Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice最新文献

{"title":"Radiographic Archetypes of Periapical Lesions from Deep Embeddings: A Baseline Weighted ResNet-18 Explainability Study on 3,924 Annotated Periapical Images.","authors":"Khalid H Almadi","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and background: </strong>Here, we present a simple endodontic imaging procedure that leverages expert extensible markup language (XML) annotations of publicly available periapical radiographs.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>To develop a machine-learning model for automated severity classification, this work used a publicly accessible dataset of periapical radiographs with labeled lesions. After building a lesion-level index from XML annotations and aggregating bounding boxes into image-level features, 3,924 radiographs were split into stratified training, validation, and test sets. A weighted residual network (ResNet)-18 model was fine-tuned with a class-balanced loss, achieving optimal performance at the best validation checkpoint. To identify radiographic trends and sources of classification error, model predictions were further examined using confusion metrics, clustering of penultimate embeddings, and visual explanations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lesion-level analysis identified 6,741 annotated locations across 3,924 radiographs, showing frequent multi-lesion presentations and a predominance of moderate cases. A weighted ResNet-18 model demonstrated middling classification performance, with strong recall for mild lesions but much decreased detection capability for intermediate and severe disease. Interpretability evaluations revealed that the model concentrated on lesion locations for accurate predictions, whereas embedding visualizations and clustering demonstrated that lesion severity resides on a continuum rather than in distinct categories.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We constructed a weighted ResNet-18 model to identify periapical lesion (PL) severity in three categories using the Mendeley periapical radiograph dataset. Our results imply that the model's deep feature representations exhibit distinct radiographic embedding patterns and a well-organized error structure.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>The application of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to two-dimensional periapical and panoramic radiographs (PRs) for diagnosing \"Periapical Lesions\" with the complexity of anatomical structures and overlapping artifacts in the oral and maxillofacial (OMF) region would be useful for clinicians in diagnosing and predicting oral disease when integrated with routine electronic health records (EHRs).</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 6","pages":"539-555"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149196462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibacterial Activity of Water Hyacinth (<i>Eichhornia crassipes</i>) Extract Against Periodontopathogenic Bacteria: <i>In-vitro</i> Study.","authors":"Agung Krismariono, Noer Ulfah, Lambang Bargowo, Elvira B Sungkono, Albert Budianto, Annisaa N Aulia, Jasmine A Martant","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of water hyacinth leaf extract on <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i> and <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> growth.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>An <i>in-vitro</i> experimental study was conducted using ethanolic leaf extract of <i>Eichhornia crassipes</i> prepared with 70% ethanol. Serial two-fold dilutions of the extract in Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHIB), ranging from 100 to 0.78%, were tested against <i>P. gingivalis</i> American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 33277 and <i>F. nucleatum</i> ATCC 25586. Bacterial inocula were standardized to 0.5 McFarland, and each concentration and control group was tested in triplicate. After incubation at 37°C for 24 hours under anaerobic conditions, bacterial growth was measured spectrophotometrically at 570 nm. Data were analyzed using normality and homogeneity tests, followed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) or non-parametric analysis as appropriate. The minimum inhibitory concentration inhibiting 50% (MIC50) of bacterial growth was determined as the lowest concentration achieving ≥50% growth inhibition.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The extract demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against both microorganisms. The 12.5% concentration achieved ≥50% growth inhibition, while lower concentrations showed reduced antibacterial effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong><i>Eichhornia crassipes</i> leaf extract exhibits <i>in-vitro</i> antibacterial activity against <i>P. gingivalis</i> and <i>F. nucleatum</i>, with an MIC50 of 12.5%.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>The findings suggest that water hyacinth leaf extract has potential as a natural adjunctive antimicrobial agent in periodontal therapy, warranting further <i>in-vivo</i>, and clinical investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 6","pages":"613-619"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149197067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Different Remineralizing Agents on <i>Streptococcus</i> <i>mutans</i> and <i>Actinomyces</i>-mediated Demineralization in Primary and Young Permanent Teeth: An <i>In-vitro</i> Oral Disease Model.","authors":"Deepanshu Garg, Keyur Joshi, Pasupuleti V Samir, Munaz Mulla, Sabahat Uk Tareen, Abeer Ms Atout, Sheetal Mujoo, Alok Dubey, Mohamed Sm Morsy","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate and compare the effects of silver nanoparticles, self-assembling peptide, casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), and green tea polyphenols on microbial viability and enamel demineralization in primary and young permanent teeth extracted for therapeutic reasons, including severe caries, orthodontic indications, or trauma.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Ninety-eight extracted human teeth were included in the study, comprising 49 primary and 49 young permanent teeth. The samples were randomly allocated into four groups based on the remineralizing agent used: Group I-Silver nanoparticles (<i>n</i> = 25), Group II-Self-assembling peptide (<i>n</i> = 24), Group III-CPP-ACP (<i>n</i> = 24), and Group IV-Green tea polyphenols (<i>n</i> = 25). A standardized dual-species biofilm model of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> and <i>Actinomyces</i> spp. was established to simulate cariogenic challenge. Post-treatment evaluation included surface microhardness testing and colony-forming unit (CFU) analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate parametric tests, with a significance level of <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Silver nanoparticles showed the highest mean surface microhardness of 312.45 Vickers hardness number (VHN) and the lowest microbial counts for both <i>S. mutans</i> (1.12 ×10²/mL) and <i>Actinomyces</i> (1.28 ×10⁵/mL). Self-assembling peptide demonstrated the second-highest microhardness (295.30 VHN) and microbial reduction (<i>S. mutans</i> 1.65 ×10²/mL, <i>Actinomyces</i> 1.74 ×10²/mL), followed by CPP-ACP (278.15 VHN; <i>S. mutans</i> 2.10 ×10²/mL, <i>Actinomyces</i> 2.24 ×10²/mL) and green tea polyphenols (265.40 VHN; <i>S. mutans</i> 2.35 ×10²/mL, <i>Actinomyces</i> 2.48 ×10²/mL). The descending order of efficacy was silver nanoparticles > self-assembling peptide > CPP-ACP > green tea polyphenols, with significant differences among all groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Silver nanoparticles exhibited superior antimicrobial and remineralization efficacy, followed by self-assembling peptides, CPP-ACP, and green tea polyphenols, confirming variable effectiveness of contemporary remineralizing agents on primary and young permanent teeth under cariogenic challenge.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>Dental caries remains a major concern in primary and young permanent teeth due to immature enamel and high susceptibility to biofilm-mediated demineralization. This study provides a comparative framework for selecting clinically effective remineralizing agents. The findings support the evidence-based translation of <i>in-vitro</i> results into preventive and minimally invasive strategies for enhancing enamel resistance and controlling cariogenic biofilms in pediatric and adolescent patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 6","pages":"608-612"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149197013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overall Orthodontic Treatment Changes in Bone Mineral Density Distribution of Maxilla and Mandibular Alveolar Bone Assessed Using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry: A Prospective Study.","authors":"Bhagabati P Dash, Priti Kiran, Sura Aaf Al-Bayati, Khadijah Mohideen, Enas A Elamin, Thara Chandran","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate alterations in alveolar bone mineral density (BMD) following comprehensive orthodontic treatment in both arches using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Thirty subjects receiving fixed orthodontic therapy and aged between 18 and 35 years were included in the study. Bone mineral density measurements were obtained in both the arches before treatment and immediately after the active treatment completion in the maxillary anterior region, the maxillary posterior region, the mandibular anterior region, and the mandibular posterior region of interest (ROI). Statistical analyses included paired <i>t</i>-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study demonstrated a significant reduction in alveolar BMD from pretreatment (T0) to posttreatment (T1) across all regions, with mean values decreasing from 0.92 to 0.78 gm/cm² in the maxillary anterior, 0.98 to 0.86 gm/cm² in the maxillary posterior, 1.05 to 0.96 gm/cm² in the mandibular anterior, and 1.12 to 1.04 gm/cm² in the mandibular posterior region. The greatest reduction was observed in the maxillary anterior region (0.14 gm/cm²; 15.2%), followed by the maxillary posterior region (0.12 gm/cm²; 12.2%), while smaller decreases were seen in the mandibular anterior (0.09 gm/cm²; 8.6%) and mandibular posterior (0.08 gm/cm²; 7.1%) regions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, comprehensive orthodontic treatment resulted in significant, region-specific reductions in alveolar BMD, with greater changes in the maxillary arch and anterior regions. These findings reflect physiological bone remodeling associated with orthodontic tooth movement. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is a reliable, non-invasive method for assessing these changes.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>Orthodontic treatment induces measurable changes in alveolar BMD. Bone remodeling appears to be more pronounced in the maxillary and anterior regions. A temporary reduction in bone density should be considered when designing retention protocols. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry provides a reliable and minimally invasive method for monitoring skeletal changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 6","pages":"603-607"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149196009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Bioactive Glass and Hydroxyapatite Coatings on the Success of Immediate Dental Implants: <i>In Vivo</i> Study.","authors":"Mohammad Jalaluddin, Sura Aaf Al-Bayati, Pankaj Prakash, Annu P Bhindwar, Sujith Kakkadath, Ranjeeta Yumnam","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess the impact of bioactive glass (BG) and hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings on immediate dental implant success.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 36 implants were divided into three groups of 12 implants in each group: Uncoated titanium (control), HA-coated, and BG-coated. Standardized surgical procedures were followed for immediate implant insertion, and each implant's stability, bone-to-implant contact (BIC), peri-implant bone density, and inflammatory response were evaluated at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, clinical and radiological follow-ups were scheduled. All data was recorded and statistically analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 12 weeks, BIC% was 58.4 ± 6.8 in group I, 72.9 ± 7.1 in group II, and 78.6 ± 6.5 in group III, showing a significant difference (<i>F</i> = 29.84, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Implant stability quotient (ISQ) values were 68.3 ± 3.9 (group I), 74.8 ± 4.1 (group II), and 77.6 ± 3.7 (group III), with a significant intergroup difference (<i>F</i> = 18.62, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Peri-implant bone density (HU) was 865.7 ± 74.5, 1018.4 ± 82.1, and 1087.9 ± 78.3 in groups I-III, respectively, with significant variation (<i>F</i> = 24.17, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Inflammatory response scores were highest in group I (4.8 ± 1.1), lower in group II (3.1 ± 0.9), and lowest in group III (2.4 ± 0.8), also significant (<i>F</i> = 19.76, <i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, when compared to uncoated titanium surfaces, BG and HA coatings greatly increased the success of immediate dental implants. Bioactive glass-coated implants showed the lowest inflammatory response along with superior BIC, implant stability, and peri-implant bone density.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>Improving clinical results is primarily dependent on surface modification of immediate dental implants. By improving osseointegration, implant durability, and peri-implant bone regeneration while reducing inflammatory response, BG coatings showed the best results. Though not as much as uncoated titanium implants, HA-coated implants also demonstrated better biological function. These results demonstrate the therapeutic importance of using bioactive coatings to improve the efficacy and predictability of immediate dental implant treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 6","pages":"556-560"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149197021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated Computational and Cross-sectional Analysis of Thrombotic Non-coding RNAs as Salivary and Plasma Biomarkers in Coronary Artery Disease.","authors":"Arthisri A Sekar, Vishnu P Veeraraghavan, A Thirumal Raj, Shankargouda Patil","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4042","DOIUrl":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim and background: </strong>Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), adjacent to the myocardium, plays a role in coronary artery disease (CAD), though its thrombotic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to identify CAD-specific thrombotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and their regulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) using expression analysis, network modeling, and clustering approaches.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Differential gene expression analysis was performed using the GSE64554 dataset (<i>p</i> < 0.05), identifying genes dysregulated in CAD. Thrombosis-related genes were retrieved from GeneCards and intersected with CAD-associated genes. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed to determine key hub genes. MicroRNAs and long noncoding RNA analyses were conducted to identify regulatory modules. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to validate key miRNA expression in plasma and saliva samples from CAD patients (<i>n</i> = 30) and healthy controls (<i>n</i> = 30).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 840 genes were upregulated in CAD, with 85 overlapping thrombosis-related genes identified. Network analysis highlighted five key thrombosis-CAD hub genes involved in immune response, cytokine signaling, and signal transduction. miRNA profiling revealed 82 downregulated miRNAs in CAD, many targeting these hub genes. Of 1,122 regulatory modules analyzed, <i>HIF1A,</i> <i>CTNNB1,</i> and <i>CCL5</i> were identified as central regulators. Integration of lncRNA data further emphasized hsa-miR-641 as a key regulatory miRNA, significantly downregulated in both plasma and saliva samples from CAD patients, as confirmed by RT-qPCR.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study identifies key thrombotic genes and regulatory modules in EAT, emphasizing the role of immune and signaling pathways in CAD progression. The consistent downregulation of hsa-miR-641 and its detectability in plasma and saliva support its potential as a reliable noninvasive diagnostic biomarker.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>hsa-miR-641 can serve as a non-invasive biomarker for early detection of CAD using saliva and plasma. It may also aid in risk assessment and guide targeted therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 3","pages":"294-303"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148228478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphometric Evaluation of Cervical Vertebral Age and Mandibular Growth in Skeletal Class II Individuals Using Digital Cephalometry: A Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Yousef M Almugla","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study examined the association between morphometric cervical vertebral bone (CVB) age and mandibular growth in Saudi individuals with skeletal class II malocclusion.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed using archived digital lateral cephalograms of 56 Saudi patients with skeletal class II malocclusion. Radiographs were categorized into a pubertal group (8-13 years; <i>n</i> = 28) and a postpubertal group (17-21 years; <i>n</i> = 28), with each group equally stratified by gender (14 males and 14 females). Mandibular length estimates calculated during the pubertal phase were compared with measured mandibular dimensions in postpubertal subjects, and sex-related growth differences were evaluated. Cervical vertebral bone age was calculated using vertebral morphometric measurements, and mandibular length (Condylion-Gnathion) was digitally assessed. Predicted mandibular lengths derived from CVB age were statistically compared with observed postpubertal values using independent <i>t</i>-tests, Cohen's <i>d,</i> and descriptive Bland-Altman analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Chronological age (CA) demonstrated no significant discrepancy from CVB age in either males (<i>p</i> = 0.28) or females (<i>p</i> = 0.63). Mandibular lengths predicted during the pubertal phase did not differ significantly from observed mandibular dimensions in the postpubertal group, for both sexes (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated minimal bias and acceptable group-level agreement, with higher precision in females. Males exhibited greater but more variable estimated growth potential than females.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Morphometric CVB age showed good group-level agreement between mandibular length predicted during the pubertal phase (8-13 years) and measured postpubertal values (17-21 years) in Saudi skeletal class II subjects.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>Accurate assessment of mandibular growth timing remains essential for optimizing orthopedic intervention in skeletal class II malocclusion. This study highlights the clinical applicability of CVB morphometric assessment as a practical, radiation-free approach using routine cephalograms to estimate mandibular growth potential and support informed treatment timing decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 3","pages":"231-236"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148228535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of a Novel Zygomatic-based Cephalometric Angle for Sagittal Skeletal Discrepancy: A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Subramanya Shetty, Dilshad Umar, Kelly Ctm Egipsy, Mohammed Khais","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4036","DOIUrl":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a novel zygomatic-based cephalometric parameter, the ZYen angle, for assessing sagittal skeletal discrepancies.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 369 pretreatment lateral cephalograms of subjects aged 18-25 years, equally distributed into skeletal class I (<i>n =</i> 123), class II (<i>n =</i> 123), and class III (<i>n =</i> 123) groups. Skeletal classification was performed using the A point-nasion-B point angle (ANB) and Wits appraisal. The ZYen angle, defined using points M, Z (zygomatic point), and D, was measured, and its diagnostic performance was assessed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The ZYen angle showed significant differences among skeletal classes (<i>p <</i> 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated excellent discrimination between skeletal class I and class III (AUC = 0.908), with a cut-off value of 29.5° providing balanced sensitivity (78.9%) and specificity (82.9%). In contrast, discrimination between class I and class II was poor (AUC = 0.594), indicating limited diagnostic ability for identifying class II patterns.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The ZYen angle is a reliable sagittal skeletal parameter with high diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing class I from class III relationships but limited utility in differentiating class II malocclusions.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>Accurate sagittal skeletal diagnosis is essential for orthodontic treatment planning and prognosis. The ZYen angle utilizes stable zygomatic landmarks and minimizes reliance on cranial base and dental reference points, enhancing diagnostic confidence in class III cases. It may serve as a clinically useful adjunct to conventional cephalometric parameters, particularly in borderline or ambiguous sagittal discrepancies.</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 3","pages":"304-309"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148228547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and Radiological Characteristics of Styloid Process Calcifications in Panoramic Radiographs of Dominican Individuals: A Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Mario A Abréu-Cruz, Vanessa Madera-Reynoso, Jhoana M Llaguno-Rubio, Gustavo A Fiori-Chincaro, Luis E Arriola-Guillén","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4030","DOIUrl":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to determine the prevalence and radiological characteristics of styloid process calcifications in panoramic radiographs of Dominican individuals from 2021 to 2025.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using 7,915 panoramic radiographs of adults. Mineralization of the styloid process was assessed using the O'Carroll method, and the morphology was classified according to the Langlais classification. Two trained and calibrated radiologists made all measurements. Inter- and intraobserver agreement was evaluated using the κ index. Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test and binomial logistic regression, with a significance level set at <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 25% (<i>n</i> = 1,984) of the population exhibited calcifications, with no significant association with sex. Bilateral calcifications were more prevalent, occurring in 74.9% (<i>n</i> = 1,483) of the cases. Partial calcification was more common in women, whereas elongated and segmented patterns showed significant differences between the sexes. Additionally, age was found to increase the risk of calcification; specifically, for each additional year of age, the risk of calcification increases by a factor of 1.017 [confidence interval (CI): 1.014-1.021].</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Calcifications of the styloid processes are common among the Dominican population. Careful radiographic evaluation is essential, even for asymptomatic individuals, due to its significance in the differential diagnosis of orofacial pain, cervical pain, and Eagle syndrome.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>This study provides updated epidemiological evidence within the Dominican context and contributes to the increasing body of knowledge, laying a foundation for future research that connects radiological findings with clinical manifestations.</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 3","pages":"237-241"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148227875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Considerations to Establish the Best Orientation of the Occlusal Plane Used in Oral Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Daysi S Neyra-Quilca, Luis E Arriola-Guillén","doi":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4039","DOIUrl":"10.5005/jp-journals-10024-4039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The goal of this review was to compile all available information in an updated literature review to indicate the correct position of the tragus on Camper's plane and other considerations to establish the best orientation of the occlusal plane used in oral rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A comprehensive search was conducted by two trained reviewers across the primary data sources, including Medline via PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, EBSCO, and SciELO. The search employed the keywords \"(orientation) AND (dental occlusion OR occlusal plane OR Camper plane)\" and covered the period from May 2018 to November 2025. The risk of bias for all selected articles was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The analysis focused on identifying the optimal orientation of the occlusal plane for use in oral rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,710 articles were identified, of which only 14 were included for analysis. Seven articles had a low risk of bias. Moreover, these studies indicated that the ideal location for the posterior point of Camper's plane, when aligned with the tragus, results in an occlusal plane that runs parallel to it, connecting the lower border of the wing of the nose to the lower part of the tragus. This outcome remains consistent regardless of the patient's arch shape, clinical judgment, esthetics, or the stability of the restoration. Photography is considered the most widely used method for reconstructing the occlusal plane.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The reviewed articles considered the most inferior point marked on the tragus, which would be the most appropriate for the occlusal plane in edentulous and dentate patients. Photography is the most widely used technique for determining the occlusal plane, as it is the most studied and used by clinicians.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>Clinicians can accurately determine the occlusal plane in oral rehabilitation by locating the tragus in its optimal orientation using Camper's plane, which serves as the most stable reference for establishing the occlusal plane.</p>","PeriodicalId":35792,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice","volume":"27 3","pages":"325-334"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148228537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}