Clinical Research Directory

Effect of Dental Education Duration on Halitosis and Associated Factors

The study population will consist of undergraduate dental students enrolled at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Dentistry. A total of 100 students, including 50 first-year and 50 fifth-year dental students, will be included. Eligible participants will be healthy students who meet the study criteria and provide written informed consent. Participants will undergo subjective and objective halitosis assessments, including questionnaires, organoleptic evaluation, volatile sulfur compound measurements, tongue coating assessment, and DMFT index recording.

Morphometric and Morphological Analysis of Cervical Vertebrae in Disc Displacement

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are multifactorial clinical conditions affecting the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and the surrounding structures. The most common subtype is disc displacement, which is characterized by an abnormal position of the articular disc. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of disc displacement because it provides excellent soft tissue contrast, allows direct visualization of the disc, and enables dynamic evaluation. The parallel nature of mandibular and head-neck movements reflects the functional relationship between the temporomandibular and cervical neuromuscular systems. In addition, various craniofacial skeletal anomalies have been reported to be associated with disorders of the cervical vertebrae. TMD restricts mandibular movements and causes pain in the surrounding muscles, which may lead to referred pain in the neck, shoulder, and cervical muscles, thereby affecting head posture. Head and neck postural abnormalities are closely associated with cervical pain and dysfunction related to TMD. This relationship is thought to be bidirectional and can be explained through biomechanical, neurological, and pathophysiological mechanisms. In particular, upper cervical vertebral dysfunctions and changes in head position may influence the severity of TMD symptoms. For this purpose, lateral cephalometric radiography is frequently used to evaluate the hyoid position and the cervical spine in relation to the TMJ. Upper cervical vertebral anomalies and craniofacial morphological characteristics can be analyzed using these images.

Musicians' Health Education in D-A-CH

Professional musicians are often exposed to significant physical and psychological strain. Long hours of playing, high muscle tension in the head and neck area, and performance-related stress can lead to problems such as musculoskeletal pain, jaw joint disorders, facial pain, and reduced oral health. Although these health issues are common, preventive strategies and structured health education are often insufficiently integrated into music training programs. This study aims to assess how topics related to musicians' health and performing arts medicine are currently included in the curricula of music universities in Germany, Austria, and the German-speaking part of Switzerland (D-A-CH region). Professors and lecturers responsible for musicians' health or curriculum planning at 39 music universities will be invited to complete a short questionnaire (approximately 10 minutes). The survey collects information about whether and how health-related topics are taught, including whether they are mandatory or elective, their duration, and the specific subjects covered. This is a non-interventional survey study. No medical examinations or treatments will be performed. Participation consists solely of completing the questionnaire. The results will help identify gaps in health education for professional musicians and support the future development of preventive and educational programs.

Large Language Models for Dental Radiology Report Generation From Structured Textual Data

The purpose of this observational methodological study is to evaluate whether large language models can transform structured dental radiology data into clear narrative radiology reports. Large language models are computer programs that can generate text from information provided to them. In this study, the input will consist of organized dental radiology findings, such as chart-style or diagram-based information about teeth and surrounding structures. Dental radiology reports are used by dentists and other health care providers to understand imaging findings and support clinical documentation. Preparing narrative reports may be time-consuming, and the wording of reports may vary between clinicians. This study will examine whether language-model-assisted report generation can produce reports that are complete, accurate, understandable, and clinically useful. The study will compare reports generated with support from large language models with traditionally prepared reports. Researchers will also assess how the wording of the prompt and selected model parameters influence report quality. In addition, the study will analyze errors and safety risks in generated reports and evaluate whether such a system could be practical in a dental radiology workflow. The language model will not make treatment decisions, and generated reports will be used for research evaluation only.

Neck Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Turkish Endodontists

This observational study aims to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of neck musculoskeletal symptoms among Turkish endodontists. Endodontists are exposed to prolonged static postures and repetitive movements during clinical procedures, which may increase the risk of neck-related disorders. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, occupational factors, ergonomic conditions, and neck pain. In addition, physical assessments including cervical range of motion, muscle strength, endurance, posture, and proprioception will be performed using validated measurement tools. The study also aims to identify factors associated with neck pain, such as working conditions, posture, and clinical experience. The findings may help improve preventive strategies, ergonomic recommendations, and rehabilitation approaches for dental professionals.

Cross-cultural Adaptation and Translation Validation of the iADH Universal Case Mix Tool (UCMT).

This study aims to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the iADH Universal Case Mix Tool (UCMT) for dental care professionals working with people with disabilities. The study will assess linguistic accuracy, applicability, and reliability/validity of the German, Spanish and Portuguese version of the instrument.

Impact Evaluation of the Therapeutic Initiative's Prescribing Portrait and Therapeutics Letter on Opioid Use by Dentists

The aim of this study is to estimate the impact of providing personalized prescribing data and educational materials on opioid prescribing to dentists in British Columbia, Canada. The main research questions are: 1. What is the impact of an intervention on the use of opioids for dental pain? The intervention includes a personalized prescribing report (a "Portrait"), brief educational summary, and patient education materials; and 2. Does the impact of the intervention increase when dentists are also invited to attend facilitated audit-and-feedback group sessions and to develop a practice improvement plan? Using administrative health data, the prescribing of those in different combinations of materials in the Early Group will be compared to those in the Delayed Group to estimate the impact of the materials on prescribing by the dentists.

Potassium Nitrate Gel and Diode Laser in the Treatment of Dentinal Hypersensitivity

Our aim will be to evaluate the actual efficacy of diode lasers in laser desensitization by comparing the topical gel Emoform Actisens, containing 5% potassium nitrate, alone and in combination with a diode laser. Dental hypersensitivity (DH) will be assessed pre- (T0) and post-treatment (T1) and at 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T4).

Can a Digital Education Program in Radiographic Imaging Technique for Dental Professionals Improve Image Quality?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a digital education program designed for dental professionals can lead to radiographic examinations of better quality. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the digital education program lead to more radiographic examinations of good quality? Does the digital education program lead to better theoretical and practical understanding regarding image quality among dental professionals? Researchers will compare answers from a theoretical test and image quality in radiographic examinations between participants with respectively without access to the digital education program. Participants will: * have access to the digital education program for three months * after three months all study participants are invited to answer a theoretical test