Purpose: Spatial perception is an essential skill for professional dentists. The objective of this study was to observe the spatial ability, as well as anatomy module grades, of dental students at a dental education center in Indonesia and relate these to gender and cohort.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out where dental students in years (cohorts) 1, 2, 4–6 were invited to take the Revised Purdue Spatial Visualization Test (PSVT-R) and the redrawn Vandenberg and Kuse Mental Rotation Test (MRT) in order to assess spatial ability. In addition, the 1st- and 2nd-year dental students carried out gross anatomy assessments. Spatial ability test results were compared using an independent t-test to detect gender differences, one-way analysis of variance to inspect cohort differences, and correlation relative to anatomy module scores.Results: A total of 326 dental students voluntarily participated. Statistically significant gender differences were found in both spatial ability tests in the overall sample (PSVT-R: p<0.001; MRT: p=0.001). When the 1st- and 2nd-year dental students were pooled, significant gender differences were detected, in which males scored higher than females in both spatial ability tests (PSVT-R: p<0.001; MRT: p=0.003). In anatomy, however, females scored higher than the males (p=0.005). In addition, there were weak to moderate, but significant correlations between spatial ability tests and anatomy scores.Conclusion: This study indicated that spatial ability may not be the only factor predicting the academic performance of dental students. However, dental students with low spatial ability scores may need supplementary educational techniques when learning specific spatial tasks.

Erli Sarilita, Yurika Ambar Lita, Harry Galuh Nugraha, Nani Murniati, Harmas Yazid Yusuf. Anat Cell Biol 2021;54:431-5. https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.21.051

Nawawi AP, et al. Imaging Sci Dent. 2022 Jan;52:e5. https://doi.org/10.5624/isd.20210244

Objectives: Odontectomy is a common procedure in the extraction of third molars. Assessment of the difficulty level of extraction of third molars can be evaluated based on the classification of impaction. This article aims to discuss how the classification of impaction in third molars evaluates the difficulty of odontectomy treatment through radiographic examination. Literature Review: Literature search was carried out from various electronic databases with article inclusion criteria that discussed the validity of third molar impaction classification through radiography. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this review, it can be concluded that various stratified classifications are suggested as index that can be considered and recommended in the assessment of the difficulty level of third molar odontectomy.

Objectives: This scientific paper discusses aspects of biological bone and radiograph examination in helping diagnose systemic diseases with a decrease in bone quality more accurately. Literature Review: Osteoporosis often occurs in postmenopausal women because of reduced estrogen. Sign analysis is related to four important factors to assess bone quality, namely bone density, bone turnover, bone size and bone architecture. Mineral Bone Examination Density is a gold standard examination by the World Health Organization for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and bone biomarkers can provide an overview of the renovation process being carried out. Conclusion: Panoramic radiographs are expected to be a potential checkpoint for early detection of systemic diseases that manifest in the maxillofacial region with bone conversations characterized by bone enlargement, changes in bone microstructure and trabeculae that indicate changes in bone quality.

Objectives: The aim of this case report is to provide further information on the radiological features of a solid type ameloblastoma suspected on a 3D CBCT radiograph. Case Report: A patient came referred by a dentist for CBCT 3D radiography with suspected clinical diagnosis of a maxillary anterior dentigerous cyst. The results of the CBCT 3D radiographic examination showed a radiointermediate with a clear border on the anterior maxilla and in the right maxillary sinus accompanied by the impact of two supernumerary teeth. Radiological features of ameloblastoma generally show a multilocular radiolucent picture and have a radiopaque septa bone internal structure such as a soap bubble appearance or honey combed appearance. This case showed a clearly demarcated radiointermediate image because a solid type ameloblastoma contains tissue that is histologically formed from cells hat are follicular or plexiform and derived from the results of a degenerative process at the center of the Langerhans islands. Conclusion: Radiographic examination with high modality such as CBCT 3D is very important in helping to establish a diagnosis, especially for cases that sometimes show differences in the radiographs.