Midpalatal suture maturation in 15- to 35-year-olds: morphological assessment in the coronal plane using CBCT-an exploratory study.

Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is used in patients presenting transverse maxillary deficiency. However, RME may be unpredictable after late adolescence if the midpalatal sutural maturation stage (MPMS) is in late stage. Since MPMS evaluation is influenced by the expertise of the operator and image quality, this classification method could be complemented. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the morphology of the midpalatal suture (MPS) and its surrounding bone in the coronal plane using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of adolescents and young adults and to correlate the findings with their respective MPMS status. CBCT scans of 200 patients aged 15-35 years of both sexes were evaluated. MPS and surrounding bone tissue characteristics in the coronal and axial sections were analyzed, and MPMS was evaluated (A to E). Six categories were identified for the coronal evaluation, analyzing it in 2 standardized locations. Sutural morphology: I, hypodense sutural line limited by 2 hyper-dense para-sutural lines; II, hypodense sutural line; and III, suture not visible. The presence of para-sutural cancellous bone: CB0, compact bone; CB1, dense cancellous tissue; CB2, spaced cancellous bone. Midpalatal bone thickness (MBTh) was also measured. ANOVA-Bonferroni, chi-square, logistic regression and t-tests were used. MPMS increased with age. Sutural morphology I and CB0 bone were the most prevalent. Here we show that sutural morphology, para-sutural bone characteristics, and MPSM were significantly associated. The coronal evaluation of the MPS can complement the information from the MPSM assessment, allowing the identification of patent MPS even in the presence of late MPSM.

Contrasting student and staff perceptions of preclinical-to-clinical transition at a Chilean dental school.

INTRODUCTION: Dental education is a challenging and demanding field of study as students are expected to acquire various competencies to fulfil their professional requirements after graduation. The objective of this study was to investigate and compare dental students' and clinical staff instructors' perceptions of the preclinical-to-clinical transition training at a Dental School in Santiago, Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two questionnaires containing 11 quantitative and one qualitative item were developed to assess our year three, four and five (n = 244) dental undergraduate students' challenges when they begin treating patients, and clinical staff (n = 78) perceptions of the preparedness to treat patients of the same students. Both questionnaires were voluntarily and anonymously implemented eight weeks after the beginning of the 2019 academic year. Responses were analysed using a Chi-squared test for each quantitative question, while qualitative comments were studied to form themes and dimensions. RESULTS: A total of 234 (96%) students and 60 (77%) instructors completed their respective questionnaire. There were considerable variations between students in the different years of the programme, as well as between students and staff members. Students and instructors felt the former had enough knowledge to treat patients though it was difficult for them to apply it in clinical practice. Again, both believed they could communicate with patients, but third year students asked for more training on this. Regarding practical skills, fourth- and fifth-year students felt prepared but not third year students, who preferred to work in pairs with senior students, a preference that was shared by the instructors. All student groups asked clinical staff to provide more frequent, constructive and consistent feedback and felt that the difference between simulation and clinical environments and the amount of clinical work to fulfil clinical requirements made them feel stressed. Another mentioned stressor was students' low self-confidence when working with patients. Among the requested improvements, students requested better training on how the dental clinic works to save time. CONCLUSIONS: Preclinical-to-clinical transition training presents several challenges. Some of the problems highlighted by both students and clinical staff members persisted with the transition after three, four and even five years of training, which needs to be addressed.

Comparison of digitally assessed quality of posterior crown preparations performed with and without previous practice on patient-specific three-dimensional-printed teeth models.

INTRODUCTION: Three-dimensional (3D)-printing technology can provide customizable simulations, but its effects on patient care quality have not been well studied. This study aimed to assess the impact of practicing with patient-specific 3D-printed teeth models on the quality of patients' dental preparations performed by students transitioning to clinical training. Accordingly, the quality of posterior crown preparations was evaluated by objectively analyzing digital scans and grades in two groups: the study group, which practiced beforehand with patient-specific 3D-printed teeth models, and the control group, which did not practice with these models. METHODS: All 78 fourth-year dental students who had just finished their fixed prosthodontics course at the simulation laboratory with training on phantom heads and without previous clinical experience in crown preparations were invited to participate in the study. Sixty-eight agreed to take part and were randomly divided into a study group that practiced crown preparations on 3D-printed models of their own patient's teeth and a control group that did not practice with 3D-printed models and started their clinical work straightforwardly after simulation training. Students completed validated perception questionnaires on self-confidence and clinical skills before and after the protocol, which were compared using a chi-squared test. Crown preparations performed on 3D-printed models and then on patients were digitally scanned and objectively graded by prepCheck software for critical parameters, such as undercuts, taper, and occlusion reduction. Non-parametric tests were used to compare preparations on 3D-printed models and on patients performed by the study group and those on patients made by the control group. RESULTS: Initially, both groups reported similar perceptions of self-confidence and clinical skills levels. The study group significantly improved both aspects after the protocol. Analysis of the scanned preparations demonstrated that the study group removed less tooth structure from actual patients than from the initial 3D-printed models. In contrast, the control group showed excess occlusal clearance in their patients compared to the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Practicing patient-specific 3D-printed teeth before performing procedures clinically appears to enhance preparation quality and minimize unnecessary tooth reduction in early clinical experiences.

Dental students' perceptions and educational impact of preclinical interactive videos compared and in combination with live demonstrations.

OBJECTIVE: To study the utility of simulation videos with embedded quiz items compared and in combination with live hands-on demonstrations of dental procedures. METHODS: Thirty-three videos with embedded items were developed to help students understand the procedures they had to practice in the simulation laboratory. Videos were uploaded to the university LMS platform for students to watch and complete the embedded items as many times as they liked. All 76 students from 2021 and 73 from 2022 Integrated Dentistry III courses were invited to participate in the study. Practical (OSCE) and theoretical (MCQ) exam grades of the 2021 academic year, when interactive videos replaced live demonstrations, were collected and compared to those of the previous years (2017-2020) when only live demonstrations were performed, as were those from the 2022 academic year, when videos were complemented with hands-on live demonstrations. At the end of each year, a perception questionnaire was voluntarily completed by the students. RESULTS: Assessment grades were significantly higher in the 2021 academic year when interactive videos were incorporated versus the 2017-2020 period when only live demonstrations were performed. However, the combination of interactive videos with live demonstrations performed during 2022 showed the highest exam grades. Seventy-nine percent of students answered the questionnaire, highly valued the utility of the interactive videos and liked the embedded items. Overall, they stated that they learned from the videos. CONCLUSIONS: Interactive videos of preclinical procedures with embedded items combined with live demonstrations can significantly enhance students' learning and are valued by students.

Students' and tutors' perceptions of a deliberate simulated practice using patient-specific virtual and three-dimensional printed teeth models: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to investigate the perceptions of dental students and their tutors of a deliberate simulated practice using patient-specific virtual and three-dimensional (3D) printed teeth models. This is before they perform their first indirect posterior tooth restoration on their patients. METHODS: Seventy-eight fourth-year dental students from the 2021 Comprehensive Clinic I course at the University of the Andes, Chile, were invited to participate in a deliberate practice protocol. This consisted of digitally scanning their patients' teeth, printing the files three-dimensionally, and loading them into a virtual reality (VR) dental simulator to create patient-specific models. Subsequently, they practiced the same indirect posterior restorations on these models before performing them on their actual patients. Perceptions about students' preparedness to perform tooth preparations before and after the protocol were collected from students and their tutors through surveys. RESULTS: Sixty-three students (43 female) and six clinical tutors (all male) participated in the study. Before practicing with their patient-specific models, most students believed they had the knowledge, practical skills, and self-confidence to perform indirect restorations on their patients. However, after the protocol, most students thought their self-confidence increased and felt better prepared to treat their patients. Most students preferred the 3D-printed models over the VR models to practice but mentioned that it did not feel like drilling dental enamel. Tutors believed that participating students had higher self-confidence when treating their patients and were more autonomous. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that students and clinical tutors had positive perceptions of practicing with patient-specific virtual and 3D-printed teeth models before students performed their first indirect restorations on their patients.

Cephalometric Characteristics in Chilean Latino Population with Normal Occlusion and Harmonic Profiles in Permanent Dentition. A Retrospective Study / Características Cefalométricas en Población Latina Chilena con Oclusión Normal y Perfiles Armónicos en Dentición Permanente. Un Estudio Retrospectivo

SUMMARY: Malocclusion is usually treated based on clinical decisions complemented with a cephalometric analysis, allowing the comparison of an individual with standard reference norms. Cephalometric standards have mostly been obtained from Caucasian population, but may not be appropriate for other ethnic groups, becoming a clinically relevant problem in multicultural and multiracial societies. The present study aimed to establish cephalometric norms for Chilean-Latino population, using a representative sample of class I individuals in permanent dentition. A sample of 72 cephalometric x-rays of class I growing individuals (47 women and 25 men) between 10 and 20 years of age with class I occlusion and harmonic profile was obtained from the records of the Universidad de los Andes taken between 2012 and 2019, including 1164 individuals. The radiographs were classified according to their cervical vertebral maturation status, and cephalometrically analyzed, obtaining vertical and sagittal parameters in soft and hard tissues, which were compared with Caucasian cephalometric norms. The statistical analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics (T-test, ANOVA and Bonferroni tests). Cephalometric norms were obtained for hard and soft tissues. Upon comparison with Caucasian norms, the subjects included in the sample present a tendency towards a convex profile, significant incisal proclination, dental protrusion, labial biprotrusion and an acute nasolabial angle. There are cephalometric differences between the Caucasian cephalometric norms and those observed Chilean Latino population, displaying differences at a hard and soft tissue level that should be taken into account for clinical decision making in Orthodontics.

La maloclusión generalmente se trata con base en decisiones clínicas complementadas con un análisis cefalométrico, lo que permite la comparación de un individuo con normas de referencia estándar. Los estándares cefalométricos se han obtenido en su mayoría de población caucásica, pero pueden no ser apropiados para otros grupos étnicos, convirtiéndose en un problema clínicamente relevante en sociedades multiculturales y multirraciales. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo establecer normas cefalométricas para población chileno-latina, utilizando una muestra representativa de individuos clase I en dentición permanente. Se obtuvo una muestra de 72 radiografías cefalométricas de individuos en crecimiento clase I (47 mujeres y 25 hombres) entre 10 y 20 años de edad con oclusión clase I y perfil armónico de los registros de la Universidad de los Andes tomados entre 2012 y 2019, incluidas 1164 personas. Las radiografías se clasificaron según su estado de maduración vertebral cervical, y se analizaron cefalométricamente, obteniendo parámetros verticales y sagitales en tejidos blandos y duros, que se compararon con normas cefalométricas caucásicas. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante estadística descriptiva e inferencial (T-test, ANOVA y pruebas de Bonferroni). Se obtuvieron normas cefalométricas para tejidos duros y blandos. En comparación con las normas caucásicas, los sujetos incluidos en la muestra presentan una tendencia hacia un perfil convexo, proinclinación incisal significativa, protrusión dental, biprotrusión labial y un ángulo nasolabial agudo. Existen diferencias entre las normas cefalométricas caucásicas y las observadas en población latina chilena, mostrando diferencias a nivel de tejidos duros y blandos que se deben considerar para la toma de decisiones clínicas en Ortodoncia.

Maduración de la Sutura Palatina Media En Adolescentes y Adultos Jóvenes Chilenos: Estudio Transversal / Midpalatal Sutural Maturation in Chilean Adolescents and Young Adults: Cross-sectional Study

RESUMEN: Objetivo: Evaluar la maduración de la sutura palatina media en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes chilenos, mediante valoración morfológica de imágenes de tomografía computarizada de haz cónico del maxilar. Material y método: Se analizó la sutura palatina media de 150 sujetos entre 15 y 30 años, seleccionados desde la base de datos radiológicos de un centro universitario de salud. La maduración sutural fue evaluada en el corte axial, utilizando el método de Angelieri y cols., clasificándola en cinco etapas (A, B, C, D y E). Se utilizaron las pruebas de correlación de Pearson para medir la concordancia intra e interexaminador, y T-Student para las diferencias entre sexos. Resultados: El estado de maduración más frecuente fue C (43,3%), seguido por E (33,3%) y D (22%). En hombres, la etapa C fue más frecuente (49%), mientras que en mujeres fue la etapa E (39%). Sin embargo, no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos sexos. Conclusiones: Aunque la mayoría de la muestra presentó una etapa tardía de maduración sutural, el 45% presentó estados de maduración sutural donde sería posible la expansión de naturaleza no quirúrgica. Debido a la variabilidad observada en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes, se recomienda la evaluación individual con imagenología 3D.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To evaluate midpalatal suture maturation in Chilean adolescents and young adults through morphological assessment of cone-beam computed tomography images of the maxilla. Materials and methods: Analysis of the midpalatal suture of 150 subjects aged between 15 and 30 was performed, selected from a university clinical center radiological database. Sutural maturation was evaluated in the axial cross-section, using the method described by Angelieri et al., classifying it in five stages (A, B, C, D and E). Pearson's correlation tests were used to assess intra- and inter-examiner agreement, and T-Student for assessing differences between genders. Results: The most frequent maturation stage was C (43.3%), followed by E (33.3%) and D (22%). In men, stage C was more frequent (49%), while in women it was stage E (39%). However, no statistically significant differences were found between genders. Conclusions: Although the majority of the sample presented a late stage of sutural maturation, 45% presented states of sutural maturation where the expansion of a non-surgical nature would be possible. Due to the variability observed in adolescents and young adults, individual evaluation with 3D imaging is recommended.