[en] Systemic scleroderma is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by excessive deposition of collagen and other connective tissue components in the skin and several internal organs. The most common oral findings are rigidity and thinness of lips, circumoral fibrosis which causes microstomia and inability to open the mouth widely. Involvement of tongue may lead to its decreased mobility and diminished size. Radiographic findings that have been classically associated with systemic scleroderma are widening of the periodontal ligament spaces and destruction of lamina dura, usually in posterior teeth. Intraoral radiographs of presented cases revealed apical resorption of the roots and destruction of the lamina dura verified on extraction of the teeth. This oral finding appears not to have been recorded by previous investigators of scleroderma. (author)

[en] Human periodontal ligament fibroblasts and L 929 cell line labelled with chromium 51 were examined byelectron microscope to evaluate the effect of the chromium labeling on the cell ultrastructure. The cells were labeled with chromium 12-20 hours before the start of the experiment. After two and four hours of incubation at 37 degree C and 100% humidity, the cells were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The result showed that the chromium labeling did not cause any morphological changes. (author)

[en] To assess the role and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of pain resulting from dry socket. From January 2006 to May 2007, 25 patients who had been diagnosed by the oral surgeon in the Dental Department of Princess Haya Hospital, Aqaba, Jordan with dry socket with severe intolerable pain, untreated with the classical treatments, were treated with HBOT. Fifteen patients (60%) were treated in a single HBOT session after which an almost complete resolution of pain took place, 7 patients (28%) were treated in 2 sessions and 3 patients (12%) needed 3 HBOT sessions to cure the pain. This preliminary study to assess the role of HBOT in the treatment of dry socket pain showed a great reduction of pain intensity of dry socket following administration of HBOT. (author)

[en] Previous studies have reported different levels of perception of attractiveness among different ethnicities and among varying education-level groups on facial profile rating.To study the perception of facial profile attractiveness among Saudi dentists and lay-individuals. Digital facial profile images with altered degree of prognathism and retrognathism were presented to a sample of 60 Saudi dentists and 60 lay-persons with equal gender distribution. High reliability of repeated assessment of profile images was detected (ICC=0.982). Significant difference in perception of facial profile was found between genders (P<0.05) and among the groups with different education backgrounds (P<0.001). General agreement was established in both sample groups on average facial profile to be the most attractive and on the most retrognathic profile to be the least attractive. (author)

[en] Completely and partially edentulous jaws of Saudi and non-Saudi patients were radiographically examined to detect the presence of embedded root fragments. Orthopantomograplis of 237 completely edentulous patients and intra-oral radiographs of 293 partially edentulous patients were included in the study. One or more root fragments were found in the jaws of 2 7 percent of the completely edentu lous patients and 13 percent of the partially edentulous patients. Anatomical landmarks were used for identification of the tooth to which a root fragment belonged and distribution of root fragments in the jaws was determined. Percentages of the root fragments found in each jaw and each quadrant of the mouth were calculated separately for Saudi and non-Saudi edentulous patients. Findings of the present study were compared with those of previous reports. (author)

[en] Almost all conferences for plastic and maxillofacial surgery discuss reports on several methods of orthognathic surgery, planning, success results, and complications of the different procedures carried out to correct patient's soft and hard tissues frontal profiles and occlusal discrepancies. Various principles are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of facial deformities. However, the most important consideration, after all, is the final accepted aesthetic and functional requirements and stability of the moved segments. The objective of this paper is to give the basic principles of treatment planning for correcting facial discrepancies, surgical approach to different cases, and the methods to increase stability of the moved segments. Six cases are included to illustrate the different aspects of treatment planning, surgical management, and stabilization methods. (author)

[en] Due to the increased incidence of road traffic accidents, fractures of the facial skeleton are on the rise with condylar fracture being almost 50% in some societies. The latter is usually treated either surgically or conservatively. Advocates of the conservative approach believe that the only indication for surgical intervention is displacement of the fractured condyle with a magnitude and direction such that occlusion is impossible and function is deranged. This paper presents findings in eight patients with history of fractured condyle, who were managed conservatively but presented later with serious and late complications. (author)

[en] Root canal filling materials are used to obturate the root canal space. Several studies have been made in order to investigate their physical properties. A general review of these properties are discussed in this paper. (author)

[en] To study the effectiveness of reduction of E. faecalis in root canals with passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) of 2.25% NaOCl for 1.5 min intermittently during hand instrumentation and continuously after rotary instrumentation. Forty-eight extracted single rooted teeth were filled with E. faecalis suspension and divided into 4 groups. They were either hand instrumented alone using the stepback technique, hand instrumented with PUI of the 2.25% NaOCl intermittently for a total of 1.5 min during the instrumentation, rotary instrumented with ProFile 0.04 alone, or rotary instrumented with PUI of the irrigant for 1.5 min. There was significantly more bacterial growth in the hand instrumented group than in the hand instrumented group with PUI, and marginal significant difference in the hand instrumented group with PUI compared to the rotary instrumented group. No differences were found between the rotary instrumented groups. It was concluded that intermittent use of PUI of 2.25% NaOCl for a total of 1.5 min (half of the current recommended time) during hand instrumentation reduced bacterial colonies significantly. There was no difference in bacterial reduction when rotary instrumentation was used with or without PUI. (author)

[en] Dental caries is a disease of multifactorial etiology and results from a complex interaction between both cariogenic and protective influences acting on the teeth. Though diet plays a major role in the causation of dental caries it has been a common mistake to over-simplify the relationship. Dietary manipulation is also extremely difficult to achieve thus limiting its role in the prevention of caries. Accordingly, alternative preventive measures such as the use of fissure sealants and fluoride which enhance the resistance of the host to disease and are of proven efficacy are more likely to be successful in the control and prevention of dental caries. (author)