Behavioral sciences are a group of disciplines that involve the study of human actions. Various behavioral models have been used in the past 50 years in behavior modification. One behavioral model currently being studied for its application in oral healthcare is motivational interviewing (MI). Motivational interviewing is a patient-centered psycho-behavioral method used in various fields of medicine and psychology to help patients change their health-affecting behaviors. Effective health promotion is important, since in developed countries, the majority of deaths and diseases are caused by chronic conditions. Controlling and treating chronic diseases require sustained commitment. This literature review aimed to describe the current methods of health promotion for oral health, based on various disease models, with a thorough discussion of the psycho-behavioral method known as MI, and its applications in dentistry and oral health. There is evidence that MI is applied in various health and dental areas, such as oral health promotion, early childhood caries (ECC), periodontal disease, smoking cessation, and improving the quality of life during and after cancer treatment. The clinical and research limitations of this method were also addressed. Comparing the general ideas and ethos of MI to the definition of health promotion by the World Health Organization (WHO), it can be stated that they represent a common approach to promoting health.

Introduction: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic, T-cell-mediated, inflammatory and non-infectious mucodermatosis. Patients diagnosed with oral lichen planus are more prone to depression, anxiety and higher perceived mental stress than the rest of the population. Aim: This study...

Periodontal disease is a prevalent inflammatory disorder that can lead to severe oral complications. Recent studies increasingly underline the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in its pathogenesis. Experimental models using inflammatory agents such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and ligature-induced periodontitis in rodents, as well as chemical hypoxia, have consistently demonstrated the activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways in periodontal cells. Key ER stress markers, including CHOP, GRP78, PERK, and ATF6, were upregulated in periodontal ligament cells, stem cells, and gingival epithelial cells under these conditions. While ER stress in periodontitis is primarily associated with detrimental outcomes such as apoptosis and inflammation, it may also have a physiological role in bone remodeling via the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 axis. Importantly, several ER stress-modulating agents—such as oridonin, melatonin, and exosomes derived from M2 macrophages—have shown therapeutic potential by reducing stress marker expression and limiting periodontal damage. These findings suggest that targeting ER stress may offer a novel therapeutic strategy. Future human studies are essential to determine whether a combined approach targeting inflammation and ER stress could more effectively halt or reverse periodontal tissue destruction, while also assessing the long-term safety of ER stress modulation.

The article delves into the potential of probiotics and synbiotics as alternative approaches to preventing and treating dental caries. Probiotics are live, non­­pathogenic microorganisms combined with non ­living substances (prebiotics) that support their growth and activity. Probiotics, including strains of Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, secrete various compounds, such as antimicrobial substances, bacteriocins, and enzymes, which help combat cariogenic bacteria. Research suggests that early administration of probiotics can establish a stable oral ecosystem and decrease the risk of dental caries. Synbiotics, a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, offer a synergistic approach to promoting oral health. Prebiotics like glucomannan hydrolysate, arabinose, xylose, and xylitol support the growth of beneficial bacteria while hindering the proliferation of cariogenic strains. The use of synbiotics, particularly in children, has shown promise in reducing the incidence of dental caries. Overall, this review highlights the growing interest in probiotics and synbiotics as potential solutions to addressing the complex issue of dental caries. These alternative methods offer the potential to rebalance the oral microbiota and reduce the prevalence of this widespread oral health problem. Nonetheless, further research is needed to confirm their efficacy and long ­term effects in preventing and treating dental caries.

Vitamin D₃ is a fat-soluble steroid essential for bone metabolism, immune modulation, and inflammation control, all critical for periodontal health. Its active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, binds to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in periodontal cells, including periodontal ligament stromal cells, fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and macrophages, enhancing osteogenesis, antimicrobial defenses, and anti-inflammatory responses. Clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that adequate systemic vitamin D₃ levels and local activation in gingival tissues improve outcomes of nonsurgical and surgical periodontal therapies, reducing probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and gingival inflammation. Dose-dependent supplementation shows greater clinical efficacy, and emerging evidence supports potential topical applications. This review integrates molecular mechanisms with clinical findings, highlighting the therapeutic potential of vitamin D₃ in periodontal disease management.

Background: Periodontitis is a multifactorial, chronic inflammatory disease that leads to progressive destruction of the periodontal apparatus. Despite the effectiveness of scaling and root planing (SRP), residual inflammation and limited regenerative potential justify the search for adjunctive biologic therapies. Platelet-derived concentrates, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), concentrated growth factors (CGF), and platelet-poor plasma (PPP), have gained attention as autologous sources of growth factors enhancing periodontal regeneration. Aim: This narrative review provides a comparative analysis of the biological mechanisms, preparation protocols, and clinical outcomes associated with the adjunctive use of platelet-derived concentrates in non-surgical periodontal therapy. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using English-language publications retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar, covering studies published from 2012 onward. The search strategy was based on combinations of keywords related to platelet-derived concentrates and non-surgical periodontal therapy. In vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, as well as relevant narrative, systematic, and umbrella reviews evaluating the adjunctive use of platelet-derived concentrates (PRP, PRF, CGF, and PPP) were considered. Studies focusing on biological mechanisms, preparation protocols, and clinical periodontal outcomes were included, whereas case reports, studies unrelated to periodontal therapy, and publications lacking relevant clinical or biological outcome data were excluded. Results: Most clinical studies reported improvements in probing depth reduction, clinical attachment level gain, and bleeding indices following adjunctive use of platelet-derived concentrates with SRP. PRF tended to demonstrate more consistent clinical outcomes compared to PRP, potentially related to its simplified preparation and sustained release of bioactive molecules. CGF showed promising osteogenic and angiogenic properties in preclinical and early clinical studies. PPP, although less extensively investigated, exhibited regenerative and antimicrobial potential in preliminary reports. Conclusions: Platelet-derived concentrates may serve as valuable adjuncts in non-surgical periodontal therapy; however, the current evidence is characterized by methodological heterogeneity and variable study quality. While PRF appears to yield more consistent clinical results, definitive conclusions regarding superiority among different platelet concentrates cannot be drawn. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are required, particularly for CGF and PPP.