The PocketPerio application significantly increases the accuracy of diagnosing periodontal conditions in didactic and chairside settings.

The study aimed to determine the accuracy of diagnosing periodontal conditions using the developed web-based PocketPerio application and evaluate the user's perspective on the use of PocketPerio. First, 22 third-year dental students (DS3) diagnosed ten cases without PocketPerio (control) and with PocketPerio (test) during a mock examination. Then, 105 DS3, 13 fourth-year dental students (DS4), and 32 senior second-year International Standing Program students (ISP2) used PocketPerio chairside. Statistical analysis was performed using a non-parametric paired two-tailed test of significance with the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test. The null hypothesis that PocketPerio did not increase the accuracy of periodontal diagnoses was rejected at α < 0.01. Periodontal diagnoses made using PocketPerio correlated with those made by periodontics faculty ("gold standard") in all cases. During the mock examination, PocketPerio significantly increased the accuracy of periodontal diagnoses compared to the control (52.73 vs. 13.18%, respectively). Chairside, PocketPerio significantly increased the accuracy of primary (100 vs. 40.0%) and secondary (100 vs. 14.25%) periodontal diagnoses compared to the respective controls. Students regardless of their training year felt more confident in diagnosing periodontal conditions using PocketPerio than their current tools, provided positive feedback on its features, and suggested avenues for its further development.

A Minimally Invasive Technique for the Management of Physiologic Gingival Melanin Hyperpigmentation: A Case Series.

An attractive smile enhances an individual's self-confidence. The overall harmony of a smile can be attributed to the interplay of the teeth's shape, color, and position along with the gingival tissue. Gingival pigmentation is observed across all human races, exhibiting variations from one race to another. Typically, gingival hyperpigmentation results from the abnormal buildup of melanin in the gingival tissue, imparting a dark appearance on the gums. Various procedures, collectively known as gingival depigmentation, are employed to address gingival hyperpigmentation. While the initial outcomes of depigmentation procedures are often promising, one common issue associated with them is the potential for re-pigmentation. This article aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and patient-reported outcomes of intraepidermal (oral mesotherapy) vitamin C injection for nonsurgical management of physiologic gingival melanin hyperpigmentation.

Digitally planned surgical crown lengthening: a novel bone reduction strategy to correct a gummy smile.

This report describes the bone reduction guide which was digitally obtained to improve diagnosis, treatment outcome and follow-up. Treatment of gingival smiles due to altered passive eruption should include interdisciplinary planning and smile design to facilitate the prediction of treatment outcome. Crown lengthening surgery can be supported by digital tools to improve surgical planning and follow-up. A 30-year-old female patient was referred to a private dental clinic seeking solutions for her gingival smile. Based on the anatomical crown length, a smile design was created, and the patient was presented with a simulated smile before treatment. In the surgical phase, a full-thickness flap was raised in the upper jaw to achieve the desired outcome. Using cone-beam computed tomography to determine cementoenamel junction for smile design and treatment planning brings many benefits. Patients and clinicians can foresee treatment results. From there, appropriate changes can be made. The bone reduction guide is designed to rest on the bone to help the clinician cut the bone accurately and thoroughly follow the established plan.

Perceptions regarding the use of a three-dimensionally-printed manufactured educational simulator for periodontal treatment of intraosseous and interradicular lesions.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Treating intraosseous lesions (IOLs) and interradicular bone lesions (IRLs) is an extremely technical dental procedure in periodontics. Instrumentation of these lesions is often perceived as difficult by students and inexperienced dentists before they perform a certain number of procedures on patients in the clinic. The aim of this article is to evaluate a cost-effective three-dimensional (3D)-printed educational simulator for the periodontal treatment of IOLs/IRLs (including scaling, incisions and sutures). METHODS: The simulators were first developed digitally, and then manufactured using printable resins and specific materials; finally, they were assembled using different bonding systems. To evaluate the simulators, assessments were gathered from two target populations: undergraduate students and periodontics experts. These individuals tested the simulator and completed a cross-sectional questionnaire based on a Likert scale with comparative and pedagogical items scored from one to five. The purpose of the questionnaire was to compare our simulator to clinical reality (i.e., operation on human jaws) and to an animal simulator (i.e., simulation of porcine jaws). The results are expressed as the mean and standard deviation and were statistically analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: Overall, the results were satisfactory for both groups of testers (4.70 and 4.61 out of five for students and experts, respectively, for global satisfaction). CONCLUSIONS: The overall educational relevance of the simulator designed herein highlights the fact that 3D-printed educational simulators could enable efficient cognitive-functional learning for clinical IOL/IRL treatment.

A Comparative Analysis of Deep Learning-Based Approaches for Classifying Dental Implants Decision Support System.

This study aims to provide an effective solution for the autonomous identification of dental implant brands through a deep learning-based computer diagnostic system. It also seeks to ascertain the system's potential in clinical practices and to offer a strategic framework for improving diagnosis and treatment processes in implantology. This study employed a total of 28 different deep learning models, including 18 convolutional neural network (CNN) models (VGG, ResNet, DenseNet, EfficientNet, RegNet, ConvNeXt) and 10 vision transformer models (Swin and Vision Transformer). The dataset comprises 1258 panoramic radiographs from patients who received implant treatments at Erciyes University Faculty of Dentistry between 2012 and 2023. It is utilized for the training and evaluation process of deep learning models and consists of prototypes from six different implant systems provided by six manufacturers. The deep learning-based dental implant system provided high classification accuracy for different dental implant brands using deep learning models. Furthermore, among all the architectures evaluated, the small model of the ConvNeXt architecture achieved an impressive accuracy rate of 94.2%, demonstrating a high level of classification success.This study emphasizes the effectiveness of deep learning-based systems in achieving high classification accuracy in dental implant types. These findings pave the way for integrating advanced deep learning tools into clinical practice, promising significant improvements in patient care and treatment outcomes.

Amputação radicular para preservação de elemento dentário / Root amputation for tooth preservation

A periodontite é uma doença inflamatória crônica dos tecidos de sustentação e proteção dos dentes. Em dentes posteriores, a perda de inserção pode resultar em vários graus de dano à furca, que se refere à destruição dos tecidos de suporte de dentes multirradiculares caracterizada por reabsorção óssea e perda de inserção no espaço interarradicular. Independente do grau de envolvimento da furca, o tratamento periodontal básico (RAR) é a primeira opção para estabilizar a periodontite, contudo, em algumas situações é utilizada uma terapia cirúrgica periodontal bastante conhecida: a rizectomia ou amputação radicular. O objetivo do trabalho é relatar o caso de uma amputação radicular de um dente comprometido periodontalmente, a fim de se preservar o elemento dentário. O dente 27 foi diagnosticado com periodontite, o que ocasionou a lesão de furca grau III. O tratamento endodôntico foi realizado prévio ao procedimento cirúrgico, viabilizando a amputação da raiz disto-vestibular deste elemento. A partir do relato deste caso, se pode concluir que a amputação radicular é considerada um procedimento conservador, capaz de manter em função molares com histórico de periodontite associado ao envolvimento de lesões de furca(AU)

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the supporting and protective tissues of the teeth. In posterior teeth, attachment loss can result in varying degrees of damage to the furcation, which refers to the destruction of the supporting tissues of multirooted teeth characterized by bone resorption and attachment loss in the interarticular space. Regardless of the degree of furcation involvement, basic periodontal treatment (RAR) is the first option to stabilize periodontitis; however, in some situations, a well-known periodontal surgical therapy is used: rhizectomy or root amputation. Rhizectomy is a treatment option for multirooted teeth. The technique preserves the crown and requires endodontic treatment of the affected tooth, preferably done before surgery(AU)

Tratamento do sorriso gengival por meio da cirurgia periodontal: relato de caso / Treatment of gummy smile through periodontal surgery: case report

A busca por um sorriso considerado perfeito tem sido cada vez maior e isso tem se tornado um desafio para o Cirurgião-Dentista, visto que um sorriso harmônico não envolve somente dentes, mas também gengiva. A exposição excessiva da gengiva ao sorrir ou falar é considerada uma característica antiestética, pois gera uma desarmonia entre dentes, gengiva e lábios. Quando o paciente expõe 3 milímetros ou mais de gengiva ao sorrir, chamamos essa exposição de Sorriso Gengival. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo relatar o tratamento de um caso de sorriso gengival, onde foi realizada cirurgia periodontal ressectiva a fim de diminuir a exposição de tecido gengival ao sorrir. Descrição do caso: Paciente adulto 21 anos, sexo masculino, procurou atendimento no curso de graduação em Odontologia do Centro Universitário da Serra Gaúcha ­ FSG, com queixa de insatisfação estética devido ao tamanho de seus dentes e mostrar muito tecido Gengival ao sorrir. Após anamnese, exame clínico e radiográfico, o paciente foi diagnosticado com Sorriso gengival. O plano de tratamento proposto foi de cirurgia periodontal ressectiva. Conclusão: A partir do exposto, podemos concluir que o tratamento do sorriso gengival depende de sua etiologia. Um correto diagnóstico é de extrema importância, pois dependendo do fator etiológico do sorriso gengival, o plano de tratamento pode ser elaborado de acordo com a necessidade do paciente. No caso apresentado, o procedimento escolhido, cirurgia periodontal ressectiva, se mostrou efetivo no tratamento do sorriso gengival, devolvendo estética e satisfação ao paciente(AU)

The search for a smile that is considered perfect has been increasing and this has become a challenge for the Dental Surgeon, since a harmonious smile does not only involve teeth, but also gums. Excessive exposure of the gums when smiling or talking is considered an unsightly feature, as it creates disharmony between teeth, gums and lips. When the patient exposes 3 millimeters or more of gum when smiling, we call this exposure Gummy Smile. The present work aims to report the treatment of a case of gummy smile, where resective periodontal surgery was performed in order to reduce the exposure of gingival tissue when smiling. Case description: A 21-year-old adult patient, male, sought care at the undergraduate course in dentistry at the Centro Universitário da Serra Gaúcha ­ FSG, complaining of aesthetic dissatisfaction due to the size of his teeth and showing a lot of gingival tissue when smiling. After anamnesis, clinical and radiographic examination, the patient was diagnosed with gummy smile. The proposed treatment plan was resective periodontal surgery. Conclusion: From the above, we can conclude that the treatment of gummy smile depends on its etiology. A correct diagnosis is extremely important, because depending on the etiological factor of the gummy smile, the treatment plan can be elaborated according to the patient's needs. In the case presented, the chosen procedure, resective periodontal surgery, proved to be effective in the treatment of gummy smile, restoring aesthetics and patient satisfaction(AU)

Tratamento da periimplantite por meio da descontaminação do implante: um relato de caso / Treatment of peri-implantitis through implant decontamination: a case report

Os implantes dentários osseointegrados representam uma parte da reabilitação oral, sendo uma alternativa cada vez mais utilizada na Odontologia a fim de substituir dentes perdidos. À semelhança das doenças periodontais, o fator etiológico das doenças periimplantares é o acúmulo de biofilme ao redor dos implantes dentários. Esta patologia também é classificada de acordo com os tecidos acometidos por ela, em mucosite e periimplantite. Para um correto tratamento e sucesso na terapia periimplantar, o diagnóstico deve ser baseado na sua etiologia e, seu tratamento segue variando de acordo com cada caso e estágio da doença. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo relatar o tratamento de um caso de periimplantite por meio da descontaminação da superfície do implante através de uma cirurgia de acesso. Paciente leucoderma, com 56 anos, sexo feminino, procurou atendimento no curso de graduação em Odontologia do centro Universitário da Serra Gaúcha ­ FSG, com queixa de sangramento/supuração, dor e edema na região dos dentes 15 e 16, reabilitados com implantes, e exposição de componentes protéticos. A paciente foi diagnosticada com periimplantite. O plano de tratamento proposto foi de promover a descontaminação da superfície do implante por meio de acesso cirúrgico. Com base no caso clínico apresentado, foi possível concluir que a técnica de tratamento utilizada foi eficaz para a resolução da periimplantite, no período de acompanhamento do estudo (90 dias), demonstrando melhora nos parâmetros clínicos e radiográficos(AU)

Osseointegrated dental implants represent a part of oral rehabilitation, being an increasingly used alternative in Dentistry in order to replace lost teeth. Similar to periodontal diseases, the etiological factor of peri-implant diseases is the accumulation of biofilm around dental implants. This pathology is also classified according to the tissues affected by it, in mucositis and peri-implantitis. For a correct treatment and success in peri-implant therapy, the diagnosis must be based on its etiology, and its treatment continues to vary according to each case and stage of the disease. The present work aims to report the treatment of a case of peri-implantitis through the decontamination of the implant surface through an access surgery. Caucasian female patient, 56 years old, sought care at the graduation course in Dentistry at Centro Universitário da Serra Gaúcha ­ FSG, complaining of bleeding/suppuration, pain and edema in the region of teeth 15 and 16, rehabilitated with implants, and exposure of prosthetic components. The patient was diagnosed with peri-implantitis. The proposed treatment plan was to promote decontamination of the implant surface through surgical access. Based on the presented clinical case, it was possible to conclude that the treatment technique used was effective for the resolution of periimplantitis, in the follow-up period of the study (90 days), demonstrating improvement in clinical and radiographic parameters(AU)

Periodontal Health Status in Adults Exposed to Tobacco Heating System Aerosol and Cigarette Smoke vs. Non-Smokers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Tobacco heating systems (THS) are new products on the market, advertised as a less harmful alternative for smokers, in which tobacco is heated and not burned like in conventional cigarettes. This research explored the effect on periodontal tissues in contact with heating and burning tobacco residual products (smoke and tobacco). METHODS: The sample included 66 subjects, patients of the Clinic of Dentistry in Rijeka, Croatia, aged 26-56 (median 38), 64% females. Three age- and gender-matched groups were formed (each N = 22): non-smokers, classic cigarettes smokers and THS smokers. Probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were primary research parameters. RESULTS: Three groups differed in average PD and CAL (p ≤ 0.002), with cigarette smokers having the highest and non-smokers the lowest values (p ≤ 0.002). THS consumers generally had lower values of periodontal indices than smokers, but only CAL differed significantly (p = 0.011). Periodontal indices CAL and PD were worse in THS consumers than non-smokers, but they did not reach a level of statistical significance. Cigarette smoking was the only predictor of periodontitis (average CAL ≥ 4 mm) in logistic regression models, with an odds ratio of 4.7 (95% confidence interval 1.2-18.3; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to nicotine-containing aerosol of THS in adults has a less harmful effect on periodontal tissues, measurable through periodontal indices (PD and CAL), compared to burning tobacco of conventional cigarettes. THS, presented as an alternative product to classic cigarettes, also has a detrimental effect on the periodontium.

Importance of periodontal phenotype in periodontics and restorative dentistry: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Periodontal phenotype is regarded to be one of the key factors influencing the efficacy of restorative therapies in dental practice. The objective of the systematic review was to explore the importance of thin and thick periodontal phenotypes and how they affect the outcome of periodontal and restorative therapies by looking at a number of academic publications from various online databases. METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review standards), relevant data will be searched and retrieved from three significant scientific databases, including PubMed, EBSCO, and Scopus. The articles with full texts that matched the keywords and published in English between 2018 and 2023 were taken into consideration. RESULTS: The majorities of these articles were based on the type of periodontal phenotype and their impact on periodontal and restorative treatment outcomes were selected. The initial search yielded a total of 530 articles. Only 273 were relevant to the review's objectives, and these were considered for determining eligibility. Only 20 publications were eligible for analysis. CONCLUSION: Understanding these anatomical aspects of periodontal phenotype is crucial to both periodontology and restorative dentistry. The clinical outcome of restorative, prosthetic, orthodontic, surgical, and periodontal therapies is determined in large part by the periodontal phenotype, which also plays a significant role in clinical failure or success in dental treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study protocol registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) dated 16th June 2023 with the registration ID CRD42023432568.

Contesting the conventional wisdom of periodontal risk assessment.

Over the years, several reviews of periodontal risk assessment tools have been published. However, major misunderstandings still prevail in repeated attempts to use these tools for prognostic risk prediction. Here we review the principles of risk prediction and discuss the value and the challenges of using prediction models in periodontology. Most periodontal risk prediction models have not been properly developed according to guidance given for the risk prediction model development. This shortcoming has led to several problems, including the creation of arbitrary risk scores. These scores are often labelled as 'high risk' without explicit boundaries or thresholds for the underlying continuous risk estimates of patient-important outcomes. Moreover, it is apparent that prediction models are often misinterpreted as causal models by clinicians and researchers although they cannot be used as such. Additional challenges like the critical assessment of transportability and applicability of these prediction models, as well as their impact on clinical practice and patient outcomes, are not considered in the literature. Nevertheless, these instruments are promoted with claims regarding their ability to deliver more individualized and precise periodontitis treatment and prevention, purportedly resulting in improved patient outcomes. However, people with or without periodontitis deserve proper information about their risk of developing patient-important outcomes such as tooth loss or pain. The primary objective of disseminating such information should not be to emphasize assumed treatment efficacy, hype individualization of care, or promote business interests. Instead, the focus should be on providing individuals with locally validated and regularly updated predictions of specific risks based on readily accessible and valid key predictors (e.g. age and smoking).

To intrude or not to intrude? A systematic review of the controversy surrounding orthodontic intrusion on reduced periodontium.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this review was to evaluate the effects of orthodontic intrusion on patients with reduced periodontium. Additionally, this review aims to explore the potential for attachment gain and tissue regeneration in these patients and identify optimal therapeutic conditions to mitigate any negative effects of intrusion. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 statement. Duplicate electronic searches of the PubMed, Cochrane, EMC Premium, and Science Direct databases were performed by two independent reviewers. Data extraction and quality assessments, including risk of bias evaluation using the Cochrane and ROBINS-I tools were conducted. RESULTS: From an initial pool of 418 articles, 29 were selected after title and abstract screening for full-text review. Following thorough full-text reading, 15 studies were ultimately included in the analysis. The total number of patients included in the studies is 528, who underwent orthodontic intrusion on reduced periodontium. Studies indicated a decrease in periodontal pocket depth and an increase in clinical attachment with ortho-periodontal treatment. Alveolar bone level outcomes varied, showing both increases and losses. Authors generally observed improved papillary regeneration and reduced gingival recessions. CONCLUSION: Clinical studies involving combined ortho-periodontal treatment showed that orthodontic intrusion on a reduced but healthy periodontium can be considered a beneficial treatment for the periodontium, provided that potential adverse effects are carefully monitored.

Artificial intelligence in dental education: ChatGPT's performance on the periodontic in-service examination.

BACKGROUND: ChatGPT's (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) remarkable capacity to generate human-like output makes it an appealing learning tool for healthcare students worldwide. Nevertheless, the chatbot's responses may be subject to inaccuracies, putting forth an intense risk of misinformation. ChatGPT's capabilities should be examined in every corner of healthcare education, including dentistry and its specialties, to understand the potential of misinformation associated with the chatbot's use as a learning tool. Our investigation aims to explore ChatGPT's foundation of knowledge in the field of periodontology by evaluating the chatbot's performance on questions obtained from an in-service examination administered by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). METHODS: ChatGPT3.5 and ChatGPT4 were evaluated on 311 multiple-choice questions obtained from the 2023 in-service examination administered by the AAP. The dataset of in-service examination questions was accessed through Nova Southeastern University's Department of Periodontology. Our study excluded questions containing an image as ChatGPT does not accept image inputs. RESULTS: ChatGPT3.5 and ChatGPT4 answered 57.9% and 73.6% of in-service questions correctly on the 2023 Periodontics In-Service Written Examination, respectively. A two-tailed t test was incorporated to compare independent sample means, and sample proportions were compared using a two-tailed χ2 test. A p value below the threshold of 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. CONCLUSION: While ChatGPT4 showed a higher proficiency compared to ChatGPT3.5, both chatbot models leave considerable room for misinformation with their responses relating to periodontology. The findings of the study encourage residents to scrutinize the periodontic information generated by ChatGPT to account for the chatbot's current limitations.

A critical look at outcome measures: Comparison between four dental research journals by use of a hierarchical model.

AIM: To assess the status quo of outcome measures used in treatment studies in Endodontics, and potentially identify strategies for improvement, by (i) systematically assessing the outcome measures using a conceptual model and (ii) comparing these with measures used in corresponding studies in the adjacent fields. METHODOLOGY: The International Endodontic Journal, Caries Research, The Journal of Clinical Periodontology and The Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache were selected to cover four adjacent dental disciplines. In each journal, the 50 most recent consecutive publications fulfilling inclusion criteria were included. A hierarchical model for diagnostic imaging studies was modified to assess studies related to treatment. The model comprised six levels, with technical as the lowest level and societal as the highest. Extracted data included study origin, study type, and identified outcome measures. Fisher's Exact Tests with Bonferroni corrections compared studies. p < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Amongst 756 publications, the 200 most recent studies matching the inclusion criteria were identified. Less than half (36.5%) assessed the clinical, patient, or societal aspects of treatment; 10.0% in International Endodontic Journal, 28.0% in Caries Research, 38.0% in Journal of Clinical Periodontology, and 70.0% in Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: According to included publications, research on treatment within the endodontic field is mainly focusing on technical and biological outcomes. The benefits of patients and society were less frequently examined than in corresponding journals in adjacent disciplines. When designing studies, including higher-level outcomes should be considered.

Overview of systematic reviews on periodontal-orthodontic interactions: A comprehensive literature analysis.

The aims of this research were to investigate the methodological quality of systematic reviews on periodontal-orthodontic interactions (i.e. reviews of primary research broadly defined as any including both periodontic and orthodontic components) and to provide a mapping of the researched topics. We searched four major databases (PubMed, Lilacs, Web of Science, and Embase) for systematic reviews of periodontal-orthodontic interactions. We used the AMSTAR-2 tool (the acronym is derived from 'a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews') to assess the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews. Individual AMSTAR-2 ratings were tabulated, and the percentage per item was calculated. To assess the association between the AMSTAR-2 percentage score and the overall confidence in the systematic review results, an ordinal regression model was used. We initially retrieved 973 documents, and 43 systematic reviews were included. Systematic reviews of interventions were the most prevalent (n = 26, 60.5%). Most of the systematic reviews did not report a meta-analysis (n = 25, 58.1%). In addition, most of the studies included in the systematic reviews had an unclear or high risk of bias. Most of the systematic reviews were rated as having critically low or low overall confidence (n = 34, 79.1%). A significant correlation was found between the AMSTAR-2 percentage score and overall confidence in the results. The methodological quality of systematic reviews on periodontal-orthodontic interactions can be improved. The limitations of our study include potential language bias and an arbitrary classification of the topics researched.

Ibero-Panamerican Federation of Periodontology Delphi study on the trends of periodontology and periodontics by the year 2030. A Latin American consensus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: As elsewhere in the world, the prevalence of periodontitis in stages I-II is high in the Latin American population, this scenario emphasizes the need for identification of urgent needs for allocating adequate resources to provide diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of these diseases. The aim of this Delphi study was to predict the trends in periodontology/periodontics in the Latin American region by the year 2030. METHODS: A steering committee and an advisory group of experts in periodontology/periodontics were selected from 16 countries. An open questionnaire of 60 questions was validated and used following the Delphi methodology. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-five experts from Latin America answered the two rounds of the questionnaire. Moderate to strong consensus was reached on 45 questions (75%). The prediction was that the prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis in stages I and II will be maintained, the importance of the link with systemic diseases will increase, and the impact of prevention and periodontal treatment will also increase, mainly in the private sector. There was a strong consensus that plastic and regenerative surgical procedures will increase, as well as the demand for training in the specialty of periodontology. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has provided relevant and useful information on predictions in periodontology/periodontics in Latin America, with important level of consensus among experts. It has been predicted that periodontitis will still be a highly prevalent disease, and its links with other medical conditions should demand more attention by health authorities to develop adequate prevention and management policies and strategies.

Evaluation of characteristics of periodontal probes

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the millimeter distances and active tip diameters of different periodontal probes. Methods: Two types of periodontal probes were analyzed (North Carolina (15-UNC) and PCP-12). Two manufacturers were selected for each probe type. Digital images of the probes were obtained and the distances were measured using a software program. The diameter of the active tip was measured using a digital caliper. Both variables were measured by two trained and calibrated examiners. The data were analyzed using the Bland-Altman method and two-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: A comparison of measurements between the 15UNC and PCP-12 probes showed a significant difference in all millimeter markings. The 15-UNC probe showed differences between the 3 and 12 mm markings. The PCP-12 probe only showed differences between the marks at the 12 mm mark. The 15-UNC probe had a similar active tip diameter between the two manufacturers. The PCP-12 probe showed a significant difference between the two manufacturers. Both types of probes had similar active tip diameters when compared by the two manufacturers. Conclusion: There was no standardization in relation to millimeter marks and tip diameters of the two types of periodontal probes produced by the two different manufacturers. The probe types exhibited little variability

Clinical Implications of Nanosciences in Dentistry and Periodontics: A Narrative Review.

The nanosciences have recently emerged as a transformative force in dentistry and periodontics, offering fresh strategies to further the development of dental care. This paper provides a concise summary of the effect of nanoparticles, their categorisation, several methods of action, and various dental uses. This review discusses the properties of nanoparticles that lend to their use in dentistry and traces the history of the growth and advancement of nanotechnology in this area, nanomaterials' role in improving dental restorations' durability, aesthetics, and overall dental health by drawing on particular examples from restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and general dentistry. In addition, the advancement of nanosciences has made periodontal regeneration easier, which has resulted in more accurate forecasting of its effects. Issues relating to safety, finances, and regulations imposed by the government have been fixed. It is encouraged that research be conducted into the full potential of nanosciences in dentistry and periodontics as a method of realising the field's bright future. Applications of nanotechnology in dentistry and periodontics can be broadly discussed under the prevention, detection, and treatment modalities.

Implications of Gene Therapy in Dentistry and Periodontics: A Narrative Review.

The relentless march of technological progress entails constant evolution and adaptation. A concerted effort is underway in medical research to unravel various diseases' cellular and molecular underpinnings. The traditional approaches to disease treatment often fall short of delivering entirely satisfactory outcomes, which has prompted a shifting spotlight on gene therapy as a versatile solution for many inherited and acquired disorders. Genes, intricate sequences of genetic code, are the complicated blueprints dictating the production of essential proteins within the human body. Remarkably, each individual's genetic makeup is uniquely distinct, with variations in these genetic sequences serving as the bedrock of our diversity. Gene therapy represents an innovative medical strategy that harnesses the power of genes themselves to function as therapeutic agents. It serves as a conduit through which defective genes are either substituted or mended with the introduction of remedial genetic material. This groundbreaking method can tackle various illnesses, from conditions originating from single-gene abnormalities to intricate disorders influenced by multiple genes. In dentistry and periodontics, gene therapy finds a promising array of applications. It contributes significantly to managing salivary gland disorders, autoimmune diseases, and the regeneration of damaged bone tissue, as well as addressing cancerous and precancerous conditions. Moreover, the possibilities extend into DNA vaccination and broader areas of oral health. The advent of gene therapy in dentistry represents a new era of significant progress, offering substantial advancements in the management of periodontal disease and the reconstruction of the dental alveolar apparatus. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the landscape of gene therapy investigations in these disciplines, shedding light on its potential implications for oral health and treatment. With its potential to rectify the genetic underpinnings of various conditions, gene therapy offers a novel frontier in healthcare that continually shapes the landscape of medicine and holds the promise of more effective and personalised treatments.