Accurate delineation of individual teeth and alveolar bones from dental cone-beam CT (CBCT) images is an essential step in digital dentistry for precision dental healthcare. In this paper, we present an AI system for efficient, precise, and fully automatic segmentation of real-patient CBCT images. Our AI system is evaluated on the largest dataset so far, i.e., using a dataset of 4,215 patients (with 4,938 CBCT scans) from 15 different centers. This fully automatic AI system achieves a segmentation accuracy comparable to experienced radiologists (e.g., 0.5% improvement in terms of average Dice similarity coefficient), while significant improvement in efficiency (i.e., 500 times faster). In addition, it consistently obtains accurate results on the challenging cases with variable dental abnormalities, with the average Dice scores of 91.5% and 93.0% for tooth and alveolar bone segmentation. These results demonstrate its potential as a powerful system to boost clinical workflows of digital dentistry. Accurate delineation of individual teeth and alveolar bones from dental cone-beam CT images is an essential step in digital dentistry for precision dental healthcare. Here, the authors present a deep learning system for efficient, precise, and fully automatic segmentation of real-patient CBCT images presenting highly variable appearances.
Andrea Maturana-Ramirez, Andrea Maturana-Ramirez, Juan Aitken-Saavedra
et al.
IntroductionOral leukoplakia is one of the most frequent oral potentially malignant disorders. The present study aims to compare serum vitamin D levels between patients with and without oral leukoplakia, by smoking habit.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved a group of 45 cases with oral leukoplakia and a control group with 45 individuals. In both groups a pathology report was done, and for leukoplakia a binary classification of low- and high-grade epithelial dysplasia was employed. Serum 25(OH)D3 vitamin D levels, and data on smoking status, age, gender, comorbidities, and clinical and pathological characteristics were collected for both groups.Resultsvitamin D levels were lower in the oral leukoplakia group with a median of 19.1 ng/ml, while the control group had a median of 24.8 ng/ml. When subdividing each group by smoking habit, the smoking case group had a median of 19.4 ng/ml (IQR: 15.7-21.5 ng/ml), the non-smoking case group had 18.8 ng/ml (IQR: 13.6-29.2 ng/ml), the smoking control group had 21.8 ng/ml (IQR: 17.5-27.3 ng/ml), and the non-smoking control group had 25.4 ng/ml (IQR: 20.4-32.9 ng/ml) (p<0.05). When comparing serum vitamin D levels, statistically significant differences were found between the smoking case group versus the non-smoking control group and between the non-smoking case group versus the non-smoking control group (p<0.05). Serum vitamin D levels by histopathological diagnosis showed no differences between leukoplakia groups.DiscussionThis study shows that serum vitamin D levels were lower in patients with OL compared to those without OL, which was more evident in the smoking group. Patients with OL were previously observed to have hypovitaminosis D, without assessing smoking habits. This finding suggests a possible role of vitamin D deficiency in the development of OL, which could be more marked in smokers. This opens the possibility of future research on vitamin D as a chemopreventive agent in the malignant transformation of OL, and to evaluate the relationship between smoking and hypovitaminosis D.
Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Daniel Muchnik, Gavriel Chaushu, Eli Rosenfeld
et al.
Abstract Purpose This study aims to investigate the potential complication of implant displacement into the maxillary sinus, exploring its etiology and various management strategies, while proposing a systematic approach for clinicians to effectively address this evolving complication. Materials and methods This retrospective multi-center cohort study evaluated patients with dental implant migration into the maxillary sinus treated between 2010 and 2023 at two Israeli medical centers. Data included demographics, symptoms, clinical findings, and treatment modalities. Results 32 patients (mean age: 62.3 years) were analyzed, with a notable incidence of sinusitis and oroantral fistulas. 91% required surgical intervention, predominantly Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (63%). The majority of displacements occurred during the implantation process, often correlating with clinical symptoms. Conclusion As shown in our study, displacement of implants into maxillary sinus, often leads to sinusitis and oroantral fistula. A proposed treatment algorithm emphasizes surgical intervention, particularly Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, based on symptoms and clinical signs.
Arshdeep S. Kohli, Ganaraj Shetty, Hari P. Gone
et al.
Background:
Forensic dentistry plays a pivotal role in the identification of individuals, particularly in mass disasters and criminal investigations. This study evaluates various dental materials used in forensic identification.
Methods:
Different dental materials were assessed for their effectiveness in forensic applications. Samples included dental amalgam, composite resins, glass ionomer cements, and dental ceramics. Parameters such as durability, ease of identification under forensic conditions, and resistance to environmental factors were analyzed.
Results:
Dental ceramics exhibited the highest durability and resistance to environmental degradation, followed by dental amalgam. Composite resins and glass ionomer cements showed lower performance in forensic conditions.
Conclusion:
Dental ceramics and amalgam provide superior forensic identification capabilities compared to other materials. This study supports the use of these materials in forensic dentistry due to their robustness and reliability.
Tomohiro Mitoma,1 Jota Maki,1 Hikaru Ooba,1 Chikako Ogawa,1 Hisashi Masuyama,1 Takahiro Tabuchi2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan; 2Department of Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, JapanCorrespondence: Jota Maki, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan, Tel +81-86-235-7320, Fax +81-86-225-9570, Email jotamaki@okayama-u.ac.jpPurpose: Among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, Japan has one of the lowest cervical cancer screening coverages. Cancer screening coverage has worsened due to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic background, COVID-19 infection history and vaccine status, and regular cervical cancer screening (CCS) during the two years of the COVID-19 era in Japan.Patients and Methods: We used data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey, a nationwide, Internet-based, self-report cohort observational study conducted in 2022. The outcome variable was identified by asking whether the participants had undergone CCS within the last two years. Cervical cytology was performed in Japan by brushing the external cervical os. This study used multivariate log-binomial regression models to evaluate inequalities during regular checkups for CCS. Adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to incorporate the socioeconomic background variables.Results: Of the 12,066 participants, 5597 (46.4%) had undergone regular CCS for over two years. The prevalence ratio (PR) of patients who underwent CCS was 0.70 for those in their 20s and 0.78 for those in their 60s, compared to those in their 40s. Socioeconomic inequities were found in the following groups: unemployed/student, unmarried, high school graduate or lower, and household income below 4 million Yen. Our final multivariate analysis revealed that participants who were in their 20s or 60s, had a household income below 4 million Yen, were unmarried, had no annual health check-ups, and were unvaccinated with COVID-19 were at a higher risk of not undergoing CCS.Conclusion: The relationship between socioeconomic inequality and CCS hesitancy is prevalent among younger participants. The CCS coverage in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic year (2020– 2022) was not low compared with the pre-pandemic era.Keywords: cervical cancer screening, social inequality, screening hesitation, internet survey
Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Sroka, Łukasz Stocki, Jacek Szczurowski
et al.
BACKGROUND: Dynamic advances in dentistry, especially in implantology has inspired researchers to carry out many studies investigating the topography of the mandibular canal and its ethnic differences. The aim of the study was a comparative analysis of variations in the position and topography of the mandibular canal based on radiographic images of human mandibles originating from modern and medieval skulls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Morphometric examination of 126 radiographs of skulls (92 modern and 34 medieval skulls) was included. The age and sex of individuals were determined based on the morphology of the skull, the obliteration of cranial sutures, and the degree of tooth wear. To define the topography of the mandibular canal on X-ray images, we took 8 anthropometric measurements. RESULTS: We observed significant differences in several parameters. The distance between the base of the mandible and the bottom of the mandibular canal, the distance between the top of the mandibular canal and the crest of the alveolar arch, and the height of the mandibular body. Significant asymmetry was found for two parameters of mandibles from modern skulls: the distance between the top of the mandibular canal and the crest of the alveolar arch at the level of the second molar (p < 0.05), and the distance between the mandibular foramen and the margin of the anterior mandibular ramus (p < 0.007). There were no significant differences between measurements taken on the right and left sides of the medieval skulls. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed differences in the position of the mandibular canal between modern and medieval skulls, confirming the presence of geographical and chronological differences between populations. Knowledge of variability in the position of the mandibular canal between different local populations is fundamental for the correct interpretation of findings from diagnostic radiological studies used in dental practice and in forensic odontology or analysis of archaeological bone materials.
Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease affects more than 10% of the world’s population and is a non-communicable disease of global concern and priority. There is a significant implementation gap between best practice guideline recommendations and current kidney disease management. Previous research has shown the need to partner with primary care to improve education, collaboration, and kidney disease awareness. This implementation trial will explore use of an innovative clinical decision support software, Future Health Today, to improve screening, diagnosis, and management of kidney disease in primary care. The program will be supported by tertiary care outreach services. The primary aim is to test the hypothesis that the Future Health Today implementation program will improve screening, diagnosis, and management of kidney disease. Secondary aims are to evaluate primary care satisfaction and broader health service impacts. Methods This pre-post implementation trial using an interrupted time series design will evaluate the clinical and service outcomes of Future Health Today, using a mixed methods study in twenty general practices with an estimated population size of 150,000. Deidentified patient data will be extracted from participating practices to examine the primary aims of the study. Surveys and semi-structured interviews with general practice will inform secondary hypotheses. Data linkage between primary care and tertiary care data will examine the broader health service impacts. Discussion This investigator driven trial will assess the impact of Future Health Today software coupled with education and clinical outreach support. Investigators hypothesise that there will be improvement in appropriate screening, diagnosis, and management of kidney disease. This program has the potential to be scaled more broadly. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry: ACTRN12623001096640.
Amir Shayegan, Sara Arab, Victor Manyong Makanz
et al.
Background
White lesions, also known as white spots, are the earliest signs of tooth decay. At this stage, noninvasive preventive treatments, such as fluoride application, can help to slow down or even reverse the progression of white lesions. For decades, fluoride has held the spotlight as the go-to agent in oral preventive care, demonstrating significant remineralizing power. Recent scientific literature reveals a growing interest in alternative products as natural substances that demonstrate potential remineralizing effects on tooth enamel. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the potential remineralizing effect of calcium sodium phosphosilicate (CSP), ginger, and turmeric.
Materials and Methods
This in vitro study was designed to evaluate the remineralizing effects of various materials on the enamel of extracted human teeth. The aim was to compare the effectiveness of these different substances in promoting enamel remineralization. Enamel blocks were prepared and were divided into seven experimental groups: CSP, fluoride toothpaste, nonfluoride toothpaste, turmeric, ginger, fluoride varnish, and distilled water. In this study, sample mineralization is assessed through the quantitative photo-induced fluorescence test before demineralization, after demineralization, and after remineralization. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted using a one-factor analysis of variance test. The significance level was set at P < 0.05.
Results
The best results were obtained by groups treated with turmeric (P < 0.0001), Enamelast fluoride varnish (P < 0.0001), and NovaMin (P < 0.01), as compared to other remineralizing treatments.
Conclusion
While fluoride has undeniably revolutionized oral preventive care, the exploration of alternative products as natural substances and innovative compounds in recent scientific literature signals a shift in focus toward safer and potentially more diverse options.
Managing the massive losses associated with large-scale disasters requires significant resources. The unexpected violence of these events generally remains a matter of casualties that urgently need to be identified in a reliable and cost-effective manner. To overcome these difficulties, many researchers have attempted to develop automated methods; moreover, a few recent research have investigated the applicability of artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods using skull, dental, and maxillofacial forensic imaging. In this review, we speculate on the advancement and potential of AI in Dental and Maxillofacial imaging that can help simplify person or victim identification and speed up the process with good accuracy. Using a few prefix search phrases, an online literature search was conducted (AI, Forensic, Skull, Dental, Imaging, Radiology) to identify papers about the advancement of AI in forensic dentistry in all kinds of radiographs, including two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) radiographs, cone beam computed tomography (CT) and CT. Most of the studies reported that automated methods of human identification based on 2D and 3D Dental and Skull radiographs using a convolutional neural network showed to assist in the fast and accurate identification by expertise evaluating a lot of images and quickly coming up with potential matches for identification. We advocate the application of AI techniques in the identification of individuals. However, there is a need to continue research with emphasis to validate models in skull identification.
The odontogenic tissue surrounding an impacted tooth is a harbinger of a wide variety of odontogenic cysts and tumors. As these hamartomatous and neoplastic aberrations can occur at any stage of odontogenesis, therefore combined features of odontogenic tumors with epithelial and mesenchymal components can develop within the odontogenic cysts. One of the odontogenic cysts is the dentigerous cyst (DC) which is not only the most common developmental odontogenic cyst arising from the pericoronal tissue but is of great clinical significance owing to its neoplastic potential and association with other rare odontogenic tumors. We herein describe an unusual case of adenomatoid odontogenic tumor which developed secondary to a DC in a 22-year-old female and created a diagnostic conundrum. The approach to such a case, differential diagnosis, and review of the literature is also presented.
The role of biostatisticians in scientific research is poorly defined. Majority of manuscripts submitted to scientific journals do not receive statistical advice at as many stages as it requires and neither do they get subjected to a thorough statistical review as an integral part of the peer-review mechanism. This raises concerns about the validity of research findings, especially in light of the increasing reports on the incidence of statistical misuse in health-care research. It is high time that journals emphasize on statistical review of research submissions to ensure scientific validity.
Yang Wang,1 Wen Song,2 Yi Cui,3 Yang Zhang,1 Shenglin Mei,4 Qintao Wang1 1State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, Department of Periodontology, School of Stomatology, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 3Equipment Department, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Prosthodontics, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qintao WangDepartment of Periodontology, School of Stomatology, Air Force Medical University, No. 145 West Changle Road, Xi’an 710032, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 2984 776 096Fax +0086 2983 223 047Email yznmbk@fmmu.edu.cnPurpose: Reducing toxicity, immunogenicity, and costs of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) carrier materials are key goals for RNA interference (RNAi) technology transition from bench to bed. Recently, calcium ions (Ca2+) have garnered attention as a novel, alternative material for delivering siRNA to cells. However, the tolerance for Ca2+ concentration varies in different cell types, which has limited its applications in vivo. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) can bind to Ca2+ through chelation. Moreover, BSA is a favorable coating material for nanoparticles owing to its excellent biocompatibility. Therefore, we hypothesized that coating Ca2+-siRNA with BSA helps buffer Ca2+ toxicity in vivo.Methods: BSA-Ca2+-siRNA nanoparticles were prepared, and the size, shape, encapsulation, and release efficiency were characterized using atomic force microscopy, scanning electronic microcopy, and gel electrophoresis. Binding nanoparticles were evaluated using attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The cellular uptake, intracellular release, cytotoxicity, and gene knockdown of nanoparticles were evaluated in periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) using laser-scanning confocal microscope, flow cytometry, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results: BSA and Ca2+-siRNA could form a stable nano-scale complex (∼ 140 nm in diameter). The nanocomplexes could maintain siRNA release for more than 1 week in neutral phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and could induce accelerated degradation in acidic PBS (pH 5.0). The nanoparticles were taken up by the cells, primarily through macropinocytosis, and were then released intracellularly through the acidification of endosomes/lysosomes. Importantly, the BSA-Ca2+ carrier had high transfection efficiency and biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. To demonstrate the therapeutic potential of our BSA coating-optimized Ca2+-siRNA technology, we showed that BSA-Ca2+-siWWP1 complexes strongly enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of inflammatory PDLSCs.Conclusion: BSA-Ca2+ could potentially be used for siRNA delivery, which is not only highly efficient and cost-effective but also biocompatible to host tissues owing to the BSA coating.Keywords: bovine serum albumin, calcium ions, osteogenic differentiation, small interfering RNA
Volkan Kaplan, Levent Ciğerim, Zeynep Dilan Orhan
et al.
INTRODUCTION: Dental pain is one of the most important complaints that cause patients to refer to a dentist and drug therapy is often the preferred treatment option for treatment of it. The aim of this study is to determine the most preferred pain reliever and antibiotic group drugs in dental pain and infection treatment. METHODS: 80 dentists working in private or public institutions in Van provinces and provinces, 558 patients aged 18 years or more, who met the inclusion criteria, from the patients who applied to Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery were included in the study. Questionnaires were applied to patients and dentists. The obtained data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Of the 558 patients included in the study, 204 were male (36.6%) and 354 (63.4%) were female. Of the 80 dentists included in the study, 54 (67.5%) were male and 26 (32.5%) were female. The most commonly used analgesics were dexketoprofen (29%), paracetamol (28.5%) and flurbiprofen (20%). The most frequently used antibiotics were amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (51.4%), amoxicillin (14.3%), cephalosporin (7%). The most frequently prescribed analgesics were dexketoprofen (33.75%), naproxen sodium (17.5%), flurbiprofen (17.5%), paracetamol (16.25%), etodolacil (11.25%). The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were amoxicillin+clavulonic acid (66.25%), amoxicillin (16.25%) and cephalosporin (5%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study, dexketoprofen and amoxicillin+clavulonic acid were the most commonly preferred drugs and should be considered in the choice of drug in the management of dental pain and infection.
Parul Bansal, Vineeta Nikhil, Pulkit Malhotra
et al.
A thorough knowledge of root canal morphology and good anticipation of their possible morphological variations may help to prevent iatrogenic errors and ensure success. The morphology of permanent maxillary first molar has been studied extensively with more emphasis on extra number of roots and root canals; however, the presence of two canals in two-rooted maxillary first molar has rarely been documented in the literature describing tooth and root canal anatomies. This case report documents the successful endodontic management of a two-rooted maxillary first molars with two canals, which was present bilaterally.