Background. Diseases of the paranasal sinuses are very prevalent in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, which is attributed to various reasons, including environmental and anatomical factors. This study investigated the prevalence of anatomical variations of nasal septum deviation and evaluated the effect of this factor on increasing the mucosal thickness of the sinuses. Methods. The samples included all the patients referred to Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry, and the frequency of nasal septum deviation in the sample population was evaluated. The samples were re-examined to select the samples with a thickened mucosa of the maxillary sinus. The results were reported using descriptive statistical methods. Results. Deviation of the nasal septum was seen in 75% of the cases. The results showed that 31.76 % of males and 56.67% of females had an increased maxillary sinus mucosa thickness. Conclusion. There was a significant relationship between nasal septum deviation and thickening of the maxillary sinus mucosa.

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Objective: To compared the accuracy of digital radiography in the diagnosis of interproximal caries in permanent teeth with conventional radiography and visual examination. Material and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 78 human premolars, which seem normal in primary examination, are mounted on the plaster in a pair-wise manner and their caries are visually evaluated. Conventional and digital radiographic images are taken under the same conditions and their caries are graded with Confidence Score. To determine the golden standard, after mesiodistal incision, the teeth are examined using stereomicroscopy. Finally, the results obtained by visual observation and conventional radiography as well as digital images were compared with those obtained from the stereomicroscopy to determine their accuracy in detecting the interproximal caries. Results: The consistencies between the visual, digital, and conventional methods with the standard method (microscopic histology) are 53%, 78%, and 50% respectively-all of them are significant (p<0.05). The highest and the lowest sensitivities are related to the digital (96%) and visual (88%) methods respectively, while the highest and lowest specificities are related to the digital (79%) and conventional (50%) methods respectively. The highest and lowest positive predictive value is related to the digital (79%) and conventional (80%) methods respectively. The highest and lowest negative predictive values are related to the digital (90%) and visual (71%) methods respectively. Compared with the standard methodology, the most accurate diagnostic accuracy can be seen for the digital method (91%). Conclusion: There is no significant difference in the diagnosis of interproximal caries by different methods, and the only advantage of digital radiography, compared with the conventional one, is storing radiographs without losing important information and the lower dose of radiation for the patient.

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Objective: To compare the accuracy of digital radiography and CBCT for the diagnosis of vertical root fractures in single root teeth. Material and Methods: For this descriptive-analytic study, 50 non-fractured, single-root teeth were selected. The teeth were randomly divided into a control and an experimental group (25 teeth in each group). The teeth in the control group did not have vertical root fractures. In the test group, after preparing the access cavity, the root canal was cleared and loosened up to No. 80 file, then a vertical root fracture was created by one of the K-Reamers Nos. 90-130.The images were prepared by CBCT radiography in axial and cross-sectional slices and in digital radiography with PSP sensors at mesial, distal, and parallel angles. The Chi-square test was used to express the correlation of variables. Results: In the diagnosis of vertical root fractures, the sensitivity of CBCT in the axial section was 32% and in the cross-sectional slice it was 20%, whereas the specificity in both the sections was 100%. The sensitivity of the digital radiography in detecting vertical root fractures for parallel, mesial, and distal angles was 38%, 16%, and 24%, respectively. Conclusion: According to this study, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of digital radiography and CBCT were not significantly different.