Gold nanoparticles as innovative therapeutics for oral mucositis: A review of current evidence.

Oral mucositis (OM) remains a debilitating side effect in patients undergoing cancer therapy. DNA damage and oxidative stress generated by radiation and/or chemotherapy activate key inflammatory pathways, ultimately resulting in the destruction of the epithelial barrier, leading to microbial colonization, and ulceration. These ulcerative lesions are often extremely painful, compromising nutrition and oral hygiene, requiring intravenous nutritional support, resulting in longer periods of hospitalization and increased cost.

Effectiveness of gold nanoparticles in prevention and treatment of oral mucositis in animal models: a systematic review.

Background: Oral mucositis remains a significant complication during cancer therapy with no effective treatment. Gold nanoparticles offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties with low toxicity. This study systematically reviews the literature assessing gold nanoparticles in the management of oral mucositis in animal models.

Perception of health and educational risks amongst dental students and educators in the era of COVID-19.

Objective: To investigate the perceived educational and health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic amongst dental students and educators.

Methods: A 17-item electronic survey was sent to 496 undergraduate dental students and 53 clinical faculty members who attended clinical sessions during the outbreak period. The survey explored various aspects related to primary sources and prevention of disease exposure, dental management of suspected cases, impact of COVID-19 on students' clinical performance and effects of suspension of educational activities on academic performance and clinical competence.

AgNP/Alginate Nanocomposite hydrogel for antimicrobial and antibiofilm applications.

The synthesis and specific surface functionalization of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their incorporation into an alginate hydrogel is described. Divalent cation-mediated ionic crosslinking was used to disperse the AgNPs throughout the gel, made possible by -COO cross-linking sites provided by the surface-enhanced nanoparticles, inspired by the classic egg-box model crosslinking of calcium alginate. An AgNP concentration, 10-20 μg g increased hygrogel elasticity, viscosity, and shear resistance by 45, 30, and 31% respectively.

COVID-19 and dental clinical practice: Students and clinical staff perceptions of health risks and educational impact.

Purpose/objectives: Due to the nature of the profession, dental healthcare workers are exposed to infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the severity of the pandemic presents challenges to dental education institutions worldwide. This study investigated dental students and clinical staff perceptions of health risks and impacts on clinical competence of working in teaching clinics during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods: A 39-item survey composed of closed and open questions was sent to students and clinical staff of a prominent Australasian dental school.

The socket-shield technique: a critical literature review.

Introduction: Dental implants have become a standard treatment in the replacement of missing teeth. After tooth extraction and implant placement, resorption of buccal bundle bone can pose a significant complication with often very negative cosmetic impacts. Studies have shown that if the dental root remains in the alveolar process, bundle bone resorption is very minimal.

Anti-biofilm activity of silver nanoparticle-containing glass ionomer cements.

Objective: To develop a silver nanoparticle (AgNP) formulation for incorporation into glass ionomer cements (GICs) which minimises biofilm growth on restoration surfaces.

Methods: GICs, Fuji IX, Ketac Molar, and Riva Selfcure were modified with 6, 10 and 24 μg per GIC capsule of α-lipoic acid-capped AgNPs. Monoculture biofilms of Streptococcus mutans were cultured (72 h) on GIC specimens (n = 3) and biofilm accumulation was quantified using a viability stain with confocal laser scanning microscopy.

The Dental Amalgam Phasedown in New Zealand: A 20-year Trend.

Background And Objectives: Information on the choice of material and performance of restorations placed in a dental practice annually is limited. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is likely to affect the use of amalgam worldwide. The objective of this research was to investigate the use of restorative materials at the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry in New Zealand from 1998 to 2017.

Beam hardening correction tool improves the diagnosis of incipient caries lesions in Micro-CT images.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Beam Hardening Correction tool (BHC) on Micro-CT images used in the diagnosis of incipient caries lesions.

Methods: Six posterior teeth, with 6 sound proximal surfaces and 6 natural white spot lesions, were scanned using a SkyScan1174 device. Each tooth was imaged 16 times in various acquisition parameters, and reconstructed 3 times applying different levels of BHC (0, 15 and 30%).

Microcomputed Tomography Evaluation of Dentine Mineral Concentration in Primary Molars Managed by Three Treatment Protocols.

The objectives of the study were to quantify the dentine mineral concentration (DMC) in teeth restored conventionally, according to the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) and ultraconservative (UCT) protocols (open cavities and small ART restorations), and the DMC underneath the open cavities of teeth managed by UCT versus nontreated, open cavities. We studied 50 teeth with restorations/open cavities, 39 restored teeth (9 by conventional restorative treatment [CRT], 17 by ART, and 13 by UCT) and 16 teeth with open cavities. Each restoration/open cavity was scanned using microcomputed tomography, with 3 hydroxyapatite disks with respective densities of 1.

Antimicrobial Activity of a Colloidal AgNP Suspension Demonstrated In Vitro against Monoculture Biofilms: Toward a Novel Tooth Disinfectant for Treating Dental Caries.

A novel silver nanoparticle (AgNP) formulation was developed as a targeted application for the disinfection of carious dentine. Silver nitrate (AgNO) was chemically reduced using sodium borohydrate (NaBH) in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to form micelle aggregate structures containing monodisperse 6.7- to 9.

Resin Infiltration of Caries in Primary Molars in a Community Setting: 24-Month Randomized Controlled Trial Findings.

This study aimed to assess whether resin infiltration of primary molar proximal lesions is more effective than noninvasive measures in radiographically controlling carious lesion progression into the dentin. A split-mouth randomized controlled trial included 90 children, each with 2 proximal lesions confined to the inner half of the enamel or ≤0.5 mm into the dentin.

Surface Characteristics and Biofilm Development on Selected Dental Ceramic Materials.

Background: Intraoral adjustment and polishing of dental ceramics often affect their surface characteristics, promoting increased roughness and consequent biofilm growth. This study correlated surface roughness to biofilm development with four commercially available ceramic materials.

Methods: Four ceramic materials (Vita Enamic®, Lava™ Ultimate, Vitablocs Mark II, and Wieland Reflex®) were prepared as per manufacturer instructions.

Antimicrobial activity of chemomechanical gingival retraction products.

Background: Application of astringent hemostatic agents is the most widely used technique for gingival retraction, and a variety of products are offered commercially. However, these products may have additional unintended yet clinically beneficial properties. The authors assessed the antimicrobial activities of marketed retraction products against plaque-associated bacteria in both planktonic and biofilm assays, in vitro.

Effectiveness of Crown Preparation Assessment Software As an Educational Tool in Simulation Clinic: A Pilot Study.

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of a new tooth preparation assessment software, Preppr, as an educational tool for dental students in achieving optimal parameters for a crown preparation. In February 2015, 30 dental students in their fourth year in a five-year undergraduate dental curriculum in New Zealand were randomly selected from a pool of volunteers (N=40) out of the total class of 85. The participants were placed into one of three groups of ten students each: Group A, the control group, received only written and pictorial instructions; Group B received tutor evaluation and feedback; and Group C performed self-directed learning with the aid of Preppr.

How long will it last? The expected longevity of prosthodontic and restorative treatment.

With the Internet facilitating access to vast amounts of free information, dental practitioners face providing treatment for an increasingly informed public. However, the available content is not filtered, and it can be difficult for patients to discriminate between research-informed evidence and "glamorised" material of dubious origin. Patients reasonably expect a return for their investment and want to know how long their treatment will last.

Evaluating the efficiency of caries removal using an Er:YAG laser driven by fluorescence feedback control.

Introduction: Caries lesions in dental hard tissues autofluoresce when exposed to light of certain wavelengths, whereas sound tissues do not, and this can be used as an in vitro histological marker for dental caries. Detection of autofluorescence is the basis of KaVo DIAGNOdent™ technology, and provides objective feedback control of laser-stimulated ablation of dental caries for the KaVo Key Laser 3™. This Er:YAG laser operates at 2940nm wavelength, and is effective at removal of infected dental hard tissues.

The prognostic accuracy of resonance frequency analysis in predicting failure risk of immediately restored implants.

Objectives: It is of imperative clinical significance to define a safe threshold for planned immediate implant restoration. The aim of this report was to evaluate the prognostic accuracy of resonance frequency analysis (RFA) measurements recorded at two different times (implant placement and 8-week post-implant placement) and to determine the optimal threshold value for predicting failure risk of immediately restored/loaded implants.

Material And Methods: Twenty-eight 8- or 9-mm-diameter implants were placed in either a fresh molar extraction socket or a healed site.

Insertion torque of immediate wide-diameter implants: a finite element analysis.

Objective: To use finite element analysis to investigate the influence of insertion torque on the stress distribution around an immediately placed oral implant.

Method And Materials: Finite element software was used to model a mandibular molar extraction socket. The properties of surrounding cancellous bone and thickness of cortical bone were modified to give four 3D finite element models (I, II, III, and IV).

Immediate single implant restorations in mandibular molar extraction sockets: a controlled clinical trial.

Background: In the replacement of missing teeth, a paradigm shift is currently observed with immediate implant placement and/or restoration, particularly in the aesthetic zone. In molar sites, however, anatomical, occlusal and biomechanical considerations remain deterrent factors influencing the outcome of this treatment paradigm. The aim of this report was to evaluate immediate placement and immediate restoration of strongly tapered wide-diameter implant in fresh mandibular molar extraction sockets.

A system of calibrating microtomography for use in caries research.

Desktop microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) offers a non-invasive 3-dimensional analysis of structures and their physical properties. To date, the use of micro-CT has mostly involved qualitative observations, with the extent of quantitative analysis relying on automated internal calibration by the micro-CT control software. However, the value of such calibration is limited by machine drift.

Gingival retraction techniques for implants versus teeth: current status.

Background: The authors reviewed and compared gingival retraction techniques used for implants and teeth.

Types Of Studies Reviewed: The authors searched the literature using article databases Ovid MEDLINE up to May 2008, PubMED and Google Scholar (advanced search) and the following search terms: gingival retraction, implant abutment, impressions, cement-retained implant restoration, impression coping, peri-implant tissue, emergence profile and tissue conditioning.

Results: The authors found insufficient evidence relating to gingival displacement techniques for impression making for implant dentistry.

Intakes of thorium while using thoriated tungsten electrodes for TIG welding.

Thoriated electrodes are used in TIG welding. TIG welders, along with persons who grind thoriated electrodes and persons located near relevant welding and grinding sites, might be at risk of thorium intake. The isotopes of radiological relevance are 232Th, 230Th, and 228Th.