Journal of Dental Sciences最新文献

Background/purpose: The integration of digital technologies in dental technician education revolutionized the profession in Asian countries. Despite the growing adoption of digital methods, national examinations predominantly relied on traditional techniques. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of national examination standards and digital course integration in dental technician education among 5 countries including Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, and China.

Materials and methods: Data were collected from government agencies, universities, academic organizations, professional associations, and relevant certifying institutions. The study examined the educational methodologies and regulatory frameworks in these countries, focusing on incorporating digital technologies in training and assessment.

Results: The findings revealed significant variations in the integration of digital technologies. Japan and South Korea made substantial progress in embedding digital education in their curricula, while the Philippines and China remained in the early stages. Taiwan showed a balanced approach with a mixture of digital and traditional methods. Practical examinations in most countries remained rooted in conventional techniques, highlighting a gap between educational advancements and examination practices.

Conclusion: To better prepare students for the evolving demands of the dental technology industry, it was crucial to adopt a balanced approach that combined digital learning with hands-on training. This study advocated for educational reforms that bridged the gap between traditional training methods and modern digital practices. Enhanced international cooperation and the continuous updating of training programs were essential for advancing the quality of dental technician education, which in turn improved overall oral health outcomes.

Background/purpose: The relationship among chewing ability, food texture selection, and nutritional status in the elderly is well-known. This study tried to find the reliable biomarkers to predict the chewing ability and nutritional status of the elderly people.

Materials and methods: Sixty-eight elderly subjects (mean age, 80.38 ± 7.32 years) were enrolled in this study. Oral examinations assessed the number of total teeth, pair of antagonistic teeth, and type of dentures in participants. Sociodemographic data, dietary habits, and medical history were collected via self-reported questionnaires. Nutritional status was assessed based on the calf circumference and serum albumin level measurements.

Results: The elderly individuals with fewer number of total teeth, fewer pairs of antagonistic teeth, or the removable dentures preferred minced and moist food textures. These preferences were significantly associated with the smaller calf circumference (31.29 ± 4.08 cm, P < 0.05) and lower serum albumin levels (3.52 ± 0.63 g/dL, P < 0.001) compared to those with better chewing ability. The elderly participants with <20 total teeth, <10 pairs of antagonistic teeth, or the removable dentures showed significantly lower calf circumference and serum albumin levels than those with ≥20 total teeth, ≥10 pairs of antagonistic teeth, or the fixed dentures, respectively (all P-values <0.05).

Conclusion: Optimal chewing ability is crucial for maintaining an adequate nutritional status in the elderly people. The calf circumference and serum albumin level are found to be the reliable biomarkers for predicting the chewing ability and nutritional status of the elderly people.

Background/purpose: Early osseointegration of titanium (Ti) dental implants relies on the surface topography. Surface modification of Ti seeks to enhance bone regeneration around implants. Acid etching is the simple, less technique sensitive and cost-effective technique for surface treatment. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the simplified acid etching technique at room temperature lies in its capacity to enhance both physical properties and biological reactions relevant to bone.

Materials and methods: Utilizing sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and hydrochloric acid (HCl), five distinct acid solutions were prepared, and the acid etching process was executed at five different time points at room temperature. The surface characterization of nanoscale modified titanium disks encompassed surface characteristics analysis, wettability and roughness tests. The biocompatibility evaluation involves tests that assess cell attachment, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), and mineralization.

Results: The surface modified by HCl exhibited the most significant alterations, characterized by an elevated roughness value and reduced hydrophilicity properties. The surface treated with a mixture of HCl and H₂SO₄ for 24 h (TH5) displayed a hydrophilic surface and high surface energy. Acid etched surfaces showed the greater cell attachment with long pseudopodia. The cell proliferation rate and ALP reaction rate of TH5 is the highest at day 7. Cells mineralization of Ti surface treated with 37% HCl for 24 h (TC5) shows the lowest and TH5 shows the greatest on day 21.

Conclusion: The proposed acid etching at room temperature utilizing a combination of H₂SO₄ and HCl demonstrated improved physical properties while fostering favorable biological responses.

Background/purpose: Our previous study found that the integration of arts into the dental education through an innovative photomicrograph competition can increase the dental students' interests in learning microscopic lessons. This study aimed to validate whether the same photomicrograph competition still had its effectiveness to promote the students' interests in learning microscopic lessons.

Materials and methods: A photomicrograph competition was organized for the 477 dental students. The students captured artistic images from the oral histology and oral pathology slides. The entries were evaluated through a peer vote. A post-competition survey was performed to assess the students' perceptions of the activity's impact on their learning interest, satisfaction, and views on the potentially broader implementation.

Results: The photomicrograph competition gathered a 29 % overall participation rate, with the highest engagement from the third-year (66 %) and second-year (50 %) dental students. Of the participants, 73 % reported an increase in interest in the microscopic lessons, 78 % expressed satisfaction with the photomicrograph competition activity, and 80 % supported its annual continuation. Furthermore, 68 % of the students believed the photomicrograph competition could be adopted by all dental schools in Taiwan.

Conclusion: This study confirms the effectiveness of integrating arts into the dental education through the photomicrograph competitions. The consistent positive outcomes over time suggest the long-term viability and benefits of this approach in improving the students' histological studies, particularly among the second-year and third-year dental students. A strong support for the continued and broader implementation indicates a high potential for the incorporation of photomicrograph competitions in the dental curricula.

Background/purpose: Multiple augmentation protocols are documented in the literature to rebuild the deficient alveolar ridge after tooth extraction; however, achieving adequate vertical augmentation remains the most challenging goal. This study demonstrated a novel surgical technique of early vertical ridge augmentation for post-dental extraction. This technique offers several biological and technical advantages regarding the timing of the procedure and its relative simplicity compared to other complex techniques.

Materials and methods: This retrospective study consisted of 50 extraction sites from 44 participants who had received early vertical ridge augmentation (VRA) procedures (6-16 weeks post-extraction in either the maxilla or the mandible). The procedures were carried out using titanium tenting screws, freeze-dried bone allografts (FDBA), and xenografts (bovine). Pre- and post-operative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were taken for all participants 6-9 months after the augmentation surgery to measure the vertical bone gained.

Results: A total of 44 patients were treated with early VRA 6-16 weeks post-dental extraction. The total mean vertical bone gain measured after 6-9 months of augmentation for all cases was 4.64 ± 1.76 mm with no complications encountered. About 80 % of augmented sites met or exceeded the expected vertical bone gain (EVBG). Delaying vertical ridge augmentation until after eight weeks post-extraction, particularly beyond twelve weeks, results in higher rates of EVBG and more consistent average bone gain.

Conclusion: This study indicates that VRA can be achieved predictably by utilizing the early VRA technique, which is relatively straightforward and is associated with a minimal complication.

Background/purpose: Tubular occlusion is an effective method to treat dentin hypersensitivity. This study aimed to determine the effect of a modified methyl methacrylate-p-styrene sulfonic acid copolymer-based gel desensitizer on dentin permeability and tubule occlusion in extracted human premolars.

Materials and methods: Hydraulic conductance (HC) measurement (n = 50) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM; n = 64) were performed. Tooth specimens were divided into 6 groups and treated with: G1, distilled water for 30 s; G2, distilled water for 5 min; G3, gel desensitizer for 30 s; G4, gel desensitizer for 5 min; G5, 3% potassium oxalate for 30 s; G6, 3% potassium oxalate for 5 min. HC of dentin were measured before and after 30 s-etching with 35% phosphoric acid, at 0, 30, 60 min after group treatment and after 5-min acid challenge with 6% citric acid. The degree of tubule occlusion and the penetration depth of each agent were also determined. ANOVA and multiple comparison tests were used for data analysis.

Results: G3, G4, G5 and G6 significantly decreased in HC after group treatment every observation period, compared to after acid-etching (P < 0.001), and had 100% degree of tubule occlusion with penetration depth about 7.62, 7.94, 8.59 and 8.66 μm, respectively. However, G6 showed the greatest reduction in HC (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Gel desensitizer treatment, for only 30 s, could reduce dentin permeability and completely occlude the dentinal tubules, even though after acid challenge. However, 5-min treatment with potassium oxalate showed the greatest decrease in dentin permeability.

Background/purpose: In general, improving oral health can reduce the risk of pneumonia. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the risk of pneumonia between cerebral palsy (CP) cohort and non-CP cohort as well as the association of pneumonia with the number of dental visits in CP patients in Taiwan.

Materials and methods: We identified 10,544 patients who were diagnosed with CP between 2010 and 2019 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. 63,264 individuals who had never been diagnosed with CP were captured and matched in a 6:1 ratio. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was adopted to assess the hazard ratio (HR) of pneumonia between CP cohort and non-CP cohort.

Results: Our findings demonstrated that CP cohort had 2.619-fold risk for pneumonia as compared with non-CP cohort after adjustment (95 % CI = 2.574-2.813, P < 0.0001). Cox regression analysis indicated that the CP group had significantly higher incidence risk of pneumonia (log rank P < 0.0001). Higher risks of pneumonia in CP patients were associated with younger age, and lower urbanization level. Some comorbidities as well as history of pneumonia had the higher aHR for pneumonia within 180 days prior to index date. In addition, there was a positive association with the more than two dental visits for the decrease 0.887-fold incidence of pneumonia in CP-cohort as compared with no dental visit (95 % CI: 0.799-0.984).

Conclusion: Taken together, CP patients had a higher risk of pneumonia. Dental visits are beneficial for preventing the risk of pneumonia in CP patients. The patients with CP should receive regular dental checkup.