This paper’s primary aim is to outline relevant aspects regarding the biocompatibility of PMMA (poly(methyl methacrylate))-based materials used for obtaining interim prosthetic restorations, such as the interaction with oral epithelial cells, fibroblasts or dental pulp cells, the salivary oxidative stress response, and monomer release. Additionally, the oral environment’s biochemical response to modern interim dental materials containing PMMA (obtained via subtractive or additive methods) is highlighted in this review. The studies included in this paper confirmed that PMMA-based materials interact in a complex way with the oral environment, and therefore, different concerns about the possible adverse oral effects caused by these materials were analyzed. Adjacent to these aspects, the present work describes several advantages of PMMA-based dental materials. Moreover, the paper underlines that recent scientific studies ascertain that the modern techniques used for obtaining interim prosthetic materials, milled PMMA, and 3D (three-dimensional) printed resins, have distinctive advantages compared to the conventional ones. However, considering the limited number of studies focusing on the chemical composition and biocompatibility of these modern interim prosthetic materials, especially for the 3D printed ones, more aspects regarding their interaction with the oral environment need to be further investigated.

A topic that has been less researched on, especially in Romania, is the identification of gender differences in oral health. The present scientific research used an online survey to assess the attitudes (dental beliefs survey-R/R-DBS), the values (oral health values scale/OHVS), the behaviours (dental neglect scale/DNS), and the literacy (oral health literacy scale/OHLS) related to oral health and to dental professional services in the case of a sample of 600 Romanian adults (Mean_age = 30.84). The relation between the level of knowledge as a predictor of attitudes and values related to oral health was analysed by the means of a structural equation based on the partial least square method (PLS-SEM). The results show that women have more positive attitudes towards dental medical services, higher oral health values, better self-care behaviours, and higher oral health literacy than men. In the case of men, attitudes and behaviours related to self-care are influenced by their oral health literacy and level of education; in the case of women, the latter are influenced only by their level of oral health literacy. The impact that knowledge in oral health has on attitudes, values, and behaviours was highlighted. The differences in attitudes and values related to oral health between the two genders can be accounted for by the differences in formal and informal education (studies and oral health literacy, respectively).

A provisionalization sequence is essential for obtaining a predictable final prosthetic outcome. An assessment of the mechanical behavior of interim prosthetic materials could orient clinicians towards selecting an appropriate material for each clinical case. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the mechanical behavior—with compressive and three-point flexural tests—of certain 3D-printed and conventional resins used to obtain interim fixed dental prostheses. Four interim resin materials were investigated: two 3D-printed resins and two conventional resins (an auto-polymerized resin and a pressure/heat-cured acrylic resin). Cylindrically shaped samples (25 × 25 mm/diameter × height) were obtained for the compression tests and bar-shaped samples (80 × 20 × 5 mm/length × width × thickness) were produced for the flexural tests, observing the producers’ recommendations. The resulting 40 resin samples were subjected to mechanical tests using a universal testing machine. Additionally, a fractographic analysis of failed samples in bending was performed. The results showed that the additive manufactured samples exhibited higher elastic moduli (2.4 ± 0.02 GPa and 2.6 ± 0.18 GPa) than the conventional samples (1.3 ± 0.19 GPa and 1.3 ± 0.38 GPa), as well as a higher average bending strength (141 ± 17 MPa and 143 ± 15 MPa) when compared to the conventional samples (88 ± 10 MPa and 76 ± 7 MPa); the results also suggested that the materials were more homogenous when produced via additive manufacturing.

The purpose of this study is to outline relevant elements regarding the biochemical interactions between prosthetic materials used for obtaining implant-supported restorations and the oral environment. Implant-supported prostheses have seen unprecedented development in recent years, benefiting from the emergence of both new prosthetic materials (with increased biocompatibility and very good mechanical behavior), and computerized manufacturing technologies, which offer predictability, accuracy, and reproducibility. On the other hand, the quality of conventional materials for obtaining implant-supported prostheses is acknowledged, as they have already proven their clinical performance. The properties of PMMA (poly (methyl methacrylate))—which is a representative interim material frequently used in prosthodontics—and of PEEK (polyether ether ketone)—a biomaterial which is placed on the border between interim and final prosthetic use—are highlighted in order to illustrate the complex way these materials interact with the oral environment. In regard to definitive prosthetic materials used for obtaining implant-supported prostheses, emphasis is placed on zirconia-based ceramics. Zirconia exhibits several distinctive advantages (excellent aesthetics, good mechanical behavior, biocompatibility), through which its clinical applicability has become increasingly wide. Zirconia’s interaction with the oral environment (fibroblasts, osteoblasts, dental pulp cells, macrophages) is presented in a relevant synthesis, thus revealing its good biocompatibility.

Background: Haptics‐enhanced virtual reality (VR‐haptic) simulation in dental education has evolved considerably during the past decade, representing a promising resource of simulation‐based training opportunities to support conventional practice. We aim to summarize current literature on the applications of VR‐haptics in learning, practicing, and teaching dental education.Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, focusing on research articles published between January 2010 and January 2024. Out of the 667 articles that matched the search terms (dentistry, education, haptic, teaching, training, virtual reality), 105 were screened, and 42 were eligible for full‐text reading and utilization. Findings from an ongoing educator survey on the use of VR‐haptics in dental education have also been provided.Results: VR‐haptic simulation has been shown to have a supportive role in dental simulation practice. Despite training within a digital world, hand skill transfer to the real world has been demonstrated, which affords educators more flexibility in how to train their students before and during traditional preclinical and clinical practical education. The individualized VR‐haptic training and feedback help students in mastering essential working techniques, while also increasing engagement and motivation.Conclusions: VR‐haptics‐supported dental education can help students effectively address challenges during their preclinical and clinical training, as well as in their subsequent careers, and it may help mitigate some weaknesses of the current educational system. Validation is a key factor for the acceptance of VR‐haptic simulators; thus, further research and verification are needed before VR‐haptics could be considered a primary hand skill development method of learning in dental education. VR‐haptic simulation may in the future be used as an assessment tool for the students’ and clinicians’ credentialing process.

Background and Objectives: The ever more complex modern dental education requires permanent adaptation to expanding medical knowledge and new advancements in digital technologies as well as intensification of interdisciplinary collaboration. Our study presents a newly developed computerized method allowing virtual case simulation on modular digital dental models and 3D-printing of the obtained digital models; additionally, undergraduate dental students’ opinion on the advanced method is investigated in this paper. Materials and Methods: Based on the digitalization of didactic dental models, the proposed method generates modular digital dental models that can be easily converted into different types of partial edentulism scenarios, thus allowing the development of a digital library. Three-dimensionally printed simulated dental models can subsequently be manufactured based on the previously obtained digital models. The opinion of a group of undergraduate dental students (n = 205) on the proposed method was assessed via a questionnaire, administered as a Google form, sent via email. Results: The modular digital models allow students to perform repeated virtual simulations of any possible partial edentulism cases, to project 3D virtual treatment plans and to observe the subtle differences between diverse teeth preparations; the resulting 3D-printed models could be used in students’ practical training. The proposed method received positive feedback from the undergraduate students. Conclusions: The advanced method is adequate for dental students’ training, enabling the gradual design of modular digital dental models with partial edentulism, from simple to complex cases, and the hands-on training on corresponding 3D-printed dental models.