Saudi Dental Journal最新文献

{"title":"Role of cone-beam computed tomography in predicting root canal treatment success: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Saeed Alqahtani","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00133-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00133-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Root canal treatment (RCT) is an essential dental procedure aimed at preserving natural teeth by eliminating infected pulp and preventing reinfection. Predicting RCT success remains a clinical challenge due to anatomical complexities and diagnostic limitations of traditional 2D imaging. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) offers three-dimensional visualization, potentially enhancing diagnostic accuracy and prognostic evaluation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the role of CBCT in predicting the success of RCT by identifying anatomical and pathological factors that influence treatment outcomes. This review is the first to separately synthesize diagnostic accuracy and prognostic evidence for CBCT in predicting non-surgical RCT outcomes using subgroup analyses of voxel size and follow-up duration. Following PRISMA guidelines, electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for relevant studies published between 2013 and 2024. Studies were categorized as (1) diagnostic accuracy studies or (2) prognostic studies assessing whether CBCT-identified variables predicted RCT success/failure. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using appropriate critical appraisal tools. Meta-analysis was conducted to determine pooled effect sizes for periapical lesion detection, root fracture identification, and canal configuration assessment. Twelve studies (6 diagnostic accuracy; 6 prognostic outcome) involving various designs and sample sizes were included. Meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies showed pooled sensitivity/specificity of 0.88/0.84 for periapical lesions (I² = 47%), 0.81/0.86 for vertical root fractures (I² = 52%), and 0.91/0.88 for canal morphology (I² = 28%). Prognostic meta-analysis demonstrated significant associations between CBCT-detected pathology and risk of post-treatment failure: periapical lesions (OR = 2.63; 95% CI 1.78-3.58; p < 0.001; I² = 39%), root fractures (OR = 3.48; 95% CI 2.05-5.12; p < 0.001; I² = 44%), and complex canal anatomy (OR = 1.94; 95% CI 1.20-2.82; p = 0.004; I² = 28%). Subgroup analyses showed stronger prediction with voxel size < 0.2 mm and follow-ups ≥ 12 months. While CBCT demonstrates improved diagnostic capability and offers valuable prognostic insight in complex cases, its findings cannot establish causation and do not guarantee treatment success. CBCT should therefore be used selectively, considering its cost, radiation exposure, and the need for operator expertise.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13076693/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147676751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative evaluation of compressive strength of CAD-CAM polyetheretherketone and indirect composite Class II inlays: an in vitro study.","authors":"Nidhi Sharma, Siddhant Mahajan, Ish Kumar Sharma, Neha Verma, Diksha Yadav, Nikita Poonia","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00150-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00150-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer that is currently being utilized in the dental field due to its desirable mechanical characteristics, biocompatibility, and ease of integration into digital CAD-CAM processes. Despite the esthetic and esthetic benefits of composite resins in Class II inlays, mechanical performance in high-stress posterior restorations continues to be a clinical issue with the material. Although other research has been conducted to utilize PEEK in different dental treatment procedures, there are no direct comparative studies dealing specifically with the compressive strength of Class II dental restorations using CAD-CAM developed PEEK inlays as compared to indirect composite inlays. This study aimed to compare the compressive strength of PEEK and composite resin when used as Class II inlays and evaluate PEEK's suitability as an alternative restorative material. Thirty-four human premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons and randomly allocated to two groups (n = 17). Group A was provided with CAD-CAM-produced PEEK inlays, and Group B was restored with inlays made of an indirect composite. Fracture load testing of all specimens was done through a universal testing machine. An independent t -test was used to statistically analyze the compressive strength values. The PEEK group showed a mean compressive strength value of 381.88 N compared to 266.67 N in the composite group, and the p-value was below 0.001, which was a statistically significant difference. PEEK inlays proved to have better compressive strength than composite resin inlays, which implies that PEEK is a prospective Class II restorative material in stress-bearing posterior areas. Its clinical performance over the long term and in more applications should be the subject of future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13076760/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147676685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical and biomechanical determinants of immediate, early, progressive, and delayed implant loading: A comprehensive narrative review.","authors":"Akansha Kishen, Varsha Murthy, Lakshmi Devi, Balaji Jayachandran, Sadish, Suganya S","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00122-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00122-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The protocols for implant loading have changed considerably over the years. Branemark's old way of delaying loading has become trendier at present. Today, we have immediate and early protocols being widely used. These latest methods try to shorten treatment time while ensuring that osseointegration remains stable. As the surface technology of implants has become advanced and as digital planning and biomechanical understanding have improved so much, the older concepts of safe functional loading can be redefined. There is still clinical uncertainty about the long-term predictability of early load initiation for implants of varying quality and design. This review critically reviews recent (2019-2025) evidence into the biologic and biomechanical principles, clinical and decision-making principles for immediate, early, progressive and delayed loading of implants. The goal is to create an effective, evidence-based framework that practitioners can use for loading selection according to patient-specific factors, bone density and primary stability. To achieve the aim, a structured narrative review was conducted, which involved the databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Wiley Online Library. The literature was searched using Boolean search strings that combined appropriate MeSH terms pertaining to 'dental implants', 'osseointegration', 'loading protocol' and 'primary stability'. Seventy-two studies (24 RCTs, 28 cohort studies and 20 systematic reviews/Meta-analysis) that met the inclusion criteria were qualitatively analyzed. When insertion torque was ≥ 35 N.cm, implant survival rates were between 95 and 100% in immediate and early loading protocols, comparable to that of delayed protocols. Similarly, for ISQ ≥ 70 and bone quality Type I-II. The difference in mean marginal bone loss between early and late loading was less than 0.2 mm at 12 months, which is clinically insignificant. Excess occlusal load, low bone density (type IV) and absence of prosthetic splinting were associated with failures. The implant bone interface in low-density bone improved as upgrades were made with progressive loaders. Implants in the lower jaw were more predictable than in the upper jaw. Immediate loading and early loading are both reliable if the biomechanical and biologic prerequisites are satisfied. This is a significant change from time-based loading to mechanically and biologically guided loading. Ways of working in the future will be AI-assisted torque analysis, digital bone-density mapping and biomimetic implant surfaces that enhance osseointegration under controlled functional load. Clinical Significance: Clinicians should determine the time of implant loading according to objective parameters rather than according to fixed timelines. Properly done immediate or early loading can shorten treatment time, improve patient satisfaction and provide long-term predictability comparable to those achieved with delayed approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13069059/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147655209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing preventive care under vision 2030: a retrospective study on integrating oral health into the health coach program in Jeddah's second health cluster.","authors":"Noha M Alhazmi, Nooralhuda A Felemban, Lobna A Alsulaimani, Nada S Alghamdi, Sarah I Al-Hawsah, Khulood A Hawsawi","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00165-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00165-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral health is a key component of overall well-being, yet it is often underrepresented in public health training programs. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of introducing dental health education sessions into the annual Health Coach Program at Jeddah Second Health Cluster. A cohort of 55 health coaches participated in an educational intervention that incorporated essential dental health topics into their training curriculum. Participants' knowledge and understanding of oral health concepts were measured using a structured, validated questionnaire administered before and after the intervention to assess changes attributable to the program. The results show that the educational intervention awareness for the participants of fluoride benefits increased from 40 to 80% (p < 0.001), and knowledge of pediatric oral health improved from 55 to 85% (p = 0.002). Self-reported tooth brushing twice daily rose from 70 to 95% (p = 0.001*). Participants with bachelor's degrees demonstrated greater knowledge gains (OR = 2.10, p = 0.016), while the intervention itself was the strongest predictor of improvement (OR = 4.25, p < 0.001). The study concluded that integrating oral health into the Health Coach Program may strengthen community prevention efforts and advance the national agenda for holistic, preventive healthcare.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13065969/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of bisoctrizole addition on color stability after artificial aging and surface hardness of scleral acrylic resin: an in-vitro study.","authors":"Ahmed W Mohammed, Bayan S Khalaf","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00166-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00166-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The color degradation of ocular prostheses is significantly affected by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light over time. As a result, the prosthesis requires frequent replacement, ultimately increases the financial burden of rehabilitation on the patient. This study aimed to determine the optimal bisoctrizole percentage for ocular acrylic by assessing its effects on color stability after 300 h of artificial aging and on surface hardness. A total of 120 specimens were prepared from white heat-cure scleral acrylic and subdivided into two groups according to the conducted tests; color stability and surface hardness. Each of these groups were further subdivided into 6 groups with 10 specimens for each based on the weight percentages of bisoctrizole added; 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5%. The color parameters were measured before and after artificial weathering using a portable digital colorimeter according to the CIE L*a*b* system. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to confirm normality of data. One-way ANOVA was used among the study groups followed by Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) as a post hoc test (α = 0.05). All groups exhibited significant (p < 0.001) color change (ΔE > 0) after aging, with the control (0%) showing the highest ΔE. A progressive decrease in ΔE was observed with increasing bisoctrizole. Surface hardness was clinically comparable, though compared to the control, a statistically significant difference was found in Groups 1.5% and 2% (p < 0.001). Bisoctrizole had effectively preserved the color of scleral acrylic over time under UV light. Additionally, it had minimally affected the surface hardness of the material.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062149/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147640088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacterial cellulose-enhanced MTA versus conventional MTA for indirect pulp capping in primary teeth: a randomized controlled clinical trial.","authors":"V Lalitha Priya, Kavitha Ramar","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00155-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00155-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic success rates of bacterial cellulose-reinforced MTA (BC-MTA) and conventional MTA in indirect pulp capping (IPT) treatment of primary teeth. A total of 40 primary molars diagnosed for IPT were randomly allocated into two groups: Group I (BC-MTA, n = 20) and Group II (Conventional MTA, n = 20). IPT procedures were carried out under aseptic conditions following local anesthesia, and teeth were restored with glass ionomer cement (GIC). Follow-up evaluations were performed clinically and radiographically at 3 and 9 months postoperatively. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20, applying descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and independent t-tests (p < 0.05). At the end of 9 months, 75% of cases reported complete pain relief. Internal root resorption was observed in two teeth in Group I. Overall success rates at 9 months were 88.23% for BC-MTA and 100% for conventional MTA. Both BC-MTA and MTA showed favorable and comparable outcomes in IPT of primary teeth. While BC-MTA demonstrates potential due to its biocompatibility and improved handling characteristics, further studies are needed to validate its long-term clinical efficacy.Trial Registration: Ethical clearance was granted by SRM University IEC (SRMIEC-ST0323-442) and registered retrospectively in CTRI (CTRI/2024/12/077670).</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13053730/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147624080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of restoration protocols on the fracture resistance of root canal treated anterior teeth: an in vitro study.","authors":"Samar Yasir Ahmed Mohamed, Mohamed Adel Eldemellawy, Fatma Adel Mohamed Ahmed","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00149-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00149-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors restored with various post-and-core configurations and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) resin composite crowns. Additionally, it assessed whether restoration design influences mechanical performance. Twenty-one maxillary central incisors underwent endodontic treatment and were allocated into three groups (n = 7). The FRCP group received a fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) post with a composite core; the NRCC group received a nanoparticle zirconia-reinforced composite core alone; and the FRCC group received an FRC core alone. Following fabrication of CAD/CAM resin-composite crowns, the specimens underwent 10,000 thermal cycles. Specimens were loaded to failure in a universal testing machine, and fracture patterns were examined under a stereomicroscope. Restoration type significantly influenced fracture resistance (p = 0.014). Mean fracture loads were 612.36 ± 87.80 Newtons (N) for FRCP, 516.98 ± 80.34 N for NRCC, and 465.65 ± 84.95 N for FRCC. The fiber post-composite core configuration exhibited higher fracture resistance compared to composite core materials alone. However, all groups withstand loads exceeding typical anterior biting forces, suggesting that reinforced composite cores may serve as viable alternatives for restoring endodontically treated maxillary central incisors.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13046902/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147595500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Retention of lithium disilicate and translucent zirconia veneers bonded with light-cured resin cements: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Osama Hajeer, Rami Alyousef, JadAlKarim AlKadour, Amal Hasan","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00156-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00156-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Light-cured resin cements are widely used for veneer cementation due to their color stability and extended working time. However, polymerization through ceramic materials may be influenced by ceramic composition, thickness, and bonding substrate, potentially affecting bond strength. A quantitative comparison between lithium disilicate and translucent zirconia veneers under light-cured protocols remains limited.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare the bond strength of lithium disilicate and translucent zirconia veneers luted with light-cured resin cements and to evaluate the influence of substrate type and veneer thickness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Six in vitro studies (64 specimens) met inclusion criteria. Random-effects models using restricted maximum likelihood estimation with Hartung-Knapp adjustment were applied. Subgroup analyses were performed according to ceramic material and substrate. An exploratory meta-regression assessed the association between veneer thickness and bond strength.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The pooled mean bond strength across all studies was 15.9 MPa. Lithium disilicate veneers demonstrated higher pooled bond strength (25.4 MPa) than translucent zirconia (12.1 MPa). Enamel substrates showed higher bond strength (21.1 MPa) compared with composite cores (11.3 MPa). Considerable heterogeneity was observed (I² = 98.2%). Meta-regression suggested an inverse trend between veneer thickness and bond strength; however, this finding was based on a limited dataset and should be interpreted cautiously.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Within the limitations of in vitro evidence, lithium disilicate and enamel bonding were associated with higher bond strength under light-cured cementation. Due to substantial heterogeneity and limited study numbers, these findings should be considered exploratory and not directly extrapolated to clinical performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13035973/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147582643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"UV-spectrometric study of antibiotic long-term release by different osteoplastic materials used in dentistry.","authors":"Iurii Mochalov, Bohdan Mykhailychenko, Vasyl Biganych, Liudmyla Karpchuk, Alla Kizim","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00152-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00152-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nowadays, the development and improvement of osteoplastic materials containing antibiotics as long-term controlled-release systems represent a promising direction in bioactive dental practice. To evaluate the relative capacity of different osteoplastic materials used in oral surgery and clinical dental practice to accumulate and subsequently release antibiotics after exposure to antibiotic solutions, using spectrometric analysis. 3 osteoplastic materials \"Biomin GT\" (\"Rapid\", Ukraine), \"easy-graft CLASSIC 150\" (\"Regenity Biosciences\", USA), and \"InterOss\" (1-2 mm) (\"SigmaGraft\", USA) were immersed in 4 antibiotic aqueous solutions (5.0% ofloxacin, 5.0% metronidazole, 4.0% gentamicin sulfate, and 5.0% chloramphenicol) during 24 h and dried later. UV-spectrometric studies were performed to quantify the release of antibiotics into sterile saline on the 2nd, 5th, 10th, and 30th day. Evaluated osteoplastic materials released different volumes of the antibiotics. Samples of osteoplastic materials (after prior immersion in antibiotic solutions) can serve as systems for long-term release of antibacterial substances (up to 30 days). However, the levels of accumulation and release differ across materials and active substances. The highest levels of antibiotic release (and accumulation, respectively) were observed for \"Easy GRAFT\" - 6.07 ± 5.84 (M = 3.49) mg per 1 g of osteoplastic material. Among the antibiotics, the highest rate was for gentamicin sulfate - 10.67 ± 3.57 (M = 8.67) mg per 1 g, whereas chloramphenicol showed 3.11 ± 0.48 (M = 3.01) mg per 1 g of material. The interaction between osteoplastic material and various antibiotics requires further clarification and verification at both the experimental and clinical levels. Release curves for the studied antibiotics from various osteoplastic materials were obtained over a one-month period. The ability of dental osteoplastic materials to accumulate antibiotics within their mass has been demonstrated.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13033006/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147575839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between frankfurt horizontal-referenced vertical position of the maxillary first molar and mandibular asymmetry: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Bekir Osmanov, Pavlo Burlakov, Andrii Kopchak","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00163-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00163-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Facial symmetry is a key determinant of aesthetic balance and functional harmony. Unilateral vertical discrepancies in the maxillary dentition, particularly side-to-side discrepancy in the FH-referenced vertical position of the maxillary first molar (U6), has been hypothesized to be associated with functional mandibular deviation and skeletal asymmetry. However, the relationship between localized dentoalveolar vertical discrepancy and mandibular morphology remains poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eighty-seven patients aged 16-35 years with mandibular asymmetry ≥ 2 mm on MSCT, operationally defined as a side-to-side difference in total mandibular length (ΔCo-Go-Gn) ≥ 2 mm, were included. Three-dimensional cephalometric analysis was performed using ProPlan CMF (Materialise, Belgium). Four variants of the Frankfort horizontal (FH) plane (FH1-FH4) were constructed to evaluate the influence of reference-plane definition on the measurements. Mandibular asymmetry was quantified by differences in ramus length (Co-Go), body length (Go-Gn), and total side length (Co-Go-Gn). The primary independent variable was the vertical discrepancy between FH and U6 (ΔFH-U6). In addition, a control group of patients (n = 63) with mandibular asymmetry (ΔCo-Go-Gn) < 2 mm was included for between-group comparison of ΔFH-U6.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Weak positive correlations were observed between ΔFH-U6 and mandibular asymmetry indices, particularly ΔCo-Go and ΔCo-Go-Gn (Spearman's ρ = 0.21-0.28). ΔFH-U6 differed across FH-plane definitions (Friedman test, p = 0.012), but correlation estimates were comparable across FH constructions. However, the observed correlations were small, and none of the primary correlations remained statistically significant after Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment. Patients with mandibular asymmetry ≥ 2 mm showed a slightly greater ΔFH-U6 than controls with asymmetry < 2 mm (median [IQR]: 0.9 [0.45-1.75] mm vs 0.8 [0.2-1.3] mm; Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.049).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>FH-referenced vertical discrepancy of the maxillary first molar may show a small exploratory association with mandibular asymmetry and was slightly greater in patients with clinically relevant mandibular asymmetry than in controls.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13033002/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147575825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}