Efficacy of acupuncture and laser acupuncture in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: The aim of this study is to perform a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the scientific literature regarding the use of acupuncture and laser acupuncture in the treatment of pain associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The aim of this article was to assess the clinical evidence for acupuncture and laser acupuncture therapies as treatment for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

Materials And Methods: This systematic review includes randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and laser acupuncture as a treatment for TMD compared to other treatments.

Survival and mechanical complications of single- and multiple-unit cement-retained posterior implant-supported restorations with custom CAD/CAM Atlantis titanium abutments: An up to 10-year retrospective analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the survival of and incidence of mechanical complications with single- and multiple-unit cement-retained posterior implant-supported restorations with custom CAD/CAM Atlantis titanium abutments (Dentsply Sirona, Charlotte, NC, USA).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective clinical study analysed 196 Astra Tech OsseoSpeed TX Internal Hexagon implants (Dentsply Sirona) placed in 85 patients between January 2011 and January 2021. Customised Atlantis titanium abutments and cement-retained metal-ceramic crowns were employed.

Congenital cranio-facial abnormalities in paediatric population: a systematic review on temporomandibular disorders.

The aim of this systematic review was to explore the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients affected by congenital craniofacial disorders (CCD). Out of 292 papers, 9 studies were included with 561 participants. The included studies analyzed at least 15 patients treated for temporomandibular disorders, evaluating at least one clinical outcomes such as orofacial pain and/or muscular diseases, malocclusion, skeletal abnormality and/or deformities concerning temporomandibular joint, upper/lower jaw bone malformations.

Survival and Mechanical Complications of Posterior Single Implant-Supported Restorations Using Prefabricated Titanium Abutments: A Medium- and Long-Term Retrospective Analysis with up to 10 Years Follow-up.

Purpose: To evaluate the survival of implants and abutments and the incidence of mechanical complications of single posterior implant-supported restorations using prefabricated titanium abutments.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective clinical study analyzed 172 Astra Tech OsseoSpeed internal hexagon implants (Dentsply Sirona) placed in 85 patients with a follow-up between January 2009 and January 2019. All implants were restored with prefabricated titanium abutments and cement-retained metal-ceramic crowns.

Nearly Exact Discrepancy Principle for Low-Count Poisson Image Restoration.

The effectiveness of variational methods for restoring images corrupted by Poisson noise strongly depends on the suitable selection of the regularization parameter balancing the effect of the regulation term(s) and the generalized Kullback-Liebler divergence data term. One of the approaches still commonly used today for choosing the parameter is the discrepancy principle proposed by Zanella et al. in a seminal work.

The influence of flap design on patients' experiencing pain, swelling, and trismus after mandibular third molar surgery: a scoping systematic review.

Third molar removal surgery usually comes accompanied by postoperative discomfort, which could be influenced by the surgical approach chosen. This scoping systematic review aimed at compiling the available evidence focused on the influence of flap design, including envelope flap (EF), triangular flap (TF), and modified triangular flap (MTF), on postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus, as primary outcome measures, and any result mentioning healing promotion or delay, as secondary outcome measure, after mandibular third molar extraction surgery. An electronic search, complemented by a manual search, of articles published from 1999 to 2020 was conducted in the Medline (PubMed), EMBASE and Web of Science databases including human randomized controlled trials, prospective, and retrospective studies with at least 15 patients.

Patient satisfaction and survival of maxillary overdentures supported by four or six splinted implants: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Implant-supported overdentures offer enhanced mechanical properties, which lead to better patient satisfaction and survival rates than conventional dentures. However, it is unclear whether these satisfaction levels and survival rates depend on the number of implants supporting the overdenture. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to compare maxillary overdentures supported by four or six splinted implants in terms of patient satisfaction, implant survival, overdenture survival, and prosthodontic complications.

Custom abutments on tilted implants in the maxilla: A clinical report.

The aim of this work is to describe a case of severe disparallelism between two implants supporting a cement-retained bridge, placed in the maxilla, employing two custom-angled abutments. Fractured abutment screw and fractured abutment involved two implant restorations in the maxilla. Once prosthetic components have been removed, a new prosthetic rehabilitation has been planned.

Forecasting COVID-19-Associated Hospitalizations under Different Levels of Social Distancing in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy: Results from an Extended SEIR Compartmental Model.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. As of 17 April 2020, more than 2 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide. Northern Italy is one of the world's centers of active coronavirus cases.

Splinting vs Not Splinting Four Implants Supporting a Maxillary Overdenture: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of splinted vs unsplinted designs for a maxillary overdenture supported by four implants in terms of the outcome measures implant survival, overdenture longevity, and patient satisfaction.

Materials And Methods: A systematic search, complemented by a handsearch, was carried out in the Embase, MEDLINE (PubMed), and Web of Science databases from 2000 to 2018. The PRISMA statement and a PICO approach were adopted.

The number of implants required to support a maxillary overdenture: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The number of implants needed to support a maxillary overdenture is still a controversial issue. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the number of implants required to support a maxillary overdenture in order to obtain optimal treatment outcomes in terms of implant survival, overdenture longevity and patient satisfaction.

Study Selection: Pubmed and EMBASE databes were systematically searched and complemented by hand searching from 2000 to 2017.

Dens invaginatus with necrotic pulp in a right maxillary lateral incisor with preserved vitality.

Dens invaginatus (DI) is a dental malformation occurring in several morphologic types. Consequently, treatment of teeth affected by DI can get complicated because of the complex root canal anatomy. The aim is to describe how to manage a rare report of a DI with necrotic pulp held within the vital pulp of a maxillary lateral incisor.

Analysis and management of implant-prosthetic complications: Description of a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm with a clinical case.

Patient: A 65-year-old non-smoker man with stabilized chronic periodontitis and in good general health conditions presented to our observation. The patient reported crown mobility, gingival inflammation and localized pain, corresponding to the mandibular right first molar rehabilitated with a cement-retained implant crown. This clinical situation suspected a fracture of an implant-prosthetic component.

Multidisciplinary Approach in the Management of a Complex Case: Implant-Prosthetic Rehabilitation of a Periodontal Smoking Patient with Partial Edentulism, Malocclusion, and Aesthetic Diseases.

Complex periprosthetic cases are considered as challenges by clinicians. Clinical and radiographic parameters should be considered separately to make the right choice between an endodontically or periodontally compromised treated tooth and implant. Therefore, in order to decide whether the tooth is safe or not, data that have to be collected are specific parameters of both the patient and the clinician.

Clinical Application of the PES/WES Index on Natural Teeth: Case Report and Literature Review.

The use of reliable indices to evaluate the aesthetic outcomes in the aesthetic area is an important and objective clinical aid to monitor the results over time. According to the literature various indices were proposed to evaluate aesthetic outcomes of implant-prosthetic rehabilitation of the anterior area like Peri-Implant and Crown Index [PICI], Implant Crown Aesthetic Index [ICAI], Pink Esthetic Score/White Esthetic Score [PES/WES], and Pink Esthetic Score [PES] but none of them was related to prosthetic rehabilitation on natural teeth. The aim of this study is to verify the validity of PES/WES index for natural tooth-prosthetic rehabilitation of the anterior area.

Effectiveness on oral pain of 808-nm diode laser used prior to composite restoration for symptomatic non-carious cervical lesions unresponsive to desensitizing agents.

This study compares sensitivity reduction after dental restoration with and without prior diode laser (DL) irradiation for cervical dentine hypersensitivity (CDH) from non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) unresponsive to desensitizing agents. Eighty-eight teeth of 28 subjects (21 females; age 23-64 years), with CDH from NCCL were included in this study. NCCLs of each oral quadrant were randomized in two groups (study group (SG)) to estimate the sensitivity reduction after dental restoration (SG-1) compared with the DL irradiation used prior to restoration placement (SG-2).

Intraocular pressure evaluation in healthy eyes and diseased ones using contact and non contact devices.

Purpose: To analyze and compare intraocular pressure (IOP) values measured in healthy subjects (HS), keratoconus (KC) patients and patients that underwent myopic photorefractive keratectomy (REF), using Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), dynamic contour tonometry (DCT), ocular response analyzer (ORA) and Corvis ST (CST).

Methods: The study included 76 eyes of 76HS, 15 eyes of 15 KC patients and 18 eyes of 18 subjects that underwent REF. Each participant underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation, IOP measurement with GAT, DCT, ORA and CST.

Class I restoration margin quality in direct resin composites: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the margin quality of direct resin composite restorations comparing the enamel-dentin adhesive standard procedure with additional use of adhesive layer at the external outline.

Methods: A total of 648 teeth with Class I occlusal lesions in molars and premolars were randomly selected and distributed into two groups of 324 each in order to compare the margin quality with two restoration strategies. Lesions were sealed with the standard adhesion procedure for direct resin composite restorations (Group 1) and with an additional procedure of enamel adhesive on the outer boundary of the finished restoration (Group 2).

Central corneal thickness evaluation in healthy eyes with three different optical devices.

Purpose: To compare corneal pachymetry values measured by three different optical devices: Orbscan II, Pentacam HR and Sirius in healthy eyes.

Methods: The central corneal thickness (CCT) of 102 eyes of 102 healthy subjects (mean age of 33.09 ± 8.

Immediate, early, and conventional implant placement in a patient with history of periodontitis.

The aim of this paper is to describe a case of implant-prosthetic rehabilitation in a patient with periodontitis, focusing on the different timing of implant placement. After initial periodontal treatment, teeth with advanced mobility degree and severe bone resorption were extracted. At different healing time oral implants were placed in a prosthetic-guided position.

Polycomb YY1 is a critical interface between epigenetic code and miRNA machinery after exposure to hypoxia in malignancy.

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a member of polycomb protein family involved in epigenetic modifications and transcriptional controls. We have shown that YY1 acts as positive regulator of tumor growth and angiogenesis by interfering with the VEGFA network. Yet, the link between polycomb chromatin complex and hypoxia regulation of VEGFA is still poorly understood.

New Scheimpflug camera device in measuring corneal power changes after myopic laser refractive surgery.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of a combined Scheimpflug camera-Placido disk device (Sirius, CSO, Italy) in evaluating corneal power changes after myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-seven eyes of 237 patients that underwent myopic PRK with a refractive error, measured as spherical equivalent, ranging from -10.75 D to -0.

Evaluation of corneal deformation analyzed with a Scheimpflug based device.

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between corneal biomechanical and morphological data in healthy eyes.

Methods: A complete clinical eye examination of naïve eyes was followed by tomographic (Pentacam, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) and biomechanical (Corvis ST, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) evaluation. Linear regression between central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal volume (CV) and anterior corneal curvature measured with Sim'K (SK), versus corneal deformation parameters measured with Corvis ST have been run using SPSS software version 18.

Efficacy of diode laser in association to sodium fluoride vs Gluma desensitizer on treatment of cervical dentin hypersensitivity. A double blind controlled trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the desensitizing efficacy of 2% sodium fluoride solution (NaF), diode laser (DL), a DL and NaF association and a solution of hydroxyl-ethyl-methacrylate and glutaraldehyde (HEMA-G: Gluma desensitizer) in cervical dentin hypersensitivity (CDH).

Methods: 262 teeth of 24 subjects (16 females and eight males; age 21 to 64 years, mean 38 years), each having at least two CHD teeth for each quadrant, were included in this prospective, split mouth, clinical study. Teeth of each oral quadrant were randomized in four groups (SG) to study the effectiveness of NaF (SG-1), of DL (SG-2) NaF-DL combination (SG-3) and HEMA-G (SG-4).

Orthodontic-aided extraction of impacted third molar to improve the periodontal status of the neighboring tooth.

Objectives: In the present clinical report, we describe the management and the long-term (3-year) outcome of a periodontally compromised lower second molar healed by orthodontic-aided extraction of the neighboring impacted third molar.

Methods: A healthy 21-year-old woman referred signs and symptoms of pericoronitis of impacted tooth 48 and periodontal injury on the distal aspect of tooth 47. The wisdom tooth was surgically exposed, and an orthodontic appliance was anchored to the neighboring teeth to stimulate eruption.