Objectives: To evaluate the perceptions of clinical dental students on the role of online education in providing dental education during the COVID-19 crisis.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was sent to four Egyptian dental schools from the 20th of January 2021 to the 3rd of February 2021. Survey questions included the demographics, uses, experiences, perceived benefits, and barriers of distance learning in dentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were collected from the clinical dental school students. Categorical data were presented as frequencies (n) and percentages (%) and were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test.Results: Three hundred thirty-seven clinical dental students across four Egyptian dental schools responded. Most students used either Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams to access the online content. The data showed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the academic performance of most participants (97.4%) with varying degrees. On average, students were neutral when asked to rate the online lectures, but did not find online practical education as effective (81.3%) as online theoretical teaching. The commonly described barriers to online teaching included loss of interaction with educators, inappropriateness in gaining clinical skills, and the instability of the internet connection.Conclusion: Despite the reported benefits, clinical dental students in Egypt preferred the hybrid approach in dental education as distance learning represented a prime challenge to gain adequate clinical dental skills.

Background. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) can provide precise assistance in odontometric measurements and to investigate the existence of sexual dimorphism in population. Aim of this study was to evaluate odontometric linear measurements obtained from CBCT software including mesiodistal, tooth length dimensions and enamel thickness of the mandibular canine and mandibular first molar and arch measurements for sexual dimorphism in Egyptian population sample. Material and Methods:The study was carried out on 100 subjects who visited the department of oral and maxillofacial radiology, Fayoum University for dental treatments. The study sample were grouped into two groups, group A (50 males) and group B (50 females) aged between 18-25 years old. CBCT examination was performed for all patients. The teeth which were selected for linear measurements using CBCT in the present study were 100 mandibular permanent canines (Lower 3) and 100 mandibular permanent 1st molar teeth (Lower 6), for each group respectively. The linear measurements were taken on crown width and height, Enamel thickness, arch depth and width.Results: There was a highly significant difference between Male and Female for odontometric measurements of mandibular right and left canines and 1st molars including (CWL3, CLL3, CWL6 at contact level, CWL6 at CEJ level and CLL6) while enamel thickness measurements showed nonsignificant differences between males and females including (ETL3 at cusp tip, ETML6, ETDL6 and ETL6 at mesio-lingual cusp tip). Arch measurements including (ICW, IMW through fossa and IMW through contact) showed high significant differences between males and females. ADD measurements revealed non-significant differences between both sexes, whereas the ADM values in females were larger than males with high significant differences. Conclusion:Odontometric parameters including mandibular canine, mandibular first molar crown width and length, inter-canine width and inter-molar width measurements based on CBCT imaging show highly significant gender difference. Thus, the parameters can be simple and reliable sexual dimorphism for medicolegal purpose and also it should be considered as part of the clinical diagnosis of orthodontic treatment and estimate of orthodontic clinical need in Egyptian population.

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Clefts of the lip or palate (CLPs) are the most common craniofacial birth defect, with a worldwide incidence of ~1 in 700 live births. The objective of this study is to assess the characteristics of the nasopharyngeal airway in growing vs. non-growing cleft lip/palate subjects and compare them with normal subjects. This retrospective study analyzed eighty-seven scans of three groups from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were coded and landmarks were identified using a Dolphin three-dimensional (3D) imaging software server (version 11.7; Patterson Dental Supply, Chatsworth, Calif). All values showed strong measurement reliability (>80), except for the nasopharynx measurement. Regarding gender difference, for the nasopharynx, female subjects (1261.32 ± 713.94) showed the lowest significant values in non-growing unilateral compared to males (6496.8 ± 2987) at p = 0.008. For oropharynx, in the growing bilateral cleft group, male subjects (13,046.79 ± 5521.89) showed a significant difference (p = 0.046) compared to females (8468.98 ± 4279.99). MP-SN, B, A, SNA., SN.B., and ANS-ME showed significant differences for cephalometric parameters (p < 0.05). Despite significant differences in linear and angular measurements, volumetric airway measurements showed no significant differences in the growing groups. For non-growing cleft subjects, the cleft anomaly significantly affected the nasal cavity and left maxillary sinus volumes.

Purpose This study was performed to identify the prevalence and etiological factors of maxillary midline diastema among a sample of adult patients undergoing orthodontic treatment in orthodontic private clinics in Qaloubya, Fayoum, and Giza governorates. Patients and methods Three hundred seventy-five patients (199 females and 176 males) were included in this study. The full records (intraoral photographies and radiographs) of all patients were examined and surveyed for the presence or absence of maxillary midline diastema and the possible etiological factors. Results 17.3% of the studied patients showed maxillary midline diastema, while 82.7% of them did not show diastema. There was no significant difference between the prevalence of midline diastema in different sexes (P = 0.079). The most common etiological factors were 38.5% congenitally missed laterals, 33.8% highly attached frenum, 20.0% generalized spaces, and 26.2% had flared incisors. Conclusion Prevalence of midline diastema in the studied patients was 17.3%, while 82.7% of patients did not have diastema.