The demographic and clinical data were collected from the patient notes and included relevant information of patients such as age, gender and others. Full-coverage crowns were analysed and crown preparation assessments were done using specific criteria and standards. The descriptive data were measured in frequency and percentage for categorical variables and mean and standard deviation for continuous data. Results: A total of 31 patients fitted with 45 units of full-coverage crowns were analysed. The mean age of patients treated by fifth year dental students was 40.5 (+/- 14.16) years. A 51% Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM) crown provided to the patients. On the whole, UG undergoing the dentistry programme in the institution scored the lowest (51%) on proximal reduction and the highest (97.7%) on producing smooth and continuous preparation. Conclusion: Majority of the crowns prepared by students have acceptable preparation except in proximal reduction and cervical margin preparation that can be improved upon and emphasised further during the teaching and learning sessions.

Introduction: We aimed to determine the maximum microwave disinfection cycles that is safe for the adaptability of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture bases under power–time setting of 630 W for 3 minutes. Materials and Methods: Thirty PMMA maxillary denture bases were constructed and divided into two groups, control (no disinfection) and test (microwave disinfection at 630W for 3 minutes in water immersion). Coltene Rapid Liner (Coltene/Whaledent AG, Altstatten, Switzerland) silicone was coated onto the internal surface of the samples followed by placement of 8 kgf of axial load. The silicone film was removed, and weighed using analytical balance. One day interval was given between each cycle and samples were stored in 37°C water bath. Tests were carried out until a statistically significant silicone film weight change detected. The data were analyzed on SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). Results: Statistically significant change of the denture base was detected after the tenth cycle of microwave irradiation. Conclusion: The maximum microwave disinfection cycles that is safe for the adaptability of PMMA denture bases under power–time setting of 630 W for 3 minutes is only up to 10 cycles.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious disease that causes global outbreaks. The COVID-19 outbreak has forced various sectors to change their approach and daily practice to new alternatives. Dental education is no exception to the effects of this pandemic, which has severely disrupted teaching, learning and clinical activities. The impact of this pandemic on dental education can be classified into different aspects, including academic, practical, research and clinical services. Teaching and learning activities have been transformed into distance learning methods. However, dental educators are still struggling with psychomotor components, including practical and clinical sessions, which are the main course components that are severely affected. This sharing of experience focuses on the effects of the pandemic on the delivery of dental education and the actions taken by the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) to ensure continuous learning. The challenges faced by the faculty are overcome with careful planning and discussion through the establishment of specific committees related to various issues, such as online learning and clinical COVID-19 committees. The committees identify any issues, plan the strategies and monitor the implementation of the plan. All actions during the pandemic are closely monitored by managing the faculty and university to ensure implementation of organised and smooth work, good record keeping, and compliance with instructions and guidelines by the authority.

Introduction: Copy denture technique is a classic technique for construction of a new denture based on the favourable aspects of the original denture using a replica. This technique helps in adaptation of new denture in elderly population. The aim of this paper was to assess the knowledge and practice of copy denture technique among dentists and dental technologists. Materials and Methods: A pre-tested questionnaire was sent to all participants who attended the Copy Denture Workshop organized by USIM on 13th April 2017. Two sets of the same questionnaire were distributed to the participant before and after the seminar. Results: Out of 100 participants, only 77% (n=77) have given valid feedbacks. The results showed, even though 54.5% (n=42) participants had more than 5 years of clinical experience, 42.9% (n=33) of the participants have poor knowledge in this technique before the seminar begin. However 55.9% presented with positive attitude towards copy denture. Most of the participants did not know about copy denture technique (43.1%) and the advantages of the technique (32.9%). 74.1% (n=57) participants were uncertain to perform the technique and did not have the skills to perform the copy denture technique. However, after attending the workshop, their attitude towards copy denture increased (+15.6%) and the mean score value was statistically significance with p-value 0.049. Conclusion(s): Awareness and workshop on copy denture technique should be encouraged to improve knowledge and practice, so that the patient who requested for replacement denture will benefit from this technique.

This clinical case describes using a milled crown on a cracked tooth as the abutment for a removable partial denture. A 63-year-old male patient diagnosed with lipoma undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy presented with symptomatic crack tooth syndrome on tooth 36 and partial edentulism. Conservative treatment using a molar band to extracoronally splint the tooth was conducted to determine the prognosis of the crack line. A lower partial cobalt-chromium denture was constructed by incorporating the milled crown of tooth 36 as the abutment. After six months of follow-up, there were no crack tooth symptoms, and regular review was adopted to monitor the tooth. The construction of a milled crown of a cracked tooth presented good and promising clinical outcomes in preserving tooth vitality and preventing crack propagation in partially dentate dentition for the long term.

Miswak (Salvadora Persica) has been used widely as oral aid since Babylonians era. Many methods have been introduced to improve the patient's denture hygiene but few researches on methods for cleaning edentulous area and denture to treat denture induced stomatitis. This study assessed the use of miswak stick to reduce denture induce stomatitis inflammation. A qualitative interview and questionnaires was conducted to assess the experience of miswak stick used 15 patients suffered from denture induced stomatitis. In addition, the inflammation areas were assessed using clinical photograph for the assessment of inflammation degree and denture stomatitis classification changes and compared with control group (using toothbrush). Four weeks’ result showed, no ulceration seen on the mucosa and edentulous arch. There was more than 50% (Mean=55.6%, SD±24.6%) reduction of inflammation surface area and redness. Patient with class 1 and 2 Newton's classification showed significant inflammation reduction more than 50% with 36.4% (Mean=20%, SD±9.9%) and 18.2% (Mean=20%, SD±9.9%). Patient also presented changes of the Newton's classification (n=26.7%). There is no significant different between using miswak vs conventional technique using toothbrush (p<0.05). Patients gave positive feedbacks of miswak on edentulous area as denture cleaning aid. In conclusion, miswak stick can be recommended as alternative oral care aid for edentulous patients and denture care. © 2020. All rights reserved.

Aims: This study aimed at exploring the self-perception of Orang Asli (OA) from the Temuan tribe in Jelebu by using the Global Self-rated Oral Health (GSROH) and General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study involving a two-stage sampling to select the district and villages. A total of 325 participants were selected based on convenience sampling. Results: Almost half of the participants rated their oral health as poor or average. The mean GOHAI score was 52.96 (±7.749), ranging from 29 to 60. The GOHAI score was statistically significantly lower for female gender (P = 0.025), lower education level (P = 0.001), and elderly (P = 0.001). The GSROH score was also statistically significant with GOHAI score (P = 0.001). Conclusions: A limited number of studies were conducted in this area, particularly in the vulnerable population of OA. Our study found that half of the OA living in the fringe had a poor GOHAI score. It is, therefore, suggested that potential study and intervention programs concentrate on the low GOHAI score group; the male, lower educational context, and the elderly.

Impression compound has been introduced for more than 100 years. Since then, it has been widely used to obtain a preliminary impression of the edentulous arch. Although the use of impression compound has declined markedly over recent years as newer materials have become available, the cost-effectiveness and desirable physical and mechanical properties make this material indispensable in developing countries and teaching institutions. Its high viscosity characterizes impression compound as a mucocompressive impression material, which enables the full depth of the sulcus to be recorded for the retention of complete dentures. Literature reviews revealed that most contact allergies to impression materials are towards polyether, very few are towards alginate and polysulfide, and no reported cases have been found toward impression compound. This case report demonstrates a recent rare case of contact allergy towards impression compound during a routine impression taking for a fully edentulous arch in a 61-year-old woman. The patient developed symptoms of an allergic reaction, and the management of the condition was described.

Lately in Malaysia, there is an arise on the issue of dental quackery conducted by quack dentists. Quack dentists are individuals who conducts dental procedures illegally without proper educational dental background, and their treatment includes braces, dentures and dental veneers. The increase of desire to have better smile and dental aesthetics with cheaper service has led to the arise of this illegal cosmetic dental treatment. This case report describes a case of replacement of a single missing tooth by a quack dentist. Bizarre aesthetic and restorative outcome were noted as six-unit fixed partial denture (dental bridge) was used to replace only one missing tooth 11, involving over the area of five teeth (area of tooth 13 until tooth 22). Other problems related to the bridge was also discussed. It is hoped that this case report will highlight the presence of quack dentistry in the area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and will urge the authorities to devise a strong national oral health policy to culminate this unethical dental practice.

Introduction: Salvadora percisa (popularly known as miswak) has been widely used as an aid for oral hygiene in dentate patient. There is no side effect of using miswak stick. A new approach introduced the role of miswak stick in edentulous patient. It may prevent the incidence of denture stomatitis among denture wearer. This study assessed the effectiveness of the miswak stick as an oral aid in edentulous patients as an alternative treatment for denture stomatitis. Materials and Methods: A clinical case control study included patients affected by denture stomatitis. The Miswak stick was introduced to the subjects to use as the oral device to clean the denture and oral mucosal area everyday. Pre- and postoperative assessment (clinical and photographic) were evaluated within 8 to 12 weeks and analysed by comparing the mapping of denture stomatitis inflammation. Results: A total of 11 subjects with denture stomatitis comprised as type 1; n=5 (46%), type 2; n=4 (36%) and type 3; n=2 (18%). 54.5% of subjects showed more than 50% reduction in the mapping of denture stomatitis inflammation (p<0.05) after the use of miswak stick. This study also showed that the use of miswak stick for more than 3 weeks to Type I and II denture stomatitis (54.6%) has successfully reduce the inflammation for more than 50%. 54.5% of the subjects with good denture hygiene has 50% more reduction of denture stomatitis. Conclusion(s): The miswak stick was significantly effective to reduce the denture stomatitis with a regular use and maintenance of good denture hygiene.

This case report describes the technique of composite build-up for tooth surface loss using direct composite resin restoration. This technique has the advantages of being conservative while improving aesthetics and restoring function for the patient.