Evaluation of graduate students' satisfaction from thesis supervision in Babol Faculty of dentistry

Students' satisfaction of their supervisor is very important in the process of writing a thesis; while satisfaction is present, favorable outcomes could be expected. This study compared graduate students' satisfaction of their supervisors from various departments. In this descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 2013, 90 graduate students who had entered Babol Faculty of Dentistry in 2004, 2005 and 2006 were studied. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed by SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics. Mean age of the participants was 28.4 [SD=6.76] and 42.2% were male. Mean satisfaction score was 28.3 +/- 6.3 [out of 36]. There was no significant difference among levels of participants' satisfaction based on their entrance years. The married participants revealed higher satisfaction compared to the singles [p=0.05]. The relationship between students' satisfaction and their course duration was inversely significant [p=0.04]. The participants' satisfaction was not associated with their age, sex, total grade point average [GPA], thesis score, and their supervisors' education and research history. No significant difference observed among the students' satisfaction with supervisors from different departments [p=0.58]. Reinforcing supervision skills by performing suitable workshops providing a clear role description for faculty members and their students can improve the students' perspectives and theses presentation quality

Evaluation of panoramic radiography at showing width of the dental follicle

Considering probable incidence of pathological changes in the follicles of impacted teeth, this study is conducted to evaluate pericoronal radiolucency of impacted third molars. In this cross-sectional study, widths of follicular spaces of 201 impacted third molars were measured on panoramic radiographs. Under local anesthesia, the teeth along with the dental follicles were surgically removed. After routine procedure, they histopathological were examined. After evaluating 201 dental follicles it was observed that, 50.7% of cases [102 cases] showed pathological changes and all of them were dentigerous cysts. Incidence of cystic changes in the follicles of third molars of patients aged 21 years and above, is 1.465 times more than patients who were under 21 years old. Also in dental follicles of lower third molars, the incidence of pathological changes was 1.957 times more than maxilla. Cystic changes in the evaluation of follicular widths up to 1.5 mm, was observed in 48% of cases, up to 2 mm, in 73.5% of cases, up to 2.5 mm, in 87.2% of cases and up to 3 mm, in 92.1% of cases. It seems that occurrence of cystic changes in dental follicles increases with increase in age and width of follicular space. However, considering the high incidence of cystic changes in pericoronal radiolucency around the impacted third molars, this study supports the prophylactic removal of impacted third molars

Can the follicle-crown ratio of the impacted third molars be a reliable indicator of pathologic problem?

Statement of the Problem: The presence of impacted third molars in the jaws is a common finding in the routine dental examination of patients. Concerning the odontogenic components of the dental follicle, it can be the origin of different types of odontogenic cysts and tumors

Purpose: The aim of this study was to find feasible radiographic criteria to help differentiate between normal and pathological dental follicles

Materials and Method: 134 asymptomatic impacted third molars were recruited in this study. Then, based on the radiographic measurements, the ratio between the diameter of the dental follicle and the mesiodistal width of the tooth crown was calculated. After surgical removal of impacted third molars, the related dental follicles were evaluated histopathologically. Statistical analyses were performed by adopting chi-square test, t-test, receiver oprating characteristic [ROC] curve, and logistic regression using SPSS-19 software

Results: The mean ratio of the dental follicle's diameter to the mesiodistal width, in the normal and cystic follicle group was 1.18 +/- 0.07 and 1.18 +/- 0.08, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between this ratio and the histopathological evaluation. Based on the logistic regression analysis, only the age >20 years and inflammation had predictive value in identifying cystic changes in dental follicle

Conclusion: According to the findings of the current study, the ratio of dental follicle diameter to the mesiodistal width of the teeth cannot not be employed as a diagnostic index to differentiate between normal and pathological dental follicle

Immunohistochemical expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in epulis fissuratum

Epulis Fissuratum [Epulis Fissuratum [EF] or Denture Epulis or inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia] is a common hyperplastic tumor-like lesion with reactive nature, related to loose and ill-fitting, full or partial removable dentures and it is more common in women than men. For this reason, hormonal influences may also play role in its creation. The effect of steroid hormones especially sex hormones [Estrogen and progesterone] on oral mucosa is identified in some studies. In the present study, the distribution pattern and presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in epithelial, stromal, endothelial and inflammatory cells in Epulis Fissuratum was investigated. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 30 samples of paraffin blocks with Epulis Fissuratum diagnosis and 30 samples of normal mucosal tissues as a control group who have had surgery as a margin beside the above lesions and had been obtained from the oral and maxillofacial pathology departement of Babol Dental School since 2003 up to 2010. Intensity of staining and immunoreactivity were evaluated using subjective index and considering the positive control group [breast carcinoma]. Epithelial, stromal, endothelial and inflammatory cells didn't show reaction with monoclonal antibodies against estrogen and progesterone in none of the samples. It seems that the hypothesis of the existence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in epulis fissuratum and normal oral mucosa is ruled out. The possibility of direct effect of estrogen and progesterone in occurring of epulis fissuratum is rejected

[Periapical odontogenic keratocyst]

Odontogenic keratocyst is a developmental odontogenic cyst. It is to be considered for histopathological features and clinical behavior. It has aggressive behavior and tendency to recurrence and it has been named benign cystic neoplasm. OKCs have different radiographic appearance such as unilocular to multilocular radiolucency. In some cases, they have been observed in the interradicular area but in rare cases they can be found in periapical radiolucency in apex of non-vital teeth that may be mistaken with lesions of endodontic origin and cause mistreatment. A 33 year old male patient came to clinic because of swelling in the anterior region of mandible that was repaired with endodontic treatment. In the histological diagnosis of radiolucent lesion, inflamed odontogenic keratocyst was reported. Diagnosis based on clinical finding may risky because it can lead to inappropriate treatment. In most of the cases, microscopic examination of all material surgically removed is necessary for diagnosis. This is especially recommended when treatment of lesion is not successful with routine treatment

p63 expression in randomized odontogenic cysts

To find out the immunohistochemical assessment of p63 expression in odontogenic cysts based on the differences among their clinical behaviors. This study was carried out on 34 archival paraffin-embedded specimens of odontogenic cysts. We obtained the specimens from the Pathology Department of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran from March 2003 to February 2008. The specimens comprised 12 dentigerous cysts, 9 radicular cysts, and 13 keratocystic odontogenic tumors [KCOTs]. The immunohistochemical technique was performed using the Envision system for evaluation of p63 expression. The KCOT revealed the highest p63 expression and the differences between the 3 groups was statistically significant. P63 expression might be helpful when identifying cyst types with more aggressive and invasive phenotype

[Histopathologic evaluation of normal radiolucent space around impacted third molar]

The follicular tissue around impacted third molar has a potential to develop to different lesions. However, it is generally accepted that the absence of abnormal radiolucency indicates the presence of a normal follicle. The aim of this study was to histopathologically evaluate the normal pericoronal radiolucencies associated with impacted third molars. The follicular space of 104 third molars with normal follicular space [<2.5mm] in panoramic radiographs was measured. Under local anesthesia, tooth and its follicle were taken out by surgical procedure and after necessary steps, were histopathologically evaluated. Data were analyzed by fisher's exact test, chi-square and logestic regression [alpha=0.05]. Thirty eight cases [36.5%] of all follicles had been collected from male, and 63.5% [66 cases] from female patients. 92 follicles [88.5%] had been taken out of mandible and 12 follicles [11.5%] from maxilla. Of the specimens submitted, 41.3% [43 cases] showed cystic changes equivalent to that in dentigerous cysts. Cystic changes in dental follicles were significantly higher in patients over 20 years of age [P<0.0001]. No significant difference was detected between sex of patients and cystic changes in follicles [P>0.05]. Impacted third molars with normal pericoronal radiolucency more than 1.5 mm showed cystic changes in 63.3% of the cases. This study confirms the idea that the risk of cystic changes increases with age. Considering the high incidence of cystic changes in pericoronal radiolucencies associated with impacted third molars, this study suggests prophylactic removal of impacted third molar

effect of ethanolic extract of propolis on radiation-induced mucositis in rats

To assess the efficacy of ethanolic extract of propolis in radiation-induced mucositis in rats. This study was performed in the Dental Faculty, Shahid Rajaee Hospital of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Mazandaran, Iran from August 2008 to September 2009, It was carried out on 21 male Wistar rats, age 7-11 weeks, and weighing 160 +/- 20g. They were divided into 3 groups. Group A received intraperitoneal [ip] injections of 100 mg/kg ethanolic extract of propolis [EEP], group B received ip injections of 200 mg/kg EEP, and the control group [group C] received 10% ethanol [10ml/kg [ip]] just before x-ray irradiation. All rats were irradiated in the head and neck region by an x-ray device at a dose rate of 15 gray [Gy] for 9 minutes and 39 seconds. The daily injection continued for the next 10 days, and the lips and tongues of the rats were examined daily to assess the intensity of lesions induced by irradiation. In group C, the first signs of ulcers appeared on the first day, while they appeared on the fourth day in group B, and third day in group A. The severity of ulcers was greatest in group C, and least in group B. Propolis is effective in reducing and delaying radiation-induced mucositis in an animal model, however, further study and evaluation is required