INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the digital and conventional impression techniques regarding comfort, time perception, and preference.
METHODS: The study was comprised of 60 children aged 7-12years who applied to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of Ege University Faculty of Dentistry for routine dental examinations. Ethical approval was obtained before the study. Digital impressions were conducted using an intraoral scanner, and conventional impressions were taken using alginate and dental trays from 60 patients by the same operator. In each impression-taking-process, comfort was assessed by both the children and the clinicians, and the chairside durations were recorded. Parental satisfaction was assessed through a questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted by SPSS 25.0 (Chicago, Illinois, USA) using the t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, with significance set at p<0.05.
RESULTS: The mean total time for the digital impression was 3,28±1,23minutes while it was 4,61±1,13minutes for the conventional impression. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the duration of the two different impression techniques, the digital impression was found better for both the children, clinicians, and parents.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The digital impression technique compared with the conventional technique was found to be more comfortable by the children and preferable both by the children, clinicians, and the parents.

INTRODUCTION: The interaction between periodontal diseases and respiratory disorders has been reported in numerous studies.This study aims to assess the knowledge of people with chronic respiratory disorders, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, about the connection between respiratory diseases and periodontal diseases.
METHODS: In this study,42 volunteer patients who were above the age of eighteen and had been diagnosed with any respiratory ailment were given a face-to-face survey consisting of 29 questions by the Department of Chest Diseases at the Ege University Faculty of Medicine and were assessed using the relevant statistical data.
RESULTS: The responses to the survey indicated no significant differences in demographic data between patients with and without COPD (p>0.05). However,it was observed that awareness of gum disease was similarly low in both groups.When comparing the knowledge of tobacco use between smokers with and without COPD,it was determined that those without COPD were significantly more likely to want to quit using tobacco due to health threats (0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of our investigation revealed that periodontal diseases and respiratory disorders may adversely affect each other in individuals with existing respiratory diseases. The importance of dental care and reducing or quitting smoking, which are typical characteristics in this dual connection is clear.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess time-dependent changes in anxiety levels of third-year students.

METHODS: This study was conducted at a single center. Third-year students who completed preclinical training and began clinics for the first time in fall semester of the 2023-2024 academic year participated in the study. The State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI I and II) was used to assess anxiety levels. A self-assessment questionnaire including questions about students’ age, gender, perceived adequacy of preclinical education, and specific clinical training areas they found challenging was distributed to the students. Data were obtained at the beginning (T0) and end (T1) of clinical training. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
RESULTS: A total of 141 students participated in this study (60 males, 81 females; mean age 23.67). STAI I and II scores at T0 were significantly higher than at T1 (pSTAI-I < 0.001, pSTAI-II < 0.001). However, at both T0 and T1, there was no statistically significant difference between the practice clinic and STAI I/II scores (p > 0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that students’ anxiety levels decreased after clinical education. These results may offer insights for reducing student anxiety and improving the educational experience in dental programs.

INTRODUCTION: The main objective of this study was to assess orthodontic patients’ use of and preferences for social media.
METHODS: A questionnaire was administered and randomly distributed by hand to 150 adults and adolescent orthodontic patients to determine demographic background and perception of social media. The orthodontics patients were 14 years of age and over, and patient and parental (where appropriate) consent were obtained.
RESULTS: Of the participants, 63.5% of adults and 57.8% of adolescents use social media to search for orthodontic treatment. In the adult patient group, the question "How often do you research orthodontic treatment through social media?" was most frequently answered with " Once every 3-6 months " at a rate of 30.2%, adolescents selected "Once a month" and "Once every 3-6 months" the most (21.9%). The main reason of these researches were treatment time and a newly developed appliance/ mechanics (34.9%) for both groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Most of the patients used social media about orthodontic treatment but generally doubted its reliability. Instagram and YouTube were the preferred platforms, with interest mainly in new appliances and treatment duration.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of traditional and step-by-step education protocols on the quality of Class IV direct composite resin restorations performed by preclinical students.
METHODS: A hundred and twenty dental students enrolled in their third year (56 females, 64 males) were included in the study and allocated to the traditional (control) or step-by-step education (experimental) group using stratified randomization (28 females, 32 males, n=60). Following the relevant education protocol, all students performed class IV composite restorations using the silicon index technique on the pre-fractured artificial upper incisor. The quality of the restorations was evaluated double-blindly and scored according to the restoration parameters. The data were statistically analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test at a significance level of α<0.05.
RESULTS: The step-by-step education group performed better than the traditional group (p<0.05) regarding the palatal and labial morphology, marginal adaptation, and finishing/polishing parameters. The quality of the restorations in both groups was similar regarding the void formation and color transition parameters (p>0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Students in the step-by-step education group created more successful restorations than their peers in the traditional group. The step-by-step education method may be a promising one for increasing student success in skills training.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to integrate an orthodontic resource set into a general-purpose language model and evaluate the chatbot's responses to orthodontic treatment questions at various temperature settings.
METHODS: An orthodontic chatbot was customized using the OpenAI on Microsoft Azure. PDF resources on orthodontic treatments were incorporated. Forty questions were posed to the chatbot at temperature settings of 0, 0.5, and 1.0. Responses were evaluated based on "level of detail," "fluency," and "user-focused understandability" using a three-point scale. Readability was assessed with the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Gunning Fog Index. Statistical analyses were performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.
RESULTS: The highest scores for 'user-focused understandability,' 'fluency,' FKGL, and Gunning Fog indices were observed at a temperature setting of 1.0. The average Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level indicated a 10th-grade reading level. Significant differences among all three temperature settings were found for the 'level of detail' and 'user-focused understandability' criteria (p < 0.001 and p < 0.025, respectively). Post-hoc analyses revealed that, for the 'level of detail' criterion, the significant difference was between the temperature setting of 0 and the other two settings.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Temperature settings affect the content and linguistic features of responses. Lower temperatures enhance detail and comprehensiveness, whereas higher temperatures improve fluency and understandability.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of radiomics in distinguishing between odontogenic keratocyst, a developmental odontogenic cyst, and radicular cyst, an inflammatory odontogenic cyst.
METHODS: This retrospective case-control study included 10 patients with odontogenic keratocysts who were admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. The control group consisted of patients diagnosed with radicular cysts. Radiomic analysis was performed on the cone-beam computed tomography images of the lesions using a three-dimensional spherical segmentation centered on the lesion. From a total of 93 radiomic features, the most relevant features for lesion differentiation were selected using a Lasso regression model. Based on this analysis, four radiomic features were identified as most strongly associated with the differentiation of the two lesion types. Subsequently, a radiomic score for each patient was calculated as the linear combination of the coefficients of the selected features.
RESULTS: The calculated radiomic scores predicted radicular cysts with a sensitivity and specificity of 80%. The model correctly classified 80% of radicular cysts and 80% of odontogenic keratocysts. Additionally, radiomic scores were found to be higher in radicular cyst patients compared to odontogenic keratocyst patients (OR: 25.251; p = 0.018).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Radiomic features enabled the differentiation between radicular cysts and odontogenic keratocysts. However, the findings of this study should be interpreted as preliminary, considering the sample size and study limitations. Nonetheless, the proposed approach has the potential to assist in the differential diagnosis between odontogenic keratocysts and radicular cysts, and to provide clinically valuable insights as a non-invasive virtual biopsy method prior to surgery.

Microgravity, a condition that occurs in space with a significant decrease in gravity, leads to a variety of changes in the human body.Individuals involved in space missions are often reported to have reduced bone density and muscle tone due to the effect of microgravity. The effect of this condition on the stomatognathic system is characterized by an increase in stress in the temporomandibular joint (TME) region. It is crucial not to overlook symptoms such as pain, restricted mouth opening, and dysfunction. This review aims to highlight the effects of microgravity on the human body, with a specific focus on its impact on the stomatognathic system.

Bruxism is a parafunctional habit characterized by teeth grinding and/or clenching. Although the etiology is not known exactly, it is predicted to have a multifactorial nature. The potential etiological factors are stress, genetic factors, malnutrition, central nervous system dysfunctions, allergic/endocrine diseases, drug use, malocclusion and incorrect dental treatment practices. As a result of bruxism; fractures/abrasions of teeth, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, orofacial pain, loss of support/mobility in periodontal tissues can be seen. Dental treatment approaches include multidisciplinary approach, tooth realignment, restoration/renewal of restorations, occlusal appliances, splints, removal of temporomandibular joint irregularities and botox applications. However, there is no treatment method that permanently eliminates bruxism. This may be associated with the physiopathology of bruxism is not limited to the oral region and teeth, but also it is related to the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic symptoms include sweating in the palms, rapid breathing, balance/digestive disorders, tightness in the throat/chest, tinnitus, nausea, heart palpitation and difficulty swallowing.
Therefore, the addition of the methods regulating the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system to traditional methods may be useful for effective treatment of bruxism.
In this review, the fundamental knowledge is presented in line with current literature about the dental and neurological treatment approach for bruxism.

Oral ulcerative lesions have diverse aetiologises, including autoimmune diseases, infections, trauma and malignancies. This review explores the clinical features, diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies associated with these conditions. The most prevalent type is recurrent aphthous ulcer, which is categorised as minor, major, or herpetiform. Management primarily aims to alleviate pain and prevent recurrence. Autoimmune disorders such as erythema multiforme, oral lichen planus, pemphigus vulgaris and mucous membrane pemphigoid are often associated with chronic, recurrent oral lesions. Diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation and histopathological analysis, with treatment mainly relying on corticosteroids and immunomodulatory agents. Infectious causes, including viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens, also play a significant role in the development of oral ulcerations. Herpes simplex virus, Treponema pallidum and Candida species are among the most common pathogens. Trauma-induced lesions, whether physical, chemical or mechanical, are particularly prevalent among vulnerable populations. Oral squamous cell carcinoma poses a unique challenge due to its malignant nature and potential for metastasis. Accurate diagnosis usually necessitates a biopsy and advanced molecular techniques. Treatment should be etiology-specific, and complex cases often require a multimodal approach. This review emphasises the importance of early diagnosis, personalised therapeutic planning and regular follow-up to minimise morbidity and optimise patient outcomes.