The aims of the current study were as following: (1) to evaluate the maximal bite forces in patients with dental implants versus patients without dental implants, as measured by a digital bite force transducer (GM10); (2) to evaluate the influences of sex, age, and sleep/awake bruxism on the maximal bite forces of the two groups. Forty patients recruited to the study were divided into two groups: test group (“implant”) if they had one or more posterior restored implants and control group (“no-implant”) without the presence of posterior dental implants. A digital bite fork (GM10) was used to measure the bite forces from three posterior occluding pairs in all participants. Differences in the mean values between the test and control groups and between different sexes were evaluated using one-way and two-way ANOVA tests. A cross-tabulation analysis was conducted to identify a trend line between the groups. There was no significant difference in the maximal bite force between the test and control groups (p = 0.422), but the cross-tabulation analysis revealed a clear trend of a stronger representation of the “no-implant” group at higher occlusal forces. A significant difference was detected between the maximal biting forces of male and female subjects (p = 0.030 in the implant group, p = 0.010 in the no-implant group), regardless of the experimental group. The presence of bruxism and clenching did not influence the bite force values (p = 0.953), and a significant difference was not found between the age groups (p = 0.393). Within the limitations of this study, it may be assumed that there was no significant difference between the maximal bite forces between patients with and without dental implants but that there was a trend line implicating a stronger representation of the “no-implant” group at higher forces. In addition, the results revealed a significant sex-related difference in the maximal occlusal force. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.

GBR (Guided Bone Regeneration) procedure is challenged by the risk of membrane exposure to the oral cavity and contamination. The barrier quality of these membranes serve as a mechanical block from bacterial penetration into the GBR site. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of three commercial non-resorbable polytetrafluoroethylene membranes. (Two d-PTFE membranes and one double layer e-PTFE +d-PTFE membrane). A validated in vitro model with two bacterial species (Streptococcus sanguinis and Fusobacterium nucleatum) was used. Eight samples from membrane each were placed in a 96-well microtiter plate. The experimental and positive control groups were exposed to a bacterial suspension which involved one bacterial species in each plate. Bacterial growth was monitored spectrophotometrically at 650 nm for 24 h in temperature controlled microplate spectrophotometer under anaerobic conditions. One- Sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov Normal test and the Kruskal–Wallis test was used for the statistical analysis. As shown by the bacterial growth curves obtained from the spectrophotometer readings, all three membranes resulted in bacterial growth. We have not found a statistical difference in F. nucleatum growth between different membrane samples and the positive control group. However, S. sanguinis growth was reduced significantly in the presence of two membranes (CYTOPLAST TXT-200 and NeoGen^TM) when compared to the control (p < 0.01). The presence of Permamem^® had no significant influence on S. sanguinis growth. Some types of commercial non-resorbable PTFE membranes may have an impact on the growth dynamics of specific bacterial species.

Introduction: The mass-harvesting of digitized medical data has prompted their use as a clinical and research tool. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy and reliability of artificial intelligence derived cephalometric landmark identification with that of human observers. Methods: Ten pre-treatment digital lateral cephalometric radiographs were randomly selected from a university post-graduate clinic. The x- and y-coordinates of 21 (i.e., 42 points) hard and soft tissue landmarks were identified by 6 specialists, 19 residents, 4 imaging technicians, and a commercially available convolutional neural network artificial intelligence platform (CephX, Orca Dental, Hertzylia, Israel). Wilcoxon, Spearman and Bartlett tests were performed to compare agreement of human and AI landmark identification. Results: Six x- or y-coordinates (14.28%) were found to be statistically different, with only one being outside the 2 mm range of acceptable error, and with 97.6% of coordinates found to be within this range. Conclusions: The use of convolutional neural network artificial intelligence as a tool for cephalometric landmark identification was found to be highly accurate and can serve as an aid in orthodontic diagnosis.

This study aimed to characterize the demographic and clinical features of underreported surgical ciliated cysts developing after sinus floor augmentation, based on a series of cases from our files and a systematic review of the literature. A series of five cases (four patients) of microscopically confirmed surgical ciliated cysts following sinus floor augmentation procedures from our files are described. A systematic literature search (1991–2020) with strict clinical-, radiological- and microscopic-based exclusion and inclusion criteria was performed to detect additional similar cases. The systematic review revealed only five cases that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Altogether, surgical ciliated cysts associated with sinus floor augmentation have been rarely reported in the literature, and have not been characterized either demographically or clinically. Graft materials were diverse, implants were placed simultaneously, or up to two years post-augmentation. The associated surgical ciliated cysts developed between 0.5 and 10 years post-augmentation. Although limited in its extent, this study is the first series to characterize possible underreported sequelae of surgical ciliated cysts associated with sinus floor augmentation. It emphasizes the need for long post-operative follow-up and confirmation of lesion by microscopic examination.

Background and objectives: Preservation of alveolar ridge contour following tooth extraction is important to allow for restoration with prosthetics and implants. Socket seal surgery was introduced more than two decades ago for preservation of the form, volume and bone quality of the postextraction ridge. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the changes in alveolar ridge contour following socket seal surgery and to evaluate the survival of the soft tissue grafts sealing the extraction site. Materials and Methods: Digital images of the extraction sites treated with the socket seal surgery were obtained immediately after extraction and after a healing time of 6 months to measure the changes in the alveolar width. In addition, the sites were photographed 1 week postsurgery to evaluate the vitality of the soft tissue grafts. Results: The overall mean loss of buccal width following socket seal surgery was 5.3% (SD = 13.4%). The mean change in width at the incisor area (1.5% ± 13.1) was significantly lesser than those in the canine area (−17.0% ± 2.1, p < 0.01) or premolar area (−10.5% ± 11.2, p < 0.01). One-week post-surgery 69% of the grafts were vital, and 31% were partially vital. Complete necrosis of the grafts did not occur. Conclusions: Our results suggest that socket seal surgery has a beneficial effect on alveolar dimensional changes 6 months following tooth extraction and that the teeth that benefit mostly from socket seal surgery are incisors.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to perform a retrospective assessment of the clinical performance of the complete oral rehabilitation of patients with bruxism treated with implants and teeth-supported veneered and non-veneered monolithic zirconia restorations with increased occlusal vertical dimension. Methods: In this retrospective follow-up study, 16 bruxer patients, mean age 59.5 ± 14.9 years, were treated with 152 veneered and 229 non-veneered monolithic zirconia and followed for a mean of 58.8 ± 18.8 months (range 1–8 years). The patients were examined clinically and radiographically, annually. Clinical data were extracted from the medical records. In the recall appointments, modified California Dental Association (CDA) criteria were used to evaluate the restorations. Implant and restoration survival and success rates were recorded and analyzed. Results: The cumulative survival rates of implants and restorations were 97.7% and 97.6%, respectively. Nine restorations were replaced: three due to horizontal tooth fractures, two because of implant failure and four had secondary caries. A total of 43 biologic and technical complications were recorded. In the veneered group, the predominant complication was minor veneer chipping (16.4%), which required polishing only (grade 1). In the non-veneered group, the main complication was open proximal contacts between the implant restorations and adjacent teeth (14.5%). Conclusions: The survival rates of restorations and implants in patients with bruxism are excellent, even though veneered zirconia restoration exhibited a high rate of minor veneer chipping, which required polishing only. The biologic complication of fractured single-tooth abutment may occur.