Background: Maxillary lateral incisor agenesis, peg-shaped lateral incisors, impacted canines, and cleft lip and palate frequently involve the maxillary lateral incisor–canine region and often show side-related distribution patterns. Whether trabecular bone structure within this region differs between sides in clinically healthy individuals remains unclear. This study evaluated right–left differences in maxillary trabecular bone structure using fractal analysis. Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 88 adults (43 males, 45 females; 18–40 years) with Class I occlusion and no dental, skeletal, or orofacial anomalies were retrospectively analyzed. Bilateral polygon-shaped ROIs were defined between the maxillary lateral incisor and canine roots. As methodological validation, standardized 20 × 20 pixel square ROIs were additionally analyzed. FD values were calculated using the ImageJ box-counting method. Inter-observer reliability was assessed by two independent oral and maxillofacial radiologists using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Dahlberg error. Right–left comparisons were performed using paired-samples t -tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Associations with age and sex were also evaluated. Results: Using anatomically defined freehand ROIs, FD values were significantly higher in the left maxillary region than in the right (0.77 ± 0.23 vs. 0.70 ± 0.25; mean paired difference = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01–0.13; p = 0.024; Cohen’s d _z  = 0.24 ). The same direction of the right–left difference was confirmed using standardized square ROIs. No significant right–left differences were found for ROI area ( p = 0.229), mean gray value ( p = 0.618), minimum gray value ( p = 0.682), or maximum gray value ( p = 0.708). The right–left FD difference was not associated with age or sex. Conclusions: A small but statistically significant right–left difference in FD values was detected within the maxillary lateral incisor–canine region. Although the effect size was small and the biological significance remains uncertain, consistent findings across two ROI approaches together with excellent inter-observer reproducibility support the methodological consistency of the proposed protocol. The findings should be interpreted as a subtle radiographic observation rather than as definitive evidence of physiological maxillary asymmetry. Clinical trial registration: Not applicable.

To evaluate postoperative adaptive changes in the mandibular condyle after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in skeletal Class III patients and compare these changes according to mandibular fixation type. Twenty-six patients treated with Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy were divided into semirigid and rigid fixation groups. Preoperative and 1-year postoperative CBCT images were analyzed. Condylar trabecular microstructure was assessed by three-dimensional fractal analysis, and cortical bone thickness was measured in five regions. Baseline cephalometric variables, cortical thickness, and fractal dimension values were similar between groups. The semirigid group showed increased medial and decreased superior cortical thickness, while the rigid group showed no significant cortical changes. Fractal dimension values remained stable in both groups. Intergroup comparison showed a significant difference only in superior cortical thickness change. Fixation type did not markedly affect condylar trabecular microstructure, although superior cortical remodeling may differ by fixation method.

Background/Objectives: Clear aligner mandibular advancement (MA) is an aesthetic alternative to conventional functional appliances in growing patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion. This study compared dentoskeletal changes and mandibular trabecular bone texture after clear aligner MA and Twin Block therapy using fractal dimension (FD) and lacunarity analyses. Methods: This retrospective study included 54 growing patients divided into Twin Block, MA, and untreated control groups (n = 18 each). Pretreatment and posttreatment panoramic radiographs were evaluated in all groups; lateral cephalometric radiographs were available only for treated patients. Standard cephalometric and Pancherz sagittal analyses assessed dentoskeletal changes. FD was calculated using box counting, and lacunarity was assessed in standardized mandibular regions. Exploratory regional comparisons were adjusted using the Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) procedure. Results: Both treatment groups showed significant increases in sella–nasion–point B (SNB) and decreases in point A–nasion–point B (ANB), overjet, and overbite (p < 0.05). Pancherz analysis identified significant intergroup differences in molar relationship, condylar head position, and maxillary molar movement, but not mandibular base position, mandibular length, overjet, or incisor-related changes. Baseline molar relationship also differed between treatment groups (p = 0.046), warranting caution when interpreting molar correction. In unadjusted analyses, right mandibular corpus FD (p = 0.043) and right condylar lacunarity (p = 0.029) increased in the Twin Block group; neither remained significant after FDR correction. No significant intergroup differences were observed in FD or lacunarity changes. Conclusions: Both therapies improved sagittal relationships, but neither produced consistent treatment-specific changes in mandibular trabecular complexity or spatial heterogeneity during the approximately one-year observation period. Isolated regional findings were not robust after multiple-comparison correction.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the ultrasonographic thickness and shear wave elastography (SWE)-derived stiffness of the mentalis muscle across different sagittal skeletal patterns and to investigate their relationships with mandibular symphysis morphology and cephalometric variables. Methods: Forty-eight adults aged 18–35 years were classified according to ANB angle into Class I, Class II, and Class III groups, with 16 participants in each group. Mentalis muscle thickness and stiffness were assessed bilaterally at lateral, intermediate, and medial regions using ultrasonography and SWE. Cephalometric skeletal, dental, soft-tissue, and symphyseal measurements were evaluated. Group comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA or Welch’s ANOVA, as appropriate, and within-group associations were assessed using Pearson correlation analysis with Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate correction applied separately to elastography and muscle-thickness correlation families. Results: Mentalis muscle thickness did not differ significantly among the skeletal groups. Right intermediate elastography was the only ultrasonographic parameter showing a significant overall intergroup difference (p = 0.011, η² = 0.182), with Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons showing significantly higher values in Class II than in Class I (adjusted p = 0.012). After FDR correction, selected associations between elastographic stiffness and skeletal, dental, or soft-tissue variables remained significant, whereas no muscle-thickness correlations remained significant. These associations varied across skeletal groups and were considered exploratory. Conclusions: Resting ultrasonographic characteristics of the mentalis muscle showed no consistent association with mandibular symphysis morphology across sagittal skeletal patterns. Mentalis muscle thickness was comparable among the groups, whereas elastographic stiffness demonstrated only a limited and region-specific between-group difference. Selected associations with skeletal and soft-tissue variables were observed; however, these exploratory findings should not be interpreted as evidence of skeletal-class-specific biological mechanisms. Larger studies incorporating functional assessments of the perioral musculature are needed to confirm these findings.

Objective: To investigate the effect of different imaging modes and voxel sizes on linear measurement accuracy and organ radiation doses in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for dental implant planning.Materials and Methods: Four dry skull specimens (2 maxillae, 2 mandibles) with gutta-percha reference markers at specific anatomical sites were scanned. Soft-tissue simulation was performed using three layers of wax (mean thickness: 4.5 mm). CBCT scans were performed using a Newtom 7G device in three modes: low-dose, regular-dose, and best-quality. Initial measurements between reference points were recorded using a digital caliper. Subsequently, an experienced oral radiologist performed measurements on CBCT images reconstructed at different voxel sizes. Organ doses were calculated using PCXMC 2.0 Rotation software based on dose-area product values.Results: High agreement was observed between caliper measurements and all CBCT protocols (p

Dentistry education, unlike other professional programs, consists of three core components: theoretical education, laboratory (pre-clinical) practices, and clinical training. These components, along with various social programs, research projects, and interdisciplinary experiences, are highly integrated. With the global accessibility of the internet, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shift toward virtual learning across many fields. However, the unique structure of dentistry education has limited the widespread implementation of distance learning strategies. Aim and Method: This review aims to evaluate the perceptions of dentistry students regarding distance learning and in-class education, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A detailed literature review was conducted, and relevant findings were summarized. Conclusion: Zhang et al.'s survey showed that 53.8% of students reported difficulty recalling material during distance learning, and 64.1% found it harder to concentrate compared to face-to-face lessons. Additionally, 79.5% experienced fatigue during online education. Despite challenges in practical training, students generally felt they had received adequate pre-clinical education. The pandemic impacted both learning and practical training, with students expressing fear of infection. Distance learning with interactive activities, quality materials, and well-organized modules can improve students' learning experiences and satisfaction, providing guidance for future educational models.