Background: Oral ulcerative mucositis (OUM) is a painful, inflammatory mucosa lesion that impairs quality of life. Despite available treatments, effective agents that promote faster healing and modulate inflammation are still needed. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may aid wound healing by regulating the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This study investigates the effects of OT on oral ulcer healing in rats, focusing on its modulation of the MMP-2/TIMP-2 pathway. Methods: Acetic acid 70% was used as the oral mucosal ulcer inducer. Thirty-six Wistar albino rats were divided into control, oral ulcer + saline, and oral ulcer + OT (intraperitoneally for 15 days) groups. Histopathological, biochemical, and molecular analyses were performed. Buccal mucosa tissue was examined for TNF-α, TIMP-2, and MMP-2 levels via ELISA, while oxidative stress markers and pentraxin-3 (PTX3) were also assessed. Results: OT significantly preserved epithelial integrity and reduced fibrosis compared to the saline group (p < 0.001). TNF-α, MMP-2, PTX3, and malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower, while TIMP-2 levels were elevated in the OT-treated group (p < 0.01). Histopathological analysis confirmed reduced inflammation and enhanced tissue organization. Conclusions: OT accelerates oral ulcer healing by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, and ECM remodeling via the MMP-2/TIMP-2 pathway. These findings highlight its potential as a therapeutic agent for managing mucosal injuries. Further clinical studies are warranted.

Anti-resorptive and anti-angiogenic drugs, commonly prescribed for osteoporosis, bone metastases, and metabolic bone diseases, increase the risk of medicat

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common complication of chemotherapy, particularly with anthracyclines like doxorubicin (DOX), which induce oxidative stress and in

Background/Objectives: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus following piezosurgery-assisted minor oral surgical procedures in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus (CAD+DM) and to compare the outcomes with those of systemically healthy individuals. Methods: Medical records of 60 patients who underwent piezosurgery-assisted minor oral surgery between 2018 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were allocated into two groups: CAD+DM (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 30). Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) at 6 h, 12 h, postoperative day 1, day 2, day 3, and day 7. Swelling and trismus were evaluated preoperatively and on postoperative days 2 and 7. Swelling and trismus data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, whereas VAS scores were analyzed using the Friedman test, Dunn’s post hoc test, and Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant time-dependent changes in swelling and trismus (all p < 0.001). Swelling increased on postoperative day 2 and decreased by day 7 in both groups; however, swelling values were significantly higher in the CAD+DM group at all evaluation time points (all p < 0.0001). Trismus was greatest on postoperative day 2 and improved significantly by day 7 in both groups (all p < 0.0001). A significant time × group interaction was observed for trismus (p < 0.0001), whereas no significant between-group difference was detected on postoperative day 7 (p = 0.7729). VAS scores decreased significantly over time in both groups (Friedman test, p < 0.0001). Pain scores were significantly lower in the CAD+DM group at 6 h, day 1, day 2, day 3, and day 7 (all p < 0.001), while no difference was observed at 12 h (p = 0.633). Conclusions: Piezosurgery-assisted minor oral surgery was associated with favorable postoperative recovery in both CAD+DM and healthy patients. Although CAD+DM patients exhibited greater postoperative swelling, trismus recovery was comparable between groups, and postoperative pain remained low throughout follow-up. Piezosurgery appears to be a safe and effective surgical approach for medically compromised patients undergoing minor oral surgical procedures.

Objective: Inferior alveolar (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) injuries are known complications of impacted mandibular third molar surgery and may result in persistent neurosensory deficits. This exploratory, non-randomized clinical study evaluated the clinical and electrophysiological effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on neurosensory recovery following trigeminal nerve injury. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with postoperative IAN or LN injury received LLLT, TENS, or placebo therapy according to institutional clinical protocols. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and electrophysiological evaluation was performed using electromyography by measuring cutaneous silent period (CSP) duration. Non-parametric statistical analyses were conducted using the Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: LLLT was associated with statistically significant improvements in several neurosensory symptoms, including pain, burning sensation, speech difficulty, biting, and taste disturbance. In contrast, TENS and placebo treatment did not demonstrate a consistent or generalized improvement across neurosensory outcomes. CSP durations differed significantly between healthy and pathological sides both before and after treatment. Although CSP duration showed a tendency to increase following LLLT, these changes did not reach statistical significance. Subgroup analysis revealed greater clinical improvement in LN injuries compared with IAN injuries within the LLLT group. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this exploratory study, LLLT was associated with more pronounced clinical improvement than TENS or placebo in patients with third molar-related trigeminal nerve injury. CSP measurements provided supportive objective information, although electrophysiological recovery remained limited.

Lipomlar yaygın yumuşak doku tümörleridir, ancak oral bölgede nadir görülürler. Matür yağ dokusundan oluşmuş, non-fonksiyone, selim tümörlerdir. Klinik seyir, yıllar içinde kademeli olarak genişleyen ve ağrısız bir kitle şeklinde gelişebilir. Dil altı, submandibular ve parafarengeal bölgelere uzanan dev lipom raporları bulunmaktadır. Lipom ön tanısı bulunan olguların cerrahi olarak eksizyonu ve post-operatif takibi kritik öneme sahiptir. Bu çalışmada, alt dudak bölgesinde zamanla büyümüş ve fonksiyon kaybına neden olan nadir görülen iki lipom vakası sunuyoruz.