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Bacterial decontamination of root canals can be improved by directly irradiating the dentinal walls with dental lasers or by irradiating/activating the irrigation solutions, the laser having an indirect clinical action. Inside the root canal, laser irradiation produces a thermal effect on the dentine walls and bacteria, which generates unwanted side effects, if the therapeutic protocol is not followed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the root canal walls by stereomicroscopic ex-amination, after their chemo-mechanical instrumentation and conventional laser irradiation. For this study, 35 palatal roots of upper first molars were used. For some of the palatal canals, con-ventional laser irradiation was performed using a diode laser with a wavelength of 980 nm and two different irradiation protocols. The root canal walls were examined stereomicroscopically at different degrees of magnification. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of the stereomicro-scope in examining the walls of prepared and laser irradiated root canals. Areas of morphological alteration were identified and measured on the walls of the root canals for which the irradiation protocol was not applied correctly.

Over the years, several theories regarding the etiology of bruxism have been proposed. Even though these theories are difficult to confirm or infirm, due to the controversial particularities of this disease, most of them suggest a multifactorial etiology. Many authors have emphasized the importance of separating sleep bruxism from awake bruxism, as they might have different etiologies, ending with the New Consensus which provided two different definitions for those two forms of bruxism. In 2020, experts proposed the creation of a standardized system for bruxism evaluation – STAB (Standardized Tool for the Assessment of Bruxism). According to this system, future research over bruxism will be oriented in two directions: axis A that will include studies regarding evaluation methods, and axis B that will concern studies related to etiology, risk factors and predisposing factors.

Aim of the study:The aim of this study was to highlight the histopathological lesions of the oral mucosa adjacent to acrylic removable denture. Material and methods: The histopathological study was performed on 21 fragments of human oral mucosa, collected from subjects wearing removable acrylic dentures, who presented at the Clinic of Dental Prosthetics and Oral Rehabilitation of the Faculty of Dentistry in Craiova, between January 2018 and May 2020. Results: The most common lesions in the epithelium were acanthosis, parakeratosis, associated with the presence of papillomatosis and hypertrophy of connective papillae. The lesions of the lamina propria were mostly of the chronic granulomatous inflammatory type or of the lymphoplasmocytic type, with macrophages in some places. Conclusions: The possibilities of the oral mucosa to react in the contact area with a removable partial acrylic denture are multiple, ranging from simple adaptive histopathological changes to the appearance of acute or chronic histopathological lesions.

Aim of the study This study investigated the knowledge amongst dentists and senior dental students from Romania, regarding the clinical forms of tooth wear, its etiology and various treatment options for non-carious cervical lesions. Material and methods A questionnaire was sent electronically to Romanian dentists and dental students using social media. The survey had 16 questions regarding the prevalence of non-carious cervical lesions in the participants dental practice, the awareness of their clinical signs, etiological mechanisms and treatment options. Results Romanian dentists and dental students felt competent in diagnosing and treating tooth wear and non-carious cervical lesions, although the awareness of their etiology was moderate. For the restoration of non-carious cervical lesions, the material preferred by Romanian dentists and dental students was flowable composite. Conclusions Our study showed the need for further clinical and laboratory studies of the etiological mechanisms of tooth wear and non-carious cervical lesions for a better understanding amongst dental practitioners.

The rapid evolution of laser technology and the better understanding of laser-tissue interaction, allowed the growth of possible laser treatments, including laser assisted endodontics. Diode laser was introduced in endodontic procedures in late 1980’s and today is used for decontamination of the root canals. Lasers are used in association with various endodontic techniques, either to irradiate directly the dentinal walls, or to irradiate/activate photoactive substances/irrigants, having an indirect clinical effect on the endodontic system. Side effects resulting from irradiation with laser light do not appear if the correct parameters are used. Further clinical studies are necessary in order to evaluate the healing of endodontic diseases from laser assisted therapy.

Aim of the study This study investigated the magnitude and distribution of stress in a maxillary first premolar subjected to normal and heavy occlusal loads, that were directed vertically and horizontally, using Finite Element Analysis. Material and methods A virtual 3D model of a maxillary first premolar was created using the CT images of a 14 year-old patient and the physical and mechanical properties of the dental tissues used in other studies. We obtained 8 scenarios for the vertical loading and 8 scenarios for the horizontal loading. Results The magnitude and distribution of stress were the least favorable in the case of the heavy horizontal loading applied on the intact tooth. Conclusions Our study showed that the intact tooth was the most affected by stress regardless of the loading applied.