It is known that current trends on bone bioengineering seek ideal scaffolds and explore innovative methods to restore tissue function. In this way, the objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of anorganic bovine bone as osteoblast carrier in critical-size calvarial defects. MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells (1x10 5 cells/well) were cultured on granules of anorganic bovine bone in 24-well plates and after 24 h these granules were implanted into rat critical-size calvarial defects (group Biomaterial + Cells). In addition, other groups were established with different fillings of the defect: Blood Clot (negative control); Autogenous Bone (positive control); Biomaterial (only granules) and Cells (only MC3T3-E1 cells). After 30 days, the animals were euthanized and the calvaria were technically processed in order to allow histological and morphometric analysis. It was possible to detect blood vessels, connective tissue and newly formed bone in all groups. Particularly in the Biomaterial + Cells group, it was possible to observe a profile of biological events between the positive control group (autogenous bone) and the group in which only anorganic bovine granules were implanted. Altogether, the results of the present study showed that granules of anorganic bovine bone can be used as carrier to osteoblasts and that adding growth factors at the moment of implantation should maximize these results.

Titanium is the main component of dental implants. It is also routinely used as a framework material for implant-supported full-arch prostheses due to its low density, biocompatibility, and other mechanical properties. Remarkable mechanical properties such as lesser mass density and higher young’s modulus of graphene have gained popularity among scientists, improving the properties of biomedical implants. Thus, our study aimed to compare the outcome through the von Mises stresses generated on All-on-6 and All-on-3 implant models, as well as on the framework, and evaluate the effect of stress patterns on the crestal bone around implants in the mandible. FEA (Finite Element Analysis) study was carried out using edentulous mandible models. Four 3D FEA models with 3 and 6 implants were used (Model 1: Titanium bar-supported 6 straight implants; Model 2: Graphene bar-supported 6 straight implants; Model 3: Titanium bar-supported 3 implants with 30 degrees-tilted; Model 4: Graphene bar-supported 3 implants with 30 degrees-tilted) in order to simulate endosseous implant designs. The implant measuring 4.2 mm in diameter and 11.5 mm in length were used. The most distal implants in the 3-implant models were placed with angulation of 30 degrees; in 6 implants, they were vertically placed. All the models were analyzed for vertical and oblique axis with a single force magnitude of 100 N. In all four implant models and under loading conditions, the peak stress points were always on the neck of the most distal implant. von Mises stresses were within the normal stress range. In a conventional six-straight implant model supported by a titanium framework, the cortical stress in the region of implants was 25.27 MPa, whereas, in the graphene framework, it was 12.18 MPa. Under vertical load, there was a significant difference in the cortical stress around the tilted implants (30 degrees) in the 3-implant system of titanium and graphene frameworks, respectively, 70.31 MPa and 21.27 MPa. The graphene framework demonstrated better results than the titanium framework for the conventional six-implant system under vertical load, achieving stress of 30.09 MPa and 76.60 MPa, respectively. In the case of the 3-implant system, a significant difference in the bar stress was observed between graphene and titanium, respectively, 256.32 MPa and 180.1 MPa of bar stress. Within the limitation of this study, the peri-implant stresses were decreased using graphene framework models. Hence, it was possible to conclude that the best load-bearing capacity results were found in the graphene framework group compared to the titanium framework for All-on-6 and All-on-3 implant models, even though both materials are reliable options used as framework materials in implant-supported full-arch prostheses.

RESUMOA toxina botulínica produzida pelo Clostridium botulinum, apesar se ser uma neurotoxina, pode ser utilizada tanto com objetivo estético quanto terapêutico, através da sua ação promover a inibição da liberação da acetilcolina, impossibilitando, dessa forma, a transmissão neuromuscular, provocando uma certa paralisia. No âmbito da odontologia, ela vem sendo empregada no tratamento de sorriso gengival, de bruxismo, disfunções e dores na articulação temporomandibular e nas dores de cabeça de origem não Odontogênica. O objetivo desse estudo foi realizar uma revisão de literatura para determinar quais as possíveis indicações da toxina botulínica na odontologia, suas contra-indicações, ressaltando suas vantagens e desvantagens. No que se refere a sua indicação em Odontologia e áreas afins. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: toxina botulínica, DTM, dor orofacial, aplicação na odontologia, cirurgião-dentista.

Aim: Preventive approaches to oral health diseases, mainly dental caries, require individual and collective policies. Thus, this review was conducted to identify the primary prevention methods of dental caries in adults to improve oral health at the clinical and community levels. Methods: This review followed the PICO strategy with the research question: “What are the methods of primary prevention of dental caries, in adults, for improving and maintaining oral health integrating clinical and community-based strategies?” Electronic screening was carried out by two independent reviewers in five databases (MedLine/PubMed, SciELO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and LILACS) to find relevant publications between 2015–2022. We applied eligibility criteria for selection of the articles. The following MeSH terms were used: “Primary Prevention”; “Adult”; “Oral Health”; “Dental Caries”; “Fluorides, Topical”; “Fluoride Varnishes”; “Pit and Fissure Sealants”; “Preventive Dentistry”. Although the term “Prevention strategy” is not a MeSH descriptor, several correlated terms appeared and were used in the search engines: “Preventative Care”, “Disease Prevention, Primary”, and “Prevention, Primary”. The tool provided by the JBI organization (Joanna Briggs Institute) was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Results: Nine studies were included. Overall, it was found that the main primary prevention methods applied in dentistry in adults are the application of pit and fissure sealants, topical application of fluoride performed in the dental clinic, use of fluoridated toothpaste, mouthwash with chlorhexidine at home, use of xylitol, the recommendation for regular appointments with the dentist, and the need to inform patients about the saliva buffer capacity and adoption of a non-cariogenic diet. For that purpose, preventive policies should be taken to prevent dental caries. These include three major challenges: providing the adult population with more knowledge regarding their oral health, empowering patients through adopting healthy lifestyles, and developing new preventive strategies and awareness campaigns aimed at the adult population to promote proper oral health habits. Conclusions: A small number of studies were found whose participants were adult patients. There was some consistency regarding primary prevention methods in our studies. However, good quality randomized control studies are still required to define the best intervention strategies for adult caries prevention.

Background: Clear aligners (CA) are used 22 h daily, creating a bite-block effect. This work aims to (i) analyze occlusal changes before the beginning of treatment, after the first set of CA and after the use of additional aligners; (ii) compare planned occlusal contacts with the ones obtained after the first set of CA; (iii) analyze the occlusal changes occurred after reaching the orthodontic goals after 3 months of using CA only at night; (iv) evaluate and characterize which tooth movements did not allow the treatment to be completed at the end of the first set of aligners, and finally (v) verify the possible relation between the changes in occlusal contact and areas and parameters such as case complexity and facial biotype. Materials and Methods: A quantitative, comparative, and observational longitudinal cohort study design was implemented to evaluate the clinical data and the complexity levels of cases receiving CA. A non-probabilistic and convenience sample of 82 individuals was recruited. The orthodontic malocclusion traits were classified as simple, moderate, or complex corrections based on the basis of the Align® recommendations with the Invisalign® evaluation tool. According to the Invisalign® criteria, patients need only one complex problem for their case to be classified as complex. Meshlab® v. 2022.02, ClinCheck®version Pro 6.0, My-Itero®version 2.7.9.601 5d plus, and IBM® SPSS Statistics software (Statistical Program for Social Sciences), version 27.0 for Windows were the software ® used. Results: A statistically significant decrease in area and occlusal contacts number were observed from before the start of orthodontic treatment (T0) to the end of treatment (T1). The changes in the occlusal area (from T0 to T1) were statistically different between hyperdivergent (28.24 [15.51–40.91]) and hypodivergent (16.23 [8.11–24.97]) biotypes (p = 0.031). A significant difference between the hyperdivergent (4.0 [2.0–5.0]) and normodivergent (5.5 [4.0–8.0]) group was found in T1 for the anterior contacts (p = 0.044). Anterior contacts obtained were significantly higher than the planned (p = 0.037) Between T1 and T2 statistically significant increases of occlusal areas, posterior and total contacts were observed. Conclusions: Occlusal contact and area were decreased, either at the end of the first set or after the use of additional aligners. Anterior occlusal contacts obtained were higher than planned as opposed to posterior occlusal contacts obtained. The hardest tooth movements to achieve to complete the treatment were distalization, rotation, and posterior extrusion. After completing orthodontic treatment (T1) to 3 months after (T2) using additional aligners only at night, posterior occlusal contacts were significantly increased, which could be due to the natural settling of the teeth in this period.

This short communication aimed to acquire and transmit information about inserting CAD/CAM technology in the dental school’s curriculum to better prepare dental students for new approaches. The CAD/CAM system implementation has occurred slowly in the dental curriculum at universities. In 2012, authors evaluated the use of CEREC, showing an educational tool impacting the cost-effectivity for patients. A similar result was found in 2013, with an appreciation of the marginal fit and esthetic obtained. In 2014, CAD/CAM was incorporated into the predoctoral curriculum at the Indiana University School of Dentistry, showing good or excellent overall learning. In 2017, a CAD/CAM system was implemented at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry’s predoctoral implant program, which had an increased preference and proportion of implant restorations made digitally. In 2018, a German dental school used CAD/CAM in the curriculum of prosthetic education, obtaining a clear tendency for the use of this technology. In 2023, pre-doctoral dental students in the U.S.A. received a questionnaire that significantly improved their knowledge and attitude to using this technology; otherwise, student satisfaction was non-significant. In conclusion, integrating CAD/CAM technology into the curriculum has become an essential component of modern dental education.

The biological sealing (BS) around implants is a dominant factor to determine the long-term success of peri-implant health. There are several features of the BS around implants in common with the soft tissue attached to teeth, such as the presence of crevicular fluid, acquired pellicle, epithelium; otherwise, the quality of the BS around implants is weaker compared with the junctional epithelium of natural teeth. Then, this article aimed to describe three cases report showing the presence of a BS (cuticle-crevice fluid-acquired pellicle) around the fixed crowns on dental implants in the anterior zone, through photographic analysis. It was used a Nikon 8100 camera with a 105 mm macro lens and a Macro Ring circular flash. A photographic profile examination was made always showing the clinical case and, specifically, the focal point in the crown-gingival tissue (prosthesis boundary and peri-implant tissue), highlighting the anatomical gingiva on the ceramic prosthetic crown at an angle between 140 to 160 degrees. Although cases 1 and 2 had 1-year follow-up and case 3 around 4 years, the common findings for all treatments done were: (i) oral rehabilitation with crowns on dental implants; (ii) patients satisfied with the esthetic and functional result; (iii) stability of the soft tissue around the crowns; (iv) all the patients had a good oral hygiene; (v) presence of a thin membrane associated with the acquire pellicle, similar to an annular cuticle, which we named cuticle-acquired pellicle complex or tertiary cuticle or prosthetic-implant cuticle. This complex (cuticle-crevicular fluid-acquired pellicle) is suggested to be the responsible by the BS on dental implants. Moreover, the cuticle (epithelial part in the peri-implant sulcus), although similar to teeth, may be considered a tertiary pellicle due to be found on ceramic crowns on dental implants, differently of the primary and secondary pellicle. Whitin the limitation of these three cases reports, the BS was reported and can be introduced the new concept of the “cuticle-crevicular fluid-acquired pellicle complex” or “prosthetic-implant cuticle”.   Keywords: Dental implants; single crown; biological sealing; biofilms; pellicle; acquired pellicle; saliva; gingival crevicular fluid.

Objective: The primary objective of the present retrospective clinical study was to evaluate and compare the clinical performance presented by castable abutments developed for the MT system versus intermediate machined abutments, specifically regarding prosthetic or implant fractures/loss; the secondary objective was to verify the looseness of the abutments and the behavior of the peri-implant soft tissues. Methods: This clinical retrospective study was conducted on patients rehabilitated between 2019 and 2020. Inclusion criteria were patients in good general health, with an implants-supporting single crown; with solid machined abutments (control group) or castable UCLA abutments; with a connection portion (base) machined in cobalt-chrome (test group) over Morse taper DuoCone implants in the posterior mandible area; and at least two years in function. Clinical assessment was carried out by the same professional, considering the following parameters: (A) prosthetic: (i) loosening of the fixation screw, (ii) fracture of the screw and (iii) the number of times the patient had some type of complication after the installation of the prostheses were evaluated; (B) biological: (i) without keratinized mucosa (KM), (ii) 1 mm or less, (iii) between 1 and 2 mm and (iv) greater than 2 mm of KM width; and the presence or absence of mucositis. Furthermore, radiographic evaluation was performed in order to assess the marginal bone loss. These evaluations permitted to compare the groups analyzed and patients enrolled. Data were statistically analyzed, with the level of significance set at α = 0.05. Results: 79 patients with 120 MT implants were evaluated (80 castable UCLA abutments and 40 machined solid abutments). The follow-up was from 2 to 4 years. There was a 100% implant survival rate. Therefore, the control group showed two fractured abutments (5%) and no abutment loosening (95% for prosthetic survival rate), whereas the test group showed no abutment fracture but nine loosening screws (11.3%) (100% for prosthetic survival rate). Keratinized mucosa was considered thin or absent in 19 implants in the control group (47.5%) and 42 in the test group (52.5%). Mucositis was found in 11 implants in the control group (27.5%) and 27 in the test group (33.8%). A positive correlation was observed between the width of keratinized mucosa and mucositis (r = 0.521, p = 0.002). The mean marginal bone loss was 2.3 mm, ranging from 1.1 to 5.8 mm. No correlation was observed when considering marginal bone loss versus the three parameters (implant diameter, implant length and time of the prosthesis in function). Conclusions: The results suggest that UCLA-type abutments are a viable option for rehabilitating implants with Morse taper connections, suggesting lower fracture risk. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings and thoroughly evaluate the clinical performance and long-term outcomes.