This study aimed to review the oral hygiene status, oral care guidelines, and outcomes of oral care in intensive care unit (ICU) patients from a dental perspective for effective oral care. A literature search using the keywords “Hospital dentistry” OR “Oral care” OR “Intensive care unit” OR “Hospital inpatient” OR “Hospitalization” OR “Emergency service” AND “Oral health” OR “Oral hygiene” OR “Dental plaque” was conducted in PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar to identify publications reporting on the oral care of the patients admitted to ICUs. A total of 17,400 articles were initially identified. Of these, 58 were selected and classified into three categories for critical review. Seven of these studies evaluated the oral status of ICU patients, and most of the studies indicated that ICU patients had poor oral hygiene or required active dental treatment. Thirty-three of these studies evaluated oral care methods for ICU patients, and in general, oral care methods using chlorhexidine as adjuncts along with tooth brushing were recommended. However, there were insufficient studies to evaluate oral hygiene through effective assessment tools from a dental perspective. In 36 studies on the outcomes of oral care in ICU patients, interventions by dental professionals showed effective results in preventing hospital-acquired infection. This review highlights the importance of establishing guidelines for the evaluation of oral status in ICU patients and summarizes data that may be useful for future studies. Further studies on maintaining good oral hygiene among ICU patients are needed.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is transforming dentistry by enabling precise and personalized treatments in prosthodontics, orthodontics, and endodontics. However, challenges such as high costs, material limitations, and post-processing requirements hinder its broader adoption. This scoping review aims to explore and map the breadth of evidence regarding the clinical applications, benefits, and limitations of 3D printing in these disciplines, while identifying research gaps and future opportunities. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA for scoping reviews framework. Research from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus was systematically searched, covering studies from January 2006 to November 2024. Key topics included applications, material properties, and technological challenges in prosthodontics, orthodontics, and endodontics. Results: In prosthodontics, 3D printing facilitates the fabrication of crowns, bridges, and dentures with high accuracy, though material strength and stability remain challenges. Orthodontics benefits from 3D-printed aligners and diagnostic models, improving patient comfort and treatment precision, but issues with material durability persist. In endodontics, 3D-printed surgical guides and training models enhance procedural accuracy and educational outcomes. Across disciplines, 3D printing reduces production time and enhances customization but incurs high costs and requires significant post-processing. This scoping review highlights the transformative potential of 3D printing in dentistry, providing an overview of current and future advancements and limitations. While 3D printing has improved precision, efficiency, and patient satisfaction, material and cost-related barriers remain. Future research should address these challenges to expand its clinical applicability and enhance personalized dental care.

The aim of this study was to identify the status of education and knowledge concerning oral diseases for oral care as they relate to intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, as well as to investigate the perception of oral care education and practice, as led by dental experts. This study conducted a self-report survey consisting of 33 questions on education and knowledge about oral diseases, as well as perception of dental expert-led education and practice, targeting 240 nurses in the ICU. Finally, 227 questionnaires were analyzed, and 75.3% of the participants were staff nurses, and 41.4% were in the medical ICU. In the area of education and knowledge of major oral diseases, more than 50% of the respondents treating gingivitis, periodontitis, and dental caries did not complete dental education, and it was found that more than half of the respondents were unable to distinguish diseases of the mouth. It was recognized that more than half of nurses required dental expert-led education and practice. In this study, the education and knowledge of oral diseases of ICU nurses were found to be insufficient, and the need for the cooperation of dental experts was high. Therefore, collaboration to improve oral care practical guidelines for realistically applicable ICU patients will be needed.

Background: This cross-sectional study investigated the factors influencing oral care in patients in intensive care units (ICUs) by identifying the current oral care practice status, perceptions, and attitudes of ICU nurses in Korea. Methods: This study surveyed 240 nurses with work experience in the ICU using a self-report questionnaire consisting of 22 items on the status, perception, and attitude towards oral care in the ICU. Results: A total of 227 questionnaires were analyzed. The average age of the participants was 29.79 ± 5.92 years, and the medical ICU was the most type of ICU. The factors affecting the attitude towards oral care and its importance in ICU patients were the experience of working as a nurse (r = 0.336, p < 0.01), ICU work experience (r = 0.218, p < 0.01), and oral care practice frequency (r = 0.167 p < 0.05); these were found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: In this study, the interest of the nurses in oral care practice and education was high, but professional education and the regular implementation of oral care practices were insufficient. To address these problems, it will be necessary to improve oral care practices through dental intervention and education about oral care methods focused on ICU patients.