Position of Fovea Palatinae relative to the vibrating line in various soft palate classifications among Jordanian edentulous population.

This study aims to examine the relationship between the locations of Fovea Palatinae and the posterior vibrating line in different classes of soft palate angulation (House Classification), accordingly determine its reliability as a landmark and a tool for determining the posterior limit of the maxillary complete denture. 280 completely edentulous patients with normal healthy mucosa from both genders were randomly selected. The House classification of the soft palate angulation was identified and recorded as Class I, II, or III. Phonation was used to determine the position of the vibrating line. The Fovea Palatinae was then marked. Then, the distance between the Fovea Palatinae and the vibrating line was measured and recorded. Finally, the relative position of the Fovea Palatinae to the vibrating line was recorded as being anterior, posterior, or on the vibrating line. The Chi Square test, the effect size measures (Eta and Cramer's V tests), The Spearman's Rho rank correlation test, and multinominal logistic regression analysis were utilized to analyse the data. House classification percentages were measured among people whose Fovea Palatinae was detectable; Class II palate was the most prevalent (47.14%), followed by Class I (43.93%), and then Class III (8.93%). Based on vibrating line position, 129 (58%) had a vibrating line anterior to Fovea Palatinae, 57 (26%) on the Fovea Palatinae, 36 (16%) posterior to Fovea Palatinae, and in 58 (21%) Fovea Palatinae were not detected. The mean distance between the vibrating line and Fovea Palatinae was 3.66 ± 1.6 mm anteriorly and 2.97 ± 1.36 mm posteriorly. No significant differences were found between males and females in regard to House classification and vibrating line position. The odds of having the fovea posterior to the vibrating line would increase by 5% for each year increase in the age (P = 0.035, odds ratio = 1.050). Class II House classification of the soft palate was found to be the most prevalent among the study participants. Also, the vibrating line was anterior to the Fovea Palatinae in the majority of cases. The odds of having the fovea posterior to the vibrating line would increase by age. The Fovea Palatinae could be considered a useful guide for locating the vibrating line.

Dental Students' Perception and Self-Perceived Confidence Level in Key Dental Procedures for General Practice and the Impact of Competency Implementation on Their Confidence Level, Part I (Prosthodontics and Conservative Dentistry).

Background: Evaluating the level of dental students' competence is crucial for validating their preparedness for graduation. Confidence has a significant role in achieving competence. There are limited studies that assess the level of self-perceived confidence among final-year dental students regarding their ability to conduct key dental procedures. This study aims to assess the self-perceived confidence level of final-year dental students in performing essential dental procedures across various dental disciplines and to assess the effect of implementing competencies in the curriculum on the self-perceived confidence level of students by comparing two cohorts of final-year students in two different years 2016 (Traditional Cohort) and 2019 (Competencies Cohort). Materials and Methods: An questionnaire was answered by two cohorts of final-year dental students: one group in 2016 before the implementation of the competency-based assessment system (group 1, n = 153), and the other in 2019 after the implementation of this system (group 2, n = 199), the same questionnaire was used for both cohorts. The results from the two groups were compared regarding the degree of self-perceived confidence in conducting key dental procedures. The data were analysed using SPSS statistics and Levene's Test for Equality of Variances and t-test for Equality of Means calculated. Results: Group 1 showed a significantly higher means of self-perceived confidence levels than group 2 in the ability to conduct seven out of the 20 prosthodontics procedures studied: providing patients with Cobalt-Chromium (Co-Cr) removable partial dentures (RPD) (3.77 vs. 3.56), providing the patient with Acrylic RPD (3.70 vs. 3.23), treatment planning for partially edentulous patients (3.83 vs. 3.34), giving OHIs for denture patients (4.17 vs. 3.95), dealing with CD postinsertion complaints (3.97 vs. 3.76), giving postinsertion instructions for removable prostheses cases (4.12 vs. 3.82), and providing patients with immediate dentures (2.67 vs. 2.32). The same applies to 6 out of 16 conservative dentistry procedures: placing anterior composite (4.41 vs. 4.12), placing posterior composite (4.43 vs. 3.88), placing posterior amalgam (4.29 vs. 4.02), placing matrix band for Class II restorations (4.24 vs. 3.71), placing a prefabricated post (3.34 vs. 2.88), and placing fiber post (3.45 vs. 3.34). On the other hand, group 2 shows higher means of self-perceived confidence than group 1 in only two conservative dentistry procedures: onlay restorations (2.18 vs. 2.76) and inlay restorations (2.22 vs. 2.75). No significant differences in means of self-perceived confidence were found between the two groups in the remaining 21 procedures studied. Conclusions: This study has shown that final-year dental students have high self-perceived confidence levels in doing simple dental procedures yet less confidence in more complex ones. Although, students' self-perceived confidence decreases after the introduction of a competency-based assessment system. Competency implementation and execution criteria may differ between schools which may have an impact on final outcomes. Hence, there is a need for regular evaluation of competencies being assessed to maintain a curriculum that is up to date.

Sociodemographic Factors and Implant Consideration by Patients Attending Removable Prosthodontics Clinics.

Objective: This study is aimed at investigating the treatment options offered to and chosen by patients attending a student prosthodontics clinic and to investigate the effect of the sociodemographic background of participants on implant consideration. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 200 participants including their socioeconomic background, treatment options presented, treatment preferences, and implant consideration. Bivariate tests (unpaired t-test, chi-square, and Mann-Whitney test) and Spearman correlation were used for comparison of different socioeconomic groups according to treatment preferences (implant consideration versus conventional removable prosthesis). Results: Treatment options presented by dental students include 63.5% complete denture, 32% implants/removable dentures, and partial denture 4.5%. Conventional removable prostheses were mostly chosen due to low income. Implants were only considered by 26% of participants. Age and implant consideration had a significant negative correlation. No significant difference in gender and residency area on implant consideration was found. The chi-square test showed a significant difference between implant consideration and conventional removable prostheses in the various occupation groups. Conclusions: Low income is the main factor prohibiting patients from considering dental implants. Age and educational level may play a considerable role in considering dental implants. There should be more emphasis on dental students' treatment planning education to include and explain dental implants as a treatment option for their patients in the prosthodontics clinic.

Comparison of oral health indicators between two places of endemic dental fluorosis in Jordan.

INTRODUCTION: Excessive fluoride intake during tooth development causes dental fluorosis. AIM: This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of dental fluorosis in association with fluoride concentrations in drinking water, (2) explore the effects of altitude on the severity of fluorosis in two towns with high fluoride levels in the drinking water, and (3) assess decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) and oral hygiene practices among participants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 100 and 141 schoolchildren, aged 15.3 ± 1.4 and 16.1 ± 1.3 years, living in Ruwaished and Kuraymah, respectively. Oral examinations were carried out, and dental fluorosis was assessed using the Dean's index. The DMFT index was also used for assessment. Samples of drinking water were analyzed using a fluoride-ion selective electrode. SPSS was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Two-thirds (68.8%) of adults from Kuraymah had moderate to severe fluorosis, with only 7% being unaffected. In Ruwaished, 50% of the sample had severe fluorosis, 22% showed moderate fluorosis, and none were unaffected. The average DMFT scores were 3.18 ± 1.81 and 3.81 ± 1.41 for Kuraymah and Ruwaished, respectively. In both towns, males had significantly higher caries scores than females. Oral hygiene was poor, as 64% and 57% of the participants from Kuraymah and Ruwaished, respectively, did not brush their teeth. A significant correlation was found between poor oral hygiene and increased DMFT scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study concluded that higher fluorosis incidence and severity were present in the higher-altitude location (Ruwaished). Moreover, this study also indicated that fluorosed teeth are not immune to caries, and the preventive management of dental fluorosis should be directed to de-fluoridation of drinking water in endemic areas.

Assessment of occupational noise-related hearing impairment among dental health personnel.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to examine hearing thresholds among dental personnel. The secondary aim was to evaluate sound levels among dental equipment that dental personnel are exposed to. METHODS: Two hundred forty-four dentists, dental technicians, dental assistants, and dental students participated. Sixty-two participated as a control group. Audiological thresholds for the test groups were compared to the control group. All participants were from Jordan University Hospital. Participants completed a questionnaire in addition to their audiometric testing. Otoscopy, tympanometry, and pure tone audiometry were included in their assessment. Three-factor ANOVA and t tests were utilized to assess the statistical differences of hearing thresholds among the groups and between the two ears. Pearson correlation test was used to assess the effect of age, experience, and duration of exposure on the degree of hearing loss in the test groups for both ears. RESULTS: The authors reported statistically significant differences among hearing thresholds between the control group and others. Left hearing thresholds were noted to be significantly poorer in the left versus right ear at 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz in dental assistants. The authors also reported a significant relationship between the degree of hearing impairment among dental assistants and the daily duration of exposure to dental occupational noise, followed by age. CONCLUSION: Hearing impairment was higher among dental professionals than the control group and especially among dental assistants and technicians. The authors recommended screening guidelines and adapting hearing protection methods for dental professionals and particularly for dental assistants and technicians.

Selection in mixtures of food particles during oral processing in man.

OBJECTIVES: Two processes underlie food comminution during chewing: (1) selection, i.e. every particle has a chance of being placed between the teeth and being subjected to (2) breakage. Selection decreases with particle number by saturation of breakage sites, and it depends on competition between smaller and larger particles for breakage sites. Theoretical models were tested which describe competition between various sizes X. In the one-way model, small particles cannot compete with larger ones because of their smaller height. In the two-way model, small particles may compete when piled between antagonistic teeth. DESIGN: Five subjects participated in one-chew experiments on cubes made of Optosil®. The critical particle number (nc(X)) at which saturation starts, and the number of breakage sites (nb(X)) were determined by varying particle numbers (nX) for single-sized cubes of 1.7-6.8mm. Using nc(X) and nb(X), the models predicted relationships between number of selected particles (ns(X)) and nX in one-chew experiments using simple mixtures with only two sizes. A fixed number (mean 6 or 26) of larger cubes (X=6.8 or 3.4mm) was mixed with various numbers (16-1024) of smaller cubes (X=4.8, 2.4 or 1.7mm), thus varying the factors X, nX, and possible particle piling (for X<4mm). RESULTS: The one-way model was largely followed with small numbers of smaller particles and the two-way model with large numbers. CONCLUSIONS: The two-way model applies to chewing a food which yields a loose aggregation of different-sized particles following an initial phase, whereas other circumstances may be favourable for the one-way model. As conditions of a food bolus can be approached by embedding hard Optosil particles in a soft medium, the models will, apart from dentistry, be of interest for controlling flavour release in food engineering.