Remote appointments in Orthodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Part 1 service evaluation.

Objective: To assess the type, number and outcome of remote appointments in Orthodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) in one acute hospital trust and to establish whether remote appointments carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic were successful in saving a face-to-face appointment.

Design: Service evaluation.

Setting: Orthodontic and OMFS departments at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

Remote appointments in orthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery: Part 2 clinician perceptions.

Objectives: To assess clinician perceptions of and satisfaction with remote appointments in orthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS).

Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.

Setting: Orthodontic and OMFS departments in six acute NHS hospital Trusts in the UK.

Non-healing extraction socket: a diagnostic challenge for general dental practitioners.

Introduction In the UK, more than 18 million extractions are performed annually. Healing after extraction is often uneventful, but there are rare cases where weeks or months pass and an extraction socket does not heal.Aim The aim of this study is to provide a review of cases in which a non-healing extraction socket is attributed to a serious systemic disease or malignancy, or an adverse consequence of systemic therapy.

Dental implant site preparation with conventional rotary drill or piezosurgery: five-year after placement results from a within person randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: To evaluate whether there are clinical benefits by preparing dental implant sites using piezosurgery instead of conventional rotary drills in healed bone crests and if initial crestal soft tissue thickness could have an impact on marginal bone loss.

Methods: Twenty-five partially edentulous patients requiring two single implants in molar/premolar areas had each site randomly allocated to either piezosurgery or to conventional rotary drill preparation according to a split-mouth design. Definitive screw-retained metal-ceramic crowns were delivered after 6 months.

The Efficacy of Multiwavelength Red and Near-Infrared Transdermal Photobiomodulation Light Therapy in Enhancing Female Fertility Outcomes and Improving Reproductive Health: A Prospective Case Series with 9-Month Follow-Up.

: Female infertility due to unexpected causes exhibits a great challenge for both clinicians and women who are trying to conceive. The present clinical case series study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of multiple wavelengths of red and near-infrared (NIR) laser photobiomodulation (PBM) for increasing the potential of fertility in women and improving reproductive health in unexplained infertility issues. The objectives were to assess the following: (1) any adverse effects; (2) the possibility of producing an effective PBM protocol; (3) and healthy live birth.

Orthodontic Trainees' Perceptions of Effective Feedback in the United Kingdom.

Introduction: Feedback is an invaluable educational tool and is now widely used in education, despite some of the challenges and barriers to its implementation. Effective feedback in medical and dental education is a driver for improvement, by recognising good performance and identifying areas where improvement is required. This, in turn, can translate into better patient care, as feedback can positively impact on clinical performance.

Oral health care pathways for patients with epidermolysis bullosa: A position statement from the European reference network for rare skin diseases.

Background: Inherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB) comprises a group of genetic disorders characterized by skin fragility and unique oral features. It requires interdisciplinary care from several health professionals, including oral health teams. Modern dentistry encompasses a wide range of therapeutic options performed by specialists from different fields.

The Effect of Carbodiimide Crosslinkers on Gelatin Hydrogel as a Potential Biomaterial for Gingival Tissue Regeneration.

Connective tissue grafts for gingival recession treatment present significant challenges as they require an additional surgical site, leading to increased morbidity, extended operative times, and a more painful postoperative recovery for patients. Gelatin contains the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence, which supports cell adhesion and interactions. The development of gelatin hydrogels holds significant promise due to their biocompatibility, ease of customization, and structural resemblance to the extracellular matrix, making them a potential candidate for gingival regeneration.

In Vitro Osteo-Immunological Responses of Bioactive Calcium Phosphate-Containing Urethane Dimethacrylate-Based Composites: A Potential Alternative to Poly(methyl methacrylate) Bone Cement.

This investigation developed new composite bone cements using urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), poly(propylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PPGDMA), and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), with micrometer-sized aluminosilicate glass filler. Monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) and hydroxyapatite (HA) particles were added to enhance biological performance, particularly osteo-immunomodulation. Free radical polymerization was triggered by mixing two pastes containing either benzoyl peroxide (BPO, an initiator) or N-tolyglycine glycidyl methacrylate (NTGGMA, an activator).

Nanotechnology in healthcare, and its safety and environmental risks.

Nanotechnology holds immense promise in revolutionising healthcare, offering unprecedented opportunities in diagnostics, drug delivery, cancer therapy, and combating infectious diseases. This review explores the multifaceted landscape of nanotechnology in healthcare while addressing the critical aspects of safety and environmental risks associated with its widespread application. Beginning with an introduction to the integration of nanotechnology in healthcare, we first delved into its categorisation and various materials employed, setting the stage for a comprehensive understanding of its potential.

A novel 'stop-hole' strategy to extend the fatigue life of orthodontic thermoformed retainers: an in vitro study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential to limit crack propagation in thermoformed retainers (TRs) and extend their fatigue life by placing a 'stop-hole'.

Methods: Thirty-two TRs, fabricated from 1 mm thick, round polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) blanks of ICONIC®, underwent testing within a custom-built fatigue tester. After initial crack growth of 3 mm, the TRs were divided into three groups: a control group (C) and two experimental groups based on the stop-hole placement method.

Fracture Toughness of Short Fibre-Reinforced Composites-In Vitro Study.

The development of dental materials needs to be supported with sound evidence. This in vitro study aimed to measure the fracture toughness of a short fibre-reinforced composite (sFRC), at differing thicknesses. In this study, 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm depths of sFRC were prepared.

Corrigendum to Incorporating new approach methodologies into regulatory nonclinical pharmaceutical safety assessment.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.14573/altex.2212081.

Comparison of Flexural Strength and Wear of Injectable, Flowable and Paste Composite Resins.

(1) Objectives: This study investigated and compared the wear and flexural strength of two highly filled (injectable), one flowable and one paste composite. (2) Methods: Two highly filled flowable composites (G-aenial Universal Injectable and Beautifil Plus F00), a paste composite (Empress Direct) and a conventional flowable (Tetric EvoFlow) were tested. A two-body wear test was carried out using 10 disc-shaped samples from each group, which were subjected to 200,000 wear machine cycles to simulate wear, followed by Scanning Electron Microscope analysis.

A qualitative study of preoperative anxiety in orthognathic patients: The patient perspective.

Introduction: Increased preoperative anxiety may have an adverse impact on the patient experience. This qualitative study therefore aimed to explore those factors affecting anxiety in the approach to orthognathic surgery.

Methods: A total of 28 orthognathic patients who had completed their presurgical orthodontic treatment and were within 8 weeks before their surgery underwent one-to-one in-depth interviews.

Evaluation of occlusal force changes in orthognathic surgery using force-sensing sensors in 3 years of follow-up.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test a prototype device called occlusal force diagnostic system in relation to occlusal force adaptation following orthognathic surgery.

Methods: Retrospective study of 10 patients scheduled for a bimaxillary osteotomy involving a combination of maxillary Le Fort I impaction procedure coupled with a sagittal split advancement of the mandible; in a 3 years follow-up period.

Results: The selection of examiner is not a variable that affects the occlusal force (N) measured by FSS sensors in any of the experimental conditions tested.

Adaptive immunity of materials: Implications for tissue healing and regeneration.

Recent cumulative findings signify the adaptive immunity of materials as a key agenda in tissue healing that can improve regenerative events and outcomes. Modulating immune responses, mainly the recruitment and functions of T and B cells and their further interplay with innate immune cells (e.g.

A Systematic Review of Laser Photobiomodulation Dosimetry and Treatment Protocols in the Management of Medications-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws: A Rationalised Consensus for Future Randomised Controlled Clinical Trials.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a debilitating adverse effect of bisphosphates, antiresorptive therapy or antiangiogenic agents that can potentially increase oxidative stress, leading to progressive osteonecrosis of the jaws. Despite the large number of published systematic reviews, there is a lack of potential MRONJ treatment protocols utilising photobiomodulation (PBM) as a single or adjunct therapy for preventive or therapeutic oncology or non-oncology cohort. Hence, this systematic review aimed to evaluate PBM laser efficacy and its dosimetry as a monotherapy or combined with the standard treatments for preventive or therapeutic approach in MRONJ management.

Exploring the Acceptability of HIV Testing in the UK Dental Setting: A Qualitative Study.

HIV point of care testing (POCT) is a common approach to expanding testing into non-specialised settings. Dental services have untapped potential to screen for health conditions including HIV. However, the perspectives of UK dental patients, dental professionals, and people with HIV are unknown.

A standard set of outcome measures for the comprehensive assessment of oral health and occlusion in individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of inherited connective tissue disorders of varying severity characterized by bone fragility. The primary objective of this international multidisciplinary collaboration initiative was to reach a consensus for a standardized set of clinician and patient-reported outcome measures, as well as associated measuring instruments for dental care of individuals with OI, based on the aspects considered important by both experts and patients. This project is a subsequent to the Key4OI project initiated by the Care4BrittleBones foundation which aims to develop a standard set of outcome measures covering a large domain of factors affecting quality of life for people with OI.