Background: Ultraviolet (UV) and non-thermal plasma functionalization are surface treatment modalities that seem able to improve osseointegration. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the effect of the two methods and possible differences. Materials and Methods: The systematic research of pre-clinical animal studies was conducted up to May 2020 in the databases PubMed/Medline, Scopus and the Cochrane Lybrary. A meta-analysis was performed by using the DerSimonian–Laird estimator in random-effects models. Results: Through the digital search, 518 articles were identified; after duplicate removal and screening process 10 papers were included. Four studies evaluating UV treatment in rabbits were included in the meta-analysis. The qualitative evaluation of the included studies showed that both UV photofunctionalization and non-thermal plasma argon functionalization of titanium implant surfaces might be effective in vivo to improve the osseointegration. The meta-analysis on four studies evaluating UV treatment in rabbits showed that bone to implant contact values (expressed as standardized mean differences and raw mean differences) were significantly increased in the bio-activated groups when follow-up times were relatively homogeneous, although a high heterogeneity (I2 > 75%) was found in all models. Conclusions: The present systematic review and meta-analysis on pre-clinical studies demonstrated that chair-side treatment of implants with UV or non-thermal plasma appear to be effective for improving osseointegration. This systematic review supports further clinical trials on this topic.

Objectives The detrimental effect of tobacco smoking on periodontal health is well known, while the effect of electronic cigarette on periodontal parameters has been less investigated. The aim of the present systematic review was to compare periodontal indices in three categories of patients: traditional cigarette smokers (TS), e-cigarette smokers (ES), and non-smokers (NS). Materials and methods An electronic search was conducted for studies published until December 2021 on MEDLINE (PubMed), ISI Web of Science, and Scopus. A hand search was additionally conducted. Clinical observational and cross-sectional trials investigating periodontal indices among tobacco smokers (TS), electronic cigarette smokers (ES) and non-smokers (NS) were included and selected by 2 independent reviewers. Data on probing depth (PD), plaque index (PI), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were collected. The risk of bias was evaluated according to the NIH quality assessment tool and a network meta-analysis (NMA) was undertaken. Results Five relevant studies, from 707 identified, were included. Overall, 512 patients were included, of them 170 were NS, 176 were TS, and 166 were ES. A significant difference in the comparison among TS vs NS: effect size (ES) = 3.297 (95%CI: [2.142–4.454], p = 0.001) and TS and ES ES = 2.507 (95%CI: [1.351–3.663], p = 0.001) was identified for PD. A significant difference in the comparison among TS and NS, ES = 21.34 (95%CI: [13.41–29.27], p = 0.001) and between TS and ES ES = 15.67 (95%CI: [7.73–23.62], p = 0.001) was identified for PI. The analysis of BOP values shows a significant difference in the comparison among ES and NS: ES = − 16.22 (95%CI: [− 22.85 to − 9.59], p < 0.001) and between TS and NS: ES = − 14.47 (95%CI: [− 21.103 to − 7.848], p < 0.001). Based on the SUCRA ranking, NS showed the most favorable outcome for PD and PI, followed by ES. Tobacco smokers were clearly in the last position. Dealing with BoP ES showed the most favorable outcome, followed by TS. NS were in the last position. Conclusions Periodontal parameters were similar among NS and ES, while TS presented the worst indices. BoP was reduced both in ES and in TS. Clinical relevance Results of the present review suggest a reduced effect on periodontal tissue of e-cig smoking compared to traditional cigarettes, despite recent studies proved that e-cig smoking increases oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, change in pulmonary cellular behavior, and stimulates DNA injury.

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Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a widespread malignancy with high mortality. In particular, a delay in its diagnosis dramatically decreases the survival rate. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate and summarize clinical results in the literature, regarding the potential use of salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for OSCC patients. Twelve papers were selected, including both case–control and cohort studies, and all of them detected significantly dysregulated miRNAs in OSCC patients compared to healthy controls. Based on our results, salivary miRNAs might provide a non-invasive and cost-effective method in the diagnosis of OSCC, and also to monitor more easily its evolution and therapeutic response and therefore aid in the establishment of specific therapeutic strategies.

The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the clinical outcomes of frameworks made of different materials in patients with implant-supported full-arch prostheses. A literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, Scopus and Cochrane Library, until the 1st of March 2021, with the following search terms: framework or substructure combined with “dental implants”. The outcomes evaluated were: implant and prosthesis survival, bone resorption, biological and technical complications. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was employed to assess the risk of bias in randomized clinical trials. The Newcastle–Ottawa quality assessment scale was used for non-randomized studies. In total, 924 records were evaluated for title and abstract, and 11 studies were included in the review: 4 clinical randomized trials and 7 cohort studies. The framework materials investigated were: gold alloy, titanium, silver-palladium alloy, zirconia and polymers including acrylic resin and carbon-fiber-reinforced composites. High implant and prosthetic cumulative survival rates were recorded by all included studies. Various materials and different fabrication techniques are now available as alternatives to traditional cast metal frameworks, for full-arch implant-supported rehabilitations. Further long-term studies are needed to validate the use of these materials and clarify their specific clinical indications and manufacturing protocols to optimize their clinical outcomes.

Background: The etiology of peri-implantitis is multifactorial, and it is not directly linked to the quantitative amount of plaque. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of subgingival microbiota around implants supporting full-arch restorations on clinical indexes of peri-implant health. Method: 47 patients (54 full-arch fixed rehabilitations) were included. Based on the highest value of probing depth (PD), 47 implants (in the test arch), 40 natural teeth and 7 implants (in the antagonist arch) were selected for microbiological sampling (traditional PCR and real-time PCR). Periodontal indexes (plaque index, PlI; probing depth, PD; bleeding on probing, BOP; peri-implant suppuration, PS) and marginal bone loss were also recorded. Results: Despite abundant plaque accumulation, the peri-implant parameters were within normal limits. No statistical difference was found in the microbial population around the test implants and antagonist natural teeth. Treponema denticola was present in a significantly higher amount around implants with increased PlI. Implants with increased BOP showed a significant increase in Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia. A significantly higher presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia was identified around the implants affected by peri-implantitis and in smokers. Conclusions: Peri-implantitis is characterized by a complex and polymicrobial disease, that might be influenced by the qualitative profile of plaque. Smoking might also favor implant biological complications in full-arch fixed prosthesis.

No abstract

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the primary stability of two implants with the same macro- and micromorphology but different thread design and analyze their clinical outcomes over a one-year period. Materials and Methods. 14 patients needing a partial rehabilitation with a delayed loading approach (DEL group: 9 patients) or a full-arch rehabilitation treated with immediately loaded fixed prostheses supported by 4 implants following the Columbus Bridge Protocol (CBP) (IL group: 5 patients) were included. In each patient, at least one SY (implant with standard threads) and one SL implant (implant with an augmented depth of the threads) were randomly inserted. Primary outcome measures were the number of threads exposed at a torque of 30 Ncm and 50 Ncm and final insertion torque. Secondary outcome measures were implant and prosthetic failure, peri-implant bone resorption, and periodontal parameters: bleeding on probing (BoP), plaque index (PI), and probing depth (PD) evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months of healing. Results. Nineteen SY and 19 SL implants were inserted in 14 patients. Twenty implants (10 SL and 10 SY) were inserted in the IL group, while 18 (9 SL and 9 SY) were inserted in the DEL group and followed-up for 12 months. No patients dropped out. No implants and prostheses failed. No biological complications were identified. No significant differences were found between SY and SL implants comparing the number of exposed threads when inserting the implant with a torque insertion of 30 N (T student test p=.142 and U test p=.164). At 50 N, no threads were visible in either groups. Final torque insertion values were higher for SL (mean: 48.42 Ncm) compared to SY implants (mean: 43.42 Ncm) without a statistically significant difference. All the implants showed good clinical outcomes at the 1-year-in-function visit. Conclusions. After 12 months of function, both implant types provided good clinical outcomes without statistically significant differences between the two groups. A difference in insertion torque (even if not statistically significant) was found with higher insertion torque values for SL implants with a larger thread depth.