Journal of Islamic Dental Association of IRAN
Volume:33 Issue: 3, Summer-Autumn 2021

Traumatization of the palatal neurovascular bundle (NVB) is a potential complication of soft tissue graft harvesting from the palate. Thus, it is imper-ative to have adequate knowledge about the position and path of the NVB. This study assessed the position of palatal NVB and the greater palatine foramen (GPF) in an Ira-nian population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

This retrospective, cross-sectional study evaluated CBCT scans of 128 patients. The position of the GPF relative to molar teeth, the distance be-tween the depth of NVB and the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) of canine to second molar teeth, and the distance between the GPF and the alveolar ridge, the poste-rior nasal spine (PNS), and the median maxillary suture (MMS) were all assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by the Chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and ANOVA.

In 64% of the cases, the GPF was located close to the apex of the third molar in both females (49.4%) and males (50.6%), irrespective of age. The mean dis-tance between the depth of the NVB and the CEJ of the canine to second molar teeth was 9.56, 12.36, 14.69, 14.98 and 16.01 mm, respectively. The mean distance between the GPF and the alveolar ridge, PNS, and MMS in edentulous patients was 2.23±0.65, 16.88±1.19, and 15.89±1.20 mm, respectively.

Third molar is the best anatomical landmark to determine the position of the GPF. The distance between the palatal NVB and the CEJ increases from the anterior towards the posterior region.

Toothbrushing can potentially abrade the teeth and direct and indirect dental restorations, and may also affect their color. This study aimed to as-sess the color change (∆E) of Ceramill Zolid FX following abrasion with/without toothpaste in two groups of simultaneous and separate staining and glazing.

This in vitro, experimental study was conducted on 40 cylindrical specimens measuring 2 x 10 mm fabricated from Ceramill Zolid FX by the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology. The samples were randomly divided into four groups (simultaneous and separate staining and glazing) and subjected to simulation of 3, 6 and 9 years of toothbrushing in a cross-brushing machine with and without toothpaste. The ∆E of specimens was measured before and after the intervention by using Shade Pilot spec-trophotometer, and compared using the Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests (al-pha=0.05).

Significant differences were noted in ∆E of simultaneous staining and glazing control (without toothpaste) and intervention (with toothpaste) groups over time (both P=0.000). Both the control and intervention subgroups in separate staining and glazing group also showed significant differences in ∆E over time (both P=0.000).

The results showed greater color change over time in simultaneous stain-ing and glazing group due to the presence of one layer of stain and glaze, compared with separate staining and glazing. The effect of toothpaste on color change was only significant at 9 years in both simultaneous and separate staining and glazing groups.

Removing the pathogenic microorganisms from the root canal system is the key to a successful endodontic therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficiency of three antibacterial agents and a new combination against selected endodontic pathogens.

In this in vitro study, the efficacy of three different antibacterial agents namely clindamycin, metronidazole, doxycycline, and their com-bination (CMD) was evaluated against seven bacterial strains associated with endo-dontic infections to determine their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). selective media were used to culture Candida albicans (C. albicans), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) subsp. spizizenii, and Actinomyces actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans). All the tests were repeated in triplicate. The MIC and MBC values were reported as mean ± standard deviation. Data were analyzed by the Shapiro-Wilk test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P<0.05).

The intergroup comparisons of MIC for clindamycin versus CMD (P=0.036), metronidazole versus CMD (P=0.016), and doxycycline versus CMD (P=0.016) demonstrated significant differences. No other significant difference was noted (P>0.05). Intergroup comparisons of MBC for clindamycin versus CMD (p=0.036), metronidazole versus CMD (P=0.022), and doxycycline versus CMD (p=0.016) demonstrated significant differences. No other significant difference was noted (P>0.05).

CMD showed superior antibacterial efficacy than each individual antibiotic, and can be used effectively against the abovementioned endodontic patho-gens for their predictable elimination during endodontic therapy.

The palatal mucosa is a common donor site for gingival graft-ing. The thickness of mucosa in the hard palate and tuberosity is different in different populations. The aim of this study was to assess the thickness of palatal and tuberosi-ty mucosa and related parameters in patients referred to Isfahan dental centers.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 52 patients referred to Isfahan dental centers who were selected by simple random sampling. The thickness of two sites behind the second molar in the tuberosity mucosa and six sites in two lines in the palatal mucosa was measured near the canine, second premolar and second molar teeth with a 27-gauge short cannula. The data were analyzed by t-test, paired t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. P<0.05 was considered significant.

In this study, 21 male and 31 female patients were included. The mean age of male and female patients was not significantly different (P=0.25). The majority of pa-tients had a thin biotype and the biotype became thicker with age. The thickest area in the palate was at the site of second premolar tooth, but the tuberosity mucosa was the thickest among all the measured sites.

The thickness of tuberosity mucosa was greater than the palatal mucosa, but it has a smaller volume for tissue grafting. In the palatal mucosa, the ca-nine-premolar area has optimal thickness for harvesting and has a safe distance from important anatomical sites.

Avulsion of anterior teeth has a negative impact on the quality of life, performance and facial esthetics of children, decreases the children's self-confidence and imposes a financial burden on their families. School staff have a signif-icant role in management and timely referral of children with avulsed anterior teeth to health centers. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and self-reported practice of Yasuj primary school teachers regarding avulsed permanent teeth.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 male and female elementary school teachers in Yasuj using cluster random sam-pling. Data were collected via a researcher-made questionnaire including questions on teachers' knowledge, attitude, and self-reported practice of teachers on management of children with avulsed teeth.

About 20% of teachers had good knowledge, 59% had good attitude, and only 1.2% and 8% of teachers had good practice and efficiency to manage traumatic injuries of permanent teeth, respectively. Among the study variables (age, gender, educational level, teaching experience, and teaching course(, the strongest relationship was found between the teachers' educational level and age with their knowledge, attitude, performance and efficiency using generalized linear multivariate analysis. Only the relationship between age and scores of knowledge (P=0.009) and efficiency (P=0.03) was statistically significant.

In the current study, the knowledge level of Yasuj primary school teach-ers about avulsed permanent teeth was poor, and their attitude and performance were moderate and very poor, respectively.

Loss of mandibular continuity, jaw deviation, extensive freely movable soft tissues, and difficulty in mastication, swallowing, and speech are the re-sults of hemi-mandibulectomy, which adversely affect the patients’ quality of life. Management of such patients by fixed or removable prostheses is a complex and chal-lenging approach as the type of prosthesis is a determinant factor in successful reha-bilitation.

The present report describes prosthetic rehabilitation of two pa-tients who underwent hemi-mandibulectomy due to osteosarcoma. After clinical and paraclinical evaluations and multidisciplinary consultations, it was decided to use implant-supported removable overdenture with stud attachments and an open-structure framework for them.

Jaw reconstruction and dental rehabilitation of hemi-mandibulectomy patients are complicated procedures. However, with regard to developments in dental science, the clinicians have different options to fulfill the esthetic and functional demands of such patients. The current paper showed that implant-supported removable prostheses with stud attachments can successfully re-habilitate the hemi-mandibulectomy defects when the interocclusal space is limited and achieving the implants’ parallelism is a challenge due to the nature of hemi-mandibulectomy procedure.