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Dental implants’ success comprises their proper stability and adherence to different oral tissues (integration). The implant is exposed to different mechanical stresses from swallowing, mastication and parafunctions for a normal tooth, leading to the simultaneous mechanical movement and deformation of the whole structure. The knowledge of the mechanical properties of the bone and gingival tissues in normal and pathological conditions is very important for the successful conception of dental implants and for clinical practice to access and prevent potential failures and complications originating from incorrect mechanical factors’ combinations. The challenge is that many reported biomechanical properties of these tissues are substantially scattered. This study carries out a critical analysis of known data on mechanical properties of bone and oral soft tissues, suggests more convenient computation methods incorporating invariant parameters and non-linearity with tissues anisotropy, and applies a consistent use of these properties for in silico design and the application of dental implants. Results show the advantages of this approach in analysis and visualization of stress and strain components with potential translation to dental implantology.

Different approaches with different clinical outcomes have been found in treating capillary hemangioma (CH), venous lake (VL), or venous malformations (VM) of the lips. This retrospective study aims to assess scar quality, recurrence rate, and patient satisfaction after different surgeries with different laser wavelengths. A total of 143 patients with CH or VM were included. Nd:YAG laser was used for 47 patients, diode 980 nm laser was used for 32 patients (treatments by transmucosal photo-thermo-coagulation), Er,Cr:YSSG laser was used for 12 patients (treatments by excision), and CO2 laser was used for 52 patients (treatments by photo-vaporization). The Manchester scar scale was used by practitioners to assess the scar quality. The recurrence rate and patients’ satisfaction were noted at different follow-ups during 12 months. Our retrospective study showed that laser-assisted aesthetic treatment of vascular lesions (CH, VL, and VM) of the lips can be considered effective regardless of the wavelength used (Er,Cr:YSGG, CO2, Nd:YAG, and diode 980 nm) or the treatment procedure (transmucosal photo-thermo-coagulation, photo-vaporization, and surgical excision). There was no significant difference in patient and practitioner satisfaction with aesthetic outcome at 6 months follow-up. Furthermore, the treatments of lip vascular lesions performed using Er,Cr:YSGG and CO2 lasers did not show any recurrence during the 12 months of follow-up, while recurrence rates of 11% ± 1.4% and 8% ± 0.9% were seen in the diode and Nd:YAG groups, respectively.

This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of photobiomodulation applied after third molar extraction. Materials and Methods: To evaluate cost-effectiveness, 15 studies were selected for a systematic review and 8 studies for a meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness of photobiomodulation after surgery. In the present study, as a measure of effectiveness, the pain scale (visual analog scale) was used. The laser value was extracted from the Unified Terminology of Supplementary Health (Brazilian Health System) according to the laser application protocol most common among the clinical trials selected for the meta-analysis. As for drugs, they were determined from those most used among the works included in the meta-analysis and within the protocols established by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Results: The results of the overall analysis show a significant reduction in pain on the second day after surgery for the experimental group compared to the control (MD, −1.15; 95% CI, −1.73, −0.57). The control group has a lower cost and lower effectiveness, while laser treatment has a higher cost and higher effectiveness. Faced with this situation, the professional must clinically assess whether the cost of USD 34.62 for controlled pain intensity using the laser is worth the extra health benefit. Conclusions: Regarding the cost-effectiveness assessment, the control group has a lower cost and lower effectiveness, while laser treatment has a higher cost and higher effectiveness The decision of which treatment to choose must consider whether the cost of the therapeutic alternative outweighs the clinical gain caused by the treatment. Clinical Relevance: One of the most executed procedures in dentistry is the extraction of third molars. To reduce the negative post-surgical effects, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, which can generate unwanted effects. Photobiomodulation is a technique to modulate inflammation, accelerate tissue repair, and reduce pain and discomfort in different clinical situations.

A successful treatment of periodontitis depends largely on the successful elimination of the periodontopathogens during non-surgical and surgical mechanical debridement. In this retrospective study, data collection was conducted from 2017 to 2021. The retrospective study included 128 patients with 128 sites of localized periodontitis with pocket depths > 5 mm. The included data were based on sites that received conventional mechanical debridement followed by different adjunctive approaches. In total, 30 patients did not receive any additional treatment (SRP group), 30 patients received SRP + 980 nm diode laser irradiation only (SRP + laser), 30 patients received SRP + 3% hydrogen peroxide irrigation (SRP + H2O2) only and 30 patients received a combined treatment of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 980 nm diode laser irradiation (SRP + H2O2 + laser). Total bacterial counts (TBC) in the periodontal pocket collected for all participants before treatment, immediately after treatment, 6 weeks after treatment, 12 weeks after treatment and 6 months after treatment were statistically analyzed and compared. When the laser was used, irradiation parameters were 10 μsec/pulse duration, 10 kHz, pick power of 10 W, average power of 1 W, irradiation time of one minute with inward and outward movements, and fiber diameter of 320 μm. The irradiation was repeated 3 times/pocket. When hydrogen peroxide was used, the irrigation was conducted for one minute and repeated 3 times. The maximum reduction in TBC was obtained when SRP was coupled with 3% H2O2 irrigation followed by 980 nm diode laser irradiation. After six months of follow-up, a significant reduction in TBC was obtained for the group of SRP + H2O2 + laser when compared to all the other groups, from 7.27 × 107 before intervention to 3.21 × 107 after six months. All three approaches to SRP showed a significant reduction in TBC immediately after treatment. Values were 3.52 × 107, 4.01 × 106, 9.58 × 106, 1.98 × 106 for SRP alone, SRP + diode, SRP + H2O2 and SRP + H2O2 + diode laser, respectively. At 6 months, we saw no significant difference between SRP + laser and SRP + H2O2 with 4.01 × 107 and 4.32 × 107, respectively. This retrospective study reveals that after SRP, irrigation with 3% hydrogen peroxide and irradiation with a 980 nm diode laser within specific treatment protocol can be used as an additional approach to conventional SRP to increase the disinfection of the periodontal pockets > 5 mm.

The influence of the manufacturing process on physicochemical properties and biological performance of xenogenic biomaterials has been extensively studied, but its quantification on bone-to-material contact remains poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different heat treatments of an experimental chemically-deproteinized bovine hydroxyapatite in vivo in terms of new bone formation and osteoconductivity. Protein-free hydroxyapatite from bovine origin was produced under sub-critical conditions and then either sintered at 820 °C or 1200 °C. Structural and morphological properties were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), measurement of surface area and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The materials were then implanted in standardized alveolar bone defects in minipigs and histomorphometric evaluations were performed using non-decalcified sections. Marked topographical differences were observed by SEM analysis. As the sintering temperature of the experimental material increased, the surface area significantly decreased while crystallite size increased. In vivo samples showed that the highly sintered BHA presented a significantly lower percentage of newly formed bone than the unheated one (p = 0.009). In addition, the percentage of bone-to-material contact (BMC) was significantly lowered in the highly sintered group when compared to the unsintered (p = 0.01) and 820 °C sintered (p = 0.02) groups. Non-sintered or sintered at 820 °C BHA seems to maintain a certain surface roughness allowing better bone regeneration and BMC. On the contrary, sintering of BHA at 1200 °C has an effect on its morphological and structural characteristics and significantly modify its biological performance (osteoconductivity) and crystallinity.

Objectives Systematically review the available literature regarding the caries-preventive effect of probiotics. Data, sources and study selection An electronic search was conducted in three databases (PubMed MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science and Cochrane Library) to identify all suitable studies. The outcomes had to be presented as the effect of probiotics on the incidence of caries or on the levels of mutans streptococci and/or Lactobacillus species. Human studies, written in English, with at least 15 participants, comparing a probiotic product with a placebo/no probiotic were included. Where possible, a meta-analysis was performed to obtain quantitative data. Results Since only two articles presented useful data on the caries incidence, we focused on the surrogate endpoints: mutans streptococci and/or Lactobacillus counts. The meta-analysis showed that when the probiotic and control group are compared after treatment, significantly more patients in the probiotic group had low mutans streptococci (<10 5  CFU/ml) counts and significantly less patients had high (>10 6  CFU/ml) counts. Regarding the Lactobacillus counts, comparing the probiotic and control group at the end of the probiotic use, no significant differences could be observed, neither in low (<10 4  CFU/ml) nor in high Lactobacillus (>10 6  CFU/ml) counts. Conclusions Within the limitations of the available data, it may be concluded that probiotics decrease the mutans streptococci counts. This suggests that probiotics could have a positive effect in the prevention of caries. Clinical relevance There is insufficient evidence that probiotics can prevent caries, but they can reduce the mutans streptococci counts.

Special topic volume with invited peer-reviewed papers only.