Odovtos - International Journal of Dental Sciences

Intraoral and Extraoral Scanning Technologies in the Digital Workflow Era: An Integrative Review with Artificial Intelligence

2024-06-26T07:44:43-06:00

The aim of this integrative review is to investigate the possibility of aligning three-dimensional intraoral scanner data with facial mobile device data, as well as comparing the effectiveness of AI-based search with manual search methods. This investigation adhered to the PRISMA guidelines aiming to answer the PICO question: “Does the facial and intraoral three-dimensional technologies are compatible and clinically applicable in oral rehabilitation?”. Was employed a search strategy incorporating specific keywords ("dental", "intraoral", "photogrammetry", "stereo photo", "scanner", "three-dimensional", "stereophotogrammetry", "scan", "virtual articulators", "facebow", "face", "facial") within multiple databases (Pubmed, BVS, and Scielo), including artificial intelligence (Scite.ai). Of the 7128 initially identified articles, 4 articles of manual search were included but none article of the artificial intelligence website were added. Among the most used: at the intraoral scanners were the TRIOS (3shape) (n=2) and for facial images the Apple Inc. cell phones (n=2). The most frequently reported software was Bellus3D (Bellus3D Inc.) with particular emphasis on the georeferencing tactic software. Several commonalities were observed, including the requirement for a 30cm spacing during cell phone-based extraoral scanning, the necessity for multiple captures, and the inclusion of landmarks and/or perioral and nasal scans. Manual searching is still the gold standard scientific searching data; Both stereophotogrammetry and mobile device scan can be used for facial scanning and the files can be integrated by utilizing georeferencing tactic software.

Medicinal Plants and their Potential Application in Health "Green Dentistry": A Literature Review

2024-11-01T10:37:16-06:00

This study focuses on describing the potential use of medicinal plants in oral health. An electronic search was conducted in the PubMed and Scopus databases, limited to the last ten years. Key terms such as “phytodentistry”, “medicinal herbs”, “antimicrobials”, “dentistry”, “hygiene”, and “oral health” were used. In addition, a manual search was performed to verify the articles cited in the bibliographies of the initial documents and the websites of the corresponding journals were explored. The search strategy was specifically adapted for Scopus and PubMed. In this review, articles dealing with medicinal plants and their potential use in oral health were selected. The results of the reviewed studies were grouped into three main categories: plants with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and healing properties. An overview of the main characteristics, materials used, and designs of the reviewed studies is provided. It was found that several medicinal plants, such as Aloe Vera, Turmeric, and Cocoa, have significant potential for use in oral health. These plants have proven to be effective in studies to improve oral health. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and develop practical applications for their use in dentistry. This study underscores the importance of further exploring the potential of medicinal plants in promoting oral health.

Employment Outlook for Newly Graduated Dentists in Colombia

2024-05-29T08:28:15-06:00

Genetic Analysis of TPM1 Gene Polymorphism (rs11071720) in Patients with Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip/Palate in the South Indian Population. A Case Control Study

2024-05-09T08:25:39-06:00

The aim of this study was to find out if there was an association between TPM1 gene polymorphism (rs11071720) and non-syndromic cleft lip and palate in humans. Twenty five patients with non-syndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCL/P) and twenty five healthy patients as controls were enrolled in the study. Whole blood drawn from the participants was used to obtain genomic DNA. Sequence specific primers were used to amplify the region spanning the polymorphic site of the TPM1 gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The genotype of the subjects was identified employing the RFLP technique. The genotype and allele frequency distributions in the non-syndromic cleft lip and cleft palate patients and control groups were compared using Chi-square test. In the NSCL/P, the genotype in the order from highest to lowest frequency was TC (48%), followed by CC (32%) and TT (20%). Although the genotype frequency of the case and the control groups were found to be in agreement with Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium, the genotype frequencies TC, CC and TT of the polymorphism (rs11071720) among the two groups were not statistically significant which was evident from the p-value 0.8472. No significant association was found between TPM1 gene (rs11071720) polymorphism and NSCL/P.

Immunohistochemical and Clinicopathologic Correlation of DNA Methyltransferase 3A and (C-X-C motif) Ligand 1 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

2024-05-17T09:16:27-06:00

DNA methyl transferase 3A (DNMT3A) is an enzyme acting by adding a new methyl group to DNA favoring DNA silencing and carcinogenesis. Cytokines were said to assist epigenetic switch and enhance the activation of methyltransferases in many cancer types. The role of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) in cancer development was proved in many reports. In this study, we suggested that CXCL1 might induce activation of DNMT3A, affecting carcinogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Immunohistochemical (IHC) scoring was calculated and statistical correlation was performed to evaluate the expression of epithelial DNMT3A in addition to epithelial and mesenchymal CXCL1 in OSCC and normal mucosal samples. DNMT3A, epithelial, and mesenchymal CXCL1 revealed a statistically significant increase in immune scoring from normal mucosa and between different tumor grades, besides a significant relation of the expressions with tumor size, stage, and lymph node involvement. Pearson’s correlation detected a statistically significant correlation of DNMT3A with epithelial and mesenchymal CXCL1. Thus, CXCL1 overexpression may be associated with DNMT3A upregulation. DNMT3A, epithelial, and mesenchymal CXCL1 were associated with histological grades and advanced tumor characters suggesting them as reliable prognostic biomarkers in patients of OSCC.

Factors Associated with the Perception of Prehospital Internship Training of Dental and Other Health Sciences Students in the COVID-19 Context

2024-05-23T09:38:07-06:00

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-internship training of Health Sciences students took on an essential role. The shift to virtual practices and a project-based learning approach brought challenges, but also opened doors for adaptation and learning in a constantly evolving healthcare landscape. To determine the factors associated with the perception of Peruvian health sciences students during the period of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic regarding their training prior to hospital internship. A Cross-sectional analytical study was performed. Students from professional schools of health sciences who entered the hospital internship 2022 and students from the year prior to the internship from a Peruvian public university were evaluated. Data collection was performed with a 49-question questionnaire. Female participants were more prevalent with 384 (70.98%) students while the medical career had the highest participation with 152 respondents (28.1%) followed by the dental career with 134 (24.77%). In the adjusted logistic regression model no influence of associated factors on students' perception of their preparedness for hospital internship in the isolation period due to the COVID-19 pandemic was found. Peruvian Health Sciences students self-perceive themselves prepared for hospital internship in Comprehensive Care, Prevention, Collaboration and Self-Learning, but less so in Practical Skills, Understanding Science, Interpersonal Skills and Confidence.

Calibration Process for Diagnosing Dental Caries Using the DMFT Index

2024-11-01T10:08:12-06:00

The DMFT index is an optimal tool for assessing dental caries experience over a person's lifetime, necessitating that examiners of these epidemiological indices be properly standardized through a rigorous process such as calibration. The objective of the study was to develop a calibration process for diagnosing dental caries using the DMFT index among three groups of dentists. A cross-sectional study conducted with a population of 15 dentists who volunteered to participate, organized into 3 groups based on their area of practice. The calibration process was conducted both virtually and in-person. Statistical analysis involved calculating validity and reliability values using the Kappa coefficient, with a confidence level of 95% and significance set at p<0.05. For photographic results, Kappa values ranged from 0.55 (p<0.001) to 0.91 (p<0.001) in the first process, and from 0.73 (<0.001) to 1.00 (<0.001) in the second process. For dental assessments, values ranged from 0.20 (p=0.090) to 0.81 (p<0.001) in the first stage, and from 0.31 (p=0.002) to 0.89 (p<0.001) in the second. Out of the initial 15 examiners, 46.67% (n=7) achieved "almost perfect agreement" and 20.00% (n=3) achieved "substantial agreement."

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Educational Indicators in the Dentistry Career of the University of Costa Rica

2024-12-03T09:55:47-06:00

This study aimed to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the educational indicators of students who enrolled in the dentistry program at the University of Costa Rica between 2015 and 2021. Records of 522 students were analyzed, considering variables such as gender, age at entry, nationality, marital status, children, place and type of high school attended, and course performance. Information was extracted from the Student Applications System, physical records, and the Civil Registry of Costa Rica. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed to identify patterns and correlations between variables, and approval rates before and during the pandemic were evaluated. Seventy percent of the students were women, predominantly Costa Rican, aged between 19 and 23, from public high schools, and originating from the Greater Metropolitan Area. Terminal efficiency was zero due to the closure of clinical courses in 2020, which prevented the 2015 to 2017 cohorts from graduating within 12 semesters. The dropout rate was highest in the first and second semesters, with a progressive decrease in subsequent semesters. Most cohorts experienced delays, particularly in semesters 7-8 and 9-10. First-attempt approval rates increased in some service courses with virtualization during the pandemic, such as Intensive General Chemistry and Elementary Mathematics, but no difference was observed in the courses specific to the School of Dentistry. The COVID-19 pandemic had varying impacts on educational indicators, with virtualization improving performance in some theoretical courses while posing challenges in those with practical and clinical components.

Scientometric Analysis of Activated Carbon or Probiotics in Mouthwashes or Toothpastes: Dynamicity, Spatiotemporal Evolution and Trends

2024-07-02T07:20:24-06:00

The use of activated charcoal and probiotics is a controversial topic nowadays due to their potential oral health benefits. Thus, the aim of this research was to perform a scientometric analysis of activated charcoal or probiotics in mouthwashes or dentifrices by means of dynamicity, spatiotemporal evolution, and trends. A study was carried out to look back at scientific publications between 2005 and 2022 using the Web of Science. To analyze the data, various bibliometric indicators were used. The process of retrieving information was completed on July 28, 2023. It was found that only 1 article was published in 1990. Furthermore, the highest co-citation occurred in cluster 9 (Dentistry, Dermatology, Surgery), indicating a higher relevance and frequency with cluster 8 (Molecular Biology, Genetics). In the cluster view, 15 large clusters were identified, with cluster 0 (Activated Carbon) being the largest and occupying the greatest centrality. On the other hand, the cross-country collaboration map showed active collaborations between Australia and New Zealand, Brazil, and Canada. We found a significant growth of scientific publications on probiotics and activated charcoal in the field of dentistry and related disciplines between 1990 and 2023.

Comparison of Surface Microhardness of Portland Cement Associated with Niobium Oxide and Zirconium Nanoparticles with the Mineral Aggregate Trioxide

2024-08-21T10:29:39-06:00

To determine the surface microhardness of white portland cement associated with niobium nanoparticles, white portland cement associated with zirconium nanoparticles, and mineral trioxide aggregate. The present study is an experimental in-vitro study. The sample consisted of 03 study groups. These were divided into 09 subgroups of 04 hours, 14 days and 28 days. The instrument used to record the surface mechanical microhardness was the Vickers microdurometer. The Shapiro-Wilk statistical analysis was then performed to identify the normality of the data. The Anova test was applied to compare between the three groups and then the Tukey test for multiple comparisons with a 95% confidence level. White Portland cement associated with zirconium nanoparticles had the highest hardness value (p<0.05), followed by white Portland cement associated with niobium nanoparticles and aggregate control cement of mineral trioxide. The lowest value of surface microhardness was obtained by the addition of mineral trioxide (p<0.05). Surface microhardness values were significantly higher at 28 days than at 04 hours for all groups evaluated. White Portland cement with/without nanoparticulate additives generated higher surface microhardness than the control group added mineral trioxide in the evaluation periods.

Effect of Epigenetic Inhibitors on Adipogenesis in Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells

2024-09-23T13:49:01-06:00

Histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation is a crucial epigenetic mark in mesenchymal stem cell differentiation processes like adipogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of epigenetic inhibitors on adipogenesis in human periodontal ligament stem cells, using histone deacetylase inhibitors such as valproic acid and trichostatin A. The cells were treated independently with 8 mM valproic acid and 100 nM trichostatin A for 72 hours to inhibit class I histone deacetylases. Subsequently, the cells underwent adipogenic induction for 28 days. Morphology and intracellular lipid deposition were analyzed using Oil-Red oil staining. Protein extracts were prepared on days 0 and 28 to analyze histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation levels via Western blot. Our results demonstrated that cells treated with either VPA or TSA showed, on average, a 1.275-fold increase in lipid deposition during the adipogenic process, with no significant differences between the treatments compared to the control group. Further, by day 28, histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation levels were 1.43 times higher in cells treated with valproic acid and 2.52 times higher in those treated with trichostatin A.These findings suggest that the inhibitors could have differential effects on chromatin remodeling in different regions by increasing acetylation, contributing indistinctly to lipid deposition due to the greater expression of genes associated with the adipogenic phenotype.

Effect of Prophylactic Treatments on Demineralized Dental Enamel

2024-11-15T13:41:38-06:00

Although professional prophylaxis is beneficial in controlling dental biofilm, its effects on tooth surfaces with white spot lesions are still poorly understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the effect of different methods used in dental prophylaxis on the mineral content of demineralized enamel surfaces, using quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF). Extracted sound premolars were used (n=40). The sample was made up of 4 groups: G1 - Robinson brush and pumice stone; G2 - Robinson brush and prophylactic paste; G3 - Rubber and pumice bowl; G4 - Rubber cup and prophylactic paste. The evaluations were carried out at 3 levels: with the tooth healthy, immediately after the demineralization process and after application of the proposed treatments. The primary variable analyzed was the mineral content of the enamel, quantified using QLF. The data did not meet the assumptions for parametric tests, so the Friedman variance test was applied using version 5.0 of the BioEstat program. The significance level adopted was 5%. In Group I, a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) was observed between the mineral content of the sound tooth and after demineralization, indicating a white spot formation, but no significant changes (p=0.082) post-treatment with a Robinson brush and pumice stone. Group II showed similar results. Group III exhibited significant changes (p<0.001) post-demineralization and improvement (p<0.001) with a rubber cup and pumice stone. Group IV also showed significant demineralization (p<0.001) and partial remineralization (p<0.001) with a rubber cup and prophylactic paste, indicating that these treatments can improve mineral content in demineralized enamel. In conclusion, treatments using a rubber cup with pumice stone or prophylactic paste resulted in partial remineralization of demineralized enamel, while treatments using a Robinson brush did not cause significant changes in mineral content.

Sodium Hypochlorite in Endodontic Therapy: Immutable Hero or Imminent Threat?

2024-06-06T07:21:26-06:00

Historically, in its beginnings, sodium hypochlorite was only related to the bleaching of garments, however, over the years its use was extended to the medical area thanks to its disinfectant qualities, and its application continued in the field of dentistry, especially in endodontics, so much so that it has come to be considered today the gold standard in endodontic irrigation. This article aims to briefly highlight its importance in endodontics and the qualities that allow its continued use.

Importance of Assessing the Impact of Combined Lifestyle Factors Related to Periodontitis in Costa Ricans

2024-11-01T10:58:22-06:00

Periodontal disease is an infectious and inflammatory disease, which is characterized by the destruction of tooth supporting tissues: root cementum, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Dental biofilm or plaque is the etiological risk factor for gum disease. There are a variety of risk factors that may contribute the onset and progression of periodontitis. Modifiable risk factors are habituated risk factors that can be changed by adjusting behavioral attitudes. These adjustments minimize the possibility of chronic disease occurrence. Thus, it becomes important, to identify individual modifiable factors such as lifestyle factors, which could influence the severity and higher risk of progression of periodontitis. Diet, physical activity, stress levels, sleep quality, smoking, and alcohol consumption, in relation to periodontal disease have been studied individually. Little is known about the combined effect of these health-related lifestyle patterns related to health and periodontal status. Studying the combination of lifestyle factors is recommended to establish an adequate management and treatment plan of patients with periodontitis. Costa Ricans present a unique pattern of sociodemographic, ethnic, cultural diversity, and lifestyle factors. Assessing these variables in different populations are a priority, to prevent and treat chronic diseases, such as periodontitis.

Preservation of Socket for Immediate Dental Implants in Aesthetic Zone from Upper Jaw: Aesthetic Approach-Case Report

2024-05-09T10:01:39-06:00

Ensuring optimal aesthetic outcomes in dental implant cases within the maxillary anterior area requires careful consideration of socket preservation and atraumatic tooth extraction. These factors play a crucial role in achieving successful and aesthetically pleasing treatments. The objective of this study is to present a series of clinical cases involving dental extractions of anterior maxillary teeth with a poor prognosis. This study highlights the importance of socket preservation and atraumatic tooth extraction in ensuring optimal aesthetic results in dental implant cases within the maxillary anterior area. In these cases, a two-armed lever technique was planned for atraumatic alveolar preservation during the extraction process.Following the tooth extraction, the fresh socket was reclassified, and dental implants were subsequently placed using a modified drilling technique in certain cases. The authors assessed the primary stability of the implants, while in other cases, bone regeneration procedures were performed. The presented clinical cases demonstrate the successful implementation of the two-armed lever technique for atraumatic alveolar preservation, leading to favorable outcomes in terms of primary implant stability and bone preservation. Techniques for bone preservation after tooth extraction aim to minimize post-extraction bone resorption. By implementing appropriate protocols, such as the concept of the dual zone and the two-armed lever technique, successful outcomes can be achieved in terms of both aesthetics and preservation of the alveolar bone.