The objective of this report is to compare between the efficiency of verbal and written oral hygiene instruction on improving gingival gingival health. 14 patients included in the verbal (experimental group) and 14 patients included in the written (test group).  Scaling or any other form of periodontal treatment was not given throughout the study period. Taking the clinical parameters (PI, GI & BI) to examine the presence or absences of plaque and bleeding, and to evaluate the gingival condition. Each patient received three visits two weeks interval between them. The results showed significant reduction of plaque and bleeding when compared with the baseline in each group. No significant differences were found between the groups, given the various ways of oral hygiene education. The study confirms the effectiveness of oral hygiene alone on improving gingival health but clinical lack of difference in the outcome of various oral hygiene education approaches indicates that the mode of instruction is not important to the end result. The improvement in oral hygiene may be related to factors other than the way of oral hygiene itself.

Saudi Dental Journal 2007;19(SI)-Abstr.071

Introduction: In the literature, dentist-patient interaction has been identified as a major factor for both health care providers and administrators. Dentists, who interacted with the patients, were perceived as competent and have more satisfaction.
Objective: The aim of this study is to assess patient's-dentist communication among Saudi patients and its effect on satisfaction.
Material and Methods: A sample of Saudi patients of various age groups and educational levels were selected from both public and private dental sectors in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was designed for this survey about their dentist-patient relationship and their demographic data.
Results: Factors such as warning the patient the procedure might hurt, showing the patient that the dentist know about the his/her feeling, asking about presence of pain and discomfort during the procedure and being patient were all significant factors in communication among Saudi patients and it increased satisfaction.
Conclusion: It seems that Saudi dentists have gained patients' satisfaction through a successful communication that addressed the most significant concerns of the patients during management.

Saudi Dental Journal 2007;19(SI)-Abstr.072

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of surface roughness for commercially available dental ceramic using different regimens. Fifty heat-pressed ceramic disks were fabricated according to manufacturer's recommendations. Samples were divided into 5 groups (n = 10 in each group) and treated with one of the following: etching with 9.5% hydrofluoric acid, air abrasion with 50-µm or 250-µm alumina, 50% and 60% orthophosphoric acid for 10 seconds. Morphological changes obtained with various surface treatment regimens were investigated by surface analyzer. Two more samples from each group were treated and prepared for scanning electron microscopy evaluation. The difference between groups was tested for statistical significance with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Ryan-Einot-Gabriel-Welsch Multiple Range Test at 5% level of confidence. Surface treatments resulted in statistically significant differences for surface topography (P< 0.001). Mean surface roughness (Ra) were 2.54 mm for ceramic surfaces treated with 50 µm aluminum powder. Ceramic samples treated with 50% orthophosphoric acid appeared to result in a smoother surface (1.02 mm). Hydrofluoric acid appeared to be the most suitable chemical medium to produce reliable resin-ceramic bond regardless its surface roughness measurements. Orthophosphoric acid treatment was the least effective surface treatment method.

Saudi Dental Journal 2007;19(SI)-Abstr.073

The present study was designed to evaluate the healing process of gingival recession defects treated with enamel matrix derivative and to compare it to that obtained with pH neutral, 24% EDTA and the laterally repositioned flaps alone. Gingival recessions were surgically created on the buccal surfaces of maxillary canines and fourth premolars and mandibular first molars of eight beagle dogs. Plaque was allowed to accumulate for five weeks. Following a preparation period, the defects were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups (EMD, EDTA, and control groups). Four dogs each were sacrificed at three and six months post-treatment. Clinical parameters which included the gingival recession depth and width were measured, and the length of the total epithelium and connective tissue attachment were histometrically evaluated. All three treatments resulted in a statistically significant decrease of the gingival recession depth and width when compared to the baseline (P < 0.05). Three and six months following surgery, EMD- and EDTA-Groups demonstrated significantly higher percentage of root coverage when compared to the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of root coverage between EMD- and EDTA-Groups. Histologically, all three treatment groups demonstrated a new connective tissue attachment. Histometrically, EMD- treated sites showed a statistically significant increase of new connective tissue attachment when compared to the EDTA-treated sites and controls at three and six months (P < 0.05). The epithelium length was similar in the EMD- and EDTA- treated sites (P > 0.05) and it was significantly shorter in the EMD-Group when compared to the control group (P < 0.05) at three and six months. There were no statistically significant differences between the EDTA- and control groups in the length of the epithelium and connective tissue attachment. EMD seemed to significantly improve the clinical and histological outcomes of gingival recessions treated by means of the laterally repositioned flap surgery.

Saudi Dental Journal 2007;19(SI)-Abstr.074

Aims: To determine oral health care and dental status of a group of children with special needs in a private school in Riyadh and to assess the role of dental hygienist in promoting oral health care among this group of patients.
Method and Material: The study was conducted in Al-Waleed Center for Children with special needs in Riyadh city. A structured questionnaire including dental history, daily oral health care and dietary habits of the children were collected from the mothers. An oral examination was performed for each child using disposable examination kit. Gingival index, plaque index, "deft" and "DMFT" indices were recorded. Child behavior during examination was evaluated. A lecture on oral health care was presented. A periodic recall visits at two weeks, two weeks and four weeks were conducted. Oral hygiene instruction was provided for each child at recall visits.
Results: A total of (20) children with different disabilities were included in the study. Age range was 5-15 years. More than two thirds were with moderate disability. Seventy-five percent reported irregular dental care. Extraction was the treatment reported by 37.5% in their last dental visit and restoration for 31.3%. More than forty percent reported brushing 2/day. Fifty percent of them mouth cleaning was performed by caregivers. The majority reported consuming daily cariogenic snacks, in both solid (75%) and liquid (68.8%) forms. The mean deft index was (1.19) and mean "DMFT" was 4.75; decayed component was the highest. 68.8% needed restorations and 31.3% extraction.
Conclusion: Frequent recall visits with reinforce on oral hygiene care in short interval can improve oral health for disabled child.

Saudi Dental Journal 2007;19(SI)-Abstr.075