Dentistry Commons^™

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 …

Role Of Microsurgery In The Evolution Of Periodontal Surgery

Journal IDA

Microscopes and microsurgery techniques have revolutionized the field of periodontology, offering enhanced visualization, precision, and improved clinical outcomes. This review explores the role of magnification in periodontal treatments, the benefits of microsurgical techniques, and their impact on patient recovery and procedural success. It examines how these advancements align with evolving surgical principles and addresses their implications for clinical practice and patient outcomes. By integrating microsurgery into periodontics, clinicians can achieve minimally invasive procedures with superior aesthetic and functional results. This paper also discusses the challenges and future directions of microsurgical applications in periodontics, emphasizing the importance of continual advancements and …

Recent Advances In Periodontology

Journal IDA

Periodontology is a dynamic discipline focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the supporting structures of the teeth and dental implants. Given the complex and multifactorial pathogenesis of periodontal and peri-implant diseases, the field continually evolves to address diverse clinical needs through evidence-based innovations. Recent years have witnessed significant advances in biomaterials, biologics, diagnostic tools, and minimally invasive therapies that have transformed the clinical management of periodontal conditions. These developments aim not only to improve treatment efficacy and patient outcomes but also to expand the scope of regenerative and patient-centered care. The purpose of this paper is …

Teaching The Next Generation: Challenging The Narrative And Shifting Perspectives

Journal IDA

The accessibility of information in today's digital age, especially with integration of Generative AI across all platforms, has shifted the role of education from merely transmitting facts to cultivating the skills necessary to navigate, analyze, and synthesize this wealth of knowledge. We are moving beyond foundational knowledge acquisition to higher order thinking within Bloom’s taxonomy. The future demands learners who are not just informed but inspired - individuals capable of questioning the status quo, solving complex problems, and innovating in diverse and interdisciplinary ways. To achieve this, we must invest in pedagogical practices that nurture critical thinking and digital literacy. …

Journal Ida 2025 104 2

Journal IDA

In the Spring 2025 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• Teaching the Next Generation: Challenging the Narrative and Shifting Perspectives
• Recent Advances in Periodontolgy
• Role of Microsurgery in the Evolution of Periodontal Surgery
• Diagnostic ChallengeL Oral Pathology
• Factor V Lieden Heterozygosity and Hypertriglyceridemia in 88 Patients with Chronic Jaw Pain and Alveolar Osteonecrosis
• Guided Tissue Regeneration of Localized Deep Combined 3-to-3 Wall Angular Defects: A Clinical Case Report with 15-Month Follow-up

This issue also includes regular columns from the editor, the executive director as well as membership news.