Impaction of third molars can predispose patients to conditions such as dental caries, pericoronitis, resorption of adjacent teeth, periodontal problems, and other associated pathologies. These conditions may ultimately lead to the extraction of these teeth. Prophylactic removal of impacted third molars has been advocated because of the increased risk with age of mandibular fractures as well as cysts and tumor development around the impacted teeth. Age may be used as an indicator for surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars, as the risk of surgical morbidity increases with increasing age. Therefore, early preventive removal between the ages of 15 and 21 years has been recommended, if normal eruption cannot be predicted. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the surgical morbidity associated with third-molar surgery in young (less than 40 years) and aging (40 years and above) populations at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Recurrent aphthous ulceration is the most commonly known oral mucosal disease. Quercetin is a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of colitis and gastric ulcer. The healing properties of quercetin were found to be associated with enhanced myofibroblast and epithelial cell growth, both of which are involved in granulation tissue formation. The formation of granulation tissue is a key process in healing aphthous ulcers. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of topical application of quercetin in the treatment of minor aphthous ulcers.

Flowable composite resin was developed in the 1990s to provide an easy handling material with reduced viscosity produced by using smaller filler sizes and less volume of filler than conventional hybrid resin-based composites. Flowable resin can be easily spread over a surface, has a good penetration power, can be light activated, and is commercially available at affordable prices. However, it remains to be seen if flowable composite resin is as reliable a substitute for conventional bonding of orthodontic brackets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bonding characteristics of three flowable composites for orthodontic bracket bonding using a tensile bond strength (TBS) test and an adhesive remnant index (ARI) assessment. These results were then compared with three orthodontic adhesive systems. The hypothesis tested was that the flowable composites are equally as effective as orthodontic adhesive materials for bonding orthodontic brackets.

Oral hygiene is greatly complicated following the placement of fixed orthodontic appliances. Consequently, patients with fixed orthodontic appliances are at an increased risk to develop dental caries and gingivitis, which may lead to loss of gingival attachment. This study was designed to evaluate the oral hygiene level in patients under treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances.

The prevalence of congenitally missing third molars has been assessed in different population groups by many authors. To date, no information about third-molar agenesis is documented in the East Anatolian population of Turkey. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of third-molar agenesis and its pattern of distribution in the East Anatolian population, as compared to other populations studied.

The most common orthodontic problem is poor alignment due to crowding of the teeth. If the extractions are performed early, there is a good chance malalignment of the teeth can be prevented. Serial extraction is an interceptive procedure performed in the treatment of a severely mixed dentition with some crowding, by the orderly removal of selected deciduous and permanent teeth in a predetermined sequence. The main goal of serial extraction is to increase the probability of creating a stable treatment outcome. But the treated positions may be more difficult to stabilize even with long-term retention. Therefore, it is much better to have the teeth erupt into relatively correct positions on their own, which serial extraction can allow, and thereby reduce fixed appliance treatment time in the future. The aim of this article was to present a young patient with severe crowding managed with the serial extractions procedure that produced good results.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI) or hereditary opalescent dentin follows a pattern of non-sex-linked dominant inheritance. This case report describes the impact of this condition involving three generations.

Defects in the maxillary anterior teeth, such as enamel hypoplasia and peg lateral, can present esthetic challenges. Furthermore, a treatment plan that can be completed in a single appointment is highly desirable. This case report presents two different clinical cases involving the use of direct laminate resin-based composite veneers with five-year follow-ups.

Semicritical devices are recommended to be treated at least with high-level disinfectants or actually steam sterilized at 134°C. To date dental impressions have been disinfected rather than sterilized, so the question remains should they be sterilized before being sent to the dental laboratory? The aim of this case report was to demonstrate the clinical feasibility of autoclaving certain silicone impression materials in order to avoid potential cross-contamination during handling, transport, and subsequent processing.

A 70-year-old African American female presented with pain in the left posterior mandible. Asymptomatic, incidental radiopacities were seen in the patient’s maxilla and mandible on a panoramic radiograph. See if you can make the diagnosis.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common behavior disorder in school-aged children. As healthcare providers, we will encounter these children in our practice and must be equipped to handle their unique needs. This course examines the major topics related to ADHD including etiology, subtypes, prognosis, implications for the dental team and other topics related to ADHD.