Purpose:The present study aimed to analyze in a Spanish population sample the compliance of the anterior maxillary teeth to the dental esthetic proportions described in the literature. Methods: Photographs of the smiles of 78 individuals were calibrated and digitally analyzed considering the following proportions: golden proportion (GP), recurring esthetic dental (RED), golden percentage (GPG), Preston's proportion and Modified golden percentage (MGPG). For statistical analysis, the t-test of an independent sample was applied, and compliance percentages for each standard were recorded. Results: The existence of RED 70% or 80% has not been registered. The percentages of compliance with GP were within a range between 0% and 16%. The mean tooth width ratios were adjusted to the values described by Preston (P > 0.05), but the compliance percentages were low (3.33-25%). GPG only presented high percentages of compliance in the lateral incisors (53.33-62.5%). MGPG showed the highest percentages of compliance (50-68%). Conclusion: After analyzing a Spanish population sample using smile photographs for the first time, GP, RED, GPG and Preston's proportion standards are not fulfilled and therefore, not suitable for treatments that seek a smile that reproduces natural principles. However, the values designated by MGPG with a deviation of ±1% are largely applicable for treatments that aim for a natural smile.

The use of fiberglass in dentistry has increased due to the improvements in the development of adhesive techniques reducing the cost of treatment and avoiding abutment tooth craving. The present study aims to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the new technique to fabricate a direct fiber-reinforced composite bridge (FRCB) over a long period of time. Twenty-one FRCB were performed with the new direct technique on 21 patients with a mean age of 58.85 years and female predominance in the Faculty of Dentistry of Oviedo (Spain). The framework design releases the embrasures allowing adequate interproximal brushing, avoidance of periodontal disease and interproximal caries. A baseline examination was performed and the patients were examined regularly at six-month intervals (nine years’ follow-up). The restorations were also evaluated by an examiner using parameters to check their stability, longevity and the lack of periodontal disease. The most frequent location was the maxillary premolar region and the purpose of the restorations was to give a definitive bridge in 100% of the patients. Only one total debonding of the prostheses was detected during the observation period at 24 months and three partial adhesive–cohesive veneering composite fractures at the pontic after 60, 72 and 84 months, respectively. Kaplan–Meier was performed to detect the overall survival rate of the restorations at the end of the follow-up. Nine-year survival rates for the FRCB was 95.2%. All the cases had a clinically acceptable periodontal condition and an interproximal absence of caries in the abutment teeth. Currently, this type of restoration allows a minimally invasive aesthetic and is an affordable procedure, being a good alternative to other types of treatments.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in dentistry seek to promote the improvement on oral health in the most disadvantaged regions. The objective of this study is to identify the level of knowledge, expectations, and motivations that dental school students have about volunteering in dentistry, as well as to evaluate possible differences in these variables depending on their level of dental training. During the month of September 2022, a voluntary and anonymous online survey was carried out among all the students at the Dentistry School of Oviedo University. There were 5 questions to judge knowledge about global oral health course. 12 additional questions were included to assess the willingness to volunteer in international setting, the volunteer profile, as well as the most effective means to improve oral health in host communities. None of the students from our center had participated as a volunteer in dental NGOs, but up to 64.4% of them had considered their collaboration. The level of knowledge about global oral health obtained was low, with the percentage of correct answers ranging between 14.4% (in the question about the ideal patient/dentist ratio) and 57.8% (in the question about the fluoride concentration in drinking water). Majority of dental students (98.9%) were not aware that basic package of oral care was created by WHO. Significantly, the students of the clinical courses showed a greater motivation to volunteer.

This review was carried out to analyse the functions of three Vector Graphic Editor applications (VGEs) applicable to clinical or research practice, and through this we propose a two-dimensional image analysis protocol in a VGE. We adapted the review method from the PRISMA-ScR protocol. Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched until June 2020 with the following keywords: Vector Graphics Editor, Vector Graphics Editor Dentistry, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator Dentistry, Coreldraw, Coreldraw Dentistry, Inkscape, Inkscape Dentistry. The publications found described the functions of the following VGEs: Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and Inkscape. The possibility of replicating the procedures to perform the VGE functions was analysed using each study’s data. The search yielded 1032 publications. After the selection, 21 articles met the eligibility criteria. They described eight VGE functions: line tracing, landmarks tracing, linear measurement recording, angular measurement recording, image calibration, image overlay, file transfer, and vector graphics development. The features offered by the VGEs bring great precision and objectivity to two-dimensional image analysis. The image analysis and editing procedures are currently not protocolised. Thus, a protocol for image calibration and measurement recording is proposed in order to guarantee the protocol’s replication.

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