The latest medical research on Dentistry

The research magnet gathers the latest research from around the web, based on your specialty area. Below you will find a sample of some of the most recent articles from reputable medical journals about dentistry gathered by our medical AI research bot.

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Two- and three-dimensional healing assessment after endodontic microsurgery in through-and-through periapical lesions: 5-year follow-up from a randomized controlled trial.

Endodontics

To evaluate clinical and radiographic outcome of endodontic microsurgery in through-and-through periapical lesions at 1-year and 5-year follow-up with adjunct use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Thirty-two patients with large through-and-through periapical lesions were randomized in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) group and control group. Two-dimensional (2D) healing was evaluated with Molven's criteria and three-dimensional (3D) healing with modified PENN 3D criteria. Healing at resection plane (R), apical area (A), buccal cortex (BC), palatal cortex (PC) and overall bone healing (B) was assessed using CBCT scans. The volume of lesion was measured using ITK-Snap software. The analysis included comparison of 1- to 5-year intragroup (Friedman test/McNemar test) and intergroup scoring (Chi-square/ Mann-Whitney test). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of various factors on healing at 5 years.

Out of 32 patients/59 teeth evaluated after 1-year of endodontic microsurgery, 24 patients/44 teeth reported at 5 - year follow-up. Healing assessment with modified PENN 3D criteria revealed improvement in overall success rate of 66.7% at 1 year to 83.3% at 5 years, with no deterioration in any healing category. PRP group exhibited significantly better 3D healing than control group; both at 1 year (84.6% vs. 45.5%) and 5 years (100% vs. 63.6%). A significantly higher number of completely healed teeth were observed in PRP group than the control group at 5 years with respect to R, BC and B parameters. A volume reduction of 88% (91.4% PRP, 84% control) was depicted at 1 year and 94% (97.1% PRP, 91.1% control) at 5 years. None of the recorded factors including age, gender, size of lesion, preoperative swelling and sinus, histology of lesion, use of PRP, tooth location, preoperative buccal bone had significant effect on 3D healing at 5 years.

This 5-year study suggested improvement in 3D radiographic healing of large through-and-through periapical lesions from 1 to 5 years with no deterioration in any healing parameter in both control and PRP groups. The additional use of PRP led to significantly better healing in such lesions. RACB index using CBCT allows better estimation of healing at resected, apical and cortical plane over modified PENN 3D or Molven's criteria.

The antecedents of oral care in nursing facilities - a qualitative interview study among supervisor nurses.

Acta Odontol Scanda

This qualitative study describes the views of supervisor nurses related to antecedents of oral care in Finnish nursing facilities.

In the six largest cities in Finland, 19 supervisor nurses were interviewed and asked five semi-structured questions related to the antecedents of oral care in the units. The interviews were analyzed using inductive content analysis.

Qualitative content analysis revealed five main categories: awareness of nurses (3 categories, 9 subcategories), attitude and motivation (3 categories, 10 subcategories), supporting quality of life and health (4 categories, 11 subcategories), the meaning of oral health in the unit (3 categories, 10 subcategories), and the role of the supervisor nurse in oral health care (4 categories, 14 subcategories). The awareness of nurses regarding oral health was in most cases good. Nurses' attitudes towards oral health and their motivation to oral care vary but were mostly good. Nurses were aware that oral care enhances the quality of life. The role of the supervisor nurse in organizing oral care was crucial.

The performed analysis identified five main categories to describe antecedents for oral care in Finnish nursing facilities. The categories that needed to be improved were knowledge and attitude, and motivation related to oral care.

Evaluation of mechanical properties of an original and a replica-like reciprocating instruments.

Australian Endodontic Journal

This study assessed the mechanical properties of the Only One File Blue and the Reciproc Blue instruments. A total of 80 new 25 mm reciprocating Ni...

Longer light-curing time decreases the effect of ageing on composite resin hardness used in root reinforcement.

Australian Endodontic Journal

This study evaluated the hardness of a composite resin used for root reinforcement, considering the light-curing time, root canal region and ageing...

Evaluation of canal patency and cleanliness following retreatment of bioceramic sealer-obturated root canals using three different irrigant activation protocols.

Australian Endodontic Journal

This study evaluated the effectiveness of three different irrigant activation techniques in cleaning and establishing patency during retreatment of...

Radiation exposure during orthodontic treatment: risk to children and adolescents.

Acta Odontol Scanda

To estimate radiation risk to children and adolescents during orthodontic treatment by retrieving number and type of radiographs from the patient records.

Radiographs, along with justifications for radiation exposure, were obtained retrospectively from the patient records of 1,790 children and adolescents referred to two Swedish orthodontic clinics. Data were grouped according to treatment stage: treatment planning, treatment, and follow-up. Estimated risk was calculated using the concept of effective dose.

Each patient had received around seven radiographs for orthodontic purposes. The most common exposures during treatment planning were one panoramic, one lateral, and three intraoral periapical radiographs. A small number of patients received a tomographic examination (8.2%). Few justifications for treatment planning and follow-up, but more in the actual treatment stage, had been recorded. The most common examinations were to assess root resorption and the positions of unerupted teeth, or simply carry out an unspecified control. The estimated risk of developing fatal cancer was considered low. The radiation risk from orthodontic treatment was equivalent to about 5-10 days of natural background radiation.

Children and adolescents sometimes undergo multiple radiographic examinations, but despite the low radiation burden, accumulated radiation exposure should be considered and justified in young patients.

Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Acta Odontol Scanda

The current studies have yielded inconclusive findings regarding the connection between periodontitis  and oral cancer (OC). Therefore, our goal is to elucidate this relationship.

We conducted a thorough search of electronic databases (EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) up to September 2023. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied to assess study quality. To evaluate potential publication bias, both a funnel plot and Egger's test were employed. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to explore the source of heterogeneity when the I2 statistic exceeded 50%.

This systematic review encompassed 16 studies, involving a total of 6,032 OC patients and 7,432 healthy controls. Our meta-analysis, incorporating data from nine studies, revealed a significant correlation between periodontitis and the risk of OC (OR [odds ratio] = 2.94, 95% CI [confidence interval] (2.13, 4.07); five studies, 6,927 participants; low certainty of evidence). Findings also suggested that individuals with more than 15 missing teeth may have a heightened risk of OC (OR = 1.91, 95% CI (1.01, 3.62)). Furthermore, clinical attachment loss (CAL) and decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) in OC patients were more pronounced compared to the control group (CAL, SMD = 1.94, 95% CI (0.22, 3.66); DMFT, SMD = 0.65, 95% CI (0.12, 1.18)).

Periodontitis may serve as a potential risk factor for OC. However, caution is warranted in interpreting these findings due to the substantial level of heterogeneity.

Traumatic dental injuries among children attending the public after-hours emergency dental clinic in Bergen, Norway.

Acta Odontol Scanda

To investigate traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) among children who for 1 year attended a Norwegian public after-hours emergency public dental (EPD) clinic.

The study included 7-18-year-olds (n = 312) who presented at the EPD clinic, underwent a clinical dental examination, and consented to the disclosure of clinical information. Recording of TDIs was restricted to anterior permanent teeth. Potential TDI predictors were also analysed.

Almost half (n = 148) of the children were assessed with TDIs in permanent teeth, showing a mean age of 11.0 (standard deviation [SD]: 3.5) years. Males constituted 54.7%. The children experienced TDIs often outside school hours (43.9%), and the majority (58.1%) were caused by falls/accidents. Sixty of them experienced only one TDI. The most common location was the maxillary central incisors. Assessment of TDIs according to severity, could only be done in 131 individuals, involving 253 TDIs. Of these, 81.8% were mild. The odds of visiting the emergency clinic for a TDI were higher (odds ratio [OR] = 2.64, confidence interval [CI]: 1.61-4.31) among children with previous TDIs and lower (OR = 0.28, CI: 0.12-0.68) among those with poor dental attendance.

Traumatic dental injuries were a common reason for seeking emergency care. Milder injuries dominated and involved mostly one maxillary central incisor. Previous episodes of TDIs and attendance patterns seemed to be associated with seeking care for TDIs.

Evaluation of Giomer Using Eighth Generation Bonding Agent and Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Cement Restoration in Non-Carious Cervical Lesions.

Indian Journal of Dental Research

Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL) raise a considerable restorative challenge for the dentist in bonding, as adhesion is not as strong and predictable as enamel bonding. A critical factor for restorative success is the selection of restorative material. Clinicians have tried many restorative materials and techniques to obtain the best performance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the clinical outcome of a Giomer and Resin modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) restoration in NCCL using united states public health service (USPHS) criteria at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months.

Patients from age 25 - 50 years having non-carious cervical lesions on both the sides and requiring restorations were screened. 20 patients were selected and further divided into 2 groups using simple random sampling technique. Group A- Beautifil II restoration using G-Premio bond (n = 10) and Group B- Ketac N100 restoration (n = 10). Restorations were done according to manufacturer's instructions and consequently evaluated at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months using the USPHS criteria for marginal discolouration, marginal integrity, surface texture, colour match, gross fracture and post-operative sensitivity.

Giomer restorations showed better results than RMGIC. There was decrease in alpha ratings in both the study groups i.e., Giomer and RMGIC from 6 to 12 months.

The overall findings suggest that both Giomer and RMGIC gave satisfactory clinical results when used to restore non-carious cervical lesions. Both the materials can successfully be used since there was no statistically significant difference in the clinical outcome.

Choosing Periodontology for Specialty Specialization: Perspective of Dental Undergraduate Students.

Indian Journal of Dental Research

The attitudes of dental students to study a particular specialty of dentistry in post-graduation are of great importance as these facilitate workforce planning in the dental sector.

To assess the attitude of dental students towards choosing periodontology as their future career and to explore demographic variables that affect their choice.

A cross-sectional survey based on a questionnaire was conducted, including students of the third and fourth years and interns of the dental college. Twenty-seven questions, graded on a Likert scale (5-point) were included in the questionnaire, and the responses were categorised via three attitudes: negative (score 0-21), neutral (score 22-44) and positive (score 45-64). The Chi-square test for proportions was used to examine the differences between groups.

Among 114 participants, 53 (46.5%) were males and 61 (53.5%) were females. One-third of the respondents had a positive attitude towards selecting periodontology as their future career, and the majority had a neutral perspective, with a few students having a negative attitude (20.2%). Out of the total, 34.2% of respondents had a positive attitude, and 45.6% showed a neutral attitude or perspective.

Efforts should be intensified, and undergraduate (UG) students should be motivated by broadening the scope of the field in the UG curriculum by the dental council so that the students show considerable interest in pursuing the field as their future career.

Correlation of Serum and Gingival Crevicular Fluid Levels of Caspase-3 and Milk Fat Globule-Epidermal Growth Factor 8 on Gingival Health.

Indian Journal of Dental Research

This study aimed to estimate and correlate the serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of caspase-3 and milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) in healthy, gingivitis and generalised chronic periodontitis subjects.

A total of 24 subjects were selected and divided into three groups. After recording the periodontal parameters (plaque index (PI), modified gingival index (MGI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL)), the serum and GCF samples were collected and the levels of caspase-3 and MFG-E8 were estimated using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).

The mean values of PI, MGI, PD and CALs were significantly higher in group III when compared to group II and group I. The mean value of serum and GCF caspase-3 increased with increasing disease severity, whereas the mean serum and GCF values of MFG-E8 decreased with increasing severity of disease. Spearman's correlation showed a strong positive correlation between the serum and GCF levels of caspase-3 and periodontal parameters, whereas serum and GCF levels of MFG-E8 showed a strong negative correlation with the periodontal parameters.

The findings of this study are suggestive that the serum and GCF levels of caspase-3 and MFG-E8 could serve as a potential biomarker for the role of apoptosis in periodontal disease. However, further studies are required to explore the mechanism and understand the relationship between these apoptotic markers and periodontitis.

Clinical Outcomes of Titanium Zirconium and Titanium Dental Implants under Immediate Functional Loading in Posterior Mandibular Region.

Indian Journal of Dental Research

Studies comparing the clinical performance of titanium zirconium (Ti-Zr) and titanium (Ti) dental implants subjected to immediate loading in the posterior mandibular region where occlusal forces are higher are sparse in the current literature. Hence, the study aimed to evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes of Ti-Zr and Ti dental implants under immediate functional loading in the mandibular posterior region.

Forty participants fulfilling the predetermined selection criteria were randomly grouped based on dental implant used; Titanium zirconium (Ti-Zr):20, and Titanium (Ti):20. Dental implants were placed through a standard full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap approach and loaded immediately fulfilling the principle of implant protective occlusion. Clinical parameters including crestal bone loss (CBL), modified plaque index (MPI), probing depth (PD) and modified sulcular bleeding index (MSBI) were measured at baseline and follow-up visits (4, 8, and 12 months). Obtained data were compared with standard tests such as the t-test, Chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney U test.

On intergroup comparison, CBL was more in the Ti-Zr group as compared to the Ti group at 4 months (0.72 ± 0.16 mm versus 0.70 ± 0.13 mm), but it was less at 8 months (1.08 ± 0.16 mm versus 1.13 ± 0.13 mm) and 12 months (1.19 ± 0.17 mm versus 1.24 ± 0.12 mm) but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Mann-Whitney test also revealed no statistically significant difference in MPI, PD and MSBI at 4 months, 8 months and 12 months recall (P > 0.05).

CBL and periodontal parameters of Ti-Zr dental implants were found similar to Ti dental implants under immediate loading in the posterior mandibular region. However, further studies are needed to determine its long-term efficacy and cost-effectiveness.