Dental Area Research Articles

Past and future perspectives of oral medicine in the Nordic countries as a reflection of the global community

Headlines The nature of the diseases that oral medicine specialists diagnose and manage throughout the oral and maxillofacial region are diverse and closely related to other dental and medical specialties. This relatively young area of dentistry has expanded globally during the past decade as an independent discipline with postgraduate qualifying programmes being offered in several countries, as well as an increasing research community. With a growing proportion of elderly individuals in the population in general across the world, morbidity is likely to increase in terms of both general diseases and conditions in the oral and maxillofacial region. The types of diseases requiring treatment may also differ in the future due to a greater influx of immigrants to the Nordic countries. The wide variety of conditions encountered in a dental practice, as well as variations in the individual patient presentation and response to treatment, defines the need for careful evaluation and synthesis of practice recommendations to provide appropriate and effective management. The field of oral medicine still lacks clear guidelines for various conditions and treatments. Thus, further studies are required to improve patient healthcare. For the discipline of oral medicine, it will be reasonable to take a greater responsibility for the basic medical skills in the dental curriculum, as modern oral medicine is increasingly becoming the intermediate between oral health care and general medicine.

Bite Force Mapping Based on Distributed Fiber Sensing Network Approach.

Bite force measurements are crucial in the realm of biomedical research, particularly in the areas of dentistry and orthodontic care. Various intraoral devices have been used to assess biting force, but each has limitations and drawbacks. Fiber optic sensors (FOSs) offer advantages such as electrical inertness, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and high sensitivity. Distributed fiber optic sensing allows an increase in the number of sensing points and can interrogate numerous reflections from scattering events within an optical fiber. We present four dental bites with heights of 6 mm, which enabled bilateral measurements. U-shaped sensors were prepared by embedding fibers into silicone by folding a single-mode fiber into four lines and multiplexing eight parallel nanoparticle-doped fibers. Dental bite models were created using two silicone materials (Sorta Clear 18 and Sorta Clear 40). The developed sensors were calibrated by applying weights up to 900 g, resulting in a linear response. Experiments were conducted to compare the efficacy of the dental bites. The collection of massive data was enabled by constructing a 2D map of the dental bites during multi-point sensing.

Evaluating and improving the usability of a mHealth platform to assess postoperative dental pain.

The use of interactive mobile health (mHealth) applications to monitor patient-reported postoperative pain outcomes is an emerging area in dentistry that requires further exploration. This study aimed to evaluate and improve the usability of an existing mHealth application. The usability of the application was assessed iteratively using a 3-phase approach, including a rapid cognitive walkthrough (Phase I), lab-based usability testing (Phase II), and in situ pilot testing (Phase III). The study team conducted Phase I, while providers and patients participated in Phase II and III. The rapid cognitive walkthrough identified 23 potential issues that could negatively impact user experience, with the majority classified as system issues. The lab-based usability testing yielded 141 usability issues.; 43% encountered by patients and 57% by dentists. Usability problems encountered during pilot testing included undelivered messages due to mobile phone carrier and service-related issues, errors in patients' phone number data entry, and problems in provider training. Through collaborative and iterative work with the vendor, usability issues were addressed before launching a trial to assess its efficacy. The usability of the mHealth application for postoperative dental pain was remarkably improved by the iterative analysis and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Pierre Fauchard’s Contribution to Oral Medicine and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: An historical essay

Pierre Fauchard, considered the father of dentistry, contributed to the development of different fields of dentistry that we know today. However, the contribution of this important individual to the fields of oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial pathology is unknown. This study aimed to identify Pierre Fauchard’s contribution to these areas of dentistry. We focused on “Le Chirurgien Dentiste, or Traité des Dents” in both French and English, looking for information about the oral diseases diagnosed and treated by Fauchard. Information on patient history, disease description, treatment applied, and clinical follow-up was collected. A contemporary analysis of the diseases was performed, and the collected data were systematized, reported, and analyzed descriptively, according to the current literature on the addressed topics. Information on conditions such as scurvy, parulides, epulides, oral ulcers, dentoalveolar abscesses, dental alterations, and post-exodontia incidents were elucidated. Findings indicated that Pierre Fauchard described, diagnosed, and treated different soft and hard tissue diseases of great interest to the fields of oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial pathology.

Reliability of Automated Biometrics in the Analysis of Enamel Rod End Patterns- In Vitro Study

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Ameloglyphics is the study of the distinctive patterns found on the enamel surface of teeth, which are different on each tooth and particular to each person. The purpose of this study was to compare the enamel print patterns on the buccal and lingual surfaces of teeth to see if there are any appreciable differences, and to evaluate the sensitivity and reliability of an automated biometrics software. Method: The study involved 62 individuals including 36 females and 26 males, from age range 15-60 years. From each individual one tooth sample was analyzed using a light microscope to capture images of the buccal and lingual surfaces middle third. These images were then analyzed using biometric software called Source AFIS, which processed the images and displayed enamel patterns. Data were entered and analyzed using GPower software (version 3.0). Chi-square test and Goodness of fit tests were done to compare the enamel rod end patterns between the teeth surfaces These enamel patterns were classified according to the “Manjunath Classification”. Result: The study found that there were no notable distinctions in enamel print patterns when comparing the teeth buccal and lingual surfaces. All 62 samples analyzed showed a high degree of similarity in enamel print patterns on both surfaces. This finding suggests that the same developmental, environmental, and genetic factors likely influence the enamel print patterns on both surfaces of a tooth. Conclusion: The samples' high frequency of comparable sub-patterns on both the buccal and lingual surfaces suggests that they are very similar to one another. This implies that tooth prints may be a valuable tool for forensic personal identification, particularly in the area of forensic dentistry.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CARIES PREVENTION IN CHILDREN LIVING IN THE TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

Prevention of dental diseases is an economically justified, promising and effective area of modern dentistry, especially for children.
 The aim of the study. Evaluation of the effectiveness of early prevention of caries of temporary teeth in children who have been living in the mountainous regions of Zakarpattia region for a long time.
 Materials and methods. An examination of 251 children aged 5–11 years (129 girls 51.4% and 122 boys 48.6%), residents of the mountain and lowland zones of Zakarpattia region, was conducted. The level of hygiene was assessed with the help of the Fedopov-Volodkin hygienic index, and the caries resistance of tooth enamel was determined using the DIAGNOdent pen (KaVo, Germany) and TEP-tect (V.P. Okyshko, L.I. Kocapeva, 1983). Statistical analysis of the obtained data was carried out on a personal computer using the licensed programs ˝MS Excel 7˝ for the operating system˝ Windows˝ and the standard program package "STATISTICA" v. 6.0.
 Conclusions. The application of the proposed caries prevention scheme led to positive results, which was confirmed by a repeat examination after 6 months: a satisfactory level of hygiene prevailed in all examinees and the level of caries resistance of enamel reliably improved. It was statistically established that the presence of a decompensated degree of caries activity has an obvious correlation with a low level of tooth enamel caries resistance in all studied patients (r=0.87, p=0.05).

Advanced Perspectives in Dentistry: Digital Workflow and 3D Printing

The arrival of digital workflow has caused an important evolution in the way dentistry is performed nowadays. Imaging through intraoral scanning systems (IOS) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) combined with computer aided design and manufacturing systems (CAD/CAM), make it possible to simplify procedures in all areas of dentistry. Digital techniques are tools that allow more assertive diagnoses, as well as the planning and development of treatments with greater safety, effectiveness and speed. The purpose of this review is to learn about the application of the digital tools that give rise to the development of digital workflow and its general applications in dentistry, in the search for areas of opportunity where this technology can be useful for the development of new techniques that allow that allow for personalized patient-centered care.

Materials and Applications of 3D Printing Technology in Dentistry: An Overview.

This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the mechanisms of 3D printing, the dental materials relevant to each mechanism, and the possible applications of these materials within different areas of dentistry. Subtopics within 3D printing technology in dentistry were identified and divided among five reviewers. Electronic searches of the Medline (PubMed) database were performed with the following search keywords: 3D printing, digital light processing, stereolithography, digital dentistry, dental materials, and a combination of the keywords. For this review, only studies or review papers investigating 3D printing technology for dental or medical applications were included. Due to the nature of this review, no formal evidence-based quality assessment was performed, and the search was limited to the English language without further restrictions. A total of 64 articles were included. The significant applications, applied materials, limitations, and future directions of 3D printing technology were reviewed. Subtopics include the chronological evolution of 3D printing technology, the mechanisms of 3D printing technologies along with different printable materials with unique biomechanical properties, and the wide range of applications for 3D printing in dentistry. This review article gives an overview of the history and evolution of 3D printing technology, as well as its associated advantages and disadvantages. Current 3D printing technologies include stereolithography, digital light processing, fused deposition modeling, selective laser sintering/melting, photopolymer jetting, powder binder, and 3D laser bioprinting. The main categories of 3D printing materials are polymers, metals, and ceramics. Despite limitations in printing accuracy and quality, 3D printing technology is now able to offer us a wide variety of potential applications in different fields of dentistry, including prosthodontics, implantology, oral and maxillofacial, orthodontics, endodontics, and periodontics. Understanding the existing spectrum of 3D printing applications in dentistry will serve to further expand its use in the dental field. Three-dimensional printing technology has brought about a paradigm shift in the delivery of clinical care in medicine and dentistry. The clinical use of 3D printing has created versatile applications which streamline our digital workflow. Technological advancements have also paved the way for the integration of new dental materials into dentistry.

Dental-dedicated MRI, a novel approach for dentomaxillofacial diagnostic imaging: technical specifications and feasibility.

MRI is a noninvasive, ionizing radiation-free imaging modality that has become an indispensable medical diagnostic method. The literature suggests MRI as a potential diagnostic modality in dentomaxillofacial radiology. However, current MRI equipment is designed for medical imaging (eg, brain and body imaging), with general-purpose use in radiology. Hence, it appears expensive for dentists to purchase and maintain, besides being complex to operate. In recent years, MRI has entered some areas of dentistry and has reached a point in which it can be provided following a tailored approach. This technical report introduces a dental-dedicated MRI (ddMRI) system, describing how MRI can be adapted to fit dentomaxillofacial radiology through the appropriate choice of field strength, dental radiofrequency surface coil, and pulse sequences. Also, this technical report illustrates the possible application and feasibility of the suggested ddMRI system in some relevant diagnostic tasks in dentistry. Based on the presented cases, it is fair to consider the suggested ddMRI system as a feasible approach to introducing MRI to dentists and dentomaxillofacial radiology specialists. Further studies are needed to clarify the diagnostic accuracy of ddMRI considering the various diagnostic tasks relevant to the practice of dentistry.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on ChatGPT and its utilization in medical and dental research

BackgroundSince its release, ChatGPT has taken the world by storm with its utilization in various fields of life. This review's main goal was to offer a thorough and fact-based evaluation of ChatGPT's potential as a tool for medical and dental research, which could direct subsequent research and influence clinical practices. Methods: Different online databases were scoured for relevant articles that were in accordance with the study objectives. A team of reviewers was assembled to devise a proper methodological framework for inclusion of articles and meta-analysis. Results: 11 descriptive studies were considered for this review that evaluated the accuracy of ChatGPT in answering medical queries related to different domains such as systematic reviews, cancer, liver diseases, diagnostic imaging, education, and COVID-19 vaccination. The studies reported different accuracy ranges, from 18.3 % to 100 %, across various datasets and specialties. The meta-analysis showed an odds ratio (OR) of 2.25 and a relative risk (RR) of 1.47 with a 95 % confidence interval (CI), indicating that the accuracy of ChatGPT in providing correct responses was significantly higher compared to the total responses for queries. However, significant heterogeneity was present among the studies, suggesting considerable variability in the effect sizes across the included studies. Conclusion: The observations indicate that ChatGPT has the ability to provide appropriate solutions to questions in the medical and dentistry areas, but researchers and doctors should cautiously assess its responses because they might not always be dependable. Overall, the importance of this study rests in shedding light on ChatGPT's accuracy in the medical and dentistry fields and emphasizing the need for additional investigation to enhance its performance.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Application of Zeolites and Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks in Dentistry-A Narrative Review.

Zeolites and zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are crystalline aluminosilicates with porous structure, which are closely linked with nanomaterials. They are characterized by enhanced ion exchange capacity, physical-chemical stability, thermal stability and biocompatibility, making them a promising material for dental applications. This review aimed to provide an overview of the application of zeolites and ZIFs in dentistry. The common zeolite compounds for dental application include silver zeolite, zinc zeolite, calcium zeolite and strontium zeolite. The common ZIFs for dental application include ZIF-8 and ZIF-67. Zeolites and ZIFs have been employed in various areas of dentistry, such as restorative dentistry, endodontics, prosthodontics, implantology, periodontics, orthodontics and oral surgery. In restorative dentistry, zeolites and ZIFs are used as antimicrobial additives in dental adhesives and restorative materials. In endodontics, zeolites are used in root-end fillings, root canal irritants, root canal sealers and bone matrix scaffolds for peri-apical diseases. In prosthodontics, zeolites can be incorporated into denture bases, tissue conditioners, soft denture liners and dental prostheses. In implantology, zeolites and ZIFs are applied in dental implants, bone graft materials, bone adhesive hydrogels, drug delivery systems and electrospinning. In periodontics, zeolites can be applied as antibacterial agents for deep periodontal pockets, while ZIFs can be embedded in guided tissue regeneration membranes and guided bone regeneration membranes. In orthodontics, zeolites can be applied in orthodontic appliances. Additionally, for oral surgery, zeolites can be used in oral cancer diagnostic marker membranes, maxillofacial prosthesis silicone elastomer and tooth extraction medicines, while ZIFs can be incorporated to osteogenic glue or used as a carrier for antitumour drugs. In summary, zeolites have a broad application in dentistry and are receiving more attention from clinicians and researchers.

Emerging Applications of Nanotechnology in Dentistry.

Dentistry is a branch of healthcare where nanobiotechnology is reverberating in multiple ways to produce beneficial outcomes. The purpose of this review is to bring into the awareness of the readers the various practical dimensions of the nano-dental complex (nanodentistry) in healthcare and how novelties linked with the field are revolutionizing dentistry. A methodological approach was adopted to collect the latest data on nanotechnology and dentistry from sources, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and official websites like the WHO. Nanodentistry is an emerging field in dentistry that involves the use of nanomaterials, nanorobots, and nanotechnology to diagnose, treat, and prevent dental diseases. The results summarize the descriptive analyses of the uses of nanodentistry within orthodontics, preventive dentistry, prosthodontics, restorative dentistry, periodontics, dental surgeries, dental restoration technologies, and other areas of dentistry. The future directions of nano-industries and nano-healthcare have been included to link them with the oral healthcare sector, treatment plans, and improved medical services which could be explored in the future for advanced healthcare regulation. The major limitations to the use of dental nanoproducts are their cost-effectiveness and accessibility, especially in financially constrained countries. These data will help the readers to experience a detailed analysis and comprehensive covering of the diverse achievements of nanodentistry with past analyses, present scenarios, and future implications.

General Considerations in Managing Non-Odontogenic Orofacial Pain

Orofacial pain is characterized as facial and mouth discomfort. The most prevalent inflammatory pain to appear in this area is dental pain. However, chronic pain illnesses, such as temporomandibular joint disorders, primary headaches (neurovascular), neuropathic pain, and idiopathic pain, can commonly mimic toothaches. Dentistry's specialty in orofacial pain focuses on diagnosing and treating persistent, complicated facial pain and oromotor disorders. This area of dentistry has grown throughout time due to the desire to comprehend better a group of patients who, for some reason, were not experiencing tooth pain issues. Orofacial discomfort has a major impact on morbidity and the use of medical services. Several illnesses can cause orofacial discomfort; diagnostic uncertainty is commonly seen in clinical practice. Due to their varying pain presentation, toothaches can resemble many chronic episodic orofacial pain syndromes, leading to many improperly prescribed antibiotic regimens and surgical treatments. Ear, nose, throat, and maxillofacial surgeons also fall victim to the misdiagnosis, making them not the only professionals to suffer from it. The orofacial region's complex diversity makes it difficult for doctors to handle non-odontogenic pain with an oral origin. The physician must be well-versed in the many pain problems affecting the orofacial area and the various alternatives accessible for their best care to provide a precise diagnosis and successful treatment. This paper focuses on the different types of pain, characteristics, assessments, investigations, and general considerations in managing non-odontogenic pain of the orofacial region. To adequately manage these patients, our profession has come to understand how important a fundamental understanding of orofacial pain is. Many improvements have been brought about by this adjustment in the approach in both clinical and educational settings. This review covers all general aspects of orofacial pain management.

An Explorative Evaluation on the Influence of Filler Content of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) on Adhesive Bond to Different Luting Resin Cements

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is considered one of the most innovative prosthetic materials of the last few decades. Its chemically inert behavior and high biocompatibility make it a promising material in many areas of dentistry. The aim of this study was to test whether PEEK with different TiO2 filler contents achieves comparable bond strength values when using different resin cements. N = 70 PEEK samples each with different TiO2 filler content (20 wt.% TiO2 vs. 5 wt.% TiO2 vs. no filler as a control group) were divided into seven groups and cemented with various conventional (ResiCem, RelyX Ultimate, Variolink Esthetic DC) and self-adhesive resin cements (RelyXUnicem 2, Bifix SE, Panavia SA Cement Plus, SpeedCem). The shear strength of the bond was assessed after 24 h and after 25,000 thermal loading cycles. Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis (significance level: α = 0.05). PEEK without filler showed the highest mean shear strength (24.26 MPa using RelyX Ultimate), then high-filled PEEK (22.90 MPa using ResiCem) and low-filled PEEK (21.76 MPa using RelyX Ultimate). Conventional resin cements generally achieved slightly higher adhesive strengths than self-adhesive resin cements. It appears that the filler content does not affects the adhesive bond strengths.

Digital Subtraction Radiography in Dentistry: An Overview

Digital imaging has transformed the field of medical and dental imaging by overcoming many of the drawbacks ofconventional film-based radiographs. These alterations, however, are hidden behind a background of typical anatomical featuresand are not readily visible, making it difficult for the human eye to discern them. One image-enhancing method or tool that solvesthis issue is digital subtraction radiography, which has recently found usage in a number of dental specialties. Quantitative measuresfrom digital subtraction pictures have been validated as a result of the development of digital imaging technology. Moreover,changes made to computer software have made the clinical use of subtraction imaging more adaptable. Digital subtraction radiologyhas significantly improved the ability to find oral and maxillofacial lesions. Comparing standardised radiographs acquired duringsuccessive examination sessions is done using digital subtraction radiography. Any structures that have not changed are removed,and these regions are shown in the subtraction picture as neutral grey areas, whilst parts that have altered are shown as deeperor brighter shades of grey. Yet, there is not much analysis of this often used method in the literature. The purpose of this articleis to examine this technology, its applications in different areas of dentistry, and its potential for detecting a range of disorders.This review article highlights its basic principles, applications, technique, advantages, disadvantages and future scope of digitalsubtraction radiography in dentistry.

Aplicabilidade da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico na odontologia: revisão de literatura

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a conventional tomography’s improvement, developed especially for the assessment of the maxillofacial region. CBCT produces three-dimensional images that allow its use in several areas of dentistry. The objective of this literature review is to show, based on the literature, the diversity of applications in the field of dentistry that such imaging has, highlighting its benefits and limitations in different dental specialties. The present study consists of exploratory research, carried out through a review of the narrative literature. The bibliographic survey was carried out by means of national and international journal articles, theses, dissertations and other publications, found in the digital library databases (Google Academic, BVS, Sciencedirect, Researchgate, Scielo, Wiley Online Library, Pubmed) from 2000 to 2020. The articles that precede these data were selected for their historical character on the proposed theme. It is concluded that dentists must be aware of the technological advances that occur in the field of dental imaging in order to manage diagnoses and treatments more efficiently, thus avoiding possible errors. CBCT demonstrates that it has multiple indications in different dental specialties, each case must be evaluated individually, analyzing the real need for its use. In cases where there is a need for its use, its cost-effectiveness is better than any disadvantage it may present.

Reconstruction of the Atrophic Ridge with Staged approaches with the Autogenous Bone Block and Dental Implant: Case Reports and Literature Review

<p>Dental implant is a common choice for rehabilitation of edentulous areas in modern dentistry. However, alveolar bone destruction due to severe periodontitis, trauma, or other pathological conditions may compromise implant placement in an idea position. Ridge augmentation with autogenous bone blocks can be used to reconstruct the deficiency of the alveolar bone. This article reviewed about the relevant literatures and reported two cases of severe ridge atro¬phy using staged approaches with ridge augmentation using autogenous bone block grafting and implant placement for reconstruction. Case 1 showed alveolar bone destruction caused by severe periodontitis at left maxillary region, which was augmented with the autogenous bone block harvested from mandibular symphysis in combination with FDBA and collagen membrane. Case 2 presented alveolar ridge deficiency after tooth extraction due to severe periodontitis. Ridge augmentation was performed using autogenous bone block harvested from the mandibular ramus along with FDBA and collagen membrane. Both cases showed increased bone volume after ridge augmentation. Implants were successful and presented stable bone level for a follow up period at least one year after implant surgery. The literature review and case reports suggest that with appropriate case selection, careful treatment, and regular maintenance, using autogenous block bone grafts harvested from the mandibular symphysis or ramus for ridge augmentation and implant placement can achieve predictable outcomes.</p> <p> </p>

Measuring satisfaction with dental education among dentists and dental students in Croatia: A cross-sectional study.

The study aimed to determine satisfaction level with the quality of education among dental students and dentists in Croatia based on the acquired knowledge and clinical and soft skills. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 533 dentists and dental students. The questionnaire consisted of four sections with closed-ended questions. The first section included personal and professional data, whereas the second to fourth sections assessed satisfaction with learned basic dental, professional technical or clinal and interpersonal social or soft skills on a 5-point Likert scale. The data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and linear regression analysis. The significance level was set at .05. When comparing satisfaction scores between dentists and dental students in terms of basic dental knowledge and skills learned, students showed higher satisfaction scores for the categories of "Emergency Medical Situations" (p = .005) and "Ergonomic Principles of Work" (p = .004). Dentists, on the other hand, showed higher satisfaction for the categories "Selection and use of local anaesthetics and local antibiotics" (p = .005, p = .026; respectively). For the type of technical skills from the different areas of dentistry, dentists were most satisfied with "Oral Surgery" (4.26 ± 0.85), while students were most satisfied with "Oral Medicine" (4.29 ± 0.89). Finally, when comparing satisfaction scores with social skills, dentists had lower satisfaction scores in all categories studied (p ≤ .05). Dental students showed higher overall satisfaction than dentists. The most significant satisfaction was expressed in technical skills learned, and the most considerable dissatisfaction was recorded in the unmeasurable skills category focused on "Career management".

Accuracy of Anatomical Depictions in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)-Reconstructed Panoramic Projections Compared to Conventional Panoramic Radiographs: A Clinical Risk-Benefit Analysis.

Two-dimensional (2D) radiographs are the standard of care for diagnosis and treatment planning in the day-to-day practice of dentistry. With the growing popularity of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), it is now becoming the standard of care in many areas of general dentistry due to its ability to create non-linear projections from volumetric data. The CBCT-generated non-orthogonal radiographs can serve as easy-to-use 2D and three-dimensional (3D) diagnostic tools and offer a similar experience for diagnosis as conventional 2D images. The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of conventional radiographs and CBCT-generated projections to identify relevant anatomic landmarks and their associated variants. Thirty-two patients referred to the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine's Advanced Imaging Center were selected for this retrospective analysis. Nineteen anatomical landmarks were retrospectively assessed on conventional panoramic and CBCT scans generated panoramic radiographs using two different digital imaging and communications in medicine viewers. A total of 1,216 anatomical landmarks were evaluated by two oral and maxillofacial radiologists to assess the accuracy and consistency of the depiction of radiographic anatomy. There was a very good agreement between the two evaluators with a Cohen's kappa value of 0.934. McNemar change test concluded that the anatomical assessment values compared between conventional panoramic and CBCT-generated panoramic radiographs are similar. This study showed that CBCT-generated panoramic images are comparable to conventional panoramic radiographs in identifying anatomical landmarks typically evaluated using a conventional panoramic projection. In addition, they have the added advantage of having 3D information in the acquired volume to better evaluate the area of interest. In clinical situations where a mid- to large-volume CBCT scan is available, a simulated panoramic image can be generated using the CBCT volume, leaving exposure of the patient to the additional radiation of a panoramic image unnecessary.

Robot assisted implant surgery: Hype or hope?

The 21st century is characterized by accelerated technological innovation, resulting in digitization of most areas of medicine and dentistry. Dental implant surgical planning has evolved from using analog static guides to computer generated guides and dynamic surgical guidance. Dynamic surgical placement has started gaining ground with the use of navigated surgery and robot assisted implant placement. Have static surgical guides become obsolete? Although innovative and cutting edge, the use of dynamic guidance requires a learning curve and added expenses for the dental team. Also, could dynamic guidance, and specifically robot assisted implant surgery lead to more accurate fixture placement? In this article we will share our experience using robotic implant surgery from the perspective of an academic institution that has used the YOMI robot for several years now.