Internal Hexagon vs Conical Implant-Abutment Connections: Evaluation of 3-Year Postloading Outcomes.

Different types of internal implant-abutment connections, namely hexagon and conical, have been used for implant restoration. However, data regarding the benefits of these internal connections in terms of clinical outcomes are scarce. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to compare radiographic marginal bone loss (RMBL) and associated implant complications between implants with internal hexagon (IH) connections and those with internal conical (IC) connections. Forty-nine patients with 98 implants (2 per patient) placed in the posterior mandible were recruited. All implants were inserted in pairs into solid D2 bone according to a randomized sequence; the first patient received an IH connection implant on the mesial side, while the second patient received an IC connection implant on the mesial side. Each patient received 1 implant with an IH connection and 1 with an IC connection, placed side by side. Four months after placement, all implants were loaded with single screw-retained ceramic restorations with IH or IC connections. RMBL and complications, including implant/prosthesis failure, were recorded at the time of implant loading (baseline) and at 6, 12, and 36 months after loading. The results revealed no significant between-group differences in RMBL (P = .74), gingival bleeding on probing (P = .29), and complications (P = .32). Thus, the type of internal implant-abutment connection did not affect clinical outcomes, including RMBL and implant/prosthesis failure. Future studies should additionally evaluate long-term prosthesis-related complications, such as screw loosening and fracture, between the 2 types of internal connections.

COVID-19 and Its Repercussions on Oral Health: A Review.

In 2019, a new type of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, the causing agent of COVID-19, was first detected in Wuhan, China. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. The manifestations of COVID-19 are mostly age-dependent and potentially more severe in cases with involved co-morbidities. The gravity of the symptoms depends on the clinical stage of the infection. The most common symptoms include runny nose and nasal congestion, anosmia, dysgeusia or hypogeusia, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, respiratory distress, fatigue, ocular symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. These systemic conditions are often accompanied by skin and mucosal lesions. Oral lesions reported in patients with COVID-19 include: herpex simplex, candidiasis, geographic tongue, aphthous-like ulcers, hemorrhagic ulcerations, necrotic ulcerations, white hairy tongue, reddish macules, erythematous surfaces, petechiae, and pustular enanthema. It is still unclear if these manifestations are a direct result of the viral infection, a consequence of systemic deterioration, or adverse reactions to treatments. Poor oral hygiene in hospitalized or quarantined COVID-19 patients should also be considered as an aggravating condition. This narrative review is focused on presenting the most relevant data from the literature regarding oral manifestations related to SARS-CoV-2, as well as the challenges faced by the dental system during this pandemic. A routine intraoral examination is recommended in COVID-19 patients, either suspected or confirmed, as, in certain cases, oral manifestations represent a sign of severe infection or even of a life-threatening condition. It is our belief that extensive knowledge of all possible manifestations, including oral lesions, in cases of COVID-19 is of great importance in the present uncertain context, including new, currently emerging viral variants with unknown future impact.

Advanced Biomaterials and Techniques for Oral Tissue Engineering and Regeneration-A Review.

The reconstruction or repair of oral and maxillofacial functionalities and aesthetics is a priority for patients affected by tooth loss, congenital defects, trauma deformities, or various dental diseases. Therefore, in dental medicine, tissue reconstruction represents a major interest in oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, and even daily clinical practice. The current clinical approaches involve a vast array of techniques ranging from the traditional use of tissue grafts to the most innovative regenerative procedures, such as tissue engineering. In recent decades, a wide range of both artificial and natural biomaterials and scaffolds, genes, stem cells isolated from the mouth area (dental follicle, deciduous teeth, periodontal ligament, dental pulp, salivary glands, and adipose tissue), and various growth factors have been tested in tissue engineering approaches in dentistry, with many being proven successful. However, to fully eliminate the problems of traditional bone and tissue reconstruction in dentistry, continuous research is needed. Based on a recent literature review, this paper creates a picture of current innovative strategies applying dental stem cells for tissue regeneration in different dental fields and maxillofacial surgery, and offers detailed information regarding the available scientific data and practical applications.

The assessment of lower face morphology changes in edentulous patients after prosthodontic rehabilitation, using two methods of measurement.

Using two measurement methods (a three-dimensional laser scanning system and a digital caliper), this study compares the lower face morphology of complete edentulous patients, before and after prosthodontic rehabilitation with bimaxillary complete dentures. Fourteen edentulous patients were randomly selected from the Department of Prosthodontics, at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. The changes that occurred in the lower third of the face after prosthodontic treatment were assessed quantitatively by measuring the vertical projection of the distances between two sets of anthropometric landmarks: Subnasale - cutaneous Pogonion (D1) and Labiale superius - Labiale inferius (D2). A two-way repeated measures ANOVA model design was carried out to test for significant interactions, main effects and differences between the two types of measuring devices and between the initial and final rehabilitation time points. The main effect of the type of measuring device showed no statistically significant differences in the measured distances (p=0.24 for D1 and p=0.39 for D2), between the initial and the final rehabilitation time points. Regarding the main effect of time, there were statistically significant differences in both the measured distances D1 and D2 (p=0.001), between the initial and the final rehabilitation time points. The two methods of measurement were equally reliable in the assessment of lower face morphology changes in edentulous patients after prosthodontic rehabilitation with bimaxillary complete dentures. The differences between the measurements taken before and after prosthodontic rehabilitation proved to be statistically significant.

Craniofacial morphology in patients with Angle Class II division 2 malocclusion.

Cephalometric analysis is frequently used in orthodontics for diagnostic purposes, in order to evaluate the positional relationship of the upper and lower jaw to the cranial base, as well as to objectively asses the way dental arches relate to one another and to the skeletal base. As with other dento-skeletal anomalies, the normal growth process can induce changes in these parameters. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the skeletal and dental changes that occur in growing patients with Angle Class II division 2 malocclusion. The study also focuses on analyzing and comparing several parameters in three groups of young patients of different ages, diagnosed with Class II division 2 malocclusion, in order to determine whether the anomaly worsens or improves during the patients' growth period. A total of 25 lateral skull teleradiographs were analyzed using cephX. The patients were divided into three groups (Group 1: 6-8 years, Group 2: 9-14 years, Group 3: 15-18 years). We used the cephalometric parameters described in Björk-Jarabak and Tweed analyses, as well as the relationship of the upper and lower central incisors to the skeletal landmarks. The statistical methods used in this study were the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the unpaired Student's t-test (p<0.05). We concluded that, during the physiological growth process, the Angle Class II division 2 malocclusion has the following cephalometric characteristics: the maxillary central incisors were in accentuated retroclination, the interincisal angle was very obtuse, the gonial angle showed lower than normal values towards the end of the growth period, the lower anterior face height was definitely decreased, the mandibular body length was shorter than normal in the early growth period and the tendency towards a hypodivergent skeletal pattern remained stable during growth.