To evaluate dental students' knowledge and confidence in managing dental trauma (TDI). An observational questionnaire-based study involving fourth-year BDSc (Hons) students from 2022 and 2023 at UQ, following their Traumatic Dental Injury module. A 44-item questionnaire assessed knowledge in managing TDI in primary dentition and fractures, subluxations and avulsion of permanent teeth. Confidence was self-reported. Scores were categorised as Below average (0%-49.9%), Average (50%-74.9%) and Above average (75%-100%). Data analysis used Jamovi (Version 2.3.18), with Prism GraphPad (Version 10.0.2) for graphs. Of 151 students, 118 completed the questionnaire (78.1% response rate). Average knowledge was 59.6%, with better understanding of primary dentition management (76.5%) and poor knowledge of avulsion management (42.6%). Most students (70.3%) demonstrated average knowledge, but 83.9% reported low confidence. Students had average knowledge but low confidence in managing TDI cases, highlighting the need for more undergraduate and postgraduate clinical exposure and preclinical simulations.

This case report describes the management of a palatoradicular groove on a lateral incisor tooth (#12) in a nonperiodontitis patient. Despite the commencement of endodontic treatment, the tooth showed no signs of resolution and was referred to the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia for specialist management. Tooth 12 presented with a periodontal probing depth of 7 mm at the mid-palatal site with suppuration. Nonsurgical periodontal therapy adjunct with the application of 0.5% chlorhexidine gel was completed, followed by the completion of endodontic treatment one week prior to regenerative therapy. A minimal access papilla-sparing regenerative technique (MAPSRT), a novel, site-specific modification, was used for the management of the palatoradicular groove. Periodontal instrumentation, odontoradiculoplasty, placement of fissure sealant material and application of an enamel matrix derivative combined with bone grafting material were performed during regenerative therapy. Tooth 12 was restored with a full-coverage monolithic zirconia crown 6 months after regenerative therapy. This procedure had a successful outcome with a reduction in probing depth on the mid-palatal site of Tooth 12 to 3 mm, bone remodelling in the defect areas and minimum scarring at the 6-month review appointment. This case highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in the management of periodontal destruction associated with palatoradicular grooves.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS:Endodontic postgraduate programmes should offer students a wide range of experiences and training in all facets of the specialisation. This study aimed to assess the current postgraduate education practices in endodontics across dental schools worldwide. METHODS:The current survey consisted of an online questionnaire that had been validated and piloted. It comprised 68 questions in three sections: general information about the programme, preclinical education, and clinical education. The survey included faculty members who teach postgraduate endodontics from one dental school in each participating country. The data was presented using simple descriptive statistics. RESULTS:In total, 33 faculty members, with a response rate of 85%, from different countries completed the survey. The majority of dental schools that participated in the survey offer a 3-year postgraduate programme. The postgraduate students develop abilities in various instrumentation techniques, irrigation devices, sealers/cements, root canal filling techniques, surgery, and microscope use. Most of the schools conduct a final-year exit examination. CONCLUSIONS:Postgraduate education differs globally in its preclinical and clinical training. The survey offers initial insights into postgraduate endodontic education and can help establish mutual educational standards and key focus areas. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:The curricula for preclinical and clinical education in postgraduate endodontics programmes vary globally.

INTRODUCTION:The aim of this study was to assess the agreement in the management of periapical radiolucencies associated with root-filled teeth among dental students using and without using a new web-based clinical decision support system (CDSS) application (DentalHelp). MATERIALS AND METHODS:One hundred ten dental students from two universities were chosen to evaluate 10 cases of periapical radiolucencies associated with root-filled teeth. Each case included the clinical signs and symptoms, clinical photographs, periapical radiographs, and a small-volume cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan. Participants were asked to select one proposed management option and to assess the degree of difficulty in making this decision. Four weeks later, students entered case information into the DentalHelp web app. The app's algorithm then autonomously generated a suggested management option for each case. Cohen's unweighted Kappa index was calculated to estimate the level of concordance between each suggested management option for each case with and without using the app. RESULTS:There was a significant change in the management choice by students when using the CDSS compared to when they did not use it (p < 0.05). A global Kappa index of 0.21 (95% CI: 0.17-0.25) indicated a weak general agreement. Cohen's Kappa index of 0.07 (95% CI: 0.02-0.11) demonstrated poor agreement between the level of difficulty of decision-making with and without the app. CONCLUSIONS:The DentalHelp web app was effective in assisting dental students with clinical decision-making for periapical radiolucencies associated with root-filled teeth.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fit of matched gutta-percha (GP) points in tooth root canals after preparation with their corresponding rotary files. Single canal human tooth roots were matched according to root canal volume and eccentricity. Forty-five roots were divided into three experimental groups (n = 15) and sequentially prepared with either SybronEndo TF Adaptive SM2, ProTaper Next X2 or ProTaper Ultimate F2 files to working length. The corresponding GP points were placed into the prepared root canals without cement and scanned with micro-computed tomographic imaging. The unfilled volume and unfilled areas at 1, 3, 5 and 7 mm from working length were evaluated. Over one-third of the root canal space remained unfilled in all groups. There was no significant difference between unfilled areas measured at the different distances. Unprepared and unfilled spaces remained in root canals after preparation with rotary files when filled with the corresponding GP points.

BACKGROUND:Tooth resorption has no universal classification, which leads to confusion. The aims were to assess dentists' ability to radiographically identify resorption and to determine their terminology preferences for three types of resorption. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Dentists completed an electronic questionnaire. Part 1 concerned professional profiles plus self-rating of each participant's level of resorption knowledge. In Part 2, participants identified types of resorption from radiographs. In Part 3, participants chose their preferred terminology and provided reasons for their choices. RESULTS:Of 444 complete responses, 55.6% of participants self-rated their knowledge as 'Acceptable'. The average number of correct responses when identifying resorption was 52.9% (6.3 out of 12; range: 0-12). Significant differences existed for gender, practice area, graduation year and education level. Preferred terms were external inflammatory resorption (72.3%) and external replacement resorption (63.3%) but no clear preference existed for external invasive resorption (31.8%) or external cervical invasive resorption (35.6%). Most common reasons for selecting terms were 'more descriptive', and a 'more accurate representation of what occurs in the tissues'. CONCLUSION:On average, dentists correctly identified 52.9% of the resorptive defects. There is a need for a standardised classification of the different types of tooth resorption.

The aim was to compare the effectiveness of acids in removing MTA from root canals. Fifty acrylic blocks were filled with MTA and divided into groups - 10% hydrochloric acid; 10% citric acid; 2% acetic acid; 2% carbonic acid and 20% tartaric acid. MTA was removed with the acids, plus ultrasonic tips and rotary files. Outcomes were measured as pre- and post-operative weight differences, luminance differences and working time to regain length or form ledges. Weight differences varied significantly - citric acid was highest; hydrochloric acid was lowest and others were not statistically different from each other. Luminance did not differ significantly between groups but varied significantly with distance from the apex - hydrochloric acid and carbonic acid were lowest at 1 mm from the apex. Working times differed significantly - hydrochloric acid took longer than other acids except citric acid. Overall, the most effective acid was citric acid. The least effective was hydrochloric acid.

AimAlthough many pain assessment tools exist, none are specific to the relatively unique presentation of pulpal pain. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a novel pain assessment tool based on pulp symptoms.MethodologyA preliminary list of items best-describing pulpitis was developed based on deductive and inductive approaches and the preliminary tool was piloted (n = 80). A final 11-item pain assessment tool was developed comprising 5 closed-ended items evaluating pain intensity to diverse stimuli (thermal and sweet) and 6 closed-ended items assessing various aspects of pulp pain (such as spontaneity, duration, referral, postural pain, pain upon biting and requirement for analgesics). The tool was tested on 300 adult patients (age range = 18-54 years) who presented with symptoms indicating some form of pulpitis. The 11 items were each scored from 1 to 4, yielding a total score between 11 and 44. These scores were subsequently compared to a set of diagnoses made utilizing established clinical reference standards, these include patient history, clinical examination, periapical radiographs, and pulp testing.ResultsAll items in the tool reached an excellent content validity index score (>= 0.83) for relevance. Following the pilot, six items were rephrased and five were removed. After final testing the constructed tool had a reliability coefficient of .8641, indicating a high level of internal consistency. Factor analysis extracted two factors that accounted for 59.61% of variance. The sensitivity and specificity was 95.36% and 86.58%, respectively. Likelihood ratio was 7.104 (LR+) and 0.05 (LR-) at cut-off point. The area under the ROC curve was 0.9714 with a SE of 0.0076. The cut off score by Youden index was 25 between reversible and irreversible pulpitis.ConclusionsThe developed tool proved to be both valid and reliable. It is the first comprehensive multidimensional tool designed to standardize the pulp pain assessment protocol, covering various attributes of pulp pain and effectively distinguishing between reversible and irreversible pulpitis with a defined cut-off score. Furthermore, its use is anticipated to provide support in diagnosing ambiguous cases of inflamed pulp, which is especially helpful for less experienced dentists.

This case report describes the successful management of an atypical mandibular molar with Oehler's Type II dens invaginatus and a large periradicular radiolucency with nonsurgical endodontic treatment. A 14-year-old male patient reported with pain and swelling associated with tooth #30. Clinical examination revealed that tooth #30 had an unusual coronal morphology. The intraoral periapical radiograph and cone beam computed tomography revealed an Oehler's Type II dens invaginatus with a large periradicular radiolucency. Nonsurgical root canal treatment was performed and the patient was followed-up for 46 months. Following the root canal treatment, the patient had no symptoms, no tenderness to percussion or palpation, and the tooth was not mobile. At 46 months, the radiographic examination confirmed that satisfactory healing of the periapical tissues had occurred.

AIM:To investigate the current status of education in vital pulp treatment (VPT) for the management of permanent teeth in relation to undergraduate/pre-doctoral students at a range of dental schools worldwide. METHODOLOGY:The web-based survey consisted of 28 questions that had been validated and piloted by a range of experienced endodontists. Faculty members who taught endodontics at one dental school in each selected country participated in the survey, which was completed in March 2025. Simple descriptive statistics were used to present the data. RESULTS:Forty faculty members from various countries completed the survey; the majority of which (82.5%) worked at public universities. All participating dental schools included VPT teaching in their undergraduate/predoctoral curricula. The primary method of teaching VPT in the majority of dental schools was didactic lectures. VPT preclinical exercises were included in only 32.5% of the schools. The vast majority of dental schools did not require students to pass a preclinical or clinical competency examination in relation to VPT prior to graduation. Hydraulic calcium silicate materials were the most commonly used for exposed pulps but not for pulps that were not exposed. CONCLUSIONS:VPT has been integrated into the undergraduate/pre-doctoral curriculum of all dental schools that participated in this survey. However, the majority of dental schools that were surveyed lacked preclinical teaching and competency assessments for VPT in both preclinical and clinical scenarios.

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature and perform a single-arm meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of palato-gingival grooves (PGs) in maxillary anterior teeth using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS:This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus, to identify peer-reviewed studies and the gray literature reporting the prevalence of PGs in maxillary anterior teeth using CBCT. Studies were included if they provided data on the presence and characteristics of the palatal groove. The research protocol was previously registered in the International Prospective Register of Ongoing Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42025633698). The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to estimate the overall prevalence while accounting for variability across studies. RESULTS:Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, evaluating 2212 subjects and 8900 maxillary anterior teeth. Sex distribution was 615 females (53.2%) and 541 males (46.8%), although not all studies reported sex data. The pooled prevalence of PGs was 1.5% (95% CI: 1.1%-2.1%), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 71.19). PGs were most frequently observed in maxillary lateral incisors (16.92%), while central incisors had a lower prevalence (1.22%) and canines were rarely affected (0.14%). Gu's Type I PGs was the most observed classification in the included studies. Most PG cases were unilateral (85.3%), with only 14.7% being bilateral. The methodological quality of the included studies was moderate to high, with a final Joanna Briggs Institute score of 84.38%. CONCLUSION:According to the analyzed studies, the estimated prevalence of PGs detected through CBCT was 1.5%. It primarily affects lateral incisors and occurs more frequently as a unilateral condition.

AIMS:To evaluate the reporting quality of abstracts of systematic reviews (SRs) with meta-analyses (MA) related to traumatic dental injuries (TDI) using the PRISMA for Abstract (PRISMA-A) 2020 checklist and to determine potential predictive factors associated with the overall reporting quality. METHODS:SRs with MA identified in PubMed, SCOPUS, and EBSCOhost databases from inception to May 2024 within the scope of TDI were included. The abstracts were evaluated for reporting quality in accordance with the 12 items of the PRISMA-A checklist. Each item was awarded a score of "1" or "0" for adequate or inadequate responses, whereas items that were partially addressed were awarded a score of "0.5". Utilizing multiple regression analysis, the association between six predictor variables (journal impact factor, publication year, number of authors, a priori protocol registration, word count of the abstract, and continent of the corresponding author) were examined in relation to the total PRISMA-A scores. The p-value was set at 5%. RESULTS:Abstracts from 53 SRs with MA were included. All adequately reported the "Title" and "General interpretation of the results and important implications". However, none adequately addressed the "Source of funding". A significant positive association was identified between the reporting quality of the abstract and both the year of publication (p = 0.032) and the word count of the abstracts (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION:The adherence of abstracts of SRs with MA to the PRISMA-A checklist was deficient in several items. Authors should ensure their abstracts comply with the PRISMA-A checklist, as this will enhance their reporting quality and ultimately benefit patients, clinicians, and other stakeholders.

Introduction and aims: To evaluate knowledge regarding the management of deep carious lesions and exposed pulps among undergraduate and postgraduate endodontic students from ten dental institutions across ten countries, and the impact of operator (material, antibiotic prescription) and patient-related (age, symptoms) factors on their treatment protocols. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to evaluate student knowledge of the management of deep caries and exposed pulp related to four clinical scenarios. Simple descriptive statistics were used to describe the data and McNemar tests were employed to identify significant differences between the scenarios. The P-value was set at 5%. Results: A total of 435 undergraduates and 139 postgraduates from ten dental schools participated in this survey. The final survey included 401 responses from undergraduates and 127 from postgraduates for statistical analysis. When symptoms were present, the majority of undergraduate and postgraduate students preferred non-selective (complete) caries removal over selective (partial) caries removal in young patients. The majority of postgraduates preferred partial pulpotomy in younger patients and pulpectomy and root canal treatment (RCT) in older patients. The majority of undergraduates preferred pulpectomy and RCT in both young/old patients when symptoms were present. The majority of undergraduates and postgraduates opted for mineral trioxide aggregate and Biodentine, respectively, when treating the exposed pulp. Systemic antibiotics were not recommended by both undergraduates and postgraduates, regardless of the patient's age and symptoms. Conclusion: Among the scenarios surveyed, the majority of undergraduates and postgraduates preferred: a) pulpectomy and RCT for older patients in the presence or absence of symptoms; b) hydraulic calcium silicate cements as pulp capping material; and c) did not recommend systemic antibiotics. Clinical relevance: The majority of students choose non-selective (complete) caries removal in all cases and if the pulp is exposed, the use of hydraulic calcium silicate cements iwas the preferred material. Systemic antibiotics are considered unnecessary, irrespective of the patient's age and symptoms.

IntroductionMobile health applications offer valuable support for clinical decision-making. However, usability and perceived usefulness influence adoption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability and perceived usefulness of the DentalHelp web app, a clinical decision support system (CDSS) for managing periapical radiolucencies associated with root-filled teeth.Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 51 third-year dental students. Participants completed predefined clinical tasks using DentalHelp and assessed its usability and perceived usefulness through the System Usability Scale (SUS) and an adapted Technology Acceptance Model questionnaire. Statistical analyses examined correlations between demographic factors and app evaluation scores.ResultsThe mean SUS score was 96/100, indicating excellent usability. Perceived usefulness was rated 4.65/5, with high agreement on its effectiveness in clinical decision-making.DiscussionDentalHelp demonstrated high usability and usefulness, supporting its role as a clinical and educational tool.ConclusionDentalHelp is a highly usable and useful CDSS for managing periapical radiolucencies, with potential applications in both education and practice. Further studies should explore its impact on clinical outcomes and its long-term adoption.

The Guidelines for Prevention of Traumatic Dental Injuries were reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD).

The Guidelines for Prevention of Traumatic Dental Injuries were reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD).

Currently no standard, universally accepted, and clinically useful classification of pulp, root canal and peri-radicular conditions is used within the dental profession. Most published classifications are either too simple and miss many of the conditions reported to occur within the pulp, root canal and peri-radicular tissues, or they are too complex for use in clinical settings. Furthermore, many classifications have used inappropriate terminology that has either not been defined or has been poorly defined. The lack of standardisation leads to confusion amongst practitioners and potential uncertainty regarding treatment. It also limits the ability to communicate effectively, to teach appropriately, and to compare data and research findings throughout the world. When developing a classification of tissue conditions or diseases, it is essential that the classification is developed appropriately and meets the recommended criteria for effective clinical, educational and research use. It is also extremely important that correct and well-defined terminology is used since "words do matter". Popular terminology based on symptoms should be avoided as these have been proven to lead to inappropriate treatment decisions. This review discusses how classifications should be developed for pulp, root canal and peri-radicular conditions. It also discusses the deficiencies of some popular classifications and outlines the classifications that truly address the recommended criteria and reflect the physiological and pathological changes in the pulp, root canal and peri-radicular tissues. Hence, it is recommended that these latter classifications be adopted as the internationally-accepted classifications for future clinical use, as well as for educational, research and communication purposes.

The Guidelines for Prevention of Traumatic Dental Injuries were reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD).

The Guidelines for Prevention of Traumatic Dental Injuries were reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD).

AimTo evaluate the current status of endodontic education and assessment at an undergraduate/predoctoral level in dental schools worldwide.MethodologyThe current survey comprised a 50-item online questionnaire related to undergraduate endodontic education. The project leaders emailed the survey's details to faculty members responsible for endodontic teaching at one dental school in every country to seek their willingness to participate in the survey. After the faculty members accepted, the survey details were sent to participants along with the survey link. Simple descriptive statistics were used to represent the data.ResultsAmongst the 44 faculty members from different countries who agreed to participate, 36 completed the survey. Endodontic training starts in 50% of dental schools from the third year of the curriculum. Each dental school employs a diverse range of educational methods. During pre-clinical training, 19.4% of the participating dental schools used only natural teeth. Stainless-steel hand instruments, syringe irrigation with a needle, resin-based sealer and the cold lateral compaction technique are the most frequently used in pre-clinical and clinical training. A significant percentage of dental institutions necessitate that students treat a predetermined quantity of canals or teeth throughout their pre-clinical and clinical education. Dental institutions conduct formative, summative or a combination of the formative and summative throughout the clinical and pre-clinical phases of endodontic training.ConclusionsAccording to the data collected from this survey, there are considerable variations in the curriculum for undergraduate/predoctoral endodontic programmes amongst the surveyed dental schools. Pre-clinical and clinical education should integrate a larger array of modern tools and procedures.