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.

Artificial intelligence in early diagnosis and prevention of oral cancer.

The global occurrence of oral cancer (OC) has increased in recent years. OC that is diagnosed in its advanced stages results in morbidity and mortality. The use of technology may be beneficial for early detection and diagnosis and thus help the clinician with better patient management. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve OC screening. AI can precisely analyze an enormous dataset from various imaging modalities and provide assistance in the field of oncology. This review focused on the applications of AI in the early diagnosis and prevention of OC. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Scopus databases using the search terminology "oral cancer" and "artificial intelligence." Further information regarding the topic was collected by scrutinizing the reference lists of selected articles. Based on the information obtained, this article reviews and discusses the applications and advantages of AI in OC screening, early diagnosis, disease prediction, treatment planning, and prognosis. Limitations and the future scope of AI in OC research are also highlighted.

Status of thiocyanate levels in the serum and saliva of non-smokers, ex-smokers and smokers.

BACKGROUND: Use of tobacco is often implicated in the development of oral diseases. Questionable accuracy of the traditional questionnaires to assess cigarette exposure necessitates the use of biomarkers like thiocyanate which provide a definitive quantitative measure. OBJECTIVE: To assess the rise in the level of thiocyanate for measurement of smoking behaviour in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum and salivary thiocyanate levels were estimated in 20 non-smokers, 20 ex-smokers and 40 smokers. Smokers were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of oral mucosal lesions. RESULTS: The mean serum and salivary thiocyanate levels were increased significantly in smokers when compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers. The levels were not significantly different between ex-smokers and non-smokers and between smokers with tobacco related oral mucosal lesions and those without. Statistically significant correlation was seen between the serum and salivary levels of thiocyanate. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the high level of thiocyanate in the serum and saliva of smokers when compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers. Significant increase in thiocyanate level was also seen in saliva. Hence it can be stated that saliva can be used as a reliable, non-invasive tool to assess smoking behaviour in the population and its changes over time.

Evaluation of salivary tumour necrosis factor-alpha in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

PURPOSE: Present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the salivary levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in subjects with RAS, traumatic ulcers (TUs) in the oral mucosa and in healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Present study involved 90 participants of which 30 subjects were diagnosed with RAS, 30 subjects with TUs and 30 healthy controls grouped as group 1, group 2 and group 3 respectively. Unstimulated saliva was collected from the subjects through 'Spit Technique' and the estimation of TNF-α was done by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The data collected was statistically analysed. RESULTS: Salivary level of TNF-α was significantly higher in RAS patients than in patients with TUs and healthy controls. Difference between the Salivary TNF-α level in our study groups were statistically significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Present study suggests that saliva is a convenient and ideal medium for the detection of TNF-α. Statistically significant difference in the level of salivary TNF-α between the RAS and TUs subjects as well as controls suggests the significant contribution of TNF-α in pathogenesis of RAS.

Clinical and radiographic features of parry-romberg syndrome.

Parry-Romberg syndrome or progressive hemifacial atrophy is a craniofacial disorder characterized by slow and progressive atrophy, generally unilateral, of facial tissues including muscles, bones and skin. The coup de sabre is a clear line of demarcation seen between the normal and abnormal structures. The severity of the facial deformity is dependent on the age of onset of the disease. Cosmetic management is the only available treatment and has to be delayed until facial growth is completed. The present case report deals with a 43-year-old woman with progressive hemifacial atrophy which started from the age of 10 months. Despite almost complete involvement of the right paramedian area and the early age of onset, she had neither eye changes nor any dental malformations.

Rare features associated with Mobius syndrome: Report of two cases.

Mobius syndrome is a rare congenital disorder with the preliminary diagnostic criteria of congenital facial and abducent nerve palsy. Involvement of other cranial nerves, too, is common. Prevalence rate of this syndrome is approximately 1 in 100,000 neonates. It is of unknown etiology with sporadic occurrence. However, data regarding the occurrence rate in India is limited. Features such as orofacial malformations, limb defects, and musculoskeletal, behavioral, and cognitive abnormalities might be associated. A thorough evaluation to identify the condition and establishing an adequate treatment plan is of utmost important in this condition. We are reporting clinical and radiographic features of Mobius syndrome in two cases along with unusual findings of limb and neck deformity.

Human Papilloma Virus Associated Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Oral cancer is one of the commonest causes for mortality and morbidity with squamous cell carcinoma being the sixth most frequent malignant tumour worldwide. In addition to tobacco and alcohol, human papilloma virus (HPV) is associated with a proportion of head and neck cancers. As in cervical cancers, HPV types 16 and 18 are the cause of malignant transformation. HPV-positive cancers of head and neck have unique characteristics such as occurrence in a younger age group, distinct clinical and molecular features, and better prognosis as compared to HPV-negative carcinomas. They also possess the potential for prevention by using vaccination. The present review describes in detail the salient features of HPV associated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), its differences from HPV-negative OSCC, diagnostic features, and recent strategies in prevention and management.

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus : A future antimicrobial agent?

Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs) are small, predatory, Deltaproteobacteria that prey on other Gram-negative pathogens. Many authors have unfolded the possible use of BALOs as biological control agents in environmental as well as medical microbiological settings. They are found strongly associated with natural biofilms and recent studies have shown that effective predation occurs in these naturally occurring bacterial communities. Periodontal infections could also be an interesting target for the application of BALOs as biological Gram-negative bacteria and therefore potentially susceptible to BALOs antimicrobial agents. This proposition is based on the fact that almost all periodontal pathogens are predation. Accordingly, this review aims to present the evolution toward applying Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus as an antibacterial agent to deal with oral infections, general medical conditions, environmental and industrial issues.

Intraoral Burkitt's lymphoma in an HIV positive patient.

Burkitt's lymphoma is an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma composed of malignant cells of B lymphocyte origin. Burkitt's lymphoma is a rarity in the Indian subcontinent. Though intraoral Burkitt's lymphoma in HIV positive individuals is very uncommon, its importance lies in the fact that it is often the first sign of the underlying immunosuppression. We present a case of Burkitt's lymphoma in right maxillary region which was the first manifestation of HIV in the patient.

Imaging and histopathological features of Jacob's disease: a case study.

A pathologically elongated coronoid process forming a joint with the zygomatic arch and bone is termed as "Jacob's disease." Herein, we present a case of Jacob's disease, which has rarely been reported in the literature. Moreover, very few cases have been reported from the Indian subcontinent. A 28 years-old male reported to us with progressive restriction of mouth opening. After detailed imaging, coronoidectomy was performed through an intraoral approach. A mushroom-shaped gross specimen was obtained. Osteochondroma of the coronoid process was diagnosed based on the histopathologic examination of the excised tissue. Although Jacob's disease is seldom considered in the list of differential diagnoses for restricted mouth opening, our case highlights the need for evaluation of the coronoid process, which is usually ignored during routine radiographic examination. The report also highlights the miniscule incidence of this condition in the available literature.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the buccal mucosa: A case report and review of the literature.

Adenoid cystic carcinomas are deceptive malignancies that show slow growth and local invasion with recurrences seen many years after diagnosis. Upto 50% of these tumors occur in the intraoral minor salivary glands usually in the hard palate. Buccal mucosal tumors are relatively rare. We determined the incidence of buccal mucosal adenoid cystic carcinoma by reviewing the number of reported cases in the literature. This is the first article to analyze the occurrence of adenoid cystic carcinomas in the buccal mucosa through a review of 41 articles. Our review revealed 178 buccal mucosal adenoid cystic carcinomas among a total of 2,280 reported cases. We present a case of adenoid cystic carcinoma occurring in the left buccal mucosa of a 45-year-old female.

The varying clinical presentations of peripheral ossifying fibroma: a report of three cases / As diversas apresentações de fibroma ossificante periférico: relato de três casos

PURPOSE: Gingival growths are one of the most frequently encountered lesions in the oral cavity. Most of these lesions are innocuous, but some do have malignant potential. Different lesions with similar clinical presentations make it difficult to arrive at a correct diagnosis. One of the infrequently occurring gingival lesions is peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF). Lesions with histological features similar to POF have been given various names, adding to the confusion. We report the varied clinicopathological features of 3 cases of POF, discuss the contentious nomenclature and investigate the possible etiopathogenesis of this disease. CASE DESCRIPTION: Three cases of gingival growths (POF) are reported. Two of the lesions occurred in the maxillary anterior region, while the third occurred in the mandibular posterior region. Two of the cases showed radiographic evidence of bone loss. An excision biopsy was performed in all three cases. CONCLUSION: Because the rate of recurrence for peripheral ossifying fibroma is 8% to 20%, close postoperative monitoring is required. It is also necessary to use consistent and specific nomenclature in the literature to avoid confusion and the loss of important data.

OBJETIVO: Crescimentos gengivais são uma das doenças mais frequentemente encontradas na cavidade oral. A maioria dessas lesões são inócuas, mas alguns têm potencial maligno. Lesões diferentes com apresentações clínicas semelhantes tornam difícil um diagnóstico correto. Uma das lesões gengivais que ocorre raramente é o fibroma ossificante periférico (FOP). Lesões com características histológicas semelhantes ao FOP têm nomenclatura diferente, aumentando a confusão. Este artigo relata as características clinico-patológicos de 3 casos de fibroma ossificante periférico. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Três casos de FOP são relatados. Duas das lesões ocorreram na região anterior da maxila, enquanto a terceira localizava-se na região posterior da mandíbula. Dois dos casos apresentaram evidências radiográficas de perda óssea. Biópsia excisional foi realizada em todos os três casos. CONCLUSÃO: Como a taxa de recorrência para FOP é de 8% a 20%, o monitoramento pós-operatório é necessário. Deve-se utilizar nomenclatura consistente e específica na literatura para evitar confusão e perda de dados importantes.

Pleomorphic adenoma of the soft palate: myoepithelial cell predominant.

The pleomorphic adenoma is the most common salivary gland tumor. A remarkable morphological diversity can exist from one tumor to the next. We present here a case of pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary glands of the soft palate which had predominantly myoepithelial cells with minimal stroma, ductal cells, or tubular elements.