Biowaste rice husk derived cellulosic hydrogel incorporating industrial cotton waste nonwoven for wound dressing.

Bio-wastes are organic materials achieved through biological sources. The rice crop produces a substantial amount of biowaste in the form of rice husk, which is rich in cellulose. In this research, cellulose was extracted from rice husk by alkalization and bleaching process. The rice husk extracted cellulose was further used to develop cellulose hydrogel by using the sol-gel technique. The nonwoven fabric of industrial cotton waste was developed in three different GSM (50, 100, and 150). The nonwoven fabric was incorporated in the cellulose hydrogel having three different concentrations (1 %, 2 %, and 3 %) to develop the hydrogel non-woven cotton fabric composite for sustainable wound dressing applications. Moreover, prepared rice husk extracted cellulose hydrogel loaded with AgNO3 (0.5 %, 1 %, and 1.5 %) for achieving antibacterial characteristics. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to confirm the existence of cellulose hydrogel layers within the cotton nonwoven composite. The developed hydrogel S12 exhibited a maximum fluid absorbency of 1281.84 % with a tensile strength of 28.6 N and elongation of 40.96 %. The results show successful rice husk extracted cellulose hydrogel formation, exhibiting structural stability, excellent exudate absorbency and moisture management, antimicrobial efficacy, and sustainability.

Hydroentangled waste cotton non-woven based alginate hydrogel wound dressing for high wound exudates.

Hydrogels are used in modern wound dressings due to their ability to provide comfort with quick healing. However, poor mechanical properties of hydrogels limit their availability in commercial wound dressings. Nonwovens are highly porous, strong, and flexible structures that can provide support to hydrogels without compromising their properties. In this study, a cost-effective and sustainable hydroentangled nonwoven from industrial cotton waste was prepared and incorporated into alginate hydrogel for wound dressings. The novel composite of hydroentangled cotton nonwoven and alginate hydrogel was synthesized by a simple sol-gel technique. The effect of concentration of alginate hydrogel (0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 1.5 wt %) and drying temperature (20 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C) of composite was analyzed for high wound exudates. The properties of prepared composite samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), XRD, tensile strength, tear strength, Air permeability, moisture management wound exudate test, and quantitative antimicrobial testing. Moreover, the comfort performance of these samples was evaluated by air permeability and moisture management testing. The properties of developed composites are highly dependent on the concentration of alginate and drying temperature. The results showed that maximum fluid absorbency (%) of 650 was achieved with good comfort properties. This study can help to increase the commercial availability of hydrogel-based wound dressings.

Development of sustainable flame-retardant bio-based hydrogel composites from hemp/wool nonwovens with chitosan-banana sap hydrogel.

Flame retardant (FR) finishing is crucial for developing protective textiles, traditionally relying on halogen, phosphorus, and phosphorus-nitrogen chemistries, which have limitations like toxicity and fabric stiffening. Innovative approaches such as nanotechnology, plasma treatments, and natural resource-based finishes are being explored to achieve sustainable FR textiles. This study presents the development and comprehensive characterization of hydrogel composites made from nonwoven fabrics composed of various hemp/wool blends (70/30, 80/20, and 90/10). The nonwoven fabrics were treated with a chitosan hydrogel incorporating banana sap to enhance their properties. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examined the surface morphology and structural integrity of the composites, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) identified chemical interactions and functional groups. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) revealed thermal properties, water absorbency tests demonstrated hydrophilicity, mechanical testing assessed tensile strength, and vertical flammability tests evaluated fire resistance. SEM and FTIR revealed a successful coating of chitosan hydrogel with banana sap inclusions onto the hemp/wool nonwoven fabric, forming a composite structure. DSC analysis suggests higher chitosan content and hemp fiber ratio (like 70/30) lead to increased thermal stability of hydrogel composites. Higher chitosan concentrations in the hydrogel significantly improve the flame-retardant properties of hemp/wool nonwoven fabrics by reducing char length and enhancing protective char layer formation, with banana sap further promoting charring. These results indicate that the developed composite can be effectively used in flame-retardant textiles.

An Update on the Study of the Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Autophagy during Bacterial Pathogenesis.

Autophagy is a unique catabolic process that degrades irrelevant or damaged components in eukaryotic cells to maintain homeostasis and eliminate infections from pathogenesis. Pathogenic bacteria have developed many autophagy manipulation techniques that affect host immune responses and intracellular bacterial pathogens have evolved to avoid xenophagy. However, reducing its effectiveness as an innate immune response has not yet been elucidated. Bacterial pathogens cause autophagy in infected cells as a cell-autonomous defense mechanism to eliminate the pathogen. However, harmful bacteria have learned to control autophagy and defeat host defenses. Intracellular bacteria can stimulate and control autophagy, while others inhibit it to prevent xenophagy and lysosomal breakdown. This review evaluates the putative functions for xenophagy in regulating bacterial infection, emphasizing that successful pathogens have evolved strategies to disrupt or exploit this defense, reducing its efficiency in innate immunity. Instead, animal models show that autophagy-associated proteins influence bacterial pathogenicity outside of xenophagy. We also examine the consequences of the complex interaction between autophagy and bacterial pathogens in light of current efforts to modify autophagy and develop host-directed therapeutics to fight bacterial infections. Therefore, effective pathogens have evolved to subvert or exploit xenophagy, although autophagy-associated proteins can influence bacterial pathogenicity outside of xenophagy. Finally, this review implies how the complex interaction between autophagy and bacterial pathogens affects host-directed therapy for bacterial pathogenesis.

Relationship of microvascular density and tumor-associated macrophages with orofacial squamous cell carcinoma progression.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the characteristics of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their association with microvascular density (MVD) in tumor progression in different grades of orofacial squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the Pakistani population. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study included 234 patients with oral cancer reported at different hospitals in Pakistan diagnosed with OSCC. Tumors were graded on the Anneroth grading system and the association between the frequency of TAMs and MVD was examined in vivo. The macrophages visible through immunohistochemistry for CD68 and the microvessels observed through immunohistochemistry for CD34 were manually counted in 3 high-power fields. RESULTS: The CD68 and CD34 counts were significantly lower in well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma compared to poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Linear regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between the area percentage of CD68 immunoreactivity and the grade of the tumor (r = 0.776). Vice versa, a positive correlation also existed between the area percentage of CD34 immunoreactivity and the grade of the tumor (r = 0.690). Pearson correlation revealed a positive association between the TAMs and MVD (r = 0.680; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: There was an increased population of tumor-associated macrophages and tumor angiogenesis with the increasing grade of orofacial squamous cell carcinoma. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol YEAR;VOL:page range).

Assessment of treatment needs, barriers, and self-perception regarding oral health among female university students: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to compare the self-perceived oral health status measured through a self-administered questionnaire with clinically determined oral health status measured by decayed-missing-filled teeth (DMFT) and community periodontal index of treatment need (CPITN) indices in university going females. In addition, access barriers to treatment related to oral healthcare were also determined. METHODS: A 3-month analytical cross-sectional study was designed for consenting university going females (aged 18-22 years) in Islamabad, Pakistan. The self-perceived oral health was recorded through a questionnaire requesting information regarding socio-demographics, self-perception of oral health, frequency of dental visits and barriers to seeking oral health. Seven independent examiners performed intraoral clinical examination and assessed the oral health status using globally standardized oral health assessment indices (DMFT and CPITN). RESULTS: A total of 400 students were included in the final sample. The study revealed a significant disparity between self-perceived oral health and clinical assessment. Although perceived oral health was considered "good" by 80.0% of the respondents, clinical examination revealed moderate DMFT scores (mean 2.95 ± 1.41) and periodontal disease requiring treatment in 89.5% of the individuals. The most common barriers in seeking dental care were lack of knowledge, dental phobia, affordability issue and false self-perception. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated a notable discrepancy between self-perception of oral health and clinically assessed oral health. These results emphasize the importance of focused educational programs and community outreach programs, especially directed towards this demographic. Prioritizing such initiatives will help individuals to recognize their actual oral health condition thus encouraging positive oral health behaviors and outcomes.

An updated review and recent advancements in carbon-based bioactive coatings for dental implant applications.

BACKGROUND: Surface coating of dental implants with a bioactive biomaterial is one of the distinguished approaches to improve the osseointegration potential, antibacterial properties, durability, and clinical success rate of dental implants. Carbon-based bioactive coatings, a unique class of biomaterial that possesses excellent mechanical properties, high chemical and thermal stability, osteoconductivity, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility, have been utilized successfully for this purpose. AIM: This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of the structure, properties, coating techniques, and application of the various carbon-based coatings for dental implant applicationswith a particular focuson Carbon-based nanomaterial (CNMs), which is an advanced class of biomaterials. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: Available articles on carbon coatings for dental implants were reviewed using PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar resources. Carbon-based coatings are non-cytotoxic, highly biocompatible, chemically inert, and osteoconductive, which allows the bone cells to come into close contact with the implant surface and prevents bacterial attachment and growth. Current research and advancements are now more focused on carbon-based nanomaterial (CNMs), as this emerging class of biomaterial possesses the advantage of both nanotechnology and carbon and aligns closely with ideal coating material characteristics. Carbon nanotubes, graphene, and its derivatives have received the most attention for dental implant coating. Various coating techniques are available for carbon-based materials, chosen according to substrate type, application requirements, and desired coating thickness. Vapor deposition technique, plasma spraying, laser deposition, and thermal spraying techniques are most commonly employed to coat the carbon structures on the implant surface. Longer duration trials and monitoring are required to ascertain the role of carbon-based bioactive coating for dental implant applications.

Impact of acidic beverages on composition and surface characteristics of human teeth: scanning electron microscopic, stereomicroscopic and energy dispersive x-ray analyses.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acidic beverages on the surface topography and elemental composition of human teeth. METHODS: A total of five highly acidic beverages (Red Bull, Pepsi, Apple Cidra, Tang Mosambi, and Tang Orange) were investigated. The tooth specimens of experimental groups were submerged in each beverage and incubated at 37 °C for 7 days, whereas, the tooth specimens of control groups were placed in distilled water. Afterwards, tooth specimens were analyzed using scanning electron microscopic (SEM), stereomicroscopic, and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) techniques. RESULTS: All experimental groups revealed a decline in the tooth elements compared to controls, however, such decline was not statistically significant. Nevertheless, comparing the experimental groups, the Red Bull beverage caused a marked reduction in the percentage of both calcium and phosphorus elements compared to the Pepsi, Apple Cidra, Tang Mosambi, and Tang Orange beverages but it was insignificant as well in contrast to its control counterpart. All five acidic beverages demonstrated erosive potential under SEM analysis; however, each group of specimens showed a diverse amount of demineralization. In addition, all experimental groups exhibited significant discoloration of tooth specimens compared to their respective control counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of study, all five acidic beverages demonstrated erosive potential in the simulated in vitro conditions under SEM analysis; however, each group of specimens exhibited a different extent of demineralization. In addition, the overall effect of all beverages was insignificant under EDX analysis as no substantial difference was revealed between the elemental composition of experimental and control group specimens.

Prevalence and associated factors of last dental visit and teeth cleaning frequency in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal: Findings from nationally representative surveys.

This study evaluated the prevalence and frequency of teeth cleaning and last dental visits, along with associated socio-demographic factors, among residents of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. The World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) survey data from Bangladesh (N = 8,164), Bhutan (N = 5,374) and Nepal (N = 5,371) were analyzed. After descriptive analysis, a multivariable multilevel logistic regression was conducted to identify the factors associated with oral hygiene. The following variables were considered as outcomes of interest: daily teeth cleaning frequency and visitation to the oral healthcare providers in the last six/twelve months at the time of data collection. Bangladesh had the highest proportion of respondents who cleaned their teeth at least once or twice a day, while Nepal had the lowest. Bhutan had the highest proportion of respondents who visited a dentist within the last six months (10.5%) or 12 months (16.0%). Almost 94.5% of Nepalese participants never visited a dentist. Participants of older age, who were females and had increased educational attainment, were more likely to follow oral hygiene measures. The populations of all the countries included in the study show poor adherence to oral hygiene practices. Health promotion programs should raise awareness regarding the advantages of regular teeth cleaning and dental check-ups.

A resonance frequency analysis to investigate the impact of implant size on primary and secondary stability.

Objective: Recent years have seen a rise in the usage of dental implants to restore lost teeth. The stability of a dental implant is the main factor in determining its success. Implant stability is influenced by various factors. Several approaches have been employed clinically to evaluate stability at different time intervals. One non-invasive way to assess implant stability is by resonance frequency analysis. Utilizing the resonance frequency analysis method, this study seeks to understand how implant length and diameter affect primary and secondary stability. Methods: The current prospective study was conducted in the Prosthodontics Department of Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College. The duration of the study was six months. A total of 90 implants of sizes 4.5 x 8.5 mm and 4 x 10mm were placed. Resonance frequency measurements were recorded using Osstell™ AB device for primary stability at implant insertion and at 12 weeks for secondary stability. All the measurements were carried out by only one of the researchers to minimize inter-observer bias. Results: The average primary stability was 70.33±6.60, and the average secondary stability was 71.43±5.44. The data was stratified for age, gender, and implant site, and the mean primary and secondary stability of both sizes didn't show any statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Without forfeiting implant stability, both implant sizes (4 x 10mm and 4.5 x 8.5mm) can be used interchangeably, depending on available space and anatomical constraints.

Comparing Prefabricated and 3D Printed Foot Orthoses for the Management of Flat Foot Condition: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term effects of 3D-printed and prefabricated foot orthoses on the management of flat feet. DESIGN: In this single-blinded study, 63 patients with flat feet were enrolled via convenience sampling. They were randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups, receiving prefabricated and customized 3D-printed foot orthoses, respectively. The assessment tools included a Visual analog scale (VAS) and a modified Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST) questionnaire. The patients scored their pain at weeks 0 and 4 using the VAS. At the end of week 4, patients completed the modified version of the QUEST questionnaire to record their satisfaction with the orthosis. RESULTS: VAS scores at week 0 for the two groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). At week 4, the VAS scores of the experimental group reduced significantly (p < 0.001), whereas the VAS scores of the control group remained statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). Modified QUEST questionnaire analysis revealed higher satisfaction with orthosis comfort and effectiveness in the experimental group than in the control, while factors like orthosis dimensions, weight, and durability did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Customized 3D-printed orthoses effectively reduced pain and enhanced patient satisfaction with comfort and effectiveness in 4 weeks.

Chitosan-based materials for dental implantology: A comprehensive review.

Chitosan, a versatile biopolymer, has gained recognition in the discipline of dental implantology due to possessing salient properties. This comprehensive review explores the potential of chitosan in dental implants, focusing on its biocompatibility, bioactivity, and the various chitosan-based materials that have been utilized for dental implant therapy. The review also highlights the importance of surface treatment in dental implants to enhance osseointegration and inhibit bacterial biofilm formation. Additionally, the chemical structure, properties, and sources of chitosan are described, along with its different structural forms. The characteristics of chitosan particularly color, molecular weight, viscosity, and degree of deacetylation are discussed about their influence on its applications. This review provides valuable insights into the promising utilization of polymeric chitosan in enhancing the success and functionality of dental implants. This study highlights the potential applications of chitosan in oral implantology. Chitosan possesses various advantageous properties, including muco-adhesiveness, hemostatic action, biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioactivity, and antibacterial and antifungal activities, which enhance its uses in dental implantology. However, it has limited aqueous solubility at the physiological pH, which sometimes restricts its biological application, but this problem can be overcome by using modified chitosan or chitosan derivatives, which have also shown encouraging results. Recent research suggests that chitosan may act as a promising material for coating titanium-based implants, improving osteointegration together with antibacterial properties.

The effect of fibroblast growth factor-2 on the outcomes of tooth replantation: A systematic review of animal studies.

Background/Aim: The ideal treatment of tooth avulsion is replantation. However, replanting teeth may lead to root resorption. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is a cytokine that plays an important role in wound repair and tissue regeneration. Recently, FGF-2 has been studied a potential regenerative agent to prevent root resorption and ankylosis. The aim of this review is to analyze and summarize the currently available literature focusing on using FGF-2 based regenerative modalities to improve the outcomes of tooth replantation. Materials and Methods: An electronic search was conducted via PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and ISI Web of Knowledge, using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms "Basic fibroblast growth factor," "Fibroblast growth factor-2," "tooth replantation," and "replantation" for studies published between January 2001 and June 2021. Data was extracted and quality assessment was carried using the ARRIVE guidelines. Results: Nine animal studies were included in this review. In six studies, FGF-2 had a favorable effect on the tissue regeneration around roots of replanted teeth when compared to other treatment groups. However, quality assessment of the studies revealed many sources of bias and deficiencies in the studies. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it may be concluded that FGF-2 may improve the outcomes of delayed replantation of avulsed teeth. However, more long-term animal studies, with improved experimental designs, and clinical trials are required to determine the clinical potential of the growth factor in improving the outcomes of delayed tooth replantation.

Burnout level in Pakistani dentists during COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional national study.

Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence and degree of Burnout during the COVID 19 pandemic in practicing Pakistani dentists. Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted dental practices worldwide, leading to increased stress and burnout among dental practitioners. Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, can have detrimental effects on the quality of care and patient safety. Previous studies have shown high rates of burnout among healthcare workers, including dentists. The pandemic has added new challenges, such as financial losses and increased costs due to safety protocols. Recognizing and managing burnout is crucial to mitigate its severe consequences. By understanding the prevalence of burnout in this unique context, strategies can be developed to support dental practitioners and improve their well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a 22-items based validated Maslach Burnout Inventory. The study was conducted between July and September 2021. Practicing dentists across Pakistan were approached via social media platforms. The questions were answered on a 7-point Likert scale. The sums of the scores were used as the evaluation criteria. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 24. Shapiro Wilk test was used to check normality of data. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests were utilized to analyze the differences in the prevalence of burnout amongst the different demographic groups. A P-value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Total of 282 dentists responded with 116 (41.1 %) male and 166 (58.9 %) female. Majority of the respondents were postgraduate residents (24.8 %), 47.9 % of the practitioners had 0-3 years of work experience, 48.6 % of the respondents were practicing in the Federal region, and 62.8 % of the subjects were between the age of 25-34. Emotional exhaustion was the major dimension of burnout identified in our study with 47.5 % of the population reporting high levels, while only 23 % of the population showed high levels of depersonalization and 29.4 % showed low sense of personal accomplishment. Conclusion: This study indicates a considerable percentage of burnout in the chosen sample. The mean scores of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization and Diminished sense of personal accomplishment were all found to be in the moderate range, and that appropriate measures should be taken to manage it.

Use of Optical Coherence Tomography in Dentistry.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optics-based imaging technique, which may be called an "optical biopsy." It can be used to acquire structural information about a tissue at a resolution comparable to histopathology. OCT is based on the principle of low-coherence interferometry where near-infrared (NIR) light is shown on a tissue sample and then cross-sectional images are obtained based on backscattered light and echo time delay. Two main types of OCT are characterized as time-domain OCT (TD-OCT) and Fourier-domain OCT (FD-OCT). The applications of OCT in dentistry can be broadly divided into two groups, i.e., assessment of pathologies and assessment of surfaces and interfaces. Lately, OCT has made its transition from experimental laboratories to mainstream clinical applications. Starting from the short-term training courses, clinicians working in specialities like oral pathology, oral medicine, and oral implantology may find it a useful tool for their practices. It is now clear that OCT will be considered a gold standard diagnostic tool for the detection and characterization of several conditions and lesions of the orofacial region. However, the next challenge will be to incorporate it into the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum and train dental healthcare staff in the use of these devices.

The Association of Research Quantitative Measures With Faculty Ranks of Australian and New Zealand Dental Schools.

INTRODUCTION: The scholarly productivity of a faculty member can be measured through several indicators including annual appraisals, feedback, and the number of publications per year. The present study aims to assess the association of quantitative research measures and academic ranks in Australian and New Zealand dental schools. METHODS: It was an analytical observational cross-sectional study. Full-time faculty members working in Australia and New Zealand's dental schools were discovered on official websites. Various bibliometric parameters including h-index, total number of citations, total number of publications, and maximum number of sources of a single publication were analyzed. Spearman rank correlation was used to determine the correlation between bibliometric variables and academic ranks (lecturer, assistant professor, professor). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare bibliometric parameters among departments (Basic and Clinical) and gender (male and female). RESULTS: Through the present search strategy, 207 full-time faculty members were identified, of which 12 were from New Zealand, and 195 were from Australia. Among them, 130 (62.8%) were male and 70 (33.8%) were female faculty members. There was a positive correlation of all bibliometric parameters with academic ranks (p = 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the two countries for academic parameters (p > 0.05). Male faculty members showed significantly higher academic productivity than female members in Australian dental schools (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: These bibliometric parameters and other educational parameters can be considered for determining faculty promotions. These bibliometric parameters appear to be suitable metrics for assessing research productivity, impact, and visibility.

The Effectiveness of Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) on Bacterial Reduction in Dental Implants: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of dental implants has revolutionized the management of tooth loss. However, the placement of clinical implants exposes them to complex oral environment and numerous microscopic entities, such as bacteria. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is often used to treat the surfaces of dental implants, which alters morphological features and effectively reduces bacterial load. PURPOSE: This systematic review aims to assess the existing literature on the bactericidal properties of CAP when used on various kinds of dental implant surfaces. REVIEW METHOD: An in-depth examination of MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE was performed to identify relevant studies, with the most recent search conducted in May 2023. Studies were selected based on their exploration of CAP's effects on dental implants compared to control groups, focusing on CAP's bactericidal efficacy. However, studies that lacked a control group or that failed to measure bactericidal effects were excluded. RESULTS: After applying the selection criteria, 15 studies were ultimately included in the systematic review. The collected data suggest that CAP can effectively reduce bacterial loads on dental implant surfaces, including pathogens like Streptococcus mitis and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, CAP appears to combat biofilms and plaques that are key contributors to periimplantitis. CONCLUSION: CAP emerges as a promising treatment option, exhibiting significant bactericidal activity on dental implant surfaces. CAP can decrease the rates of bacterial biofilm and plaque formation, leading to improved outcomes for dental implant patients.

Polymeric Denture Base Materials: A Review.

An ideal denture base must have good physical and mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and esthetic properties. Various polymeric materials have been used to construct denture bases. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is the most used biomaterial for dentures fabrication due to its favorable properties, which include ease of processing and pigmenting, sufficient mechanical properties, economy, and low toxicity. This article aimed to comprehensively review the current knowledge about denture base materials (DBMs) types, properties, modifications, applications, and construction methods. We searched for articles about denture base materials in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. Journals covering topics including dental materials, prosthodontics, and restorative dentistry were also combed through. Denture base material variations, types, qualities, applications, and fabrication research published in English were considered. Although PMMA has several benefits and gained popularity as a denture base material, it has certain limitations and cannot be classified as an ideal biomaterial for fabricating dental prostheses. Accordingly, several studies have been performed to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of PMMA by chemical modifications and mechanical reinforcement using fibers, nanofillers, and hybrid materials. This review aimed to update the current knowledge about DBMs' types, properties, applications, and recent developments. There is a need for specific research to improve their biological properties due to patient and dental staff adverse reactions to possibly harmful substances produced during their manufacturing and use.

Applications of Metformin in Dentistry-A review.

Metformin is a versatile drug with numerous medical uses. It is known primarily as an anti-hyperglycemic drug that has become the main oral blood-glucose-lowering medication for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus globally. Its use has been reported in a variety of oral conditions and dentistry in general. Recent clinical trials have indicated the effectiveness of adjunct topical application of metformin in improving the periodontal parameters of patients with diabetes and periodontitis. Additionally, studies have suggested that metformin stimulates odontogenic differentiation and mineral synthesis of stem cells in the tooth pulp. Metformin also stimulates osteoblast proliferation, decreases osteoclast activity and exerts regenerative effects on periodontal bone, thus making it a viable candidate for periodontal regeneration. Metformin monotherapy significantly enhances osseointegration of endosseous implants and has been reported to have anti-cancer effects on oral squamous cell carcinoma by impeding tumor progression. Animal studies have indicated that metformin improves orthodontic tooth movement and resists orthodontic appliance corrosion. This narrative review aims to provide a current summary of research highlighting the prospective uses of metformin in dentistry.