A preliminary investigation into the impact of soft tissue augmentation-based periodontal phenotype modification therapy for patients exhibiting class III decompensation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with skeletal angle Class III malocclusion usually have inadequate hard and soft tissue volume at the mandibular anterior teeth. The labial proclination at the teeth may lead to gingival recession. The purpose of this study was to explore whether periodontal phenotype modification therapy with soft tissue augmentation (PhMT-s) can prevent gingival recession in these patients. METHODS: Four patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion and a thin periodontal phenotype underwent surgical-orthodontic treatment. Prior to tooth movement, they underwent a minimally invasive vestibular incision with subperiosteal tunnel access combined with autogenous connective tissue grafts for periodontal phenotype modification with soft tissue augmentation (PhMT-s). The labial gingival thickness of the anterior mandibular teeth was measured at three distinct levels: at the cementoenamel junction (GT0), 3 mm apical to the CEJ (GT3), and 6 mm apical to the CEJ (GT6). These measurements were taken at baseline, three months following PhMT-s, and after tooth decompensation. Additionally, a biopsy sample was obtained from the PhMT-s site of one patient. All sections were subsequently stained using hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, Sirius Red, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The thickness of the labial gingiva was increased about 0.42 to 2.00 mm after PhMT-s. At the end of pre-orthognathic surgical orthodontic treatment, the thickness of the labial gingiva was increased about - 0.14 to 1.32 mm compared to the baseline and no gingival recession occurred after the pre-orthognathic surgical orthodontic treatment. The histologic results demonstrated that the grafts obtained from the PhMT-s site exhibited increased deposition of collagen fibers. Moreover, the proportion of type III collagen increased and the grafts displayed significantly reduced positive expression of CD31 and OCN. CONCLUSIONS: PhMT-s increased the thickness of the soft tissue, stabilizing the gingival margin for teeth exhibiting a thin periodontal phenotype and undergoing labial movement. This is attributed to the increased deposition of collagen fibers.

Noncarious cervical lesions: A bibliometric analysis and future research trends.

OBJECTIVE: The present bibliometric review analyzed the literature on non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) to explore the current state and propose future research topics. DATA: An electronic search was performed, only full scientific papers published in English were included. SOURCES: A search was conducted of all databases in the Web of Science (WOS) platform for available publications on the topic of NCCLs. STUDY SELECTION: 959 publications were retrieved, and the following data were extracted and analyzed: number of publications, study topics, keywords, study type, authors, affiliations, countries, funding agencies, journals and citations. Articles on NCCLs have been increasing in count, ever since they were first mentioned in the literature. Therapy alternatives account for 628 with few on prevention, and the majority were clinical. Brazil has published the most on NCCLs as well as has the highest number of authors and the most funded articles. The three journals that published the most on the topic were Operative Dentistry, Journal of Dentistry and Clinical Oral Investigations. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide a full picture of the current literature on NCCLs, research trends, knowledge gaps, and areas requiring further investigation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: By highlighting evolving treatment strategies and potential gaps in prevention, researchers can contribute to the advancement of clinical practice. This can improve patient care and outcomes in the management of NCCLs, while also providing valuable insights for policymakers to prioritize research funding and policy initiatives.

Morphological characteristics of non-carious cervical lesions. A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review assessed the morphological characteristics of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL), among clinical and ex-vivo studies assessed by observational and imaging methods. DESIGN: The search strategy was conducted on four online databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science) and grey literature (Google Scholar and OpenGrey). The study selection was performed by three reviewers from March to September (2023). The eligibility criteria were established according to the PICO strategy and included NCCL, morphological characteristics and clinical and ex-vivo study designs. The data extraction considered general data that identifies the study, evaluation method, parameter to assess the outcome and the main results for each study. The risk of bias was evaluated using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool, and a personalized tool. RESULTS: The search resulted in 252 studies. A total of 14 studies were included. Prevalence of NCCLs ranged from 3.5 %to 77.78 % with a higher presence in premolars. Common characteristics were wear facets, occluded tubules or cracks, occlusal stress, scratch marks, dimples and craters, structure loss, and dentin sclerosis, which appear more often on buccal surface and were generally classified as wedge-shaped, saucer-shaped. Etiological hypothesis was mainly related to multifactorial factors. In most of the studies, the risk of bias was classified as high. CONCLUSIONS: The morphological characteristics of NCCL showed a wide range of descriptions regarding appearance, prevalence, lesion-related measures, and macro and microscopic descriptions.

Evaluation of the relationship between periodontal bone destruction and mesial root concavity of the maxillary first premolar.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphology of maxillary first premolar mesial root concavity and to analyse its relation to periodontal bone loss (BL) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and panoramic radiographs. METHODS: The mesial root concavity of maxillary premolar teeth was analysed via CBCT. The sex and age of the patients, starting position and depth of the root concavity, apicocoronal length of the concavity on the crown or root starting from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), total apicocoronal length of the concavity, amount of bone loss both in CBCT images and panoramic radiographs, location of the furcation, length of the buccal and palatinal roots, and buccopalatinal cervical root width were measured. RESULTS: A total of 610 patients' CBCT images were examined, and 100 were included in the study. The total number of upper premolar teeth was 200. The patients were aged between 18 and 65 years, with a mean age of 45.21 ± 13.13 years. All the teeth in the study presented mesial root concavity (100%, n = 200). The starting point of concavity was mostly on the cervical third of the root (58.5%). The mean depth and buccolingual length measurements were 0.96 mm and 4.32 mm, respectively. Depth was significantly related to the amount of alveolar bone loss (F = 5.834, p = 0.001). The highest average concavity depth was 1.29 mm in the group with 50% bone loss. The data indicated a significant relationship between the location of the furcation and bone loss (X2 = 25.215, p = 0.003). Bone loss exceeded 50% in 100% of patients in whom the furcation was in the cervical third and in only 9.5% of patients in whom the furcation was in the apical third (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, the depth of the mesial root concavity and the coronal position of the furcation may increase the amount of alveolar bone loss. Clinicians should be aware of these anatomical factors to ensure accurate treatment planning and successful patient management.

Risk factors for noncarious cervical lesions: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are multifactorial and can be caused by the anatomical structure of the teeth, erosion, abrasion and abnormal occlusion. The aim of this case-control study was to explore the risk factors for NCCLs. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography was used to determine whether a wedge-shaped defect existed at the cementoenamel junction. We compared 63 participants with NCCLs with 63 controls without NCCLs, matched for sex, age (±1 year) and toothbrushing-related factors (e.g., type of bristle and brushing patterns, frequency and strength). All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about self-administered daily diet habits and health condition. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the risk factors for NCCLs. RESULTS: Significant variables in the univariate analysis (i.e., p < .2) included frequency of carbonated beverage consumption, sella-nasion-point B angle (SNB) and Frankfort-mandibular plane angle (FMA). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that the consumption frequency of carbonated beverages (odds ratio [OR] = 3.147; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.039-9.532), FMA (OR = 1.100; 95% CI, 1.004-1.204) and SNB (OR = 0.896; 95% CI, 0.813-0.988) was independent influencing factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value of regression Model 1 (established with the frequency of carbonated beverage consumption, FMA, SNB and sleep bruxism) was 0.700 (95% CI, 0.607-0.792; p < .001), and that of regression Model 2 (established using the frequency of carbonated beverage consumption, FMA and SNB) was 0.704 (95% CI, 0.612-0.796; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The consumption frequency of carbonated beverages and FMA was risk factors for NCCLs; the higher the frequency of carbonated beverage consumption and FMA, the higher was the probability of NCCLs. SNB was a protective factor for NCCL occurrence; the larger the SNB, the lower was the probability of NCCL occurrence. These findings have further clarified the aetiology of NCCLs and provided clinicians with valuable insights into strategies for preventing the loss of dental tissue.

A 2-Year Randomized Clinical Trial of Three Bonding Techniques in Non-Carious Cervical Lesions.

Background and objective: The aim of this randomized split-mouth study-controlled clinical trial was to compare the 2-year clinical performance of resin composite restorations placed at non-caries cervical lesions (NCCL) with one-step self-etch, total-etch, and selective enamel etch and self-etch adhesive techniques. Materials and methods: Thirty-two patients received three resin composite restorations each at NCCLs (Tetric EvoCeram/Ivoclar/Vivadent), bonded with a total-etch adhesive agent (ExciTE F/Ivoclar/Vivadent) and a self-etch (AdheSE One F/Ivoclar/Vivadent) without and with selective enamel etching. All restorations were evaluated by two examiners at baseline, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-months with FDI clinical criteria (post-operation regarding retention, caries occurrence, marginal adaptation, and marginal staining). A logistic regression analysis, a Cohen's kappa statistic, a multifactorial analysis, and X2 were performed with generalized estimating equations. Results: After 2 years, the retention rate was 86.8% for total etch, 92.26% for self-etch, and 93.63% for selective enamel etching and self-etch. No caries was detected on the restorations. Concerning marginal adaptation, the clinically perfect restorations were 26.9% for the total-etch technique, 16% for self-etch, and 25.9% for selective enamel etch and self-etch. The logistic regression model revealed that only time reduced the probability of perfect marginal adaptation. Conclusions: All three adhesive strategies provided restorations with no significant differences in the retention rate or marginal adaptation, whereas the total etch yielded better performance for marginal staining. All restorations were assessed as clinically acceptable after 2 years.

Sandblasting increases the microtensile bond strength between resin and sclerotic dentin in noncarious cervical lesions.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of sandblasting on the microtensile strength between sclerotic dentin and resin composite. METHODS: 32 premolars with noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) were collected, and the teeth were randomly assigned to the control group (C group) and the sandblasted group (S group). Teeth in the S group were sandblasted with 110 µm Al2O3 particles at a pressure of 75 psi, while those in the C group received no further treatment. The characteristics of the tooth surface were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the relative area of open dentin tubules (OTs) was calculated by IPP6.0 software. Surface roughness (Ra) was also assessed. The noncarious cervical lesions of all teeth were restored with a resin composite and subsequently sectioned into sticks to measure the microtensile bond strength (µTBS). RESULTS: The mean ± SD µTBS (in MPa) of the sandblasted group was 17.9 ± 0.69 and 14.23 ± 0.44 in the control group (P< 0.05). The relative area of OTs at the gingival wall of the sandblasted group was 69.74 ± 5.23%, and 47.24 ± 7.67% in the control group (P< 0.05). The average surface roughness (µm) was 1.01 ± 0.05 in the sandblasted group and 0.16 ± 0.03 in the control group. Sandblasting could increase the bond strength of sclerotic dentin and resin restorations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: After sandblasting, the microtensile strength of sclerotic dentin on the surface of noncarious cervical lesions increased, prolonging the resin adhesion longevity. Sandblasting could also alleviate the pain of patients during the treatment process and achieve a minimally invasive treatment.

Challenges in differential diagnosis and treatment of cervical root resorption vs. root caries.

External cervical root resorption may be occasionally mistaken for root caries and vice versa. Radiographical and clinical differential diagnoses of cervical root resorption and root caries are essential for correct treatment planning and a successful treatment outcome. This article reviews the contemporary literature and summarises the prevailing professional consensus pertaining to external cervical root resorption. Clinical diagnostics which help distinguish cervical root resorption from root caries are outlined and treatment approaches of external cervical root resorption are discussed.

EFFECT OF LOW-LEVEL DIODE LASER ON DENTIN TOPOGRAPHY AND SYMPTOMATIC NONCARIOUS CERVICAL LESIONS PRIOR TO COMPOSITE RESTORATIONS: A SPLIT-MOUTH RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed alterations in sensitivity among symptomatic noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) following the application of 3 low-level diode laser wavelengths before composite restoration. It analyzed the changes in dentin topography using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients with 36 NCCLs were randomly assigned intra-individually to 4 groups based on the laser wavelength: laser simulation, 445 nm, 660 nm, and 970 nm. Cavity preparation, irradiation, and composite restoration were performed for each lesion. Sensitivity to cold stimuli was recorded using a visual analog scale (VAS) before the intervention (baseline) and at 1 day, 14 days, 1-, 3-, and 6-month. Pulp sensibility was recorded using an electrical pulp tester (EPT) at baseline, before treatment, and at 3- and 6-month. Additionally, an in vitro examination was performed on 12 extracted human molars to yield 12 dentin discs. Each disc was randomly divided into 4 quadrants to receive the same laser wavelengths to determine the diameters of the tubules using SEM. Results were analyzed statistically for clinical studies by the Friedman test, while ANOVA (RM-ANOVA) was conducted in-vitro, followed by the Bonferroni test in the case of significance (P < .05). RESULTS: VAS readings decreased across all groups, with a significant decrease observed for 660 nm and 970 nm from 14 days to 6-month, while at 445 nm there was a significant decrease at 6-month compared to the control (P < .05). EPT showed a significant decrease in pain threshold levels at 660 nm and 970 nm at 3- and 6-month, while 445 nm showed a significant decrease at 6-month compared to the control (P < .05). The mean tubular diameter at 445 nm decreased, with no significant difference from the control, whereas a significant decrease was found at 660 nm and 970 nm compared to the control (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Prior to composite restoration in symptomatic NCCLs, diode lasers with a wavelength of 660 nm showed the highest reduction in sensitivity, followed by 970 nm, whereas 445 nm diode lasers showed the least reduction. Additionally, diode lasers with wavelengths of 660 and 970 nm reduced the width of the dentinal tubules (DT) without inducing melting, as viewed under SEM.

Root surface roughness evaluation following application of different periodontal instruments and Er:YAG laser: A profilometry and SEM study.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of 30°-angled Er:YAG laser tip and different periodontal instruments on root surface roughness and morphology in vitro. METHODS: Eighteen bovine teeth root without carious lesion were decoronated from the cementoenamel junction and seperated longitidunally. A total of 36 obtained blocks were mounted in resin blocks and polished with silicon carbide papers under water irrigation. These blocks were randomly assigned into 3 treatment groups. In Group 1, 30°-angled Er:YAG laser (2.94 µm) tip was applied onto the blocks with a 20 Hz, 120 mJ energy output under water irrigation for 20 s. In Groups 2 and 3, the same treatment was applied to the blocks with new generation ultrasonic tip and conventional curette apico-coronally for 20 s with a sweeping motion. Surface roughness and morphology were evaluated before and after instrumentation with a profilometer and SEM, respectively. RESULTS: After instrumentation, profilometric analysis revealed significantly higher roughness values compared to baseline in all treatment groups(p < 0.05). Laser group revealed the roughest surface morphology followed by conventional curette and new generation ultrasonic tip treatment groups (p < 0.05). In SEM analysis, irregular surfaces and crater defects were seen more frequently in the laser group. CONCLUSION: Results of the study showed that the use of new generation ultrasonic tip was associated with smoother surface morphology compared to 30°-angled Er-YAG laser tip and conventional curette. Further in vitro and in vivo studies with an increased sample size are necessary to support the present study findings.

Biometric analysis of furcation area of molar teeth and its relationship with instrumentation.

The anatomy of furcation favours the bacterial retention and makes periodontal debridement as well as oral hygiene procedures difficult. Teeth that have lost attachment to a level of the furcation are said to have a furcal invasion or furcation involved.Involvement of furcation in a multi-rooted tooth poses a very different type of clinical situation in terms of establishment of diagnosis, determination of prognosis and of course planning the treatment modality.The present study was carried out on 200 selected extracted human first and second permanent molar teeth based on a predefined criteria. Teeth with prosthetic crowns, fused or fractured roots, those not fully developed, grossly carious or heavily restored at the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) were excluded from the study. The morphology of the root trunk was recorded by measuring various dimensions of the root trunk,including furcal angle and root trunk volume was calculated by using a custom made special apparatus. The furcation areas were debrided with different types of curettes in the market in order to see how best the instrument could be maneuvered in the furcation area. The data so obtained was statistically analysed using SPSS version 22. The highest root trunk volume and the longest root trunk length were found to be in the maxillary second molar. 48.60% furcations didn't allow instrument engagementof furcation area with standard area specific curettes. The proposal of inclusion of root trunk length (mm) is suggested in addition to classification of FI to have assess prognosis and appropriate treatment for of the involved tooth.

Cervical wear pathobiology by robot-simulated 3-year toothbrushing - New methodological approach.

OBJECTIVES: An ex-vivo study was aimed at (i) programming clinically validated robot three-year random toothbrushing, (ii) evaluating cervical macro- and microwear patterns on all tooth groups of different functional age, (iii) documenting and codificating wear related morphological features at the cemento-enamel junction in young teeth and on roots in older teeth. DESIGN: Following ethical approval random toothbrushing (44 strokes per tooth horizontally, rotating, vertically; 2x/d) with manual toothbrushes and low-abrasive dentifrice was performed in an artificial oral cavity with brushing-force 3.5 N on 14 extracted human teeth. Morphological features were examined by SEM at baseline and after simulated 3 years using the replication technique. 3D-SEM analyses were carried out with a four-quadrant back scattered electron detector. Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney-test was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: 3-year random toothbrushing with horizontal, rotating and vertical brushing movements revealed morphological features classified as four enamel patterns, one dentin pattern and three cervical patterns. Negative impacts were enamel, cementum and dentin loss. Positive impact on oral health was removing dental calculus and straightening cervical traumatic and iatrogenic damages. The volume loss varied from x̅=34.25nl to x̅=87.75nl. Wear extended apically from 100 to 1500 micrometres. CONCLUSION: Robot simulated toothbrushing in an artificial oral cavity, with subsequent SEM and 3D-SEM assessment, elucidated both negative and oral health-contributing micromorphology patterns of cervical wear after simulated 3-year random toothbrushing. Cervical macro- and microwear of cementum revealed, for the first time, what we describe as overhanging enamel peninsulas and enamel islands on roots in young teeth, but no enamel islands on roots from older teeth after root cementum loss. In contrast, many older teeth exhibited enamel peninsulas.

Cone beam computed tomography assessment of maxillary anterior teeth cervix dimensions in healthy adults for optimal anatomic healing abutments.

OBJECTIVES: The abutments produced with circular symmetry failed to accurately replicate the natural teeth's cervical shapes. The purpose of this study was to measure cervical cross-sections of maxillary anterior teeth using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images to design anatomic healing abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT data of 61 patients were analyzed using Ez3D Plus software. Measurements were taken at the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and 1 mm coronal to CEJ for maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines. Various parameters, including area, perimeter, and eight line segments in the distal (a), disto-palatal (b), palatal (c), mesio-palatal (d), mesial (e), mesio-labial (f), labial (g), and disto-labial (h) directions, were used to describe dental neck contours. The ratios (f/b and h/d) were analyzed, and differences based on sex and dental arch morphology were explored. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in area and perimeter between males and females, but not in f/b and h/d ratios. Differences in the f/b ratio were observed among dental arch morphologies for maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines. CONCLUSIONS: CBCT measurements of cervical cross-sections provide more accurate data for designing anatomic healing abutments. The fabrication of anatomical healing abutments needs to consider the influence of gender on cervical size and to explore the potential effect of arch shape on cervical morphology. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The novel method provides detailed measurements for the description of dental cervical contours for patients with bilateral homonymous teeth missing. The measurements of this study could be utilized to design more accurate anatomic healing abutments to create desired morphology of peri-implant soft tissue.

Sixty-month comperative evaluation of a glass hybrid restorative and a composite resin in non-carious cervical lesions of bruxist individuals.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical performance of a glass hybrid (GH) restorative and a nano-ceramic composite resin (CR) in the restoration of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) of bruxist individuals in a 60-month randomized clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five bruxist candidates having NCCLs were recruited in this clinical study. The depth, height (cervico-incisal), width (mesio-distal), internal angles of the NCCLs, degree of tooth wear (TWI) and gingival index (GI) were measured. One hundred-and-forty-eight NCCLs were restored either with a GH restorative (Equia Forte Fil) or a CR (Ceram.X One Universal). Modified USPHS criteria was used to evaluate restorations after 1 week and 12, 24, 36 and 60 months. Pearson's Chi-Square, Fisher's Exact and Cochran Q tests were run for analysis. Survival rates of the restorations were compared with Kaplan-Meier analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: After 60 months, 97 restorations in 15 patients were examined. The recall rate was 60.0%. Retention rates were 73.5% for CR and 66.7% for GH. A total of 29 restorations were lost (13CR (26.5%), 16GH (33.3%)). There was not a significant difference between tested restoratives in retention (p = 0.464), marginal adaptation (p = 0.856) and marginal discoloration (p = 0.273). There was no relationship between internal angle, depth, height or width and retention of the GH or CR restorations (p > 0.05). The increase in retention loss and marginal discoloration of both restorations over time were significant (p < 0.001). Sensitivity or secondary caries were not detected after 60 months. CONCLUSION: GH and nano-ceramic CR showed similar clinical performances in NCCLs after 60 months in patients with bruxism. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: After 60 months, CR and GH materials showed clinically acceptable performances in restoration of NCCLs in patients with bruxism.

Effects of occlusal wear on 16-year progression of non-carious cervical lesions-Results of the study of health in Pomerania (SHIP-START).

BACKGROUND: It is still discussed whether occlusal wear (OW) affects the formation of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs). OBJECTIVE: To estimate effects of OW on the presence and development of NCCLs, using 16-year follow-up data from a cohort study. METHODS: Occlusal and cervical defects were measured in 728 cast models (one from the upper jaw and one from the lower jaw) of 364 participants. Adjusted mixed-effects ordinal logistic models analysing estimated cross-sectional (N = 1308 teeth/291 subjects) and longitudinal (N = 718 teeth/226 subjects) associations of OW with NCCLs using tooth level data. RESULTS: OW size was cross-sectionally (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.27-2.38 for OW size; OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.94-0.99 for squared OW size), but not longitudinally (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 0.99-1.30) associated with odds of higher NCCL sizes. For cross-sectional analyses, predicted probabilities of an NCCL size of 0 decreased from about 0.996 to 0.010 for OW sizes of 0 to 25. CONCLUSION: Results suggest an association between OW and NCCL size. However, as longitudinal results were non-significant, while consistent in direction, large-scaled cohort studies are demanded to more precisely estimate effect strength.

Investigation of the presence of Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) in ancient adult skulls: analyzing data from prehistoric and historical samples through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Historically, the prevalence of caries has undergone significant changes, particularly increasing with the industrialization of sugar consumption. When examining ancient populations, lower caries rates are discovered, attributed in part to dietary factors. These populations consumed abrasive foods, leading to occlusal wear and reduced non-axial occlusal forces, potentially influencing Non-Carious Cervical Lesions (NCCLs). Although some attribute NCCLs to abfraction, the mechanism remains debated. This systematic review aims to evaluate the presence of NCCLs in ancient populations, shedding light on the factors contributing to their occurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present systematic review was registered on PROSPERO, and the manuscript was prepared following PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: After the literature search and article screening, data from 6 studies were included in the meta-analysis, with only 2 reporting NCCLs in ancient skulls, encopassing 17 subjects in 805 examined skulls, suggesting their presence even before the widespread use of toothbrushes. This finding indicates a potential etiopathogenic mechanism linked to abfraction, but the cause is complex and involves abrasive and erosive factors closely tied to dietary habits. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, NCCLs were present in ancient populations, albeit with a much lower prevalence. Their occurrence cannot be solely attributed to wear mechanisms but must be connected to abrasive factors related to diet or practices with religious and cultural significance, such as the use of labrets. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Th the knowledge of NCCLs presence in acient sculls is crucial today for better understand the associated risk factors. In this context, the analysis of ancient skulls allows us to discern the role that tooth brushing and diet played in the formation of NCCLs, over the past century.

Salivary factors associated with noncarious cervical lesions: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to carry out a systematic review of observational studies searching the association between salivary factors (amount and quality of saliva) and noncarious cervical lesions (NCCL) in individuals with permanent dentition. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies performed in humans with permanent dentition (population) and considering noncarious cervical lesions (outcome) in association with salivary characteristics (exposure) were included. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, LILACS/BBO, Scopus, Embase, IBCT, NICE, OpenGrey, and Google Scholar were searched, with no language or date restrictions. Of 6561 potentially eligible studies, 142 were selected for full-text analysis. Three reviewers independently selected the studies, performed data extraction, and quality analysis through the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Finally, ten references were included in the review, four case-control and six cross-sectional studies. Several salivary parameters were evaluated. Some parameters were considered associated with the presence of noncarious cervical lesions: salivary buffering capacity, salivary pH, citric acid, and calcium and potassium levels. The methodological quality varied across studies, with high heterogeneity among them. CONCLUSIONS: Some associations between saliva and NCCL suggesting protective factors and others risk factors were found. However, the evidence is sparse and comes from a few studies with great heterogeneity. New scientific evidence, with standardized methods, should be encouraged. Understanding salivary parameters that influence the occurrence of NCCL is important to guide dentists in relation to etiological factors that could potentially be neglected. The results may help in the development of new and early diagnostic methods and treatments for noncarious cervical lesions.

Clinical performance of preheating thermoviscous composite resin for non-carious cervical lesions restoration: A 24-month randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This 24-month, double-blind, split-mouth randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the retention rates of a preheated thermoviscous composite resin (PHT) compared to a non-heated composite resin (NHT) in non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs). METHODS: A total of 120 restorations were restored on NCCLs using a preheated (VisCalor bulk, Voco GmbH) and a non-heated (Admira Fusion, Voco GmbH) composite resins with 60 restorations per group. A universal adhesive in the selective enamel conditioning was applied. In the PHT group, composite was heated at 68 °C for using a bench heater. In the NHT group, no heating was employed. Both restorative materials were dispensed into caps and inserted into the NCCLs. The restorations were evaluated at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and after 24 months of clinical service using the FDI criteria. Statistical analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meier estimation analysis for retention/fracture rate and Chi-square test for the other FDI parameters (α=0.05). RESULTS: After 24 months 108 restorations were assessed. Seven restorations were lost (two for PHT group and five for NHT group), and the retention rates (95 % confidence interval [CI]) were 96.7 % (81.5-99.9) for PHT group and 90.8 % (81.1-96.0) for NHT group, with no statistical differences between them (p > 0.05). The hazard ratio (95 % CI) was 0.52 (0.27 to 1.01), with no significant difference within groups. In terms of all other FDI parameters that were assessed, all restorations were deemed clinically acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: Both composites showed high rates of retention rates after 24 months. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The clinical performance of the new preheated thermoviscous was found to be as good as the non-heated composite after 24-month of clinical evaluation in non-carious cervical lesions. REGISTRATION OF CLINICAL TRIALS: RBR-6d6gxxz.

A depth-resolved quantitative evaluation method for non-carious cervical lesions treatment with optical coherence tomography.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is prognostic assessment of surface smoothness and the presence of internal bubbles after treatment of non-cancerous cervical lesions (NCCLs) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: After treatment with NCCLs, cross-sectional images of the lesion parts of the sample were non-invasively acquired and analyzed. The surface smoothness between tooth and resin, resin and cemento-enamel junction, and the presence bubble inside resin was confirmed. In addition, using an algorithm that distinguishes between resin and dental structure based on OCT cross-sectional images, we quantitatively analyzed the amount of resin used in treating NCCLs and acquired 3D images. RESULTS: The inner structure of the resin in each sample was checked, and the presence of bubbles was confirmed. In addition, the resin sections were separated from the tomographic images acquired by OCT to visualize 3D images. The volume of resin used in the treatment part of each NCCLs samples was quantitatively analyzed as 3.7216 ∼ 14.889 mm3. CONCLUSIONS: OCT is able to measure not only the surface abrasion provided by existing intraoral scanner, but also the size and depth location of interal bubbles, which is distinctive advantage of our method. Based on our results, OCT is a significant tool for qualitative and quantitative analysis of dental NCCLs treatment before and after treatment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study used OCT, a non-destructive diagnostic, to reveal the structure of the resin and the location and size of bubbles after NCCLs treatment. These findings could be golden standard in determining the prognosis of NCCLs treatment.

Pericervical Dentin Metrics in Mandibular First Molars Determined with Digital Periapical Radiography and Cone-beam Computed Tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Pericervical root dentin is decisive for the long-term mechanical integrity of root-filled teeth. Current treatment protocol does not include a customized step to determine the pretreatment residual pericervical root dentin. OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the residual root dentin and canal width using digital periapical radiography (DPR) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) at the apical limit of the pericervical area (PCA) in mandibular first molars. METHODS: DPR and CBCT images of 60 patients with age between 22 and 76 years were used to determine (a) the mesiodistal widths of the root canal (pericervical dimensions [PCL]-C) and the root (PCL-R) of mandibular first molars at the apical limit of the PCA and (b) the intracanal distance from the apical limit of the PCA to the radiographic apex (intracanal distance [ICD]). The correlation between the PCL and ICD measurements obtained from DPR and CBCT were evaluated. RESULTS: Values between 0.10-0.80 mm and 0.00-1.10 mm were obtained for PCL-C using DPR and CBCT respectively (95% CI). The PCL values between 0.90-2.30 mm and 0.00-2.30 mm were obtained from DPR and CBCT respectively (95% CI). The ICD ranged between 4.6-12.3 mm in DPR and 4.40-12.0 mm in CBCT (95% CI). The comparative analysis showed differences from -0.9 to 0.5 mms for PCL and -2.00 to 1.5 mms for ICD between DPR and CBCT techniques respectively. CONCLUSION: The PCL and ICD determined from DPR and CBCT provided the pericervical dentin metrics that could be utilized clinically as a guideline for decision-making in endodontic treatment.