Objective: To evaluate the applications of 3d printing /additive manufacturing (AM) in dental education & clinical dentistry and elaborate various 3d printing technologies, its benefits, limitations and future scope. Methods: Research papers on the application of 3d printing in dentistry were searched in Scopus and Pubmed and studied using bibliometric analysis.  This review briefly describes various types of 3d printing technologies with their accuracy, use of different materials for 3d printing and their respective dental applications. It also discusses various steps used to create 3D printed dental model using this technology. Furthermore, the application of this technology in dental education and various clinical procedures are discussed.  Results: 3d printing is an innovative technology making a paradigm shift towards treatment customization. It helps in customized production of dental implants, surgical guides, anatomic models etc. using computer-aided design (CAD) data. This technology coupled with state-of-the-art imaging techniques and CAD software has enabled, especially oral surgeons to precisely plan and execute complex surgeries with relative ease, high accuracy and lesser time. 3d printing is also being utilized in other disciplines of dentistry to prepare aligners, crown and bridge, endodontic guides, periodontal surgery guides, surgical models for treatment planning and patient education. Alongside its possibilities have also been explored in preclinical skills in operative, endodontics etc.    KEYWORDS  3D printing; Additive manufacturing; Dental applications of 3d printing.

The aim of this in vitro investigation was to evaluate and compare the incipient enamel lesions remineralized by topical application of casein phospho peptide amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) cream with and without fluoride. Method: Sixty caries free teeth were used in the study. They were divided into four groups as positive control, negative control and two experimental groups.The samples were demineralized and then remineralized using a CPP-ACP Cream with and without fluoride. The remineralization was evaluated at 7, 14 and 21 days using laser fluorescence. Results of this study showed that the laser fluorescence readings of test samples for remineralization were very highly significant at 14 and 21 days (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The degree of remineralization achieved between CPP-ACP and CPP-ACP with fluoride was statistically significant ( p = 0.040) at 21 days.

No abstract

Background and Aims: In periodontal disease, pathogenic inflammatory factors hold a vital part in adverse pregnancy outcomes. In recent years, there has been a large amount of literature concerning the association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth (PTB) and low-birth-weight baby (LBWB). In the Middle-east region, reports indicate a higher rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and periodontitis is believed to be one of several risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. This cross-sectional, epidemiological study aimed to investigate the prevalence of periodontal diseases among pregnant women in the Qassim region and its association as a possible risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Materials and Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, epidemiological study of 380 pregnant women from the 8th week postconception to parturition who were attending to Maternal and Children's Hospital in Buraidah, Qassim, KSA. The data were collected through questionnaire and oral examination. Plaque scores (Silness and Loe) and gingival disease scores (Ramfjord Periodontal Disease Index [PDI]) were used to assess oral hygiene status. The questionnaire data collected included gestational age, plaque control habits, previous incidences of premature birth, and awareness of expectant mothers about periodontal disease. Results: Data were collected for 380 participants. Our results based on the plaque index and PDI showed that all (100%) of these 380 pregnant women suffered periodontal diseases (gingivitis 78.9% and periodontitis 21.1%). The distribution of gingivitis was the highest among 3rd trimester patients and lowest among 1st trimester patients. Mild-to-moderate types of periodontitis (4 mm–5 mm) were more prevalent among the participants compared with severe (more than 6 mm) forms of periodontitis with a higher prevalence in the 3rd trimester (7–9 months) of gestational age. Conclusions: A very strong significant association of pregnancy and periodontal disease in the Saudi population (Qassim Region) and periodontal disease is risk factor for PTB and LBWB for these patients.

Inquisitive children often insert foreign bodies into their nose or other body orifices while they explore their own bodies in early childhood. Intranasal foreign bodies are found in children, most commonly in 2-4 years olds.Common symptoms in such cases include pain or discomfort, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, nasal odor, including bromhidrosis (foul body odor). Complications, such as facial cellulitis, epiglottitis, and cephalic tetanus have also been reported. Mentally challenged children may be at a higher risk for such foreign body insertion and may need to be examined at regular intervals.Careful interpretation of dental radiographs can go a long way in diagnosing such cases especially in the absence of a positive history. Radiolucent objects are more difficult to identify especially in the absence of a positive history, and hence their diagnosis and removal is more challenging for the clinician.Dental practitioners can play a significant role in the diagnosis of intranasal foreign bodies in children through careful clinical examination and interpretation of dental radiographs.This case report describes a child referred for dental care and a diagnosis of intranasal foreign body was made based on routine dental panoramic radiograph.