Background: In recent years, advancements in digital dentistry have provided new opportunities for more predictable and efficient treatment options, particularly in patients with failing dentition. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of a fully digital workflow using stackable surgical templates for complete dental arch rehabilitation with implant-supported fixed restorations. Methods: Four patients, comprising two males and two females with a mean age of 66 years, were included in this case series. Each patient underwent meticulous digital planning, including CBCT and intraoral scanning, to create a virtual patient for preoperative assessment and virtual treatment planning. The assessment of the trueness of implant positioning was conducted in Geomagic Control X software (version 2017.0.3) by referencing anatomical landmarks from both the preoperative and one-year postoperative CBCT scans. Results: A total of 25 dental implants were placed in the maxilla, followed by the installation of long-term provisional restorations. The results showed minimal deviation between the planned and actual implant positions, with mean 3D coronal, apical, and angular discrepancies of 0.87 mm, 2.04 mm, and 2.67°, respectively. All implants achieved successful osseointegration, and no failures were recorded, resulting in a 100% survival rate at the one-year follow-up. Patients reported high satisfaction with both the esthetic and functional outcomes based on their subjective feedback. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the use of a fully digital workflow with stackable surgical templates is a reliable and effective approach for immediate implant placement and prosthetic rehabilitation, enhancing treatment precision and patient comfort.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive global health burden often diagnosed in late stages due to reliance on invasive and centralized blood and urine tests. Saliva, as a non-invasive diagnostic fluid, has emerged as a promising alternative for assessing renal function. This scoping review aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers compared to traditional methods, and to explore the potential of emerging biosensing technologies for CKD detection and monitoring. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to 1 July 2025, following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies involving adult CKD patients and healthy controls that assessed the diagnostic performance of salivary biomarkers against validated reference standards (e.g., serum creatinine, eGFR) were included. A total of 29 eligible studies were selected after applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Salivary creatinine and urea were the most frequently assessed biomarkers and demonstrated strong correlations with serum levels (AUCs up to 1.00; sensitivity and specificity frequently >85%). Several studies reported high diagnostic potential for novel salivary markers such as Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), cystatin C, and amino acids. Technological innovations, including electrochemical biosensors and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, showed promise for enhancing sensitivity and enabling point-of-care testing. However, heterogeneity in sampling protocols and limited data for early-stage CKD were notable limitations. Conclusions: Salivary diagnostics, supported by biosensor technologies, offer a feasible and non-invasive alternative for CKD screening and monitoring. Standardization, broader clinical validation, and integration into dental workflows are key to clinical implementation.

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among children globally. Salivary pH monitoring, an essential diagnostic parameter, plays a critical role in understanding caries risk and oral health. This scoping review aims to evaluate the application of digital salivary pH meters in pediatric dentistry, particularly in caries diagnosis and prevention, while exploring the potential integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in this domain. Methods: A literature search was conducted across the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for studies published between 2014 and 2024. The inclusion criteria focused on clinical studies involving children aged 1 to 18 years and the use of digital salivary pH meters. Studies that utilized AI in conjunction with salivary pH monitoring were also reviewed. Data were extracted and analyzed to assess the effectiveness of pH meters in caries detection and their role in broader oral health applications. Results: Out of 549 articles screened, 11 met the inclusion criteria. The review highlighted the utility of digital pH meters for assessing caries risk, monitoring dietary impacts, and evaluating the effectiveness of preventive treatments. However, none of the studies combined salivary pH monitoring with AI. Emerging technologies, such as smartphone-based pH sensors, have demonstrated promising applications for real-time, non-invasive diagnostics. Conclusions: Digital salivary pH meters provide precise and reproducible measurements, significantly enhancing caries risk assessment and preventive strategies in pediatric dentistry. While AI integration remains unexplored in this context, its potential to refine risk prediction models and personalize treatments underscores the need for future research in this area. These advancements could improve caries prevention and management, enhancing pediatric oral health outcomes.

The chapter seeks to explore the multifaceted ethical and legal aspects of digital innovations in preventive dentistry. It aims to dissect the implications of these technologies on patient rights, professional responsibilities, and the overarching goal of improving oral health outcomes. For this narrative review, articles in English were sourced from the Web of Science, PubMed (Medline), Scopus (Elsevier), and the EBSCOhost Dentistry & Oral Science Source database. The search utilized a combination of key words—“preventive dentistry,” “digital technology,” “prophylactic dentistry,” “ethical,” “legal,” “malpractice,” and “informed consent”—employing Boolean terms AND or OR. Additionally, a hand search was conducted in other relevant publications, as in the references of the identified articles. By examining current practices, regulatory policies, and ethical frameworks, this review endeavors to provide insights into navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by digital advancements in preventive dentistry.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive global health burden often diagnosed in late stages due to reliance on invasive and centralized blood and urine tests. Saliva, as a non-invasive diagnostic fluid, has emerged as a promising alternative for assessing renal function. This scoping review aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers compared to traditional methods, and to explore the potential of emerging biosensing technologies for CKD detection and monitoring; Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to July 1, 2025, following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies involving adult CKD patients and healthy controls that assessed the diagnostic performance of salivary biomarkers against validated reference standards (e.g., serum creatinine, eGFR) were included. A total of 29 eligible studies were selected after applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Salivary creatinine and urea were the most frequently assessed biomarkers and demonstrated strong correlations with serum levels (AUCs up to 1.00; sensitivity and specificity frequently >85%). Several studies reported high diagnostic potential for novel salivary markers such as Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), cystatin C, and amino acids. Technological innovations, including electrochemical biosensors and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, showed promise for enhancing sensitivity and enabling point-of-care testing. However, heterogeneity in sampling protocols and limited data for early-stage CKD were notable limitations; Conclusions: Salivary diagnostics, supported by biosensor technologies, offer a feasible and non-invasive alternative for CKD screening and monitoring. Standardization, broader clinical validation, and integration into dental workflows are key to clinical implementation.

Introduction: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease influenced by biological, behavioral, and preventive factors. Salivary pH has been proposed as a non-invasive biomarker for caries risk assessment, however, its independent clinical relevance within structured digital risk models remains unclear. This study school-aged pediatric cohort using the Cariogram platform as a structured, multifactorial caries risk assessment tool, and to evaluate the role of digitally measured salivary pH in relation to caries risk stratification and clinical caries indicators within this framework. Methods: A total of 66 children aged 6–12 years were included. Unstimulated salivary pH was measured using both a digital pH meter and colorimetric strips. Caries risk was assessed using the Cariogram platform. Agreement between pH measurement methods was evaluated using Bland–Altman analysis. Associations between salivary pH, dietary intake frequency, and caries risk were explored using Spearman's rank correlation. A multivariable linear regression model was constructed using the Cariogram-derived chance to avoid new caries (%) as the dependent variable, including mean digitally measured salivary pH, dietary intake frequency, oral hygiene status, fluoride toothpaste use, age, gender, and saliva collection timing as predictors. Results: Digital salivary pH values ranged from 6.1 to 7.2, with a peak between 6.6 and 6.8. Strip-based measurements systematically underestimated pH, with a mean bias of approximately 0.24 pH units. Salivary pH showed weak or negligible associations with Cariogram risk categories. In the multivariable model, dietary intake frequency, oral hygiene status, fluoride toothpaste use, and saliva collection timing were significant predictors of caries risk, whereas salivary pH was not independently associated after adjustment for behavioral and preventive factors. Conclusions: Salivary pH is a biologically relevant but insufficient standalone marker of caries risk in children. Its clinical value emerges when measured reliably and interpreted within a multifactorial, caries risk-assessment framework supported by digital tools, particularly the Cariogram platform and digital pH measurement.