Dental adhesives are used in a wide range of applications, including to place direct composite restorations in frontal or posterior teeth. One of the most frequent causes for the failure of composite resin restorations is microleakages. The first aim of this work is to introduce a new type of self-etched dental adhesive doped with magnetic nanoparticles (MPs) synthetized in the laboratory. The scope is to produce adhesives with a minimized width/thickness to decrease the risk of microleakages. The second aim is to assess the width/thickness of the adhesive layer in all the characteristic areas of the teeth using both the less precise but most common optical microscopy and the more accurate and volumetric micro-Computed Tomography (CT) investigations. Twenty extracted teeth have been divided into four groups: Group 1 includes ‘blank’ samples with adhesives that are not doped with MPs; Group 2 includes samples with adhesives doped with MPs; Groups 3 and 4 include samples with adhesives doped with MPs that are subjected to an active magnetic field for 5 and 10 min, respectively. Microscopy investigations followed by micro-CT and EDAX are performed on the adhesive. While a rather good agreement is obtained between the microscopy and micro-CT results, the capability of the latter to offer a full volumetric reconstruction of the layer is exploited to analyze the adhesion of the four considered dental materials. Thus, from micro-CT results the graphs of the surface areas as functions of the adhesive layer width are modeled mathematically, as well as the volume of sealants, for each of the four groups. To our knowledge, it is the first time that such a methodology is used. Characteristic parameters are extracted and the ascertainment of the optimal parameter that should be utilized for such assessments is discussed. The study demonstrates the adhesion improvement produced for Groups 3 and 4, where MPs are used. It also concludes that the magnetic field should be applied to the adhesive material for the longest possible exposure time (with a trade-off with the clinical duration of the treatment).

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the influence of pontic length and design on the fracture resistance of zirconia fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). By assessing different span lengths under controlled mechanical loading conditions, the research seeks to provide insights into optimizing the structural integrity of zirconia dental bridges. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 zirconia bridges were fabricated and tested in vitro. Ten bridges were designed to replace a single missing molar (tooth 46), with a pontic span of 11 mm, while the remaining ten were crafted for two missing teeth (35 and 36), featuring a longer pontic span of 17 mm. The zirconia frameworks were milled using the Wieland Zenotec^® Select Hybrid system and cemented onto metal abutments with Voco Meron Plus QM resin-reinforced glass ionomer cement. The specimens were subjected to occlusal loading using a ZwickRoell ProLine Z005 testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min until fracture occurred. Results: The mechanical testing revealed a significant correlation between pontic length and fracture resistance. The mean fracture resistance for three-unit bridges (single pontic) was 3703 N, whereas four-unit bridges (double pontic) exhibited a significantly lower resistance of 1713 N. These findings indicate that increased span length reduces the fracture resistance of zirconia restorations due to higher stress accumulation and reduced rigidity. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of pontic length and design in determining the fracture resistance of zirconia restorations. Shorter spans exhibit greater structural stability, reinforcing the need for careful treatment planning when designing multi-unit zirconia bridges. By optimizing bridge parameters, clinicians can improve clinical outcomes and extend the longevity of zirconia prostheses in restorative dentistry.

Objective: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the influence of cervical margin design—tangential versus chamfer—on the fracture resistance of monolithic crowns fabricated from lithium disilicate and zirconia ceramics. Materials and Methods: Forty extracted human molars were randomly assigned to two preparation types: chamfer and tangential. Each group was restored with CAD/CAM-fabricated crowns made from either zirconia (IPS e.max^® ZirCAD Prime) or lithium disilicate (IPS e.max^® CAD), resulting in four subgroups (n = 10). Standardized adhesive cementation protocols were applied. After 24 h storage in distilled water, the specimens underwent static load-to-failure testing using a ZwickRoell ProLine Z005 universal testing machine. Results: Zirconia crowns with chamfer margins exhibited the highest mean fracture resistance (2658 N), while lithium disilicate crowns with tangential margins showed the lowest (1862 N). Chamfer preparation significantly increased the fracture resistance of lithium disilicate crowns (p < 0.01), whereas margin design had no significant effect on zirconia. All restorations exceeded physiological masticatory forces, confirming their clinical viability. Conclusions: Cervical margin design significantly affected the fracture performance of lithium disilicate crowns but not zirconia. Chamfer preparations are recommended when using lithium disilicate to optimize mechanical strength. These findings underscore the importance of preparation geometry in guiding material selection for CAD/CAM ceramic restorations.

Background: Bruxism is a common parafunctional activity involving repetitive jaw muscle movements during wakefulness (awake bruxism) or sleep (sleep bruxism). While its multifactorial etiology is widely accepted, the roles of occlusal interferences, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, stress, and sleep-related breathing disturbances remain under investigation. Objectives: This cross-sectional study evaluated associations between bruxism and occlusal discrepancies, TMJ symptoms, stress, and sleep-related variables (snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, OSA) in Romanian adults. Methods: Ninety-eight adults (mean age: 30.4 ± 8.9 years) completed a structured questionnaire reviewed for content validity and pilot-tested for clarity but not formally validated. Participants were categorized into bruxism (n = 51) and control (n = 47) groups. Variables assessed included bruxism type, TMJ symptoms, occlusal interferences, stress, snoring, OSA, and parafunctional habits. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: Sleep bruxism was predominant (88%), with 59% classified as sleep-only bruxers. Occlusal discrepancies (46% vs. 14%, p < 0.001), TMJ symptoms (joint pain: 38% vs. 8%; fatigue: 44% vs. 10%), and habitual snoring (60% vs. 22%, p < 0.001) were significantly more common among bruxers. No significant difference was observed in OSA prevalence. Independent predictors of bruxism included occlusal interferences (adjusted OR = 4.7, p = 0.009), TMJ symptoms (adjusted OR = 6.5, p = 0.002), and habitual snoring (adjusted OR = 4.1, p = 0.016). Conclusions: Bruxism was significantly associated with occlusal interferences, TMJ dysfunction, and habitual snoring, supporting the need for multifactorial assessment and integrated clinical management. Limitations: This study relied on self-reported bruxism classification and a non-validated questionnaire instrument, which may limit generalizability and diagnostic accuracy.

(1) Background: This is the first study investigating the age-related distribution of meniscal and chondral lesions in an all-male cohort undergoing first-time knee arthroscopy. (2) Methods: The study population included 876 adult men stratified into five decade-based age groups. Lesions were confirmed arthroscopically after MRI evaluation, with chondral injuries being graded using the ICRS system. (3) Results: The frequency of medial meniscal tears differed significantly across age strata (p = 0.042), increasing with age. No differences were detected for lateral meniscal damage or patellar damage. Age was a significant predictor of medial meniscal damage (OR = 1.04; p = 0.003), but not for other types of knee injuries. Medial meniscal damage correlated with patellar damage (men < 30, 50–59) and inversely with lateral damage (30–39); other correlations were non-significant. Chondropathy severity increased significantly with age in the medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau (p < 0.001), with severe (ICRS grade IV) lesions showing a steep rise after 60 years. Cartilage lesions at the level of the lateral knee compartment were, by contrast, less prevalent and less severe, with no significant variation across age groups. (4) Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that intra-articular knee pathology in men shifts with age, with medial compartment degeneration becoming increasingly prominent.

Background and Objectives: Provisional restorations are essential in fixed prosthodontics, ensuring esthetics, function, and biological protection during treatment. Recent advances in CAD/CAM technologies have enabled the fabrication of provisional materials with enhanced color stability and fracture resistance compared to conventional chairside polymeric materials. This study aimed to compare the color stability and fracture strength of provisional crowns fabricated using CAD/CAM and a conventional direct chairside technique. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 provisional crowns (four materials, n = 10 each group) were fabricated for a mandibular molar 3.6 using two workflows: CAD/CAM-milled poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), high-impact polymer composite (HIPC; Bredent), and Ambarino composite (Creamet), and directly fabricated 3M™ Protemp™ (Scutan technique), respectively. Color stability was evaluated after seven-day immersion in coffee and red wine at 37 °C using a spectrophotometer (CIE L*a*b* system). Fracture resistance (F_max) was measured under axial load in a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD (α = 0.05). Results: Significant differences were observed among materials (F(3,36) = 212.6, p < 0.001). HIPC showed the highest mean fracture resistance (2068.9 ± 104.0 N), followed by PMMA (1215.8 ± 61.4 N) and 3M™ Protemp™ (1183.4 ± 86.4 N), while Ambarino exhibited the lowest (555.4 ± 25.4 N). Regarding color stability, Ambarino demonstrated the smallest ΔE* (1.1 ± 0.2), followed by PMMA (2.0 ± 0.3), HIPC (2.8 ± 0.3), and Protemp™ (4.9 ± 0.4). Only Protemp™ exceeded the clinical perceptibility threshold (ΔE* > 3.3). Conclusions: Both manufacturing methods and material compositions significantly influence the optical and mechanical properties of provisional restorations. CAD/CAM-milled HIPC and PMMA provided superior fracture strength and clinically acceptable color stability, suggesting their suitability for long-term or high-load temporary crowns compared with chairside-fabricated composites, particularly in posterior regions.