Reliability and validity of the simplified Chinese version of the chronic oral mucosal disease questionnaire / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the chronic oral mucosal disease questionnaire (COMDQ).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using translation, back-translation, quality evaluation, cross-cultural adaptation, and pre-assessment, a Chinese version of the COMDQ was drafted. A 26-item instrument which comprised of four domains: pain and functional limitation, medications and side effects, social and emotional aspects, and patient support was designed and tested. This questionnaire was given to patients who visited our clinic. After the patients accomplished the questionnaires, we analyzed the collected data to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 130 patients were enrolled in our study. All the COMDQ questionnaires were completely filled out. The Chinese version of the COMDQ showed the following psychometric properties: Cronbach's alpha of 0.914, split-half reliability of 0.809, and correlation of 0.697. Factor analysis of construct validity demonstrated that the 26 items were classified into four domains, and the cumulative proportion was 67.62%. Thus, the scale had certain logical relation between the items in the same domains.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Chinese version of the COMDQ demonstrate good reliability and validity by rigorous psychometric properties. It can be widely used to test the oral health-related quality of life of patients with oral mucosal diseases.</p>

Mandibular incisive canal by cone beam CT / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was conducted to determine the three-dimensional structure, course, and adjacent structure of the mandibular incisive canal (MIC) to ensure safety of dental implantation by cone beam CT (CBCT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CBCT images of the bilateral mandibles of 80 patients were retrospectively studied. The diameters of the mandibular incisive canal and the location in the adjacent structure were determined, including the distances between the MIC and the buccal and lingual plates of the alveolar bone, the inferior border of the mandible and the tooth apex, and the horizontal plane of the mental foramen.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Approximately 78.75% (63 cases) of the CBCT scans showed the presence of the MIC with a mean diameter of 1.21 mm +/- 0.29 mm. The distances from the canal to the inferior border of the mandible and to the tooth apex were 7.82 mm +/- 1.86 mm and 7.24 mm +/- 2.82 mm, respectively. The distances between the canal and the buccal plate as well as between the canal and the lingual plate of the alveolar bone were 3.80 mm +/- 1.37 mm and 4.45 mm +/- 1.34 mm, respectively. The distance from the canal to the horizontal plane of the mental foramen was 5.62 mm +/- 2.21 mm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CBCT could clearly show the three-dimensional structure, course, and adjacent structure of the MIC. Therefore, this technique could provide guidance for dental implantation in clinical applications.</p>