Clinical Research Directory

Touch-to-Teach Interdental Brush Instruction Versus Conventional Guidance on Gingival Health in Patients With Fixed Dental Prostheses

Why is this study being done? People with dental crowns often develop inflamed gums because bacteria accumulate in the tight spaces between teeth that a regular toothbrush cannot reach. Interdental brushes can clean these spaces, but patients frequently use them incorrectly. This study tested whether a personalised, hands-on instructional method called Touch-to-Teach produces healthier gums compared with standard dental hygiene advice. Who participated? 40 adults with at least one porcelain-fused-to-metal crown in the molar region with supragingival margins took part at Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman, UAE. Four participants withdrew; 36 completed the three-month study. What did participants do? All participants received full-mouth scaling and standardised toothbrushing instruction. Group 1 (Touch-to-Teach) additionally received probe-guided, site-specific interdental brush selection and guided in-mouth training, with correctly sized brushes provided for home use. Group 2 (Conventional Instruction) received verbal advice, educational videos, and a model-based demonstration, with brush size selected empirically and no brushes provided for home use. Follow-up visits were conducted at one, two, and three months. What was measured? A blinded examiner recorded gum inflammation, plaque levels, gum pocket depth, and bleeding at each visit. Both groups completed a questionnaire on brush comfort, perceived efficacy, and satisfaction at one and three months. What were the key results? The Touch-to-Teach group showed significantly greater reductions in plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, and probing depth compared with the control group. Both groups showed meaningful reductions in gingival bleeding over time, with no statistically significant difference between groups at three months. Patient-reported outcomes consistently favoured the Touch-to-Teach group. These findings suggest that calibrated, personalised interdental brush instruction may offer advantages for patients with fixed dental prostheses.

Evaluation of Occlusal Adjustment Material Removal on Monolithic Zirconia Blocks: An In Vitro Study

This study aims to improve understanding of the amount of tooth-replacement material removed during a single grinding "stroke" performed in the adjustment of a zirconia crown. Zirconia is a highly durable ceramic material commonly used for dental restorations, and accurate adjustment is essential for achieving proper occlusion. However, existing literature does not provide quantitative data regarding material removal per stroke during chairside adjustment, resulting in reliance on individual clinical experience. In this study, standardized zirconia specimens will be prepared and assigned to three operator groups: dental students, dental interns, and experienced clinicians. Each participant will perform a controlled number of grinding strokes on the specimens using a commonly used dental grinding stone. Specimens will be scanned before and after grinding using a three-dimensional scanner to precisely quantify material removal. Hypothesis The hypotheses of this study are: Each grinding stroke results in a measurable and relatively consistent amount of zirconia material removal. Experienced clinicians demonstrate more controlled and predictable material removal per stroke compared with students and interns.