The inherent limitations of smooth titanium abutments-particularly inadequate soft tissue sealing that predisposes implants to infection and inflammation-underscore the need for surface modifications. This review synthesizes evidence on magnesium-containing coatings as a bioactive solution to enhance peri-implant soft tissue healing. Through 1) modifying the surface properties of the implant abutment to promote better cell adhesion and proliferation; 2) releasing Mg2+ to promote fibroblast migration, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis; and 3) exerting antimicrobial effects and regulating inflammatory responses, these coatings establish a microenvironment conducive to robust tissue integration. This helps prevent peri-implant infections and inflammation, strengthens soft tissue attachment, and improves the long-term stability of dental implants, providing a new direction for the development of biomedical materials.
Introduction: Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease that compromises peri-implant tissues and supporting bone, potentially leading to implant loss. Although several surgical treatment strategies have been proposed, it remains unclear whether implant surface characteristics (smooth vs. rough) influence long-term treatment outcomes.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted to evaluate clinical studies with a minimum follow-up of 3 years that assessed the outcomes of surgical treatment of peri-implantitis in relation to implant surface type. Data extraction focused on recurrence of peri-implantitis, implant survival, clinical parameters, radiographic outcomes, and the type of surgical approach used (reconstructive vs. non-reconstructive).
Results: Seventeen clinical studies were included. Outcomes varied according to implant surface characteristics. Rough (modified) surfaces were generally associated with a higher risk of recurrence of peri-implantitis and implant loss compared with smooth (machined/turned) surfaces. Reconstructive surgical approaches, especially those involving bone grafts and membranes, demonstrated more favorable outcomes compared with non-reconstructive approaches.
Discussion: Despite observed trends, the certainty of the evidence remains low due to heterogeneity between studies, small sample sizes, and methodological limitations. Further well-designed long-term clinical trials are needed to clarify the role of implant surface characteristics in the long-term success of peri-implantitis surgical treatment.
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO (CRD420251129791).
Background: Periodontal flap surgery is a common procedure for treating advanced periodontal disease, but postoperative complications such as pain, infection, and delayed healing are frequent. This study aims to investigate the incidence of postoperative complications and identify key risk factors, contributing to more personalized surgical management.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 121 patients who underwent periodontal flap surgery. Patient demographics, clinical data (e.g., age, probing depth, clinical attachment loss), and surgical variables (e.g., incision type, surgery duration) were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant predictors of postoperative complications. The complications analyzed included dentin hypersensitivity, excessive pain, infection, and gingival bleeding.
Results: Postoperative complications occurred in 44.63% of patients. Age was a significant predictor, with each additional year increasing the risk of complications by 12% (p < 0.001). Clinical attachment loss was strongly associated with complications (p = 0.009). Semilunar incisions, typically used in localized mild cases, were associated with a lower incidence of complications compared to trapezoidal incisions (p < 0.001). Smoking also significantly increased the risk of complications in both the univariate and multivariate analyses (p < 0.05). In the univariate analysis, both preoperative antibiotics and preoperative analgesics were associated with a reduced risk of complications (p < 0.05), but these effects were not significant in the multivariate analysis (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: This study highlights age, clinical attachment loss, smoking, and surgical incision type as significant predictors of postoperative complications following periodontal flap surgery. The findings underscore the need for personalized surgical approaches, particularly in older patients and those with severe periodontal disease.
Background: Most studies on permanent tooth width prediction focus on the predictive value of permanent teeth, however only a few studies examine the predictive value of primary teeth. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the mesiodistal widths of the mandibular primary canines and molars and those of their permanent successors. In addition, the study evaluated whether the mesiodistal width of the primary canines and molars can serve as reliable predictors for the width of the permanent mandibular first molars.
Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed records from 143 orthodontic patients (78 males and 65 females) who had digitized dental models in the mixed and in the permanent dentition stage. Mesiodistal measurements were performed on left-sided mandibular permanent teeth (canines, first and second premolars, first molar), and primary teeth (canines, first and second molars). The Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to determine the correlation strength between the mesiodistal dimensions of primary and permanent teeth (p < 0.05).
Results: Significant correlations were found between second primary molars and second premolars (Pearson r = 0.400-0.461) as well as between primary and permanent canines (Pearson r = 0.462-0.512), across the total sample and within both sexes. The dimensions of all three evaluated primary teeth were correlated with first permanent molar with r ranging from 0.402 to 0.625. The primary first molar showed a weak correlation with the first premolar for the total sample (Pearson r = 0.240) and males (Pearson r = 0.302), and none was observed for female patients (Pearson r = 0.048).
Conclusions: A link between primary and permanent tooth width of canines and posterior dentition was observed, but a difference between sexes exists. Therefore, primary teeth may offer early insight into future space requirements, however their predictive strength is influenced by tooth type and sex.
Background: This study aimed to ascertain the water sorption of three gingival shade esthetic materials and understand the correlation between water sorption and color change when immersed in common food colorants.
Methods: Disc-shaped composites were fabricated and subjected to immersion in distilled water, followed by desiccation to ascertain water sorption values. Simultaneously, similarly shaped specimens were fabricated, measured for total color using a spectrophotometer before and after immersion in various colorant solutions. Pearson's correlation was used to ascertain if there was a positive linear relationship between values for water sorption and change in total color.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference in mean water sorption data between the tested composites (p = 0.02, F value = 5.6). No correlation coefficients between water sorption and any tested composites in any colorant solutions were statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05), with the exception of PermaFlow Pink immersed in coffee (r = -0.635, p = 0.05).
Conclusions: All the tested composites exhibited favorable values for water sorption. Over the studied period, water immersion produced a negligible change in color among all the tested specimens. All composites exhibited changes in color when exposed to food colorants with the largest relative change occurring for immersion in curry. There was no positive correlation between water sorption values and change in color.
Objectives: Modern dentistry has introduced color-matching restorations along with commercial finishing/polishing kits to improve color stability. This study aims to evaluate the effect of three finishing and polishing kits on the color stability of Filtek™ Z250 resin composite.
Methods: This study involved 140 resin composite discs categorized into three experimental groups: Sof-Lex, Super-Snap, and OptiDisc (40 discs each), along with a control group of 20 discs. Each disc was exposed to either coffee or cola after finishing or following both finishing and polishing. Mean color change was computed for each group. A One-Way ANOVA was conducted to compare mean color changes among the finishing kits.
Results: Super-Snap demonstrated the highest color stability among different finishing kits for Filtek™ Z250 resin composites in coffee staining, with a mean color change of 10.7. After finishing and polishing, its color stability improved to 10.2. For cola staining, Super-Snap had a mean color stability of 2.98, which decreased to 2.07 after polishing. However, there were no significant differences between the kits (p > 0.05). Furthermore, immersion in coffee resulted in significantly greater color changes compared to cola for all tested groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The three multi-step finishing and polishing kits for Filtek™ Z250 demonstrated similar color stability, with coffee showing a higher staining potential than cola. Patients with anterior composite restorations may require education about the risk of staining and the importance of dental follow-ups to maintain the aesthetic quality of their restorations.
Current methods for tracking temporomandibular joint (TMJ) movements are difficult to perform during dental procedures. Yet precise and accurate quantification of mandibular movements is critical for understanding temporomandibular biomechanics and how certain movements may contribute to temporomandibular dysfunction. This is particularly relevant to clinical procedures that might move the mandible near or beyond its functional range of motion. We present a novel approach that integrates cone-beam computed tomography, optical intra-oral scans, and six degree-of-freedom electromagnetic sensor data to quantify mandibular movements. This method employs rigid body transformations to generate subject-specific three-dimensional (3D) envelopes of motion and assess whether incisal and condylar landmarks remain within their functional 3D envelopes of motion. We demonstrate the clinical utility of this approach through simulated mandibular poses presented relative to the limits of incisal and condylar envelopes created from that individual's voluntary border movements. Our findings reveal that condylar or incisal points in simulated mandibular poses are located beyond their normal motion envelopes, highlighting the importance of simultaneous monitoring of incisal and condylar landmarks. This methodology provides a clinically relevant tool for understanding temporomandibular biomechanics and it has the potential to signal clinicians when jaw movements during dental and oral surgical procedures approach or exceed the jaw's functional range of motion and such corrective feedback could prevent adverse effects on the TMJ.
Tasmania faces ongoing challenges in providing equitable oral health care across its geographically dispersed and ageing population. Tasmania has the lowest dental practitioner-to-population ratio in Australia, alongside long wait times and limited access to care in rural and regional areas. This perspective explores the demographic and workforce distribution trends that influence oral health service delivery in Tasmania using Census data, regulatory records, and key public sector audits. We highlight critical gaps in service provision and policy, reflect on the implications of the workforce maldistribution, argue for expanding the oral health therapy workforce and explore the transdisciplinary approaches currently implemented that prioritise sustainable, community-integrated oral health care. Such models align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), but also encompass SDGs 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 17, which respond to environmental and social contexts. This perspective highlights the intersections of planetary health, oral health, and community well-being, arguing that sustainable, health-centred solutions must address both human and environmental health outcomes.
This study investigated the mineralization, anti-demineralization, and antibacterial properties of a novel bioactive universal adhesive containing the calcium salt of 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate acid (CMET). Four adhesives were evaluated: Bioactive Universal Bond with CMET (BA), Clearfil Universal Bond Quick (CU), Prime & Bond Universal (PB), and Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive (SUB). To assess mineralization properties, BA specimens were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37°C, in line with ISO 23317, and the induced crystals were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Anti-demineralization was evaluated by applying each adhesive to polished bovine dentin, followed by a one-week pH cycling protocol. Transverse microradiography (TMR) was used to quantify the integrated mineral loss. The antibacterial activity was assessed using eluates prepared by immersing the cured specimens in distilled water for seven days, followed by serial dilutions (10%, 5%, 1%, and 0.5%). These eluates were incubated with Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces viscosus, and Lactobacillus casei for 24 h at 37°C. Viable bacterial counts were determined using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction following propidium monoazide treatment. BA exhibited distinct mineralization in SBF, likely attributable to CMET, and was characterized by the formation of octacalcium-phosphate-like crystals. TMR analysis showed that BA significantly suppressed demineralization at the dentin-material interface in relation to the other adhesives. In antibacterial assays, 5% and 10% BA eluates markedly suppressed the growth of S. mutans and A. viscosus, whereas CU, PB, and SUB exhibited inhibitory effects at only 10% concentration for S. mutans and had no impact on A. viscosus. Notably, only the 10% BA eluate significantly inhibited L. casei growth. Despite the limitations of the in vitro experiments, these findings suggest that BA possesses multifunctional properties, supporting its potential as an effective adhesive system for the prevention and treatment of caries. Furthermore, its demonstrated bioactivity suggests promising applications across various biomedical fields, such as antibacterial coatings for medical devices, bone-regenerative scaffolds, and bioactive interfaces in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

