There is noticeable variability in reporting the prevalence of impacted teeth, which can be attributed to the variability in the age, gender, and type of populations investigated. Panoramic radiographs were examined retrospectively for patients who attended dental clinics at King Abdulaziz Medical City and the College of Dentistry at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The sampling frame for the orthodontic population included digital records of 2998 patients randomly selected from an original 8000 patients treated from 2016 to 2022 in the orthodontic clinic. For the general population, 3002 patients were randomly selected from an original 15000 patients treated at the dental college from 2016 to 2022. A tooth was considered impacted if it failed to erupt after two years of the expected complete root formation. The prevalence of at least a single impacted tooth was higher in the orthodontic population (13.2 %) than in the general population (11.2 %). However, this difference was not statistically significant, p = 0.103. The orthodontic population had a significantly higher prevalence of impacted #13, #11,#23,#25. In contrast, the general population had a significantly higher prevalence of all third molars impaction (p < 0.005). Although the prevalence of at least a single tooth impaction between the orthodontic and general populations was not significantly different, the type of teeth differs. Hence, understanding the type of population investigated while reporting the prevalence of impacted teeth is critical in understanding the variability between different reports.

Background: Social media has transformed communication and information sharing, significantly impacting various fields, including healthcare. This study investigates the influence of orthodontists’ social media posts on the Saudi public’s willingness to seek orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Saudi adults residing in the central region of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire comprised three main sections, respectively aiming to capture the respondents’ demographic data, social media preferences, and willingness to seek orthodontic treatment (whereby images depicting different themes were rated on a 0− 10 scale). ANOVA was used to compare continuous data across multiple groups, while the unpaired t-test compared continuous data between two groups. The Pearson chi-squared test assessed frequency differences, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Based on the survey involving 1267 Saudis, Snapchat is the most frequently browsed social media platform, followed by TikTok and Twitter. Image themes most likely to increase willingness to seek orthodontic treatment were “Before and After (Intraoral)” and “Before and After (Extraoral)”, with the average scores of 8.06 and 7.83, respectively. In contrast, images of “orthodontic screws” (3.45) and “orthodontic elastics” (3.79) were the least impactful. Conclusion: The types of images orthodontists share on social media can significantly influence the Saudi public’s willingness to seek treatment. By strategically using social media and posting visually appealing content, orthodontists have the potential to enhance public interest and grow their practices effectively.

Background: This study aimed to assess sleep medicine physicians’ knowledge and attitudes toward the role of oral appliances (OAs) in managing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Saudi Arabia. Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to the registered physicians practicing sleep medicine (otolaryngology, internal medicine, pulmonology, and family medicine) in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included 26 questions under five domains. All the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Results: One hundred sleep physicians (43% Saudi, 75% male) from Saudi Arabia participated in this study. Almost 43% of participants reported inadequate knowledge of the treatment of OSA patients using OAs. Half of the participants were unaware of how OAs work in managing OSA. Most physicians (62%) never referred the patient for treatment of OSA using OAs, whereas 4% referred at least one patient every month. The majority (60%) believed that there are barriers to referring a case for OA treatment, mainly the lack of knowledge of the suitable cases (60%) and the lack of qualified dentists in this area (43%). Conclusion: Most sleep physicians reported poor knowledge of OA indications and mechanism of use, with most never referring a case for OA therapy.

Tooth impaction is a common developmental dental anomaly that may lead to significant clinical complications. Although several studies have investigated the prevalence of impacted teeth in Saudi Arabia, the available evidence is heterogeneous and varies considerably according to study design and population characteristics. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of impacted permanent teeth in Saudi Arabia, evaluate tooth-specific impaction rates, and compare prevalence estimates between general and orthodontic populations. A systematic search of MEDLINE, Scopus, and EMBASE databases was conducted up to January 1^st, 2025, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Descriptive cross-sectional studies reporting the prevalence of impacted permanent teeth in Saudi Arabia were included. Study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled prevalence, and subgroup analyses were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. Twenty studies encompassing a pooled sample of 80,029 patients were included. The estimated pooled prevalence of a permanent tooth impaction was 7% (95% confidence interval: 4%–11%), with considerable heterogeneity across studies. Mandibular third molars were the most frequently impacted teeth (15.9%), followed by maxillary third molars (6.2%) and maxillary canines (3.2%). Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference in the overall prevalence of tooth impaction between general and orthodontic populations. However, maxillary canine impaction was significantly more prevalent among orthodontic patients compared to the general population (p < 0.05). Permanent tooth impaction affects approximately one in 14 patients attending dental clinics in Saudi Arabia, with third molars and maxillary canines being most commonly involved. These findings provide a comprehensive nationwide epidemiological reference and emphasize the need for early detection and targeted clinical assessment, particularly for maxillary canine impaction.