Open Access

Objectives: This study investigates the effectiveness of the Cold AP on the alteration of the enamel surface without using acid etchant by using Conventional photo-activated resin bond to bond the orthodontic brackets. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-five Enamel specimens are prepared from disinfected bovine mandibular incisors are divided into five groups. Group I: brackets are attached on the enamel surface with the standard adhesive technique (etch + primer +bond). Group II: the brackets are attached with the Standard Orthodontic adhesive technique without etching. Group III: the enamel surface is conditioned with pure Argon Cold atmospheric plasma before the application of the primer without using an acid etchant. Group IV: the enamel surface is conditioned with the admixture of Argon Cold atmospheric plasma with 0.5 % Oxygen before the application of the primer without using acid etchant Group V: after the application of Argon Cold atmospheric plasma with 0.5 % Oxygen the surface is rewetted by deionized water before the application of the primer and adhesive. After that, the samples are exposed to thermal cycling. The shear bond strength of the samples is tested by the universal testing machine which measured the maximum force at which the brackets are deboned from the tooth surface at a speed of 1mm/minute is measured. Results: Significant intergroup differences were found. Group V showed the highest shear bond strength followed by Group I, VI, III, II respectively. There isn’t a statistical difference in the values of The Shear bond strength values between Group III and IV. Conclusions: this study implies that Cold Atmospheric Plasma is a safe method to change the chemical surface characteristics of the enamel surface.in addition to the significant importance of plasma treatment followed by water rewetting, which could enhance adhesion between the orthodontic attachments and the enamel layer

Abstract Aim Observational research suggests that periodontitis affects psoriasis. However, observational studies are prone to reverse causation and confounding, which hampers drawing causal conclusions and the effect direction. We applied the Mendelian randomization (MR) method to comprehensively assess the potential bi‐directional association between periodontitis and psoriasis. Materials and Methods We used genetic instruments from the largest available genome‐wide association study of European descent for periodontitis (17,353 cases, 28,210 controls) to investigate the relationship with psoriasis (13,229 cases, 21,543 controls), and vice versa. Causal Analysis Using Summary Effect (CAUSE) estimates and inverse variance‐weighted (IVW) MR analyses were used for the primary analysis. Robust MR approaches were used for sensitivity analyses. Results Both univariable methods, CAUSE and IVW MR analyses, did not reveal any impact of periodontitis on psoriasis (CAUSE odds ratio [OR] = 1.00, p = 1.00; IVW OR = 1.02, p = .6247), or vice versa (CAUSE OR = 1.01, p = .5135; IVW OR = 1.00, p = .7070). The null association was corroborated by pleiotropy‐robust methods with ORs close to 1 and p‐values >.59. Overall, MR analyses did not suggest any effect of periodontitis on psoriasis. Similarly, there was no evidence to support an effect of psoriasis on periodontitis. Conclusions Within the limitations of this MR study, the outcomes supported neither periodontitis affecting psoriasis nor psoriasis affecting periodontitis.

Background Observational and in-vivo research suggested a bidirectional relationship between depression and periodontitis. We estimated the genetic correlation and examined directionality of causation. Methods The study used summary statistics from published genome wide association studies, with sample sizes ranging from 45,563 to 797,563 individuals of European ancestry. We performed linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) to estimate global correlation and used Heritability Estimation from Summary Statistics (ρ-HESS) to further examine local genetic correlation. Latent Heritable Confounder Mendelian randomization (LHC-MR), Causal Analysis using Summary Effect estimates (CAUSE), and conventional MR approaches assessed bidirectional causation. Results LDSC observed only weak genetic correlation (rg = 0.06, P-Value = 0.619) between depression and periodontitis. Analysis of local genetic correlation using ρ-HESS did not reveal loci of significant local genetic covariance. LHC-MR, CAUSE and conventional MR models provided no support for bidirectional causation between depression and periodontitis, with odds ratios ranging from 1.00 to 1.06 in either direction. Conclusions Results do not support shared heritability or a causal connection between depression and periodontitis.

Genetic risk factors play important roles in the etiology of oral, dental, and craniofacial diseases. Identifying the relevant risk loci and understanding their molecular biology could highlight new prevention and management avenues. Our current understanding of oral health genomics suggests that dental caries and periodontitis are polygenic diseases, and very large sample sizes and informative phenotypic measures are required to discover signals and adequately map associations across the human genome. In this article, we introduce the second wave of the Gene-Lifestyle Interactions and Dental Endpoints consortium (GLIDE2) and discuss relevant data analytics challenges, opportunities, and applications. In this phase, the consortium comprises a diverse, multiethnic sample of over 700,000 participants from 21 studies contributing clinical data on dental caries experience and periodontitis. We outline the methodological challenges of combining data from heterogeneous populations, as well as the data reduction problem in resolving detailed clinical examination records into tractable phenotypes, and describe a strategy that addresses this. Specifically, we propose a 3-tiered phenotyping approach aimed at leveraging both the large sample size in the consortium and the detailed clinical information available in some studies, wherein binary, severity-encompassing, and “precision,” data-driven clinical traits are employed. As an illustration of the use of data-driven traits across multiple cohorts, we present an application of dental caries experience data harmonization in 8 participating studies (N = 55,143) using previously developed permanent dentition tooth surface–level dental caries pattern traits. We demonstrate that these clinical patterns are transferable across multiple cohorts, have similar relative contributions within each study, and thus are prime targets for genetic interrogation in the expanded and diverse multiethnic sample of GLIDE2. We anticipate that results from GLIDE2 will decisively advance the knowledge base of mechanisms at play in oral, dental, and craniofacial health and disease and further catalyze international collaboration and data and resource sharing in genomics research.

The aim of this study has twofold. First, to investigate characteristics of paediatric patients seeking emergency dental care and the according treatment in a specialised dental service. The second aim, to propose a data-based guidance for management of dental emergency in children including pain management without traumatizing the child and with a clear differentiation of dental emergency patients. Records of the demographic and clinical characteristics of 332 children (mean age 8.2 ±4.2 years) who attended the Department of Preventive and Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Greifswald in 2018 without an appointment seeking emergency dental care were collected. Statistical analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Based on the data a proposal for management of emergency/pain patients was performed. Pain patients were high caries risk children (mean: 4.59 ±3.65 dmft, 1.65 ±2.73 DMFT). The main clinical diagnoses of pain patients in all different age groups were dental caries and caries-related complications such as reversible and irreversible pulpitis or periapical periodontitis (63.6%), while dental trauma contributed (8.4%). In general, the most frequent treatment was extraction (41.0%), most of these extractions needed to be rendered under either nitrous oxide sedation or general anaesthesia (57.3%). This study has shown a clear association between the dental emergency management plan (delay of the dental treatment) and other factors such as, the required treatment (invasive or not invasive) P < 0.05, the need of sedation P < 0.05 and child’s previous dental experience (first visit to the dental clinic) P < 0.001. Most of the extraction procedures were not rendered immediately in the emergency/pain visit, rather they were delayed to be performed in the next treatment session (70%), with the majority of these procedures planned to be rendered under sedation. On the other hand, most of the restorations (65.5%) were performed in the emergency/pain visit, with need of sedation for only (8.3%) of these procedures. In addition, the majority of treatments of children who were visiting the dental clinic for the first time were postponed (71.6%; n=63). The correlation analysis shows a higher tendency to postpone the treatment when the required treatment is invasive, need to be rendered under sedation or when it was the child’s first visit to the dental clinic. These findings indicate the strong impact of child’s cooperation on the emergency management plan. Based on these data the guidance for management of peadiatric dental emergency patients was developed including pain management without causing negative affect of the child’s future cooperation

The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), a population-based study from a rural state in northeastern Germany with a relatively poor life expectancy, supplemented its comprehensive examination program in 2008 with whole-body MR imaging at 1.5 T (SHIP-MR). We reviewed more than 100 publications that used the SHIP-MR data and analyzed which sequences already produced fruitful scientific outputs and which manuscripts have been referenced frequently. Upon reviewing the publications about imaging sequences, those that used T1-weighted structured imaging of the brain and a gradient-echo sequence for R2* mapping obtained the highest scientific output; regarding specific body parts examined, most scientific publications focused on MR sequences involving the brain and the (upper) abdomen. We conclude that population-based MR imaging in cohort studies should define more precise goals when allocating imaging time. In addition, quality control measures might include recording the number and impact of published work, preferably on a bi-annual basis and starting 2 years after initiation of the study. Structured teaching courses may enhance the desired output in areas that appear underrepresented.

Up to now, indices like the mean dmft/DMFT and the SiC (Significant Caries Index) have been used to depict caries experience in populations with high prevalence. With the caries decline, particularly for populations with low caries levels, these indices reach their statistical limits. This paper aims to introduce a specific term, the Specific affected Caries Index (SaC) for the risk groups in populations with low caries prevalence and to illustrate its use based on the consecutive German National Oral Health Survey (GNOHS) in children. In groups with a caries prevalence less than one-third of the population, many caries-free children (DMFT = 0) are included in the SiC (risk group), which calls for a new way of illustration. Mean caries experience (DMFT), caries prevalence, the SiC and SaC were portrayed for 12-year-olds in the GNOHS from 1994/95 to 2016. The SaC describes the mean caries experience (DMFT) in the group presenting caries experience (DMFT > 0). In 12-year-old 6th graders in Germany, the mean caries experience decreased from 2.4 (1994/95) to 0.4 DMFT (2016), with a recent prevalence of 21.2% (DMFT > 0, 2016). In 2016, the mean number of affected teeth in children with DMFT > 0 (SaC) was 2.1, while the SiC including 12% DMFT-free children in the risk group was 1.3. The SiC fails to reflect the caries severity in children in a population with low caries prevalence. Therefore, the newly introduced term Specific affected Caries Index (SaC) may be used to describe accurately caries experience in caries risk children in populations presenting low caries prevalence.

Mit der vorgelegten Arbeit galt es zu klären, inwiefern sich die Konstruktionsart des FFF-3D-Druckers (Fused Filament Fabrication) auf die Exaktheit und Oberflächenbeschaffenheit 3D-gedruckter Zahnbögen auswirkt und ob sich sowohl der kartesische-FFF-3D-Drucker als auch der Delta-FFF-3D-Drucker hinsichtlich der Präzision zur Herstellung von Zahnbögen im Rahmen einer Aligner-Therapie einsetzen lässt. Darüber hinaus war der Einfluss der Slicing-Software auf die Präzision und Oberflächenbeschaffenheit der gedruckten Zahnbögen Schwerpunkt der Untersuchungen. Als Nebenaspekt wurden die Herstellungszeiten der Druckverfahren verglichen sowie die Auswirkungen steigender Druckgeschwindigkeiten auf die Zahnbögen analysiert. Zur Ermittlung des präzisesten Druckverfahrens wurden die Intraoralscans von zehn zufällig ausgewählten Patienten der Universität Greifswald mit beschriebenem kartesischen-FFF-3D-Drucker und Delta-FFF-3D-Drucker der Firma Tevo 3D Electronic Technology Company Ltd., Zhanjiang China hergestellt. Zum Vergleich der verschiedenen Slicing-Software erfolgte die Vorbereitung dieser Dateien auf den 3D-Druck mit drei der bekanntesten Slicing-Software. Neben der kostenpflichtigen Software Simplify3D (Simplify3D, LLC. Cincinnati, USA) wurden die Open Source Slicing-Software Cura (Ultimaker B.V. Udrecht, Niederlande) und Slic3r (entwickelt von Alessandro Ranellucci) genutzt. 132 gedruckte Zahnbögen wurden im Verlauf der Analyse zum einen nach kieferorthopädischen Gesichtspunkten manuell mittels digitaler Schieblehre (SKANTEK GmbH, Erlangen) vermessen. Zum anderen erfolgte zur Ermittlung der mikroskopischen Präzision der 3D-Druckverfahren die Messung von Höckerspitzenabständen ausgewählter Zähne mithilfe des Digitalmikroskops VHX 6000 von Keyence (Keyence Deutschland GmbH, Neu-Isenburg). Nach erneuter Digitalisierung der gedruckten Zahnbögen durch den optischen Oberflächenscanner Zirkonzahn AR600 ARTI (Zirkonzahn, Püstertal, Tirol, It) fand zusätzlich eine digitale Überlagerung von Intraoralscan und gedrucktem Zahnbogen mittels der Software CloudCompare (v. 2.10.2) statt. Hierdurch sollten Abweichungen der Druckverfahren ermittelt werden, welche sich ggf. durch die beschriebenen Messverfahren nicht ermitteln ließen. Zur Beurteilung der Oberflächenbeschaffenheit wurden die Zahnbögen zusätzlich mit dem oben genannten Digitalmikroskop unter 30-facher Vergrößerung untersucht. Nach Durchführung der Untersuchungen lässt sich festhalten, dass sich sowohl der kartesische-FFF- und der Delta-FFF-3D-Drucker als auch die Slicing-Software hinsichtlich ihrer Präzision 3D-gedruckter Zahnbögen unterscheiden. Zudem besteht sowohl ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen der 3D-Drucker Konstruktionsart als auch der Slicing-Software und der Herstellungszeit pro Zahnbogen. Der Delta-FFF-3D-Drucker wies in Bezug auf die Zahnbogenvermessung entlang der Z-Achse die signifikant größten Abweichungen auf. Ebenso wichen die Höckerspitzenabstände der Delta-Zahnbögen am deutlichsten von den CAD-Dateien der Intraoralscans ab. Das insgesamt beste Ergebnis erzielten insbesondere aufgrund der im Vergleich signifikant geringer ausfallenden Abweichungen der Höckerspitzenabstände die mit kartesischem-FFF-3D-Drucker und der Slicing-Software Slic3r gedruckten Zahnbögen. Hinsichtlich der digitalen Überlagerung von Intraoralscan und erneut digitalisierten Zahnbögen ließen sich für die Cura- und Slic3r-Zahnbögen die höchste Übereinstimmung feststellen. Die visuelle Inspektion der Zahnbogenoberfläche bei 30-facher Vergrößerung bekräftigte dieses Ergebnis. Die Oberfläche zeigte sowohl bei den Slic3r-Zahnbögen als auch bei den Cura-Zahnbögen das optisch sauberste Ergebnis. Obgleich der Tatsache, dass der Delta-FFF-3D-Drucker die Zahnbögen in signifikant kürzerer Zeit herstellt, ist aufgrund der größer ausfallenden Abweichungen der Einsatz für die Zahnbogenherstellung im Rahmen einer Aligner-Therapie nach dieser Studie nicht empfehlenswert. Hinsichtlich der Slicing-Software konnten keine signifikanten Unterschiede in Bezug auf die Präzision der Zahnbögen ermittelt werden. Zu erwähnen ist jedoch, dass die mit der Slicing-Software Slic3r auf den 3D-Druck vorbereiteten Zahnbögen die geringsten Abweichungen aufwiesen. Die Verwendung von kostenloser Open-Source Slicing-Software scheint für den klinischen Gebrauch durchaus angemessen. Bezogen auf die Druckzeiten konnte der Delta-FFF-3D-Drucker im Vergleich zu allen Vergleichspartnern die Zahnbögen in kürzester Zeit herstellen. Ebenso wurden die mit der Slicing-Software Simplify3D gedruckten Zahnbögen im Vergleich zu den mit Cura- und Slic3r gedruckten Zahnbögen in signifikant kürzerer Zeit hergestellt. Ein signifikanter Einfluss sowohl der 3D-Drucker Hardware als auch Software auf die Herstellungszeit konnte somit bestätigt werden. Eine Steigerung der Druckgeschwindigkeit bis 6000mm/min erscheint nach dieser Studie als zumutbar. Aufgrund der Tatsache, dass die Zahnbögen in ihrer Präzision und Oberflächenbeschaffenheit mit steigender Druckgeschwindigkeit an Qualität verlieren, ist von einer weiteren Geschwindigkeitserhöhung abzuraten.

For an Organisation for Caries Research/European Federation of Conservative Dentistry consensus, this systematic review is aimed to assess the question of how to manage the caries process in the case of early childhood caries (ECC). Medline via PubMed was searched systematically regarding management of ECC. First priority was existing systematic reviews or randomized clinical trials otherwise cohort studies dealing with management of ECC, primarily with carious anterior teeth. After data extraction, the potential risk of bias was estimated depending on the study types, and the level of evidence was evaluated. Regarding management of ECC, results are presented for silver diamine fluoride (SDF, n = 5), nonoperative caries management (NOCM, n = 10), and restorative approaches (RA, n = 8) separately, as different kinds of studies with different levels of evidence were found for the different aspects in the management of ECC. The 5 systematic reviews on SDF showed a high potential for arrest of ECC on a high level of evidence. In NOCM, a low level of evidence for a moderate effect of fluoride varnish in arresting or remineralizing, especially non-cavitated lesions, was assessed. For RA in carious anterior upper primary teeth, a low level of evidence was found for higher failure rates of glass ionomer cement and composite fillings than composite strip crowns even if placed under general anaesthesia and especially compared to other crowns (stainless steel and zirconia). In conclusions, ECC may be managed successfully with nonoperative (SDF, regular fluoride application) and moderately well with operative approaches, but the decision is affected by many other variables such as pulpal involvement, the child’s cooperation, or a general anaesthesia setting.

Objectives To assess oral health, caries prevalence, and subsequent complications among recently arrived refugees in Germany and to ompare these findings with the German resident population. Methods This multicenter cross-sectional study recruited 544 refugees aged 3–75+ years; they were examined at ten registration institutions in four federal states in Germany by two calibrated dentists. The refugees were screened for caries (dmft/DMFT) and its complications pufa/PUFA); this data was compared to the resident population via the presentative national oral health surveys). Results The deciduous dentition of the 3-year-old refugees had a mean dmft value of 2.62 ± 3.6 compared with 0.48 dmft in the German resident population, and caries increased to 5.22 ± 3.4 for 6–7-year-olds (Germany: 1.73 dmft). Few refugee children had naturally healthy teeth (7% in 6–7-year-olds, Germany: 56%). In the permanent dentition, the gap in caries prevalence between refugees and the German population decreased with age (35–44-year-olds: 10.55 ± 7.1 DMFT; Germany: 11.2), but refugees exhibited more caries defects (35–44-year-olds DT = 3.13 ± 3.0; Germany: 0.5). German residents had more restorations (35–44-year-olds FT = 4.21 ± 4.6). Regarding complications, the 6–7-year-olds exhibited the highest pufa index (0.86 ± 1.4) which decreased in adolescence (13–17-year-olds, 0.18 ± 0.6) and increased in adults (45–64-year-olds, 0.45 ± 0.8). Conclusion The refugees had high caries experience, often untreated caries teeth and more complications compared with the German resident population, especially in children. Closing this gap by extending preventive systems to the refugees would decrease future treatment needs. Clinical relevance European countries should be prepared for the higher dental treatment needs in recent refugees, especially in children.