مجله دانشکده دندان پزشکی اصفهان
سال نوزدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 84، پاییز 1402)

Teeth are morphologically and genetically different in various races and cities. Hence, determining the frequency of radix entomolaris root in different races is of critical importance. The main purpose of this survey is to appraise the frequency of radix entomolaris root in mandibular first molars using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) approach.

TThis is an observational and descriptive research to survey the presence of radix entomolaris root in lower first molars among patients referring to radiology centers in the northwest of Tehran. We studied 2000 records coupled with the CBCT images. 389 records with one or both left and right molars were extracted. The results were evaluated with respect to the presence of radix entomolaris root on the left, right or both sides. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test.

The radix entomolaris root was observed in 3.3% of patients and 2.8% of the studied teeth. There is no significant relationship between gender and the frequency of the third root in mandibular first molars (p value = 0.07). No significant relationship was observed between the frequency of radix entomolaris root and the side of occurrence (p value = 0.76). All identified cases of radix entomolaris root were distolingual and no mesiobuccal root was observed.

There is no association between gender and the frequency of the third root in mandibular first molars as well as the position and frequency of the radix root, The variation in root abundance of radix entomolaris is mainly influenced by racial differences.

Carcinogenesis of the oral cavity is a complex process and oral cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers worldwide. Oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 90% of oral cancers, the most important risk factors of Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are using tobacco and drinking alcohol. Early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions and timely referral is the most important factor in reducing mortality associated with OSCC, the purpose of this study is to investigate the level of knowledge of final year dental students at Isfahan Islamic Azad University (Khorasgan) during 1400-1401 regarding the etiology, Diagnosis and treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The present study was carried out in a descriptive and analytical method and in a census method, and a researcher-made questionnaire was distributed among the students in person; Data analysis was done in two descriptive and inferential sections. The collected data were analyzed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test and the Spearman correlation coefficient at the error level of 0.05% (p value ≤ 0.05).

In this study, about 60.6% of students were in the 11th semester and about 39.4% were in the 12th semester with average age of 25.73 years. The average awareness score was approximately average (score 5.74 out of 10). There was no significant difference between the average knowledge of the 11th and 12th semester students regarding etiology, while 12th semester students showed significantly higher knowledge in terms of prognosis and treatment compared to 11th semester students. There was no significant difference in the average knowledge between students of different ages in the fields of etiology and treatment.

The results of the present study showed that the level of knowledge and awareness among students regarding OSCC lesions is far from satisfactory.

Many dental procedures can induce gag reflex. So far, research aimed at reducing this reflex has shown limited effectiveness, required significant time, or involved invasive techniques. In previous studies, the effect of tanic acid and Elaeagnus angustifolia on the reduction of gag reflex has been confirmed. This study investigates the combined effect of synergistic tannic acid and Elaeagnus angustifolia in the form of a patch, along with psychological intervention, for reducing the gag reflex.

In this clinical study, 128 samples were selected in an easy improbable manner and were selected from Isfahan Dental School ‘patients. the subjects were divided into 4 groups: the mucosal patch group, the psychological intervention group, the combined mucosal patch and psychological intervention group, and the control group receiving the placebo. Data were collected and analyzed by Chi-square and McNamara statistical tests.

The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference in the mean changes in gag reflex scores among the 4 groups (p value < 0.001). Further analysis using the Mann-Whitney test demonstrated a significant difference between the patch group and the psychology group.

In the group receiving mucosal patch containing tannic acid and Elaeagnaceae with psychological intervention, the most effect was observed on the reduction of gag reflex.

Oral cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor among head and neck cancers, and Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 90% of oral cancers. Early diagnosis and treatment is the most important factor in reducing the mortality of OSCC, the purpose of this study is to investigate the level of awareness of final year dental students at Isfahan Azad University about the methods used to diagnose OSCC lesions.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, which was conducted in the academic year of 2021-2022 among 82 final year students from the Faculty of Dentistry at Isfahan Azad University, a research questionnaire was distributed among the students. Data analysis was done in two descriptive and inferential sections. The collected data were analyzed using non-parametric Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation coefficient at the error level of 0.05% (p value < 0.05).

The findings of the current research indicate that 47.9% of female students and 52.1% of male students; 80.5% of students were single, 19.5% were married, 74.4% were native and 25.6% were non-native. The average knowledge score was above average (3.48 out of 6), and there were no significant differences in the average knowledge scores between male and female students, single and married, and native and non-native (p value > 0.05).

The results of the present study showed that the level of knowledge and awareness among final year dental students of Isfahan Islamic Azad University in relation to the diagnosis of OSCC lesions is average and far from the ideal level.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of apical periodontitis and some associated factors in endodontically treated teeth among an Iranian population using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

In this cross-sectional study, 470 CBCT scans (including 1287 root-filled teeth) were randomly selected from patients referred to a maxillofacial radiology center in Shiraz. Iran, during 2017-2020. Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Periapical Index (CBCTPAI) was used to assess the presence of apical periodontitis. In root-filled teeth with apical periodontitis, the length of the root filling and the presence of missed canals were investigated. Chi-square analysis was used to assess the relationship between apical periodontitis, age, gender of the patients, tooth type, and tooth location. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Apical periodontitis was observed in 23.5% of the root-filled teeth. The prevalence of apical periodontitis in males (26.3%) was significantly higher than females (21.2%) (p value = 0.035). Also, the prevalence of apical periodontitis in root-filled teeth in patients under 50 years old (26.2%) was significantly higher than patients over 50 years old (20.3%) (p value = 0.012). The most common teeth with apical periodontitis were maxillary and mandibular first molars. Among the root-filled teeth with apical periodontitis, under-filling, over-filling and missed canals were observed in 37.6%, 16.2% and 13.9% of cases, respectively.

The prevalence of apical periodontitis in root-treated teeth is relatively high (23.5%). Patients’ age, gender, and type of tooth are among the factors that affect the prevalence of apical periodontitis in endodontically treated teeth.

Nowadays, implant-based treatment of edentulous areas has gained significant popularity. However, in many patients who have been edentulous for a long time, changing the position of the sinus causes complications during implant placement, which is necessary to solve Many of these cases can be moved to the required extent with different techniques. This study aims to evaluate the mediolateral distance of the maxillary sinus using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

This observational-cross-sectional study of 160 patients who needed CBCT imaging were selected from among those referred to the radiology department of Isfahan Islamic Azad University. A sagittal section of the middle part of each missing tooth was selected to measure the mediolateral sinus distance (sinus width). In the selected sagittal section, the residual ridge height and sinus width were measured at 5, 10- and 15-mm height from the alveolar crest. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test and Man-Whitney (p value < 0.05).

The average sinus width in women was greater than that in men at the 5 and 15 mm intervals, and in the interval of 10 mm, the sinus width in women was less than that in men. The average residual ridge for women and men was equal to 9.69 and 8.27, respectively, which indicated that the amount of residual ridge was higher in women, but this difference was not significant. The premolar area exhibited the highest remaining ridge height, while the first molar area had the lowest.

As we move from premolars to molars in edentulous areas, the maxillary sinus tends to widen, and also, the less the remaining ridge is, we may encounter the sinus at a lower level.

Considering the importance of jaw and facial fractures due to their proximity to vital elements and the lack of reduction in hospital capacities for this emergency during the corona pandemic, the aim of the research is to determine and compare the prevalence of jaw and facial fractures before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

This descriptive and analytical study was conducted on 4942 cases of patients with facial and jaw fractures admitted to Kashani Hospital in Isfahan during two time periods: before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The frequency of jaw and facial fractures was investigated according to age, sex, location and cause of fracture. The data were analyzed with Chi-square and t-test.

TThe frequency of registered cases of female patients was significantly lower after the Covid-19 pandemic (p value < 0.001). The majority of patients before (52.9%) and after (0.48%) the COVID pandemic were in the age group of 21-39 years. A significant difference was observed between the age group of patients before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (p value < 0.001). There was no significant difference between patients in older age groups before and after the pandemic. The most common cause of fractures before and after the pandemic were vehicle accidents. The difference between fractures of the mandible, teeth, malar and maxilla bones, orbital roof, nasal bones, skull base, skull base, and skull vault were significantly higher after the COVID-19 pandemic (p value < 0.001).

The results indicate an increase in the number of cases admitted for jaw and facial fractures in the post-COVID-19 era, which may be due to the increased travel desires following previous restrictions. Vehicle accidents were the most common cause, in men under the age of 39 and in the area of the nose, maxilla, teeth and orbital floor.

The quality of the learning environment affects students’ learning, and specific characteristics of the learning environment affects medical students’ burnout. The aim of this study was to determine dental students’ viewpoints on the learning environment in dental schools and its relationship with academic burnout.

In this cross-sectional study, we investigated undergraduate dental students from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Islamic Azad University of Isfahan applying a convenient sampling method in 2021. Data were collected through social networking platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, using the "Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire" and the "Dental School Learning Environment Survey". Man-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and a linear regression model served for analysis (p value < 0.05).

Among 300 dental students with a mean age of 24.25 ± 2.72, 54.7% were women. The mean score for the dental school learning environment was 2.92 ± 0.30 out of a maximum score of 5. The highest score was belonged to the dimension of organizing educational program (3.13 ± 0.45). The mean score of academic burnout was 2.61 ± 0.66 of the maximum score of 5. The highest score belonged to the dimension of overload (3.34 ± 0.87). A reverse association revealed between the dental school learning environment and academic burnout (r = -0.2, p value < 0.001).

Dental students in Isfahan reported the quality of their dental school learning environment as well as their academic burnout as average. Regarding the reverse association between the learning environment and academic burnout, it is suggested to plan interventions aimed at improving the dental school learning environment and reducing the academic burnout.