Clinical trials

Dento- alveolar or dental structural diseases that affect the floor of the maxillary sinus can cause maxillary sinusitis which is known as odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS). Many treatment protocols have been documented to treat OMS. However, There is no unanimity among clinicians on how and who should treat OMS, whether is it otolaryngologist, oral/maxillofacial surgeons, or dentist. Therefore, this study will be will be enrolled to evaluate the efficacy of the Single-step Functional Sinus endoscopy and trans-oral surgery in the management of maxillary sinusitis raised from Odontogenic origin via Department- integrated therapy.

Background The chronic oroantral fistulas (COAF) is an epithelized communication that is formed between the squamous epithelium of the oral cavity and the pseudo-stratified columnar ciliated epithelium of the maxillary sinus with a high recurrent rate. The use of palatal flaps has been documented for treating such fistulae. The presence of the oroantral fistula at the area of second molars or maxillary tuberosity could complicate the use of the palatal rotational flap where the arch of its rotation is increased leading to compromised blood supply. The use of the buccal flap is not advocated because it is very thin. Rationale Double or triple-layer closure is indicated to avoid recurrence of the COAF. Different layers have been documented to minimize the risk of recurrence and reinforce buccal flaps. The oral tissues at the oral side of the oroantral fistula could used as an additional layer with buccal advancement flap and buccal fat to omit the use of palatal flap with its subsequent problems in the most posterior aspect of the maxilla Study objectives Therefore, this study will be conducted to evaluate the use of hinge flaps to reinforce the buccal advancement flap for surgical closure of the COAF in the most posterior area of the maxilla Methods The hinge flap will be performed at the oral side of the COAF to close the perforation in the sinus membrane. The oral side of the COAF will be closed with buccal advancement flap. The success rate, recurrence, time of surgery, postoperative complications, will be evaluated.

This study compares the effectiveness of two different volumes of buccal infiltration of Articaine for the extraction of mandibular posterior teeth. One group receives buccal infiltration of 1.8 ml of 4% Articaine and the other group receives buccal infiltration of 3.6 ml of 4% Articaine.

This study aims to explore a new way of delivering health information using an AI-generated podcast. The podcast, created with Google NotebookLM, uses verified content from the American Academy of Periodontology website to provide easy-to-understand information on gum health and prevention. The goal is to determine whether this AI-generated podcast is a useful, engaging, and clear tool for educating the general public about health topics. Traditional health podcasts often feature expert interviews and can be lengthy, which sometimes limits their appeal and accessibility. By using AI to generate the podcast, investigator hope to offer a more standardized and concise presentation that avoids technical jargon. To evaluate the podcast, investigator developed a questionnaire based on the Questionnaire for Assessing Educational Podcasts (QAEP). This questionnaire was adapted to better suit a non-specialist audience and covers four key areas: how easy the podcast is to access and use, the design and structure of the podcast, the clarity and completeness of the content, and the podcast's value as a learning tool. Before using this questionnaire with the general public, investigator sent it to 10 experts in dentistry, public health, and communication for their review and feedback. Their input helped us make minor modifications to ensure the questionnaire is both clear and scientifically sound. After these revisions, investigator conducted a pilot study with 30 members of the general public who listened to the podcast and completed the questionnaire. This study will assess the feasibility and validity of using an AI-generated podcast as a health education tool. The results will help determine if this approach can effectively improve public understanding of health information and may guide the future design of digital health communication strategies.

Empathy is a crucial element in the practice of dentistry, significantly influencing patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of empathy in healthcare, suggesting that it is essential for effective clinician-patient communication and overall quality of care. Despite its recognized value, there is a concerning trend of declining empathy levels among dental students as they progress through their education. This decline may adversely affect their ability to connect with patients, ultimately impacting the quality of dental care provided. In Saudi Arabia, research on empathy within dental education remains limited. A study conducted at King Abdulaziz University indicated that while dental students exhibited a sense of moral obligation, their overall empathy scores were lower than anticipated1. Furthermore, factors such as gender and academic year were found to influence empathy levels, with female students generally scoring higher than their male counterparts. Another study from Dammam reported similar findings, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to enhance empathy among dental students and interns. This proposed cross-sectional study aims to assess empathy levels among dental hygiene students and interns in Saudi Arabia. By utilizing the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students (JSE-HPS), this research will explore how demographic factors such as age, gender, and academic year correlate with empathy scores. The insights gained from this study could inform curriculum development and training programs aimed at fostering empathetic communication skills among future dental professionals.