Dental practice closure during the first wave of COVID-19 and associated professional, practice and structural determinants: a multi-country survey.

Background: The coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in China has influenced every aspect of life worldwide. Given the unique characteristics of the dental setting, the risk of cross-infection between dental practitioners and patients is high in the absence of adequate protective measures, and dentists may develop severe anxiety in relation to the current pandemic. The limited provision of services and widespread closure of dental practices have raised concerns among dental professionals about the financial impact.

Perceived Preparedness of Dental Academic Institutions to Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-Country Survey.

Dental academic institutions are affected by COVID-19. We assessed the perceived COVID-19 preparedness of these institutions and the characteristics of institutions with greater perceived preparedness. An international cross-sectional survey of dental academics was conducted from March to August 2020 to assess academics' and institutional attributes, perceived preparedness, and availability of infection prevention and control (IPC) equipment.

Behavior change due to COVID-19 among dental academics-The theory of planned behavior: Stresses, worries, training, and pandemic severity.

Objective: COVID-19 pandemic led to major life changes. We assessed the psychological impact of COVID-19 on dental academics globally and on changes in their behaviors.

Methods: We invited dental academics to complete a cross-sectional, online survey from March to May 2020.

Use of a gelatin hydrogel membrane containing β-tricalcium phosphate for guided bone regeneration enhances rapid bone formation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a thin gelatin hydrogel membrane containing β-tricalcium phosphate (G-TCP) for use in guided bone regeneration, a technique that we developed. G-TCP membranes were fabricated from gelatin and β-TCP powder, freezedried, and cross-linked by heating. The resulting G-TCP membranes were as thin as collagen membranes, with high mechanical integrity.

Accelerated and enhanced bone formation on novel simvastatin-loaded porous titanium oxide surfaces.

Background: With increasing application of dental implants in poor-quality bones, the need for implant surfaces ensuring accelerated osseointegration and enhanced peri-implant bone regeneration is increased.

Purpose: A study was performed to evaluate the osseointegration and bone formation on novel simvastatin-loaded porous titanium oxide surface.

Materials And Methods: Titanium screws were treated by micro-arc oxidation to form porous oxide surface and 25 or 50 μg of simvastatin was loaded.

Feasibility of alpha tricalcium phosphate for vertical bone augmentation.

Aim: Inadequate vertical bone compromises dental implant positioning and subsequent restoration. This study was carried out to investigate the feasibility of alpha tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) for vertical bone augmentation.

Methods: Nine cortical perforations were made on each side of the parietal bone of rat calvaria under continuous saline coolant.

Exploitation of a novel polysaccharide nanogel cross-linking membrane for guided bone regeneration (GBR).

Cholesterol-bearing pullulan (CHP) nanogel is a synthetic degradable biomaterial for drug delivery with high biocompatibility. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a bone augmentation technique in which a membrane is used to create and keep a secluded regenerative space. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the novel CHP nanogel membrane in GBR.

Synthesis of novel oxide layers on titanium by combination of sputter deposition and micro-arc oxidation techniques.

A novel coating technique of thin ceramic layer resembling teeth color on titanium (Ti) surface was developed by combination of sputter deposition of metal zirconium (Zr) and subsequent micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment. The oxide layer grown by MAO treatment had a porous structure with a thickness of approximately 6 micrometers and was mainly composed of zirconium dioxide (ZrO(2)) with both tetragonal and monoclinic crystal structures. The surface of the specimen was hardened by this technique, and the hardness of the specimen was significantly larger than that of untreated Ti and MAO-treated Ti without Zr layer.

Evaluation of the osteoconductivity of α-tricalcium phosphate, β-tricalcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite combined with or without simvastatin in rat calvarial defect.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the osteoconductivity of three different bone substitute materials: α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP), (β-TCP), and hydroxyapatite (HA), combined with or without simvastatin, which is a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor stimulating BMP-2 expression in osteoblasts. We used 72 Wistar rats and prepared two calvarial bone defects of 5 mm diameter in each rat. Defects were filled with the particles of 500-750 μm diameter combined with or without simvastatin at 0.

Implantation of green tea catechin α-tricalcium phosphate combination enhances bone repair in rat skull defects.

Unlabelled: The purpose of the present study is to investigate effects of the combination of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) on bone regenerative capacity in a bilateral rat calvarial bone defect model.

Materials And Methods: Bilateral 5-mm-diameter calvarial defects were created in adult male Wistar rats and filled with preparations of EGCG (0, 0.1, 0.

Molecular and tissue responses in the healing of rat calvarial defects after local application of simvastatin combined with alpha tricalcium phosphate.

We have previously reported that healing of rat calvarial defects was enhanced by application of alpha tricalcium phosphate (alphaTCP) combined with simvastatin, a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms in this phenomenon. Rat calvarial defects were grafted with alphaTCP with or without simvastatin or left untreated.

Effects of the combination with alpha-tricalcium phosphate and simvastatin on bone regeneration.

Background: Although local application of statins stimulates bone formation, high dose of simvastatin induces inflammation.

Objective: A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that maximum bone regeneration with less inflammation would be achieved by combining an optimal dose of simvastatin with alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP), which is an osteoconductive biomaterial capable of releasing the drug gradually.

Material And Methods: Bilateral 5-mm-diameter calvarial defects were created in adult Wistar rats and filled with preparations of different doses of simvastatin (0, 0.

Bone formation with the combination of simvastatin and calcium sulfate in critical-sized rat calvarial defect.

Simvastatin, a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor, enhances BMP2 expression in osteoblasts. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether simvastatin stimulates bone regeneration when combined with calcium sulfate as a carrier. Critical-sized bone defects in rat calvaria were treated with calcium sulfate or with combination of 1 mg simvastatin and calcium sulfate.