Browsing by Author "Correia, Tiago"
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- Antibacterial effect of silver diamine fluoride incorporated in fissure sealantsPublication . Veiga, Nélio; Ferreira, Paula; Correia, Tiago; Correia, Maria J.; Pereira, Carlos; Amaral, Odete; Correia, Ilídio J.Abstract—Introduction: The application of fissure sealants is considered to be an important primary prevention method used in dental medicine. However, one of the most common reasons of dental caries development in teeth with fissure sealants is due to the formation of microleakages. The association between various dental biomaterials may limit the major disadvantages and limitations of biomaterials functioning in a complementary manner. The present study consists in the incorporation of a cariostatic agent – silver diamine fluoride (SDF) – in a resin-based fissure sealant followed by the study of release kinetics by spectrophotometry analysis of the association between both biomaterials and assessment of the inhibitory effect on the growth of the reference bacterial strain Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) in an in vitro study. Materials and Methods: An experimental in vitro study was designed consisting in the entrapment of SDF (Cariestop® 12% and 30%) into a commercially available fissure sealant (Fissurit®), by photopolymerization and photocrosslinking. The same sealant, without SDF was used as a negative control. The effect of the sealants on the growth of S. mutans was determined by the presence of bacterial inhibitory halos in the cultures at the end of the incubation period. In order to confirm the absence of bacteria in the surface of the materials, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characterization was performed. Also, to analyze the release profile of SDF along time, spectrophotometry technique was applied. Results: The obtained results indicate that the association of SDF to a resin-based fissure sealant may be able to increase the inhibition of S. mutans growth. However, no SDF release was noticed during the in vitro release studies and no statistical significant difference was verified when comparing the inhibitory halo sizes obtained for test and control group. Conclusions: In this study, the entrapment of SDF in the resin-based fissure sealant did not potentiate the antibacterial effect of the fissure sealant or avoid the immediate development of dental caries. The development of more laboratorial research and, afterwards, long-term clinical data are necessary in order to verify if this association between these biomaterials is effective and can be considered for being used in oral health management. Also, other methodologies for associating cariostatic agents and sealant should be addressed.
- Higher Education Students’ Dropout Intentions: Organizational And Profession/Career FactorsPublication . Campos, Sofia; Ferreira, Manuela; Duarte, João; Chaves, Claudia; Cardoso, Ana Paula; Ambiel, Rodolfo; Correia, TiagoBackground: The promotion of students' academic success has been a growing concern for higher education institutions, a responsibility that should have an impact on the reduction of failure and dropout rates, as well as on the general improvement of the students’ training and on the development of their skills competencies and on the students’ graduation rates. Objectives: Our general objective was to identify the factors that interfere in the dropout intentions of the students who attend the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu. Specifically, we sought to identify socio-demographic variables, organizational and profession/career factors that may have an impact on higher education students’ dropout intentions and to analyze the relationship between them. Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study. A socio-demographic characterization questionnaire was applied to the students and the Brazilian “Reasons for Higher Education Dropout Scale” (M- ES; Ambiel, 2015) was also used. The sample is composed of 891 higher education students attending different organic units in a Polytechnic Institute. The elements of the sample were predominantly female (68.2%), with a mean age of 19.68 years (± 2.34 years), with a predominance of older students (≥20 years) (38.3%). Results: Our intention was to know whether or not gender will influence school dropout. It was possible to find out that male students consider the organizational dimension as an inherent element of school dropout, while female students indicate the profession/career dimension as the most important dimensions. It turns out that the 19-year-old students are those who reveal more reasons that can lead them to school dropout, especially in terms of organizational and relational dimensions. Conclusion: In view of these results, it is suggested that more measures should be implemented in order to contribute to the prevention / reduction of school dropout among higher education students. This strategy requires that the institution should be aware of the students' personal attitude, of their interest in learning, of their commitment and determination.