WhatsApp as a Tool in Blended Learning in Dental Education.

Background and Objective: Dental education is unique, with clinical/practical learning much different from other professionals. In dentistry, students are exposed much earlier in their curriculum to patients, performing procedures under direct/indirect supervision. Hence, the present review attempted to assess the standing position of dentistry in blended learning worldwide. Materials and Methods: E-learning modality was at its primitive stage as food for thought among educational task force committees, with only a handful of developed and developing countries equipped with it. During this pandemic, "WhatsApp" became a savior, as it was a widely used educational device among dental teachers and students. Furthermore, it was easily applicable in places where there was difficulty in obtaining regular internet bandwidth, especially in remote/rural areas. It is noteworthy that blended learning/e-learning, when complemented with the conventional teaching method, upskill critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities. Blended learning or virtual reality education should be made feasible without disparity, worldwide. Mind training, both students and staff in hybrid e-learning, is the need of the hour not only to keep pace with digitalized dentistry but to prepare the students to face real-world situations. Conclusion: The sustainability of dental education should be rethought by dental schools with "Complimented Digital learning" wherever feasible, not only to cope with current trends but also to face unforeseen future challenges.

Awareness of Oral Submucous Fibrosis among the Quid-Chewing South-Asian Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic disorder prevalent in South and Southeast Asia and is mainly related to the habit of chewing betel quid. Although there are numerous South-Asian studies about OSF, there is no study that evaluates the awareness of OSF among expatriate populations of South-Asian origin. Evaluated the awareness of OSF among South-Asian expatriate patients reporting to a dental hospital in Sharjah. Prevalidated questionnaires were given to 150 expatriate patients of South-Asian origin with quid-chewing habit reporting to the teaching clinics of a dental hospital in the United Arab Emirates. Among the 150 patients, 103 responded to the questionnaire. Among the 103 respondents, 11.65% were aware of OSF. Respondents living in shared residency and labor camps had significantly (P = 0.43) lower awareness of OSF compared to respondents living with their families. The results of our study show that the awareness of OSF is lower among the respondents living in labor camps and shared residencies. The younger respondents had more awareness of OSMF and were more likely to quit the quid-chewing habit.

The Prevalence of Smokeless Tobacco Consumption and Its Effects on Gingival and Periodontal Health Among the Adults in the Emirates of Sharjah, UAE - A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) has been linked with various oral signs and symptoms, such as oral mucosal lesions and gingival and periodontal effects. However, there is limited research on the prevalence of SLT use and its impact on gingival and periodontal health in the adult population of the Emirates of Sharjah. Aim: To assess the prevalence of SLT consumption and its effects on gingival and periodontal health in the adult population of the Emirates of Sharjah. Methods: The study evaluated 171 dentate patients aged 18-77 years who use SLT or are nonsmokers. Data were collected through a questionnaire on SLT use and periodontal health assessed using plaque index, gingival index (GI), attachment score, and gingival recession (GR). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 27.0 version. Results: Among 390 screened participants, 28 subjects (21 males and 7 females) were SLT users with prevalence of 7.18%. No significant differences were found in plaque index, GI, or periodontal pocket depth. However, SLT users had significantly higher clinical attachment loss scores (mean 4.01 mm, SD 0.35) compared to non-users (mean 1.49 mm, SD 1.12). Significant differences were also observed in GR. Conclusions: This study provides insights into the prevalence and impact of SLT use on periodontal and gingival health in UAE adults. SLT usage is associated with a higher risk of periodontitis and gingivitis, indicating the need for awareness and intervention. Further research is required to validate results and consider confounding factors.

Development of 'OXIS Classification' calibration website for dental researchers.

PURPOSE: The variations in interproximal contact areas have been categorised open (O), point (X), straight (I), and curved contact (S). This is based on their shapes and termed as OXIS classification. The interactive OXIS calibration website was developed to assist researchers seeking appropriate knowledge, minimise the overload of material, optimise efficiency in calibration and, to provide repositories for clinicians, healthcare workers, and policymakers. METHODS: The website was developed in two phases. The first phase of development included expert group discussion, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), and the implementation of FGD recommendations. The second phase emphasised registration and development of the interactive web portal on OXIS classification. The developed website was subjected to user experience testing, functional testing, performance testing, security testing, device, platform testing, and then hosted. Calibrated students and faculties evaluated it with the help of Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) and System Usability Scale (SUS). Finally, after amendments, the website was evaluated by non-calibrated researchers and multidisciplinary experts. RESULTS: The total agreement was 74% for overall SAM category. Pooled mean total score of SUS was 52.7 (SD 7.17; range 45-67.5), indicating an average score. CONCLUSION: The content of the developed website has been evaluated as "satisfactory" and its technical quality as "of higher standards".

The Scope of Virtual Reality Simulators in Radiology Education: Systematic Literature Review.

Background: In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has gained significant importance in medical education. Radiology education also has seen the induction of VR technology. However, there is no comprehensive review in this specific area. This review aims to fill this knowledge gap. Objective: This systematic literature review aims to explore the scope of VR use in radiology education. Methods: A literature search was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for articles relating to the use of VR in radiology education, published from database inception to September 1, 2023. The identified articles were then subjected to a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-defined study selection process. Results: The database search identified 2503 nonduplicate articles. After PRISMA screening, 17 were included in the review for analysis, of which 3 (18%) were randomized controlled trials, 7 (41%) were randomized experimental trials, and 7 (41%) were cross-sectional studies. Of the 10 randomized trials, 3 (30%) had a low risk of bias, 5 (50%) showed some concerns, and 2 (20%) had a high risk of bias. Among the 7 cross-sectional studies, 2 (29%) scored "good" in the overall quality and the remaining 5 (71%) scored "fair." VR was found to be significantly more effective than traditional methods of teaching in improving the radiographic and radiologic skills of students. The use of VR systems was found to improve the students' skills in overall proficiency, patient positioning, equipment knowledge, equipment handling, and radiographic techniques. Student feedback was also reported in the included studies. The students generally provided positive feedback about the utility, ease of use, and satisfaction of VR systems, as well as their perceived positive impact on skill and knowledge acquisition. Conclusions: The evidence from this review shows that the use of VR had significant benefit for students in various aspects of radiology education. However, the variable nature of the studies included in the review reduces the scope for a comprehensive recommendation of VR use in radiology education.

Knowledge of undergraduate and postgraduate dental students about managing traumatic dental injuries based on the 2020 International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines: A online survey of 10 dental schools from 10 countries.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The knowledge of dental students about managing traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) may not be uniform, depending on global location and dental education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of undergraduate and postgraduate students specializing in endodontics and pediatric dentistry at 10 dental schools in 10 countries about the 2020 International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) guidelines regarding the management of TDIs. MATERIALS & METHODS: A previously published questionnaire was used in the current survey. It was an online survey with 12 questions regarding the management of TDIs and some additional questions regarding sociodemographic and professional profiles of the participants were added. The survey was distributed to final-year undergraduate students and postgraduate students in pediatric dentistry and endodontics from 10 dental schools. Simple frequency distributions and descriptive statistics were predominantly used to describe the data. Differences in the median percentage scores among the student categories were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 347 undergraduates, 126 postgraduates in endodontics, and 72 postgraduates in pediatric dentistry from 10 dental schools participated in this survey. The postgraduates had a significantly higher percentage score for correct responses compared with the undergraduates. No significant difference was observed between the endodontic and pediatric dentistry postgraduates. CONCLUSION: The knowledge possessed by undergraduate and postgraduate students concerning the IADT-recommended management of TDIs varied across the globe and some aspects were found to be deficient. This study emphasizes the critical importance of reassessing the teaching and learning activities pertaining to the management of TDIs.

Enhancing elementary school teachers' knowledge in managing traumatic dental injuries: The effectiveness of educational sessions.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aims to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of educational intervention on elementary school teachers' knowledge of traumatic dental injuries (TDI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included all of the elementary schools (29) in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Of the initial 538 participants, 497 teachers completed the full-length study. The first assessment (T0) was performed prior to intervention using a four-part validated questionnaire that evaluated demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and self-assessment in relation to TDIs. The questionnaire was followed by a 30-min lecture presentation featuring various dental trauma scenarios. Each teacher's knowledge was reassessed immediately after the intervention (T1) and 3 months after the intervention (T2). The data were analyzed using the Cochran test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and chi-squared test. RESULTS: Half of the participants had witnessed dental trauma at least once; however, 96.6% of the participants had not attended any training related to dental trauma prior to the educational intervention. Knowledge regarding first aid management of broken teeth and avulsions was disappointing pre-intervention but was significantly higher post-intervention (p < .001). Following the workshop, participant self-assessments indicated improvement in the ability to appropriately respond to cases of dental trauma as necessary (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate knowledge of emergency management of TDI was demonstrated initially. There was a remarkable improvement in the overall knowledge of TDI after the educational sessions. Raising the awareness in dental trauma field by conducting educational sessions is crucial for achieving a better outcome.

Minor physical anomalies including palatal rugae pattern and palatal dimensions in children with sickle cell disease: A cross-sectional analytical study.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common hereditary hemoglobinopathy, which delays growth leading to an altered skeleton and craniofacial pattern. Palatal rugae patterning has been considered the regulator of the development of the palate. The purpose of the research work was to study the morphology of the palate, rugae pattern, and its dimensions in SCD children and compare them with healthy normal children, and to evaluate its role as minor physical anomalies (MPAs). Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was designed as per STROBE guidelines. The sample comprised 50 children diagnosed with sickle cell disease (Group SCD) and 50 normal healthy children as control (Group C) belonging to the same age group (10-18 years). Dental impressions were made, followed by the pouring of dental casts. The length of the palatal rugae was measured and categorized into primary (>5 mm), secondary (3 mm-5 mm), and fragmentary rugae (<3 mm). The shape of each primary palatal rugae was identified and categorized as curved, wavy, straight, circular and non-specific. Linear and angular measurements of the palatal rugae patterns and palatal dimensions (width, height, area) were measured and recorded. Results: The total number of palatal rugae and fragmentary rugae was lesser in Group SCD than in Group C (p < 0.05). The depth of the palate was significantly increased, whereas the area of the palate significantly decreased in Group SCD. Conclusions: The children with SCD showed distinctive palatal rugae patterns and dimensions when compared with normal healthy children that can be attributed as potential MPAs for sickle cell disease. Children with SCD had an under-developed palatal rugae pattern with a deep, narrow and small palate when compared to healthy children.The dimensions of the palatal rugae pattern in SCD showed reduced distance between the incisive papilla and the first and last rugae, indicating a further decrease in the anteroposterior dimensions of the palate. These findings may aid in the early diagnosis and prevention of malocclusion in children with SCD by appropriate interceptive orthodontic treatment.

Antimicrobial Properties and Substantivity of Gentamicin, Amoxicillin and Metronidazole (GAM) Antibiotic Solution with Chitosan as a Root Canal Irrigant - A Preliminary Study.

Irrigation is one of the steps that is very crucial in a high-quality endodontic treatment. Hence, irrigant with good substantivity is essential which must not only be effective for the dissolution of the organic tissues but also effectively eliminate bacterial contamination. The aim of the study was to investigate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of gentamicin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole (GAM) antibiotic solution, chitosan and their combination (GAMC), and analyze their sustained release property. Mueller-Hinton agar medium was inoculated with E. faecalis. The medicaments were then poured at the center of the plate in the prepared wells and incubated at 37°C. Antibacterial property of each medicament was evaluated by measuring the diameter of the zone of inhibition at the end of 48 hours. The substantivity of GAM antibiotic solution and the GAMC was checked using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The GAMC demonstrated the strongest antimicrobial activity and good sustained-release properties. Distilled water showed no activity, and chlorhexidine acted as the positive control. Conclusion: The combination of gentamicin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole (GAM) solution with chitosan (GAMC) can be used as an alternative intracanal irrigant as it was found to be a potent antibacterial agent.

Reporting Quality of the Abstracts for Randomized Controlled Trials in Pediatric Dentistry.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to systematically appraise the reporting quality of abstracts for randomized controlled trials (RCT) published in pediatric dentistry using Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) for abstracts and to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of the RCT to the quality of abstracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RCTs published in Pediatric Dentistry were retrieved from the PubMed database from 2016 to 2021. The quality of abstracts was appraised using CONSORT for abstracts checklist by two independent reviewers. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: In descriptive statistics, frequency and percentage analysis were used for categorical variables, whereas mean and standard deviation were used for continuous variables. To find the significant difference between the bivariate samples in independent groups, Mann-Whitney U test was employed. Multivariate analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U tests. Probability value of p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Two hundred abstracts were included in the study. All the abstracts adequately reported the "objective" item, whereas only 2 and 4% of abstracts adequately addressed "randomization" and "harms" items, respectively. A significant relationship was observed between the continent of first author/corresponding author, number of authors, impact factor, adherence to CONSORT guidelines, word count, focus of study, and a priori protocol registration to the quality of abstracts (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The abstracts of the RCT included in the study did not adequately follow the CONSORT for abstract guidelines. Adherence to the reporting guidelines would improve the overall reporting quality of abstracts of RCT published in Pediatric Dentistry. The overall mean score of the abstracts was 6.80 out of 15 indicating that the abstracts did not adequately follow the CONSORT for abstract reporting guidelines.

Acceptability of fully guided virtual implant planning software among dental undergraduate students.

BACKGROUND: Fully guided implant surgery as a technique is gaining popularity. It has been observed that use of surgical guides improves precision and predictability for dental implant placement. However, like any other newer technology, the acceptance of fully guided dental implant technology among users is based upon its perceived usability. This study aimed at evaluating the perception about using Virtual Implant Planning Software (VIPS) among undergraduate dental students at the university of Sharjah. METHODS: Ninety-Six dental surgery students from the University of Sharjah were included in the study. One week after the Virtual Implant Planning Software (Planmeca Romexis version 6.2 procedure, students were asked to complete a Combined technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behaviour (C-TAM TPB) questionnaire. Sixty-six students responded to the questionnaire. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha surpassed 0.7 for perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm. Attitude and behavioural intention reported Cronbach's alpha values less than 0.7. Spearman's correlation coefficient was significant for all the constructs. Perceived ease of use explained 49%, 33%, and 42% of the variance of perceived usefulness (R2 = 0.49), attitude (R2 = 0.33), and perceived behavioral control (R2 = 0.42) respectively. Perceived usefulness explained 25%, 18%, and 23% of the variance of attitude (R2 = 0.25), behavioral intention (R2 = 0.18), and perceived behavioral control (R2 = 0.23) respectively. Attitude accounted for 25%, 33%, and 29% of the variance of behavioral intention (R2 = 0.25), perceived behavioral control (R = 0.33), and subjective norm (R = 0.29) respectively. CONCLUSION: The fully guided VIPS was acceptable by dental students specifically because of its usability. This makes VIPS a very effective tool for teaching implantology for dental students. VIPS also allows students to perform multiple repetitions of the implant planning procedure which enhances understanding and content retention.

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Efficacy of Copper-Doped Phosphate Glass on Pathogenic Bacteria.

This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC)] and antibiofilm activity [log10 colony forming unit/mL (CFU/mL) and biofilm disruption] of copper-doped phosphate glass (CDPG) against Streptococcus oralis, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus casei, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. METHODS: the antibacterial activity was determined using microbroth dilution and time-kill assay. The antibiofilm activity was investigated using crystal violet and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Bacteria growing in absence of CDPG were used as controls. RESULTS: the MIC was ≥125 mg of CPDG/mL; the log10 CFU/mL reduction ranged from 2.66-3.14 to 6.23-9.65 after 4 and 24 h respectively. Generally, no growth was observed after 24 h of treatment with CDPG; the MBC was 250 mg/mL for L. casei and S. oralis while 500 mg/mL for the rest of the bacteria. The highest and lowest antibiofilm activity was observed against S. oralis and E. coli respectively. Three patterns of complete biofilm disruption were seen: (i) large areas with E. fecalis and S. oralis, (ii) medium-size pockets with S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, or (iii) small areas with E. coli and L. casei. CONCLUSION: CDPG can be potentially used as an antibacterial and an antibiofilm agent against oral biofilm-forming bacteria.

Parents' and Children's Acceptance of Silver Diamine Fluoride Application on Primary Teeth in the United Arab Emirates.

PURPOSE: To assess the acceptance of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application on children's teeth among parents and children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pre-tested questionnaire and clinical photographs of SDF-treated teeth were employed to determine preferences among 370 parents for its use in managing dental caries in their children's teeth. A similar number of children ages 4 to 8 years were also interviewed, and their reaction to SDF was assessed through a facial image scale after showing pictures of pre- and post-SDF treated primary teeth. RESULTS: 265 mothers and 105 fathers participated in this study. The Χ2 test was used to test for the statistically significant differences between parental perceptions. Almost all parents responded that SDF was either unacceptable or extremely unacceptable for their children's anterior teeth in comparison to 63% for posterior teeth (p = 0.009). Fathers were more comfortable with SDF treatment for posterior teeth on a scale of 3.1 out of 4, in comparison to 1.8 for mothers (p = 0.007). Parents with limited education (up to primary school) showed greater SDF acceptance in comparison to college-graduate parents (p = 0.000). The level of parental SDF acceptance increased with the children's behavioural barriers. The older children had a lower acceptance rate, at 1.2 and 2.5 for anterior and posterior teeth, respectively (p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: SDF was acceptable to UAE-based parents for posterior teeth; however, they preferred it for anterior teeth only when advanced behavioural management (e.g., sedation) was advocated. Socioeconomic factors moderated their SDF preference regarding the location of tooth and treatment difficulty. Younger children were relatively more receptive to SDF use than were older children.

Clinical efficacy of green tea, aloe vera and chlorhexidine mouthwashes in the treatment of dental biofilm induced gingivitis: A multi-arm, double-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This multi-arm, randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of 0.5% green tea (GT), 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) and aloe vera (AV) mouthwash as compared to the control (CNT) group (scaling and polishing alone with no mouthwash) in the management of dental biofilm induced gingivitis among 18-40-year-old patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients with generalized dental biofilm-induced gingivitis were randomly allocated to four study groups (n = 15 each) for treatment, namely Group GT, Group CHX, Group AV and Group CNT after scaling and polishing were administered to all the patients. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and sulcular bleeding index (SBI) were recorded at baseline, 14th and 21st day. RESULTS: PI, GI and SBI at various time intervals (baseline, 14th and 21st day) showed high statistically significant differences within the group (p < 0.01). Among these, the maximum percentage change was found in the CHX group followed by GT when evaluated from baseline to 21st day. The least percentage change was found in the AV group for PI and GI while the CNT group showed the least percentage change for sulcular index when evaluated from 14th to 21st day. Inter-group results showed high statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) for PI and GI when evaluated between baseline to 14th day and baseline to 21st day. SBI also showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) when evaluated between baselines to 14th day and baseline to 21st day. CONCLUSION: Green tea mouthwash displayed a significant reduction in plaque index, gingival index and sulcular bleeding index. 0.5% green tea catechin has equivalent anti-plaque efficacy as 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate and can be considered a potent alternative to prevent and treat gingival diseases.

Transcriptomic Profiling of Rectus Abdominis Muscle in Women with Gestational Diabetes-Induced Myopathy: Characterization of Pathophysiology and Potential Muscle Biomarkers of Pregnancy-Specific Urinary Incontinence.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is recognized as a "window of opportunity" for the future prediction of such complications as type 2 diabetes mellitus and pelvic floor muscle disorders, including urinary incontinence and genitourinary dysfunction. Translational studies have reported that pelvic floor muscle disorders are due to a GDM-induced-myopathy (GDiM) of the pelvic floor muscle and rectus abdominis muscle (RAM). We now describe the transcriptome profiling of the RAM obtained by Cesarean section from GDM and non-GDM women with and without pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence (PSUI). We identified 650 genes in total, and the differentially expressed genes were defined by comparing three control groups to the GDM with PSUI group (GDiM). Enrichment analysis showed that GDM with PSUI was associated with decreased gene expression related to muscle structure and muscle protein synthesis, the reduced ability of muscle fibers to ameliorate muscle damage, and the altered the maintenance and generation of energy through glycogenesis. Potential genetic muscle biomarkers were validated by RT-PCR, and their relationship to the pathophysiology of the disease was verified. These findings help elucidate the molecular mechanisms of GDiM and will promote the development of innovative interventions to prevent and treat complications such as post-GDM urinary incontinence.

A Facile Synthesis of Cellulose Nanofibers from Corn Cob and Rice Straw by Acid Hydrolysis Method.

Agricultural residues are suitable to make useful products that can potentially replace the non-biodegradable polymeric materials. In the present work, corn cob and rice S=straw is quantitatively transformed to cellulose by alkali treatment preceded by bleaching. The obtained cellulose is changed into nanocellulose (NC) by the acid hydrolysis method followed by ultrasonication. Further NC was characterized by FTIR to study its functional regions and XRD for crystallinity. Thermal properties have been studied using TGA/DTA. The surface morphology of nanocellulose was done using SEM and TEM. The obtained results revealed remarkable thermal stability, semi-crystalline and fibrous nature of both corn cob and rice straw. The size of the cellulose is in the nanoscale dimension. This work provides the way to utilize corn cob and rice straw as a more useful raw material for many applications.

Comparison of clinical outcomes of non-surgical adjunctive use of the 980-nm diode laser to conventional periodontal flap procedure-a randomised controlled split-mouth clinical trial.

Lasers have been found to be effective as an adjunctive in periodontal therapy. The objective of the study was to compare the outcomes of non-surgical adjunctive use of 980-nm diode laser to that of conventional flap surgery in terms of clinical outcome measures and radiographic osseous defect depths. This study was designed as a double-blinded split-mouth randomised controlled clinical trial. A total of fifteen patients (30 quadrants) with generalised periodontitis stage III grade B were randomly assigned test group (diode laser) and control group (conventional flap surgery). Both test and control groups had 15 quadrants each. At 3 months, the probing pocket depth (PPD) was 3.46 ± 0.19 mm (test) and 4.20 ± 0.20 mm (control), with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.01). Similarly, at 6 months re-evaluation, PPD was 1.46 ± 0.12 mm (test) and 2.33 ± 0.13 mm (control) with a highly significant statistical difference (p = 0.001). Plaque index showed a difference between both test and control groups at baseline, 3 months and 6 months (p = 0.001) while gingival index, modified sulcular bleeding index and radiographic osseous defect depth showed a difference at 3 months and 6 months (p = 0.001). Within the study's limitations, 980-nm diode laser can result in significant improvements in the clinical and radiographic parameters and is very well tolerated by the subjects.

A study on the association between the inferior nasal turbinate volume and the maxillary sinus mucosal lining using cone beam tomography.

Objectives: The volume of the inferior turbinates (IT) and the lining of the maxillary sinuses are important parameters when assessing sino-nasal diseases. However, no radiographic studies have investigated the correlation between these parameters. The present study was conducted to analyze the association between IT volumes and thickness of maxillary sinus mucosal lining. Materials and methods: A retrospective evaluation of the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 100 adult subjects was carried out by two radiologists. The scans were assigned to two groups (Group 1 & 2) based on the radiographic evidence of maxillary sinus lining in the CBCT scans. Group 1 consisted of 50 CBCT scans of subjects with no evidence of maxillary sinus mucosal lining, whereas Group 2 consisted of 50 subjects with evidence of maxillary sinus mucosal lining. The scans in the Group 2 were further sub-classified into five categories, based on the thickness of the maxillary sinus mucosal lining. Vesalius 3D software was used to evaluate the total volume of inferior nasal turbinates by the two radiologists and a mean volume was obtained for each study subject. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the volumetric estimations performed by the two radiologist was 0.87. Analysis of the results revealed that there was no significant gender-based difference (Group 1, P = 0.67 and Group 2, P = 0.95) in the total turbinate volume in either of the study groups. The total turbinate volume did not show any significant correlation (Group 1, r = 0.24 and Group 2, r = 0.12) with the age. There was a significant increase (P = 0.001) in the total turbinate volume of the subjects in Group 2 compared to Group 1. Regression analysis revealed that the thickness of sinus lining correlated significantly (P = 0.001) with the total turbinate volume. Conclusion: An increase in the total turbinate volume has been associated with an increase in the thickness of the maxillary sinus mucosal lining. The data from this study will be useful for post-operative follow-up of inferior turbinates and maxillary sinus lining after the turbinate volume reduction procedures.

Validation of the Brazilian Version of the RMS Tactile Scale (B-RMS-TS).

This study aimed to validate the Brazilian version of the RMS Tactile Scale (B-RMS-TS) in children and adolescents with visual impairment. Ten visually impaired children and adolescents between 10 and 17 years old of an Educational Center for Visually Impaired People answered the verbalized Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), and the DAS in Braille to evaluate their dental anxiety levels. B-RMS-TS construct validity was assessed by convergent and discriminant validity. Convergent validity was tested in two ways: Pearson's correlation between the B-RMS-TS and the overall anxiety question; Pearson's correlation between B-RMS-TS and verbalized DAS and DAS in Braille. B-RMS-TS reliability was measured by internal consistency (Cronbach's alfa and McDonald's omega) and test-retest reliability (ICC). B-RMS-TS was moderately correlated to the overall anxiety question (r=0.493;p=0.147). B-RMS-TS showed excellent correlation with verbalized DAS (r=0.971;p<0.001) and DAS in Braille (r=0.934;p<0.011). B-RMS-TS was able to discriminate dental anxiety levels between male and female (p=0.008). The B-RMS-TS demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.661, McDonald's omega=0.700 and ICC=0.987; 95%CI=0.817-0.999). B-RMS-TS is valid and reliable to measure dental anxiety levels in Brazilian children and adolescents with visual impairment.

A study on the association between accessory maxillary ostium and maxillary sinus mucosal thickening using cone beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Accessory maxillary ostium (AMO) has a major role to play in the aetiology of maxillary sinusitis. Mucosal thickening is one of the key radiographic features of chronic maxillary sinusitis. The aim of this study was to identify the location of the AMOs and investigate the association between Mucosal Thickening [MT] and AMO using Cone Beam Computed Tomography [CBCT]. METHODS: CBCT scans of 400 maxillary sinuses from the records of 200 patients who seeked various dental treatments at the Thumbay Dental Hospital, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates were evaluated. The incidence, anatomical position and maximal length of accessory maxillary ostia (AMO) in the maxillary antrum were reviewed using CBCT by two examiners. The association between MTs and AMOs were also analysed. RESULTS: Among the 200 CBCT scans, 131 belonged to male patients and 69 scans belonged to female subjects within the age group of 18-65 years (mean age 41.32 years). AMOs were found in 142 maxillary antra (35.5 %). The inter-observer reliability for using CBCT to detect AMO was (k = 0.83). There was no significant difference in the frequency of AMOs when the age (P = 0.19) and gender (P = 0.54) distribution were considered. Sinuses with AMOs, showed significantly greater frequency of MTs (p = 0.001). AMOs with maximal length of less than 1mm were most commonly observed (51.40 %). AMOs with larger greater maximal length were associated with higher degrees of MT. The location of the AMOs, were not affected by the degree of MT. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates a clear association between degree of MT and occurrence of AMO in the maxillary sinus. However, the location of the AMO is independent of the degree of the MT. There is a greater probability of finding an AMO in the maxillary sinus if the MT in the sinus is more than 3 mm.