The evidence of a connection between the peripheral inflammatory processes and neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system is becoming more apparent. This review of the related literature highlights the most recent clinical, epidemiological, and in vitro studies trying to investigate possible connections between periodontal bacteria and the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. This review was conducted by searching databases such as PubMed and Scopus using keywords or combinations such as Alzheimer’s Disease AND periodontal or dementia AND periodontitis OR periodontal. After eliminating overlaps and screening the articles not related to these issues, we identified 1088 records and proceeded to the selection of articles for an evaluation of the associative assumptions. The hypothesis suggested by the authors and confirmed by the literature is that the bacterial load and the inflammatory process linked to periodontal disease can intensify inflammation at the level of the central nervous system, favoring the occurrence of the disease. The analysis of the literature highlights how periodontal disease can directly contribute to the peripheral inflammatory environment by the introduction of periodontal or indirect pathogenic bacteria and proinflammatory cytokines locally produced at the periodontal level following bacterial colonization of periodontal defects.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the main neoformations of the head–neck region and is characterized by the presence of squamous carcinomatous cells of the multi-layered epithelium lining the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx. The annual incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) comprises approximately 600,000 new cases globally. Currently, the 5-year survival from HNSCC is less than 50%. Surgical, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy treatments strongly compromise patient quality of life. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small noncoding endogenous RNAs that function in regulating gene expression by regulating several biological processes, including carcinogenesis. The main upregulated microRNAs associated with oral carcinoma are miR-21, miR-455-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-372, miR-373, miR-29b, miR-1246, miR-196a, and miR-181, while the main downregulated miRNAs are miR-204, miR-101, miR-32, miR-20a, miR-16, miR-17, and miR-125b. miR-21 represents one of the first oncomirs studied. The present systematic review work was performed based on the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) protocol. A search was carried out in the PubMed and Scopus databases with the use of keywords. This search produced 628 records which, after the elimination of duplicates and the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, led to 7 included articles. The heterogeneity of the studies according to the odds ratio was high, with a Q value of 26.616 (p < 0.001), and the I² was 77.457% for specificity. The heterogeneity was high, with a Q value of 25.243 (p < 0.001) and the I² was 76.231% for sensitivity. The heterogeneity of data showed a Q value of 27.815 (p < 0.001) and the I² was 78.429%. Therefore, the random-effects model was selected. The diagnostic odds ratio was 7.620 (95% CI 3.613–16.070). The results showed that the sensitivity was 0.771 (95% CI 0.680–0.842) (p < 0.001) while, for specificity, we found 0.663 (95% CI 0.538–0.770) (p < 0.001). The negative likelihood ratio (NLR) was 0.321 (95% CI 0.186–0.554), and the positive likelihood ratio (PLR) was 2.144 (95% CI 1.563–2.943). The summary ROC plot demonstrates that the diagnostic test presents good specificity and sensitivity, and the area under the curve (AUC), as calculated from the graph, was 0.79.

Among the common procedures in clinical practice in the field of dentistry is prosthetic rehabilitation through the insertion of dental implants. In order to obtain the best aesthetic and functional results, the oral surgeon who deals with implantology must be able to position the dental implants correctly; a crucial role is therefore played by the diagnostic and treatment planning phases, where attention must be paid to anatomical constraints and prosthetic constraints in the alveolar bone site. The parameters, such as bone quality, bone volume, and anatomical restrictions, can be processed and simulated using implant planning software. The simulation of the virtual positioning of the implant can lead to the construction of a three-dimensional model of the implant positioning guide, which can be used during the implant surgery. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate survival rates, early and late failure rates, peri-implant bone remodeling, and possible implant-prosthetic complications related to implants placed using digitally designed surgical guides. This systematic review was written following the indications of PRISMA and envisaged the use of 3 databases: Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. Results: Only 9 of the 2001 records were included, including 2 retrospective studies and 7 prospective studies. Conclusion: On the basis of the studies selected in this review, it can be seen that the implant survival obtained with the use of guided implant surgery shows high percentages. Many recorded failures occurred early, due to a lack of osseointegration, and the variables that come into play in the survival of the implants are many.

Oral carcinoma represents one of the main carcinomas of the head and neck region, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Smoking and tobacco use are recognized risk factors. Prognostic survival biomarkers can be a valid tool for assessing a patient’s life expectancy and directing therapy towards specific targets. Among the biomarkers, the alteration of miR-21 expression in tumor tissues is increasingly reported as a valid prognostic biomarker of survival for oral cancer. The purpose of this meta-analysis was, therefore, to investigate and summarize the results in the literature concerning the potential prognostic expression of tissue miR-21 in patients with OSCC. Methods: The systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines using electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with the use of combinations of keywords, such as miR-21 AND oral cancer, microRNA AND oral cancer, and miR-21. The meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.41 software. Results: At the end of the article-selection process, 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis, and the result for the main outcome was a pooled HR per overall survival (OS) of 1.29 (1.16–1.44) between high and low expression of miR-21. Conclusions: The data in the literature and the results emerging from the systematic review indicate that miR-21 can provide a prognostic indication in oral cancer.

Background and Objectives: In the presence of a persistent endodontic lesion or endodontic failure, the alternative for the recovery of the dental element is endodontic retreatment or endodontic surgery, which consists in the surgical removal of the root apices with retrograde closure of the endodontium. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an updated value of the Risk Ratio between the two types of treatment in order to offer to clinicians who propose a non-surgical endodontic retreatment or an endodontic surgery a direct comparison. Materials and Methods: The revision was performed according to PRISMA indications: three databases (PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane register) were consulted through the use of keywords relevant to the revision topic: surgical endodontic retreatment, endodontic retreatment, apicoectomy. This search produced 7568 records which, after eliminating duplicates and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulted in a total of seven included articles. The meta-analyses were conducted by applying fixed-effects models, given the low percentage of heterogeneity. In addition, trial sequency analysis (TSA) was performed for the analysis of the statistical power of the results and GRADE for the quality of the evidence. Results: The results of the meta-analyses’ data report an aggregate risk ratio (RR) between non-surgical endodontic retreatment and surgical endodontic retreatment of: 1.05 [0.74, 1.47] at one year of follow-up; RR 2.22 [1.45, 3.41] at two years of follow-up; an RR 1.08 [0.73 1.62] for a follow-up period of 3–4 years; and an RR 0.92 [0.53, 1.61] for a follow-up period of 8–10 years. Conclusions: The results of the present meta-analysis show that in the long term, the risk of failure is identical for the two groups, and there is only a slightly higher risk of failure for non-surgical endodontic retreatments, when only two years of follow-up are considered.

Introduction: Tooth autotransplantation is the repositioning of an erupted, partially erupted, or non-erupted autologous tooth from one site to another within the same individual. Several factors influence the success rate of the autotransplant, such as the stage of root development, the morphology of the tooth, the surgical procedure selected, the extraoral time, the shape of the recipient socket, the vascularity of the recipient bed, and the vitality of the cells of the periodontal ligament. The aim of this scoping review was to provide the most up-to-date information and data on the clinical principles of the third-molar autograft and thus provide clinical considerations for its success. Materials and methods: This review was conducted based on PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). The research was conducted by searching for keywords in three databases—PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar—by two independent reviewers following the PRISMA protocol, from which 599 records were identified. Conclusions: Third-molar autotransplantation is a valid solution to replace missing teeth. The key to the success of this technique is the surgical procedure, which must be as atraumatic as possible to preserve the periodontal ligament of the tooth to be transplanted. The success rate is also linked to the stage of development of the root, with a worse prognosis in the case of a complete root.