Minerva dental and oral science最新文献

Background: As oral health has gained a crucial role in low grade inflammation control, new techniques were tested to achieve a better control of periodontal homeostasis. Ultrasound scaling and root planing by means of Gracey curettes were the established techniques, while air-polishing was mostly used on prosthetic surfaces.

Methods: In the present study, an in-vitro comparison between roughness of enamel and root surfaces after air polishing and curettes was performed. Six extracted teeth were examined for air polishing effects and curettes effects at Scanning Electron Microscope to evaluate the superficial roughness. This aspect was assessed by a dedicated software analyzing roughness indexes such as Ra, Rq, Sa and fractal dimension.

Results: According to our results, air polishing produced a smoother root surface in comparison with the curette's root planing. Although Gracey curette scaling represent the gold-standard so far. Moreover, air polishing did not produce root cementum damage or scratches, as with curette's scaling, and this aspect seems to be related to particles diameter and nature.

Conclusions: Further studies, both in vitro and in vivo, are needed to better evaluate the real outcome of this kind of management.

Background: To increase the success rate of the endodontic treatment in primary teeth various, obturating materials have been introduced to meet the specific requirements for deciduous dentition and to create a three-dimensional (3D) seal to prevent recurrence of bacterial infection. This study was conducted to compare and evaluate the three-dimensional seal and volumetric filling of primary canals obturated with different medicaments using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: In-vitro cross sectional study was designed with sample size of 108 specimens. Thirty-six extracted primary molars were selected for the study and randomly divided into 3 groups A (Metapex; Meta Biomed, Osong-eup, Korea), B (Endoflas; Sanlor Laboratories, Cali, Colombia) and C (Zinc oxide eugenol; DPI India Ltd., Mumbai, India). After access opening, canals were prepared up to 30 no k- file followed by obturation with Metapex, Endoflas and Zinc oxide eugenol in respective groups. CBCT was done before and after the obturation for volumetric analysis. The data obtained were analyzed to attain POV (percentage of obturated volume) and PVV (percentage volume of voids).

Results: The percentage of obturated volume (POV) was highest for Endoflas group (88.87) followed by Metapex (83.58) and ZnO (72.78) and the difference was statistically significant. Whereas the percentage volume of voids (PVV) was more in Zinc oxide eugenol group (27.22) followed by Metapex (16.42) and least voids were seen in Endoflas group (11.14).

Conclusions: Voids were found in all three obturating materials. Endoflas showed superior three-dimensional (3D) sealing capability whereas ZnO eugenol having least sealing capacity.

Background: The aim of this study was to test whether rapid palatal expansion is effective to improve nasal airway patency in a sample of pediatric patients with primary snoring.

Methods: A group of 21 subjects, 11 girls (52%) and 10 boys (48%), with a mean age of 7.1 years (SD=1.3; range 4-9 years) were treated with a rapid maxillary expansion (RME) device. Nasal airway resistance was assessed via rhinomanometric exam before (pre-) and 6 months after (post-) the rapid palatal expansion treatment.

Results: Data analysis showed a statistically significant increase in the mean scores of the results of the rhinomanometric exam between the pre- and post-measurements with a significant reduction in total inspiratory and expiratory air resistance values after rapid palatal expansion.

Conclusions: Our results show that RME treatment is associated with an improvement in nasal airway resistance due to a substantial reduction in nasal resistance associated with the orthopedic action of the orthodontic device.

Background: The success in acquiring a precision impression in the dental field is a compromise between the processing time and the setting time of the impression material. A device called "Impression Heater" (EU application n° EP20186042.6) has recently been patented, which consists of a self-heating disposable adhesive patch with an exothermic chemical reaction to be placed on the dental impression tray. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a thermal impression accelerator in reducing the setting time of different elastomers.

Methods: Three samples of 5 different elastomeric materials (width 6 mm x length 50 mm x depth 3-5-7 mm) the hardening of the material was evaluated at intervals of 15 seconds using an ASTM 2240 Shore-A durometer at 20 °C. The same procedure was replicated 3 times after positioning on a Impression Heater at temperatures of 35 °C, 50 °C and 65 °C, for each material.

Results: An increase in the impression material temperature from 35 °C to 50 °C reduces the setting time of an amount between 38.1% and 45.8%. Increasing the temperature from 35 °C to 65 °C results in a reduction of the setting time between 52.4% and 66.9%. At higher temperatures, the greater thickness of the impression material requires longer hardening times.

Conclusions: The tests carried out confirm the validity of the patented idea which reduces the time of impression taking while keeping the working time sufficiently long for the operator to manoeuvre.

Background: Currently, one of the most discouraging aspects for many patients undergoing dental procedures is the administration of local anaesthesia. Therefore, there is a constant search for new techniques to avoid the invasive and painful nature of the injection. This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of local anaesthetics with articaine 4% or mepivacaine 2% (both with epinephrine 1:100.000), using different anaesthetic techniques to perform germectomy of lower third molars and to assess patients' feelings and pain during surgery.

Methods: Totally 50 patients (ranged 11-16 years) who required germectomy of mandibular third molars were recruited. Each patient received local anaesthesia on one side with articaine inoculated with plexus technique while on the other side with mepivacaine using inferior alveolar nerve block technique. The patients' evaluation was performed on pre and intraoperative tactile-pressure feelings and intraoperative pain with four levels on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Results: Surgical operations lasted less with more efficient analgesia when articaine was used. The additional intraosseous injection was required mainly in the mepivacaine group intraoperatively. A few patients had tactile-pressure feelings while intraoperative pain sensation was absent in 90% of cases with articaine. Significant differences were found in the cases who reported "absent" and "moderate" VAS values, favoring the use of articaine.

Conclusions: Articaine injected with a plexus anaesthetic technique seems to be more clinically manageable than mepivacaine for the mandibular third molar germectomy. The discomfort of tactile-pressure feelings and pain experienced was lower using articaine anaesthetic technique used.

Background: The long-term success of implant therapy depends not only on proper osseointegration, but also on the healing of the epithelium and the quality of the biological seal on the abutment and on the implant neck. This study aims to evaluate the possible use of dentinal adhesives on the surface of the transmucosal path of dental implants in order to create a hermetic seal between keratinized epithelium and abutment.

Methods: Four sections of 12 µm thickness were obtained from a sample of the oral mucosa. Scotchbond TM Universal Adhesive (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) was carefully applied both to the samples and to the transmucosal path of titanium abutment (Win-Six, BioSAFin, Italy). The adhesives were polymerized. FT-IR analysis was performed on: 1) polymerized Scotchbond Universal Adhesive (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany); 2) the interface between the titanium abutment and the adhesive; 3) the interface between the adhesive and the mucosa; 4) the mucosa samples.

Results: Comparing the spectra, it emerged that the adhesive has established chemical bonds both on titanium and on the keratinized mucosa, involving different types of chemical interactions.

Conclusions: The results of this in-vitro study are encouraging. In the future biocompatibility and comparative study with other adhesives will be required.

Background: IRF6 AP-2α binding site polymorphism is known as IRF6 rs642961. It has been associated with a nonsyndromic orofacial cleft (NS OFC). This study aimed to determine the IRF6 rs642961 as a risk factor associated with NS OFC and its phenotypes.

Methods: The case-control design used for 264 subjects consists of 158 NS CLP subjects (42 CU CLP, 34 CB CLP, 33 CLO, 49 CPOs) and 106 healthy controls. The DNA is extracted from venous blood. The segment of IRF6 rs642961 amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length of polymorphisms (RFLPs) used the MspI digestion enzyme. The qPCR method to identify the mRNA expression levels of the IRF6 gene rs642961 was analyzed by the Livak method.

Results: The study results show that in NS CB CLP phenotype as the most severe phenotype of NS OFC, the Odds Ratio (OR) of A mutant allele was 5.094 (CI=1.456-17.820; P=0.011) and the OR of AA homozygous mutant genotype was 13.481 (CI=2.648-68.635; P=0.001). There are different levels of mRNA expression changes from NS OFC and its phenotypes. It is substantial among the 2^-ΔΔCt and the group of AA, GA, and GG genotypes (P<0.05); in the NS CPO phenotype, it shows IRF6 mRNA under-expression in GA, AA genotypes while in other phenotypes it shows IRF6 mRNA overexpression.

Conclusions: The IRF6 AP-2α binding site polymorphism is strongly associated with the severity of NS OFC, and this polymorphism has a functional role in affecting IRF6 mRNA expression that is variable in each phenotype.

Background: Recently, the use of whitening dentifrice has increased among patients. However, these products might increase the surface roughness of composite restorations and make them more susceptible to discoloration and plaque accumulation. This study aimed to compare the effects of two charcoal-based dentifrices and other whitening dentifrices with different mechanisms of action on the surface roughness of an aged resin composite.

Methods: Forty-five composite specimens were made (2 × 7mm) and their initial surface roughness was obtained using a Profilometer. The specimens were subjected to the Accelerated Artificial Aging (AAA) process for 300 hours. Then, the surface roughness of the specimens was reevaluated using the Profilometer. The specimens were randomly divided into 5 groups (N.=9), namely Control (Gc), Bencer (Gb; Sormeh Company, Tehran, Iran), Perfect White Black (Gp), Colgate Total Whitening (Gt), and Colgate Optic White (Go) (Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, NY, USA). The specimens were brushed for 14 minutes with respective dentifrices. In the Gc group, the specimens were only brushed with distilled water. The surface roughness of the specimens was measured again. The data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05.

Results: There was no significant difference in surface roughness parameters (Ra, Rq, Rz) between the groups, but in each group, the roughness parameters decreased after the aging procedure and increased after brushing significantly except for Rz parameter in Gb group which increased after aging and decreased after brushing.

Conclusions: None of the whitening dentifrices used in the present study had an adverse effect on the surface roughness of an aged composite resin.

Background: Odontogenic space infections are a common presentation in oral and maxillofacial surgery units worldwide. Multiple patient and treatment dependent variables may be used predict the outcomes of the disease process. This study was aimed at a retrospective evaluation of significant predictors of prognosis in terms of length of hospital stay and the need for re-exploration in cases of odontogenic space infections.

Methods: Patients who underwent incision and drainage of odontogenic space infections were identified from the hospital records of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India. The variables assessed included Diabetic status, pyrexia on admission, topical rubefacient agent application, hot fomentation, recent tooth extraction, trismus, dysphagia or dyspnea on presentation, white blood cell count, number of spaces involved, antibiotics used, organisms isolated, severity of the infection and the anesthesia technique used (local anesthesia [LA], conscious sedation or general anesthesia).

Results: The sample consisted of 259 patients (110 male, 159 female) with a mean age of 41±16.9 years. Space infections were preceded by tooth extractions in 53 (20%) cases, rubefacient balm application in 130 (40%) and hot fomentation in 58 (22%) cases. Trismus was noted in 140 patients with an average mouth opening of 21±10.3 mm. Dyspnea and dysphagia were noted in 55 (21%) and 96 (37%) patients each. Sixty-six patients were diabetic. The average length of hospital stay was 5.8±3 days and re-exploration was required in 75 (29%) patients. Significant predictors of hospital stay were severity (P<0.001), number of spaces affected (P<0.001), hot fomentation (P=0.04), trismus (P<0.001), dysphagia (P<0.001) and dyspnea (P<0.001). Predictors of re-exploration are an increased primary surgery under LA (P<0.001), white blood cell count (P<0.001), rubefacient balm application (P=0.045), dysphagia (P<0.001), dyspnea (P=0.018), and reduced mouth opening (P<0.001). No significant correlation between diabetes and length of hospital stay or the need for re-exploration were found in this study.

Conclusions: Poorer outcomes can be predicted based on the severity of the infection, the number of spaces involved, an increased white blood cell count as well as clinical signs and symptoms like trismus, dysphagia and dyspnea. Hot fomentation and Rubefacient agent application were identified as significant determinants of poor prognosis in this study. The presence of these indicators warrants a more aggressive approach towards management of space infections.

Background: Caries is a multifactorial degenerative disease, and it is the most common chronic disease during childhood. Few studies have assessed the effects of breastfeeding and bottle feeding on children's dental caries, also taking into account the duration of both options. We investigated whether the infant feeding duration and feeding methods (breast, bottle or both) are risk factors for dental caries in childhood.

Methods: Our study included 210 children from 2 to 6 years old and it was carried out in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of Borgo Cavalli (Treviso, Italy). The average number of decayed, missing, and filled primary tooth surfaces (DMFT) were investigated by analyzing the medical histories. Data collection was conducted from September 2021 to July 2022. Data analysis was performed using the statistical program R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). First, an analysis was performed to verify the database using a graph. We used the negative Poisson and Binomial count model for the data. Next, the verification of which covariables were significant was performed, finally the conclusions were obtained.

Results: By dividing the population according to the type of feeding, we saw that most of the children participating in the study had between 3 and 7 cavities. By analyzing the length of feeding, we saw that the average duration was between 10 and 20 months. Due to the P values, we concluded that the total duration of feeding variable was not significant in explaining the event of interest and, therefore, only the variable type of feeding (artificial and natural) was significant because the P value was below the 5% significance level. Finally, we concluded that natural type breastfeeding increases the average amount of caries by 1.29 times, or 29% more than artificial feeding.

Conclusions: Compared to bottle-feeding, breastfeeding increases the risk of caries at an early age; however, there is no correlation between duration and occurrence of caries. Meanwhile, considering health benefits, dental professionals should not discourage breastfeeding; as a matter of fact, promoting breastfeeding has many benefits for infants and mothers, provided that it is associated with proper oral hygiene.