Assessing the thyroid autoimmunity association with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

BACKGROUND: Recent investigations have highlighted autoimmune origins and abnormal immune responses; particularly those related to T cell-mediated immunity and elevated T lymphocyte cells in the oral mucosa. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATDs) in an Iranian population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on 102 patients diagnosed with ATD (cases) and 102 healthy patients (controls) who had been referred for the routine dental treatment. All participants were asked for the history of RAS and their age, gender, other systemic diseases, medications, and frequency of RAS in a year. Matching was performed based on the propensity scores for age and sex. In addition, the number of lesions in each recurrence in both groups was assessed and compared. The type of thyroid disease has been assessed for case participants and has been confirmed by the endocrinologist. The chi-square test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data using SPSS 18. RESULTS: Patients with ATD had higher RAS than healthy controls (P = 0.040). ATD patients had 1.93 times more risk for RAS, and the frequency of RAS in a year was 3.15times higher in these patients (P = 0.011). Moreover, the frequency of RAS was higher in patients with hypothyroidism than in those with hyperthyroidism. However, there were no significant differences in the size and the number of lesions between the groups. CONCLUSION: The risk and frequency of RAS were significantly higher in patients with ATDs. This would provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms and potential treatment strategies for both conditions.

Epidemiological and Spatiotemporal Descriptive Analysis of Patients with Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A 12-Year Retrospective Study in Southern Iran.

Objectives: The current study is aimed at evaluating epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in the south of Iran. Methods: Data were extracted from the 1840 medical records of patients who were referred to the Cleft Lip and Palate Center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, from January 1, 2011, to September 1, 2022. The collected variables included demographic data (gender, birth date and season, place, birth order, and weight), cleft types and the subtypes, parental information (health status, education level, marital status, and age during the pregnancy), and other basic parameters. The chi-square test at a significance level of 0.05 was used to analyze collected data. The geographic information system (GIS) analysis was also used for analyzing the spatial distribution of CL/P patients. Results: Based on our inclusion criteria, 1281 nonsyndromic patients were included in this study. The most common type was cleft lip and palate (CLP) with 48.32%, whereas cleft palate (CP) and cleft lip (CL) accounted for 40.75% and 10.93% of the patients, respectively. There was a progressive increase in the frequency of all types of clefts, and most of them were male (P ≤ 0.001). The urban population outnumbered the rural ones in all provinces. Parents were mostly healthy (>80%) with low educational status (47.5%). Most born CL/P patients were from consanguineous marriages (58.9%), especially between first-degree relatives. A majority of CL/P patients (73.1%) were born in the first two gestations with a birth weight of 2500-4000 g (77.4%). Most infants with CL/P (84.3%) were born from mothers who had at least one of the predisposing factors. Conclusion: In this study, the frequency of cleft types and subtypes was similar to the existing literature. However, high rate of consanguineous marriage, especially between first-degree relatives, was the most notable feature of this population.

Effects of Orthodontic Treatment on Pulp Stone Formation: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: This retrospective study was aimed at determining the incidence of dental pulp stone formation during fixed orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients who received fixed orthodontic treatment were included in this study. Pre- and posttreatment panoramic radiographs of the patients were examined to identify pulp stones. The data were analyzed using McNemar's and Pearson's chi-square tests to investigate the correlations between having a dental pulp stone and gender, age, treatment type, and duration. Results: Dental pulp stones were detected in 17% of patients on pretreatment panoramic radiographs and 35% of patients on posttreatment panoramic radiographs. The incidence of pulp stones sharply increased in the pre- and posttreatment radiographs (38%) (P < 0.001). In addition, there were associations between age, treatment duration, and the incidence of pulp stones (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, no associations were found between treatment type, gender, and the presence of pulp stones. Dental pulp stones were most frequently observed in first molars (62%), followed by second molars (36%). Conclusion: Fixed orthodontic treatment may trigger pulp irritation and calcification, resulting in the formation of pulp stones. Although pulp stones have no serious consequences, an orthodontist must consider the probability of pulp stone formation because it can cause difficulties in endodontic treatment.

The application of injectable platelet-rich fibrin in regenerative dentistry: A systematic scoping review of In vitro and In vivo studies.

Background: Ongoing research in the dental field has begun to focus on the use of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) as a regenerative tool with the potential to prompt tissue regeneration. In this regard, this systematic scoping review aimed to collect, map, and appraise the in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the role of I-PRF in or soft and hard tissue regeneration in relation to oral and maxillofacial structures. Methods: A systematic electronic search of Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases was performed from 2000 to December 2021 using a combination of keywords. All in vitro and in vivo studies, written in English and concerning the potential role of I-PRF in regenerative dentistry were considered. Results: In total, 18 in vitro studies, 5 animal studies, 6 case reports, and 31 clinical studies have evaluated the effect of I-PRF on oral and maxillofacial soft and hard tissue regeneration. The investigated studies verified the anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial efficacy and the positive effects of I-PRF application for wound, periodontal, bone, cartilage, and pulp regeneration, as well as acceleration in tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. Conclusions: Current literature approves the feasibility of I-PRF application as a promising regenerative adjunct to dental procedures.