Smoker's Palate: An Often Misunderstood Benign Lesion of the Oral Cavity.

Smoker's palate is a type of lesion that occurs on the mucosa of the hard and soft palate almost exclusively in smokers. This lesion is prevalent in smokers who practice reverse smoking and less common in cigar and cigarette smokers. The lesion known as smoker's palate is also referred to as nicotina stomatitis and nicotina palatini, which suggests the role of nicotine in the manifestation of the lesion, but this is a misnomer as the lesion occurs due to the impact of heat coupled with the irritation caused by agents such as tobacco and marijuana; there is no role of nicotine in it. Patients who notice this lesion tend to misinterpret it as an early manifestation of squamous cell carcinoma. Although this is not true, this can be an excellent opportunity to counsel patients regarding the ill effects of smoking and guide them to quit the habit, citing that it causes cancer. This article presents a case report of a 27-year-old male with a smoker's palate. This article also highlights the importance of dental practitioners in diagnosing the lesion and how patients often misunderstand this lesion as a severe condition.

Nanotechnology Innovations Transforming Oral Health Care and Dentistry: A Review.

Nanotechnology has revolutionized dentistry by transforming how oral health care is conceptualized, delivered, and maintained. Harnessing nanomaterials and advanced clinical instruments has opened new avenues for precision and innovation across various aspects of dental care. Nanotechnology offers the potential for precise pain management, tooth restoration, and alleviating dental hypersensitivity. Nanomaterials can occlude exposed dentinal tubules, enhancing patient comfort and overall oral well-being. Orthodontic therapy is also revolutionized by nanomaterials with shape memory properties, enabling rapid and more efficient tooth movement. The development of groundbreaking products and therapeutic alternatives is supported by ongoing research efforts, enabling the formation of dental implants, fillings, and prosthetic devices that closely mimic natural tooth characteristics. Nano-delivery systems are being devised for precise drug delivery within the oral cavity, ensuring optimal therapeutic outcomes with minimal side effects. The integration of nanotechnology in dentistry represents a groundbreaking evolution beyond the conventional boundaries of oral health care, enabling the development of innovative diagnostic techniques and improved oral well-being.

Stem-Cell Therapy: Filling Gaps in Oro-Maxillofacial Region.

How do stem cells function? Why should we, as dentists, care about stem cells? How might dental procedures be substituted by stem cells? Are stem cells capable of regenerating a tooth or temporomandibular joint (TMJ)? Although the ability to regenerate a destroyed tissue has been known for a while, research into regenerative medicine and dentistry has made significant strides in molecular biology. A paradigm shift in the therapeutic toolbox for dental and oral diseases is likely to result from a growing understanding of biological concepts in the regeneration of oral/dental tissues along with stem cell research, leading to an intense search for "biological solutions to biological problems." Among other tissues, orofacial tissues effectively separate stem cells from human tissues. Because they can self-renew and produce different cell types, stem cells offer novel techniques for regenerating damaged tissues and curing illnesses. A number of significant milestone successes have shown their practical applicability, traditional biomaterial-based treatments in regenerative dentistry as therapeutic alternatives that offer regeneration of damaged oral tissues rather than merely "filling the gaps." In order to use these innovative accomplishments for patient well-being, the ultimate goal of this ground-breaking technology, well-designed clinical studies must be implemented as a crucial next step. The review's objective is to briefly synthesize the literature on stem cells in terms of their traits, subtypes, and uses for dental stem cells. It has been highlighted that stem cell therapy has the ability to treat craniofacial abnormalities and regenerate teeth in the oral and maxillofacial regions.

Anterior En Masse Retraction in Orthodontics.

This article reviews and critically analyzes the literature on mini-implants (temporary anchorage devices) for anterior en masse retraction in orthodontics. The search methods used were an E-database search, a secondary computerized search of orthodontics journals, and a reference list of selected studies. Eligibility criteria included individuals who underwent orthodontic treatment for correction of malocclusion with premolar extraction. Data were taken from PubMed and Scopus as well as the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Keywords used for searching the article were temporary anchorage devices, premolar extraction, orthodontics, and anterior en masse retraction, Anterior en masse retraction with sliding mechanics in pre-adjusted edgewise appliances was considered for the study. Data collection and analysis involved three different researchers performing three steps of selection. All titles were initially filtered for irrelevant review articles. In the first step, all summaries from the selected studies were reviewed, and in the second, the entire content of the papers was read. The study was then discarded based on qualifying standards. A chart was created using the data from the final chosen research as well as the findings. The following information was evaluated for the final table: author, publication year, research structure, study group, sample size, methods/measures, study findings, and conclusion about frictionless mechanics. Results showed that a meta-analysis was not feasible due to clinical and statistical variability, as well as variations in study design, sample selection, and sample size. Thus, it was concluded that sliding mechanisms are widely employed in orthodontic treatment, but temporary anchorage devices and sliding mechanisms deliver great results. There is a need to raise awareness about these devices and use them with care.