Dentistry Research Articles

Distribution of Australian dental practices in relation to residential aged care facilities: A geographic analysis.

Limited access to oral health services contributes to poor oral health in institutionalised older adults. The objective of this study was to map and analyse the distribution of residential age-care facilities (RACFs) in relation to dental practices across Australia. Age-care data were sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The data were categorised according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics remoteness index in each state and territory, defined by a geographic coordinate system. The structure of remoteness area data was integrated into RACF data using a geographic information system. Buffer analysis in QGIS was employed to calculate the buffer distance surrounding RACFs by identifying dental practices relative to a measuring distance. In total, Australia had 2718 RACFs and 7379 dental practices (both private 95.5% and public 4.5%). In all States, more than a third of metropolitan RACFs were within accessible reach of a private practice (ranging from 37% of RACFs in NSW to 55% in WA). However, proximity to public clinics was low, ranging from only 4% (WA) to 9% (QLD). More than one-fifth of metropolitan RACFs in NSW, QLD, WA and ACT (ranging from 20% to 24%) were not within accessible proximity of either a public or private dental clinic/practice. While more than 70% of RACFs in regional and remote Australia are reasonably close to dental practices, areas with inadequate access exist, with the highest percentage recorded in WA (6%). Ensuring an equitable distribution of dental practices relative to RACFs is crucial in bridging the service access gap in underserved areas.

Integrating oral health in stroke care: a critical necessity.

To highlight the critical role of integrating oral health assessments into routine stroke care for better patient outcomes. The Eto et al. study utilizes the modified oral assessment grade (mOAG) to evaluate the oral health of acute ischemic stroke patients upon admission and its predictive value for functional outcomes and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Evidence from Eto et al. study shows that mOAG scores at admission significantly predict 3-month functional outcomes and the incidence of HAP, emphasizing the need for comprehensive oral evaluations. Integrating oral health assessments into stroke care protocols can improve recovery outcomes, reduce HAP incidence, and lower healthcare costs through preventive oral care. Routine oral health evaluations for stroke patients are crucial for better recovery and overall health outcomes, advocating for policy changes and multidisciplinary approaches to patient care.

THE ORAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF CANCER AND ITS TREATMENT ON CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING: A QUALITATIVE PROTOCOL

Introduction While cancer treatments clearly improve cancer outcomes, they inadvertently damage healthy tissues and organs, including causing oral and dental complications. Oral health complications can lead to cognitive, psychological, and social impairments which can have a profound impact on children’s well-being. Current knowledge of these consequences comes from clinical studies focusing on caregivers' viewpoints. Though it is important to directly involve children in research to gain a firsthand understanding of their experiences. Objectives The aim of this study is to better understand how oral health effects of cancer and its treatment impact the well-being of children with, or who have survived, cancer from their own perspective. Methodology Participants will be recruited from a tertiary care pediatric hospital. We will use a participatory hermeneutic ethnographic methodology and a Childhood Ethics theoretical framework to center children’s perspectives. Data will be generated through document analysis, participant observation and semi-structured interviews. We will observe discussions among children, families, and healthcare professionals, and conduct interviews with stakeholders: children (n=10-15) who are undergoing or completed treatments; parents/caregivers (n=10-15); and healthcare professionals (n=8-10). Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed. Analysis will use SAMSSA methods to identify key aspects of children’s experiences related to their oral health and the impact it has on their well-being, as well as health and social factors that affect this experience. Significance: Through this study, we will gain insight into how cancer and treatment-induced oral health complications impact children’s well-being, results from which will be translated into clinical and policy recommendations

The Covid-19 Pandemic Dentistry: Preventive Measures and Biosafety

COVID-19 is an infectious viral disease that can cause severe acute respiratory syndrome and rapid spread through saliva, cough, sneeze and aerosols. Presenting the clinical picture such as fever and dry cough, tiredness, nasal congestion, headache, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, conjunctivitis. Objective: To describe preventive measures and biosafety in the practice of Dentistry in the face of COVID-19. Methods: This is a systematic review of the literature, using articles that addressed subjects about the pandemic of COVID-19 and dentistry in the google academic database, Pubmed and the Cuban magazine of stomatology, with the keywords COVID-19, preventive measures biosafety, dentistry, resulting in a sample of (n = 8) articles. Inclusion criteria were articles published in 2020 that were related to the theme and objective outlined and available in Portuguese and English. Results: Dentists are suspected of contracting COVID-19 due to the dental environment, through direct and indirect contact with aerosols, blood, and contaminated equipment. It is urgent to take preventive and safe measures to reduce cross-infection. Conclusion: Dentists must ensure biosafety and use the knowledge to adequately adapt them in the pandemic context, using personal protective equipment, hand hygiene and, finally, investing in continuous training.

Determining of the relationship between gum phenotype and anthropometric data of the face and gender

Relevance. Diagnosis of the condition of periodontal tissues at the stage of comprehensive treatment planning for a dental patient is an important step in the work of dentists. The presence of difficulties in diagnosing the phenotypic condition of the gums dictates the need to search for additional clinical diagnostic methods that allow determining the phenotype with minimal time and financial costs.Objective. To determine the relationship between anthropometric values of the face (width and height of the face) and gender with the gin-gival phenotype.Materials and methods. During the clinical examinations, an analysis was carried out of the anthropometric data of men and women obtained as a result of photometry, the results of a study of the gingival phenotype by transgingival probing using the De Rouck method and CBCT data (cone beam computed tomography) in patients with their further distribution into groups. A total of 45 people took part in the study, of which 12 were men and 33 were women.Results. Statistical processing of the obtained data showed that for men, the differences between the groups with different phenotypes (thick/ thin) are reliable for the parameter face width. For women with different gum phenotypes (thick and thin), reliable differences were obtained between the groups for the parameters face height and face width. The gum phenotype correlates with the face width (noticeable correlation for all, high for men and women separately); face height (moderate correlation for all, men and women); but does not correlate with the facial index and gender.Conclusion. Thus, the study showed that a combined diagnostic examination of the patient, taking into account gender, facial height and width in women, and facial width in men, can help in the correct assessment of the gingival phenotype.

Photobiomodulation for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis in patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: health quality evaluation.

To evaluate the quality of oral health care through indicators in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the management of oral mucositis. Thirty-five patients were evaluated. Photobiomodulation was performed during the conditioning regimen, 1day, 5days, and 10days after transplantation. Four process indicators and 13 outcome indicators were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, according to SQUIRE 2.0. All process indicators demonstrated a compliance rate of 100% to the desired standard. Outcome indicators revealed that 66.6% of patients experienced mucositis during at least one follow-up period. A statistically significant increase was observed between periods of 1 and 5days post-transplant, as well as between 1 and 10days post-transplant (p < 0.05), with a predominance of grade I mucositis (p = 0.014). Four patients (16.7%) reported feeling pain, occurring between 5 and 10days after transplantation, with moderate pain being the most prevalent. Oral mucositis did not show a statistically significant association with pain, associated treatments, leukopenia, comorbidities, or type of transplant. The indicators demonstrated their suitability for evaluating oral health in both the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis in these patients. Furthermore, the effectiveness of photobiomodulation in improving the quality of oral health in the patients studied was confirmed.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Caries among Children of Moroccan Schools

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to describe the oral health status of schoolchildren, while focusing on the relationship between carious prevalence and the two risk factors which are obesity and passive smoking. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in primary school of Casablanca, Morocco. A total of 1003 schoolchildren aged between 6 to 12 years old were examined in their classrooms in daylight. The questionnaire was used to collect information about socio-demographic status, oral health practice consumption of sweets and passive smoking. Dental caries was assessed using the decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft, DMFT) index, and oral hygiene status by the simplified oral hygiene index OHI. The obesity was defined based to the measurement of BMI index. Results: The caries prevalence was 57.7% in temporary dentition and 43% in permanent dentition. The caries index was dmft= 2.44 and DMFT= 1.3. Higher Caries prevalence was associated with poor oral hygiene, increased consumption of sweets; however, caries prevalence in temporary and permanent dentition was lower in children with obesity (5,5% and 4,9% respectively), and exposed to passive smoking (25,4%,31,8% respectively).

Biomimetic Capabilities of Lithium Disilicate Glass-Ceramic Restorations on Posterior Teeth: Evaluation of the Long-Term Survival Rate—A 10-Year Follow-Up

In contemporary dental practice, clinicians have a variety of materials and options for restoring single teeth compromised by carious or non-carious diseases. According to studies and new concepts in biomimetic restorative dentistry, indirect ceramic restorations will play an increasingly important role in daily practice. We follow up and evaluate clinically three times over a 10-year period on eighty-six indirect restorations (n = 86) of lithium disilicate e.Max Press (Ivoclar, Schaan, Liechtenstein) in 32 patients. Restorations are evaluated in the 2nd, 5th, and 10th years after the fixation. Four of the restorations studied (n = 86) had to be replaced at year 5 follow-up because of fracture (failure rate: 4.65%; Kaplan–Maier). There are no restorations with bulky, cohesive fractures. Lithium disilicate ceramic restorations provide a good treatment alternative for a 5- to 10-year period of observation, and they can be successfully applied in dental practice in 91.73% to 98.84% of cases. Advancements in digital dentistry, including the use of intraoral scanners and CAD/CAM technology, are set to further refine the precision and efficiency of indirect restorations for distal teeth, enabling quicker turnaround times and improved fit. Additionally, ongoing developments in biomaterials promise to enhance the durability and biocompatibility of these restorations, potentially leading to better long-term success rates and patient satisfaction. The goal of this clinical study was to look at how well biomimetic ceramic overlays and onlays made of lithium disilicate held onto teeth with a IV-generation adhesive system for 10 years. The study also looked at how well the edges of the teeth adjusted and how strong the teeth were overall.

Exploring the Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Dental Image Detection: A Systematic Review

Background: Dental care has been transformed by neural networks, introducing advanced methods for improving patient outcomes. By leveraging technological innovation, dental informatics aims to enhance treatment and diagnostic processes. Early diagnosis of dental problems is crucial, as it can substantially reduce dental disease incidence by ensuring timely and appropriate treatment. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within dental informatics is a pivotal tool that has applications across all dental specialties. This systematic literature review aims to comprehensively summarize existing research on AI implementation in dentistry. It explores various techniques used for detecting oral features such as teeth, fillings, caries, prostheses, crowns, implants, and endodontic treatments. AI plays a vital role in the diagnosis of dental diseases by enabling precise and quick identification of issues that may be difficult to detect through traditional methods. Its ability to analyze large volumes of data enhances diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, leading to better patient outcomes. Methods: An extensive search was conducted across a number of databases, including Science Direct, PubMed (MEDLINE), arXiv.org, MDPI, Nature, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Wiley Online Library. Results: The studies included in this review employed a wide range of neural networks, showcasing their versatility in detecting the dental categories mentioned above. Additionally, the use of diverse datasets underscores the adaptability of these AI models to different clinical scenarios. This study highlights the compatibility, robustness, and heterogeneity among the reviewed studies. This indicates that AI technologies can be effectively integrated into current dental practices. The review also discusses potential challenges and future directions for AI in dentistry. It emphasizes the need for further research to optimize these technologies for broader clinical applications. Conclusions: By providing a detailed overview of AI’s role in dentistry, this review aims to inform practitioners and researchers about the current capabilities and future potential of AI-driven dental care, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and more efficient dental practices.

Comparing the dental knowledge of large language models.

Introduction With the advancement of artificial intelligence, large language models (LLMs) have emerged as technology that can generate human-like text across various domains. They hold vast potential in the dental field, able to be integrated into clinical dentistry, administrative dentistry, and for student and patient education. However, the successful integration of LLMs into dentistry is reliant on the dental knowledge of the models used, as inaccuracies can lead to significant risks in patient care and education.Aims We are the first to compare different LLMs on their dental knowledge through testing the accuracy of different model responses to Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) questions.Methods We include closed-source and open-source models and analysed responses to both 'patient box' style board questions and more traditional, textual-based, multiple-choice questions.Results For the entire INBDE question bank, ChatGPT-4 had the highest dental knowledge, with an accuracy of 75.88%, followed by Claude-2.1 with 66.38% and then Mistral-Medium at 54.77%. There was a statistically significant difference in performance across all models.Conclusion Our results highlight the high potential of LLM integration into the dental field, the importance of which LLM is chosen when developing new technologies, and the limitations that must be overcome before unsupervised clinical integration can be adopted.

Osteoinductively Functionalized 3D-Printed Scaffold for Vertical Bone Augmentation in Beagle Dogs.

To evaluate the efficacy of 3D-printed scaffolds that were osteoinductively functionalized with a bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)-incorporated biomimetic calcium phosphate particles (BMP-2-inc. BpNcCaP)/hyaluronic acid (HA) composite gel in vertical bone augmentation in beagle dogs. Four Beagle dogs were used in this study. Three months after the extraction of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th premolars at both sides of the lower jaws of Beagle dogs, one or two critical-size vertical bone defects (4 mm vertical bone defect without buccal and lingual bone) on each sidewere surgically created. The defects were randomly subjected to the following groups: (1) Control (without bone-defect-filling materials); (2) 3D scaffold; (3) BMP2-inc. BpNcCaP/HA-functionalized 3D scaffold. Six weeks post-surgery, samples were harvested and subjected to micro-CT and histomorphometric analyses. The struts of the BMP2-inc. BpNcCaP/HA-func. 3D scaffold were covered by a thick layer of cemented irregular particles with an average pore size at 327 ± 27 μm. The BpNcCaP/HA-func. 3D scaffold group bore significantly higher bone volume, bone volume fraction, trabecular number, trabecular thickness, bone mineral density, connectivity density, and bone volumes in three directions (mesiodistal, buccolingual, and apicocoronal) when compared with the groups of Control and 3D scaffold. Moreover, the BMP2-inc. BpNcCaP/HA-func. 3D scaffold group bore significantly lower trabecular separation and exhibited significantly higher bone-to-scaffold contact percentage and newly formed bone area percentage within pores in comparison with 3D scaffold. BMP2-inc. BpNcCaP/HA-func. 3D scaffold dramatically enhanced vertical alveolar bone augmentation, which suggests a promising application potential of BMP2-inc. BpNcCaP/HA-func. 3D scaffold in dental clinic.

Enhancing Periodontal Health with Oral Irrigation Devices: A Review

Oral irrigation devices are mostly used for oral physiotherapy in homes &amp; dental clinics all over the world. The broad perspective in the use of oral irrigation devices has been the possibility of injury to the sulcular epithelium &amp; underlying tissue. The existing oral irrigation devices exerts immense pressure on the sulcular epithelium. The patient found the procedure pleasant &amp; neither injuries nor staining were noted. The technique may be useful in patients whose interdental areas can’t be assessed properly. This study focuses on reduction on plaque, gingival bleeding &amp; may therefore, be an adjunct to normal oral hygiene.

E-Professionalism's Impact on Dental Professionalism: A Rapid Scoping Review.

Dental regulators and educational institutions are increasingly concerned about the influence of digital platforms used by the profession for social, business, digital interaction with the public/patients and its impact on the professionalism in practice now and going forward. However, academic knowledge and research within dentistry are relevant to e-professionalism at a level of engagement and approach in delivering guidance to students through the current dental curriculum. The question therefore asked was what breadth of academic material, research, debate and discourse is available to inform our understanding, guidance and teaching on this ever-evolving topic. To map how e-professionalism has developed in academic dental literature as a topic within the study of professionalism in practice. A rapid scoping review was conducted to identify published research that describes and tests the topic of professionalism from 2016 to 2023. Studies were synthesised narratively using thematic analysis to inform the understanding of what has been already researched in the field. Thirteen articles were included in the review. After undertaking a thematic analysis, five themes were constructed. These included: curriculum, opportunities and safe professional use, reflections, personal and professional identity issues, and students as co-creators. Within dental research there is consensus that e-professionalism could present a tangible threat to the identity of dental professionals their clinical practice and interaction with patients/public however, less is known about what educational strategies are most effective when teaching e-professionalism.

Prosthetic stomatitis: treatment and prevention

Relevance. Traumatic prosthodontic stomatitis is the most frequent in clinical prosthetic dentistry, increasing the effectiveness of prevention and treatment of which is considered an urgent problem of practical dentistry. Objective. To study the effectiveness of using various domestic means for oral care in patients suffering from traumatic prosthetic stomatitis. Materials and methods. The study involved 42 elderly patients suffering from denture stomatitis due to the use of removable acrylic dentures. The patients were divided into 2 groups. In the control group after dentures correction they were recommended to use rinses and irrigations of the oral cavity with antiseptic solutions for a week, and later with infusions of medicinal herbs. Patients of the main group during their follow-up used local anti-inflammatory and wound-healing agents produced by thedomestic industry, as well as those improving the fixation of removable dentures. The effectiveness of denture stomatitis treatment and prevention of recurrence was evaluated on the basis of the patient’s complaints and clinical condition of the oral mucosa. Results. . It was established that for effective therapy of denture stomatitis it is necessary to use specially produced anti-inflammatory agents for the oral cavity during the period of acute inflammatory changes in the mucous membrane of the denture bed, and when using removable acrylic dentures it is necessary to recommend ASEPTA denture fixation cream, which has proved itself not only in the aspect of optimization of microbiota and mucosal immunity of the mouth, but also for optimization of psychophysiological state of patients. Their use makes it possible to achieve 81.47% efficacy of prosthetic stomatitis treatment on the 5th day and 100% efficacy of therapy on the 7th day from the beginning of their use by the patient, as well as in the nearest period to provide prevention of this disease recurrence. Conclusion. For secondary prophylaxis of traumatic prosthetic stomatitis, which occurs most often among the complications when patients use removable acrylic dentures, it is advisable to use specially produced by the domestic industry means possessing anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, as well as favorably acting on the mucous membrane of the prosthetic bed.

Reporting MRONJ as an adverse drug reaction: an oral surgery survey.

Introduction Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a significant adverse drug reaction associated with anti-angiogenic and anti-resorptive medications. The aim of this survey was to highlight the importance of reporting adverse drug reactions, including MRONJ.Methodology An electronic survey was disseminated to dentists working in the oral surgery department Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust in November 2021. The survey consisted of 14 open and closed questions relating to the identification and reporting of MRONJ as an adverse drug reaction.Results Although 97% of participants had seen a patient with MRONJ, only 19% had reported an adverse drug reaction to any medication. Interestingly, 27% of respondents felt that MRONJ should be classified as a 'post-operative complication' rather than an 'adverse drug reaction'. In total, 22% of participants were unaware of how to report an adverse drug reaction.Conclusion This survey acts as an important reminder to encourage both patients and dental professionals to report adverse drug reactions, including suspected MRONJ, to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Reporting aids accurate national data collection, highlights risk and supports ongoing research in this area.

Principles of Instrumentation in Periodontics

Instrumentation in periodontics plays a crucial role in the effective management of periodontal diseases. This article explores the fundamental principles guiding instrumentation techniques used in periodontal therapy. The primary objectives include achieving optimal biofilm removal, root surface detoxification, and creating a conducive environment for tissue healing. Various instruments, such as scalers, curettes, and ultrasonic devices, are discussed in terms of their indications, advantages, and limitations. Additionally, the importance of ergonomic considerations and operator proficiency in enhancing treatment outcomes is emphasized. Understanding these principles is essential for dental practitioners to deliver comprehensive periodontal care that promotes long-term oral health and patient satisfaction.

Cross Cultural Validation of Oral Health Index Profile for Temporomandibular Disorders in Spanish Speaking Population.

Structured patient-centred assessment is critical for improving care. OHIP-TMDs are a validated English-language outcome measure for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) which evaluates the biopsychosocial impact of TMD. Due to language and cultural changes, the original instrument's phrasing of its items may change when translated to Spanish. This study cross-culturally adapted and validated OHIP-TMDs for Spanish-speaking individuals with TMD. OHIP-TMDs was forward-backward translated into Spanish (OHIP-TMDs-Sp) and cross-culturally adapted to a Hispanic population with TMD (Diagnostic Criteria for TMD n = 154) according to international norms. All patients completed the OHIP-TMDs-Sp, the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS), and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS-20). A subsample (n = 30) recompleted the OHIP-TMDs-Sp after a 3-week washout to measure test-retest reliability using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC 2.1). OHIP-TMDs-Sp, JFLS-20, and GCPS were analysed for convergent validity and internal consistency. The sample with articular and muscular TMD diagnoses was 85.7% female with a mean age of 29.5. (SD 9.01). OHIP-TMDs-Sp had high internal reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.95) and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.57-0.93). In terms of convergent validity, the OHIP-TMDs-Sp demonstrated moderate to large positive correlations with the total JLFS-20 score (ρ = 0.72; p < 0.01), Mastication (ρ = 0.68; p < 0.01), Communication (ρ = 0.68; p < 0.001), as well to GCPS disability score (ρ = 0.59; p < 0.01), and characteristic pain intensity (ρ = 0.69; p < 0.01). The total score of OHIP-TMDs-Sp is reliable for assessing quality-of-life in Spanish-speaking TMD patients.

Validity of the self-reported number of teeth in independent older people in Japan

BackgroundIn questionnaire surveys, questions about self-reported number of teeth (SRNT) are often used as a measure oral health. This study investigated the validity of SRNT in older Japanese people.MethodsIn total, 4984 75- and 80-year-old patients who underwent dental examinations were enrolled. A self-administered questionnaire that asked about the number of teeth was used in the analysis. The percentage agreement and kappa value were calculated for the agreement between SRNT and observed numbers of teeth. To identify factors that affect the reliability of SRNT, a logistic regression analysis was performed using correctness of SRNT as the dependent variable.ResultsAmong the 3950 participants who responded as to whether they had ≥ 20 teeth, the degree of agreement was 92.9% (kappa value 0.856, p < 0.001) in an objective evaluation. Of the 2621 participants who reported their numbers of teeth, the SRNT and observed number of teeth matched in 57.5% (kappa value 0.559; p < 0.001). Observed number of teeth and annual dental checkup had a significant effect on the accuracy of SRNT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, with the agreement between SRNT and the observed number of teeth (i.e. whether the number of teeth exceeded 20) as the dependent variable, showed that the observed number of teeth, use of interdental cleaning tools, and annual dental checkup were significantly associated with the agreement between SRNT and the actual number of teeth. In multivariate analysis with tooth number agreement (± 1 tooth) as the dependent variable, the observed number of teeth and use of interdental cleaning tools were significantly associated with the agreement between SRNT and the observed number of teeth.ConclusionAlthough SRNT did not perfectly match the observed numbers of teeth, the results of this study imply that the SRNT of older people is reliable and useful in epidemiological studies.

The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of ErhBMP-2/BioCaP/β-TCP as a Novel Bone Substitute Using the Tooth-Extraction-Socket-Healing Model: A Proof-of-Concept Randomized ControlledTrial.

This first randomized controlled trial in humans aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dosage Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (ErhBMP-2)-incorporated biomimetic calcium phosphate coating-functionalized β-TCP (ErhBMP-2/BioCaP/β-TCP) as a novel bone substitute using the tooth-extraction-socket-healing model. Forty patients requiring dental implants after single-root tooth extraction were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned into three groups: ErhBMP-2/BioCaP/β-TCP (N = 15), β-TCP (N = 15) and natural healing (N = 10). New bone volume density from histomorphometric analyses was evaluated 6 weeks post-operatively as the primary outcome, and other histomorphometric analyses, alveolar bone and soft-tissue changes were the secondary outcomes. Safety parameters included adverse events, soft-tissue healing, oral health impact profile, serum BMP-2 concentrations and other laboratory tests. The findings revealed a significant increase in new bone volume density in patients treated with ErhBMP-2/BioCaP/β-TCP compared to those receiving β-TCP alone. The required bone augmentation procedures during implant placement surgery in the ErhBMP-2/BioCaP/β-TCP group were significantly less than in the natural healing group. There were no significant differences in safety parameters among the three groups. This clinical trial primarily proved the safety and efficacy of ErhBMP-2/BioCaP/β-TCP as a promising bone substitute.

Comparison of Marginal Integrity of Class-1 Restorations With Spectrum Tph-3 Versus Nexcomp In Mandibular Molars - A Quasi-Experimental Study

Objective: To compare the marginal integrity of Class-1 restorations with Spectrum TPH-3 vs Nexcomp in mandibular molars. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Operative Dentistry Department of Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry (AFID), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Sep 2020 to May 2021. Methodology: A total of 60 candidates were enrolled and allocated randomly to one of two groups, A and B. Group-A received spectrum TPH3 and Group-B received Nexcomp composite. Patients were followed up after 2 and 6 months for evaluation of marginal fractures with the help of loupes, probes, mouth mirrors and bitewing radiographs. Result: The rate of marginal fractures in Nexcomp were greater (27% at 2 months and 30% at 6 months) as compared to Spectrum TPH3 (73% at 2 months and at 77% 6 months) yielding a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p value= 0.004 and 0.001). Conclusion: Spectrum TPH gives a better quality of posterior restoration as compared to Nexcomp, contributing positively towards better quality of oral health for patient.