The study aimed to investigate the influence of different gingival colors and abutment materials on the accuracy of intraoral implant scans. Five maxillary typodonts were used with 4 implants, 2 scan abutments (Mono scanbody-W and Metal scanbody-M) and 5 gingival colors (Light pink-GLP, Dark Pink-GDP, Orange-GOR, Brown-GBR, Purple-GP). Ten scans of each reference model were made with an intraoral scanner (Medit i700) and exported as STL files. Assessment of trueness and precision was conducted with Geomagic 3D analysis software and 3D differences were calculated using the root mean square (RMS) value. Data were statistically analyzed using 2-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni comparison tests (α = 0.05). Significant differences were found among the groups of different gingival colors and abutment materials (p<.05). Regarding trueness, gingival color significantly influenced the RMS values of the scan abutment group of W (p<.001). Significantly lower mean RMS value was obtained in the gingival color group of GDP with mono scanbody (p<.001). Regarding precision, gingival color significantly influenced the RMS values of both scan abutment groups (W and M) (p<.001). Significant difference was found between different abutment materials in the gingival color group of GLP (p<.05). The accuracy of intraoral implant scans was affected by variations in gingival color and abutment material.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is endemic in several regions worldwide and is associated with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations with complex and still poorly understood pathogenesis. Among the reported outcomes in people living with HTLV-1, oral alterations stand out due to their potential negative impact on quality of life. Here, we reviewed the literature on HTLV-1 oral outcomes through a structured narrative review conducted in accordance with the SANRA principles. The most frequently reported oral complications include xerostomia, hyposalivation, periodontal disease, and mucosal lesions, which are commonly associated with inflammatory processes and salivary gland dysfunction. These findings underscore the importance of oral health within the multidisciplinary care of individuals living with HTLV-1, highlighting the need for preventive and therapeutic strategies that enhance overall well-being. Nevertheless, significant gaps remain in the literature, underscoring the need to expand research efforts, strengthen professional training, and increase awareness regarding oral care in this population.

In recent years, the development of masticatory function during growth has become increasingly important. However, only a few studies have objectively evaluated longitudinal changes in masticatory performance during the mixed dentition period. This study aimed to examine the relationship between 1-year changes in dental age and objective masticatory performance in fourth- to sixth-grade elementary school students. The study participants included 434 children (218 boys, age: 9-11years) in the mixed dentition period (mainly Hellman stages IIIA-IIIC). Oral examinations and masticatory performance measurements were conducted at baseline and at the 1-year follow-up. Oral examinations included assessment of Hellman's dental age (IIIA/IIIB/IIIC/IVA) and the number of permanent and primary teeth. The shearing performance (SP) and mixing performance (MP) were assessed using gummy jellies and color-changing gums, respectively, on a 10-point scale. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Changes in dental age were observed in 53.5% of the participants, who were classified into nine groups based on the pattern of change (baseline/follow-up). For SP, the IIIB/IVA group showed the greatest increase (p = 0.007), whereas the IIIA/IIIB group showed a decrease, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.053). However, no marked differences in MP were observed between the groups. These results suggest that the changes in masticatory performance over the 1-year period of tooth replacement differ based on the pattern of dental aging, and these changes are influenced by the type of test food used for evaluation.

This study evaluated the cyclic fatigue, torsional, and bending resistance of five nickel-titanium (NiTi) instrumentation systems and investigated the relationship between these mechanical properties and the biomechanical performance of root canal preparation in mandibular molars using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). A total of 200 instruments were used. One hundred and fifty new instruments (n = 10 per group, per test) from the Blue Shaper (25.06), VDW Rotate (25.06), ProTaper Ultimate (25.08), ProTaper Next (25.06), and WaveOne Gold (25.07) systems were subjected to cyclic fatigue testing, torsional fatigue testing, and bending resistance evaluation. Fractured surfaces were analyzed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, 50 instruments (10 per group) were used to prepare 50 mandibular molars, which were analyzed by micro-CT to assess 2D and 3D shaping parameters. WaveOne Gold (WOG) and VDW Rotate exhibited the highest cyclic fatigue resistance. VDW Rotate presented the greatest flexibility and the best results related with shaping ability, with higher canal circularity and fewer unprepared walls, indicating a more conservative and centered preparation. Conversely, Blue Shaper (BS), characterized by lower fatigue resistance and greater stiffness, produced the largest dentin removal and volumetric increase. A significant positive relationship was observed between increased flexibility/fatigue resistance and more conservative shaping outcomes. The mechanical properties of NiTi instruments, especially flexibility as indicated by cyclic fatigue and bending resistance, play an important role in predicting biomechanical preparation performance. Systems combining enhanced flexibility through thermomechanical treatment and optimized cross-sectional design provide more conservative and centered shaping, improving clinical safety and efficiency.

Clinicians must evaluate prosthetic fit, material behavior, and in vivo performance to ensure clinical success; therefore, this review examines the role of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) in prosthetic dentistry research. The research question framed as "Does micro-CT imaging improve the precision and detail in prosthetic dentistry research as opposed to standard evaluation methods?" (PROSPERO registration ID CRD420251047674). Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for studies published between January 2014 and December 2024. Eligible studies included in vitro and ex vivo investigations using micro-CT for quantitative assessment of prosthetic restorations. Methodological quality was appraised with CRIS and risk of bias was evaluated using QUIN tool. Data were pooled using RevMan software, with heterogeneity assessed via I2 statistics. From 582 initial records, PubMed (264), Scopus (161), and Web of Science (157)- this systematic review scrutinized 10 eligible studies out of which 5 studies were included in meta-analysis for quantitative synthesis. Micro-CT consistently demonstrated superior precision in assessing marginal gaps, internal adaptation, and material porosity compared with conventional methods. The pooled mean marginal gap was 32.21µm (95% CI: 23.46-40.96µm), within clinically acceptable thresholds. Most studies achieved high CRIS scores (> 9/11), indicating high transparency and completeness of reporting, while risk of bias assessment using the QUIN tool demonstrated overall moderate methodological quality. However, heterogeneity in voxel size, protocols, and reporting limited comparability. Micro-CT provides reliable, high-resolution evaluation of prosthetic restorations, validating its role as a reference tool in dental research. While in vitro findings support its superiority over conventional techniques, broader clinical translation requires methodological standardisation, cost reduction, and improved reporting practices.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the responses provided by ChatGPT-4o, Google Gemini (2.0 Flash) and Microsoft Copilot to frequently asked questions (FAQs) in endodontics. Fifty patient-oriented, open-ended endodontic FAQs were formulated by two experienced endodontists. Each question was posed to each chatbot three times, yielding a total of 450 responses. Two endodontists independently evaluated all responses using a modified Global Quality Score (GQS) on a five-point Likert scale. Validity was evaluated at two thresholds: low (all three responses scored ≥ 4) and high (all three responses scored 5). Fisher's exact test was used to compare validity among models. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess consistency. Readability was analyzed using the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). All chatbots performed well under the low-validity threshold, but their performance declined under the stricter high-validity criteria. High-threshold validity of Google Gemini was significantly greater than that of ChatGPT-4o (p = 0.022). Unlike the other chatbots, ChatGPT-4o did not receive any scores of 2, yet its mean overall score was significantly lower than those of the other two models (p < 0.05). This suggests that models generating more detailed responses may carry a higher risk of misleading information, even when achieving higher scores. By contrast, ChatGPT-4o produced more readable outputs, which may lack sufficient depth. Overall, these findings indicate that no single chatbot can be considered optimal across all dimensions, as readability, accuracy, and completeness cannot be fully achieved by one model alone.

Cell senescence has been widely demonstrated to limit the osteogenic and odontogenic potential of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). This study aimed to elucidate the regulatory mechanism by which E2F transcription factor 2 (E2F2) influences senescence and osteogenic differentiation in young DPSCs (yDPSCs). yDPSCs and old DPSCs (oDPSCs) were isolated and characterized by flow cytometry. The endogenous expression levels of E2F2, methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), and senescence- or osteogenesis-related markers were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining was performed to assess cell senescence, while Alizarin Red S (ARS) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining were used to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation capacity of yDPSCs. Dual-luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to confirm molecular interactions. Both yDPSCs and oDPSCs were positive for CD73 and CD105 and negative for HLA-DR. Compared with oDPSCs, yDPSCs exhibited stronger osteogenic differentiation potential and higher E2F2 expression. Knockdown of E2F2 increased the proportion of SA-β-gal-positive cells and upregulated the senescence markers p21 and p16, while it suppressed mineralization, ALP activity, and the expression of osteogenesis-associated markers (BMP2, OCN, OPN, Runx2, Osterix) in yDPSCs. Mechanistically, METTL3 was identified as a transcriptional target of E2F2. Overexpression of METTL3 reversed the inhibitory effects of E2F2 knockdown on odontogenic/osteogenic differentiation and the promoting effects on cell senescence in yDPSCs. E2F2 plays a critical role in suppressing DPSC senescence and promoting their osteogenic differentiation.

To compare the mechanical behavior of lower premolars with incomplete root formation treated by apexification and regeneration and assess revascularization's impact on dentin thickness using finite element analysis. A mandibular bone model was obtained from a computed tomography scan and modeled using the CAD Rhinoceros 7.0 software program. The models were composed of enamel, dentin, pulp, periodontal ligament, cortical bone, medullary bone, gutta-percha, MTA, blood clot, and composite resin. The study groups were: IT (Intact Tooth); AC (Accessed Tooth); R (revascularization); and AX (apexification). After modeling the structures, the geometries were exported to the Ansys 13.0 finite element analysis software program. The models were submitted to loads of 200 N on thedistal sulcus of the occlusal surface. The loading was directed at 45° to the occlusal plane. The results were calculated and qualitatively analyzed using displacement maps and maximum principal stress. The apexification models supported lower compressive and tensile stresses when compared to the revascularization models. Revascularization reduced stress concentration in the periradicular tissues, whereas apexification resulted in lower tensile stress in coronal dentin.

Mechanical stress on the periodontal ligaments, such as orthodontic force, causes the failure of homeostasis-inducing inflammation leading to inflammatory root resorption and replacement resorption. Despite these developments during orthodontic treatment, little is known about its relationship to the epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) located in the periodontal ligament. To address this gap, RNA sequencing was performed on non-compression and compression forced porcine ERM groups subjected to 4.0g/cm2 for 12h. The results showed 529 upregulated and 273 downregulated genes with more than a twofold change. Pathway analyses indicated that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in 13 pathways, including the TNF signaling pathway, viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor IL-17 signaling pathway, and NF-kappa B signaling pathway. The differentially expressed genes such as BMP2, NFKBIA, CXCL8, CCL4, SOCS3, and FOS were commonly significantly upregulated within these pathways. The levels of BMP2 protein increased, while the NF-kB protein did not translocate intranuclearly, with no change in CXCL8 protein levels. Through ERM-induced mechanical compression, BPM2 can regulate root resorption and bone addition to maintain periodontal ligament homeostasis. CCL4, SOCS3, and c-fos may suppress root resorption by angiogenesis, preventing excessive osteoclast formation and inhibiting hyalinization.

This study aimed to determine whether smoking acts as an independent predictor of apical periodontitis and endodontic treatment in a Portuguese adult population. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in accordance with the PROBE (Preferred Reporting items for OBservational studies in Endodontics) guidelines. A total of 1841 first-time patient records were analyzed and met the inclusion criteria. Smoking status and systemic conditions were obtained from self-reported medical histories, and periapical status was assessed on panoramic radiographs using the Periapical Index (PAI). All assessments were conducted by calibrated observers who were blinded to clinical information. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 30.0; IBM Corp.) with descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models, reporting odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and significance at p < 0.05. Smoking was significantly associated with apical periodontitis (OR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.96-3.11; p < 0.001), but not with endodontic treatment. Other factors independently associated with apical periodontitis included older age, greater caries experience, fewer remaining teeth, hypertension, and the presence of at least one root-filled tooth (OR = 3.19; 95% CI: 2.49-4.09; p < 0.001). Apical periodontitis showed the strongest association with the presence of at least one root-filled tooth (OR = 3.13; 95% CI: 2.47-3.96; p < 0.001). In conclusion, smoking may be considered a risk indicator for apical periodontitis. The increased inflammatory burden associated with periapical lesions highlights the importance of oral-health-related factors and behavioral habits in determining periapical status.