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Objective: The present study was aimed at assessing the impact of teledentistry, its application, and trends in uplifting dental practice and clinical care around the world. Material and Methods . The present observational study comprised of an electronic survey distributed among dental professionals around the globe. The validated survey form consisted of a total 26 questions with 5-point Likert scale response. The questionnaire used was divided into four domains: usefulness of teledentistry for patients, its usefulness in dental practice, its capacity to improve the existing practice, and the concerns attached to its use. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-25. ANOVA test was used to assess the effect of independent variables on dependent variables. A p value of ≤0.05 was taken as statistically significant., Results: A total of 506 dental professionals participated in the study with the response rate of 89.39%. More than half of the participants (50-75%) endorsed that teledentistry is a useful tool for improving clinical practice as well as patient care. Two-thirds of the participants (69.96%) considered that teledentistry would reduce cost for the dental practices. On the other hand, about 50-70% of dental professionals expressed their concerns regarding the security of the data and consent of patients. The most preferred communication tool for teledentistry was reported to be videoconference followed by phone. The majority of participants recommended the use of teledentistry in the specialty of oral medicine, operative dentistry, and periodontics. There was a significant difference between the age, experience of dentists, and their qualifications with domains of teledentistry., Conclusions: The overall impact of dental professionals towards teledentistry was positive with adequate willingness to incorporate this modality in their clinical practice. However, the perceived concerns pertaining to teledentistry are significant impediments towards its integration within the oral health system. An in-depth study of its business model and cost-benefit needs of time, especially in the context of developing countries, in order to avail the optimum benefits of teledentistry., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Afsheen Maqsood et al.)

The current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced dentists to seek different options for delivering healthcare services other than the in-person direct examination in clinical practice. Teledentistry is one of the options for remote patient care and monitoring. Objective . The present survey was conducted to assess the knowledge and perception of the dentists in Pakistan regarding teledentistry as an emergent supportive tool. Materials and Methods . A self-administered, close-ended, and prevalidated survey questionnaire was used, comprising 21 questions, and distributed electronically via e-mail, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger to evaluate the knowledge and perception of dentists regarding teledentistry. The data collected was compiled in a systematic manner and analyzed in terms of frequency (yes/no). Results . Out of a total of 350 dentists, 325 responded to the questionnaire, and it was seen that 62.5% of them did not have knowledge about teledentistry prior to COVID-19. 65.8% of dentists considered the practice of teledentistry in nonpandemic situations in the future. Conclusion . In the present study, it was observed that most of the dental professionals had inadequate knowledge about teledentistry before COVID-19, but the awareness and perception regarding teledentistry were currently satisfactory among the dental professionals in Pakistan. This emerging trend gives a positive hope for the implementation of teledentistry in the healthcare setup of Pakistan in the near future, as it will prove to be beneficial for safe dental practice during times of pandemic and even after., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest from any author., (Copyright © 2021 Rootab Subhan et al.)

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the quality and outcome of studies into artificial intelligence techniques, analysis, and effect in dentistry., Materials and Methods: Using the MeSH keywords: artificial intelligence (AI), dentistry, AI in dentistry, neural networks and dentistry, machine learning, AI dental imaging, and AI treatment recommendations and dentistry. Two investigators performed an electronic search in 5 databases: PubMed/MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine), Scopus (Elsevier), ScienceDirect databases (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics), and the Cochrane Collaboration (Wiley). The English language articles reporting on AI in different dental specialties were screened for eligibility. Thirty-two full-text articles were selected and systematically analyzed according to a predefined inclusion criterion. These articles were analyzed as per a specific research question, and the relevant data based on article general characteristics, study and control groups, assessment methods, outcomes, and quality assessment were extracted., Results: The initial search identified 175 articles related to AI in dentistry based on the title and abstracts. The full text of 38 articles was assessed for eligibility to exclude studies not fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Six articles not related to AI in dentistry were excluded. Thirty-two articles were included in the systematic review. It was revealed that AI provides accurate patient management, dental diagnosis, prediction, and decision making. Artificial intelligence appeared as a reliable modality to enhance future implications in the various fields of dentistry, i.e., diagnostic dentistry, patient management, head and neck cancer, restorative dentistry, prosthetic dental sciences, orthodontics, radiology, and periodontics., Conclusion: The included studies describe that AI is a reliable tool to make dental care smooth, better, time-saving, and economical for practitioners. AI benefits them in fulfilling patient demand and expectations. The dentists can use AI to ensure quality treatment, better oral health care outcome, and achieve precision. AI can help to predict failures in clinical scenarios and depict reliable solutions. However, AI is increasing the scope of state-of-the-art models in dentistry but is still under development. Further studies are required to assess the clinical performance of AI techniques in dentistry., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Naseer Ahmed et al.)

To investigate the applicability of Pont’s index for predicting maxillary and mandibular dental arch widths in a Pakistani population.

Objective: To assess the applicability of Pont’s Index in a Malaysian population by obtaining baseline measurements of dental arch shape based on premolar arch width, molar arch width and the combined width of the maxillary incisors. A secondary aim was to determine whether a correlation exists between arch widths, Pont’s Index and the facial framework.

In the modern era of dentistry, role modeling/roleplaying is one of the most prevalent and recommended methods of dental education. Working on video production projects and using student-centred learning also help students create feelings of ownership and self-esteem. This study aimed to compare students' perceptions of roleplay videos among genders, different disciplines of dentistry, and different levels of dental students. This study included 180 third- and fourth-year dental students registered in courses such as 'Introduction to Dental Practice' and 'Surgical management of oral and maxillofacial diseases', respectively, at the College of Dentistry at Jouf University. Four groups of recruited participants were pre-tested using a questionnaire about their clinical and communication skills. The students were tested again using the same questionnaire at the end of the workshop to evaluate improvements in their skills. The students were then assigned to create roleplay videos with respect to demonstrated skills related to all three disciplines (Periodontics, Oral Surgery, and Oral Radiology) in a week's time. Students' perceptions of the roleplay video assignments were collected through a questionnaire survey. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare responses for each section of the questionnaire (p < 0.05). Improvements in problem-solving and project management skills during video production were reported by 90% of the participants. No significant difference (p > 0.05) in the mean scores of the responses was found with respect to the type of discipline involved in the process. There was a significant difference in the mean scores of the responses between male and female students (p < 0.05). The fourth year participants demonstrated increased mean scores and significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean scores than third-year participants. Students' perceptions of roleplay videos differed by gender and the level of the students, but not by the type of discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Teledentistry is considered to be a technological advancement in providing dental care to patients while effectively addressing the time management. Furthermore, the pandemic of COVID-19 has been here for quite long now, forcing the dental practitioners to ponder upon other methods of healthcare delivery apart from the traditional in-office direct clinical examination. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of dental professionals of Malaysia regarding teledentistry, which can act as a future pedestal for improvements in virtual dental practice and patient care. Materials and Methods. It was a descriptive, cross-sectional study involving an electronic survey of a sample of dental professionals of Malaysia. A prevalidated, 26-item, 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire was used in assessing the perceptions of dental professionals regarding teledentistry in four domains: existing concerns about teledentistry use, the potential of teledentistry in improving practice, usefulness of teledentistry for dental practice, and its usefulness for patients. Statistical analyses involved descriptive statistics which included frequency distributions. Results. An overall response rate of 31.0% was observed with 310 dental practitioners participating in the survey. More than 60% of respondents agreed that teledentistry would benefit the dental practice through enhancement of communication with peers, guidance, and new patients' referral. However, a substantial proportion of practitioners (70-80%) expressed uncertainty with accuracy of diagnosis, technical reliability, and privacy. Conclusion. Generally, the results of this study point towards the readiness of dental professionals of Malaysia to engage in teledentistry practice. However, further work needs to be done to assess the commercial feasibility of teledentistry, not only in Malaysia but also in other parts of the world. To start with, directed campaigns in reference to teledentistry are necessary to educate dentists and the public about the technology and its potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To digitally evaluate the marginal adaptation of different types of all‐ceramic crowns on two different marginal configurations such as Shoulder and Chamfer of the prepared teeth. Methods: The marginal fit of the crown specimens on the model of the prepared teeth were assessed using the dual scan replica technique. Two plastic teeth were prepared; one having a Shoulder finishing line (A), while the other with a Chamfer finish line (B). Three types of different all‐ceramic crowns, layered zirconia, monolithic zirconia, and pressed lithium disilicate, were fabricated for each prepared tooth (A) and (B). Measurements for assessing the marginal discrepancy were done on four designated points on the mesial, distal, buccal, and palatal surface of the superimposed image. Results: The average marginal gap was the largest in the layered zirconia group, followed by monolithic zirconia, while pressed lithium disilicate crowns showed the least marginal gaps. Crowns with Chamfer finish lines were better fitting (less marginal gap) than the shoulder finish lines across all the groups. Conclusions: Chamfer finish lines produced better fitting restorations, and heat‐pressed lithium disilicate crowns showed better adaptation at the margins than both layered zirconia and monolithic zirconia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected dentistry. Dental procedures are considered one of the modes of transfer of COVID-19 infection due to generation of aerosols. To prevent transmission of this virus through dental procedures, guidelines were issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Ministry of Health of each country. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to establish a safe protocol for performing dental procedures in a crisis capacity situation of personal protective equipment (PPE). METHODS: A strategy for performing the dental procedures was formulated in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health, Pakistan before vaccination of HCPs against COVID-19. These guidelines also accorded the strategies provided by the WHO and CDC. 40 health care professionals (HCPs) participated in the study and were divided in two groups. Group A performed non-aerosol generating procedures (non- AGPs) and group B performed aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). A total of 6372 aerosol generating procedures were performed from 1 August 2020 to 31 March 2021. The safety of this protocol was established by the number of HCPs contracting COVID-19 infection. RESULTS: Only 1 HCP contracted COVID-19 infection preceding the AGPs from group B following the formulated strategy. CONCLUSION: Reported strategy based on the dental system in Pakistan is considered safe to be implemented worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many modern advancements have taken place in dentistry that have exponentially impacted the progress and practice of dentistry. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are becoming the trend in the practice of modern dentistry because of their impact on changing the patient's experience. The use of AR and VR has been beneficial in different fields of science, but their use in dentistry is yet to be thoroughly explored, and conventional ways of dentistry are still practiced at large. Over the past few years, dental treatment has been significantly reshaped by technological advancements. In dentistry, the use of AR and VR systems has not become widespread, but their different uses should be explored. Therefore, the aim of this review was to provide an update on the contemporary knowledge, to report on the ongoing progress of AR and VR in various fields of dental medicine and education, and to identify the further research required to achieve their translation into clinical practice. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles in peer-reviewed English-language journals published in the last 10 years up to 31 March 2021, with the help of specific keywords related to AR and VR in various dental fields. Of the total of 101 articles found in the literature search, 68 abstracts were considered suitable and further evaluated, and consequently, 33 full-texts were identified. Finally, a total of 13 full-texts were excluded from further analysis, resulting in 20 articles for final inclusion. The overall number of studies included in this review was low; thus, at this point in time, scientifically-proven recommendations could not be stated. AR and VR have been found to be beneficial tools for clinical practice and for enhancing the learning experiences of students during their pre-clinical education and training sessions. Clinicians can use VR technology to show their patients the expected outcomes before the undergo dental procedures. Additionally, AR and VR can be implemented to overcome dental phobia, which is commonly experienced by pediatric patients. Future studies should focus on forming technological standards with high-quality data and developing scientifically-proven AR/VR gadgets for dental practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate whether the intermediate layers of flowable resin composite and resin modified glass ionomer cement used prior to packable composite resin restoration would eliminate or significantly decrease microleakage at the gingival floor and which is the most suitable intermediate layer under packable composite resin restoration. Materials and Methods: Standarized Class II box only cavities (1.5mm mesioistal extension, 3.0 mm buccal-lingual extension and the gingival seat placed at the CEJ) were restored as follows: Group A Restoration with packable composite alone, Group B 1mm flowable composite liner + packable composite, Group C 1mm resin modified glass ionomer liner + packable composite. The specimens were thermocycled, stained with methylene blue dye, sectioned to evaluate the dye penetration. Data were analysed using one way ANOVA and Bonferroni test. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the mean dye penetration among the three groups compared (p > 0.05). The Flowable Resin Composite when placed as a 1mm thick liner showed the least microleakage of 1.45 ± 0.99 in comparison to the control group or when 1 mm thick Resin Modified Glass Ionomer Cement liner was used under packable composites in deep Class II cavities placed at the CEJ. The control group showed the maximum microleakage of 1.70 ± 0.93.Similiarly, no significant difference was noted with regards to homogeneity between the three groups which showed that there wasn't any statistically significant difference among the groups compared (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Flowable resin composite when used as a 1mm thick liner under a packable resin composite at the gingival margins showed overall less microleakage than the other two groups to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The risk of acquiring COVID-19 during a pandemic is a major concern among health care workers. Dental professionals being in close proximity to the patients had been exposed more than other health care workers. Hence, all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are strictly advised to be followed. Methods. A detailed relevant literature search was conducted in international databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct, from January 2020 to November 2020. All the studies that provided recommendations regarding endodontic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic were included, and those that were not in the English language, case reports, book chapters, and short communications were excluded in this review. In the end, only 6 articles were selected for the systematic review considering that complete information regarding the provision of dental care in the time of COVID-19 with diagnostic accuracy (STARD) was provided. Results. Endodontic treatments were restricted to only emergency dental procedures, and all other patients have advised medications and catered through teledentistry. Endodontic emergencies were advised to be carried out with minimal aerosol production procedures. Conclusion. Provision of endodontic care during COVID-19 restricted to only emergency dental procedures by strictly following standard operating procedures. A protocol for COVID-19 prevention was followed by all the dentists and the dental staff in the dental clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The subject of anatomy is considered the foundation of Medical Curriculum on which the understanding of knowledge regarding other basic sciences, pre-clinical sciences and clinical subjects is built upon. With advancing technologies in medical education, a poor country like Pakistan tends to lag behind due to unavailability of funding for virtual reality-based and augmented reality-based anatomy guides. The study is designed to know the prevalence of using YouTube in learning gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, embryology and histology among male and female medical students of first and second year MBBS and first year BDS students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the help of an online questionnaire. The questionnaire inquired about the demographics of the participants, their general information regarding YouTube, the area of Anatomy they mostly view on YouTube and their perception about using YouTube as a learning tool. Results: The results reveal that more than 95% students use YouTube to learn anatomy. Medical students use YouTube to learn 'Gross Anatomy' whereas, dental students use YouTube majorly to learn 'Embryology'. Conclusion: The results conclude that YouTube is an effective learning tool for Anatomy and it has positive perceptions amongst medical and dental undergraduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background and Review: Nanotechnology is the science involved in design, synthesis, characterization, and application of materials and devices. Different approaches are used to introduce organic and inorganic nanoparticles in dentistry. Nanoparticles are used in preventive dentistry, strategies for the management of biofilm, demineralization inhibition and promote remineralization. Incorporation of different nanoparticles in fissure sealants, bonding agents, dentifrices, mouthwashes and glass ionomers were studied in vivo and vitro. Conclusion: This article summaries the science of nanotechnology, that achieved and introduced in the dentistry and is promising that needs further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The increased number of aged individuals implies an important demographic change worldwide. Oral health is an important factor determining the quality of life in aged individuals. Material and Methods: Electronic search of articles was done through the National library of medicine (PubMed), SCOPUS, EMBASE databases using different Keywords. All the articles were analyzed according to their importance and reviewed to analyse the various effects of aging on the oral cavity. Results: Oral tissues react in a fashion similar to other organs with respect to aging and the quality of life for older adults can be affected by the many complex diseases/conditions which are associated with aging. Conclusion: The challenging task for the practitioner lies in establishing a definitive diagnosis after the examination of the oral signs and symptoms followed by a differential diagnosis, and then arrange for tests and referrals as per the need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent advancements in clinical dentistry have increased the possibilities of surgical procedures in the mental region. A detailed knowledge of mental foramen (MF) morphometry is significant to preserve integrity of the mental nerve trunk in surgical interventions such as orthognathic surgery, implant placement and anaesthetic block.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the most accurate position of the mental foramen by using new assessment approach in a sample of dental patients presenting to the specialist dental clinic, College of Dentistry, Al Jouf University, Saudi Arabia.Study Design: A retrospective study was performed using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of 600 patients (40.1 ± 11.78 years old). Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 395 CBCT were finally obtained and analyzed for the most accurate position of the mental foramen (MF) by OnDemand 3D software (Seoul, Korea). Prevalence of shape of MF and accessory MF were also assessed. Pearson chi-square test was employed to test significant differences between genders and races.Results: The most common horizontal and vertical position of the mental foramen was in line with the long axis of 2nd premolar (41.3%) and below the root apex level (93.2%), respectively. The most common shape of MF was round type (72.66%). The prevalence of accessory 2MF and 3MF was 2.28% and 0.25%, respectively.Conclusion: New information about MF presented in this article can help anatomists, prosthodontists, orthodontists, surgeons, forensic odontologists and paleoanthropologists to predict the position of the MF and perform safer surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the presence and/or agenesis of third molar (M3) tooth germs in orthodontics patients in Malaysian Malay and Chinese population and evaluate the relationship between presence and/or agenesis of M3 with different skeletal malocclusion patterns and sagittal maxillomandibular jaw dimensions. Pretreatment records of 300 orthodontic patients (140 males and 160 females, 219 Malaysian Malay and 81 Chinese, average age was 16.27±4.59) were used. Third-molar agenesis was calculated with respect to race, genders, number of missing teeth, jaws, skeletal malocclusion patterns and sagittal maxillomandibular jaw dimensions. The Pearson chi-square test and ANOVA was performed to determine potential differences. Associations between various factors and M3 presence/agenesis groups were assessed using logistic regression analysis. The percentages of subjects with 1 or more M3 agenesis were 30%, 33% and 31% in the Malaysian Malay, Chinese and total population, respectively. Overall prevalence of M3 agenesis in male and female was equal (P>0.05). The frequency of the agenesis of M3s is greater in maxilla as well in the right side (P>0.05). The prevalence of M3 agenesis in those with a Class III and Class II malocclusion was relatively higher in Malaysian Malay and Malaysian Chinese population respectively. Using stepwise regression analyses, significant associations were found between Mx (P<0.05) and ANB (P<0.05) and M3 agenesis. This multivariate analysis suggested that Mx and ANB were significantly correlated with the M3 presence/agenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The qualities of a barrier membrane are integral to the process of guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Biocompatibility, biodegradability, adherence and proliferation of regenerative cells, potential to maintain adequate sealing of the underlying defect, are amongst the properties fundamental to the success of a barrier membrane. Materials: Materials belonging to diverse origins and characteristics have yielded varying degrees of success as graft and barrier materials. Bovine pericardium membrane is reported to have been used for a variety of surgical procedures, producing favorable outcomes. The success of these surgical procedure puts forth bovine pericardium membrane one of the most suitable choices for barrier material in guided tissue regeneration procedures. Results: The paper will review the numerous applications of bovine pericardium grafts in the fields of general and dental surgery. These studies provide substantial evidence for establishing, bovine pericardium membrane as a highly versatile graft material. Conclusion: The paper concludes with possible ways the material can be engineered to achieve an even better outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different types of impression materials and different procedures or methods have been introduced in Dentistry for preparing dowel crown. Materials and Methods: Injection technique with silicone impression materials are being extensively used by the materials to get an accurate impression. But whether this material neither ensures similar accuracy nor produces absolute accuracy. This study evaluate silicone impression material was efficient enough to produce nearest to actual intraradicular surface reproduction by assessing the void formation and dimensional accuracy. Conclusion:By assessing all the parameters the silicone impression material was proved to be the efficient for intraradicular surface reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotics is a disruptive technology that will change diagnostics and treatment protocols in dental medicine. Robots can perform repeated workflows for an indefinite length of time while enhancing the overall quality and quantity of patient care. Early robots required a human operator, but robotic systems have advanced significantly over the past decade, and the latest medical robots can perform patient intervention or remote monitoring autonomously. However, little research data on the therapeutic reliability and precision of autonomous robots are available. The present paper reviews the promise and practice of robots in dentistry by evaluating published work on commercial robot systems in dental implantology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthetic and restorative dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, oral radiology as well as dental education. In conclusion, this review critically addresses the current limitations of dental robotics and anticipates the potential future impact on oral healthcare and the dental profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]