Risk of failure in dental implant osseointegration among people with the post-covid syndrome

Dental implants are a standard of care in contemporary dental practice and are widely employed for the restoration of missing teeth. The long-term utility of an implant is largely dependent on the successful implant osseointegration and maintenance of the same over time. Bone metabolism and inflammatory mechanism are interrelated phenomena and are usually collectively termed osteoimmunology, which may affect the predictability and success of implant osseointegration. Many biochemical mediators of inflammation, especially Interleukin (IL)1, IL-6, and Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, have been documented to increase the activity of bone-resorbing cells through the Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B (RANK) and Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Ligand (RANKL)systems. Some of the earlier studies with very limited data suggest that SARS-CoV2 infection may also directly affect bone resorption. Thus, it is imperative to understand the pathophysiology of osseointegration in COVID-19 patients, to enhance successful implant osseointegration and prevent peri-implant bone loss in these patients. Here, we present a summary of the connection between inflammatory pathways and bone metabolism on a molecular basis which may assume a significant bearing in situations of exaggerated host immune response as seen in COVID-19 infection.Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

Convalescent Plasma Therapy: A Treatment of Choice for COVID-19 during Current Pandemic

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 which is the source of pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 has engulfed almost whole world. This virus was first reported in Wuhan city (China) in December 2019. Since the discovery of the virus, till today the researchers and scientists have been working to develop new vaccines or therapeutic agents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. However, thus far no vaccine has emerged that can be approved to treat or prevent coronavirus disease 2019. Due to lack of specific preventative and therapeutic options for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019, the use of convalescent plasma therapy may be of great benefit in the current situation. Previous use of immune plasma has resulted in successful treatment of hemagglutinin type 1 and neuraminidase type 1 influenza virus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 epidemics. In the current scenario raised by coronavirus disease 2019, the convalescent plasma therapy has been applied successfully among many patients across various regions. This article presents an up-to-date review of existing literature on recovery through convalescent plasma as a treatment of choice, safety and its efficacy, possibility and its challenges for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019. © 2022 Indian Pharmaceutical Association. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 Safe Clinical Dentistry: Applications of 3D Printing Technologies

Dental profession is at a very critical conjecture owing to novel coronavirus sickness, COVID-19. Dentistry is a profession where healthcare professionals are extremely susceptible of being infected as well as retain a high susceptibility to cross infect and transmit the contagious viral sickness among general public attending dental clinics. The grounded reality for an average dental practitioner is that walking back to operative clinical work in dentistry post-pandemic is quite tedious. Most of the safeguards and practices recommended in the current COVID-19 pandemic phase need significant alterations in the ways to practice clinical dentistry in terms of prevention and transmission of cross infection. 3D printing or additive manufacturing is the most upcoming surge of technology in the field of health care. Many novel research-driven and technology-based interventions from 3D printing technologies must be exploited and adapted to find ways and means to fight out the outburst of the pandemic. Many such 3D printed mass produced and cost-effective tools, equipments, and barrier materials instilled in clinical dental practice shall prevent or minimize COVID-19 cross contamination and transmission by ensuring safe clinical practices. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.