Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is an umbrella term used to describe various conditions that affect temporomandibular joints, masticatory muscles, and associated structures. Although the most conservative and least invasive treatment is preferable, more invasive therapies should be employed to refractory patients. Tissue engineering has been presented as a promising therapy. Our study aimed to investigate trends and point out future research directions on TMD and stem cells. A comprehensive search was carried out in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS-CC) in October 2022. The bibliometric parameters were analyzed through descriptive statistics and graphical mapping. Thus, 125 papers, published between 1992 and 2022 in 65 journals, were selected. The period with the highest number of publications and citations was between 2012 and 2022. China has produced the most publications on the subject. The most frequently used keywords were “cartilage”, “temporomandibular joint”, “mesenchymal stem cells”, and “osteoarthritis”. Moreover, the primary type of study was in vivo. It was noticed that using stem cells to improve temporomandibular joint repair and regeneration is a significant subject of investigation. Nonetheless, a greater understanding of the biological interaction and the benefits of using these cells in patients with TMD is required.

Purpose: To map the literature on blood concentrates for managing postoperative sequelae after third molar extraction through a scoping review.

This study evaluated the effect of N-acetylcysteine on oxidative biochemistry and bone damage during the development of ligature-induced experimental periodontitis in rats. The rats were divided into three groups (n = 8/group): control, experimental periodontitis (EP), or experimental periodontitis plus daily N-acetylcysteine administration (EP + NA) (100 mg/kg/day). Periodontitis was induced by bilateral silk ligatures on the mandibular first molars for 14 days. The antioxidant capacity of N-acetylcysteine was measured by (2,2-azinobis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate] (ABTS• +) and 1,1-dipheny-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) assays. Gingival samples were collected for analysis of oxidative parameters, while mandibles were used for histopathological evaluations of inflammation and collagen content, as well as for micro-computed tomography assessments of bone quality and vertical bone loss. Data were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), and Pearson’s correlation ( p < 0.05). N-acetylcysteine increased gingival antioxidant capacity and reduced lipid peroxidation compared with the experimental periodontitis group. Histopathological analysis showed that the experimental periodontitis plus daily N-acetylcysteine administration group, compared with the experimental periodontitis group, reduced inflammation, preserving collagen fibers, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. Microcomputed tomography analysis revealed improved bone quality and reduced alveolar bone loss in the experimental periodontitis plus daily N-acetylcysteine administration group. These findings suggest that systemic N-acetylcysteine has therapeutic potential in mitigating periodontitis in rats. Further studies are needed to establish its clinical applicability.