Timing for extraction of permanent first molars in school aged children: a pilot study.

Extraction of permanent first molars (P1Ms) could create gaps, tipping and/or rotating of neighboring teeth, which depend on the extraction timing. This study evaluated the outcomes of P1Ms extraction in children who were classified based on their permanent second molar's (P2Ms) dental calcification at the time of extraction. In this retrospective study, the evaluations were made for 406 panoramic radiographs (PRs) of children aged 7-14 years who had single P1M extracted. Twenty-nine children having pre- and post-treatment PRs were selected based on the inclusion criteria. First, 2 groups were formed based on the extraction time by using the pre-treatment PRs; Early extraction group (EE) (n = 15) including Nolla Grades 5-6-7, and late extraction group (LE) (n = 14) including Nolla Grades 8-9-10 for P2Ms. Then, the inclination degrees of neighbouring teeth on extraction side and contralateral quadrant (non-extraction) side were measured by using the post-extraction PRs. Mann-Whitney U test was employed, and the statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The mesial tipping tendency of P2M was significant towards the extraction side both at EE or LE calcification grades of P2Ms (p > 0.05). The mesial inclination degrees of maxillary P2Ms showed no statistically significant difference between the two sides of LE group. The ideal extraction time should be determined according to the dental age to plan an appropriate occlusal maintenance.

Evaluating the changes in nasal airway volume and nasal airflow after surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the changes in the nasal airway volume and nasal airflow using acoustic rhinometry (AR), rhinomanometry (RMN), and dental volumetric tomography (DVT) after surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME). STUDY DESIGN: Our study consists of 13 adults, 3 male and 10 female patients, aged between 15 and 26, with completed skeletal development. In our study, DVT imaging was obtained twice, preoperation and 3 months after expansion. AR and RMN measurements were recorded, and Visual Analog Score (VAS) and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Scale surveys were scored at preoperation and 3 months after expansion. Nasopharyngeal-oropharyngeal airway volume and areas were calculated using the Romexis 3.8.3.R (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland) and Nemotec V2019 (Madrid, Spain) software programs. IBM SPSS Statistics 22 (SPSS IBM, Armonk, New York) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Comparing the preoperation and postexpansion measurements by both software programs revealed a statistically significant increase in the nasopharyngeal airway volume. No statistically significant change was observed in the oropharyngeal airway volume. Furthermore, we found a statistically significant increase in VAS but a significant decrease in NOSE. CONCLUSION: According to our findings, nasal airway volume increased after SARME, and although there was no significant change in nasal resistance, patients' quality of life increased significantly.

Efficacy of injectable platelet-rich fibrin in the erosive oral lichen planus: a split-mouth, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Our study compared the effects of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) with those of corticosteroids in the treatment of erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP). METHODOLOGY: This split-mouth study included 24 individuals diagnosed histopathologically with bilateral EOLP. One bilateral lesion was injected with i-PRF, whereas the other was injected with methylprednisolone acetate in four sessions at 15-day intervals. Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction, oral health impact profile scale-14, and the lesion size were used. RESULTS: The intragroup comparisons showed a significant decrease in VAS-pain and lesion size in both the i-PRF group (from 81.88±17.74 to 13.33±18.34, and from 4.79±0.41 to 1.88±1.08, respectively) and the corticosteroid group (from 80.21±17.35 to 23.33±26.81, and from 4.71±0.46 to 2.21±1.35, respectively) in the 6th month compared to baseline (p<0.001). Moreover, VAS-satisfaction increased significantly in both the i-PRF group (from 26.67±17.8 to 85.63±16.24) and the corticosteroid group (from 28.33±17.05 to 74.38±24.11) in the 6th month compared to baseline (p<0.001). However, no significant difference in any value occurred in the intergroup comparisons. CONCLUSION: In patients with EOLP, both methods decreased pain and lesion size similarly, and both increased satisfaction. Therefore, the use of i-PRF may be considered an option in cases refractory to topical corticosteroid therapy. Biochemical and histopathological studies are required to reveal the mechanism of i-PRF action in EOLP treatment.

The evaluation of the effect of hypercalcemia in oral pathologies.

OBJECTIVE: Hypercalcemia is determined as an increase in the serum calcium level (above 10.5 mg/dL or ionized calcium is above 1.5 mmol/L). It was aimed to evaluate the effect of the increased serum calcium levels in dental panoramic radiographs with oral pathologies. MATERIALS & METHODS: The final sample number of the present study was determined as 143. 61 patients with hypercalcemic calcium levels were grouped in Hypercalcemia Group (HPEG) whereas 82 patients were grouped in Normal Group. (NG) Measurements were performed only on the panoramic radiographs. The evaluated parameters were cyst-tumor or granuloma existence, sinus pneumatization, stylohyoid ligament calcifications, lamina dura loss, bone loss existence, etc. Statistical tests were carried out at p < 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The cyst-tumor formation (p = 0.03) and stylohyoid ligament calcification (p = 0.009) and increased radiopacity (p = 0.03) were significantly more common in NG than the HPEG group. Alveolar bone loss (p = 0.001) and periodontal defects (p = 0.01) were significantly more common in HPEG than the NG group. There was no significant relationship between other examined parameters. (p > 0.05) CONCLUSION: The serum calcium level revealed statistically significant outcomes and a close relationship with the pathologies occurring in the alveolar bone in the oral and maxillofacial region. However, it is highly recommended to include more patients in the newly planned studies and another bone-related biomarker should be evaluated simultaneously.

Efficacy of injectable platelet-rich fibrin in the erosive oral lichen planus: a split-mouth, randomized, controlled clinical trial

Abstract Objective Our study compared the effects of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) with those of corticosteroids in the treatment of erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP). Methodology This split-mouth study included 24 individuals diagnosed histopathologically with bilateral EOLP. One bilateral lesion was injected with i-PRF, whereas the other was injected with methylprednisolone acetate in four sessions at 15-day intervals. Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction, oral health impact profile scale-14, and the lesion size were used. Results The intragroup comparisons showed a significant decrease in VAS-pain and lesion size in both the i-PRF group (from 81.88±17.74 to 13.33±18.34, and from 4.79±0.41 to 1.88±1.08, respectively) and the corticosteroid group (from 80.21±17.35 to 23.33±26.81, and from 4.71±0.46 to 2.21±1.35, respectively) in the 6th month compared to baseline (p<0.001). Moreover, VAS-satisfaction increased significantly in both the i-PRF group (from 26.67±17.8 to 85.63±16.24) and the corticosteroid group (from 28.33±17.05 to 74.38±24.11) in the 6th month compared to baseline (p<0.001). However, no significant difference in any value occurred in the intergroup comparisons. Conclusion In patients with EOLP, both methods decreased pain and lesion size similarly, and both increased satisfaction. Therefore, the use of i-PRF may be considered an option in cases refractory to topical corticosteroid therapy. Biochemical and histopathological studies are required to reveal the mechanism of i-PRF action in EOLP treatment.

Moderating Role of Gender in the Relationship between Big Five Personality Traits and Smartphone Addiction.

This study contributed to cyberpsychology literature by identifying moderating role of gender in the relationship between personality traits and smartphone addiction. A multi-group SEM analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between five factor personality traits (i.e. Big Five) and smartphone addiction among men and women. Big-Five-Inventory (BFI) and Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI) were used to collect data from 320 undergraduate students. The results suggested a positively significant relationship between neuroticism (emotional imbalance) and smartphone addiction for women only. Whereas, conscientiousness was negatively related with smartphone addiction for women. Further, there was a negatively significant relationship between agreeableness and smartphone addiction for both genders. The findings suggested that gender has a moderating role in the relationship between neuroticism and smartphone addiction.

Simulation of three intraoral radiographic techniques in pediatric dental patients: subjective comfort assessment using the VAS and Wong-Baker FACES Pain Raiting Scale.

BACKGROUND: Perception of pain associated with intraoral radiography in pediatric patients was evaluated through statistical comparisons of data obtained using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Raiting Scale (WBFPRS) and visual analog scale (VAS) scoring. METHODS: A total of 75 pediatric patients aged 6-12 years were included in this study. Simulations of each of three radiological methods (analog films, CCD sensor and phosphorus plates) were performed on 25 pediatric patients. Following the simulations, the meaning of each facial expression on the WBFPRS and the numbers on the VAS were explained to each child. For the comparison between groups, the homogeneity of the variances was tested with Levene's test; because the variances were not homogeneous, Welch's test was used. Tamhane's T2 test was used because the homogeneity assumption was not provided to determine the source of the difference between the groups. RESULTS: When the conventional method was compared to the PSPL (photostimulable phosphor luminescence) method, no significant differences were noted in either the WBFPRS or VAS results (p >0.05). The results obtained from both of the scales were significantly different between the conventional method and the CCD sensor method (p < 0.05). When the PSPL and CCD sensors were compared, a significant difference was observed for the WBFPRS (p < 0.05). It was found the highest level of pain scores when used the CCD sensor method than the analog film and PSPL methods (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is expected that digital radiographic techniques will be improved in the future and that their disadvantages will be eliminated, resulting in imaging devices that are more comfortable for pediatric patients.

Histological Effects of Er:YAG Laser Irradiation with Snoring Handpiece in the Rat Soft Palate.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of laser irradiation with a novel snoring handpiece on the histological structures of the soft palate in a rat model. BACKGROUND: Snoring is a common problem and studies have shown that 20-50% of the population is affected. An apnea-hypopnea index of <5/h without daytime somnolence is documented as simple snoring. No snoring treatment should ever be attempted until a sleep study has been completed to rule out sleep apnea. METHODS: Twenty adult Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were used in this study. Rats were randomized into two groups: experimental group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Laser energy was delivered in a horizontal direction to the surface of the soft palate of each rat in the experimental group for 2 min with an Er:YAG laser (LightWalker AT; Fotona) with snoring handpiece (PS04) in a noncontact mode (1.15 W, 2 Hz, 1.5 J/cm(2)). The animals were sacrificed after 24 h, 1 week, 3 weeks, or 5 weeks. The soft palate of each rat was removed by excisional biopsy. The specimens underwent histological examination. Contractions and fibrosis were reported as grading from 1+ to 3+, while edema and hyperemia were evaluated according to the absence (0) or presence (1) of any changes. Statistical analysis was done with the Mann-Whitney U and Spearman's rho tests. RESULT: A noticeable contraction of the soft palate occurred immediately after laser application. Inflammatory changes were observed histologically at 3 weeks postoperatively. Keratinization appeared after the procedure in both groups and decreased gradually. Statistically, there was a strong correlation among inflammation and time and also keratinization and time (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that Er:YAG laser irradiation with snoring handpiece (PS04) causes acute shrinkage of the mucosa. This contraction decreases gradually but is still present at the end of fifth week.