Persistent bleeding and the absence of alveolar bone stress following tooth loss can hinder socket healing, complicating future dental implant procedures, and potentially leading to neighboring tooth instability. Therefore, developing materials that promote alveolar bone regeneration and possess both hemostatic and osteogenic properties is crucial for preserving the extraction sites. This study introduces a silk-based laponite composite scaffold material with proficient hemostatic and osteogenic functions, and excellent shape-memory properties for efficient extraction- site filling. In vitro studies research demonstrated that the scaffold's inherent negative charge of the scaffold significantly enhanced blood coagulation and thrombin generation. Moreover, its porous structure and slightly rough inner surface promoted blood cell adhesion and, improved the hemostatic performance. Furthermore, the scaffold facilitated stem cell osteogenic differentiation by activating the TRPM7 channel through the released of magnesium ions. In vivo tests using rat models confirmed its effectiveness in promoting coagulation and mandibular regeneration. Thus, this study proposes a promising approach for post-extraction alveolar bone regenerative repair. The composite scaffold material, with its hemostatic and osteogenic capabilities and shape-memory features, can potentially enhance dental implant success and overall oral health.

Age estimation plays a critical role in personal identification, especially when determining compliance with the age of consent for adolescents. The age of consent refers to the minimum age at which an individual is legally considered capable of providing informed consent for sexual activities. The purpose of this study is to determine whether adolescents meet the age of 14 or 18 by using dental development combined with machine learning. This study combines dental assessment and machine learning techniques to predict whether adolescents have reached the consent age of 14 or 18. Factors such as the staging of the third molar, the third molar index, and the visibility of the periodontal ligament of the second molar are evaluated. Differences in performance metrics indicate that the posterior probabilities achieved by machine learning exceed 93% for the age of 14 and slightly lower for the age of 18. This study provides valuable insights for forensic identification for adolescents in personal identification, emphasizing the potential to improve the accuracy of age determination within this population by combining traditional methods with machine learning. It underscores the importance of protecting and respecting the dignity of all individuals involved.

The continuous growth of mouse incisors depends on the tightly coordinated proliferation and terminal differentiation of dental epithelial progenitors within the labial cervical loop (laCL). However, the molecular mechanisms governing the balance between these processes remain elusive. In this study, we identify the transcription factor ZBTB20 as a previously unreported regulator of the proliferation-differentiation switch. ZBTB20 is predominantly expressed in the undifferentiated progenitors within the mouse laCL during late embryonic and postnatal stages. Conditional deletion of Zbtb20 in dental epithelium resulted in delayed enamel mineralization, reduced enamel volume and excessive incisor growth. These defects were associated with enhanced proliferation and migration of transit-amplifying progenitor cells, as well as delayed pre-ameloblast and ameloblast differentiation. Integrated analysis of RNA sequencing and CUT&Tag revealed that ZBTB20 directly regulates the expression of key components of several signaling pathways, including ectodysplasin A, Notch and sonic hedgehog. Our findings highlight the essential role of ZBTB20 in orchestrating the interplay among multiple signaling pathways and provide new insights into the transcription network governing the proliferation-differentiation switch of dental epithelial progenitors during incisor development.

Alveolar socket healing post-extraction is accompanied by alveolar bone loss, which is negative to subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation. Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles are extracellular vehicles with great potential for disease treatment and are advantageous for drug delivery and absorption. Herein, we report the mineralization-promoting effects of Drynaria roosii -derived exosome-like nanovesicles (DRDENs) on osteoblasts and in a mouse alveolar socket healing model. DRDENs were isolated and characterized. Treatment with DRDENs increased the formation of calcium nodules and the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers (ALP, RUNX2, and OCN) in osteoblasts. Compounds analysis of DRDENs revealed a previously unexplored component, naringenin chalcone. We evaluated the properties of naringenin chalcone and its bioactivity on osteoblast differentiation. In vivo studies confirmed the safety and efficacy of DRDENs and naringenin chalcone in bone regeneration. The mechanism was demonstrated in which DRDENs were endocytosed by cells, and naringenin chalcone was released to interact with the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 3 (ITPR3) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), thereby activating downstream calcium flux to enhance bone formation. Additionally, chalcone isomerase (CHI), a key enzyme involved in naringenin chalcone production in Drynaria roosii , was purified and functionally identified as a type I CHI with weak II CHI activity. Our findings provided a novel strategy for alveolar socket healing and shed light on the function of CHI in Drynaria roosii. Graphical abstract