International Journal of Dentistry最新文献

Objective: Periodontal disease is a chronic condition, and its etiology is mainly related to biofilm and the destruction of the attachment apparatus resulting from poor application of oral hygiene measures. The aim was to study the relationship between oral hygiene and the severity of periodontal disease, in addition to evaluating the relationship between periodontitis and tooth loss in Mexican adults aged 20-49 years.

Methods: Information from 10,897 Mexican adults between 2019 and 2022 was included by the Epidemiological Monitoring System for Oral Pathologies. The severity of periodontal disease was evaluated via the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and classified into four groups: CPI = 0 (healthy); CPI = 1 (bleeding on probing); CPI = 2 (calculus); and CPI = 3/4 (periodontitis).

Results: Of the total population, 20.4% presented bleeding, 30.3% presented dental calculus, 3.5% presented periodontitis, and 37.2% presented at least one missing tooth. Poor oral hygiene [OR = 4.01 (95% CI 3.24-4.96); p  < 0.001] and a low level of education [OR = 1.39 (95%CI 1.11-1.73); p = 0.003] were significantly associated with periodontitis. Adults with periodontitis are more likely to present tooth loss [OR = 2.51 (95% CI 2.01-3.15); p  < 0.001], with the probability of presenting the disease increasing in line with age.

Conclusion: Poor oral hygiene and tooth loss are related to periodontitis in Mexican adults. It is essential to design strategies that strengthen motivation and promote oral health, with the goal of reducing the prevalence of periodontal disease and improving the maintenance of the dental support system.

Oral leukoplakia (OL) is a potentially malignant disorder characterized by white lesions on the oral mucosa, with a variable risk of progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Its management remains challenging due to the potential for recurrence and malignant transformation. In recent years, laser-based therapies have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional treatments such as surgical excision and cryotherapy. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and safety of various laser technologies, including ablative lasers, fractional lasers, and photodynamic therapy (PDT)-assisted laser treatments, for the management of OL. The review focuses on key clinical outcomes such as lesion regression rates, recurrence reduction, and the incidence of adverse effects. Evidence suggests that laser therapies not only achieve significant lesion regression but also minimize posttreatment discomfort and preserve healthy tissue structure. Among the laser modalities studied, PDT-assisted treatments have shown particular promise in reducing recurrence rates over long-term follow-up. Furthermore, fractional laser-assisted PDT has demonstrated high clinical efficacy with excellent tolerability, suggesting its potential as a front-line treatment option. Despite these encouraging results, further research with larger patient cohorts and longer follow-up periods is necessary to establish standardized treatment protocols. This review supports the adoption of laser-based treatments as effective and minimally invasive options for managing OL while reducing the risk of malignant progression.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate microshear bond strength between bovine dentin and glass ionomer cement (GIC) modified with the addition of grape seed extract (GSE).

Materials and methods: Twenty-four crowns of bovine incisor teeth were fixed with self-curing acrylic resin, leaving the buccal surface of the teeth exposed. The enamel surface was removed with SiC abrasive paper, exposing the dentin. Four transparent cylindrical matrices (1 mm high and 0.75 mm in internal diameter) were placed on the dentin surfaces of each tooth. The control groups were composed of the GICs Maxxion R and the GC Gold Label 9 R used in the proportion recommended by the manufacturers. For the experimental groups, GSE was added to the GIC liquid in the form of 10% glycolic extract. The set was stored at an absolute humidity of 37°C for 24 h. After storage, matrices were removed, and specimens were submitted to the microshear bond test.

Statistical analysis: Data were submitted to two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05).

Results: The mean bond strength values did not exhibit statistically significant differences for different groups. For the independent factor material, the average bond strength values were significantly higher for GIC GC Gold Label 9 R (6.15 MPa) when compared to Maxxion R (3.93 MPa).

Conclusion: The incorporation of GSE into GIC did not negatively interfere with the adhesive properties of the GIC; the prevalence of the adhesive failure pattern was observed in all tested groups.

Introduction: To provide the optimum level of oral healthcare, the supply of dentists should mirror the population's oral health care needs. However, the ongoing inter-country movement of oral health professionals is reducing Ireland's capacity to maintain an adequate oral health workforce. This study aimed to identify the determinants of future dentists' intentions to engage in inter-country movement.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among final-year dental students at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. To collect the data, a Microsoft Forms based questionnaire was distributed among all students. Descriptive statistics were calculated to characterise students' motives for pursuing a future career abroad.

Results: A total of 50 out of 50 invited final-year dental students participated in the study. The sample consisted of equal proportions of Irish nationals and international students (n = 25 each). Canadian students represented the predominant international cohort, accounting for 42% of all participants. Regarding immediate career plans, 8% of Irish students intended to move abroad compared with 68% of international students. The sample consisted of equal proportions of Irish nationals and international students (n = 25 each), with Canadian students comprising the largest subgroup at 42% of the total sample. A marked difference was observed between the two cohorts in terms of immediate career intention. Only 8% of Irish students indicated plans to work abroad, compared with 68% of international students, the majority of whom expressed a desire to return to their home country. Regarding long-term career plans, 20% of Irish students anticipated relocating abroad, whereas only 12% of international students reported intentions to leave their country of origin. The most frequently cited push factors influencing decisions to emigrate from Ireland included more favourable economic conditions, improved lifestyle opportunities, increased access to training programmes and family-related considerations.

Conclusion: The majority of international dental students in Ireland are aiming to pursue their dental career in their home countries due to better economic conditions and living standards. These findings suggest that Irish policymakers and educational institutions might need to consider new approaches for the retention of newly graduating dentists.

Background: Oral health disparities among adults with disabilities remain a significant challenge.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of educational, behavioral, and pharmacological strategies intended to enhance oral health self-care among independent adults with disabilities.

Methods: This systematic review adhered to PRISMA 2020 recommendations and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251015528). We identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English from 2000 to 2024 through extensive searches of PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, the Cochrane Library, ProQuest, and relevant gray literature sources. Studies were eligible if they involved adults aged 18-70 years with psychiatric, neurological, intellectual, or physical disabilities who were able to perform their own oral hygiene. Interventions included educational, behavioral, or pharmacological strategies compared to any control. Two reviewers independently completed the screening and data-extraction processes and appraised study quality using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Narrative synthesis was conducted due to heterogeneity.

Results: Ten RCTs involving 681 participants from diverse countries met the inclusion criteria. Educational and behavioral interventions, including oral hygiene instruction (OHI), visual aids, hands-on demonstration, and motivational interviewing (MI), significantly improved oral health knowledge, attitudes, and self-care practices in adults with disabilities. These interventions were particularly effective when tailored to the specific needs of participants and delivered with ongoing reinforcement. Pharmacological strategies, primarily chlorhexidine-based adjuncts, further reduced plaque, gingival bleeding, and oral microbial load, especially when combined with education or behavioral support. While most interventions produced significant short-term improvements in clinical and behavioral outcomes, overall certainty of evidence was limited by heterogeneity in study designs, intervention protocols, and risk of bias.

Conclusions: Multifaceted interventions that combine tailored education, behavioral reinforcement, and pharmacological support improve oral health outcomes for independent adults with disabilities. Future research should prioritize standardized methodologies, rigorous risk-of-bias assessment, and long-term follow-up to strengthen the evidence base and guide clinical practice and policy.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the potential use of machine learning to automatically classify electromyography (EMG) data into bruxism simulated movement with tooth contact (BMwTC), bruxism simulated movement without tooth contact (BMwoTC), and non-bruxism movement (non-BM).

Methods: Twelve eligible healthy participants (female/male: 2/10, mean age: 35.3 ± 8.4 years) were asked to perform the simulated movements (all the tasks were performed five times for 5 s each with a 30-s rest interval). The electrodes were placed on the masseter, infrahyoid, inframandibular, and chin muscles. A sound sensor was placed adjacent to the masseter. The EMG and sound data were sampled at 1 and 44.1 kHz, respectively. Single- and multi-stream hidden Markov models (HMMs) were used to automatically discriminate the tested behavior from the others using a hamming window with 100 ms and shift length of 50 ms. The leave-one-out method was used for training and testing the model, with data from 11 participants used for training and one for testing. Each participant was evaluated, and the final performance was measured by averaging the results of 12 classification trials. The validity of the discrimination was assessed by calculating the harmony mean values using six EMG signals and the sound data.

Results: The masseter EMG demonstrated significantly higher discrimination accuracy in the single-stream model (p  < 0.05, One-way ANOVA, Tukey HDS). The multi-stream model also demonstrated higher accuracy; however, no significant difference was observed. Notably, the accuracy of BMwoTC was less than 0.5.

Conclusion: The machine-learning-based discriminative system accurately discriminates BMwTC from non-BM using masseter EMG.

Background: Chios mastic gum, a natural resin derived from the mastic tree, has a history of traditional use for its beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal system, its anti-inflammatory properties, and its antimicrobial activity.

Objective: This study aimed to integrate network pharmacology and standardized in vitro analyses to elucidate the antimicrobial mechanisms and therapeutic potential of P. lentiscus phytochemicals.

Material and methods: This study employed a systematic methodology integrating data mining, network construction, and network analysis to explore the intricate relationships between the constituents of mastic gum and their diverse biological targets. The primary active compounds of P. lentiscus were identified through multiple databases, including the Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry, and Therapeutics database. ADME/T profiling, Lipinski's rule of five, and target prediction were performed to assess drug likeness and pharmacokinetics. Protein-protein interaction networks and gene ontology (GO) enrichment were analyzed using STRING and Cytoscape to identify biological pathways associated with antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the antibacterial efficacy of these compounds was evaluated following the Polish-European standard 1040, and antifungal activity was assessed according to the European standard 1650 by enumerating colony-forming units after a 24-h incubation period.

Results: Four major phytochemicals - alpha-terpineol, linalool, myrcene, and verbenone - were identified as key bioactive compounds. These exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic properties and predicted interactions with targets related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbial virulence. In vitro, the ethanolic extract of P. lentiscus achieved ≥ 5 log reductions in both bacterial and fungal strains, demonstrating potent antimicrobial activity comparable to chlorhexidine. The hydroalcoholic extract showed moderate yet significant reductions.

Conclusion: The integrative in silico and in vitro analyses indicate that P. lentiscus exerts antimicrobial effects through multiple complementary mechanisms, including membrane disruption, inhibition of virulence and biofilm formation, and modulation of host inflammatory pathways. These findings provide a mechanistic framework supporting the use of P. lentiscus as a natural adjunct for managing periodontal infections and warrant further preclinical and clinical evaluation.

Objectives: This systematic review is meant to evaluate the effectiveness of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in gingival depigmentation and assess its potential as a minimally invasive alternative for managing gingival hyperpigmentation.

Materials and methods: Electronic searches were conducted across major databases, yielding eight relevant studies, including five randomized clinical trials and three case series. These studies reported different application techniques, with intramucosal injection (mesotherapy) being the most frequently used approach.

Results: All studies demonstrated improvement in gingival pigmentation following vitamin C therapy, as assessed by indices such as the Dummett-Gupta oral pigmentation index (DOPI). Mesotherapy generally produced faster and more pronounced results than topical gel application. High patient satisfaction and minimal adverse effects were consistently reported. Nevertheless, marked heterogeneity in study design, dosing, and outcome evaluation limited direct comparison among studies.

Conclusions: Vitamin C shows promise as an effective, safe, and minimally invasive treatment for gingival depigmentation. However, standardized clinical protocols and long-term randomized trials are required to establish its comparative efficacy and ensure consistent outcomes.

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of dental anomalies within the athlete population in Qatar using panoramic radiographs.

Design: This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at Aspetar Hospital in Qatar.

Materials and methods: Digital panoramic radiographs of 5000 records of athletes attending dental department were investigated for dental anomalies affecting tooth position, such as impaction and transposition; anomalies affecting tooth number, such as hypodontia and supernumerary teeth; and anomalies affecting tooth shape such as taurodontism. Panoramic radiographs were obtained over a 15 year period (March 2007 to September 2022). Radiographs were evaluated by two experienced dentists: a prosthodontist and an endodontist with a minimum of 12 years of experience. To assess interexaminer agreement, a random sample of 20 radiographs were evaluated independently by each examiner. The agreement was calculated using Cohen's kappa statistics, with a strong level of agreement achieved (K > 0.95). Discrepancies were resolved by consensus discussion.

Results: An initial total of 5000 athlete records from individuals attending the dental department were reviewed. After applying the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1483 records were excluded as they did not meet the specified requirements. Consequently, a final sample of 3517 athletes (mean age: 21.3 ± 7.07 years) was included in the analysis, with a predominance of males (3142; 89.3%) compared to females (375; 10.6%). Among those athletes, 1003 (28.5%) had at least one dental anomaly, and 73 athletes (2.1%) had two anomalies. The prevalence of anomalies affected teeth position, shape, and number were 20.0%, 7.7%, and 2.9%, respectively. The most observed dental anomalies were tooth impaction (19.8%), followed by taurodontism (7.7%). The prevalence of hypodontia was 1.8% and that of supernumerary teeth was 1.1%. Tooth transposition was the least found with a prevalence rate of 0.2%.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate a notable presence of dental anomalies among athletes in Qatar, with tooth impaction being the most prevalent, followed by taurodontism and hypodontia. This highlights the importance of early detection and management of such anomalies.

Objective: This systematic review assessed the diagnostic capability of ultrasound (US) to evaluate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis in children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), with MRI, CT, or CBCT as reference standards.

Material and methods: A search was conducted on electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus) and partial gray literature without restrictions of language and time. Eligibility criteria included diagnostic studies (randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, observational studies) evaluating the diagnostic potential of 2D or 3D US in assessing the TMJ (i.e., disc displacement, joint effusion, condylar changes) of children with JIA compared to CBCT/CT and/or MRI as the reference standard. The Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) was used to evaluate risk of bias.

Results: After eligibility criteria were applied, eight studies were included. All studies were methodologically acceptable, presenting low applicability concerns, although none fulfilled all QUADAS-2 criteria. Results from individual studies ranged from poor to excellent, with a sensitivity (SN) of B-mode US ranging between 21% and 85% and a specificity (SP) between 36.4% and 89%, depending on the TMJ alterations assessed (condylar changes - CC, joint effusions - JE, synovial thickness, and lateral periarticular space - LPAS). The certainty of the evidence for the diagnostic performance of US to detect TMJ involvement in JIA was graded low for SN and moderate for SP.

Conclusion: This systematic review demonstrated that although MRI remains the reference standard imaging modality, US shows promising diagnostic capability in assessing the TMJ of children with JIA. It can provide valuable supplementary information to assist in diagnosis alongside clinical examination and guide the need for advanced diagnostic assessment.