An ex vivo comparison of near-infrared Raman spectroscopy and cone beam computed tomography in the assessment of bone, dental hard tissues, and bone graft materials.

Objective: To evaluate the potential of near-infrared Raman spectroscopy (RS) in distinguishing between various types of bone, dental hard tissues, and bone graft materials, and to determine the correlation between pixel intensity values (PIVs) in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and Raman values.

Study Design: A thinly sliced section of mandible was utilized to evaluate cancellous and cortical bone. Extracted human teeth were used to prepare the enamel and dentin samples.

Value of an Intraoral Camera in Evaluating Restorations and Plaque in a Simulated Environment: Observational Experiences of Dentists in Pediatric Contexts to Establish a Proof of Concept.

Access to the posterior maxillary and mandibular teeth is a significant challenge while evaluating plaque, gingiva, teeth, restorations, and crown margins. It is tougher when there are also limitations of mouth opening, small mouths, or when patients are not cooperative. The evolution of small intraoral cameras appears to be a promising solution - intraoral cameras fit into the mouth and deliver live, high-resolution video feeds of the intraoral areas.

Effect of the Proximity of Roots to the Cortical Plate and Inclination of Incisors on External Apical Root Resorption.

Background: External apical root resorption (EARR) is an unfavorable side effect of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment of patients with increased crowding could lead to the proclination of incisors and proximity of roots to the cortical plates.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the proximity of the labial and lingual cortical plates and the inclination of incisors on EARR.

Evaluation of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Scans to Develop a Staging Method of External Carotid Artery Calcification.

The objective of this study was to develop a practical staging method for reporting external carotid artery calcifications (ECACs) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, specifically to standardize reporting for oral and maxillofacial radiologists. This retrospective study evaluated 489 CBCT scans for the presence of ECACs. Two calibrated evaluators assessed the scans in all three orthogonal planes, using the axial plane to develop the staging system.

Positional, morphologic, and volumetric differences in TMJ in unilateral posterior crossbites and controls: A retrospective CBCT study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate if there are any morphologic, positional, and volumetric differences in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of patients with unilateral posterior crossbite (UPC) compared to controls. Another objective was to analyse the discrepancy in the TMJ between the crossbite versus non-crossbite side in UPC versus right and left sides in controls. Additionally, this study aimed to evaluate the differences in the bone density at the masseteric insertion site at the angle of mandible in the UPC group and control group.

Does the Outcome of Graft Materials at Dental Implant Sites Differ Between Patients With Normal and Compromised Bone Health?

The objective of this paper was to assess the outcome of bone graft material at alveolar bone augmentation sites combined with dental implants in postmenopausal women with compromised bone health by evaluating cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scans at multiple time points.CBCT scans were analyzed on 55 postmenopausal women with compromised bone health status to determine the fate of alveolar bone augmentation. CBCT scans were taken immediately after surgery and 9 and 24 months postoperatively.

Evaluation of a 3D-Printed Cleft Palate Obturator Using a Low-Dose Cone Beam Computed Tomography Acquisition Protocol: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) technology is increasingly utilized in the head and neck region and is valuable in treatment planning for cleft palate patients, potentially enabling the creation of 3D-printed obturators to assist with feeding and speech. This technical report investigates the feasibility of using data from a 360-degree CBCT scan to accurately produce a cleft palate obturator and assesses whether a lower-dose 180-degree CBCT scan can achieve a comparable result. A simulated cleft palate was crafted on a dehydrated human skull, which was then scanned using both 360-degree and 180-degree CBCT scanning protocols.

The Utility of Cone Beam Computed Tomography Scans in Diagnosing and Treating Anterior Lesions of the Maxilla and Mandible.

Background: The standard screening protocol for radiographic examination in dentistry as per the American Dental Association recommendations is a panoramic radiograph (PAN) and four horizontal bitewings. PAN inherently suffers from several shortcomings like the superimposition of anatomic structures, especially of the cervical spine that obscures a significant portion of the anterior maxilla and mandible. This region has a significant amount of pathology that is not adequately imaged.

Three-dimensional Assessment of Temporomandibular Joint Volume, and Condylar and Glenoid-fossa Morphology: A Cone-beam Computed Tomography Study.

Background: The condylar and glenoid fossa morphology can alter in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), which can lead to changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space volume. Volumetric evaluation of TMJ can represent the entire three-dimensional (3D)-joint space between the condyle and glenoid fossa.

Aims: To perform 3D assessment of TMJ volume, condylar, and glenoid-fossa morphology using cone-beam computed tomography and evaluate the correlation between these parameters.

Newly Developed Low Dose 180-degree CBCT Protocol Reduces Radiation Dose Without Compromising Diagnostic Value.

Purpose: To compare the standard 360-degree CBCT acquisition protocol to the low dose 180-degree CBCT protocol for implant planning.

Materials And Methods: Two groups of patients, each consisting of 35 patients, were included in the study. The first group was imaged with the conventional 360-degree CBCT protocol, and the second group was imaged with the low dose 180-degree CBCT protocol.

Evaluation of Skeletal and Dentoalveolar Changes in Patients With Class II Div 1 Malocclusion Treated With Twin Block Appliance.

Objective The study was focused on evaluating the change in mandibular morphology following the Twin Block appliance therapy and recording its effect on the maxilla and maxillary dentoalveolar complex. Also, the results of the Twin Block appliance between males and females were compared.  Material and methods In this two-armed retrospective cephalometric study, 30 patients (mean age 12 years) treated with Twin Block appliance for the period of 8-12 months were chosen, and their records were obtained to analyze.

Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Incidental Findings in the Maxillofacial Complex of Adolescent Orthodontic Patients: A Retrospective Cone Beam Computed Tomography Analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of incidental findings in the maxillofacial complex of orthodontic patients imaged with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and assign those findings an appropriate clinical significance.

Methodology: Incidental findings (IF) were identified in 250 CBCT scans of adolescent orthodontic patients (aged 13-18 years) with a large field-of-view and categorized based on their anatomic location and placed into one of six subgroups based on anatomic region: i) sino-nasal, ii) dentoalveolar, iii) nasooropharyngeal airway, iv) temporomandibular joint, v) neck, vi) calcifications, and vi) miscellaneous findings. Additionally, findings were assigned a clinical significance score based on severity on a scale of mild, moderate and severe.

Skeletal and Dentoalveolar Changes With Mandibular Expansion in Growing Children.

Introduction The primary objective of this study was to quantitatively analyze the skeletal and dentoalveolar parameters following the mandibular expansion with a banded appliance. It was also part of the study to evaluate the amount of dental expansion and assess the change in the intermolar and individual first molar angulation. The basal bone parameters were compared to assess the skeletal effect of removable mandibular expansion appliance therapy.

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

Introduction: 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.

Comparative Evaluation of a Lower-Dose CBCT Acquisition Protocol for Preoperative Implant Site Assessment in Dry Human Skulls: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Restoration of edentulous sites with dental implants is increasingly becoming a popular choice. Cross-sectional 3-dimensional imaging using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides a better depiction of the implant site to help the clinician plan the procedure better. In spite of the advantages, radiation dose will always remain a concern.

Radiographic Evaluation of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) With Different Primary Cancers and Medication Therapies.

Background: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a condition that affects the jaws and is characterized by exposed bone in the oral cavity that persists for more than eight weeks despite treatment. Additional criteria include that the patient should have a current or past history of antiresorptive drugs and/or in combination with antiangiogenic drugs, absence of metastasis, and no previous radiotherapy to the affected area. The radiographic features of MRONJ in most instances do not have any specific radiographic features.

Can convolutional neural networks identify external carotid artery calcifications?

Objective: We developed and evaluated the accuracy and reliability of a convolutional neural network (CNN) in detecting external carotid artery calcifications (ECACs) in cone beam computed tomography scans.

Study Design: Using TensorFlow, we developed a program to identify calcification in 427 cone beam computed tomography scans evaluated to determine the presence of ECACs. We compared the results to the findings of a human evaluator.

Evaluation of near-infrared Raman spectroscopy in the differentiation of cortical bone, trabecular bone, and Bio-Oss bone graft: an ex-vivo study.

Objective: We evaluated the ability of near-infrared Raman spectroscopy (near-IR RS) to differentiate among cortical bone, trabecular bone, and Bio-Oss, a bovinebone-based graft material.

Study Design: We obtained a thinly sliced section of the mandible to collect cortical and trabecular bone samples and placed compacted Bio-Oss bone graft into a partially edentulous mandible in a dry human skull to obtain a comparable Bio-Oss sample. We performed near-IR RS of the 3 samples and evaluated the resultant Raman spectra to evaluate their differences.

The Readiness of ChatGPT to Write Scientific Case Reports Independently: A Comparative Evaluation Between Human and Artificial Intelligence.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in scientific publishing has gained increased attention, and one AI tool that has been the subject of much discussion is ChatGPT. It is a large language model (LLM) built on the OpenAI platform that aims to emulate human-like writing and continually improves through user interactions. In this paper, ChatGPT's performance was assessed in medical publishing by comparing it to a case report written by oral and maxillofacial radiologists.

Prescription of panoramic radiographs in children using age-based prevalence of dental anomalies and pathologies.

Background: Panoramic radiographs (PRs) are used in the detection and diagnosis of developmental dental anomalies and pathologies (DDAPs) in children.

Aim: The primary objective of this observational cohort study was to evaluate the age-based prevalence of DDAP on PRs, whereas the secondary objective was to determine a threshold age for the detection of DDAP to provide supportive evidence for the prescription of PR in paediatric dental practice.

Design: The study examined diagnostic PRs from 581 subjects aged 6 to 19 years.

Shifting the Spotlight From the Mandibular Condyle to the Coronoid Process: A Report of a Unique Case of Trifid Mandibular Coronoid Process.

The trifid mandibular coronoid process is an uncommon finding characterized by three projections arising from the mandibular ramus instead of a single triangular coronoid process. Previous authors reported cases of the bifid coronoid process. The authors referred to them as the bifid/second/double coronoid process.

A Curious Case Report: Should a Clinician Be Worried About Bone Resorption Under a Chin Augmentation Site?

Oftentimes patients are concerned about their facial esthetics and appearance. To achieve the desired look, patients have several augmentation procedures available to them. Appearance of the chin and its morphology plays a crucial role in facial aesthetics.

A Three-Dimensional (3D) Evaluation Unveiling if the Anterior Mandible Is Truly a Safe Zone for Implant Placement.

Background Dental implants are increasingly being used in the rehabilitation of the edentulous areas in the maxilla and mandible. The anterior mandible is considered a safe zone for implant placement, but clinicians often find it challenging to control bleeding in this area. This is due to the presence of the sublingual artery, which can be of varying dimensions and can cause severe bleeding.

The accuracy of artificial intelligence-based virtual assistants in responding to routinely asked questions about orthodontics.

Objectives: To evaluate the utility and efficiency of four voice-activated, artificial intelligence-based virtual assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and Cortana) in addressing commonly asked patient questions in orthodontic offices.

Materials And Methods: Two orthodontists, an orthodontic resident, an oral and maxillofacial radiologist, and a dental student used a standardized list of 12 questions to query and evaluate the four most common commercial virtual assistant devices. A modified Likert scale was used to evaluate their performance.