Impact of low-level laser therapy on the quality of life of patients with xerostomia undergoing head and neck radiotherapy: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To carry out a systematic review to assess whether low-level laser therapy can improve the quality of life of patients with xerostomia undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. METHODS: A systematic search was performed through Embase, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, nonpeer-reviewed clinicaltrials.gov and LILACS. The strategy included clinical studies were selected that prospectively followed or evaluated the quality of life by directly comparing the use of low-level laser therapy for xerostomia induced by head and neck radiotherapy with alternative therapies without the use of a laser. The risk of bias in the studies was assessed by RoB 2.0 and Robins I. RESULTS: After all application of the predetermined criteria, four studies were included, dated between the years 2014 and 2023. Three studies described as randomized clinical trials were included, one of which was a randomized pilot study and only one was a prospective clinical trial. A total of 126 patients were evaluated, all four studies used the infrared wavelength, with two studies using the combination with the red wavelength. It was observed that low-level laser therapy can change the sensation of dry mouth, improving patients' quality of life. In addition, changes related to increased stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow were also identified. CONCLUSION: The use of low-level laser therapy has promising results on xerostomia, consequently improving the quality of life of patients undergoing radiotherapy in the head and neck region.

Influence of ceramic crown design (translucent monolithic zirconia vs. bilayered) of implant-supported single crowns after mechanical cycling.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the influence of translucent monolithic versus bilayered crowns and whether the use of a CoCr base abutments affects the fatigue and fracture resistance of screwed implant-supported single crowns with external connections under mechanical cycling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty specimens were divided into groups: (1) metal-ceramic (MC) crown, (2) veneered zirconia crown (Zr), (3) veneered zirconia crown with a CoCr base abutment (ZrB), (4) monolithic translucent zirconia crown (MZr), and (5) monolithic translucent zirconia crown with a CoCr base abutment (MZrB). Specimens underwent mechanical cycling (5 × 106 cycles; 150 N) evaluating fatigue resistance (number of failures) and those that failed were subsequently subjected to fractographic analyses (stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope) to evaluate failure location and area, and maximum fracture load was also measured. RESULTS: The failure-related survival rate (100%) and maximum fracture resistance of the MZrB were significantly higher than those of MC and Zr (50%; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the failure rate and fracture resistance when a CoCr base abutment was used or not in the translucent monolithic Zr groups (p > 0.05;MZrB vs. MZr). Failure location, with MC crowns' fractures, noted at the screw area (p = 0.043), while all-ceramic crowns were mostly in the cuspid and to failure area, the Zr group had the largest mean (15.55 ± 9.17 mm2) among the groups, significant difference only when compared with MC (1.62 ± 0.81 mm2) (p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Translucent monolithic zirconia crowns exhibited significantly higher fatigue and fracture resistance compared with conventional MC and bilayered crowns. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The appropriate choice of material and manufacturing technique is crucial for predicting the higher clinical performance of single crowns. Enhanced mechanical resistance in terms of fatigue and fracture resistance can be achieved by replacing MC and bilayered restorations with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing monolithic zirconia.

Are CAD-CAM milled glass fiber posts better than prefabricated or custom glass fiber posts for endodontically treated teeth? A systematic review with meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Prefabricated and custom glass fiber posts have been successfully used to reconstruct endodontically treated teeth. However, the performance of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture (CAD-CAM) milled glass fiber posts is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to compare the fracture and bond strength and cement layer thickness of CAD-CAM milled glass fiber posts with prefabricated or custom glass fiber posts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (http://osf.io/65jm7). Two reviewers searched the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and ProQuest databases for articles up to September 2023. In addition, the reference lists were hand searched. A meta-analysis was performed by using the RevMan 5.4 program. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoBDEMAT tool. RESULTS: After screening, a total of 18 studies were included. The CAD-CAM milled glass fiber posts showed higher fracture strength (P=.02; Standardized Mean Difference [SMD]: 0.57; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.07 to 1.07), bond strength (P=.010; SMD: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.26 to 1.89), and lower cement layer thickness (P=.009; SMD: -2.94; 95% CI: -5.15 to -0.73) when compared with prefabricated glass fiber posts. However, fracture strength (P=.53; SMD: 0.38; 95% CI: -0.79 to 1.54) and bond strength (P=.90; SMD: -0.05; 95% CI: -0.81 to 0.72) were statistically similar between CAD-CAM milled and custom glass fiber posts. Significant and substantial heterogeneity was observed in all meta-analyzes (P<.01; I>60%). The studies sufficiently reported most domains related to bias, except for randomization of samples, sample size rationale and reporting and operator blinding. CONCLUSIONS: CAD-CAM milled and custom glass fiber posts provide an effective and safe option for restoring endodontically treated teeth, especially for weakened teeth or enlarged root canals. However, further well-designed clinical research is recommended to strengthen these findings.

Are implant-supported removable partial dentures a suitable treatment for partially edentulous patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A consensus on the clinical performance of implant-supported removable partial dentures (ISRPDs) is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical performance of ISRPDs in terms of the implant survival rates, marginal bone loss, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were independently searched by 2 reviewers for articles published up to December 2020. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the implant survival rates and marginal bone loss by using the R program. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for non-RCT studies. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included, with a total of 334 participants and a mean age of 58 years. The participants received a total of 581 dental implants, 475 conventional and 106 mini-implants. All included studies reported implant survival rate above 90% (range: 92% to 100%). Meta-analysis indicated a high proportion of implant survival rates of 3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2% to 5%) and a low mean raw score of marginal bone loss 0.98 mm (CI: 0.61 to 1.36 mm). Compared with conventional RPDs, improved patient quality of life and satisfaction were reported by studies that evaluated ISRPDs. RCT studies exhibited a low risk of bias for most domains, while most non-RCT studies were classified as good quality. CONCLUSIONS: ISRPDs exhibited high implant survival rates and acceptable bone loss with improvement in the quality of life and satisfaction of patients when compared with conventional RPDs. Therefore, they can be considered suitable for the rehabilitation of partially edentulous patients.

Rehabilitation with dental prostheses and its influence on brain activity: A systematic review.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The consequences of edentulism depend on its complexity and are far-reaching, but limited evidence regarding its association with neurologic health is available. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to establish the relationship between oral prosthetic rehabilitation and the regional increase in brain activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021262247), and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline was followed. Randomized clinical trials, prospective studies comparing the brain activity of patients rehabilitated with and without the use of dental prostheses, and studies that analyzed the human brain by using noninvasive techniques were used as inclusion criteria. The risk of bias in each study was assessed by using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I). RESULTS: The search was carried out in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and https://clinicaltrials.gov databases up to June 2021. After a search conducted by 2 reviewers, 8 articles were included in the review. A regional increase in blood flow and regional cerebral activity during dental prosthesis use was identified in the studies. CONCLUSIONS: A positive association was found between the different types of prosthetic rehabilitation and brain function. Prostheses may preserve and restore neurological health.

Mechanical properties of polymethyl methacrylate as a denture base: Conventional versus CAD-CAM resin - A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The development of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) resin blocks with reported improved mechanical properties has simplified complete denture production. However, whether the objective of improved mechanical properties has been achieved compared with conventional heat-polymerized PMMA is not yet clear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the mechanical properties of denture base resins manufactured by conventional heat-polymerization and by CAD-CAM in terms of flexural strength, flexural modulus, and surface roughness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science) were independently searched by 2 researchers for relevant studies published up to November 2020. The population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) question was, "Does the conventionally manufactured, heat-polymerized PMMA resin, as a denture base, demonstrate the same mechanical properties as the CAD-CAM resin block?" In addition, a meta-analysis was based on the inverse variance method. Flexural strength, flexural modulus, and surface roughness were analyzed through the continuous outcome evaluated by mean difference and standard deviation, with 95% confidence intervals. To evaluated heterogeneity, the I2 value (≤25%=low, ≥50%=moderate and ≥75%=high) and the P value were considered. P<.10 indicated statistical difference for heterogeneity. The effects of meta-analysis were based on the results of heterogeneity as per the studies. RESULTS: Thirteen in vitro studies were included in the analysis. A total of 507 specimens were evaluated, 222 conventional and 285 CAD-CAM. In terms of flexural strength, the data showed no significant difference when conventional heat-polymerized PMMA was compared with CAD-CAM PMMA resins (P=.06; mean difference=18.28; 95% confidence interval:-0.42 to 36.97). In terms of flexural modulus, there was a significant difference for the CAD-CAM PMMA group (P=.01; mean difference=589.22; 95% confidence interval: 117.95 to 1060.48). In terms of surface roughness, a significant difference was observed between the groups (P=.02; mean difference=-0.53; 95% confidence interval: -0.97 to -0.09) with the conventional heat-polymerized PMMA resin having higher surface roughness values. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical properties of CAD-CAM PMMA resins were generally improved when compared with heat-polymerized polymethyl methacrylate resin.

Does the use of an adhesive improve conventional complete dentures? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A consensus on whether the use of a complete-denture adhesive provides a clinical benefit remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review of randomized controlled trials was to evaluate the use of adhesive in complete dentures in terms of retention and stability, patient-reported outcomes measures, and masticatory performance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for articles up to October 2020. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to analyze the risk of bias. The grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations (GRADE) tool was used to assess the certainty of the evidence. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included with a total of 516 participants with a mean age of 65.5 years. Most studies reported a significant improvement in the retention and stability, patient-reported outcomes measures, and masticatory performance of complete dentures with the use of denture adhesive compared with no-denture adhesive. Newly developed denture adhesives were reported to have promising results. Most studies presented a low risk of bias, but the certainty of the evidence was classified as low to moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Participants had improved treatment outcomes when using denture adhesives because they significantly improve the retention and stability, patient-reported outcomes measures, and masticatory performance. However, further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these results with newly developed denture adhesives.

Mechanical behavior of titanium and zirconia abutments at the implant-abutment interface: A systematic review.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Zirconia has become popular for dental implant abutments in the esthetic zone but can damage the implant connection interface. Studies have been conducted to compare zirconia abutments with conventional titanium abutments; however, a consensus or systematic review is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the performance of abutments made of zirconia and titanium in relation to wear and misfit at the implant-abutment interface. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science) were independently searched by 2 researchers for relevant studies published up to June 2021. The population, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) question was "Do zirconia abutments cause greater wear at the implant-abutment interface than titanium abutments under occlusal forces?" Eligible studies included in vitro studies that evaluated changes in the surface of external and/or internal connections and single and/or multiple, screwed and/or cemented prostheses rehabilitated with titanium and zirconia abutments submitted to mechanical cycling. RESULTS: Nine studies were included for qualitative analysis. A total of 172 specimens were analyzed, 86 zirconia and 86 titanium abutments. In terms of wear on the implant connection surface, zirconia abutments caused more severe wear, more scratches, and more rounding of the hexagonal angles at the implant connection interface than titanium abutments. In terms of misfit at the connection interface, zirconia abutments showed greater misfit than titanium abutments. CONCLUSIONS: Zirconia abutments produce more wear at the titanium implant connection interface, titanium abutments showed better fit to the implant connection interface, and the fit can be influenced by the abutment manufacturing method.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Different Implant-Abutment Connections, Retention Systems, and Restorative Materials in the Implant-Supported Single Crowns Using 3D Finite Element Analysis.

This is an in silico study aimed to evaluate the biomechanical influence of different implant-abutment interfaces (external hexagon and Morse taper implants), retention systems (cement and screw retained), and restorative crowns (metal-ceramic and monolithic) using 3-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA). Eight 3D models were simulated for the maxillary first molar area using InVesalius, Rhinoceros, and SolidWorks and processed using Femap and NEi Nastran software. Axial and oblique forces of 200 and 100 N, respectively, were applied on the occlusal surface of the prostheses. Microstrain and von Mises stress maps were used to evaluate the deformation (cortical bone tissue) and stress (implants/fixation screws/crowns), respectively, for each model. For both loadings, Morse taper implants had lower microstrain values than the external hexagon implants. The retention system did not affect microstrain on the cortical bone tissue under both loadings. However, the cemented prosthesis displayed higher stress with the fixation screw than the external hexagon implants. No difference was observed between the metal-ceramic and zirconia monolithic crowns in terms of microstrain and stress distribution on the cortical bone, implants, or components. Morse taper implants can be considered as a good alternative for dental implant rehabilitation because they demonstrated better biomechanical behavior for the bone and fixation screw as compared to external hexagon implants. Cement-retained prosthesis increased the stress on the fixation screw of the external hexagon implants, thereby increasing the risk of screw loosening/fracture in the posterior maxillary area. The use of metal-ceramic or monolithic crowns did not affect the biomechanical behavior of the evaluated structures.

A clinical comparison of 1-piece versus 2-piece implants: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: One-step dental implant surgery with a 1-piece implant has been introduced with the aim of simplifying and increasing the effectiveness of treatment and providing greater comfort for the patient. Whether these goals have been met compared with conventional 2-piece implants remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the use of 1-piece versus 2-piece implants in terms of marginal bone loss and implant survival rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was recorded in the International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD 42018095721). A literature search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for articles published up to May 2018. The population, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) question was, "Do patients who received 1-piece implants show similar marginal bone loss, survival rates, and complications as those who receive 2-piece implants?" RESULTS: The meta-analysis was based on the Mantel-Haenszel and inverse variance methods. Implant survival rate was analyzed by using a dichotomous outcome, measured according to risk ratio (RR) and marginal bone loss by continuously evaluating the outcomes according to the mean difference (MD), both with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Five studies, including 270 participants with a mean age of 54.70 years and receiving 434 dental implants, were included. The mean follow-up period was 4 years. Meta-analysis did not reveal a significant difference in relation to implant survival rate (P=.85; RR: -0.89; CI: -0.27 to 2.98), as well as to marginal bone loss (P=.85; MD: -0.43; CI: -0.43 to -0.52). CONCLUSIONS: One- and 2-piece implants demonstrated effectiveness in the rehabilitation of patients requiring dental implants.