DR. KHALID MERDAD, DR. E. PASCON , DR. G. KULKARNI, DR. P. SANTERRE , DR. S. FRIEDMAN
University of Toronto, Canada.

The Epiphany resin-percha obturating system has recently been introduced for endodontic treatment. This study assessed the cytotoxicity of the system's components, compared to the commonly used gutta-percha and AH-Plus sealer. Test material specimens of 7 mm diameter were prepared, either as disks (Resilon, gutta-percha), poured into glass rings (Epiphany, AH-Plus sealers) or imbedded onto cellulose disks (Epiphany primer, thinning resin). Material specimens (n=3) were placed over Millipore filters with an established HeLa cell monolayer. Filters were placed cell-side down on agar, incubated for 2 hours and stained overnight with tetrazolium blue dye. The diameter of the unstained cell-free zone around the materials was the measure of cytotoxicity, rated as: none (0 mm), mild (£7 mm), moderate (7-12 mm), or marked (>12 mm). Testing was repeated three times, and the collected data analyzed with one-way ANOVA and post-hoc pairwise t-tests. The cell-free zone around Epiphany primer (9.67+0.95 mm) was significantly larger (P<0.05) than around the thinning resin (7.86+1.02 mm). Around the freshly mixed sealers, it was significantly (P<0.05) larger for AH-Plus (9.79±0.83 mm) than for Epiphany (7.82+0.74 mm). Both set of sealers (24 h, 48 h), gutta-percha and Resilon were characterized by non-cytotoxic responses. The in vitro cytotoxicity of set Epiphany sealer and Resilon was comparable to that of set AH-Plus sealer and gutta-percha. Cytotoxicity of freshly mixed Epiphany sealer, primer and thinning resin did not exceed that of freshly mixed AH-Plus sealer. The study was supported by the Canadian Academy of Endodontics and Pentron Clinical Technologies.
Saudi Dental Journal 2006;18(SI)-Abstr.011

012.Are there new innovations in orthodontic? Come and see!

DR. THAMER AL-KHADRA
  College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Technology is touching us on all aspects of our lives and orthodontic is one of these areas where advancement in technology and dental research is leading to new way of practicing orthodontic in the 21st century. This presentation will shed lights on different new innovation in orthodontics that can help you in your practice in terms of more accurate patient diagnosis, treatment planning and carrying on your orthodontic treatment.
Saudi Dental Journal 2006;18(SI)-Abstr.012

013.Adverse effects of orthodontic treatment

DR. NABEEL F. TALIC
  College of Dentistry, King Saud University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

There are a number of unfavorable effects associated with orthodontic treatment for a long time. These include among others: root resorption, periodontal loss, loss of pulp vitality, temporomandibualr dysfunction (TMD) and decalcification of enamel surfaces. These effects will be discussed based on evidence to explore which ones are truly associated with orthodontic treatment and which ones do not exceed being a myth. The causes of some of these side effects and their prevention will also be discussed.
Saudi Dental Journal 2006;18(SI)-Abstr.013

DR. MOHAMMAD AZHAR KHARSA
Dental Department,Riyadh Care Hospital,Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In this study, the author tries to compare between Osteo-Integrated implants and non-integrated implants in Orthodontic practice. Implants are used in Orthodontic practice, either for closing spaces, or for anchorage forthright elements to get a maximum anchorage. There is adequate evidence from animal research and clinical application that non-integrated anchors are efficacious and certainly more cost-effective than osseointegrated implants unless the osseointegrated implants are subsequently used for prosthetic replacement of missing tooth/teeth. Devices other than implants can, in fact, be used quite successfully for orthodontic anchorage. They are easier to place and are a fraction of the cost of osseointegrated fixtures. In a patient having no prosthetic needs, these non integrated implants devices can be placed more quickly, easily and with less expense prior to being removed and discarded at the completion of treatment. The histology, from animal study, in which the anchors were loaded immediately and continually for 8 months, shows no anchors were lost and the typical titanium/bone interface resembled the interface seen in osseointegration. Perhaps the most important factor is not the device itself (implant versus implantable device). Quality of bone, stability at the time of placement, lack of occlusal load, and direct versus indirect application are all factors, more so than the device.
Saudi Dental Journal 2006;18(SI)-Abstr.014

 
015.Patient's satisfaction in Arab dental practice: Reality and expectation

PROF. ABDULLAH R. AL-SHAMMERY
Riyadh College of Dentistry and Pharmacy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

With the shift in medicine and dentistry to patients being consumers of care and the concept of "consumerism" inclusion of patient's opinions in assessment of service has gained greater prominence. Patient satisfaction is a multidimensional concept. Some dimensions of dental care satisfaction that have been identified are technical or aspect of care related to the process of diagnosis treatment, interpersonal, accessibility, availability, financial access, efficacy, outcomes, continuity of care, facilities, or attitudes about overall care.

Others related to dentistry as a small business like: update dental knowledge, clinical skills, accountant information, human recourses information, and operations/ inventory information, sales/marketing and fast changing in technology.

In the Arab dental practice, there are doors always open for new things coming from outside the Arab world market and those things play an important role on the whole patient's satisfactions.

The purposes of this presentation are:

• To discuss the factors which affect the patients' satisfaction in the Arab dental practice?
• To evaluate from the personal point of view to the current situation, the patient's satisfaction in the Arab dental practice when compared between reality and expectation of the patients.