Low toxicity of dissolved silver from silver-coated titanium dental implants to human primary osteoblast cells.

Unlabelled: the controlled release of silver as a biocide from Ag-coated medical implants is desirable. However, the biocompatibility of Ag leachates is poorly understood. This study investigated the toxicity of silver released from the silver plated titanium implants to human primary osteoblast cells; and the effect of cell culture medium on the silver speciation and bioavailability.

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes periodontal fibrotic pathogenesis through deregulating mitochondrial beta-oxidation.

The global high prevalence of COVID-19 is a major challenge for health professionals and patients. SARS-CoV-2 virus has four structural protein components: the spike protein, envelope protein, membrane protein, and nucleocapsid protein. The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates predominantly in the spike proteins, whilst the other key viral components usually remain stable.

Dental education in primary care: 14 years of Peninsula Dental School.

Peninsula Dental School, established in 2006, was the UK's first new dental school in 40 years. It had the freedom to develop a completely new dental education curriculum planned on pedagogic thinking, designed to equip the dental care professionals of the twenty-first century. This was based on three distinct pillars: professionalism (developing a student's trust in their own autonomy); dental skills of the highest order (not just technical skills but also communication skills); and social engagement.

Deletion of RBP-Jkappa gene in mesenchymal cells causes rickets like symptoms in the mouse.

Unlabelled: Crosstalk between different signalling pathways provide deep insights for how molecules play synergistic roles in developmental and pathological conditions. RBP-Jkappa is the key effector of the canonical Notch pathway. Previously we have identified that Wnt5a, a conventional non-canonical Wnt pathway member, was under the direct transcriptional control of RBP-Jkappa in dermal papilla cells.

'It is difficult to think about becoming what you have never seen': Black students' reflections around a career in academic dentistry.

This opinion piece considers the national representation of the Black population in the United Kingdom in an academic career in dentistry and draws on engagement with Black dental students to see what their perceptions of this are. Black people are under-represented in dentistry as a whole and the number of Black academics who teach dentistry to an increasing number of aspiring young Black dental students is exceedingly low. Black dental students do not see themselves represented by their teachers and therefore 'it is difficult to think about [them] becoming what [they] have never seen'.

The dental therapist's role in a 'shared care' approach to optimise clinical outcomes.

Introduction Dental therapists have a key role to play in the provision of dentistry in the UK. The Dental Workforce Advisory Group has reported this is relevant in multiple areas, including prevention and care in young children, and to support dentists in providing advanced and routine treatment for complex adult patients within the wider collaborative dental team. There remain diverse and multiple barriers and challenges to utilising the optimal scope of the dental therapist in general practice.

Cracked Tooth Syndrome: Assessment, Prognosis and Predictable Management Strategies.

Cracked tooth syndrome (CTS) is a common presentation in general practice. The diagnosis and management of teeth with CTS may be difficult due to the unknown extent of the crack. This article reviews the aetiology, diagnosis, management and prognosis of teeth with CTS.

Addressing racial inequalities in dental education: decolonising the dental curricula.

The aim of this paper is to highlight the impact of racial disparities on the educational experiences of Black and minority ethnic students in healthcare education. Attainment gaps and barriers to career progression for minority ethnic home students in the United Kingdom have been recognised for decades, but little progress has been made to address these issues. Students and staff in higher education have been campaigning for 'decolonisation of the curriculum' to improve inclusivity and representation.

Multimorbidity and oral health: need for new models of care.

Multimorbidity is defined as patients living with two or more chronic health conditions. The prevalence of multimorbidity is increasing, driven by the ageing population, and represents a major challenge to all healthcare systems because these patients are heavy users of services. The link with oral health is growing although there is need for further robust evidence.

Transfer of basic science knowledge in a problem-based learning curriculum.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate transfer of basic science knowledge for clinical application in our BDS programme by exploring the correlations between student performance in integrated dental science (IDS) examinations and applied dental knowledge (ADK) tests.

Methods: Numeric test scores were drawn from summative IDS and ADK assessments undertaken by BDS students spanning six academic years (2013-14 to 2018-19) for two cohorts (2013 and 2014). The data included a total of 13 test scores for each cohort with four IDS tests, taken in Years 1 and 2, and nine ADK tests taken in Years 3, 4 and 5.

How does dyslexia impact on the educational experiences of healthcare students? A qualitative study.

Aims: To explore the impact of dyslexia on the educational experiences of undergraduate students in medicine, dentistry, dental therapy and biomedical sciences.

Methods: It was a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at a University in the South West region of the United Kingdom.

Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites As Bone Implants: Nanostructure, Mechanical Strength And Biocompatibility.

Purpose: Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a biologically active ceramic which promotes bone growth, but it suffers from relatively weak mechanical properties. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have high tensile strength and a degree of stiffness that can be used to strengthen HA; potentially improving the clinical utility of the bone implant.

Methods: HA was precipitated by the wet precipitation method in the presence of pristine (p) or functionalised (f) MWCNTs, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAB) as the surfactant.

Antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles grown and anchored to titanium dioxide nanotubes on titanium implant against .

Medical grade titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V, with TiO nanotubes (TiO-NTs) grown on the surface and then decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is proposed to enhance the antimicrobial properties of the bone/dental implants. However, the decoration with Ag NPs is not consistent and there are concerns about the direct contact of Ag NPs with human tissue. The aim of this study was to achieve a more even coverage of Ag NPs on TiO-NTs and determine their biocidal properties against , with and without a top coat of nano hydroxyapatite (nHA).

Notch Coordinates Periodontal Ligament Maturation through Regulating Lamin A.

Tooth eruption is a continuous biological process with dynamic changes at cellular and tissue levels, particularly within the periodontal ligament (PDL). Occlusion completion is a significant physiological landmark of dentition establishment. However, the importance of the involvement of molecular networks engaging in occlusion establishment on the final PDL maturation is still largely unknown.

Transit amplifying cells coordinate mouse incisor mesenchymal stem cell activation.

Stem cells (SCs) receive inductive cues from the surrounding microenvironment and cells. Limited molecular evidence has connected tissue-specific mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with mesenchymal transit amplifying cells (MTACs). Using mouse incisor as the model, we discover a population of MSCs neibouring to the MTACs and epithelial SCs.

Multilayered composite coatings of titanium dioxide nanotubes decorated with zinc oxide and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles: controlled release of Zn and antimicrobial properties against .

This study aimed to decorate the surface of TiO nanotubes (TiO NTs) grown on medical grade Ti-6Al-4V alloy with an antimicrobial layer of nano zinc oxide particles (nZnO) and then determine if the antimicrobial properties were maintained with a final layer of nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) on the composite. The additions of nZnO were attempted at three different annealing temperatures: 350, 450 and 550 °C. Of these temperatures, 350°C provided the most uniform and nanoporous coating and was selected for antimicrobial testing.

To accept or decline academic remediation: What difference does it make?

Academic remediation offered after failure in a knowledge-based progress-test assessment is voluntary and involves student-centered individualized support that helps students to learn most effectively for themselves. This paper explores whether accepting or declining the offer of academic remediation given to struggling students impacts their outcomes both short-term and longitudinally. Data was collated from 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 and included all students offered academic remediation in the third, fourth, and fifth years of a five-year Dentistry program.

Prominin-1 controls stem cell activation by orchestrating ciliary dynamics.

Proper temporal and spatial activation of stem cells relies on highly coordinated cell signaling. The primary cilium is the sensory organelle that is responsible for transmitting extracellular signals into a cell. Primary cilium size, architecture, and assembly-disassembly dynamics are under rigid cell cycle-dependent control.

Impact of Progress testing on the learning experiences of students in medicine, dentistry and dental therapy.

Aims: To investigate the impact of progress testing on the learning experiences of undergraduate students in three programs namely, medicine, dentistry and dental therapy.

Methods: Participants were invited to respond to an online questionnaire to share their perceptions and experiences of progress testing. Responses were recorded anonymously, but data on their program, year of study, age, gender, and ethnicity were also captured on a voluntary basis.

Does the gender of the subject affect perceived smile aesthetics when varying the dimensions of maxillary lateral incisors?

Objective: To assess whether subject gender influences aesthetic opinion when altering the width of maxillary lateral incisors.

Method: Photographs of a male and a female smile, displaying only the lips and teeth, were digitally altered to produce images where the maxillary lateral incisor was proportioned 52%, 57%, 62%, 67%, 72% and 77% in relation to the width of the maxillary central incisor. The image was then made symmetrical.

Anodised TiO nanotubes as a scaffold for antibacterial silver nanoparticles on titanium implants.

Medical grade titanium alloy is widely used for bone/dental implants, but the material alone has no innate antimicrobial properties that would reduce infection risk following surgery. However, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are known to be antibacterial. This study investigated the growth of Ag NPs on titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO NTs) on Ti-6Al-4V discs.