Background: Temporomandibular disorders are a generic term referred to clinical conditions involving the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint with multifactorial pattern and genetic background. The aim of this observational study was to investigate the correlation between craniomandibular disorders and the presence of occlusal alterations. A clinical evaluation of the occlusal and articular status of the patients was carried out, integrating the latter with the electromyographic recording the activity of the masseter and temporalis muscles. Methods: A clinical observational study on 20 adults assessed temporomandibular disorders using DC/TMD criteria, anamnesis, clinical exams, occlusal and electromyographic analyses. Occlusion was evaluated morphologically and functionally. Electromyography tested static/dynamic muscle activity. Data were statistically analyzed using t-tests and Pearson correlation (p < 0.05). Results: Electromyographic analysis revealed significant differences between subjects with and without visual correction, suggesting that visual input influences masticatory muscle activity. Correlations emerged between occlusal asymmetries and neuromuscular parameters. These findings highlight clinical implications for mandibular function, muscle symmetry, and the potential for therapeutic rebalancing through targeted interventions. Conclusions: The study demonstrates a significant correlation between visual–motor integration and masticatory muscle efficiency. It emphasizes lateralized neuromuscular activation’s influence on occlusal contact distribution. Moreover, it identifies mandibular torsion–endfeel inverse correlation as a potential diagnostic marker for craniomandibular dysfunctions via surface electromyography.

This study aimed to assess skeletal and upper airway modifications induced by the Twin Block appliance in patients with Class II malocclusion due to mandibular retrusion, using two-dimensional imaging techniques. A total of 11 patients (6 males, 5 females) were included and stratified into two groups (Pre-Peak and Peak) based on skeletal maturity evaluated through the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained at the beginning (T0) and end (T1) of treatment and analyzed using DeltaDent software. The appliance was worn full-time, except during meals and oral hygiene procedures, with monthly follow-ups. Significant changes were observed between T0 and T1 across the sample. Comparison between groups revealed statistically significant differences only in the H-C3a1 and vertical height (th) parameters (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the Twin Block appliance proved effective in enhancing mandibular and dental positioning, while also exerting a favorable influence on upper airway development.

Aim: This retrospective observational clinical cohort study evaluated 84-month clinical and radiographic outcomes of a regenerative protocol combining autologous dentin grafts processed with the Tooth Transformer^® device and Concentrated Growth Factors (CGFs) in patients with severe maxillary atrophy undergoing sinus augmentation with simultaneous implant placement. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one patients (30–75 years) with residual crestal bone height ≥ 5 mm and requiring extraction of ≥2 molars were included. Extracted teeth were processed with the Tooth Transformer^® to obtain demineralized dentin granules (500–1000 µm), which were combined with CGFs prepared using the Medifuge MF200^® to form “sticky bone.” All patients underwent sinus lift via a lateral window approach (Hilt Tatum technique) with simultaneous placement of 98 implants (12–14 mm), which were loaded after six months. Results: At the 84-month follow-up, no implant failures or peri-implantitis were recorded. CBCT and clinical evaluations showed stable regenerated bone volume and absence of peri-implant bone resorption. All patients received fixed prostheses within six months without complications. Conclusions: The combined use of processed autologous dentin and CGFs proved to be a safe, predictable, and effective regenerative technique in cases of severe maxillary atrophy, with a 100% implant survival rate at five years.

Background: Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are widely used for mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aimed to synthesize recent evidence on their clinical effectiveness and tolerability. Methods: A systematic review was conducted. Ten studies were included, evaluating MAD therapy in adults with mild-to-moderate OSA. The review reported on standard outcomes, including the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygenation, daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, ESS), quality of life, adherence, and adverse events. Risk of bias was also assessed. Results: Across the included studies, MADs consistently reduced AHI from baseline and improved ESS and/or snoring. In head-to-head comparisons, MADs generally yielded smaller reductions in AHI than CPAP but achieved comparable improvements in symptoms and quality of life, with higher nightly adherence. Reported adverse effects were mostly mild and transient. Conclusions: MAD therapy is an effective and generally well-tolerated option for adults with mild-to-moderate OSA and for the patients intolerant to CPAP, although average AHI reduction is smaller than with CPAP. Given the low certainty and heterogeneity of current evidence, high-quality randomized trials with objective adherence tracking and standardized titration are needed.

Objective The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to provide an updated guide for clinicians in choosing the most appropriate radiographic method for skeletal age assessment and timing the pubertal growth spurt (PGS). Methods The review followed the PRISMA guidelines and used the PICOS strategy. Eligibility criteria focused on studies published in the last decade, directly comparing the Cervical Vertebrae Method (CVM) and the Middle Phalanx Method (MPM). Two reviewers performed the selection and a third reviewer intervened in cases of disagreement. Results After screening, thirteen studies were included. The analysis revealed that CVM and MPM are highly correlated and equivalent biological indicators. From the perspective of precision and reliability, the MPM method demonstrated excellent intra-observer reliability and clearly revealed the PGS. Conversely, CVM method showed reproducibility that is not improved by increasing clinical experience, but it achieved excellent accuracy when supported by Deep Learning (DL) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. Conclusion This review revealed that although MPM remains an excellent biological indicator, the equivalence of results, combined with the routine adoption of cephalometric radiography and the increasing implementation of AI, solidifies CVM as the preferred radiographic method. Consequently, subjecting the patient to an additional hand-wrist radiograph is unwarranted, relegating MPM to the role of a reserve indicator. Clinical relevance AI and DL technologies are expected to standardize and drastically improve the objectivity and accuracy of CVM assessments, representing a crucial shift toward objective clinical diagnostics to eliminate the acknowledged inter- and intra-observer variability and optimize radiation dose management. The protocol was registered with the Prospective International Register of Systematic Reviews under number ID 1,110,124.

Background: In multicultural healthcare systems such as the Italian one, migrant children may experience dental care as particularly stressful because linguistic and cultural barriers can limit communication, emotional expression, and understanding of the clinical setting. Aim: Understanding the emotional experience of migrant children during dental visits is essential for improving clinical management in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics within multicultural contexts. Because linguistic barriers often limit verbal communication, this study aimed to explore children’s mental representations, emotional states, and perceptions of the dental environment through drawing and to evaluate the clinical implications for communication and therapeutic collaboration. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in Italy between 2016 and 2025 and analyzed 50 drawings produced by 50 foreign-born migrant children aged 6–13 years, recruited through an educational cooperative in Piacenza. Most participants originated from developing countries and had limited proficiency in Italian, frequently showing a marked “experience gap” in drawing ability that interfered with normative developmental stages described by Lowenfeld. The analysis focused on spatial organization, line quality, color use, posture, interpersonal distance, and representation of the clinical environment, integrating graphic competence assessment with emotional interpretation. Results: Younger children commonly depicted rigid lines, essential settings, and oversized dental unit lamps, whereas older children increasingly represented threatening or disproportionate instruments, aggressive dentists, and omission of the patient figure. Around age 10, drawings became more detailed and colorful, although symbols of closure, such as locked doors, persisted. In adolescents, representations polarized between rich, coherent scenes and extremely essential drawings dominated by fear, rigidity, minimal environments, and symbols of constraint. The findings suggest that drawing may represent a valuable non-verbal clinical and communicative resource for exploring migrant children’s emotional experience of dental care and for identifying signs of anxiety and vulnerability that may not emerge through verbal interaction alone. Conclusions: These findings support the value of a culturally sensitive dental approach integrating drawing, visual aids, multilingual educational materials, and play-based strategies to reduce communication barriers and improve cooperation in migrant children receiving pediatric dental and orthodontic care.