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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected lives and professions worldwide. We aimed to determine the behavior of dentists during the lockdown in Central Italy through an online survey. We demonstrated that the most frequent of urgencies, not otherwise manageable through telemedicine, was dental pulp inflammation. Although a statistically significant increase in the use of some of the personal protective equipment (PPE) from pre to during lockdown was shown, dentists were afraid of being infected during the dental procedures. Moreover, we showed that digital dentistry, telemedicine, use of the rubber dam, distancing of the appointments and further structural changes at the dental office are necessary to reduce the contagion among dentists and patients. No significant differences were shown between gender.

Clinical outcomes of dental restorations depend primarily on the choice of materials used, and nowadays, dental CAD-CAM (Computer-Aided Design Computer-Aided Manufacturing) materials have strongly changed daily clinical practice. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze CAD-CAM dental materials according to their mechanical properties and in relation to their clinical applications. A literature review was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library. Articles addressing at least one of the following topics regarding dental materials for CAD-CAM systems: manufacturers, mechanical features, materials’ composition, optical properties, clinical indications, and/or outcomes were included in the review. A flowchart was performed as described in the PRISMA guidelines. Among the 564 articles found, 63 were analyzed and evaluated. Within the limitations of this systematic review, it can be concluded that CAD-CAM materials present a wide range of clinical applications due to their improved mechanical properties. Specifically, in addition to materials that have been in use for a long time (such as feldspathic ceramics), resin block composites can also be used for permanent restorations.

The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has renewed attention to aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs). Dental-care workers are at high risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of standard saliva ejectors and natural ventilation in reducing particulate matter (PM) concentration during different routine dental procedures in the pandemic period. The DustTrak monitor was used to measure PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and breathable (<4 microns) total dust during 14 procedures performed with and without the presence of natural ventilation in a dental unit. Moreover, measurements were performed near the practitioners or near the standard saliva ejectors during the different procedures. In the latter condition, reduced levels of PM10 were recorded (82.40 ± 9.65 μg/m3 vs. 50.52 ± 0.23 μg/m3). Moreover, higher levels of PM (53.95 ± 2.29 μg/m3 vs. 27.85 ± 0.14 μg/m3) were produced when the dental unit’s windows were open. At the same time, the total level of PM were higher during scaling than during other procedures (data suggest not to adopt natural ventilation—both window and door opened—during dental procedures). It was also demonstrated that the use of standard saliva ejectors can considerably reduce the total released amount of PM10.

The correlation between SARS-CoV-2 and oral manifestations is still controversial. The aim of this observational study was to determine the oral manifestation of the hospitalized patients for COVID-19. A total of 20 patients met the inclusion criteria and gave their signed informed consent. A questionnaire of 32 questions regarding the oral and systemic health condition was administrated to these patients during the convalescence. A descriptive statistic was performed. Data were analysed through the use of χ2 test, to assess the statistical significance. A statistically significant increase of about 30% of reporting xerostomia during hospitalization was observed (p = 0.02). Meanwhile, a decrease of oral hygiene was observed during the hospitalization, even if a non-statistically significant difference was shown between the two study time points (before and after hospitalization). During the hospitalization period, 25% of patients reported impaired taste, 15% burning sensation, and 20% difficulty in swallowing. An interesting result was that among the systemic conditions, hypertension was observed in 39% of patients and mostly in female patients (62.5%). Further studies are necessary to better understand the symptoms of this new virus in order to faster detect its presence in humans. Probably, a multidisciplinary team following the COVID-19 patients could be of key importance in treating this disease.

Background Today dental implants represent an effective therapy in case of partial or total edentulism, with an excellent success rate. Despite the results obtained, there may be biological or mechanical complications during the therapy, which lead to the loss of the implant. This systematic review aims to evaluate the current state of the art in the literature on techniques used for the removal of dental implants. Various aspects will be analyzed, such as the success of the technique, any complications, and the advantages and disadvantages of their use. Methods Two reviewers conducted a literature analysis (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science) of the last 20 years (2003–2023). The main criterion analyzed was the success of the technique, while secondary outcomes such as complications and risks of the technique were also analyzed. 258 articles were identified in the various search databases. 42 eligible articles were subsequently identified after an article screening. Only 18 full texts were subsequently included in the review. Results A total of 18 articles were selected and 1142 implants and 595 patients were included. The main techniques used were the Counter-Torque Ratchet Technique (CTRT), Piezoelectric bone surgery (PBS), trephine drills, carbide burs, Erbium, Chromium, Yttrium, Scandium, Gallium, Garnett (Er:Cr:YSGG) laser and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser. Combined uses of techniques have been identified such as: PBS and trephine burs or carbide burs, trephine burs with the use of a 3d-printed guide, CTRT and trephine burs. The technique with the highest success rate, less morbidity for the patient, and less removal of bone appears to be the CTRT. Conclusions The use of conservative techniques, especially CTRT, in bone removal is useful to allow for immediate implant placement in the removal area. However, further studies with a high sample size are needed to be performed on all techniques, particularly new randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that allow for the analysis of the success of alternative techniques such as Laser and Piezosurgery, which appear to be very promising.

This systematic review assessed to evaluate the potential correlation between oral health and air pollution. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic review endeavoring to compare air pollution and oral health. A systematic search was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) statement and employed the PICO(S) approach (Patient or Population, Intervention, Control or Comparison, Outcome, and Study types). The search was limited to English-language articles, and publications within a 15-year timeframe were included in the electronic search. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases, spanning the years 2008 to 2023, resulting in a total of 4983 scientific articles. A final selection of 11 scientific papers was made based on their study type and the specific air pollutants examined. The selected papers analyzed various air pollutants associated with health-related diseases, including Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Nitrogen Monoxide, Carbon Monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. Three out of eleven of the reviewed studies assert a strong correlation between air pollutants and oral diseases, specifically periodontitis. However, the exact biological mechanisms underlying this correlation do not seem to be fully understood, indicating the need for further comprehensive investigation in this regard. Dentists can contribute to the collective effort by educating their patients about the oral health implications of air pollution, thereby supporting initiatives aimed at promoting environmental and health sustainability.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent malignant cancer of the oral cavity. Metastasis involvement is one of the most relevant prognostic factors in terms of survival probability. Patients with oral cancers often undergo extensive en bloc resective surgery of the mandible and maxilla, with or without cervical nodal dissection, based on the presence or occult risk of regional metastases. Several factors affect the choice of flap, to recover aesthetics and function. Case Presentation: The case of a 60-year-old man who underwent maxillectomy with neck dissection as well as a reconstruction with a combination of multiple vascularized free flaps is presented. Conclusions: The excellent integration of the free flaps and the total absence of complications led to a high-quality aesthetic and functional performance of the reconstruction obtained through two different flaps. More specifically, the fibular free flap for bone reconstruction allows a two-team approach and maintains an excellent vascularization, even in case of several osteotomies for the maxillary reconstruction as reported. In addition, the use of free radial forearm flap for soft tissue reconstruction permits to obtain long caliber vessels, thus facilitating surgery without repositioning of the patient during surgery and therefore, consequently reducing surgery times.

The literature highlights differences in the dental conditions of people with disabilities compared with the general population. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the dental health of people with disabilities in order to understand if their needs are met and to identify their most critical issues as per dentists. A paper and a Google Form platform were used in conducting a survey in Central Italy (the Abruzzo region), by performing an analysis on different points of view as reported by people with disabilities and dentists. The results showed that only 69.2% of dentists treat persons with disabilities. Of these, 73.5% treat less than 10 patients with physical disabilities per year. However, 54% of dentists do not treat people with cognitive impairment and a poor ability to collaborate during treatment. More than 80% of respondent dentists report that people with disabilities do not have good oral hygiene. On the other hand, 49.1% of people with disabilities (or their caregivers in cases where the patient was unable to answer) report that they rarely or never go to the dental office. Moreover, when they do go, it is mainly for emergencies. Despite this, respondents are well aware of their dental problems. However, they have difficulties in communicating their dental problems to their dentist. The 50% of dentists who treat people with cognitive impairment do not include them in follow-up, while only 20% of these patients reported being regularly recalled. This illustrates the importance of the implementation of follow-up. In addition, training courses could help clinicians to reduce this gap and create barrier-free dental offices.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep breathing disorder that often remains undiagnosed and untreated. OSAS prevalence is increasing exponentially. Starting on the dentist’s role as an epidemiological and diagnostic “sentinel”, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of OSAS. The clinical diaries of 4659 patients were reviewed through a single-center retrospective analytic study. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Only 0.26% of patients reported to suffer from sleep apnea and were then diagnosed with OSAS. It was found that, out of 4487 patients, 678 suffered from hypertension (14.80%), 188 from gastro-esophageal-reflux-disease (GERD = 4.10%) and 484 from gastritis (10.78%). These results could be related to a difficult diagnosis of OSAS and to the absence of a dedicated section on sleep disorders in medical records. Therefore, the introduction of a question dedicated to sleep disorders, the administration of questionnaires (such as the STOP-BANG questionnaire) for early diagnosis, a multidisciplinary approach and pneumological examination could support the dentist in identifying patients at risk of OSAS.

Dentine pretreatment through sandblasting procedures has been widely studied but no curve test results are currently available. Thus, the aim herein was to in vitro compare the adhesive strength in sandblasted or not samples using a universal testing machine. Thirty -two bovine teeth were divided into two groups, namely test (n = 16 bars), sandblasting with aluminum oxide particles (50 µm) was performed before the adhesion procedures), and control (n = 16 bars), where no sandblasting procedure was performed. A bi-material curve test was used to evaluate the characteristics of the dentine pretreatment in terms of tensile stress and fracture strength. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to analyze the fracture topography in the composite, bonding, dentin, and at the relative interfaces. The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of tensile stress at maximum load showing values of 84.300 ± 51.342 MPa and 35.071 ± 16.609 MPa, respectively for test and control groups (p = 0.033). Moreover, a fracture strength test showed values of 18.543 ± 8.145 MPa for test and 8.186 ± 2.833 MPa for control group (p = 0.008). In conclusion, the sandblasting treatment of the dentine significantly influenced the mechanical resistance of the adhesion in this in vitro study.