Objective: Bone augmentation with the titanium mesh (Ti-mesh) technique is susceptible to a large rate of complications such as morbidity of bone graft donor site, and mesh exposure to the oral cavity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of anorganic bovine bone (ABB) in alveolar bone augmentation with the Ti-mesh technique, as an alternative to autologous bone grafts. In addition, we investigated the effect of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in preventing mesh exposure, by applying it to cover the Ti-mesh. Materials and Methods: The 30 patients recruited for this study underwent 43 alveolar bone augmentation with the Ti-mesh technique using in all of them ABB as graft material. In 15 patients the Ti-meshes were covered with PRP (PRP group) while in the other 15 the Ti-meshes were not (control group). After 6 months, patients were called for clinical, radiographic and histological evaluation, and implant placement surgery. A total of 97 implants were placed in the augmented bone and their evolution was followed up for a period of 24 months. Results: Significant differences were found between the two study groups in terms of complications and bone formation. In the control group 28.5% of the cases suffered from mesh exposure, while in the PRP group, no exposures were registered. Radiographic analysis revealed that bone augmentation was higher in the PRP group than in the control group. Interestingly, mesh exposure seemed to be a risk factor regarding graft resorption and failure. Overall, 97.3% of implants placed in the control group and 100% of those placed in the PRP group were successful during the monitoring period. We suggest that the positive effect of PRP on the Ti-mesh technique is due to its capacity to improve soft tissue healing, thereby protecting the mesh and graft material secured beneath the gingival tissues. Conclusions: Alveolar bone augmentation using ABB alone in the Ti-mesh technique is sufficient for implant rehabilitation. Besides, covering the Ti-meshes with PRP was a determining factor for avoiding mesh exposure in this study. Titanium mesh exposure provoked significant bone loss, but in most cases it did not affect the subsequent placement of implants. Key words: anorganic bovine bone, bone regeneration, platelet rich plasma, titanium mesh, exposure. Clinical Relevance Scientific rationale: Osteoconductive properties of ABB have been described in many bone augmentation procedures with good results, so it seemed reasonable to expect similar outcomes when applied in the Ti mesh technique. Although the use of PRP in bone regeneration is a moot question its effects over soft tissue seems to be clearer. In this study we compare both the efficacy of ABB alone and the effect of PRP over soft tissues in the titanium mesh technique. Principal findings: ABB alone produces sufficient bone volume augmentation for implant rehabilitation and the use of PRP covering the titanium mesh can improve the soft tissue healing over the titanium mesh preventing its exposure. Practical implications:...

Within the limits of our study, this novel material may be able to eliminate the need for autologous bone transplantation for the augmentation of large vertical bone defects.

A single M-EO is an effective measure against the de novo biofilm, presenting a good alternative to clorhexidine such as a preoperative rinse, in periodontal procedures or post-treatment applications.

The ontogenetic development of the mental region still poses a number of unresolved questions in human growth, development and phylogeny. In our study we examine the hypotheses of DuBrul & Sicher (1954) (The Adaptive Chin. Springfield, IL: Charles) and Enlow (1990) (Facial Growth, 3rd edn. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders) to explain the presence of a prominent mental region in anatomically modern humans. In particular, we test whether the prominence of the mental region and the positioning of the teeth are both correlated with the developmental relocation of the tongue and the suprahyoid muscles inserting at the lingual side of the symphysis. Furthermore, we test whether the development of the mental region is associated with the development of the back of the vocal tract. Using geometric morphometric methods, we measured the 3D mandibular and tooth surfaces in a cross-sectional sample of 36 CT-scanned living humans, incorporating the positions of the tongue and the geniohyoid and digastric muscle insertions. The specimens' ages range from birth to the complete emergence of the deciduous dentition. We used multivariate regression and two-block partial least squares (PLS) analysis to study the covariation among the mental region, the muscle insertions, and the teeth both across and within age stages. In order to confirm our results from the 3D cross-sectional sample, and to relate them to facial growth and the position of the cervical column and the hyoid bone, we used 46 lateral radiographs of eight children from the longitudinal Denver Growth Study. The 3D analysis demonstrates that the lingual side of the lower border of the symphysis develops downwards and forwards. These shape changes are significantly correlated with the relocation of muscle insertion sites and also with the vertical reorientation of the anterior teeth prior to emergence. The 2D analysis confirms the idea that as the mental region prominence develops, the space of the laryngopharynx becomes restricted due to upper mid-face retraction and the acquisition of upright body posture. In agreement with the hypotheses of DuBrul & Sicher (1954) and Enlow (1990), our results suggest that the presence of a prominent mental region responds to the space restriction at the back of the vocal tract, and to the packaging of the tongue and suprahyoid muscles in order to preserve the functionality of the laryngopharynx during respiration, feeding and speech.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has proved to have biostimulating effects on tissues over which they are applied, therefore accelerating the healing process. Most studies in implantology were focused on a reduction of the duration of osseointegration. There exist few articles analyzing the potential effects of these therapies on the osseointegration of titanium dental implants. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of LLLT on the interaction between the bone and the titanium dental implant and the methodological quality of the studies. We conducted an electronic search in PubMed, ISI Web, and Cochrane Library. From 37 references obtained, only 14 articles met the inclusion criteria. The analysis of the studies shows that most of the experiments were performed in animals, which have a high risk of bias from the methodological point of view. Only two studies were conducted in human bone under different conditions. Several protocols for the use of low-power laser and different types of laser for all studies analyzed were used. Although animal studies have shown a positive effect on osseointegration of titanium implants, it can be concluded that it is necessary to improve and define a unique protocol to offer a more conclusive result by meta-analysis.

Dental caries is the most prevalent dental disease worldwide, and neural networks and artificial intelligence are increasingly being used in the field of dentistry. This systematic review aims to identify the state of the art of neural networks in caries detection and diagnosis. A search was conducted in PubMed, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Xplore, and ScienceDirect. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers. The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook tool. Thirteen studies were included. Most of the included studies employed periapical, near-infrared light transillumination, and bitewing radiography. The image databases ranged from 87 to 3000 images, with a mean of 669 images. Seven of the included studies labeled the dental caries in each image by experienced dentists. Not all of the studies detailed how caries was defined, and not all detailed the type of carious lesion detected. Each study included in this review used a different neural network and different outcome metrics. All this variability complicates the conclusions that can be made about the reliability or not of a neural network to detect and diagnose caries. A comparison between neural network and dentist results is also necessary.

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Dental implantology has high success rates, and a suitable estimation of how stresses are transferred to the surrounding bone sheds insight into the correct design of implant features. In this study, we estimate stress transfer properties of four commercial implants (GMI, Lifecore, Intri and Avinent) that differ significantly in macroscopic geometry. Detailed three-dimensional finite element models were adopted to analyse the behaviour of the bone-implant system depending on the geometry of the implant (two different diameters) and the bone-implant interface condition. Occlusal static forces were applied and their effects on the bone, implant and bone-implant interface were evaluated. Large diameters avoided overload-induced bone resorption. Higher stresses were obtained with a debonded bone-implant interface. Relative micromotions at the bone-implant interface were within the limits required to achieve a good osseointegration. We anticipate that the methodology proposed may be a useful tool for a quantitative and qualitative comparison between different commercial dental implants.