Background: Crown cementation is a common technique for implant‐supported prosthodontics. However, for possible slipping of the cement below the mucosal margin, its thorough removal poses some issues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of submucosal cement residues in patients with peri‐implant disease by endoscopic visualization and to investigate the potential correlation between the pathological scenario and the spatial position of cement residues.Methods: The study sample comprised 46 consecutive patients exhibiting clinical and radiographic signs of peri‐implant disease around cement‐retained crowns. When at first visit bleeding on probing was the only pathological sign, the area was debrided and then treated with antiseptic agents for 30 days. Only those patients for whom bleeding was still found at re‐evaluation were included in the study. All implants were therefore endoscopically evaluated to identify possible submucosal cement residues. For all implants showing residual cement, the spatial position of the residual cement was recorded with respect to predefined points.Results: Cement residues were detected in 80.4% of the patients and were predominantly located in the vestibular and lingual areas (88%). Analysis of the distances between the apical portion of the residues and anatomical landmarks revealed significant differences between mucositis and peri‐implantitis patients (p = 0.001). In cases of peri‐implantitis, the cement residue was more apically located than in mucositis.Conclusion: The presence of cement residue was associated with peri‐implant disorders in the majority of patients. A potential correlation between the position of residues and the peri‐implant disease scenario is here suggested.Plain language summary: A common method for fixing the crown on the dental implant is the use of specific cements. However, these products can slip below the gum line resulting in difficulties in their removal, which could cause peri‐implant disease. This study aimed to evaluate the presence and location of residual cement hidden under the gums in patients with peri‐implant disease, characterized by symptoms such as bleeding gums and, in some cases, bone loss around the dental implant. Using a small fiber‐optic camera (endoscope), 46 patients were examined for any cement residue under the gums. The study showed that more than 80% of patients had cement residues, especially in the areas facing the cheeks and tongue. It was also found that in patients with a more severe form of inflammation (peri‐implantitis), the cement was placed deeper than in those with a milder form (mucositis). This confirms that residual cement is common in patients with peri‐implant disease, but also suggests that its location could influence the severity of the pathological manifestation. This finding highlights the importance of carefully removing all cement to prevent such complications.

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) pose a significant risk to health, especially when not diagnosed early. For several years EDs and oral health has been extensively studied, and now it is quite clear the existence of a correlation between specific oral manifestations and these disorders. While these oral signs could potentially aid early diagnosis of EDs, their identification and the eventual establishment of a correlation is currently heavily limited to the clinician’s experience. The present systematic review critically examines existing literature, offering an updated overview of oro-dental manifestations associated with EDs. Method: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and grey literature were searched, and relevant epidemiological comparative studies were screened using the Rayyan software. No limitations have been imposed on the research regarding oro-dental outcomes, encompassing all medically diagnosed EDs. The quality of the studies was valuated using AXIS appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies. Result: Out of 3990 studies, 32 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the synthesis. The identified eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and/or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified, predominantly among female subjects, primarily originating from Europe. The evaluated oro-dental outcomes include dental erosion, caries, saliva assessment, hygiene-periodontal parameters, and mucosal tissue appearance. The association with erosion is confirmed while gingival recession, dentinal hypersensitivity, salivary flow thresholds and aspects relating to oral pathology are receiving increasing support from emerging evidence. Discussion: This trend emphasizes the critical role of the complete intraoral examination to detect significant oro-dental signs that may indicate the onset of an ED.

Montevecchi M, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2021 Jul;51:e32. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2100180009

Background: The microbial contamination of a respirator can be evaluated through a count of the number of bacteria living on a non-sterilized surface (bioburden). This preliminary study investigated the external contamination of two different FFP2s over time by studying the bioburden values in increasing exposure times. Methods: FFP2 respirators of two different brands were used during routine clinical settings and examined through the bioburden test; for each brand, three devices were tested at 8, 16, and 30 h. Results: No significant differences were observed between mask brands (p = 0.113). There were only significant CFU differences between each mask and its control (p = 0.027 and p = 0.004). Conclusions: Both brands of respirators were found to be contaminated and this contamination increased with the increase in exposure time. Further studies are needed to investigate the exact amount of contamination that could be considered acceptable before discarding each used mask.

Objective: The aim of this preclinical study was to compare the ability of tapered and cylindrical bristles to penetrate the peri-implant sulcus. Methods: A full mandibular dental arch was reproduced in plaster cast. In site #3.6 a hollow glass cylinder was positioned simulating a 4 mm diameter implant and the gingival component was recreated by using dedicated silicone. A Bass brushing technique was performed from the vestibular side in humid environment. During it, the penetration of the bristles between the gum and the implant was recorded by mean of an optic fibre fixed inside the cylinder. The protocol included 5 toothbrushes per group and 10 tests per toothbrush, for a total of 50 assessments for each of the two groups. A scale of 5 grades for bristle penetration was defined: grade 0 (x < 2 mm), grade 1 (2 <= x < 3 mm), grade 2 (3 <= x < 4 mm), grade 3 (4 <= x < 5 mm) and grade 4 (5 <= x < 8 mm). From the video recordings the highest value of penetration was identified for each test. Results: The tapered bristles showed an 8 times greater penetration capacity (p = 0.001) in respect to the cylindrical bristles (multilevel analysis). The percentage of tests reaching depths >= 3 mm was 86% for tapered group and 28% for the cylindrical group. Conclusion: This preclinical study shows a clear and superior penetration capacity of the tapered bristles in respect to traditional cylindrical ones. For tapered bristles, a potentially greater hygienic efficacy around dental implants is suggested.

Background and Aim: To systematically analyze the impact of biofilm disruption and decontamination methods on the surface of dental implants and abutments. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in September 2024. Only quantitative studies analyzing surface alterations caused by physical, mechanical, and chemical decontamination procedures were included. The risk of bias was assessed. Results: Twenty‐nine studies, all in vitro, were selected. Surface alterations were assessed using profilometer and microscope and were reported through Ra, Rz, and Sa roughness parameters. Differences in surface roughness between control and test groups were evaluated. For titanium machined surfaces, the surface roughness increases or decreases in 96% of cases for Ra and 100% for Sa and Rz, with no consistent pattern. Titanium modified surfaces generally show a reduction trend in roughness parameters following decontamination, though the extent and consistency of this reduction vary across studies. Few studies on zirconia reported minimal surface alteration, with Ra changes between −0.05 and 0.06 and Sa between 0.2 and 0.8 μm. Overall, due to methodological variability, no universally safe tool for maintaining surface integrity could be clearly identified. Conclusions: The inconclusive and heterogeneous nature of the findings suggests that surface alterations should be considered alongside other factors, rather than as a stand‐alone determinant, when selecting implant surface decontamination methods. Clinical trials are suggested to assess the impact of these alterations on clinical outcomes, such as bacterial growth and biological complications.