The aim of this study was to characterize dental anomalies. The pretreatment records (photographs and radiographs) of 2897 patients (41.4% males and 58.6% females) were utilized to detect dental anomalies. The dental anomalies studied were related to number, size and shape, position, and eruption. A Chi-square test was carried out to detect associations between dental anomalies, jaw, and sex. A total of 1041 (36%) of the subjects manifested at least one dental anomaly. The prevalence of all dental anomalies was jaw-dependent and greater in the maxilla, except for submerged and transmigrated teeth. The most frequently missing teeth were the maxillary lateral incisor (62.3%) and the mandibular second premolars (60.6%). The most frequent supernumerary teeth were the incisors in the maxilla (97%) and the first premolars in the mandible (43%). Dental anomalies are more frequent in the maxilla and mainly involve the anterior teeth; in the mandible, however, it is the posterior teeth. These differences can be attributed to the evolutionary history of the jaws and their diverse development patterns.

The chin is a unique anatomical landmark of modern humans. Its size and shape play an important role from the esthetic perspective. However, disagreement exists in the dental and anthropological literature regarding the sex differences in chin and symphysis morphometrics. The “sexual selection” theory is presented as a possible reason for chin formation in our species; however, many other contradictory theories also exist. This study’s aims were therefore to determine how chin and symphysis size and shape vary with sex, and to discuss “sexual selection” theory as a reason for its formation. Head and neck computed tomography (CT) scans of 419 adults were utilized to measure chin and symphysis sizes and shapes. The chin and symphysis measures were compared between the sexes using an independent-samples t-test, a Mann–Whitney test, and the F-statistic. The chin width was significantly greater in males than in females (p < 0.001), whereas the chin height, area, and size index were significantly greater in females (p < 0.001). Symphysis measures did not differ significantly between the sexes. Size accounted for 2–14% of the chin variance and between 24–33% of the symphysis variance. Overall, the chin was found to be a more heterogeneous anatomical structure than the symphysis, as well as more sexually dimorphic.

Introduction: The mass-harvesting of digitized medical data has prompted their use as a clinical and research tool. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy and reliability of artificial intelligence derived cephalometric landmark identification with that of human observers. Methods: Ten pre-treatment digital lateral cephalometric radiographs were randomly selected from a university post-graduate clinic. The x- and y-coordinates of 21 (i.e., 42 points) hard and soft tissue landmarks were identified by 6 specialists, 19 residents, 4 imaging technicians, and a commercially available convolutional neural network artificial intelligence platform (CephX, Orca Dental, Hertzylia, Israel). Wilcoxon, Spearman and Bartlett tests were performed to compare agreement of human and AI landmark identification. Results: Six x- or y-coordinates (14.28%) were found to be statistically different, with only one being outside the 2 mm range of acceptable error, and with 97.6% of coordinates found to be within this range. Conclusions: The use of convolutional neural network artificial intelligence as a tool for cephalometric landmark identification was found to be highly accurate and can serve as an aid in orthodontic diagnosis.

One of the most challenging procedures during maxillary osteotomy is pterygomaxillary suture (PMS) separation, due to the difficulty of directly inspecting this suture and the anatomical complexity of the adjacent structures. Knowing the precise anatomical dimensions and the position of the PMS, namely, the angle at which to approach this structure, may help in determining the proper osteotome. It will also help the oral and maxillofacial surgeon to perform this sensitive procedure more precisely and to minimize surgical complications (e.g., internal maxillary artery injury and unfavorable fracture during separation). The current study aimed to evaluate the morphology of PMS in an adult Israeli population using CBCT scans of the maxilla. Fifty CBCTs of healthy males (n = 27) and females (n = 23) were collected and analyzed. The vertical height, maximal thickness, and angulation of the PMS relative to the midsagittal plane of the skull were evaluated on both the right and left sides of the patient. An independent samples t-test was carried out to determine PMS morphological differences between males and females. A related samples t-test was conducted to determine the PMS morphological differences between the right and left sides. No significant differences in PMS parameters were found between sides in males and females (p > 0.225). Both males and females exhibited similar height and angulation of the PMS (p > 0.486). Interestingly, the PMS thickness was statistically greater in males (p = 0.029); however, this difference was clinically insignificant. The mean dimensions of the PMS in a healthy Israeli adult population are presented and discussed, as well as the clinical and methodological implications.

The current study investigated the coexistence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and/or bruxism among 51 individuals seeking treatment in a tinnitus clinic. All participants completed a Hebrew version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), depression and anxiety questionnaires, and the diagnostic criteria TMD (DC/TMD) questionnaire. In addition to questionnaires, the participants underwent a clinical evaluation of the oral cavity, facial muscles, and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Thirty-four participants (66.7%) were diagnosed with bruxism, while TMD was found in 14 (27.5%) of the cases. Patients with both tinnitus, TMD and bruxism scored the highest in the anxiety questionnaire. The severity of depression was found to be significantly associated with the tinnitus severity. These results emphasize the clinical bond between tinnitus, TMD, and bruxism.