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Albers-Schönberg disease is a rare bone syndrome characterized by increased bone density and infectious complications after dental extraction or minor surgery. The prosthodontic management of such edentulous patients with osteomyelitis is very challenging and requires special strategies due to a high risk of failure and worsening of the condition. This clinical report describes the rehabilitation of a 31-year-old edentulous woman presenting with Albers-Schönberg disease, secondary chronic osteomyelitis, maxillary hypoplasia, compromised oral conditions, temporomandibular disorders, and psychologic distress. The treatment included a mandibulectomy and removable prostheses. A crucial element for the successful long-term treatment and quality of life improvement observed in this patient was the 1-year transitional phase with interim dentures and frequent follow-up appointments. The complications and management proposed during a 10-year follow-up are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Smile design software increasingly relies on artificial intelligence (AI). However, using AI for smile design raises numerous technical and ethical concerns. This study aimed to evaluate these ethical issues. Methods: An international consortium of experts specialized in AI, dentistry, and smile design was engaged to emulate and assess the ethical challenges raised by the use of AI for smile design. An e‐Delphi protocol was used to seek the agreement of the ITU‐WHO group on well‐established ethical principles regarding the use of AI (wellness, respect for autonomy, privacy protection, solidarity, governance, equity, diversity, expertise/prudence, accountability/responsibility, sustainability, and transparency). Each principle included examples of ethical challenges that users might encounter when using AI for smile design. Results: On the first round of the e‐Delphi exercise, participants agreed that seven items should be considered in smile design (diversity, transparency, wellness, privacy protection, prudence, law and governance, and sustainable development), but the remaining four items (equity, accountability and responsibility, solidarity, and respect of autonomy) were rejected and had to be reformulated. After a second round, participants agreed to all items that should be considered while using AI for smile design. Conclusions: AI development and deployment for smile design should abide by the ethical principles of wellness, respect for autonomy, privacy protection, solidarity, governance, equity, diversity, expertise/prudence, accountability/responsibility, sustainability, and transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Developing professionalism notably involves learning how to make professional judgements in ambiguous situations. The Concordance of Judgement Test (CJT) is a learning tool that was proposed to develop professionalism competencies, but it was never performed in dentistry or used with a synchronous methodology. The present study evaluated the feasibility of the use of CJT in the context of dental education, to foster professionalism and stimulate reflexivity and discussion. Materials and Methods: After different steps of optimization, a questionnaire presenting 12 vignettes was submitted to 33 Canadian students. Second, after an additional optimization, a questionnaire of 7 vignettes was submitted to 87 French students. An immediate educational feedback was proposed after each vignette to promote reflexivity and discussions during the experience. Results: The overall experience of the students was reported as good, thanks to the feedback of real‐life situations. This promoted reflexivity and stimulated discussion between students and educators regarding professionalism issues. The students considered CJT as a relevant and well‐adapted tool, and reported positive feelings regarding the inter‐university aspect of the activity. The mean score of the panel members was close to 80/100 and the mean score of the students was 5 to 10 points lower, which is in agreement with docimological performance. Conclusion: The results suggested that the use of CJT in a synchronous way was a feasible and relevant tool to motivate the students to improve their professionalism, and to stimulate their reflexivity and discussion. The students reported positive experience with CJT, and we believe that this tool can be integrated in the dental curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Regenerative Endodontic Procedures (REPs) using new materials such as hydrogels aim to replace current endodontic treatments, but numerous limitations are to overcome. Apical release was little explored in previous studies, especially regarding hydrogels that incorporate molecules, such as growth factors and antibiotics. Apical release is a key mechanism in achieving regeneration, as it could regulate disinfection or cell colonization. Few models exist for apical release, limiting the transfer of these devices from bench to bedside. This study aims to design a simple and standardized model to identify parameters that influence the early apical release kinetic of molecules from endodontic hydrogels. Methodology: Endodontic Release Inserts (ERI) were designed to mimic the situation of an immature incisor using three different diameters (Ø 0.5 to 2 mm) and to allow the study of the early release from a hydrogel in a 96‐well plate. ERI was produced with a 3D printing machine. The kinetic release was investigated using 2 fluorescent, hydrophobic (BDP‐500) and hydrophilic (Fluorescein) molecules, in different hydrogels (fibrin and agarose) and in various media (PBS or serum). The release kinetics were estimated by measuring the fluorescence at different time points (1 to 24 h). Results: ERI use made it possible to report that apical diameters increase from 500 to 1000 μm was associated with an increase in release from 4.02 ± 1.63% to 11.53 ± 2.38% over 24 h. It also allowed us to report that bottom solution composition change from PBS to human serum was associated with an increase in the release of fatty acid molecules, whilst a decrease in the hydrogel concentration was associated with a variation in release kinetics. Moreover, nano‐encapsulation of a molecule was associated with a decreased release over the first 24 h from 5.25 to 0%. Conclusion: ERI use enables investigation of the parameters influencing release kinetics from endodontic hydrogels. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate the interaction of these parameters with each other, in animal models and clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical results following regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) vary according to numerous parameters, including the presence of bacteria. This limitation reduces the indications for REPs and calls for the development of next generation antibacterial strategies (NGAS) providing alternatives to current antibacterial strategies (CAS) such as double or triple antibiotic paste (DAP/TAP) and (Ca(OH)2). Objectives: The present scoping review aims to describe the current trends regarding the use of such strategies and highlight future perspectives. Methods: Four databases (PUBMed, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials and Science Direct) were searched until 1st May 2023. Results: A total of 918 records were identified, 133 were screened and assessed for eligibility, and 87 articles were included. The findings show that (1) clinical studies are only available for CAS, (2) although next generation strategies are the most studied approach since 2017, they are all at the pre‐clinical stage, (3) most of the next generation strategies use galenic forms which offer cell support and colonization and which simultaneously contain antibacterial molecules as alternatives to CAS and to antibiotics in general, (4) standardization is required for future research, specifically regarding the bacterial strains studied, the use of biofilm studies and the cellular behaviour assessments. Conclusion: Although NGAS are promising strategies to improve REPs in the context of infection, the current evidence is mostly limited to pre‐clinical studies. Further methodological improvement is required to allow relevant comparisons between studies and to reduce the time from bench to bedside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate whether a concordance assessment (CA) software application is able to assess decision-making in restorative and prosthetic dentistry.Materials and Methods: Vignettes representing 10 different clinical situations were integrated into a software application. Each vignette included 3D digital models and a short case, as well as 5 therapeutic options rated on a 4-point Likert scale (-2 = strongly contraindicated; -1 = contraindicated; +1 = indicated; +2 = strongly indicated). A panel of 15 dental educators (9 educators from the prosthetic department [PD] and 6 from the conservative department [CD]) had to evaluate the indication of each of the 5 therapies for the 10 vignettes.Results: This pilot questionnaire showed good internal consistency on most therapies (Cronbach's α = 0.86), with the exception of more recently introduced therapies (overlay/veneerlay and endocrown). On a maximum score out of 100, the average of CD educators (79.2 ± 3.2) was not significantly different (P = .73) from that of a PD educator (77.8 ± 3.5). Scores ranged from 66.8 to 89.6. Analysis of the expert panel's responses also reported mostly (34/50) a distribution of responses that was characteristic of CA and uncertain situations.Conclusion: The present software application was able to reproduce and assess decision-making in dentistry with satisfying internal consistency of educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children affected by dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI) require restorative techniques or prosthodontic management to minimize the functional and psychosocial impacts of the condition. In cases of excessive wear of the deciduous dentition and moderate cooperation from the child, removable complete overdenture prostheses are the most suitable treatment option. However, limited restorative space is a technical challenge for the placement of such prostheses. Advances in digital technologies can help assist in the fabrication of monolithic prostheses with reduced thickness. The present clinical report describes the management of a moderately cooperative 7-year-old patient suffering from DI with severe tooth wear, reduced restorative space, and a high smile line. The design and fabrication of complete overdentures were performed using a digital workflow. This innovative monochromatic monolithic approach combined with the use of gingiva-shade composite resin respected the available restorative space while obtaining a natural esthetic appearance. Such a strategy requires regular denture replacement according to the child's growth and loss of deciduous dentition. An additional aim is to obtain the cooperation needed for a future global fixed rehabilitation over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This scoping review aimed to present an overview of the literature on communication tools in esthetic dentistry. A variety of communication tools have been proposed to include patients in the shared decision‐making (SDM) workflow. Only little is known about implementing communication tools in dentistry and their impact on patient communication and patient satisfaction. A systematic literature search was performed in Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and World of Science to identify if communication tools have an impact on patient satisfaction. Material and Methods: The search included studies from January 1, 2000 to March 3, 2020 published in English, focusing on patient communication tools and patient satisfaction in esthetic dentistry. Results: Out of 6678 records, 53 full‐texts were examined. Ten studies were included. Data of the included studies were extracted systematically and subsequently analyzed. All studies found that patient communication utilizing specific communication tools positively impacted either patient satisfaction, patient‐dentist relationship, information retention, treatment acceptance, quality of care or treatment outcome. Conclusions: Additional communication tools besides conventional verbal communication are able to enhance patient satisfaction, improve quality of care and establish a better patient‐dentist relationship. It seems essential to further develop standardized communication tools for SDM in dental medicine, which will allow the comparison of research on this topic. Clinical significance: This scoping review shows the importance of patient involvement in the decision‐making process for improved patient satisfaction with esthetic dental treatments. With an increased implementation of communication tools, patient satisfaction and SDM may further improve in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]