AMC Dental College

Management of immature permanent teeth with pulp necrosis remains a clinical challenge due to incomplete root development and limitations of conventional endodontic approaches. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the clinical and radiographic efficacy of regenerative endodontic procedures using platelet-rich fibrin compared with mineral trioxide aggregate apexification in 40 immature necrotic teeth. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups and assessed clinically and radiographically using periapical radiographs and CBCT at 3, 6 and 12 months. The platelet-rich fibrin group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in root length, dentinal wall thickness and apical closure compared to the apexification group, with higher clinical success rates. Regenerative endodontic procedures using platelet-rich fibrin appear to be more effective in promoting root maturation and periapical healing in immature necrotic teeth.

Early detection of oral diseases is challenging because they often develop asymptomatically and remain undiagnosed until irreversible tissue damage occurs. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the predictive validity of salivary biomarkers (MMP-8, IL-1β and cortisol) for oral disease activity in 120 systemically and periodontally healthy individuals over six months. Baseline unstimulated saliva samples were analyzed using ELISA, followed by comprehensive clinical examinations at baseline and follow-up. Individuals who developed gingivitis or early periodontitis showed significantly higher baseline levels of MMP-8 and IL-1β (p<0.001), with ROC analysis demonstrating high predictive accuracy for MMP-8 (sensitivity 88%, specificity 82%). Salivary biomarkers may serve as reliable early predictors of oral disease activity, supporting a shift toward preventive and precision-based dental care.

Background:Accurate tooth shade selection is critical for esthetic success. Conventional visual matching (with shade guides and spectrophotometer support) is sensitive to lighting and operator variability. Artificialintelligence–assisted digital smile design (AI-DSD) may improve accuracy and efficiency by standardizing image capture and shade mapping to CIEDE2000 (ΔE00_{00}00) thresholds. Materials And Methods:Prospective, parallel-group comparative study (1:1 allocation) including adults requiring a single anterior ceramic restoration. The AI-DSD group used standardized cross-polarized photographs and an AI shade-classification pipeline; the conventional group used visual selection with VITA 3D-Master guided by a spectrophotometer. The primary outcome was shade-match accuracy at try-in, defined as ΔE00_{00}00 ≤ 1.8 versus the natural reference tooth measured with bench spectroradiometry. Secondary outcomes were mean ΔE00_{00}00, selection time, need for shade adjustment (staining/remake), inter-method agreement (weighted κ), and repeatability. Two cal Conclusions:Eighty participants were analyzed (40 per arm). AI-DSD increased the proportion of clinically acceptable matches (85.0% vs 70.0%; risk difference 15.0%, 95% CI 0.7%–29.3%) and reduced mean color difference (1.42 ± 0.56 vs 1.88 ± 0.72 ΔE00_{00}00; mean difference −0.46, 95% CI −0.76 to −0.16). Chairside selection time was shorter (2.9 ± 0.8 vs 4.6 ± 1.2 minutes), with fewer shade adjustments (10.0% vs 22.5%). Agreement between pre-op selection and final crown verification was higher with AI-DSD (weighted κ 0.82 vs 0.68), and repeatability improved. AI-DSD offers a practical enhancement to conventional workflows, shifting more cases into the clinically acceptable color range while improving efficiency.

Single-implant mandibular overdentures have been proposed as a minimally invasive and cost-effective alternative to the two-implant standard, particularly suitable for geriatric patients. In this prospective study, 33 elderly patients received a single midline implant supporting an overdenture, and outcomes were evaluated for implant survival, prosthodontic maintenance, and patient satisfaction. The results demonstrated a 97% implant survival rate, with only minimal maintenance interventions such as matrix replacement and denture base adjustments required. Patient satisfaction improved markedly, rising from a baseline mean score of 45.0 to over 82.0 at 3 months, and remained stable at 12 months (p < 0.001). These findings confirm that single-implant mandibular overdentures provide reliable retention, high satisfaction, and favorable survival outcomes, establishing them as a practical solution for geriatric populations.

Biofilm-associated infections pose a major clinical problem due to their resistance to conventional antimicrobial therapies. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the effectiveness of chitosan nanoparticle-loaded irrigants in disrupting established Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Using in vitro 96-well plate models, biofilm biomass reduction and bacterial viability were assessed with crystal violet assay, CFU counts and SEM imaging after exposure to 2% and 1% chitosan nanoparticles, 0.2% chlorhexidine and saline. Data showed that 2% chitosan nanoparticles produced the greatest biofilm disruption (89.7±3.2%) and bacterial reduction (4.8±0.3 log10 CFU/mL), significantly outperforming 1% chitosan and chlorhexidine. Thus, we show that chitosan nanoparticle irrigants, particularly at higher concentrations, may serve as effective alternatives for managing biofilm-associated infections.