Background: Safety in medical work requires eye protection, such as glasses, and protective facial masks (PFM) during clinical practice to prevent viral respiratory infections. The use of facial masks and other full personal protective equipment increases air flow resistance, facial skin temperature and physical discomfort. The aim of the present study was to measure surgeons’ oxygenation status and discomfort before and after their daily routine activities of oral interventions. Methods: 10 male voluntary dentists, specializing in oral surgery, and 10 male voluntary doctors in dentistry, participating in master’s courses in oral surgery in the Department of Oral Surgery of the University of Chieti, with mean age 29 ± 6 (27–35), were enrolled. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of wearing a PFM on oxygenation status while the oral surgeons were actively working. Disposable sterile one-way surgical paper masks (Surgical Face Mask, Euronda, Italy) and FFP2 (Surgical Face Mask, Euronda, Italy) were used and the mask position covering the nose did not vary during the procedures. The FFP2 was covered by a surgical mask during surgical treatment. A pulse oximeter was used to measure the blood oximetry saturation during the study. Results: In all 20 surgeons wearing FFP2 covered by surgical masks, a reduction in arterial O₂ saturation from around 97.5% before surgery to 94% after surgery was recorded with increase of heart rates. A shortness of breath and light-headedness/headaches were also noted. Conclusions: In conclusion, wearing an FFP2 covered by a surgical mask induces a reduction in circulating O₂ concentrations without clinical relevance, while an increase of heart frequency and a sensation of shortness of breath, light-headedness/headaches were recorded.

Background: Piezosurgery is a surgical procedure that is able to perform osteotomies by a micrometric and selective cut of the bone tissue. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate two different techniques; an ultrasonic device, and a drill approach for implant site preparation. Methods: A total of fifty patients were recruited for the randomized clinical trial to receive dental implants for fixed prosthetic restoration in the posterior mandible and were allotted to two groups. In Group A the implant site was prepared following a drilling technique, while in Group B the implant site was prepared using an ultrasonic device; moreover, the operative duration was recorded. Postoperative pain and swelling were evaluated at 1, 2, 4, and 6 days. The crestal bone resorption was measured at 3 months from implant placement by a three-dimensional tomography evaluation. Results: The findings suggest that osteotomies performed by an ultrasonic device cause less pain and swelling. On the other hand, the piezoelectric preparation was characterized by a significative increase in the operative time. No statistical differences in crestal bone resorption were evident in the two different approaches. Conclusions: According to the outcome of the study, ultrasonic implant bed preparation can be used with success in implantology and could be considered a suitable alternative to traditional drilling techniques for dental fixture placement.

We aimed to report an update of the systematic review by Petrén et al. (2003). The objective was to evaluate how orthodontic treatments can affect unilateral posterior crossbite (UPXB) in primary and early mixed dentition. Several databases were consulted, and articles published between January 2002 and March 2020 were selected. This review examines the following studies: randomized clinical trials, prospective and retrospective studies with concurrent untreated or normal control groups, and clinical trials comparing at least two treatment strategies. Among the 1581 articles retrieved from the searches, 11 studies were included. Quad-helix (QH) and expansion plate (EP) appliances were compared in three studies. One study compared rapid maxillary expansion (RME) treatment anchored on primary dentition otherwise on permanent molars. One study compared RME and a modified RME with arms extended until deciduous canine and EP. Four studies evaluated the effects of expansion appliances compared with a control group. Compared with the previous review, the quality of the included studies is higher. However, heterogeneity of treatments, different strategies in measurements, lack of a similar follow-up length, and absence of a cost-effectiveness analysis preclude the possibility of providing reliable scientific evidence on the most effective UPXB treatment in primary and early mixed dentition.

Background: Zygomatic implants have been proposed alone or in combination with premaxillary conventional implants for severe resorbed maxillary atrophy rehabilitation. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate through a qualitative systematic review and meta-analysis the survival rate of zygomatic implants in conjunction with regular fixtures for maxillary rehabilitation. Methods: The article screening was conducted on the PubMed/Medline and EMBASE electronic databases according to the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) guidelines. The scientific papers were included for qualitative analysis and risk-of-bias evaluation. Only the papers that included rehabilitation with zygomatic implants in combination with regular implants were considered for the meta-analysis comparative evaluation of the implant survival rate. Results: The paper search screened a total of 137 papers. After the initial screening, a total of 32 articles were considered for the qualitative analysis. There was a similar implant survival rate between zygomatic and premaxilla regular implants (p = 0.02; Z: 2.26). Conclusions: Zygomatic and conventional implants showed a high long-term survival rate for fixed maxillary rehabilitations, but few included studies reported the marginal bone loss after loading. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the pattern of marginal bone loss between zygomatic and conventional implants after long-term functional loading.

(1) We aimed to compare articular eminence inclination (AEI) in normo-divergent subjects (SN^GoGn = 32° ± 5°), with different anteroposterior sagittal skeletal classes through a cone beam computed generated tomography (CBCT). (2) In this cross-sectional study, CBCT records were retrospectively analysed. From the original sample of 52 CBCT records, 33 records of normo-divergent adult subjects were selected (11 Class I, 13 Class II and 9 Class III). On mid-sagittal section of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) on both sides, AEI was calculated by graphic method. (3) The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to evaluate any difference between AEI on both left and right sides in the three groups. No statistically significant difference was observed on either the right side (p = 0.174) or the left side (p = 0.624). (4) Articular eminence inclination seems to be not related with skeletal class. Given the lack of significance in the observed differences between AEI and skeletal classes, we believe that future studies should focus on assessing possible relationships between AEI and different vertical skeletal patterns.

To determine the knowledge of general dentists and dental specialists on temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in Italy, a web-based questionnaire including 20 multiple- choice questions was sent to all general dental practitioners and specialists in Italy. Mean score of diagnosis and treatment knowledge of all participants was 23.8 ± 7.3 out of 40 achievable scores. There was a significant difference between the knowledge of dentists and the variables of sex, age, and years of experience (p < 0.05). However, overall, it is not possible to state a significant difference between the final score of dentists with different specializations (p = 0.89). The results of this study showed an acceptable knowledge of participants regarding TMD.