Tooth decay remains one of the most common diseases in children, although it is a preventable injury and despite significant advances that has been made in terms of attention and care for oral hygiene. Several studies have shown the association between prevalence of tooth decay in children and parents’ incorrect oral care habits, with a low educational level and a low socioeconomic background. The question that arises concerns the actual oral hygiene knowledge of mothers, fathers, family members or caregivers of young patients; therefore, the aim of this review is to investigate the genesis of gaps in the topic. A literature search was conducted through the Scopus and PubMed search engine and ended in May 2022; only studies from the past 20 years were included. Current evidence suggests that parents and caregivers still have little knowledge about their children’s oral health: there is not enough awareness about the importance of preventing oral diseases, due to poor attention to good oral hygiene but also lack of information from health professionals and institutions. In the future, all the professionals involved in the pregnant woman’s care should increase parents’ knowledge, solve their doubts, collect and compare data in order to design effective intervention programs.

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of tooth width measurements and Bolton Indices delivered by the Clin-Check Pro 6.0 software (Align Technology, San José, CA, USA). Fifty-four plaster casts were selected and measured with a manual calliper by a trained and calibrated observer. The data gathered were compared with those delivered by the software on the corresponding fifty-four virtual casts. The method reliability of the software was assessed by comparing the measurements performed by the software on 201 pairs of clin-checks corresponding to two consecutive treatment phases. Accuracy and reliability were statistically assessed using a mixed model. The software tends to provide larger widths compared with the manual method. Statistically significant differences were found in 23 teeth. At a global level, the mean difference between the methods was −0.19 mm, with a Dahlberg error of 0.24 mm and an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.98. The Bolton Indices delivered by the two methods had a moderate correlation (ICC = 0.59; 0.69). The within method reliability of the software was extremely high. Tooth width measurements delivered by the software, despite the positive bias, can be considered accurate and clinically acceptable for all teeth except molars. The Bolton Indices made available by the software are not accurate and clinically acceptable, especially in the case of mandibular excess.

Background: In order to reduce the prolonged duration of orthodontic treatment, several surgical techniques have been proposed over the years. Corticotomy and piezocision are the two most widely used techniques, and, given the lack of consensus in the literature, along with the renewed interest in these approaches in recent years, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate their effectiveness in accelerating canine retraction in patients requiring extraction of the upper first premolar and, as a secondary objective, to assess if there is a worsening of periodontal health and how the surgical approach is perceived by the patient. Methods: An electronic search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) up to 30 November 2024. The PRISMA statement was adopted for the realization of the review, and the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias assessment tool (RoB 2) was used to assess the studies’ quality. Results: After full text assessment, fifteen randomized clinical trials (14 split mouth design, 1 single-blind, single-center design) covering 326 patients (mean age 20, 19 years) were included. The data collected reveal that corticotomy accelerates canine retraction by 1.5 to 4 times, while piezocision achieves retraction 1.5 to 2 times faster, making corticotomy the most effective technique. No statistically significant adverse effects on periodontal ligament, molar anchorage loss, or root resorption were observed following the two surgical techniques. In addition, patients reported experiencing mild to moderate pain. Conclusions: Corticotomy and piezocision are effective techniques for accelerating upper canine retraction in extraction cases, significantly reducing the overall duration of orthodontic treatment.

The diagnosis and treatment of external invasive cervical resorption (EICR) could be a challenging clinical situation even for the most experienced dentists. It is a fairly rare lesion and a poorly understood phenomenon, and its insidious and aggressive nature can lead to tooth loss. Even in the era of dental implants, trying to save a compromised tooth is imperative for any clinician. This report presents a case of an upper central incisor with a class II Heithersay EICR in which treatment was performed using a multidisciplinary approach and the defect was restored with resin composite. The surgery in which the defect was exposed and repaired was followed by an endodontic treatment and the placement of a fiber‐reinforced post. In this case, the use of modern materials, such as resin composites, allowed not only the avoidance of tooth extraction but also the achievement of satisfactory aesthetic results. The 6‐year follow‐up demonstrated the success of therapy and the resolution of clinical symptoms. This case report highlights the importance of early detection of EICR and how composite resins could provide an effective and aesthetic restauration of the defect, which favors the health of the surrounding gingival tissue.

Background: Managing unilateral maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (UMLIA) with an associated microdontic or peg-shaped contralateral incisor (Mi or Peg MLI) presents clinical and esthetic challenges. Deciding between orthodontic space opening (OSO) or closure (OSC) and whether to restore or extract the Mi or Peg MLI are critical factors for achieving optimal treatment outcomes. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using a dual strategy across Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. The Cochrane RoB2 tool was used for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the ACROBAT-NRSI tool for non-randomized studies, and the JBI Manual for case reports. High-quality case reports were included when the literature was limited. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) tool evaluated the certainty of evidence, considering bias, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision and other considerations. Results: Thirty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, assessing treatment modalities, esthetic outcomes, periodontal health, and occlusal and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function. Both OSO and OSC demonstrated similar occlusal and TMJ outcomes, while slight differences in esthetic and periodontal results were noted between the two approaches. Direct composite and indirect ceramic restorations showed comparable effectiveness for reshaping the Mi or Peg MLI. Extraction combined with OSC contributed to improved smile symmetry. Conclusions: A personalized, multidisciplinary approach is essential for treating UMLIA with an Mi or Peg MLI. Both OSO and OSC are viable options, and the choice should be tailored to the patient’s specific clinical scenario, with attention to achieving the best esthetic and periodontal outcomes. Further research is needed to refine treatment protocols and support clinical decision-making.