Common Oral Diseases Research Articles

Detecting high-risk neighborhoods and socioeconomic determinants for common oral diseases in Germany

BackgroundIdeally, health services and interventions to improve dental health should be tailored to local target populations. But this is not the standard. Little is known about risk clusters in dental health care and their evaluation based on small-scale, spatial data, particularly among under-represented groups in health surveys. Our study aims to investigate the incidence rates of major oral diseases among privately insured and self-paying individuals in Germany, explore the spatial clustering of these diseases, and evaluate the influence of social determinants on oral disease risk clusters using advanced data analysis techniques, i.e. machine learning.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed to calculate the age- and sex-standardized incidence rate of oral diseases in a study population of privately insured and self-pay patients in Germany who received dental treatment between 2016 and 2021. This was based on anonymized claims data from BFS health finance, Bertelsmann, Dortmund, Germany. The disease history of individuals was recorded and aggregated at the ZIP code 5 level (n = 8871).ResultsStatistically significant, spatially compact clusters and relative risks (RR) of incidence rates were identified. By linking disease and socioeconomic databases on the ZIP-5 level, local risk models for each disease were estimated based on spatial-neighborhood variables using different machine learning models. We found that dental diseases were spatially clustered among privately insured and self-payer patients in Germany. Incidence rates within clusters were significantly elevated compared to incidence rates outside clusters. The relative risks (RR) for a new dental disease in primary risk clusters were min = 1.3 (irreversible pulpitis; 95%-CI = 1.3–1.3) and max = 2.7 (periodontitis; 95%-CI = 2.6–2.8), depending on the disease. Despite some similarity in the importance of variables from machine learning models across different clusters, each cluster is unique and must be treated as such when addressing oral public health threats.ConclusionsOur study analyzed the incidence of major oral diseases in Germany and employed spatial methods to identify and characterize high-risk clusters for targeted interventions. We found that private claims data, combined with a network-based, data-driven approach, can effectively pinpoint areas and factors relevant to oral healthcare, including socioeconomic determinants like income and occupational status. The methodology presented here enables the identification of disease clusters of greatest demand, which would allow implementing more targeted approaches and improve access to quality care where they can have the most impact.

Epstein-Barr Virus Promotes Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Human Gingival Fibroblasts

BackgroundPeriodontitis is one of the most common chronic oral inflammatory diseases. Over the past decade, herpes viruses, particularly Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), have been considered promising pathogenic candidates for periodontitis. However, the specific mechanism by which EBV contributes to the development of periodontitis is still unknown. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of EBV underlying the inflammatory response in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Materials and methodsHGFs were stimulated with different concentrations of EBV (104, 105, 106, 107, and 108 DNA copies/mL) for 0, 8, 24, or 48 hours. The mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were performed for determining the mRNA and protein levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, and MCP-1. Real-time PCR and ELISA were performed to determine the protein levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, and MCP-1. Activation of the TLR9/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway was evaluated using western blotting. ResultsThe expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, and MCP-1 were significantly upregulated in HGFs under EBV stimulation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. EBV promoted TLR9 and MyD88 expression and induced NF-κB transcription. On the contrary, the upregulation of these factors and the activation of NF-κB pathway were drastically inhibited by TLR9 antagonists. ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that EBV promotes the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α and chemokines IL-8 and MCP-1 in HGFs through the TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

A bibliometric study on research trends and hotspots of recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Background/purposeRecurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral mucosal disease. Despite a variety of scientific articles have been available till date, merely a few scientometric analyses have been systematically carried out in this field. The objective of this study was to recognize the hotspots and research trends related to RAS via bibliometric approach. Materials and methodsThe Elsevier's Scopus database was searched to retrieve qualified literature through an advanced search strategy on 9 Feb 2023. The basic information was collected as following: article type, publication year, journals, impact factor, the count of citations, citation density, keywords, authors, contributing institutions and country. ResultsA list of 986 publications were identified from 1933 to 2022, and the number of citations for each paper varied from 0 to 283. A steady increasing trend in the number of documents could be observed each decade with the summit in 2010s. Controlled study (n = 334) and major clinical study (n = 192) were the most common types of study design. Scully C (n = 26) was identified as the most productive author. United States (n = 166) and Turkey (n = 101) top the list of dedicating countries. ConclusionThis report would offer profound insight into the current status of RAS research and serve as a reference source for anyone planning to enhance the quality of future work.

BML-111 inhibit H2O2-induced pyroptosis and osteogenic dysfunction of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

BackgroundPeriodontitis is a common and harmful chronic inflammatory oral disease, characterized by the destruction of periodontal soft and hard tissues. The NLRP3 inflammasome-related pyroptosis and human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLFs) osteogenic dysfunction are involved in its pathogenesis. Studies have shown that lipoxin A4 is an endogenous anti-inflammatory mediator and BML-111 is a lipoxin A4 analog, which was found to have potent and durable anti-inflammatory effects in inflammatory diseases, but the mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether BML-111 inhibits H2O2-induced dysfunction of hPDLFs, attenuates inflammatory responses, and identifies the underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe oxidative stress model was established with H2O2, and the cell proliferation activity was measured by CCK-8. ALP staining and alizarin red staining were used to detect the osteogenic differentiation capacity of cells; flow cytometry and ELISA were used to detect cell pyroptosis; we explored the effect of BML-111 on hPDLFs under oxidative stress by analyzing the results of PCR and Western blotting. The Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 was added to further identify the target of BML-111 and clarify its mechanism.ResultsBML-111 can alleviate the impaired cell proliferation viability induced by H2O2. H2O2 treatment can induce NLRP3 inflammasome-related pyroptosis, impairing the osteogenic differentiation capacity of hPDLFs. BML-111 can effectively alleviate H2O2-induced cellular dysfunction by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.ConclusionThe results of this study confirmed the beneficial effects of BML-111 on H2O2-induced NLRP3 inflammasome-related pyroptosis in hPDLFs, and BML-111 could effectively attenuate the impaired osteogenic differentiation function. This beneficial effect is achieved by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, therefore, our results suggest that BML-111 is a potential drug for the treatment of periodontitis.

Blocking CXCR1/2 attenuates experimental periodontitis by suppressing neutrophils recruitment

Periodontitis (PD) is a common chronic oral inflammatory disease that cause alveolar bone loss. Current strategies for bone regeneration achieve limited results in PD. The aberrant host osteoimmunity to pathogenic bacteria is responsible for the destruction of alveolar bone in PD. We aimed to investigate the distinctive activity of immune cells in PD to create more effective and precise therapeutic approaches for treating PD. In this study, we revealed that neutrophils in the inflamed alveolar bone of PD patients expressed higher levels of CXCR1/2 and had a stronger pro-inflammatory capacity and chemotactic ability than that in healthy individuals. Suppressing the recruitment of neutrophils to inflamed sites with the CXCR1/2 inhibitor reparixin reduced alveolar bone loss in PD mice. In this study, we not only revealed that neutrophils exhibit a heterogeneously stronger pro-inflammatory capacity in the inflamed alveolar bone of PD patients but also provided a precise therapeutic treatment for PD involving the suppression of neutrophil recruitment.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЯ И ПРОЯВЛЕНИЯ ЭШЕРИХИОЗА У ТЕЛЯТ

The aim of the work was to study the epizootological features, the spread and manifestation of escherichiosis in calves. The distribution, epizootological features, course, and clinical manifestation of escherichiosis in calves were studied. Patmaterial was taken from sick and fallen calves and sent to the GBU Kropotkin Regional Veterinary Laboratory to clarify the laboratory diagnosis." 32 infectious diseases have been identified, of which 13 are of viral etiology and 19 are bacterial infections. In livestock enterprises of the Krasnodar Territory, calves were found to have common infectious diseases leukemia, parainfluenza-3, viral diarrhea, adenovirus infection, oral and coronavirus disease, rabies. Among infectious diseases of bacterial etiology, the most common diseases were colibacteriosis, enterococcosis, streptococcosis, pseudomoniasis, campylobacteriosis, pasteurellosis and malignant edema. Escherichiosis in livestock farms of the Krasnodar Territory in the period 2017-2021 was found in calves in 22 districts of the region. At the same time, they were detected in the Caucasus (33%), Kanevsky (13%), Korenovsky (9%), Timashevsky (8%), Leningrad (7%) districts. Bacteriological and serological methods revealed 16 variants of E. coli O20 (17%), O55 (12%), O26 (8%), O86 (7%). Escherichiosis in the Krasnodar Territory is the most common disease in calves, manifested by a syndrome of damage to the respiratory tract and inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal system. In case of escherichiosis in sick calves, superacute, acute course of escherichiosis, enteritic and septic forms of manifestation were detected in two farms of the Leningrad and Caucasian districts of the Krasnodar Territory.

Recent advances in periodontal regeneration – A review

Periodontal Disease (PD) is one of the most common inflammatory oral diseases, affecting approximately 47% of adults aged 30 years or older in the United States. If not treated properly, PD leads to degradation of periodontal tissues, causing tooth movement, and eventually tooth loss. Conventional clinical therapy for PD aims at eliminating infectious sources and reducing inflammation to arrest disease progression, which cannot achieve the regeneration of lost periodontal tissues. Over the past two decades, various regenerative periodontal therapies, such as Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR), enamel matrix derivative, bone grafts, growth factor delivery, and the combination of cells and growth factors with matrix-based scaffolds, have been developed to target the restoration of lost tooth-supporting tissues, including the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and cementum. This review discusses recent progress in periodontal regeneration using tissue-engineering and regenerative medicine approaches. Specifically, the focus is on the advances in biomaterials and controlled drug delivery for periodontal regeneration in recent years. Special attention is given to the development of advanced bio-inspired scaffolding biomaterials and temporospatial control of multi-drug delivery for the regeneration of the cementum-periodontal ligament-alveolar bone complex. Challenges and future perspectives are presented to provide inspiration for the design and development of innovative biomaterials and delivery systems for new regenerative periodontal therapy.

Health Cadre Training on Understanding Caries, Dental Supporting Tissue and Dental Systemic Diseases at Aisyiyah Pandowoharjo Sleman Yogyakarta

Abstract. Dental and oral health for most people is still not a priority, this can be seen from the data that dental and oral diseases still dominate Indonesian society. Support from community group cadres is needed to increase awareness of dental and oral health, especially regarding dental caries and perio tissue disease, because these two diseases are the most common oral diseases in society. Mothers who are members of Aisyiah in Pandowoharjo District, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, are potential cadres to help increase public awareness of real actions to maintain dental and oral health and specifically recognize dental caries and periodontal tissue disease, including preventive measures and early detection. However, to make Aisyiah members into cadres, effective training is needed because the partners do not have academic or professional backgrounds related to health. The training for Aisyiah member mothers will involve colleagues from FKG UMY who specialize in dental caries and periodontal tissue so that they can explain actual case examples and provide appropriate input for training participants. However, it is preceded by an introduction to the basics of dental and oral health, especially those related to dental caries and perio tissue.

Study of Prevalence of Oral Diseases in The Population of District Buner Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background: Oral diseases, prevalent globally, pose significant health challenges, especially in regions with limited healthcare resources. District Buner, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, is one such area where oral health has received minimal attention. The study of oral diseases in this region is crucial for understanding the health needs of its population and for implementing effective public health interventions. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and types of oral diseases in District Buner and to identify the major contributing factors to these conditions, thereby informing targeted healthcare strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to October 2020 in all tehsils of District Buner. Data collection was based on questionnaires administered to both dentists and patients. Approximately 20 to 25 dentists from various healthcare facilities, including government hospitals and private clinics, participated in the study. The questionnaires for dentists consisted of ten open-ended questions, while those for patients included fifteen close-ended questions. The sample size was 508 individuals, representing various age groups and genders. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistical methods to determine prevalence rates and associations. Results: The study revealed that the most common oral diseases were dental caries (90%), gingivitis (63%), periodontitis (59%), pulpitis (43%), TMJ disorders (23%), and oral cancer (5%). Dental caries was notably prevalent across all age groups, with a higher incidence in children. Gingivitis was observed more in females, particularly during pregnancy. Periodontitis and gingivitis showed a greater prevalence in males, often associated with smoking. Pulpitis was more common in females, while TMJ disorders were evenly distributed among genders. Oral cancer was the least prevalent disease. Conclusion: The study underscores the critical need for improved oral health awareness and preventive care in District Buner. The high prevalence of various oral diseases, influenced by factors such as dietary habits, smoking, and gender-specific issues, calls for comprehensive public health strategies. These strategies should include education on oral hygiene, increased access to dental care, and integration of oral health into general healthcare services.

A Thermally Stable Recombinant Human Fibronectin Peptide-Fused Protein (rhFN3C) for Faster Aphthous Ulcer (AU) Healing.

Approximately 59.4-100% of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or radio chemotherapy suffer from aphthous ulcers (AUs), which seriously affect the subsequent treatment. At the same time, AUs are a common oral mucosal disease with a high incidence rate among the population, often accompanied by severe pain, and affect both physical and mental health. Strategies to increase the ulcer healing rate and relieve pain symptoms quickly is a long-term clinical objective. Oral mucosal discontinuity is the main histological hallmark of AUs. So, covering the inner mucosal defect with an in vitro engineered oral mucosal equivalent shows good prospects for AU alleviation. Fibronectin (FN) is a glycopeptide in the extracellular matrix and exhibits opsonic properties, aiding the phagocytosis and clearance of foreign pathogens through all stages of ulcer healing. But native FN comes from animal blood, which has potential health risks. rhFN3C was designed with multi-domains of native FN, whose core functions are the recruitment of cells and growth factors to accelerate AU healing. rhFN3C is a peptide-fused recombinant protein. The peptides are derived from the positions of 1444-1545 (FNIII10) and 1632-1901 (FNIII12-14) in human native FN. We optimized the fermentation conditions of rhFN3C in E. coli BL21 to enable high expression levels. rhFN3C is thermally stable and nontoxic for L929, strongly promotes the migration and adhesion of HaCaT, decreases the incidence of wound infection, and shortens the mean healing time by about 2 days compared to others (p < 0.01). rhFN3C may have great potential for use in the treatment of AUs. The specific methods and mechanisms of rhFN3C are yet to be investigated.

Oral microbiota relationship with and without gingivitis in Iraqi patients

Gingivitis is a common oral disease characterized by inflammation of the gum tissues, predominantly caused by microbial dysbiosis. The study aimed to anticipate that the comparative analysis of oral microbiota in Iraqi patients with and without gingivitis would reveal distinct microbial profiles associated with the disease. A cross-sectional study was conducted on Iraqi patients aged 18-65, including males and females. One hundred patients and 50 healthy samples were collected from January to May 2023, diagnosed by Vitek 2 compact system and 16SrRNA. Two hundred and thirty five isolates were obtained form both techniques as four groups:Anaerobic gram-positive (Actinomyces odontolyticus, Actinomyces naeslundii, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus anginusom, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oralis, Clostridium sordelli, Group C streptococcus,Streptococcus saliveris, Clostridium histolyticum, Lactobacillus spp., Anaerococcus prevoti, Gemella morbillorum, Turicella Otitidis , Enterococcus casseliflavus, Anaerobic gram-negative(Fusobacterium nucleatum, Vellionela spp., Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium mortiifirum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intemedia, Fusobacterium varium, Prevotella disiens, Ggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Enterobacter hormaechei), Facultative gram-positive (Bacillus amyloliquefacieneus,Bacillus atrophaeus, Rothia sp., Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus megaterium, Erysipelothrix sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus), and Facultative gram-negative bacteria (Pantoea calida, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas putida, Acinetobacter pitti). The anaerobic gram-negative bacteria were the most likely to cause gum diseases. On the other hand the confidence intervals for other group could be attributed to oral disease.Furthermore, these findings can contribute to developing diagnostic and treatment strategies for gingivitis in Iraq.

Protective effects of mouthwash formulations of &lt;i&gt;Syzygium polyantha&lt;/i&gt; (L.) and &lt;i&gt;Piper betel&lt;/i&gt; (L.) on oral microbiota-induced gingivitis

Using a combination of natural ingredients as a mouthwash was expected to have a synergistic effect in preventing gingivitis, a common oral disease. The objective of this study was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect of different proportions of mouthwash infusions: F1 (75% Syzygium polyantha and 25% Piper betle) and F2 (25% Syzygium polyantha and 75% Piper betle) on oral microbiota causing gingivitis. Twenty-four Rattus norvegicus were divided into four groups, and bacteria were injected into the periodontal sulcus. The anti-inflammatory effect was assessed by calculating the reduced number of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes. A cytotoxicity test was carried out on the normal fibroblast cell line 3T3-L1. There were no significant differences in the decreased number of PMN leukocytes (p = 0.079 &gt; 0.05). Both F1 and F2 showed results of cell viability approaching 100% of living cells at concentrations of 0.29 ppm and 0.04 ppm, equivalent to 0.058% and 0.029%, respectively. This study concluded that both formulations of Syzygium polyantha and Piper betle have potential effects on gingivitis prevention. They had an effectiveness level almost similar to Chlorhexidine gluconate 2%. The toxicity value of formulation F1 is superior to that of formulation F2. Further studies concerning the toxicity of the mixtures and their effect on oral biofilm are needed.

Periodontitis salivary microbiota exacerbates colitis-induced anxiety-like behavior via gut microbiota

The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system between the gut and central nervous system. Many host-related factors can affect gut microbiota, including oral bacteria, making the brain a vulnerable target via the gut–brain axis. Saliva contains a large number of oral bacteria, and periodontitis, a common oral disease, can change the composition of salivary microbiota. However, the role and mechanism of periodontitis salivary microbiota (PSM) on the gut–brain axis remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the nature and mechanisms of this relationship using the mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced anxiety-like behavior. Compared with healthy salivary microbiota, PSM worsened anxiety-like behavior; it significantly reduced the number of normal neurons and activated microglia in DSS mice. Antibiotic treatment eliminated the effect of PSM on anxiety-like behavior, and transplantation of fecal microbiota from PSM-gavaged mice exacerbated anxiety-like behavior. These observations indicated that the anxiety-exacerbating effect of PSM was dependent on the gut microbiota. Moreover, the PSM effect on anxiety-like behavior was not present in non-DSS mice, indicating that DSS treatment was a prerequisite for PSM to exacerbate anxiety. Mechanistically, PSM altered the histidine metabolism in both gut and brain metabolomics. Supplementation of histidine-related metabolites had a similar anxiety-exacerbating effect as that of PSM, suggesting that histidine metabolism may be a critical pathway in this process. Our results demonstrate that PSM can exacerbate colitis-induced anxiety-like behavior by directly affecting the host gut microbiota, emphasizing the importance of oral diseases in the gut–brain axis.

The Relationship between Frequency of Consumption of Cariogenic Foods and DMF-T Index in 12-Year-Old Children

The most common oral disease in Indonesia is dental cavities, especially common in school-age children due to their tendency to favor sweet and sticky foods that can cause dental caries. This study aims to identify the relationship between the frequency of cariogenic food consumption and the DMF-T index in 12-year-old children at SDN 05 Batu Taba, Ampek Angkek District, Agam Regency in 2023. This type of research is an analytic study with a cross-sectional design. The study population included 47 respondents aged 12 years from SDN 05 Batu Taba. The research methods involved interviews regarding the frequency of cariogenic food consumption and DMF-T index examination. Data analysis involved univariate and bivariate analysis, with the chi-square test used for bivariate analysis. The results showed that the frequency distribution of cariogenic food consumption was categorized as low 63.8%, medium 19.1%, high 17.0%, and very high 0%. The frequency distribution of dental caries in the good category reached 42.6%, while the bad category reached 57.4%. The statistical test results showed a ρ value of 0.016 &lt;0.005. The conclusion of this study is that there is a significant relationship between the frequency of cariogenic food consumption and the DMF-T index in 12-year-old children at SDN 05 Batu Taba, Ampek Angkek District, Agam Regency. It is recommended to intensify the longitudinal study to better understand the behavioral changes of cariogenic food consumption frequency and its impact on DMF-T index over time.

Barrier membranes for periodontal guided bone regeneration: a potential therapeutic strategy

Periodontal disease is one of the most common oral diseases with the highest incidence world-wide. In particular, the treatment of periodontal bone defects caused by periodontitis has attracted extensive attention. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) has been recognized as advanced treatment techniques for periodontal bone defects. GBR technique relies on the application of barrier membranes to protect the bone defects. The commonly used GBR membranes are resorbable and non-resorbable. Resorbable GBR membranes are divided into natural polymer resorbable membranes and synthetic polymer resorbable membranes. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The current research focuses on exploring and improving its preparation and application. This review summarizes the recent literature on the application of GBR membranes to promote the regeneration of periodontal bone defects, elaborates on GBR development strategies, specific applications, and the progress of inducing periodontal bone regeneration to provide a theoretical basis and ideas for the future application of GBR membranes to promote the repair of periodontal bone defects.

Microenvironment-Driven Fenton Nanoreactor Enabled by Metal-Phenolic Encapsulation of Calcium Peroxide for Effective Control of Dental Caries.

Caries are one of the most common oral diseases caused by pathogenic bacterial infections, which are widespread and persistently harmful to human health. Using nanoparticles to invade biofilms and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situ is a promising strategy for killing bacteria and disrupting the structure of biofilms. In this work, a biofilm-targeting Fenton nanoreactor is reported that can generate ROS responsive to the cariogenic microenvironment. The nanoreactor is constructed by metal-phenolic encapsulation of calcium peroxide (CaO2) followed by modification with a biofilm targeting ligand dextran. Within the cariogenic biofilm, the Fenton nanoreactor is activated by an acidic microenvironment to be decomposed into H2O2 and iron ions, triggering a Fenton-like reaction to generate ROS that can eliminate the biofilm by breaking down extracellular polymeric substances(EPS)and killing cariogenic bacteria. Meanwhile, the depletion of excess protons in biofilm leads to a reversal of the cariogenic microenvironment. The Fenton nanoreactor can effectively inhibit the biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans on ex vivo human teeth and is effective in preventing caries meanwhile maintaining the oral microbial diversity in rat caries infection model. This work provides a novel and efficient modality for acid microenvironment-driven ROS therapy.

Enhanced Bonding to Caries-Affected Dentin Using an Isocyanate-Based Primer

Dental caries is the most common oral disease and the most common cause of resin restorations. In minimally invasive dentistry, the principle behind cavity preparation is to remove external caries-infected dentin (CID) and preserve internal caries-affected dentin (CAD) and sound dentin (SD). The cavity floor is mainly composed of CAD, but the poor bonding performance of CAD has become a widespread concern. This study evaluated the performance of a new collagen-reactive monomer (ITCM) used as a primer to improve the bonding performance of CAD. The experimental specimens were grouped as follows: SD, CAD, and ITCM-pretreated CAD (CAD-ITCM). Dentin slices were obtained for attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) analysis. The bonded samples were subjected to microtensile bond strength analysis after 24 h of water storage or aging by thermocycling, and the bonding interface quality was evaluated by nanoleakage assessment, interfacial nanoindentation testing, and in situ zymography. Cytotoxicity experiments with ITCM were performed. ATR-FTIR showed that the isocyanate groups in ITCM can covalently bind and form hydrogen bonds with the collagen in CAD to mediate chemical bonding. ITCM pretreatment significantly improved the bond strength of CAD (P < 0.05), reduced interfacial nanoleakage, improved the sealing of the bonding interface, enhanced the homogeneity of the hybrid layer, and inhibited matrix metalloproteinase activity. In addition, ITCM presented acceptable biocompatibility for dental restorative application. Taken together, this study reported the application of ITCM to induce collagen-based chemical bonding in the CAD bonding system, which fills the gap in strategies to improve the bonding performance of CAD immediately and after aging and has important clinical application prospects.

Prevalence of Dental Caries and Predisposing Factors in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Prevalence of Dental Caries and Predisposing Factors in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of&#x0D; Port Harcourt&#x0D; Background: Dental caries is a common oral health disease of global interest. The burden of thedisease and predisposing factors must be determined before a preventive programme could bedesigned, but relevant data from community-based studies are not common in Rivers State.Aims and Objectives: This study was designed to determine the prevalence and predisposing factorsto caries development in the Local Government Area (LGA).Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among adultresidents in Obio-Akpor LGA of Rivers State. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was usedto collect personal data and caries predisposing factors while oral examination was carried out todetermine caries severity and oral hygiene status using DMFT and OHI-S indexes respectively. Thesample size (240) was determined using the formula for descriptive studies.Results: The mean (SD) age was 32(±1.113) years. Most of the participants were married, Ikwerres,skilled workers, earn &amp;lt;100dollar and most had secondary education. Most seldom/never use tobaccoproducts. Most ate fresh fruits every day or several times a week and most also ate cariogenic dietevery day or several times a day. Most use fluoride toothpaste once a day and most do not use floss.Most have never seen a dentist. The prevalence of untreated caries was 64.2%. DMFT score=0.91(very low). The OHI-S = 3.3. (&amp;gt;3 indicates poor OHI).Conclusions: The DMFT index was low while OHI-S was high. Poor oral hygiene status, oralhealthcare utilization and cariogenic diets predisposed the participants to caries.Key words: Caries, prevalence, predisposing factors, prevention

The Power of Licorice (Radix glycyrrhizae) to Improve Oral Health: A Comprehensive Review of Its Pharmacological Properties and Clinical Implications.

Licorice (Radix glycyrrhizae) is a plant root extract widely used in various applications, including cosmetics, food supplements, and traditional medicine. It has a long history of medicinal use in different cultures due to its diverse pharmacological properties. Licorice has traditionally been used for treating gastrointestinal problems, respiratory infections, cough, bronchitis, arthritis, and skin conditions. In recent years, the potential therapeutic benefits of licorice for oral health have gained significant interest. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the effects of licorice extracts and their bioactive components on common oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis, halitosis, candidiasis, and recurrent aphthous ulcers. The chemical composition of licorice has shown the presence of several bioactive compounds such as glycyrrhizin, glabridin, isoliquiritigenin (ISL), and licochalcone exhibiting various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory effects. Interestingly, in certain patients, licorice has shown a promising potential to inhibit the spread of viruses, prevent biofilm formation, reduce inflammation, boost immune responses, alleviate pain, and exert antioxidative effects. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the current understanding of licorice's therapeutic benefits in the treatment of oral ailments, emphasising its potential as an alternative treatment option for oral diseases. Further research is warranted to explore its efficacy, safety, and clinical applications using placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Longitudinal Microbiome Changes in Supragingival Biofilm Transcriptomes Induced by Orthodontics.

Common oral diseases are known to be associated with dysbiotic shifts in the supragingival microbiome, yet most oral microbiome associations with clinical end points emanate from cross-sectional studies. Orthodontic treatment is an elective procedure that can be exploited to prospectively examine clinically relevant longitudinal changes in the composition and function of the supragingival microbiome. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted among 24 adolescent orthodontic patients who underwent saliva and plaque sampling and clinical examinations at time points: before fixed appliance bonding and at 1, 6, and 12 wk thereafter. Clinical indices included bleeding on probing (BOP), mean gingival index (GI), probing depths (PDs), and plaque index (PI). To study the biologically (i.e., transcriptionally) active microbial communities, RNA was extracted from plaque and saliva for RNA sequencing and microbiome bioinformatics analysis. Longitudinal changes in microbiome beta diversity were examined using PERMANOVA tests, and the relative abundance of microbial taxa was measured using Kruskal-Wallis tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and negative binomial and zero-inflated mixed models. Clinical measures of oral health deteriorated over time-the proportion of sites with GI and PI ≥1 increased by over 70% between prebonding and 12 wk postbonding while the proportion of sites with PD ≥4 mm increased 2.5-fold. Streptococcus sanguinis, a health-associated species that antagonizes cariogenic pathogens, showed a lasting decrease in relative abundance during orthodontic treatment. Contrarily, caries- and periodontal disease-associated taxa, including Selenomonas sputigena, Leptotrichia wadei, and Lachnoanaerobaculum saburreum, increased in abundance after bonding. Relative abundances of Stomatobaculum longum and Mogibacterium diversum in prebonding saliva predicted elevated BOP 12 wk postbonding, whereas Neisseria subflava was associated with lower BOP. This study offers insights into longitudinal community and species-specific changes in the supragingival microbiome transcriptome during fixed orthodontic treatment, advancing our understanding of microbial dysbioses and identifying targets of future health-promoting clinical investigations. Bonding braces was associated with subsequent changes in the oral microbiome characterized by increases in disease-associated species, decreases in health-associated species, and worsened clinical measures of oral health.