Kübra Ceran Deveci

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare orofacial esthetic assessments among periodontists, prosthodontists, general dentists, and dental students using an adapted observer‐rated version of the Turkish version of the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES‐Tr). Methods: Five groups of 30 assessors—periodontists, prosthodontists, general dentists, 5th‐year dental students, and 4th‐year dental students—evaluated standardized photographs of natural smiles from 10 individuals using seven items adapted from the OES‐Tr. Linear mixed‐effects models were used to account for repeated assessments. Results: Educational/specialization group significantly affected total OES‐Tr scores. General dentists assigned higher scores than 4th‐year dental students and prosthodontists. Group differences were observed for tooth alignment, tooth shape and form, tooth color, and the appearance of the gums. Age and sex were not significantly associated with OES‐Tr scores. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this current study, it was concluded that orofacial esthetic assessments differed according to educational/specialization group. Significant group differences were observed for tooth alignment, tooth shape and form, tooth color, and the appearance of the gums. No statistically significant associations were observed between assessors' age or sex and orofacial esthetic assessments.

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate asprosin, adropin, and irisin levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) across different periodontal conditions and to analyze their relationship with clinical periodontal parameters. Materials and methods A total of 122 systemically healthy participants (25–60 years) were divided into four groups: healthy periodontium (n = 30), gingivitis (n = 30), Stage I–II periodontitis (n = 32), and Stage III–IV periodontitis (n = 30). Clinical parameters recorded included probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI). GCF samples were collected, and asprosin, adropin, and irisin levels were measured by ELISA. Statistical analyses included ANOVA/Kruskal–Wallis with post hoc tests, Pearson correlations, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results Asprosin levels were significantly higher in Stage III–IV periodontitis compared with other groups (p < 0.05). Adropin and irisin levels were higher in the healthy group, although not statistically significant. Asprosin correlated positively with PI, PD, CAL, and BOP, while irisin correlated negatively with PI. ROC analysis indicated that asprosin had diagnostic potential for distinguishing between advanced periodontitis and other conditions. Conclusions Elevated GCF asprosin levels were found to be associated with periodontitis severity, whereas adropin and irisin were related to periodontal health. More research is needed to understand the role of irisin, asprosin, and adropin in periodontal pathogenesis. Clinical relevance This study provides novel insights into the potential role of asprosin, adropin, and irisin as biomarkers of periodontal status. Elevated GCF asprosin levels were associated with advanced periodontitis, reflecting the inflammatory burden of the disease. Conversely, higher levels of adropin and irisin were associated with better periodontal health, suggesting protective or homeostatic functions. These findings indicate that GCF asprosin, adropin, and irisin levels may serve as promising adjunctive diagnostic indicators for distinguishing between periodontal health and disease. Future longitudinal studies are needed to validate their prognostic value and to clarify their mechanistic involvement in periodontal pathogenesis.

Aims: This research aimed to translate the Psychosocial Impact of Gingival Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIGAQ) to Turkish, ensure its cultural adaptation, and assess its validity and reliability. Methods: The study was methodological in nature and involved 256 participants who were 18 years or older. Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha, while test-retest reliability was also evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in a subset of 25 participants. Construct validity was evaluated through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (principal axis factoring, oblimin rotation) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Model fit was assessed using Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR). Convergent validity was analyzed using composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE). Known-group validity and correlations were examined using non-parametric tests and Spearman’s correlation. Results: Participants had an average age of 30.0±12.3 years. Internal consistency was found to be excellent (α=0.950), and test-retest reliability was high (ICC=0.955). EFA revealed a four-factor structure accounting for 69.5% of the variance (Kaiser Meyer-Olkin (KMO)=0.929, p

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effects of diabetes mellitus and periodontitis on alveolar bone density and trabecular bone quality using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to compare fractal analysis with Hounsfield unit (HU) measurements. CBCT images of 217 individuals aged 20-80 years were retrospectively analyzed and divided into four groups. A standardized square region of interest was defined in the trabecular bone between the apex of the mandibular first molar and the superior border of the mandibular canal. HU values were obtained using CBCT software, while fractal dimension (FD) values were calculated using an automated single-click fractal analysis method. Significant differences in FD values were observed among groups in axial and coronal sections (p < 0.05), but sagittal sections showed no significant differences. HU values differed significantly among all groups in most sections (p < 0.05). Systemically and periodontally healthy individuals demonstrated higher HU values and lower FD values compared with those affected by diabetes mellitus or periodontitis. A weak positive correlation was observed between FD axial and HU sagittal values. Age was weakly negatively correlated with HU axial values, while no significant association with gender was found. Age had a significant negative effect on HU values in the axial and sagittal models, but no significant effect on any FD sections. CBCT-based analysis revealed section-dependent sensitivity of FD, with significant differences in axial and coronal sections but not sagittal. HU values partially reflected alveolar bone density differences between healthy and diseased individuals. FD and HU measurements provide complementary, not interchangeable, information on alveolar bone quality.

Aim: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the distribution of histopathologically diagnosed oral soft and hard tissue lesions in patients presenting to the Şanlıurfa Oral and Dental Health Hospital, according to age, sex, and anatomic location.Material and Methods: The histopathological reports of 227 patients who underwent biopsy between 2015 and 2024 were reviewed. Lesions were classified as radicular cysts, dentigerous cysts, giant cell granulomas, pyogenic granulomas, fibrotic lesions, mucoceles, oral lipomas, squamous papillomas, fibro-osseous lesions, and other. Demographic data and locations were statistically evaluated.Results : 59% of the patients were women and 41% were men. The most common lesions were fibrotic lesions (35.7%) and radicular cysts (31.3%). The oral mucosa was the most common site of lesions (42.7%). Radicular cysts were most common in the 3rd decade, dentigerous cysts in the 3rd decade, giant cell granulomas in the 6th decade, and fibrotic lesions in the 5th decade.Conclusion: The study findings indicate that the distribution of oral lesions in the region is largely consistent with the literature, although fibrotic lesions are more prevalent due to chronic irritation and oral hygiene factors. Regional public health programs and early detection mechanisms can play a critical role in reducing the morbidity of these lesions.

Aim: Premature birth or low birth weight has an important place in neonatal mortality and morbidity. Today, there are still cases whose etiology has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of periodontal diseases on adverse pregnancy outcomes by using the current classification system accepted at the 2017 World Workshop. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on 172 women who were followed up and delivered in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of our university’s medical faculty hospital. Demographic characteristics of all individuals were recorded and laboratory values were examined. While those with a gestational age <37 weeks and/or baby birth weight < 2500 g were constituted to the case group (n=85), those with a gestational age ≥ 37 weeks and/or baby birth weight ≥ 2500 g constituted the control group (n=87). Clinical periodontal and radiographic evaluations including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP %), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) values were performed for all individuals, and the diagnoses were made by the applied classification system. Analyzes were performed between the two groups to examine the relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy. Results: PI, GI, BOP %, and PPD values in the case group were significantly higher compared to the control group (p<0.001). Although the CAL value was higher in the case group, the difference was not significant (p=0.058). WBC (p=0.020) and PLT (p<0.001) values were significantly higher in the case group. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, periodontal diseases are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes independent of other risk factors. Women should pay attention to their oral hygiene and dental examinations before and during pregnancy.

Oral focal mucinosis (OFM); It is a rare soft tissue lesion of unknown etiology. It was first described by Tomich in 1974. It usually occurs as a localized, asymptomatic pedunculated or sessile growth on the gingiva or hard palate. In the intraoral examination of a 14-year-old systemically healthy female patient who applied to our clinic with the complaint of gingival enlargement in the maxillary palate region, a well-circumscribed mass of approximately 2 cm in diameter, covered with normal mucosa, extending from the gingival to the hard palate, in the palatal region of the right first premolar and first molar teeth. The patient stated that he noticed the mass 3-4 years ago and did not experience any pain.The lesion was taken with excisional biopsy under local anesthesia and sent to the pathology department. The patient was diagnosed with OFM as a result of pathological evaluation. No recurrence after 1 year.

Objectives: Bad breath is a condition that negatively affects people's social interactions and quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of thyme mouthwash on intraoral halitosis, gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) in patients with gingivitis.Methods: In this retrospective study, 60 gingivitis patients (30 women/30 men) received initial periodontal treatment followed by oral hygiene instructions (OHI) and then were divided into four groups: The control group (C) received only OHI, while chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash was prescribed to the CHX group, Zinc acetate and CHX diacetate mouthwash was prescribed to the zinc acetate and CHX diacetate (ZnA) group, and the thyme (T) group was instructed to use thyme mouthwash. GI, PI and volatile sulfur compound (VSC) values were recorded at baseline and at the first week of treatment.Results: The initial values of the recorded parameters did not differ significantly between the groups. In all groups, VSCs, GI and PI decreased after treatment (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the PI values of the groups after treatment (p = 0.188). On the contrary, the GI and VSC values after treatment were significantly different between the groups (p = 0.001). GI values were highest in the control group and lowest in the CHX group. In terms of VSCs, a significant difference was found between groups T and C, and between groups T and ZnA (p = 0.001).Conclusion: This study showed that the use of thyme mouthwash after periodontal treatment was effective in improving bad breath and gingivitis in gingivitis patients.

The first step in the treatment of periodontal diseases is to mechanically remove plaque and dental calculus, which play a role in the etiology of periodontal diseases, and to establish oral hygiene. In some cases of oral diseases, some drugs and chemical agents can be used for various reasons in addition to mechanical treatment. Corticosteroids are frequently used in oral mucocutaneous diseases because of their strong anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and immunosuppressive effects in the treatment of many other diseases. Although there are different ways of using corticosteroids, the topical form is often preferred in the treatment of oral lesions associated with oral mucosal diseases. This case series aims to evaluate the effect of topical corticosteroid application on red lesions in the gingiva that do not heal with conventional periodontal treatment.