This umbrella review aimed to determine the various drugs used to treat trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and to evaluate their efficacies as well as side effects by surveying previously published reviews. An online search was conducted using PubMed, CRD, EBSCO, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library with no limits on publication date or patients’ gender, age, and ethnicity. Reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials pertaining to drug therapy for TN, and other relevant review articles added from their reference lists, were evaluated. Rapid reviews, reviews published in languages other than English, and reviews of laboratory studies, case reports, and series were excluded. A total of 588 articles were initially collected; 127 full-text articles were evaluated after removing the duplicates and screening the titles and abstracts, and 11 articles were finally included in this study. Except for carbamazepine, most of the drugs had been inadequately studied. Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine continue to be the first choice for medication for classical TN. Lamotrigine and baclofen can be regarded as second-line drugs to treat patients not responding to first-line medication or for patients having intolerable side effects from carbamazepine. Drug combinations using carbamazepine, baclofen, gabapentin, ropivacaine, tizanidine, and pimozide can yield satisfactory results and improve the tolerance to the treatment. Intravenous lidocaine can be used to treat acute exaggerations and botulinum toxin-A can be used in refractory cases. Proparacaine, dextromethorphan, and tocainide were reported to be inappropriate for treating TN. Anticonvulsants are successful in managing trigeminal neuralgia; nevertheless, there have been few studies with high levels of proof, making it challenging to compare or even combine their results in a statistically useful way. New research on other drugs, combination therapies, and newer formulations, such as vixotrigine, is awaited. There is conclusive evidence for the efficacy of pharmacological drugs in the treatment of TN.

Oroantral fistula (OAF) is a persistent pathological communication between the oral cavity and the maxillary sinus, often arising as a complication of dental extractions, trauma, or surgical procedures involving the maxilla. Despite various treatment options, a standardized, algorithmic approach remains lacking. To develop and present a comprehensive, evidence-based clinical decision-making algorithm for the diagnosis and management of OAF based on defect size, chronicity, sinus involvement, and infection status. A narrative review and synthesis of the literature were conducted, evaluating diagnostic modalities, microbiological profiles, and both conservative and surgical treatment options from 1990 to 2025. The resulting data informed the development of a stepwise flowchart that integrates clinical parameters and radiographic findings to guide practitioners in selecting the most appropriate therapeutic approach. The algorithm begins with an initial assessment including patient history, clinical and radiographic evaluation. Small asymptomatic OAFs (< 2 mm) are managed conservatively with hygiene protocols and nasal precautions. Infected small fistulas warrant antibiotics. Medium-sized OAFs (5–10 mm) in favorable locations are treated with local flaps, whereas large or unfavorably located fistulas (> 10 mm) require advanced surgical techniques such as buccal fat pad grafts, distant flaps, and regenerative materials like platelet-rich fibrin. Sinus health and chronicity are considered pivotal in determining treatment timing and method. This algorithm provides a structured, patient-centered framework for the management of OAF. By incorporating anatomical, pathological, and microbiological factors, it enhances clinical decision-making, improves treatment outcomes, and supports interdisciplinary coordination.

Blackboard is a collaborative virtual learning tool used for higher learning that has been found to be an effective and efficient means of interactions between teachers and students and offers effective educational information management. The aim of this research work is to assess the preclinical and clinical dental students’ perception of Blackboard Collaborate as a quality teaching and learning tool as well as to find out areas that might appear as barriers to quality teaching and learning. This cross-sectional study was conducted online using survey monkey involving 245 dental students who had participated in the virtual classroom lectures during the pandemic with 18 students not completing the survey. The survey instrument was a nine-item questionnaire that included the age, sex, and year of study of the students as well as previous exposure to online lectures. The data collated was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics for windows version 22. Among 245 respondents that were enrolled in the study, 227 respondents completed the survey, of which 58.1% (n = 132) were male while 41.9% (n = 95) were females. Of the 227 respondents that completed this study, 74.8% (n = 170) of them experienced minimum to moderate technical problems regarding connectivity during the online sessions while 1.8% (n = 4) of the respondents experienced very severe technical problems. The majority of the respondents 54.2% (n = 123) support the continuation of online lectures even after the pandemic. In conclusion, we found a positive perception of our respondents to online lectures using Blackboard Collaborate. Internet connectivity as well as a decline in the comprehension of the lectures as compared to face-to-face learning were found as barriers to online learning.

Evaluation of Retentive Strength of 50 Endodontically-Treated Single-Rooted Mandibular Second Premolars Restored with Cast Post Cores Using 5 Common Luting (Cement) Agents - Article abstract #944110

BACKGROUND Injuries to the soft and hard tissues of the facial region, have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. The etiology of these injuries varies depending on the country. In Saudi Arabia, road traffic accidents account for the majority of maxillofacial injuries seen. One of the measures taken to mitigate the impact of traffic accidents was enforcement of the use of seatbelts. However, compliance with this measure appears to be waning among the populace. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the rates of compliance with seatbelt use in 435 patients involved in vehicular accidents that resulted in maxillofacial injuries in Saudi Arabia between 2006 and 2021. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective review of maxillofacial and associated injuries in patients who presented and had treatment at the Armed Forces Hospital in the southern region of Saudi Arabia between January 2006 and December 2021 following motor vehicle accidents. Collated data was from patients' medical records, noting age, social demographics, injury type and site, and seatbelt usage. RESULTS A total of 435 patients were included in the study, with a male-to-female ratio of 3.35: 1. The majority of the patients were in the age group 21-40 years, and were drivers (n=210). More injuries were seen in patients not wearing a seatbelt. Middle face fractures and abrasions were the most common bony and soft-tissue injuries seen, with open reduction being the treatment of choice. CONCLUSIONS The seatbelt use compliance rate is low among the populace of Saudi Arabia, and maxillofacial injuries are seen more in non-users of seatbelts following road traffic accidents.

Background: Mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3/ERK1) plays a central role in cellular proliferation, inflammation, apoptosis, and survival signalling and has been implicated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), periodontitis, oral lichen planus, and other chronic oral inflammatory diseases. The present study employed an integrated computational workflow combining machine learning (ML)-based quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) modelling, molecular docking, density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and MM-GBSA analysis to identify and characterise potent MAPK3 inhibitors. Methods: A curated dataset of 907 experimentally validated MAPK3 inhibitors was retrieved from the ChEMBL database and processed using molecular descriptors and Morgan fingerprints. Multiple ML algorithms were evaluated under scaffold-based validation, with Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) demonstrating the best predictive performance. Results: The final model achieved strong classification capability with ROC-AUC values of 0.898 and 0.926. Feature importance analysis revealed that local structural motifs captured by fingerprint descriptors played dominant roles in MAPK3 inhibitory activity. The top-ranked compounds were subjected to molecular docking, where compounds 58324148 and 137531515 exhibited strong binding affinities of −11.9 and −11.0 kcal/mol, respectively. DFT calculations demonstrated favourable electronic properties with low HOMO–LUMO energy gaps, while MD simulations confirmed stable receptor–ligand interactions throughout 200 ns trajectories. MM-GBSA analysis further supported strong binding stability dominated by van der Waals interactions. Conclusions: Overall, the integrated computational framework successfully identified promising MAPK3 inhibitor candidates with potential therapeutic relevance for oral inflammatory and proliferative diseases.