The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of final surface treatment and dental composite type on the roughness of the composite surface, composite/enamel interface, and composite/cementum interface, as well as on the polishing time. Class V cavities prepared in extracted teeth (n = 126) were restored using one of the three nanohybrid composites with different filler sizes. The specimens were randomly assigned to three different finishing and polishing sequences. The roughness (Ra) of the investigated surfaces was measured using the contact profilometer. The time required to achieve visible gloss was documented. The data were analyzed using ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test (p < 0.05). There was no significant influence of the composite type on the restoration surface roughness (p = 0.088), while the polishing method had a significant impact (p < 0.001). The Ra of the composites ranged between 0.08 µm and 0.29 µm, with the lowest values (0.09 µm ± 0.05 µm) found in the aluminum oxide disc group (p < 0.001). The time to achieve a visible composite gloss was influenced by the polishing method, composite type, and interactions between these factors (p < 0.001). The interface roughness was significantly greater than that of the composite surface (p < 0.001), and depended on the composite type and polishing system employed.

We aimed to assess the effect of oral probiotics containing the Streptococcus salivarius K12 strain on the salivary level of secretory immunoglobulin A, salivation rate, and oral biofilm. Thirty-one consenting patients meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm, parallel-group study and randomly divided into probiotic (n = 15) and placebo (n = 16) groups. Unstimulated salivation rate, concentration of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A, Turesky index, and Papillary-Marginal-Attached index were assessed after 4 weeks of intervention and 2 weeks of washout. Thirty patients completed the entire study protocol. We found no increase in salivary secretory immunoglobulin A levels and salivary flow rates in the probiotic group compared with placebo. Baseline and outcome salivary secretory immunoglobulin A concentrations (mg/L) were 226 ± 130 and 200 ± 113 for the probiotic group and 205 ± 92 and 191 ± 97 for the placebo group, respectively. A significant decrease in plaque accumulation was observed in the probiotic group at 4 and 6 weeks. Within the limitations of the present study, it may be concluded that probiotic intake (Streptococcus salivarius K12) does not affect salivation rates and secretory immunoglobulin A salivary levels but exhibits a positive effect on plaque accumulation. Trial registration NCT05039320. Funding: none.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of toothpastes containing hydroxyapatite (nHAP), Zn-Mg-hydroxyapatite (nZnMgHAP), and fluorapatite (nFAP) nanocrystals on dentin hypersensitivity (DH) associated with noncarious cervical lesions. Materials and Methods: Thirty consenting volunteers aged 35−45 years with DH were enrolled in a double-blind, parallel study, randomly assigned to the nHAP group (n = 10), the nZnMgHAP group (n = 10), or the nFAP group (n = 10), and instructed to use the toothpaste twice daily for one month. The primary outcome was Schiff scores at baseline and after 2 and 4 weeks. Results: All patients fulfilled the study requirements, and no adverse effects were registered. A reduction in DH was registered in 90%, 100%, and 50% of patients using nHAP, nZnMgHAP, and nFAP-containing toothpastes with effect sizes 2.52 (confidence interval [CI] 95%: 0.82, 4.14), 3.30 (CI 95%: 1.33, 5.20), and 1.44 (CI 95%: 0.09, 2.72), respectively. At 4 weeks, Schiff index scores decreased significantly in all groups compared to baseline. Conclusions: nZnMgHAP may be considered a promising agent for DH management.

We aimed to assess the effect of oral probiotic containing the Streptococcus salivarius M18 strain on gingival inflammation, bleeding on probing, and oral biofilm. Sixty-one consenting participants aged between 18 and 25 with gingivitis were recruited in this double-blind, parallel-group study and randomly divided into the probiotic group (n = 31) and the placebo group (n = 30). Fifty-seven participants completed the entire study protocol, 27 in the probiotic group and 30 in the placebo group. The outcomes were assessed after 4 weeks of intervention and 4 weeks of follow-up. There was a significant decrease in the Gingival Index, with the effect size of 0.58 [95%CI 0.05–1.10], and Turesky modification of the Quigley and Hein Plaque Index, with the effect size of 0.55 [95%CI: 0.02–1.07], in the probiotic group after the intervention. However, after a 4-week follow-up, the only significant treatment outcome was improved gingival condition according to the Gingival Index. The Gingival Bleeding Index also decreased significantly in the probiotic group after the intervention period; after the follow-up, this parameter did not differ significantly in both groups from the baseline values. In the placebo group, there were no significant improvements in the assessed parameters throughout this study. No serious side effects were registered. Within the limitations of this study, we conclude that the use of oral probiotic containing the Streptococcus salivarius M18 strain resulted in a significant improvement in gingival condition and oral hygiene level in young adults with gingivitis. Trial registration NCT05727436. Funding: none.

We aimed to assess the effects of ultrasonic scaling and air-powder polishing on the roughness of enamel, three nanocomposites (Premise, Herculite Ultra, Harmonize), and composite/enamel and composite/cementum interfaces. Class V cavities were restored in 99 extracted third molars with one of the three nanocomposites and treated with ultrasonic scaler or air-powder polishing device (calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate powders). The roughness (Ra) of the investigated surfaces was measured with contact profilometer before and after treatment. The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Specimens’ Ra values before instrumentation were near the clinically acceptable 0.2 μm threshold. All techniques increased the roughness of the tested surfaces; however, the enamel was slightly affected. The mean Ra values after prophylaxis for composite, composite/cementum and composite/enamel surfaces were 0.32–0.55, 1.33–1.73, and 1.25–1.36, respectively. The extent of composite surface damage was material dependent. Premise surface was not altered by ultrasonic scaling significantly. Air-powder polishing with both powders produced a greater increase in surface roughness of composite resin and restorations margins than ultrasonic scaling. The Ra values after both types of air polishing for Herculite Ultra and Harmonize were approximately 1.5 and 2 times higher, respectively, than those after ultrasonic scaling (p < 0.05).

Background: We compared the camouflage effect of three white spot lesion (WSL) treatments (infiltration, nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) remineralization, and microabrasion) and color stability of the treated surfaces. Methods: Fifty sound extracted teeth were used in the study. WSLs were created on 40 buccal dento-enamel specimens through the use of acidic methylcellulose gel. These specimens were randomly assigned to treatment groups (n = 10 per group): negative controls, nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP), resin infiltration, and microabrasion. After the treatment, all 50 specimens were immersed in coffee for 7 days. Color measurements were performed four times: at baseline (T0), after the demineralization procedure (T1), after the treatments (T2), and after immersion in coffee (T3). Results: No restoration of the initial enamel color was observed in any of the groups. The ICON and MA groups exhibited the highest masking effect, with the mean ΔE_T0-T2 = 7.46, although the differences among the study groups were insignificant. All three treatments increased the resistance of WSLs to discoloration in coffee compared to the negative control group; however, infiltration (∆E_T2-T3 = 4.13) and microabrasion (∆E_T2-T3 = 3.49) showed a better color stability tendency than nHAP remineralization (∆E_T2-T3 = 7.26). Conclusions: Despite its well-known remineralizing and desensitizing effects, nHAP showed the least masking effect for WSLs and lower color stability compared to resin infiltration and microabrasion. However, none of the methods allowed for complete restoration of the original color. After the discoloration procedure, the color changes in the white spots treated with microabrasion and infiltration were comparable to those of the sound enamel.