Effectiveness and surface changes of different decontamination protocols at smooth and minimally rough titanium surfaces.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to evaluate titanium decontamination after different protocols while assessing changes in surface roughness, chemical composition, and wettability. METHODS: Ninety-six smooth (S) and 96 minimally rough (R) titanium microimplants were used. Pristine microimplants were reserved for negative control (S-nC/R-nC, n = 9), while the remaining microimplants were incubated in Escherichia coli culture. Non-decontaminated microimplants were used as positive control (S-pC/R-pC, n = 3). The other microimplants were divided into seven different decontamination protocols (12 S/R per group): 24% EDTA, 2% chlorhexidine (CHL), gauze soaked in 2% chlorhexidine (GCHL), gauze soaked in ultrapure water (GMQ), scaling (SC), titanium brush (TiB), and implantoplasty (IP). Contaminated areas were assessed by scanning electron microscope images, chemical composition by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, wettability by meniscus technique, and roughness by an optical profiler. RESULTS: Higher residual bacteria were observed in R-pC compared with S-pC (P <0.0001). When comparing S and R with their respective pC groups, the best results were obtained with GCHL, SC, TiB, and IP, with no difference between these protocols (P >0.05). Changes in surface roughness were observed after all treatments, with S/R-IP presenting the smoother and a less hydrophilic surface (P <0.05). Apart from IP protocol, all the other groups presented a more hydrophilic surface in R than in S microimplants (P <0.003). All decontamination protocols resulted in a lower percentage of superficial Ti when compared with S/R-nC (P <0.002). CONCLUSIONS: All decontamination protocols resulted in changes in roughness, wettability, and chemical composition, but GCHL, SC, TiB, an IP presented the best decontamination outcomes.

Photogrammetry as an alternative for acquiring digital dental models: A proof of concept.

Photogrammetry is a mathematical technique that generates three-dimensional coordinates of specific points identified from multiple images of the same object obtained at different angles. This technique may be a low-cost alternative for traditional scanning. The objective of this proof of concept was to evaluate the accuracy and precision in obtaining digital models (DM) from a plaster model (PM) using photogrammetry. Five DM were generated from 50 photographs taken surrounding the PM. The photographs were taken by a single operator on five consecutive days using natural light. The images obtained were processed on 3DF Zephyr Free software. The height and width of all teeth were recorded on both PM and DM, as well as the distance between the canine cusps (C-C) and between the mesiobuccal cusps of the first molars (1 M-1 M). For the PM the measurements were taken with a digital caliper, whereas the DM was measured using the software Blender. The DM and PM measurements presented a limit of agreement between -0.433 and 0.611 mm. The accuracy of DM measurements showed a SD of ±0.171 mm and a repeatability coefficient of 0.474. In the superimposition of all DM, it was possible to notice a greater discrepancy in the posterior region of the arch and palate, but this difference decreased when the region was segmented. It can be concluded that photogrammetry appears to be a viable technique for the digitization of dental models. Further studies need to be performed to evaluate its clinical application.

Osteogenic cells transfer improving root coverage: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this interventional, parallel-assignment, single-blinded, randomized, efficacy study was to investigate the efficacy of the treatment of gingival recessions by osteogenic cell transfer. This is the first randomized clinical trial of this nature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Treatment of Miller class I or II gingival recessions >4 mm was randomly defined by casual sorting and performed by newly forming bone graft (NFBG) and coronally advanced flap (CAF) or subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) and CAF (control). Clinical examinations were performed by a single blinded examiner at baseline and at 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery. Parameters investigated were recession height (REC), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level, gingival bleeding index (GBI), plaque index (PlI), and keratinized gingiva width (KGW). RESULTS: Both techniques achieved similar percentage of root coverage, but NFBG was more effective in pocket depth reduction, attachment level gain, and reduction of plaque accumulation and of bleeding on probing. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the transfer of osteogenic cells by NFBG is able to improve clinical attachment level and to cover denuded roots. NFBG can be used as an alternative treatment of deep recessions (≥4 mm), where the restoration of lost periodontal tissues is intended.

Oral health impact profile of head and neck cancer patients after or before oncologic treatment: an observational analytic case-control study.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of oral health on the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) before and after oncologic treatment. METHODS: Forty cancer-free individuals (Cf group) and 40 HNC patients (Hnc group) were included in this study. Hnc group was also divided into two subgroups: Hnc 1 (pre-cancer therapy, n = 20) and Hnc 2 (post-cancer therapy, n = 20). Participants were asked to complete a short form of Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The results were statistically analyzed with the multivariate analysis of variance with post-hoc Scheffé multiple comparison. RESULTS: It was observed a moderate impact on the quality of life on HNC patients, with values on Hnc 2 group significantly higher in the functional limitation when compared to the Hnc 1 group (p < 0.05). When compared to the Cf group, the values found on Hnc group were higher on functional limitation (p < 0.01) and at the total score (p < 0.05), whereas Hnc 2 group had significant superior values on functional limitation (p < 0.01), physical pain (p < 0.05), and total score (p < 0.01) CONCLUSION: These results show that there is an oral impairment that depreciates the quality of life of patients with an experience of HNC, principally after treatment, indicating the importance of the inclusion of professionals responsible for dental and oral care with the oncologic team to monitor the oral condition of these patients.

Salivary biomarkers as tools for oral squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) survival rate is influenced by the fact that diagnoses occur mostly in late stages of the disease. Thus, there is a clear contribution in the early findings, making the use of minimally invasive techniques for diagnosis, such as analysis of salivary markers, interesting tools. METHODS: A systematic review was performed with all studies that establish a comparison between the levels of saliva-based markers found in patients with OSCC compared with cancer-free individuals. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies were included. Of them, only 12 showed some caution with oral conditions before sample collection. A wide range of potential markers was evaluated; however, the comparison between studies was impaired because each marker was hardly explored by more than 1 article. CONCLUSION: The lack of methodological criteria within studies and the absence of consensus on marker choice are obstacles for future researches. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 797-811, 2017.