Volkan Arıkan

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of parents of pediatric patients in our sample towards the growing use of artificial intelligence in dental practices. Materials and methods: The descriptive cross-sectional survey study was conducted with parents of pediatric patients who visited the Kırıkkale University School of Dentistry for routine dental examinations between 2024 and 2025. A 23-question survey was designed for participants to complete. The survey was evaluated as a scale consisting of three sub-dimensions. The data were analyzed using SPSS 27. Results: A total of 74.4% of participants reported having an average level of self-reported knowledge about the digital world (internet/technology). The biggest advantage of AI identified by the participants was saving time (64.3%). The AI-Health Education Score differed significantly according to educational status ( p = 0.003). The participants with a bachelor’s degree had higher mean scores on AI-Health Education than high school graduates. The effect size was small (η²=0.051). The mean Physician-AI Collaboration Score for men was significantly higher than that for women. The effect size was small (Cohen’s d = -0.305). Conclusion: These findings suggest that, within this sample, parents generally view AI positively and may be receptive to its integration into dental practice. These results may support the appropriate integration of AI into dental practice. It is also necessary to assess the effects on patient satisfaction and the quality of healthcare services.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of having a dentist on the family-on-family members' knowledge of oral hygiene and fluoride. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire based on a previously published survey was used to conduct a cross-sectional observational study. The survey form was uploaded online via Google Forms. A total of 232 participants took part in our study by completing the survey. Participants were divided into two groups: Group I: Family members of dentist’s interns and Group II: Family members of pediatric patients presenting to the pediatric dentistry clinic for routine checkups. IBM SPSS 25 software was used for all analyses. Descriptive statistics (number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum) were provided in this study. Results: Group I had a higher level of education. Participants were observed to brush their teeth twice daily for an average of 2 minutes. No differences were found between the groups in terms of brushing duration, timing, toothbrush type, or fluoride paste use (p>0.05). Regarding toothbrush replacement frequency, those reporting changing their toothbrush every 1-3 months were more likely to be in Group I, while those reporting changing their toothbrush every 3-6 months were more likely to be in Group II (p=0.039). Conclusions: Having a dental intern in the family generally resulted in positive changes in oral hygiene habits and fluoride intake compared to the other group. Easy access to information and access to information from reliable sources, such as those trained in oral hygiene, may have contributed to this result.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic success of the use of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser, ferric sulfate, or a herbal hemostatic agent for hemostasis in primary molar pulpotomy. Sixty‐five children aged 5–9 years with a total of 81 primary mandibular second molars indicated for pulpotomy were included in the study. The teeth were randomly divided into the following three groups according to the pulpotomy agents used: ferric sulfate, herbal hemostatic agent, or Er,Cr:YSGG laser. Following pulpotomy treatments, the patients were followed up for 12 months. Pearson Chi‐square and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis. At the end of the follow‐up period, the clinical success rates for ferric sulfate, the herbal hemostatic agent, and the Er,Cr:YSGG laser were 96, 100, and 100%, respectively, while the radiographic success rates were 76, 73, and 96%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between treatments with respect to radiographic success rates, with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser showing a higher success rate compared with the other groups. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the Er,Cr:YSGG laser can be used as a hemostatic agent in the pulpotomy of primary teeth and is considered a suitable alternative to ferric sulfate and the herbal hemostatic agent.

Amaç: Kızamık hava yoluyla bulaşan ve ciddi komplikasyonlara ve ölüme yol açabilen oldukça bulaşıcı bir hastalıktır. Hepatit B ise, infekte kan ve vücut sıvılarına temasla bulaşan Hepatit B virüsünün neden olduğu bulaşıcı bir enfeksiyondur. Bu çalışmada bulaşıcı hastalıklar açısından en riskli gruplardan olan diş hekimliği stajyer öğrencilerinin kızamık ve hepatit B hakkındaki farkındalık ve aşı durumlarının değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu kesitsel anket çalışmasında, stajyer öğrencilere (n=157) kızamık ve hepatit B aşılanma oranları ile bilgi ve eğitim durumlarını içeren kapsamlı bir anket uygulandı. Veriler ki-kare testi kullanılarak analiz edildi. Bulgular: Öğrencilerin %22.9’unun kızamık hakkında yeterli bilgiye, %58.6’sının ise kızamık aşısına sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Kız öğrencilerin kızamık aşılanma oranı erkeklerden anlamlı derecede yüksek bulunmuştur (p=0.011). Öğrencilerin %77.1’i tereddütsüz kızamık aşısı yaptıracağını, %80.9’u kızamık aşısının zararlı olmadığını düşünmektedir. Kızamık aşısını zararlı bulanların bilgi düzeylerinin düşük olduğu tespit edilmiştir (p=0.04). Öğrencilerin %62.4’ü kızamık hakkında ders alırken, %37.6’sı almamıştır ve ders alanların %26.5’i aldıkları eğitimi yetersiz bulmuştur. Öğrencilerin %65.6’sının hepatit B için yeterli bilgi düzeyine sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Hepatit B aşılanma oranı beşinci sınıflarda istatistiksel olarak daha yüksek tespit edilmiştir (p=0.001). Öğrencilerin %92.4’ünün hepatit B aşısının zararlı olmadığını düşündüğü, %97.5’inin ise tereddütsüz hepatit B aşısı yaptıracağı belirlenmiştir. Hepatit B bilgi düzeyi yüksek olanların aşılanma oranlarının daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir (p=0.004). Hepatit B hakkında ders aldınız mı sorusuna %92.4 evet, %7.6 hayır cevabı vermiştir. Ders alanların %15.3’ü verilen dersi yetersiz bulmuştur. Öğrencilerin kızamık bilgi düzeylerinin ve aşılanma oranlarının hepatit B’ye göre çok daha düşük olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Aşıların zararlı olduğunu düşünenlerin ve tereddütsüz aşı yaptırmayanların aşılar hakkında yeterli bilgiye sahip olmadıkları tespit edilmiştir. Bu nedenle mukozal sekresyonlar ve kanla sürekli temas halinde olan diş hekimliği stajyer öğrencilerine başta kızamık olmak üzere bulaşıcı hastalıklar ve korunma yolları hakkında genel bilgiler ve aşılanma ile ilgili daha kapsamlı eğitim verilmesi gerektiği görülmektedir.

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the age of the onset of crown calcification of third molars in children aged 5-15 years in Turkey, and to evaluate the development status of third molars by age.Material and Methods: Panoramic radiographs of the first 1024 patients between the ages of 5 and 15 years were evaluated. The development (calcification) of third molars was classified according to the Demirjian method.Results: When the onset age of the stages for maxillary and mandibular third molars were compared, no statistically significant difference was found (p≥0.05). In addition, although no statistically significant difference was found between genders regarding the age of calcification onset of third molars, it was observed that teeth #28 and #48 developed in boys approximately one year before girls (p≥0.05). When the onset age of the stages for maxillary and mandibular third molars were compared, no statistically significant difference was found (p≥0.05). Concerning stage 5, in which the furcation zone of third molars begins to calcify, although not statistically significant, all the maxillary and mandibular third molars were seen earlier in girls than boys.Conclusion: It was found that the maxillary third molars on the right side developed earlier than mandibular third molars.

Background: Space maintainers are used to preserve created space caused by the premature loss of primary teeth but they may also upset the oral environment and play a role in caries formation. The current research aimed to assess the impact of removable and fixed space maintainers on salivary pH, flow rate, and the oral microflora. Methods: Thirty-eight patients aged between 4 and 10 years, each of whom required a fixed ( n = 19) or removable space maintainer ( n = 19), were enrolled in this research. The salivary pH, saliva flow rate, salivary Streptococcus mutans , and Lactobacillus counts were measured immediately prior to the placement of the space maintainers (baseline-T0) and during the follow-up period, at the 1st (T1), 3rd (T3), and 6th (T6) month. The Wilcoxon, Mann–Whitney U test and Friedman tests were applied for statistical analyses. Results: Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus counts were significantly higher at the 6th month time period in comparison with the baseline scores for both groups ( P < 0.001). The salivary pH and flow rates did not change significantly at any measurement period ( P > 0.05). Conclusions: Space maintainers can favour caries formation by changing the oral microflora. It is advisable to warn patients and their parents of the risks and provide motivation to perform meticulous oral hygiene.

Bu çalışmanın amacı, okul çağındaki çocuklar arasındaki dental anksiyete düzeyini değerlendirmek ve çocukların dental anksiyetesini ebeveynleri ile karşılaştırmaktır. Toplam 304 çocuk ve ebeveynleri çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Çocukların yaşı 7-15 arasında değişmektedir. Dental muayene yapılmadan önce her çocuktan bağımsız olarak Çocuk Dental Anksiyete Ölçeği (CFSS-DS) anketini doldurması istenmiştir. Ebeveynler arasında dental anksiyeteyi değerlendirmek için dental anksiyeteyi beş seviyede kategorize eden, Modifiye Dental Anksiyete Ölçeğinin (MDAS) Türkçe versiyonu kullanılmıştır. Yaş, eğitim düzeyi ve ebeveynlerin mesleki durumu gibi demografik veriler kaydedilmiştir. Muayene edilen 304 çocuğun (176 kız, 128 erkek) 77’sinde (%25,3) (CFSS-DS ≥ 38) dental anksiyete saptanmıştır. Çocukların anksiyete seviyeleri ile cinsiyetleri ve yaşları arasında ilişki tespit edilememiştir. Ebeveynlerin 42'sinde (%13,9) dental anksiyete olduğu bulunmuştur. Ebeveyn MDAS skorları ve CFSS-DS ile ölçülen çocuk dental anksiyetesi arasında pozitif korelasyon tespit edilmiştir (r = 0.410, p <0.05). Bu bulguların, çocukların dental anksiyetesini önleyecek veya hafifletecek müdahalelerin tasarlanmasına yardımcı olabileceği düşünülmektedir. Böylece ebeveynlerin dental anksiyetesi azaltılarak, çocukların dental anksiyetesi de azaltılabilir veya önlenebilir.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of calcium hydroxide (CH) and triple antibiotic paste (TAP), on the push-out bond strength of ProRoot MTA and Biodentine. Methodology: Root canals of 120 human teeth were instrumented using rotary files. To obtain a standard diameter of 1.5 mm,the roots were instrumented to a #6 Peeso reamer. The reamers were passed 1 mm beyond apex to simulate open apices. The roots were randomly assigned into following groups: Group 1: CH; Group 2: TAP; Group 3: no medicament (control). The medicaments were removed after 3 weeks. Thereafter, the specimens were divided into two subgroups according to the calcium silicate-based cement applied (n = 20): (i) ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental, USA) and (ii) Biodentine (Septodont, France). Push-out test was performed, and the data were analysed statistically using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: In both MTA and Biodentine groups, pairwise comparisons between medicaments showed similar values to the control group (P > 0.05). Overall, there was a predominance of cohesive failures between root dentin and cements. Conclusion: Biodentine and ProRoot MTA showed similar bond strength values, and prior application of the TAP and CH did not affect the bond strength significantly.

Objective : A pediatrician is the primary care physician who deals with the medical care of infants, children and adolescents. In these age groups, oral health is an inseparable part of general health. However, pediatricians have scanty exposure to the expertise of oral health care since it’s regarded and practiced as a separate specialization under the aegis of dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge levels of pediatricians working in Ankara province regarding oral and dental health. Material and Methods: A questionnaire which had five different sections was distributed to 120 pediatricians who were working at Dr. Sami Ulus Education and Research Hospital. The first one the questionnaires included sociodemographic information such as age, gender and working year. The second part included questions measuring the level of knowledge about pediatric risk factors for oral diseases. In the third and fourth sections, physicians were asked about the prevention of oral diseases and attitudes and behaviors regarding examination and treatment. In the fifth section, pediatricians were questioned about the source of their knowledge about oral health and how frequent it was refreshed. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between the demographic data and answers to the questionnaire. Results: Seventy-seven pediatricians (10 male, 67 female) who answered the questionnaire were included in the present study. While 10.4%of the physicians stated that the frequency of sugar use does not effect for caries formation, 24.7%stated they do not know about any possible relationship. 90.2%of the pediatricians stated that they evaluated their patients' eating habits and 50.6%of them expressed that they always performed oral examination. The relationship between the sex of the participating physicians and the answers they gave to the questionnaires was evaluated. It was determined that female physicians regard the oral cavity anatomy as a higher risk factor for the formation of tooth decay (p = 0.044), gingivitis (p = 0.044) and malocclusion (p = 0.044). Conclusion: These results show that post-specialist training and courses for pediatricians in our country, including oral and dental hygiene, may be useful. Also, inclusion of articles related to oral and dental health in scientific journals for pediatricians can be useful for increasing their awareness regarding the subject.