Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing cephalometric diagnosis in orthodontics, streamlining the patient assessments. This study aimed to assess the reliability, accuracy, and time consumption of artificial intelligence (AI)-based software compared to a conventional digital cephalometric analysis method on 2D lateral cephalogram. 408 lateral cephalometries were analysed using three methods: manual landmark localization, automatic localization, and semi-automatic localization with AI-based software. On each lateral cephalogram, 15 variables were selected, including skeletal, dental, and soft tissue measurements. The difference between the two AI-based software options (automatic and semi-automatic) was compared with the conventional digital technique. The time required to produce a complete cephalometric tracing was evaluated for each method using Student’s t-test. Statistically significant differences in the accuracy of landmark positioning were detected among the three different techniques (p < 0,01). However, it is noteworthy that almost all of these differences were not clinically significant. There was a small difference in accuracy between the semi-automatic AI-based option and conventional digital techniques. Regarding the time used for each technique, the automatic version was the fastest, followed by the semi-automatic option and the conventional digital technique. (p < 0,000). The study showed a statistical difference in accuracy between the conventional digital technique and two AI-based software alternatives, but these differences were not clinically significant except for specific measurements. The semi-automatic option was more accurate than the automatic one and faster than conventional tracing. Further research is needed to confirm AI’s accuracy in cephalometric tracing.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleeping breathing disorder. In children, adenotonsillar hypertrophy remains the main anatomical risk factor of OSA. The aim of this study was to assess the current scientific data and to systematically summarize the evidence for the efficiency of adenotonsillectomy (AT) and orthodontic treatment (i.e., rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and mandibular advancement (MA)) in the treatment of pediatric OSA. A literature search was conducted in several databases, including PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane and LILACS up to 5th April 2020. The initial search yielded 509 articles, with 10 articles being identified as eligible after screening. AT and orthodontic treatment were more effective together than separately to cure OSA in pediatric patients. There was a greater decrease in apnea hypoapnea index (AHI) and respiratory disturbance index (RDI), and a major increase in the lowest oxygen saturation and the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) after undergoing both treatments. Nevertheless, the reappearance of OSA could occur several years after reporting adequate treatment. In order to avoid recurrence, myofunctional therapy (MT) could be recommended as a follow-up. However, further studies with good clinical evidence are required to confirm this finding.

Objectives. To determine factors influencing intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) failure in the prevention of group B streptococcus (GBS) early-onset disease (EOD). Methods. GBS EOD case is defined as isolation of GBS from a normally sterile body site (e.g. blood or cerebrospinal fluid) in infants aged ≤7 days. During a consecutive 93-month period, GBS EOD cases and care data were reviewed. Results. Seventy-nine GBS EOD cases were registered; 67 infants were born to women who received no i.v. antibiotics during labor. The 12 EOD cases exposed to IAP were more likely to be associated with emergency caesarean section (p = 0.0015), maternal obstetric risk factors (ORFs) (p = 0.0061), particularly intrapartum fever (p = 0.0002), and to present with signs of illness at birth (p = 0.0015). Correct dosages, agents, and timing were registered in three cases only; of which two were associated with intrapartum fever. Conclusions. ORFs, emergency caesarean section, and signs of illness at birth are significantly associated with GBS EOD in infants exposed to IAP. This study also suggests that recommended IAP agents, dosages, and timing are infrequently associated with EOD. Strict protocol adherence is recommended in all cases.

Peri-implantitis is a steadily rising disease and is caused by oral bacterial pathogens able to form biofilm on implant surfaces and peri-implant tissues, making antibiotics treatment less effective. The use of commercial probiotics against oral pathogens could serve as an alternative to prevent biofilm formation. Streptococcus intermedius is one of the early colonizers of biofilm formation in dental implants. The aim of this study was to model the interaction between S. intermedius and Streptococcus salivarius strain K12, a probiotic bacterium producing bacteriocins. S. intermedius was co-cultured with S. salivarius K12 in an in vitro model simulating the biofilm formation in a dental implant composed by a titanium cylinder system. Biofilm formation rate was assessed by Real-Time PCR quantification of bacterial count and expression levels of luxS gene, used in response to cell density in the biofilm. Biofilm formation, bacteriocin production, luxS expression patterns were found to be already expressed within the first 12 h. More importantly, S. salivarius K12 was able to counter the biofilm formation in a titanium cylinder under the tested condition. In conclusion, our dental implant model may be useful for exploring probiotic-pathogen interaction to find an alternative to antibiotics for peri-implantitis treatment.

To review the available bibliographic data to identify the best screening methods to detect potential obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients during dental clinical practice. Relevant studies publis...