Benefits and challenges of the integration of haptics-enhanced virtual reality training within dental curricula.

Background: Haptics-enhanced virtual reality (VR-haptic) simulation in dental education has evolved considerably during the past decade, representing a promising resource of simulation-based training opportunities to support conventional practice. We aim to summarize current literature on the applications of VR-haptics in learning, practicing, and teaching dental education.

Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, focusing on research articles published between January 2010 and January 2024.

Advances and Challenges in Polymer-Based Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Path Towards Personalized Regenerative Medicine.

Polymers have become essential in advancing bone tissue engineering, providing adaptable bone healing and regeneration solutions. Their biocompatibility and biodegradability make them ideal candidates for creating scaffolds that mimic the body's natural extracellular matrix (ECM). However, significant challenges remain, including degradation by-products, insufficient mechanical strength, and suboptimal cellular interactions.

Estimating the Benefits of Oral Cancer Screening: Challenges and Opportunities.

Screening is widely believed to facilitate early detection and improve health outcomes; however, recent evidence questions its overall benefits, highlighting the need for a critical assessment of cancer screening programs. The simplicity of clinical oral examination and the easy accessibility of the oral cavity make oral cancer a suitable candidate for opportunistic screening. Despite this uniqueness, studies that solidly assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of oral cancer screening are scanty, and the only large randomized trial undertaken so far shows limited evidence of mortality reduction through population screening.

Validation of an Oral Health Tool for Clinicians to Screen Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

Aims: To develop and validate a screening tool to identify patients with cardiovascular disease at risk of poor oral health and requiring referrals.

Design: This study was part of a larger pilot study involving a cross-sectional survey and an oral health assessment conducted with patients with cardiovascular disease.

Methods: A four-item screening tool was developed by an expert panel and validated through a cross-sectional survey of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Mapping the Use of Artificial Intelligence-Based Image Analysis for Clinical Decision-Making in Dentistry: A Scoping Review.

Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging field in dentistry. AI is gradually being integrated into dentistry to improve clinical dental practice. The aims of this scoping review were to investigate the application of AI in image analysis for decision-making in clinical dentistry and identify trends and research gaps in the current literature.

β-Ketoenamine covalent organic framework nanoplatform combined with immune checkpoint blockade via photodynamic immunotherapy inhibit glioblastoma progression.

The synergistic approach of combining photodynamic immunotherapy with endogenous clearance of PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy holds promise for enhancing survival outcomes in glioblastoma (GBM) patients. The observed upregulation of O-GlcNAc glycolysis in tumors may contribute to the stabilization of endogenous PD-L1 protein, facilitating tumor immune evasion. This study presents a pH-adapted excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)-isomerized β-ketoamide-based covalent organic framework (COF) nanoplatform (denoted as OT@COF-RVG).

Inequalities in oral health: estimating the longitudinal economic burden of dental caries by deprivation status in six countries.

Background: The recent World Health Organization (WHO) resolution on oral health urges pivoting to a preventive approach and integration of oral health into the non-communicable diseases agenda. This study aimed to: 1) explore the healthcare costs of managing dental caries between the ages of 12 and 65 years across socioeconomic groups in six countries (Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, UK), and 2) estimate the potential reduction in direct costs from non-targeted and targeted oral health-promoting interventions.

Methods: A cohort simulation model was developed to estimate the direct costs of dental caries over time for different socioeconomic groups.

Dental and Craniofacial Anomalies in Fanconi Anemia: A Systematic Review and Additional 46 Reports.

Objective: Fanconi anemia (FA), a rare genetic disorder, has not been comprehensively studied regarding its dental and craniofacial phenotypes. This study aimed to systematically review the available evidence on dental, occlusion, and craniofacial anomalies in individuals with FA and to describe the occurrence of these anomalies in a cohort from two Brazilian referral centers.

Materials And Methods: Electronic searches were conducted across six databases, supplemented by manual searches and gray literature.

Performance of a Generative Pre-Trained Transformer in Generating Scientific Abstracts in Dentistry: A Comparative Observational Study.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of a Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) in generating scientific abstracts in dentistry.

Methods: Ten scientific articles in dental radiology had their original abstracts collected, while another 10 articles had their methodology and results added to a ChatGPT prompt to generate an abstract. All abstracts were randomised and compiled into a single file for subsequent assessment.

Evaluating AI-Generated informed consent documents in oral surgery: A comparative study of ChatGPT-4, Bard gemini advanced, and human-written consents.

This study evaluates the quality and readability of informed consent documents generated by AI platforms ChatGPT-4 and Bard Gemini Advanced compared to those written by a first-year oral surgery resident for common oral surgery procedures. The evaluation, conducted by 18 experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons, assessed consents for accuracy, completeness, readability, and overall quality. ChatGPT-4 consistently outperformed both Bard and human-written consents.

A multi-national survey-based evaluation of undergraduate/predoctoral endodontic education.

Aim: To evaluate the current status of endodontic education and assessment at an undergraduate/predoctoral level in dental schools worldwide.

Methodology: The current survey comprised a 50-item online questionnaire related to undergraduate endodontic education. The project leaders emailed the survey's details to faculty members responsible for endodontic teaching at one dental school in every country to seek their willingness to participate in the survey.

Underexplored Areas of Photobiomodulation in Oral Oncology: An Expert Analysis.

This study aimed to review the current body of literature on underexplored areas of photobiomodulation (PBM) for preventing and/or treating oral adverse events. Recent studies suggest that PBM may offer potential benefits in managing cancer-related toxicities other than oral mucositis. Nevertheless, further research to establish conclusive evidence is still missing.

Teaching of magnification in the undergraduate curriculum: A position statement from the British Endodontic Society Teachers of Endodontology Group.

This position statement on undergraduate teaching on the use of magnification in endodontics represents the consensus of the British Endodontic Society Teachers of Endodontology Group. Current clinical and scientific evidence, as well as the expertise of the committee, has been used to develop this statement. The contributors to this position statement consider, as a minimum requirement, the use of dental loupes in non-surgical endodontics at undergraduate level.

Assessment of the efficacy of autologous blood preparations in maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of autologous blood preparations, namely Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF), and Concentrated Growth Factor (CGF), in maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery. The focus was on their impact on new bone formation, maxillary sinus floor height, and soft tissue healing.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases up to April 2024.

Attitudes and Perceptions of Australian Dentists and Dental Students Towards Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry: A Survey.

Introduction: As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly evolves in dentistry, understanding dentists' and dental students' perspectives is key. This survey evaluated Australian dentists' and students' attitudes and perceptions of AI in dentistry.

Methods: An online questionnaire developed on Qualtrics was distributed among registered Australian dentists and students enrolled in accredited Australian dental or oral health programmes.

Evaluation of the systemic effect of bone formation marker released by endodontic calcium silicate-based sealers in local tissues, the bloodstream, and body organs.

Calcium silicate-based sealers are bioactive materials that release ions when in contact with body fluids. Therefore, this study aims mapping/trace bone formation markers released by MTA Fillapex, BioRoot RCS, and experimental tricalcium silicate-based sealer (CEO) into subcutaneous tissues, bloodstream and body organs. Toward, polyethylene tubes filled with sealers were implanted into connective tissue of Wistar rats.

Integrating lymph node ratio into personalized radiotherapy for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: The use of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) lacks clear boundaries due to the non-negligible toxicity accompanying its remarkable cancer-killing effect. This study aims at validating the ability of deep learning models to develop individualized PORT recommendations for patients with OCSCC and quantifying the impact of patient characteristics on treatment selection.

Methods: Participants were categorized into two groups based on alignment between model-recommended and actual treatment regimens, with their overall survival compared.

Introduction and Effectiveness of Early Clinical Exposure Among Dental Students in Pre-clinical Prosthodontics.

Background: Lack of patient contact in the pre-clinical prosthodontics curriculum makes it difficult for the students to comprehend and correlate the series of complex steps involved in complete denture fabrication. Early clinical exposure in the second year of the undergraduate program will facilitate a smooth transition of dental students from pre-clinics to clinics, thereby helping to mitigate the lacunae existing in the present curriculum.

Materials And Methods: A non-randomized prospective educational interventional study was conducted among 50 second-year dental students.