Changes in upper airway airflow after rapid maxillary expansion considering normal craniofacial development as a factor: a retrospective study using computer fluid dynamics.

Background/objectives: Evidence suggests nasal airflow resistance reduces after rapid maxillary expansion (RME). However, the medium-term effects of RME on upper airway (UA) airflow characteristics when normal craniofacial development is considered are still unclear. This retrospective cohort study used computer fluid dynamics (CFD) to evaluate the medium-term changes in the UA airflow (pressure and velocity) after RME in two distinct age-based cohorts.

Impact of periodontal microRNAs associated with alveolar bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play an important role during orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) through the regulation of periodontal soft and hard tissue homeostasis and functions. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of miRNAs on OTM and to evaluate possible predictors that influenced the overall OTM amount at a 3-month follow-up.

Methods: Through a split-mouth design, 21 healthy patients (mean age 13.

Clinical indications for the diagnosis and treatment of functional posterior crossbite in pediatric population: a narrative review with clinical description.

The present manuscript aims to provide an updated overview of the clinical management of functional posterior crossbite (FPXB) in growing subjects which can be helpful for orthodontists and pediatric dentists in daily practice. Database searches were performed until December 2023 to evaluate the published literature on the topic. The most pertinent articles were chosen for the review from the retrieved articles.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Indications of Different Types of Mandibular Advancement Design for Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Indications from Literature Review and Case Descriptions.

Background: Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are considered a primary alternative treatment for adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are unable to tolerate or do not respond to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, supported by substantial scientific evidence. While a range of designs and materials for MADs are commercially available, there is a lack of clear diagnostic guidelines to assist clinicians in selecting the most appropriate device based on a multidisciplinary evaluation of OSA patients. This narrative review seeks to outline the key characteristics of MADs that clinicians should evaluate during both the diagnostic and treatment phases for patients with OSA.

Radiographic and diagnostic approaches for mandibular asymmetries in orthodontic practice: a narrative review.

Mandibular asymmetry refers to dimensional differences between the left and right sides of the mandible in terms of size, form and volume. This condition may result in problems with functionality as well as appearance. Early intervention is often deemed optimal for addressing mandibular asymmetry; however, there is a lack of consensus regarding the diagnostic approach and strategy for identifying asymmetries in developing individuals.

Oral Health Implications of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Literature Review.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by repeated episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. While the systemic implications of OSA are well documented, the dental consequences are less frequently discussed yet equally significant. This review aims to elucidate the oral health impacts of OSA, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary care.

Ponticulus posticus and skeletal malocclusion: A pilot study in a Southern Italian pre-orthodontic court.

Purpose: Ponticulus posticus (PP) is a bony protrusion located between the posterior portion of the superior articular process and the posterolateral portion of a posterior arch of the atlas vertebrae in the cervical spine. The aim of this study is to verify the presence of different types of PP in a Southern Italian pre-orthodontic cohort to understand its correlation with skeletal class and maturity.

Methods: A case-control retrospective study was conducted, utilizing 212 latero-lateral telecranium radiographs to analyze skeletal maturity according to the cervical vertebral maturation method, the Angle's classification of malocclusion (I, II, or III), and the presence or absence of the PP, whether complete (c-PP) or partial (p-PP).

The Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Pedodontics: A Scoping Review of Evidence-Based Literature.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary technology with several applications across different dental fields, including pedodontics. This systematic review has the objective to catalog and explore the various uses of artificial intelligence in pediatric dentistry.

Methods: A thorough exploration of scientific databases was carried out to identify studies addressing the usage of AI in pediatric dentistry until December 2023 in the Embase, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases by two researchers, S.

Effects of minimally invasive non-surgical therapy on C-reactive protein, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A, and clinical outcomes in periodontitis patients: A 1-year randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Background: Growing evidence suggests the type of periodontal treatment could differentially influence the reduction of key cardiovascular risk mediators in periodontitis patients. This randomized, controlled clinical trial compared the impact of minimally invasive non-surgical therapy (MINST) with quadrant-wise subgingival instrumentation (Q-SI) on C-reactive protein (CRP) together with lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A (Lp-PLA) levels, and clinical periodontal outcomes in patients with periodontitis. Moreover, it was evaluated if baseline CRP levels impacted the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal therapy protocols.

Indications for Dental Specialists for Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Mandibular Advancement Devices: A Narrative Review.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is characterized by repeated airway collapse during sleep. It determines cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurocognitive consequences and is associated with several daytime and nighttime symptoms that influence the patient's quality of life. The contribution of the dental specialist in the clinical management of OSA patients entails participating in the screening process as diagnostic sentinels and providing adequate treatment using mandibular advancement devices (MADs).

Medium-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal cavity and pharyngeal airway volumes considering age as a factor: A retrospective study.

Objectives: The medium-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on nasal cavity (NC) and upper airway (UA) dimensions based on chronological age are still unclear. This retrospective study evaluated the medium-term changes occurring in the NC and pharyngeal airways (PA) after RME in two distinct age-based cohorts of patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included 48 subjects who underwent RME grouped in two cohorts: a 6-9-year-old group (EEG group: early expansion group - 25 subjects) and an 11-14-year-old group (LEG group: late expansion group - 23 subjects).

Applications of artificial intelligence in the utilisation of imaging modalities in dentistry: A systematic review and meta-analysis of in-vitro studies.

Background: In the past, dentistry heavily relied on manual image analysis and diagnostic procedures, which could be time-consuming and prone to human error. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought transformative potential to the field, promising enhanced accuracy and efficiency in various dental imaging tasks. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the applications of AI in dental imaging modalities, focusing on in-vitro studies.

Dental implant survival in epidermolysis bullosa patients: A systematic review conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions.

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a genetic syndrome afflicting skin and mucous membranes. The manifestation depends on the form: in mild conditions, occasionally, vesicular-bullous lesions of the oral cavity may be present, which heal spontaneously without leaving scars. Patients following joint rupture have scars that limit food intake and restrict quality of life.

Analysis of maxillary asymmetry before and after treatment of functional posterior cross-bite: a retrospective study using 3D imaging system and deviation analysis.

Background: Previous evidence would suggest that subjects affected by functional posterior cross-bite (FPXB) present an asymmetric morphology of the maxilla. However, no evidence is available concerning the morphology (symmetry/asymmetry) of the maxilla after treatment of FPXB. This study aimed to investigate the volumetric and morphological changes of the palate in FPXB subjects treated with maxillary expansion and to compare these data with an untreated control group.

The Potential of Nano-Based Photodynamic Treatment as a Therapy against Oral Leukoplakia: A Narrative Review.

Oral leukoplakia is a predominantly white lesion of the oral mucosa that cannot be classified as any other definable lesion with the risk of progressing into malignancy. Despite the advancements in conventional therapy, the rates of malignant transformation remain notably high, affecting 4.11% of adults, due to the difficulty of accurate diagnosis and indistinct treatment.

Advanced Applications in Pediatric Dentistry: A Worldwide Perspective of the Last 13 Years.

The enhancement of the clinical management of growing patients has always been a great challenge for orthodontists and pediatric dentists [...

The Use of a CAD/CAM Thermoformed Splints System in Closed Reduction of Condylar Fractures.

(1) Background: Mandibular fractures are very common. Common indications of closed treatment for mandibular fractures are non-displaced or minimally displaced simple fractures in adult compliant patients with good dentition, the absence of occlusal disruption, and fractures in growing children. In closed treatment, the mandible is maintained in centric occlusion with a maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) with orthodontic elastics.

Growth differentiation factor-15 and circulating biomarkers as predictors of periodontal treatment effects in patients with periodontitis: a randomized-controlled clinical trial.

Background: During the last decades, in patients with periodontitis, periodontal treatment has been shown to reduce the potential release of local and systemic biomarkers linked to an early risk of systemic inflammatory disorders. This study evaluated the efficacy of non-surgical-periodontal treatment (NSPT) on growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and related circulating biomarkers such as glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx-1), c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and surfactant protein D (SP-D) in periodontal patients and explored whether subjects who had high GDF-15 levels at baseline showed increased clinical benefits following NSPT at 6-months follow-up.

Methods: For this two-arm, parallel randomized clinical trial, patients with periodontitis were randomly allocated to receive quadrant scaling and root-planing (Q-SRP, n = 23, median age 51 years old) or full-mouth disinfection (FMD, n = 23, median age 50 years old) treatment.

External root resorption and rapid maxillary expansion in the short-term: a CBCT comparative study between tooth-borne and bone-borne appliances, using 3D imaging digital technology.

Background: The aim of the study was to analyze and compare external root resorption (ERR) in patients treated with tooth-borne (TB) and bone-borne (BB) rapid maxillary expansion (RME).

Methods: The sample included 40 subjects who received tooth-borne RME (TB group, average age: 13.1 ± 1.

The Use of Diode Low-Power Laser Therapy before In-Office Bleaching to Prevent Bleaching-Induced Tooth Sensitivity: A Clinical Double-Blind Randomized Study.

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) use before in-office bleaching to prevent an increase in the risk and intensity of tooth sensitivity.

Methods: Thirty patients were selected. Before bleaching with 38% hydrogen peroxide, the participants were randomly divided into two groups of 15 subjects.

Accuracy of digital workflow for placing orthodontic miniscrews using generic and licensed open systems. A 3d imaging analysis of non-native .stl files for guided protocols.

Background: This study aimed to assess the accuracy of digital workflow for guided insertion of miniscrews in the anterior palate using restorative implant dentistry software and licensed software for orthodontic applications.

Methods: Twenty subjects (8 males, 12 females, mean age = 16.7 ± 2.

Accuracy of imaging software usable in clinical settings for 3D rendering of tooth structures.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the segmentation accuracy of the dentition by testing four open-source semi-automatic software programs.

Materials And Methods: Twenty CBCT scans were selected to perform semi-automatic segmentation of the maxillary and mandibular dentition. The software programs tested were InVesalius, ITK-SNAP, 3D Slicer, and Seg3D.