Hyun Jin Park, Haeryun Ahn, Eunji Ki, Je Seong Lee, Yiseul Choi, Kyung-Seok Hu, Yong-Min Chun, Hee-Jin Kim. Anat Cell Biol -0001;0:. https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.20.261

Background: A toothbrush device that telemonitors toothbrushing is a technologically advanced solution providing personalized feedback on toothbrushing habits and oral hygiene. These devices integrate smartphone apps to enhance oral health compliance through dental professional feedback. Objective: This 6-month prospective randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness, defined as improved oral hygiene measured by plaque reduction and halitosis control, of an interactive telemonitoring toothbrush (ITT), an oscillating-rotating power toothbrush (ORT), and a manual toothbrush (MT). Methods: Participants were recruited offline from the Department of Advanced General Dentistry at Yonsei University Dental Hospital, South Korea. A total of 150 participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups (50 participants each): (1) an ITT connected to a smartphone app providing real-time feedback and weekly dental professional reviews, (2) an ORT with smartphone-based guidance requiring participants to send weekly brushing records via screenshots, and (3) an MT with a brushing diary for review. Data collection occurred in clinical settings. Primary outcomes included plaque reduction measured using the Simple Hygiene Score (SHS), while secondary outcomes included plaque reduction measured using the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein plaque index (QHI), reductions in halitosis, and changes in oral microbiota. All outcomes were assessed at baseline and 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: A total of 150 participants completed the study. Over 6 months, the SHS increased in the MT group (mean 3.16, SD 4.86 to mean 5.66, SD 5.20) but significantly decreased in the ITT group (mean 3.47, SD 5.50 to mean 2.27, SD 3.82; P=.004). Similarly, QHI decreased more in the ITT group (mean 1.79, SD 0.72 to mean 0.85, SD 0.63) than in the ORT (P<.001) and MT (P<.001) groups. Regarding microbiota, there were no significant differences in high-risk periodontal microbiota or the ratio of caries-risk to anticaries microbiota between the ITT and ORT groups. However, in the MT group, the ratio of caries-risk microbiota was significantly higher at the 3-month (P<.001) and 6-month (P=.005) recalls than at baseline and at the 3-month (P=.048) and 6-month (P=.03) recalls than at the 1-month recall. Poststudy questionnaires indicated that 45 of 50 ITT participants (92%) and 37 of 50 ORT participants (76%) reported improved brushing ability. The most effective feature in the ITT group was brushing training, while participants in the ORT group cited the brushing guide as most useful (P<.001). Satisfaction scores were higher in the ORT group (mean 7.90, SD 1.21) than in the ITT group (mean 7.15, SD 1.66; P=.004). The number of brushing events decreased significantly in the ORT group (P=.02), while brushing duration increased in the MT group (P=.01). Conclusions: ITTs enable better oral hygiene management than MTs through dental professional feedback. However, further studies are needed to optimize feedback intervals and improve long-term adherence. Trial Registration: Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), Republic of Korea, KCT0009094; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?seq=26110&search_page=L

Background: High-quality photos are critical for the remote diagnosis of dental trauma and thus are beneficial to the prognosis. The quality of the images obtained using a cell phone depends on the level of dental and photography knowledge of the person who is taking the photos. Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of photography education in improving images used for the remote diagnosis of dental trauma. Methods: The subjects comprised 30 laypeople and 30 dentists who were randomly assigned to 15 subgroups with 2 subjects in each. Each subject was asked to take photos of their own anterior teeth and those of their partner on the assumption that an accident occurred using both an iPhone 4s and iPhone 6. Education about how to take an appropriate photo of the anterior teeth for teleconsultation purposes was then provided, after which photos were taken again. Photos were assessed by a dentist for their usefulness in diagnosis. Results: This study analyzed 965 photos: 441 taken by laypeople and 524 taken by dentists. Photos taken after providing education had significantly higher scores for all assessment items than those taken before education (P<.05). The scores were also significantly higher for photos taken using the rear camera than those taken using the front camera (P<.02). The iPhone 6 did not have overwhelming advantages. The photos taken by dentists had significantly higher scores than those taken by laypeople for most of the evaluated items. Conclusions: Both laypeople and dentists might find photography education useful for when they are taking photos to be used in teleconsultations. The type of cell phone does not significantly affect the usefulness of such photos.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine possible histological and radiological differences in alveolar ridge preservation (ARP), using moldable bone versus particulate bone.Methods: After tooth extraction, 39 patients (40 teeth) were randomized (1:1) to receive ARP using moldable bone materials (SBX group) or particulate bone materials (PBX group). An absorbable collagen membrane was placed over the graft material and the surgical site was sutured. Cone‐beam computed tomography was taken immediately and 5 months after ARP. Bone core samples from the implantation site were obtained for histomorphometric analysis 5 months after ARP.Results: Forty‐six patients were screened and 39 of them completed the study. However, one patient who received split‐mouth treatment was excluded, resulting in data from 38 patients being analyzed. In radiological evaluation, the changes in midbuccal alveolar bone height at 5 months were −0.753 ± 0.112 and −1.018 ± 0.111 mm in the SBX group and PBX groups, respectively (F = 2.895; p = 0.098; mean difference [MD] 0.265; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.051 to 0.582). Changes in the horizontal ridge width were measured at three levels (−1, −3, and −5 mm) below the most coronal aspect of the crest and showed a decrease in both groups, with no significant differences between the groups. The percent new bone area of the SBX group (39.156 ± 2.505) was significantly different from that of the PBX group (22.749 ± 2.476) (F = 22.171; p < 0.001; 95% MD 16.407; CI = 9.333 to 23.481). The percent residual material area was significantly lower in the SBX group (8.973 ± 2.211) compared to the PBX group (15.633 ± 2.186), with an F‐statistic of 4.687 and p‐value = 0.037 (MD –6.660; 95% CI = −12.904 to −0.415). The percent connective tissue area was 49.743 ± 4.199 and 56.657 ± 4.151 for the groups (F = 1.401; p = 0.245; MD –6.914; 95% CI = −18.773 to 4.944), respectively.Conclusion: Radiological and histological results showed that use of moldable bone can achieve similar ARP parameters as those achieved by particulate bone.Trial Registration: Clinical Research Information Service No. KCT0009560. This randomized clinical trial was not registered before participant recruitment and randomization. (Date of registration: 21/06/2024. https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?seq=27272&searchpage=L)