Search Results (3,371)

Background/Objectives: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood, disproportionately affecting socially vulnerable populations. This scoping review aimed to analyze the clinical effects of selected minimally invasive materials and approaches, specifically mouthrinses, fluoride varnishes, silver diamine fluoride, and glass ionomer-based interventions, for the prevention and management of dental caries in pediatric patients, with emphasis on public health and community-based settings. Methods: This scoping review followed the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework. Electronic searches were conducted up to 23 January 2026, using tailored strategies for mouthrinses, fluoride varnishes, silver diamine fluoride (SDF), and glass ionomer cements (GICs). Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included. Data extraction and qualitative synthesis focused on clinical outcomes and applicability in public health contexts. Results: Fifty-five RCTs were included. Fluoride- or chlorhexidine-based mouthrinses showed potential in controlling cariogenic biofilm, with evidence primarily based on microbiological outcomes. Fluoride varnishes were associated with enamel remineralization and control of early white spot lesions, particularly in supervised programs. SDF was reported to achieve high caries’ arrest rates in cavitated dentin lesions of primary teeth, while its preventive effect on sound surfaces appeared comparable to other fluoride-based interventions. GICs were associated with acceptable clinical performance as pit-and-fissure sealants and in atraumatic restorative treatment. Conclusions: Minimally invasive dentistry (MID) approaches show promise for the prevention and management of childhood dental caries in public health and community-based settings. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneity of interventions and outcome measures, the predominance of short-term and surrogate (microbiological) outcomes, and the absence of a formal risk-of-bias assessment. As a scoping review, the synthesis is narrative in nature, which limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions. Further studies with standardized clinical outcomes and longer follow-up are needed to strengthen the evidence. Full article

Background: Alterations of the vertical dimension of occlusion may affect masticatory muscle function, which is critical in pre-prosthetic planning, especially in Class II division 2 malocclusions. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of increasing VDO on the myoelectric activity of masticatory muscles using surface electromyography (EMG). The null hypothesis was that a 2–4 mm increase in VDO does not significantly influence muscle activity. Methods: Nine patients with Class II division 2 malocclusion were evaluated. EMG recordings of the masseter and anterior digastric muscles were obtained using the BioEMG II system (BioResearch Asoc., Milwaukee, WI, USA) and Biopak™ software (AcqKnowledge 4.x). VDO was increased using the Dupas universal jig. EMG was recorded for 30 s under six conditions: resting posture, intercuspal position (IM), swallowing, resting posture after VDO increase, IM with increased VDO (IM2), and swallowing with increased VDO (swallowing 2). Results: Most EMG variables showed no statistically significant differences after short-term VDO increase. Significant differences were observed only in the resting activity of both masseter muscles and in the right masseter during maximum intercuspation. No significant changes were identified during swallowing. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this pilot study, a 2–4 mm increase in VDO appears to produce minimal short-term changes in masticatory muscle activity in Class II division 2 patients. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size and short observation period, and further studies are required to evaluate long-term neuromuscular adaptation. Full article

Additive manufacturing enables the fabrication of patient-specific zirconia devices with integrated surface features; however, the biological effects of meso-scale topographies remain insufficiently understood. This in vitro study evaluated the influence of defined meso-scale surface modifications on osteoblast behavior using Digital Light Processing (DLP)-fabricated 3Y tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (3Y-TZP) and 5Y partially stabilized zirconia (5Y-PSZ). Planar control specimens and surfaces incorporating regularly distributed columnar structures (height: 100 µm; width: 40 µm; center-to-center spacing: 80, 120, and 160 µm; Mod-80, Mod-120, Mod-160) were fabricated and characterized after sintering. Cytotoxicity was assessed by elution testing and showed cell viability >98% for all groups. Osteoblast adhesion and proliferation (hFOB 1.19) were quantified using metabolic assays. Meso-scale modifications significantly increased early cell adhesion compared to planar controls (p < 0.05), with the strongest effect observed for Mod-160. No significant differences in proliferation rates were detected between groups (p > 0.05). Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by RT-qPCR (RUNX2, ALPL, COL1A1, BGLAP), revealing material- and geometry-dependent responses. On 3Y-TZP, meso-scale structures, particularly Mod-160, were associated with sustained upregulation of BGLAP, whereas 5Y-PSZ exhibited less pronounced effects. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, meso-scale surface structuring of additively manufactured zirconia enhances early osteoblast adhesion without affecting proliferation and may influence osteogenic differentiation in a material-dependent manner. Full article

This study comparatively evaluated the influence of processing routes on the optical stability of three dental resin composites: a light-cured direct composite—G-ænial A’CHORD (LCC), a CAD-CAM milled composite—BreCAM.HIPC (MC), and a 3D-printed composite—Saremco Print Crowntec (PC). Specimens were analyzed before (T0) and after hydrothermal aging for 5000 (T1), 10,000 (T2), and 30,000 cycles (T3). Optical stability was assessed through the change in color (ΔE₀₀) and translucency parameter (TP) after aging and immersion in beverages. Surface topography was evaluated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), while Raman spectroscopy was employed to detect aging-induced molecular changes. After aging and staining, all composites exceeded the acceptability threshold for color change. ΔE₀₀ values of 6.8 ± 1.1 (PC), 4.6 ± 0.9 (MC), and 2.1 ± 0.9 (LCC), obtained after initial aging, further increased following prolonged immersion in coffee. After 1 day of immersion in Coca-Cola, MC exhibited the highest ΔE₀₀ values, which slightly exceeded the clinically acceptable threshold. Prolonged immersion (7 days) significantly increased staining for all materials. TP values significantly differed among materials, with the highest values detected for LCC (20.6 ± 3.6) and PC (19.1 ± 1.5) and the lowest values detected for MC (4.9 ± 0.8). Overall, the results demonstrated that ΔE₀₀ was strongly influenced by the processing route and surface topography, whereas changes in translucency parameter (TP) were predominantly governed by the intrinsic properties of the resin composites. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to compare AI-generated educational material with faculty-authored content in Dental Prostheses Technology, evaluating perceived clarity, accuracy, structure, usefulness, and overall instructional quality across different age and professional groups. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using two versions of the first three chapters of a prosthodontics textbook: the original faculty-authored text and a reformulated version generated by ChatGPT 5.2 (OpenAI). Images were removed and formatting standardized to ensure a text-only comparison. An anonymized online questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale assessed clarity, accuracy, readability, usefulness and structure. To reduce potential bias, participants were unaware of the authorship of the evaluated materials (human-authored vs. AI-generated). A total of 130 participants independently reviewed both documents. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank, Mann–Whitney U, and Friedman tests. Results: Both materials received favorable evaluations across all dimensions. The AI-generated version demonstrated a statistically significant advantage in clarity (Z = −2.107, p = 0.035; r = 0.19), while no significant differences were observed for structure, accuracy, readability, or usefulness. Generational differences emerged: younger participants valued improved clarity but reported reduced usefulness, mid-career participants showed the greatest improvement in perceived accuracy, and senior professionals reported substantial gains in usefulness and readability. Conclusions: AI-generated educational material demonstrates pedagogical equivalence to faculty-authored content, with clarity representing its principal advantage. Large language models may serve as effective complementary tools in dental education, particularly for restructuring complex content. Full article

Surface roughness and mechanical performance are critical determinants of the clinical behavior, hygiene, and longevity of denture base materials. This study investigated the influence of two extrusion temperatures—280 °C and 300 °C—on both the surface roughness and compressive strength of ThermoSens thermoplastic polymer specimens over a 7-day immersion period. Surface roughness was evaluated at baseline, 24 h, and 7 days using a contact profilometer, while compressive strength was measured after 7 days following ISO 604 guidelines. Samples processed at 300 °C exhibited a significantly greater reduction in surface roughness over time (28.3%) compared with those processed at 280 °C (18.3%). However, although specimens processed at 300 °C showed a greater percentage reduction, their absolute roughness values remained higher than those processed at 280 °C. Compression testing demonstrated higher strength and modulus values in the 300 °C group (91.6 ± 1.8 MPa; 1887.9 ± 42.3 MPa) compared to the 280 °C group (82.3 ± 2.1 MPa; 1755.4 ± 38.7 MPa). These findings indicate a trade-off between improved mechanical performance at higher processing temperatures and lower surface roughness at lower temperatures, highlighting the need for the careful optimization of processing conditions. Full article

Objective: CAD-CAM technology enables biomimetic dentistry by producing highly accurate, minimally invasive restorations that replicate the biomechanical behavior of intact teeth. This study evaluated the fracture resistance of overlays with margins at different supragingival levels, including a flat occlusal design and compared them with conventional full crowns. All restorations were fabricated from chairside CAD/CAM resin-matrix ceramic for maxillary premolars. Methods and Materials: Sixty-four CAD/CAM resin-matrix ceramic restorations were fabricated and randomly assigned to four groups (n = 16): (1) overlay with a margin 2 mm above the gingiva (Ov2m); (2) overlay with a 4 mm supragingival margin (Ov4m); (3) overlay with a 4 mm margin and flat occlusal surface (OvF4m); and (4) full-coverage crown with a gingival-level margin (FCC). Preparations were standardized by one operator. Restorations were adhesively cemented to resin dies, thermocycled 10,000 times (5–55 °C), and loaded to failure in a universal testing machine (1 mm/min). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc tests (α = 0.001). Results: Among overlays, Ov2m showed the highest fracture resistance (1605 ± 88 N), followed by Ov4m (1403 ± 63 N). OvF4m recorded the lowest value (1257 ± 73 N). FCC exhibited the greatest overall resistance (1838 ± 106 N), significantly higher than that of any overlay group. Conclusions: Overlays with margins 2 mm above the gingiva had higher fracture resistance than those with more coronal margins or flat occlusal designs. Full-coverage crowns showed the greatest strength, highlighting the impact of margin position and preparation design on restoration performance. Full article

Background and aim: The influence of fabrication techniques, cement type, and cyclic loading on the marginal adaptation of lithium disilicate crowns remains a clinical concern that may affect their long-term performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cyclic loading and cement type on the marginal fit of milled and pressed lithium disilicate crowns. Methods: Twenty lithium disilicate crowns were fabricated and divided into two groups based on the manufacturing technique: milled and pressed (n = 10 each). Each group was further subdivided according to the cement type: resin or resin-modified glass ionomer (n = 5 per group). Crowns were cemented on standardized epoxy resin dies, and the marginal gap was measured using a stereomicroscope before and after cyclic loading. Cyclic loading was performed at 50 N for 37,000 cycles. Data were statistically analyzed using a three-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results: Milled crowns showed marginal gaps ranging from 52 to 57 µm, whereas the pressed crowns exhibited smaller gaps ranging from 39 to 47 µm. Neither the cement type nor the cyclic loading produced a significant difference in the marginal gap values (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Pressed lithium disilicate crowns exhibited superior marginal adaptation compared with the milled crowns. Neither the type of cement nor the cyclic loading had a significant effect on the marginal gap. Both fabrication techniques yielded clinically acceptable fits (<100 µm). Full article

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiographic performance of zirconia dental implants with one-piece and two-piece configurations supporting single-tooth restorations. The primary outcome was implant survival, while the secondary outcome was the assessment of interproximal marginal bone loss (MBL) over time. Materials and methods: A total of 67 implants placed in 55 patients were included, with a mean follow-up of 60.6 months. Forty-five implants were one-piece systems and twenty-two were two-piece systems. All surgical and prosthetic procedures were performed by the same operator, following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Final restorations were delivered three months after implant placement. Marginal bone levels were assessed radiographically at the time of definitive prosthesis delivery (T0) and at the last follow-up examination (T1). Statistical significance level was set at 5% (α = 0.05). Results: The overall implant survival rate was 100% in both groups. One-piece implants showed higher initial MBL values than two-piece implants; however, bone level changes over time were limited in both configurations, with no significant intra-group differences between T0 and T1. Conclusions: Both implant configurations showed excellent clinical and radiographic outcomes, with a 100% survival rate and limited marginal bone loss during long-term follow-up. Marginal bone levels appeared to be influenced more by implant neck design than by implant configuration, suggesting that zirconia implants with a smooth transmucosal design may represent a reliable metal-free option for single-tooth rehabilitation in properly selected patients. Full article

Background: The cost-effectiveness of immediate versus conventional loading of two-implant overdentures (2-IODs) remains unclear. This exploratory randomized clinical trial compared the economic and clinical outcomes of these protocols over 24 months. Methods: Seventeen edentulous patients were randomly assigned to conventional (CL, n = 7) or immediate loading (IL, n = 10). Outcomes included longitudinal changes (Δ) in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHIP-EDENT-J), Patient Denture Assessment (PDA), and satisfaction. Costs were analyzed from a healthcare provider perspective. Between-group comparisons of Δ scores were performed using Mann–Whitney U tests to adjust for baseline imbalances. Results: Both protocols showed trends toward clinical improvement. However, between-group analysis of longitudinal change scores (Δ) revealed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). The immediate loading protocol incurred 44.7% higher direct costs without demonstrating statistically superior patient-reported benefits. Individual-level analysis via a cost-effectiveness plane showed high variability and significant overlap between groups. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this exploratory pilot study, no statistically significant differences in clinical outcomes were found between loading protocols. Descriptively, conventionally loaded 2-IODs were associated with lower resource intensity and a more stable clinical trajectory in this cohort. These preliminary findings suggest that immediate loading may not offer a clear economic advantage, though larger multicenter trials are required for a definitive assessment. Full article

Titanium–silver (Ti–Ag) and titanium–copper (Ti–Cu) alloys have been developed to improve the mechanical properties and machinability of titanium (Ti) for dental applications while maintaining corrosion resistance comparable to that of pure Ti. Herein, cylindrical dental implants composed of experimental Ti–20Ag, Ti–30Ag, Ti–5Cu, and Ti–10Cu (mass%) alloys were fabricated and implanted into the jawbones of beagle dogs to evaluate bone compatibility. Pure Ti and Ti–6Al–4V alloy implants were used as controls. Because the implant surfaces were mechanically polished, the experimental alloys, which exhibited higher hardness than Ti, showed lower surface roughness than Ti. Radiographic observations revealed no remarkable bone resorption around any implants during the experimental period. Histological evaluation demonstrated new bone formation and partial bone contact around implants at 1 and 3 months post-implantation. Although the bone–implant contact ratio was relatively low owing to the cylindrical implant design and limited initial stability, no significant differences were observed between the experimental alloys and Ti. These results indicate that Ti–Ag and Ti–Cu alloys improve mechanical properties while maintaining bone compatibility comparable to that of Ti, suggesting their potential as candidate materials for dental implant applications, particularly for narrow dental implants. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of thermocycling on surface roughness (Ra), gloss (GU), color stability (ΔE₀₀), and water sorption of interim materials manufactured by three methods. Disc specimens (n = 20/group) were fabricated from a conventional bis-acryl (PreVISION^® Temp), a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)-milled methacrylate-based composite (StructurCAD Disc^®), and a 3D-printed resin composite (Alias Dental Temp C&B^®). Two disc dimensions were used: 10 × 2 mm for Ra, GU, and color, and 15 × 1 mm for water sorption. Measurements were performed before and after thermocycling (10,000 cycles; 5–55 °C). Nonparametric tests were used (α = 0.05). After thermocycling, Ra increased in the conventional and 3D-printed groups, whereas the milled group demonstrated a decrease (p < 0.05). GU decreased across all groups (p < 0.001) and differed among materials (p = 0.021), with a significant difference only between milled and 3D-printed groups. Color stability differed among materials (p < 0.001): the milled group showed the lowest ΔE₀₀ perceptibility threshold (below PT₀₀ = 0.81), whereas conventional and 3D-printed groups exceeded the acceptability threshold (AT₀₀ = 1.81). Water sorption differed among groups (p < 0.001), with a significant difference between the milled and 3D-printed groups (p < 0.001). The tested 3D-printed material exhibited less favorable post-thermocycling optical properties, whereas the evaluated CAD/CAM-milled material demonstrated more favorable overall surface and optical performance under the applied aging conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prosthodontic restoration design plays a key role in the long-term success of implant-supported treatments and in maintaining peri-implant tissue health. Inadequate emergence angles and profiles can compromise tissue stability and negatively influence clinical outcomes. Generative design, as an algorithm-driven optimization approach, requires the definition of key parameters in advance to guide the process and determine the final shape of the hybrid implant abutment. Methods: A detailed literature review of the PubMed and Scopus databases was performed to find appropriate studies published up to 1 December 2025. Studies that investigated the emergence angle and emergence profile of implant-supported restorations were included. Seventeen studies fulfilled criteria and were included in the final analysis. Results: While the optimal emergence angle is still debatable, the literature suggests that an angle less than 30° may be beneficial. However, a concave emergence profile of implant-supported restoration has a significant role in improving stability and maintaining peri-implant health. Conclusions: Careful characterization and evaluation of the included parameters provide useful insights for generative design workflows, enabling the creation of implant abutment designs that maintain a balance between mechanical performance and biological compatibility. Full article

Multilayer zirconias have recently been introduced as dental biomaterials to combine improved translucency with sufficient mechanical reliability by implementing yttria-driven gradients in phase composition. Such materials can be considered functionally graded ceramics, where local phase stabilization influences strength and crack resistance. However, manufacturer-specific gradient profiles and their structure–property relationships remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigated two commercially available multilayer zirconias with distinct gradient concepts: IPS e.max^® ZirCAD Prime (continuous gradient) and KATANA™ Zirconia YML (stepwise gradient). Ten equidistant sections along the blank height were analyzed using quantitative X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement to quantify zirconia phase fractions and estimate local Y₂O₃ content. Mechanical behavior was evaluated by biaxial flexural strength testing (ball-on-three-balls method) and fracture toughness testing using the chevron-notched beam technique. Both materials exhibited pronounced yttria- and phase-dependent gradients consistent with their reported layer designs. Regions with increased yttria content showed higher t″ fractions and reduced fracture toughness and strength, whereas deeper regions displayed increased mechanical performance associated with higher fractions of transformable tetragonal phase. These findings emphasize that multilayer zirconias exhibit spatially dependent mechanical properties, which should be considered in biomaterial selection and restoration design, particularly when balancing aesthetic demands and fracture resistance. Full article