Modified Technique to Rehabilitate American Society of Anesthesiology-III Patient, Through Flapless Procedure With Computed Tomography-Guided Surgery.

PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a computed tomography-guided surgery implant placement with a flapless technique and immediate functional loading in an American Society of Anesthesiology-III patient. METHODS: This technical note involved a 64-year-old American Society of Anesthesiology-III patient. Her hopeless teeth were extracted and a restorative evaluation was provided as a prosthetic reference. The surgical procedure was based on the flapless technique that let us to use local anesthesia. The authors used an All-on-4 concept restoration for maxilla and conventional fixed prosthesis procedures for jaw rehabilitation. The authors placed 4 tilted implants in the upper maxilla and 6 right implants in the jaw. Implants were loaded with a provisional prosthesis on the same day of surgery. Five months later, provisional restoration was removed; the authors placed into the ceramic crowns 2 Procera Implant Bridge (Nobel Biocare) frameworks, developed through computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology. CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography-guided surgery is a minimally invasive technique that allows, through a flapless approach, safer and more predictable procedures. In this technical note, the authors achieved accurate implant placement and precise fit of restoration with natural looking appearance; this patient-oriented-treatment led to a reduced healing time with better compliance.

Prediction of Interactomic HUB Genes in Periodontitis With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk correlates with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, suggesting systemic inflammation is present well before AMI. Studying different types of periodontal disease (PD), extremely common in individuals at risk for AMI, has been one important research topic. According to recent research, AMI and PD interact via the systemic production of certain proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, small signal molecules, and enzymes that control the onset and development of both disorders' chronic inflammatory reactions. This study uses machine learning to identify the interactome hub biomarker genes in acute myocardial infarction and periodontitis. METHODS: GSE208194 and GSE222883 were chosen for our research after a thorough search using keywords related to the study's goal from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) datasets. DEGs were identified from the GEOR tool, and the hub gene was identified using Cytoscape-cytohubba. Using expression values, Random Forest, Adaptive Boosting, and Naive Bayes, widgets-generated transcriptomics data, were labelled, and divided into 80/20 training and testing data with cross-validation. ROC curve, confusion matrix, and AUC were determined. In addition, Functional Enrichment Analysis of Differentially Expressed Gene analysis was performed. RESULTS: Random Forest, AdaBoost, and Naive Bayes models with 99%, 100%, and 75% AUC, respectively. Compared to RF, AdaBoost, and NB classification models, AdaBoost had the highest AUC. Categorization algorithms may be better predictors than important biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning model predicts hub and non-hub genes from genomic datasets with periodontitis and acute myocardial infarction.

Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in juvenile idiopathic arthritis evaluated with diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a very common systemic inflammatory rheumatic disorder affecting the musculoskeletal system in children below 16 years of age. Joint inflammation and tissue destruction is the prime characteristic of the disease. Along with the systemic involvement in the long joints, several studies are mentioning the increased association of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in JIA. This current systematic review intends to find the prevalence rate of TMD in JIA-affected individuals as compared to healthy controls. METHODS: We have searched in PubMed, Scopus and Ovid SP for articles published between the timeframe 1 January 1990 and 1 June 2023. All the searched articles were subjected to the Population, Exposure, Comparison, and Outcome model (PECO) based on which inclusion or exclusion is carried out. Participants (P) are children below 18 years of age, Exposure (E) is children or adolescents with a diagnosis of JIA, Comparator is age and gender-matched healthy controls who has no JIA or any systemic disorder, Outcome (O) is the prevalence of TMD. Only the studies that evaluated TMD using diagnostic criteria for evaluation of TMD (DC/TMD) were included in the analysis. We have set the exclusion to the following reasons- diagnostic sensitivity studies, case reports, and systematic reviews. The software Review Manager Version 5.4 (Cochrane Collaboration) was used to perform the pooled analysis. We measured the risk ratio (RR) between the two groups (JIA and no JIA) for the outcome TMD. RESULTS: The pooled total included subjects were 366 in this review with an established diagnosis of JIA as evaluated by DC/TMD. The overall effect of the pooled data suggests that there is a significant difference in the TMD prevalence in the JIA group when compared to the control, results suggest that TMD is more prevalent in the JIA group RR 3.86; 95% CI [2.59, 5.76]. CONCLUSION: Overall, based on the data we can suggest a positive relationship between JIA and TMD, hence presence of JIA can be a risk factor for the development of TMD. The sensitivity of DC/TMD is low when compared to magnetic resonance imaging.

Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in clear aligner patients using orthodontic intermaxillary elastics assessed with diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD) axis II evaluation: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this investigation is to assess the relationship between the utilisation of orthodontic intermaxillary elastics and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms in clear aligner patients and to examine the correlation between the elastic usage time with the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD)-Axis II Evaluation Forms. METHODS: This study was carried out on a total of 40 clear aligner patients using intermaxillary elastics in the experimental group and 30 clear aligner patients who did not use any intermaxillary elastics in the control group. The data were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U, chi-square, Fisher's exact chi-square, and Fisher Freeman Halton exact chi-square tests. RESULTS: The characteristic pain intensity, mastication, mobility, communication, global and PHQ-9 scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < .05). The characteristic pain intensity score, interference score and chronic pain grade score of patients using Class III elastics were statistically significantly higher than those of patients using Class II elastics (p < .05). Patients who used elastics for less than 6 months had statistically significantly higher PHQ-9 scores than those who used elastics for more than 6 months (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment may affect occlusion, bite force and jaw movement, which may cause or worsen TMD symptoms, and the DC/TMD questionnaires can determine if orthodontic patients acquire TMD by assessing their psychosocial state and pain-related problems.

Comparative evaluation of cognitive behavioural therapy versus standard treatment in temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint and associated structures. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has emerged as a potential intervention for TMDs, but its comparative effectiveness against standard treatments remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of CBT versus standard treatment interventions in managing TMDs. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases using MeSH keywords and Boolean operators. Inclusion criteria encompassed clinical trials comparing CBT/CBT in combination with standard treatment interventions or a control group in individuals with TMDs. The primary outcome measured was pain. Secondary outcomes such as disability, depression and jaw function were also looked into. Two reviewers independently assessed for the eligibility of the articles and conducted data extraction. Quality assessments were performed using RoB 2.0 for randomised clinical trials. RESULTS: The initial search identified 623 articles, of which a total of eight clinical studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Seven out of eight studies demonstrated improvements in outcomes related to TMD. Pain was significantly decreased in studies that showed a positive outcome. Jaw function, quality of life and psychological well-being were superior among individuals receiving CBT alone or in combination with conventional modalities, as well as hypnotic therapy coupled with CBT-based interventions. The quality of studies assessed showed all articles to be of good quality as per RoB-2 evaluation. CONCLUSION: This systematic review highlights the potential benefits of CBT in managing TMDs, suggesting its effectiveness in improving pain outcomes and enhancing overall well-being. The findings indicate that CBT may be a valuable adjunct or alternative to standard treatment interventions for individuals with TMDs. However, further research with larger sample sizes and standardised outcome measures is warranted to establish definitive conclusions regarding the comparative efficacy of CBT versus standard treatments in TMD management.

Lessons to be learned when designing comprehensible patient-oriented online information about temporomandibular disorders.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a prevalent ailment with a global impact, affecting a substantial number of individuals. While some individuals are receiving treatment from orthodontists for TMD, a significant proportion of individuals obtain knowledge through websites. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose had been to evaluate, from a patient-oriented perspective, the readability of home pages of websites scored in the 10 most prominent devoted to TMD. We also determined what level of education would have been needed to get an overview of the information on the websites under scrutiny. This approach ensures that our findings are centred on the patient experience, providing insights into how accessible and understandable websites about TMD. METHODS: We determined the top 10 patient-focused English language websites by searching for 'temporomandibular disorders' in the 'no country redirect' plugin of the Google Chrome browser (www.google.com/ncr). The readability of the texts was assessed using the Gunning fog index (GFI), Coleman Liau index (CLI), Automated readability index (ARI) Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Flesch Kincald grade level (FKGL), Flesh reasing ease (FRE) (https://readabilityformulas.com). RESULTS: The mean Flesch reading ease index score was determined to be 48.67, accompanied by a standard deviation of 15.04 and these websites require an average of 13.49 years of formal education (GFI), with a standard deviation of 2.62, for ease of understanding. CONCLUSION: Our research indicates that a significant proportion of websites related to TMD can be defined as a level of complexity that exceeds the ability to read comprehension of the general population.

Salivary Biomarkers and Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

BACKGROUND: The present review aimed to investigate the association between salivary biomarkers and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). TMD is a multifactorial condition characterised by pain and dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding structures. Salivary biomarkers have emerged as potential diagnostic tools due to their non-invasiveness and easy accessibility. However, the literature on salivary biomarkers in relation to TMD is limited and inconsistent. METHODS: Electronic databases of Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, PsychINFO, CINAHL and Medline were searched using specific search terms and Boolean operators. The search was limited to articles published in English that assessed salivary biomarkers in individuals diagnosed with TMD. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and extracted data. ROB-2 was used to assess the risk of bias. RESULTS: Eleven clinical papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The findings provided consistent evidence of a clear association between salivary biomarkers and TMD. Various biomarkers, including cortisol, IL-1, glutamate and several others, were assessed. Some studies reported higher levels of cortisol and IL-1 in TMD patients, indicating potential involvement in stress and inflammation. Glutamate levels were found to be elevated, suggesting a role in pain modulation. Other biomarkers also showed alterations in TMD patients compared to controls: CONCLUSION: The findings from the included studies suggest that salivary biomarkers may play a role in TMD pathophysiology. Though a definitive conclusion can be drawn regarding the specific salivary biomarkers and their association with TMD, the results must be interpreted with caution considering the heterogeneity of the biomarkers assessed. Further research with larger sample sizes, standardised methodology and rigorous study designs is needed to elucidate the role of salivary biomarkers in TMD.

Evaluation of tinnitus in patients with Temporomandibular Disorders through Axis II of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).

BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is a quite common and bothersome disorder that results in a perceived sound or noise, without an external origin, often causing notable psychological distress. Some interconnections between tinnitus, bodily pain perception, and psychological well-being were previously reported, thus the relationships between tinnitus and temporomandibular joint (TMJ)-related muscle issues, resulting in somatosensory tinnitus, must be deeply investigated. This study aims to assess the prevalence of tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and to examine the correlation between tinnitus and scales assessing the severity of TMD as well as psychological-related parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 37 adults with TMD symptoms were enrolled. Diagnostic data were collected using the Axis II of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire. Statistical analysis included descriptive assessments and significance was set at p < .05. RESULTS: Individuals with tinnitus and TMD reported a significantly higher number of body pain areas, indicating a link between tinnitus and increased bodily pain perception. Tinnitus did not significantly impact TMJ-related functions. Significantly higher levels of psychological distress were observed in individuals with tinnitus, as evidenced by elevated scores in depression, generalised anxiety and somatic symptoms. CONCLUSION: Tinnitus is a complex condition with significant effects on health and well-being, requiring an interdisciplinary approach for effective evaluation and care. The study provides deep insights into the prevalence of tinnitus in TMD patients, underscoring the need for comprehensive treatment strategies addressing both TMD and tinnitus.

Effectiveness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) pose diagnostic challenges, and selecting appropriate imaging modalities is crucial for accurate assessment. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy and efficacy of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying TMDs. METHODS: A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted, including studies that compared US and MRI for TMJ disorder assessments. Fixed-effects models were utilized to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the chi-squared test and I2 statistic. Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies included. RESULTS: Six studies were included, involving a total of 281 participants. The meta-analysis demonstrated that MRI was statistically somewhat better than US in identifying TMJ disorders. The summary OR was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.46-0.90), and the summary RR was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.95). Heterogeneity among the studies was low (χ2 = 2.73, df = 5, p = .74; I2 = 0%). Demographic variables revealed variations in sample size, gender ratio and mean age across the studies. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides evidence that MRI may be more effective than US in diagnosing TMDs. However, the study is limited by the small number of included studies and variations in demographic variables and study designs. Future research with larger samples and standardised protocols is essential to confirm and strengthen these findings. Understanding the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and US for TMJ disorders will aid clinicians in making informed decisions for effective TMJ disorder assessments and patient management.

Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in oncological patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) has garnered increasing attention in recent years due to its potential association with cancer. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, aimed to evaluate the prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was performed to identify relevant studies published up to September 2021. Eligible studies reporting on the prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients, encompassing various study designs, were included in the analysis. Pooled estimates of the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: Seventeen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were subsequently included in the review. The prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients was estimated to have an overall OR of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.75-0.85). In comparison with non-cancer patients, cancer patients had a statistically significant greater risk of OSAS, as indicated by the total estimated RR for the prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients, which was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.92). Nonetheless, there was a significant amount of heterogeneity (I2 = 96%) among the studies. CONCLUSION: The overall data analysed in this review indicates that patients with cancer had far reduced likelihood of developing OSAS than individuals without cancer. However, the significant variation across the included studies highlights the need for additional investigation to fully clarify the complex association between OSAS and cancer incidence. These results emphasise how critical it is to identify OSAS as a possible comorbidity in cancer patients, one that should be taken into account for clinical management and ongoing research.

Efficacy of acupuncture and laser acupuncture in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to perform a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the scientific literature regarding the use of acupuncture and laser acupuncture in the treatment of pain associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The aim of this article was to assess the clinical evidence for acupuncture and laser acupuncture therapies as treatment for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review includes randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and laser acupuncture as a treatment for TMD compared to other treatments. Systematic searches were conducted in 3 electronic databases up to July 2023; PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases. All RCTs of acupuncture for TMD were searched without language restrictions. Studies in which no clinical data and complex interventions were excluded. The Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2) tool was employed to analyze randomized controlled trials. A Meta-analysis was performed in order to investigate a quantitative analysis comparing acupuncture and laser acupuncture to placebo. RESULTS: A total of 11 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The findings show that acupuncture is short-term helpful for reducing the severity of TMD pain with muscle origin. Meta-analysis revealed that the Acupuncture group and Laser Acupuncture group had a higher efficacy rate than the Placebo control group, showing a high efficacy of Acupuncture and Laser Acupuncture group in the treatment of temporomandibular. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our systematic review demonstrate that the evidence for acupuncture as a symptomatic treatment of TMD is limited. Further rigorous studies are, however, required to establish beyond doubt whether acupuncture has therapeutic value for this indication. However high efficacy of Laser Acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders was reported.

Accuracy of temporomandibular disorders diagnosis evaluated through the diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorder (DC/TDM) Axis II compared to the Axis I evaluations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a complex joint that facilitates mandibular movements during speech, chewing, and swallowing activities. The Axis I evaluation of the DC/TMD focuses on assessing physical diagnoses related to TMDs. It includes an assessment of pain and functional limitations, such as jaw opening range, joint sounds, and joint tenderness. The Axis II evaluation of the DC/TMD provides information on the patient's psychological status and quality of life. This Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis aimed to evaluate the accuracy of Temporomandibular Disorders diagnosis considered through the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (DC/TDM) axis II compared to the Axis I evaluations. METHODS: A search was made in PubMed, Web of Science and Lilacs for articles published from the inception until 20 January 2023. We applied the Population, Exposure, Comparator, and Outcomes (PECO) model [1] to assess document eligibility. Only studies that evaluated patients by DC/TMD Axis I and Axis II were considered. Review Manager version 5.2.8 (Cochrane Collaboration) was used for the pooled analysis. We measured the odds ratio (OR) between the two groups (Axis I and Axis II). RESULTS: Fifty-one articles were selected because of the search. Four papers were excluded before the screening: 2 pieces were not in English, and two were reviewed. The remaining 47 articles were selected for the title and abstract screening to evaluate whether they met the PECO criteria. Among these, four papers were established; the overall effect showed that there was no difference in TMD diagnosis between Axis I and Axis II (RR 1.17; 95% CI: 0.80- 1.71; Z:0.82; P = .41), suggesting that there is no difference between Axis I and Axis II. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, DC/TMD is an effective tool for the diagnosis of TMD. It improves the accuracy of TMD diagnosis, allows for the classification of subtypes, and assesses psychosocial factors that may impact the development or maintenance of TMD symptoms.

Prevalence of Bruxism in alcohol abusers: a systematic review conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and the cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions.

BACKGROUND: Bruxism, a common oral parafunctional behavior characterized by the grinding or clenching of teeth, is a multifactorial condition with potentially detrimental effects on oral health and overall well-being. In recent years, there has been growing interest in understanding the relationship between bruxism and alcohol abuse, as both are prevalent issues that may share underlying factors and exacerbate each other. This systematic review, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, aims to evaluate the frequency of bruxism among individuals with alcohol abuse. METHODS: A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Lilacs, Scopus and Web of Science, will be conducted to identify relevant studies published up to the knowledge cutoff date in January 2023. The search strategy will include keywords related to bruxism, alcohol abuse, and their synonyms. Inclusion criteria will encompass original research studies, such as observational, cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies, as well as clinical trials, that examine the relationship between bruxism and alcohol abuse. Two independent reviewers will perform the study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. RESULTS: The systematic review will present a summary of the identified studies, including the study design, characteristics of the study populations, and key findings related to the association between bruxism and alcohol abuse. The potential mechanisms underlying this relationship will also be explored. Subgroup analyses and the quality of evidence will be assessed. Finally, the implications of this association for clinical practice and further research will be discussed. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review will contribute to a better understanding of the interplay between bruxism and alcohol abuse, shedding light on potential risk factors, mechanisms, and clinical implications. The findings may have significant implications for the prevention, management, and treatment of bruxism, particularly in individuals with a history of alcohol abuse.

The effectiveness of chitosan as a hemostatic in dentistry in patients with antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy: systematic review with meta-analysis.

Hemorrhage control is a crucial aspect of dental procedures, and achieving efficient hemostasis remains a key challenge. The advent of hemostatic dressings has revolutionized the field of dentistry by providing effective and convenient solutions for managing bleeding in vari-ous dental scenarios. This article aims to provide an overview of hemostatic dressings, their mechanisms of action, and their diverse applications in dentistry. We applied the following Pop-ulation, Exposure, Comparator, and Outcomes (PICO) model to assess the document eligibility. A literature search was performed on major search engines, using keywords. At the end of the search, 3 articles were selected that matched the PICO. Three items were selected after the screen-ing process, and bleeding times were analyzed between the control group and the study group. The overall effect showed a substantial and statistically significant difference with bleeding time in favour of HDD-treated patients, showing that this garrison is very useful in controlling bleed-ing for patients taking anticoagulants and antiplatelets (Mean difference - 5.61; C.I. -5.70, - 5.52); Overall, hemostatic dressings have revolutionized the management of bleeding in dentistry, offering a promising solution to achieve optimal hemostasis, improve treatment outcomes, and enhance patient care, particularly Hemcon.

A comparative evaluation of physical properties of CAD/CAM complete denture resins- an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: In dentistry, there is a growing preference for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems over traditional laboratory procedures. However, there is not much literature comparing various CAD/CAM materials. Thus, this study aimed to assess and compare the color stability and hardness of gingival and tooth colored milled and 3D-printed acrylic resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four types of CAD/CAM materials were prepared: 3D-printed pink shade (PP), milled polymenthymethacrylate (PMMA) pink shade (MP), 3D-printed tooth shade (PT) and milled PMMA tooth shade (MT) (n = 6). For hardness, disc shaped samples of 15 mm × 2 mm and for color stability, bar shaped samples of 65mmx10mmx2.5 mm were prepared and polished. Vickers hardness test was performed in a microhardness tester. Color stability test was done by immersing in coffee solution and coca cola for 7 days. Day 0 and day 7 measurements were recorded using a digital spectrophotometer and the change in color was calculated. For statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests were done. RESULTS: For color stability, milled PMMA was superior to 3D-printed resin samples. Milled pink and tooth shade samples had similar color stability, whereas 3D-printed tooth shade samples were more color stable as compared to pink shade 3D-printed samples. For hardness, milled tooth shade PMMA was the most superior one, followed by 3D-printed tooth shade, whereas pink shade milled PMMA and 3D-printed resin samples had similar hardness values and were inferior to the tooth shade CAD/CAM materials. CONCLUSION: Color stability of milled PMMA is superior to that of 3D-printed resins. Hardness of tooth shade milled and 3D-printed resins is more than that of pink shade milled and 3D-printed resins.

Applications of artificial intelligence in the field of oral and maxillofacial pathology: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Since AI algorithms can analyze patient data, medical records, and imaging results to suggest treatment plans and predict outcomes, they have the potential to support pathologists and clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial pathologies, just like every other area of life in which it is being used. The goal of the current study was to examine all of the trends being investigated in the area of oral and maxillofacial pathology where AI has been possibly involved in helping practitioners. METHODS: We started by defining the important terms in our investigation's subject matter. Following that, relevant databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched using keywords and synonyms for each concept, such as "machine learning," "diagnosis," "treatment planning," "image analysis," "predictive modelling," and "patient monitoring." For more papers and sources, Google Scholar was also used. RESULTS: The majority of the 9 studies that were chosen were on how AI can be utilized to diagnose malignant tumors of the oral cavity. AI was especially helpful in creating prediction models that aided pathologists and clinicians in foreseeing the development of oral and maxillofacial pathology in specific patients. Additionally, predictive models accurately identified patients who have a high risk of developing oral cancer as well as the likelihood of the disease returning after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In the field of oral and maxillofacial pathology, AI has the potential to enhance diagnostic precision, personalize care, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. The development and application of AI in healthcare, however, necessitates careful consideration of ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges. Additionally, because AI is still a relatively new technology, caution must be taken when applying it to this industry.

Impact of self-assessment on dental student's performance in pre-clinical conservative dentistry course.

BACKGROUND: Self-assessment (SA) is an interactive course that endorses the accomplishment of learning objectives through learners' identification of insufficiencies in their didactic knowledge and pre-clinical skills. This study was planned to determine whether there is any improvement in the faculty assessment (FA) score following the implementation of SA in the Pre-clinical Conservative Dentistry Course. METHODS: Fifty-four first-semester dental students were given an introductory lecture followed by a demonstration for Class I Cavity Preparation in typhodont mandibular first molar. At the end of the demonstration, the Scoring Rubric (SR) was explained point-wise in the prepared cavities. During the next session, all students performed Class I cavity preparation and they were given an assessment sheet to enter their scores (SA1). All teeth were evaluated by the Grading Faculties in a blinded manner (FA1). Each participant was explained the difference in their respective SA1 from FA1 and their queries were resolved individually. During the next sessions, Students and Grading Faculties followed the same protocol and scores were recorded as SA2, FA2, SA3 and FA3. RESULTS: The mean score of SA1 was significantly higher than that of FA1 (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was obtained between SA and FA in the second (p = 0.352) and third (p = 0.434) assessments. In contrast with first assessment, mean marks obtained in FA were higher compared to SA in both second and third assessments. There was a statistically significant improvement in mean marks obtained by the students over time (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SA endorsed student-faculty communication and enhanced student's poise and technical skills in operative pre-clinical dentistry.

Evaluation and assessment of the survival of tooth implant supported prosthesis in tooth and implant supported rehabilitation cases with metal frameworks.

INTRODUCTION: Over the years, implant therapy has been a commonly used treatment option for individuals who are partially or totally edentulous, with a long-term success rate of over 90%. With significant advancements in biomaterials and technology, implant dentistry can now conduct prosthetic rehabilitations in the majority of patients catering to all types of needs. However, in order to meet the demands of a patient base that is always growing, new trends in implantology are emerging in recent years that are focused on minimally invasive surgery and financial sustainability. In certain clinical scenarios, connecting teeth and implants to support fixed partial prosthesis (FPPs) may be a predictable and workable course of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 22 patients were selected for this study who had tooth and implant supported prosthesis placed as a final restoration. Out of these 22 patients; 12 were male and 10 were female patients. Implants were placed following proper protocol and if grafting procedures were required they were carried out. A second stage surgical procedure was carried out and delayed loading protocols were followed. The statistical analysis was done using the IBM SPSS 24.0, Chicago, USA. The survival of the implants and teeth were measured by the Kaplan Meier survival scale. Bone loss was assessed at baseline(upon loading), 12 months and 24 months. RESULTS: The implant survival rate was measured at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months. At 24 months, one implant showed failure, so the survival rate of the implants were 95.4%. Bone loss of 1 mm was seen around one implant at 12 months. Bone loss of 1 and 2 mm was present around two implants and one implant respectively at 24 months. CONCLUSION: From the results of this study, we can conclude that tooth implant supported prosthesis show very good survival when used in rehabilitation cases.

The relationship between pregnancy and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) through diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD) axis II evaluation: a case-control cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: This study focuses on temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), which affect the temporomandibular joint and related muscles and have multiple causes. Recent studies have examined the connection between menstrual cycles, estrogen levels, and TMDs, but results are inconsistent, highlighting the need for more research. The aim is to explore the prevalence of TMDs in pregnant women and consider how hormonal changes during pregnancy might influence these disorders. METHODS: In this cross-sectional case-control study, we compared 32 pregnant women with 35 non-pregnant women. We evaluated several TMD-related factors such as pain levels, chronic pain classification, scores on the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-20 and Oral Behaviors Checklist, and psychological health. We used various statistical methods including descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, linear regression, and adjustments for multiple comparisons to analyze the data. RESULTS: Pregnant women showed different pain perceptions, generally reporting less pain and lower severity. Nonetheless, these differences were not uniform across all TMD-related measures. Linear regression did not find a consistent link between pregnancy and TMD scores, except for chronic pain grade, which was not significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. There was a significant relationship between depression and TMD severity, emphasizing the need to consider mental health in TMD evaluations. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that pregnancy is neither a risk nor a protective factor for TMD. Differences in pain perception, functional status, and psychological health were observed in pregnant women but were not consistent for all TMD-related aspects. The role of estrogen in TMJ health and TMD risk is complex and requires further study. The research highlights the necessity of including mental health, especially depression, in TMD assessments. More comprehensive research with larger sample sizes is essential to better understand the connections between pregnancy, TMD, and hormones, aiming to improve TMD management in pregnant women and others.

Light gradient boosting-based prediction of quality of life among oral cancer-treated patients.

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION: Statisticians rank oral and lip cancer sixth in global mortality at 10.2%. Mouth opening and swallowing are challenging. Hence, most oral cancer patients only report later stages. They worry about surviving cancer and receiving therapy. Oral cancer severely affects QOL. QOL is affected by risk factors, disease site, and treatment. Using oral cancer patient questionnaires, we use light gradient Boost Tree classifiers to predict life quality. METHODS: DIAS records were used for 111 oral cancer patients. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer's QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HN43 were used to document the findings. Anyone could enroll, regardless of gender or age. The IHEC/SDC/PhD/OPATH-1954/19/TH-001 Institutional Ethical Clearance Committee approved this work. After informed consent, patients received the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HN43 questionnaires. Surveys were in Tamil and English. Overall, QOL ratings covered several domains. We obtained patient demographics, case history, and therapy information from our DIAS (Dental Information Archival Software). Enrolled patients were monitored for at least a year. After one year, the EORTC questionnaire was retaken, and scores were recorded. This prospective analytical exploratory study at Saveetha Dental College, Chennai, India, examined QOL at diagnosis and at least 12 months after primary therapy in patients with histopathologically diagnosed oral malignancies. We measured oral cancer patients' quality of life using data preprocessing, feature selection, and model construction. A confusion matrix was created using light gradient boosting to measure accuracy. RESULTS: Light gradient boosting predicted cancer patients' quality of life with 96% accuracy and 0.20 log loss. CONCLUSION: Oral surgeons and oncologists can improve planning and therapy with this prediction model.