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Background Orthognathic surgery such as bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) for the treatment of mandibular deformities is one of the most common procedures in maxillofacial operations that may lead to neurosensory disturbance. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on augmenting recovery of neurosensory disturbance of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) in patients who underwent BSSRO surgery. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted by two independent authors in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar electronic databases. Besides, a manual search of all textbooks and relevant articles were conducted. Searches took place in August 2020 and were limited to published and peer-reviewed articles from 2000 to 2020. All analysis was performed using the comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) and the STATA MP (version:16) software. The weighted mean difference (WMD) using the inverse variance method and the standard mean difference (SMD) was considered for continuous variables. Results Seventy-four papers were retrieved after removing duplicate studies and finally, eight studies were assessed for qualitative synthesis and five for meta-analysis. Totally, 94 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Based on the meta-analysis, it was shown that LLLT was not effective in a short interval (0 to 48 h) after surgery, but in a period of more than 1 month after surgery, the positive results of treatment can be observed strikingly. Also, LLLT side/group showed no significant difference in some aspects of neurosensory recovery such as thermal sensation compared to the placebo side/group. Conclusions The meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials revealed that LLLT generally improves IAN sensory disturbance caused by BSSRO. Further high-quality clinical trials with longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes are recommended.

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Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes serious acute respiratory diseases including pneumonia and bronchitis with approximately 2.3% fatality occurrence. Main body: This study argues the main concepts that need to be considered for the gradual reopening of dental offices include treatment planning approaches, fundamental elements needed to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus in dental healthcare settings, personal protection equipment (PPE) for dental health care providers, environmental measures, adjunctive measures, and rapid point of care tests in dental offices. Conclusion: This article seeks to provide an overview of existing scientific evidence to suggest a guideline for reopening dental offices.

Purpose: This meta-analysis assessed the e cacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) compared to conventional nystatin therapy (NYT) in reducing Candida colony count in patients with Candida-Associated Denture Stomatitis (CADS) and critically appraised the available literature.Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) updated guidelines. A literature search was performed in four electronic databases to identify relevant articles up to 15 August 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the e cacy of aPDT compared to NYT in reducing Candida colony count in patients with CADS were investigated. The weighted mean difference (MD) and 95% con dence interval were calculated. The I 2 statistic was used to determine heterogeneity at the level of α= 0.10. The Cochrane risk of bias (RoB 2) tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Certainty of the evidence was determined using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) ranking system.Results: Only 3 eligible RCTs with 141 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Based on the pooled results, NYT compared to aPDT, generally performed better in reducing Candida colony count (Log 10 CFU/mL) in patients' palate and patients' denture. The included studies had a moderate risk of bias and the certainty of the evidence was low.Conclusion: Although still inconclusive, based on the current evidence aPDT may be effective in reducing Candida colony count, and treating CADS. Nonetheless, it does not appear to be more effective than conventional NYT in this regard. According to the limited number of included studies, more well-designed RCTs with larger sample sizes and standardized methodology should be conducted to validate this conclusion.

Background: Artifact refers to an artificial or replaced structure in histopathological slides as a result of an extraneous factor. Given the influence of identification and awareness of the types of artifacts on the correct diagnosis, the frequency of artifacts in oral and maxillofacial histopathological slides was assessed. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, census method was used to assess 119 oral and maxillofacial histopathological slides retrieved from the archive of Zanjan Dental School from 2015 to 2017. Artifacts were divided into three groups arising from the surgeon's performance, technician's performance, and specimen transfer to the laboratory. Statistical analysis of data was performed using an independent t test in SPSS software version 18.0. Results: The average numbers of artifacts arising from the surgeon's performance, technician's performance, and specimen transfer to the laboratory were 3.90 ± 1.14, 3.08 ± 1.10, and 0, respectively. The mean number of artifacts arising from the surgeon's performance was significantly higher compared to the other two groups (P < 0.01) and the most common ones included fragmentation, split, and tear. The most common artifacts arising from the technician's performance were fold/wrinkle, chaffer, and floater. There was no artifact arising from specimen transfer to the laboratory. Conclusions: The results indicated a high frequency of various artifacts in the studied slides. Therefore, paying more attention to slide preparation protocols and proficient performance during the biopsy procedure as well as further cooperation between the surgeon, pathologist, and laboratory technician can be useful in reducing the frequency of artifacts and achieving a better diagnosis.

Purpose. To critically evaluate the available literature and conduct a systematic review of recent randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of probiotics compared to chlorhexidine mouthwash in enhancing periodontal health. Methods. Five databases were searched electronically, as well as the gray literature. Using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized clinical trials, the risk of bias was examined. The weighted mean difference (WMD) method was used to calculate the effect sizes. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 and τ2 statistics. The GRADE approach was adopted to assess the certainty of the evidence. To assess the robustness of the findings, sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment were undertaken. Results. A total of 1850 studies were initially identified. Sixteen clinical trials were eligible for qualitative synthesis, and ten were included in the meta-analysis. In terms of the gingival index, in total, no statistically significant difference was observed between chlorhexidine and probiotics within 4 weeks (WMD −0.03, 95% CI: −0.09∼0.04, P  = 0.3885). Similar to GI, no statistically significant difference was observed between chlorhexidine and probiotics regarding the plaque index within 4 weeks (WMD 0.11, 95% CI: −0.05∼0.28, P  = 0.1726). No statistically significant difference was observed between chlorhexidine and probiotics in all time intervals regarding oral hygiene index-simplified (WMD −0.01, 95% CI: −0.05∼0.04, P  = 0.7508). The robustness of these findings was confirmed by sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessments. Conclusions. Based on the findings, probiotics were an acceptable alternative to conventional chlorhexidine in improving periodontal health. High-quality studies with rigorous methodology should be conducted to assess the optimum doses of probiotics for clinical implications.