The aims of this study were to determine the knowledge, educational background, opinion, and clinical experience of general practice dentists toward obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and oral appliances (OAs).

A cross-sectional study was carried out through a questionnaire which was distributed randomly to 200 general practice dentists both in public and private dental clinics at Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. About 175 completed questionnaires were returned. The data were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

The results showed that only 48.6% of our governmental and private dentists were familiar with the term OSA with a statistical significance among governmental dentists (37.9%) who were more familiar with OSA signs and symptoms than private (21.1%) dentists (p < 0.016). In addition, the majority of the respondents (90.9%) reported a general lack of education in both OSA and OAs during their study in the dental school. A total of 142 (81.1%) dentists never prescribed OAs for OSA patients. However, 87.4% have never consulted or referred a suspected OSA patient to physicians.

General practice dentists surveyed possess poor knowledge and low clinical experience regarding OSA and OAs, which reflects the weak level of education in this field of dental sleep medicine.

Banabilh SM, Al-afaleg R. Governmental and Private Dentists’ Knowledge, Educational Background, Opinion, and Clinical Experience toward Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Oral Appliances. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):139-143.

This study aimed at providing updated information on biopsied oral and maxillofacial lesions from children below 12 years, received between 2001 and 2016, from a tertiary health care center in North Kerala, India.

The archives of the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Government Dental College, Kozhikode, India, were retrospectively analyzed over a period of 16 years (2001—2016). Patients aged 12 years and below were considered as the pediatric population. Age, gender, site, and histopathologic diagnosis were recorded. Subjects were divided into three age groups: 0 to 6, 7 to 9, and 10 to 12 years. The oral and maxillofacial lesions were classified into eight different categories. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Of the total 8,306 biopsied cases, 334 cases were from the pediatric population. Cases showed almost equal predilection between males (48%) and females (52%); M:F = 1:1.08. Both mandible (26.94%) and maxilla (26.05%) showed almost equal site predilection followed by lower lip (19.76%), gingiva (14.67%), and tongue (5.39%). The most common condition diagnosed individually was periapical cyst (21.86%), followed by mucocele (17.37%) and dentigerous cyst (13.17%). Regarding the diagnostic categories, most lesions were in the cystic group (37.43%) followed by the inflammatory/reactive group (31.44%) and benign odontogenic tumors (10.48%).

This study showed similar trends as well as contradictory results when compared with other studies. This can be due to geographical and ethnic variations, difference in criteria, and difference in age groups selected.

Nair RG, Sudha S, Paikkadan I, Beegum F. A Sixteen-year Retrospective Study of Biopsied Pediatric Oral Lesions from North Kerala. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):144-149.

Ample radiopacity in order to distinguish from the surrounding tissues is a desirable property of dental graft materials. A total of 15 bone graft materials’ (BGMs) opacities were analyzed in this study.

Graft materials were placed in the implant cavity (5 × 10 mm) in cadaver's mandible respectively. Cavity was exposed by using periapical film and a dental X-ray machine at 70 kVp and 8 mA. The optical density of the radiographic images was measured with a transmission densitometer. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted for statistical analysis.

Among the materials tested, the most radiolucent bone grafts were Grafton and Allogenix with a statistical significance of p ≥ 0.05. 4Bone and Bego Oss exhibited the highest radiopacity with a statistical significance of p ≥ 0.05. Inadequate radiopacity of the dental graft materials may lead to confusion among clinicians in the radiographical follow-up. Among 15 BGMs tested, only three had higher density than bone tissue.

The radiopacity of the BGM was found to be higher than bone at only three of them.

Kursun-Çakmak ES, Akbulut N, Öztas DD. Comparative Evaluation of the Radiopacity of Bone Graft Materials used in Dentistry. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):150-155.

High early bond strength, extended working time for optimal bracket placement, and easy cleanup of excess adhesive are few advantages of visible light-cure orthodontic adhesives. However, the shorter duration of polymerization may lead to polymer shrinkage and eventually microleakage.

To observe and evaluate shear bond strength (SBS) and microleakage of orthodontic brackets bonded to enamel with four commercially available orthodontic adhesives, cured only from incisal direction at various polymerization times.

A total of 160 bovine incisors were randomly assigned to four groups according to adhesive used. Group I: bonded with Transbond XT (3M Unitek™, USA); group II: Enlight (Ormco, USA); group III: Light Bond (Reliance Ortho, USA); and group IV: Discover (Prime Dental, USA). Each group was further divided into four subgroups of A, B, C, and D according to the polymerization duration of 5, 10, 15, and 20 seconds respectively. The bonded teeth were immersed in dye solution. Brackets were then subjected to SBS test on a Universal testing machine. Surface microleakage was observed with the help of optical stereomicroscope.

The SBS was obtained within the range of clinically accepted values, with curing time for Enlight at 5 seconds, Transbond XT and Discover at 15 seconds, and Light Bond at 20 seconds. However, Enlight was demonstrated to provide optimum SBS at least curing time: Minimum duration of 5 seconds achieved adequate SBS ~11 MPa SBS for each of Transbond XT and Enlight. The surface microleakage observed is statistically insignificant among the groups.

From a clinical perspective, a composite resin that needs minimum curing time without compromising on the bond strength is most advantageous. The results for SBS tests showed a better performance for Enlight as compared with the other adhesives: it reached its bond strength of optimum value at curing time of 5 seconds.

Zanke PN, Patni V, Maskarenj M. Comparative Evaluation of varying Photo-polymerization Time on Shear Bond Strength and Microleakage of Four Orthodontic Adhesives: An in vitro Study. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):156-160.

Jadhav BS, Patni V, Pawar P. Use of a Disposable Self-adhesive Grid for Accurate Microimplant Placement. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):161-165.

Choontharu MM, Prasad R, Pandya KM, Pradeep S. Four Fourth Molars. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):166-168.

Sirsat CD, Patni V, Daga P, Joshi D. Nonextraction Treatment of Class I Malocclusion having Anterior Crowding and Multiple Canine Impactions. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):169-173.

Deshmukh MM, Deshpande G. Musculomucosal Flap: A Technique for Correction of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency by Palate Lengthening. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):174-177.

Bhandarwar AU, Patel S, Pathak J, Swain N, Gandevivala A. Postsurgical Epidermal Inclusion Cyst in the Cheek Region. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):178-180.

Punjabi VH, Patel S, Pathak J, Swain N. Fibrolipoma of Lip in a Young Individual: A Rare Presentation. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):181-184.

Mhatre VS, Pathak J, Patel S, Swain N, Gandevivala A. Diffuse Lipomatosis of Face. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):185-187.

Mehrotra V, Natarajan S, Deshpande G, Merchant R. Cleft Rhinoplasty: A Surgical Technique. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):188-193.