The involvement of Kav001 in inhibition of LPS/P. gingivalis-induced.

TNF-a is an important cytokine mediator of inflammation which suggests that inhibition of TNF activity may provide potential for clinical application. Recent data indicated that treatment of both human and mouse cells with Kavain significantly modulates P. gingivalis- and LPS-induced TNF-α expression. In order to obtain a selective analog with optimized biological activity and structural physico-chemical properties of Kavain, Kavain analogs were designed and synthesized and found one Kavain analogue (named Kav001) that is similar to Kavain but soluble and does not induce a significant toxicity. Both studies in vitro and in vivo treatment by Kav001 showed stronger biological function as compared to Kavain. Furthermore, most mouse bone marrow macrophages up-regulated Bcl-6 while down-regulating LITAF expression after treatment with Kav001 for 36 h. Consequently, this led to an extension of macrophage pseudopods due to its immune response to P.g. infection/LPS stimulation.

A Clinical Investigation of the Efficacy of a Dual Zinc plus Arginine Dentifrice for Controlling Oral Malodor.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this independent, double-blind clinical study was to assess the efficacy of a new Dual Zinc plus Arginine dentifrice (Colgate-Palmolive Co., New York, NY, USA) containing zinc (zinc oxide, zinc citrate) 0.96%, 1.5% arginine, and 1450 ppm F as sodium fluoride in a silica base for the 12-hour overnight oral malodor reduction after three weeks of product use, relative to that of a regular fluoride dentifrice containing 1450 ppm F as sodium fluoride in a silica base (Colgate-Palmolive Co., New York, NY, USA). METHODS: A total of eighty (80) adult male and female subjects from Chengdu, People's Republic of China, were enrolled in this clinical study. Following an assessment of the oral soft and hard tissues, subjects were evaluated for baseline oral malodor by a panel of four trained and calibrated judges using a nine-point organoleptic hedonic scale. They were then randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (Dual Zinc plus Arginine - test; regular fluoride dentifrice - control). Subjects were provided with their assigned dentifrice and toothbrush and instructed to brush their teeth twice daily (morning and evening) for one minute. After three weeks, subjects returned to the study site for their follow-up evaluation of malodor after having refrained from brushing for 12 hours (overnight). RESULTS: Eighty (80) subjects completed the study. After three weeks of product use, subjects in the Dual Zinc plus Arginine dentifrice group and the regular fluoride dentifrice group showed statistically significant (p < 0.001) reductions of 38.9% and 11.6%, respectively, in organoleptic scores as compared to baseline. Relative to the regular fluoride dentifrice group, subjects in the Dual Zinc plus Arginine dentifrice group exhibited a statistically significant (p< 0.001) reduction of 30.8% in oral malodor. The quality of breath for subjects in the Dual Zinc plus Arginine dentifrice group was in the range corresponding to pleasant breath, whereas the quality of breath for subjects in the regular fluoride dentifrice group was in the range corresponding to unpleasant breath. CONCLUSIONS: The overall results of this double-blind clinical study support the conclusion that a new Dual Zinc plus Arginine dentifrice containing zinc (zinc oxide, zinc citrate) 0.96%, 1.5% arginine, and 1450 ppm fluoride as sodium fluoride in a silica base provides a significantly greater reduction in oral malodor as compared to a regular fluoride dentifrice containing 1450 ppm fluoride as sodium fluoride in a silica base 12 hours post-brushing (overnight) after 3 weeks of product use.

Systemic vitamin D supplementation and local bone formation after maxillary sinus augmentation - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical investigation.

OBJECTIVES: Maxillary sinus augmentation procedures with bone replacement grafts aimed to increase bone height in the posterior maxilla. During healing, bone particles are partially resorbed and replaced by the patient's own bone. Vitamin D plays an essential role in calcium homeostasis and is critical for bone formation and remodeling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical investigation studied whether oral supplementation with vitamin D3 (5000 IU) combined with calcium (600 mg) impacts bone formation and remodeling after maxillary sinus augmentation compared to a placebo medication containing calcium alone (n = 10/group). Bone cores were harvested at the time of implant placement (6-8 months) for histological analysis. RESULTS: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels were comparable between both groups at the baseline (P = nonsignificant [n.s.]). Vitamin D3+ calcium supplementation improved significantly serum 25-OHD levels (placebo vs. vitamin D3 group: 25-OHD ng/ml: 31.13 ± 7.06 vs. 61.11 ± 20.42, P ≤ 0.01); however, no statistically significant difference in bone formation or graft resorption was detected between groups. However, in the vitamin D3 group, a significant association was found between increased vitamin D levels and number of bone-resorbing osteoclasts around graft particles suggesting that local bone remodeling might be more pronounced when serum vitamin D levels were improved (r = 0.92, P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D3+ calcium supplementation improves serum vitamin D levels and potentially impacts local bone remodeling on a cellular level. However, no statistically significant difference in bone formation or graft resorption was detected between groups.

Comparing three toothpastes in controlling plaque and gingivitis: A 6-month clinical study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of three toothpastes in controlling established gingivitis and plaque over 6 months. METHODS: 135 subjects were enrolled in a single-center, double-blind, parallel group, randomized clinical study. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: triclosan/copolymer/fluoride dentifrice containing 0.3% triclosan, 2.0% copolymer and 1,450 ppm F as sodium fluoride in a silica base; herbal/bicarbonate dentifrice containing herbal extract and 1,400 ppm F as sodium fluoride in a sodium bicarbonate base; or fluoride dentifrice containing 450 ppm F as sodium fluoride, and 1,000 ppm F as sodium monofluorophosphate. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth twice daily for 1 minute for 6 months. RESULTS: After 6 months, subjects assigned to the triclosan/copolymer/fluoride group exhibited statistically significant reductions in gingival index scores and plaque index scores as compared to subjects assigned to the herbal/bicarbonate group by 35.4% and 48.9%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in gingival index and plaque index between subjects in the herbal/ bicarbonate group and those in the fluoride group. The triclosan/copolymer/fluoride dentifrice was statistically significantly more effective in reducing gingivitis and dental plaque than the herbal/bicarbonate dentifrice, and this difference in efficacy was clinically meaningful.

Tissue response during Piezocision-assisted tooth movement: a histological study in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Piezocision is a novel, minimally invasive technique combining micro-incisions and decortications made by a piezotome in order to enhance the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. The combined technique allows simultaneous hard and/or soft tissue grafting via selective tunnelling to correct gingival recessions or bone deficiencies. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of Piezocision on bone with or without tooth movement on a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: no treatment (n = 3), TM (tooth movement alone; n = 21), PS (Piezocision alone; n = 35), and PS + TM (Piezocision and tooth movement; n = 35). In each group, seven time points were studied: 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 days. After sacrifice, the maxillae were removed, defleshed, stained with haematoxylin and eosin for morphometric analyses and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase for osteoclastic activity. RESULTS: Three days after the surgery, the bone content decreased significantly in the PS and PS + TM groups compared to baseline (P < 0.01) and the TM group (P < 0.05). This trend continued until Day 28 and was particularly evident in the PS + TM group. At Day 56, alveolar bone returned to its baseline levels in all groups. Osteoclastic activity followed similar change pattern found in the amount of bone, suggesting a strong role for the coupling of the resorptive and formative turnover of the bone. Osteoclastic activity increased as soon as Day 1 in the PS (29.0±3.0, P < 0.05) and PS + TM groups (39.0±6.0, P < 0.01) compared to baseline (22.0±4.0). The highest level of osteoclastic activity in TM group was observed at 3 days (64.3±8.0, P < 0.01) with a steady decrease thereafter. The Piezocision-induced osteoclastic activity showed a steady increase up to 7 days in both PS (39.0±7.0, P < 0.01) and PS + TM (51.8±7.0, P < 0.01) groups and decreased thereafter until Day 56. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of our study (number of animals, duration in time, and limited data on the anabolic activity), our preliminary results suggest that Piezocision-facilitated orthodontic tooth movement increases the rate of movement of the teeth undergoing orthodontic treatment through the coupled remodelling of the alveolar bone. This process is initiated by the osteoclastic activity following surgery and extended via the synergistic relationship between Piezocision and tooth movement.

The biological effects of Piezocision™ on bone for accelerated tooth movement: A systematic review of animal studies.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to assess the biological response at tissue, cellular, and molecular levels following Piezocision™ surgery, and its efficacy in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted across 4 databases following the PRISMA guidelines up to May 2022. Prospective controlled animal studies involving healthy animals under active orthodontic treatment assisted by corticotomy performed with a piezotome (Piezocision™) published in the English language without time restrictions were included. The article selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment (SYRCLE tool) were performed by two independent blinded review authors. RESULTS: Out of 738 articles screened, 10 studies were included with various level of bias. Biological responses were categorized into tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Tissue-level changes included a global decrease in bone mineral content post-Piezocision™. At the cellular level, increased bone turnover activity was noted. Molecularly, elevated RANKL and OPG expression, along with increased TRAP+ and cytokines, were observed after Piezocision™. Studies confirmed Piezocision's efficacy, reporting 1.35 to 3.26 times faster tooth movements, peaking between the 3rd and 50th day post-surgery. Biological responses were transient, reversible, and proportional to surgical insult, with reactivation possible through a second Piezocision™. CONCLUSIONS: After Piezocision™ surgery, a transient and reversible biological response was described at the tissue, cellular and molecular levels, which induced faster orthodontic tooth movements. This biological response could be re-activated by an additional Piezocision™ and is proportional to the surgical injury. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Prospero CRD42022303237.

Clinical assessment of a new dentifrice with 8% arginine and calcium carbonate on dentin hypersensitivity in an Indian population using a new measuring device: the Jay Sensitivity Sensor Probe.

PURPOSE: To compare a new tactile hypersensitivity testing device [Jay Sensitivity Sensor (Jay) Probe] to three currently available methods of hypersensitivity testing: tactile hypersensitivity by the Yeaple probe, air blast (Schiff's Scale), and their overall hypersensitivity in the absence of any stimuli using the visual analog scores (VAS) during a clinical trial comparing the desensitizing potential of a dentifrice containing 8% arginine, calcium carbonate, and 1,000 ppm MFP (Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief; Test) against a commercially available fluoride dentifrice (Colgate Cibaca; Negative control). METHODS: This 8-week clinical study enrolled 100 adults with dentin hypersensitivity (DH) to evaluate the desensitizing potential of a dentifrice with 8% arginine, calcium carbonate, and 1000 ppm MFP against a commercially available fluoride dentifrice, on an Indian population. This study included a new DH testing device (Jay Probe) in addition to the current three methods of dentin hypersensitivity testing. Subjects were randomly assigned a dentifrice and were evaluated for DH after 2-week, 4-week and 8-week use of assigned dentifrice. RESULTS: At the end of the 8-week period, the results showed a significant improvement in dentin hypersensitivity in the Test group as compared to the Negative control group. The mean tactile hypersensitivity scores at the 8-week examinations were 39.67 and 38.33 by the Yeaple and Jay Probes, respectively, for the Test group and 15.72 and 15.00 for the Negative control group. These observations were consistent with the other hypersensitivity examinations by air blast and VAS.

Clinical investigation of oral malodor during long-term use of arginine-containing dentifrices.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the long term use of two dentifrices containing arginine, an insoluble calcium compound, and fluoride: (1) 1.5% arginine and 1450 ppm F as sodium monofluorophosphate (NaMFP) in a dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (dical) base, and (2) 8.0% arginine and 1450 ppm F as NaMFP in a calcium carbonate base, results in an increase in oral malodor potentially associated with increased ammonia production from breakdown of arginine, as compared to a commercially available fluoride dentifrice without arginine (1450 ppm F as NaMFP in a dical base), after 6 months of product use. METHODS: A 6-month clinical study, with 119 subjects, was conducted in Chengdu, China, using a double blind, randomized, parallel, three-treatment design. A panel of four expert judges used a nine-point hedonic scale to evaluate breath odor using a protocol designed in concordance with the ADA Acceptance Program Guidelines for Product Used in the Management of Oral Malodor. After a baseline evaluation, study subjects who scored above the threshold value for unpleasant breath odor were stratified by score and randomized into one of three treatment groups. Subjects were provided with a soft-bristled manual toothbrush (Colgate Classic Clean Toothbrush) and brushed their teeth thoroughly in their regular and customary manner for 1 minute with their assigned dentifrice, twice daily. Before breath-odor evaluations, the subjects refrained from eating odorigenic foods and did not use dental hygiene procedures, breath mints, or mouth rinses for 48 hours and 12 hours, respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in oral malodor levels among subjects using the three dentifrices after 1, 3 and 6 months of product use.

Sequential piezocision: a novel approach to accelerated orthodontic treatment.

Piezocision-assisted orthodontic treatment is an innovative, minimally invasive surgical technique designed to help achieve rapid orthodontic tooth movement. Microsurgical interproximal openings are made in the buccal gingivae to let the piezoelectric knife create the bone injury that will lead to transient demineralization and subsequent accelerated tooth movement. When this procedure was first described, cuts were made simultaneously at the maxilla and the mandible. In recent years, the technique has evolved to a more staged approach, with selected areas or segments of the arch demineralized at different times during orthodontic treatment to help achieve specific results. The purpose of this article was to report the use of sequential piezocision in the correction of a Class III malocclusion, in a total treatment time of 8 months.

Piezocision Through Computer-Guided Navigation.

Numerous surgical techniques have been developed as effective means to facilitate orthodontic treatment, although they may cause significant postoperative discomfort. Piezocision was established as a flapless and minimally invasive technique to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement by combining small vertical incisions and piezoelectric corticotomies. Computed tomography has been combined with the piezocision technique to fabricate computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) surgical guides to prevent iatrogenic damage. A method to combine computer-assisted dynamic navigation with piezocision is introduced here. Cone-beam computed tomography was combined with motion-tracking technology to allow real-time tracing of the piezoelectric instruments during the surgical procedure. This technique delivers the location of piezoelectric knife in regard to roots and important anatomical structures to increase the safety and accuracy during corticotimies.

Artificial Intelligence Chatbots in Patient Communication: Current Possibilities.

ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot can generate text prompts based on user input. This study investigated the possibility of generating adequate and relevant patient education and management documents in the context of dental implant surgery utilizing this tool. METHODS: Twenty-seven (n=27) periodontists were surveyed on the accuracy and usefulness of AI-generated documents comprising patient information handouts on surgical risks and post-operative instructions sheets for dental implant placement either in smokers or patients with diabetes. They were also asked in a blinded fashion about their preferences between the generic dental implant placement consent form currently used at Boston University and two AI-generated consent forms: one generic and one tailored to patients with diabetes. RESULTS: A vast majority of participants found that the information in the AI-generated forms was accurate, useful and would feel comfortable using them with their own patients. The AI-generated generic consent performed as least as well as the human-written one, while the personalized informed consent for patient with diabetes performed significantly better (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, ChatGPT was able to independently generate accurate and useful patient information and management documents.

Quantification and comparison of the regional acceleratory phenomenon in bone following piezosurgery or bur osteotomy: A pilot study in rats.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The Regional Acceleratory Phenomenon (RAP) can be induced surgically via decortication (selective cortical penetrations) of bone to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement. Few studies have compared the impact and efficiency of different decortication methods to induce the RAP. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a significant difference in the intensity of the RAP induced by a surgical defect created either using a piezoelectric knife or a rotary bur. METHODS: Twenty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two treatment groups (each n = 8) and a control group (n = 6). The treatment groups were subjected to transcortical penetrations (TP) of the right tibia using either a piezoelectric knife (PTP) or a rotary bur (BTP). The right tibias of the control group animals had reflection of tissues (SHAM) and the left legs were kept for comparison (INTACT). The animals were killed at 7 and 14 days after the operation in an equally distributed manner. Microcomputed tomography images were obtained and analyzed utilizing artificial intelligence for bone cortical porosity (Ct.Po) locally and regionally. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: Regionally, TP using a PTP induced significantly (p < .05, Kruskal-Wallis test) more Ct.Po than BTP or INTACT for both the 7- and 14-day time points. PTP was not found to induce significantly more Ct.Po than SHAM at any time point. However, PTP induced significantly more Ct.Po than the INTACT group for each time point, while SHAM did not. The local analysis did not reveal any relevant significant differences between groups.

Robot assisted implant surgery: Hype or hope?

The 21st century is characterized by accelerated technological innovation, resulting in digitization of most areas of medicine and dentistry. Dental implant surgical planning has evolved from using analog static guides to computer generated guides and dynamic surgical guidance. Dynamic surgical placement has started gaining ground with the use of navigated surgery and robot assisted implant placement. Have static surgical guides become obsolete? Although innovative and cutting edge, the use of dynamic guidance requires a learning curve and added expenses for the dental team. Also, could dynamic guidance, and specifically robot assisted implant surgery lead to more accurate fixture placement? In this article we will share our experience using robotic implant surgery from the perspective of an academic institution that has used the YOMI robot for several years now.

Optical accuracy assessment of robotically assisted dental implant surgery for partially edentulous patients: a single arm clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To quantify the clinical accuracy of a robotically assisted implant guidance system in partially edentulous patients without the use of postoperative cone-beam radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 10 implants (7 patients) were placed in partially edentulous patients utilizing robotically assisted implant guidance system. Following the implant placement a intraoral scan was performed to register the implant position after attaching a scan body. The virtual plan and the postoperative intraoral scan with the scan bodies were exported as STL files, superimposed and discrepancies were analyzed using Geomagic Control X software. Positional deviations were measured between the midpoint of the platform and apex of the planned and achieved implant positions. RESULTS: Seven of the 10 samples in this study were defined as fully robotically dynamically guided, while 3 were partially robotically guided. For the fully robotic dynamically guided group the mean deviation at the midpoint of the restorative platform of the implant, the apex of the implant, the top of the scanbody, and the mean angular deviation were 1.31mm (SD0.46mm), 1.58mm (SD0.61mm), 1.11mm (SD0.57mm), and 2.34 degrees (SD1.71°), respectively. While for the partially robotic dynamically guided cases it was 1.31mm (SD0.49mm), 1.45mm (SD0.3mm), 1.74mm (SD0.47mm), and 3.75 degrees (SD2.53°). Eight out of the 10 implants (irrespective of full or partial guidance) showed a buccal displacement. CONCLUSION: Robotic surgery offers a level of accuracy similar to fully guided implant placement, without the need for a physical template, and allowing for changes in the surgical plan at any time. The analytical method described in this study is an effective and radiation free quality control tool that can be used in implant dentistry as well as in other areas of dental research dentistry.

Comparative efficacy of two treatment regimens combining in-office and at-home programs for dentin hypersensitivity relief: a 24-week clinical study.

PURPOSE: Dentin hypersensitivity is a significant clinical problem that affects numerous individuals. This sharp pain, arising from exposed dentin in response to external stimuli, can be a particularly uncomfortable and unpleasant sensation for patients, because it interferes with their quality of life. The objective of this 24-week, single-center, parallel group, double-blind, stratified and randomized clinical study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a single professional treatment with an in-office desensitizing paste followed by twice daily brushing with a desensitizing toothpaste and toothbrush for 24 weeks. METHODS: 100 adults with confirmed dentin hypersensitivity were randomly assigned into two groups. One group received a single in-office treatment with a desensitizing paste containing 8% arginine and calcium carbonate (marketed as Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Desensitizing Paste and Elmex Sensitive Professional desensitizing paste), after dental scaling, followed by 24 weeks of brushing twice daily with a desensitizing toothpaste containing 8% arginine, calcium carbonate with 1450 ppm fluoride as MFP (marketed as Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothpaste and Elmex Sensitive Professional toothpaste) and using the Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothbrush (Test Group). The other group received a single in-office treatment with Nupro-M pumice prophylaxis paste, after dental scaling, followed by 24 weeks of brushing twice daily with a non-desensitizing toothpaste containing 1450 ppm fluoride as MFP and with the Oral-B Indicator toothbrush (Negative Control Group). Hypersensitivity was reexamined immediately after in-office product application and after 8 and 24 weeks of twice daily brushing. RESULTS: Immediately after professional product application, and after 8 and 24 weeks, subjects assigned to the Test Group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in dentin hypersensitivity compared to subjects assigned to the Negative Control Group in tactile (49.8%, 57.5% and 32.9%, respectively) and air blast (26.0%, 38.4% and 34.3%, respectively) sensitivity scores. The instant reductions in dentin hypersensitivity provided by the single professional application of a desensitizing paste for in-office use, containing 8% arginine and calcium carbonate were maintained by twice daily brushing with the 8% arginine, calcium carbonate toothpaste with 1450 ppm fluoride as MFP and the Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothbrush for at least 24 weeks.

Analysis of bone formation after sinus augmentation using ß-tricalcium phosphate.

Implant placement in the edentulous maxilla often represents a clinical challenge due to insufficient bone height after crestal bone resorption and maxillary sinus pneumatization. Several graft materials have been evaluated for augmenting the maxillary sinus to compensate for the lost vertical dimension. Allografts are readily available without the risk of disease transmission and the need for a second site surgery. The aim of this case series was to systematically evaluate the development and maturation of augmented bone in the maxillary sinus using beta-tricalcium phosphate. In 21 to 40 weeks post-sinus elevation, bone biopsies were taken and implants placed simultaneously. All specimens were demineralized and subjected to staining procedures (ie, Hematoxylin and Eosin [H&E], Goldner's staining, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase [TRAP]). Total bone increased over time, whereas the amount of graft material diminished. A lack of inflammatory reaction was noticed with the use of this graft material. In addition, TRAP staining revealed the presence of osteoclasts surrounding the remaining particles. During a 12-month follow-up, no implant failure or complications were observed.

The pathogenic mechanism of oral bacteria and treatment with inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to introduce the evidence obtained through extensive research that periodontitis increases risk of many systemic diseases. METHOD: Analysis of some oral bacteria (P. gingivalis, T. denticola, T. forsythia, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and F. nucleatum) and its related treatments and mediators by the specific methods (western blot, ELISA, etc). RESULTS: This article reviews in detail the evidence obtained through extensive research that periodontitis increases risk of many systemic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. These diseases are known to be associated with some certain specific gram-negative bacteria as periodontal pathogens, which induce inflammation and related diseases through TLR receptors, kinases, transcriptional factors and other cytokines. We also reviewed the latest research for inhibitors against inflammation and related diseases that have potential to be further applied clinically. In addition, based on a large amount of research evidence, we draw two tables about the mechanism of disease caused by periodontal bacteria, so that readers can easily search and analyze these research results. DISCUSSION: This review details how the periodontal bacteria and their virulence factors can trigger host immune defense and induce many systemic diseases via inflammation and invasion. This Review also addressed the latest research around inhibitors against inflammation.

Piezocision-assisted Invisalign treatment.

In today's fast-paced, esthetic-conscious society, the orthodontic treatment of the adult patient can sometimes be a challenge. Considerable time spent in treatment as well as the use of brackets often deter patients from seeking treatment. The authors illustrate how piezocision combined with Invisalign can be used in selected cases to successfully treat adults who would otherwise not pursue orthodontic treatment.

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of three commercially available toothpastes on dentin hypersensitivity reduction: an eight-week clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this eight-week, single-center, three-cell, double-blind, and randomized clinical study was to evaluate the dentin hypersensitivity reduction efficacy of three commercially available toothpastes: 1) Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste (also marketed as elmex Sensitive Professional); 2) Sensodyne Rapid Relief Toothpaste; and (3) Crest Cavity Protection Toothpaste. METHODS: 150 subjects, having two teeth with tactile and air blast hypersensitivity, were assigned to one of the three study groups (50/group). Subjects were then asked to brush their teeth for one minute, twice daily, with the given toothpaste. The dentin hypersensitivity and oral tissues were evaluated at baseline, two weeks, four weeks, and eight weeks. Comparison of the treatment groups with respect to gender was conducted using a chi-square analysis, and with respect to age and baseline hypersensitivity scores was performed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Within-treatment effects were analyzed using the paired t-test, while the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine between-treatment effects. The post hoc Tukey test was performed for pair-wise comparisons. All statistical tests were two-sided using a significance level of alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: After two, four, and eight weeks of daily use of the products, all three groups showed a statistically significant reduction from baseline in tactile and air blast dentin hypersensitivity (p < 0.05). Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothpaste produced a significant improvement in mean tactile and air blast dentin hypersensitivity scores, and was more effective than Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpaste and Crest Cavity Protection toothpastes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Colgate Sensitive Pro-ReliefToothpaste, used twice daily, significantly reduces dentin hypersensitivity, and is significantly more effective in reducing dentin hypersensitivity than Sensodyne Rapid Relief Toothpaste and Crest Cavity Protection Toothpaste.

Assessment of Maxillary Expansion by Piezocision-Assisted Orthodontics: A Pilot Study.

The correction of transverse malocclusions due to maxillary width deficiency in adults is challenging. Multiple surgical and nonsurgical procedures have been used in conjunction with orthodontics to address this situation, and most common is the surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SA-RME). Although successful, it is quite aggressive. The present investigation assesses the usefulness of Piezocision-assisted orthodontics as a less-invasive option for treatment of transverse maxillary deficiencies in adults. Dental casts were taken before and after Piezocision-assisted palatal expansion in four patients. They were digitized into STL files and superimposed. Differences on cross-arch tooth torque, angulation/tipping, and movement distances between time points were quantified using a digital static and a novel digital 3D-movement evaluation method. For the buccolingual movement per tooth, first premolars averaged 3.33 ± 1.3 mm, second premolars averaged 3.63 ± 0.6 mm, and first and second molars averaged 1.56 ± 1.2 mm and 0.36 ± 1.2 mm, respectively. Bodily movement of the teeth was observed with minimal tipping and no development of gingival recessions. Piezocision-assisted palatal expansion is a safe and reliable procedure that can help patients with maxillary width deficiency. It is a new tool in the orthodontist's armamentarium that can be used as an accelerator of treatment and as a new way to solve orthodontic challenges in selected adult patients.