Evaluation of different methods for the diagnosis of primary caries lesions: Study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dental caries is considered one of the greatest pediatric health problems in the world, due to its high prevalence and incidence. Therefore, the early diagnosis of caries lesions is a fundamental procedure for planning treatment aimed at prevention, minimal intervention and promotion of oral health. The present study aims to evaluate, through a randomized and controlled clinical study, which is the best strategy for diagnosing primary caries lesions located in the interproximal region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients, aged between 4 and 10 years will be randomized and allocated into 2 groups for analysis and comparison of methods for diagnosing caries lesions. The following diagnostic methods will be analyzed and compared: visual clinical examination using ICDAS (International Caries Detection and Assessment System), the iTero Element 5D System (intraoral scanner with near infrared imaging (NIRI) technology) and bitewing radiography (BWX). All evaluations will be carried out by 02 examiners. Examiners will be trained and calibrated to use the visual and radiographic criteria and also to use the iTero 5D intraoral scanner, following the manufacturer's instructions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04900246 in ClinicalTrial.gov. First released in 05/11/2021 and last updated in 10/06/2021.

A new multiphase calcium phosphate graft material improves bone healing-An in vitro and in vivo analysis.

This study aims to evaluate the potential of a novel biomaterial synthesized from amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), octacalcium phosphate (OCP), and hydroxyapatite (HA) to repair critical-sized defects (CSD) in rabbit calvaria. In vitro analyses of cell viability, cell proliferation, formation of mineral nodules, and cell differentiation using qPCR were performed for comparing experimental calcium phosphate (ECP), deproteinized bovine bone (DBB), and beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP). Bilateral CSDs were created in 45 rabbit calvaria. Six groups were evaluated: ECP, ECP + fibrin sealant (ECP + S), coagulum, autogenous bone, DBB, and ß-TCP. Euthanasia was performed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks, followed by micro-computed tomography and histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Results from in vitro analyses revealed similar biocompatibility for all tested materials and a tendency for higher gene expression of some bone markers in the ECP group than in ß-TCP and DBB groups at 7 days. In contrast to that in DBB and ß-TCP groups, ECP displayed growing bone volume over total volume percentage (BV/TV%) with time in vivo. Histological analysis revealed a greater number of giant cells and reduced size of grafted particles in ECP during all periods of analysis. RUNX-2 expression was statistically lower in ECP than DBB at 2 and 4 weeks. Despite no statistical significance, ECP presented the highest absolute values for ALP-expression at 2, 4, and 8 weeks compared with other groups. Together, our findings indicate that a combination of the ACP, OCP, and HA phases into ECP is beneficial and promising for bone regeneration.

The influence of restorations and prosthetic crowns finishing lines on inflammatory levels after non-surgical periodontal therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inflammatory response in sites where crowns were placed supragingivally, at the level of the gingival margin and subgingivally. These were measured clinically and through the levels of interleukin-1 3 and matrix metalloproteinase-2, inflammatory mediators, before and after periodontal therapy. METHODS: From 68 patients analyzed, 10 were selected for this study. The gingival crevicular fluid of the patients was collected and analyzed using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The clinical parameters were measured and correlated with interleukin-1beta and matrix metalloproteinase-2. Both analyses were realized before (baseline) and 2 months after non-surgical periodontal therapy. The two-way variance analysis (two-way ANOVA), Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons test (post hoc) and Pearson parametric correlation test were performed in statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences before and after nonsurgical periodontal therapy when comparing supra- and subgingival margins for the plaque and bleeding indexes (p < 0.05). There was a tendency toward correlation between the reduction of plaque index and the reduction of interleukin-1beta levels, both for supragingival (r = 0.694, p = 0.026) and subgingival margins (r = 0.715, p = 0.020) post non-surgical periodontal therapy. The levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 were not detectable by ELISA because they were below the detection threshold of the assay. CONCLUSION: Supragingival restorations appeared to be more adequate in promoting periodontal health when compared with the other possible marginal finish lines. They also presented a better response to basic periodontal treatment, according to clinical and inflammatory findings.