International Journal of Dentistry

Introduction. In orthodontics, patients’ esthetic expectations involve the final esthetic result as well as the treatment’s appliance choice. Personality traits can influence patients’ perception, treatment modality selection, expectations, compliance, and satisfaction with the treatment outcome, although there are very few studies on this interconnection between personality and orthodontic appliances. Objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between personality traits and the esthetic perception of different orthodontic appliances. Materials and Methods. The online questionnaire is composed of three parts: (1) sociodemographic variables; (2) questions on the esthetic perception of different orthodontic appliances; (3) general personality assessment via the NEO-FFI. A total of 461 questionnaires were accepted. Results. There were statistically significant differences between laypeople and professionals related to assessing smiles and the need for orthodontic treatment. Laypeople identified a statistically significant relationship between personality traits and orthodontic appliances, in which esthetic perception is associated with high traits of agreeableness and openness. Neuroticism is most associated with orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances, which are the most conventional. Conclusions. Professionals tend to have a more critical judgment than laypeople as far as esthetics is concerned. Personality traits play an important role in esthetic perception and may influence orthodontic treatment.

Introduction. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a formulation of premixed calcium silicate-based sealer (CSBS) with monocalcium silicate (Mono-CS) as the main component. Its properties were compared with those of a control group (iRoot SP) according to ISO 6876/2012 standards for root canal sealers. Materials and Methods. The CSBS formulation consisted of two components (powder and liquid). The powder was a mixture of Mono-CS, a radiopacifier, and a thickening agent, and the liquid components were nonaqueous liquid agent and setting accelerator. Three formulation groups with different powder–liquid ratios were prepared: group A, 2 : 1; group B, 3 : 1; and group C, 2 : 1, which also contained calcium chloride as a setting accelerator. The setting time, flow rate, film thickness, and radiopacity of the three CSBS groups and the control group were evaluated and compared. Each test was repeated five times for each group. Results. The minimum values of setting time (i.e., working time, initial setting time, and final setting time) were ranked in order of significance as group B, the control group, group C, and group A. The control group had the lowest film thickness at 20 μm, with a nonsignificant difference to group C. The flow rates in group A, group C, and the control group were >20 mm. Furthermore, the experimental groups showed a similar amount of radiopacity as the control group (). Conclusion. Mono-CS and calcium chloride can be used in the formulation of root canal sealers, and their properties, including working time, initial setting time, final setting time, flow rate, film thickness, and radiopacity, are consistent with those of iRoot SP and ISO 6876/2012 standards.

Regeneration of sensory nerves is challenging in dental pulp regeneration. Schwann cells (SCs) are essential glial cells conducive to regenerating sensory nerve, but their source is scarce. The aim of the protocol was to investigate the regenerative potential of Schwann-like cells derived from dental pulp stem cells (SC-DPSCs) for sensory nerve regrowth. SC-DPSCs were generated from dental pulp stem cells using a three-step protocol. The expression of key markers, including myelin basic protein, S-100, and p75 neurotrophin receptor, was analyzed. Primary trigeminal neurons were cultured, and the expression of neurofilament 200, β-tubulin III, and microtubule-associated protein 2 was assessed. Simultaneous culture experiments were conducted to evaluate trigeminal neuron growth in the presence of SC-DPSCs. In addition, mRNA sequencing was performed to identify key genes involved in the differentiation process, highlighting prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) as a potential candidate. The results demonstrated that SC-DPSCs expressed characteristic SCs markers and facilitated axonal growth in rat trigeminal nerves. Differentiated SC-DPSCs secreted elevated levels of nerve growth factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3, promoting the growth of trigeminal nerve axons. These findings suggest the regenerative potential of SC-DPSCs in dentin–dental pulp complex; PTGS2 is considered a crucial gene in this differentiation process.

Background. Endodontic irrigants are essential for disinfecting the root canal system. None of the currently available irrigants perfume sufficiently. However, most products contain surfactants, which enhance the antimicrobial properties of the irrigants. Objectives. To evaluate the effect of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) surfactant on the antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine and compare it with that of chlorhexidine (CHX) and Biopure MTAD against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Materials and Methods. In this in vitro study, three microorganisms were used (E. faecalis, S. aureus, and C. albicans), and each organism was treated with three different irrigants: 2% CHX, 2% CHX + 0.2% CPC, and 100% Biopure MTAD. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by direct contact assay for 5 min of contact time. The colony-forming unit per mL was calculated after antimicrobial treatment and 24 hr of incubation at 37°C. The data were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22. The Kruskal–Wallis and the multiple Wilcoxon sum rank tests were used. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results. The result showed a nonsignificant difference between the different irrigants against E. faecalis. Among S. aureus subgroups, 2% CHX was statistically significant and more efficient than MTAD. Among C. albicans subgroups, 2% CHX and combined irrigant (2% CHX + 0.2% CPC) were statistically more efficient than MTAD. The 2% CHX and combined irrigants were equally effective against all the tested microorganisms. Conclusions. All the used irrigants have comparable effects against E. faecalis after 5 min. CHX have a comparable effects to that of the combined irrigant and more efficient against S. aureus than MTAD. CHX and the combined irrigant have potent antimicrobial activity against C. albicans superior to MTAD. CPC surfactant can be used with CHX to overcome its clinical drawbacks or limitations without altering or reducing its antimicrobial activity.

Objective. The chemokine “Fractalkine” (CX3CL1) and its corresponding receptor (CX3CR1), chemokine belonging to the CX3C family, have an essential role in developing several systemic inflammatory disorders. Accordingly, the proliferation, adhesion, and migration of inflammatory cells are all affected by it. In light of this, the present study attempts to address the following questions: (1) Is the salivary level of fractalkine and its receptor associated with periodontitis patients with different severities? (2) Is it possible to distinguish periodontitis from periodontally healthy subjects? Methods. This study included 30 individuals who had been considered controls, having healthy periodontium, and 90 patients with varying stages of periodontitis. The patients were equally divided into three groups: those with Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III. After each subject’s saliva was collected, periodontal markers including bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to detect the protein levels of salivary CX3CL1 and CX3CR1. Results. In comparison to the control group, patients with periodontitis had statistically increased salivary concentrations of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 (). Additionally, all clinical periodontal indicators (BOP, PPD, and CAL) had a strong association with salivary CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 levels. Furthermore, by using the ROC (receiver operating characteristic), both biomarkers showed a good ability to differentiate periodontitis from periodontally healthy subjects, and an excellent ability to distinguish Stage I and Stage III periodontitis from periodontally healthy subjects. The AUC for salivary CX3L1 and its receptors, CX3R, was 0.93 and 0.8, respectively, to distinguish Stage I from patients with good periodontal health. In contrast, the biomarkers’ AUC for separating individuals with Stage III periodontitis from those in healthy periodontal conditions was 1. Conclusion. Fractalkine and its receptor are linked to periodontitis and may distinguish between periodontitis and healthy periodontal tissues, suggesting its role as a possible part of periodontal disease pathogenesis.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is characterized by repeated airway collapse during sleep. It determines cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurocognitive consequences and is associated with several daytime and nighttime symptoms that influence the patient’s quality of life. The contribution of the dental specialist in the clinical management of OSA patients entails participating in the screening process as diagnostic sentinels and providing adequate treatment using mandibular advancement devices (MADs). Since the treatment of OSA requires a multidisciplinary approach, including different medical specialists, dentists should have a comprehensive understanding of medical and dental factors that influence the strategy and effectiveness of OSA treatment with MAD. Such expertise is crucial in determining the appropriate treatment indications and helps clinicians establish a consolidated position within the multidisciplinary OSA team. In this regard, this review summarizes the evidence of the clinical indications for MAD treatment and provides the dental specialist with helpful information about medical, functional, and other relevant factors that should be considered during diagnosis, treatment plan, and follow-up stages. Information retrieved was organized and discussed, generating specific domains/queries oriented to the clinical management of OSA patients from the clinical perspective of dental specialists.