White spots (WS) are one of the most undesirable side effects in patients undergoing orthodontic therapy and are usually located around bracket bases and even detected under the molar bands. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate the WS lesion during orthodontic therapy and the correlation between WS and oral hygiene habits. Patients requiring orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance were screened for the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 74 subjects were finally enrolled. Each patient received three examinations: at T0, the day of the application of the fixed appliance; at T1, three months later; and at T2, six months after treatment start. After calculating descriptive statistics, differences between groups were evaluated with an independent sample t-test. The first type error was set as p ≤ 0.01. The observed prevalence of WS lesions was 59.5% on T1 and 60.8% on T2. The most affected teeth result to be upper molars, lower left first molar, upper right central incisor and upper left lateral incisor, upper right canine, upper left first premolar, and lower right first molar. A higher frequency of daily tooth brushing was accompanied by a lower prevalence of WS. No significant effect of sex was observed.

Removable functional appliances (RFA) have long been employed to address Class II malocclusion, particularly in cases involving a significant overjet, a deep bite, and molar class 2 issues. Notably divergent from RFA, myofunctional appliances (PMA) offer several distinct advantages, including applicability in noncompliant patients, adaptability in cases of dental element scarcity, suitability for allergic patients, impression-free utilization, and reduced costs. Within the array of clinical cases treated with PMA, we chose to present an intricate case involving an 8-year-old girl. Our aim was to showcase the immediate effects of PMA and to track the progress over a two-year span. Following one year of PMA treatment, substantial improvements were observed in a large overjet, a deep bite, and lip incompetence—factors often associated with elevated risks of dental trauma. These improvements not only positively impacted dental aesthetics but also engendered normalized nasal respiration and diminished palatal impingement, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life. Upon reaching the two-year mark, the clinical status pertaining to Class II malocclusion remained stable. Further treatment was advised in a subsequent phase to refine imperfections in the dental arch form. Nonetheless, comprehensive data from the prolonged follow-up of patients treated with these appliances are essential to establish robust scientific evidence concerning their long-term efficacy.

Endodontic failure has been and continues to be a problem for endodontics-specialists. Complicated anatomy, numerous foramens, and accessory canals are an environment for microorganisms to infect the teeth. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the regeneration of copper–calcium hydroxide (Cupral)-endodontically treated teeth diagnosed with apical periodontitis using an electrophoresis technique. In total, 132 patients, aging from 19 to 65 years old, underwent endodontic treatment mono- and multi-radicular teeth, with complicated canals from January 2019 to June 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: (i) the control group—which included 54 patients (n = 62 teeth) receiving endodontic paste (Calcipast + 1) and, as final filling, the AH-Plus^TM cement—and (ii) the Cupral group, which included 78 patients (n = 80 teeth) receiving Cupral paste plus the electrophoretic current and, as final filling, the Atacamit-alkaline cement. The clinical cases were periodically observed along an 18-month follow-up period via radiography. Data were expressed as focal size of the lesions (mean ± standard error (SEM) of all the radiographic outcomes) observed in each group at each interval point. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student’s t-test that allowed us to compare the control and Cupral groups; the statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, where the latter was highly significant. Before treatments, the focal sizes were 4.8 mm and 4.95 mm for control and Cupral-treated groups, respectively. After 6 months, the mean focal sizes were 3.9 mm and 2.14 mm for the control and Cupral groups, respectively. After 12 months, in the control group, the mean focal size was measured at 2.8 mm, while, in Cupral group, the lesion size decreased down to 0.31 mm and a highly dynamic regeneration of the destructive focal-bone occurred. After 18 months, the lesions were further significantly reduced in the control group (mean values of 2.62 mm), while they were barely detectable in the Cupral group (0.2 mm). In conclusion, we provide initial evidence that the Cupral-electrophoresis methodology is effective in treating destructive periodontitis of teeth with problematic canals up to 18 months, thus allowing teeth preservation.

Treating central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) is challenging due to high recurrence rates and variable therapy responses. This study examines the efficacy of various treatments in reducing CGCG recurrence. A literature review explored outcomes of surgical excision, curettage, intralesional corticosteroid injection, and adjuvant therapy, considering factors like lesion location, size, and histological features. Aggressive surgical techniques such as en bloc resection were found to potentially lower recurrence rates compared to conservative approaches. However, treatment should be tailored to individual patient needs. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and improve treatment strategies. A concise literature review was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, focusing on papers published from 1986 to 2024. Search terms included “central giant cell granuloma”, “recurrence”, “treatment modalities”, and “surgical excision”. Studies reporting recurrence rates and treatment outcomes for CGCG were analyzed. Twenty-nine studies were reviewed, including six studies on surgical excision and curettage, eight studies on intralesional corticosteroid injections, six studies on calcitonin therapy, five studies on interferon-alpha therapy, and four studies on the therapy with denosumab. Analysis indicated that aggressive surgical treatments like en bloc resection were associated with lower recurrence rates compared to conservative methods. Predictors of recurrence included lesion size (>3 cm), location (mandible), and aggressive histopathological features. Aggressive surgical excision combined with nonsurgical methods may lower recurrence rates, while conservative techniques remain viable in some cases. Further prospective research is needed to validate these findings and enhance CGCG treatment options.

Background: Periodontitis is associated with systemic inflammation; however, the relationship between disease severity and systemic inflammatory biomarkers remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between periodontitis stage and grade with systemic levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and assess changes following standardized non-surgical periodontal therapy. Methods: Patient records from the University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosovo were reviewed. Periodontitis was classified using the 2018 staging and grading system. Periodontal parameters (probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, plaque index, and gingival index) were assessed at six sites per tooth (excluding third molars). Serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and high-sensitivity CRP were measured before and after therapy using high-sensitivity ELISA. Blood samples were centrifuged, and serum was stored at −20 °C. All patients underwent standardized non-surgical periodontal therapy, including full-mouth scaling and root planning, without systemic antibiotics. Data were analyzed using SPSS v22.0. Results: Among the patients, 28.0% had Stage I–II, 40.0% Stage III, and 32.0% Stage IV periodontitis; 29.3% were Grade A, 45.3% Grade B, and 25.3% Grade C. At baseline, all systemic inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were significantly higher in periodontitis patients compared with the control group, indicating an increased systemic inflammatory burden before therapy. After therapy, significant reductions in CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were observed across all stages and grades (all p < 0.01), indicating a decrease in systemic inflammatory burden. Conclusions: Non-surgical periodontal therapy significantly lowers systemic inflammatory biomarkers regardless of periodontitis severity, supporting their role as indicators of disease activity and treatment response.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and periodontitis are chronic inflammatory conditions. Periodontitis may amplify low-grade systemic inflammation in people with T2DM. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) reflects this inflammatory burden, but the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on hsCRP in T2DM remains uncertain. Objective: To evaluate whether NSPT changes hsCRP at 3 and 6 months compared with oral hygiene instructions alone in patients with T2DM and periodontitis. Methods: Predefined secondary analysis of a 1:1 parallel-group randomized trial with assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Participants received scaling and root planing plus oral hygiene instructions (intervention) or oral hygiene instructions only (control). Fasting hsCRP (mg/L) was analyzed on the log scale using mixed-effects models; effects are presented as exponentiated ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Sensitivity analyses included baseline-adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and covariate-adjusted mixed models. An exploratory group-adjusted regression examined associations between periodontal changes and hsCRP change. Results: Eighty-nine participants were randomized (45 control, 44 intervention), with hsCRP available for most participants through 6 months. There was no between-group difference at 3 months (ratio 0.958; 95% CI 0.875–1.049; p = 0.358). At 6 months, hsCRP was lower in the NSPT group than in controls (ratio 0.809; 95% CI 0.738–0.887; p < 0.001), corresponding to ~19% lower hsCRP; the model-based geometric mean hsCRP at 6 months was 2.66 mg/L versus 3.26 mg/L. Periodontal measures improved more with NSPT, but changes in periodontal measures were not independently associated with hsCRP change after group adjustment. Conclusions: In patients with T2DM and periodontitis, NSPT was associated with lower hsCRP at 6 months compared with oral hygiene instructions alone. These biomarker findings suggest a potential systemic anti-inflammatory effect, but should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and confirmed in adequately powered trials.