PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON THE USE OF ECO-FRIENDLY BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH Plastic toothbrushes which are mainly made of polypropylene are one of the sources of plastic pollution. With the increased awareness of this alarming global issue, eco-friendly bamboo toothbrushes have been introduced and are becoming widely available in the market. The study aimed to explore the public’s experience with bamboo toothbrushes and identify their feature preferences. An observational study using a qualitative approach was conducted among 10 participants aged from 18 to 40 years old without any experience using bamboo toothbrushes (based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria). A selected standard bamboo toothbrush was given to the participants and they were asked to use the bamboo toothbrush for two weeks based on the instructions provided. At the end of two weeks of usage, a one-to-one, semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted either face-to-face or online. These interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Most participants expressed mixed views regarding their experience using the bamboo toothbrush in comparison to their previous conventional plastic toothbrush. The most preferred features of the bamboo toothbrush cited by the participants were related to a non-slippery handle, small-sized toothbrush and eco-friendly material. The majority of the participants have the intention to continue using the bamboo toothbrush provided some modifications to the design are made. Identifying the ideal features of a bamboo toothbrush could be a timely strategy to reduce the impact of plastic in oral health care.

EXTRACTION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF F7 BIOSURFACTANT FROM BACILLUS CLAUSII AGAINST ORAL PATHOGEN KEY PLAYERS Introduction: Biosurfactants are surface-active molecules produced by various microorganisms. It holds exceptional properties, including its capacity to lower surface tension, antiadhesive activity, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and antimicrobial activity. Objectives: This study investigated the production, characteristics, and antimicrobial potential of biosurfactants extracted from Bacillus clausii, isolated from a crude oil sample obtained from a natural oil reservoir. Methods: Biosurfactant was extracted using the chloroform-methanol extraction method. Characterizations were assessed through Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), determination of surface tension, Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC), and emulsification index. Antimicrobial activity was determined by the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) evaluation against Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 24212, and Candida albicans ATCC 14503 using the microdilution method. Results: The biosurfactant extraction yielded at 1.6 mg mL-1, and was labelled as F7 biosurfactant. FTIR analysis revealed that the F7 biosurfactant belonged to the lipopeptide group, as evidenced by the presence of an aliphatic chain (CH3 and CH2). It exhibited a surface tension of 12.0 mN m-1, a CMC of 157.5 mg L-1, and an emulsification index of 56.5%. The MIC for each tested organism was 0.2 mg/mL-1, 0.4 mg/mL-1, and 0.8 mg/mL-1 with inhibition percentages of 3.20%, 4.03%, and 7.87% against S. mutans, E. faecalis, and C. albicans, respectively. Conclusions: The antimicrobial activities of the F7 biosurfactant demonstrated dose-dependent. These findings suggest that increasing the F7 biosurfactant concentration could lead to a more effective antimicrobial effect, making it a potential antimicrobial agent for oral applications.

Aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry is one of the main areas of dental practice. Increasing demands of patients for aesthetics has resulted in the development of several techniques for restoring the anterior teeth. Composite resin restorations have become an integral part of contemporary restorative dentistry and can be called “star of minimal invasion” due to its conservative concepts. The direct composite veneering allows restoring the tooth in a natural way and preservation of sound tooth structure when compared to indirect restorations. Before placement of direct composite veneers, a proper diagnosis, available treatment options, cost of treatment, patient’s expectations and duration of treatment should be taken into consideration. This article presents three case reports of aesthetic rehabilitation of anterior teeth using direct composite with satisfactory outcome that mimic the natural dentition.