Stewart Harding

Objectives: This study examines the relationship between maxillary morphology and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults, with a focus on intermolar distance (IMD) and palatal height (PH) as predictive factors. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at private orthodontic practices in Sydney, Australia. A total of 100 adults (50 OSA patients and 50 controls) were included. OSA diagnosis and severity were confirmed via hospital-based polysomnography. Digital maxillary models were analyzed using the Medit Link software (version 3.2.0; Medit Corp., Seoul, Republic of Korea), and IMD and PH were measured. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA and linear regression modeling, with adjustments for age and sex. Results: The OSA group exhibited significantly narrower IMD (28.96–35.01 mm) and higher PH (21.68–29.56 mm) compared to the control group (IMD: 36.35–41.50 mm; PH: 18.57–23.51 mm). A negative correlation was observed between IMD and PH across all groups. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a strong association between these craniofacial parameters and OSA severity (R2 = 0.76, p < 0.001). IMD was negatively correlated with the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) (p = 0.003), while PH was positively correlated (p < 0.001). The inclusion of demographic variables did not significantly enhance the predictive model. Conclusions: Maxillary morphology associates with OSA severity, with narrower IMD and greater PH linked to higher AHI.

Objectives:The study aims to investigate dental anxiety in first- and final-year undergraduate dental students in India. Design:Questionnaire Study Setting: BDS Students in four University dental colleges in India carried-out during 2013 and 2014. Subjects materials and methods:The students (n = 614) were assessed using a pre-tested questionnaire. We estimated the level of dental anxiety by using the Modified-Dental-Anxiety-Scale (MDAS). ANCOVA and Mann-Whitney U, and Chi-squared contingency tests were employed to analyze the extensive dataset acquired. Univariate clustering analysis and principal component regression were also applied. Students had similar demographic and lifestyle patterns. Interventions:Assessments of the level of dental anxiety amongst undergraduate dental students. Main outcome measures:Mean ± SD MDAS scores for first- and final-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students were 12.96 ± 4.00 and 10.54 ± 3.41, respectively. Results:Six hundred and fourteen (n = 614) students from four dental colleges were included in this study. In total 77% were female (n = 478) and 23% were male (n = 136). The mean age of the first- and final-year students were 18.31 and 21.54 years, respectively. First-year BDS students had dental anxiety score (Mean ± SD 12.96 ± 4.00) compared to that of the final year (10.54 ± 3.41), a difference which was very highly statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Conclusions:Dental anxiety was moderately higher amongst first year BDS students over that of final-year students but it is lesser than the dental phobic threshold level.