In view of the increasing prevalence of dental erosion and erosive tooth wear, preventive approaches are in-creasingly becoming the focus of interest. A proven way to reduce the erosive potential of food and drinks is add-ing calcium. However, whole meals and the taste of calcium-enriched drinks have not been studied. This study aimed to create erosion-protective recipes for food and beverages. In part 1, erosive meals were modified with calcium-rich ingredients. In part 2, varying amounts of CaCl2 were added to acidic drinks. A sensory panel assessed flavour. Caries-free human teeth served as enamel test speci-mens. After a 2-hour saliva immersion to form a pellicle, the specimens were exposed to the test solution (food blended, drinks mixed with CaCl2) under constant agitation. After 2 minutes, Vickers hardness was measured. Calcium-rich food ingredients significantly reduced enamel softening. The addition of CaCl2 to drinks showed mixed results - ineffective in Coca-Cola, most effective in orange juice. Some drinks tasted saltier or bitter. The modified recipes offer erosion protection and may help patients to change their diet without losing enjoyment. Overall, the study highlights the link between dentistry and nutrition and encourages collaboration.

Reconstructing original cusp dimensions in worn molars represents a fundamental challenge across dentistry, anthropology, and paleontology, as dental wear obscures critical morphological information. In this proof-of-concept study, we present a standardized machine learning pipeline for predicting original cusp height, specifically the horn tips of the enamel–dentine junction (EDJ), in worn lower molars using three-dimensional morphometric data from micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). We analyzed 40 permanent lower first (M1) and second (M2) molars from four hominin groups, systematically evaluated across three wear stages: original, moderately worn (worn1), and severely worn (worn2). Morphometric variables including height, area, and volume were quantified for each cusp, with Random Forest and multiple linear regression models developed individually and combined through ensemble methods. To mimic realistic reconstruction scenarios while preserving a known ground truth, models were trained on unworn specimens (original EDJ morphology) and tested on other teeth after digitally simulated wear (worn1 and worn2). Predictive performance was evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2). Our results demonstrate that under moderate wear (worn1), the ensemble models achieved normalized RMSE values between 11% and 17%. Absolute errors typically below 0.25 mm for most cusps, with R2 values up to ~0.69. Performance deteriorated under severe wear (worn2), particularly for morphologically variable cusps such as the hypoconid and entoconid, but generally remained within sub-millimetric error ranges for several structures. Random Forests and linear models showed complementary strengths, and the ensemble generally offered the most stable performance across cusps and wear states. To enhance transparency and accessibility, we provide a comprehensive, user-friendly software pipeline including pre-trained models, automated prediction scripts, standardized data templates, and detailed documentation. This implementation allows researchers without advanced machine learning expertise to explore EDJ-based reconstruction from standard morphometric measurements in new datasets, while explicitly acknowledging the limitations imposed by our modest and taxonomically unbalanced sample. More broadly, the framework represents an initial step toward predicting complete crown morphology, including enamel thickness, in worn or damaged teeth. As such, it offers a validated methodological foundation for future developments in cusp and crown reconstruction in both clinical and evolutionary dental research.

Horses' hypsodont (high-crowned) teeth face permanent dental wear. This is compensated for by a continuous eruption, which requires a high adaptability of odontoblasts; otherwise, the dental pulp would be exposed. Here, we report on how equine odontoblasts respond to the challenge of maintaining a high production rate of dentin. We analyzed CD90, a marker of odontoblastic differentiation, and nestin, a marker of mature odontoblasts, in equine pulpal tissue via immunofluorescence. For comparison, we examined the hypselodont (ever-growing) incisors and brachydont (short-crowned) molars of rats. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis of pulpal tissue revealed a higher content of CD90-positive cells in hypsodont equine teeth than in brachydont and hypselodont rat teeth. The odontoblastic layer of hypsodont teeth was positive for CD90 (marker for differentiating odontoblasts), which was not the case for brachydont and hypselodont rat teeth. Most samples of hypsodont teeth were negative for nestin, whereas in hypselodont and brachydont teeth, odontoblasts were positive for nestin (marker for mature odontoblasts). Our findings suggest that there is a constant replacement of odontoblasts in the equine dentition, enabling a continuous high production rate of dentin. These results contradict the idea of lifelong vital, postmitotic and productive odontoblasts.

ABSTRACT To enhance our understanding of everyday people during the Late Ceramic Period in Panama, burials from Operation 5 at the Cerro Juan Díaz site (1050–1400 CE) are assessed within a biocultural approach. Here, burials cut through and overlay a pre-existing house floor to place the majority of the deceased in uniform extended, supine positions. Grave goods were only found with children, following similar patterns of special adornment of child burials during the Middle Ceramic Period. Relatively high frequencies of non-specific physiological stress markers evidenced widespread inflammation and anaemia, perhaps relating to social and environmental factors affecting sanitation, infectious disease risk, and food availability. Artificial cranial modification and activity-related dental wear suggest that body modification may have been used to reinforce cultural boundaries and that children may have used their teeth as tools. These inferences deepen knowledge of human experiences during this time and provide a basis for future research.

Influence of experimental toothpastes on erosive /abrasive dental wear in bovine enamel

In living primates, bite forces required to fracture hard-object foods can result in high frequencies of chipped teeth, providing a comparative basis for inferring hard-object feeding in the fossil record. Yet, inferring hard-object feeding from chipping frequencies is complicated by factors such as dental wear, age, and sex that might also affect them. Using dental remains of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, we investigated whether these factors covaried with molar chipping frequencies. We hypothesized that dental wear, because it has a direct relationship to chip formation, would be a stronger predictor of chipping frequencies than age. We also hypothesized that if a sex difference were found, males would have higher frequencies of chipping than females, which is the most common sex difference in chipping found in humans. Samples consisted of 36–38 molars from females and 60–63 molars from males per molar type. Dental wear was measured and chips were identified on consistently oriented occlusal surface photographs. We performed a logistic General Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) of chipping with data on wear and chipping for the six different molar types treated as repeated measures for individuals. The GLMM revealed statistically significant effects for wear and sex, but not for age, on chipping. Our results suggest that wear has a greater effect on chipping frequencies than age, and that sex, at least in this sample, can also affect chipping frequencies. Sex differences in chipping frequencies of the magnitude found here could potentially obscure dietary signals inferred from chipping in studies of fossil primates. These findings suggest that analyzing chipping frequencies with respect to wear and sex could help improve the accuracy of dietary reconstruction of fossil primate diets based on chipping.

ObjectivesThis work aimed to investigate the impact of folic acid or multivitamin containing folic acid supplementation during pregnancy on morphology and mineral content of enamel structure in deciduous teeth.Materials and methods54 exfoliating deciduous upper central incisors were extracted from children between the ages of 6 and 8. Teeth were divided according to the maternal use of micronutrients into three groups (n = 18), group I: no use; group II: folic acid; and group III: multivitamin containing folic acid. Specimens’ ultrastructure was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Elemental analysis was done using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), then statistical evaluation was conducted.ResultsSEM analysis revealed a uniform enamel surface morphology, indicating a level of resistance to normal physiological enamel wear in groups II and III in contrast to group I. These findings were affirmed by EDX assessment where enamel surface revealed statistically significant higher values for calcium, and phosphorus in groups II and III relative to group I. Additionally, carbon content revealed statistically significant higher values in group I than those of groups II and III, suggesting more susceptibility of hydroxyapatite crystals to dissolution in group Ι.ConclusionMaternal micronutrients supplementation was linked with the preservation of enamel structure in primary teeth. This indicates enhanced enamel resistance to mineral loss during normal physiological dental wear. The findings of this preliminary study highlighted the importance of prenatal multivitamin supplementation as a strategy in preventive dentistry.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13005-025-00564-z.

Bruxism is a multifactorial condition that causes orofacial pain, dental wear, and temporomandibular disorders. Botulinum toxin type A (BT-A) has emerged as a therapeutic alternative to reduce muscle hyperactivity. To analyze the scientific output on the use of BT-A in the treatment of bruxism through a bibliometric analysis. Publications indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed between 1997 and 2025 were reviewed. Lotka's and Bradford's bibliometric laws were applied, along with co-authorship network and thematic co-occurrence analyses. A total of 244 articles were identified. A total of 93.1% of authors had only one publication, and collaborations were mostly regional. The most productive journals focused on dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. Review articles and observational studies predominated, with a limited number of clinical trials. Thematic evolution revealed a shift from anatomical aspects to clinical efficacy, pain management, and sleep disorders. Although research on the use of BT-A for bruxism has increased in recent years, significant challenges remain, such as low international collaboration and limited clinical evidence. It is recommended to promote multicenter studies, standardize therapeutic protocols, and explore specific population subgroups to advance toward safer and more personalized treatments.

The consumption of sports drinks has increased significantly in recent decades. These drinks are promoted for their ability to improve hydration, replenish electrolytes and provide energy during intense physical exertion. Sports drinks often have low pH and high buffering capacity in addition to high concentrations of sugars, which can be potentially detrimental to the dentition. A number of scientific studies have examined the relationship between sports drinks consumption and tooth wear. Given that erosive dental wear has multifactorial causes, sports drinks appear to be only one of the possible contributing factors.

Tongue piercing has gained popularity among teenagers and young adults as a form of self-expression, cultural identity, and fashion. However, patients are often unaware of the harmful effects tongue piercings can have on their oral health. Despite its popularity, this form of body modification carries considerable risk, particularly when performed or maintained without proper care. This review summarizes findings from clinical case reports, observational studies, and previous literature reviews, with a focus on the clinical outcomes of tongue piercings and their appropriate management. An internet-based literature review was conducted to evaluate the short- and long-term oral health implications of tongue piercings. Only articles published between January 1990 and April 2025 were included. The databases searched were PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, using keywords such as "tongue piercing," "oral piercing," "oral complications," and "dental trauma." The literature revealed that tongue piercings can lead to numerous adverse effects on oral health, including dental fractures, gingival recession, enamel wear, and localized tissue overgrowth, in addition to localized and systemic infections. The presence of foreign objects in the oral cavity, combined with poor oral hygiene, habitual trauma, and long-term contact with oral tissues, often worsens these complications. The results of this literature review suggest that tongue piercings pose significant and often underestimated risks to oral health. Clinicians should remain vigilant, educate patients on potential complications, and be well-equipped to prevent, monitor, and manage associated dental problems effectively in clinical practice.

The increase in the share of dogs with dental pathology against the background of the appearance of new probable risk factors (in particular, the introduction of new diets in feeding), determine the relevance of regular monitoring of the spread and predictors of oral cavity diseases. The determination of diseases of the oral cavity, as well as risk factors for their occurrence and progression was based on the analysis of anamnestic data, comprehensive assessment of the results of visual inspection, palpation, probing, and radiography. The obtained results indicated that among 990 dogs with dental pathology, 57.7% were small, 26.4% were medium, and 15.9% were large and giant breeds. Dogs had the highest risk of developing dental diseases, including plaque/calculus (17.2–40.5%), dental caries (20.4–31.9%), retained deciduous teeth (5.1–18.6%), traumatic injuries/fractures of teeth (1.9–19.1%), and abnormal wear (1.8–24.8%). Small dogs were most prone to plaque/calculus (40.5%), dental caries (31.5%), and retained deciduous teeth (18.6%); large and giant breeds were most prone to traumatic injuries/fractures of teeth (19.1%) and teeth attrition (24.8%). There was a correlation with age for certain dental diseases: the average age of small breed dogs was significantly (P<0.001) younger than that of large and giant breeds for plaque/calculus (3.3±0.6 vs 8.9±1.2 years), dental caries (4.2±0.8 vs 8.5±0.8 years), and dental trauma/tooth fractures (2.8±0.6 vs 9.1±1.7 years). In terms of dental disease, the feeding regimen was one of the prognostic factors for increased risk of plaque/calculus formation, dental caries development, tooth trauma/fracture, and abnormal tooth wear. Regardless of breed, the best option was to use dry commercial feeds, and the worst one: the biologically appropriate raw food (BARF) feeding system. The susceptibility of breeds to dental diseases was proven: Yorkshire terriers to the formation of plaque/calculus (14.4%), dental caries (12.5%), and retained deciduous teeth (17.5%); German/Eastern European Shepherds to dental injuries/fractured teeth (13.2%) and teeth attrition (12.6%); Chihuahuas and Papillons to malocclusions (7.3%); Maltese dogs and Papillons to enamel hypoplasia (13.6%). Thus, a high incidence rate of oral cavity diseases in dogs was established, and breed and age susceptibility to the most common dental pathology was determined. The relationship between the feeding regimen and diet composition with the risk of developing oral cavity diseases was shown. Attention was focused on the importance of an individual diagnostic approach for dental diseases in dogs. The prospect of further research is the clinical implementation of computed tomography with the aim of a more accurate assessment of pathological changes in tissues due to dental diseases in dogs.

ABSTRACTObjectivesThis study evaluates molar wear progression in a captive baboon population under controlled dietary and environmental conditions. By comparing the dentin exposure ratio (DER) with a newly developed quadrant‐based modification of Scott's dental wear scoring system (Krueger‐Scott method), we evaluate how wear patterns vary by age, sex, and occlusal region.Materials and MethodsMandibular second molars (M2) were assessed at two timepoints, during life and postmortem, in 201 captive baboons from the Southwest National Primate Research Center. Krueger‐Scott and DER data were collected from 3D intraoral scans processed in MEDIT Link software. The Krueger‐Scott scores assigned ordinal scores (1–10) to four equal quadrants of each M2 based on enamel facet development and dentin exposure. Statistical analyses tested relationships between wear progression, quadrant location, sex, and age.ResultsKrueger‐Scott scores and DER values increased significantly between timepoints, indicating wear progression. However, Krueger‐Scott scores revealed strong functional patterning: buccal and lingual cusps showed high within‐group correlations and weaker cross‐group correlations. Males showed significantly higher wear than females, despite being younger on average. The relationship between age and wear progression differed by sex.DiscussionThe Krueger‐Scott method provided a more anatomically informative and efficient approach to tracking occlusal wear than DER. It captured regional wear variation and functional asymmetries that DER could not detect. Even under controlled conditions, sex‐based differences in wear emerged, likely reflecting behavioral, morphological, or enamel structural variation. These findings offer a comparative baseline and demonstrate the utility of quadrant‐level scoring for interpreting wear in extant and extinct taxa.

This article presents a guide for the rehabilitation of patients with dental wear using a minimally invasive approach. It provides a structured treatment sequence based on the location and extent of wear, the disciplines involved, and the therapeutic approach. The LIT classification establishes a relationship between the magnitude of the lesion and the appropriate type and material of restoration. Tooth wear (TW) is a progressive, non-carious loss of dental structure caused by erosion, attrition, and abrasion, commonly affecting young patients. Its multifactorial origin and frequent association with other oral conditions demand complex, interdisciplinary management. Despite recent advances in diagnostic tools and treatment protocols, no existing classification integrates the extent and location of the wear and the specialties involved to treat the condition. This publication proposes a new system and structured approach to achieve predictable, conservative, and efficient oral rehabilitation. Rehabilitating worn dentition requires precision, interdisciplinary planning, and tooth preservation. This LIT classification links TW magnitude to restoration type and extension, improving diagnosis, communication, and treatment predictability. It emphasizes minimal invasion, appropriate material choice, and a personalized approach, guided by wear extent, patient-specific factors, and the need for clear communication and biological preservation. A structured treatment approach enhances predictability by aligning the clinician, team, and patient. Identifying pathology, integrating disciplines, and assessing TW are key to preserving dental structures and achieving long-term functional and esthetic success.

Bruxism, characterized by involuntary clenching or grinding teeth, is a prevalent condition primarily associated with oral health consequences such as dental wear, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and masticatory muscle pain, while also being linked secondarily to tension-type headaches and sleep disturbances. Accurate measurement of bite force is valuable for assessing bruxism severity, understanding its biomechanical effects, and evaluating treatment outcomes. However, existing measurement methods often lack practicality for continuous or real-time monitoring. This study introduces a novel, noninvasive approach using flexible polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) capacitive sensors, leveraging PVDF’s piezoelectric properties to correlate bite force with the output frequency of a precision timer circuit. Experimental results demonstrated the sensor’s ability to measure bite forces in two bruxism scenarios. Static tests simulating clenching forces (0−80 kg) demonstrated sensor sensitivities of 0.0051–0.00533 × 103 Hz/kg, while dynamic tests simulating grinding motions (0−24 kg at 1 Hz) showed sensitivities of 0.0052–0.01019 × 103 Hz/kg. While the sensor demonstrated high sensitivity in static loading, its response to rapid force fluctuations was non-linear, suggesting a need for further optimization in dynamic applications. The sensors effectively tracked. real-time force variations while accounting for PVDF’s viscoelastic properties and minimizing thermal effects. The proposed sensor system offers flexibility and biocompatibility, making it ideal for real-time monitoring. This innovative system for measuring bite force in bruxism-simulated scenarios represents a step forward in objectively assessing this masticatory behavior. Future work will focus on integrating the sensor with digital health tools and exploring its use in detecting other valuable variables in the oral cavity.

This study analyzes 209 dog skeletons from two sites in Wolin (9th-mid-13th century AD) using 100 standard metric variables covering cranial, mandibular, and postcranial elements. Estimated withers height, body mass, age at death, and sex were derived using established methods. The results indicate the presence of at least two to three morphotypes: small spitz-like dogs (40-50 cm, 4-6 kg), medium brachycephalic forms (50-60 cm, 10-15 kg), and larger mesocephalic individuals (up to 65 cm, 20-40 kg). Dogs lived 3-10 years, with both sexes represented. Signs of cranial trauma and dental wear suggest utilitarian roles such as guarding. The size range and morphological diversity point to intentional breeding and trade-based importation. Small dogs likely served as companions or city guards, while medium and large types were used for herding, hunting, or transport. These findings highlight Wolin's role as a dynamic cultural and trade center, where human-dog relationships were shaped by anthropogenic selection and regional exchange.

The role of collagen cross-linker in dentin mineralization: a scoping review.

ABSTRACTIn this paper, the first results investigating animal exploitation, mainly focusing on the question of cattle domestication, at the Early Pre‐Pottery Neolithic site of Gre Fılla, Diyarbakır, South‐Eastern Türkiye, are presented. Gre Fılla, where the earliest cattle domestication in the region was identified, is also notable in showing the process of hunting to herding during the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic B subphases. Bos exploitation was the second most important component of the animal economies and increased dramatically in the 8th millennium bc. Moreover, the appearance of domestic small‐sized individuals and significant changes in the skeletal elements as well as in the alterations, especially demographic profile based on epiphyseal and dental wear stages, are observed. As a result of zooarchaeological analyses, early cattle exploitation started to be seen during the MPPNB levels of Gre Fılla, based on the decrease in size and change in the kill‐off pattern. It can be suggested that morphologically domestic cattle are systematically and widely encountered during MPPNB. The LPPNB levels are remarkable for yielding evidence of domestic cattle.

Abstract Theropod teeth have long been known from the Upper Cretaceous of Europe, but the 20 million years long interval spanning the Cenomanian to the Campanian has remained underrepresented in the fossil record and understudied. Recent discoveries from the Turonian and Coniacian of Austria and the Santonian of Hungary fill this gap to some extent. Here we report on a study of 2D morphometry and dental wear of Turonian–Maastrichtian theropod teeth from Central Europe aimed at shedding further light on the phyletic and adaptive diversity of Late Cretaceous theropods in the archipelago of Europe. Our results suggest that the taxa Paraves indet. and Paronychodon were present in the region from the Turonian to the Maastrichtian, while medium-sized tetanuran forms are known only until the early Campanian. The record of some groups, such as troodontid or bird-like forms, is more sporadic and known only from a few sites. Dental wear study indicates that theropod teeth rarely show severe wear exposing dentin, though spalled surfaces are commonly seen on tetanuran teeth. Dental microwear feature and texture analysis of the worn enamel surfaces show a dominance of scratches (82–100%), with somewhat higher complexity in some of the non-serrated forms. The largest tetanuran teeth differ in terms of scratch length, pit size and anizotropy from the small, serrated Paraves indet. 1 teeth, but overlap with those of the extant carnivore-scavenger Varanus komodoensis suggesting large tetanurans resembled V. komodoensis in feeding on large vertebrates.

Introduction. Recently, researchers have become increasingly aware of the impact of many diseases on erosive dental wear, with recognized links to gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma, eating disorders, obesity, xerostomia, alcoholism, and obstructive sleep apnea. Both bruxism and GERD fall into the category of sleep disorders, as they occur predominantly at night. Both result in the loss of hard dental tissue, and there appears to be a relationship between these three problems, which are indirectly related; specifically, when the onset of GERD precedes the onset of bruxism during sleep. Increased loss of hard dental tissues may be observed, caused by demineralization of hard dental tissues by gastric acid, which may accelerate the loss of superficial dental tissues due to nocturnal bruxism activity. The so-called pathogenetic triad is formed: GERD → apnea → bruxism, in which each element can both initiate and intensify the erosive process. Given the complexity of the interaction between these factors, it is relevant to study their combined effect to enhance the effectiveness of diagnostics and planning for dental treatment. Objective: to assess the impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and bruxism on the development and clinical manifestations of tooth hard tissue loss. Material and methods. We conducted a clinical study with a cross-sectional analysis of the condition of patients with confirmed GERD aged 25 to 65 years who applied to the Department of Orthopedic Dentistry, Digital Technologies and Implantology of the P. L. Shupyk National Institute of Health Care of Ukraine for the period from 2021 to 2025. The degree of tooth wear was assessed using the Tooth Wear Index (TWI). The presence of GERD was determined by gastroscopy or by an official gastroenterologist’s report. Suspicion of obstructive sleep apnea was determined using the STOP-BANG questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the STATISTICA program (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA). Results. In patients with long-term GERD and increased risk of OSA (STOP-BANG ≥ 3), the frequency of severe forms of hard dental tissues loss (TWI 3–4) significantly increases compared to the control group. The identified clinical patterns confirm the pathophysiological interaction between reflux, breathing disorders during sleep, and functional loads on the dento-maxillary system, which manifests as bruxism. The combination of these factors leads to a significant loss of hard dental tissues, which must be considered when forming diagnostic and treatment tactics in such patients, as confirmed by both clinical observations and literary sources. Conclusion. The erosive form and long-term course of GERD significantly increase the risk of developing OSA and bruxism, which emphasizes the need for timely screening for these complications using questionnaires (for example, STOP-BANG) and referring patients for specialized diagnostics. These results highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach to patients with GERD, especially when OSA and bruxism are suspected. Incorporating dental screening into the examination protocols of such patients may contribute to the early detection and prevention of severe forms of tooth wear.

Malocclusion presents functional and aesthetic challenges, necessitating accurate diagnosis and treatment. However, variability in orthodontic treatment planning persists due to subjective assessments, limiting consistency and objectivity. Electronic dental records (EDRs) contain vast patient data that could address these challenges, but much of the rich clinical information is documented as free text, complicating analysis. This study aims to develop an Orthodontic Natural Language Processing (ONLP) model to extract structured orthodontics-related information from unstructured EDRs and identify critical features influencing malocclusion using machine learning (ML). Data from 7693 orthodontic patients were analysed to train, test and validate the ONLP and ML models. A gold-standard dataset was created through manual review. The ONLP model utilised supervised (Named Entity Recognition-NER) and unsupervised (K-means clustering) approaches to structure information from free text. Machine learning models, including Logistic Regression, Gaussian Naive Bayes, Random Forest and XGBoost, were subsequently applied to identify feature importance for malocclusion classification. The ONLP model achieved 89% sensitivity, 92% specificity and 91% accuracy in extracting orthodontics-related information. The supervised model demonstrated 84% accuracy, 82% F1-score and 84% recall, excelling in identifying Classes I and III malocclusions but showing reduced sensitivity for Class II. Machine learning analysis highlighted key features for malocclusion classification: maxillary crowding, overjet and arch perimeter discrepancy for Class I; maxillary spacing and anterior crossbite for Class II; and dental midline deviation and occlusal wear for Class III. This study demonstrates a novel approach to automating orthodontic data extraction using the ONLP model, enabling advanced big data analytics and enhancing data-driven orthodontic research and care.