Zeynep Öztürk

Background: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effects of different layer thicknesses (50 μm and 100 μm) and curing methods (light curing and water curing) on the surface roughness, microhardness, and color stability of 3D-printed Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) based denture base resins after exposure to 2 acidic aging solutions—cola and sour cherry juice. Methods: One hundred twenty disc-shaped samples were 3D-printed and divided into 4 main groups based on layer thickness and curing method. Each group (n = 30) was further divided into subgroups (n = 15) and immersed in either cola or sour cherry juice for 7 and 21 days. Surface roughness, Vickers microhardness, and color change (ΔE) were measured each time. Statistical analyses included repeated measures ANOVA, Friedman, and Wilcoxon tests (P < .05). Results: Surface roughness values significantly increased over time in all groups (P < .05); however, no significant difference was detected between the groups at any time point. Microhardness values showed significant differences according to layer thickness, curing method, and time (P <.05). While higher hardness values were obtained in 50 μm and light-cured groups, a significant decrease was observed in all groups over time. A statistically significant ΔE was observed in the 50 water-cured–cola group, while color stability was maintained in the other groups. Conclusion: Layer thickness, curing method, and aging process have a significant impact on the surface and optical properties of 3D-printed PMMA resins. Water curing may limit polymerization efficiency, resulting in increased susceptibility to surface degradation and color changes. Optimizing manufacturing parameters is crucial for enhancing the clinical performance and long-term aesthetics of 3D-printed prosthetic materials. Cite this article as: .ztürk Z, Tosun B. Investigation of changes in surface and optical properties of 3D-printed acrylic resins produced with different layer thickness and curing methods: an in vitro study. Essent Dent. 2026, 5, 0073, doi:10.5152/EssentDent.2026.25073.

Miyofonksiyonel tedavi; ağız, dil ve yüz kaslarının dengeli çalışmasını sağlayarak maloklüzyonların önlenmesini ve mevcut anomalilerin düzelmesini hedefler. Trainer, Myobrace, LM-Activator, Occluso-Guide, Froggy Mouth ve Multi-P gibi prefabrik apareyler; dil pozisyonunun düzenlenmesi, kas fonksiyonlarının normalleştirilmesi, burun solunumunun desteklenmesi ve çene gelişiminin yönlendirilmesi amacıyla kullanılır. Bu yaklaşımlar, erken dönemde dentoalveoler gelişimi destekleyerek fonksiyonel dengeyi güçlendirir. Ayrıca hasta iş birliği, tedavi stabilitesi ve nüks riskinin yönetimi tedavi başarısında belirleyici unsurlardır. Miyofonksiyonel tedaviler, geleneksel ortodontik yöntemleri tamamlayan koruyucu ve erken müdahale odaklı bir uygulama alanı oluşturur.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the reliability, quality, and content of YouTube videos that cover topics such as the definition, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of bruxism. Material and Methods: A YouTube search was conducted using the keywords “bruxism,” “teeth clenching and grinding,” and “bruxism in children.” YouTube videos were examined using four analysis techniques: interaction index, quality score of video content, Global Quality Scale (GQS), and DISCERN reliability analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 25, and significance was set at P< 0.05 level. Results: Of the first 180 videos scanned, 109 were included in the analysis. We observed that videos were frequently produced by professional sources (90.8%). However, the mean interaction index of videos uploaded from individual sources (2.07±0.93) was higher than videos uploaded by hospitals/institutions (1.18±2.06). Although interest in videos uploaded by individual sources is high, the reliability of such videos (1.00±0.94) was lower than sources uploaded by hospital institutions (1.53±1.05) and dentists/health professionals (1.63±0.66). Videos with a duration of >6 min have a higher DISCERN score than those with a duration of ≤6 min. In the videos, 41.79% of the etiological factors were psychological factors, 34.32% were systemic disorders, and 18.65% were malocclusion. In terms of treatment methods, occlusal splint applications (33.7%) and preventive treatments (18.78%) were the most commonly mentioned approaches. Conclusion: The reliability and quality of YouTube videos on bruxism are inadequate. Health professionals should increase the usefulness of digital platforms by sharing reliable and comprehensive videos.

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of denture base materials produced by three-dimensional (3D) printing and conventional methods in terms of their mechanical durability and water absorption and solubility properties. Conventional polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) samples (Meliodent, Heraeus Kulzer, Germany) were prepared using the pressing technique. PowerResins (3BFAB Technology, Inc., Istanbul, Turkey) was used to produce the 3D printed denture base samples. The 3D printed samples were designed using Meshmixer software (Autodesk, Inc.) and printed on a DentaFab Sega 3D Printer (DentaFab, Istanbul, Turkey). Flexural and compressive strength and microhardness tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the samples. Water absorption and solubility tests were also performed. The flexural and compressive strength and microhardness values ​​of the 3D printed group were higher than those of the conventional group (p < 0.001). The mean water absorption value was lower in the 3D printed group compared to the conventional group, and the difference between these values ​​was statistically significant (p < 0.001). A statistically significant difference was noted between the groups in terms of water solubility ​​(p = 0.003). Our study shows that 3D printing can produce customized and high-precision prosthetic bases while also improving their physical and mechanical properties.

The acquisition of oral hygiene habits during early childhood plays an important role in the prevention of dental caries. Illustrated storybooks can be an effective tool for teaching children oral hygiene behaviors. This study examined the content of available Turkish illustrated storybooks related to oral hygiene from various perspectives. Internet searches were conducted for books related to oral hygiene. The publication year, price, page count, original language, image–text coherence, target audience age, reading level, author’s profession, and reference information of the books that met the inclusion criteria were recorded. The content of the books was evaluated based on the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). A total of 33 books with relevant content fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The publication years of the books ranged from 2015 to 2023. The average price was 53.95 ± 27.71 liras, and the average number of pages was 28.06 ± 13.13. Thirteen of the books were originally written in Turkish, while the others were translated into Turkish. Most of the books were found to be very readable. Only three books were written by a dentist. Tooth brushing was the most frequently mentioned oral hygiene practice. The books did not fully cover the AAPD guidelines. It is important for authors to consult professional sources or expert opinions to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the health information conveyed in their books.

Background/Aim: The use of AI‐driven chatbots for accessing medical information is increasingly popular among educators and students. This study aims to assess two different ChatGPT models—ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4.0—regarding their responses to queries about traumatic dental injuries, specifically for dental students and professionals. Material and Methods: A total of 40 questions were prepared, divided equally between those concerning definitions and diagnosis and those on treatment and follow‐up. The responses from both ChatGPT versions were evaluated on several criteria: quality, reliability, similarity, and readability. These evaluations were conducted using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), the Reliability Scoring System (adapted DISCERN), the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), the Flesch–Kincaid Reading Grade Level (FKRGL), and the Similarity Index. Normality was checked with the Shapiro–Wilk test, and variance homogeneity was assessed using the Levene test. Results: The analysis revealed that ChatGPT 3.5 provided more original responses compared to ChatGPT 4.0. According to FRES scores, both versions were challenging to read, with ChatGPT 3.5 having a higher FRES score (39.732 ± 9.713) than ChatGPT 4.0 (34.813 ± 9.356), indicating relatively better readability. There were no significant differences between the ChatGPT versions regarding GQS, DISCERN, and FKRGL scores. However, in the definition and diagnosis section, ChatGPT 4.0 had a statistically higher quality score than ChatGPT 3.5. In contrast, ChatGPT 3.5 provided more original answers in the treatment and follow‐up section. For ChatGPT 4.0, the readability and similarity rates for the definition and diagnosis section were higher than those for the treatment and follow‐up section. No significant differences were observed between ChatGPT 3.5's DISCERN, FRES, FKRGL, and similarity index measurements by topic. Conclusions: Both ChatGPT versions offer high‐quality and original information, though they present challenges in readability and reliability. They are valuable resources for dental students and professionals but should be used in conjunction with additional sources of information for a comprehensive understanding.

This study evaluated the color stability, surface roughness, and hardness of 3D-printed and heat-polymerized denture materials. A total of 90 samples were prepared, with equal numbers of 3D-printed and heat-polymerized disks. The initial hardness, surface roughness, and color values of the samples were measured. After 14 days of immersion in distilled water, natural orange juice, or commercial orange juice, the measurements were repeated. Based on the findings, 3D-printed samples exhibited a greater reduction in Vickers hardness (56.24 ± 15.81%) compared to heat-polymerized samples (18.93 ± 11.41%). Materials immersed in commercial orange juice exhibited a greater reduction in hardness compared to those in other solutions (43.13 ± 23.66). Surface roughness increased by 46.66 ± 26.8% in heat-polymerized samples and by 26.16 ± 20.78% in 3D-printed samples, with the highest increase observed in commercial orange juice (50.73 ± 28.8%) (p < 0.001). The color change (ΔE) was significantly higher in heat-polymerized samples (ΔE = 5.05 ± 0.28) than in 3D-printed samples (ΔE = 3.9 ± 0.26) (p < 0.001). This study demonstrates that the material type and immersion solutions play a critical role in determining the mechanical and optical properties of denture materials, with commercial orange juice having the most pronounced effect on surface roughness and hardness.

Teknolojik gelişmeler hızla ilerlemekte ve üretim, sağlık sektörü, sanayi gibi alanlara entegre edilmektedir. Diş hekimliğinde yaygın biçimde kullanılmaya başlayan 3D yazıcılar kişisel olarak oluşturulan ya da herhangi bir yerden hazır olarak bulunan üç boyutlu modelin, katı bir şekilde 3D yazıcıdan çıktısının alındığı teknolojik işlemdir. Bu üretim biçimi pedodonti, protetik diş tedavisi, ortodonti, cerrahi, oral radyoloji, restoratif diş tedavisi gibi diş hekimliğinin faklı uzmanlık alanlarında yeni tedavi ve tanı yöntemleri geliştirilmesine ve uygulanmasına katkıda bulunmuştur. Pedodontide 3D yazıcılar; preklinik eğitimi, yer tutucu ve aparey yapımı, çocuk protezi yapımı gibi alanlarda kullanılmaktadır. Mevcut bilgi ve birikimler gelişmekte olan teknolojiyle entegre edildiğinde diş hekimlerine doğru ve etkili tedavi biçimlerini daha rahat uygulayabilme; hastalara ise farklı tedavi seçeneklerine sahip olma ve uygulan tedaviden alacakları memnuniyet oranını arttırabilme imkanını sağlayacaktır. Technological advancements are progressing rapidly and are being integrated into fields such as production, healthcare, and industry. 3D printers, which have become widely used in dentistry, are a technological process in which a three-dimensional model, either custom-made or obtained from any source, is printed as a solid object. This production method has contributed to the development and application of new treatment and diagnostic methods in various dental specialties, such as pediatric dentistry, prosthetic dentistry, orthodontics, surgery, oral radiology, and restorative dentistry. In pediatric dentistry, 3D printers are used in areas such as preclinical education, space maintainer and appliance fabrication, and the creation of pediatric prosthetics. When existing knowledge and experience are integrated with developing technology, it provides dentists with the ability to apply correct and effective treatment methods more easily, while offering patients a wider range of treatment options and increasing their satisfaction with the treatment received.