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Dentistry as a profession should take into account the goals of sustainable development in daily practice and encourage the transition to a green economy. Consumers are becoming more conscious about the impact of self-care products, including toothpastes, on the environment. Organic toothpastes are considered very safe. A broad literature review was conducted to: (i) identify the ingredients in available organic toothpastes; (ii) classify them into active and inactive; and (iii) evaluate each ingredient's purpose and the adverse events that may be associated with its use. A comprehensive list of available organic toothpastes and their ingredients was compiled based on the products from the largest Italian organic supermarket chain (NaturaSì®) that is representative of the European market. Then, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify, classify and evaluate each ingredient. The final sample consisted of 46 organic toothpastes that included 156 ingredients; 139 (89.1%) and 17 (10.9%) were classified as active and inactive, respectively. Overall, 32 (20.5%) ingredients were associated with known adverse events. The results of this study indicate that organic toothpastes are highly biocompatible with oral cavity tissues. Careful product selection may help consumers avoid potential adverse effects that can be caused by ingredients such as polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol) and carbomers, detergent agents (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate), and triclosan. The lack of clinical studies should encourage the development of sufficient evidence to provide consumers with recommendations for daily use, based on both efficacy and biocompatibility.

Introduction In recent years, interest in human papillomavirus infections as a causative factor in epithelial cancer development has grown. Literature indicates that HPV involvement in malignant transformations in oral mucosa can vary significantly, from 0 up to 87%. The aim of our study was to detect the prevalence of salivary HPV infection among generally healthy adults. Materials and Methods The examination involved 139 patients, from whom 139 whole, 1.5ml saliva samples were obtained. HPV DNA was detected by the nested PCR technique. To visualize the PCR products electrophoresis reactions were carried out. Results Sample analysis showed that DNA for HPV was detected in 14 patients: 11 positive results were obtained from men, and 3 from women. This yields a high infection rate: 10.07%. Conclusions The HPV prevalence in the male group was more than twice as high as in the female group. Also, subclinical oral HPV infection was detected more frequently in young (19–39 years old) and older (=>60 years old) adults.

The management of complex dental trauma can be modulated according to the emergencies that may arise over time. Clinical management of transverse root fractures may require different therapies based on situations, such as delay and error in the treatment of an avulsion trauma associated with apical third root fracture, patient's poor compliance, or external and internal root resorption. The primary aim of this article was to review studies regarding root fractures in the permanent dentition and root fracture management. The secondary aim was to present the inflammatory reaction and the complications (i.e., infections) that may occur if the International Association for Dental Traumatology (IADT) guidelines are not followed. In addition, a scenario is devised in which endodontic surgery, despite the baseline patient's conditions and negative prognosis, can help to inhibit the inflammatory root resorption and allow the preservation of soft and hard tissues within a long follow-up from the injury, for the purpose of demonstrating the next possible implant-prosthetic rehabilitation.

Cleft lip and cleft palate has one of the highest incidences in the malformations of the oral cavity, that varies between populations. The background underlying the issue of cleft lip and palate is multifactorial and greatly depends on the genetic factors and environmental factors. The aim of this nonsystematic narrative review is to present the cleft palate and or lip pediatric population as target for interdisciplinary treatment. The purpose of this narrative review is to sum up the modern knowledge on the treatment of patients with clefts, as well as to highlight the importance of the great need for cooperation between different dental specialists along with medical professionals such as oral surgeons, prosthodontists, orthodontists along with medical professions such as pediatricians, speech therapists and phoniatrics, and laryngologist.

Clinical evaluation of oral leukoplakia (OL), confirmed by the histological evaluation of the suspected area, provides the gold standard for diagnostics of this pathology. The aim of present study was to encrypt the significance of the histopathological results (oral intraepithelial neoplasia – OIN, WHO 2005, Ljubljana classification systems) of OL. The usefulness of osteonectin as a biomarker of changes in the oral cavity epithelium was evaluated. IRS Score to evaluate osteonectin (SPARC – secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) production in oral mucous tissues was modified, with the aim of adapting the diagnostic measurements to the OL cell environment. In total, 37 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks from patients with clinically diagnosed OL, and 29 FFPE blocks from patients with OSCC were evaluated. The OIN and system from Ljubljana were compared, to adjudicate which was most compatible with WHO 2005 histopathological assessment. Increased production of SPARC was observed, with the progression in severity of pathological changes in the oral mucosa, from simple hyperplasia, through dysplasia, to OSCC. The WHO 2005 and the OIN classification systems can be applied interchangeably.

Saliva is easy to collect and a biofluid that is readily available without the need for special equipment for its collection. The collection process, which is non-invasive and inexpensive, leads to obtaining a biomaterial that can serve as a source of information for molecular diagnostics of diseases in general medicine, genetics and dentistry. Unfortunately, many of the salivary methodologies are lacking important parameters to provide for not only the safety of the operator, but also the quality and reproducibility of the research. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, salivary diagnostics demonstrate a great potential for research of SARS-CoV 2. In this review, good practice for unstimulated saliva collection and patient preparation was provided, based on the latest literature and available guidelines. Schemes for saliva collection procedures were presented following an extended literature search. Descriptions of salivary probes/cups, techniques of saliva collection, and the use of specific buffering solutions for the stability of collected samples for SARS-CoV-2 detection were also evaluated.

Blood derivates, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), are autogenous sources of many growth factors that are involved in the healing and regeneration of tissues, and for this reason, are used in dentistry treatments. This fact also contributes to the growing interest in these biomaterials in regenerative personalized medicine. The multitude of platelet-rich forms creates many possibilities for their use. This semi-systematic review describes and compares the methods of obtaining properties and potential uses of these materials in personalized treatments.

Since the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, China, diagnostic methods in the field of molecular biology have been developing faster than ever under the vigilant eye of world’s research community. Unfortunately, the medical community was not prepared for testing such large volumes or ranges of biological materials, whether blood samples for antibody immunological testing, or salivary/swab samples for real-time PCR. For this reason, many medical diagnostic laboratories have made the switch to working in the field of molecular biology, and research undertaken to speed up the flow of samples through laboratory. The aim of this narrative review is to evaluate the current literature on laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection available on pubmed.gov, Google Scholar, and according to the writers’ knowledge and experience of the laboratory medicine. It assesses the available information in the field of molecular biology by comparing real-time PCR, LAMP technique, RNA sequencing, and immunological diagnostics, and examines the newest techniques along with their limitations for use in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics.

Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in 2019, special safety protocols have been introduced in dentistry. Dental professionals were determined to be mostly at risk for contracting the virus due to aerosol-generating procedures used. This preliminary study starts the cycle of the laboratory protocols describing the quality and efficacy of laboratory tests in the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection in the serum of asymptomatic dental personnel during the last quarter of 2020.IgG levels were measured with the use of a semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in vitro diagnostic kit in the serum of a study group that consisted of 127 employees of the dental clinic divided into 3 subgroups: SUB1: dentists (n = 67); SUB2: dental assistants, dental hygienists, nurses, laboratory workers (n = 40); SUB3: administrative workers (n = 20). Pearson analysis of results from the questionnaires attached to the study protocol were provided to assure that the results compare to the participants' impressions about their general health.Positive ELISA IgG results were found in 6% (n = 4) of the SUB1 group, 7.50% (n =3) of the SUB2 group, and 5% of the SUB3 group. The percentage of participants without work interruption from the beginning of the pandemic was 54% of dentists and 60% of chairside assistants.Serum IgG prevalence with the use of a semi-quantitative test was low, and further research on the biobanked samples should follow to determine the levels of IgG with quantitative methods and/or to evaluate the presence of neutralising antibodies in dental personnel. Because of the low representation of seropositivity studies in this group, it will be crucial to confirm the risk of COVID-19 transmission in dental offices.

AIM: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontal diseases (PD) are common chronic, inflammatory, destructive and progressive diseases that may have similar pathophysiological mechanisms and risk factors. RA affects more than 1.5% of the world's population, with a higher percentage of females than males. PD is present in around 20% of the population and has multifactorial etiology. The purpose of this study is to describe patients' self-reported oral health and the association with RA disease activity.METHOD: Three hundred patients under treatment for RA from the Division of Rheumatology, Clinical Medicine, North Jutland Region Hospital, Hjørring, Denmark and were eligible for the study. Questionnaires were emailed to the patients and 164 completed answers were received.RESULTS: The mean age of the group of 164 patients (61% female) was 65 ± 11 years. The average value of Disease Activity Score of 28 joints was 2.31 ± 0.83. Only 12% of responders were active smokers. Patients estimated their status of their teeth and gingiva respectively as poor in 13% and 11% of cases, good, in 46% and 49%, and excellent, both as 40%. Spontaneous and/or provoked gingival bleeding were experienced by 15% and 49% of patients. Only 14% of patients declared feelings of loose or movable teeth and 10% declared difficulties in biting or chewing.CONCLUSIONS: The status of oral cavity reported by Danish patients indicates a significant proportion with symptoms of gingival/periodontal disease, which may negatively influence RA activity and disease management. Cooperation between rheumatologists and dentists is important in oral health management in periodontal inflammation.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of periodontal disease and the effect of periodontal treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA). Forty-four RA patients, thirty SpA patients and thirty-nine healthy volunteers were recruited to the study. Periodontal examination included the approximal plaque index (API), bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD) and number of teeth. Samples from the deepest periodontal pockets were taken for the detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis DNA with the use of the polymerase chain reaction. All subjects with periodontitis, who completed the study, received periodontal treatment consisting of scaling/root planing and oral hygiene instructions. Disease activity scores, clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed before and 4–6 weeks after periodontal treatment. No significant difference in the prevalence of periodontal disease and the presence of P. gingivalis DNA were found in RA and SpA patients compared to healthy controls. Significantly higher API (80% vs 63%; p = 0.01) and a lower number of teeth (20 vs 25, p = 0.001) were found in RA patients. BoP was significantly elevated in SpA patients (51% vs 33%, p = 0.02). Disease activity measured by the DAS28(CRP) was significantly reduced in RA patients after periodontal treatment (p = 0.002). Clinical and biochemical parameters were not improved in SpA patients. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment had an impact on the decrease in RA activity. Periodontal examination is necessary in patients with RA to detect and treat periodontitis at an early stage.

(1) Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. The development of effective and safe vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 has been extremely fast. The list of orofacial adverse effects of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines based on the clinical trials are reported to be rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the facial and oral manifestations of COVID-19 vaccination using a survey-based study. (2) Methods: The questionnaire was developed using Google Forms and sent anonymously to a total of 700 subjects (medical personnel) in Poland, Italy, and other EU countries. (3) Results: 223 people answered the questionnaire, mainly vaccinated with BNT162b2. Only 3.1% and 5.4% experienced oral and facial symptoms, respectively. General diseases presence and age have significant influence on the probability of oral symptoms occurrence after the second dose. Facial symptoms are correlated with general disease, autoimmune pathologies and age, at first and second dose, respectively. Gender, smoking and regular medication intake have significant influence on the probability of taking an absence day. Gender, age, and smoking have a significant influence on the duration of symptoms after second dose. (4) Conclusions: Based on the results of this preliminary survey, there is no observed significant correlation between vaccine administration for COVID-19 and facial and oral manifestations.