The formation of white spot lesions, or enamel demineralization, around fixed orthodontic attachments is a common complication during and following fixed orthodontic treatment, which marks the result of a successfully completed case. This article is a contemporary review of the risk factors and preventive methods of these orthodontics scars. Preventive programmes must be emphasized to all orthodontic patients. The responsibility of an orthodontist is to minimize the risk of the patient having decalcification as a consequence of orthodontic treatment by educating and motivating the patients for excellent oral hygiene practice. Prophylaxis with topical fluoride application should be implemented: high-fluoride toothpastes, fluoride mouthwashes, gels and varnishes during and after the orthodontic treatment, especially for patients at high risk of caries.

Background/Aim: Increased levels of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) have been associated with risk of developing chronic periapical lesion (CPL). Gene polymorphisms are contributing factors in the pathogenesis of the inflammation. The aim of this study was to analyze polymorphism in the gene MMP-8 and its association and influence on clinical manifestation of CPL. Methods: A total of 240 unrelated Macedonian subjects were included in the present study. Polymorphism -799 C/T in the gene MMP-8 detected with restriction enzyme BgIII was studied in 120 patients with CPL and 120 controls without any signs of chronic or acute inflammatory process in the jaw. The amplification of the region of selected gene was made with polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: Our results showed that there were differences in the allele and genotype frequencies of the MMP8 -799 C/T polymorphisms between patients with CPL and controls (p < 0.05). Also this study suggests that MMP-8 polymorphism -799 C/T was a risk for expression of CPL (OR=8.27<3.44

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BACKGROUND:Oral health care management among the elderly differs from the rest of the population, due to some specific physiological changes and general health status related to age. We know very little about the oral health in elderly in the Republic of Macedonia, because there are only a few articles published about dental health status and edentulism of this population.AIM:The study aimed to evaluate the prosthodontic status of older adults over 65 years in the Republic of Macedonia, about their socio-economic status and individual factors.MATERIAL AND METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 regions, in rural and urban areas of Macedonia and a representative sample of 432 people (age > 65 years) was examined. Statistical analyses of the data were made by chi-square tests and the corresponding C-coefficient.RESULTS:Only 6% of all participants had not any prosthetic appliance, 9.5% had more than one bridge, 28.7% of examinees had partial dentures, both bridge(s) and partial denture(s) had 10.7% participants, and 45.1% of examinees were toothless. There was a significant difference between patients who visited the dentist more than once a year and those who did not (χ2 = 14.2; df = 4, p < 0.01). From all of the participants, 40.3% used public dental care organisations.CONCLUSIONS:We found a high prevalence of edentulousness among older adults over 65 years in Macedonia. The study confirmed the necessity for establishing healthcare educational programs for the dental treatment of elderly in Macedonia.

The technique of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block must be based on precise anatomical knowledge regarding the correct position of the mandibular foramen (MF). The aim of the investigation reported here was to determine the anatomic and topographic localization of the MF according to mandibular ramus anatomic landmarks and to identify morphological alterations in the position of the MF and size and shape of the ramus in terms of the impact of tooth socket loss in the molar and premolar region. Seventy-three dry human adult mandibles were divided into two groups according to dental status. These were measured to determine the distances from the anterior and posterior ramus border (AB, PB) to the midpoint of the MF fossa, and from the mandibular notch (MN) and inferior ramus border (IB) to the MF entering point. A number of relevant ramus anatomic features were analyzed, such as ramus width (RW), height (RH), and thickness (RT). The MF was closer to the PB and IB in edentate mandibles (right/left mean PB-MF 10.66 ± 1.84/11.06 ± 2.05 mm; right/left mean IB-MF 21.77 ± 3.23/21.8 ± 2.27 mm) compared to dentate mandibles (right/left mean PB-MF 11.87 ± 2.08/12.04 ± 1.94 mm; right/left mean IB-MF 22.94 ± 3.09/22.74 ± 3.74 mm). Edentate mandibles demonstrated reduced RW (right/left mean RW 26.03 ± 3.53/26.49 ± 3.90 mm), significantly reduced (p = 0.03) right RH (right/left mean RH 43.56 ± 4.74/45.43 ± 4.86 mm), and significantly reduced (p < 0.05) RT in the area of the MF fossa depression (right/left mean RT 5.52 ± 1.21/5.21 ± 0.91 mm) compared to dentate mandibles (right/left mean RW 27.34 ± 3.84/27.48 ± 3.80 mm; right/left mean RH 46.33 ± 4.52/47.40 ± 4.20 mm; right/left mean RT 7.86 ± 1.98/8.10 ± 1.92 mm). Alterations in MF position and mandibular ramus anatomic features in edentate mandibles increase the potential risk of complications and failure of IAN block.

Background/Aim. The longevity of a dental restoration may be predicted to some degree by its adhesive ability, and this, in turn, can be measured by bond strength testing between restorative materials and tooth structure. The aim of this study was to test an innovative joggle lap shearing jig that integrates the tooth and the entire biomechanical unit into testing, to compare the shear bond strengths of Class I occlusal composite restorations in deep cavity preparations lined with Dycal, Dycal LC, conventional glass ionomer or resinmodified glass ionomer. The mode of failure (adhesive, cohesive, mixed) after debonding was determined by stereomicroscopy. Methods. A total of 150 standardized occlusal cavities were prepared and divided into five groups. The group I cavities (n = 30) were coated with adhesive (ExciTE ® F) and filled directly with composite (TetricEvoCeram). The group II and III cavities were lined with Dycal (n = 30) or Dycal LC (n = 30) before placing composite. The groups IV and V specimens were based with Fuji IX (n = 30) or Fuji II LC (n = 30). Shear bond strengths were determined with a universal testing machine and fractured bonding sites were analyzed under stereomicroscope. The mean bond strengths were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test (p < 0.05) and the means between the groups were analyzed with Student's t-test. Results. The shear bond strength (MPa) of composite restorations in cavities without base (23.91 ± 4.54) was higher than cavities lined with Fuji II LC (17.45 ± 2.74), Fuji IX (8.76 ± 2.57), Dycal LC (13.07 ± 1.84) or Dycal (6.12 ± 1.28). The results using the jogged lap shearing jig were consistent with the literature. Conclusion. The shear bond strength of occlusal composite restorations in deep cavities without liners was greater than cavities lined with Fuji II LC > Fuji IX > Dycal LC > Dycal.

Instrumentation of the root canal by application of ultrasound by using NaOCl as irrigation provides a clean dentine surface of the root canal without a smear layer.

The distribution of chewing pressure in intact tooth is from crown, across the root dentin and ends in periodontal ligament. Endodontic treatment procedure is dental procedure that is necessary when the pulp tissue is irreversible damaged, because of dental caries, dental disease or traumatic injury. When the dental structure is weakened, there is a possibility of crown or root fracture. The root vertical fracture is the third most common reason for tooth extraction in endodontic treated tooth. Endodontic procedure is successful when all the steps of dental procedure is completed.The objective of this study was to estimate whether the low taper of endodontic instrument decreases the possibility of tooth fracture and increase the percentage of tooth fracture resistance.To complete the aim of this study, were analyzed total number of 84 surveys, 42 of them were used for detail analysis. The electronic research was done using the databases as: Pub Med (Medline), Embase, Medscape, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. This study is based on review on published articles written in English language, reporting results related to the use of different intensity of conicity in endodontic treatment and the influence to tooth fracture resistance. Other inclusion criteria as date parameter of the articles was set from 2000 until 2022.The research examined in this review is of in vitro studies and FEA analysis. Some results of this research have shown that fracture resistance in endodontic treated tooth depends of quantity of dental structure. In many reviewed studies the evaluated levels of fracture, have been found to be significantly lover in groups of teeth that are endodontic treated with lover conicity, compared with the other groups of teeth that are endodontic treated with high percentage of conicity. Also, The FEA method has been successfully used in endodontics, where it has proven with the in vitro methods of study.