Relationships between perception of black triangles appearance, personality factors and level of education.

This analytical cross-sectional study evaluated the perception of black triangles (BT) and examined the relationships between the perception of BT, personality factors, different educational backgrounds and demographic factors. 435 participants were included and divided into four groups: dentists, clinical (4th and 5th year) dental students, pre-clinical (3rd year) dental students, and laypeople. Participants' perception of the attractiveness of smile profiles of maxillary and mandibular anterior dentition with BT was rated using a ten-point VAS scale with 0 being the least, and 10 being the most attractive smile profile. The personality was assessed using the NEO-FFI personality questionnaire. The smile profile with multiple large BT was rated the least attractive for the maxillary (mean = 3.6) and mandibular (mean = 3.9) tested profiles. The smile profile without BT was rated the most attractive for the maxillary (mean = 9.1) and mandibular (mean = 8.8) tested profiles. The dental professionals perceived the maxillary smile profile with multiple large BT as less attractive than the non-dental participants (t = - 2.715, P = 0.007). Being a male, having dental education, having lower Neuroticism scores, as well as having higher Openness, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Extraversion scores predicted and contributed more towards perceiving various tested smile profiles as more attractive. These findings show that black triangles negatively impacts the perception of smile attractiveness, and that personality traits and having dental education impact the perception of smile attractiveness for smiles with black triangles.

Comparative evaluation of open tray impression technique: investigating the precision of four splinting materials in multiple implants.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the relative positioning accuracy of multiple implants utilizing four distinct types of splinting materials. METHODS: The purpose of this in-vitro study was to compare the precision of four splinting materials in an open tray impression technique in multiple implant situations. Based on the material used for splinting, four groups were made (n = 40)- Group A: Conventional Method, Group B: Prefabricated Pattern Resin Framework, Group C: Prefabricated Metal Framework, Group D: Light Cured Pattern Resin, these groups were compared with the master model. A heat-cured clear acrylic resin and a master model were constructed. A pilot milling machine drill was used to drill four parallel holes in the anterior and premolar regions, which were later labeled as A, B, C, and D positions from right to left. Then, sequential drilling was carried out, and four 3.75­mm diameter and 13-mm long ADIN implant analogs with internal hex were placed in the acrylic model using a surveyor for proper orientation. The impression posts were then manually screwed to the implant analogs using an open tray, and they were secured to the implants using 10 mm flat head guide pins with a 15 N.cm torque. 10 Open tray polyether impressions were made, and casts were poured. Each splinting method's distortion values were measured using a coordinate measuring machine capable of recordings in the X-, Y-, and Z-axes. Comparison of mean distances for X1, X2, and X3 was made using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Pairwise comparison was done using Post Hoc Tukey's Test. RESULTS: The differences between the groups were significant when assessing the distances X1, X2, and X3 (p < 0.05). The comparison of deviations between the groups revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) for the deviation distance X3 but not for the deviation distances X1 and X2. For distance Y1, the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p0.05), but it was not significant for distances Y2 and Y3. A statistically significant difference was seen in the comparison between the groups (p < 0.05) for the deviation distances Y1, Y2, and Y3. The results were statistically significant for the distance Z1 comparisons, namely, control vs. Group A (p = 0.012), control vs. Group B (p = 0.049), control vs. Group C (p = 0.048), and control vs. Group D (p = 0.021), and for distance Z3 comparison for control vs. Group A (p = 0.033). The results were statistically insignificant for the distance Z2 comparisons (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: All splinting materials produced master casts with measurements in close proximity to the reference model. However, prefabricated pattern resin bars splinting showed the highest accuracy among the studied techniques. The most recent splinting techniques using prefabricated metal framework and light-cure pattern resin showed similar accuracy.

Influence of Prosthodontic Rehabilitation Using Zygomatic Implants in Covid 19 Related Mucormycosis (Rhino-Orbital-Cerebral) Maxillectomy Patients Upon Post-Operative Stress, Anxiety and Functional Impairment: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To determine the influence of prosthodontic rehabilitation using zygomatic implants in partial maxillectomy upon post-operative stress, anxiety and functional impairment, due to covid 19 associated rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM). Patients and Methods: Twenty maxillectomy patients fulfilling study criterion, received zygomatic implants (ZI) (quad zygoma) (ZDI Simpladent, Switzerland) retained/supported complete maxillary denture. Assessment of stress, anxiety, masticatory performance and speech were determined using diurnal salivary cortisol level, Appearance Anxiety Inventory, multiple sieve technique and auditory perception analysis, respectively. Data were recorded at 6 different stages of rehabilitation (after maxillectomy, implant placement, and after prosthesis delivery (1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year)). Demographic data were expressed as frequency distribution, while mean values were used to find differences between various rehabilitation stages using Friedman and chi-square test with statistical significance value at p < 0.05. Results: Average daily salivary cortisol levels declined from post maxillectomy (22.80 ± 0.902) to 1 year after prosthesis wearing (8.65 ± 0.985), indicating stress reduction after ZI rehabilitation. Mean scores for appearance anxiety reduced from pre-prosthetic rehabilitation (27.350 ± 3.030) to 1 year (8.950 ± 0.887) following prosthesis wearing. Functional parameters for mastication and speech also improved significantly during the course of rehabilitation. All differences between pre-prosthetic to 1-year stage after prosthesis wearing were found to be statistically significant at p < 0.05. Conclusion: Post ROCM maxillectomy cases after prosthetic rehabilitation using zygomatic implants showed significant improvement in the psychological (stress and anxiety) as well as function (mastication and speech) characteristics. Rehabilitation post ROCM maxillectomy with the present approach of fixed prosthesis using zygomatic implants mitigates deficient mastication and speech. It also impacts positively on patient psychology by decreasing stress and anxiety.

A Critical Evaluation of the Undergraduate Endodontic Teaching in Dental Colleges of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the research was to evaluate the content and delivery of the undergraduate endodontic curriculum. METHODS: A needs assessment survey was distributed among the Deans of all the dental colleges in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: The response rate was 72%. All the colleges include foundational and advanced topics in their curriculum. Didactic lectures, clinical cases, self-directed learning assignments and projects, and videos are the most common teaching methods, whereas virtual learning and reading list are the least popular methods. The average staff-to-student ratio for preclinical and clinical training is 1:6 and 1:7, respectively. Eighty-six percent of colleges utilize dedicated endodontic clinics supervised by specialized endodontists. Eighty percent of colleges use simple cases for canal preparation and obturation. Most colleges do not use magnification and ultrasonic instruments. Saline and sodium hypochlorite are preferred irrigation solutions, whereas calcium hydroxide is the preferred inter-visit medicament. Many use MTA as an advanced material, calcium hydroxide as an inter-visit medicament, and provisional restoration after RCT. CONCLUSION: The content and delivery of the endodontic undergraduate curriculum are primarily uniform. The use of specialist endodontists dedicated endodontic clinics, rotary instruments, and advanced materials have emerged as curricular strengths. However, diversification of teaching strategies, use of magnification instruments, and an increase in the minimum number of endodontically treated teeth are leading areas demanding curricular improvement.