Chronic periodontitis and diabetes mellitus share a two-way relationship, the common factor being the inflammatory-mediated pathway, and various cytokines are released during this inflammatory cascade, one of which being matrix metalloproteinase-9. The aim of this study was to identify whether the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 are increased due to type-II diabetes mellitus in chronic periodontitis patients. It was an observational, analytical, case-control study. Thirty subjects were recruited in the test group, who were suffering from type-II diabetes mellitus and chronic periodontitis, and 30 subjects in the control group, who were subjects with chronic periodontitis but systemically healthy. Periodontal parameters, including the plaque score, gingival bleeding index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level of the subjects, were measured, saliva samples of all of the subjects were collected and salivary matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24. Overall, the matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels of the diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis were increased almost twofold (156.95 ± 29.80 ng/mL) compared to the levels in the controls (74.96 ± 6.32 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). Similarly, the periodontal parameters were far worse in diabetics with chronic periodontitis compared to the controls. The average gingivitis score for the test subjects was 78.45 ± 8.93%), compared to 29.32 ± 12.96% in the controls (p < 0.001). The mean probing pocket depth for the test group was 5.39 ± 0.60 mm, and, for the control group, it was 4.35 ± 0.31 mm (p < 0.001). For the test subjects, the average clinical attachment level was 5.86 ± 0.58 mm, and it was 4.66 ± 0.32 mm for the controls (p < 0.001). It was ascertained that there is a two-fold increase in the levels of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the test group compared to the control group. In addition, the level of periodontal apparatus destruction was greater in the test group. This proved that type-II diabetes mellitus influences the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in humans and elevates them, causing further periodontal destruction.

The mucocele is the most common minor salivary gland associated disease of the oral cavity. It is also considered one of the most common biopsied oral lesions in pediatric patients. In recent years, extensive evidence has been published about the usage of lasers in treating mucoceles in pediatric patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of laser irradiation in the treatment of pediatric mucocele. An electronic search of databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar) was carried out in order to identify all relevant articles using a combination of the following keywords: “Pediatric”, “Oral”, “Mucocele”, “Dental”, “Oral Medicine”, “Soft Dental Lasers”, “Hard Dental Lasers”, and “Lasers,” for all case reports, case series, case-control and cohort studies published from 2007 to 2021. After limiting the search results, removing duplicate titles, and eligibility evaluation, 17 papers were enrolled in the study. Out of the total studies included, 10 articles were related to the diode (635 nm, 808 nm, 810 nm, and 980 nm), 5 to CO₂ (10,600 nm), 3 to Er, Cr: YSGG (2780 nm), and 1 involving KTP lasers (532 nm). All studies indicated successful clinical results on mucocele excision with better intra- and post-operative indicators. The general characteristics and outcomes were summarized, and the quality of the studies was assessed using CARE guidelines in this systematic review. The reduction or absence of pain and bleeding, hemostasis, reduced operating time, minimal analgesic consumption, and an antibacterial effect were among the advantages of laser irradiation in the included studies. The laser has proven itself to play an effective role in the treatment of oral mucocele in paediatric patients.

Toothbrushing twice daily is essential for maintaining oral hygiene, which is a cornerstone of overall health. This is particularly important during childhood and adolescence, when lifelong habits are established. Nevertheless, many children and adolescents worldwide face challenges in maintaining good oral health due to limited access to resources and education. This study used nationally representative samples from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) (2010-2019) to determine the frequency of toothbrushing among school-going students (N = 266,113) in 72 countries. The country-specific sample size ranged from 130 in Tokelau to 25,408 in Malaysia. The outcome variable was the frequency of brushing or cleaning teeth once daily within the past 30 days prior to the survey. Bivariate analysis was conducted following a descriptive study to determine the frequency of toothbrushing or cleaning across different age groups (≤12, 13, 14, 15, ≥16 years), sexes, World Health Organization (WHO) regions, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita quintiles. The overall proportion of males to females in the sample was 50.9:49.1. In 45 countries or territories (62.5%), the proportion of participants who reported brushing their teeth at least once a day was above 90%. Participants from 10 countries or territories (13.9%) reported never or rarely brushing their teeth. In 69 countries or territories (95.8%), male students were more likely than female students to never or rarely brush their teeth. The highest rate of individuals who never or rarely brush their teeth (32.1%) was reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In comparison, the Region of the Americas had the highest frequency of brushing twice or more daily (82.9%). Educational interventions focused on dental health implemented in schools and aimed at early adolescents have the potential to promote the formation of healthy habits, which may lead to improved well-being over both short and long terms.

Background: Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have paved the way for ultra-customized aesthetic solutions in dentistry, particularly in smile design. Conventional smile design methods often fall short in providing a fully personalized outcome, necessitating the development of AI-enhanced software to optimize results by considering facial features, dental parameters, and patient preferences. Materials and Methods: A prototype AI-enhanced smile design software was developed using a combination of convolutional neural networks for facial analysis and generative adversarial networks for creating customized smile designs. The study involved 50 participants, each undergoing facial feature scanning, digital dental impressions, and patient-specific aesthetic input collection. The software’s performance was evaluated based on user satisfaction, aesthetic quality, and procedural efficiency. A comparison was made with conventional smile design methods to assess improvements in outcomes. Results: The AI-enhanced software demonstrated significant improvements in aesthetic outcomes and efficiency. The mean patient satisfaction score was 9.2/10 compared to 7.5/10 with conventional methods. Aesthetic quality was rated higher by experts (mean score: 8.8/10 vs. 7.3/10), and the time required for smile design reduced by 40%. The integration of AI allowed for more precise customization, aligning with patient preferences and anatomical considerations. Conclusion: The development of AI-enhanced smile design software represents a significant step toward achieving ultra-customized aesthetic outcomes in dentistry. By integrating advanced facial analysis and design algorithms, the software offers a superior alternative to conventional methods, promising enhanced satisfaction, efficiency, and aesthetic precision.

Background: The facial spaces in head and neck are the potential spaces between the various layers of fascia normally filled with loose connective tissue and bounded by anatomical barriers, usually of bone, muscle or facial layers. Objective: To evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness about space infection among pediatric patients and their parents in Riyadh, KSA which can lead to seeking early help. Results: A total of 102 children (56 girls, 46 boys; mean age from 2-12 years) visited Dar al Uloom hospital since January 2019. Most of the patients (51 cases) were children aged 6–9 years. It has been observed that majority of 10- 12 years old children noticed pain first (58.3%) followed by abscess drainage (25%) whereas, large number of 2-5 years old children noticed pain as the first option (66.7%) followed by swelling (26.7%). Further, a greater number of 6-9 years old children noticed pain (80.4%) followed by swelling (7.8%). These results suggest that the association of the first symptom observed by the child with different age groups was found to be significant. Conclusion: In our study, the most common age group of pediatric patient infected with space infection was from 6-9 years, and the most common source of infection was caries. The level of education does not affect the awareness. It was observed that the symptoms of space infection were first noticed by the child, and it was due to the lack of early visits to the dentist. Hence, there is a need of increased awareness of the parents towards space infection and its potential risk. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 22 No. 04 October’23 Page : 773-777