Antibiotics have undoubtedly revolutionized medicine and the health and survival of patients with life-threatening infections, being nonetheless free from potential adverse effects, and the risk of intestinal dysbiosis, antimicrobial resistance, and the resulting consequences for the patient’s health and the public purse. The present study narratively reviewed the epidemiological data on worldwide antibiotic consumption and administration in dental practice, patients’ adherence to prescriptions, the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon in dentistry, and the evidence supporting and recommending appropriate antibiotic use in dental care. Eligible systematic reviews and original studies in humans published in the English language from January 2000 to 26 January 2023 were considered. A total of 78 studies, 47 on the epidemiology of antibiotic use and prescription in dentistry, 6 on antibiotic therapy in dentistry, 12 on antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry, 0 on adherence of dental patients to antibiotic prescription, and 13 on antimicrobial resistance in dentistry, were presently considered. Retrieved evidence revealed that antibiotics are frequently overused and misused in dental practice, dental patients frequently do not adhere to prescriptions, and antimicrobial resistance in dentistry is a still rising phenomenon also secondary to improper oral antiseptics use. The present findings highlighted the need to establish more evidence-based and accurate antibiotic prescriptions to sensitize dentists and dental patients to minimize and rationalize the use of antibiotics only when it is indicated and necessary, improve patients’ adherence, and enhance knowledge and awareness of the antimicrobial resistance in dentistry.

Understanding the microbiological profiles of peri-implant conditions is crucial for developing effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. This narrative review analyzes the microbial profiles associated with healthy peri-implant sites, peri-implant mucositis, and peri-implantitis, along with related microbiological sampling and analyses. Healthy peri-implant sites are predominantly colonized by Streptococcus, Rothia, Neisseria, and Corynebacterium species, in addition to Gram-positive cocci and facultatively anaerobic rods, forming a stable community that prevents pathogenic colonization and maintains microbial balance. In contrast, peri-implant mucositis shows increased microbial diversity, including both health-associated and pathogenic bacteria such as red and orange complex bacteria, contributing to early tissue inflammation. Peri-implantitis is characterized by even greater microbial diversity and a complex pathogenic biofilm. Predominant pathogens include Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and unique species like Filifactor alocis and Fretibacterium fastidiosum. Additionally, less common species such as Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae, contributing to disease progression through biofilm formation and increased inflammatory response, along with EBV and human cytomegalovirus with a still not defined role, and Candida albicans contribute to disease progression through biofilm formation, immune modulation, and synergistic inter-kingdom interactions. Future research should standardize diagnostic criteria, employ advanced molecular techniques, integrate microbial data with clinical factors, and highlight inter-kingdom interactions.

Since smoking is considered among the main risk factors for the onset and progression of periodontitis and peri-implantitis, the present systematic review aimed to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation on clinical, radiographic, and gingival crevicular periodontal parameters around natural teeth and dental implants in ex-smokers compared to current and non-smokers. The study protocol was developed based on the PRISMA guidelines, the research question was formulated according to the PICO model, and the literature search was conducted through PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane library, and BioMed Central databases. From the 916 title/abstracts initially identified, seven articles were included in the present systematic review and assessed for quality through the ROBINS-I tool. Reported findings on clinical and crevicular periodontal parameters around natural teeth were contrasting when comparing ex-smokers to current and non-smokers; thus, individualized recommendations for previous smoker periodontal patients are currently lacking. No data on radiographic parameters were retrieved. Similarly, data on periodontal parameters around dental implants were not available, highlighting the need for focused investigations assessing the role of both smoking habit and cessation on peri-implant health status and responsiveness to treatment.

The present umbrella review aimed to characterize the type and regimen of antibiotics administered locally and/or systemically, alone or in combination with surgical and nonsurgical treatments, for peri-implantitis and to evaluate and compare the associated clinical, radiographic, and crevicular peri-implant outcomes. The secondary objective was to determine the most effective antibiotic type, route of administration, regimen, and protocols (antibiotics alone or in combination with other approaches) for treating peri-implantitis. The study protocol, which was developed in advance under the PRISMA statement, was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022373957). BioMed Central, Scopus, MEDLINE/PubMed, the Cochrane Library databases, and the PROSPERO registry were searched for systematic reviews through 15 November 2022. Of the 708 records found, seven reviews were included; three were judged of a critically low and four of low quality through the AMSTAR 2 tool. Locally administered antibiotics alone or as an adjunct to surgical or nonsurgical treatments for peri-implantitis showed favorable outcomes, albeit with limited evidence. The administration of systemically-delivered antibiotics in combination with nonsurgical or surgical treatments remained questionable. Local plus systemic antibiotics have not been shown to have durable efficacy. Due to the heterogeneity of reported antibiotic types, routes, regimens, and protocols, no definitive conclusions could be drawn regarding the most effective antibiotic use in treating peri-implantitis.

A prosthetic rehabilitation, whether supported by implants, teeth, or mucous membranes, must be functionally and aesthetically adequate, so it is essential that the oral structures are reproduced as accurately as possible. The purpose of this overview is to evaluate the accuracy, time of digital impressions, and patient preference compared to those of conventional high-precision in vivo impressions. This umbrella review was developed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) statement and was registered in the PROSPERO systematic review registry. The search method and study selection were based on the PEO (Population–Exposure–Outcome) model, a modified version of the PICO model. Systematic reviews regarding the dental impression technique made using an intraoral scanner versus the analog impression technique made with high-precision impression materials were searched electronically up to 1 February 2023 among articles published in English, through numerous registries and databases, such as PROSPERO e, Scopus, MEDLINE/ PubMed, BioMed Central, and Cochrane Library. The records screened totaled 2942, but only 23 systematic reviews were included in this umbrella review. The Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 tool was used to evaluate the quality assessment of the systematic reviews included in this umbrella review. Accuracy, time, and patient preference for digital impressions were compared with those of high-precision conventional impressions. A total of 23 systematic reviews were included in this umbrella review. From the analysis of this umbrella review, the data on the accuracy between the two methods of taking the impression are conflicting, especially as regards full-arch rehabilitations. However, the digital impression seems to be preferred over the analog one as regards time and patient preference. However, there is limited high-quality evidence available for studying conventional and digital implant impressions. The results obtained are limited to the type of review performed, and the type of studies included was limited by the settings and study designs. Furthermore, another important limitation highlighted was that the digital scanners analyzed in the various studies are not the same, and the number of missing teeth or implants inserted is not the same. More in vivo clinical studies and RCTs are needed to increase the level of evidence for impression procedures.

Oral commensal microorganisms perform very important functions such as contributing to the health of the host. However, the oral microbiota also plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of various oral and systemic diseases. The oral microbiome may be characterized by a higher prevalence of some microorganisms than others in subjects with removable or fixed prostheses, depending on oral health conditions, the prosthetic materials used, and any pathological conditions brought about by inadequate prosthetic manufacturing or poor oral hygiene. Both biotic and abiotic surfaces of removable and fixed prostheses can be easily colonized by bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which can become potential pathogens. The oral hygiene of denture wearers is often inadequate, and this can promote oral dysbiosis and the switch of microorganisms from commensal to pathogens. In light of what emerged from this review, fixed and removable dental prostheses on teeth and on implants are subject to bacterial colonization and can contribute to the formation of bacterial plaque. It is of fundamental importance to carry out the daily hygiene procedures of prosthetic products, to design the prosthesis to facilitate the patient’s home oral hygiene practices, and to use products against plaque accumulation or capable of reducing oral dysbiosis to improve patients’ home oral practices. Therefore, this review primarily aimed to analyze the oral microbiome composition in fixed and removable implant or non-implant-supported prostheses wearers in healthy and pathological oral conditions. Secondly, this review aims to point out related periodontal self-care recommendations for oral dysbiosis prevention and periodontal health maintenance in fixed and removable implant or non-implant-supported prostheses wearers.