Purpose: This systematic review evaluated the diagnostic performance of optical coherence tomography (OCT) forthe early detection of oral cancer, particularly emphasizing sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic accuracy. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online Library covering publications from 2015 to 2025, supplemented by manual hand-searching of relevant references. Studies were selected using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study Design (PICOS) framework. Eligible studies evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of OCT using histopathology as the reference standard. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool, and the review methodology followed PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-DTA guidelines. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251112254). Results: Seven studies met the predefined inclusion criteria. OCT demonstrated high diagnostic performance (sensitivity: 81.5%-100%, specificity: 68.8%-100%), with diagnostic accuracy reaching up to 100% in certain settings. Studies that incorporated machine learning approaches, including convolutional neural networks and support vector machines, consistently achieved superior diagnostic performance compared with conventional OCT interpretation alone. Overall methodological quality was generally low, with several studies exhibiting moderate tohigh risk of bias in specific domains. Conclusion OCT, particularly when augmented with artificial intelligence, demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy as anon-invasive imaging modality for the early detection of oral cancer. Its capability to identify dysplastic and malignant changes at the microstructural level offers meaningful diagnostic advantages over conventional examination methods.Nevertheless, larger-scale studies employing standardized protocols are required to confirm its clinical utility and support integration into routine oral cancer screening and diagnostic pathways.

Background: This study investigated the predictive value of orthopantomography (OPG) for the difficulty of extracting impacted mandibular third molars, in comparison with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: In this descriptive quantitative investigation, two oral and maxillofacial radiologists evaluated OPG and three-dimensional CBCT images according to the Pell-Gregory and Winter classifications. The results for the classification were compared using the chi-square test, and the prediction of difficulty was assessed using the Pederson scale, with a significance level of p< 0.05. Results: The study included 30 patients (14 men and 16 women), providing a total of 53 samples of impacted mandibular third molars. Of these, 30 (56.6%) were from the right side and 23 (43.4%) from the left. There was a statistically significant difference between the OPG and CBCT images concerning their relation to the mandibular ramus (p< 0.05). However, evaluations based on occlusal lines and angulation showed no significant differences (p> 0.05). According to the Pederson scale, significant differences were observed between OPG and CBCT in predicting extraction difficulty (p< 0.05). Conclusion CBCT offered a more accurate assessment of the surgical difficulty associated with mandibular third molars than OPG. OPG views frequently failed to adequately visualize the region of the mandibular ramus, influencing the perceived difficulty of mandibular third molar surgery. In certain cases, the use of CBCT imaging is crucial.

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the pattern of condylar pressure distribution in the discs of a patient diagnosed with disc displacement without reduction. Materials and Methods: This research consisted of a pre- and post-test observational clinical study. A patient diagnosed with disc displacement without reduction underwent treatment with an occlusal splint for 3 months. Finite element analysis employed a 3-dimensional model constructed from magnetic resonance images of the patient, taken both before the application of the splint and 3 months after its use. Results: The post-test model demonstrated a decrease in condylar pressure on the disc, with measurements dropping to 72 MPa from the pre-test level of 143 MPa. In the pre-test, the pressure distribution pattern was concentrated on the lateral posterior border, whereas in the post-test, it shifted toward the intermediate zone of the disc. Conclusion Utilization of a stabilization splint for 3 months resulted in decreased pressure and a marked change in the pressure distribution pattern on the temporomandibular disc.