Saudi Dental Journal最新文献

Purpose: This systematic review, conducted per PRISMA guidance, evaluated clinical outcomes of titanium-base (TiB) versus multi-unit (MU) abutments in immediate-loading dental implant protocols, focusing on implant survival, prosthetic and biological complications, and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: PubMed and Scopus were searched for original English-language clinical studies published between 2001 and 2025, including RCTs, cohort studies, and clinical series with at least 12 months of follow-up. Only studies evaluating TiB and MU abutments in immediate-loading protocols were included. Due to heterogeneity in study designs, case selection, outcome measures, and follow-up duration, a narrative descriptive synthesis was performed without pooled statistical analysis.

Results: Seventeen clinical studies met the inclusion criteria. Both TiB and MU abutments showed high implant survival rates, generally in the high 90 s. TiB abutments performed well in single-tooth anterior restorations, showing fewer mechanical complications and better esthetic ratings. MU abutments were predominantly used in full-arch cases, demonstrating reliable long-term function but with higher mechanical maintenance needs. Marginal bone loss remained within acceptable limits across studies. Patient-reported outcomes were inconsistently assessed, though TiB tended to score higher for esthetics and MU for functional comfort.

Conclusions: Both TiB and MU abutments effectively support immediate loading when primary stability and proper prosthetic planning are achieved. TiB may be preferable for esthetic single-tooth cases, while MU abutments remain suitable for full-arch rehabilitation. The limited number of head-to-head studies highlights the need for well-designed randomized trials with standardized outcomes and validated patient-reported measures.

Canine teeth are essential to dentofacial aesthetics and functional harmony. When impacted they impair both form and function leading to psychological distress and poor health-related quality of life. This study investigates the approaches to managing impacted canines in the southern region of Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This was a retrospective study with data collection from Najran Specialty Regional Dental Center in Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2020 to 2024. Clinical record data extracted include age, sex, radiographs, position of impacted canine, location of impacted canine and management protocol. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for IOS Version 25 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 98 patients comprising 44 males (44.9%) and 54 females (55.1%) with impacted canines were managed during the study period. Age ranged from 13 to 30 years with mean ± SD age of 19.3 ± 3.3 years. Age group 16-20 years were in the majority (56 (57.1%)) while age group 26-30 were the least (3 (3.1%)). The majority of the impacted canines were located in the maxilla (85 (86.7%). Considering, management protocol, the majority (57 (58.2%)) of the patients with impacted canine were treated by non-surgical canine exposure. Most of our patients are young adults with the majority having maxillary canine impaction in the palatal location. Our favorite option is non-surgical canine exposure. Treatment durations ranges from two to four years with the majority in the 2.5 to 3 years.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength and tooth discoloration of resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) and high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (HGIC) restorations in primary teeth treated with either nano-silver fluoride (NSF) or silver diamine fluoride (SDF). Sixty-six primary molars with dentin caries were randomly assigned to six groups of 11 teeth each: two NSF-treated groups (one RMGIC, one HGIC) and two SDF-treated groups (one RMGIC, one HGIC). Two additional control groups received direct RMGIC and HGIC restorations, respectively. All samples were tested for tooth discoloration using a spectrophotometer before and after the thermocycling aging process (20,000 cycles). Shear bond strength was compared between the groups. Kruskal-Wallis test with a P-value of < 0.05 was used for statistical significance. The samples treated with SDF and restored with RMGIC exhibited the highest ΔE value (mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 8.27 ± 6.51). In contrast, the samples treated with NSF and restored with RMGIC demonstrated the lowest ΔE value (mean ± SD of 1.45 ± 0.77). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in the shear bond strength test. NSF provided a better color masking effect compared to SDF when using RMGIC without visible black stains through the restoration. Additionally, neither NSF nor SDF affected the shear bond strength of either type of restoration applied to them. NSF may be preferred over SDF in cases where aesthetics is a priority, with similar bond strength and enhanced color matching.

Purpose: Nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments have advanced root canal preparation through enhanced precision. Thermal pretreatment improves both flexibility and cyclic fatigue resistance (CFR). While irrigating solutions are essential for decontamination, they may also affect the properties of heat-treated NiTi instruments. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different irrigating solutions on the cyclic fatigue resistance of heat-treated NiTi files.

Methods: Four heat-treated reciprocating NiTi-files were analyzed: EdgeOne R-Utopia, Reciproc Blue, Procodile Q and CC One Blue. Files were immersed (5 min; 37 °C and 60 °C) in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 96% ethanol, NaOCl + EDTA, distilled water, or left in a no-immersion control group. CFR was measured in an artificial root canal (60° curvature, 5 mm radius), and fragment length (FL) was documented. The surface features of the fragments were assessed through scanning electron microscopy.

Results: File system, irrigating solution, and temperature significantly influenced CFR (p < 0.001). Across all immersion conditions, the CFR reached its highest value with Procodile Q (37 °C distilled water) and its lowest with EdgeOne R-Utopia (60 °C NaOCl + EDTA). EDTA reduced CFR across all files, particularly at elevated temperatures and when combined with NaOCl. Microscopy revealed micropitting and roughened surfaces, particularly on CC One Blue (60 °C NaOCl), as well as material degradation and heterogeneous surfaces with NaOCl + EDTA.

Conclusions: Heat-treated NiTi instruments are influenced in their mechanical and metallurgical behavior by the chemical and thermal impact of irrigating solutions. Heated EDTA and NaOCl + EDTA were detrimental, while Procodile Q demonstrated the highest CFR. Within the limitations of this study, exposure to irrigating solutions, particularly heated EDTA and NaOCl + EDTA, reduced the cyclic fatigue resistance of heat-treated NiTi files. Clinically, prudent selection and temperature control of irrigants may help preserve instrument performance and reduce the risk of file fracture during root canal preparation.

The global rise in antibiotic resistance among oral pathogens necessitates exploring natural and innovative alternatives for dental caries management. This study aimed to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate a novel clove extract-loaded nano-hydroxyapatite composite (nHA-CE) for its dual functionality: biomimetic remineralization and enhanced antimicrobial activity against dental caries-associated microbes. Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) was synthesized via wet chemical precipitation and characterized using XRD, FTIR, AFM, and DLS. Clove extract was obtained by ethanolic extraction and analyzed by GC-MS. The nHA-CE composite was prepared, and its antibacterial efficacy was tested against oral pathogens using agar well diffusion and compared to standard antibiotics. The nHA particles were spherical, with an average size of ~ 80 nm. Eugenol (72.5%) was the major component in clove extract. The nHA-CE composite showed significantly larger inhibition zones against all pathogens, especially Streptococcus mutans (50 ± 0.8 mm), outperforming conventional antibiotics. The composite also exhibited sustained eugenol release and maintained stability over 30 days. The nHA-CE composite is a promising biomaterial for dental caries prevention, combining effective remineralization with potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, offering a natural alternative to conventional treatments.

Social media data are increasingly used in health research for communication, surveillance, and behavioral insights, and have also been applied to dentistry. The objective of this study is to describe sentiment and emotion patterns in English/Arabic tweets in the X platform about dental pain and summarize care pathways, including home remedies. This is a cross-sectional analysis of public tweets retrieved for three years. After de-duplication and eligibility screening, tweets were classified (sentiment; Ekman emotion categories) and assigned to 11 themes using a large language model with dual human validation. A total of 4,051 tweets were screened, and 659 met the study inclusion criteria. Negative sentiment predominated study tweets. Fear (29.7%) and sadness (19.1%) were the most frequent emotions. Negative sentiment was highest for pain complaints, advice-seeking, emergency access, and post-treatment pain (p < 0.001). Mentions of professional dental care (47.4%) exceeded home-remedy mentions (1.1-17.0%). Arabic tweets trended more negative than English (p = 0.07). Dental pain discourse on X is largely negative and fear-laden, with professional-care mentions outnumbering home remedies; translating these signals into practice suggests prioritizing reassurance, offering triage cues, and directing users to urgent-care pathways.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) on post-operative pain and wound healing following the extraction of mandibular third molars. A split-mouth, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, José Antonio Páez University. Patients requiring bilateral surgical extraction of impacted and retained mandibular third molars in comparable anatomical positions were enrolled. Individuals with soft or hard tissue pathologies or systemic inflammatory conditions that could interfere with healing were excluded. One side of the jaw was randomly assigned as the treatment side, whereas the contralateral side served as the control. The treatment side received photobiomodulation (PBM) via a 980 nm diode laser (SOLASE PRO LASER, LAZON®) immediately after surgery and at 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. The primary outcome variables were wound healing and pain intensity. Pain was assessed via a visual analog scale (VAS) at 24, 48, 72, and 168 h. Wound healing was clinically evaluated on postoperative days 3, 7, and 14. Comparative analysis was performed via two-way ANOVA and repeated-measures ANOVA. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Thirty-seven patients (32.4% male and 67.6% female) aged 22.8 ± 3.6 years participated in this study. VAS results revealed that PBM controlled pain at 24 h (4 ± 3) in comparison with the control group (6 ± 3) (p = 0.002), at 48 h (4 ± 3 and 5 ± 2, respectively) (p = 0.003), and at 72 h (2 ± 2 and 4 ± 2, respectively) (p = 0.004). Wound healing was significantly better on the PBM-treated side on day 3 (2,1 ± 0,2) than on the control side (3,2 ± 0,6) (p = 0.00), at 7 days (1,5 ± 0,5 and 2,5 ± 0,8, respectively) (p = 0.00), and at 14 days (1 ± 0 and 1,8 ± 0,8), respectively (p = 0.00). No adverse effects were reported. PBM with a 980 nm diode laser significantly reduced postoperative pain and enhanced wound healing compared to the contralateral control side, supporting its use as a safe and effective adjunct in third molar surgery.

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a critical indicator of skeletal health, with implications for systemic conditions such as osteoporosis and localized oral diseases. Dental radiographs, routinely employed in clinical practice, offer a non-invasive means to assess bone quality, yet their role in quantifying BMD and diagnosing metabolic bone disorders remains underexplored. This systematic review of literature examines the diagnostic efficacy of dental radiographs in evaluating BMD. A comprehensive analysis of existing studies in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink was conducted to identify patterns, methodologies, and gaps in the current understanding of radiographic bone assessment for early detection of osteoporosis. The search covered studies published between January 2001 and August 2025, utilizing a search string including "Dental Radiographs" [Mesh] OR "Panoramic Radiography" [Mesh] OR "Periapical Radiography" OR "Cone-Beam Computed Tomography" [Mesh])AND ("Bone Mineral Density" [Mesh] OR "Osteoporosis" [Mesh]) AND ("DXA" OR "Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry" [Mesh]) AND ("Correlation" OR "Assessment" OR "Evaluation"). Database searching yielded 1,247 records relevant to the study objective. After duplicate removal and meticulous screening, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The findings of the reviewed studies indicate that dental radiographs, particularly panoramic and periapical imaging, show moderate correlation with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in detecting osteoporosis. However, precision varies with imaging technique and anatomical region. Quantitative analyses of trabecular patterns and cortical thickness further suggest that dental radiographs can serve as supplementary tools for early BMD screening, especially in high-risk populations. However, inconsistencies in diagnostic thresholds and limited standardization across studies highlight the need for further research. This review underscores the potential of dental radiographs as accessible screening tools, while emphasizing the need to refine analytical protocols to enhance their reliability in clinical and research settings.

Corneal blindness remains a significant challenge in modern ophthalmology, accounting for 12% of global blindness cases. While corneal transplantation is often an effective treatment, its success is limited in patients with severe ocular surface diseases such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, trachoma, or autoimmune-related dry eye disease. For these patients, osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) has emerged as a highly specialized surgical solution, utilizing a patient's tooth as a scaffold for an artificial cornea, providing long-term visual restoration. This article traces the historical evolution of keratoprostheses, beginning with early 19th-century attempts at artificial cornea implantation to the modern Rome-Vienna protocol of OOKP. The surgical procedure is outlined from both ophthalmological and surgical perspectives, detailing key modifications, such as complete removal of the iris and lens, use of custom-made optical cylinders, and advanced biocompatible materials. These improvements have significantly enhanced the stability and longevity of the procedure while reducing the risk of complications such as glaucoma, inflammation, and implant rejection. A systematic review of scientific literature was conducted, analyzing 39 sources primarily obtained from PubMed. Researchers carefully selected these articles based on their abstracts to ensure relevance, providing a comprehensive analysis of OOKP.This article highlights its role as an advanced alternative for treating end-stage corneal blindness, offering hope to patients who are not candidates for conventional corneal transplantation. Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) is an innovative method for restoring vision in patients with severe corneal damage, significantly improving their quality of life. While the procedure presents challenges and risks, many individuals who undergo OOKP regain the ability to see and regain independence. Technological advancements should focus on refining the technique, minimizing complications, and increasing its accessibility. Additionally, patient education and support are crucial for successful rehabilitation and adaptation. OOKP is a remarkable achievement in medicine and biomedical engineering, offering hope to patients and inspiring further research to enhance the quality of life for people worldwide.