Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser irradiation on the secretory function of salivary glands in 34 patients with xerostomia (dry mouth). Background Data: Xerostomia, a common complaint of oral dryness within the elderly population, is caused by a reduction in normal salivary secretion due to different causes. Treatment is aimed at increasing salivary flow, although in most cases it remains palliative. Materials and Methods: In this study, laser light from a pulsed Ga-As laser operating at 904 nm was applied bilaterally on each salivary gland area: extraorally on the parotid and submandibular gland areas and intraorally on the sublingual gland area. The operational probe distance from the irradiated area was 0.5 cm resulting in an irradiance of 246 mW/cm ² . The exposure time was 120 sec per daily treatment during 10 consecutive days. The average energy density per exposure was 29.5 J/cm ² . The control group consisted of 16 patients who were treated with 15 mL of a 2% citric acid solution applied as a mouth rinse for 30 sec. Results: The average difference in the amount of salivation (dQ-sal, mL/min) before and after laser therapy increased linearly from dQ-sal = 0.05 mL/min on the first day, up to dQ-sal = 0.13 mL/min on the last (10th) day of therapy. In the control group, the average dQ-sal initially demonstrated a gradual increase, with a reversal of the trend toward the end of the therapy period and eventually yielding no correlation between the duration of therapy and dQ-sal. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that the effects of low-level laser therapy on salivary glands are not only stimulating, but also regenerative to a degree since the glandular response to the same amount of applied laser energy increased linearly over time.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a condition in which bone cells die due to various causes. It is classified as drug-induced jaw osteonecrosis, osteoradionecrosis, traumatic, non-traumatic, and spontaneous osteonecrosis. Antiresorptive or antiangiogenic drugs cause drug-induced osteonecrosis. The combination of medications, microbial contamination, and local trauma induces this condition. Osteoradionecrosis is a severe radiation therapy side effect that can affect people with head and neck cancer. It is described as an exposed bone area that does not heal for longer than three months after the end of radiation treatment with the absence of any indications of an original tumor, recurrence, or metastasis. Trauma (tooth extraction), tumor site, radiation dose that the patient receives, the area of the bone which is irradiated, oral hygiene, and other factors are risk factors for the development of osteonecrosis. Less frequently, osteonecrosis can also be induced by non-traumatic and traumatic causes. Non-traumatic osteonecrosis is brought on by infections, acquired and congenital disorders, as well as the impact of chemicals. Traumatic osteonecrosis is brought on by thermal, mechanical, or chemical damage. The treatment of osteonecrosis can be conservative, which aims to be beneficial for the patient’s quality of life, and surgical, which involves debridement of the necrotic bone.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology which affects the oral mucosa. OLP varies in its clinical features from a reticular form that is, in most cases, asymptomatic, to atrophic–erosive, and is accompanied by symptoms of burning sensation and pain followed by difficulty in eating. Given the fact that OLP is a disease of unknown etiology, the treatment is symptomatic and involves suppressing the signs and symptoms of the disease using various topical and systemic drugs. The first line of therapy for treating symptomatic OLP is topical corticosteroids, whereas systemic corticosteroids are used for treating persistent lesions that do not respond to local treatment. However, the lack of convincing evidence on the efficacy of previous therapies, including topical corticosteroids, and numerous side effects that have appeared over recent years has resulted in the emergence and development of new therapeutic options. Some of the therapies mentioned are tacrolimus, efalizumab, dapson, interferon, retinoic acid, photochemotherapy with psoralen and ultraviolet A rays (PUVA), aloe vera, antimalarials, antibiotics and others. These therapies only partially meet the properties of efficacy and safety of use, thus justifying the continuous search and testing of new treatment methods.

This study aims to evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of integrating oral microbiome research into the clinical management of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The oral microbiome has gained significant attention for its role in the pathogenesis and progression of these conditions, with emerging evidence suggesting its value as a diagnostic and prognostic tool. By critically analyzing current evidence and methodological considerations, this manuscript examines whether microbiome analysis in biopsy samples can aid in the early detection, prognosis, and management of OPMD and OSCC. The complexity and dynamic nature of the oral microbiome require a multifaceted approach to fully understand its clinical utility. Based on this review, we conclude that studying the oral microbiome in this context holds significant promise but also faces notable challenges, including methodological variability and the need for standardization. Ultimately, this manuscript addresses the question, “Should such research be undertaken, given the intricate interactions of various factors and the inherent obstacles involved?”, and also emphasizes the importance of further research to optimize clinical applications and improve patient outcomes.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry has been recommended for different groups of patients, such as patients with impaired immunologic function, patients at risk of developing infective endocarditis or prosthetic joint infection, patients previously exposed to high-dose irradiation of the head and neck regions, and patients receiving intravenous bisphosphonate and antiangiogenic treatment. The guidelines have been changed over the years, and the list of medical conditions requiring antibiotic prophylaxis has been shortened considerably in the context of antibiotic resistance and unnecessary antibiotic prescription.

The objective of our study was to investigate salivary levels of estradiol, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and quality of life, in female postmenopausal women with burning mouth syndrome. The study included new patients diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome and excluded local and systemic causes. Unstimulated saliva samples were taken in the morning from 9 AM and 11 AM and immediately frozen for hormone analysis. The patients filled out a self-perceived quality of life questionnaire Oral Health Impact Profile-14 and determined the intensity of mucosal symptoms according to the visual-analog scale grading 0 to 10. A total of 40 patients were included. The study group had significantly lower levels of salivary estradiol. No difference was observed in levels of progesterone and DHEA between the groups. The levels of salivary hormones did not exhibit a significant correlation according to the Spearman correlation test with a self-perceived quality of life questionnaire (OHIP-14) in the study group or in the control group. Further research on a larger number of patients is needed to verify these results. This information might help to enable more precise and efficient treatment.