Purpose: Non-vital teeth usually exhibit substantial loss of coronal and radicular tooth structure, and use of posts after root canal treatment is controversial. This review examined whether placement of posts influences clinical behavior and survival probability of endodontically treated teeth (ETT).

Methods: An electronic search, without time restrictions, for publications written in English was undertaken in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Terms related to four main components (endodontically treated teeth, fixed prosthesis, post restoration, and survival rate) were used for the database search strategies.

Results: 57 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis. Of the publications chosen for qualitative analysis, 17 clinical studies (11 prospective and 6 retrospective studies) were found to be suitable for quantitative analysis. These studies included 7,278 patients (7,330 ETT), with a mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of 45.46 ± 12.1 years. There was a statistically significant difference in survival rate between ETT with or without posts (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: As compared with teeth with no posts, post placement on ETT may improve clinical performance and survival probability of endodontically treated teeth.

The oral cavity is the starting point and an integral part of the respiratory system. Oral bacteria are deeply involved in the onset and aggravation of lower respiratory tract diseases, including aspiration pneumonia, influenza, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Oral health conditions, such as periodontal disease, influence the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Oral bacteria can be detected in the respiratory organs of patients with COVID-19, and the composition of oral bacterial flora may be altered. Aspiration pneumonia is common among patients with COVID-19 who are advanced in age or have underlying diseases due to poor oral hygiene management, fever, and other issues. While findings from further studies are awaited, maintaining a healthy oral cavity can prevent COVID-19 onset and aggravation. In addition to routine management of oral microflora at home and maintenance of periodontal health in dentistry, medical-dental collaboration is crucial for a prompt response to future pandemics, as humans have just experienced in COVID-19.

Purpose: To determine and compare the cytotoxicity, odontoblast-like differentiation, shear bond strength (SBS) and Vickers microhardness of four commercial light-cured orthodontic adhesives.

Methods: The orthodontic resins selected were Transbond XT – GI, Transbond Plus Color Change – GII (both from 3M Unitek), Enlight – GIII and Blugloo – GIV (both from Ormco). Samples were prepared, and leached monomers were obtained. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and deposited calcium was analyzed using Alizarin red staining (ARS). SBS and the adhesive remnant index (ARI) were determined using 120 human premolars. The Vickers microhardness test was performed on the resin discs.

Results: All adhesives showed moderate to severe cytotoxicity (21-37%) and promoted similar formation of calcium deposits. A SBS of 6-8 MPa was achieved only by Blugloo (7.1 ± 2.4 MPa), and Enlight showed the lowest Vickers hardness score (40 ± 2.5 HV). Transbond Plus Color Change (score 0 = 42.9%) and Blugloo (score 0 = 46.4%) showed better ARI scores than Transbond XT (score 0 = 7.1%) and Enlight (score 0 = 3.6%).

Conclusion: On the basis of the properties evaluated, Blugloo seems to be the best option.

Purpose: This study evaluated transportation and extruded debris during preparation using different instruments.

Methods: Sixty resin blocks with S-shaped canals and 60 extracted teeth were separated into four groups (n = 15), which were instrumented with Reciproc Blue, XP-endo Shaper, WaveOne Gold, and Twisted File Adaptive. For evaluating transportation, pre- and post-preparation images were obtained under a stereomicroscope and superimposed with digital software. The distance between the inner and outer canal walls was measured. For the evaluation of debris extrusion, the samples were placed in Eppendorf tubes and instrumented using one of the four rotary files. The initial weight was subtracted from the post-instrumentation weight to determine the amount of extruded debris. The Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn multiple tests were performed.

Results: For transportation, no significant difference was found between the XP-endo Shaper-Twisted File Adaptive systems and between Reciproc Blue-WaveOne Gold groups (P > 0.05). The XP-endo Shaper and Twisted File Adaptive techniques led to significantly less transportation compared to the other systems (P < 0.05). Regarding debris extrusion, the XP-endo Shaper system extruded significantly less debris than the other groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: XP-endo Shaper extruded less debris compared to other groups, while XP-endo Shaper and Twisted File Adaptive caused less transportation than other files.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the accessory root canal morphology of maxillary first molars in a Black South African subpopulation.

Methods: Micro-computed tomography was used to investigate 101 maxillary first molars (from 50 male and 51 female teeth, right 53 teeth, left 48 teeth). The prevalence of chamber canals, and the number, type and location (root third) of accessory canals were recorded. The relationships between arch side, sex and age were examined using chi-squared tests of association. Intra- and inter-observer reliability were assessed using Cohen’s kappa test.

Results: Intra- and inter-rater agreement was 96.9% and 98.1%, respectively. Variations in accessory root canal anatomy according to side, sex and age were evident. Chamber canals were identified in 10.9% of teeth. Accessory canals were found mainly in the apical third of most teeth in the sample, and distributed predominantly in the mesio-buccal root. Apical deltas were most prevalent in the mesio-buccal root, and their frequency decreased in the palatal and then finally the disto-buccal root.

Conclusion: Accessory root canals were common in this population, and showed a diverse range of anatomy. The present findings will be of assistance to clinicians during endodontic treatment and will also be valuable for educational purposes.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the distribution of the main occluding area in adolescents. Furthermore, the importance of the main occluding area was clarified by examining its interrelationship with oral function and craniofacial morphology.

Methods: A total of 102 patients were included in this study. The main occluding area was identified using a previously described method. Maximum occlusal force, occlusal contact area, lip-closing force, tongue pressure, and masticatory efficiency were measured to evaluate oral function. Craniofacial morphology was assessed using lateral cephalography.

Results: In terms of the degree of consistency of the main occluding area, the proportion of cases in which two matches were obtained among three trials was the highest. The most common main occluding area was the first molar. Regarding the anteroposterior position of the hyoid bone, the anteroposterior distance between the hyoid bone and the menton (Me-H) was significantly shorter in the group where the first molar was used for occlusion, relative to the group in which second premolar was used.

Conclusion: The main occluding area in adolescents was less stable than that in adults and older adults; however, first molars accounted for most of the main occlusion areas, suggesting that the position of the hyoid bone might play a role in establishing their location.

Purpose: The present study aims to investigate the prevalence and severity of taste impairment among post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hemodialysis patients in a sample of the Egyptian population.

Methods: This study was conducted on 272 post-COVID-19 subjects, of whom 136 were hemodialysis patients and 136 were healthy controls. History taking, clinical examination, and assessment of altered taste score, tongue coating index, salivary flow rate, and salivary pH were performed.

Results: The present study revealed a high prevalence of impaired taste function in post-COVID-19 hemodialysis patients with 72.06% affected in varying degrees; mild (25%), moderate (3.68%), severe (30.15%), and overwhelming taste impairment (13.24%). However, only 12.5% of the control group reported just a mild degree of taste impairment.

Conclusion: The current study has shown the high prevalence and severity of taste impairment in post-COVID-19 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (72.06%), which indicates the combined deteriorating effect of both COVID-19 and renal failure on taste function emphasizing the importance of prompt identification and management of COVID-19 associated taste impairment to improve the quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

Purpose: To assess the reasons behind the failure of temporary anchorage devices (TADs) installed in the buccal alveolar zone between the maxillary second premolars and the first molars.

Methods: Sixty patients (11 male, 49 female, mean age 21 years) were included. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the influence of the following factors on the presence or absence of TAD failure: sex, age, sagittal and vertical skeletal patterns, root contact, bone density, bone contact length, and presence of maxillary sinus perforation. Fisher’s exact test was performed to evaluate differences in failure rate between tooth types for teeth in contact with TADs (second premolar or first molar). Measurements were obtained using lateral cephalograms at the initial visit and data obtained by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) before and after TAD implantation.

Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that only root contact was associated with TAD failure; there was no association between the type of tooth in contact with the TAD and failure.

Conclusion: Root contact with a TAD significantly influenced TAD failure. Therefore, preliminary examination using three-dimensional (3D) evaluation with CBCT is essential to ensure that the TAD is not placed near the root of the tooth.

The aim of this cross-sectional convenience sample survey was to assess attitudes of French dentists regarding stage III-IV grade C periodontitis in systemically healthy individuals. Among 225 dentists, 85.1% informed patients of the familial nature of periodontitis including 27.3% that recommended a consultation for the family. When dealing with a child who presented with severe periodontitis, 42.2% of the respondents did not advise examination of the parents. In addition, 39.1% of practitioners did not consider it possible to establish a family consultation. Finally, family factors are not often considered by French practitioners in the management of grade C periodontitis.

This clinical report summarizes a workflow that introduces two approaches for fabricating a metal framework removable partial denture for a marginal mandibulectomy patient. First, the pre-existing denture was adjusted according to the piezographic technique to determine the optimal configuration for adhering to the available denture space. Second, computer-aided design-computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology was used to fabricate a new removable partial denture by digitally scanning the oral condition and the well-adjusted denture and then using the obtained data to design and fabricate the new denture. These two approaches can help to reduce chair time not only for maxillofacial prosthetic treatment but also for other denture cases.