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Several factors influence the healing process and the long-term mechanical stability of cementless fixed implants, such as bone remodeling and mineralization processes. Histomorphometric and bone hardness measurements were taken in implants inserted in sheep femoral cortical bone at different times to compare the in vivo osseointegration of titanium screws (diam.; 3.5 × 7 mm length) with the following surface treatments: machined (Ti-MA); acid-etched (Ti-HF); HA vacuum plasma spray (Ti-HA); and Ca-P anodization followed by a hydrothermal treatment (Ti-AM/HA). Ti-MA and Ti-AM/HA implants presented the lowest (Ra = 0.20 ± 0.01 μm) and highest (Ra = 1.97 ± 0.64 μm) significant (p < 0.0005) roughness value, respectively. Bone-to-implant contact of Ti-HF was lower than that of the other surface treatments at both experimetal times (8 weeks: -20%, ns; 12 weeks: -30%, p < 0.01). Significant differences in MAR (mineral apposition rate) were also found between the different experimental times for Ti-MA (115%, p < 0.01) and Ti-HF (57%, p < 0.01), demonstrating that bone growth had slowed inside the screw threads of Ti-HA and Ti-AM/HA after 12 weeks. No bone microhardness changes in preexisting host bone were found, while Ti-MA showed the lowest value for the inner thread area at 8 weeks (HV200 μm= 49.8 ± 3.8 HV). These findings confirm that osseointegration may be accelerated by adequate surface roughness and bioactive ceramic coating such as Ca-P anodization followed by a hydrothermal treatment, which enhance bone interlocking and mineralization. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 67A: 112–120, 2003 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel potassium oxalate-based hydrogel is proposed for treating dentin hypersensitivity and this study evaluates its in vitro performance as a remineralizing, desensitizing agent. Etched disks of human dentin were treated for 10 or 20 min using the test hydrogel, to mimic a professional application with dental mouth guards. Dentin disks were evaluated in terms of permeability indexes in a fluid-filled system, the surface morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy, and the structural properties were studied using X-ray diffraction analysis. The potassium oxalate hydrogel significantly reduced dentin permeability, in a time-dependent manner, and occluded most of the patent dentinal tubules via crystal precipitation, forming a remineralized layer. After hydrogel treatments, an acid solution (pH 4.2) was applied to the disks for 30 s, or 1, 2, or 5 min, in order to reproduce a plaque-like oral acidity, and further analysis showed a good resistance of the remineralized layer to the acid challenge. The potassium oxalate-based hydrogel showed a better performance over commercially available products and artificial saliva, appearing a promising candidate for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity., (© 2017 Eur J Oral Sci.)

Aim: The association between obesity and periodontitis has been extensively investigated in adults but not in young people. Our aim is to evaluate whether overweight/obese paediatric patients have a greater chance of being affected by gingivitis than those of normal weight., Subjects and Methods: Ninety-eight subjects ranging between 10 and 17 years of age were classified as obese/overweight or normal weight on the basis of body mass index. Auxological data, blood pressure, insulin resistance, psychological profile, oral hygiene habits, plaque and gingival indices were collected., Results: Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were significantly higher in overweight/obese subjects than in the normal-weight subjects (p<0001). The overweight/obese subjects showed a worse attitude towards oral hygiene. Two-way anova revealed a significant effect of obesity status (p<0001) on the gingival index. Logistic and linear regression analyses identified gingivitis as dependent on insulin resistance and bad oral hygiene rather than on the overweight/obese status simply defined. Negative psychological features related to physical and academic self-concept were also risk factors for gingivitis probably because they were related to a generic poor self-awareness., Conclusion: The gingivitis observed in overweight and obese young subjects is probably due to a combination of metabolic and inflammatory profiles and neglected attitude towards oral hygiene., (© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

In this study we investigated the accuracy of diagnoses of oral mucosal diseases made by family physicians (without a dental degree), other categories of physicians, and general dental practitioners prior to referring patients to a university oral medicine unit. Over a three-year period, we compared the diagnoses proposed in referral letters with the definitive histological diagnoses made by the specialist unit. Only 305 of 678 (45 percent) of the referral letters included a clinical diagnosis. Eighty-six patients (86/305, 28 percent) were referred by general dental practitioners (GDPs) who had graduated in dentistry; seventy-six (76/305, 25 percent) were sent by GDPs who had graduated in medicine with a postgraduate degree in dentistry; and 143 (143/305, 47 percent) were referred by other categories of physicians. More than 50 percent of the referring professionals were not able to make a clinical diagnosis of oral mucosal diseases. Only 40 percent of the provisional diagnoses (122/305) coincided with the diagnosis made at the specialist unit. The proportion of correct diagnoses was 40 percent for GDPs who had graduated in dentistry, 33 percent for other categories of physicians, and 27 percent for GDPs who had graduated in medicine with a postgraduate degree in dentistry. These findings suggest that Italian dental and medical practitioners have limited knowledge in the field of oral medicine. Consequently, there is a need for better education in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases and for improvement in total oral health training.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to assess the oral hygiene attitude and the professional preventive examination compliance in Italian university students., Method: A sample of 202 students attending the University of Bologna was randomly selected and interviewed about their preventive oral health attitude and compliance. All students reported using toothpaste and most of them (92.1%) brushed their teeth at least 2x a day using artificial, medium stiffness bristles. The toothbrush was generally (81.6%) replaced within 3 months. Few subjects (14.9%) said they used dental floss daily or utilized other devices. A majority of subjects (59.9%) had a dental examination within the year previous to the interview. Cluster analysis was performed., Results: 4 groups were identified with homogeneous oral hygiene behavior and compliance toward professional preventive examination. Only one cluster, representing 33.6% of the sample, showed consistent frequency and modalities of oral hygiene habits. The other clusters seemed to be defective with interproximal cleaning procedures and compliance toward professional preventive care. Since the sample was characterized by a young, urbanized, homogeneous group with a high educational level and frequently from an upper middle class social status, the analysis probably gives a supra-estimation of the positive behavior., Conclusion: It is rational to suppose that strategies to promote dental service utilization, patients' compliance and a professional style oriented toward prevention may be useful to improve the oral health condition in the young adult Italian population.

Background/aims: Assessment of the influence of toothbrush wear on plaque (PI) and gingival (GI) indexes., Method: 20 university students were recruited. PI and GI were recorded at the starting point (T0). Each subject received a toothbrush and toothpaste. 5 measurements of toothbrush were recorded to establish the initial size. The subjects were instructed to brush 3 x a day and to refrain from using other plaque removal aids. After 1 month (T1), the subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups: group no. 1 substituted the toothbrush at each monthly visit; group no. 2 brushed only with the toothbrush provided at T0. Recalls were scheduled after 1 (T1), 2 (T2) and 3 months (T3). PI, GI and an index of wear (WI) were calculated using 5 measurements of the toothbrush head and were recorded at recalls., Results: From T0 to T3, a significant increase of PI was found within both groups. Non-significant differences, but very close to the significant level (p= 0.063), in group no. 1 and significant differences in group no. 2 of GI were found. No significant differences of PI and GI were found between groups. Increase of the WI was registered from T0 to T3 (p<0.001)., Conclusion: Each individual is capable of maintaining low PI, even if using a toothbrush that shows evidence of wear.

Patients with cervical dentine exposures do not always complain of dentine hypersensitivity. The identification of morphological features connected to symptoms is important for both prevention and management of dentine hypersensitivity. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the dentine ultrastructure and clinical symptoms in patients with cervical dentine exposures. Replica models for a total of 28 teeth (from 10 patients) with cervical non caroius lesions and dentine exposures were obtained before and after acid etching. The replica models were studied blindly in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). 12 of these were classified clinically as hypersensitive and 16 as non-sensitive. Because of the morphological heterogeneity of all specimens, a grid was used to isolate smaller, more homogeneous areas. 120 (75 non-sensitive and 45 hypersensitive areas) grid areas randomly selected from the 28 dentine surfaces were analyzed. The presence and morphology (amorphous or crystalline) of smear layers and the density and diameter of dentine tubules were recorded. The chi 2 test was used for statistical analysis. In unetched specimens, the surfaces classified as non-sensitive were frequently coated by an amorphous smear layer (88.0%) and occasionally by a crystalline smear layer (2.7%). Only a few and narrow tubules were observed (9.3%). On the other hand, the unetched specimens of the hypersensitive dentine exhibited less frequently (31.3%) an amorphous smear layer. The presence of crystalline smear layer (33.3%), many and wider patent tubules and, sometimes, loss of intertubular dentine manifested as grooves between tubules, were observed (35.6%). The differences were significant (p < .001). In hypersensitive dentine, the acid etching always removed the smear layer whereas removal in non-sensitive dentine was partial or absent. These morphological findings underline the rôle of smear layer in reducing permeability of dentine in patients with dentine sensitivity.