The first symptoms of oral cancer are nonspecific. They raise suspicions of other, less serious conditions. Treatment of oral cancer is challenging, and the time of its detection and the implementation of appropriate therapy affect the prognosis. To identify predisposing factors, symptoms, time of, and reasons for delays in the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of oral cancer. This retrospective analysis includes patients who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of carcinoma at the Clinical Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at the 4th Military Clinical Hospital and Polyclinic in Wrocław, Poland, between 2008 and 2018, and at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at Wroclaw Medical University Hospital between 2010 and 2018. The analysis took into account the data obtained from the patients' medical records. This study comprised 305 patients (112 female; 36.7% and 193 male; 63.3%). The most frequent diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma (N = 294; 96.4%). The floor of the mouth was the most frequent primary site (N = 103; 33.8%), followed by the anterior 2/3 of the tongue (N = 94; 30.8%) and lower gingiva (N = 43; 14.1%). A significant percentage were reported at an advanced stage (73.5% in stages III and IV combined). The reasons for the late-stage diagnoses depended on the patients (40.6%), the doctors (24.9%) or both (10.8%). Only 47.5% of patients reported because of the initial symptom noticed. Nearly half of the patients reported after 3-6 months of observing symptoms, usually to a general practitioner (GP; 35.7%) or a dentist (31.8%). The oncological awareness of patients and healthcare professionals is an essential issue. Doctors often recommend inappropriate treatment, sometimes without monitoring its effectiveness. Dentists should consider cancer in the differentiation of clinical manifestations of other oral disorders.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) remains a major global health issue. It is closely linked to smoking, alcohol use, and HPV infection. Nutritional and metabolic factors significantly influence surgical outcomes in these patients, especially when undergoing extensive resections and microsurgical free flap reconstruction. This comprehensive review aims to evaluate how perioperative nutritional status—particularly body mass index (BMI), serum albumin and prealbumin levels, and enteral vs. oral feeding strategies—affects complication rates, wound healing, surgical duration, and overall recovery. Poor nutritional status is associated with increased complication rates, prolonged surgery, impaired wound healing, and higher perioperative mortality. Both high and low BMI negatively impact surgical outcomes. Obesity is linked to protracted surgery and increased blood loss, while underweight patients have higher perioperative mortality. Optimizing perioperative nutrition is important for improving surgical outcomes in HNC patients. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to tailor nutritional support and enhance recovery. Further research should focus on long-term weight management strategies and identifying biomarkers predictive of surgical success.

Objective: This systematic review evaluates the evidence on factors affecting fluoride release from compomer restorative materials to provide clinicians with insights for optimizing their use in caries prevention. Methods: In February 2025, an extensive digital search was conducted across reputable databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search utilized carefully chosen keywords: “fluoride release” AND “compomer” and followed the PRISMA guidelines. Initially, 287 articles were identified, but after applying the inclusion criteria, 34 studies were selected for review. Results: This review found that fluoride release from compomers follows an initial burst phase before stabilizing at lower levels. Fifteen studies proved that compomers release less fluoride than glass ionomer cements but more than composite resins, as concluded from six studies. The release rate is significantly influenced by pH, with acidic conditions enhancing fluoride diffusion. Some studies also highlighted the potential for fluoride recharge through external applications such as toothpaste or varnish. Conclusion: Compomer restorative materials offer a steady, moderate fluoride release that supports caries prevention. Their effectiveness is enhanced in acidic environments, supporting their use in high-risk patients.

The aim of this study was to compare the reduced stresses according to Huber’s hypothesis and the displacement pattern in the region of the facial skeleton using a tooth- or bone-borne appliance in surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME). In the current literature, the lack of updated reports about biomechanical effects in bone-borne appliances used in SARME is noticeable. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used for this study. Six facial skeleton models were created, five with various variants of osteotomy and one without osteotomy. Two different appliances for maxillary expansion were used for each model. The three-dimensional (3D) model of the facial skeleton was created on the basis of spiral computed tomography (CT) scans of a 32-year-old patient with maxillary constriction. The finite element model was built using ANSYS 15.0 software, in which the computations were carried out. Stress distributions and displacement values along the 3D axes were found for each osteotomy variant with the expansion of the tooth- and the bone-borne devices at a level of 0.5 mm. The investigation showed that in the case of a full osteotomy of the maxilla, as described by Bell and Epker in 1976, the method of fixing the appliance for maxillary expansion had no impact on the distribution of the reduced stresses according to Huber’s hypothesis in the facial skeleton. In the case of the bone-borne appliance, the load on the teeth, which may lead to periodontal and orthodontic complications, was eliminated. In the case of a full osteotomy of the maxilla, displacements in the buccolingual direction for all the variables of the bone-borne appliance were slightly bigger than for the tooth-borne appliance.

Bioactive agents can stimulate osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation; therefore, their application in bone regeneration offers significant therapeutic potential. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate strategies for applying chitosan-based scaffolds with growth factors in bone regeneration. A structured literature search was conducted in July 2025 across the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Search terms included combinations of (chitosan scaffold) AND (growth factor OR BMP-2 OR VEGF OR FGF OR TGF-beta OR periostin OR PDGF OR IGF-1 OR EGF OR ANG-1 OR ANG-2 OR GDF-5 OR SDF-1 OR osteopontin). The study selection process followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the PICO framework. Out of 367 records, 226 were screened, and 17 studies met the eligibility criteria for qualitative analysis. BMP-2 was the most frequently investigated growth factor, studied in both in vitro and in vivo models, with rats and rabbits as the most common animal models. Scaffold compositions varied, incorporating hydroxyapatite, heparin, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, octacalcium phosphate-mineralized graphene, silk fibroin, and aloe vera. Growth factors were introduced using diverse methods, including microspheres, chemical grafting, covalent coupling, protein carriers, and nanohydroxyapatite mesopores. Most studies reported enhanced bone regeneration, although differences in models, scaffold composition, and delivery methods preclude definitive conclusions. The addition of growth factors generally improved osteoblast proliferation, angiogenesis, bone density, and expression of osteogenic markers (RunX2, COL1, OPN, OCN). Combining two bioactive agents further amplified osteoinduction and vascularization. Sustained-release systems, particularly those using heparin or hydroxyapatite, prolonged biological activity and improved regenerative outcomes. In conclusion, functionalization of chitosan-based scaffolds with growth factors shows promising potential for bone regeneration. Controlled-release systems and combinations of different bioactive molecules may offer synergistic effects on osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Further research should focus on optimizing scaffold compositions and delivery methods to tailor bioactive agent release for specific clinical applications.

Maxillary constriction is a common skeletal craniofacial abnormality, and transverse maxillary deficiency affects 30% of patients receiving orthodontic and surgical treatment. The aim of the study was to analyse craniofacial skeletal changes in adults with maxillary constriction after transpalatal distraction. The study group consisted of 36 patients (16 women) aged 17 to 42 years (M = 27.1; SD = 7.8) with a known complete skeletal crossbite and who underwent transpalatal distraction procedure. The measurements were obtained on diagnostic models, and cephalometric PA radiograms were obtained at time points, i.e., before treatment (T1) and after the completion of active distraction (T2). The analysis of diagnostic models involving the arch width measurement at different levels demonstrated a significant increase in L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, and L6 dimensions after transpalatal distraction. The largest width increase (9.5 mm) was observed for the L3 dimension (the intercanine distance). The analysis of frontal cephalograms displayed a significant increase in W1, W2, and W3 dimensions after transpalatal distraction. The largest width increase (4.9 mm) was observed for the W1 dimension at the level of the alveolar process of the maxilla. Transpalatal distraction is an effective treatment for transverse maxillary deficiency after the end of bone growth. The expansion observed on diagnostic models is close to a parallel segment shift mechanism, with a mild tendency towards a larger opening anteriorly. The maxillary segment rotation pattern analysed based on the frontal cephalograms is close to a hand fan unfolding with the rotation point at the frontonasal suture.