Isolated bilateral molariform mandibular second premolars; a case report.

Background: Molariform second premolar is a rare dental anomaly where the second premolar resembles a molar in size and shape. This condition is often linked to macrodontia, a rare enlargement of teeth that disrupts dental proportions and can manifest in isolated, relative, or generalized forms. Although mandibular second premolars are more prone to morphological variability, the occurrence of bilateral molariform premolars, induced by a unique form of gemination, is exceptionally uncommon and infrequently documented, thus making this case clinically significant.

Computer Assisted Bone Age Estimation Using Dimensions of Metacarpal Bones and Metacarpophalangeal Joints Based on Neural Network.

Statement Of The Problem: Bone age is a more accurate assessment for biologic development than chronological age. The most common method for bone age estimation is using Pyle and Greulich Atlas. Today, computer-based techniques are becoming more favorable among investigators.

Evaluation of the preventive effect of two concentrations of xylitol varnish versus fluoride varnish on enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The highly prevalent white spot lesions around orthodontic brackets necessitate introducing preventive materials without relying on patient compliance.

Objective: To evaluate the antidemineralizing effect of two concentrations of xylitol varnish.

Trial Design: Triple-blind, four-arm, parallel-group, single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial.

Influence of a bleaching agent on surface and mechanical properties of orthodontic thermoplastic retainer materials : An in vitro study.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a tooth whitening agent on surface roughness, surface hardness, and force delivery properties of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) thermoplastic retainer materials of two different thicknesses.

Methods: PETG sheets (1 mm and 1.5 mm) were thermoformed over a 30 × 60 × 10 mm rectangular stone model.

Assessment of mandibular characteristics in patients affected with β-thalassaemia major: A retrospective case-control study.

Objective: Thalassemia is the most common hereditary blood disorder across the world. This study aimed to identify some mandibular features of thalassaemic patients and compare them with unaffected counterparts.

Material And Methods: This retrospective case-control study was carried out on lateral cephalograms of 60 subjects (26 males, 34 females) with class II malocclusion and age range of 11 to 15 years.

Ergonomic Assessment of Exposure to Musculoskeletal Disorders Risk Factors among Dentists of Shiraz, Iran.

Statement Of The Problem: In dental profession, exposure to risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders raises the probability of musculoskeletal injuries in different parts of the body.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), assess the risk of MSDs, and determine the risk factors of musculoskeletal injuries among dentists of Shiraz city.

Materials And Method: In this cross-sectional study, 136 dentists of Shiraz city were randomly selected.

Characteristics of Palatal Rugae Patterns as a Potential Tool for Sex Discrimination in a Sample of Iranian Children.

Statement Of The Problem: Palatal rugae have been considered equivalent to fingerprints, as they are unique to each individual. It has been shown that palatal rugae are associated with specific racial groups and are known to aid sex identification. Due to the lack of any published data on palatal rugae morphology on Iranian children, the present study was performed.

Effect of different surface treatment on the shear bond strength of metal brackets to bleached and desensitized enamel.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of bleaching and desensitizing on shear bond strength (SBS) of metal brackets to enamel.

Methods: One hundred extracted human premolar were randomly assigned to 5 groups of 20. In the first group (control), no bleaching or desensitizing agent was used.

The Application of Palatal Rugae for Sex Discrimination in Forensic Medicine in a Selected Iranian Population.

Background: Palatal rugae have been shown to be associated with racial and geographical variations and are known to be useful in sex identification. The present study aimed to assess palatal rugae patterns in a sample Iranian population and to compare the results with those from other studied populations.

Methods: During summer 2017, 130 pre-orthodontic plaster casts from patients aged 17-25 years (65 males and 65 females) were obtained from the Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Impact of nanohydroxyapatite on enamel surface roughness and color change after orthodontic debonding.

Background: The aim of this prospective in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of nanohydroxyapatite (nanoHAP) serum on the enamel surface roughness and tooth color stability after orthodontic debonding procedure.

Methods: The crowns of 30 premolars were embedded in acrylic blocks with a 4 mm × 5-mm-sized window on the middle third of buccal surfaces. Primary roughness values were evaluated by an atomic force microscope (AFM).

An Analytical Study on an Orthodontic Index: Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON).

Statement Of The Problem: The validity of the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON) which is an orthodontic index developed and introduced in 2000 should be studied in different ethnic groups.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to perform an analysis on the ICON and to verify whether this index is valid for assessing both the need and complexity of orthodontic treatment in Iran.

Materials And Method: Five orthodontists were asked to score pre-treatment diagnostic records of 100 patients with a uniform distribution of different types of malocclusions determined by Dental Health Component of the Index of Treatment Need.

Evaluating the Stability of Open Bite Treatments and Its Predictive Factors in the Retention Phase during Permanent Dentition.

Statement Of The Problem: Orthodontists often find challenges in treating the anterior open bite and maintaining the results.

Purpose: This retrospective study was aimed to evaluate the stability of corrected open bite in the retention phase during permanent dentition.

Materials And Method: A total number of 37 patients, including 20 males and 17 females, with the mean age of 18±2.

The effects of forehead and neck position on esthetics of class I, II and III profiles.

Introduction: All parts of the face, other than jaw relationships, should be considered in orthodontic treatment planning. The role of forehead and neck in facial esthetics is well known; however, the majority of conventional facial analysis methods have not considered them. Neck and forehead may confer mutual effects on equilibrium and on esthetics of other facial components, and may change the overall convexity/concavity view of the profile.

Comparison of the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets in bonding and rebonding: preparation with laser versus conventional acid etch technique.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the bond strength of orthodontic brackets using laser versus acid etching.

Background Data: Debonding of brackets is a common problem in orthodontic treatments.

Materials And Methods: Eighty extracted premolar teeth were divided into two groups.

A comparison of photographic, replication and direct clinical examination methods for detecting developmental defects of enamel.

Background: Different methods have been used for detecting developmental defects of enamel (DDE). This study aimed to compare photographic and replication methods with the direct clinical examination method for detecting DDE in children's permanent incisors.

Methods: 110 8-10-year-old schoolchildren were randomly selected from an examined sample of 335 primary Shiraz school children.

Comparison of tooth size discrepancies among different malocclusion groups.

This retrospective investigation was designed to compare tooth size discrepancies among subjects with different skeletal malocclusions in an orthodontic population. The study employed the pre-treatment models of 200 patients (100 males, 100 females, aged from 14 to 20 years) selected from the records of the Orthodontic Department, Shiraz Dental School. The subjects were from four malocclusion groups, Class I, Class II division 1, Class II division 2, and Class III, with the corresponding skeletal characteristics.

Oral health in Iran.

The health network in the Islamic Republic (I.R.) of Iran is an integrated public health system with a four-level Dental Health Care System integrated into it by 1997.

Dental education and dentistry system in Iran.

Before 1979, there were only 5 undergraduate dental schools in Iran with a total admission of 200 students per year, and only 2,000 dentists and about 50 specialists practicing in the country. Currently, there are 18 dental schools with a total admission of 750 undergraduate students, 5 postgraduate programs in 10 disciplines with a total of 100 students, more than 11,000 dentists (1 dentist per 5,500 population) and nearly 1,000 specialists in the country. Two new schools have recently begun offering specialty training courses in 2 disciplines.

Effect of misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analog, on orthodontic tooth movement in rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of oral administration of misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analog, on orthodontic tooth movement and root resorption in rats. Sixty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats that initially weighed 250 +/- 20 g were used in this study. The animals were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 experimental and 2 control (nonappliance and appliance) groups.