Application of lasers in dentistry: a bibliometric study of the top 100 most-cited papers

Abstract This bibliometric study analyzed the 100 most-cited papers about the use of lasers and their modalities in dentistry. A search strategy was created using specific keywords related to the topic. A comprehensive search was then conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS-CC) database up to July 2021. Papers that addressed the application of any type of laser and its modalities in dentistry were included. Each paper was cross-matched with the number of citations on Scopus and Google Scholar. The following data were extracted from papers: title, number of citations, authorship, country, year of publication, journal, study design, subject, laser type, and oral health outcomes. The VOSviewer software was used to generate bibliometric networks. The total number of citations ranged from 120 to 4,124 and 23 papers received more than 200 citations. Papers were published from 1964 to 2015. Most papers were from Europe (42%) and Anglo-Saxon America (27%). The USA was the country with more top 100 papers (25%). Papers were published mainly in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (15%) and Lasers in Medical Science (7%). VOSviewer maps demonstrated the existence of national and international research collaborations among institutions and authors. Most studies had a laboratory design (57%) and were about restorative dentistry (32%) and periodontics (21%). This bibliometric study of the top 100 most-cited papers on lasers in dentistry allowed a quantitative and qualitative analysis of this very promising research field, revealing a net of collaboration and the importance of this topic in dentistry.

How to use the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) in orthodontic research

ABSTRACT Introduction: Clinical trial protocols are essential documents that serve as a basis for research planning. The Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) statement aimed to increase the transparency and integrity of clinical trial protocols. Objectives: This paper described the main aspects of the SPIRIT, highlighting the importance of using this guideline in Orthodontics. Results: The SPIRIT is composed of 33 items and the diagram, which were presented and explained. Conclusion: The use of the SPIRIT checklist must become essential to increase the transparency and integrity of more reliable and less biased clinical trials in orthodontic research, improving the quality of future publications in this field.

RESUMO Introdução: Protocolos de ensaios clínicos são documentos essenciais, que servem como base para o planejamento da pesquisa. As diretrizes do Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) objetivam aumentar a transparência e a integridade dos protocolos de ensaios clínicos. Objetivos: O presente trabalho descreve os principais aspectos do SPIRIT, destacando a importância do uso dessas diretrizes na Ortodontia. Resultados: O SPIRIT é composto por 33 itens e 1 diagrama, que foram aqui apresentados e explicados. Conclusão: O uso do checklist SPIRIT deve se tornar essencial, para aumentar a transparência e a integridade de ensaios clínicos na pesquisa ortodôntica, tornando-os mais confiáveis e menos tendenciosos, melhorando, dessa forma, a qualidade das futuras publicações nessa área.

Can bulk-fill resin restorations be an alternative to resin-modified glass ionomer cement restorations in primary molars of toddlers? a randomized clinical trial protocol / ¿Pueden las restauraciones de resina bulk-fill ser una alternativa a las restauraciones de cemento de ionómero de vidrio modificado con resina en los molares primarios en niños preescolares? un protocolo de ensayo clínico aleatorizado

Background: The aim of this study was to elaborate a randomized clinical trial protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of class I restorations in resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) and bulk-fill resin in primary molars with untreated early childhood caries in toddlers. Material and Methods: A total of 59 toddlers up to 36 months old with at least two primary molar teeth with untreated dental caries of single surface on different sides of the mouth will be selected at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinics of the Faculty of Dentistry at Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. Teeth with untreated dental caries in the left and right sides of each patient's mouth will be randomly distributed into 2 groups: Group 1 (Control): encapsulated RMGIC restoration with Riva light cure (SDI, Florida, USA) and Group 2 (Test): Filtek bulk-fill composite resin restoration (3M/ESPE, St. Paul, USA) with universal single bond adhesive system (3M/ESPE, St. Paul, USA). A single trained dentist will perform all restorative procedures. The restorations will be evaluated after 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months by two trained and calibrated examiners. Cost-efficacy analysis will be carried out. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Log-rank test, Cox regression, Poisson regression analysis, Mann-Whitney test or Kruskal-Wallis will be performed to analyze data. Conclusion: The protocol will make it possible to determine the most efficacy material for the restoration of cavities in cavities in primary molars of toddlers.

Antecedentes: El objetivo de este estudio fue elaborar un protocolo de ensayo clínico aleatorizado para evaluar la efectividad de las restauraciones de clase I en cemento de ionómero de vidrio modificado con resina (RMGIC) y resina bulk-fill en molares primarios con caries de la primera infancia no tratadas en niños preescolares. Material y Métodos: Un total de 59 niños de hasta 36 meses de edad con al menos dos molares temporales con caries no tratada de superficie única en diferentes lados de la boca serán seleccionados en las Clínicas de Odontología Pediátrica de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brasil. Los dientes con caries no tratada en los lados izquierdo y derecho de la boca de cada paciente se distribuirán aleatoriamente en 2 grupos: Grupo 1 (Control): restauración RMGIC encapsulada con fotopolimerización Riva (SDI, Florida, EE. UU.) Y Grupo 2 (Prueba): Restauración de resina compuesta bulk-fill Filtek (3M / ESPE, St. Paul, EE. UU.) con sistema adhesivo de unión simple universal (3M / ESPE, St. Paul, EE. UU.). Un solo dentista capacitado realizará todos los procedimientos de restauración. Las restauraciones serán evaluadas después de 1, 6, 12, 18 y 24 meses por dos examinadores capacitados y calibrados. Se llevará a cabo un análisis de coste-eficacia. Se realizarán análisis de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meier, prueba de rango logarítmico, regresión de Cox, análisis de regresión de Poisson, prueba de Mann-Whitney o Kruskal-Wallis para analizar los datos. Conclusión: El protocolo permitirá determinar el material más eficaz para la restauración de caries en molares temporales de niños preescolares.

Malocclusion negatively impacted the oral health-related quality of life of children of low socioeconomic status / Maloclusão impactou negativamente a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal de crianças de baixo nível socioeconômico

Aim: This study assessed whether the presence of malocclusion had a negative impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of eight to ten-year-old children of low socioeconomic status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 111 children, eight to ten years of age, randomly selected from public schools from Diamantina, MG, Brazil. The number of children was determined by a sample size calculation. Two calibrated examiners performed clinical oral examinations for the diagnosis of malocclusion, dental caries experience, and traumatic dental injuries following the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Andreasen's classification, respectively. The Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10) was applied to evaluate the OHRQoL. Descriptive and bivariate (p < 0.05) analyses were also performed. Results: Children had a mean age of 8.89 ± 0.82 years, of which 52.3% were female. The prevalence of malocclusion was 62.2%. Significant differences were found in emotional (p = 0.045) and social (p = 0.017) well-being subscale scores as well as in the total CPQ8-10 (p = 0.022) scores between children with and without malocclusion. Conclusion: The presence of malocclusion negatively impacted the OHRQoL of children aged eight to ten years of age of a low socioeconomic status.

Objetivo: Este estudo avaliou se a presença de maloclusão impactou negativamente a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal (QVRSB) de crianças de oito a dez anos de idade de baixo nível socioeconômico.Métodos: Um estudo transversal foi conduzido com um total de 111 crianças de oito a dez anos de idade selecionadas aleatoriamente em escolas públicas de Diamantina, Brasil. O número de crianças foi determinado por cálculo amostral. Dois examinadores calibrados realizaram exames clínicos bucais para o diagnóstico de maloclusão, experiência de cárie dentária e lesões dentárias traumáticas após o Índice de Estética Dental (DAI), Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) e classificação de Andreasen, respectivamente. A versão brasileira do Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10) foi aplicada para avaliar a QVRSB. Foram realizadas análises descritivas e bivariadas (p < 0,05). Resultados: As crianças tinham média de idade de 8,89 ± 0,82 anos, sendo 52,3% do sexo feminino. A prevalência de maloclusão foi de 62,2%. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas nos escores das subescalas de bem-estar emocional (p = 0,045) e social (p = 0,017), como também nos escores totais do CPQ8-10 (p = 0,022) entre crianças com e sem maloclusão. Conclusão: A presença de maloclusão impactou negativamente a QVRSB de crianças de oito a dez anos de idade de baixo nível socioeconômico.