Mohammed A. Al-Qarni

Natural bio-based fillers may support more sustainable dental impression materials, but their mechanical effects require verification. This study evaluated the compressive behavior of a light-body dental impression material containing 50 wt.% date seed powder (DSP) and explored whether a computational feature-matching approach could complement conventional statistics. Three specimens per formulation were compression-tested according to ASTM D575. Displacement was evaluated at human bite-force reference levels of 220, 260, 300, and 350 N. Welch’s independent-samples t-test was complemented by exploratory feature matching using seven original-domain and seven FFT-derived features, generating 14 features and 91 two-feature combinations. DSP showed consistently lower mean displacement than the Control, with differences of 0.147, 0.165, 0.182, and 0.201 mm, respectively; none reached statistical significance (p = 0.340, 0.311, 0.283, and 0.264). The computational analysis was concordant with the statistical findings, with the lowest standardized mean matched distance of 0.114497 and relatively limited separation in several top-ranked feature representations. Within the tested specimens, the DSP formulation showed encouraging compressive behavior and represents a promising sustainable natural filler. The exploratory computational approach also appears promising as a complementary multidimensional tool, but not a replacement for conventional statistical analysis.

The success of root canal treatment largely depends on the canal shaping procedure, which influences subsequent steps, such as cleaning, obturation, and sealing. The present study aimed to evaluate the canal-centering ability, dentin removal, and dentinal crack incidence following root canal preparation with different rotary and reciprocating nickel–titanium file systems using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and a stereomicroscope. Forty freshly extracted single-rooted human mandibular premolars were selected and scanned preoperatively by CBCT (KAVO OP 3D Pro, Germany) to evaluate canal curvature. The samples were then randomly distributed into 4 groups (n = 10): Group 1 – ProTaper Next (continuous rotary), Group 2 – MicroMega One RECI (reciprocating), Group 3 – Race Evo (continuous rotary), and Group 4 – R-Motion (reciprocating). Root canals were prepared in accordance with the respective manufacturer’s recommendations. Post-instrumentation CBCT scans were obtained to assess canal centering and remaining dentin thickness at 3, 6, and 9 mm from the apex. Root sections were also examined under a stereomicroscope to assess dentinal cracks. The MicroMega One RECI (Group 2) demonstrated superior canal centering, with mean ratios of 0.20 ± 0.05, 0.18 ± 0.04, and 0.17 ± 0.03 in the apical, middle, and coronal thirds, respectively. In contrast, ProTaper Next (Group 1) showed the highest centering ratio (0.35 ± 0.08 at 3 mm), indicating greater deviation from the canal axis. Reciprocating systems exhibited better dentin preservation and fewer dentinal cracks compared with continuous rotary systems. Based on observations from this in vitro study, it can be concluded that the variations in design of file systems and motion patterns critically determine the efficiency and safety of root canal shaping. Reciprocating and rotary motions show different effects on canal centering, dentin removal, crack propagation, and the preservation of root integrity.

Removable partial dentures (RPDs) are widely used in prosthodontic rehabilitation, where retention is crucial for function, comfort, and patient satisfaction. Conventional wax-up techniques for fabricating RPD frameworks are prone to inaccuracies due to manual errors. Advances in digital dentistry and 3D printing have introduced alternative fabrication methods, potentially enhancing fit and retention. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the retention of cobalt–chromium RPD frameworks fabricated using conventional wax patterns and 3D-printed castable resin pattern. An in vitro experimental design was employed using prefabricated typodont models of mandibular Kennedy Class I and maxillary Kennedy Class II modification 2. A total of 120 casts (60 per arch) were divided equally into conventional (CT) and 3D-printed (3DPT) groups. Frameworks were fabricated following standardized protocols. Retention was measured using an electronic vertical pull device, and statistical analysis included paired t tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, depending on data distribution. 3D-printed RPD frameworks demonstrated significantly higher retention compared to conventional ones. For mandibular models, mean retention values were 4.82 N (3DPT) vs. 3.86 N (CT) (p < 0.001, r = 0.87). For maxillary models, mean retention was 49.67 N (3DPT) vs. 40.92 N (CT) (p < 0.001, Cohen’s dz = 4.20). Within the limitations of this in vitro study, RPD frameworks fabricated from 3D-printed castable resin pattern exhibited superior retention compared to those made with conventional wax patterns. These findings support the integration of digital workflows in removable prosthodontics, highlighting the potential of 3D printing to enhance clinical outcomes.

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), a second-generation platelet concentrate, accelerates soft and hard tissue regeneration. Chorion membrane, of fetal origin, has

Esthetically pleasing temporary prostheses are often necessary for extended periods in a variety of clinical scenarios. Adjustments to the occlusion or margins are commonly needed before cementing the temporary prosthesis. Therefore, it is clinically necessary to repolish the rough surface to avoid biological and esthetic issues associated with rough surfaces. The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess and compare the impact of various polishing protocols on the surface roughness and color stability of three resin materials used for provisional crowns. A total of 150 specimens were fabricated from auto-polymerizing polymethyl methacrylate, bis-acryl composite, and Methyl methacrylate-LC resin using a stainless steel mold. Each material group was divided into five groups (n = 10) based on the applied surface treatment: positive control group (G1): no roughening or surface treatment, Negative control group (G2): acrylic bur-roughened surface without any polishing, the different surface treatment groups of silicon carbide and aluminum oxide stone polishing (G3), diamond-coated rubber twist (G4), and Surface Glaze (G5). An optical profilometer was used to assess the surface roughness of all samples. After undergoing 6000 cycles of thermocycling followed by immersion in a coffee solution for 15 days at 37 °C, color parameters were measured using a spectrophotometer both before and after a storage period to evaluate color differences. A two-way ANOVA test with α = 0.05 significance level was carried out to determine the impacts of both the materials utilized and the polishing protocol. Among the three types of resin examined, the bisacryl group exhibited superior surface quality in positive control groups, while PMMA resin demonstrated higher polishability. The diamond-coated rubber twits resulted in lower Ra values of 0.36 (0.01) µm, 0.52 (0.11) µm, and 0.28 (0.05) µm for PMMA, BAMA, and MMLC resins, respectively. The application of photo-polymerized surface glaze led to a plaque accumulation threshold of 0.2 µm across all resin groups. The greatest mean color change occurred in the negative control group, indicating a propensity for more staining on rougher surfaces. The Bisacryl resin exhibited higher ΔE values, whereas PMMA showed better color stability. The lowest ΔE values were found when the surface glaze was applied to all of the provisional crown resins. Untreated Bisacryl resin exhibited the lowest Ra values, while PMMA resins demonstrated superior surface morphology after polishing. PMMA provisional crown resins showed increased resistance to staining. The use of surface glaze enhanced both smoothness and color stability on the surfaces.

Many patients experience vertical root fractures, and clinicians often consider conservative treatment options like reattaching the fractured root segments. The study investigated the impact of different bonding agents on the fracture resistance of rebonded vertically fractured teeth with various alveolar bone defects. Human premolar teeth with a single root were sectioned and reattached using dual-cure resin cement (DCRC), resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI), and cyanoacrylate. The reattached teeth were then restored with a resin fiber post, composite resin core, and full veneer metal copings. These teeth were embedded in acrylic blocks with angular, V-shaped, and step-shaped bone defects to simulate various alveolar bone conditions. After subjecting the samples to thermal cycling, the fracture resistance was evaluated using a universal testing machine. Teeth samples reattached with RMGI exhibited a higher average fracture resistance. The study also found that DCRC proved to be an effective bonding agent for VRF teeth. However, cyanoacrylate-rebonded teeth exhibited the lowest fracture resistance. The V-shaped defects had a significant impact on the fracture resistance of reattached VRF teeth, with largely unfavorable fractures observed in these cases. Predominantly favorable fractures were observed in the teeth treated with RMGI. The fracture loads in both RMGI and DCRC groups exceeded the expected masticatory load.

Background: Minimally invasive periodontic (perio) surgical procedures, piezocision, and micro-osteoperforation are useful techniques for accelerating tooth movement. These techniques also offer advantages in the orthodontic (ortho) and aesthetic domains. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the rates of lower anterior decrowding with piezocision and micro-osteoperforation. Methods: This clinical study included 24 patients requiring fixed orthodontic treatments. Two periodontic techniques (piezocision (PZ) and micro-osteoperforation (MOP)) were considered for the orthodontic treatments. Each patient was randomly allocated to either the piezocision (PZ) group or the micro-osteoperforation (MOP) group. The piezocision group received five radiographically guided incisions on the labial surface of the alveolar bone, whereas the micro-osteoperforation group received one to three MOPs each using a mini-implant drill between the six lower anterior teeth, and later, an initial arch wire was ligated to each bracket. Little’s irregularity index (LII) was calculated using a digital vernier caliper on study models every four weeks until decrowding was achieved. The difference in the rates of lower anterior crowding between the piezocision and micro-osteoperforation groups was analyzed to determine the statistical significance. Results: The rates of irregularity index change during decrowding were 4.38 ± 0.61 in the piezocision group and 3.82 ± 0.47 in the micro-osteoperforation group. Piezocision was found to be 1.2 times faster than micro-osteoperforation in terms of the rate of decrowding. Conclusion: The advanced perio–ortho combination technique was advantageous in accelerated decrowding. In comparison to MOP, there was an increase in the rate of decrowding with PZ. Decrowding can be completed quickly with PZ, and it can thus be used to treat crowding effectively in a limited time frame.

Background: At present, the evidence regarding digital impressions’ accuracy recorded by using digital scanners is lacking. This systematic review aimed to evaluate whether the type of scanning (intraoral/extraoral) affects the Accuracy of Digital Impressions. Method: Two independent reviewers performed a systematic search in the database both electronically and manually (PubMed, Ebsco HOST, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar) for articles published from 1 January 2010 to 1 December 2022. This study was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42020188765) and followed the PRISMA statement. The question in focus was as follows: Does the type of scanning (intraoral or extraoral) affect the accuracy of digital impression? Results: A total of 449 papers were obtained by searching electronically and manually. In total, 15 complete-text papers qualified for assessment based on eligibility criteria. After reading the full-text articles, five studies were excluded. Ten studies were selected for the qualitative analysis. The qualitative data reported that the accuracy of both types of scanners (intraoral and extraoral) lies within the range of clinical acceptability. Nevertheless, the intraoral scanners seem to be more accurate when compared to the extraoral scanners for a partial arch situation. Conclusions: Scanning type affects the accuracy of the digital impression. Various factors influence the scanning ability. Intraoral scanners seem to be more accurate compared to extraoral scanners for a partial arch situation. More studies comparing the accuracy of the intraoral scanner and extraoral scanner for a complete arch scan and in an in vivo study setting are needed.

Biopolymers are organic polymers that can be treated into intricate designs with porous characteristics that mimic essential biologic components. Due to their superior biosafety, biodegradability, biocompatibility, etc., they have been utilized immensely in biomedical engineering, regeneration, and drug delivery. To obtain the greatest number of results, a literature search was undertaken in scientific search engines utilizing keywords. Chitosan is used in a variety of medical sectors, with the goal of emphasizing its applications and benefits in the clinical dental industry. Chitosan can be dissolved in liquid form and combined with other substances to create a variety of products, including fibers, hydrogels, membranes, microspheres, resins, sponges, pastes, tablets, and micro granules. Chitosan has been studied in a variety of dental applications. Chitosan is used in the prevention of caries and wear, in pulpotomy to accelerate osteogenesis in guided tissue regeneration due to its hemostatic property, and primarily to benefit from its antimicrobial activity by adding it to materials, such as glass ionomer cement, calcium hydroxide, and adhesive systems. With its antibacterial activity and biocompatibility, chitosan is leading the pack as a promising ingredient in the production of dental materials. The current review provides an update on the background, fundamentals, and wide range of uses of chitosan and its gels in dental science.

Evaluating students’ professional training satisfaction with operative dentistry teaching and curriculum can help identify their educational needs and improve the quality of the education imparted. This study aimed to assess the professional training satisfaction of senior undergraduate dental students in Saudi Arabia from the operative dentistry course teaching and its curriculum at different levels and among genders. A total of 193 (109 male, 56.48%; and 84 female, 43.52%) students participated in the survey. The respondents were at the 10th, 11th, and 12th levels of the Operative Dentistry course in a ratio of 34.2%, 32.1%, and 33.7%, respectively. Data were collected from survey items (18 questions) covering 6 areas: learning objectives, course materials, content relevance, instructor knowledge, instructor delivery and style, and facility and environment. Descriptive and analytical tests were performed using SPSS Software 19, with the significance level set at 0.05. A high level of satisfaction was seen among level 10 (68.18%), 11 (79.03%), and 12 (86.15%) students. A significant statistical difference was observed among level 10 students with a low level of satisfaction and a high level of satisfaction (P = .045). The percentage of satisfaction increased with the level. A high level of satisfaction was seen among male (78.90%) and female (76.19%) students, with a total satisfaction level of 77.72%. Continuous evaluation and assessment of teaching and curriculum can be a tool to improve the quality of education imparted, especially in clinical courses such as operative dentistry. This helps to prepare students for their professional life as healthcare providers. The role of teaching skills related to amalgam must be re-evaluated. It is recommended to include student representation and participation in course development committees, as they are the final recipients of the educational process.