(1) Background: Several studies showed a sustained temperature of 47 °C or 50 °C for one minute resulted in vascular stasis and bone resorption with only limited bone regrowth over a 3–4-week healing period. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the temperature changes (ΔΤ) that occur during the preparation of dental implant osteotomies using MIS^® straight drills versus Densah^® burs in a clockwise (cutting) drilling protocol. (2) Methods: Two hundred forty (240) osteotomies of two different systems’ drills were prepared at 6 mm depth at 800, 1000, and 1200 revolutions per minute (RPM), in fresh, unembalmed tibiae, obtained by a female cadaver. ΔΤ was calculated by subtracting the baseline temperature on the tibial surface, from the maximum temperature-inside the osteotomy (ΔT = T_max − T_base). The variables were evaluated both for their individual and for their synergistic effect on ΔΤ with the use of one-, two-, three- and four-way interactions; (3) Results: An independent and a three-way interaction (drill design, drill width, and RPM) was found in all three RPM for the Densah^® burs and at 1000 RPM for the MIS^® straight drills. As Densah^® burs diameter increased, ΔΤ decreased. The aforementioned pattern was seen only at 1000 RPM for the MIS^® straight drills. The usage of drills 20 times more than the implant manufacturers’ recommendation did not significantly affect the ΔΤ. A stereoscopic examination of the specimens confirmed the findings. (4) Conclusions: The independent and synergistic effect of drills’ diameter, design and RPM had a significant effect on ΔΤ in human tibiae, which never exceeded the critical threshold of 47 °C.

Periodontitis is a commonly occurring inflammatory oral disease affecting a large proportion of global and US adults and is characterized by the destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus. Its etiology is multifactorial, and type 2 diabetes and diet play critical roles in its remission and progression. However, few studies have addressed nutritional and serum vitamin D status in adults with periodontitis in the presence of diabetes. A cross-sectional study (n = 78), and a sub-set of age- and BMI-matched case–control studies (n = 50), were conducted to examine differences in dietary and cardiometabolic variables, and serum vitamin D in adults with periodontitis with or without diabetes. Participants provided fasting blood samples and 24-h diet recalls on at least two different days. Data on health history, body weight, height, nutritional habits, and clinical features of periodontitis were also collected. The Mann–Whitney U Test (with exact p-value estimation by Monte Carlo simulation) was used to examine differences by diabetes status in continuous and ordinal variables. Results revealed significantly lower serum vitamin D, and dietary intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy, vitamins A and C in adults with periodontitis with vs. without diabetes in the sub-study (all p < 0.05). In the overall sample, adults with diabetes presented with higher caries risk measures and lower numbers of teeth than those without diabetes; plaque and bleeding scores did not differ by diabetes status. Finally, a significant associations of food habits was observed, especially consuming protein-rich foods twice a day with a lower bleeding score, and daily consumption of fried or fast foods with a fewer number of teeth present (all p < 0.05). The present findings show significant dietary and serum vitamin D inadequacies among adults with periodontitis, and diabetes further aggravates the observed malnourishment and oral health.

(1) Background: OD burs are used in two different modes: (i) CW and (ii) CCW. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ΔT during the preparation of implant osteotomies in a four-way interaction. (2) Methods: Three hundred and sixty osteotomies were prepared at 12 mm depth in human cadaver tibiae. The ΔT values were calculated similarly to the method used in two previous studies carried out by our group. Four different variables were evaluated for their effect on ΔT. (3) Results: A four-way interaction was observed in the CCW mode, allowing for 1000 RPM to have the least effect in both modes. However, in the CCW mode the use of 3.0 and 4.0 burs after 23 osteotomies showed a statistically significant increase in ΔT, and significant chatter, compared to the CW mode. In the CCW mode, the ΔT was increased significantly as the diameter of the burs increased in 800 and 1200 RPM. (4) Conclusions: The synergistic effect of drills’ diameter, CCW mode, 800 and 1200 RPM, and bur usage (over 23 times) had a significant effect on ΔT, which exceeded 47 °C. One thousand (1000) RPM had the least effect in both modes. The 3.0 and 4.0 burs in the CCW mode drastically increased the temperature and produced significant chatter.

(1) Background: Ridge augmentations either horizontal (HRA) or vertical (VRA) in the posterior mandible are very challenging regenerative procedures. To attain and retain tension-free primary closure, buccal periosteal and mylohyoid muscle releases should be performed. The purpose of the present study was to review, analyze and discuss the three different techniques for the mylohyoid muscle release (MMR) in VRA and HRA surgeries on a clinical and human cadaver level. (2) Presentation of the techniques: Three different techniques are described in the literature regarding the lingual flap management: (i) the finger sweep technique (FST), (ii) the release of the mylohyoid muscle attachment on the lingual flap (MMALF), and (iii) the mylohyoid preservation technique (MPT) in three key anatomical zones. All three techniques, even though they use a different approach, can achieve similar amount of horizontal and vertical mylohyoid muscle release although MPT showed statistically significant higher flap advancement. The human cadaver analyses revealed that all three techniques are considered safe since they do not approximate vital anatomical structures. (3) Conclusions: All three techniques are considered safe, but they are not free of limitations or complications; therefore, they should be performed only by highly experienced and trained clinicians. MPT achieved statistically significant higher flap advancement.