The aim of this study was to investigate the operating conditions of dentists in Central Europe during the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. A survey including 24 questions was emailed to dentists in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and South Tyrol (Italy). Questions regarding dentists’ field of work, working hours, treatments performed, personal protective equipment and protocols, and economic consequences were asked. 1731 participants were included. 30.4% of participants worked mainly in Austria, 60.8% in Germany, 6% in Switzerland and 2.1% in South Tyrol. A country-specific analysis for the situation of South Tyrol was not possible due to the low participation; 53.7% of German, 45.5% of Austrian, and 11.7% of Swiss respondents reduced their working hours; 42.8% of Austrian, 41.5% of Swiss, and 17.3% of German participants closed their offices temporarily; 52.2% of respondents provided emergency service including pain management, restorations/temporaries, and denture repairs. A lack of access to FFP2/FFP3 (filtering facepiece) respirators was indicated by 59.4% Austrian, 38.0% German, and 11.7% Swiss dentists (p < 0.001). FFP2/FFP3 respirators were, when available, most frequently used in Austria (86.9%), followed by Switzerland (61.2%) and Germany (56.7%) (p < 0.001). Financial consequences could not be conclusively quantified by 58.6% of the participants. Most respondents in all partaking countries made use of governmental support. A lack of blueprints/guidelines resulted in heterogeneous working conditions. In consideration of a potentially high risk of infection in the dental setting, non-emergency dental treatments were largely suspended in all participating countries.

The aim of this systematic review was to answer the question of whether patients with osteogenesis imperfecta can be prosthetically rehabilitated with dental implants. A protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021286368). The inclusion criteria were the presence of osteogenesis imperfecta and the use of implants for prosthetic restorations. Cases in which the inclusion criteria were not met were excluded. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were last searched on 22 August 2021. Quality assessment was performed using the Methodological Quality and Synthesis of Case Series and Case Reports tool. The primary outcome was implant survival. Supporting data were analyzed descriptively. Twelve studies were included. Twenty-three patients received a total number of 116 implants, with 5.0 (±3.8) implants placed per patient. The implant survival rate was 94.0% with a mean follow-up of 59.1 months (±36.1). A limitation of this review was the relatively short follow-up time in some of the included studies; therefore, the survival rate may be overestimated. Nevertheless, the available data showed the loss of only seven implants, with two implants lost due to implant fractures not attributable to the patient. With the limitations of this review and based on the available data, dental implants have a high survival rate in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta. Therefore, dental implants may be a viable treatment option for replacing missing teeth. This research was not funded by external resources.

We aimed to investigate the efficacy of air-polishing in restoring the original tooth colour of standardised tobacco-stained tooth specimens. Seventy-two specimens consisting of half dentine and half enamel were daily exposed to the smoke of five cigarettes in an automated smoking chamber. Four repetitions of a 14-day smoking cycle were performed. Specimens were cleaned after each cycle, either by air-polishing with erythritol or sodium bicarbonate powder, or with a rubber cup and pumice stone as control. Spectral photometric colour changes (ΔE) and profilometric surface roughness were measured before and after each cycle. All samples were stored for the entirety of the study period in artificial saliva to mimic oral conditions and to establish a pellicle layer on the samples. The tested cleaning procedures effectively removed tobacco staining from dentine and enamel samples, however, none of the treatments could restore the original colour. Mean [SD] tooth colour of enamel specimens after four cycles was not statistically significantly different between erythritol (E = 77.6 [6.6]) and sodium bicarbonate air-polishing (E = 79.8 [7.0]) (P > .05). ΔE showed no significant differences between the air-polishing groups after four cycles (P > .05) but with the control group (P < .001). On dentine there was no statistically significant difference of ΔE between all three groups (P > .05). No significant differences in enamel and dentine roughness compared to baseline were observed after repeated air-polishing with erythritol (P > .05). Erythritol air-polishing removed smoker's discolourations just as effectively as air-polishing with sodium bicarbonate and polishing with pumice, without altering the roughness of the tooth structures. Tobacco stains do not reoccur faster or stronger after the use of air-polishing devices than after polishing with rubber cup and paste. Air-polishing with erythritol emerged as a safe and efficient option for removing extrinsic tooth discolourations with the least abrasive character. These findings support the clinical relevance of incorporating air-polishing devices, particularly with erythritol powder, in dental practice for managing tobacco-induced tooth discolourations.

Objectives: The issue of oral health problems among refugees, not only during their journey but also once they arrive at their destination, is a current one. This study aimed to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of refugees, with the intention of highlighting a potential need for improved education and easier access to dental care. Materials and methods: A questionnaire based on the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was distributed via hyperlink on social media, targeting individuals with a refugee background to collect data on their OHRQoL. Results: A total of 401 participants completed the questionnaire. The median OHIP score for all participants was 8 (IQR 2–17) out of a maximum of 56, with 0 representing the best possible OHRQoL. The median OHIP score was 6 (IQR 2–16) for male and 8 (IQR 2–18) for female participants. Conclusions: A comparison of the OHIP score from this study with reference values from non-refugee populations shows an elevated score and, thus, a lower oral quality of life. Clinical relevance: The findings of this study indicate a clear need for enhanced access to dental care for refugees, coupled with an educational initiative aimed at fostering an appreciation of the importance of daily dental hygiene.