International Journal of Dentistry

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global health and presented challenges to maintaining oral health in children. Efficient management and prevention of oral diseases are therefore crucial in this population. Aim. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess parents’ self-reported oral and dental hygiene habits for their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A total of 256 parents of primary school children in Qazvin completed an online questionnaire containing demographic, general, and cardinal questions. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software, and accurate analytical tests were run to reach the results. Results. The study found that 69.1% of parents and 87.1% of children brushed their teeth regularly during the pandemic. Additionally, 80.5% of parents monitored their children while brushing. While some parents expressed concerns about COVID-19 infection, parents from lower socioeconomic status reported a higher willingness to attend dental centers than those from more prosperous areas. Conclusion. These findings suggest that parents’ supervision and attitude toward oral health care significantly affect children’s oral hygiene habits during the pandemic, possibly due to increased time spent together during lockdowns.

Background. The surface modification of porcelain material can be conducted by mechanical, chemical, or laser means. This study investigated the CO₂ laser effect on porcelain to enhance bonding with composite resin. Materials and methods. A total of 33 blocks of feldspathic porcelain were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10. Additionally, three specimens were used in scanning electronic microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy tests. Group I was treated with 9.5% hydrofluoric acid (HF), Group II with a 5 W CO₂ laser, and Group III with CO₂ followed by etching with 9.5% HF. Then, a Bisco intraoral repair kit was used, followed by the application of repair composite resin (Tetric N Ceram) on the porcelain surface using a Teflon mold and light-curing source. Shear bond strength (SBS) was assessed by using a digital universal testing machine, and failure modes were evaluated. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference test. Results. A high significant difference in roughness and SBS was found amongst the tested groups . SBS and roughness for Group III were significant at , and the lowest value was observed in Group II. The cohesive mode of failure was dominant in Groups I and III, whereas adhesive failure was dominant in Group II. Conclusion. The surface treatment of porcelain with CO₂ laser followed by HF application can enhance roughness and SBS, and can be recommended when extra retention during repair indication.

Background. Short implants have been proposed as an alternative solution for the rehabilitation of atrophic posterior region. Purpose. To compare the clinical outcomes between 6 mm short implants and conventional implants placed under similar conditions of bone quality and occlusal loading. Materials and Methods. Nine patients received atone 6 mm implant and one standard-length (8 mm length or longer) implants in a total of 10 partially edentulous areas. Implants were left submerged for 3–6 months healing period and the screw-retained splinted prostheses were delivered. When the provisional or final restoration was placed, and at each year after loading, standardized intraoral radiograph was taken for themarginal bone level (MBL) changes around the implants. Subsequently, the patients were recalled for the clinical examination evaluating the implant survival, sulcus bleeding index, suppuration, and the incidence of prosthetic complications at every 6 months after the definitive crown delivery. The observation period was continued to 3 years (mean follow-up was 3.4 ± 0.3 years) after functional loading. Results. Nine patients (10 short implants and 10 standard length implants) were selected in this study. Cumulative survival rates of the short implants and standard-length implants were 100% in both groups, and no biological and prosthetic complication were found in 3 years observation period. Cortical bone thickness of implant insertion sites was 1.39 ± 0.45 mm at short implants and 1.38 ± 0.69 mm at standard-length implants, and trabecular bone computed tomography values of implant insertion sites was 424.1 ± 290.1 at short implants and 410.9 ± 267.9 at standard-length implants. The MBL changes were −0.30 ± 0.71 mm at short implants and −0.19 ± 0.78 mm at standard-length implants at 3 years follow-up visit. No significant difference was found in the average of MBL changes between implant length. Conclusions. Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that 6 mm short implants in a posterior edentulous region showed excellent results compared with conventional implants.

Objectives. This umbrella review aimed to consolidate the best available evidence regarding the clinical efficacy of platelet derivatives in the treatment of periodontal defects associated with periodontitis and in the management of mucogingival deformities. Materials and Methods. The “umbrella review” strategy was used to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The search was performed without language restrictions and updated at the end of February 2023. The PubMed and Scopus databases, together with gray literature, were included in the search. Results. The search yielded 412 studies. Subsequently, 12 articles were selected for further examination based on relevance. Finally, eight systematic reviews and meta-analyses were assessed. Regarding intrabony defects, in terms of clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) was observed to lead to a statistically significant attachment gain compared to surgical therapy alone. PRF was also found to show greater CAL gain compared to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other biomaterials. The parameter probing depth decreased significantly when PRF was used compared to surgical therapy alone (). Similar results were seen when leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) was applied. In terms of radiographic bone fill, both PRF and PRP showed significantly greater bone fill compared to surgical therapy. Regarding the results of periodontal plastic surgery, PRF favored a slight root coverage compared to the coronally displaced flap. This result depended on the number of PRF and L-PRF membranes used, but Emdogain or connective tissue graft produced better results regardless. However, an improvement in the healing of periodontal tissues was reported. Conclusions. Therapies with platelet derivatives applied to intrabony defects provided superior regenerative results compared to monotherapies, except in the case of root coverage.

This study aimed to evaluate Nd:YAG laser, calcium phosphate, and adhesive system effect as different pretreatments in different protocols on dentin permeability (DP) and bond strength (BS). Fifty human dentin discs were used (4 mm in diameter and 1,5 mm in height). Specimens were divided into five groups (n = 10): (A): adhesive system (control); (AL): adhesive system + Nd:YAG laser; (LAL): Nd:YAG laser + adhesive system + Nd:YAG laser; (PAL): calcium phosphate-based dentin desensitizer TeethMate + adhesive system + Nd:YAG laser; and group (PLAL): Nd:YAG laser + calcium phosphate-based dentin desensitizer + adhesive system + Nd:YAG laser. All materials were used according to the manufacturers’ instructions. The specimens were submitted to artificial aging (5,000 thermal cycles and 12 × 10⁴ mechanical cycles) then a bond test was performed. DP was measured using the split chamber model. Data were submitted to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), paired t-test, RM ANOVA, and Tukey test (). All treatments were effective in DP reduction. For BS, the groups PAL and PLAL had improved BS with a statistically significant difference of the control group (A). Nd:Yag laser irradiation and calcium phosphate-based desensitizing agents significantly reduced DP, and the association between them could improve the BS on resin–human dentin interface.

Aim. To compare the BioHPP (biocompatible high-performance polymer) as a substructure for the hybrid prosthesis versus the BioHPP bar supporting and retaining implant overdenture by radiographic evaluation to identify bone height alteration around the implants and to evaluate satisfaction based on visual analoge scale questionnaire. Materials and Methods. Ill-fitting mandibular dentures were chosen for 14 fully edentulous male patients with adequate dental hygiene, enough interarch space, and free of systemic diseases and parafunctional habits. Patients who received new dentures (CDs) were randomly allocated into each group using computer software, and four interforaminal implants were inserted in parallel using a surgical guide. Three months after osseointegration, the patients received either CAD–CAM BioHPP framework hybrid prosthesis (Group I) or BioHPP bar supported and retained overdenture (Group II). Using digital preapical radiography, the bone loss is evaluated 6, 12, and 18 months after insertion. The subjective patient evaluation was done using a questionnaire based on the VAS includes five points for chewing, comfort, esthetics, speech, oral hygiene, and general satisfaction. Results. The overall marginal bone loss (MBL) revealed that Group I (hybrid prosthesis) was more than Group II (bar overdenture) at all intervals in the anterior and posterior implants’ mesial and distal surfaces. The patient satisfaction survey results showed that, after 18 months, the difference was statistically not significant between them all () except for the comfort (for the overdenture group, 4.43 ± 0.53 while the fixed hybrid was 5.00 ± 0.00). Conclusion. BioHPP framework material is an alternative material for implant rehabilitation of edentulous mandible with minimal MBL in BioHPP bar overdenture compared to BioHPP hybrid prosthesis.