An 'Index of Oro-dental Disease': A holistic method for understanding the impacts of different risk factors on oral health in archaeological populations.

Objective: To gain a more holistic understanding of oral health in the past by producing an 'Index of Oro-dental Disease' (IOD), incorporating multiple oro-dental diseases and accounting for differences in antemortem/postmortem alveolar bone and tooth loss.

Materials: UK Adult Dental Health Survey, 2009 anonymised dataset (N = 6206). Archaeological dental data from skeletal individuals from medieval and post-medieval Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire (N = 214, 1150-1855) and St James's Gardens Burial Ground, London (N = 281, 1789-1853).

Advancing dental biofilm models: the integral role of pH in predicting colonization.

Mathematical models can provide insights into complex interactions and dynamics within microbial communities to complement and extend experimental laboratory approaches. For dental biofilms, they can give a basis for evaluating biofilm growth or the transition from health to disease. We have developed mathematical models to simulate the transition toward a cariogenic microbial biofilm, modeled as the overgrowth of within a five-species dental community.

Bioaerosols and Airborne Transmission in the Dental Clinic.

The importance of aerosols (particles suspended in air) produced during dental procedures became more apparent than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns over transmission of infection in these aerosols led to unprecedented disruption to dental services across the world, adversely impacting patients' oral health. This article discusses the evidence related to airborne transmission of infectious diseases and the relevance to dentistry.

Pangolin scales as adaptations for innate immunity against pathogens.

Background: Pangolins are the only mammals that have overlapping scales covering most of their bodies, and they play a crucial role in the ecosystem, biological research, and human health and disease. Previous studies indicated pangolin scale might provide an important mechanical defense to themselves. The origin and exact functions of this unique trait remain a mystery.

Preventing proximal enamel caries in neighboring tooth with glass ionomer cement restoration and silver diamine fluoride pretreatment.

Objective: To investigate caries preventive effects of 38 % silver diamine fluoride (SDF) pretreatment on neighboring tooth proximal to glass ionomer cement (GIC), including conventional GIC (CGIC) and resin-modified GIC (RMGIC) restorations in an in vitro model.

Methods: HUMAN TOOTH BLOCKS WERE RESTORED WITH: SDF+CGIC (Group 1), CGIC (Group 2), SDF+RMGIC (Group 3) or RMGIC (Group 4). Enamel specimen simulating proximal surface of neighboring tooth was placed in proximity to the restorations.

Genome characterisation and comparative analysis of Schaalia dentiphila sp. nov. and its subspecies, S. dentiphila subsp. denticola subsp. nov., from the human oral cavity.

Background: Schaalia species are primarily found among the oral microbiota of humans and other animals. They have been associated with various infections through their involvement in biofilm formation, modulation of host responses, and interaction with other microorganisms. In this study, two strains previously indicated as Actinomyces spp.

Effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on oral health and associated markers of systemic health: a systematic review.

Poor oral health can impact an individual's ability to eat and has been associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases. While the benefits of nitrate consumption on oral health were first proposed more than 20 years ago, no systematic review has been published examining effects of dietary nitrate on oral health. This systematic review investigated the effects of dietary nitrate on markers of oral health in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Effects of glucose and lactate on abundance in a novel multispecies oral biofilm model.

The oral microbiome plays an important role in protecting oral health. Here, we established a controlled mixed-species biofilm model and used it to assess the impact of glucose and lactate on the ability of , an acidogenic and aciduric species, to compete with commensal oral bacteria. A chemically defined medium was developed that supported the growth of and four common early colonizers of dental plaque: , , , and .

Layer-by-Layer Coatings of Collagen-Hyaluronic acid Loaded with an Antibacterial Manuka Honey Bioactive Compound to Fight Metallic Implant Infections.

Implant-associated severe infections can result in catastrophic implant failures; thus, advanced antibacterial coatings are needed to combat infections. This study focuses on harnessing nature-inspired self-assembly of extracellular matrix (ECM)-like coatings on Ti alloy with a combination of jellyfish-derived collagen (J-COLL) and hyaluronic acid (HA) using our customized automated hybrid layer-by-layer apparatus. To improve the anti-infection efficacy of coatings, we have incorporated a natural antibacterial agent methylglyoxal (MGO, a Manuka honey compound) in optimized multilayer coatings.

Genome characterization and taxonomy of Actinomyces acetigenes sp. nov., and Actinomyces stomatis sp. nov., previously isolated from the human oral cavity.

Background: Actinomyces strains are commonly found as part of the normal microflora on human tissue surfaces, including the oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and female genital tract. Understanding the diversity and characterization of Actinomyces species is crucial for human health, as they play an important role in dental plaque formation and biofilm-related infections. Two Actinomyces strains ATCC 49340 and ATCC 51655 have been utilized in various studies, but their accurate species classification and description remain unresolved.

Development of a Novel Peptide with Antimicrobial and Mineralising Properties for Caries Management.

The purpose of the study is to develop a novel peptide for caries management. Gallic-Acid-Polyphemusin-I (GAPI) was synthesised by grafting Polyphemusin I (PI) and gallic acid (GA). Biocompatibility was evaluated using a Cell Counting Kit-8 Assay.

Peptide Designs for Use in Caries Management: A Systematic Review.

The objective of this study was to review the design methods that have been used to create peptides for use in caries management. Two independent researchers systematically reviewed many in vitro studies in which peptides were designed for use in caries management. They assessed the risk of bias in the included studies.

Salivary Antimicrobial Peptide Histatin-5 Does Not Display Zn(II)-Dependent or -Independent Activity against Streptococci.

Histatin-5 (Hst5) is a member of the histatin superfamily of cationic, His-rich, Zn(II)-binding peptides in human saliva. Hst5 displays antimicrobial activity against fungal and bacterial pathogens, often in a Zn(II)-dependent manner. In contrast, here we showed that under conditions that are characteristic of human saliva, Hst5 does not kill seven streptococcal species that normally colonize the human oral cavity and oropharynx.

Interspecies competition in oral biofilms mediated by Streptococcus gordonii extracellular deoxyribonuclease SsnA.

Extracellular DNA (eDNA) is a key component of many microbial biofilms including dental plaque. However, the roles of extracellular deoxyribonuclease (DNase) enzymes within biofilms are poorly understood. Streptococcus gordonii is a pioneer colonizer of dental plaque.

Monkeypox: what do dental professionals need to know?

Infection control is critical for the safe delivery of dental care. Infection control practices must be responsive to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and outbreaks, as was clearly seen during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. An emerging global outbreak of the monkeypox virus has again raised potential challenges for infection control in dentistry.

Waterline Disinfectants Reduce Dental Bioaerosols: A Multitracer Validation.

Oral microbes are dispersed during dental treatment and reduction methods have been proposed, but dental unit waterline (DUWL) disinfectants have received little attention; specifically, the effect on viruses has not been studied. This study aims to 1) investigate the effect of DUWL disinfectants on viral dispersion in dental bioaerosols and 2) establish a dual-tracer system using live bacteriophage and fluorescein supported by optical particle measurement. Bacteriophage MS2 was used as a viral tracer and fluorescein as a fluorescent tracer.

Slippery Liquid-Like Solid Surfaces with Promising Antibiofilm Performance under Both Static and Flow Conditions.

Biofilms are central to some of the most urgent global challenges across diverse fields of application, from medicine to industries to the environment, and exert considerable economic and social impact. A fundamental assumption in anti-biofilms has been that the coating on a substrate surface is solid. The invention of slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces─a continuously wet lubricating coating retained on a solid surface by capillary forces─has led to this being challenged.

Understanding the Matrix: The Role of Extracellular DNA in Oral Biofilms.

Dental plaque is the key etiological agent in caries formation and the development of the prevalent chronic oral inflammatory disease, periodontitis. The dental plaque biofilm comprises a diverse range of microbial species encased within a rich extracellular matrix, of which extracellular DNA (eDNA) has been identified as an important component. The molecular mechanisms of eDNA release and the structure of eDNA have yet to be fully characterized.