Serum Level of Vitamin D in Patients with Salivary Gland Tumors.

Introduction: The active vitamin D metabolites have anticancer effects on many human neoplasms. The vitamin D receptors have been detected in salivary glands tissue. This study aimed to evaluate the serum level of vitamin D in patients with malignant and benign salivary gland tumors. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective and cross-sectional study, 151 participants, including 42 patients with benign, 42 malignant salivary gland tumors, and 67 healthy subjects, participated. The serum level of vitamin D was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The mean serum level of vitamin D was 42.7 ng/mL in patients with benign tumors, 40 ng/mL in malignant tumors, and 36.7 ng/mL in the control group. There was no significant difference between the mean vitamin D level and vitamin D status in patients with salivary gland tumors and normal controls (P=0.2). There was a significant positive correlation between vitamin D level and age in the control group (P=0.04). Conclusions: The results showed a high prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in salivary gland tumors and normal subjects, with no significant difference. Therefore, the serum level of vitamin D might not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of these tumors, similar to many human cancers. However, further prospective studies are recommended focusing on specific tumors and considering other interventional factors.

The impact of immediate versus delayed mini-screw placement on alveolar bone preservation and bone density following tooth extraction: evidence from a canine model.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of mini-screw placement on the alveolar ridge using a split-mouth design. Twelve beagles underwent bilateral extraction of their lateral teeth. In the immediate group, a mini-screw was unilaterally placed approximately 3-4 mm below the alveolar crest of the extraction site on the experimental side. The delayed group received mini-screws six weeks after tooth extraction. On average, the dogs were sacrificed after 11 weeks, and the maxillary bones were excised and scanned using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Histopathological examinations were conducted to assess inflammation and bone formation scores. The results showed that in the immediate group, bone height was significantly greater on the intervention side compared to the control side (p < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in the delayed group. In both groups, there was a significant increase in bone density around the mini-screws compared to the control sides (p < 0.05). Mini-screw insertion led to a significant enhancement of bone growth in both groups (p < 0.05), with no notable differences between the two groups. The mini-screws did not have any impact on bone inflammation or width. Overall, both immediate and delayed mini-screw placement in the extraction socket positively influenced bone dimensions, density, and histological properties. However, immediate insertion was more effective than delayed placement in preserving vertical bone height, despite delayed insertion resulting in higher bone density.

The psychological toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental care providers in Iran: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background/Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic affects social and psychological resources. Healthcare workers, especially dental personnel, are more at risk for mental issues due to anxiety, pressure, and frustration. This study assessed mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 epidemic among Iranian dental care providers, focusing on insomnia, anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional survey, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Global Psychotrauma Screening were masured. Six hundred thirty-eight dental care providers (dental specialists, general dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental students) from different parts of Iran (Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Mashhad) were investigated by the stratified sampling method. The univariate analysis was incorporated as independent in binary logistic regression models to analyze the data. In this study, the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Among all the participants, 42.8% were dental students or residents, 21.9% were general or specialist dentists, 18.7% were dental assistants, and 16.6% were nonclinicians. The prevalence of insomnia, anxiety, and depression was 31.3%, 40.8%, and 54.9%, respectively. The frequency of participants in the low, moderate, and high levels of PTSD resulting from LCA 56.6%, 33.7%, and 9.7%, respectively. Conclusions: This study found a significant frequency of mental health issues among Iranian dentists. Females, participants whose relatives have COVID-19, and those with a higher workload were more likely to develop mental health symptoms. As mental problems among dental professionals might affect the quality of patient care, diagnostic, supportive, and therapeutic interventions should be taken.

Comparison of Nasopharyngeal Airway Volume in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients With Normal Individuals Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography.

This study aimed to compare nasopharyngeal airway volume in cleft lip and palate patients with normal individuals using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). In this cross-sectional study, 40 CBCT scans of 9 to 12-years-old patients were enrolled and divided into 3 groups: normal individuals (n=16), unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP, n=14) and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients (BCLP, n=10). Superior and middle pharyngeal airway volumes and nasal width were measured and compared between 3 groups. ANOVA and χ 2 tests were used for statistical comparison. P <0.05 was considered significant. Superior airway volume was not significantly different between the 3 groups ( P =0.36). However, there was a significant difference between the 3 groups regarding middle pharyngeal volume ( P =0.49) and nasal width ( P =0.021). There was not a significant difference in the upper and middle pharyngeal volume and also nasal width between the 2 sexes. Considering different dimensions of evaluation of the pharyngeal airway volume of cleft lip and palate patients, the evaluation of airway volume is essential during orthodontic or orthognathic surgical treatments that expand or protect the maxilla.

Chewing Gums as a Drug Delivery Approach for Oral Health.

Background: Drug delivery approaches with the shortest therapeutic period and the lowest side effects have always been considered a sublime target in the medical sciences. Among many delivery methods, chewing gum could be perceived as a promising drug carrier that can carry several types of drugs for oral health. These drug carriers could represent optimal therapeutic time and lower side effects due to their sustained release capability and lower required thresholds for the drug compared with other delivery approaches. The convenient use in the oral cavity's local environment and the ability to locally carry multiple drugs are considered the main advantages of this delivery approach. Aim: This review aimed to explore chewing gum as a promising drug carrier that can carry several types of drugs for oral health. Materials and Methods: Articles were searched for on PubMed, ISI, SCOPUS, Google Patents, the Royal Society of Chemistry website, and electronic databases using MESH terms and the following keywords: ("Gum" OR "Chewing gum") and ("Drug delivery OR Drug delivery systems") in the English language. No time limit was applied, and all documents as of August 30th, 2020 were retrieved. Results: Gum-drug interactions, mechanisms of release, and formulations of the drugs might all play a role in this versatile delivery method. Accordingly, chewing gum-based carriers may be presented as a plausible candidate for drug delivery in oral diseases. Conclusion: Gum-driven drugs could be introduced as promising candidates for treating oral diseases due to their ability to deliver the proper local dosages of active ingredients, short contact time, biocompatibility, and biodegradable chemical structures.

COVID-19 transmission risk and protective protocols in dentistry: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Among several potential transmission sources in the spreading of the COVID-19, dental services have received a high volume of attention. Several reports, papers, guidelines, and suggestions have been released on how this infection could be transmitted through dental services and what should be done. This study aimed to review the guidelines in order to develop a practical feasibility protocol for the re-opening of dental clinics and the reorientation of dental services. METHODS: This study systematically reviewed the published literature and the guidelines of international health care institutions on dentistry and COVID-19. We searched Pubmed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS electronic databases using MESH terms. The recommendations identified were tested with a convenience sample of experienced practitioners, and a practical step-by-step protocol is presented in this paper. RESULTS: To the date this paper was drafted, 38 articles were found, of which 9 satisfied our inclusion criteria. As all the nine studies were proposed in a general consensus, any elective non-emergency dental care for patients with suspected or known COVID-19 should be postponed for at least 2 weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only urgent treatment of dental diseases can be performed during the COVID-19 outbreak taking into consideration pharmacological management as the first line and contagion-reduced minimally invasive emergency treatment as the secondary and final management. CONCLUSIONS: While the currently available evidence has not demonstrated a clear and direct relationship between dental treatment or surgery and the possibility of the transmission of COVID-19, there is clearly the potential for transmission. Therefore, following the protective protocols in the COVID-19 crisis is of utmost importance in a dental setting.

Effects of one-year storage in water on bond strength of self-etching adhesives to enamel and dentin.

The aim of this study was to compare the bond strengths of three self-etching materials during one year of storage. Clearfil SE Bond (SE), Clearfil Protect Bond (PB), and Clearfil Tri-S Bond (TS) were used for bonding to dentin and enamel according to manufacturer's instructions. Microshear bond strength values were measured after 24 hours, six months, and one year. Two-way ANOVA showed that the interaction of material type and storage time was significant for dentin. At baseline, SE had the highest bond strength to dentin. There were no significant changes in bond strength for each material during the storage period, except for PB which showed increased bond strength to dentin after one year. All materials performed reliably after one year. However, the antibacterial and fluoride-releasing effects of PB would further contribute to the long-term clinical benefits of this material.