Objectives Based on literature, very few case–control studies have been executed to confirm the relationship between diabetes mellitus and the severity of mean alveolar bone loss. Therefore, the aim was to assess the differences in mean alveolar bone loss among diabetic (type 2) and nondiabetic patients in the Saudi population. Materials and Methods Nine-hundred eighty-two patient records were seen in this retrospective study. Patient demographic data and medical records were examined. The mean alveolar bone loss was measured in posterior teeth by calculating the distance from the base of cementoenamel junction to the alveolar crest using the bitewing radiographs. SPSS 20.0 was used for data analysis. An unpaired t-test was utilized to analyze the mean alveolar bone loss across multiple variables. p-Value less than or equal to 0.05 was contemplated as significant. Results The overall mean alveolar bone loss for all 124 patients was 2.83 ± 1.13 mm. Diabetic patients had greater mean alveolar bone loss measured in millimeters than nondiabetic patients (3.07 ± 1.14mm vs. 2.59 ± 1.08mm, respectively), and the difference was significant (p = 0.018). In terms of the severity of mean alveolar bone loss, diabetic patients experience statistically higher mean alveolar bone loss as compared with nondiabetic patients. Conclusion In our study population, the overall mean alveolar bone loss prevalence was greater in diabetes patients than in nondiabetic individuals. According to the severity of bone loss, the distribution of moderate and severe periodontitis was higher in diabetic patients. To enhance patients' quality of life, the awareness and education among patients regarding the association among diabetes mellitus and oral health, particularly periodontal disease, should be promoted.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of dexamethasone on the growth and differentiation of osteoblast-like cells derived from the human alveolar bone. Bone particles were collected from patients during implant-site preparation. The samples were cultured in a growth medium, and the cells that propagated after two–three weeks were cultured in three types of culture media: group 1, normal medium; group 2, osteogenic medium without dexamethasone; and group 3, osteogenic medium with dexamethasone—for zero, four, seven, and 20 days. DNA and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) measurements and alizarin red/toluidine blue staining were performed. DNA levels were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 on day 7 (p < 0.001) and in group 3 on days 4, 7, and 20 (p < 0.041, p < 0.006, and p < 0.001, respectively). Further, total ALP levels were significantly higher in group 3 than in groups 1 on day 20 (p < 0.023). A greater amount of matrix mineralisation was observed in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. Human alveolar bone cells exhibit improved osteogenic efficacy in terms of osteogenic differentiation when cultured in the presence of dexamethasone. The cell number (total DNA content) decreased in the presence of dexamethasone; however, an increased differentiation of osteoblast-like cells was observed.

The present study aimed to investigate the mean crestal bone loss (CBL) by placing implants using two different drilling-protocols, i.e., standard drilling with saline irrigation and low-speed drilling without saline irrigation. The patients were enrolled in the present study from a university teaching institute. Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were randomly placed in two study groups: 1) control group: Standard drilling with saline irrigation and 2) test group: low-speed drilling without saline irrigation. The radiographic mean crestal bone loss (CBL) was evaluated at 3 months of follow-up before implant loading. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 (IBM product, Chicago, USA) and a p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Sixteen patients (10 males and 6 females) participated in the study. Thirty Camlog®-screw-line implants were placed (15 implants per study group). After 3 months of follow-up, the means CBL of implants placed with standard drilling and low-speed drilling protocols were 1.01 ± 0.49 mm and 0.74 ± 0.62 mm, respectively. No statistically significant difference could be recorded between two groups (p = 0.206). Dental implants placed with low-speed drilling without saline irrigation exhibited a similar CBL to implants installed with the standard drilling protocol. However, further randomised clinical trials are recommended to obtain stronger evidence and a better understanding of the effect of the low-speed drilling protocol without saline irrigation on mean CBL and long-term implant survival.

Objective This study aimed to examine the correlation between the morphology of the maxilla and unilateral palatally impacted maxillary canine (PIMC) among the Saudi population in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, 36 patients' records [(17 PIMC, 8 male, 9 female, mean age 16.75 ± 2.12 years) (19 control; 9 male,10 female, mean age: 17.16 ± 2.12 years)] were included from a teaching dental hospital. On cone-beam computed tomographic images, measurements of maxillary arch length (MAL), palatal vault depth (PVD), intermolar width, sum of widths of 4 maxillary incisors, available arch space (AAS), palatal maxillary width (PMW) in the molar and premolar regions, nasal cavity width (NCW), maxillary arch shape (MAS) (arch length/intermolar width x 100), and palatal vault shape (PVS) (the PVD/intermolar width x100) were performed. Data were analyzed by SPSS-20.0. p-value less than or equal to 0.05 reflected statistical significance. Results This study's findings depicted that AAS (p = 0.012), PVD (p = 0.028), and PMW in the molar and premolar regions at the level of the alveolar crest (p = 0.002 and p = 0.034) and mid-root (p = 0.004 and p = 0.022) were significantly higher in the control compared to the PIMC group. PVS showed a significant difference between the PIMC and control groups (p = 0.037). However, regarding MAS, no significant difference was observed (p = 0.707). Conclusion MAS was narrower in PIMC compared to the control group. The control group had a deeper palatal vault and greater AAS compared to the PIMC group. However, no significant difference was observed between groups regarding tooth size or NCW.

The contemporary information on the prevalence of periodontitis and associated risk factors is deficient in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our aim was to measure the prevalence of periodontitis and associated risk factors among the Saudi population in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia who visited the University Dental Hospital. In this retrospective study, the demographic data and medical and dental records of 700 subjects were examined. Bitewing radiographs were analyzed to measure the alveolar bone loss in posterior teeth by measuring the distance between the cementoenamel junction and the crest of the alveolar bone. A chi-square test was performed to compare the severity of periodontitis. A comparison of multivariate mean bone loss was performed using a t-test. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictors of periodontitis. A P-value equal to or under 0.05 reflected statistical significance. Among 700 cases, the patients’ mean age was 35.6 ± 12.1; 52.6 % were male and 47.4 % were female. Overall periodontitis prevalence was 52.1 %. The distribution of mild, moderate, and severe periodontitis prevalence was 36.1 %, 14.1 %, and 1.8 %, respectively. The severity of periodontitis was statistically similar between males and females (p = 0.148); however, significantly more Saudi than non-Saudi patients had moderate periodontitis. Higher proportions of severe periodontitis were seen in the age group of over 50-years-old (p < 0.001) and in patients with poor oral hygiene (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.005), and hypertension (p < 0.002). Six total predictors of periodontitis were depicted, i.e., age > 50 years (OR = 3.73), poor OH status (OR = 2.24), BOP (OR = 3.35), presence of plaque (OR = 2.61), diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.19), and hypertension (OR = 3.62). The primary factors associated with the prevalence of periodontitis were age, nationality, diabetes, hypertension, BOP, plaque, and OH status. However, no association was observed between gender or cardiovascular disease and the prevalence of periodontitis in the studied population.