Sausan Al Kawas

University of Sharjah | US · Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) findings and joint space measurement in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and non-TMD joints, and to correlate these findings with the clinical diagnosis. Methods: The study was conducted on patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoa...

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the antiplaque and antigingivitis effects of a mouthwash containing tea tree oil (TTO) with a cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwash. Materials and Methods: This was a randomized 4 × 4, controlled, cross-over, involving 20 healthy volunteers in a 5-day plaque re-growth model. Test mouthwashes were...

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of future dentists of the United Arab Emirates on risk and non-risk factors for oral cancers and correlate it with their own tobacco use, whether they assess their patients' tobacco use and their opinion about the relation of oral cancer and smokeless tobacco use. A total of 270, first- to fifth...

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of knowledge acquired in preventive aspects of dental education on dental students' own health attitudes, oral hygiene and gingival status in the United Arab Emirates. To compare the self-reported oral health behavior of first year dental students in the University of Sharjah with their actual oral...

Tobacco smoking affects the microbial ecology of the oral cavity. Smoking can lead to pathogen colonization and ultimately to progression of oral diseases such as periodontitis and caries. The diversity and composition of the supragingival and subgingival plaque microbiota in relation to different types of smoking and oral health have not been inve...

Background Regardless of a proliferation of interest in reducing unsafe practices in healthcare, threats to patient safety (PS) remain high. Moreover, little attention has been paid towards the role of interprofessional education (IPE) in enhancing PS. This qualitative study was conducted to unfold the insights of the senior medical, dental and hea...

The coronavirus-induced disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the March 11, 2020. This Pandemic has resulted in the largest disruption of the education sector across the globe. Alternatively , this crisis has also induced path-breaking reforms to the global education system in the recent past. With evo...

Background Despite the increasing recognition of the importance of research in undergraduate dental education, limited studies have explored the nature of undergraduate research activities in dental schools in the Middle East region. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the research experience of final-year dental students from t...

Purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to play a major role in medical diagnostics. Periodontal disease is one of the most common oral diseases. The early diagnosis of periodontal disease is essential for effective treatment and a favorable prognosis. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of AI in diagnosing periodontal bone loss th...

Background: A majority of dental school students do not undergo hands-on clinical training in implantology in the undergraduate curriculum. Training is usually restricted to pre-implant evaluation and post-implant prostheses. Virtual implant planning software (VIPS) provides an alternative opportunity for undergraduate students to experience impla...

The coronavirus-induced disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the March 11, 2020. This Pandemic has resulted in the largest disruption of the education sector across the globe. Alternatively, this crisis has also induced path-breaking reforms to the global education system in the recent past. With evol...

The predilection for women in systemic autoimmune diseases is well established. However, this sex bias in oral autoimmune diseases has been classically reported from an epidemiological perspective without any elaborate attempts to unveil the underlying mechanisms. The unique nature of the oral environment is likely to impose a combination of system...

Background Interprofessional education (IPE) plays an elementary role in improving healthcare outcomes by shared understanding and by reducing errors and adverse events. Unfortunately, most medical and health professionals have not received training for patient safety in an interprofessional setting, which can meet the needs of healthcare systems....

Background: Healthcare professionals have expressed worries about using AI, while others anticipate more work opportunities in the future and better patient care. Integrating AI into practice will directly impact dentistry practice. The purpose of the study is to evaluate organizational readiness, knowledge, attitude, and willingness to integrate...

Background Fully guided implant surgery as a technique is gaining popularity. It has been observed that use of surgical guides improves precision and predictability for dental implant placement. However, like any other newer technology, the acceptance of fully guided dental implant technology among users is based upon its perceived usability. This...

Background In healthcare practice, ethical challenges are inevitable and their optimal handling may potentialy improve patient care. Ethical development in medical education is critical for the transition from a medical and health sciences student to an ethical healthcare practitioner. Understanding the health professions students’ approaches towar...

Current immunological issues in bone grafting regarding the transfer of xenogeneic donor bone cells into the recipient are challenging the industry to produce safer acellular natural matrices for bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a novel decellularization technique for producing bovine cancellous bone scaff...

The field of dentistry has seen various technological advances regarding caries detection, some lesions still prove to be difficult to detect. A reasonably new detection method, near-infrared (NIR), has shown good results in caries detection. This systematic review aims to compare NIR with conventional methods in terms of caries detection. Online d...

The field of dentistry has seen various technological advances regarding caries detection, some lesions still prove to be difficult to detect. A reasonably new detection method, near-infrared (NIR), has shown good results in caries detection. This systematic review aims to compare NIR with conventional methods in terms of caries detection. Online d...

Objective The present study aimed to analyze the salivary levels of macrophage-activating factor (MAF), macrophage-chemotactic factor (MCF), and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in healthy and gingivitis patients, and to correlate between the concentrations of these chemo attractants with the intensity of gingival infammation clinically...

Obesity causes gut dysbiosis; nevertheless, little is known about the oral microbiome. We aimed to identify differences in the subgingival microbiota influenced by body weight and periodontal status. Patients (n = 75) recruited at the University Dental Hospital Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, were distributed into three equal groups (healthy weight,...

Objective The present study aimed to analyze the salivary levels of macrophage-activating factor (MAF), macrophage-chemotactic factor (MCF), and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in healthy and gingivitis patients, and to correlate between the concentrations of these chemo attractants with the intensity of gingival inflammation clinicall...

The use of alternative tobacco products, particularly medwakh, has expanded among youth in the Middle East and around the world. The present study is conducted to investigate the biochemical and pathophysiological changes caused by medwakh smoking, and to examine the salivary metabolomics profile of medwakh smokers. Saliva samples were collected fr...

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the value of immune expression of p63 and cyclin D1 in the prediction of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Subjects and Methods Clinical and histopathologic features of 65 subjects with histologically confirmed OSCC were collected. Ti...

This systematic review evaluates current evidence regarding the feasibility of using needleless jet injection instead of a conventional local anesthetic needle. EBSCO, ProQuest, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used to identify relevant literature published in English from 2005 to 2020. Ten studies were selected. Five of them were randomized clini...

Background The association of the linear dimensions of the inferior turbinate hypertrophy with nasal septal deviation has been studied recently. However, the volumetric dimensions provide a more accurate status of the turbinate hypertrophy compared to linear measurements. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of inferior nasal turbin...

Objectives - The aim of this study is to analyze volumetric asymmetries between the right and left condyles in relation to age, gender and dental status. Materials and Methods - A retrospective analysis of 150 CBCT scans was conducted. A single investigator performed the volumetric analysis of the CBCT scans using Vesalius 3D software. The volumetr...

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate senior students’ and dental graduates’ perception of professionalism as defined by international regulatory bodies and to assess students’ ability to apply such knowledge in clinical-based scenarios. Materials and Methods Knowledge of professional competencies was conducted using a survey based on do...

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy of Histatin-1 in wound closure as well as effects on gene expression of nicotine-treated human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblast cells (HPDL) in vitro. Design: HPDL grown in 2.5% culture medium treated with 10 ng/ml Histatin − 1 in the presence/absence of 0.5 µM nicotine were subject...

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate senior students’ and dental graduates' perception of professionalism as defined by international regulatory bodies and to assess students’ ability to apply such knowledge in clinical-based scenarios. Materials and Methods: Knowledge of professional competencies was conducted using a survey based on...

Abstract Objectives The volume of the inferior turbinates (IT) and the lining of the maxillary sinuses are important parameters when assessing sino-nasal diseases. However, no radiographic studies have investigated the correlation between these parameters. The present study was conducted to analyze the association between IT volumes and thickness o...

This study aimed to assess the effect of smoking different tobacco types on the supragingival microbiome and its relation to dental caries. Forty supragingival plaque samples were collected from smokers of a single tobacco type and non-smokers seeking treatment at the University Dental Hospital Sharjah, UAE. DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth)...

Background Student engagement is vital in achieving learning outcomes and improving students' motivation, involvement, and attitudes toward learning. The aim of this study was to identify the factors that affect student engagement in online learning in medical and health science colleges. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical...

Objectives. Radiography-based indices can help surgeons perform detailed examinations of the surgical site and predict the surgical difficulty of cases. We aimed to develop and validate a novel CBCT-based index that can predict the surgical difficulty of sinus-augmentation procedures. Materials and Methods. In the first stage, five experienced dent...

Background: In individuals with nasal septal deviation (NSD), compensatory hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates occurs as a protective mechanism of the nasal passage from dry and cold air. NSD associated nasal turbinate hypertro-phy is usually recurrent, requiring repetitive imaging. Therefore, a multiplanar imaging modality with a low radiation dos...

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy of Histatin-1 in wound closure as well as effects on gene expression of nicotine-treated human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblast cells (HPDL) in vitro. Design: HPDL grown in 2.5% culture medium treated with 10ng/ml Histatin-1 in the presence/absence of 0.5µM nicotine were subjected t...

Objectives: Radiography-based indices can help surgeons perform detailed examinations of the surgical site and predict the surgical difficulty of cases. We aimed to develop and validate a novel CBCT-based index that can predict the surgical difficulty of sinus-augmentation procedures. Materials and methods: In the first stage, five experienced d...

Background and aim: The anxiolytic effects of music have been studied during the past twenty years in different medical therapies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of music therapy on patients’ dental anxiety, salivary cortisol, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature during dental treatment. Methods: In this randomized contr...

Background: Nasal septal deviation (NSD) and concha bullosa (CB) are associated with airway obstruction in mouth breathers. Mouth breathing is associated with alterations in maxillary growth and palatal architecture. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of the presence of CB and NSD on the dimensions of the hard palate using cone-beam c...

Introduction Nasal septal deviation (NSD) and concha bullosa (CB) are associated with airway obstruction in mouth breathers. Mouth breathing is associated with alterations in maxillary growth and palatal architecture. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of the presence of CB and NSD on the dimensions of the hard palate using cone-beam...

This poster illustrates an action research project which was made to evaluate the quality of Clinical Nutrition Training Course at the University of Sharjah Using Integrated Case-based Learning sessions in clinical setting

The efect of concha bullosa and nasal septal deviation on palatal dimensions: a cone beam computed tomography study

Titanium particles as a product of degradation have been detected in periimplant oral tissues and it has been assumed that implants were the source of these particles. Periimplantitis sites had higher concentrations of particles in comparison to healthy implant sites. Several factors have been identified in the degradation of dental implant surface...

Objective: The tongue microbiome has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic and tracking prognostic tool in the detection of diseases mainly cancer. This scoping review aimed to identify the association between tongue microbiome and pre-cancer or cancer lesions. Design: A comprehensive electronic database search including PubMed, Web of Science, and...

This study aimed to assess the effect of smoking different tobacco types on the supragingival microbiome and its relation to dental caries. Forty supragingival plaques were collected from smokers of a single tobacco type and non-smokers seeking treatment at the University Dental Hospital Sharjah, UAE. DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) was de...

Background The primary aim of this prospective study is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of OCT to map real tumor margins and to monitor skin changes that occurred post- PDT. Moreover, to optimize PDT efficacy based on the relationship between measured OCT features and treatment outcome. Material and Methods A series of 12 patients with ov...

Titanium particles as a product of degradation have been detected in periimplant oral tissues and it has been assumed that implants were the source of these particles. Periimplantitis sites had higher concentrations of particles in comparison to healthy implant sites. Several factors have been identified in the degradation of dental implant surface...

Abstract Tobacco smoking affects the microbial ecology of the oral cavity. Smoking can lead to pathogen colonization and ultimately to progression of oral diseases such as periodontitis and caries. The diversity and composition of the supragingival plaque microbiota in relation to different types of smoking and oral health have not been investigate...

ABSTRACT Background and aim: The anxiolytic effects of music have been studied during the past twenty years in different medical therapies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of music therapy on patients’ dental anxiety, salivary cortisol, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature during dental treatment. Methods: In this randomi...

Objective: To study the prognostic significance of E-cadherin, B-catenin, and Cyclin D1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Subjects and methods: The study included 65 subjects with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. TMA blocks were prepared for immunohistochemical quantification of the expression of the three markers usin...

Background Professional competencies are integral part of the competent dental graduate that include professional attitude and behaviour, ethics and communication skills. The aim of this study was to evaluate senior students’ and dental graduates' perception of professionalism as defined by international regulatory bodies and to assess students’ ab...

Tobacco smoking affects the microbial ecology of the oral cavity. Smoking can lead to pathogen colonization and ultimately to progression of oral diseases such as periodontitis and caries. The diversity and composition of the supragingival plaque microbiota in relation to different types of smoking and oral health have not been investigated. The ob...

Online learning has become the new normal in many medical and health science schools worldwide, courtesy of COVID-19. Satisfaction with online learning is a significant aspect of promoting successful educational processes. This study aimed to identify factors affecting student and faculty satisfaction with online learning during the new normal. Onl...

Prior research has demonstrated that motor skill learning is often disrupted by self-focus and attempts to control movement. The propensity for reinvestment (i.e., self-focus and movement control) has been associated with poor motor skill learning in sport and surgery, but it has not yet been examined in dental education. Therefore, the aim of this...

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Background: In individuals with nasal septal deviation (NSD), compensatory hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates occurs as a protective mechanism of the nasal passage from dry and cold air. NSD associated nasal turbinate hypertro-phy is usually recurrent, requiring repetitive imaging. Therefore, a multiplanar imaging modality with a low radiation dos...

Online learning has become the new normal in many medical and health science schools worldwide, courtesy of COVID-19. Satisfaction with online learning is a significant aspect of promoting successful educational processes. This study aimed to identify factors affecting student and faculty satisfaction with online learning during the new normal. Onl...

Background In individuals with nasal septal deviation (NSD), compensatory hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates occurs as a protective mechanism of the nasal passage from dry and cold air. NSD associated nasal turbinate hypertrophy is usually recurrent, requiring repetitive imaging. Therefore, a multiplanar imaging modality with a low radiation dose...

Objective: The current study aimed to examine the effects of the generation group that individuals belonged to, on anxiety with respect to online learning among students and online learning and teaching activities among faculty. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Online Course Anxiety Scale in April 2020. The responses were st...

Background High-quality patient care is a complex phenomenon that requires collaboration among healthcare professionals. Research has shown that Interprofessional Education (IPE) carries promise to improve collaborative work and patient care. So far, collaboration among various health professionals remains a challenge. Very few focus group discussi...

Objectives Clinical nutrition training is essential training for clinical nutrition and dietetics (CN&D) students. The training combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills. The goal is to prepare competent graduates for future practice. Case-based learning is an active learning method based on cases from the clinical setting. This study ai...

Smoking is a risk factor for periodontal disease, and a cause of oral microbiome dysbiosis. While this has been evaluated for traditional cigarette smoking, there is limited research on the effect of other tobacco types on the oral microbiome. This study investigates subgingival microbiome composition in smokers of different tobacco types and their...

Smoking is a risk factor for periodontal disease, and a cause of oral microbiome dysbiosis. While this has been evaluated for traditional cigarette smoking, there is limited research on the effect of other tobacco types on the oral microbiome. This study investigates subgingival microbiome composition in smokers of different tobacco types and their...

Resuming regular clinical activities at dental premises after the COVID‐19 lockdown period or post COVID‐19 is likely to be a challenge for all dental institutes. When returning to the dental practice or training, staff and students alike should abide by the new rules and regulations. In the process of controlling viral spread, clinical dental faci...