Clinical photon-counting CT (PCCT) offers a spatial resolution of about 200 µm and might allow for acquisitions close to conventional dental CBCTs. In this study, the capabilities of this new system in comparison to dental CBCTs shall be evaluated. All 8 apical osteolysis identified in CBCT were identified by both readers in all three PCCT scan protocols. Mean visibility scores showed statistical significant differences for root canals(p = 0.0001), periodontal space(p = 0.0090), cortical(p = 0.0003) and spongious bone(p = 0.0293) in favor of high and medium dose PCCT acquisitions. Overall, both devices showed excellent image quality of all structures assessed. Interrater-agreement showed high values for all protocols in all structures. Bland–Altman plots revealed a high concordance of both modalities with the reference measurements. In vitro, ultra-high resolution PCCT can reliably identify different diagnostic entities and structures relevant for dental diagnostics similar to conventional dental CBCT with similar radiation dose. Acquisitions of five cadaveric heads were performed in an experimental CT-system containing an ultra-high resolution PC detector (0.25 mm pixel size in isocenter) as well as in a dental CBCT scanner. Acquisitions were performed using dose levels of 8.5 mGy, 38.0 mGy and 66.5 mGy (CTDI16cm) in case of PCCT and of 8.94 mGy (CTDI16cm) in case of CBCT. The quality of delineation of hard tissues, root-canals, periodontal-space as well as apical osteolysis was assessed by two readers. Mean visibility scores and interrater-agreement (overall agreement (%)) were calculated. Vertical bone loss (bl) and thickness (bt) of the buccal bone lamina of 15 lower incisors were measured and compared to reference measurements by ore microscopy and clinical probing.

Members of the ephrin/Eph family have recently been shown to be involved in the regulation of bone homeostasis in a murine model. The activation of the EphB4 receptor on osteoblasts by its ligand ephrin-B2 led to stimulation of osteoblastogenesis and therefore to bone formation. The activation of ephrin-A2-EphA2 signaling on osteoblasts inhibited the activation of osteoblast-specific gene expression, leading to bone resorption. Fibroblasts within the periodontal ligament periodontal ligament may be one of the first responders to orthodontic forces. Periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) are mechanoresponsive. Members of the ephrin/Eph family might link mechanical forces received by PDLF with the regulation of osteoblastogenesis on osteoblasts of the alveolar bone. To study whether ephrin-A2 is modulated upon compression, we subjected human primary PDLF to static compressive forces (30.3 g/cm2). Static compressive forces significantly induced the expression of ephrin-A2, while the expression of ephrin-B2 was significantly down-regulated. Moreover, osteoblasts of the alveolar bone stimulated with ephrin-A2 in vitro significantly suppressed their osteoblastogenic gene expression (RUNX2, ALPL) and decreased signs of osteoblastic differentiation, as demonstrated by a significantly reduced ALP activity. Together, these findings establish a role for this ligand/receptor system linking mechanical forces with the regulation of osteogenesis during orthodontic tooth movement.

Nanocomposite coatings have garnered significant attention for their potential applications in various fields, including dentistry. These coatings consist of a base matrix, typically a polymer, ceramic, or metal, embedded with nanoparticles that confer enhanced properties do not present in the bulk material. By incorporating nanoparticles into a suitable matrix, these coatings exhibit superior properties including bioactivity, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, antibacterial activity, and drug release capabilities. This review specifically covers the application of nanocomposites as (1) bioactive/osteoconductive coatings, (2) antibacterial/antimicrobial nanocomposite coatings, (3) tribological/corrosion protection nanocomposite coatings, and (4) drug delivery nanocomposite coatings.

Background and Objective: The aim of this single‐centre, two‐arm, parallel‐group, double‐blinded, randomised controlled trial was to investigate the disputed specific effectiveness of acupuncture by comparing acupuncture on specific and non‐specific points among patients with non‐chronic, painful TMDs.Methods: Following predefined eligibility criteria, 49 consecutive patients of both sexes were recruited to the study. All subjects were diagnosed with a non‐chronic (Graded Chronic Pain Scale grade <3) painful TMD, as assessed using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Patients were randomly assigned to group A (acupuncture on specific points) or group B (acupuncture on non‐specific points) after the initial examination (T0). Both acupuncture treatment sessions were conducted by a trained dentist once a week for four weeks. The examination was repeated five weeks (T5) after T0 by one calibrated examiner who was unaware of the study groups. Characteristic pain intensity (CPI) was evaluated as the main outcome criterion and compared between times and treatment groups by means of non‐parametric tests (significance level set at P = .05). Secondary outcomes comprised the maximum corrected active mouth‐opening without pain (MAO); patients’ expectations regarding acupuncture treatment and pain development; depressivity; and oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL).Results: A total of 41 patients (38 female) successfully completed the study (mean age: 40.17 ± 16.61). The two groups did not differ significantly at any time in terms of age and CPI. However, CPI was significantly (P < .05) lower at T5 than at T0 for both groups (29.66 and 30.35% lower in group A and group B, respectively). An increase in MAO was observed at T5 for both groups but was significant for group B only (P = .016). All patients had positive expectations of acupuncture therapy, and the two groups did not differ significantly at T5 with regard to the extent to which their expectations had been fulfilled by the treatment (P = .717). Comparison of T0 and T5 showed a statistically significant reduction of depressivity for group A (P = .0205), but no significant change for group B (P = .329). At T5, OHRQoL had improved significantly for both groups (group A, P = .018; group B, P < .001) compared with at T0.Conclusions: Acupuncture on both specific and non‐specific points reduces the non‐dysfunctional pain of TMD patients. The effect of acupuncture on painful TMD cannot be attributed to the specific point selection.

Background: The aim of the current study was to comparatively assess the efficiency of three different adjunctive therapy options (cold atmospheric plasma, [CAP], photodynamic therapy [PDT] and chemical decontamination via 35% phosphoric acid gel [PAG]) on decontamination of titanium implant surfaces in-vitro. Materials and methods: Implants were inserted in concavities of four mm in depth mimicking a bone defect at the implant recipient site. In each model, two implants were inserted in the fourth and one implant in the third quadrants. After contamination with E. faecalis, the first group has been treated with CAP for 3 min, the second group with 35% PAG (and the third group with PDT. After treatment, quantification of bacterial colonization was assessed by quantification via colony forming units and qualitatively by fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Results: With a mean value of 1.24 × 10⁵ CFU/ml, the CAP treated implants have showed the least microorganisms. The highest number of CFU was found after PDT with mean value of 8.28 × 10⁶ CFU/ml. For the implants that were processed with phosphoric acid, a mean value of 3.14 × 10⁶ CFU/ml could be detected. When the groups were compared, only the CAP and PDT groups differed significantly from each other (p = 0.005). Conclusion: A complete cleaning of the micro-textured implant surface or the killing of the bacteria could not be achieved by any of the investigated treatment options, thus bacteria in the microstructure of the titanium surface cannot be completely reached by mechanical and physico-chemical processes. Clinical relevance: The main goal of the adjunctive peri-implantitis treatment is the decontamination of the implant surface. However, there is still an ongoing need to define the most appropriate adjunctive therapy method. Due to its antimicrobial effects, CAP combined with mechanical debridement could be a feasible treatment modality in the management of peri-implantitis.

To investigate the image quality of a low-dose dental imaging protocol in the first clinical photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) system in comparison to a normal-dose acquisition in a digital volume tomography (DVT) system. Clinical PCCT systems offer an increased spatial resolution compared to previous generations of clinical systems. Their spatial resolution is in the order of dental DVT systems. Resolution-matched acquisitions of ten porcine jaws were performed in a PCCT (Naeotom Alpha, Siemens Healthineers) and in a DVT (Orthophos XL, Dentsply Sirona). PCCT images were acquired with 90 kV at a dose of 1 mGy CTDI_16cm. DVT used 85 kV at 4 mGy. Image reconstruction was performed using the standard algorithms of each system to a voxel size of 160 × 160 × 200 µm. The dose-normalized contrast-to-noise ratio (CNRD) was measured between dentine and enamel and dentine and bone. Two readers evaluated overall diagnostic quality of images and quality of relevant structures such as root channels and dentine. CNRD is higher in all PCCT acquisitions. CNRD is 37% higher for the contrast dentine-enamel and 31% higher for the dentine-bone contrast (p<0.05). Overall diagnostic image quality was higher for PCCT over DVT (p<0.02 and p<0.04 for readers 1 and 2). Quality scores for anatomical structures were higher in PCCT compared to DVT (all p0.64). PCCT provides an increased image quality over DVT even at a lower dose level and might enable complex dental imaging protocols in the future. The evolution of photon-counting technology and it's optimization will increasingly move dental imaging towards standardized 3D visualizations providing both minimal radiation exposure and high diagnostic accuracy.