Abstract Saliva is increasingly being recognized as a bodily fluid that can be used for quick diagnosis and to assess prognosis in a few systemic conditions. The major advantage of using saliva as a point-of-care bodily fluid is its noninvasive collection. Salivaomics, an emerging branch of diagnostic pathology, is gaining increasing importance in both the dental and medical fields. This narrative review examines the intricacies of using saliva as a diagnostic marker and the importance of salivaomics across different fields. The objectives of the study are (a) to identify salivary biomarkers in disease conditions, (b) to summarize the tools available for saliva collection, storage, and transportation, and (c) to identify techniques used for salivary biomarker processing for the assessment of clinical outcomes. The present review was conducted as per the “Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis” or PRISMA guidelines. A) Study eligibility criteria: The research questions were based on salivaomics, saliva collection, sample preparation and transportation, storage, and different techniques used for the saliva analysis. Various articles on the challenges and future of salivary diagnostics for oral cancer were also reviewed, along with those on other systemic conditions. B) Synthesis method: Different online search engines and databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) search terminologies used were “saliva,” “head and neck lesions,” “oral cancer,” “oral neoplasms,” “premalignancies,” “potentially malignant disorders” “biomarkers,” “diagnosis,” “saliva collection methods,” “saliva sample preparation,” “salivary transportation,” “method of saliva storage,” “techniques for analysis of saliva,” “current challenges in saliva diagnostics” and “future challenges.” Boolean operators used were “AND” or “OR” for the article search. The data extraction involved collecting information on objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions from the articles selected for the review. A total of 100 journal publications were identified following a literature search, oof which 26 articles were finalized for review. The published articles demonstrate the usefulness of saliva for diagnosis and follow-up in patients undergoing long-term follow-up or treatment protocols. Limitations of this paper include a lack of sufficient publications based on real-time quantitative data suggestive of salivaomics in patient management. In conclusion, this narrative review paper covers various techniques for collecting saliva samples, their methods of transportation and storage, and the analytical tools and biomarkers currently being studied for identifying different diseases and conditions affecting the body. Hence, one can utilize salivary biomarkers to assess patients for different clinical conditions and to customize treatment plans.
Abstract Introduction: The dimensional accuracy and detail reproduction of dental gypsum products are critical for the precision of dental restorations. This study evaluates and compares the performance of three Type IV dental gypsum materials – Gildent IV (Germany), Snow Rock IV (South Korea), and Snow Teeth IV (Iran) – at various storage intervals. Aims: The objective of this study was to assess and compare the dimensional accuracy and the ability of these gypsum products to reproduce fine details over different storage durations (2 h, 1 day, and 1 week). Materials and Methods: Three Type IV dental gypsum products were selected. A steel die, measuring 45 mm × 45 mm with a height of 20 mm and grooves 0.3 mm deep with 2.5 mm spacing, was used for mold preparation. The gypsum materials were mixed following the manufacturers’ instructions and poured into the die. The molds were allowed to set for 2 h, 1 day, and 1 week. Dimensional changes were measured using a Nikon D5600 camera, and groove spacing was analyzed with Digimizer software. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 22. Results and Discussion: The Gildent IV and Snow Rock IV materials exhibited the least dimensional changes after 2 h of setting, while Snow Teeth IV showed the greatest dimensional shifts after 1 week. Statistically significant differences in dimensional accuracy were found between Gildent IV and Snow Teeth IV, as well as Snow Rock IV and Snow Teeth IV. Dimensional stability decreased over time for all materials, with Gildent IV and Snow Rock IV showing superior fine detail reproduction compared to Snow Teeth IV. Conclusion: Gildent IV and Snow Rock IV demonstrated better dimensional stability and detail reproduction than Snow Teeth IV, particularly after longer storage periods. These results emphasize the importance of selecting the right gypsum material to ensure precise dental restorations.
Introduction: Managing impacted teeth, especially those in unusual positions and near vital structures, presents significant clinical challenges. Traditional imaging methods, such as periapical, occlusal, and panoramic radiographs, are limited by their two-dimensional nature, often necessitating larger flap elevations and greater bone removal, which increases surgical trauma. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the use of virtual surgical planning on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans to fabricate Position Indicating Impaction Guides (PIIGs) that minimize surgical trauma in the management of impacted teeth. Materials and Methods: After institutional review board approval, a pilot study was conducted involving three patients with impacted teeth. CBCT scans were obtained, and surgical planning was carried out using the PIIG protocol. Custom surgical guides were designed based on the protocol and three-dimensionally printed using a Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K printer. The surgical procedures were executed using these guides to assist in locating the impacted teeth. Results and Discussion: The guides were successfully positioned intraorally with accurate fit verification. All three cases demonstrated that the guides effectively localized the impacted teeth. Incorporating offset measurements during guide design enabled precise surface contact with the impacted teeth, reducing the need for extensive surgical exposure and minimizing trauma. Conclusion: PIIGs proved to be effective in localizing impacted teeth while reducing surgical trauma to adjacent structures. This technique shows promise as a minimally invasive, patient-friendly approach to managing impacted teeth.
Orthodontics is a specialty that is not typically covered in depth in undergraduate dental studies and is therefore confusing to most dental specialties. The rate of orthodontic referrals is a challenge for most institutions, and inappropriate referral patterns can lead to long waiting lists and missed opportunities to modify growth. This review aims to review basic concepts in orthodontics and streamline the referral process.
Introduction: Dental caries is considered an important component of the global disease burden with a prevalence among adults as high as 100% in some countries. Aim: This study aimed to determine the pattern and severity of dental caries among the adult population attending the university dental clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in a university dental clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It included 1365 adult patients. A questionnaire was used to collect the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. World Health Organization guidelines were followed to confirm dental caries. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29. Results and Discussion: The male-to-female ratio in this study was 1:1.74. The ages of all participants ranged from 18 to 90 years with a mean age of 39.26 years. The prevalence of dental caries was 88.9%, with an overall DMFT of 5.20 ± 0.14 ranging from 0-29 teeth. The age groups, education level, and marital status had a statistically significant association with dental caries. Conclusion: The prevalence of dental caries in the study participants was high, 88.7%. The posterior teeth in both jaws are more prone to dental caries than the anterior ones. The factors associated with higher DMFT include age group, sex, education level, and partner status of an individual.
