Some studies have demonstrated that in vivo degradation processes are influenced by the material’s physico-chemical properties. The present study compares two hydroxyapatites manufactured on an industrial scale, deproteinized at low and high temperatures, and how physico-chemical properties can influence the mineral degradation process of material performance in bone biopsies retrieved six months after maxillary sinus augmentation. Residual biomaterial particles were examined by field scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to determine the composition and degree of degradation of the bone graft substitute material. According to the EDX analysis, the Ca/P ratio significantly lowered in the residual biomaterial (1.08 ± 0.32) compared to the initial composition (2.22 ± 0.08) for the low-temperature sintered group, which also presented high porosity, low crystallinity, low density, a large surface area, poor stability, and a high resorption rate compared to the high-temperature sintered material. This demonstrates that variations in the physico-chemical properties of bone substitute material clearly influence the degradation process. Further studies are needed to determine whether the resorption of deproteinized bone particles proceeds slowly enough to allow sufficient time for bone maturation to occur.

Peri-implant mucositis consists of a reversible inflammation of peri-implant tissues characterized by bleeding on gentle probing in the absence of bone loss. Ozone therapy is being extensively studied for its efficacy in treating different dental conditions. To date, few studies have evaluated ozone as an adjunct to the oral hygiene measures of peri-implant mucositis patients. The aim of the present study is to assess the efficacy of an ozonized gel (Trial group) compared to chlorhexidine (Control group) after a domiciliary protocol of oral hygiene in a 6-month study. According to a split-mouth study design, patients were divided into Group 1 for the application of chlorhexidine gel in peri-implant mucositis sites of quadrants Q1 and Q3, whereas in quadrants Q2 and Q4, the ozonized gel was in-office administered. For Group 2, the quadrants were inverted. At baseline (T0), and after 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 3 (T3) months, Probing Depth (PD), Plaque Index (PI), SI Suppuration Index (SI), Bleeding Score (BS) and Marginal Mucosa Condition (MMC) were measured. A statistically significant decrease was found for all the variables assessed in each group (p < 0.05), whereas significant intergroup differences were found only for PI, BoP, and BS. Accordingly, both agents tested in this study showed an efficacy in treating peri-implant mucositis. The ozonized gel deserves particular attention, considering the better outcome than chlorhexidine on specific clinical periodontal parameters, as well as its lesser shortcomings.

Antibiotic resistance is a critical issue today, necessitating the monitoring of antibiotic usage across various sectors. To determine the defined daily doses (DDDs) of antibiotics prescribed by dentists globally, a comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost, resulting in the inclusion of 15 documents in this scoping review. The DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) for oral antibiotics prescribed by dentists for the studied countries was generally below 2.11, with the exception of South Korea, which had a DDD per 1000 patients per day (DPD) of less than 6.97. Most countries, except Croatia and Belgium, demonstrated a decreasing trend in DID before the COVID-19 pandemic, but restrictions during the pandemic led to an increase in these numbers. Penicillin-derived antibiotics were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic among dentists in most countries. This study highlights significant gaps and missing data regarding antibiotics prescribed by dentists worldwide. However, it also indicates that the publication of guidelines, education, and evaluation of antibiotic use can lead to more controlled and appropriate prescriptions among dental professionals.