The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of dentist–patient communication via social media on dental anxiety and to determine the appropriate timing of such communications. In this randomized, double‐blinded and controlled trial, we used Instagram’s quick replies system to answer patients' questions to alleviate dental anxiety for patients undergoing impacted teeth extraction under local anesthesia. Patients were assigned randomly into four groups according to the timing of such communications: only after (group 1, n = 36), only before (group 2, n = 35), before and after the operation (group 3, n = 36), and a control group who received no communication on social media (group 4, n = 36). Dental anxiety was evaluated one week before (pre‐op) and after the operation (post‐op) using recognized assessment scales –the Spielberger’s State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The results showed that the post‐op values of group 4 had higher anxiety scores than the groups 2 and 3 according to VAS (p < 0.05). Within the groups, the anxiety levels showed a decreasing trend after surgery according to MDAS and VAS scores (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that communication with patients before the operation is sufficient to reduce their dental anxiety.

The aim of this study was to compare the stresses on cylindrical and conical dental implants under heavy bruxing forces, in D1 and D4 bone densities, using three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). Eight different stress models were created according to implant design (cylindrical or conical), bone density (D1 or D4) and load (1000 N, vertical or oblique). The von Mises stresses for each model were compared using FEA. The obtained results showed that D1 bone density and vertical force were associated with the least stress on the implant. Bone density was more important than implant design in stress formation. The results from the two implant types were very similar. The von Mises stress values were greater in the neck region of the implant. We suggest that the implant region should be considered firstly for less stress on the implant.

A single session of combined arthrocentesis and prolotherapy to treat symptomatic TMJ safely and significantly improved the subluxation and pain after 1 week and subluxation after 3 months compared to baseline status. The maximum mouth opening significantly decreased at all follow-up time points. Future studies assessing multiple treatment sessions are warranted.

Objective:Foreign bodies can be deposited in the oral cavity either by traumatic or iatrogenic injury. The most common foreign bodies of iatrogenic origin encountered are restorative materials, like amalgam, and root canal fillings. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of foreign bodies detected with panoramic radiography in the jawbones, as well as to evaluate the etiology and characteristics of these pathologies.Materials and Methods:From March 2012 to January 2014, 11,144 panoramic radiographs were taken and retrospectively reviewed. The number, characteristics, location of the foreign bodies, age, and gender of the patients were recorded.Results:Of the 11,144 patients reviewed, 62 of them have a foreign body with a frequency of 0.6%. The patients who had a foreign body were between 14 and 81 years old. Female patients showed more foreign bodies than male patients. Among the 62 patients, 63 filling materials, one stapler, and five shrapnel were detected. Only 8 patients had symptoms associated with foreign bodies and these foreign bodies excised surgically.Conclusion:If possible, these pathologies must be removed at the time of detection to prevent further complications; however, in asymptomatic cases, according to location and the characteristic of the foreign body, they can be kept under observation without performing any operations.

Objective:The aim of this cross-sectional randomized study was to investigate the prevalence and angulation of third molar impaction in patients between 19-26 years old who were living in the Middle Black Sea region of Turkey. Methods: Total 1006 patients between 19 and 26 years of age who were referred to the Ordu University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery between 2010 and 2015 were included in the study. Of these 1,006 patients, 410 were male and 596 were female. The prevalence and positions of the impacted third molar teeth from the 4th quadrant on the panoramic radiographs were documented according to the classifications of Pell and Gregory as well as that of Winter. In the Pell and Gregory classification, the teeth in class C were evaluated as impacted teeth. Results: There was a total of 1,518 impacted molars. Of the included patients, 48.3% had impacted third molars. The most common angulation of impacted third molars was the vertical position in both mandible (28.4%) and maxilla (28.8%). The prevalence of impacted mandibular third molars (57.3%) was significantly higher than that of the impacted maxillary third molars (42.7%) (P<0.05). The prevalence and angulation of impacted third molars between genders was not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion:The pattern of third molar impaction in the Middle Black Sea region was characterized by a high prevalence of level C impaction with a vertical position that was greater in the mandibles and had no sex predilection.