A Communication Guide for Orthodontic-Restorative Collaborations: Digital Smile Design Outline Tool.

Ideally, Orthodontic-Restorative cases are planned alongside from the beginning, however, in some instances the restorative dentist encounters the patient for esthetic evaluation near the end of orthodontic phase. This is a high-stakes evaluation because the decision to remove brackets implies that refinement of tooth positioning cannot occur unless the patient re-enters orthodontic treatment. One challenge in multidisciplinary treatment is accommodating effective communication between providers and employing Digital Smile Design outline tool as a visual aid can help optimizing treatment outcome. This article discusses the importance and steps utilizing digital outline tool to provide quick and effective communication on treatment progress and recommendations.

Salivary exRNA biomarkers to detect gingivitis and monitor disease regression.

AIM: This study tests the hypothesis that salivary extracellular RNA (exRNA) biomarkers can be developed for gingivitis detection and monitoring disease regression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Salivary exRNA biomarker candidates were developed from a total of 100 gingivitis and non-gingivitis individuals using Affymetrix's expression microarrays. The top 10 differentially expressed exRNAs were tested in a clinical cohort to determine whether the discovered salivary exRNA markers for gingivitis were associated with clinical gingivitis and disease regression. For this purpose, unstimulated saliva was collected from 30 randomly selected gingivitis subjects, the gingival and plaque indexes scores were taken at baseline, 3 and 6 weeks and salivary exRNAs were assayed by means of reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Eight salivary exRNA biomarkers developed for gingivitis were statistically significantly changed over time, consistent with disease regression. A panel of four salivary exRNAs [SPRR1A, lnc-TET3-2:1, FAM25A, CRCT1] can detect gingivitis with a clinical performance of 0.91 area under the curve, with 71% sensitivity and 100% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical values of the developed salivary exRNA biomarkers are associated with gingivitis regression. They offer strong potential to be advanced for definitive validation and clinical laboratory development test.

Ceramics: rationale for material selection.

All imaginable types of materials and techniques, from very conservative ceramic restorations to very complex restorations of either metal or high-strength crystalline ceramics veneered with porcelain, have been introduced and tried throughout the years, with varying levels of success. However, there is considerable misinformation and a general lack of published rational treatment planning guidelines about when to use the ceramics available in dentistry. This article provides a systematic process for treatment planning with ceramic materials. Specific guidelines are outlined for the appropriate clinical conditions for using the various ceramic materials.