The Reliability and Validity of Dental Indifference Scale among Romanian Young Adults.

The study aimed at examining the reliability and the validity of the Dental Indifference Scale (DIS), which measures the significant undervaluing attitude towards the state of one's oral health. The study has a cross-sectional design in which 660 young Romanian adults (Meanage = 30.69; 30.30% males) completed an online survey in which the Dental Indifference Scale was included alongside five items related to one's behavior towards oral health. The reliability was calculated by means of internal consistency and test-retest after two or three weeks. The DIS scores were associated with the questions regarding oral health habits. Although DIS is discriminatory regarding the behavior towards oral hygiene (brushing, flossing) and diet, the reliability of the scale is low (α = 0.37; ω = 0.39; Intraclass correlation coefficienttest-retest = 0.60). In comparison with prior research, no gender differences were found. In exchange, the scores for dental indifference (DI) are significantly different when it comes to comparing people with secondary education and people who are university graduates. The study shows that DIS needs to be used with caution and only with other instruments that evaluate attitudes and behaviors related to oral health which passed the test of validation in various cultural models, the Romanian one included.

Quantitative and qualitative bone analysis in the maxillary lateral region.

PURPOSES: The present study was conducted to assess the amount of bone present between root apices and the maxillary sinus floor in the maxillary lateral region, to compare the evaluations on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and orthopantomography (OPG), and to evaluate the bone density of the same region using three-dimensional images on CBCT. METHODS: Fifty-one dental patients were recruited for the study. All subjects were partially edentulous. The distances from the maxillary premolars and molars apices to the maxillary sinus floor were assessed using CBCT and OPG. Color codes were assigned to the bone density of edentulous loci. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used for statistical analyses. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The maxillary first and second molars recorded the shortest mean distances to the sinus floor, in contrast to the maxillary first premolar. The bone density of the maxillary lateral area increased from the maxillary first premolar to the second molar. No statistical significant differences were found between the evaluated sites. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide estimates of the minimal and maximal distances between teeth and sinus, as well as the average bone density in the maxillary lateral region. It is important that evaluation of a specific patient be performed during the preoperative planning of implants.

Mandibular second molar impaction treatment using skeletal anchorage.

The mandibular second molar impaction is a rare dental anomaly with a very challenging treatment. Although there are some treatment modalities, often the proper option is surgical exposure and orthodontically assisted eruption with a high rate of success depending on the appropriate appliance design, which assures a good control of the tooth movement with minimum side effects. A case report of a severe bilaterally impaction of the mandibular second molar in an adolescent female patient is presented, successfully treated using a miniplate, as skeletal anchorage.

Cone beam computed tomography as a method of quantitative and qualitative analysis of alveolar crest in the frontal mandibular area.

UNLABELLED: New radiographic maxillofacial techniques, cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) are a necessity in the assessment of jaw bone offer to effectively evaluate the treatment. AIM: To quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate anterior mandibular area on CBCT comparing to orthopantomography (OPG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-one dental patients, aged between 20 and 77 years, were quantitatively analyzed and 81 dental patients, aged between 20 and 79 years, were qualitatively analyzed. ANOVA and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Strong statistical significant differences were recorded between CBCT and OPG assessments for all groups of teeth (p<0.001), when evaluation was performed on distances to mandibular base. When assessing the distance to the incisive canal, the differences were recorded only for the left canine zone. Mean densities of central incisor, lateral incisor and canine regions, were 1,400-1,425 HU, 1,212-1,224 HU, and 1,150-1,175 HU, respectively. There was a marginal statistical evidence that bone density was lower in canine zone comparing to central incisor area (p=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Measurements on CBCT are more accurate when compared with OPG. Bone density of central incisor region is higher. Therefore, CBCT permits the clinician to have all necessary information when planning dental implants.