Three-dimensional printed surgical guides increase the precision of orthodontic mini-implant placement. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of disinfection and of two types of autoclave sterilization on the mechanical properties of 3D printed surgical guides obtained via the SLA (stereolithography) and DLP (digital light processing) printing methods. A total of 96 standard specimens (48 SLA and 48 DLP) were printed to analyze the tensile and flexural properties of the materials. A total of 80 surgical guide (40 SLA and 40 DLP) specimens from each printing method were classified into four groups: CG (control group); G1, disinfected with 4% Gigasept (Gigasept Instru AF; Schülke & Mayer Gmbh, Norderstedt, Germany); G2, autoclave-sterilized (121 °C); and G3, autoclave-sterilized (134 °C). Significant differences in the maximum compressive load were determined between the groups comprising the DLP-(p < 0.001) and the SLA- (p < 0.001) printed surgical guides. Groups G2 (p = 0.001) and G3 (p = 0.029) showed significant parameter modifications compared with the CG. Disinfection with 4% Gigasept (Gigasept Instru AF; Schülke & Mayer Gmbh, Norderstedt, Germany) is suitable both for SLA- and DLP-printed surgical guides. Heat sterilization at both 121 °C and 134 °C modified the mechanical properties of the surgical guides.

Background: The relationship between respiratory function and craniofacial morphology has garnered significant attention due to its implications for upper airway and stomatognathic development. Nasal breathing plays a key role in craniofacial growth and dental positioning. This study investigated upper airway morphology and volume differences among individuals with class I, II, and III skeletal anomalies. Methods: Ninety orthodontic patients’ CBCT scans were analyzed to assess the oropharynx and hypopharynx volumes. Skeletal diagnosis was established based on the cephalometric analysis. Results: A significant volume change in the oropharynx and pharynx was demonstrated when comparing class II with class III anomalies (p = 0.0414, p = 0.0313). The total volume of the pharynx was increased in class III anomalies. The area of the narrowest part of the pharynx (MIN-CSA) significantly decreased in classes I and II compared to class III (p = 0.0289, p = 0.0003). Patients with Angle class III anomalies exhibited higher values in the narrowest pharyngeal segment. Gender differences were significant in pharyngeal volumes and morphologies across malocclusion classes. Conclusions: The narrowest segment of the pharynx had the highest values in patients with Angle class III. The volume of the oropharynx was found to be greater in patients with Angle class III versus patients with Angle class II.

Interproximal enamel reduction, also known as stripping, is a common orthodontic procedure that reduces the mesiodistal diameter of teeth, allowing for a balance of available space in dental arches. The aim of this study was to assess the enamel surface microhardness resulting from the application of currently available methods for interproximal reduction. Forty-two extracted human permanent teeth were divided into six different groups, each subjected to a therapeutic stripping procedure using various methods (i.e., diamond burs, abrasive strips of 90 μm, 60 μm, 40 μm, and 15 μm, and abrasive discs). Stripping was performed by a single individual in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations for the various systems used. One of the proximal faces of the tooth underwent IPR, while the other side remained untreated for control. The hardness of the enamel surface was measured using a Vickers hardness tester. The control group achieved the hardest enamel surface (354.4 ± 41.02 HV1), while the lowest was observed for enamel surfaces treated with 90 µm abrasive strips (213.7 ± 118.6). The only statistically significant difference was identified in comparisons between the values measured for the control group and those obtained after stripping with diamond burs (p = 0.0159). Enamel microhardness varied depending on the stripping instrument used, but no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05). Optimal microhardness values, close to those of healthy enamel, were achieved after mechanical treatment with 15 µm abrasive strips and abrasive discs. Dental stripping is a safe therapeutic procedure that has a relatively minor influence on the microhardness of surface enamel.

Reports in the literature have proposed and analyzed several minimally invasive techniques for caries removal in recent decades. In light of recent events surrounding the ongoing epidemiological context, concerns have been raised regarding the generation of aerosols during dental procedures. The aim of our research was to provide an overview of the scientific literature on the topic of chemo-mechanical caries removal (CMCR) methods, focusing on two products (Carisolv, BRIX3000), commercially available in Europe. A bibliometric analysis was used to investigate the scientific articles included in Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database, published from January 2010 to December 2020. We analyzed the co-occurrence of all keywords (Author Keywords and the KeyWords Plus section), co-authorship and co-citation, using the free software VOSviewer. Our bibliometric analysis revealed a worldwide interest in the subject of chemo-mechanical methods of caries removal, which has transcended the area of pediatric dentistry. The analyzed studies have been conducted mainly in high-income countries that have developed sanitary policies regarding prevention and early treatment of carious lesions as a health priority.

Background: For years, there has been a long debate about the impact of orthodontic treatment on the periodontium of patients. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of orthodontic forces on the periodontium. The objective of this study was to evaluate the height of the alveolar bone at the four surfaces of specific teeth and the root length of the central incisors before and after orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: CBCTs from a group of fifty patients were evaluated before (T0) and after orthodontic treatment (T1). Evaluations of the alveolar bone were performed by measuring the distance from the most apical point of the marginal portion to the CEJ at the buccal (B-ABL), lingual (L-ABL), mesial (M-ABL), and distal (D-ABL) surfaces of the central incisor (CI), first premolar (1st PM), and first molar (1st M). Meanwhile, root resorptions were evaluated by measuring the distance from the center of the tooth at the CEJ to the most apical point of the central incisor. Results: The reduction in the alveolar bone level was highest at the buccal segment (75%) and lowest at the distal (42%) segment, although the decrease was not statistically significant. Root resorption, in terms of reduction in the total length, was detected in the upper central incisor. Conclusions: Fixed orthodontic treatment can produce a significant reduction in root length, but not at the level of the alveolar bone.

Background: Periodontitis is characterized as a change in the total periodontal tissues that includes tissue loss, as evidenced by clinical loss of attachment, and radiographically determined alveolar bone loss, periodontal pockets, and gingival bleeding. Objectives: The aim of this study was to observe and analyze recent information from the literature on the effect of enamel matrix derivative proteins on the bony defects caused by periodontitis. Methods: Through using two major online databases and search engines, the literature was manually searched for papers published until May 2024. To find relevant studies, this research utilized a combination of target keywords, and the reference lists of manuscripts that were chosen for inclusion in this study were checked and analyzed in tabular form, enabling the collection and comparison of data. Results: According to the results, the average value of the probing depth gained was 4 mm for the EMD™ alone and 4.25 mm for the EMD combined with surgical techniques such as open-flap techniques, platelet derivatives, and growth factors. In regard to clinical attachment level (CAL) gaining, average values of 3.6 mm in EMD™ alone and 3.86 mm with EMD™ combined with other techniques were observed. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the healing propensity depends on the morphological structure of the bone defect represented by the wall stage, and there is a certain coherence and correlation between the values of probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), whether for the use of EMD alone or its use in combination with other materials.