Teaching Dental Students to Understand the Temporomandibular Joint Using MRI: Comparison of Conventional and Digital Learning Methods.

The aims of this study were to evaluate and compare the performance of dental students in interpreting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans using two learning methods (conventional and digital interactive learning) and to examine the usability of the digital learning object (DLO). The DLO consisted of tutorials about MRI and anatomic and functional aspects of the TMJ. In 2014, dental students in their final year of study who were enrolled in the elective "MRI Interpretation of the TMJ" course comprised the study sample. After exclusions for nonattendance and other reasons, 29 of the initial 37 students participated in the study, for a participation rate of 78%. The participants were divided into two groups: a digital interactive learning group (n=14) and a conventional learning group (n=15). Both methods were assessed by an objective test applied before and after training and classes. Aspects such as support and training requirements, complexity, and consistency of the DLO were also evaluated using the System Usability Scale (SUS). A significant between-group difference in the posttest results was found, with the conventional learning group scoring better than the DLO group, indicated by mean scores of 9.20 and 8.11, respectively, out of 10. However, when the pretest and posttest results were compared, both groups showed significantly improved performance. The SUS score was 89, which represented a high acceptance of the DLO by the users. The students who used the conventional method of learning showed superior performance in interpreting the TMJ using MRI compared to the group that used digital interactive learning.

Diagnostic reproducibility of temporomandibular joint using magnetic resonance imaging at 05 and 15 Tesla

Magnetic resonance imaging is described as the reference standard for the evaluation of temporomandibular joint soft tissues; however, the literature shows conflicting results regarding the reproducibility of this method. Objective: this study aimed to assess the reproducibility of temporomandibular joint diagnoses using magnetic resonance imaging at 0.5 and 1.5 Tesla. Methods: a trained observer analyzed 212 temporomandibular joint images (134 at 0.5T and 78 at 1.5T) and diagnosed the presence or absence of nine conditions. Results: overall agreement was over 80% in both magnetic resonance units, with no significant differences (P > 0.05). Images at 0.5T and 1.5T provided excellent reproducibility for anterior disc displacement without reduction (κ = 0.82 and 0.80, respectively), hypermobility (κ = 0.84 and 0.90), and hypomobility (κ = 0.80 and 0.95), while fair to moderate values were obtained for anterior disc displacement with reduction (κ = 0.48 and 0.42) and disc shape changes (κ = 0.45 and 0.37). Conclusion: magnetic resonance imaging diagnoses at 0.5T and 1.5T presented good agreement. However, the lowest reproducibility for anterior disc displacement with reduction and disc shape change reveals the difficulty to diagnose these disorders.

The presence of calcifications along the course of internal carotid artery in Greek and Brazilian populations: a comparative and retrospective cone beam CT data analysis.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to retrospectively compare the prevalence of soft tissue calcifications (STCs) depicted incidentally along the extra- and intracranial course of the internal carotid artery (ICA) on cone beam computed tomography examinations in 2 different populations (Greeks and Brazilians). METHODS: The cohort consisted of examinations of 232 Greeks and 174 Brazilians, for a total of 406 patients. The scans were evaluated for the presence of STCs along the course of the ICA, with data analyzed in each ethnic group according to gender and age criteria. RESULTS: In total, 355 STCs were recorded; 78 (22.0% of all STCs) and 58 (16.3%) were extracranials, and 128 (36.1%) and 91 (25.6%) were intracranials for Greeks and Brazilians, respectively. The χ(2) test indicated no statistical differences between Greeks and Brazilians in the occurrence of STCs; however, their prevalence differed between genders in those populations. The presence of lesions, both extra- and intracranially, was found to increase with age (P < .05). The odds ratios were estimated at 2.23 (95% CI, 1.81-2.74) and 3.26 (95% CI, 2.56-4.16) for extracranial and intracranial lesions, respectively, with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS: We found an equal distribution for both extra- and intracranial STCs among Greeks and Brazilians. The prevalence of lesions differed between genders within both populations. Aging was found to be a risk factor for STCs, as the odds ratio increased significantly.