Quintessence international最新文献

Objectives: This study addresses the gap in retrospective analyses concerning submandibular triangle masses, utilizing a large Chinese cohort, to provide experience for preoperative diagnosis and a basis for individualized treatment.

Method and materials: Details were collected including basic demographic information, medical histories, physical examination findings, imaging results, and histopathologic diagnoses for 608 patients who underwent surgical procedures in the submandibular triangle at Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, from January 2009 to June 2019. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify differences between malignant and benign masses, employing both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results: The cohort comprised 405 males and 203 females, with an average age of 43.2 ± 17.5 years (range 1 to 80 years). The prevalence of congenital masses, inflammatory masses, and tumors were 2.6%, 63.5%, and 33.9%, respectively. Among the identified tumors, benign, borderline, and malignant tumors represented 48.4%, 1.6%, and 50.0%, respectively. Pleomorphic adenoma and lymphoma emerged as the most frequent benign and malignant pathologies, respectively, with metastatic tumors primarily originating from head and neck cancers. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences based on sex, age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, betel nut chewing habits, mass characteristics (mobility and texture), and the presence of cervical lymph nodes. Multivariate analysis identified age, alcohol consumption, and betel nut chewing as significant risk factors for malignancy.

Conclusion: A comprehensive analysis of clinical parameters aids in the preoperative diagnosis of submandibular triangle masses.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most prevalent chronic rheumatic disease in children. Temporomandibular joint involvement is common but often asymptomatic, with overlapping temporomandibular disorders making diagnosis challenging. This report describes ten pediatric patients diagnosed with both temporomandibular disorders and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Evaluation included clinical, psychological, hematologic, and radiologic assessments. Temporomandibular disorders symptoms were assessed after 6 months of dental and rheumatologic management. Temporomandibular joint involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis frequently precedes systemic symptoms and may occur even when blood markers appear negative, highlighting the importance of imaging for early diagnosis and timely intervention. Conventional temporomandibular disorders treatment combined with rheumatologic interventions generally yield favorable results even when juvenile idiopathic arthritis underlies temporomandibular disorders symptoms.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between metabolites and periodontitis using Mendelian randomization (MR), and validate findings through gingival crevicular fluid metabolomic profiling.

Method and materials: A two-sample MR analysis used genetic data from 486 metabolite Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) and periodontitis statistics, with inverse-variance weighting as the primary method, supported by MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode. Sensitivity analyses included Cochran Q, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO tests. Gingival crevicular fluid metabolomics compared five periodontitis patients and five controls, identifying differential metabolites via t tests and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment.

Results: Mendelian randomization analysis identified 17 metabolites causally linked to periodontitis, spanning amino acids, lipids, energy metabolism, and cofactors/vitamins. Protective metabolites included betaine (OR 0.478, 95% CI 0.235-0.975), laurate (0.51, 0.267-0.974), and glycerol 3-phosphate (0.312, 0.105-0.926), while phenylalanine (39.651, 2.173-723.565), pelargonate (2.527, 1.059-6.030), and 3-methylhistidine (1.481, 1.074-2.042) increased risk. Sensitivity analyses confirmed minimal heterogeneity, no pleiotropy (except 4-acetamidobutanoate), and no reverse causation. Gingival crevicular fluid metabolomics revealed 75 upregulated and 245 downregulated metabolites, with pathway enrichment in lipid, amino acid, and vitamin metabolism. Notably, betaine-protective in Mendelian randomization analysis-was significantly reduced in periodontitis, aligning with its anti-inflammatory role.

Conclusion: This study indicates that some circulating metabolites (eg, betaine) may protect against periodontitis. Integrating Mendelian randomization and gingival crevicular fluid analyses, key metabolic risk factors were identified. Clinically, metabolites like betaine and glycerol 3-phosphate could serve as noninvasive early biomarkers, providing new avenues for personalized periodontitis prevention and treatment.

Objective: Definitions play a pivotal role in scientific disciplines, including dentistry, by providing clarity and precision to the terminology employed. However, over time, definitions are sometimes subject to modification, which can result in communication misunderstandings among clinicians, patients, and third parties. This narrative review aims to present and discuss different patterns of definitional changes.

Method and materials: Observations regarding changes to established definitions in the dental literature and clinical practice were supplemented by searches of the bibliographic database PubMed.

Results: Three patterns of terminological change of a given term were distinguished: redefinition (eg, 'centric relation'), narrowing (eg, 'centric occlusion'), or broadening (eg, 'bruxism') of established terms.

Conclusion: The alteration of established definitions can result in the introduction of inconsistencies in the meanings and connotations of clinically significant terms. This can potentially lead to confusion among individuals who have been familiar with the original definition for an extended period. These changes have the potential to expose patients to various risks and may ultimately call into question the scientific basis of dentistry as a discipline.

Objectives: To comprehensively characterize dental unit waterline biofilms through integrated analysis combining scanning electron microscopy and high-throughput sequencing, examining structural features and microbial community composition across different tubing sections.

Method and materials: For each of the eight dental units with high-speed handpiece waterlines in continuous clinical service for ≥ 6 months at a university dental hospital, three 2-cm segments were collected from proximal, middle, and distal sections (total n = 24). Scanning electron microscopy evaluated biofilm coverage percentage and morphology across 10 fields per specimen using a nine-grid quantification method. Microbial communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region sequencing with subsequent bioinformatic processing through QIIME 2. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and PERMANOVA to assess sectional differences.

Results: Scanning electron microscopy revealed a gradient of biofilm coverage increasing from proximal (31%) to middle (87%) and distal sections (nearly 100%). Structural features included partially detached biofilm fragments and distinctive bulging bacterial aggregates. Molecular analysis identified Proteobacteria as the predominant phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, with significant variations in community composition between sections. The distal section showed the highest microbial diversity, with significant differences observed in Chao1 richness (P = .025), observed species (P = .025), and Good's coverage (P = .024) between study groups. Principal coordinate analysis confirmed distinct clustering patterns among biofilm communities from different tubing sections.

Conclusion: This multidimensional analysis achieved its aim of comprehensively characterizing dental unit waterline biofilms, establishing that heterogenous distribution patterns warrant section-specific monitoring approaches for effective contamination control.

Objectives: Mouth breathing is a condition that alters normal skeletal and dental development while also affecting the surrounding orofacial muscles. Electromyography (EMG) provides an objective method to assess these muscular changes. This study aimed to evaluate the activity of the buccinator, orbicularis oris, mentalis, sternocleidomastoid, and trapezius muscles in mouth breathers before and after interceptive therapy and compare these findings with those of nasal breathers.

Method and materials: Children aged 6 to 12 years were selected based on inclusion/exclusion criteria and categorized into two groups: group I (mouth breathers, n = 18) and group II (nasal breathers, n = 18). The electromyographic activity of all the five selected muscles were recorded at rest and during maximal contraction using an EMG Retrainer (Chattanooga Group, DJO), an intraoral device used to measure muscle activity, particularly in the orofacial region. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0 (IBM), with significance set at P < .05. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for intergroup and intragroup comparisons.

Results: Results showed significant differences in muscle activity before and after appliance therapy, particularly in the buccinator, mentalis, orbicularis oris, trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Post-therapy, the orbicularis oris and buccinator muscles exhibited notable differences in mouth breathers.

Conclusion: Surface EMG can be a valuable diagnostic and biofeedback tool in pediatric interceptive orthodontics, aiding in treatment assessment and relapse prevention.

Objective: To evaluate parents' knowledge of the Israeli Ministry of Health guidelines on basic oral health practices and appropriate toothpaste usage for different pediatric age groups.

Method and materials: Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to parents attending the Pedodontics Department. The questionnaire included two sections: general questions and questions that were completed for all children in the family, categorizing them into three age groups: under 2 years, 2 to 6 years, and over 6 years.

Results: A total of 242 questionnaires and 410 responses across different age groups were collected. Most respondents knew that teeth should be brushed as soon as the first tooth appears and believed that the first dental visit should be at age 2 (60.5% and 26.9%, respectively). However, only 15% of parents answered both questions correctly. Toothpaste selection was primarily based on age (46.6%), with no significant differences across age groups for correct answer (P = .130). Awareness of the recommended fluoride concentration was low (16.1%), though parents of older children showed better knowledge (P = .040). Appropriate toothpaste amounts were used in 30.2% of the cases, with the 2- to 6-year age group demonstrating the highest awareness (P .001). Only 3.7% of parents correctly answered all three toothpaste-related questions. Overall, the knowledge score for toothpaste guidelines was highest in the middle age group (31.2%, SD = 28.66, P .001).

Conclusion: A minority of parents are familiar with recommended early dental care practices and correct toothpaste usage. The findings emphasize the need to improve parental awareness from the very beginning of a child's development. (Quintessence Int 2025;56:644-653; doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b6287918).

The objective of this case series was to report the outcomes of patients diagnosed with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and seek a remission through surgical management associated with local and systemic adjuvant therapies. A total of 14 patients were followed for up to 3 years, of whom one had MRONJ stage 0; three with stage I; seven with stage II; and four with stage III. Twelve patients underwent conservative sequestrectomy. In seven of these cases, the surgery was guided by fluorescence, using doxycycline preoperatively to remove necrotic bone tissue more accurately. In four participants, platelet-rich fibrin membranes were positioned at the surgical site before suturing. All 14 patients were instructed to perform daily mouthwashes with 0.12% chlorhexidine, and all underwent weekly sessions of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy according to the following protocol: Pre-irradiation with methylene blue (100 μg/mL) for 60 seconds, followed by irradiation with a low-level laser (600 nm; 100 mW; 214 J/cm2; 6 J/point; 60 s/point). Other adjuvant therapies were employed, such as the prescription of a combination of pentoxifylline and tocopherol, in addition to metronidazole paste. The proposed therapies led to remission in most patients, and although some of the patients did not achieve complete remission, they showed a significant reduction in pain complaints. These results demonstrate that the protocols used in this study are promising for the management of MRONJ in different stages. As such, they offer potential for the practice of surgeons and should be the object of further clinical investigations. (Quintessence Int 2025;56:654-666; doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b6376673).

Background: Periodontitis is a severe oral health condition that damages the supporting bone and soft tissues surrounding the teeth. In recent years, it has become evident that periodontitis could increase systemic inflammatory markers. Some studies showed a potential link between periodontitis and autoinflammatory diseases, including Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), which is a hereditary autoinflammatory condition. The current study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the association between FMF and periodontitis by analyzing clinical periodontal parameters-Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), and Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL)-through a meta-analysis.

Methods: A thorough search was conducted across different databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, covering publications up to July 2024. Eleven studies were included, consisting of one cohort and ten case controls. Following established methods, we performed data extraction and quality assessment of the selected publications. We conducted a meta-analysis to gather the effect sizes obtained from the eligible publications.

Results: The meta-analysis highlighted a statistically significant increase in PI among FMF patients compared to controls, with a pooled mean difference of 0.1833 (95% CI: 0.0012, 0.3655; p=0.0485), indicating higher plaque accumulation in FMF patients. On the other hand, CAL exhibited a non-significant mean difference of -0.0933 (95% CI: -0.2928 to 0.1062; p = 0.3596), and the GI similarly did not reach statistical significance, presenting a mean difference of 0.3223 (95% CI: -0.0713 to 0.7158; p = 0.1085).

Conclusion: Our investigation underscores a potential association between FMF and periodontitis, as seen by elevated levels of PI in FMF patients. These results suggest that FMF patients experience higher levels of periodontal inflammation, emphasizing the importance of periodontal care in this population.