Tongue coating (TC) is a biofilm comprising desquamated epithelial cells, food debris, and microorganisms. TC is commonly found across populations and may hold significant implications for both oral and systemic health. Factors such as age, diet, smoking, and systemic conditions influence its formation. TC is a primary reservoir for pathogenic bacteria and is closely linked to halitosis and periodontal disease. Beyond oral health, TC has been associated with systemic diseases, including aspiration pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, through mechanisms involving microbial translocation and low-grade inflammation. Literature search was performed using search engines and databases including, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Medline, utilizing key words such as “Tongue coating,” “Tongue cleaning,” “Halitosis and Oral malodor”. This review assesses the etiology, composition, and health implications of TC, highlighting its microbial diversity and correlation with oral and systemic conditions. Additionally, it examines interventions such as mechanical cleaning, chemical treatments, and dietary modifications to manage TC effectively. Emphasizing tongue hygiene as part of routine oral care is crucial for enhancing oral health, mitigating systemic risks, and improving quality of life.

The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effect of mechanical debridement (MD) with and without adjunct antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) for the treatment of peri‑implant diseases in obese patients. The focused question is "Is MD with adjuvant aPDT more effective than MD alone for treating peri‑implant diseases in obese patients?" Indexed databases were searched without time and language barriers up to and including February 2025. Various keywords were used in different combinations using Boolean operators. A forest plot was generated to visually present the results of the meta-analysis. The risk of bias (RoB) within studies was assessed and GRADE analysis was performed. Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The number of participants ranged between 49 and 80 individuals. Patients in the test and control groups underwent MD with and without adjunct aPDT, respectively. In two studies, periimplantitis was treated with MD with and without adjunct aPDT, and in one, MD with and without MD was performed to treat peri‑implant mucositis. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 6 months. All RCTs showed that MD+aPDT is more effective in treating peri‑implant diseases than MD alone. The RoB was high and unclear in one and two RCTs, respectively. The meta-analysis showed that control intervention provided a more favorable outcome than experimental intervention. The certainty of evidence was low, and the strength of recommendation was weak in all RCTs. Role of aPDT as an adjunct to MD for treating peri‑implant diseases in obese populations remains unclear.

Background and Objectives: To compare the clinical, radiographic, and inflammatory peri-implant parameters around narrow diameter implants (NDI) supported single and splinted crowns in non-diabetics and prediabetes. Materials and Methods: The clinical and radiographic parameters and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) of narrow diameter single (NDISCs) and splinted (NDISPs) crown implants were assessed both in non-diabetics and participants with prediabetes. The glycemic state of the patient was assessed using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. The peri-implant soft tissue indices (Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD)) and marginal bone loss were recorded and compared between the groups. Success of the prosthesis was assessed by the frequency of technical complications and patient satisfaction. Inter-group comparison was performed using ANOVA (one-way analysis of variance) while the normal distribution of dependent variables was calculated using Shapiro–Wilk. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Sixty participants (30 non-diabetics and 30 with prediabetes) with a total of 178 (118 NDISCs and 60 NDISPs) platform-switched NDIs were a part of the study. Of the 118 NDISCs, 56 were placed in the non-diabetic individuals and 62 were placed in the prediabetes group whereas 30 NDISPs each were placed in both the study groups. The clinical parameters of PI, BoP and PD in the single crown and splinted crown groups showed comparable results. However, a statistically significant difference (p-value of less than 0.05) in PI, BoP and PD and in the values of IL-6 and TNF-α was found when a comparison was made between the non-diabetes and prediabetes group. A total of 91% of the patients were satisfied with the esthetics of the implants while 79% of the patients showed satisfaction with function. Conclusions: All the clinical and radiographic parameters were statistically similar in both single and splinted types of narrow diameter implants. However, the bone loss, probing depth, plaque index, and levels of inflammatory markers were statistically higher in prediabetes as compared to non-diabetes implying that a slight hyperglycemic state impacts peri-implant health.

The accurate alignment of digital scan data is a critical step in providing a complete arch implant-supported prosthesis, mainly because of the lack of stable and repeatable reference points in edentulous arches. This limitation poses a significant challenge when attempting to align multiple surface geometry datasets precisely. This clinical report describes a practical and efficient procedure that enhanced the accuracy of digital dataset alignment and facilitated a fully digital workflow for the design, fabrication, and conversion of interim prostheses into definitive complete arch implant-supported prostheses.

Patients are increasingly turning to large language models (LLMs) for health information, but the quality of patient-oriented information remains uncertain. This article evaluated the performance of three major LLMs in answering clinically relevant patient’s questions related to gingival recession. A descriptive comparative study was carried out utilizing twenty standardized patient-centered questions related to gingival recession. Each question was submitted once to ChatGPT 5.5, Gemini 3.5, and Claude Sonnet 5, generating 60 responses. Five board-certified periodontists independently evaluated the responses using the validated Accuracy of Information (AOI) Index, a completeness scale, and expert preference rankings. Word count and response generation time were also recorded. Non-parametric tests and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were applied for statistical analysis, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. No significant differences were found among the three LLMs in accuracy (p = 0.993) or completeness (p = 0.972). ChatGPT generated responses significantly faster (median: 5.82 s) and with fewer words (median: 232) than Gemini (8.46 s; 438 words) and Claude (14.61 s; 333.5 words) (both p < 0.001). Expert preference rankings differed significantly (p = 0.002): Gemini and Claude were each ranked first in 38% of evaluations, compared with 24% for ChatGPT. For all three models, the highest accuracy was observed in Post-treatment Care. The three LLMs offered broadly comparable levels of accuracy and completeness when answering patient-oriented questions with respect to gingival recession. ChatGPT was faster and more concise, while Gemini and Claude were more often preferred by the expert evaluators. These LLMs may be useful as adjuncts to patient education, but they should complement rather than replace professional periodontal consultation.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of aphthous ulcers following periodontal surgery and to identify demographic, behavioral, and clinical predictors of ulcer history before surgery and ulcer development after surgery. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 227 adult patients undergoing periodontal surgical procedures between November 2024 and May 2025. Demographic, medical, behavioral, and oral health data were collected. Postoperative follow-up at 1 and 2 weeks included a standardized clinical assessment of aphthous ulcers. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) decision tree modeling. Results: Aphthous ulcers developed in 47 patients (20.7%), predominantly within the first postoperative week. CHAID analysis identified age, marital status, and smoking as predictors of preoperative ulcer history (classification accuracy: 73.6%), whereas age and family history predicted postoperative ulcer development (79.4%). Periodontal procedure type was significantly associated with postoperative medication prescription (χ² = 300.45, p < 0.001), suture selection (χ² = 69.19, p = 0.024), and ulcer number (χ² = 48.43, p = 0.031), but not ulcer size or anatomical location. Most ulcers were minor and primarily involved the buccal mucosa. Conclusions: Postoperative aphthous ulceration is a common complication of periodontal surgery, affecting approximately one-fifth of patients. Distinct risk profiles for pre- and post-surgical ulceration highlight the roles of patient-related susceptibility and surgical complexity. These findings support the use of structured risk stratification to guide preoperative counseling and targeted postoperative management.