Comparison of 3D-Printed Single Crown Outcomes Among Different Computer-Aided Design Software Programs.

Purpose: Low-cost resin 3D printers have been used to produce affordable interim single crowns in public and private dental practices. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of different computer-aided design (CAD) software programs on 3D trueness, microscopic marginal and internal gaps, time to design, and interproximal contacts of low-cost 3D-printed single crowns.

Materials And Methods: This in vitro study was performed on a total of 90 standardized resin-prepared teeth adapted to a dental manikin.

Patterns in Oral Hygiene and Dietary Habits in School Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Aim: To assess oral hygiene and dietary patterns in school children participating in a school-based preventive oral health program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, an anonymous questionnaire exploring oral hygiene and dietary patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic was completed by parents of school children. Data were compared among different schools, school years, and between genders using nonparametric tests.

Multimodal teaching methods for students in dentistry: a replacement for traditional teaching or a valuable addition? A three-year prospective cohort study.

Background: This student-centred prospective cohort study evaluated the impact of multimodal teaching methods on student performance in the theoretical domain of dental studies.

Methods: Dental students answered anonymous questionnaires indicating their preferences and opinions three times over three consecutive academic years. Data collected included gender, course, year of study and most frequent and preferred learning modality.

The effect of tooth borne versus skeletally anchored Alt-RAMEC protocol in early treatment of Class III malocclusion: a single-centre randomized clinical trial.

Trial Design: This was a randomized, controlled trial designed to compare outcomes between the use of dental and skeletal anchorage, using the Face mask/Alternate Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Contraction (FM/Alt-RAMEC) protocol.

Methods And Participants: The study was carried out at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta and included prepubertal skeletal Class III malocclusion patients where the aetiology was primarily maxillary hypoplasia.

Interventions: Two groups were assigned.

The impact of school-based social media and online technology on oral health education for individuals with disability.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of school-based online communication methods on the oral health-related behavirs of individuals with disability.

Method: A prospective interventional study was conducted on 154 students (age 3-22 years) with various disabilities attending educational centers. A clinical examination was carried out before and after a school-based online educational program.

Risk prediction models for erosive wear in preschool-aged children: a prospective study.

Background: Despite increasing prevalence, age-specific risk predictive models for erosive tooth wear in preschool-age children have not been developed. Identification of at-risk groups and the timely introduction of behavioural change or treatment will stop the progression of erosive wear in the permanent dentition. This study aimed to identify age-specific risk factors for erosive wear.

Patient Reported Outcomes on Different Occlusal Schemes in Complete Denture Wearers.

Purpose: To compare patient-reported outcomes among balanced, lingualized, and monoplane occlusal schemes in relation to edentulous jaw classifications.

Materials And Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in edentulous patients receiving new complete dentures using balanced, lingualized, or monoplane occlusal schemes. Demographic variables, bone ridge quantity, number of adjustments required after denture insertion, and satisfaction and quality of life (QoL) indices (ie, the Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire [DSQ] and General Oral Health Assessment Index [GOHAI], respectively) were assessed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 52 weeks.

Effect Of Different Milling Devices On Marginal Fit Of CAD-CAM Zirconia Copings On Implant Stock Abutments.

Purpose: To compare the marginal fit and internal surface roughness of CAD/CAM zirconia copings milled with 3- and 5-axis milling devices.

Materials And Methods: Forty titanium implant stock abutments (4.8 mm in diameter, 4 mm in height) screwed to dental implants (4.

Effect of varying levels of expertise on the reliability and reproducibility of the digital waxing of single crowns: A preliminary in vitro study.

Statement Of Problem: The digital waxing of single crowns can be affected by the quality of intraoral scans and use of computer-aided design (CAD) software programs. However, clinical outcomes of the resulting crowns are also affected by computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) methodologies. Studies on the effect of different levels of expertise on digital waxing are lacking.

Maintenance and risk factors for fractures of overdentures using immediately loaded conventional diameter or mini implants with Locator abutments: A cohort study.

Background: Fractures in mandibular implant-retained overdentures are a common complication. However, little is known on the related risk factors and outcome differences when using two conventional diameter or two mini implants.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was first, to evaluate the required maintenance and complications with the overdentures and second, to analyze risk factors for overdenture fractures.

Patient-based outcomes with conventional or mini-implants immediately loaded with locator-retained mandibular overdentures: A cohort study.

Background: Little is known on the effect of varying implant diameters, especially with mini implants (ie, less than 3 mm in diameter), on oral health-related quality of life (OHrQoL).

Purpose: To compare OHrQoL and satisfaction in patients with mandibular overdentures immediately retained by either two conventional or two mini-implants.

Materials And Methods: Edentulous patients receiving immediately loaded overdentures retained by Locators on either two conventional diameter (4.

Self-reported dental student stressors and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To compare the influence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the student reported outcomes among dental students reading/studying different courses offered in the only dental school in Malta.

Materials And Methods: An anonymous questionnaire consisting of 13 closed-ended and open-ended questions was sent to all students (n = 97) at the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the University of Malta. Emergent themes from open-ended questions were identified and tallied.

Immediately loaded mini-implants supporting mandibular overdentures: A one-year comparative prospective cohort study.

Background: Little is known about differences between mini-implants and conventional immediately loaded implants for overdentures.

Objectives: To compare clinical outcomes using two immediately loaded conventional or mini-implants for mandibular overdentures.

Materials And Methods: Edentulous patients receiving either conventional (4.

Use of free CAD software for 3D printing individualized face masks based on face scans.

Aim: To describe a method of digitally customizing 3D-printed face mask designs using 3D face scans and free software.

Materials And Methods: The procedure of creating customized face masks initially involved importing and aligning STL files of face scans and mask components in free CAD software. The imported mask described in this article is composed of three different STL files (body, filter structure, and grid).

WASP (Write a Scientific Paper): Writing an academic research proposal.

A research study cannot commence without a proposal. This paper highlights the preparatory steps and details the individual sections of a research proposal. The importance of the proposal toward the research project and the eventual writing of a thesis or dissertation is also emphasised.

A cost analysis of a long-term prospective study of patients treated with immediately loaded implant-supported mandibular overdentures.

Background: The economic burden for patients seeking treatment with implant-supported prostheses has not been given adequate attention.

Purpose: To document long-term costs from a prospective trial on edentulous patients treated with mandibular implant-supported overdentures and 2 loading protocols.

Materials And Methods: The direct clinical and time costs for 35 patients receiving an immediate-loading protocol (ILP) and 40 patients with a conventional-loading protocol, over 14 years of observation, were analyzed in 2016 Canadian dollars as a base year.

An evaluation of oral health-related quality of life in orthodontic patients treated with fixed and twin blocks appliances.

Objective: To study the impact of orthodontic treatment on the quality of life in two patient groups, one treated with the twin block appliance and the other with fixed appliances.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-eight patients, aged between 10 and 16 years, were recruited in the fixed (20 males and 29 females) or functional (29 males and 20 females) treatment groups. The oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was measured before treatment and followed up at the end of the treatment.

Surface Microstructural Changes and Release of Ions from Dental Metal Alloy Removable Prostheses in Patients Suffering from Acid Reflux.

Purpose: To investigate the surface microstructural changes and the release of ions from metal alloys used in removable dental prostheses and the potential effects of acidic reflux found in patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-seven (37) patients were recruited. Data were gathered through a questionnaire and clinical examination.

The Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in State Institutionalized Older Adults in Malta.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the oral health-related quality of life in state institutionalized older adults and correlate it to their oral health status.

Materials And Methods: A group of 278 older adults (average age: 83.5±6.

Systematic review of current dental implant coating materials and novel coating techniques.

Purpose: Titanium dental implants have a high success rate; however, there are instances when a modified surface may be desirable. The aim of this article was to systematically review the different types of implant coatings that have been studied clinically, in vivo and in vitro, and the coating techniques being implemented.

Materials And Methods: The literature was searched electronically and manually through The Cochrane Library, Medline, and PubMed databases to identify articles studying dental implant surfaces and coating techniques.

Development of a Maltese version of oral health-associated questionnaires: OHIP-14, GOHAI, and the Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire.

Purpose: To show the reliability of the Maltese translations of OHIP-14, GOHAI, and the Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire, define the reliability of the responses, and determine the correlation between OHIP-14 and GOHAI.

Materials And Methods: The items of the three questionnaires (OHIP-14, GOHAI, and Denture Satisfaction) were translated into Maltese and back into English to compare with the original version. Specific sampling of a population well versed in Maltese and English was carried out to obtain a sample of respondents for each questionnaire.

Early loading of fixture original implants with mandibular overdentures--a preliminary report on a prospective study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the short-term clinical- and patient-based results of an early loading protocol using two Fixture Original implants with a mandibular overdenture.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen consecutively treated patients were enrolled in this study. Each patient received 2 implants; one patient received an additional implant during the observation period, yielding a total of 31 implants used in this study.

Five-year clinical results of immediately loaded dental implants using mandibular overdentures.

Purpose: The aim of this report is to present the clinical and patient-based outcomes of an immediate-loading protocol of TiUnite implants with mandibular overdentures in edentulous patients 5 years following initial placement.

Materials And Methods: The study comprised two groups of edentulous patients. In the experimental group, 35 consecutively treated patients received 70 TiUnite implants that were loaded immediately, as well as 69 Branemark machined implants as a backup treatment.

Temporomandibular joint disorders during HIV infection: a case report.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a term reflecting chronic, painful, craniofacial conditions usually of unclear etiology with impaired jaw function. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients often report chronic pain and pathologies targeting body joints during retroviral therapy. Although both conditions may share similar secondary disorders, no conclusive cause-effect relationship has been found linking the TMD to the HIV-antiviral treatment.