Background: AI has been adopted in dentistry for diagnosis, decision making, and therapy prognosis prediction. This systematic review aimed to identify AI models in dentistry, assess their performance, identify their shortcomings, and discuss their potential for adoption and integration in dental practice in the future. Methodology: The sources of the papers were the following electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. A total of 20 out of 947 needed further studies, and this was encompassed in the present meta-analysis. It identified diagnostic accuracy, predictive performance, and potential biases. Results: AI models demonstrated an overall diagnostic accuracy of 82%, primarily leveraging artificial neural networks (ANNs) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs). These models have significantly improved the diagnostic precision for dental caries compared with traditional methods. Moreover, they have shown potential in detecting and managing conditions such as bone loss, malignant lesions, vertical root fractures, apical lesions, salivary gland disorders, and maxillofacial cysts, as well as in performing orthodontic assessments. However, the integration of AI systems into dentistry poses challenges, including potential data biases, cost implications, technical requirements, and ethical concerns such as patient data security and informed consent. AI models may also underperform when faced with limited or skewed datasets, thus underscoring the importance of robust training and validation procedures. Conclusions: AI has the potential to revolutionize dentistry by significantly improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning. However, before integrating this tool into clinical practice, a critical assessment of its advantages, disadvantages, and utility or ethical issues must be established. Future studies should aim to eradicate existing barriers and enhance the model’s ease of understanding and challenges regarding expense and data protection, to ensure the effective utilization of AI in dental healthcare.

Introduction: Smoking remains a major preventable cause of mortality, posing a significant public health challenge globally. Healthcare professionals (HCPs), despite their pivotal role in promoting health, exhibit notable smoking behaviors influenced by occupational stress and sociodemographic...

The objective of this study was to analyze the outcomes of the free vascularized fibular flap in the reconstruction of mandibular defects, and to assess the oral health impact profile of these patients before surgery and after oral rehabilitation. Patients requiring reconstruction of defects greater than 6 cm were selected for this study. The defect size and type, the size of the required skin paddle, the need for second flaps, the intraoperative complications, and the type of closure were documented. Patients were evaluated postoperatively for function, aesthetics, and donor- or reconstruction-site complications. The validated oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) questionnaires were filled before and after surgery and after dental rehabilitation. This study included 11 cases of squamous-cell carcinomas, 2 cases of malignant nerve sheath tumors, and 1 case each of malignant melanoma, ameloblastoma, giant-cell tumor, osteosarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. The analysis revealed a significant association (p = 0.030) of gender with free vascular flap complications, while no significant association (p > 0.05) was found when donor- and recipient- site complications, as well as the type of resection (Brown’s classification), were compared with free vascular flaps. Moreover, the total OHIP-14 scores for patients before surgery, after surgery, and after dental rehabilitation were 12.03 ± 1.34, 10.66 ± 1.41, and 08.33 ± 0.62, respectively. The oral health-related quality of life was markedly improved after the reconstruction of the mandibular defects with free vascularized fibular flap and dental rehabilitation. The overall success rate of fibular flap in our study was 72.2%, which is lower than that reported in the literature. This may be attributed to the fact that almost all of our cases included large segmental defects that extended across the midline of the mandible.

Background. The zygomatic complex is the second most common fracture of the facial bones after the nasal bone. The prominent convex shape of the zygoma makes it vulnerable to traumatic injury. Diplopia is one of the serious complications of zygomatic complex fracture and is a common subjective complaint. Objective. To determine the frequency of diplopia in zygomatic complex fractures. Methodology. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Ward, Civil Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. The duration of the study was 1 year (March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022). A total of 126 patients having zygomatic complex fractures were included in this study. After recording the patient’s complete history, like demographic details and cause for fracture, diplopia was examined clinically. If, during the examination, the patient complained of double vision, this was labeled as diplopia positive (Yes) and negative (No) if the patient did not have any such complain. Data were statistically analyzed. Results. The mean (±SD) age of patients was 33.42 (±9.27), with 91 (72.2%) male patients and 35 (27.8%) female patients. The frequency of diplopia in zygomatic complex fractures was observed in 52 (41.3%) patients. The rate of diplopia was significantly high in patients aged between 31 and 40 years (P-value). Conclusion. The frequency of diplopia among patients having zygomatic complex fractures was high in this study. Thus, forming a strategy to properly diagnose and treat it and to prevent persistent morbidity to improve patient’s quality of life is recommended.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia, affecting various metabolic processes and leading to multiple complications, particularly in wound healing. This study aims to evaluate the impact of diabetes on the healing of extraction sockets in non-diabetic, prediabetic, and type 2 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted with 72 participants who were divided equally ( n = 24 for each group) into three groups, viz. non-diabetic, prediabetic, and diabetic groups based on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and random blood glucose levels. Tooth extractions were performed by an experienced maxillofacial surgeon. Healing outcomes were assessed by measuring extraction socket size, post-operative pain, discharge, swelling, infection, erythema, dry socket occurrence, and analgesic consumption over one week. Initially descriptive statistics were calculated and one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was done to compare the reduction in socket size between groups. The level of statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: Out of 275 screened participants, 104 provided informed consent, and 72 completed the study. Significant differences were found in socket size reduction, with non-diabetic patients showing a 62.5% reduction, prediabetic 56.4%, and diabetic 48.6% ( p < 0.001). Diabetic patients experienced more post-operative pain ( p = 0.039) and a higher incidence of complications such as swelling, infection, and discharge, although not statistically significant ( p = 0.141). Conclusion: Diabetes significantly affects post-operative healing in dental extractions, leading to less socket size reduction, higher pain levels, and increased complications. These findings underscore the necessity for specialized post-operative care for diabetic patients, including stringent infection control and pain management strategies. Further research with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods is recommended to better understand the long-term impacts of diabetes on oral health.

One of the most commonly used local anesthetic (LA) agents in dentistry is lidocaine. Hypersensitivity reactions to lidocaine have been reported. In such cases, it is crucial to record a detailed clinical history and perform allergy testing to select a suitable alternative LA agent. This report presents the experience of observing a case of lidocaine allergy, supported by a review of the literature on the condition. A rare case of delayed hypersensitivity reaction to lidocaine is reported, where the patient exhibited swelling and erythema of the upper labial mucosa. Intradermal testing confirmed an allergic reaction to lidocaine. The patient was successfully treated with an alternative LA agent, allowing for the completion of dental procedures without complications. This highlights the importance of careful diagnostic measures to manage such rare but significant allergic reactions effectively. This case highlights the importance of recording a proper clinical history and performing allergy testing before the administration of LA to prevent severe allergic reactions. Additionally, patients identified as allergic to LA agents should be thoroughly counseled, informed about their condition, and provided with a clear explanation of all available treatment options