Efficacy of denture cleansers on Candida albicans adhesion and their effects on the properties of conventional, milled CAD/CAM, and 3D-printed denture bases.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the efficacy of denture cleaners on the adhesion of Candida albicans and their effects on the surface, optical, and mechanical properties of resins for conventional, milled, and 3D-printed denture bases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 240 resin samples were made, 120 for testing Candida albicans adhesion, optical stabilities (ΔE00), roughness (Ra), hydrophilicity (°), surface free energy (Owens-Wendt) and 120 samples for testing Candida albicans adhesion, surface microhardness (Knoop), flexural strength and modulus of elasticity in a three-point test, in which they were divided into 3 groups of denture resin (n = 40) and subdivided into 5 cleaners of dentures (n = 8). Data were evaluated by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test for multiple comparisons (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Denture cleaners with an alkaline solution and dilute acid composition were those that showed the greatest effectiveness in reducing Candida albicans (P < 0.001), however 1% NaOCl significantly affected the properties of the resins (P < 0.05). Denture 3D-printed showed that the surface microhardness was significantly lower for all cleansers (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Listerine demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing Candida albicans with minimal effect on denture properties, whereas 1% NaOCl had a significant negative impact on the properties. The mechanical properties were significantly lower in 3D-printed resin than in other resins for all denture cleansers. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Denture base materials are being sold to adapt to the CAD/CAM system, increasing the number of users of dentures manufactured with this system. Despite this, there is little investigation into denture cleaners regarding the adhesion capacity of microorganisms and the optical, surface and mechanical properties of dentures, thus requiring further investigation.

Are CAD-CAM milled glass fiber posts better than prefabricated or custom glass fiber posts for endodontically treated teeth? A systematic review with meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Prefabricated and custom glass fiber posts have been successfully used to reconstruct endodontically treated teeth. However, the performance of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture (CAD-CAM) milled glass fiber posts is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to compare the fracture and bond strength and cement layer thickness of CAD-CAM milled glass fiber posts with prefabricated or custom glass fiber posts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (http://osf.io/65jm7). Two reviewers searched the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and ProQuest databases for articles up to September 2023. In addition, the reference lists were hand searched. A meta-analysis was performed by using the RevMan 5.4 program. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoBDEMAT tool. RESULTS: After screening, a total of 18 studies were included. The CAD-CAM milled glass fiber posts showed higher fracture strength (P=.02; Standardized Mean Difference [SMD]: 0.57; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.07 to 1.07), bond strength (P=.010; SMD: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.26 to 1.89), and lower cement layer thickness (P=.009; SMD: -2.94; 95% CI: -5.15 to -0.73) when compared with prefabricated glass fiber posts. However, fracture strength (P=.53; SMD: 0.38; 95% CI: -0.79 to 1.54) and bond strength (P=.90; SMD: -0.05; 95% CI: -0.81 to 0.72) were statistically similar between CAD-CAM milled and custom glass fiber posts. Significant and substantial heterogeneity was observed in all meta-analyzes (P<.01; I>60%). The studies sufficiently reported most domains related to bias, except for randomization of samples, sample size rationale and reporting and operator blinding. CONCLUSIONS: CAD-CAM milled and custom glass fiber posts provide an effective and safe option for restoring endodontically treated teeth, especially for weakened teeth or enlarged root canals. However, further well-designed clinical research is recommended to strengthen these findings.

Influence of ceramic crown design (translucent monolithic zirconia vs. bilayered) of implant-supported single crowns after mechanical cycling.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the influence of translucent monolithic versus bilayered crowns and whether the use of a CoCr base abutments affects the fatigue and fracture resistance of screwed implant-supported single crowns with external connections under mechanical cycling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty specimens were divided into groups: (1) metal-ceramic (MC) crown, (2) veneered zirconia crown (Zr), (3) veneered zirconia crown with a CoCr base abutment (ZrB), (4) monolithic translucent zirconia crown (MZr), and (5) monolithic translucent zirconia crown with a CoCr base abutment (MZrB). Specimens underwent mechanical cycling (5 × 106 cycles; 150 N) evaluating fatigue resistance (number of failures) and those that failed were subsequently subjected to fractographic analyses (stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope) to evaluate failure location and area, and maximum fracture load was also measured. RESULTS: The failure-related survival rate (100%) and maximum fracture resistance of the MZrB were significantly higher than those of MC and Zr (50%; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the failure rate and fracture resistance when a CoCr base abutment was used or not in the translucent monolithic Zr groups (p > 0.05;MZrB vs. MZr). Failure location, with MC crowns' fractures, noted at the screw area (p = 0.043), while all-ceramic crowns were mostly in the cuspid and to failure area, the Zr group had the largest mean (15.55 ± 9.17 mm2) among the groups, significant difference only when compared with MC (1.62 ± 0.81 mm2) (p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Translucent monolithic zirconia crowns exhibited significantly higher fatigue and fracture resistance compared with conventional MC and bilayered crowns. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The appropriate choice of material and manufacturing technique is crucial for predicting the higher clinical performance of single crowns. Enhanced mechanical resistance in terms of fatigue and fracture resistance can be achieved by replacing MC and bilayered restorations with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing monolithic zirconia.

Clinical performance and patient-related outcome measures of digitally fabricated complete dentures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The demand to streamline workflow while increasing patient comfort and satisfaction in the manufacturing of removable complete dentures (CDs) is growing, and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology has gained prominence. However, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical performance and patient-related outcome measures (PROMs) of digitally fabricated complete dentures is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine whether digitally fabricated CDs improve the clinical performance and PROMs compared with conventionally fabricated CDs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023433909). This review aimed to address the question "Do digitally fabricated CDs improve clinical performance and PROMs compared with conventional CDs?" Two independent authors conducted electronic searches up to September 2023. Denture base retention and patient satisfaction were analyzed through the continuous outcome evaluated by mean difference and standard deviation, with 95% confidence intervals. The risk of bias in each study was assessed using the Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions and the Risk of Bias based on the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials. The certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 1505 articles were found during the search, and 16 were included in this review. The main outcomes were grouped into clinical performance (retention, adaptation or fit, clinician's denture quality assessment, masticatory efficiency, and occlusal force) and PROMs (patient satisfaction, oral health related quality of life, final choice, and willingness-to-pay). In terms of denture base retention, between conventional CDs and printed CDs analyses, conventional CDs exhibited better retention (P=.02), but no significant difference was found between the conventional CDs and milled CDs (P=.20). In terms of patient satisfaction, no statistically significant difference was found between the manufacturing methods of digitally fabricated CDs (printed CD, P=.55; milled CD, P=.08). CONCLUSIONS: Digitally fabricated CDs showed similar or better clinical performance than conventional CDs, and different types of digital manufacturing processes for complete dentures did not influence PROMs.

Effectiveness of Elastic Therapeutic Tape in Reducing Edema, Pain and Trismus following Surgery for Facial Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Facial fractures cause postoperative morbidity, including edema, pain, and trismus. Elastic therapeutic tapes are used for optimizing recovery. Background: The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of elastic tape Kinesio taping (KT) in reducing postoperative morbidity in facial fractures surgeries. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted in the Cochrane, Medline, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science databases using a pre-established search strategy. Results: A total of 811 studies were retrieved after the duplicates were removed, and only randomized clinical trials were included. Eight trials, involving 319 participants, were deemed eligible. One study solely investigated the effect on edema, while the others analyzed at least two of the variables of interest. Results from two RCTs, where qualitative analysis was applicable, suggest a potential reduction in edema in the KT group compared to the control group on the second (RR -0.55, 95% CI -0.89 to -0.22; p = 0.01; I2 = 0%) and third postoperative days (RR -0.71, 95% CI -1.01 to -0.40; p < 0.00001; I2 = 0%). Conclusions: KT is effective in controlling postoperative edema following surgery for facial fractures. However, the effects on pain and trismus should be explored further in studies with standardized methods.

Efficacy of acellular xenogeneic dermal matrix graft in the treatment of multiple gingival recessions: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of acellular xenogeneic dermal matrix graft (AXDM) compared to connective tissue graft (CTG) in treating multiple gingival recessions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared AXDM and CTG. The selected studies were subjected to bias risk assessment, data extraction, and meta-analyses. Parameters such as gingival recession height, width, mean percentage of root coverage, and complete root coverage were analyzed. RESULTS: Seven RCTs involving 146 patients were included. The meta-analyses indicated that CTG was statistically superior to AXDM in reducing gingival recession height at the final follow-up (mean difference: -0.104 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.180-0.028, p = 0.008) and width at the final follow-up (mean difference: -0.285 mm, 95% CI: -0.541-0.030, p = 0.029). CTG also demonstrated a significantly higher mean percentage of root coverage at the 6-month follow-up (difference in means: -2.761 mm, 95% CI: -4.932-0.590, p = 0.013) and a higher percentage of complete root coverage at the 6-month follow-up (odds Ratio [OR]: 0.598, 95% CI: 0.4-0.892, p = 0.012) compared to AXDM. However, there was no significant difference in the number of teeth with complete root coverage between CTG and AXDM (OR: 1.610, 95% CI: 0.983-2.636, p = 0.058) and aesthetic outcomes (mean difference: 0.148, 95% CI: -0.277-0.573, p = 0.494). CONCLUSIONS: CTG is more effective than AXDM in treating multiple gingival recessions. This is evidenced by significant reductions in gingival recession height and width, a higher mean percentage of root coverage, and a greater percentage of complete root coverage at the 6-month follow-up. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In some clinical situations an alternative to CTG is required for the treatment of multiple gingival recessions. AXDM, despite presenting clinical outcomes that are not as satisfactory as CTG, can be used for this purpose.

Impact of low-level laser therapy on the quality of life of patients with xerostomia undergoing head and neck radiotherapy: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To carry out a systematic review to assess whether low-level laser therapy can improve the quality of life of patients with xerostomia undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. METHODS: A systematic search was performed through Embase, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, nonpeer-reviewed clinicaltrials.gov and LILACS. The strategy included clinical studies were selected that prospectively followed or evaluated the quality of life by directly comparing the use of low-level laser therapy for xerostomia induced by head and neck radiotherapy with alternative therapies without the use of a laser. The risk of bias in the studies was assessed by RoB 2.0 and Robins I. RESULTS: After all application of the predetermined criteria, four studies were included, dated between the years 2014 and 2023. Three studies described as randomized clinical trials were included, one of which was a randomized pilot study and only one was a prospective clinical trial. A total of 126 patients were evaluated, all four studies used the infrared wavelength, with two studies using the combination with the red wavelength. It was observed that low-level laser therapy can change the sensation of dry mouth, improving patients' quality of life. In addition, changes related to increased stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow were also identified. CONCLUSION: The use of low-level laser therapy has promising results on xerostomia, consequently improving the quality of life of patients undergoing radiotherapy in the head and neck region.

Efficacy of photobiomodulation in the treatment of avulsed teeth: A systematic review of animal studies.

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) in managing avulsed teeth. This systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (i.e., "PRISMA") statement 2020 and was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (i.e., PROSPERO) with number CRD42022362198. The participants, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and study design (i.e., PICOS) for the present study considered the following question: "Does the use of laser PBM in the treatment of teeth with avulsion influence tissue repair performance?" A literature search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest databases until January 2023. The SYRCLE's RoB tool (Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation) for animal studies were used for quality assessment. A total of 7 in vivo studies published between 2011 and 2018 were included in this systematic review for qualitative analysis. All studies used Wistar rats, totaling 368 specimens that simulated tooth avulsion trauma. The effect of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of avulsed teeth was positive in 5 studies (significant increase in tissue repair) and negative in 2 studies, in which both studies with negative results kept teeth in saline solution before reimplantation and showed the longest time and power of laser application. PBM appears to be effective for tissue repair in the treatment of avulsed teeth, depending on the means of conservation of the avulsed tooth and the laser application protocol.

Prevalence of BRAF p.V600E and Detection Methods in Benign Mixed and Malignant Odontogenic Tumors: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The BRAF p.V600E genetic variant facilitates the pathogenesis of various tumors by triggering tumor proliferation and progression. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of BRAF p.V600E in benign mixed epithelial and mesenchymal and malignant odontogenic tumors. In addition, we discussed the different detection methods used to assess for aberrant BRAF. METHODS: This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in Prospero (CRD42023445689). A comprehensive search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase electronic databases was performed to answer the question "What is the prevalence of the BRAF p.V600E mutation in benign mixed and malignant odontogenic tumors?" The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed using the JBI's Critical Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: Initially, 387 records were identified, but only 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. A total of 70 patients with benign mixed epithelial and mesenchymal odontogenic tumors and 63 with malignant odontogenic tumors were included in the analysis. We found that the BRAF p.V600E mutation had a prevalence of 31.42% in mixed tumors and 26.98% in malignant odontogenic tumors. Moreover, immunohistochemistry showed high concordance with DNA-based molecular methods. CONCLUSION: In general, the BRAF p.V600E variant exhibited a prominent prevalence in mixed and malignant odontogenic tumors. However, most of the findings are based on small cohorts of patients and further studies with larger cohorts are needed.

Device trueness in passivity and misfit of CAD-CAM frameworks: Conventional versus printed casts.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Obtaining a passive and well-adapted framework is challenging when intraoral scanning edentulous arches with multiple implants. The trueness of the printed casts is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the trueness of frameworks made from conventional and printed casts regarding clinical passivity and misfit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten participants with complete mandibular fixed implant-supported interim prostheses retained by 4 implants were included. Each participant had a conventional impression and a digital scan made. The digital scan was made using an innovative device. Both conventional and digital casts were made, and the virtual images were used for milling the digital framework in cobalt chromium alloy. All frameworks were evaluated for passivity and marginal vertical misfit with the single screw test, with 4 attempts consisting of the tightened screw position, a test with all screws tightened, and an interspersed tightening test. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the trueness of the tested device for framework construction through the single screw test on vertical marginal misfit in the conventional and printed groups (α=.008). The Friedman test was used to assess the effect of test type (α=.05), and the Wilcoxon test was used to identify group-to-group differences (α=.017). RESULTS: The absence of space between the framework and the abutments and interferences during its placement, as well as good stability, were observed clinically. In laboratory analysis, greater framework misfits were observed in the printed group compared with the conventional group when the single screw test was applied. Comparing the 3 tests used, the greatest misfits were observed when the framework was screwed onto the printed cast. CONCLUSIONS: The innovative device tested for the intraoral scanning of multiple implants had clinically acceptable accuracy for the construction of passive and adapted frameworks. The conventional cast was more accurate than the printed cast, with lower misfit values, in all tests.

The influence of anxiety on pain perception and its repercussion on endodontic treatment: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of dental anxiety on the perception of pain before and during endodontic treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PRISMA checklist was followed. A search was conducted in Scopus, Medline/PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Based on PECOS criteria, the first outcome was a possible association between pre-operative pain and anxiety. The second outcome was a possible association between intraoperative pain and anxiety. The type of studies was observational. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to evaluate the methodological quality of articles. The certainty of the evidence was analyzed using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Four articles were included with a total of 471 patients. Two studies found a positive association between pain and pre-endodontic treatment anxiety. Three studies investigated the relationship between anxiety and intraoperative pain; two identified an extremely significant positive association. One article noted that anxiety influences pain expectancy. The studies were of good quality as assessed by the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for cross-sectional studies. However, the certainty of the evidence was considered low and very low. CONCLUSIONS: Dental anxiety can be directly associated with pre- and intraoperative pain during endodontic procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It is necessary to identify patients with dental anxiety to employ therapies to bring their anxiety under control, avoiding the increase of endodontic infections, and the postponement and evasion of endodontic treatments.

Muscle activity between dentate and edentulous patients rehabilitated with dental prostheses: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Adequate muscle activity is important for the success of oral rehabilitation: it maintains the integrity of the stomatognathic system and is responsible for chewing movements needed to break, crush and grind food. OBJECTIVE: To compare muscle activity using electromyography (EMG) while clenching or chewing soft and/or hard foods among individuals with natural dentition (ND) and edentulous patients rehabilitated with dental prostheses. METHODS: This review was conducted until March, 2023, and the research question was "Is the muscle activity of edentulous patients rehabilitated with dental prostheses similar to that of dentate individuals?" A search strategy was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Lilacs, Embase and manual journal searches. RESULTS: Ten studies were included in the analysis. Most of them reported that individuals with ND had significant higher muscle activity (clenching or chewing) than complete dentures (CD) users. However, no difference was observed between patients with full mouth implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis (ISFDP) and ND. Additionally, two studies compared patients with mandibular ISFDP with maxillary CD and individuals with ND and found no differences; however, one study concluded that patients with ISFDP with CD (maxillary or mandibular) had lower muscle activity than individuals with ND. Only one study reported a higher muscle activity in patients with full-mouth ISFDP than in individuals with ND. CONCLUSIONS: Bimaxillary CD users had lower muscle activity than individuals with ND. During rehabilitation, the muscle activity of patients with full-mouth ISFDP and mandibular ISFDP with maxillary CD is similar to individuals with ND.

Do dental implants placed in patients with osteoporosis have higher risks of failure and marginal bone loss compared to those in healthy patients? A systematic review with meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the dental implant survival rate and marginal bone loss between patients with and without osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022356377). A systematic search was performed using five databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and ProQuest for articles published up to July 2022. Additional searches in ClinicalTrials.gov and the reference lists of included studies were performed. The eligibility criteria comprised observational studies with a direct comparison between patients with and without osteoporosis, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year and 10 implants placed in each group, which consider data analysis based on implant level, without restrictions on period or language of publication. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 program. Risk of bias analysis of the included studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). RESULTS: Twelve studies met the eligibility criteria, totaling 1132 patients with a mean age range from 54 to 76.6 years. Most of the included patients were women (73.6%). A total of 3505 implants were evaluated-983 in patients with osteoporosis and 2522 in patients without osteoporosis. The meta-analysis indicated no difference in implant survival rates between patients with and without osteoporosis (OR, 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-3.70; P = 0.12). However, significant bone loss was observed around dental implants placed in patients with osteoporosis (SMD, 0.71 mm; 95% CI, 0.06-0.87 mm). The NOS indicated a low risk of bias in the studies included. However, the certainty of the evidence was classified as very low and low for implant survival rates and bone loss, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to the limitations of the present review, the data suggest that dental implants are a viable treatment option for the rehabilitation of patients with osteoporosis. However, clinical care by professionals is necessary to ensure the maintenance of peri-implant bone stability, as these patients may be susceptible to increased bone loss.

Mechanical properties and accuracy of removable partial denture frameworks fabricated by digital and conventional techniques: A systematic review.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Providing a removable partial denture (RPD) can be a complex, time-consuming, and error-prone procedure. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) techniques have shown promising clinical outcomes; however, the influence of manufacturing techniques on the properties of RPD components is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the accuracy and mechanical properties of RPD components fabricated with conventional and digital methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) and was registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42022353993). An electronic search was conducted on PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library in August 2022. Only in vitro studies comparing the digital with the lost-wax casting technique were included. The quality of the studies was assessed by using the methodological index for nonrandomized studies (MINORS) scale. RESULTS: Of the 17 selected studies, 5 evaluated the accuracy of RPD components as well as the mechanical properties, 5 studies evaluated only the component accuracy, and another 7 evaluated only the mechanical properties. The accuracy was similar regardless of the technique, with discrepancies within clinically acceptable values (50 to 426.3 µm). The surface roughness was higher for 3D-printed clasps and lower for milled clasps (P<.05). The metal alloy significantly influenced the porosity, with the highest number of pores obtained by casting for Ti clasps and by rapid prototyping for Co-Cr clasps. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro studies showed that the digital technique provided similar accuracy to that of the conventional technique within a clinically acceptable range. The manufacturing technique influenced the mechanical properties of RPD components.

Does the use of conventional complete dentures influence taste perception? A systematic review.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Although conventional complete dentures are widely used, a systematic review of their influence on wearers' taste perception is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine whether conventional complete dentures influence the taste perception of edentulous patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42022341567), and the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were followed. The guiding question was: "Does the use of complete dentures influence the taste perception of edentulous patients?" Two reviewers searched articles in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and https://clinicaltrials.gov databases up to June 2022. The risk of bias in each study was assessed using the risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions and the risk of bias based on the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials. The certainty of evidence was assessed using grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS: A total of 883 articles were found with the search, and 7 were included in this review. Various changes in taste perception were identified in some of these studies. CONCLUSIONS: The use of conventional complete dentures can influence the perception of the 4 primary tastes (sweet, salty, sour, and bitter) of edentulous patients, which may negatively interfere with the perception of flavor.

Analgesic potential of transdermal nicotine patch in surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed (1) to systematically review the efficacy of transdermal nicotine patches (NP) for postoperative analgesia, (2) to establish the current quality of evidence and assist clinical decision-making on the subject, and (3) to identify methodological limitations and the need for more well-designed studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched six electronic databases, protocol records, and other sources without date or language restriction until March 2022. To develop the search strategy, we formulated a clinical question by using the PICOD method. Eligibility criteria included randomised placebo-controlled trials on the analgesic potential of NP for surgical procedures. This systematic review followed the PRISMA 2020 statement, and we registered the protocol in PROSPERO (#CRD42020205956). RESULTS: We included 10 randomised placebo-controlled trials (535 patients). The NP administered before induction of anaesthesia and at beginning of surgery reduced the pain immediately after surgery (-0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.73 to -0.02), and 6 h (-0.34; 95% CI: -0.68 to -0.01), 12 h (-0.43; 95% CI: -0.71 to -0.15) and 24 h (-0.35; 95%CI: -0.59 to -0.10) after surgery, compared with the placebo patch (PP) group. Sensitivity testing suggests that opioid use could underestimate NP analgesia. Late demand for the first analgesic and consumption of rescue analgesics tended to be lower in the NP group. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest, with low certainty of evidence, the analgesic potential of NP for surgical procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Perioperative use of NP significantly improved postoperative pain, even when opioids were administered or prescribed. Nevertheless, the clinical relevance should be interpreted with caution, owing to the effect sizes of the summary measures and methodological issues. The analgesic potential of NP as an adjuvant therapy to regulate pain and acute inflammation may offer certain clinical advantages, thus warranting further investigation.

Is the clinical performance of internal conical connection better than internal non-conical connection for implant-supported restorations? A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: To evaluate bone loss, prosthodontics and biological complications, and implant survival rates of internal conical connections (ICC) compared with internal non-conical connection (INCC) implants. METHODS: The systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021237170). Meta-analysis was performed using standardized mean difference (SMD) for bone loss and risk ratio (RR) for implant survival and complication rates. Risk of bias analysis was evaluated using RoB 2.0, whereas the GRADE tool was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. A systematic search of the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, and ProQuest databases was performed independently by two reviewers for articles published up to March 2022. The search criteria had no language or publication date restrictions. Handsearching analysis was performed in the reference list of potential articles. RESULTS: Twelve randomized clinical trials, including 678 patients and 1006 implants (ICC [n = 476]; INCC [n = 530]), were included. Meta-analysis revealed that ICC demonstrated a lower risk for marginal bone loss (SMD: -0.80 mm; p = 0.004) and prosthodontics complications (RR: 0.16; p = 0.01) than INCC. However, both internal connections demonstrated no significant difference in implant survival rates (RR: 0.54; p = 0.10) and biological complications (RR: 0.90; p = 0.82). The overall risk of bias revealed some concerns and a low risk of bias for most of the included studies. However, the certainty of evidence of outcomes was considered low to moderate. CONCLUSION: ICC may be considered a more favorable treatment option than INCC owing to greater preservation of peri-implant bone tissue and a lower probability of prosthodontics complications. However, well-conducted studies with long-term follow-up are warranted.

Influence of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy on the bond strength of endodontic sealers to intraradicular dentin: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) was to investigate the influence of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on the bond strength of endodontic sealers to intraradicular dentin. METHODS: This SRMA followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and was registered in the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42022319856). A population, intervention, control, and outcome (PICO) question was formulated: "Does antimicrobial photodynamic therapy decrease the bond strength of root canal sealers?". A literature search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest databases until July 2022. Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Assessment Guidelines for Quasi-Experimental Studies were used for quality assessment. The meta-analysis was based on the inverse variance (IV) method (p<0.05). RESULTS: Out of an initial 345 articles, 8 in vitro studies were included, published between 2013 and 2022. The studies were qualitatively analyzed; two studies showed a positive effect, two studies a negative effect, and the other studies showed no effect on bond strength of endodontic sealers to intraradicular dentin. Seven of the studies were included in the SRMA, which indicated that there was no significant difference in bond strength when using aPDT (P = 0.90; MD: -0.03; 95% CI: -0.46 to -0.41). There was a high level of evidence for each meta-analysis outcome. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the use of aPDT as a method of root canal disinfection does not negatively influence the bond strength of endodontic sealers in the root canal.

Partially digital workflow for making complete-arch implant-supported fixed prostheses: A dental technique.

This article describes a technique for making complete-arch implant-supported fixed prostheses by using intraoral scanning and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology for the fabrication of a metal substructure and conventional processing for the prosthesis base. For this, a device was designed to accurately capture the position of multiple implants and the associated digitalized surgical guide, and the metal substructure was planned and milled directly in cobalt-chromium. The color of the gingiva and artificial teeth was selected by using the intraoral scanner software program, and the prosthesis base was processed conventionally. The straightforward methods used to fabricate the prostheses eliminated possible errors associated with conventional substructure casting and occlusal registration.

Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of denture stomatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Photodynamic therapy is widely used in dentistry, but limited evidence exists regarding its effectiveness in treating denture stomatitis. High resistance to antifungals has been reported, and photodynamic therapy could be an alternative treatment. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate whether photodynamic therapy is effective in reducing denture stomatitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist and recorded in the prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42020205589) to answer the population, intervention, control, outcome (PICO) question: "Is photodynamic therapy effective in the treatment of denture stomatitis when compared with the use of antifungal agents?" Electronic searches were performed in databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane library, and Web of Science for articles published until February 2021 by using the following terms: (denture stomatitis OR oral candidiasis) AND (low-level light therapy OR laser therapy OR lasers OR photodynamic therapies OR photochemotherapy) AND (antifungal drugs OR antifungal agents OR antimicrobial OR treatment). Clinical trials and randomized clinical trials, studies in the English language, and studies comparing antifungal agents with photodynamic therapy were included. RESULTS: In total, 5 articles were selected for the qualitative analysis and 3 for the meta-analysis. No significant difference was detected between antifungal therapy and photodynamic therapy in the reduction of colony-forming units on the palate. In a subgroup analysis, a significant difference was found in the reduction of colony-forming units on the palate at 15 days and at the denture surface at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy is effective in the treatment of denture stomatitis, but after 30 days and 15 days, the antifungals demonstrated better performance.