This study aimed to develop Ca²⁺ doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and investigate their antibacterial properties against microorganisms of dental interest. Zn-Ca NPs were synthesized by the sol-gel method with different concentrations of Ca²⁺ (1, 3, and 5 wt. %) and subsequently characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The Kirby–Bauer method was used to measure antibacterial effects. NPs showed the wurzite phase of ZnO and bandgap energies (Eg) from 2.99 to 3.04 eV. SEM analysis showed an average particle size of 80 to 160 nm. The treatments that presented the best antibacterial activity were Zn-Ca 3% and Zn-Ca 5%. ZnO NPs represent an alternative to generate and improve materials with antibacterial capacity for dental applications.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between some characteristics of primary dentition, and the frequency of parafunctional oral habits, with age and sex. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 227 preschool children. Subjects’ parents or guardians were asked to sign an informed consent form. The epidemiological survey consisted of an oral examination and the application of a questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha=0.881), after calibration of a dentist (Kappa=0.932). To measure the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha was calculated, and for the associations, Mantel and Haenszel Square Chi-square test and likelihood ratio for contingency tables greater than 2x2 values were calculated. Results: Type 2 arch (72.7%), mouth breathing (26.0%) and onychophagia (17.2%) were the risk factors observed more frequently in the group under study. The type of arch was the only variable that was associated with sex (X2MH=4.443, p=0.035). Conclusion: A significant proportion of the subjects had at least one risk factor that may alter the development of dental occlusion; consequently, the implementation of preventive actions in this population must be considered

Exclusive breastfeeding is recognized for its nutritional, immunological, and emotional benefits. However, various barriers hinder its practice. This study analyzed mothers' knowledge and attitudes toward exclusive breastfeeding through a qualitative analysis of open- and closed-ended responses, collected via a questionnaire distributed through the WhatsApp application. Key themes related to perceived benefits, difficulties, and reasons for discontinuation were identified.The results showed that most mothers acknowledged the benefits of breastfeeding, such as disease prevention, better infant nutrition, and strengthened maternal-infant bonding. However, significant obstacles were identified, including lack of time due to work responsibilities, discomfort with breastfeeding in public, and the perception of low milk supply.Despite a good level of knowledge, social and workplace barriers influenced the discontinuation of breastfeeding. It was concluded that education on strategies to maintain milk production should be reinforced, and workplace policies should be promoted to support the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding.

The COVID-19 pandemic implied changes and challenges in university education around the world. In the area of ​​dental education, the virtual approach or virtual teaching was a challenge for both students and teachers. Although digital platforms, conferences and virtual courses have already been used in Dentistry as a complementary resource, the pandemic meant a completely virtual modality. However, teaching in virtuality is complex since the didactic and pedagogical processes are related to areas or specialties linked to the clinical part of this profession, where the virtual approach related to the restorative, rehabilitation or even surgical area, It is insufficient for the dental student to adequately develop procedural skills. The objective of this study is to know the perception of Dentistry students regarding virtual classes during the pandemic in order to know their opinion about this issue, in addition to managing the improvement of teaching methods on virtual platforms, training teachers and students in the management of information and communication technology in virtual environments. Likewise, the use of haptic simulators can be integrated with virtual reality systems, technology that is already being used in Russian universities. In addition to contributing to the development of students' learning in times of pandemic, would also allow them to acquire and develop clinical skills that are required before having contact with the patient.

Background/Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a major public health concern, with Streptococcus mutans as a primary etiological agent. Current treatments rely on broad-spectrum antimicrobials, which can disrupt the oral microbiome and promote resistance. This study applied a structure-based in silico pipeline to identify molecule modulators of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), a key host receptor implicated in ECC, and to explore their binding potential against major S. mutans proteins. Methods: ECC-related genes were collected from public databases and analyzed by functional enrichment and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Hub genes were ranked using centrality algorithms. Virtual screening on TLR2 (DrugCLIP) was followed by molecular docking of selected compounds against the TLR1/TLR2 heterodimer and 50 S. mutans proteins, complemented by in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiling. Results: Fifty-four ECC-related genes and nine hub genes were identified, with TLR2 and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) as central nodes. Virtual screening yielded five lead compounds fulfilling drug-likeness and toxicity criteria. Docking to TLR1/TLR2 showed favorable binding energies, with Z7684613096 showing the most consistent binding. V026-2549 displayed the highest number of strong interactions with S. mutans targets, including dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (rmlB), NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapN), glucosyltransferase C (gtfC), and 5-methyltetrahydropteroyltriglutamate-homocysteine methyltransferase (metE). Conclusions: Five candidate compounds with promising dual activity against TLR1/TLR2 and S. mutans proteins were prioritized for experimental validation, including TLR2 functional assays and in vitro anti-biofilm studies.