Objectives:To evaluate the epidemiological patterns of third molar impaction in a cohort of patients living in the north of Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods:A retrospective cohort study comprised of analysing 2550 Orthopantomograms (OPGs) belonging to patients who attended Aljouf University College of Dentistry between September 2013 and December 2015. OPGs were examined to determine the frequency of third molar impaction, their levels of eruption and angulations. Mixed effects logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios. Data were weighted by age and sex based on population regional estimates.Results:1551 patients (60.8%) with a mean age of 33.5 years-old (95%CI: 32.9 to 34) demonstrated 2650 impacted third molars. Third molars were more likely present in patients aged from 20 to 39 years-old (p<0.001); and in mandible more than maxilla (p<0.001). It showed highest vertical impaction and higher impaction rate in mandible than maxilla. Level A impaction was the most common among other levels by 1365 (53.5%). Vertical impaction was the most common pattern (1354 patients; 53.1%). Mesioangular impaction ranked second in mandible, while distoangular impaction ranked second in maxilla. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females concerning impaction frequency, depth levels and angulations.Conclusion:Impacted third molars is still a public health concern among youth and young adults. Vertically impacted mandibular third molars with their occlusal plane at the same level as the occlusal plane of adjacent tooth is the most prevalent pattern of third molar impaction in the northern region of Saudi Arabia.

Objective To noninvasively determine the relationship between the thickness of the buccal bone and attached gingiva of the maxillary premolars. Material and Methods 128 maxillary premolars in 32 patients were assessed for measurement of buccal bone thickness and corresponding attached gingival thickness at 3 mm apical to cemento‐enamel junction. Buccal bone thickness was measured on cone‐beam computed tomography scans and attached gingival thickness by ultrasound unit. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the correlation between buccal bone and attached gingival thickness at each tooth type. Results The mean buccal bone thickness at the maxillary premolars was 1.07 mm. The 1st premolars had a buccal bone thickness < 1 mm at 68% of all sites, and the 2nd premolars had a buccal bone thickness of 1.0‐2.0 mm at 32% of all sites. The 1st premolars had a gingival thickness > 1.2 mm at 55% of all sites, and the 2nd premolars had a gingival thickness of 1.1‐1.3 mm at 45% of all sites. The correlation between buccal bone and attached gingival thickness was moderately positive (r = 0.406; P < .001). Conclusions The relationship between buccal bone thickness and gingival thickness is independent of each other in the maxillary right first premolar, whereas a moderate correlation with a dependent relation exists in the maxillary right second premolar, maxillary left first premolar, and maxillary left second premolar. Clinical Significance Soft tissue and hard tissue associated with volumetric changes in maxillary premolar region can be unfavorable for both aesthetic and implant placement. In fact this study highlighted the relationship between the thickness of attached gingiva and corresponding buccal bone in maxillary premolar region so to enable for proper planning of implant therapy following extraction.

Aims and Objectives:The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of additional canals in the first permanent molars of the participants of Saudi, Jordanian, and Egyptian population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).Materials and Methods:In this retrospective study, CBCT scans of 139 patients were collected who were implant treated at College of Dentistry, Al Jouf University, Saudi Arabia, from October 2016 to March 2017. The images were analyzed using On-Demand 3D software. A pilot study was done to prevent intra-examiner error, and two calibrated examiners independently assessed 20% randomly selected CBCT images. Gender and racial disparities were analyzed using Chi-square test. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The prevalence of additional canal in U16, U26, L36, and L46 of Saudi population was 41.80%, 41.80%, 17.30%, and 19.10%, respectively. In Jordanian participants, no additional canals were found in both mandibular first molars whereas only one participant from Egypt had additional canal in both mandibular first molars. Moreover, significant associations were found between L36 (P = 0.015) and L46 (P = 0.008) with gender.Conclusion:In conclusion, the results of this study provide the information about the prevalence of additional canal in the first permanent molars, which will help and guide the clinicians while performing root canal treatment and also may help them increase the success rate of root canal treatment of the first permanent molars.

The objectives are to investigate the association between dental caries and H. pylori, the association between dental caries and smoking among Saudi students, and to investigate the association between smoking and H. pylori among students with dental caries. The present cross sectional study included 120 male students from Aljouf University. Participating students were clinically examined for dental caries. Urine samples were tested for cotinine and stool samples were tested for H. pylori. Both cotinine and H. pylori was tested using strips especially prepared based on antigenantibody reaction (COT, Innovacon Inc., USA, Helicobacter antigen Quick, GA Inc, Germany). Statistical analysis was done using Chi-Square test. The mean age of study participants was 22.37±1.50 years. The mean of teeth with caries was 9.57±4.68. There were 93 (77.5%) students positive for H. pylori, and 100 (83.3%) positive for cotinine. There was a signifi cant relationship between cotinine and caries (P=0.000), and H. pylori and dental caries (P=0.000). The co-existence of H. pylori and cotinine was also signifi cant among cases with caries (P=0.000). The present study showed that cotinine and H. pylori were signifi cantly associated with dental caries. The co-existence of both among cases with dental caries may be a new fi nding and may work synergistically with each other.