Evaluation of the relation between the maxillary sinus and the posterior teeth using digital panoramic radiography.

This research aimed to determine the relationship between the maxillary posterior teeth and maxillary sinus floor (MSF), as well as the impact of nearby tooth loss on the space between MSF and posterior maxillary roots. A number of 120 digital panoramic radiographs were obtained from the archives of several clinics in Al-Najaf, Iraq, with the overall teeth examined in these radiographs including 236 of the 1st premolars, 227 of the 2nd premolars, 227 of the 1st molars, and 231 of the 2nd molars, from the right and left sides. The distances between the apices of the teeth and the maxillary sinus were determined. There are three categories of relationships between upper posterior teeth roots and MSF. These include type Os (root apex exists below or outside MSF), Type Co (root apex in contact with the MSF), and Type Is (root apex above or inside MSF). Type Os is the most encountered among premolars, Type Co is mostly encountered among the 2nd molars, and Type Is, in the 1st and 2nd molars. The study finds no correlation between age, gender, and the distribution of maxillary posterior tooth roots attached to the MSF. The first premolars were the furthest from MS, while the first molars were the closest. The most frequent link between maxillary molar roots and the MS was the Co-relation for the 2nd maxillary molar and the Is relation for the 1st maxillary molar. There is a non-significant decrease in the distance between the apices of the 1st maxillary premolar, 2nd maxillary premolar, and 1st maxillary molar and the MS before and after extraction.

Oral Manifestations Associated with COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study of Recovered Iraqi Patients.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of oral manifestations related to COVID-19 infection among a sample of recovered patients in the Basrah province of Iraq. Methodology. This cross-sectional study included a total of 574 individuals from Basrah city, Iraq (196 males and 378 females), who had been previously infected with COVID-19. A questionnaire was developed and used to record the demographic data, medical history, severity of respiratory infection followed by hospitalization along with oral signs and symptoms that occurred during the COVID-19 infection and their persistence after recovery. Results: Oral manifestations were reported in 88.3% of the studied sample. The most common oral manifestation was ageusia (66.8%), followed by dry mouth (59%), gustatory changes (46%), dysphagia (40.5%), burning sensation (20.8%), oral ulceration (14.5%), and gingival bleeding (3.3%). The findings suggested that ageusia was the only symptom that persisted following recovery from the COVID-19 infection. The results showed a significant statistical correlation between the incidence of oral manifestations and the severity of COVID-19 infection followed by hospitalization. A significant correlation was also found between the age groups and COVID-19 oral manifestations, whereas no significant statistical relationship was observed between gender, smoking, and systemic diseases. Conclusions: COVID-19 infection has considerable impacts on the oral cavity and salivary glands and after recovery from the infection, some patients continue to complain of ageusia for several months. There is a positive correlation between the incidence of oral signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection and the severity of the infection.

Marginal Fit of Porcelain Laminate Veneer Materials under Thermocycling Condition: An In-Vitro Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cervical marginal fit of porcelain laminate veneer (PLV) restorations made from two different types of CAD/CAM ceramic laminates: CEREC C PC and E.max (LD). Materials and Methods: This in-vitro experiment used a total of 32 human maxillary first premolars that were clean and free of any cracks or caries, extracted for orthodontic purposes. The samples were divided in a random way into two study groups: A and B (n = 16). Each sample was mounted on a dental surveyor and a silicon impression was made to create a silicone index for each tooth in both groups. Standardized preparation was carried out for all the samples by using preparation bur kit for the ceramic veneer system. Subsequently, digital impressions were made for all the samples by using Trios 3 shape intraoral camera (Sirona Dental Systems). The design of veneer restorations was made using Sirona inLab CAD SW 16.1 with CEREC inLab MC XL (Dentsply, Sirona Dental Systems, Bensheim, Germany). The veneer restorations were cemented using 3M RelyX veneer resin cement (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) and the samples kept in distilled water for two weeks at 37 °C. All the specimens were subjected to thermocycling in a water bath with temperature varying between 5 °C and 55 °C for 500 cycles. The cervical marginal fit of veneers was evaluated by a digital microscope after sectioning the embedded teeth in acrylic resin. Results: The lowest mean of cervical marginal gap was recorded for Group A (91.59431 ± 1.626069) which was restored with CEREC CAD/CAM veneers, while the highest mean value of the gap was recorded for Group B (106.48863 ± 2.506684) which was restored with IPS E.max CAD. The t-test showed that the type of porcelain veneer restoration had a highly significant effect on the cervical marginal fit (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: CEREC CAD/CAM veneers showed smaller cervical marginal gaps, indicating a better fit compared to the IPS E.max CAD.