Dentistry Commons^™

J Mich Dent Assoc Sept. 2026

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association delivers news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200-plus members. It remains the main publication reaching Michigan dentists and is available worldwide through ADA Commons.

The September 2026 (Volume 108, No. 9) issue of the Journal is published in print format to provide updates and insights for Michigan's oral health community and MDA members. Print editions occur every other month beginning with January.

This full compilation of the September 2026 Journal of the Michigan Dental Association features the deans' reports from the …

Patient-Centered Imaging In Dentistry, Erika Benavides Dds, Phd, Fabiana Naomi Soki, James R. Geist Dds, Ms, Angela M. Hoikka, Dds, Ms

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This clinical feature discusses joint guidelines by the ADA and AAOMR for patient-centered dental radiography and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), emphasizing individual risk-based needs rather than routine schedules. It covers the principles of radiation safety: justification, optimization (ALARA/ALADA), and dose limitation. The article maps out specific imaging modalities recommended for caries, periodontal disease, endodontics, orthodontics, implants, and TMJ disorders. Additionally, it summarizes Michigan's administrative rules for X-ray installation shielding, equipment alignment, stable mechanical support, operator positioning, and the mandatory radiography training program requirements for dental assistants.

Mda Public Relations Grant Program Opens Applications For 2026 Cycle, Timothy Rath

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Michigan Dental Association is opening applications for its 2026 Public Relations Grant Program, offering individual grants of up to $5,000, with $30,000 in total funding, to support component dental societies. The program funds creative community-focused initiatives scheduled for 2027 that educate the public and promote oral health, excluding purely charitable clinical care. Eligible projects emphasize relationship-building and community engagement. Highlighted success stories from previous cycles include oral health kit distributions, youth-focused educational events, and the expansion of the 'Give Kids A Smile' exams and preventive care clinics across Michigan.

Bulletin Ninth District Ny September 2026

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

In the September 2026 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• "2026 D. Austin Sniffen Medal of Honor Recipient" with "Past Medal of Honor Recipients"
• "ADA Commons: Connecting Dentists to Research, Publications and History"
• "The History of Communal Water Fluoridation and its Continued Safe and Efficacious Use Today"

Also included are your monthly President's Message, event updates, continuing education opportunities, membership news and classifieds.

The History Of Communal Water Fluoridation And Its Continued Safe And Efficacious Use Today, William J. Maloney

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

The profession of dentistry consistently strives to better the oral and dental conditions of people throughout the world. This is accomplished in a variety of ways- improving dental materials, refining and developing new technologies and educating the public on matters which affect their health. In order to achieve these beneficent goals dentistry relies on evidence-based facts and science.

Unfortunately, there will always be a segment of society which puts forth assertions that are not based on solid evidence. Communal water fluoridation has been a safe and effective public health effort to decrease humanity’s suffering from dental caries for decades. This …

Ada Commons: Connecting Dentists To Research, Publications And History, Alisun Dekock

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

Are you curious about what’s going on at other ADA state and local associations? Perhaps you are faced with a unique clinical or business question and wondering if your peers have written about a similar experience. ADA Commons is a new resource designed to help answer those questions.

Identifying Pyle's Metaphyseal Dysplasia – An Incidental Finding Of Skeletal Pathology On A Dental Checkup, Shruthi Parthasarathy, Amudhan Azhagan, Arthisri Anandhi Sekar, Poongodi V, Ram Shankar

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Introduction:

Pyle's disease, also known as familial metaphyseal dysplasia, is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder that primarily affects the skeletal system, particularly in children and adolescents. Characterized by distinctive radiographic features such as Erlenmeyer flask deformity and metaphyseal widening, Pyle's disease often goes underdiagnosed due to its mild clinical manifestations.

Case report:

This case report details a 15-year-old female patient presenting with retained milk teeth and unerupted permanent teeth, alongside notable skeletal abnormalities including genu valgum and kyphosis. Clinical and radiographic evaluations revealed significant dental anomalies, including multiple impacted permanent teeth and mild dysmorphic facial features. Although genetic testing …

Comparison Between The Tooth Coronal Index And Kvaal’S Method In Age Estimation In The Indonesian Population, Astika Swastirani, Nabilah Shafiyyah Rahmayati, Sari Kurniawati, Ferdy Jonathan Walelang

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Age estimation in adults is important in forensic odontology, and radiographic approaches such as the Tooth Coronal Index (TCI) and Kvaal's method are commonly applied to panoramic radiographs. This study aimed to compare the agreement of TCI and Kvaal age estimates with chronological age in adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study evaluated 100 panoramic radiographs (50 males, 50 females) of adults aged 23–45 years. Measurements were performed on mandibular first premolars using ImageJ. Accuracy was operationalized as the closeness of the estimated age to the chronological age and assessed using mean differences and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

Results …

Morphometric Evaluation Of The Styloid Process Using Cone-Beam Ct In A Central Anatolian Population, Melda Misirlioglu, Aslı Atacan Aslan

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Accurate evaluation of craniofacial anatomy is essential for diagnostic planning. Variations of the styloid process (SP) provide anatomical data that guide evidence-based clinical and surgical decisions in the head and neck region.

Methods: Retrospective cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans retrieved from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology were examined. SP length, medial angles, calcification patterns, and the radiomorphometric index were assessed.

Results: Middle-aged adults represented the majority of the sample. Gender had a statistically significant effect on SP morphology Type 1 was the most common bilaterally, followed by Type 2. Calcification patterns varied between genders …

Clinical Outcomes Of Adjunctive Use Of Oxygen-Releasing Formula In Non-Surgical Treatment Of Periodontal Abscess Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Anil Kumar Kanakamedala, Laxmi Kavya Gangireddy, Gautami S Penmetsa, Sruthima Gottumukkala, Mohan Kumar Pasupuleti, Konathala Santhosh Venkata Ramesh

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oxygen-releasing formula (ORF) as an adjunct in the non-surgical management of periodontal abscess in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This split-mouth clinical trial was conducted on 14 patients with periodontal abscess with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), who were divided into a control group, nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) alone, and a test group (NSPT+ORF). Parameters such as Landry's healing index (HI) were evaluated at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month. Probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing presence or absence (BOP) …

Diode Laser And Conventional Ferric Sulfate Pulpotomy In Deciduous Molars: Comparative Outcomes In Myanmar Children, Moe Myat Noe Phyu Dr, Ei Ei Myo, Soe Naing

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Pulpotomy is a widely accepted treatment for carious exposure of vital primary molars, using various medicaments. Currently, lasers have emerged as a non-pharmacologic pulpotomy technique. However, comparative clinical studies in Myanmar remain limited. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of diode laser and conventional ferric sulfate pulpotomy in deciduous molars among children in Myanmar.

Methods: A total of 40 deciduous mandibular molars requiring pulpotomy treatment were selected from children between 4 and 8 years of age. The subjects were randomly assigned to the diode laser group (Group A) or the ferric sulfate group (Group B) using …

The Association Between Hypodontia, Supernumerary Teeth, Cleft Type, And Cleft Side In Pediatric Non-Syndromic Cleft Patients In Malaysia, Tan Hwa En, Mohammad Majduddin Sulaiman, Norsamsu Arni Samsudin, Nurhafizah Ghani

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Cleft lip and palate are the fourth most common congenital facial anomalies worldwide. Cleft patients have a higher prevalence of dental anomalies than the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hypodontia and supernumerary teeth among the permanent teeth of pediatric patients with clefts at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Methods: A retrospective record review study was conducted using dental records and panoramic radiographs from 64 non-syndromic cleft patients aged 6 to 17 years who attended Hospital Pakar USM between 2019 and 2024. Inter-examiner reliability for the assessment of hypodontia was strong, with …

Psychosocial And Functional Impact Of Temporomandibular Disorder Subtypes Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study In Indonesia, Ni Luh Dewi, Wita Anggraini, Maria Valiente-Lopez, Carolina Marpaung

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) affect psychological, functional, and pain-related aspects of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). However, the differential impact of pain-related and non-pain-related TMDs remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different TMD subtypes on psychological distress, jaw function, and OHRQoL in young adults and to determine whether pain-related TMDs exert a greater effect than non-pain-related TMDs.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 278 university students (aged 18–24 years) were categorized into no TMD (NT), pain-related TMD (PT), intra-articular TMD (IT), and combined TMD (CT). Diagnoses were made using the 5Ts Questionnaire screening tool …

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting In Dental Practice And The Importance Of Pharmacovigilance In Dental Education, Radhakrishna Lagishetty, Lakshmi Ramya T, Kvr Barath Raju, Mohan Kumar Pasupuleti

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a critical component of patient safety; however, ADR monitoring remains underutilized in dentistry. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding ADR reporting among undergraduate and postgraduate students and practicing dentists.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a structured, validated 19-item questionnaire covering socio-demographics, knowledge (6 items), attitude (4 items), and practice (5 items), which was distributed both in person and online. A total of 258 complete responses were analyzed out of 300 individuals contacted (response rate: 86%). Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were applied, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results …

Investigation Of Patients' Use Of Non-Pharmacological Substances In Dental Pain Management, Neslihan Yılmaz Çırakoğlu, Özgenur Kaya

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Dental pain is a complex condition influenced by biological, biochemical, environmental, and psychological factors. Before seeking professional care, many patients attempt to relieve dental pain using self-administered, non-medical agents. This study aimed to investigate patients’ use of non-pharmacological substances in dental pain management and to identify factors influencing these practices.

Methods: The questionnaire consisted of four sections addressing demographic characteristics, oral hygiene habits, pain characteristics, and pain-relief agents. Categorical variables were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Categorical data are presented as frequencies and percentages, while continuous data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation and median values. …

Flaxseed Ethanolic Extract Modulates Β-Catenin And Dkk1 Expressions During Osteoblast Differentiation Of Dental Pulp-Derived Stem Cells, Nur Sazwi Nordin, Khairani Idah Mokhtar, Omar Abdul Jabbar Abdul Qader, Basma Ezzat Mustafa, Widya Lestari, Deny Susanti Darnis, Thirumulu Ponnuraj Kannan, Azlina Ahmad, Solachuddin Jauhari Arief Ichwan

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: WNT signaling regulates osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) through the canonical WNT pathway. β-catenin; an important molecule of WNT pathway, and DKK1; a WNT antagonist, play important roles in regulating bone formation. Although flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) has various health benefits, including promoting bone health, our previous study showed that flaxseed ethanolic extract (FEE) reduced the osteoblast differentiation potential of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). This study aimed to determine the effects of FEE on WNT pathway-related molecules, β-catenin and DKK1, during osteoblast differentiation of SHED.

Methods: RNA at Day 7, 14, …

Orthodontic Camouflage Treatment Of A Severe Class Iii Skeletal Pattern With Anterior Open Bite: A Case Report, Dikeledi Maureen Letsholo, Mandla Dominic Nyakale, Mosimane Peter Silas Sethusa

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Class III malocclusion combined with anterior open bite (AOB) is one of the most challenging occlusal problems to treat. The objective of this article was to report a case of an adult female patient diagnosed with Class III malocclusion combined with an anterior open bite and a hyperdivergent facial pattern.

Case Report: Camouflage orthodontic treatment with the extraction of maxillary and mandibular first premolars was used to treat the patient. Anterior teeth were retracted maximally against the Nance holding arch and fixed lingual arch appliances, and box elastics were used to close AOB. At the end of …

Do Social Determinants Of Health Affect Tooth Retention For American Indian/Alaska Native (Ai/An) Adults?, Vae Day

Summer Research Showcase

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults face severe dental disparities due to social determinants of health (SDOH). This study examines how socioeconomic, functional, and cognitive factors influence access to dental care. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS Statistics. Chi-square testing and logistic regression evaluated relationships between variables. Using a strengths-based approach to this research, the outcome variable was recoded to measure “teeth retained” instead of “teeth removed due to tooth decay or gum disease”. Analyses revealed that tooth retention and healthcare access significantly increase with favorable SDOH, including reliable transportation, household income, ability to complete errands independently, having insurance, and retained …

Sexual Harassment In Dentistry: Understanding The Issue And Steps To Prevent It From Happening

Journal IDA

The #MeToo Movement in 2017 shone a light on how widespread sexual abuse and sexual harassment were in the workplace.1 A survey completed in 2020 reported that 38 percent of women experienced different forms of sexual harassment in the workplace, while approximately 15 percent of men reported similar experiences.2 The data indicate, that sexual harassment was not unique to women as men, as well as nonbinary people also reported facing sexual harassment.

Radiation Safety In Dental Offices: Where Do We Stand In 2025?

Journal IDA

Dental x-rays were first invented in 1896.1 Dr. Otto Walkhoff, a German dentist, who is credited with taking the first dental radiograph, used himself as the subject and required a 25-minute exposure time for that first blurry radiographic image to be seen.

An Annotated Walkthrough Of Dental And Dental Hygiene Professional Oaths

Journal IDA

Most of the information contained in this article was taken using AI search engines. It is meant to be a refresher for dentists and dental hygienists as it relates to the oaths we took when we graduated from our training programs. It is also meant to be an opportunity for practitioners to reflect on their journeys since graduation as to have true they stayed to the oaths that they took. Dental assistants are not required to take a professional oath in Indiana.

Protecting Dentistry’S Ethics: Ida’S Peer Review Program

Journal IDA

All members of the dental profession are responsible for protecting the Principles of Ethics: Autonomy, Nonmaleficence, Beneficence, Justice and Veracity. Peer Review is:

• A dispute resolution program.
• Available to all Indiana patients.
• A resource for disputes for both IDA members and non-members.
• Part of what makes dentistry a profession.
• Voluntary for the subject dentist regarding participation.
• Initiated by patient complaints onlNot permitted to have findings entered as evidence in court.
• Not disclosed as part of dental license renewal.

When a patient submits a request for mediation, the complaint involves an alleged violation of at least one of the Principles …

Ethical Considerations In Cosmetic Dentistry

Journal IDA

Dentistry is both an art and a science. Patient care revolves around treatment for pain, missing teeth while also ensuring that appearances or the esthetic outcomes are maintained or enhanced. These two facets are not contradictory, but are intertwined for optimal, complete and customizable care for each patient. Dentists are often faced with requests from patients for a stereotypical “perfect” smile, which includes perfectly aligned teeth that are white in color resembling the image commonly conveyed by the media. As clinicians, we respond in our own way to these increasingly demanding esthetic demands. Some specialize in developing “esthetic” treatments; others …

Overview Of Indiana Health Records Law

Journal IDA

Inquires regarding the use, access, ownership, retention and disposal of health records have ranked in the top three questions from dentists, dental offices and patients over the last 25 years. As every dental office has dental health records, it is important to understand the legal and professional liability implications for properly handling and safeguarding records.

Dental Treatment: Who Has The Final Say On Oral Health Care?

Journal IDA

Is a patient's autonomy really his or her own? Or like an onion with many skins, is it buried under layers of financial factors, insurance coverage, quality of discussion with the dentist, family obligations and emotional health, and so much more!

Safeguarding Ethics: The Work Of The Indiana State Board Of Dentistry, Kathy Walden

Journal IDA

Dentists pride themselves on belonging to a profession that maintains high standards, strong patient satisfaction and professional excellence. At the heart of these guiding principles of dentistry in our state is the Indiana State Board of Dentistry (ISBD), which focuses on establishing and enforcing ethical conduct and adherence to state law for Indiana’s 4,769 dentists and 5,500 hygienists.

Defining Prescriptive Supervision And Delegation In Indiana: The Essential Roles Of The Dental Hygienist And The Dental Assistant On The Dental Team

Journal IDA

According to the 2025 Bowen Policy Snapshot: Indiana Dental Workforce in Context, Indiana faces ongoing dental workforce shortages, with 63 of 92 counties (68 percent) designated as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (a federal designation indicating insufficient dental providers). This shortage presents growing challenges for licensed dentists in recruiting and retaining qualified dental assistants and hygienists, roles essential to patient care and practice efficiency. In Indiana, the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene are governed by statutes in the Indiana Code (IC) and administrative rules in the Indiana Administrative Code (IAC). Statutes are laws enacted by the legislature; rules are …

Guided Tissue Regeneration Of Localized Deep Combined 2-To-3- Wall Angular Defects: A Clinical Case Report With 15-Month Follow-Up

Journal IDA

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting nearly 50 percent of U.S. adults. It is characterized by the irreversible destruction of the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, and gingival tissues supporting the teeth. Periodontal breakdown results from a dysbiotic relationship between the plaque bacteria and host-immune response. Initiated by the bacterial plaque biofilm, the once normal and homeostatic host defenses intended to contain the subgingival inflammation become dysregulated and hyperactive. A diagnosis of an infrabony defect, also known as intrabony, vertical, or angular defects, is made when the base of the pocket is apical to the alveolar crest. It has been …

Factor V Leiden Heterozygosity And Hypertriglyceridemia In 88 Patients With Chronic Jaw Pain And Alveolar Osteonecrosis

Journal IDA

Objectives: Our specific aim was to evaluate the relationships of thrombophilia-hypofibrinolysis and hyperlipidemia with alveolar osteonecrosis of the jaws in 88 patients with chronic jaw pain who had failed to respond to conventional medical and dental treatments.

Study Design: In the temporal order of referral, we evaluated 88 patients with persistent idiopathic facial pain to assess whether and to what degree thrombophilia-hypofibrinolysis and hyperlipidemia were pathoetiologic for biopsy proven alveolar osteitis-necrosis.

Results: Of the 88 cases, 14 (16 percent) had Factor V Leiden heterozygosity compared to 2 of 109 (2 percent) healthy controls without jaw disease, p=.0004. Fasting plasma triglycerides …

Diagnostic Challenge: Oral Pathology

Journal IDA

The challenge: We present a case of a 27-year-old female patient who presented to the Fritts Screening Clinic at Indiana University School of Dentistry. She takes metformin for pre-diabetes and levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. Her extraoral exam reveals no pathologies. The intraoral clinical examination reveals a non-wipeable unifocal hyperkeratotic papillary lesion measuring 0.8 x 0.5 cm on the left lateral border of the tongue (Figure 1). The patient reports noticing it approximately a month before the screening appointment; however, she did not experience any pain or other symptoms in the area. An excisional biopsy is performed to obtain a definite diagnosis …