Frontiers in Dentistry

Objectives: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are two of the most important inflammatory cytokines produced by cells in periodontal tissues. The present study aims to evaluate the levels of PTX3 and IL-6 in serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in patients with generalized periodontitis stages II and III, grades A and B, and periodontal health individuals before and after scaling and root planing (SRP).

Materials and Methods: In this study, 22 patients with periodontitis (12 males and 10 females) and 22 periodontal health controls (11 males and 11 females) were selected. All patients underwent full-mouth SRP. Serum and GCF samples were collected before and one month after SRP. PTX3 and IL-6 levels in serum and GCF samples were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests (P<0.05).

Results: Serum levels of PTX3 were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than the controls (P<0.05). GCF PTX3 levels and serum and GCF IL-6 levels were not significantly different between the groups. Furthermore, this study did not show any significant changes in the levels of these cytokines before and after SRP.

Conclusion: Among the studied cytokines and media, only serum PTX3 levels showed a significant difference between periodontitis patients and healthy controls and could serve as a diagnostic marker of periodontal inflammation. SRP did not affect the levels of these cytokines, suggesting that other inflammatory factors may be involved in disease process. However, additional longitudinal prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of laser etching, air bone particle abrasion and acid etching on shear bond strength between re-cast Nickel Chromium alloy and dental ceramics.

Materials and Methods: A master die was made according to ISO 9693; TR (11406). A total of 40 samples were fabricated with 50%w nickel-chromium alloy and 50%w previously casted nickel-chromium alloy. The samples were divided into four groups based on the surface treatment applied. Group 1 served as the untreated control, Group 2 underwent etching with 10% hydrochloric acid (HCl), Group 3 received surface treatment via air-borne particle abrasion, while Group 4 was conditioned using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Shear bond strength between ceramic and metal was tested using a universal testing machine and the mode of debonding was evaluated using scanning electron microscope. The obtained values were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD Post Hoc test.

Results: The mean values of shear bond strength for Group 1 was 22.69±2.63Mpa, Group 2 was 27.05±2.15Mpa, Group 3 was 34.46±2.46Mpa and Group 4 was 39.54±2.16Mpa. The difference among the groups was significant (P<0.001). Hence there was a statistical difference seen in shear bond strength between control and acid etching, air borne particle abrasion and laser etching.

Conclusion: Laser surface conditioning produced more surface roughness compared to acid etching and air bone particle abrasion on re-cast Nickel Chromium alloy which increased the shear bond strength markedly between recast nickel-chromium alloy and dental Ceramic.

Objectives: Despite the recent advances in orthodontic appliances, color change of elastomeric ligatures over time remains a problem causing patient dissatisfaction. This study aimed to assess the color stability of different types of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures in the oral environment.

Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 67 patients. After applying the exclusion criteria, 11 participants were excluded, and 56 remained. Four different brands of elastomeric ligatures namely Ortho Technology, Ortho Organizers, American Orthodontics, and SIA were randomly used in the four quadrants of each patient (n=14 from each brand). Discoloration of ligatures was scored in the oral cavity by orthodontists and patients on the day of placement (T0) and 28 days later (T1). Photography and CIE L*a*b* color space were used to assess the color change (∆E). Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni tests.

Results: All brands showed discoloration. The highest ∆E was identified in SIA and Ortho Technology, while the lowest was recorded in Ortho Organizers. The lowest ∆b (yellowness) and the greatest reduction in L* (lightness) and ∆a (redness) were observed in Ortho Organizers. According to the opinion of patients and orthodontists at T0 and T1, SIA was the least visible followed by Ortho Technology. No significant difference was found between orthodontists and patients at T0 and T1 regarding the visibility of ligatures (P>0.05).

Conclusion: After 28 days, all brands of elastomeric ligatures showed considerable discoloration. Ortho Organizers showed the highest color stability.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of ozone water disinfection on dimensional stability and accuracy of silicone impression materials.

Materials and Methods: According to ISO-4823, a stainless-steel die was fabricated for this in vitro study. Three horizontal parallel lines, namely x, y, and z (25, 50, and 75µm in width and 25mm in length) running perpendicular to two vertical lines, namely D1 and D2 (0.075±0.008mm wide), were created on the superior surface of the die. Group A served as the control group with no disinfection. Disinfection was performed with 2% glutaraldehyde in group B, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite in group C, and ozone water in group D for 10 minutes. Totally, 60 samples were fabricated. The silicone impression samples were allowed to polymerize in a thermostatically controlled water bath at 35±1ºC for 10 minutes. The dimensional stability and accuracy of the silicone impression samples were evaluated by using a video measuring microscope and an optical microscope. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc analysis with the Scheffe test (alpha=0.05).

Results: The highest dimensional stability (25.01mm) and accuracy (25.02µm) were seen in addition silicone putty and light body impression with ozone water disinfection, and the lowest parameters were seen in condensation silicon putty and light body disinfected with 2% glutaraldehyde (24.87mm and 24.88 µm, respectively); this difference was statistically significant (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Ozone water disinfection caused minimal changes in dimensional stability and accuracy when compared to 2% glutaraldehyde and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite disinfection

Objectives: Repair of composite resin restorations is a challenge specially when the restoration undergoes aging; thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of aging and different surface treatments on the repair microshear bond strength of IPS Empress Direct nanohybrid composite resin.

Materials and Methods: This in vitro, experimental study evaluated 48 IPS Empress Direct composite resin samples in two groups of aged and nonaged (n=24). The samples in both groups were finished and polished with Sof-Lex discs. Composite samples in the aged group were subjected to 5000 thermal cycles. The two groups were then divided into two subgroups (n=12) for surface roughening by a diamond bur or sandblasting with aluminum oxide particles. Composite cylinders were then bonded to the composite samples, and underwent microshear bond strength test in a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and t-test (alpha=0.05).

Results: The results showed no significant difference in the microshear bond strength of bur and sandblasted subgroups, irrespective of aging (P>0.05). In the aged subgroups, however, irrespective of the method of surface treatment, the bond strength was significantly lower than that in the subgroups that did not undergo the aging process (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Micromechanical retention is the most reliable method to achieve a high repair bond strength in IPS Empress Direct composite resin. Surface roughening by bur is safe and cost-effective, and can be used instead of sandblasting for composite restoration repair.

Objectives: Amniotic membrane (AM) is an allograft obtained from humans that contains a variety of growth factors, and has outstanding healing qualities. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of amniotic allograft with coronally advanced flap (CAF) for root coverage.

Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial comprised 24 individuals with Miller's Class I and II root resorption defects. Each patient received treatment using the CAF approach, with the test group receiving a combined therapy using an AM. Measurements were made at baseline and 6 months after surgery for gingival biotype (GB), dentin hypersensitivity (DH), recession depth (RD), recession width (RW), gingival recession total surface area (GRTSA), keratinized tissue width (KTW) and probing depth (PD).

Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in RD (from 2.83 mm to 0.92 mm), a significant increase in KTW (from 3.17 mm to 4.25 mm), improvement in GB, and a reduction in DH in the test group compared to the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Miller’s Class I and II root recession defects can be effectively treated with a CAF. Application of AM under the CAF improved root coverage and GB, and further increased the KTW after 6 months, compared to CAF alone.

Objectives: This study compared the antifungal efficacy of curcumin plus nystatin versus nystatin monotherapy for treatment of denture stomatitis.

Materials and Methods: This single-blind clinical trial evaluated 32 patients with types II and III denture stomatitis. Microbial samples were collected from the patients’ palate to count the Candida albicans (C. albicans) colonies. Erythema of the palate was quantified by measuring the surface area of the erythematous sites. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups (n=16). The control group received nystatin suspension while the test group received a curcumin mouthwash plus nystatin suspension. The number of C. albicans colony forming units (CFUs) and the surface area of the erythematous sites were calculated again after 14 days. Data were analyzed using t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test (alpha=0.05).

Results: Both groups experienced a significant reduction in C. albicans colony count after the intervention (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in reduction of colony count between the two groups (P=0.341). Both groups experienced a significant reduction in the size of erythema (P=0.001 for the nystatin and P<0.001 for the nystatin plus curcumin). The two groups were not significantly different regarding the size of erythema at baseline (P=0.956) or after the intervention (P=0.491).

Conclusion: Addition of curcumin to nystatin suspension did not add any significant advantage with regard to reduction of C. albicans colony count or erythema of the palate, and both interventions were equally effective.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare soft tissue malignant neoplasm with striated muscle differentiation often found in the head and neck region. In our case a 33-year-old man presented with a bulging mass near his right mandibular second molar tooth, identified as a unilocular destructive lesion on an X-ray. An incisional biopsy confirmed rhabdomyosarcoma, leading to a hemi-mandibulectomy. Histopathologic findings showed spindle and rhabdoid cells with positive immunoreactivity to Desmin, myogenin and myoD1. In conclusion, it is crucial to differentiate rhabdomyosarcoma from other more common intraosseous malignancies, and using Desmin staining as part of the initial immunohistochemical panel can aid in the diagnosis process.