The latest medical research on Dentist

The research magnet gathers the latest research from around the web, based on your specialty area. Below you will find a sample of some of the most recent articles from reputable medical journals about dentist gathered by our medical AI research bot.

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Fluorescence and color adjustment potentials of paste-type and flowable resin composites in cervical restorations.

Clin Oral Invest

Comparatively assess the fluorescence and color adjustment potentials of paste-type and flowable resin composites performed in cervical restorations.

Five paste-type resin composites and 5 highly-filled flowable composites were investigated (n=5 for each). Class V cavities on 50 extracted A2 shade human central incisors were restored. Cross-polarization (CP) and fluorescence illumination (FI) images were recorded for each restoration. L*a*b* values were analyzed using the Photoshop software and color adjustment (ΔECP) and fluorescence adjustment (ΔEFI) levels were quantitatively assessed. Kruskal Wallis Test, Independent Samples t Test, One Way Anova-Welch test, and Pearson Correlation were used for the statistical analyses. The deemed significance was set at p<.050.

Paste-type composites presented significantly lower ΔEFI and ΔECP values than the flowable composites (p=.006 and p<.001 respectively). ΔEFI and ΔECP values were positively correlated (r=0.584; p<.001). Paste-type Gaenial A'chord presented the lowest ΔEFI value [7.67 (5.35 - 10.99)b], while Estelite Asteria presented significantly the highest [19.94 (17.08 - 22.17)c]. Charisma Diamond One Flow presented the highest ΔECP value [3.25 (3.13 - 3.39)a] and Gaenial A'chord presented the lowest [0.79 (0.48 - 0.87)e] which was the only imperceptible score (<0.8). The only clinically acceptable color adjustment was found for Geanial Universal Injectable [1.06 (0.73 - 1.62)e] among the flowable composites. ΔEFI and b* values were positively correlated (r=0.493; p<.001).

Understanding both the color and fluorescence adjustment potentials of paste-type and flowable resin-based composite materials is clinically vital to achieve the high-end esthetics.

Automatic detection and proximity quantification of inferior alveolar nerve and mandibular third molar on cone-beam computed tomography.

Clin Oral Invest

During mandibular third molar (MTM) extraction surgery, preoperative analysis to quantify the proximity of the MTM to the surrounding inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is essential to minimize the risk of IAN injury. This study aims to propose an automated tool to quantitatively measure the proximity of IAN and MTM in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

Using the dataset including 302 CBCT scans with 546 MTMs, a deep-learning-based network was developed to support the automatic detection of the IAN, MTM, and intersection region IR. To ensure accurate proximity detection, a distance detection algorithm and a volume measurement algorithm were also developed.

The deep learning-based model showed encouraging segmentation accuracy of the target structures (Dice similarity coefficient: 0.9531 ± 0.0145, IAN; 0.9832 ± 0.0055, MTM; 0.8336 ± 0.0746, IR). In addition, with the application of the developed algorithms, the distance between the IAN and MTM and the volume of the IR could be equivalently detected (90% confidence interval (CI): - 0.0345-0.0014 mm, distance; - 0.0155-0.0759 mm3, volume). The total time for the IAN, MTM, and IR segmentation was 2.96 ± 0.11 s, while the accurate manual segmentation required 39.01 ± 5.89 min.

This model illustrates that a deep learning network may assist surgeons in evaluating the risk of MTM extraction surgery by detecting the proximity of the IAN and MTM at a quantitative level that was previously unparalleled.

Final year oral hygiene students' perceptions and reflections on experiential learning in a special needs oral health care program.

BMC Oral Health

Oral health care programs offer a platform for experiential learning that include prospects for skills development; opportunities for knowledge application and for the creation of an awareness of community responsibilities. Gaining experience in the care for special needs patients is ideally achieved through exposure in special needs settings such as the school community.

This study investigated the perceptions and reflections of experiential learning by final year oral hygiene students in a special need's oral health care program at the University of Western Cape.

This study incorporated a concurrent triangulation study design that included final year Oral Hygiene students who participated in a special need's oral health care program. Students completed an on-line self-administered questionnaire, a reflective journal and participated in a focus group discussion.

All respondents understood the concept of experiential learning. The predominant dispositions that emerged included student adaptation, awareness, empathy, and experience which were regarded as particularly important for personal growth. With regards to academic growth, facets of confidence, theory translation, clinical skill development and improved communication were identified as critical elements in development. Challenges included lack of cooperation from the learners and lack of kills in non-verbal communication. An increased awareness and a strong willingness to participate in community projects was also reported amongst the student respondents.

The experiential learning opportunity in the school-based special needs oral health care program was invaluable to the children as well as the students. This community -based program supported personal and academic growth and it provided authentic learning opportunities; facilitated professional development, improved clinical skills and competence, enhanced problem solving and communication skills and raised awareness on social responsibility. Challenges experienced pertained to cooperation and communication with the children. Suggestions included maintaining access to care for the children through oral care program initiatives, as well as ongoing rotation of Oral Hygiene students who are ideally positioned to provide promotive and preventive oral care to special needs individuals. Schools for special needs children provide an ideal platform to facilitate access to care and to provide experiential learning opportunities in authentic settings.

Evaluation of post-extraction healing after atraumatic extraction in gutka chewers and non-gutka chewers using the modified inflammation proliferation remodeling scale.

BMC Oral Health

Gutka, a smokeless tobacco mixture containing tobacco and areca nut, is widely consumed in South Asia and impairs wound healing due to vasoconstrictive and cytotoxic effects. Wound healing assessment in oral surgery lacks standardisation, and phase-specific evaluation tools are seldom used. This study aimed to compare post-extraction healing after atraumatic tooth extraction in gutka chewers and non-chewers using the modified Inflammation Proliferation Remodeling (IPR) scale to validate this scale for clinical use.

A prospective cohort study at a dental college in Karachi, Pakistan, included 200 participants aged 18-45 undergoing atraumatic extraction of premolars or molars, divided into gutka chewers (n = 100) and non-chewers (n = 100). The modified IPR scale was developed and validated using content validity assessment by experts, pilot testing, inter-rater reliability (Cohen's kappa), and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Wound healing was assessed using the validated modified IPR scale immediately post-extraction (Day 0), at the proliferative phase (Day 7), and the remodelling phase (6 weeks). Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests, multivariate linear regression, and Spearman's correlation.

The modified IPR scale demonstrated good content validity, substantial inter-rater reliability (Cohen's kappa 0.80-0.86), and good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.84). No significant difference in IPR scores was observed between groups during the inflammatory phase (Day 0). Gutka chewers had significantly higher IPR scores during the proliferative phase (mean 5.9 ± 1.6 versus 4.2 ± 1.2; p < 0.001) and the remodelling phase (mean 3.6 ± 1.2 vs. 2.1 ± 0.9; p < 0.001), indicating delayed healing. Gutka use was a significant predictor of delayed healing (B = 1.2, p < 0.001) after adjusting for age and gender. Duration of gutka use positively correlated with higher IPR scores during the proliferative (rho = 0.46, p < 0.001) and remodelling phases (rho = 0.51, p < 0.001), reflecting a dose-dependent effect. The questionnaire was effectively validated with an 80% response rate and a 90.9% completion rate.

Gutka chewing is significantly associated with delayed post-extraction wound healing, with longer duration correlating with poorer outcomes. The modified IPR scale was effectively validated and proved to be a reliable tool for assessing wound healing progression, demonstrating its utility in clinical practice and research settings. Dental professionals should consider gutka use when planning patient care, and public health initiatives should aim to eliminate gutka consumption to improve oral health outcomes.

Multimorbidity and tooth loss: data from Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017.

BMC Oral Health

Oral diseases are a significant global public health challenge. Current evidence indicates that several chronic conditions are individually associated with tooth loss. People are living with more than one chronic condition, known as multimorbidity (MM). Considering the common risk factors for oral and chronic diseases, this study aimed to evaluate the association between MM and tooth loss in the Chilean population.

Cross-sectional study with secondary data from the latest Chilean National Health Survey (ENS 2016-17). The number of remaining teeth was classified into four groups: functional dentition (≥ 20 remaining teeth), moderate tooth loss (10 to 19), severe tooth loss (1 to 9), and edentulism (0). MM was defined based on the number of chronic conditions as a binary variable (MM≥ 2) and as a 4-level categorical variable (MMG0-G3), G0: none, G1: 1, G2: 2-4, and G3: ≥5 conditions. Stratified analysis by age group (< 65, ≥ 65 years) was performed. Mean and SD were calculated for crude and adjusted remaining teeth. Significance level was set to 0.05. Prevalence ratios were estimated with Poisson regression models with robust variance, crude and adjusted for sex, age, geographic area, and educational level. Logistic regressions models were fitted to calculate odds ratios as a sensitivity analysis.

Of 4,151 adults aged 17-98, 54.9% had MM and the prevalence of moderate, severe tooth loss and edentulism was 25.4%, 6.9% and 4.8% respectively. Adults aged ≥ 65 years with MM≥ 2 were 1.66 [1.04-2.66] times more likely to have severe tooth loss than those without MM. Adults aged < 65 years with MMG3 were 1.76 [1.12-2.77] times more likely to have moderate tooth loss and 2.55 [1.02-6.36] times more likely to have severe tooth loss than those without MM.

In this study, we found statistically significant associations between the number of chronic conditions and moderate/severe tooth loss in both analyzed age groups. These findings highlight the need to provide oral health care for adults with multimorbidity using a person-centred model and to seek strategies to prioritize health care.

Evaluation of root canal morphology of mandibular premolars in Pakistani population using the new classification: a CBCT study.

BMC Oral Health

A comprehensive understanding of the root form and canal anatomy is essential for successful endodontic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the root canal anatomy of mandibular premolars in the Pakistani population using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to classify the findings with the new classification proposed by Ahmed et al. METHODS: Ethical exemption was obtained from Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. A total of 707 CBCT scans from Karachi and Lahore were included, comprising 592 scans from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi and 115 scans from a radiology center in Lahore. The study focused on sound, fully formed mandibular first and second premolars, excluding those with significant caries, restorations, or prior root canal treatments. Scans from different equipment were used, and calibration was achieved between a specialist endodontist and two dental residents. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 26. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests to determine association between the variables, and a significance level set at 5% (p <0.05) were utilized.

A total of 2403 mandibular premolars were analyzed. The most common configuration was 1MPM1 (82.90%), with rare variations such as 1MPM1-3-1 (0.04%) and 2MPM1 B1 L2 (0.04%). Single-rooted premolars were predominant (98.87%), and no significant differences were observed when data was stratified by age or gender.

This is the first study in Pakistan involving multiple centers and using the classification system by Ahmed et al. to understand the anatomy of mandibular premolars. The findings indicate that while most premolars have a single root and canal, variations exist. These variations highlight the importance of understanding canal morphology for improving the success of endodontic treatment. Future studies should include a larger and more diverse dataset to fully represent the Pakistani population.

The effect of hemostatic agents and dentin cleansing protocols on shear bond strength of resin composite using universal adhesive: an in vitro study.

BMC Oral Health

During restoring class II and V cavities with resin composite, hemostatic agents are frequently used to control gingival bleeding and/or gingival fluid to provide a dry field which is crucial for efficient bonding. Hemostatic agents may adversely affect the bonding procedure, thus their removal prior to bonding is essential. The current study evaluates the effect of two hemostatic agents and different dentin cleansing protocols on the shear bond strength of resin composite to dentin using a universal adhesive.

Ninety premolars were sectioned to expose coronal dentinal surfaces which were divided into 3 groups: control group, not treated with hemostatic agent (n = 10); a group treated with Viscostat "20% ferric sulphate" (n = 40); and a group treated with Viscostat clear "25% aluminum chloride" (n = 40). The groups treated with hemostatic agents were subdivided into 4 subgroups according to the cleansing protocol: water, phosphoric acid, katana cleaner, and air abrasion. Shear bond strength (SBS) of resin composite bonded to the treated dentin using a universal adhesive was measured after thermocycling.

Two-way ANOVA showed that hemostatic agent, cleansing protocol and their interaction has significant effect on SBS (p < 0.0001). Viscostat (10 ± 3.3 MPa) exhibited lower SBS than Viscostat Clear (16.2 ± 5.5 MPa). Acid etching (17.3 ± 7.3 MPa) showed higher SBS compared to Katana Cleaner (12.6 ± 4.7 MPa), water (12.1 ± 4.8 MPa) and air abrasion (10.8 ± 2 MPa).

The use of hemostatic agents can adversely affect the bond strength of universal adhesives to dentin. Phosphoric acid provided the best hemostatic agent-cleansing protocol while katana cleaner and air abrasion demonstrated inferior results.

Congenitally missing permanent canines in a sample of Chinese population: a retrospective study.

BMC Oral Health

Congenitally missing permanent canines (CMPC) have a significant impact on function and aesthetics. The prevalence is low, and the availability of rigorous studies on this issue in China is limited. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and distribution of CMPC in patients and concomitant anomalies. Additionally, we aimed to compare the prevalence of CMPC between two age groups.

A total of 10,447 patient's panoramic radiograph (PR) images from August 2021 to December 2023 were reviewed and data regarding the location and number of CMPCs were recorded. Age and gender were obtained from the clinical records. Additionally, concomitant anomalies such as persistent primary canines, congenitally missing other permanent teeth, supernumerary teeth and microdontia were also recorded in patients with CMPC. 10,447 patients were divided into two groups: group A (< 121 months of age) and group B (≥ 121 months of age) to record the number of patients with CMPC. The data were presented as counts (n) and percentages (%), and statistically analysed using the Chi-square test.

The average age of patients with CMPC was 9.2 years, with a prevalence of 0.69% (n = 72). The difference between genders was not statistically significant (p = 0.950). The prevalence of CMPC in group B (1.08%, 26/2400) was significantly greater than that in group A (0.57%, 46/8047) (p = 0.008). 89.42% (93/104) of the missing permanent canines had visible primary canines in patients. CMPC were more likely to occur in the maxilla (91.67%) than in the mandible (6.94%) (p<0.001). No significant difference was found between the left and right sides (p = 0.844). With respect to concomitant anomalies among those with CMPC, 22 patients had 58 congenitally other permanent teeth missing, 3 patients had 3 supernumerary teeth, and 12 maxillary lateral incisors from 7 patients presented with microdontia.

The prevalence of CMPC was 0.69%. CMPC were more likely to occur in the maxilla in the presence of persistent primary canines and were not influenced by gender or side. Early panoramic radiographs can improve the detection rate of CMPC, thereby facilitating prompt intervention and timely management.

Periodontitis associated with brain function impairment in middle-aged and elderly individuals with normal cognition.

Journal of Periodontology

The present study aimed to investigate changes in intranetwork functional connectivity (FC) and internetwork FC in middle-aged and elderly individuals with normal cognition (NC) and varying degrees of periodontitis to determine the effects of periodontitis on brain function.

Periodontal findings and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 51 subjects with NC. Independent component analysis and correlation analysis were used for the statistical analysis of the data.

Differences in intranetwork FC were observed among groups in the anterior default-mode network (aDMN), dorsal attention network and dorsal sensorimotor network (dSMN). Compared with the nonperiodontitis (NP) group or the mild-periodontitis group, the analysis of internetwork FC showed increased FC between the auditory network and the ventral attention network (VAN), between the aDMN and the salience network (SN), and between the SN and the VAN and decreased FC between the posterior default-mode network and the right frontoparietal network in the moderate-to-severe periodontitis group. Additionally, internetwork FC between the dSMN and the VAN was also increased in the moderate-to-severe periodontitis group compared to the NP group. The altered intra- and internetwork FC were significantly correlated with the periodontal clinical index.

Recent research has proposed that periodontitis is a potential risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the relationship between periodontitis and the brain function of middle-aged and elderly individuals with normal cognition (NC) remains unclear. Analyzing the effect of periodontitis on brain function in the NC stage can provide clues to AD development and help achieve early prevention of dementia. The present study aimed to investigate changes in brain functional connectivity (FC) in NC with different severity of periodontitis to determine the effects of periodontitis on brain function. Both changed intranetwork FC and internetwork FC were found in the moderate-to-severe periodontitis group, and periodontitis was associated with brain network function impairment in NC. The present study indicates that periodontitis might be a potential risk factor for brain damage even in NC stage, and provides a theoretical clue and a new treatment target for the early prevention of AD.

Comparative evaluation of desensitizing agents on shear bond strength of zirconia to dentin.

BMC Oral Health

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of 7 different desensitizing agents on the shear bond strength (SBS) of zirconia restorations to dentin with a self-adhesive resin cement and determine the failure modes.

Eighty molars' occlusal surfaces were ground to expose dentin and were randomly divided into 8 groups (n = 10): 1. Gluma (HEMA/Glutaraldehyde) 2. Bifluoride (Sodium Fluoride/Calcium Fluoride) 3. Admira (Bis-GMA/HEMA) 4. Smart Protect (Glutaraldehyde) 5. Teethmate (Tetracalcium phosphate, Dicalcium phosphate) 6. Clinpro White (Sodium fluoride) 7. BisBlock (Oxalic acid) and 8. Control (No-treatment). After applying the agent, a self-adhesive resin cement (Rely-X U200) was used to lute zirconia discs (4 mm height and 4 mm diameter) to dentin. After stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h, all groups were thermocycled for 2500 cycles between 5 ± 2 °C and 55 ± 2 °C. Specimens were submitted to SBS test with a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min until failure. SBS values were compared with ANOVA. Post-hoc multiple comparisons were performed with Dunnett T3. The failure modes of specimens were examined with stereomicroscope at a magnification of 20X and the distribution of the failure modes were evaluated with Pearson Chi-Square test.

Regarding mean SBS values in MPa's; Admira (10.70 ± 3.99), Smart Protect (9.62 ± 3.93), and Gluma (8.90 ± 3.76) treatments showed higher SBS values compared to control group (p < .05) according to ANOVA. The SBS values of Teethmate (5.31 ± 2.37) and Clinpro White (4.32 ± 2.44) were higher than control group but the difference was not found significant (p > .05). BisBlock (2.33 ± 1.94) and Bifluouride (1.60 ± 1.47) groups showed the lowest SBS values but their difference between control group was not found statistically significant (p > .05). Most specimens showed adhesive failure but no statistically significant difference was found in the distributions of failure modes according to Chi-square test.

Within the limitation of the study; Admira, Smart Protect, and Gluma increased the SBS of the zirconia restorations to dentin and can be recommended to use on prepared dentin surfaces prior to the cementation.

Assessing the effectiveness of advanced platelet rich fibrin in treating gingival recession: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BMC Oral Health

The literature lacks comprehensive evidence on the efficacy of advanced platelet rich fibrin(A-PRF) in treating gingival recession. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of A-PRF in the treatment of gingival recession.

We adhered to the guidelines of PRISMA in searching the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus to include all the eligible studies according to the prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. We conducted our search up to February 28, 2024. We conducted a meta-analysis of the primary and secondary clinical outcomes to measure the changes from baseline to 6 months after surgery.

Our review included 10 randomized clinical trials in which 146 participants with 457 recession defects were included. We found that combination of A-PRF with various surgical techniques, such as coronally advanced flap (CAF) connective tissue graft (CTG), VISTA, tunneling, and pinhole surgical technique, demonstrated promising outcomes but varied by comparison group. We observed that CTG with CAF showed a higher reduction in recession depth in comparison to A-PRF with CAF. This review indicated no statistical or clinical differences in recession width, width of keratinized gingiva, probing depth, and clinical attachment level between the study and control groups.

Due to the less invasive nature of A-PRF, it provides a better clinical option to improve the outcomes of treating gingival recession. However, more well-designed RCTs with standardized approaches are needed to confirm these results.

Nonsurgical endodontic retreatment of C-shaped maxillary molars: case reports and review of literature.

BMC Oral Health

The root canal systems of maxillary first molar (MFM) and maxillary second molar (MSM) variations represent a clinical challenge for endodontists, ...