Psychological factors significantly influence denture satisfaction and profiles may provide useful in predicting potential difficult denture wearers.

Purpose:To evaluate the accuracy of fit of metal, lithium disilicate, and zirconia crowns, which were produced using different manufacturing techniques. Materials and Methods: Ten patients in need of a molar crown were recruited. Eight crowns were fabricated for each patient: 2 zirconia, 3 lithium disilicate (e.max), and 3 metal-ceramic crowns using conventional, conventional/digital, and digital techniques. Marginal, axial, and occlusal gaps were measured using a replica technique. Replicas were sectioned mesiodistally and buccolingually and were observed under a stereomicroscope. A total of 32 measurements for each crown replica at 3 different points (12 marginal, 12 axial, and 8 occlusal) were performed. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests. Results: Marginal means ranged from 116.39 ± 32.76 µm for the conventional metal-ceramic group to 147.56 ± 31.56 µm for the digital e.max group. The smallest axial gap was recorded for the digital zirconia group (76.19 ± 23.94 µm), while the largest axial gap was recorded for the conventional e.max (101.80 ± 19.81 µm) and conventional/digital metal-ceramic groups (101.80 ± 35.31 µm). The conventional e.max crowns had the smallest occlusal mean gap (185.59 ± 59.09 µm), while the digital e.max group had the largest occlusal mean gap (295.38 ± 67.80 µm). Type of crown had no significant effect on marginal (p = 0.07, f = 2.71), axial (p = 0.75, f = 0.29), or occlusal fit (p = 0.099, f = 2.4), while fabrication method had a significant effect on axial gap only (p = 0.169, f = 1.82, p = 0.003, f = 6.21, and p = 0.144, f = 2 for marginal, axial, and occlusal fit, respectively). Digital fabrication produced significantly smaller axial gaps than the conventional method (p = 0.02), and the conventional digital method (p = 0.005). Conclusions:The type of crown and method of manufacturing had no effect on the marginal and occlusal gap of single posterior crown, while the method of manufacturing had a significant effect on the axial gap. The digital method produced the smallest axial fit in comparison with the other methods, while the type of crown had no effect on the axial gap.

No abstract

Aim:To determine the prevalence of tori in Jordanian edentulous patients, the sex variation in their distribution, and their clinical characteristics.Methods: Three hundred and thirty eight patients were examined in the Prosthodontic Clinic in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at Jordan University of Science and Technology. The location, extent, and clinical presentation of tori were recorded related to the age and sex of patients. Results:The overall prevalence of tori was 13.9%. The prevalence of torus palatinus was 29.8% (14/47), while that of torus mandibularis was significantly higher 42.6%(20/47). Both types of tori were associated with each other in 27.7% of cases (13/47). Conclusions:There was no significant difference in the prevalence of tori between males and females. There seems to be a strong association between mandibular and palatal tori.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of hard and soft splints on the activity of the anterior temporalis and masseter muscles. Surface EMG recordings were made from these muscles during clenching at 10% of maximum, 50% of maximum and at maximum clench, both before and after insertion of a hard splint. This sequence was then repeated with a soft splint. The relative level of activity in the anterior temporalis and masseter muscles at all three activity levels was quantified by means of an Activity Index, which provides a measure of the balance of activity in the masseter relative to the activity in the anterior temporalis muscle. It was found that hard splints led to a decrease in EMG activity in relation to activity with no splint in both muscles at maximum clench and particularly the anterior temporalis. Soft splints produced a slight increase in activity of both muscles, but particularly the masseter muscle. The Activity Index indicated a shift in the balance of activity away from the anterior temporalis muscles with both splints, particularly at 10% of the maximum clenching level. It is possible that the decrease in activity of the temporalis muscles relative to the masseter muscles may be a factor in the therapeutic effect of both a hard and a soft splint, although the decrease is clearly greater with the hard splint.