Purpose: This observational study aimed to evaluate the percentage of women invited to speak or present oral presentations at the Turkish Endodontic Society’s scientific meetings over a 10-year period (2014–2024).
Methods: The number of male and female keynote or oral presentation speakers from the society’s scientific meetings was recorded. Gender distribution and yearly ratios were analyzed using SPSS 25 with Binomial test, Chi-square, and Fisher’s Exact test (p < 0.05).
Results: A total of 136 speakers from the Turkish Endodontic Society’s scientific meetings between 2014 and 2024 were analyzed. Of these, 103 (75.7%) were men, and 33 (24.3%) were women, highlighting a significant gender disparity (p < 0.001). No significant change was observed in the proportion of women speakers over the analyzed timeframe (p = 0.134).
Conclusion: Regardless of the timeframe, the number of women speakers at scientific meetings organized by the Turkish Endodontic Society remains consistently lower than that of men. While the proportion of women presenting oral sessions was relatively higher, their representation as keynote speakers on the main stage consistently remained low throughout the analyzed period.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to establish whether there is any correlation between the health status of pulp and the oxygen saturation values measured by pulse oximetry in primary molar teeth. It is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the oxygen saturation values in diagnosing the pulp status.
Methods: The study was conducted on 95 lower second primary molar teeth from 77 patients (aged between 6–9 years). Teeth were assigned into four groups: healthy pulp (positive control, n = 25), reversible pulpitis (n = 25), irreversible pulpitis (n = 25), and negative control (n = 20). The oxygen saturation levels of all teeth in the four groups were measured using pulse oximetry.
Results: The paired comparisons revealed that the positive control group had a higher average value compared to the pulpitis groups (reversible and irreversible; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the reversible and irreversible pulpitis groups (p = 0.275).
Conclusion: Pulse oximetry can be used for the distinction of healthy pulp and pulpitis; however, the stage of the pulpitis cannot be determined through this method in primary molar teeth.

Purpose: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the endodontic and periapical status of patients with cancer or autoimmune diseases (AD) with that of healthy patients matched by age and sex. Additionally, the cancer and AD groups were compared.
Methods: Digital radiographs of 100 patients with cancer, 100 patients with autoimmune diseases, and healthy patients (200) matched for age and gender were evaluated. The total number of teeth, root canal-filling teeth (RCFT), quality, presence and number of apical periodontitis (AP) were examined.
Results: No significant differences were observed in terms of teeth with AP periodontitis between the cancer and control groups, as well as between AD and control groups. The results of the univariate logistic regression analysis revealed a positive association between cancer and the values of RCFTs and inadequate RCFTs (iRCFT) (RCFT p < 0.001; iRCFT p = 0.018), as well as a positive association between autoimmune disease and RCFTs (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: The results showed that AP was similar between the cancer and AD and control groups. Patients with a history of cancer or AD who are clinically considered high-risk should attend regular dental visits.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the materials, methods, and application techniques used by general dentists in root canal treatment through a survey and to compare the findings with previous studies conducted in Turkey and globally.
Methods: A survey consisting of 21 questions was administered to 691 general dentists working in private clinics and public institutions in İzmir. Participation was voluntary, and data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test with IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software.
Results: Among the participants, 22.7% did not perform root canal treatment. The electric pulp test was the most preferred vitality test (47%), while electronic apex locators were widely used for determining the working length. Sodium hypochlorite (91.6%) was the most common irrigation solution, and calcium hydroxide (91.4%) was the preferred intracanal medication. Nickel-titanium rotary files were used by 85.6% of dentists, and 72.1% employed the single-cone technique for root canal filling. Notably, only 1.5% used a rubber dam.
Conclusion: Older dentists tended to favor conventional methods, while no standardization was observed in material and method selection across demographic groups. The use of rubber dams was significantly lower than international standards.

Purpose: This survey study aims to evaluate the effects of differences in preclinical education on endodontic clinical practice.
Methods: Students who are currently studying in the fifth year of dentistry faculty have practiced on extracted teeth in their endodontics preclinical training. Students studying in the fourth year have practiced on extracted teeth and phantom jaws and taken exams in the OSCE/OSPE laboratory. The survey was applied to a total of 199 students, 104 of whom were fourth year students and 95 of whom were fifth year students, who were actively continuing their education on a voluntary basis. The survey consisted of a total of 12 questions, the first two of which addressed gender and academic year. The remaining 10 questions evaluated the impact of differences in preclinical education on clinical education. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-Square test and Fisher’s Exact test.
Results: The relationship between academic year and gender distribution was examined. The analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between these variables (p > 0.05). The relationship between academic year and survey responses was examined. The analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) between academic year and the survey question, “Did you experience difficulty applying the rubber dam during endodontic treatment?”.
Conclusion: The group of students who received training in OSCE/OSPE and phantom laboratory practices found their preclinical applications to be similar to clinical applications and reported feeling more successful and prepared in treating patients.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the accuracy and reliability of four chatbot applications—Chat-GPT o1, Google Gemini Advanced, DeepSeek R1, and Perplexity AI—in the context of dental traumatology.
Methods: Twenty-five dichotomous questions, derived from the 2020 guidelines of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT), were administered by three independent researchers to each chatbot over a 10-day period. Each question was asked three times per day, generating 90 responses per question. Responses were categorised as “correct,” “incorrect,” or “refer to a practitioner.” Accuracy rates and Fleiss’ Kappa values were calculated to assess performance and interresponse reliability.
Results: All chatbot models demonstrated high levels of accuracy. ChatGPT o1 yielded the highest accuracy rate (86.4%), followed by DeepSeek (84.0%), Perplexity (80.5%), and Google Gemini Advanced (80.2%). The highest Fleiss’ Kappa value was observed in the DeepSeek model (0.709), indicating the greatest internal consistency, while the Google Gemini Advanced model recorded the lowest value (0.185). Although DeepSeek and Perplexity exhibited relatively stronger reliability metrics, none of the models achieved complete consistency, with intra-platform variation occasionally present.
Conclusion: Contemporary chatbot models show substantial accuracy and improving reliability in responding to dental traumatology queries, suggesting their potential as clinical support tools. Nonetheless, further refinement and domain-specific optimisation remain necessary.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption (PEIR) in children aged 4–14, evaluate the most commonly affected teeth, and identify possible etiological factors.
Methods: In this retrospective study, panoramic radiographs of pediatric patients who applied to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University were examined between 2020 and 2023. Radiographs with sufficient diagnostic image quality and at least one unerupted permanent tooth were included in the study. The presence of PEIR, the lesion’s localization, depth, the number of affected teeth, and possible etiological factors were examined.
Results: 2229 panoramic radiographs were examined. 1893 of them were found to meet the study criteria. PEIR was detected in 64 patients, and the number of teeth with PEIR was 88. PEIR was seen at a rate of 3.4% on an individual basis and 0.34% on a tooth basis. It was most frequently detected in mandibular second molars and at Grade 1 level. Lesions were more commonly located in the mandible and on the right side; in most individuals, only one tooth was affected. No significant predisposing factor was found in 90.9% of the cases.
Conclusion: PEIR is a lesion that should be carefully monitored in the early age group and progresses asymptomatically most of the time. Early diagnosis and regular radiographic follow-up are essential to prevent pulpal complications.

Purpose: This study evaluates the effects of EDDY and passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) activation methods on postoperative pain in mandibular premolar and first molar teeth with asymptomatic apical periodontitis.
Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted at Ordu University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics between 12.02.2024 and 03.06.2024. Volunteer patients were randomly assigned to groups. Treatments were performed by a single operator (M.S.). Of 57 patients, 45 completed the study (control: 15, EDDY: 14, PUI: 16). Postoperative pain was recorded at the 8th, 12th, 24th, and 48th hours, and on the 7th day using a visual analog scale. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, and Chi-square tests.
Results: Gender had no significant impact on pain (p > 0.05). No significant intergroup differences in pain were found at any time point (p > 0.05). PUI caused more pain at the 8th and 12th hours, while EDDY caused more pain at the 24th and 48th hours, though not statistically significant. Pain significantly decreased by the 7th day in the control (p = 0.007) and PUI (p < 0.001) groups but not in the EDDY group (p = 0.050).
Conclusion: EDDY and PUI show comparable effects on postoperative pain, with no influence of gender.

Purpose: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate and compare the fracture resistance and failure modes of 3D-printed ceramic-filled hybrid endocrowns with four distinct preparation designs, focusing on the mechanical performance and post-endodontic restorative management.
Methods: Forty-eight 3D-printed ceramic-filled hybrid endocrowns were fabricated on 3D-printed typodont molar dies simulating endodontically treated teeth and divided into four groups (n = 12) based on preparation designs: Group A (butt joint margin, 2 mm pulp chamber depth), Group B (butt joint margin, 4 mm depth), Group C (shoulder margin, 2 mm depth), and Group D (shoulder margin, 4 mm depth). After cementation, specimens were subjected to axial loading in a universal testing machine until failure. Fracture resistance values (N) were recorded, and failure patterns were classified under 18.4x magnification. Statistical analysis was performed using a Two-Way ANOVA test (α = 0.05).
Results: Shoulder margin designs demonstrated significantly higher fracture resistance compared to butt joint margins (p = 0.001), irrespective of pulp chamber depth. No significant differences were found between the 2 mm and 4 mm pulp chamber extensions (p = 0.393). Catastrophic (Type 4) failures were predominantly observed in Group C, while Groups A and B showed mainly repairable failure patterns.
Conclusion: Preparation design significantly affects the mechanical integrity of 3D-printed endocrowns for post-endodontic restoration. Shoulder margins enhance fracture resistance, although increasing pulp chamber depth does not confer additional mechanical benefits. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing preparation strategies in the restorative management of endodontically treated posterior teeth.