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Diagnostic Approach and Innovations in the Different Dentistry Fields, 2nd Edition

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A Special Issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418) belonging to the section "Clinical Diagnosis and Prognosis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 11030

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Editors

Prof. Dr. Francesco Inchingolo

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Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
Interests: stem cells regeneration tissue; dental disease; dental biomaterials; orthodontic diseases; orthodontic innovation; oral surgery
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Dr. Giuseppina Malcangi

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Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: oral surgery; periodontics; regenerative medicine; orthodontics; oral pathology; prevention of tumors and chronic diseases; prevention of oral health in children; clinical dentistry and oral medicine
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Dr. Gianna Dipalma

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Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: stem cells regeneration tissue; dental disease; dental biomaterials; orthodontic diseases; orthodontic innovation; oral surgery
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Dr. Angelo Michele Inchingolo

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Dr. Ioana Roxana Bordea

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Lecturer of Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: oral health; laser in dentistry; laser coagulation; laser therapy; dentistry
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that we are currently seeking submissions of manuscripts pertaining to one of the most significant topics in the field of dentistry: “Diagnostics”, which is a critical aspect of patient treatment.

This Special Issue will address the most recent and significant innovations in the dental field, with particular focus on multidisciplinary factors, technological advancements, and state-of-the-art research, and their involvement in oral health and in clinical dentistry practice. Modern technology has enabled accurate diagnosis and an optimal treatment plan to be established for many patients; however, diagnostic breakthroughs remain critical in all branches of dentistry, from conservative dentistry to prosthetics, surgery, orthodontics, and endodontics.

This Special Issue will unite different communities, publishing high-quality research which will be beneficial to a range of healthcare professionals. Original research articles, clinical articles, and reviews are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Inchingolo
Dr. Giuseppina Malcangi
Dr. Gianna Dipalma
Dr. Angelo Michele Inchingolo
Dr. Ioana Roxana Bordea
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

diagnosis
oral surgery
implantology
orthodontic
endodontic
oral health
orthodontic diseases and innovation
tissue regeneration
reconstructive surgical procedures
tissue engineering
biomedical engineering
stem cells regeneration tissue
oral surgery

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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8 pages, 197 KB

Open AccessArticle

Inconsistencies in the Assessment of Endodontic Outcomes in Patients with Special Health Care Needs: A Novel Proposal

by Pedro Diz Dios, Alfonso Souto Míguez, Lucía García-Caballero, Eliane García Mato, Márcio Diniz-Freitas and Berta Rivas Mundiña

Diagnostics 2026, 16(10), 1426; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16101426 - 7 May 2026

Viewed by 479

Abstract

Conventional: Endodontic outcome criteria established by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) and the European Society of Endodontology (ESE) rely heavily on radiographic, clinical, and functional parameters. These criteria may not be applicable to patients with special health care needs, who often present with limited cooperation, communication impairments, and altered pain perception. Objective: This study aims to propose an adapted classification system for evaluating non-surgical root canal treatment outcomes in this underserved population. Methods: Based primarily on the criteria established by the ESE and our clinical experience, a novel classification system was developed, delineating three outcome categories grounded in both clinical and radiographic parameters. This framework deliberately excludes the “functional” criterion and introduces a “not assessable” category. It was retrospectively applied to 217 non-surgical root canal treatments performed in 137 patients with special health care needs, each with a minimum one-year follow-up. Outcomes were categorized as “favorable,” “uncertain,” or “unfavorable.” Results: Using the proposed criteria, 87 treatments (40.0%) were classified as “favorable,” 88 (40.5%) as “uncertain,” and 42 (19.3%) as “unfavorable.” By contrast, the application of AAE/ESE standards resulted in a 71.9% “favorable” classification. Most “uncertain” outcomes occurred in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, where clinical or radiographic evaluation was not feasible. Conclusions: We propose adapted clinical and radiographic criteria for assessing non-surgical root canal treatment outcomes in patients with special health care needs, though broader validation is required. The findings suggest that this procedure remains advisable in this population, with fewer than 20% showing an “unfavorable” long-term outcome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Approach and Innovations in the Different Dentistry Fields, 2nd Edition)

12 pages, 642 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cranial Base Morphology and Mandibular Growth in Skeletal Deep Bite: A Longitudinal Study in Prepubertal Children

by Eugen Silviu Bud, Mariana Păcurar, Cristina Ioana Bica, Sorana Maria Bucur, Alexandru Vlasa, Beáta Szabó and Anamaria Bud

Diagnostics 2026, 16(10), 1414; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16101414 - 7 May 2026

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Abstract

Background: Skeletal deep bite malocclusion (Angle Class II division 2) represents a common vertical skeletal discrepancy characterized by excessive anterior overbite and a hypodivergent craniofacial growth pattern. The contribution of cranial base morphology to mandibular growth direction during early development remains incompletely understood. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between cranial base morphology and maxillofacial growth patterns in children with skeletal deep bite, using a longitudinal cephalometric approach. Materials and Methods: This retrospective longitudinal cohort study included 96 prepubertal patients aged 7–10 years (54 with skeletal deep bite, 42 Angle Class I dentoalveolar controls). Skeletal deep bite was defined by overbite > 4 mm and mandibular plane angle (FMA) < 22°. A total of 298 standardized lateral cephalometric radiographs (2–4 per subject; mean follow-up 24 ± 4 months) were analyzed. Twenty-two cephalometric parameters were assessed. Longitudinal changes were evaluated using repeated-measures analysis, and predictors of deep bite severity were identified using multiple linear regression. Results: Compared with controls, the deep bite group exhibited significantly reduced mandibular plane angle (18.5° vs. 24.0°), smaller gonial angle (104.3° vs. 111.0°), and decreased lower anterior facial height (86.3 mm vs. 92.0 mm; all p < 0.001). Differences in cranial base morphology were modest, including reduced anterior cranial base length (58.6 mm vs. 60.0 mm; p = 0.031). Regression analysis identified gonial angle and lower anterior facial height as significant predictors (R² = 0.58). Longitudinal analysis suggested early tendencies toward forward mandibular rotation and reduced vertical growth rate over the observation period. Conclusions: In prepubertal children, skeletal deep bite is associated with early tendencies toward reduced vertical facial development and forward mandibular rotation. Cranial base morphology appears to be associated with mandibular growth direction as a secondary modulatory factor rather than a primary determinant. Early identification of hypodivergent growth indicators may facilitate timely interceptive orthodontic strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Approach and Innovations in the Different Dentistry Fields, 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 693 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of White Spot Lesion Severity on the Structural, Optical, and Mechanical Outcomes of Resin Infiltration: An In Vitro Study

by Dan Boariu, Sorana Maria Bucur, Clara Diana Haddad, Elina Teodorescu, Mahmoud El Saafin and Mariana Păcurar

Diagnostics 2026, 16(7), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16070970 - 24 Mar 2026

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Abstract

Background and objectives: White spot lesions (WSLs) represent a common enamel demineralization complication associated with fixed orthodontic treatment. Resin infiltration is widely used as a minimally invasive approach to arrest lesion progression and improve esthetics; however, the influence of lesion severity on treatment effectiveness remains insufficiently understood. This in vitro study aimed to investigate how different severities of white spot lesions influence the structural, optical, and mechanical outcomes of resin infiltration. Materials and Methods: Ninety extracted human premolars were subjected to controlled acidic demineralization to produce mild, moderate, and severe lesions. All specimens were treated using a standardized resin infiltration protocol. Lesion depth, resin penetration, optical masking effect (ΔE), and surface microhardness were evaluated using confocal microscopy, spectrophotometry, and Vickers hardness testing. Results: Lesion depth increased significantly with demineralization duration (p < 0.001). Resin penetration showed a strong positive correlation with lesion depth (r = 0.81), while infiltration efficiency was highest in moderate lesions. Optical masking effectiveness decreased significantly with increasing lesion severity (p < 0.01). Surface microhardness improved significantly after infiltration in all groups, with the greatest recovery observed in moderate lesions. Conclusions: Lesion severity significantly influences the structural, optical, and mechanical outcomes of resin infiltration. Early and moderately developed WSLs respond more favorably to infiltration treatment, emphasizing the importance of timely intervention during orthodontic therapy. The integrated evaluation of penetration depth, color masking, and microhardness recovery provides a comprehensive understanding of how lesion severity influences the performance of resin infiltration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Approach and Innovations in the Different Dentistry Fields, 2nd Edition)

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12 pages, 1706 KB

Open AccessArticle

Reproducibility of AI in Cephalometric Landmark Detection: A Preliminary Study

by David Emilio Fracchia, Denis Bignotti, Stefano Lai, Stefano Cubeddu, Fabio Curreli, Massimiliano Lombardo, Alessio Verdecchia and Enrico Spinas

Diagnostics 2025, 15(19), 2521; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15192521 - 5 Oct 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3352

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of artificial intelligence (AI) in identifying cephalometric landmarks, comparing its performance with manual tracing by an experienced orthodontist. Methods: A high-quality lateral cephalogram of a 26-year-old female patient, meeting strict inclusion criteria, was selected. Eighteen cephalometric landmarks were identified using the WebCeph software (version 1500) in three experimental settings: AI tracing without image modification (AInocut), AI tracing with image modification (AI-cut), and manual tracing by an orthodontic expert. Each evaluator repeated the procedure 10 times on the same image. X and Y coordinates were recorded, and reproducibility was assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV) and centroid distance analysis. Statistical comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: AInocut achieved the highest reproducibility, showing the lowest mean CV values. Both AI methods demonstrated greater consistency than manual tracing, particularly for landmarks such as Menton (Me) and Pogonion (Pog). Gonion (Go) showed the highest variability across all groups. Significant differences were found for the Posterior Nasal Spine (PNS) point (p = 0.001), where AI outperformed manual tracing. Variability was generally higher along the X-axis than the Y-axis. Conclusions: AI demonstrated superior reproducibility in cephalometric landmark identification compared to manual tracing by an experienced operator. While certain points showed high consistency, others—particularly PNS and Go—remained challenging. These findings support AI as a reliable adjunct in digital cephalometry, although the use of a single radiograph limits generalizability. Broader, multi-image studies are needed to confirm clinical applicability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Approach and Innovations in the Different Dentistry Fields, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 1562 KB

Open AccessArticle

Validation of the Modified Helkimo Clinical Index for Diagnosing Temporomandibular Disorders in a Romanian Patient Sample

by Dorin Ioan Cocoș, Sorana Maria Bucur, Mariana Păcurar and Kamel Earar

Diagnostics 2025, 15(18), 2347; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15182347 - 16 Sep 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1588

Abstract

Background and objectives: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are common but challenging to diagnose in routine practice due to the complexity of the DC/TMD protocol. The study assesses the diagnostic validity and reliability of the modified Helkimo Index (mHI) in a Romanian patient cohort. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 164 participants (82 TMD patients, 82 controls) evaluated the diagnostic performance and reliability of the mHI against the DC/TMD protocol. Results: The mHI demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 86%, specificity 84%, AUC = 0.89) and strong agreement with DC/TMD diagnoses (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). Reliability was excellent (inter-examiner ICC = 0.87; intra-examiner ICC = 0.91). Application time was significantly shorter (5–10 min) than the DC/TMD protocol (16–20 min). Conclusions: The mHI is a valid, reliable, and time-efficient tool for TMD diagnosis, supporting its integration into general dental practice and broader screening initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Approach and Innovations in the Different Dentistry Fields, 2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 980 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Diagnostic Assessment of Periodontal and Dentoalveolar Complications Following Mini-Screw-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion in Adults and Late Adolescents: A Systematic Review

by Barbara Frenna, Raffaella Grimaldi, Salvatore Fiandaca, Renisa Basha, Monica Caprio, Giacomo Emanuele Maria Rizzo, Alessio Verdecchia and Enrico Spinas

Diagnostics 2026, 16(2), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16020352 - 21 Jan 2026

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1660

Abstract

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of currently available methods for the diagnosis and monitoring of skeletal, dental, and soft tissue changes, as well as the adequacy of follow-up protocols, in adolescents and adults treated with miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE). Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive electronic literature search was performed across five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science) to identify prospective and retrospective clinical studies evaluating dental, periodontal, and alveolar bone outcomes associated with MARPE in late adolescent and adult patients. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were independently performed by two reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies and the RoB 2 tool for randomized studies. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Owing to substantial methodological heterogeneity and limited follow-up duration, a structured qualitative (narrative) synthesis of the results was performed. Results: A total of 20 studies were included in the systematic review. The reported adverse events primarily involved hard and soft tissues and were identified using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), clinical and periodontal examination, panoramic and cephalometric radiography, and digital dental casts. Dental effects, including dental tipping, were frequently reported across the included studies. Alveolar bone loss was reported in 11 studies, buccal alveolar bone dehiscence in 3 studies, and failure of palatal suture opening in 6 studies. In most of the included studies, follow-up was either not reported or limited. Conclusions: The MARPE technique appears to be potentially effective in achieving transverse maxillary expansion in late adolescent and adult patients. However, the included studies report possible adverse events affecting periodontal and alveolar bone tissues, such as alveolar bone thinning and gingival hypertrophy, the assessment of which requires an integrated diagnostic approach combining CBCT imaging with clinical and periodontal examination. Overall, the certainty of the available evidence was low to very low, mainly due to a high risk of bias, methodological heterogeneity, and limited or absent follow-up in most studies. Therefore, the results should be interpreted with caution. Well-designed prospective controlled studies with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up are needed to conclusively evaluate the safety and long-term clinical stability of the MARPE technique. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Approach and Innovations in the Different Dentistry Fields, 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 831 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Thermography and Infrared Spectroscopy in the Detection of Periodontal Inflammation In Vivo: A Systematic Review

by Heythem Nassim Guetatlia, Mickael Gette, Laurent Estrade, Victor Rimbaud, Frédéric Denis, Gaël Y. Rochefort and Matthieu Renaud

Diagnostics 2026, 16(2), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16020222 - 10 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1671

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Periodontal inflammation is a key feature of periodontal diseases, but traditional diagnostic methods are limited by invasiveness and radiation exposure. This systematic review aims to evaluate the potential of thermography and infrared spectroscopy for the in vivo detection of periodontal inflammation and to assess their reliability for clinical use. Methods: In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, an electronic search of the MEDLINE (PubMed) database was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and October 2025 that investigated these imaging modalities in periodontal inflammation diagnosis. Results: The search identified 310 records; after exclusions, 13 studies were included, comprising 7 thermography studies and 6 infrared spectroscopy studies, for a total of 712 patients. The included studies demonstrated the feasibility of thermography and infrared spectroscopy for detecting inflammatory changes in periodontal tissues in vivo. These non-invasive imaging techniques may help overcome the limitations of conventional clinical and radiographic diagnostic methods, particularly invasiveness and exposure to ionizing radiation. Conclusions: This field remains underexplored, and further studies are required to validate diagnostic performance, standardize methodologies, and determine their clinical applicability in routine periodontal practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Approach and Innovations in the Different Dentistry Fields, 2nd Edition)

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