Background: Platelet‐rich fibrin (PRF) promotes tissue regeneration by releasing various growth factors. The palatal donor site of the epithelialized connective tissue (CT) graft significantly influences the patient’s morbidity. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of PRF and gelatin sponge on the healing of palatal donor sites and the patient’s morbidity.Methods: Forty patients with at least one site of Miller Class I or II gingival recession were treated by a coronally advanced flap with CT graft resulting from the de‐epithelialization of a free gingival graft. In the test group (20 patients), a PRF membrane was placed over the palatal wounds; conversely, the 20 control group patients were treated with an absorbable gelatin sponge. Patients were monitored at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after surgery for the complete re‐epithelialization of the palatal wound (CWE), the alteration of sensitivity around the wound area, postoperative discomfort, and changes in feeding habits (CFH). Furthermore, the consumption of analgesics during the postoperative week 1 was assessed.Results: The test group showed a significantly faster CWE (P <0.001); 35% of the test patients showed CWE at the end of week 2 (controls, 10%), whereas at the end of week 3, all palatal wounds in the test patients epithelialized completely (controls, 25%). Similarly, test patients reported significantly less discomfort and CFH (P ≤ 0.02) and took a significantly lower dose of analgesics (P = 0.02).Conclusion: The PRF‐enriched palatal bandage significantly accelerates palatal wound healing and reduces the patient’s morbidity.

Clinical outcomes of dental restorations depend primarily on the choice of materials used, and nowadays, dental CAD-CAM (Computer-Aided Design Computer-Aided Manufacturing) materials have strongly changed daily clinical practice. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze CAD-CAM dental materials according to their mechanical properties and in relation to their clinical applications. A literature review was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library. Articles addressing at least one of the following topics regarding dental materials for CAD-CAM systems: manufacturers, mechanical features, materials’ composition, optical properties, clinical indications, and/or outcomes were included in the review. A flowchart was performed as described in the PRISMA guidelines. Among the 564 articles found, 63 were analyzed and evaluated. Within the limitations of this systematic review, it can be concluded that CAD-CAM materials present a wide range of clinical applications due to their improved mechanical properties. Specifically, in addition to materials that have been in use for a long time (such as feldspathic ceramics), resin block composites can also be used for permanent restorations.

Curcumin, primary component of the spice turmeric extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, represents the major anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory substance found in turmeric, acting thought various mechanisms not completely understood. Curcumin modulates cytokines, growth factors, transcription factors, inflammatory molecules and cell signaling pathways. During restorative dentistry practice, free resin monomers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) propagate through dentin micro-channel and pulp into the bloodstream affecting cellular integrity. The study highlights the significance of application of curcumin bioactive component into liposomal formulations (CurLIP) to restore the homeostasis of dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) in response to 3 and 5 mmol L^–1 HEMA treatment. Cell proliferation in combination with changes of the morphological features, proinflammatory cytokines secretion as Interleukin (IL) 6, IL8, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP1) and Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) were assayed along with the nuclear factor (NF)-kB, an inducible transcription factor involved in the activation of several cell processes associated to extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and posphorylated (p-) ERK pathway. Our results showed a decreased cell proliferation, morphological changes and upregulation of IL6, IL8, MCP1 and IFNγ in presence of 3 and 5 mmol L^–1 HEMA treatment. CurLIP therapy in hDPSCs provokes an increase in cell proliferation and the block of inflammatory cytokines secretion through the inhibitory regulation of NFkB/ERK and pERK signaling cascade. The natural nanocarrier CurLIP influences numerous biochemical and molecular cascades causing anti-inflammatory properties in response to HEMA treatment in human dental pulp stem cells, representing an innovative endodontic formulation able to improve the quality of dental care with a major human community impact.

This study aims to investigate the mechanical properties, composition and surface preparation for adhesive bonding of the recently introduced zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) glass-ceramic. One single block of ZLS was used to prepare the specimens (n=14). The fracture toughness (Ft) and the Vickers hardness (HV) were measured on specimens partially crystallized (PCs) (n=4) and fully crystallized (FCs) at 840°C for 8 min (n=4). The surface treatment was done using hydrofluoric-acid gel (HF) at different concentrations and times of action on FCs specimens (n=4). SEM-EDX was used to test elemental composition and crystalline phases (n=2). The new ZLS glass-ceramic showed significantly higher values of HV and Ft for FCs, PCs showed a brittle behavior. The surface etching should be made using HF at 4.9% for 20 s.

The COVID-19 pandemic literally stopped most human movement and activities as it initially spread, which included dental practices and dental education. This defined the need for significative changes in teaching and learning with the use of “e-learning” methods, also for traineeships. This study was designed to determine the undergraduate student perception of these new methods as part of their education. This involved 353 students attending the Dental School of the G. D’Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara, from the first to the sixth years. A questionnaire in Italian and was set-up using “Google Forms” and sent by email to the students. The questionnaire was divided into three parts: the first part included questions for general information, including age, sex and year of course; the second part had multiple choice questions related to their evaluation of the e-learning teaching, using a scale of opinion in the replies to each question (e.g., “scarce”, “fair”, “satisfying”, “very good” and “excellent”); and the third part included two open questions to indicate the strengths and limitations of these new teaching and learning approaches. The categorical variables in the first and second parts of the questionnaire were evaluated using Chi squared tests, setting significance at p < 0.05, while the comments were evaluated qualitatively. The student feedback showed significant appreciation (p < 0.05) of the new methods and the efforts that the lecturers put in to provide lectures of as high a quality as possible. However, a lack of practical training was significantly perceived as an important problem in the structure of their new curriculum (p < 0.05). COVID-19 has been an epic tragedy that has hit the human population not only in terms of health and healthcare, but also quality of life. This includes the quality of dental education within universities. However, the pandemic can be seen to also represent motivation to invest in the necessary technological innovation to deliver the best possible education to our future dentists.

The level of environmental microplastics in the sea is constantly increasing. They can enter the human body with food, be absorbed through the gut and have negative effects on the organism’s health after its digestion. To date, microplastics (MPs) are considered new environmental pollutants in the air sea and they are attracting wide attention. The possible toxic effects of MPs isolated at different sea depths of 1, 24 and 78 m were explored in an in vitro model of human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs). MPs isolated from the sea showed different size and were then divided into different sample groups: 1, 24 and 78 m. The results obtained revealed that MPs are able to activate the inflammatory pathway NFkB/MyD88/NLRP3. In detail, the exposure to MPs from 1 and 78 m led to increased levels of inflammatory markers NFkB, MyD88 and NLRP3 in terms of proteins and gene expression. Moreover, cells exposed to MPs showed a lower metabolic activity rate compared to unexposed cells. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that the inflammation process is stimulated by MPs exposure, providing a new perspective to better understand the intracellular mechanism.