Evaluation of black spaces between maxillary central incisors by dentistry students and laypeople.

This study aimed to compare the perception of smile esthetics and alterations among dentistry degree students and laypeople to identify differences in the esthetic perception of black spaces between the maxillary central incisors among Turkish laypeople and students in different study years. Photographs altered to include black spaces of various sizes at the midline were evaluated by 208 dentistry students in years 1-5 and 45 Turkish laypeople. Perceptional differences in different photographs were statistically significant. The students in years 2-5 were more aware of differences between photographs than year 1 students and laypeople. The proportion of participants who decided the most attractive photograph as A was highest among 3rd year students, followed by 5th year students. However, the proportion of students agreeing on the least attractive image was highest among 4th year students, followed by 3rd year students. Photographs A and H were selected as the most and least attractive, respectively, by all participants. The esthetic perception of 1st and 2nd year dentistry students was very different from that of laypeople. To increase esthetic perception among dentistry students, specific lessons with clinical photography should be included in dental education.

Effects of impacted maxillary canines on root resorption of lateral incisors : A cone beam computed tomography study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the amount of root resorption of maxillary lateral incisors by relating the position, location, and angulation of the impacted canine using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of panoramic and CBCT radiographs of 46 patients with a unilateral impacted canine (16 males and 30 females; mean age: 19.53 ± 6.66 and 19.44 ± 5.77 years, respectively). Sector location and canine angulation were measured in panoramics. All tomographs were obtained using CBCT (NewTom 5G, QR, Verona, Italy) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of the maxillary laterals assessed by Mimics 14.01 image analysis software. RESULTS: Upper lateral incisor volume was smaller on the impacted side (401.95 ± 83.69 mm3) than on the nonimpacted side (433.54 ± 92.6 mm3, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences of lateral root resorption volume when comparing the impacted canines being on the labial or palatal sides (P > 0.05), but impacted canine angulation was significantly steeper on the labial side (70.85°) than on the palatal side (46.09°, P < 0.05). The volume of root resorption of laterals when comparing the various positions of the canine in different sectors or canine angulation in 30o intervals was not statistically significantly different (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The impacted canines caused root resorption of lateral incisors. The angulation of the canine was steeper on the labial side than on the palatal side but root resorption of adjacent laterals was not different. There were no statistically significant differences in the amount of root resorption of the laterals when the canine was evaluated according to localization and angulation.

Esthetic impact of gingival plastic surgery from the dentistry students' perspective.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the this study was to evaluate the perception of smile esthetics and alterations in cases of gingival plastic surgery for correction of a gummy smile, by means of alterations in smile photograph among dentistry degree students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A frontal smile photograph of a 40-year-old woman having normal occlusion was used with diverse compositions of gingival exposure level and crown length of maxillary teeth. The eight photographs were evaluated by 216 dentistry students in five class groups (1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), 4(th) and 5(th) classes). RESULTS: The results revealed that almost all of the class' students perceived differences between images, additionally, the highest percentage of students that answered "no difference" was 12% at 1(st) class' students. 1(st) and 2(nd) class' students most liked photograph which is 2.5 mm gingival display and 3(rd) class students liked two different photographs which are 2.5 mm gingival display and 2 mm gingival display whereas 4(th) class students preferred two different photographs which are 1.5 mm gingival display and 1 mm gingival display, 5(th) class students preferred photograph which is 1.5 mm gingival display as the most. CONCLUSION: Esthetic perception of smile improve as a student passes to higher study classes in terms of gingival exposure. The harmonious display of gingiva exhibits an important effect in the smile esthetics rather than reduced or excessive display.

Comparison of arch forms between Turkish and North American.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify the morphological differences in the mandibular arches of Turkish and North American white subjects. METHODS: The sample included 132 Turkish (34 Class I, 58 Class II, and 40 Class III) and 160 North American (60 Class I, 50 Class II, and 50 Class III) subjects. The most facial portion of 13 proximal contact areas was digitized from photocopied images of patients' mandibular dental arches. Clinical bracket points were calculated for each tooth based on mandibular tooth thickness data. Four linear and two proportional measurements were taken. The subjects were grouped according to arch form types (tapered, ovoid and square) in order to have frequency distribution compared between ethnic groups in each Angle classification. RESULTS: The Turkish group showed significantly lower molar depth and more significant molar width-depth (W/D) ratio in all three Angle classifications. On the other hand, the Turkish group also showed a significantly larger intercanine width in Class III malocclusion and intermolar width in Class II malocclusion. The most frequent arch forms seen were the ovoid arch form in the Turkish group and the tapered form in the white group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that when treating Turkish patients, one should expect to use preformed ovoid arch form orthodontic wires in a significant percentage of patients.

Comparison of arch forms between Turkish and North American

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the morphological differences in the mandibular arches of Turkish and North American white subjects. Methods: The sample included 132 Turkish (34 Class I, 58 Class II, and 40 Class III) and 160 North American (60 Class I, 50 Class II, and 50 Class III) subjects. The most facial portion of 13 proximal contact areas was digitized from photocopied images of patients' mandibular dental arches. Clinical bracket points were calculated for each tooth based on mandibular tooth thickness data. Four linear and two proportional measurements were taken. The subjects were grouped according to arch form types (tapered, ovoid and square) in order to have frequency distribution compared between ethnic groups in each Angle classification. Results: The Turkish group showed significantly lower molar depth and more significant molar width-depth (W/D) ratio in all three Angle classifications. On the other hand, the Turkish group also showed a significantly larger intercanine width in Class III malocclusion and intermolar width in Class II malocclusion. The most frequent arch forms seen were the ovoid arch form in the Turkish group and the tapered form in the white group. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that when treating Turkish patients, one should expect to use preformed ovoid arch form orthodontic wires in a significant percentage of patients.

RESUMO Objetivo: o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as diferenças morfológicas entre as arcadas dentárias inferiores de indivíduos turcos e indivíduos norte-americanos leucodermas. Métodos: a amostra incluiu 132 indivíduos turcos (34 Classe I, 58 Classe II e 40 Classe III) e 160 norte-americanos (60 Classe I, 50 Classe II e 50 Classe III). A porção mais vestibular de 13 áreas de contato proximal foi digitalizada a partir de imagens impressas das arcadas dentárias inferiores dos pacientes. Os pontos de colagem dos braquetes foram calculados, para cada dente, com base em dados referentes à espessura dos dentes inferiores. Quatro medidas lineares e duas proporcionais foram obtidas. Os indivíduos foram classificados de acordo com o formato da arcada (triangular, oval e quadrada), permitindo que a frequência de cada formato fosse comparada entre os grupos étnicos, e dentro de cada classificação de Angle. Resultados: o grupo composto por indivíduos turcos apresentou profundidade da arcada na região dos molares significativamente menor, além de uma proporção largura/profundidade da arcada na região dos molares maior em todas as classificações de Angle. Em contrapartida, esse mesmo grupo mostrou maiores distâncias intercaninos nos pacientes Classe III e intermolares nos pacientes Classe II. A arcada oval foi a mais frequente no grupo composto por indivíduos turcos, enquanto a arcada triangular foi a mais frequente no grupo composto por indivíduos norte-americanos leucodermas. Conclusões: os resultados obtidos mostram que, ao tratar pacientes turcos, o profissional deve prever o uso de arcos ortodônticos pré-conformados ovais em um percentual significativo dos pacientes.

Effects of cleft lip and palate on the development of permanent upper central incisors: a cone-beam computed tomography study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate 1. the differences among the cleft sides of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients, non-cleft sides of the same UCLP patients and well matched control patients in the root development and position of permanent upper central incisors and 2. possible gender differences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 40 patient (20 males and 20 females; mean age: 14.84±3.2 years) with non-syndromic UCLP patients, and 40 control patients (20 males and 20 females; mean age: 13.38±1.6 years). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were taken off from all patients. All tomographs were obtained in supine position by using CBCT (NewTom 5G, QR, Verona, Italy). RESULTS: Significant smaller root volume of central incisor was observed on the cleft side than on the non-cleft side of UCLP patients (P < 0.05). No significant difference in the root development and position of the central incisors was found between the non-cleft side of the UCLP and the control group (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant gender differences in any linear, angular, or volumetric measurements (P > 0.05). Only the root volume of the cleft side was smaller in females than in males (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In general, root volumes of central incisors on the cleft side were 12.15 per cent smaller than non-cleft side. Root development of the central incisor was much more influenced by the cleft in females than in males.

Taurodontism in a central anatolian population.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the frequency of the occurrence of taurodontism in a Turkish population with using panoromic radiographs. A retrospective study was performed using full-mouth periapical and panoramic radiographs of 6912 patients (3860 females and 3052 males) ranging in age from 15 to 50. A total of 97362 posterior (including third molars) were evaluated. A chi-square test was used to determine the difference in the prevalence of tauorodntism between genders. Eighteen patients were found to have a taurodont molar (10 women and 8 men [P = 0.98]). The overall incidence of patients with taurodont molars was 0.26 % and the prevalence of taurodont molars from all teeth examined was 0.024%, and the prevalence taurodonts were significantly more common in the mandibula compared with the maxilla (71.0% cf 29.0% respectively, P < 0.05). It was almost equally distributed between males and females. Taurodontism is not uncommon in Turkish population but further larger scale studies are required to assess its prevalence in the general population to compare it with other ethnic groups.

Comparison of soft tissue cephalometric norms between Turkish and European-American adults.

One of the most important components of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning is the evaluation of the patient's soft tissue profile. The main purpose of this study was to develop soft-tissue cephalometric standards for Turkish men and women and compare them with the cephalometric standards of normal European-American white people. The sample included 96 Turkish adults (48 women, 48 men), aged 20 to 27 years. Turkish subjects have increased facial convexity associated with retruded mandible, more obtuse lower face-throat angle, increased nasolabial angle and upper lip protrusion, deeper mentolabial sulcus, and smaller interlabial gap compared with European-American white people. It is appropriate to consider these differences during routine diagnosis and treatment planning of a Turkish patient or an American patient of European ancestry. Turkish males reveal more obtuse mandibular prognathism and upper lip protrusion, and smaller nasolabial angle than females.

Radiographic study of the prevalence of dens invaginatus in a sample set of Turkish dental patients.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dens invaginatus in a sample of Turkish dental patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample included 6, 912 panoramic radiographs from different Turkish dental patients. The ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 50 years. A tooth was considered having dens invaginatus if an infolding of a radiopaque ribbon-like structure equal in density to enamel was seen extending from the cingulum into the root canal. Maxillary and mandibular teeth were evaluated on panoramic radiographs to determine the type of dens invaginatus using Oehlers' classification. RESULTS: The overall incidence of patients with dens invaginatus was 0.17%. Dens invaginatus were detected in 15 teeth of a total of 192 150 teeth to give a tooth prevalence of 0.008%. Maxillary lateral incisors were most commonly affected teeth in the mouth (80% of cases), followed by maxillary canine teeth (20% of cases). The bilateral incidence of a symmetrical distribution was 25%. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of dens invaginatus among this Turkish population was rare. Attention should be paid to the presence of dens invaginatus and the treatment problems associated with it.

Determination and application of Pont's Index in Turkish population.

Disharmony between tooth size and dental arch size induces orthodontic problems. So, dental indices were identified by various authors. One of these is Pont who determined a method of prediction of the ideal dental arch width which has become known as Pont's Index. The purpose of this study was to assess the applicability of Pont's Index to a Turkish population and to compare the results with those obtained from studies of different ethnic subjects. The sample comprised 64 male subjects and 78 female subjects with age range from 14 to 15 years. Measurements were obtained directly from plaster casts; they included mesiodistal crown diameters of the four maxillary incisors, as well as interpremolar and intermolar maxillary arch widths as specified by Pont. Correlation coefficients determined between the measured arch width values and those calculated according to Pont's Index were low in all cases, with r values ranging from 0.02 to 0.36. It was concluded that Pont's Index should not be used to predetermine ideal arch width values in Turkish individuals.