The aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence of sleep/awake bruxism among young students in Transylvania and to correlate the presence of this muscle activity with behavioral variations. This analytical, observational, cohort, cross-sectional, and prospective study involved 308 volunteers aged between 19 and 30 years of different nationalities, all students of the “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Subjects were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire which was structured in five sections. The results obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed separately for sleep bruxism and for awake bruxism. We did not find any statistically significant correlation between awake bruxism or sleep bruxism and age (p = 0.30 and p = 0.37, respectively), sex (p = 0.44 and p = 0.48, respectively), or nationality (p = 0.55 and p = 0.67, respectively). Only a high degree of stress and frustration (p = 0.035 and p = 0.020) was observed in European subjects except for the Romanians and the French, likely related to the difficulties of adapting to the language and lifestyle in Romania. Female sex was statistically significantly associated with an increased level of stress (p = 0.004), duty-related depression (p = 0.006), and duty-related anxiety (p = 0.003). Stress and anxiety can be favorable factors in the appearance of both types of bruxism; however, depression is associated only with awake bruxism.

The purpose of this research was to assess the correlation between glycemic control and clinical periodontal characteristics in type 2 diabetics with generalized chronic periodontitis. A total of 182 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and generalized chronic periodontitis were included in our study. The clinical examination included full‑mouth plaque accumulation, bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD), presence of suppuration (SUP), clinical attachment level (CAL) and number of remaining teeth. Blood analyses were conducted for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). The correlation between the extent of periodontitis, defined as the percentage of PD and CAL sites ≥5 mm, and glycemic control was also analyzed. In addition, clinical parameters were compared between two (<7 and ≥7%) glycemic subsets. The frequency of uncontrolled diabetic subjects (HbA1c ≥7%) was higher than that of the well‑controlled subjects (HbA1c <7%), 57.15 vs. 42.85%. Among the clinical parameters evaluated, mean full‑mouth plaque accumulation was significantly higher among patients without glucose control (74.2±25.2 vs. 62.5±28.7%, P<0.01), as well as mean PD (3.78±0.9 vs. 3.42±0.8 mm, P<0.01) and mean CAL (4.5±1.2 vs. 4.1±1.2 mm, P=0.02). The sites with PD ≥5 mm were statistically more prevalent among patients with HbA1c ≥7% compared with patients with HbA1c <7% (27.8±6.2 vs. 23.4±5.8%, P<0.01). The mean number of remaining teeth was statistically significantly lower in patients with HbA1c ≥7% compared with patients with HbA1c <7% (18.5±3.2 vs. 20.4±4.1, P<0.01). In conclusion, the severity and extension of generalized chronic periodontitis was higher in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with poor glucose control compared with those with good glucose control.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate which of the techniques and acids included in this in vitro research can induce artificial caries lesions in the most natural way. White spot lesions were created using six different demineralizing solutions in liquid form (lactic acid; orthophosphoric acid; formic acid; and an acid solution that contains calcium chloride, sodium phosphate and acetic acid) and gel form (hydrochloric acid and orthophosphoric acid). Radiographs, photographs and readings with a DIAGNODent™ pen, VITA Easyshade and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were made in the initial situation, after 30 min, 1 h, 24 h and 96 h of demineralization. The total color change (ΔE) values in most cases presented statistically significant differences. SEM images showed different aspects of the enamel surface for each type of acid. Only in the case of exposed dentine did the DIAGNODent™ pen record significant differences. There was no noticeable radio-translucency of the teeth treated for a short period of time, but after 24 h, the absence of enamel and major demineralization of dentine were visible. Acids in the liquid state can penetrate and demineralize dental structures deeper than those that are more viscous. This study should be repeated with a protocol that includes remineralization. Using weaker acids would be another direction that could lead to more interesting findings.

Application of paraclinical methods for investigating the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has been a subject of constant controversy due to the absence of universally‑accepted criteria and lack of consensus regarding their usage. Compared with medical imaging, which provides a structural analysis of the TMJ, axiography involves the functional recording of condylar movements. The aim of the present study was to explore the diagnostic value of computerized axiography for TMJ disc displacements using MRI as the reference standard. The present study included 33 (66 TMJs) patients clinically diagnosed with TMJ disc displacements. On the same day, all patients underwent clinical examination and computerized axiography measurements using Cadiax Compact® II before undergoing MRI (1.5 T) 1‑7 days later. The characteristics of the diagnostic parameters, namely sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, Youden index and the 95% confidence intervals (CI), were all computed. Compared with MRI, computerized axiography yielded a sensitivity of 85.11%, specificity of 94.74%, positive predictive value of 97.56%, negative predictive value of 72% and a diagnostic accuracy of 87.88% for any disc displacements. This suggests that computerized axiography can confer high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the diagnosis of TMJ disc displacements. However, axiographic analysis has no diagnostic significance in TMJ function if not associated with clinical examination.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the daily lives of the global population, not only in terms of social interaction but also in terms of access to medical and dental care. Non-urgent dental treatments could not be continued during the lockdown and only a small number of dental centres addressed patients with dental emergencies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, and living environment) of the individuals that accessed the dental emergency centre in Oradea (North-West Romania) and the main causes for accessing the dental emergency service among the population of Oradea (North-West Romania), during the COVID-19 lockdown, between March and May 2020 and, furthermore, to compare the results obtained in the lockdown timeframe (March–May 2020), with the results obtained in the corresponding timeframe in the pre-lockdown year (March–May 2019) and post-lockdown year (March–May 2021). The retrospective study was carried out by analysing the medical records of the patients who were treated in the dental emergency service of the Oradea County Emergency Clinical Hospital in the following periods: March–May 2019, March–May 2020, and March–May 2021. Most patients were treated in 2020, during the lockdown (n = 784), predominantly in April (n = 308). Most patients treated in April 2020 were male patients (43.7%, n = 205) and were aged between 30 and 39 years (19.4%, n = 74). The most frequent types of dental emergencies were acute apical periodontitis and acute pulpitis in all the months and years investigated. During the lockdown months of 2020, acute pulpitis was the most frequent type of emergency in March (42.2%, n = 100) and May (45.6%, n = 109), while in April, acute apical periodontitis was the most frequent type of emergency (43.5%, n = 166). The COVID-19 lockdown led to an increase in the number of patients that required emergency treatments and impacted all groups of people investigated.

Background and Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to assess clinical trials on the efficiency of sinus lift techniques with and without bone grafting in the atrophic posterior maxilla. Materials and Methods: This article was written under the PRISMA and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were electronically searched until December 2023. The risk of bias was assessed according to Cochrane Risk of Bias tool guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed for implant survival rate (ISR), marginal bone loss (MBL), and endo-sinus bone gain (ESBG). Results: At the end of the electronic search, 5 clinical trials were considered eligible. Statistical analysis was achieved for osteotome sinus floor elevation. The ISR at 3 years had a risk ratio (RR) of 0.98 [0.90, 1.07] (CI 95%), p = 0.7, and at 5 years, RR 1.02 [0.93, 1.11] (CI 95%), p = 0.68. The MBL, at 3 years, indicated a weighted mean difference (WMD) of 0.01 [−0.15, 0.16] (CI 95%), p = 0.93, and at 5 years, WMD of −0.08 [−0.53, 0.37] (CI 95%), p = 0.73. ESBG at 3 years had a WMD of −0.44 [−1.05, 0.17] (CI 95%), p = 0.16, and at 5 years, WMD of −0.61 [−1.63, 0.41] (CI 95%), p = 0.24. Conclusions: The available evidence underlines that the osteotome sinus floor elevation technique without bone graft may be used.