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Stem cell-based therapies are contemporary approaches that particularly involve the use of mesenchymal stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent precursors capable of differentiating from various cell sources, including adipocytes, myocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. They have self-renewal capabilities and possess properties that support hemostasis, reduce inflammation, modulate the immune response, and promote tissue regeneration. The paracrine activity of mesenchymal stem cells serves as a significant mechanism for their therapeutic efficacy. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the secretomes of mesenchymal stem cells which consist of growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and extracellular vesicles. Extracellular vesicles are classified into two subtypes: ectosomes and exosomes. These secretions hold potential as innovative tools in regenerative medicine and dentistry for diagnosing, managing, and monitoring various diseases. This review focused on mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes and their potential as an alternative strategy for the therapeutic management of temporomandibular disorders. It also summarized the benefits and drawbacks associated with this treatment

The deep inferior tendon (DIT) represents a distinct intramuscular tendinous structure within the superficial layer of the masseter muscle and contributes to its internal compartmentalization. Although the presence of the DIT has been demonstrated in anatomical and ultrasonographic studies, detailed evaluations of its morphological variability and its association with patient-related factors remain limited. This study aimed to analyze ultrasonographically defined DIT types and investigate their relationship with demographic and structural variables, including muscle thickness, tooth loss, age, and sex. This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent ultrasonographic evaluation of the masseter muscle. DIT morphology was classified into three types using ultrasonography: Type A, Type B (with subtypes B1 and B2), and Type C. Masseter muscle thickness at rest and during clenching, dental status (number of missing teeth), and demographic data (age and sex) were also recorded. Intra-observer reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Associations between DIT type and patient-related factors were analyzed statistically. A total of 90 patients were analyzed, comprising 53 females (58.8%) and 37 males (41.2%), with a mean age of 49.89 ± 9.72 years (range: 28-59). A statistically significant difference was found between right and left masseter muscle DIT distributions (p = 0.046). In addition, a significant association was observed between right-sided DIT type and sex (p = 0.016). No statistically significant differences were identified between DIT type and muscle thickness, tooth loss, or age. Ultrasonographic evaluation demonstrated variability in the morphology and bilateral distribution of the deep inferior tendon within the masseter muscle. Recognition of these anatomical variations may contribute to a more precise understanding of the internal architecture of the masseter and facilitate safer planning of intramuscular interventions.

Introduction: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is a challenging complication associated with the use of anti-resorptive and anti-angiogenic medications, often impairing bone healing and quality of life. Recent regenerative approaches, such as leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin, have attracted interest because of their potential to improve treatment outcomes by supporting angiogenesis, soft tissue healing, and bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of leukocyte-and platelet-rich fibrin in promoting healing in patients with stage 2 and 3 osteonecrosis. Materials and Method: This retrospective clinical study included 21 patients (8 males, 13 females; mean age: 66.9 years) diagnosed with stage 2 or 3 osteonecrosis and treated at a single-center oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. Patients were grouped on the basis of the application of platelet-rich fibrin during surgery. Clinical healing was assessed postoperatively and classified as primarily healed or primarily not healed. Results: In the platelet-rich fibrin group (n = 9), 88.9% of patients achieved primary healing, whereas 66.7% of patients in the non- platelet-rich fibrin group achieved primary healing (n = 12) (p = 0.338). Healing was achieved in 100% of stage 2 patients and 83.3% of stage 3 patients treated with platelet-rich fibrin. Drug type, usage duration, and etiology were not significantly associated with healing outcomes. Conclusion: Platelet-rich fibrin tended to improve postoperative healing in osteonecrosis patients, especially in stage 2 patients, but the difference was not statistically significant. These findings support the potential use of platelet-rich fibrin as an adjunctive treatment and highlight the need for further studies with larger sample sizes. Keywords: Platelet-Rich Fibrin; Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw; Denosumab; Geriatrics.

Introduction: The global elderly population is increasing and becoming more susceptible to oral and systemic diseases. Therefore, comprehensive clinical and histopathological examinations of the oral and maxillofacial area to assess the oral health of this population are crucial. This study aimed to increase the knowledge base regarding the prevalence of biopsied oral and maxillofacial lesions among a sample of the elderly Turkish population (≥ 65 years of age). Materials and Method: The clinical records of geriatric patients ≥ 65 years of age, who underwent biopsy for a pathological formation(s) in the oral region between January 2017 and January 2020 at Ege University School of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (İzmir, Türkiye), were reviewed. Clinical follow-up data including demographic information, anatomical localization of the pathological mass, preliminary diagnosis, and biopsy results were evaluated. In order to ascertain the relationship between lesion formation and the independent variables, univariate analysis was employed. Results: Data were collected from 353 of 400 patients over a threeyear period. There was a high prevalence of odontogenic lesions (42.5%), and pathological diagnosis revealed an increased number of cases (43.1%). Pathological lesions were reported mostly in the posterior mandible (33.4%), followed by the anterior maxilla (21%), anterior mandible (13.3%), and posterior maxilla (7.1%). Conclusion: These findings are in accordance with those of previous studies based on histopathological data, emphasizing their importance in guiding public health policies for this patient population. Keywords: Biopsy; Pathology, Oral; Epidemiology; Geriatrics.

This study aimed to assess the usefulness of ChatGPT Plus generated responses to clinical-specific questions in oral and maxillofacial surgery. This cross-sectional study was conducted with questions composed according to the Clinical Practise Guide of Ege University, School of Dentistry, and with different subjects of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the undergraduate level. These questions were classified according to their difficulty level (easy, medium, and hard) and inputted into ChatGPT Plus. Three researchers evaluated the responses using a 7-point Likert-type accuracy scale and a modified global quality scale (range: 1–5). Also, error analysis was carried out for the questions scored ≤4 according to the accuracy assessment. A total of 66 questions were enrolled in this study. The questions included dental anesthesia, tooth extraction, preoperative and postoperative complications, suturing, writing prescriptions, and temporomandibular joint examination. The median accuracy score of ChatGPT Plus responses was 5, with 75% of the responses scoring 4 or above. The median quality score was 4, with 75% of the responses scoring 3 or above. There was a significant difference among the 3 difficulty levels, both in accuracy and quality scores (P<0.001 and 0.001, respectively). The median scores of hard-level questions were found to be lower than the easy-level and medium-level questions. The study outcomes emphasized high accuracy and quality in ChatGPT Plus’s responses, except for the questions requiring a detailed response or a comment.

Odontogenic keratocysts are odontogenic epithelial-originated developmental cysts characterized by minimal expansion, high recurrence rate, and aggressive nature. They are usually asymptomatic and detected in routine dental examinations so can be overlooked until the lesions reach large sizes. The treatment of odontogenic keratocyst is controversial, and there are various surgical approaches ranging from conservative approaches to more invasive procedures. In this case report, a 16-year-old female patient with an enlarged odontogenic keratocyst associated with an impacted third molar and extending through the mandibular angle, ramus, and coronoid process regions is presented with the clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings and the surgical treatment plan.

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, diş çekimini takiben immediat olarak yerleştirilen implantların sağ kalımının ve sağ kalımı etkileyen olası risk faktörlerinin retrospektif olarak değerlendirilmesiydi. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya, 2015 Ocak ve 2021 Haziran tarihleri arasında, en az bir adet diş çekimi yapılmış ve çekim soketine eş zamanlı olarak implant yerleştirilmiş hastalar dahil edilmiştir. Demografik özellikler (yaş, cinsiyet ve sistemik hastalık) ve ameliyat verileri (dişin çekilme nedeni, implantın yerleştirildiği diş bölgesi, implantın yüzey özelliği, boy ve çapı, yerleştirme tork değeri, implant sayısı, kemik doku greftleme ve flep elevasyonu) kaydedilmiştir. İmplant sağ kalım oranı, toplam yerleştirilen implant sayısına göre yüzdelik olarak hesaplanmış ve risk grupları üzerindeki etkileri belirlemek için Multivariate analizi yapılmıştır. İstatistiksel olarak anlamlılık p

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate physicians’ level of knowledge and awareness regarding the side effects of bisphosphonates (BPs). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at University Hospital. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire given to a group of research assistants all of whom were required to prescribe BPs, including internists (oncologists, endocrinologists and rheumatologists), orthopaedic specialists, physiotherapists, obstetricians and gynaecologists, and urologists. The questionnaire consisted of a range of questions covering such matters as length of time in occupation, how information is given out, whether a dentist is consulted before or in the course of prescribing the medicine, and previous experience of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and any treatment modifications. Results: Ninety-one out of 106 physicians included in our sample were found to be treating patients with BPs. Although 89% of the physicians informed their patients about the side effects of BPs, only 16.5% advised their patients to consult a dentist for dental treatment before prescribing BPs. When the different specialist groups were ranked in terms of their rate of dental referrals, from highest to lowest, the order was as follows: physiotherapists, internists, obstetricians and gynaecologists, urologists and orthopaedists. A statistically significant correlation was found between knowledge and specialty (p=0.02), but no significant correlation was observed between knowledge and years of experience (p=0.3). Conclusion: There is a lack of awareness among research assistants about the risk of MRONJ when prescribing BPs. Therefore, continuous education programmes and multiple interventions are needed to increase awareness.