A randomized, 3-month, parallel-group clinical trial to compare the efficacy of electric 3-dimensional toothbrushes vs manual toothbrushes in maintaining oral health in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this single-blinded, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial was to compare the efficacy of electric 3-dimensional (3D) toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes in removing plaque and reducing gingival inflammation in orthodontic patients. METHODS: Eighty adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances in both arches were randomized at a 1:1 ratio, with an equal number of both sexes, in this examiner blinded, parallel clinical trial. Eligibility criteria included subjects aged between 12 and 16 years, good general health, nonextraction orthodontic treatment, and plaque-induced gingivitis, excluding patients with active caries or periodontitis, tooth agenesis, syndromes, disabilities, and craniofacial deformities, ≥2 cervical and/or proximal fillings, dental prostheses or dental implants, and subjects smoking or using antibiotics or medication predisposing to gingival enlargement. Patients were assigned to use either an electric 3D orthodontic toothbrush (Oral-B Pro-1000 with Oral-B Ortho head; Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio) or a manual toothbrush (Oral-B Orthodontic brush; Procter & Gamble) and instructed to brush twice daily for 2 minutes. The main outcomes were: (1) plaque removal, assessed with the Modified Silness and Löe plaque index and the Modified Full Mouth Plaque Score, and (2) gingival inflammation reduction, assessed with the Modified Silness and Löe Gingival Index and the Modified Simplified Gingival Index. Measurements were taken at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 months. Randomization was achieved with 2 random sequences, one for each brush, written and sealed in opaque numbered envelopes. Blinding was possible for outcome assessment only. RESULTS: Considerable variability was observed among patients in the values of all dependent variables. There was no difference between interventions over time for any of the outcomes, and the main effects for treatment and time were also not statistically significant. For Modified Silness and Löe plaque index, the interaction was 0.001 (95% confidence interval, -0.011 to 0.013; P = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: No difference in plaque removal efficacy and gingival inflammation reduction was found between the electric 3D and manual toothbrushes in adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances. Therefore, orthodontists should focus on enhancing their patients' dental awareness and oral hygiene, along with professional prophylaxis and other oral hygiene aids, independently of the brush used. REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02699931). PROTOCOL: The protocol was not published before trial commencement. FUNDING: Electric and manual toothbrushes and toothpastes for all participants were provided by Procter & Gamble (Oral-B). Miscellaneous costs were covered by the participating departments.

Oral factors and adherence to Mediterranean diet in an older Greek population.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral factors on adherence to the Mediterranean diet in an older population METHODS: 130 persons over 60 years visiting Open Care Community Centers for Older People participated in this study. Oral interviews recorded demographic and sociomedical information, subjective oral complaints, and dental habits. Adherence to Mediterranean diet was assessed using the MDI_BNC4H index (range: 0-14). An oral examination was performed, and evaluation of the masticatory performance was carried out using a two-color chewing gum that was digitally analysed. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 73.9 ± 8.5 years. The score of adherence to the Mediterranean diet ranged from 3 to 9 (5.6 ± 1.4). 58 participants used removable prostheses, while 20 used a pair of complete dentures. Univariate analyses revealed that the parameters that negatively significantly, or marginally significantly, affected the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet were lower masticatory performance (p = 0.050), larger number of drugs per day (p = 0.056), higher BMI (p = 0.043) and smoking (p = 0.053). The multivariable analysis revealed that lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet was significantly associated with higher BMI (p = 0.047) and lower masticatory performance (p = 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: Increased masticatory performance was an independent predictor of better adherence to the Mediterranean diet in an older population.

Applications of 3D printing on craniofacial bone repair: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, a method derived from additive manufacturing technology, is a recent and ongoing trend for the construction of 3D volumetric structures. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize evidence from existing human and animal studies assessing the application of 3D printing on bone repair and regeneration in the craniofacial region. DATA & SOURCES: A rigorous search of all relevant clinical trials and case series was performed, based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search was conducted in all available electronic databases and sources, supplemented by a manual search, in December 2017. STUDY SELECTION: 43 articles (6 human and 37 animal studies) fulfilled the criteria. The human studies included totally 81 patients with craniofacial bone defects. Titanium or hydroxylapatite scaffolds were most commonly implanted. The follow-up period ranged between 6 and 24 months. Bone repair was reported successful in nearly every case, with minimal complications. Also, animal intervention studies used biomaterials and cells in various combination, offering insights into the techniques, through histological, biochemical, histomorphometric and microcomputed tomographic findings. The results in both humans and animals, though promising, are yet to be verified for clinical impact. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should be focused on well-designed clinical trials to confirm the short- and long- term efficacy of 3D printing strategies for craniofacial bone repair. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Emerging 3D printing technology opens a new era for tissue engineering. Humans and animals on application of 3D printing for craniofacial bone repair showed promising results which will lead clinicians to investigate more thoroughly alternative therapeutic methods for craniofacial bone defects.

Microcollimator for micrometer-wide stripe irradiation of cells using 20-30 keV X rays.

Abstract Pataky, K., Villanueva, G., Liani, A., Zgheib, O., Jenkins, N., Halazonetis, D. J., Halazonetis, T. D. and Brugger, J. Microcollimator for Micrometer-Wide Stripe Irradiation of Cells Using 20-30 keV X Rays. Radiat. Res. 172, 252-259 (2009). The exposure of subnuclear compartments of cells to ionizing radiation is currently not trivial. We describe here a collimator for micrometer-wide stripe irradiation designed to work with conventional high-voltage X-ray tubes and cells cultured on standard glass cover slips. The microcollimator was fabricated by high-precision silicon micromachining and consists of X-ray absorbing chips with grooves of highly controlled depths, between 0.5-10 microm, along their surfaces. These grooves form X-ray collimating slits when the chips are stacked against each other. The use of this device for radiation biology was examined by irradiating human cells with X rays having energies between 20-30 keV. After irradiation, p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1), a nuclear protein that is recruited at sites of DNA double-strand breaks, clustered in lines corresponding to the irradiated stripes.