Journal of Dental School

Objectives Pemphigus is an autoimmune, life-threatening, blistering disease. Knowledge about the epidemiology of this disease however, is still limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and geographic distribution of pemphigus patients in Iran.

Methods Medical records of patients with definitive diagnosis of pemphigus disease during a seven-year period from March 2006 to March 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. All individuals were classified based on geographical aspects.

Results A total of 110 patients (59 females and 51 males) with an average age of 46.5 ± 13.6 for the females and 45.8± 12.5 for the males were evaluated. Male patients were slightly younger than female patients, but the difference was not statistically significant. Also, there was no significant association between age and the year of frequency. The most frequent type of pemphigus was the vulgaris type (93.6%). On the base of climate, the highest frequency was seen in the Moderate to severe internal (very hot) desert area and the humid and temperate climates (Caspian). There was no significant difference between the mean ages of pemphigus patients in the four geographic regions, (P value=0.421). Based on altitude in each climatic region, less than 10% of patients were from high altitude areas.

Objectives This study aimed to assess the distribution and classification of restored primary molars according to the tooth type, gender, jaw, quadrant, filling material and G.V. Black classification in children presenting to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, and University of Baghdad.

Methods In this retrospective study, 1,341 patient records were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and reviewed for the presence of restored primary molars. If present, they were classified according to the tooth type, gender, jaw, quadrant, filling material, and G.V. Black classification. Data were statistically analyzed by SPSS version 24 using z-statistic, with 0.05 level of significance.

Results The frequency of filled primary second molars was significantly higher than that of primary first molars. The frequency of filled primary molars was the same in males and females. The frequency of restored primary molars in the mandible was significantly higher than that in the maxilla. Also, the frequency of restored primary molars in the right side was higher than that in the left side; however, this difference was not significant. According to the type of filling material used, amalgam was the most frequently used filling material followed by composite with no significant difference. According to the G.V. Black classification, class II had the highest percentage, followed by class I but the difference was not significant. Class V had the lowest percentage.

Objectives Dental anxiety often leads to avoidance of patients which may result in significant deterioration of oral health. Non‐pharmacological interventions such as music are increasingly used in dental care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of relaxing music on the stress and anxiety level of dental patients.

Methods In this study, 40 adult patients were randomly divided into two groups of music and control (no intervention). Each group included 10 females and 10 males. Subjects in the music group listened to relaxation music throughout their dental procedure while the control group did not. Pre- and post-tests were performed using the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Hari’s stress questionnaire in both groups.

Results There were no significant differences between the two groups for baseline data. The mean age of patients in the music and control groups was 37.70±9.29 years and 39.05±5.36 years, respectively. Comparison of moderated means in the intervention and control groups showed that listening to relaxation music caused a reduction in the mean scores of STAI (x=7.746, SE=416, P<0.05) and stress (x=7.746, SE=2.103, P<0.01) in the intervention compared with the control group.

Objectives This study evaluated the satisfaction of patients receiving orthodontic treatment and the related factors probably affecting their level of satisfaction.

Methods In this cross-sectional study, 193 patients who had finished their orthodontic treatment at the Department of Orthodontics of Shahid Beheshti Dental School, completed a researcher-made questionnaire on satisfaction with the process of treatment, treatment outcomes and its psychosocial benefits. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were first verified. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation test were used to assess the level of patient satisfaction, and the effects of gender, age, type of malocclusion, and type and duration of treatment on the level of satisfaction. Level of significance was set at 0.05.

Results The frequency of patients who were highly satisfied with the final alignment of their teeth, esthetic facial appearance and smile attractiveness was 62.7%, 50.8% and 63.7%, respectively. Respondents gave the highest satisfaction score to smile attractiveness (1.62±0.53) and alignment of their teeth (1.61± 0.52) and the lowest score to the postgraduate student’s professional skills (0.79± 0.54). The mean total satisfaction score was 1.36 out of 2, which indicated that patient satisfaction with the orthodontic treatment was relatively high. Duration of treatment showed a weak (r=0.186) but significant (P=0.011) correlation with the level of satisfaction.

Objectives This study aimed to assess the identification of traumatic foreign bodies in the head and neck region using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods In this study, samples (1×1×0.1 cm) were fabricated from 6 different types of materials commonly found in various head and face traumas. These materials included iron, glass, stone, wood, asphalt, and tooth. They were located in 3 different areas, including the tongue, airway, and vestibule of 3 sheep heads. Ten scans were acquired from these materials embedded in different regions. A total of 180 images were analyzed by 2 observers and rated in terms of visual clarity of the foreign body. The results were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results In 100% of images, stone, asphalt, and glass were observed in all 3 areas with high resolution. On the other hand, 100% of images were unclear in all evaluated areas with metal artifacts. Tooth images were found to be excellent in 100% of cases in the muscle and airway regions and 80% of cases in the vestibule region (unclear in 20% of cases). However, wood was not detected in 100% of images from the tongue and vestibule regions. It was not detected on 60% of images from the airway, while it was found on 40% of images with low resolution.

Objectives Cementoblastoma is a rare benign odontogenic tumor which is linked to the root of a vital tooth. This tumor is usually accompanied by pain and swelling, and its most common site is the left mandibular first molar. General dentists’ inattention to oral lesions, especially tooth-related radiopacities, is problematic in some cases and results in delayed or missed diagnosis.

Case Our patient was a 31-year-old woman who presented to our clinic complaining of dull pain in the left mandibular first molar. Root canal therapy was performed for the patient but the pain continued for the next 2 years. The patient was referred to a surgeon. Panoramic radiography revealed a radiopaque mass of approximately 2 x 1 cm in diameter attached to the root of the mandibular left first molar. The lesion together with the involved tooth was removed by excisional biopsy. Histopathological diagnosis was cementoblastoma.

Conclusion Dentists’ knowledge of pulpal, periapical and periodontal lesions is usually satisfactory, but their inattention to oral lesions, especially tooth-related radiopaque lesions, is problematic in some cases. Pain from cementoblastoma may be mistaken for endodontic pain.