Abstract Objective  This study investigated biomechanical behavior of custom post core made of six different materials on the tooth with and without the ferrule under different occlusal load. Materials and Methods  Three-dimensional models of mandibular first premolar, with and without ferrule, reconstructed from micro-computed tomography image are restored with different custom post core and zirconia crowns. By using the finite element analysis, von Mises stress shown in MPa was measured under simulated axial and oblique load of 200 [N]. To compare the stress distribution, six different custom post core materials were chosen: zirconia, Ni-Cr alloy, gold alloy, glass fiber-polyether ether ketone, polyether ether ketone, and carbon fiber-polyether ether ketone. Results  Custom post cores with a higher modulus of elasticity showed higher measured stress in the posts, but less stress in dentin. Measured stress in custom post core under oblique loading was approximately three times higher compared with axial loading. Stress in custom post core and in dentin under both types of loads was slightly higher in teeth without ferrule effect. Conclusion  The use of custom cast post cores made of different alloys is recommended in restoration of endodontically treated teeth, with extensive loss of tooth structure especially in teeth without ferrule effect.

Background/Aim: Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) are psychological phenomena normally arising and developed in the dental office during various kinds of dental procedures and interventions. The most usual stressors for the DFA appearance are those related to dental pain, no matter if the pain has already been caused, or potentially will be committed. There are a few main dental pain-provoking factors related to endangering body integrity in the oral cavity, and tooth extraction is the strongest one. The research aimed to observe, notify, and analyze physiological parameters of DFA in adults related to oral surgical therapy procedures of removing impacted third permanent molars. Material and Methods: After inclusive selection 500 patients entered into the study. The study protocol included preoperative assessment of DFA presence with Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS) on examination day, preoperative assessment of physiological parameters on examination day and operative day before the treatment, as well as their postoperative assessment followed by evaluation of postoperative pain, on the day after the treatment. Results: The results of our research indicated that an increase in DFA led to increased values of the measured physiological parameters for all preoperative measurement days. The postoperative decrease in the physiological parameters values could be explained by the fact that the oral-surgical procedure was completed, so the psychological burden of the patients was also less. Conclusions: Patients with higher values of the DFA presence have also declared more postoperative pain.

Aim To investigate the frequency of consumption of sweet and salty snacks among children aged 2-18 years in relation to their mothers' education level. Methods A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted in five dental practices at the School of Medicine of the University of Mostar from May to October 2022. The data were collected from medical records. Results: Out of a total of 477 children, 172 (36.1%) had mothers with a high school education, while 305 (63.9%) had mothers with a university degree. In the group of preschool children (aged 2-6 years), there were 42 mothers with high school education and 105 with university degree. In the group of school children (age 7-18 years) there were 130 mothers with high school education and 200 with university degree. The difference in the consumption of sweetened beverages among children of mothers with high school and university was not statistically significant. Similar results were found for the consumption of salty snacks, lollipops, caramels and candies. The frequency of the consumption of biscuits, chocolate and cakes (several times a day) was statistically significantly higher among the children of mothers with high school education (p=0.04), especially among school children. Eating habits of children, regardless of the level of education of their mothers, differed significantly only in the consumption of lollipops, caramels, and candies (p=0.03), which were consumed once a day by 79 (63.7%) schoolchildren and 45 (36.3%) of pre-schoolers. Conclusion A higher level of education among mothers does not necessarily equate to proper nutritional knowledge.

Objectives Dental caries first occurs within primary dentition in toddlers and preschool children, in a form of early childhood caries (ECC). In every day’s busy and employment burdened parenting, caretakers and institutions have become important even more nowadays, not only for forming child general behavior and character, but also for maintenance of their general and oral health as well. Aims To evaluate the presence and severity of ECC in children who attended public kindergartens in Sarajevo, and to offer basic information for the maintenance and improvement of child oral health to their parents and kindergarten teachers. Methods The study included 1722 preschool children aged 3-6 years who attended kindergartens within Sarajevo public kindergarten institution, together with their parents and kindergarten teachers. Dental team members gradually visited all kindergartens situated in four Sarajevo city municipalities and examined kindergarten children according to the WHO Oral Health Survey Manual. Oral health promotion material for parents and kindergarten teachers was also distributed simultaneously during sequential visits. Results ECC was present in preschool kindergarten children in Sarajevo, with its high prevalence (67.71%); dmft-value (3.97) and severity (SiC index 8.79). There was also a significant lack of dental healthcare to examined children mostly related to lack of visiting dental offices by children’s parents (CI=10.55%, RI=10.80%, TI=12.98%). Conclusion Parental role in preserving and improving of their children oral health should be systematically and profoundly improved. Kindergarten officials and staff should recognize the importance of anticariogenic diet menus and oral hygiene maintenance within their institutions.

Background/Aim: Deep carious lesions on primary teeth usually have been causing infectious dental pulp changes. If indicated, traditional endodontic root canal treatment for these kinds of pulpal infections in primary teeth usually should involve the performing of pulpectomy methods, but often with questionable prognosis. The lesion sterilization and tissue repair (LSTR) approach is one of the good endodontic therapeutic alternatives for affected primary teeth with a poor prognosis, which could otherwise be condemned to premature extraction. Aim was to evaluate the medium-term clinical success in everyday practice of the LSTR method applied in affected primary teeth with irreversible pulpal tissue infections by observation of reduction/absence of their clinical symptoms. Material and methods: The study sample included child patients who had one or more of their affected primary molars with irreversible pulpal tissue changes of poor prognosis treated with the LSTR method. For each patient whose primary molar tooth was endodontically treated with the LSTR method a clinical evaluation of treated tooth was performed at intervals of 1 and 12 months afterwards. Results: Study sample was consisted of 40 child patients aged 4 to 9 years, with 45 primary molars included in total. It was obvious that the symptoms related to affected sample teeth have already been decreased almost immediately after initial action of triple antibiotic paste. Final outcome after 12-months follow-up period was success of applied LSTR method in 43 (95.6%) affected sample teeth in a way that initial clinical symptoms completely decreased and disappeared. Conclusions: LSTR method has been shown as successful pulpotomy technique for noninstrumental endodontic approach in non-vital pulp treatment of primary molar teeth in a 12-months follow-up period.

Background: Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) is ubiquitous among the adult population. The anxiety component of DFA is more strongly expressed in adults, and includes a physiological and psychological component, and is more often analyzed in research. Oral-surgical interventions represent a significant source of stress for the appearance of anxiety in subjects. The research aim was to analyze the presence of anxiety with the use of the revised Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (DASR) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in adult patients during the treatment of extraction of impacted third permanent molars by oral surgery. Material and Methods: The study included adult patients of both sexes, who were previously scheduled for oral-surgical removal of third permanent molars. Anxiety levels were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively as follows: 1st measurement (day of examination)-DASR, and STAI (X1 and X2); 2nd measurement (immediately before the intervention)-STAI (X1 and X2); 3rd measurement (day after the intervention)-STAI (X1 and X2). Results: Preoperatively, the presence of high levels of general anxiety, situational anxiety, and dental anxiety was determined. The levels were decreased before the planned surgery and were significantly reduced in the postoperative period. The STAI scale could be used to assess the presence of situational anxiety in the dental office on an equal footing with other known measuring instruments (e.g. DASR). Conclusions: Adequate therapy should be considered to prevent preoperative anxiety, which would increase the satisfaction of patients and therapists while reducing complications related to this type of intervention.

Background/Aim: Surgical removal of impacted third molars is associated with possible complications that are primarily comprehended as expected. Increase in incidence and severity of complications is directly related to the depth of impaction, and to the age of the patient as well. The aim of this research was to investigate the possible influence of the treatment duration relating to age and gender of the patients, the occurrence of pain, and the existence of previous anxiety experience connected with surgical wisdom tooth removal. Material and Methods. The study included adults of both gender indicated for surgical removal of impacted third molars. The existence of previous wisdom tooth removal experience was determined during the first examination, and the subjects' anxiety and pain levels were determined pre-, and postoperatively. Results: There were no differences concerning the place of treatment (dental office/operating room) and the duration of surgery. Younger participants showed the lowest levels of preoperative anxiety and the highest levels of postoperative anxiety, and frequently reported postoperative pain. Female participants showed higher levels of preoperative and postoperative anxiety, and also frequently reported postoperative pain. Conclusions: Anxiety and pain scores were lower when there was a previous experience with removal of impacted wisdom teeth.

Background/Aim: The aim of the research was to examine the general attitude, knoweledge and practice of pediatricians about caries in children of preschool age. Material and Methods: The research was conducted from November 2019 to the end of January 2020. The research consisted of a survey of pediatricians. The questionnaire consisted of 4 modules and 37 questions, which related to the attitude, knowledge and practice of pediatricians on the prevention of early childhood caries. Results: The majority of pediatricians (84.9%) stated that they assess the nutrition of their patients, while 32.1% of them always do oral health assessment, and half of them in the second month of the child's life; and 39.6% assess oral health only if there is a problem. The majority of pediatricians (86.8%) recommended the first dental examination, most often in the first year of the child's life (79.5%), and then every 6 months (43.5%). The majority of respondents did not required information about the dental health of their patients' mothers, fluoride toothpastes and topical application of fluoride as well (62.3-75.5%). The majority of pediatricians (79.2%) have never provided or sometimes provided educational material on caries prevention and control to the parents of their patients. The most accurate answers and the highest percentage of correct answers that the pediatricians had were about attitudes (Z=8.98, 66.63%), while the fewest correct answers and the lowest percentage of correct answers regarding the practices on the prevention of early childhood caries (Z=11.91, 58.90%). Conclusions: The research showed that pediatricians have the good attitudes and knowledge, but do not implement prevention of early childhood caries in practice. The basic deficiency of attitude, knowledge and perception of the importance of prevention is a consequence of insufficient education of pediatricians.

Introduction: Composite materials may be exposed to chemicals in food and beverages in the oral cavity, which can lead to changes in surface roughness. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the surface roughness of two restorative materials after exposure to coffee and green tea followed by a dental bleaching procedure. Methods: For nanofilled composite and microhybrid composite, 15 samples each were fabricated. Five specimens from each composite were stored in instant coffee and green tea for 4 h a day. After 30 days of immersion, specimens received dental at-home bleaching, using 16% carbamide peroxide (CP), for 7 h a day. The control group was stored in deionized water for 30 days. Surface roughness was determined by profilometry 24 h after polymerization, after 30 days of immersion, and after bleaching. The data were analyzed using a t-test for paired samples and mixed analysis of variance, at a 0.05 significance level. Results: Neither beverages nor CP treatment significantly altered the surface roughness of the composites. There was no difference between the tested composite materials regarding roughness. Conclusion: Surface roughness of the microhybrid and nanohybrid composites was not modified by coffee, green tea, and subsequent whitening treatment.