Alveolar Ridge Preservation Procedures Performed with Freeze-Dried Bone Allograft: Clinical and Histologic Outcomes in a Case Series: Part II.

Tooth extractions can result in alveolar bone dimensional changes, necessitating additional bone grafting for implant placement. Alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) aims to counteract postextraction changes. This case series evaluates the bone regenerative properties of a freeze-dried bone allograft (FDBA) and the clinical outcomes of implants in grafted extraction sites.

Resonance Frequency Analysis to Assess the Stability of Immediate Implants: A Retrospective Clinical Trial.

Adequate implant primary stability is a key factor to obtain osseointegration and can be measured at insertion by insertion torque (IT) and at different timepoints with resonance frequency analysis (RFA), expressed as an implant stability quotient (ISQ). This retrospective study investigated the correlation between ISQ and IT at implant insertion. All patients who were eligible for this single-cohort retrospective clinical trial were treated with an immediate implant.

Early orthodontic treatment need in paediatric age: a prospective observational study in Italian school-children.

Aim: This study evaluates the prevalence of Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) in Italian school-children.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted to assess the prevalence of IOTN in patients undergoing a first visit at the Santa Chiara Hospital Paediatric Dentistry Unit in Pisa, Italy. Two thousand, one hundred ninetynine subjects met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study; data on age, gender and concomitant systemic pathologies were collected from medical records.

Artificial intelligence to support early diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders: A preliminary case study.

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are disabling conditions with a negative impact on the quality of life. Their diagnosis is a complex and multi-factorial process that should be conducted by experienced professionals, and most TMDs remain often undetected. Increasing the awareness of un-experienced dentists and supporting the early TMD recognition may help reduce this gap.

Histologic Evaluation of Soft Tissues around Dental Implant Abutments: A Narrative Review.

The basis for dental implant success comes not only with the titanium implant osseointegration but also depends on other factors such as the development of a soft tissue barrier, which protects the peri-implant bone from the oral environment. The characteristics of surfaces in contact with peri-implant soft tissues may affect the capacity of peri-implant mucosal cells to create a tight seal around the implant, thus influencing long-term implant success. Many histological studies on animals have been conducted on different materials to better understand their influence on peri-implant soft tissues, with the limitation that results from animal studies cannot be fully translated in humans.

One-Year Clinical Performance of Activa™ Bioactive-Restorative Composite in Primary Molars.

Restorative procedures for caries affecting primary molars are a daily challenge for pediatric dentistry, and one of the main factors influencing the results of these restorative procedures is the choice of dental material used: bioactive materials were recently introduced, combining the strength of composites and the benefits of glass ionomers. The present study's objective is to clinically evaluate the aesthetic, functional and biological properties of Activa™ Bioactive composite in approximal and occlusal carious lesions for 1 year using the FDI criteria for evaluating direct dental restorations. Forty-five children with occlusal or approximal caries in first or second primary molars were included in the study: the cavities were then randomized to be restored with either Activa BioActive or SDR Bulk-fill and evaluated over time according to Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI) criteria.

Maxillary sinus augmentation with three different biomaterials: Histological, histomorphometric, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Lateral maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA) is a predictable bone regeneration technique in case of atrophy of the posterior-upper maxilla. Aimed at obtaining quantity and quality of bone suitable for receiving osseointegrated implants, its success is largely due to the skill of the surgeon, but also to the characteristics of the biomaterial used.

Methods: Twenty-four patients needing MSA were included in the study.

Impact of Concave/Convergent vs Parallel/ Divergent Implant Transmucosal Profiles on Hard and Soft Peri-implant Tissues: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses.

Purpose: To systematically review the literature comparing marginal bone loss (MBL) and pink esthetic scores of implants with convergent or concave transmucosal profiles vs divergent or parallel profiles.

Materials And Methods: A PICO question was defined, and an electronic search was carried out in the MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane Oral Health Group databases. Studies documenting type of transmucosal profile (either tissue-level profiles or abutments) and soft and/or hard tissue outcomes of implants were considered eligible.

Non-impacted tooth extractions and antibiotic treatment: A RCT study.

Objectives: A controlled, single-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed to evaluate usefulness of antibiotics in preventing pain and complications after tooth extractions and benefits of probiotics in reducing gastro-intestinal symptoms associated with antibiotic therapy.

Materials And Methods: A total of 159 patients were enrolled in this trial. After tooth extractions, patients were allocated to one of the groups: group 1 received postoperatively amoxicillin + clavulanic acid; group 2 received the same antibiotic therapy with an adjunctive probiotic treatment; and group 3 received neither antibiotics nor probiotics.

Application of IBM Watson to Support Literature Reviews: A Preliminary Experience in Restorative Dentistry.

Literature reviews are crucial in the choice of the best personalized material type and restauration type in restorative dentistry. We developed an IBM-Watson based system to support literature search for restorative dentistry, and compared its results to a literature search performed by a trained professional. We found that our system could assist the researcher in performing a literature review, but the grounding semantic model needs to be refined in order to provide more extensive results.

COVID-19 in a Patient with β-Thalassemia Major and Severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

We here report the successful recovery from coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pneumonia in a patient with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), focusing on the patient's comorbidities, therapeutic course and drug interaction.

Tissue level implants in healthy versus medically compromised patients: a cohort comparative study.

Background: Dental implants placed in medically compromised patients have predictable outcomes and a high rate of survival, compared to those placed in healthy patients. The aims of this study were to observe and compare implant survival/success rates and soft tissue response to tissue-level implants placed in healthy and medically compromised patients with a 1-year follow-up.

Methods: Seventy-two patients, 36 healthy patients (20 females and 16 males) and 36 medically compromised patients (18 females and 18 males) affected by cardiovascular diseases (arrythmia, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, bypass and pacemaker surgery), depression, endocrine metabolic diseases (hypercholesterolemia, type II diabetes, Hashimoto's thyroiditis), gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, hiatal hernia, gastric ulcers), asthma, osteoporosis or glaucoma received one tissue-level implant.

Antibiotic's effectiveness after erupted tooth extractions: A retrospective study.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the influence of antibiotics on the development of alveolitis after tooth extractions.

Materials And Methods: The study population consisted of patients who had erupted tooth extractions in 3 centers. The patients' medical records were collected for several parameters.

Effectiveness of Calcium Phosphate Desensitising Agents in Dental Hypersensitivity Over 24 Weeks of Clinical Evaluation.

Background: Calcium phosphate-based compounds are used to treat dental hypersensitivity (DH). Their long-term clinical behaviour needs further research. This study compared the 24-week effectiveness of Teethmate Desensitizer (TD), a pure tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) powder/water, to that of Dentin Desensitizer (DD), and Bite & White ExSense (BWE), both of calcium phosphate crystallites.

Twelve-year longitudinal clinical evaluation of bonded indirect composite resin inlays.

Objective: This prospective clinical study evaluated the clinical performance of one-, two- and multi-surface composite resin inlays over a 12-year period on premolars and molars.

Method And Materials: One clinician placed 113 indirect composite resin inlays (Signum, Heraeus Kulzer) in 30 patients that were bonded using a three-step bonding system and composite resin luting cement. Evaluations were made at 3 and 12 years by another clinician who was not involved in the placement of the restorations, using the modified US Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria.

Clinical outcomes of implants placed in ridge-preserved versus nonpreserved sites: A 4-year randomized clinical trial.

Background: Consistent bone changes occur after tooth removal, often compromising the success of implants placed within the socket left to natural healing The long-term effect of ridge preservation on implant outcomes is still unclear.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess success and survival rates of implants placed in extraction sockets, with spontaneous healing, or grafted with cortical porcine bone, or collagenated corticocancellous porcine bone.

Materials And Methods: Ninety patients in need for a single premolar/molar tooth extraction and an implant treatment were selected for the present study.

Stiffness effect of using polywave or monowave LED units for photo-curing different bulk fill composites.

We investigated three bulk fill composites (Mat1, Mat2, Mat3) cured by two polywave (Poly1, Poly2) and one monowave (Mono) lamps. We used infrared spectroscopy, nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy to assess degree of conversion (DC), stiffness, and roughness after polishing, respectively. Mat2 exhibited the highest DC with Poly1 and second highest with Mono, however was the less stiff.

Risk factors for heart disease in transfusion-dependent thalassemia: serum ferritin revisited.

Heart disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), which can be attributed to several factors but primarily develops in the setting of iron overload. This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing Webthal patient data from five major centers across Italy. Patients without heart disease were followed-up for 10 years (2000-2010) and data were collected for demographics, splenectomy status, serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels, and comorbidities associated with heart disease.

A novel approach to treat gingival recession and non-caries cervical lesion combined defects: Restoration guided creeping attachment (RGCA) technique. A case report.

Gingival recessions have multifactorial etiology and are often associated with non-caries cervical lesions. Different surgical techniques have been proposed over the years for their treatment, according to the severity of the recession. A novel technique, called restoration guided creeping attachment (RGCA), for the treatment of combined gingival recession and non-caries cervical lesion is presented.

Local viscoelastic response of direct and indirect dental restorative composites measured by AFM.

We investigated the viscoelastic response of direct and indirect dental restorative composites by the novel technique of AM-FM atomic force microscopy. We selected four composites for direct restorations (Adonis, Optifil, EPH, CME) and three composites for indirect restorations (Gradia, Estenia, Signum). Scanning electron microscopy with micro-analysis was also used to support the results.

Extra oral digital scanning and imaging superimposition for volume analysis of bone remodeling after tooth extraction with and without 2 types of particulate porcine mineral insertion: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Incorporation of bone substitute material into the extraction socket could minimize the edentulous ridge volume loss or maximize the bone formation within the healing area.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness in maintaining the volumetric contour of fresh extraction sockets grafted with or without 2 types of porcine biomaterials and covered with a resorbable barrier.

Materials And Methods: In the present multi-center single-blind randomized control trial, 55 patients underwent 1-tooth extraction, were surveyed, and randomly allocated to control- (25 sites, nat-group) or test groups (15 sites grafted with pre-hydrated collagenated cortico-cancellous porcine bone, coll-group, and 15 with cortical porcine bone, cort-group).

Reducing dentine hypersensitivity with nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The present randomized double-blind clinical trial aimed to compare the efficacy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity of a dentifrice formulation containing nano-hydroxyapatite with a fluoride dentifrice and a placebo.

Methods And Materials: One hundred and five subjects were recruited to participate in the study. A computer-generated random table with blocking to one of the three study treatments was used in order to have 35 subjects per group: (1) nano-hydroxyapatite 2% gel toothpaste fluoride free; (2) fluoride gel toothpaste; (3) placebo.

Bacterial adhesion on direct and indirect dental restorative composite resins: An in vitro study on a natural biofilm.

Statement Of Problem: Both direct and indirect techniques are used for dental restorations. Which technique should be preferred or whether they are equivalent with respect to bacterial adhesion is unclear.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the affinity of bacterial biofilm to dental restorative composite resins placed directly and indirectly.