Evaluation of Styloid Process Elongation in Madinah, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Radiographic Investigation.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of an elongated styloid process and analyze the presence of its calcification in the Saudi population using panoramic radiographs. METHODS: The Taibah Outpatient Dental Clinic's OPG radiographs for 962 patients who attended screening clinics between December 2022 and October 2023 were all included in the study. Patients' demographics, such as age, gender, and nationality, as well as radiological data, were included in the following study variables: the presence of an elongated styloid on both sides of a panoramic radiograph, right side styloid length, left side styloid length, right side distal end thickness, and left side distal end thickness. RESULTS: The study evaluated 438 (45.5%) processes found in individuals aged 16-80 years old. The elongated process length ranged from 30.0 to 40.1 mm, and the diameter ranged from 0.81 to 7.79 mm at the origin to 0.56-3.79 mm at the end. There was no statistically significant difference in process length across genders or age groups. The diameters of the styloid bones on the left side vary significantly across genders at the start and completion of the process. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of elongated styloids in the studied population was 4.26%. The radiological evaluation of the styloid process is a crucial stage in dental surgery planning.

Quantitative and qualitative 3D analysis of mandibular lingual concavities: Implications for dental implant planning in the posterior mandible.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the type of ridge (degree of angulation of the lingual concavity) and the buccolingual dimensions in the area of the first and second molars in both genders of different ages and how this will affect implant placement in the posterior mandible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study comprised cone beam computed tomography images of 150 dental patients (75 males and 71 aged ≥30). The following were measured/reported: type (morphology) of the ridge (convex [C], parallel [P], or undercut [U]), buccolingual width at the base and the crest of the ridge, and ridge height. The concavity angle, depth, and length of the U-shaped ridge were measured too. RESULTS: The prevalence of type U ridge ranged from 32.7% in the first molar region to 62.7% in the second molar region. Almost all measurements and ridge type distributions were comparable amongst the age groups (p > .05). Very few significant differences were found when comparing #36 versus #37 and #46 versus #47 teeth, with no differences in the distribution of the ridge types (p > .05). Quite the inverse, all measurements were statistically different when comparing #36 versus #37 and #46 versus #47 teeth, and type U ridge was more frequent in second molar compared to the first molar regions, respectively (p < .05). Many measurements were statistically higher in females; the inverse was true for a few measurements (p < .05). Type U ridge in #36 and #37 was found more frequently among males (p < .001). In contrast, the ridge types in #37 and #47 were not statistically different gender-wise. CONCLUSIONS: The U type of ridge was more prevalent in the investigated population, encountered more frequently in the second molars generally and in the first molars of males than females. Most posterior mandibular measurements are similar age- and side-wise but seem different gender- and tooth-wise.

Prevalence and Characteristics of the Maxillary Sinus Septa in a Saudi Arabian Sub-population: A Retrospective Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)-Based Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate and determine the prevalence, location, and morphological differences of the maxillary sinus septa using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in the Madina region and to discuss its clinical implications during sinus surgery. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional radiographic analysis of 808 CBCT scans from patients who attended Taibah University's College of Dentistry between December 2018 and June 2023. Age, gender, number of septa present per side, location (anterior, middle, posterior), morphology (complete or partial), and type (primary or secondary) were among the study variables. For data statistics, correlation analysis was utilized.  Results: Eight hundred eight CBCT scans were included with a mean age of 34.7±15.08. Septal bone was absent in 60.64% of the sinuses examined. Single septa were more common than multiple septa (p=0.009). Bilateral septal presence and the left septal bone were more common than the right, but none of these distributions were statistically significant. Males showed more sinus septa compared to females, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.420). Single septa were more prevalent in people under the age of 25. CONCLUSION: More than 60% of the Madina population had patent sinus cavities with no septal processes, but males with single septal processes predominated.