Cameriere's open apices methodology for dental age estimation in children: a scoping review from a Latin American perspective.

Dental age estimation (DAE) is key to establishing an individual's identity, and this is relevant in minors. A widely used method for DAE in children is Cameriere's open apices (CAM). Despite its wide dissemination, there are no clear reports of its use in Latin American populations. A scoping review was conducted using a search strategy in the PubMed/MEDLINE database, Web of Science, and a complementary manual search. Only papers using CAM or its regression equation models for evaluating Latin American populations were included. Ten studies published between 2007 and 2020 responded to the search objective. Brazil was the country with the most studies using CAM (7/10), and the University of Macerata (Italy) was the most declared affiliation (6/10). Seven studies used the original CAM formula in populations from Brazil and Peru, while the European formula (EuCAM) was applied in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. Although the method underestimated the age values with acceptable error margins, the correction factor substantially improved the predictive power of the method. Some limitations of the method are highlighted. CAM and its variants can be useful for validation in Latin American settings, but attention to population structures and terminologies is suggested for future research.

Radix entomolaris: A morphological variable of human dentition with anthropological relevance. A study on a Chilean population.

The existence of a third root in the mandibular first molars may have implications for certain dental treatments; however, its greatest relevance could be in anthropological and forensic sciences, because its prevalence varies significantly according to ethnic groups. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of radix entomolaris (RE) in a sample of Chilean people. A random sample of 1330 digital periapical radiographs of endodontically treated mandibular first molars (551 males and 779 females, aged between 18 and 87 years) were evaluated. The prevalence of RE, its distribution by sex and root canal lengths were determined. Evidence demonstrated that the formation of RE is associated with ancestry and its frequency is variable according to populations studied, being more frequent in Asians and Native Americans. The prevalence of RE in the studied people was 3.16%, similar to frequencies reported in European individuals (3.4%-4.2%). The 61.90% of RE were located at the right side of the mandible and 38.10% at the left side. The average working length of RE was 19.52 mm. No statistically significant differences in frequencies were observed by sex (p = 0.19). The prevalence of RE varies among continental population groups. However, due to human migration, the frequency of this physical trait could be modified in specific geographic regions. The observed prevalence of RE in the study group was similar to the prevalence ranges observed for European ancestry populations and it was considerably lower than the data reported for non-Europeans. The absence of sexual dimorphism is consistent with results of previous studies performed worldwide.

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Scaffolds for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: A Systematic Review of Animal Models.

In the last two decades, artificial scaffolds for nerve regeneration have been produced using a variety of polymers. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a natural polyester that can be easily processed and offer several advantages; hence, the purpose of this review is to provide a better understanding of the efficacy of therapeutic approaches involving PHB scaffolds in promoting peripheral nerve regeneration following nerve dissection in animal models. A systematic literature review was performed following the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) criteria. The revised databases were: Pub-Med/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Science Direct, EMBASE, and SCOPUS. Sixteen studies were included in this review. Different animal models and nerves were studied. Extension of nerve gaps reconnected by PHB scaffolds and the time periods of analysis were varied. The additives included in the scaffolds, if any, were growth factors, neurotrophins, other biopolymers, and neural progenitor cells. The analysis of the quality of the studies revealed good quality in general, with some aspects that could be improved. The analysis of the risk of bias revealed several weaknesses in all studies. The use of PHB as a biomaterial to prepare tubular scaffolds for nerve regeneration was shown to be promising. The incorporation of additives appears to be a trend that improves nerve regeneration. One of the main weaknesses of the reviewed articles was the lack of standardized experimentation on animals. It is recommended to follow the currently available guidelines to improve the design, avoid the risk of bias, maximize the quality of studies, and enhance translationality.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Nerve Regeneration: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Animal Model Studies.

OBJECTIVE: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a noninvasive electrical stimulation therapy indicated for pain control that has been applied for the regeneration of nerves. This systematic review aimed to analyze the evidence on TENS effectiveness on nerve regeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and SciELO data bases. Primary research that evaluated TENS on nerve regeneration was considered. RESULTS: Several studies have investigated the use of TENS for pain treatment. A total of six animal studies analyzed TENS for nerve regeneration. The selected articles showed high quality (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments guidelines), with many unclear points related to bias opportunities (Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation Risk of Bias tool). In general, TENS accelerated functional and motor recovery and increased axon quantity and diameter. More specifically, the application of low-frequency TENS resulted in a continuous basal lamina; a higher density of fibers with normal diameters, indicating normal myelination, showed signs of deterioration and delayed nerve regeneration. In contrast, the high-frequency TENS application stimulated motor regeneration and increased the diameter of the regenerated axons but revealed a small number of axons, demyelination, dark axoplasm, and an increase in the predisposition of neuropathic pain. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is some heterogeneous evidence in animal research, TENS seems to be a promising treatment for nerve injury that should be better explored. It is still necessary to improve the analysis of its application parameters, which can lead to the most satisfactory regeneration results and improve the understanding of its mechanisms on peripheral nerve regeneration.

Antibacterial Effect of Commercial Mouthwashes on Streptococcus mutans: An in vitro study

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to compare the antibacterial effect of eight different commercial (MWs) on two Streptococcus mutans (SM) strains by using the agar well diffusion method. Eight commercial MWs were selected, all of them combined several ingredients in different concentrations, the main active ingredients were: Chlorhexidine gluconate, cetylpyridinium chloride, sodium fluoride, zinc lactate, vitamin B5 and super-oxidized water. The SM strains were extracted from Cultiloops® and incubated for 24 hours at 37 °C. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. The inhibition zones were measured using an electronic digital caliper. The R© software was used to perform the statistical analysis using Kruskall-Wallis test and Dunn's multiple comparisons test. Seven commercial formulas demonstrated inhibitory effect over both SM strains. Only the MW containing super-oxidized water did not exhibit antibacterial activity. Higher inhibitory effect was observed in the chlorhexidine gluconate formula (27.38 ± 0.98 mm and 31.52 ± 0.64 mm). No statistically significant differences were observed when comparing formulas containing chlorhexidine gluconate in combination with other active ingredients. Seven MWs showed antibacterial activity except super-oxidized water formula. MWs containing chlorhexidine gluconate demonstrated the best effect against SM. However, no statistically significant differences were found when comparing formulas using exclusively chlorhexidine gluconate or combined with other antiseptics. Future research must be performed, focused on developing new MWs with similar antibacterial effects to chlorhexidine, but free of side effects, particularly in long-term treatments.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el efecto antibacteriano de ocho colutorios comerciales en la proliferación de dos cepas de Streptococcus mutans (SM) mediante el método de difusión de pozos de agar. Se seleccionaron ocho colutorios comerciales, todos ellos combinados con varios ingredientes en diferentes concentraciones, los principales ingredientes activos fueron: gluconato de clorhexidina, cloruro de cetilpiridinio, fluoruro de sodio, lactato de zinc, vitamina B5 y agua superoxidada. Las cepas SM se extrajeron de Cultiloops® y se incubaron durante 24 horas a 37 °C. La actividad antimicrobiana se evaluó mediante el método de difusión de placa de agar. Las zonas de inhibición se midieron utilizando un calibre digital electrónico. Se utilizó el software R © para realizar el análisis estadístico mediante la prueba de Kruskall-Wallis y la prueba de comparaciones múltiples de Dunn. Siete fórmulas comerciales demostraron efecto inhibidor sobre ambas cepas SM. Solo el colutorio que contenía agua superoxidada no mostró actividad antibacteriana. Se observó un mayor efecto inhibidor en las fórmulas congluconato de clorhexidina (27,38 ± 0,98 mm y 31,52 ± 0,64 mm). No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas al comparar fórmulas que contienen gluconato de clorhexidina en combinación con otros ingredientes activos. Siete MW mostraron actividad antibacteriana excepto la fórmula de agua superoxidada. Los colutorios que contienen gluconato de clorhexidina mostraron el mejor efecto contra SM. Sin embargo, no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas al comparar fórmulas que combinaron con otros principios activos. Se deben realizar investigaciones, enfocadas en el desarrollo de nuevos colutorios con efectos antibacterianos similares a la clorhexidina, pero libres de efectos secundarios, particularmente en tratamientos a largo plazo.

Antimicrobial Activity of Bioceramic Root Canal Sealers: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT: Actually, bioceramic endodontic sealers represent an advantageous option for root canals sealing due to their multiple properties. There are several in vitro studies about their antimicrobial properties, however, their comparative antimicrobial potential, compared with other types of endodontic sealers is not entirely clear. The aim of the present research was to perform a systematic review to assess the antimicrobial effectiveness of commercially available bioceramic root canal sealers against Enterococcus faecalis in accordance with the PRISMA statement. A literature search was made in four electronic databases: MEDLINE, ClinicalKey, ScienceDirect and EBSCO. Were included in vitro studies, published in English, between 2015 and 2019. The evaluation of the selected studies was performed by two authors, independently. Four studies were included in the review. EndoSequence™ (Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA) also available on the market as TotalFill™ (Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA) and BioRoot™ were the bioceramic root canal sealers evaluated. The risk of bias was assessed according to the modified CONSORT checklist for preclinical studies. Selected studies reported positive antimicrobial activity against Enterococ cus faecalis in the bioceramic sealers evaluated. The less activity was observed on BioRoot™ sealer. All studies used a planktonic form of Enterococcus faecalis and in vitro laboratory methods of evaluation. The antimicrobial activity reported varies accordi ng to the laboratory method used, even for the same sealer, so the existence of false negatives is suggested. This systematic review identified the need for more research into the antimicrobial activity of bioceramic sealers, ideally with models using bacterial biofilms and studies in humans.

RESUMEN: En la actualidad, los cementos selladores biocerámicos son una opción ventajosa para la obturación de canales radiculares debido a sus múltiples propiedades. Existen varios estudios in vitro acerca de sus propiedades antimicrobianas, sin embargo, su potencial antimicrobiano, en comparación con otros tipos de cementos selladores endodónticos, no se está completamente claro. El propósito de la presente investigación fue realizar una revisión sistemática sobre las propiedades antimicrobianas de los cementos selladores biocerámicos disponibles en el mercado sobre Enterococcus faecalis, de acuerdo a la declaración PRIS- MA. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en cuatro bases de datos electrónicas: MEDLINE, ClinicalKey, ScienceDirect y EBSCO. Se incluyeron estudios in vitro, publicados en inglés, entre 2015 y 2019. La evaluación de los estudios seleccionados fue realizada por dos autores de forma independiente. Fueron incluidos cuatro estudios en la revisión. EndoSequence™ (Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA), también comercializado en el mercado como TotalFill™ (Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA), y BioRoot™ fueron los cementos selladores biocerámicos evaluados. El riesgo de sesgo se evaluó de acuerdo con la lista de verificación CONSORT modificada para estudios preclínicos. Los estudios seleccionados informaron actividadantimicrobiana positiva contra E. faecalis en los selladores biocerámicos evaluados. La menor actividad la presentó BioRootTM. Todos los estudios utilizaron una forma planctónica de E. faecalis y métodos de evaluación in vitro. La actividad antimicrobiana reportada varió en base al método de laboratorio utilizado, incluso para el mismo sellador, por lo que se sugiere la existencia de falsos negativos. Esta revisión sistemática identificó la necesidad de realizar más investigaciones sobre la actividad antimicrobiana de los selladores biocerámicos, idealmente con modelos que utilicen biopelículas bacterianas y estudios en humanos.

Symmetry of mandibular movements: A 3D electromagnetic articulography technique applied on asymptomatic participants.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Asymmetries in mandibular movements (MMs) can be found in patients with some temporomandibular joint disorders, condylar fracture, or after orthognathic or orthodontic surgery. Quality and symmetry of the MMs should be recorded and analyzed. However, methods for this purpose are limited. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to determine the symmetry of MMs on asymptomatic participants by applying an innovative technique based on 3D electromagnetic articulography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The symmetry of MMs was studied in 16 fully dentate participants (8 men and 8 women). A 3D electromagnetic articulograph was used to register MM by placing a sensor on the interincisal midline of the mandible. The border movements related to the frontal (FP), sagittal (SP), and horizontal (HP) polygons of the Posselt envelope of motion were recorded, as well as masticatory movements. Digital data processing was applied to calculate the trajectory and ranges of mandible displacement, area of the right and left sectors of FP and HP, similarity index between the right and left sectors of FP and HP, and orientation of the individualized masticatory cycles. The Shapiro-Wilk statistical test was used to determine the normality of the sample. To compare the characteristics of the right and left sectors of the polygons, a paired-samples t test (normal distributions) and Wilcoxon test for paired samples (non-normal distributions) were applied (α=.05). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the right and left sectors of the frontal and horizontal polygons in terms of trajectory (FP, P=.408; HP, P=.417), ranges of movement (FP, P=.736; HP, P=.650), areas (FP, P=.736; HP, P=.233), or orientation of the cycles (P=.506). The similarity index between the morphology of the right and left sectors of the polygons was 68 ±12% for the FP and 67 ±11% for the HP. The areas, trajectories, and ranges had similar values, but they had a different morphology on each side of the polygons. Regarding masticatory cycles, a balanced distribution was observed in terms of their orientation. CONCLUSIONS: The technique used allowed the assessment of symmetry of MM on asymptomatic participants. The evaluated parameters maintain similar values at both left and right sides; however, a different morphology of the trajectories and areas was observed.

Mandibular border movements: The two envelopes of motion.

BACKGROUND: The envelope of motion is a diagrammatic representation of the mandibular border movements. Classically, those movements are carried out eccentrically; starting from the position of maximal intercuspation, the mandible describes an excursion movement until reaching maximal mouth opening. Reverse movements would describe a different path, but up to now concentric development of mandibular border movements has not been considered. Literature states that beyond mandibular border movements limits, no movement is possible. Therefore, it is of great interest to compare both paths-both envelopes of motion-and define the actual limits of mandibular movement. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the geometric characteristics of mandibular border movements carried out eccentrically and concentrically by healthy subjects. METHODS: Sixteen individuals aged between 18 and 27 years, molar class I and with no temporomandibular disorders, participated in the study. Eccentric and concentric mandibular movements were recorded using a 3D electromagnetic articulograph. Data were processed with computational scripts developed in MATLAB. Maximum mouth opening, trajectories, displacement ranges, polygon areas and chewing cycle area/ mandibular border movements area ratio were analysed. RESULTS: The frontal plane showed significant differences in all the parameters evaluated. Higher values were registered in the concentric area of the border movement envelope (P = .008) and in the trajectories on both sides. Statistical differences were observed in polygon areas (P = .006) in the sagittal plane and right ranges (P = .046) in the horizontal plane. CONCLUSION: Concentric mandibular movements revealed significant differences in three-dimensional trajectories in the frontal plane.

Mastication as a protective factor of the cognitive decline in adults: A qualitative systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: A relationship between masticatory function and cognition has been reported. It is proposed that mastication changes the blood flow stimulating the perfusion/oxygenation of the brain. This literature review analysed the relation between mastication as a protective factor of the cognitive decline and the changes produced at brain level in adults associated with the brain blood flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was performed according to the 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' (PRISMA) criteria in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase. Primary studies were included with no limit on the publication date, conducted on humans, and that established a relation between mastication, brain blood flow and cognitive functions in adult patients. RESULTS: Nine clinical descriptive studies were selected and qualitatively analysed. The collected data suggest the greatest brain areas activated during mastication were the frontotemporal cortex, the caudate nucleus and the thalamus, revealing a positive correlation between chewing intensity and perfusion of the principal trigeminal nucleus. The increase in cerebral blood flow was measured by a local vasodilator effect resulting in increased neuronal metabolism in the region linked to learning and memory. In addition, partially edentulous participants had a marked prefrontal deactivation when they chewed without a prosthesis and presented a decrease in masticatory activity. CONCLUSION: Masticatory function may act as a protective factor in those patients with cognition impairment and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting some mechanisms among which is the increase of cerebral blood flow.

Patrones de Deglución y Metodología de Evaluación. Una Revisión de la Literatura / Swallowing Patterns and Evaluation Methodology. A Review of the Literature

RESUMEN: La deglución es una función indispensable para el ser humano, es una actividad compleja que necesita de la participación y coordinación de múltiples estructuras. Actualmente existen diferentes métodos para evaluar este proceso, sin embargo, la capacidad de describir el comportamiento de las estructuras en sus tres dimensiones es limitada. Se ha demostrado que el movimiento lingual, es clave para la formación del bolo alimenticio y la propulsión de este a la orofaringe. Es así como se han identificado patrones de movimiento lingual a través de diferentes técnicas. El objetivo de esta revisión es reportar las diferentes técnicas de evaluación de la deglución e identificar los patrones que establece cada una de ellas. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura en distintas bases de datos, a través de una estrategia de búsqueda sistematizada. Se utilizaron las palabras clave "Deglutition" "Swallowing" "Movement Tracking" "evaluation" y "patterns" en inglés y español. Se incluyeron estudios sin límite en la fecha de publicación, realizados en humanos, en idioma inglés, español y portugués. Se encontraron diferentes técnicas para evaluar la deglución, videofluoroscopía, endoscopía, articulografía electromagnética, electromiografía, tomografía computarizada, manometría, electropalatografía y ultrasonido. Entre las cuales la videofluoroscopía es una de las más utilizadas, con esta técnica se ha intentado describir patrones del movimiento durante la deglución, al igual que la articulografía electromagnética. Por otro lado, la electromiografía ha descrito patrones de deglución, pero en relación a la contracción y relajación de ciertos grupos musculares. Existen diferentes métodos para evaluar la deglución, cada una de estas técnicas ha permitido dilucidar de mejor forma este proceso, no obstante, es necesario una mayor cantidad de estudios comparativos que permitan resolver las dudas sobre la validez y la eficacia de las técnicas descritas.

ABSTRACT: Swallowing is a critical function for the human being. It is a complex activity that requires the coordination of multiple structures. Currently there are different methods to evaluate this process, however, the ability to describe the behavior of structures in its three dimensions is limited. It has been shown that lingual movement is key for food bolus formation and propulsion to the oropharynx. Hence, lingual movement patterns have been identified through various techniques. The objective of this review is to report the different swallowing assessment techniques and identify the patterns established by each of them. A review of the literature was carried out in different databases, through a systematic search strategy. The key words "Deglutition", "Swallowing", "Movement Tracking", "evaluation" and "patterns" were used in English and Spanish. Unlimited studies without restriction on the date of publication, carried out in human subjects, in English, Spanish and Portuguese, were included. Different techniques were found to evaluate swallowing, videofluoroscopy, endoscopy, electromagnetic articulation, electromyography, computed tomography, manometry, electropalatography and ultrasound. Videofluoroscopy is one of the most popular methods used, this technique has attempted to describe patterns of movement during swallowing, as well as electromagnetic articulation. On the other hand, electromyography has described swallowing patterns, but in relation to the contraction and relaxation of certain muscle groups. There are different methods to assess swallowing. Each of the techniques has made it possible to elucidate this process better, nonetheless, a greater number of comparative studies is necessary to resolve doubts about the validity and effectiveness of the techniques described.

Estilos de citas y referencias bibliográficas en revistas odontológicas SciELO: un elemento crítico de la escritura científica / Styles for citations and referencing in dental SciELO journals: a critical element of scientific writing

Uno de los problemas más comunes en las revistas científicas, es el incumplimiento de los estilos al hacer citas y escribir las referencias bibliográficas, debido al descuido o bien al desconocimiento de los diferentes sistemas existentes y sus características. El objetivo fue revisar los estilos de citas y referencias utilizados por revistas odontológicas indexadas en la red SciELO, con el fin describir los más utilizados y evidenciar las diferencias existentes entre las revistas. Fueron revisados 100 artículos pertenecientes a 20 revistas diferentes, seleccionados aleatoriamente por afijación proporcional. El estilo más utilizado para las citas y referencias bibliográficas correspondió al sistema Vancouver. Sólo una revista, International Journal of Odontostomatology publica sus artículos bajo el sistema Harvard. Estos estilos sirven como un sello de las revistas, pero constituyen una carga de trabajo adicional significativa, ya que la atención a los detalles que se requieren para asegurar que las citas y referencias se ajusten a los estilos individuales de las revistas es fundamental. Cualquiera sea el estilo de la revista, es importante utilizarlo de una manera consistente. La responsabilidad de la exactitud en las citas y referencias bibliográficas es de los autores, por lo que deben preocuparse de ello al redactar el artículo, en su revisión final previo al envío, así como en las pruebas de imprenta.

One of the most common problems in scientific journals, it is the failure of the styles to make citations and references due to carelessness or ignorance of the different systems and their characteristics. The aim was to review the different styles of citations and references used by dental journals indexed in SciELO, to describe the most used and highlight the differences between journals. One hundred articles randomly selected by proportional allocation, belonging to 20 different journals were reviewed. The most commonly used format for citations and references corresponded to the Vancouver system. Only a journal, International Journal of Odontostomatology publishes his articles under the Harvard system. These styles serve as a hallmark for journals, but they are a significant additional workload as the attention to detail required to ensure that citations and references fit individual styles of the journals is fundamental. Whatever the style of the journals, it is important to use it in a consistent manner. The responsibility for the accuracy in citations and references belongs to the authors, so they should worry about it in drafting version, its final revision, as well as proofs of the article.