Nuran Ulusoy

Background/Objectives: Dental caries is among the most common oral health problems, resulting from demineralization of dental hard tissues in acidic environments. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent severe tissue destruction, systemic complications and costly treatments. Conventional visual interpretation of panoramic radiographs, though widely used, remains subjective and variable. This study evaluated the effectiveness of image processing techniques and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted models for automated detection and classification of dental caries on panoramic radiographs, emphasizing numerical image data analysis. Methods: From 1084 panoramic radiographs, 405 were selected and classified into interproximal, occlusal and secondary caries groups. Each was segmented and one representative region was analyzed using the image data representation method. Numerical descriptors—brightness, contrast, entropy and histogram parameters—were extracted and evaluated with several machine learning algorithms. Results: Among tested models, the Decision Tree algorithm achieved the highest classification accuracy (0.988 at the 0.2 train-test ratio), showing superior and consistent results across caries types. Random Forest also demonstrated strong performance with limited training data, while Gaussian Naïve Bayes, KNN and RBFNN were less effective. Conclusions: The integration of numerical image features with AI-based models demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and clinical interpretability, particularly with Decision Tree algorithm. These results highlight the potential of AI-assisted analysis of panoramic radiographs to enhance diagnostic reliability, reduce subjectivity and support more effective treatment planning. Further multicentre studies with larger and more diverse datasets are recommended to validate generalizability.

The aim of this study is to investigate how two different polishing techniques affect the color stability, surface roughness, and changes in surface morphology of aged and coffee-stained bulk-fill resin composites. A total of 112 disc-shaped samples were prepared using Omnichroma Flow Bulk (OB), Charisma Bulk Flow One (CB), Estelite Bulk Fill Flow (EB), and Estelite Sigma Quick (control). Samples were divided into two subgroups (n = 16) and aged using thermocycling. A profilometer was used to measure the surface roughness (R_a) and a spectrophotometer was used for color stability (ΔE₀₀). The EB group had the highest Ra values both before aging (disc: 0.23 ± 0.05, twist: 0.42 ± 0.05) and after aging (discs: 0.28 ± 0.04, twist: 0.46 ± 0.05). The OB group had the highest ΔE₀₀ values before and after aging (discs: 3.06 ± 0.54, twist 3.05 ± 0.41) and the highest after coffee-staining (discs: 3.75 ± 0.70, twist: 3.91 ± 0.57). Re-polishing reduced the ΔE₀₀ values in all materials but did not restore all to clinically acceptable levels. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the surface roughness and color stability of resin composites are notably influenced by the polishing technique, aging process, and coffee staining. Specimens that were polished using the multi-stage Super-Snap discs consistently exhibited smoother surfaces across all bulk-fill resin composites compared to those polished with the two-stage Diacomp plus Twist.

Background: Polymerization shrinkage and microvoid formation has been a significant problem giving way to resin composite failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microvoid potential and microleakage of two bulk-fill and a microhybrid resin composite applied with different adhesive materials. Materials and Methods: MOD cavities were prepared in 60 endodontically treated maxillary premolars. The teeth were divided into six different groups (n = 10) according to adhesive systems (Gluma (Kulzer), OptiBond FL (Kerr) and resin composite materials EverX Posterior (GC) and Filtek One Bulk Fill (3M ESPE). An aging procedure with 5000 cycles of thermal cycling was applied. All teeth were individually scanned with micro-computed tomography. A Shapiro–Wilk test, two-way MANOVA, and Bonferroni analysis were used for statistical tests. Results: Self-etch groups showed more microleakage than total-etch groups. Minimum microleakage was observed in Filtek One Bulk Fill groups, whereas G-aenial Posterior groups showed maximum microleakage. Conclusions: Filtek One Bulk Fill (3M ESPE) resin composite was found to be more effective in reducing microvoid formation in MOD cavities when applied with total-etch adhesive systems. However, EverX Posterior (GC) and G-aenial Posterior (GC) showed less microvoid formation with self-etch adhesive systems.

Background The aim for this research was to evaluate and compare the impact, bond strength, and residual adhesive on the enamel surface after debonding of different orthodontic molar tubes. The tested materials were metal, composite, and newly introduced ceramic orthodontic molar tubes. Materials and methods In all, 66 first molar teeth were randomly divided into three groups. Metal, glass-fiber composite and ceramic orthodontic molar tubes were bonded and shear bond strength (SBS) tests were performed. The adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores after debonding were recorded and the enamel surfaces were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after the adhesives were cleaned. Results The mean SBS values of the metal and ceramic tube groups were significantly higher than that of the glass-fiber composite tube group. The highest SBS values were recorded for the ceramic tube group (11.09 ± 2.51 MPa). Failure typically occurred at the adhesive–enamel interface in the ceramic group, whereas the majority of the samples in the glass-fiber composite group showed failure at the adhesive–tube base interface according to ARI and SEM investigations. ARI 1 and ARI 2 scores were commonly observed for the metal tube group. Conclusions All the molar tubes tested had generated clinically acceptable SBS values; however, the values for glass-fiber composite molar tubes were significantly lower than those for the ceramic and metal molar tubes. If the debonding procedure is performed carefully, the ceramic molar tubes may be an enamel-safe product for patients seeking fully esthetic orthodontic treatment.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the color stability of repaired aesthetic restorative resin matrix materials after immersion in coffee and the effect of polishing systems after staining. One hundred and eighty cylindrical discs (8 mm × 2 mm) were prepared using a conventional nano-fill resin composite (Clearfil Majesty Esthetic A2 shade) with round cavities (3 × 1 mm). Cavities were repaired by three resin composite materials: Clearfil Majesty Esthetic A2 shade, one-shaded nano-fill resin composite (Omnichroma) and group-shaded nano-hybrid resin composite (Optishade, medium shade). Each group was polished with three polishing systems (n = 20); aluminum oxide (Soflex Spiral Wheels, 3M ESPE), silicon carbide (Occlubrush, Kerr, CA, USA) and diamond particulate (Twist Dia Spiral Wheels, Kuraray, Okayama, Japan). Color change (ΔE₀₀) measurements were performed with a spectrophotometer at the baseline. Half of the polished samples were either kept in distilled water or immersed in coffee for 15 days, and color measurements were repeated before and after polishing. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Repaired samples showed different color correspondence values in all groups. All three restorative materials showed significant color changes (ΔE₀₀) after immersion in coffee (p ≤ 0.05). Repolishing of stained samples showed color improvement values in all groups. The content of the polishing system played an important role in removing the stains.

To evaluate the effect of blocker on color matching of different shaded composite systems on natural teeth, 120 anterior teeth were divided into two groups as light and dark shades (n = 60). Round cavities (7 mm in diameter; 2 mm in depth) were prepared on labial surfaces of the teeth. They were restored using three types of resin composites: multi-shaded (Estelite Sigma Quick, Tokuyama Dental, Japan), single-shaded (Omnichroma, Tokuyama Dental, Japan) and group-shaded (Neo Spectra ST, Dentsply Sirona, Germany) (n = 20). Blocker (Omnichroma) was applied to half of the samples in each group (n = 10). Color matching of the restorations with the surrounding tissues were evaluated either by visual analysis or an instrumental method. The resin composites tested did not yield acceptable results instrumentally. Using blocker with single-shade resin composite on dark-colored teeth yielded a minimal change in color in 2 mm deep cavities in the visual evaluation by dentists. Similarly, applying blocker with group-shaded and multi-shaded resin composite on light-colored teeth caused minimal change in color of 2 mm deep cavities in the visual evaluation by dentists. As the application of blocker had no effect on the color matching of different shaded resin composites in the visual evaluations by all observers, except by dentists, blocker may be used as a dentin shade in 2 mm deep cavities of anterior teeth.

The aim of this study is to investigate the stress distributions of different restoration options for class II mesio‐occluso‐distal (MOD) cavities. A class II MOD cavity with proximal box gingival floor 1 mm below cementoenamel junction was designed in a mandibular first molar tooth model. 3D finite‐element analysis (FEA) and 3D‐CAD modelling were used to examine the occlusal stresses distributed to the remaining buccal enamel (RBE), remaining lingual enamel (RLE), adhesive surfaces, and restorative materials by direct and indirect materials resulting from a 600 N of static occlusal load stimulating foodstuff. von Mises (VM) and maximum principal (Pmax) stresses were evaluated for two CAD/CAM materials and three direct materials. CAD/CAM materials exerted less stress than the direct restorative materials. Significant von Mises and Pmax stress value differences were seen among all restoration models on RBE. Reducing RLE and including it into the cavity would be a more effective option for this model in this scenario. As VM and Pmax stresses of PIHC CAD/CAM material for RBE and dentin were significantly lower than other tested materials, it may be the choice of material for indirect MOD restorations.

In recent years, people have become more conscious about the side-effects of fluoride toothpastes and herbal products have drawn attention as alternatives in the struggle against caries. Studies have focused on the benefits of essential oils obtained from herbs because of their antibacterial effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antibacterial activity of Origanum dubium and Cinnamomum cassia oils combined with herbal toothpastes against Streptococcus mutans. The antibacterial activity of the test materials was determined using the agar well diffusion method before and after the addition of essential oils. We tested the efficacy of Splat Organic and Splat Biocalcium against S. mutans (12 mm and 11 mm, respectively) doubled in combination with Origanum dubium (23 mm for both toothpastes) and tripled with Cinnamomum cassia (38 mm and 36 mm, respectively). Jack N’ Jill toothpaste, which did not initially show any antibacterial effect, exhibited the largest inhibition zones after the addition of the essential oils (38 mm for Origanum dubium and 39 mm for Cinnamomum cassia). The results of this study pointed out that herbal toothpastes exhibit statistically higher antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans (p < 0.05) than their initial forms after the addition of essential oils.