Objective: To study the correlation between mandibular growth variables using linear measurements of ramus, body of the mandible and total mandibular length with skeletal maturity indicators such as hand wrist radiographs and cervical vertebral maturation. Materials and Methods: A total of 315 patient-records (lateral cephalograms and hand-wrist radiographs) in the age group of 10–13 years were involved. The cephalometric measurements, representative of the mandibular growth, Condylion-Gonion (Co-Go), Condylion-Gnathion (Co-Gn), Gonion-Gnathion (Go-Gn), and posterior-most point of the mandibular condyle-pogonion (Fg-Pg) were traced (McNamara method). The correlation of mandibular growth variables with hand wrist parameters and cervical vertebrae maturation were assessed separately in male and female. Pearson's correlation was used for analysis (Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17). Results: Only 80 subjects were included in final analysis. A highly significant correlation was found among hand wrist parameters, and mandibular growth variables (P < 0.001) in both genders. Among males, there was a highly significant correlation between cervical vertebral maturation and mandibular growth variables (P < 0.001), whereas Co-Go has a significant correlation with C2Conc, C3Conc, and C4Conc (P < 0.05). In females, Co-Gn, Co-Go, Go-Gn, and Fg-Pg were significantly correlated with C3Conc and C4Conc (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Both the cervical vertebral maturation and mandibular growth variables can be accessed on the lateral ephalogram itself for the evaluation of the skeletal maturity, as effective as a hand wrist radiograph in males and females.

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Fibro-osseous lesions (FOL) represent a varied group of entities in which the normal bone is replaced by cellular fibrous tissue containing mineralized foci that may vary in amount and appearance.These group of lesions predominantly affects the jaws and craniofacial bones. According to Waldron 1993, FOL includes three major groups namely fibrous dysplasia, cemento-osseous dysplasia, and ossifying fibroma. FOL show considerable overlapping in the clinical, radiographic and histological features, and so a thorough knowledge of these lesions is mandatory for interpretation and appropriate diagnosis. This article documents the clinical, radiographic and histological features of three cases of FOL and discusses the considerations related to diagnosis.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of chemomechanical caries removal (Papacárie), compared with the conventional method. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of 50 primary molars selected from 25 healthy children (mean age 7.6 ± 1.1). Each patient had at least two primary molars with approximately equal-size caries lesions. Both treatments were carried out in the same session. Before and after treatment, fluorescence values were obtained using DIAGNOdent Pen and time needed for caries removal was recorded. Each patient was asked whether he/she felt any pain, requested for local anesthesia, which treatment he/she preferred, and behavior of the patient during caries removal was assessed. Data were analyzed using McNemar, Wilcoxon signed rank, and Mann–Whitney U-test. Results: The clinical evaluation revealed that all the cavities were caries free after both techniques. Comparison of the difference in fluorescence values showed that readings were lower after conventional method (P < 0.05). The time taken for chemomechanical caries removal was approximately 2 times longer (t-test). There was no difference between two methods in terms of pain and patient behavior (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Chemomechanical caries removal and conventional method exhibited similar efficacy in caries removal.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure and compare the shear bond strength of a self-adhering flowable resin composite with different flowable composites to dentin. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 extracted teeth were divided randomly into four groups, and dentin surfaces were exposed. Following materials were applied to dentin surfaces; Group I: VF (self-adhering flowable composite), Group II: CSE Bond (two-step self-etch adhesive) + CMF (conventional flowable composite), Group III: AB SE (one-step self-etch adhesive) + AF (conventional flowable composite), Group IV: AEO (one-step self-etch adhesive) + FUF (conventional flowable composite). The specimens were subjected to shear loading using a universal testing machine. The type of failure was detected with an illuminated microscope. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey multiple comparison test were used to determine statistical significance differences between groups. Results: Mean shear bond strength values were ranked as follows; Group II > Group IV > Group III > Group I. Statistically significant differences were found among all groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Group I; the self-adhering flowable resin composite had the lowest shear bond strength values while Group II; showed the highest shear bond strength among the materials tested.

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Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a malignant glandular epithelial neoplasm of the salivary glands with an unpredictable behavior and a tendency to recur. The tumor is composed of mucous secreting cells, epidermoid cells, intermediate cells, columnar cells, and clear cells in varying proportions. Calcification in the salivary gland tumors is less common and minuscule in size; these can be seen in the benign tumor-like pleomorphic adenoma to malignant tumor-like MEC. Calcifications in MEC are considerably sparse and commonly associated with high-grade tumors. We present a case of MEC with lamellated calcifications present in the palate of a 43-year-old male patient.

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Objective: The present study is aimed to investigate the preference profiles of treatment methods used by private dental practitioners in Ankara for deep carious lesions of mature permanent teeth. Methods: Private dental practitioners (general/specialist), in five districts of Ankara, were provided with a questionnaire comprising demographic characteristics and their preferred treatment methods for two simulated clinical cases related to deep caries excavation technique for anterior (Case A) and posterior, permanent teeth (Case B) with restorative material choices. The questionnaire was delivered personally to the participants who accepted the invitation. Documentation was retrieved back at another appointment after 1–3 weeks intervals. Data were analyzed using frequency analysis and Chi-square tests. Results: A total of 371 dentists, aged 25–69 years, took part in the study representing a response rate of 51.38%. Valid responses were 328 (168 males and 160 females) due to incomplete questionnaires. In Case A, complete caries excavation was the preferred treatment method (62.5%) followed by stepwise excavation (28.4%). Dentists, who had an excessive workload, indicated a stepwise excavation treatment significantly less than the dentists who had less workload (P = 0.001). In Case B, the preferences were narrowly distributed between complete caries excavation (50.9%) and stepwise excavation (42.4%). Composite restoration (31.7%) was more selected than amalgam (27.1%) with complete excavation technique. Workload has no effect on the treatment options of the posterior tooth with deep dentin caries. Conclusion: Dentists mostly adopted traditional caries removal technique. There is no uniform treatment method of deep carious lesions among dentists in anterior and, especially in posterior regions in Ankara, Turkey.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in unstimulated whole saliva as a diagnostic specimen in clinical practice for detection of diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and Methods: An interventional study was carried out in 30 apparently healthy individuals aged 24–59 years. Serum and saliva samples were obtained in fasting, 1 h and 2 h after glucose intake (75 g). Glucose concentration was determined by enzymatic colorimetric glucose oxidase-prostatic acid phosphatase assay. Statistical analysis of the repeated ANOVA (followed Bonferroni post-hoc test) and Pearson correlation coefficient were used. Results: The mean serum glucose concentration was significantly higher 1 h after glucose intake (152.32 ± 31.06) than both fasting state (106.38 ± 41.08; P < 0.001) and 2 h after glucose intake (125.21 ± 51.71; P < 0.001). Saliva glucose was also significantly higher 1 h after glucose intake (5.46 ± 2.41) than both fasting state (2.84 ± 1.46; P < 0.001) and 2 h after glucose intake (4.01 ± 1.91; P < 0.001). There were significant positive correlation between saliva and serum glucose concentration in fasting state (r = 0.502; P = 0.044), 1 h (r = 0.756; P = 0.0001), and 2 h (r = 0.543; P = 0.023) after oral glucose intake. Conclusion: It seems that unstimulated saliva can be used as an alternative to serum for diagnosis of DM in OGTT.

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Objectives: To investigate and compare heat conduction of different flowable composites. Materials and Methods: In this study, four different flowable composites; GC Gradia Direct LoFlo (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), Filtek Ultimate (3M ESPE, St. Paul, USA), Grandio Flow (VOCO GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) and SDI Wave (SDI, Victoria, Australia) were used. Flowable composites were placed into standard molds and used according to manufacturer instructions. The samples were prepared for every brand of flowable composites. The Heat Conduction Unit's (P. A. Hilton Ltd., England) linear heat conduction module was used in determining the flowable composites heat conductivity. The data were statistically analyzed by Mann–Whitney U-test (SPSS 13.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Heat conduction values of flowable composites were found different each other. Results for GC Gradia Direct and Grandio Flow were significantly different from 3M ESPE and SDI (P < 0.05). However, result for 3M ESPE was and nonsignificant different from SDI (P > 0.005). Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, flowable composites transmit the heat. However, results for GC Gradia Direct and Grandio Flow were significantly different from 3M ESPE and SDI.

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