Journal of Dental School

Objectives: Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are independent tasks or responsibilities that trainees can perform once they have competence. This article presented the development of EPAs for general dentistry, focusing on oral surgery and restorative dentistry. The study aimed to create a set of EPAs that can be utilized to train and evaluate dental students in Iran. Methods: This qualitative pilot study was conducted in multiple phases. First, a focus group was formed, and their opinions were collected in three alternating rounds. After extracting the statements focusing on two fields of general dentistry curriculum, they were refined, and the importance and occurrence of the tasks were evaluated. Then, the EPA statements were categorized and validated based on the modified criteria. The EPAs were also evaluated regarding the competencies defined by the Ministry of Health of Iran and the American Dental Education Association. Results: The study identified six EPAs for general dentistry in the fields of oral surgery and restorative dentistry. These EPAs encompassed various tasks such as gathering patient information, making accurate diagnoses, developing treatment plans, performing surgical and restorative procedures, and demonstrating advanced skills in treatment implementation. The EPAs aligned with the expected competencies for a dental graduate and could serve as a framework for curriculum design, assessment planning, and tracking students' progression. Conclusion: EPA development in general dentistry, specifically in oral surgery and restorative dentistry, offered a standardized and comprehensive approach to evaluating the competence of dental learners. By integrating EPAs into dental education, educators can ensure that students acquire the necessary abilities in independent dental practice. Although this study provided a solid foundation for implementing EPAs in dental education, further research and evaluation are necessary to assess their effectiveness and practicality.

Objective(s): This study assessed the outcome of regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) in permanent immature necrotic teeth. Methods: This longitudinal cross-sectional study was conducted on permanent immature necrotic teeth that had undergone REPs from 2013 to 2018. The patients were contacted by phone and asked to show-up for clinical and radiographic examinations of their treated teeth. The preoperative parallel periapical (PA), 6-18-month postoperative radiographs, and clinical examination results were collected and compared. Functional presence of the respective tooth in dental arch with no need for an endodontic treatment in the follow-up sessions was considered as treatment success. Data were analyzed by paired t-test (alpha=0.05). Results: Twelve patients (N=16 teeth) met the inclusion criteria; of which, 9 (N=12 teeth) showed up for the follow-up. The mean age of patients was 15±8.44 years (range 10 to 23 years). Ten teeth had experienced trauma, and the remaining two were necrotic due to anomalies (Turner’s hypoplasia and supernumerary tooth). Six teeth had undergone REPs with calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement, 4 with Biodentine, and 2 with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Eleven out of 12 teeth were functional with no clinical sign/symptom at 6-12, and 18-month follow-ups, and were considered as treatment success. Closure of apical opening was significant (P=0.049). Conclusion: REPs through revascularization by using CEM cement, Biodentine, and MTA can be successful and increase the chance of completion of root development in permanent immature necrotic teeth.

Objectives: Evaluation is an essential and comprehensive process for all organizations. Evaluation has become very common in Iran during the past decade, and different universities assess their teachers through various methods, including various questionnaires. This research aimed to evaluate the perspectives of faculty members about the teacher evaluation process. Methods: This qualitative observational study involved 98 faculty members from Shahid Beheshti School of Dentistry who were willing to participate. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire items were selected using previous research conducted in this field. After verifying their validity and reliability, 10 items were chosen. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression tests (P<0.05). Results: This study involved 98 university professors, with a mean teaching experience of 12.95±9.01 years. The mean score of their opinions about the evaluation system was 37.30 ± 4.75. The opinion of faculty members regarding the evaluation system had a significant inverse relationship with teaching experience (p<0.001) and male gender (p=0.025). The results showed that 80.7% of the participants believed that the evaluation process effectively improved their teaching, although 66.3% did not approve the current evaluation method. Conclusion: Most faculty members believed that evaluation positively affected the quality of their teaching, although the current teaching methods were not satisfactory.

Objectives: Although dental composites offer clinical ease of use and a reasonable level of aesthetics, they still suffer from issues, such as low resistance to abrasion and fracture, post-polymerization shrinkage, and low stress tolerance, which restrict their applications. Given the current social conditions in the country and to support knowledge-based companies in the production of domestic composites, the present study aimed to investigate certain physical and mechanical properties of Iranian composites in comparison with foreign composites. Methods: Two types of commercially available foreign resin-based composites, Filtek Z250 (3M) and Den fil (Vericom), and the Iranian composite Trivers (Trimed) were investigated in terms of their mechanical and optical properties. For data analysis, ANOVA and post hoc tests at a 5% significance level were performed. Results: Z250 composite exhibited superiority in most mechanical properties, while Trimed composite exhibited lower mechanical properties, although these differences were not statistically significant for compressive strength(p=0.435). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, Trimed composite showed promise for clinical application, although further laboratory and clinical investigations are required to improve the production quality of domestic composites.

Objectives: Understanding the anatomy of the maxillary sinus is essential for ensuring a successful surgical procedure. This study utilized CBCT to evaluate the relationship between maxillary sinus ostium characteristics, adjacent anatomical structures, and pathologies. Methods: A retrospective evaluation was conducted on CBCT images of 400 maxillary sinuses. Measurements included the height and dimensions of the ostium, as well as the length of the infundibulum. The study investigated maxillary sinus pathologies, anatomical variations, and the associations between the characteristics of the maxillary sinus ostium and adjacent anatomical structures. Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson’s Chi-Square test, simple logistic regression, multiple logistic regression, and multiple linear regression models at p<0.05. Results: The mean ±SD for ostium height, size of the ostium entry, and infundibulum length were 31.08±4.99mm, 1.72±2.03 mm, and 7.81±1.73 mm, respectively. An increase in Haller cell and infundibulum length raised the risk of a mucosal membrane in the ostium area. The Ostium height was significantly higher in males (P<0.05). Mucosal thickening (MT) was considerably higher in patients with positive maxillary sinus septum (P<0.005). Infundibulum length, nasal septum deviation, and Haller cell significantly affected sinus opacity rate (P<0.001). In cases where the deviation was towards the sinuses, maxillary sinus pathologies occurred more frequently. Age and gender significantly affected MT, the mucous membrane in the ostium, and at least one sinus pathology (P<0.05). Conclusion: Maxillary sinus pathologies can be evaluated by increasing the infundibulum length and reducing the ostium size. CBCT evaluation is crucial for successful surgery and preventing complications. Accurate assessment of sinuses and nasal passages in the elderly is recommended.

Objectives: Determining the job (occupational or work-related) stress of dental school faculty members is necessary for planning to improve the quality of dental education and the health and oral health status of people in society. This study aimed to determine the job stress of dental school faculty members in Tehran. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 167 faculty members of Islamic Azad, Tehran, Shahed, and Shahid Beheshti dental schools were selected by convenience sampling, and using Osipow’s Occupational Stress Inventory, their job stress in six fields was evaluated. Osipow’s Occupational Stress Inventory was scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 to 5. Each phrase was rated on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating 'never' and 5 indicating 'most of the time.' The data were analyzed using t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, and ANOVA. Results: Most faculty members of dental schools in Tehran experienced low to moderate job stress across various fields. 60% had low-moderate job stress in the role workload, 75.3% in the role inadequacy,42.6% had low-moderate job stress in the role dichotomy, 59.4% had low-moderate job stress in the range of the job,73.2% had low-moderate job stress in the responsibility and 45% ad low-moderate job stress in all fields. A significant difference was between the age of faculty members and job stress in the range of jobs; with increasing age, job stress in this field was reduced. No significant difference was found in job stress scores according to gender and marital status, academic rank, or department of activity among faculty members of dental schools in Tehran. Conclusion: Most faculty members of dental schools in Tehran reported low-moderate job stress in most fields. The highest job stress was observed in the role workload, and the lowest was in the physical environment.

Objectives: Peripheral (extra-osseous) dentinogenic ghost cell tumors are an extremely rare type of odontogenic lesions. They show a slight male predilection and most commonly occur in the anterior gingiva of the mandible. The peak incidence is above 50 years of age, and unlike the intraosseous type, they are generally nonaggressive. Diagnosing intra-oral lesions can be challenging, and less common lesions are often overlooked. Case: This report aimed to describe a peripheral dentinogenic ghost cell tumor as a painless, pedunculated mass in a 62-year-old male. Conclusion: Understanding this unusual entity can facilitate a proper diagnosis and enhance our comprehension of its biological behavior.

I am writing to discuss the exciting advancements in the field of dentistry brought about by artificial intelligence (AI). The integration of AI technologies, particularly machine learning and deep learning, is revolutionizing dental practice by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, streamlining treatment planning, and improving patient management. As AI continues to evolve, it offers innovative solutions to longstanding challenges, such as variability in diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in clinical workflows.
One of the most significant applications of AI in dentistry lies in diagnostic imaging. AI algorithms, especially those based on deep learning, have shown remarkable capabilities in analyzing dental radiographs and identifying conditions such as dental caries and periodontitis. For example, studies indicate that convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can achieve impressive accuracy in detecting dental caries from periapical radiographs, significantly enhancing early diagnosis compared to traditional methods [1, 2, 3]. Additionally, AI systems have been developed for classifying dental implants, with reported accuracies ranging from 0.63 to 0.96. This capability not only aids in treatment planning but also enhances patient outcomes [4, 5].
Moreover, the role of AI extends beyond diagnostics. It plays a crucial part in treatment planning and patient management. AI-driven tools can automate routine tasks such as appointment scheduling and treatment coordination, thus allowing dental professionals to devote more time to direct patient care [6, 7]. Furthermore, AI facilitates the customization of dental appliances and treatment plans through patient-specific simulations, significantly enhancing the precision of interventions [8]. This feature is particularly beneficial in pediatric dentistry, where tailored approaches are essential to meet the unique needs of children [8].
However, while the advancements in AI are promising, the implementation of these technologies in dentistry is not without challenges. Concerns surrounding data security, ethical considerations, and the necessity for robust validation of AI systems are prevalent [9]. The inherent variability in dental imaging and the complexity of dental conditions require extensive validation across diverse cases to ensure AI can reliably support clinical decision-making [10]. Importantly, the integration of AI must complement the expertise of dental professionals rather than replace it, highlighting the importance of a collaborative approach in leveraging AI technologies [7, 11].
In conclusion, AI is positioned to revolutionize the field of dentistry by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, optimizing clinical workflows, and personalizing patient care. However, ongoing research and careful consideration of ethical implications are essential for fully realizing the benefits of AI in this domain. As technology progresses, it is crucial for dental professionals to actively engage with these advancements, ensuring that AI serves as a valuable tool in improving oral healthcare.