COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer: Opportunities and challenges.

The rapid spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus, the increase in the number of patients with severe COVID-19, and the high mortality rate created the basis for the production of safe and effective vaccines. Studies have confirmed the increased risk of severe Covid-19 disease and mortality in cancer patients. It is logical that cancer patients should be the first to receive the primary vaccination and the booster vaccine for Covid-19. Since studies related to cancer patients and the effectiveness of existing Covid-19 vaccines have not been widely conducted, there are significant uncertainties about the effectiveness of the vaccine and the level of humoral and cellular immune responses in these patients. As a result, the possible risks and side effects of existing vaccines are not clear for patients with different cancers who are undergoing special treatments. In this study, we will discuss the effectiveness and safety of existing vaccines on cancer patients. In addition, we highlight factors that could affect the effectiveness of vaccines in these patients and finally discuss opportunities and challenges related to vaccination in cancer patients.

Factors That Guide the Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Impacted Canines Using Three-Dimensional Cone-Beam Computed Tomography: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Impacted canines are one of the significant challenges in orthodontics that should be appropriately assessed to provide the best treatment to the patients. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 57800 patients were examined over six years to investigate the prevalence, diagnostic procedures, and treatment methodologies for impacted canine cases. Prevalence and diagnosis were tested using history taking, clinical examination, and three-dimensional cone-beam radiographs. The cases were tested for impaction site, gender, age, signs, and symptoms. The groups were classified for impaction location according to Mupparapu's classification. Result: The causative factors and the treatment methodology selected were plotted according to age and gender distribution. The total prevalence was 3.9% of canine impaction cases in relation to the total sample cases. The results showed a strong correlation between the site of impaction toward the upper arch and with distribution following Mupparapu's classification. The pain was the most detectable complication in all age groups, while root resorption was the least. Conclusion: Most of the younger age groups were sent for exposure and orthodontic traction, while the mid-aged groups elected for observation, and follow-up as their primary concern was esthetics. However, the adult patients were into exposure and traction to improve their function.

TAD's for the Derotation of 90° Rotated Maxillary Bicuspids.

It is undeniable that the advent of extra-alveolar mini-implants for anchorage purposes has revolutionized the field of Orthodontics. This case report sheds light on an innovative anchorage plan using TADs, to carry out treatment for a 15-year-old female patient. The patient reported to the clinic with a chief complaint of rotated second premolars, crowding, and a deep bite. On examination, it was seen that the patient had a Class I skeletal pattern, Class II subdivision molar relationship, 90-degree maxillary second premolar rotations, crowding in both the arches, and a deep bite. In this case, the clinicians decided to use TADs for premolar derotation as it not only provides a pure rotational couple without any deleterious effects on the adjacent teeth but also helps shorten the overall treatment time. The total treatment time for this case was 10 months.

A Female Hair Clip and Orthodontists' Neck-Back Pain Perception: A Survey.

This study aimed to clarify the effect of large hair clips on patient head posture on the dental chair headrest and its harmful impact on orthodontist body posture and neck-back pain. One hundred orthodontists voluntarily participated in a web-based questionnaire designed and distributed online by using the Google form posted in the Telegram group of Iraqi orthodontists to assess the opinions of orthodontists regarding the effect of a large hair clip on the patient's position on the dental chair and site of pain perception during different stages of orthodontic treatment. Ninety percent of the orthodontists get bothered by the large hair clip. About 92% of the responses preferred their patients to remove the large hair clip; 99% of them responded that the large hair clip does affect the position of the patient's head on the chair's headrest. Eighty-nine percent responded that a large hair clip could disturb the operator during taking intraoral photographs, and 64% disturbed while taking dental impressions. Orthodontists reported that 4% had "back pain," 28% had "neck pain," and 60% had both "back and neck pain" during bonding appointment, while only 8% reported "no pain." Regarding the activation appointments, 4% had "back pain," 26% had "neck pain," and 48% had both, while only 22% reported "no pain." During the debonding appointments, 7% of the respondents had "back pain," 29% had "neck pain," and 44% had both "back and neck pain," yet 20% stated absence of pain. Wearing a hair clip and changing patient position on dental chair and orthodontist posture during different stages of orthodontic work such as bonding, regular recall, and depending on the procedure may be directly related to the neck-back pain perception to an orthodontist.

Pattern of distribution and etiologies of Midline diastema among Kurdistan-region Population.

BACKGROUND: Aim of study was to evaluate the prevalence and etiological factors that contribute in midline diastema in Kurdistan region-Iraq population among different age groups and genders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Orthodontic patients sample of (EX: 1021orthodontic patients (537 males and 484 females) were randomly selected from Kurdistan-region population, attending to orthodontic department of khanzad polyclinic teaching center (General directorate of hawler / Ministry of health/ Kurdistan region- Iraq) during 2018-2019 period. Aged (13-35 years) with mean age ± SD was 19.6 ± 4.8 years, with a median of 19 years. The examination included patient history taking, intraoral examination, photograph, intraoral periapical radiography of incisors area and panoramic radiographic. Diastema consider positive when the space between central incisors is 0.5mm and more, width was measured clinically used digital Vernier calipers at one millimeter above the incisors edge. RESULTS: The prevalence of midline diastema was 23.2%. located in the maxilla (97%), in mandible (1.3%) and in both was (1.7%). The prevalence of midline diastema differs significantly between the age groups (p< 0.001). The highest prevalence (55.8%) was among patients aged ≥ 30 years, and it was also high (37.7%) among those aged < 15 years. The prevalence among females (26.4%) was significantly higher than the prevalence (20.3%) among males (P= 0.020). The main causes of midline diastema in females was thumb sucking and missing lateral incisors (14.1% and 12.5% respectively) and in males was high labial frenum and super numerally teeth (39.4% and 30.3% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of diastema in Kurdistan regional- Iraq area was (23.2%), the location mostly in maxilla (97%). The prevalence of diastema in females more than males. The main causes of diastema in females was thumb sucking and missing lateral incisors while in the males was high labial frenum and super numerally teeth. Key words:Prevalence, midline diastema, high labial frenum, thumb sucking.