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Purpose: To investigate and assess the differences in crestal bone loss (CBL) between wide-diameter, external-hexagon-connection implants restored with platform-switching (PS) and platform-matching (PM) restorations with a follow-up of 10 years. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the updated and enlarged dataset of a 5-year prospective clinical study at 10-year follow-up. The data concerns 182 healthy adult subjects treated in a private dental practice who received a single wide-diameter implant with an external hexagon connection in the molar area, restored with either a PS restoration (test) or PM restoration (control). The amount of CBL was radiographically measured at each annual follow-up, as well as after 5 and 10 years of implant loading. In evaluating the association between the two types of abutments and bone loss (including change over time), a linear mixed effects model was run for longitudinal data. Results: Implants connected with PS restorations exhibited significantly lower reduction (0.25 mm) in CBL than those joined to PM restorations (P < .001; 95% CI from 0.22 to 0.29). However, both groups presented a higher increase in bone loss during the first year (0.58 mm in PS and 0.83 mm in PM) and a linear increment thereafter until the 10-year followup (0.046 mm/year; P < .001; 95% CI from .042 to .049). Conclusion: Notwithstanding the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that after 10 years of follow-up, the implant with a wide diameter and external-hexagon connection restored with a PS abutment seems to be more effective in reducing bone loss compared with the PM abutment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic ability in detecting oral lesions among dentists, dental hygienists, dentistry students, oral hygiene students, and non‐healthcare subjects. Materials and Methods: Participants were invited to classify 30 images of oral lesions in "benign" or "suspected malignant" only based on the visual appearance of the lesion. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by calculating sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence intervals and stratified by population group and image features (color, shape, and size of the lesions). Results: A total of 16,590 examinations by 553 subjects were analyzed. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 57% (95% confidence interval 56%–58%) and 64% (95% confidence interval 63%–65%). Diagnostic accuracy varied among population groups, with experienced dentists showing the lowest sensitivity (52%) and the highest specificity (71%). Red lesions, flat lesions, and large lesions had the lowest sensitivity (42%, 36%, 57%) but the highest specificity (70%, 75%, 76%). Conclusions: We found worrying low ability to detect suspected malignant oral lesions by both healthcare workers and non‐healthcare subjects. Lesion‐specific characteristics may lead to differences in recognition. Specific courses and more adequate teaching methods should be proposed to increase identification of oral lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Tobacco smoke is a major health risk factor for smokers but also for non-smokers due to passive smoking. These risks come from conventional cigarette smoke but also from aerosol produced by electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs). The aim of this study was to investigate population knowledge about the adverse effects of passive smoking from traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and HTPs. METHODS Between February and October 2023, 504 subjects among the general population responded to a questionnaire with 8 questions in Italian, via a link to the Google Forms platform. The questions related to the oral health effects of active and passive smoking. Descriptive analyses of all variables in the questionnaire were performed, and statistical analyses between variables were carried out using the chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS A large subset of individuals interviewed stated that active smoking is harmful to health and consider active smoking more damaging compared with passive smoking (86.3%). The majority believed that passive smoking of cigarettes is more harmful to oral health than passive smoking of HTPs (79.4%) or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) (84.9%). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that most people in this study had good knowledge about the adverse effects of active or passive smoking on health; however, knowledge regarding e-cigarettes and HTPs was poor and confused. These results reveal the complexity of perceptions regarding different types of smoking and the need for further research to fully understand the risks associated with each type of passive smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Advancements in oral imaging technology are continually shaping the landscape of dental diagnosis and treatment planning. Among these, photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT), introduced in 2021, has emerged as a promising, high-quality oral technology. Dental imaging typically requires a resolution beyond the standard CT systems achievable with the specialized cone-beam CT. PCCT can offer up to 100 µm resolution, improve soft-tissue contrast, and provide faster scanning times, which are crucial for detailed dental diagnosis and treatment planning. Using semiconductor detectors, PCCT produces sharper images and can potentially reduce the number of scans required, thereby decreasing patient radiation exposure. This review aimed to explore the potential benefits of PCCT in dental imaging. Methods: This review analyzed the literature on PCCT in dental imaging from January 2010 to February 2024, sourced from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, focusing on high-resolution, patient safety, and diagnostic efficiency in dental structure assessment. We included English-language articles, case studies, letters, observational studies, and randomized controlled trials while excluding duplicates and studies unrelated to PCCT's application in dental imaging. Results: Studies have highlighted the superiority of PCCT in reducing artifacts, which are often problematic, compared to conventional CBCT and traditional CT scans, due to metallic dental implants, particularly when used with virtual monoenergetic imaging and iterative metal artifact reduction, thereby improving implant imaging. This review acknowledges limitations, such as the potential for overlooking other advanced imaging technologies, a narrow study timeframe, the lack of real-world clinical application data in this field, and costs. Conclusions: PCCT represents a promising advancement in dental imaging, offering high-resolution visuals, enhanced contrast, and rapid scanning with reduced radiation exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the possible adverse effects of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions, highconcentration alcohol solutions, and povidone-iodine products indicated for disinfection of inanimate surfaces against human coronavirus of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) on prosthesis materials, including zirconia, lithium disilicate, and acrylic resin. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature research was conducted in the SCOPUS, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Science Direct databases from January 2010 to February 2020 using a combination of the following MeSH/Emtree terms and keywords: "sodium hypochlorite"; "alcohol"; "ethanol"; "povidone-iodine"; "dental ceramic"; "zirconia"; "lithium disilicate"; and "acrylic resin". Results: A total of 538 studies were identified in the search during initial screening, 44 were subject to full-text evaluation, and 24 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Seven articles on zirconia and lithium disilicate investigated the effect of NaOCl (0.5% and 1%), 96% isopropanol, and 80% ethanol on bond strength after saliva contamination. The remaining articles evaluated color alteration, surface roughness modifications, decrease in flexural strength, and bond strength of all cleaning agents on acrylic resin. Conclusion: NaOCl solution (1%) for 1 minute is recommended to reduce SARSCoV infectivity and to minimize the risk of cross-contamination through prosthetic materials. An increase in surface roughness and color alteration on acrylic resin were recorded using 1% NaOCl, but without any clinical significance. A decrease in bonding strength was determined after using 1% NaOCl, 96% isopropanol, or 80% ethanol solutions on lithium disilicate. Silanization before the try-in procedure and the application of a second layer of silane after cleaning methods are recommended to improve the bond strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental calculus is the result of dental plaque mineralization, originating from the tooth‐associated bacterial biofilm. Recent evidence revealed that the dental calculus microbiome has a more complex composition than previously considered, including an unstructured mix of both aerobes and anaerobes bacteria. Actually, we lack information about the influence of host lifestyle factors, such as diet and health on this highly biodiverse ecosystem. Here, we provide a pilot study investigating dental calculus microbial biodiversity and its relation with the host diet. Methods: We collected 40 dental calculus samples during routine dental inspection; deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted and analyzed through 16S amplicon sequencing, while dietary information was retrieved through a questionnaire. Associations between diet and oral bacteria taxonomy and functional pathways were statistically tested. Results: Overall, microbiome composition was dominated by 10 phyla and 39 bacterial genera, which were differently distributed among samples. Cluster analysis revealed four main groups based on the taxonomic profile and two groups based on functional pathways. Each taxonomic cluster was dominated by different microbial biomarkers: Streptococcus, Rothia, Tannerella, Lautropia, and Fusobacterium. Bacteria genera and pathways were also associated with specific dietary elements, especially vegetable and fruit intake suggesting an overall effect of diet on dental calculus microbiome. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that there exists an inter‐variability in the microbial composition of dental calculus among individuals of a rather homogeneous population. Furthermore, the observed biodiversity and microbial functions can find an association with specific dietary habits, such as a high‐fiber diet or a protein‐rich diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between periodontitis and such systemic disorders as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity has been extensively investigated. There is less scientific evidence available, however, regarding the influence of systemic diseases on the risk of late failure of dental implant rehabilitation due to peri-implantitis. The aim of the present study was to review the literature on the role of several common systemic disorders (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and osteoporosis) in the onset of peri-implantitis. A database search initially yielded 2787 studies of potential interest published up to 1 March 2022 (993 in PubMed; 908 in Web of Science; and 886 in Scopus). After removing 1190 duplicate articles and checking the titles, abstracts and full texts for relevance, 70 articles were selected for the present analysis. Only cohort, case-control studies and clinical case series were considered. Most of the literature concludes for no association between diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension or osteoporosis and the risk of peri-implantitis. On the other hand, almost all the studies that investigated obesity as a risk factor for implant rehabilitation found a positive association between the two. Further longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the effects of systemic diseases on rehabilitation with dental implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the flexural properties and the adhesion of Lactobacillus salivarius (LS), Streptococcus mutans (SM), and Candida albicans (CA) on heat-polymerized (CV), CAD-CAM milled (CAD), or 3D-printed (3D) Poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA). Methods: Ultimate Flexural Strength (UFS), Flexural Strain (FS) (%) at Flexural Strength, and Flexural Modulus (FM) of specimens (65.0×10.0×3.3 mm) from each PMMA group (n=6) were calculated by using the 3-point bending test. The surface roughness profiles (R) were measured before and after polishing with a contact profilometer. LS, SM, and CA adhesion on PMMA specimens (n=18) (10 mm in diameter, 3 mm in height) was assessed after 90 minutes and 16 hours by using scanning electron microscopy. The Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc analysis was performed to compare the groups (alpha=0.05). Results: Mean UFS values were 80.79±7.64 MPa for CV, 110.23±5.03 MPa for CAD, and 87.34±6.39 MPa for 3D. Mean FS values were 4.37±1.04% for CV, 4.71±0.62% for CAD, and 6.19±0.13 % for 3D. Mean FM values were 2542±301 MPa for CV, 3435±346 MPa for CAD, and 2371±197 MPa for 3D. CAD had the lowest average R value (0.29±0.16 µm) before polishing, and bacterial adhesion after 90 minutes of incubation. R value and microbial adhesion were not different amongst groups after polishing and 16 hours of incubation, respectively. Conclusion: The CAD group displayed the best flexural properties, except for FS, the lowest roughness before polishing and bacterial adhesion after 90 minutes of incubation. All tested PMMAs had similar surface roughness after polishing, and microbial adhesion after 16 hours of incubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a reply to a letter to the editor by Dott. Rohani regarding a study on the diagnostic ability in oral pathology among healthcare workers and non-healthcare individuals. The authors agree with Dr. Rohani's insights on pemphigus vulgaris not being a potentially malignant oral disease and have made adjustments to the analysis. The study included undergraduate students with training in oral pathology, highlighting the need for periodic retraining for oral healthcare workers in Italy. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Teeth bleaching is a common practice performed by dental hygienists and dentists to correct aesthetic problems due to dental discoloration. Patients' opinions on this procedure may be different according to their personal experiences, expectations and individual sensitivities. The aim of this study is to assess the degree of satisfaction and related sensitivity of patients to professional and home bleaching treatment., Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 12 multiple-choice questions was submitted to 625 subjects among general population. These were related to: 1) patient's age and whether the patient is a smoker; 2) personal satisfaction; and 3) post-treatment tooth sensitivity. Descriptive analyses of all variables in the questionnaire were performed, and statistical analyses between variables were carried out by Chi-square test and Fisher's Exact test., Results: Of the people surveyed, 66% performed home bleaching, while the remaining performed the treatment in a dental office. Thirty-three percent of patients had previously undergone teeth bleaching and the 95.7% stated that they were satisfied with the treatment. Of these, only 36.4% reported experiencing postoperative hypersensitivity. Most patients (91.3%) received professional scaling before undergoing bleaching treatment., Conclusions: Patient satisfaction with tooth whitening treatment can vary from patient to patient and represents a strong indicator of treatment efficacy and suitability. A proper communication, careful management and individualized patient assessment are key to maximizing satisfaction and ensuring a positive and fulfilling patient experience.

Background: Caries is a multifactorial degenerative disease, and it is the most common chronic disease during childhood. Few studies have assessed the effects of breastfeeding and bottle feeding on children's dental caries, also taking into account the duration of both options. We investigated whether the infant feeding duration and feeding methods (breast, bottle or both) are risk factors for dental caries in childhood., Methods: Our study included 210 children from 2 to 6 years old and it was carried out in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of Borgo Cavalli (Treviso, Italy). The average number of decayed, missing, and filled primary tooth surfaces (DMFT) were investigated by analyzing the medical histories. Data collection was conducted from September 2021 to July 2022. Data analysis was performed using the statistical program R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). First, an analysis was performed to verify the database using a graph. We used the negative Poisson and Binomial count model for the data. Next, the verification of which covariables were significant was performed, finally the conclusions were obtained., Results: By dividing the population according to the type of feeding, we saw that most of the children participating in the study had between 3 and 7 cavities. By analyzing the length of feeding, we saw that the average duration was between 10 and 20 months. Due to the P values, we concluded that the total duration of feeding variable was not significant in explaining the event of interest and, therefore, only the variable type of feeding (artificial and natural) was significant because the P value was below the 5% significance level. Finally, we concluded that natural type breastfeeding increases the average amount of caries by 1.29 times, or 29% more than artificial feeding., Conclusions: Compared to bottle-feeding, breastfeeding increases the risk of caries at an early age; however, there is no correlation between duration and occurrence of caries. Meanwhile, considering health benefits, dental professionals should not discourage breastfeeding; as a matter of fact, promoting breastfeeding has many benefits for infants and mothers, provided that it is associated with proper oral hygiene.

Purpose: To describe the possible adverse effects of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions, high-concentration alcohol solutions, and povidone-iodine products, which are indicated for disinfection of inanimate surfaces against human coronavirus of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), on prosthesis materials, including zirconia, lithium disilicate, and acrylic resin., Materials and Methods: A systematic literature research for articles published between January 2010 and February 2020 was conducted in Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Science Direct using a combination of the following MeSH/Emtree terms and keywords: sodium hypochlorite, alcohol, ethanol, povidone-iodine, dental ceramic, zirconia, lithium disilicate, and acrylic resin., Results: A total of 538 studies were identified in the search during initial screening, of which 44 were subject to full-text evaluation, and 24 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Seven articles on zirconia and lithium disilicate investigated the effect of NaOCl (0.5% and 1%), 96% isopropanol, and 80% ethanol on bond strength after saliva contamination. The remaining articles evaluated color alteration, surface roughness modifications, decrease in flexural strength, and bonding strength of all cleaning agents on acrylic resin., Conclusion: NaOCl (1%) solution for 1 minute is recommended to reduce SARS-CoV infectivity and to minimize the risk of cross-contamination through prosthetic materials. The increase in surface roughness and color alteration were recorded using 1% NaOCl on acrylic resin, but this increase was not clinically significant. A decrease in bonding strength was determined after using 1% NaOCl, 96% isopropanol, and 80% ethanol solutions on lithium disilicate. Silanization before the try-in procedure and the application of the second layer of silane after cleaning methods are recommended to improve the bonding strength.