The future of dental education is at crossroads. This study used the parameter of the 2016 Dental Curriculum Hack-a-Thon to assess intra- and inter-institutional agreement between student and faculty views regarding dental curriculums to determine if there is an impact in student perceptions towards dental education from before and after the event. This exploratory, cross-sectional study involved two surveys, with Survey 1 being distributed among four faculty-student pairs of the four participating dental schools answering 14 questions. Survey 2 assessed the views of 20 participating dental students through 26 questions in a pre- and post- event survey design. Descriptive statistics were used to explore differences in perceptions towards dental education across both instrument surveys. The results revealed valuable student insights regarding intra- and inter-institutional agreement relevant for the change in dental curriculum that needs to occur. Survey 2 revealed that mandatory attendance in didactic courses, electronic based examination preferences, and the preference of preclinical courses being held in the first and second years of a four-year dental curriculum were of particular importance to student participants. The results of this study indicate that exposure and participation in subjects pertaining to dental education can be influential on student preferences and opinions on how dental education should be delivered in a four-year curriculum.

Sjögren’s disease (SjD) is the second most prevalent autoimmune disorder that involves chronic inflammation of exocrine glands. Correct diagnosis of primary SjD (pSjD) can span over many years since disease symptoms manifest only in advanced stages of salivary and lachrymal glandular destruction, and consensus diagnostic methods have critical sensitivity and selectivity limitations. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we determined the composition of metabolites in unstimulated saliva samples from 30 pSjD subjects and 30 participants who do not have Sjögren’s disease (non-Sjögren’s control group, NS-C). Thirty-four metabolites were quantified in each sample, and analysis was conducted on both non-normalized (concentration) and normalized metabolomics data from all study participants (ages 23–78) and on an age-restricted subset of the data (ages 30–70) while applying false discovery rate correction in determining data significance. The normalized data of saliva samples from all study participants, and of the age-restricted subset, indicated significant increases in the levels of glucose, glycerol, taurine, and lactate, as well as significant decreases in the levels of 5-aminopentanoate, acetate, butyrate and propionate, in subjects with pSjD compared to subjects in the NS-C group. Additionally, a significant increase in choline was found only in the age-restricted subset, and a significant decrease in fucose was found only in the whole study population in normalized data of saliva samples from the pSjD group compared to the NS-C group. Metabolite concentration data of saliva samples from all study participants, but not from the age-restricted subset, indicated significant increases in the levels of glucose, glycerol, taurine, and lactate in subjects with pSjD compared to controls. The study showed that NMR metabolomics can be implemented in defining salivary metabolic signatures that are associated with disease status, and can contribute to differential analysis between subjects with pSjD and those who are not affected with this disease, in the clinic.

Background/Objectives: This double-blinded study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of a giomer restorative material in comparison to a nanotechnology-based restorative system for the restoration of non-carious cervical lesions over a period of 48 months. Methods: A 48-month randomized, controlled, split-mouth trial was conducted with 49 subjects at its baseline, which was reduced to 34 subjects at follow-up, yielding a statistical power of 69.55%. Cervical lesions were restored using either BEAUTIFIL II LS (BL) or 3M/ESPE Filtek Supreme Universal Restorative (FS). Clinical assessments were performed by blinded examiners, excluding the one who placed the restorations. Evaluations were based on the Hickel criteria, covering esthetic, functional, and biological properties, with comparisons made using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Hickel scores were analyzed with the Mann–Whitney U test to compare BL and FS groups within subjects. Changes in median Hickel scores, sensitivity, and the gingival index were assessed via Friedman’s test, followed by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with a Bonferroni correction for post-hoc comparisons. The p-values under 0.05 were considered significant, except with the Bonferroni correction. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between materials across most Hickel parameters (p > 0.05), though BL exhibited a trend of better surface staining (76.5% excellent with BL vs. 76.5% excellent with FS) and adjacent mucosa, while FS showed slight advantages in surface luster and color match. Conclusions: The clinical evaluation of restorations for non-carious cervical lesions using giomer and nanotechnology-based restorative systems revealed no statistically significant differences according to the Hickel criteria, indicating a similar clinical performance for both restorative materials.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global health concern characterized by a cluster of metabolic abnormalities, including central obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic value of salivary C-reactive protein (CRP) as a non-invasive biomarker for MetS. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted through December 2024. Eligible studies reported salivary CRP levels in individuals with and without MetS. Two independent reviewers extracted data on study design, demographics, CRP measurement methods, and diagnostic criteria for MetS. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models to calculate pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals. Among 863 records screened, 19 studies involving 3,157 participants met the inclusion criteria. The pooled results showed significantly higher salivary CRP levels in individuals with MetS compared to controls (Hedges’ g = 1.02; 95% CI: | 0.23, 1.81] P = 0.01). High between-study heterogeneity was observed (I² = 98.91%, P < 0.001), and funnel plot asymmetry suggested potential publication bias or underlying heterogeneity. These findings suggest that salivary CRP may serve as a promising non-invasive biomarker for detecting metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions that rely on low-grade systemic inflammation and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. C-reactive protein (CRP) has attracted growing interest in saliva as a non-invasive alternative to serum CRP testing, though existing evidence remains inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the association between salivary CRP levels and MetS and examined the consistency of findings across populations and methodological approaches. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched up to December 2024 following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Nineteen studies involving 3265 participants with and without MetS were included. Random-effects meta-analysis demonstrated higher salivary CRP levels in individuals with MetS compared with controls (SMD = 1.02; 95% CI −0.23 to 1.81), with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 98.91%), reflecting variation in population characteristics and saliva collection protocols. Funnel plot assessment did not indicate publication bias. Despite considerable heterogeneity, pooled estimates suggest that individuals with MetS have higher levels of salivary CRP. Longitudinal studies employing standardized methodologies are required before its clinical implementation can be considered.