Minerva dental and oral science最新文献

Background: Dental caries still represents a major public health problem, as it is the most widespread noncommunicable disease. The enamel of deciduous teeth is less resistant than permanent dentition and for this reason demineralization, and consequent caries formation, progresses more rapidly. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between the incidence of caries and intake of sugary drinks in pediatric patients.

Methods: The study included 526 subjects (295 males, 231 females) between the ages of 2 and 15 years old. Several variables were examined, including: gender, age, separate values of the decay missing filled teeth (DMFT) epidemiological index (for both deciduous and permanent dentition), quantity and quality of sugary drinks taken daily, daily brushing frequency, parental nationality and socio-economic status. A multivariate analysis conducted (using a simple linear regression model) to verify the association between soft drink consumption and DMF, including a series of confounding variables (namely, sex, brushing frequency and parents' nationality).

Results: From the results of the statistical analysis of the variables examined, a correlation between the incidence of caries in children aged between 2 and 14 years and brushing frequency, consumption of sugary drinks and parents' nationality was found.

Conclusions: It is important to raise awareness and properly inform patients and healthcare colleagues about the importance of oral health. Taking good care of our oral health represents part of implementation of the lifestyle and the quality of life of the future generations.

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) can be broadly classified clinically as an erosive (e) and non-erosive (ne) form. Mast cells (MCs) are granules containing cells that play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of OLP and have bidirectional interaction with eosinophil. In the present study, MCs and eosinophil densities were studied to find out if they could aid in the clinical severity of eOLP and neOLP.

Methods: The study group included 20 cases of eOLP and 30 cases of neOLP. All the sections were stained with special stains, toluidine blue (TB) for MCs and Congo red (CR) for eosinophils. Histopathological analysis was done by using Nikon NIS Elements Version 5.30 software (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan) by applying 100×100 µm grids to standardize the field of evaluation. Three subepithelial zones were demarcated as follows: 1) zone I was up to a subepithelial depth of 100 µm from the basement membrane; 2) zone II was beneath zone I from 100 µm to 200 µm; and 3) zone III was beneath zone II from 200 µm to 300 µm. In each of these zones, five high power fields with high cellular density were chosen to count MCs and eosinophils.

Results: The results of the study showed a significant increase in the number of MCs (intact and degranulated) in zone II and III compared to zone I in both eOLP and neOLP. Eosinophil density was significantly higher in zone II of both eOLP and neOLP when compared to zone I and III. We also observed a significantly higher number of both MCs and eosinophils in eOLP compared to neOLP. This difference was most prominent between zone II of eOLP and neOLP. No significant difference between granulated and degranulated MCs was found between the three zones.

Conclusions: Increased MC and eosinophil densities, as well as their interactions in eOLP, suggest that they play a significant role in etiopathogenesis and in establishing the clinical severity of the disease.

Background: The effectiveness of different types of electric toothbrushes in terms of removing bacterial plaque is still a debated issue. The aim of the study was to compare the plaque removal after a single use of two types of electric toothbrushes, sonic and roto-oscillating, in patients with fixed orthodontics.

Methods: Twenty-five subjects with fixed multibrackets appliances were randomly selected. Plaque scores were detected using a fluorescein-based detector. After using the sonic toothbrush with a surfactant-free toothpaste, the plaque scores were detected again. After 3 months, the procedure is performed again following the same methods, using the roto-oscillating toothbrush. For the statistical analysis a Student's t-test using Microsoft Excel 2021 (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA) was performed. The differences were considered statistically significant for probability values P<0.05.

Results: It can be seen that the brushing carried out with a sonic technology is more effective than the roto-oscillating technology. However, the FMPS, MOPI and OPI indexes do not show differences between the use of the two toothbrushes. The OHI-S index shows a statistically significant difference using the sonic toothbrush with a significance level of 0.05%.

Conclusions: It can be said that both electric toothbrushes are effective for maintaining a good home oral hygiene in patients with fixed orthodontics.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Er:YAG laser irritation on the roughness (Ra) value of Enamic surface (PICN) at different energy settings, and determine the optimal energy setting for a successful pre-treatment.

Methods: The study included 5 experimental groups (N.=8), including group A, untreated group (control); surface roughness of this group was measured with surface roughness tester (profilometer), then a total number of 32 PICN discs were randomly divided into 4 groups according to the treatment conducted, group B, hydrofluoric acid-etched (HF); group C, D, E in order (150, 250, 400 mJ Er:YAG laser-irritated); and roughness was measured by the same method applied to control group. Data were collected in microns (μm) and analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc comparison tests (a=0.05).

Results: All of the treatments improved surface roughness because a significant difference was observed between group A and all other groups P<0.05, the highest mean roughness value was in group B and E, followed by group C and D. The post hoc test showed there was no statistical difference found between groups B and E.

Conclusions: In terms of surface roughening, a conclusion can be made that irritating PICN inner surface with 400w Er:YAG can be an alternative pretreatment method to hydrofluoric acid.

Background: The aim of this paper was to report our experience and to review the literature of arthrocentesis focusing on protocols and results.

Methods: Arthrocentesis with supplemental hyaluronic acid was performed in patients with TMDs between January 2017 and December 2020 at the Division of Maxillofacial Surgery. The maximum interincisal opening (MIO) and pain score were recorded preoperatively (T0), 2 months postoperatively (T1), and 6 months postoperatively (T2). A literature search was performed to analyze the same parameters in patients with TMDs. Patient demographic, characteristics and treatment protocols used were also recorded.

Results: This retrospective analysis enrolled 45 patients. Twenty-two patients (20 females, 2 males) with mean age of 37.13 years with internal derangement were included in study group A. Study group B included 23 patients with degenerative joint disease (19 females and 4 males) with mean age of 55.73 years. The outcomes trend of MIO and pain during the follow-up period showed a gradual improvement. Fifty articles meeting the proposed scientific criteria were selected for the literature revision. A range of clinical and procedural variables were analyzed by grouping the studies into two broad categories based on the diagnosis of TMD.

Conclusions: Based on our experience and on the basis of the most accredited scientific studies in the literature, intra-articular injections of HA are beneficial for the improvement of the pain and/or functional symptoms of TMDs.

Background: The main aim of the present study was to assess which factors were related to surgical difficulty in maxillary third molar extraction. Intra- and postoperative complications were also evaluated.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was performed on out-patients who underwent impacted maxillary third molar extraction. Principal component analysis and multiple linear regression were used to assess the correlation among variables as well as the influence of different preoperative variables on surgical difficulty, suture duration and risk of intraoperative complications.

Results: Eighty-six teeth were extracted. There was a positive correlation between pre- and postoperative evaluations and surgery duration. Available space for surgical access in the upper fornix, second molar contact, crown palatal position, depth of the elevation point and surgeon's seniority had a significant effect on the overall difficulty index. Risk of intraoperative complications increased considerably as the percentage of reduction of maximum mouth opening increased (2.03±0.98) as well as in cases in which ostectomy and tooth sectioning were performed (7.02±2.68). The surgeon's seniority was associated with a decreased risk of intraoperative complications (-1.52±0.72). Surgeons were able to predict the difficulty of surgery only to a limited extent.

Conclusions: The percentage of maximum mouth opening reduction with an object in the fornix, crown palatal position, and contact with the second molar were found to be related to surgical difficulty.

Background: Feedback offered to dental students by their tutors should aim to elicit ongoing learning and motivation. Previous studies looked at the impact on learning of feedback delivered by tutors from tutors' perspectives. However, what students know about feedback and its purposes and how they experience them during their study effect the impact of feedback on learning. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the proprieties of tutor feedback and its impact on future learning from the students' perspective.

Methods: A short questionnaire based cross sectional survey was designed and delivered electronically to 135 undergraduate and postgraduate students at Brescia Dental School, Italy. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions which were divided into 3 sections. Quantitative data were collected via Google Forms, the analysis of the data was undertaken using SPSS software, Version 24.

Results: Sixty-one students (45.2%) responded to the questionnaire. Forty-one of respondents (67.2%) were undergraduate students and 20 (32.8%) were postgraduate students. The vast majority of students indicated that they received feedback, thirty (49.2%) indicated that it was delivered by tutors and eight (13.1%) by fellow students. Further, students reported that feedback was timely, delivered within two weeks of assessments and that constructive criticism was the favoured feedback style (N.=52, 85.2%). Most students felt that the feedback they received helped with ongoing learning (N.=54, 88.5%).

Conclusions: Most of the respondents considered that feedback received at Brescia Dental school did have a positive impact on their learning. This is of course what tutors hope would be the case but nevertheless it is gratifying to receive this endorsement from the respondent students. A more comprehensive study involving multiple dental schools in different learning environments will now be undertaken, including the collection of qualitative data.

Background: Long-term neurosensory dysfunction after mandibular fractures can have a significant impact on daily performances and quality of life (QoL) of the patient. The daily activities such as eating, speaking, shaving, kissing, and other social interactions can be affected due to the impaired sensation in the face and lip region.

Methods: A cross-sectional QoL assessment was done for the patients with inferior alveolar nerve dysfunction (IAND) from mandibular fractures at the 6-month follow-up visit. An interviewer-administered oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) questionnaire was used. The OIDP scores were compared against the age and the severity of IAND.

Results: A total of 232 patients with mandibular fractures were initially examined, out of which 145 patients had IAND. At the end of 6 months, 52 patients still had some form of IAND and were included in this study. In our study, most affected activities were eating food (96.2%) and speaking clearly (98.1%) whereas the least affected were relaxing (9.6%) and doing major work (9.6%). Smiling (P<0.001), emotional state (P<0.001), and contact of other (P=0.02) were affected significantly more in younger patients than in older patients. Patients who had severe IAND at 6 months had problems with activities like cleaning teeth (P=0.04), doing light physical activity (P=0.007), going out (P=0.003), sleeping (P=0.012), and relaxing (P=0.03).

Conclusions: Long-term IAND causes a significant impact on daily activities. This impact on QoL is particularly high and more frequent in the younger age group and patients with more severe IAND.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between missing maxillary lateral incisors and the mesio-distal (MD) diameters of the teeth. Occlusal and skeletal characteristics of the patients have been analyzed.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients were included in the study (permanent dentition, mean age: 13.7): 30 subjects with uni- or bilateral maxillary lateral incisors agenesis (study group, SG) and 49 patients with no maxillary lateral incisors agenesis (control group, CG). Orthopanoramics, plaster models and cephalometric analysis were used to perform the evaluations.

Results: Compared to the CG, in the SG, most of the teeth had smaller MD diameter. In the bilateral agenesis subgroup, the average differences between teeth diameters were lower than those found by comparing them to the unilateral agenesis subgroup and to the SG. Overjet was reduced on average in the SG. In the SG were found less cases of cross-bite and scissor-bite, less frequency of impaction of at least one tooth and agenesis of other teeth, crowding only in the lower arch, square or ovoid arch shape in the upper arch and square in the lower arch, increased interincisal angle and decreased SN^GoMe.

Conclusions: Upper lateral incisors agenesis, especially in cases of unilateral agenesis, is associated with MD teeth reduction. The agenesis of the upper lateral incisors is associated with a greater probability of agenesis affecting other teeth, molar and canine class II, reduced overjet and overbite, square or ovoid upper arch shapes, increased interincisal angle and reduced total divergence.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine and evaluate the maxillary and mandibular impacted and transmigrant canines, their relationship with neighboring tissues and pathology with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: CBCT data of 217 patients, between January 2018 and December 2019, with a total of 293 impacted canines were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical records were also evaluated. Maxillary or mandibular localization, angulations, transmigration, lateral and premolar tooth resorption, apical dilacerations, pathological formations, presence of persistent deciduous canines and treatment methods were investigated.

Results: For 293 impacted canines, 237 were in the maxilla and 56 in the mandible, with this difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). Among the 293 impacted canines, 14 (4.8%) transmigrated canines were detected. From the 14 transmigrant canines, 13 were in the mandible and 1 was in the maxilla. This difference was found statistically significant (P<0.05). Eighteen dentigerous cysts (10 maxilla, 8 mandible) and 4 odontomas (3 maxilla, 1 mandible) were found in impacted canines. For a total of 293 impacted canines, 57 were extracted, 13 were referred to orthodontics and a follow-up decision was made for 223 teeth.

Conclusions: Transmigration incidence is statistically significant, on a higher area of the lower jaw, compared to the upper jaw (P<0.05). In patients with impacted canines, taking CBCT together with a detailed clinical examination is effective in correct treatment planning and in minimizing complications that may occur during surgical extraction.