Introduction. Direct pulp capping procedure is a therapeutic application of a drug on exposed tooth pulp in order to ensure the closure of the pulp chamber and to allow the healing process to take place. Objective. The aim of this study was to examine the histological effects of Emdogain? on exposed tooth pulp of a Vietnamese pig (Sus scrofa verus). Methods. The study comprised 20 teeth of a Vietnamese pig. After class V preparation on the buccal surfaces of incisors, canines and first premolars, pulp was exposed. In the experimental group, the perforations were capped with Emdogain? (Straumann, Basel, Switzerland), while in the control group pulp capping was performed with MTA? (Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Johnson City, TN, USA). All cavities were restored with glass-ionomer cement (GC Fuji VIII, GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The observational period was 28 days, after which the animal was sacrificed and histological preparations were made. A light microscope was used to analyze dentin bridge formation, tissue reorganization and inflammation, and the presence of bacteria in the pulp. Results. The formation of dentin bridge was observed in the experimental and control groups. Inflammation of the pulp was mild to moderate in both groups. Angiogenesis and many odontoblast-like cells, responsible for dentin bridge formation, were observed. Necrosis was not observed in any case, nor were bacteria present in the pulp. Conclusion. Histological analysis indicated a favorable therapeutic effect of Emdogain? Gel in direct pulp capping of Vietnamese pigs. Pulp reaction was similar to that of MTA?.

Nickel-titanium alloys are the most common shape memory alloys (SMA) widely used in dentistry. The attractive properties of Ni-Ti BioSMAs (shape memory effect, superelasticity, good corrosion, wear resistance, and good biocompatibility) make them highly desirable candidates for the design of implants, prosthetic components, orthodontic wires, and endodontic files. The aim of this chapter is to present the advantages of Ni-Ti alloy in dentistry through a selection of optimal chemical composition and various surface treatments (mechanical polishing, electrochemical polishing, chemical etching in acid solutions, heat treatment). The osteoconductivity of the Ni-Ti alloy on human bone cells and the anticorrosive and antibacterial effects of nanocoating orthodontic wires were tested. The results on human bone cells suggested good adhesion and proliferation of osteoblast-like cells to nickel-titanium surfaces, which could improve osseointegration of the potential dental implants. A study of magnetron sputtering method (MS) with TiN-Cu-nanocoatings on orthodontic archwires showed favorable results in corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties. Future improvement of mechanical properties is focused on applying various methods of surface modifications, especially applying coatings with antibacterial properties.

Background/Objectives: A novel 3D-printed, bioresorbable bone graft, made of nanohydroxyapatite (nHAP) covered by poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), showed strongly expressed osteoinductive properties in our previous investigations. The current study examines its application in the dual regeneration of bone and cartilage by combining with nHAP gel obtained by nHAP enrichment with hydroxyethyl cellulose, sodium hyaluronate, and chondroitin sulfate. Methods: In the in vitro part of the study, the mitochondrial activity and osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells derived from apical papilla (SCAPs) in the presence of nHAP gel were investigated. For the in vivo part of the study, three rabbits underwent segmental osteotomies of the lateral condyle of the femur, and defects were filled by 3D-printed grafts customized to the defect geometry. Results: In vitro study revealed that nHAP gel displayed significant biocompatibility, substantially increasing mitochondrial activity and facilitating the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of SCAPs. For the in vivo part of the study, after a 12-week healing period, partial resorption of the graft was observed, and lamellar bone tissue with Haversian systems was detected. Histological and stereological evaluations of the implanted grafts indicated successful bone regeneration, marked by the infiltration of new bone and cartilaginous tissue into the graft. The existence of osteocytes and increased vascularization indicated active osteogenesis. The hyaline cartilage near the graft showed numerous new chondrocytes and a significant layer of newly formed cartilage. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that tailored 3D-printed bone grafts could efficiently promote the healing of substantial bone defects and the formation of new cartilage without requiring supplementary biological factors, offering a feasible alternative for clinical bone repair applications.

The potential use of calcium phosphate cements in endodontic therapy is an active area of research. Hydroxyapatite is one of the most commonly used calcium phosphate materials in medicine and dentistry. Biocompatibility of hydroxyapatite is closely related to its chemical composition, similar to dental and bony tissues. Recent studies have focused on new and modified formulations of calcium-phosphate-based biomaterials with improved mechanical and maintained favorable biological properties. Recently, two non-commercial new nanomaterials based on calcium silicates and hydroxyapatite have been synthesized. One is a calcium silicate system of tricalcium and dicalcium silicates (CS), and the other one is a mixture of the calcium silicate system and hydroxyapatite (HA-CS). Both CS and HA-CS are nanostructural materials. Particle size affects cement hydration and consequently setting time and final quality of the cement. Fast setting is a clear clinical advantage while cement composition and internal nanostructure are expected to provide biological behavior in vital tissues. The problem with furcation perforation repair is still not agreed upon as no currently available materials meet all the requirements of an ideal repair material as defined in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the tissue reaction of two new repair materials for furcation perforations.

Background/Objectives: A novel 3D-printed, bioresorbable bone graft, made of nanohydroxyapatite (nHAP) covered by poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), showed strongly expressed osteoinductive properties in our previous investigations. The current study examines its application in dual regeneration of bone and cartilage by its combining with nHAP gel obtained by nHAP enrichment with hydroxyethyl cellulose, sodium hyaluronate, and chondroitin sulfate. Methods: In the in vitro part of the study, mitochondral activity and osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells derived from apical papilla (SCAPs) in the presence of nHAP gel were investigated. For in vivo part of the study, three rabbits underwent segmental osteotomies of lateral condyle of the femur, and defects were filled by 3D-printed grafts customized to the defect geometry. Results: In vitro study revealed that nHAP gel displayed significant biocompatibility, substantially increasing mitochondrial activity and facilitating osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of SCAPs. For in vivo part of the study, after a 12-week healing period, partial resorption of the graft was observed, and lamellar bone tissue with Haversian systems was detected. Histological and stereological evaluations of the implanted grafts indicated successful bone regeneration, marked by the infiltration of new bone and cartilaginous tissue into the graft. The existence of osteocytes and increased vascularization indicated active osteogenesis. The hyaline cartilage near the graft showed numerous new chondrocytes and the significant layer of newly formed cartilage. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that tailored 3D-printed bone grafts could efficiently promote the healing of substantial bone defects and formation of new cartilage without requiring supplementary biological factors, offering a feasible alternative for clinical bone repair applications.