Dental higher education requires teaching of critical thinking and reflective skills. Both of which are strengthened by portfolio assignments. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the implementation of a portfolio assignment in a preclinical course of dental studies affected the students' understanding of course topics and their motivation to self-reflect. Students in a preclinical course focusing on the topic of 'preventive dentistry' in the third semester of dental studies were given a newly developed portfolio assignment that they were to work on throughout the semester in relation to the internship and lecture content. At the end of the semester, the success of the portfolio assignment implementation was measured using a validated evaluation form. The form included two dichotomous items, 14 Likert scale items and two free text fields regarding "portfolio assignment in the context of dental studies", "structure and tasks", "content and knowledge gain", "requirements and scope" and "overall assessment". Students of two consecutive semesters (ntotal = 64), in which the portfolio was implemented for the first time, participated in the portfolio assignment and evaluation process. The evaluation results showed that portfolio assignments and self-reflection tasks have been underrepresented in dental studies to date. In both semesters, the portfolio assignment was rated as good to very good in > 90% of cases. The structure and tasks, as well as the repetition of course content, scope and effort, were rated positively. More than 80% of the students also agreed that the reflection tasks contributed to an increase in engagement with the course content and an awareness of the knowledge gained over the duration of the semester. In conclusion, the implementation of a portfolio assignment, including self-reflective elements, into the curriculum revealed to be a promising teaching tool that is well received by students. At the same time, portfolio assignments illustrate not only to students but also to teachers that learning and optimisation is a dynamic process that should be constantly evaluated and adapted in all semesters.

To systematically evaluate the economic burden of preventable dental-related emergency department visits (PDEDV) and preventable dental-related hospital admissions (PDHA), identify reasons for these presentations, and synthesise recommendations to reduce avoidable utilisation. This systematic review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive multiple database search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, EBSCOHOST, and Web of Science for studies reporting direct and/or indirect costs of PDEDV and PDHA in any age group, published in English from 2000 to March 2026. Three calibrated reviewers screened and critically appraised the identified studies. Data including patient characteristics, estimated charges/costs, reasons for PDEDV and PDHA, and recommendations to minimise the avoidable burden were extracted. Charges/costs were inflation-adjusted and standardised to 2024 US dollars. Of the 2600 total studies identified, 25 met the inclusion criteria. The majority were conducted in the United States and focused on direct medical costs. Uninsured individuals, public health insurance enrolees and residents of low-income areas were more likely to experience PDEDV. Mean charges per any PDEDV ranged from $409.73 to $2740.76. Mean charges per any PDHA ranged from $5234.46 to $62 298.25, while mean hospital costs ranged from $350.42 to $22 375.53. Dental caries was the commonest cause for PDEDV. Odontogenic infections were the costliest to manage, with mean charges of $2740.76 per PDEDV and $62 298.25 per PDHA. PDEDV and PDHA were primarily driven by financial barriers, socio-demographic disparities, limited access to routine dental care, and health workforce constraints. Proposed strategies focused on improving affordability and access to preventive dental care, enhancing oral health literacy, strengthening integration between medical and dental services, and expanding the dental workforce. PDEDV and PDHA, particularly those due to dental caries and odontogenic infections, impose a significant economic burden on healthcare systems, highlighting the need to reduce financial and access barriers to routine dental care for high-risk groups and priority conditions.

This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy of helium-based cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and methylene blue-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (MB-aPDT) against mature Streptococcus mutans biofilms formed on human enamel surfaces. In this study, standardized enamel slabs prepared from extracted human premolars were inoculated with S. mutans ATCC 35,668 and incubated for 7 days to allow mature biofilm formation in the presence of sucrose and human saliva. Specimens were randomly allocated to nine experimental groups (n = 10): negative control, 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX), laser only (660nm, 100 mW, 20J/cm², 100s), 0.02% methylene blue (MB) only, MB-aPDT (0.02% MB + 660nm laser), and CAP applied for 90, 120, 150, and 180s. Quantitative assessment of biofilm viability was performed by colony-forming unit (CFU/mL) counting. Structural alterations were qualitatively analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests (α = 0.05). Both MB-aPDT and CAP significantly reduced S. mutans biofilm viability compared with the untreated control (p < 0.001). MB-aPDT achieved a 90.7% reduction in CFU counts. CAP demonstrated a time-dependent antibacterial effect, with progressive reductions from 53.5% at 90s to 87.0% at 180s. MB-aPDT was significantly more effective than CAP at 90, 120, and 150s (p < 0.001), whereas no significant difference was observed between MB-aPDT and CAP at 180s (p = 0.266). SEM analysis corroborated quantitative findings, revealing marked disruption of biofilm architecture following MB-aPDT and CAP-180s treatments. Both MB-aPDT and helium-based CAP exhibit significant antibiofilm activity against mature S. mutans biofilms on enamel surfaces. While MB-aPDT demonstrated superior efficacy compared with shorter CAP exposures, prolonged CAP treatment achieved comparable antibacterial effects. These findings support the potential integration of both modalities as adjunctive, minimally invasive strategies for biofilm control in preventive and restorative dentistry.

The performance of five popular, widely available large language models (LLMs): ChatGPT-4o, Gemini 2.5 Flash, Llama 4, DeepSeek-V3, and Microsoft Copilot in operating dentistry education was evaluated by employing a multiple-choice question-based assessment system. This was done using a set of 150 MCQs covering areas of endodontics, dental caries, paediatric, preventive, aesthetic and restorative dentistry, biomaterials, and periodontics. The LLM's performance was assessed using classification metrics (accuracy, sensitivity, predictive reliability), textual similarity metrics (BLEU score, cosine similarity, Word Error Rate), and readability metrics (Flesch Reading Ease score). The highest classification accuracy was achieved by Gemini 2.5 Flash and ChatGPT-4o, showing their high sensitivity and high overall predictive reliability. The model with the most textual similarity to the reference answers was ChatGPT-4o with BLEU of 0.10 ± 0.0279, a high cosine similarity of 0.48 ± 0.0422, and a relatively low Word Error Rate (WER) of 5.57 ± 0.7301, and a Flesch Reading Ease score of 13.53 ± 4.9449. In medical education, ChatGPT-4o exhibited the highest accuracy, reference textual overlap, semantic alignment, lower number of errors, and readability among the five evaluated LLMs, making it a valuable assistant for dental healthcare professionals.

Combustible cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for poor oral health, but the implications of e-cigarette use and dual use remain uncertain. Distinguishing the effects of vaping from the lingering consequences of prior smoking is a persistent challenge in the literature. To assess how distinct nicotine use profiles relate to oral health-related quality of life, self-reported oral health indicators and self-rated dental health among adults in England, while differentiating e-cigarette users by smoking history. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 6027 adults (aged ≥ 16 years) from the nationally representative 2021 Adult Oral Health Survey for England. Participants were classified into five current smoking/vaping categories (never users, former smokers, exclusive cigarette smokers, exclusive e-cigarette users, dual users) and, separately, by combined vaping-smoking history. Outcomes included any oral health difficulty and the number of impacts derived from the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), as well as loose teeth, gum disease history, dry mouth and self-rated dental health. Binary outcomes (any oral health difficulty, loose teeth, gum disease history) were analysed using logistic regression, and ordinal outcomes (number of OHIP-14 impacts, dry mouth, self-rated dental health) using ordered logistic regression, with adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioural and oral hygiene covariates. Compared with never users, exclusive cigarette smokers had the highest adjusted odds of reporting any oral health difficulty (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.51-2.27), loose teeth (OR = 3.18, 95% CI: 2.47-4.09), gum disease history (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.52-2.49) and poorer self-rated dental health (OR = 2.88, 95% CI: 2.36-3.52). Dual users showed similarly elevated odds for loose teeth (OR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.95-4.97), the highest odds for gum disease history (OR = 3.21, 95% CI: 2.06-4.99) and elevated odds for any oral health difficulty (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.04-2.30) and poorer self-rated dental health (OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.68-3.58). Exclusive e-cigarette users also showed elevated odds across outcomes, though generally of smaller magnitude. Estimates for the very small subgroup of never-smoking current e-cigarette users did not show significant excess odds across outcomes, but were imprecise and should be regarded as exploratory. In this cross-sectional population-based analysis, combustible cigarette smoking and dual use were associated with poorer self-reported oral health outcomes. Findings related to e-cigarette use require cautious interpretation because of prior smoking history, the sparse never-smoker vaping subgroup and the absence of detailed exposure data (e.g., smoking intensity, pack-years, time since cessation, vaping duration, device type and nicotine concentration). Smoking cessation should remain central to preventive dentistry.

Access to preventive dental care remains a critical global public health challenge: approximately 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from oral diseases, yet systemic barriers, including geographic isolation, financial constraints, workforce shortages, and low oral health literacy, prevent timely preventive intervention. The purpose of this study is to analyze the primary access barriers to preventive dental care and to propose a scalable, AI-based screening model capable of addressing these barriers across diverse socioeconomic and geographic contexts. The methodology combines a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed publications from Scopus, PubMed, and IEEE databases with comparative case analysis of existing AI deployment scenarios in low- and high-income countries. The results demonstrate that AI-powered triage systems can reduce diagnostic delays by up to 73%, lower first-contact costs, and extend screening reach to underserved populations through mobile-first architectures. The proposed model integrates convolutional neural networks, natural language processing, and risk stratification logic into a three-tier workflow. The findings are relevant for public health policymakers, digital health developers, and dental professionals seeking evidence-based strategies to advance equitable preventive oral healthcare at scale.

Nitrous oxide sedation is an effective and safe pharmacological behaviour management technique that has been used in dentistry for many decades. The aim of this study was to assess the patients', accompanying adults' and dentists' satisfaction with dental treatment under nitrous oxide sedation. This questionnaire-based study was conducted at the Department of Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Greifswald in Germany. A questionnaire was distributed to eligible patients (n=51), accompanying adults and treating dentists. The opinions of accompanying adults and dentists were assessed by means of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Most patients, accompanying adults, and dentists expressed high satisfaction with dental treatment under nitrous oxide, as it effectively enhanced the cooperation making the treatment in the majority of cases possible and more acceptable.

Preventive dental care is recommended in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) to prevent infective endocarditis (IE). We examined average annual preventive dental care utilization and the association between preventive dental care and IE in children with CHD. We conducted a retrospective cohort study examining children (1-18-year-olds), covered by Georgia Medicaid, with at least one CHD-related ICD code and a healthcare encounter between 2008 and 2019. Preventive dental care encounters were based on Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes (D1000-D1999). CHD native anatomy was captured based on ICD-9-and-10-CM codes. Log binomial regression estimated adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for IE risk, controlling for sex, race and ethnicity, birth year cohort, rurality, and Social Deprivation Index. Of 61,024 children with CHD, 65.64% (n = 40,058) had at least one annual preventive dental visit on average, of which 0.30% (n = 181) had IE. For subgroups with valve or shunt lesions, having at least one annual preventive dental care visit showed a significantly lower risk of IE (aRR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.18, 0.58, and aRR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.07, 0.38, respectively) compared to no dental visits. No association was found between preventive dental care and IE in those with severe CHD (aRR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.51, 1.26). Although dental health is important for patients with CHD, and despite universal dental coverage, many children with CHD do not seek annual preventive dental care. Integrating dental health assessments into routine CHD management protocols is imperative not only to promote oral health but also to prevent IE.

Biannual preventive dental visits are recommended to promote good oral health and identify problems, yet children in many families do not receive this care due to time-related barriers. Paid sick leave mandates have the potential to relieve parental time constraints and facilitate scheduling and attending pediatric dental visits; thus, we sought to evaluate the effects of state paid sick leave mandates on children's receipt of preventive dental care. Using 2016 to 2023 National Survey of Children's Health data and a difference-in-differences approach, we compared trends in children's receipt of preventive dental care in states that did and did not implement paid sick leave mandates. Pre-implementation of paid sick leave mandates, children residing in states that later implemented these policies were more likely to have received preventive dental care, to be non-Hispanic white, to have private health insurance, and to have parents with more than a high school education, relative to children residing in states that never implemented paid sick leave mandates. State paid sick leave mandates were associated with a 3.2% relative increase (95% CI: 0.2%, 6.2%) in rates of children receiving preventive dental care, controlling for time-varying demographic and policy characteristics, with state and year fixed effects. State-paid sick leave mandates may alleviate competing parental work and caregiving responsibilities and provide parents with additional time and flexibility to obtain dental care for their children.

This study tests materials by additive manufacturing methods that will demonstrate impact resistance and structural stability comparable to conventional EVA. Researchers tested ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, thermoplastic polyurethane via fused deposition modeling, and flexible photopolymer resins from liquid crystal display-based three-dimensional printing. Analyses included tensile strength, hardness, and impact resistance. Thermoplastic Polyurethane via fused deposition modeling showed the best combination of elasticity, energy dissipation, and durability. Ethylene-vinyl acetate exhibited lower resilience, and the resins failed prematurely. Increased thickness and structural reinforcement improved protection. The material manufacturing method and design significantly influence a mouthguard's effectiveness. Thermoplastic Polyurethane made with additive manufacturing, especially with reinforced designs, offers superior resilience for high-impact sports, providing a path for customizable, effective, and accessible preventive dentistry.

Preventive Dental Strategies to Minimize Oral Health Complications After Renal Transplantation: A Systematic Review.

Purpose Preventive dentistry prioritizes oral health promotion (OHP), the practice of actively teaching children and their caregivers about proper oral hygiene habits. The purpose of this study was to examine the oral health curriculum, clinical experiences, and OHP; the role of these experiences on current clinical practice and the perceptions of importance and confidence in providing pediatric care among dental hygienists recently licensed in the state of Utah.Methods Dental hygienists licensed in the state of Utah between 2022 and 2024 were invited to participate in a 20-item electronic survey about educational experiences and current clinical practices related to pediatric OHP. The survey included curriculum characteristics, the number and age of pediatric patients treated, confidence in treating age groups 1-6 and 7-12 upon graduation, the importance placed on 12 individual OHP topics, and whether previous education translated to clinical practice. Relationships among variables were assessed by statistical analyses.Results One-hundred dental hygienists accepted the invitation to participate for a 16.1% response rate. Most (86%) held a bachelor's degree. Educational experiences were significantly correlated with the importance of providing pediatric OHP in clinical practice (p<0.01). Seven out of the twelve individual topics also showed significant correlations between education received and perceived importance (p<0.03). While most (55%) felt very confident treating 7-12-year-olds, only 34% were very confident treating patients aged 1-6 years. Confidence levels were associated with the number of patients treated during dental hygiene education, with patients aged 7-12 years statistically significant (p<0.01).Conclusions Adequate educational experiences on all OHP topics as well as pediatric clinical encounters need to be ensured within dental hygiene curricula so that all graduates perceive the importance of oral health promotion when providing pediatric care and have the confidence to care for patients aged 1-12 years.

HighlightsWhat are the main findings?Higher out-of-pocket expenditure was consistently associated with higher levels of unmet dental care needs across European countries.Socio-economic and health system factors, including education, GDP per capita, and dentist density, contributed to cross-country variation in access to dental care.What are the implications of the main findings?Reducing direct household payment burden may help improve access to dental care during periods of system stress.Preventive dental policies may be more effective when embedded within broader social and financial protection strategies.Background/Objectives: Health system socio-economic inequities in dental care are a long-standing problem in Europe. The issue gained increased relevance during the recent pandemic due to service disruption and socio-economic inequities that become even more pronounced under such circumstances. However, while preventive dental programs are considered key elements of public health, little is known about their role in addressing equity in accessing dental care among different countries and over time between them. This research aims at investigating the relationship between preventive dental policy, socio-economic factors, and the inability to get appropriate dental care within EU member states. Methods: A longitudinal panel dataset at the country level, consisting of data collected during 2020 through 2024, was assembled using open sources of statistics from Europe and other international statistical databases. The dependent variable used in the study was the percentage of the population that had unmet dental care need because of cost. Independent variables were the presence or absence of preventive policies related to dentistry, educational attainment, gross domestic product per capita, unemployment rate, number of dentists, and out-of-pocket expenses. Balanced panel datasets and regressions with robust standard errors in random-effects models were estimated. Interaction terms were created to test the moderating effect of education level on the relationship between policies and access to care. Results: Cross-country variations in terms of the prevention policy environment, socio-economic status, and unmet dental care need were found from descriptive analysis. The higher level of out-of-pocket payment was always related to the higher unmet dental care need, while the lower GDP countries displayed poorer access. Using the balanced panel random-effects model, preventive dental policies and the interaction between preventive policies and educational level were insignificant factors predicting the unmet dental care need. On the other hand, higher out-of-pocket payments, education, and dentists per million population had nearly significant positive relationships. In the sensitivity analysis, GDP per capita showed a negative association, whereas dentists per million population remained positively associated with unmet dental care need. Conclusions: The findings suggest that inequalities in access to dental care during and after the COVID-19 period were shaped primarily by financial and structural determinants rather than by the presence of preventive policies alone. While preventive programs remain an important component of long-term oral health strategies, reducing direct household payment burden and strengthening health system capacity may represent more immediate mechanisms for maintaining equitable access to dental services during periods of system disruption.

To evaluate the prospective association between the absence and different models of primary oral health care in Brazil (traditional units and Family Health Strategy [FHS] teams) and preventive dental visits and risk behaviours (smoking initiation and increase in alcohol consumption) among young individuals. This 5-year prospective cohort study derived from a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted in 2018 that evaluated the oral health conditions of 1197 15- to 19-year-old adolescents from southern Brazil. In 2022-2024, follow-up assessments were conducted (mean time interval 5 ± 0.5 years). Socio-demographic characteristics, the use of dental services (including the reason for the last dental visit), behavioural habits (smoking and alcohol consumption) and participants' address were collected at baseline and follow-up. The outcomes were last dental visit for prevention, smoking initiation and increase in alcohol consumption. The main predictor variable was public dental services coverage in the neighbourhood (absent, primary health care or FHS including a dental team) obtained from official data. Unadjusted and adjusted multilevel Poisson regression models were performed to estimate relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Five hundred and seventy individuals were re-evaluated (47.6% retention). After adjusting for individual-level variables, participants residing in neighbourhoods with FHS including a dental team were more likely to visit a dentist for preventive purposes (RR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.29-1.97), and had a lower risk for smoking initiation (RR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.21-0.97), and an increase in alcohol consumption (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67-0.97) compared to areas without coverage. Coverage by traditional primary health care showed no significant association with the study outcomes. Brazil's FHS model with integrated oral health teams outperforms traditional dental services in promoting preventive care and reducing risk behaviours among young adults.

There is insufficient data on the oral health of those incarcerated in Ireland and oral health is generally poorer in people in prison. The purpose of this study is to investigate and describe the oral health needs of people in prison, patterns of dental care and the outcomes of dental services in Irish prisons. A retrospective chart review of patient dental records was undertaken from a sample across Ireland. Outcomes included the presence of active decay, reasons for initial presentation and patterns of service use. The sample totalled 389 incarcerated persons. Fewer than 40% of this population had full dental charting completed. More than 40% of prisoners had active and untreated dental decay noted whilst addressing their presenting complaint. For 44.7% it was not possible to make any determination in relation to other oral health needs. The most common reason for initially accessing prison dental services was emergency presentation for pain or infection. The low proportion of prisoners with full dental charting is an important finding in itself, and reflects some of the challenges of providing dental care in prisons. The recording of dental data is an important part of patient care. Incarcerated people are at high risk for oral diseases and demand for dental services frequently exceeds availability. More research is needed to establish and reduce the dental disease burden of people in prison, and how a reorientation towards preventative dentistry could be achieved in this population.

Aims Describes the development and early implementation of the Cancer Action Support Practice (CASP) pathway in South West England, aiming to improve dental care access for head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors in the primary care setting.Summary of CASP development Stakeholder engagement was central to CASP's design, involving input from general dental practitioners, local dental committees, commissioners, and secondary care teams. Funding and commissioning options were explored through the regional integrated care boards (ICBs). CASP aligns with national policy, including NHS England's guidance on oral health for cancer patients. CASP provides a structured pathway enabling HNC patients to access routine and preventive dentistry in primary care to prepare them for and maintain them after oral rehabilitation. Two commissioning models (units of dental activity uplift and sessional rate approach) were proposed, allowing regional flexibility by commissioning ICBs. Consultant-led peer review, data collection, and ongoing professional development are embedded. A pilot CASP has been commissioned in Cornwall, with further strong regional interest.Conclusion CASP demonstrates a regionally coordinated approach to improving dental access for a vulnerable and complex patient group. The model supports integration between primary and secondary care, informed by national guidance and local clinical need, and has potential applicability to other medical conditions with significant dental involvement.

Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent diseases in children, requiring early and accurate detection to prevent progression. Conventional visual examination, although widely used, is subjective and operator-dependent. With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), image-based AI tools offer potential for more consistent caries detection. This study aimed to compare the validity and reliability of an AI tool (ScanO) with conventional visual examination in identifying dental caries in children. This observational study included 200 children attending the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry. Visual examination was performed independently by two trained examiners, and decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT)/deft scores were recorded. Standardized intraoral photographs were captured and analyzed using the AI tool ScanO, which generated corresponding DMFT/deft scores. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. The AI tool successfully detected dental caries but consistently underestimated DMFT/deft scores compared to clinical examination (3.48 ± 2.94 vs. 4.70 ± 3.31; P < 0.001). Despite this, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis demonstrated excellent reliability for the AI tool (ICC = 0.968 single, 0.984 average) and near-perfect reliability for clinical examination (ICC = 0.999). The AI tool demonstrated good reliability in detecting dental caries but consistently underestimated DMFT/deft scores compared to clinical examination. The clinical method identified more carious lesions, reaffirming its role as the gold standard. Within the limitations of this study, the AI tool can be considered a supplementary screening aid in pediatric dentistry but cannot replace clinical judgment.

Introduction: The evolution of caries management has shifted towards minimally invasive approaches, with resin infiltration emerging as a promising treatment for non cavitated carious lesions. Resin infiltration is a minimally invasive treatment for early enamel lesions, but its effectiveness depends on optimal etching. Current protocols lack consensus on the ideal etching time for maximum resin penetration. This study evaluates how varying etching durations affect infiltration depth in demineralised enamel, aiming to improve clinical outcomes and refine evidence-based guidelines for non invasive caries management. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of resin infiltration by varying etching times and assessing the material’s penetration depth in enamel. Materials and Methods: This in-vitro experimental study was conducted Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, from January 2017 to December 2018. It involved 40 premolars extracted for orthodontic purposes that had sound enamel. The samples were divided into four groups, with the control group etched for two minutes as recommended by the manufacturer, and the experimental groups etched for one, three, and four minutes (R1-R4), respectively. Artificial lesions were created using a caries demineralisation solution. The resin infiltration process involved etching with Hydrochloric acid (HCl) gel { Infiltration Concept (ICON®) }, (ICON® Etch), drying the lesions with ICON® Dry (ethanol), and then applying ICON® infiltrant. The treated teeth were sectioned, stained with Sodium Fluorescein dye, and analysed using a fluorescent microscope. The results were tabulated and statistically evaluated using paired t-tests, with a significance level set at p-value&lt;0.05. Results: Etching the teeth for four minutes (p-value=0.002) prior to resin infiltration resulted in the deepest penetration of the material, thus being more efficacious in arresting the progression of caries in comparison to three minutes (p-value=0.044), two minute and one minute (p-value=0.002) etching times. It also showed four minute etching time to have greater penetration of the material into the lesion. Conclusion: According to the results obtained, two minute etching, used as the control, was adequate but less effective than the three and four minute groups, and the one minute etching was the least effective. This finding highlights the importance of optimising the etching time for improved resin infiltration outcomes in the management of non cavitated carious lesions.

This first-in-human clinical study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a bioglass incorporated in a toothpaste, in reducing dentin hypersensitivity (DH) compared to a sodium fluoride (NaF) toothpaste over a 2-week period. A double-blind, randomized, parallel-arm, proof-of-concept clinical trial was conducted with 46 participants experiencing self-reported and clinically confirmed DH. Participants were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: (1) Test toothpaste (5wt% bioglass with 1425ppm fluoride as NaF), or (2) NaF toothpaste (1425ppm fluoride). Outcomes included Schiff Airblast Sensitivity Score (primary endpoint), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and Yeaple Probe tactile sensitivity (secondary endpoints). Statistical analyses, including analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and descriptive statistics, were performed to evaluate intergroup differences. The Test group exhibited a statistically significant reduction in Schiff Airblast Sensitivity Scores at Day 14 compared to the NaF group (ΔMean: -0.8 vs. -0.5, p=0.0341). Significant improvements were also observed in VAS pain scores in as little as 2 days (ΔMean: -1.03 vs. 0.04, p=0.0057). Rapid pain relief was noted within 2 days, indicating both immediate and cumulative effects. The difference in tactile scores was not statistically significant between groups although greater change was seen with Test toothpaste (ΔMean 13 vs. 3g; p=0.068). No severe adverse events were reported, and safety profiles were comparable across groups. The toothpaste containing the bioglass demonstrated superior efficacy in alleviating DH symptoms at both early and later time points through its mechanism of rapid tubule occlusion. This innovative approach aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for fluoride use and addresses unmet needs in DH management globally. Further research is warranted to explore its long-term applications in preventive and restorative dentistry. U.S. National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry (http://www. gov) ID NCT06166745.

Oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontal disorders, oral infections, and halitosis continue to represent major global health challenges despite advances in preventive and therapeutic dentistry. Conventional chemical agents including chlorhexidine, antibiotics, and synthetic antimicrobials have demonstrated significant effectiveness in managing oral diseases; however, their long-term use is often associated with adverse effects such as microbial resistance, disruption of oral microbiome balance, mucosal irritation, tooth staining, and reduced patient compliance. In response to these limitations, there has been growing interest in natural and biologically compatible alternatives that can provide effective therapeutic outcomes while minimizing side effects. Herbal compounds and probiotics have emerged as promising adjunctive and preventive approaches due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and microbiomemodulating properties. This comprehensive review explores the role of green tea (Camellia sinensis), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), and probiotics in modern dentistry, focusing on their mechanisms of action, clinical applications, comparative effectiveness, and future perspectives.Green tea contains bioactive polyphenols, particularly catechins such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which exhibit strong antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. These compounds have demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting cariogenic bacteria, reducing periodontal inflammation, controlling oral malodor, and potentially contributing to oral cancer prevention. Lemongrass essential oil, rich in citral and other phytochemicals, possesses potent antimicrobial and antifungal properties against key oral pathogens, making it a promising candidate for periodontal therapy, endodontic irrigation, and herbal mouthwash formulations. Meanwhile, probiotics represent a novel biological strategy that focuses on restoring microbial balance by introducing beneficial bacteria capable of suppressing pathogenic microorganisms through competitive inhibition, immune modulation, and ecological stabilization of the oral microbiome. This review compares the advantages and limitations of these natural agents, highlighting their safety profiles, patient acceptance, and potential synergistic effects when used in combination therapies.