Background: The traditional teaching methods of dental education are gradually being replaced with futuristic education methods based on the usage of educational tools such as mannequin-based simulation models and virtual reality. However, the effectiveness of mannequin-based simulation models as a learning method in the field of oral surgery remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of training on a tooth extraction model (TEM) in view of undergraduate dental students’ experience and perception of their education. Methods: A quasi-experimental trial was implemented with two consecutive year classes, totaling 136 students at the Dentistry Faculty of Altinbas University, Turkiye. Two cohorts were created from dental students in the classes of 2023 and 2022 graduates. Cohort 1 (n = 71) received 14 h of theoretical education followed by 10 h of preclinical education on TEM. Cohort 2 (n = 65) received only 14 h of theoretical education. An anonymous questionnaire was prepared with four main sections including the preferences of learning style, participants’ perceptions of the preclinical training methods, the students’ competency and free text comments. Students’ opinions were quantified with both 7-point Likert scales and thematic analysis. Anxiety levels were measured with the interval scale of anxiety response (ISAR). Descriptive statistics, inferential statistical and thematic analyses were conducted according to survey responses. Student characteristics were summarized and compared for two cohorts using a t-test. For all statistical analyses, the significance level was set atP ≤ 0.05. Result: Cohort 1 was more comfortable with sequential motions performed with the forceps (P = 0.033) and felt more ready for their first clinical tooth extraction experience (P = 0.028). Cohort 2 showed a significantly higher preference for textbooks among supplementary materials (P = 0.04); however, they tended to exhibit lower self-confidence and higher anxiety levels, though without any statistical significance (P > 0.05). Conclusion: It is clear that the students who have yet to start seeing patients benefit from increased practice with training models, which adequately reflect and represent real-life situations encountered in everyday practice.

Treatment of patients with bisphosphonate usage is a significant concern for oral surgeons because it interferes with jaw bone turnover and regeneration. In case of adverse effects manifesting related to bisphosphonate use, oral surgeons are usually treating and keep the patient’s symptoms under control. In this study, we aimed to investigate a new treatment protocol for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This treatment protocol consisted of administering human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) loaded chitosan microspheres which were prepared by ionotropic gelation method or/and the prepared microspheres were suspended in a poloxamer gel. After in-vitro optimization studies, the efficacy of the chosen formulations was evaluated in-vivo studies. Zoledronic acid was administered daily to forty-eight adult female Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into four experimental groups, at a daily concentration of 0.11 mg/kg over three weeks to induce the MRONJ model. At the end of this period, maxillary left molar teeth were extracted. In the first group, the subjects received no treatment. In the negative control group, poloxamer hydrogel containing empty microspheres were immediately applied to the soft tissues surrounding the extraction socket. The treatment group-1 was treated with local injections of poloxamer hydrogel containing hPTH. The treatment group-2 was treated with a single local injection of poloxamer hydrogel containing hPTH-loaded chitosan microspheres. Both treatment groups received a total of 7 µg of hPTH at the end of the treatment protocol. Our study demonstrates successful attenuation of MRONJ through a local drug delivery system combined with hPTH, as opposed to previously attempted treatment strategies.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of artificial intelligence (AI)-based large language models (LLMs) in providing medical treatment recommendations for clinical scenarios in dental practice, focusing on rational prescribing and drug interaction management. Methods: Forty standardized clinical case questions were developed by experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons and submitted to ChatGPT-3.5 (OpenAI), ChatGPT-4o (OpenAI), and Gemini 2.5 Flash (Google DeepMind). Responses were generated in Turkish using standardized prompts and were independently assessed by two blinded evaluators based on three criteria: modified Global Quality Score (GQS), accuracy, and completeness. Data were statistically analyzed using non-parametric methods. Results: Gemini 2.5 Flash achieved the highest performance across all criteria, with 45% of responses rated as being of very high quality (GQS score 5), 67.5% rated as highly accurate (scores of 5-6), and 42.5% rated as complete. ChatGPT-4o outperformed ChatGPT-3.5 in all parameters but did not differ significantly from Gemini. Statistically significant differences were observed between ChatGPT-3.5 and Gemini for GQS (p

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of sutures used in dentistry according to different materials in vitro. Material and Methods: Eight 3-0 different absorbable and non-absorbable suture materials with 3-0 gauge (Polytetraflouroethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyglactin 910, polyglycolic acid, poliglecaprone 25, polydioxanone, and silk) were compared in terms of mechanical strength. All sutures were tied with a simple suture technique. Each material contained 10 samples per group, with a total sample size of 80 specimens. Failure load was measured in N while elongation was measured in µm using a microtensile testing device. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the difference in failure loads and elongation values. Results: Polydioxanone was significantly more resistant to tensile forces among all tested materials (p