Objectives. This study aimed to validate the accuracy of working length (WL) measurements obtained with the newly introduced Propex IQ apex locator and to compare it with the latest generations of other electronic apex locators, CBCT, and conventional periapical radiographs by using the actual WL measurements obtained by using an endodontics microscope as a reference. Materials and Methods. Thirty-five extracted single-rooted human mandibular first premolars with curvatures from 10° to 20° were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and cut at the cementoenamel junction to achieve a standard reference point for WL determination. The actual WL was obtained by inserting a size-15 k-file in the root canal until the tip of the file was visible under an endodontic microscope. The definitive WL was measured using Propex IQ (Dentsply Sirona), Raypex 6 (VDW Dental), Root ZX (Morita), and Apex ID (Kerr Dental). In addition, radiographic WL was obtained using periapical radiographs and CBCT. One-way ANOVA was used for comparisons of the WL values, with a p value < 0.05. The percentage of success of each method for determination of the definitive WL was assessed using cross-tabulation and chi-square tests. Results. CBCT radiographs and Propex IQ apex locator yielded the most accurate WL measurements in comparison with the actual WL measurements ( p < 0.05 ). Raypex 6, Root ZX, and Apex ID yielded more accurate WL measurements than conventional periapical radiographs ( p < 0.05 ). Periapical radiographs yielded the least accurate WL measurements in comparison with the actual WL values ( p < 0.05 ). Conclusions. Within the limitations of this study, the Propex IQ apex locator showed higher accuracy than Raypex 6, Root ZX, and Apex ID for WL determination in the root canal. Nevertheless, CBCT radiographs yielded the maximum accuracy for WL measurements.

Objectives Dental students must complete two stages of training, namely, preclinical training on phantom head models and clinical training on actual patients to acquire the practical skills required by their Bachelor of Dental Surgery program.Our objectives are to evaluate the level of improvement of the manual skills obtained by third-year dental students after one full academic year of preclinical training courses using dexterity tests under direct and indirect vision and to compare the improvement among male and female dental students under the same conditions. Materials and Methods A total of 72 preclinical students participated in our cohort trial, each of whom was assigned a random identification number that was only known to the researchers. After the beginning of the academic year, the experiment was performed under identical conditions for both the O'Connor Tweezer Dexterity Test and the Purdue Pegboard Test. The examinations were conducted at two distinct times: T0 before phantom laboratory training (the beginning of preclinical sessions) and T1 after phantom laboratory training (9 months after T0). Statistical Analysis Signed-rank test of Wilcoxon over two separate periods (T0 and T1), comparisons were made between the direct and indirect visual dexterity test scores. In addition, the Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare results across gender. The statistical significance (p-value) was set at below 0.05 with a confidence level of 95%. Results A statistically significant difference was detected between the T0 and T1 assessments on the Purdue Pegboard Test and the O'Connor Tweezer Dexterity Test for all selected dentistry students in both direct and indirect conditions (p < 0.001). Conclusion Further investigation in other dental departments or schools, particularly those with different entry standards, is required prior to making a definitive conclusion about the use of these dexterity assessments as predictors of prospective dental students' performance.

The current study aims to measure the variations of the mesiodistal width of permanent teeth in a sample of patients attending Ajman University Dental Hospital. Materials and Method: A Descriptive cross-sectional study of 85 pretreatment study casts of patients (M:33, F:52) aged between 11-38 attending the Orthodontic unit at Ajman University Dental Hospital. The samples were selected randomly for measurements, which were performed using an electronic digital calibre. The width of an individual tooth is measured accurately from the mesial contact point to the distal contact point. The measurement was performed for all the 12 maxillary and mandibular teeth (from 16 to 26 and 36 to 46). The data put up in an excel sheet and sent to the statistician for analysis. Results: Class I and II showed a higher overall ratio and anterior ratio in males with no difference between the gender neither in the anterior or the overall ratio. At the same time, Class III malocclusion had a significant difference in both overall and anterior ratios. The maxillary 1st premolars and 2nd premolars teeth have insignificant mesiodistal differences between genders, while the maxillary canine and the 2nd premolar have a significant difference between right and left quadrants. The mandibular teeth showed no significant difference in mesiodistal width between right and left quadrants. Conclusion: The insignificant difference between the sample and Bolton in the anterior and posterior ratios in Class I & II cases explain the similarity of the racial feature. There is a significant difference in Class III between our sample and the Bolton original work.