Introduction Due to the increasing tolerance to antibiotics, the treatment of disorders of the microbial community in the oral cavity represents a major challenge. An alternative substance that can partially or completely replace existing antibacterial agents could be products derived from plants. Spilanthes acmella has been shown to be effective in the treatment of diseases of the oral cavity. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential antimicrobial efficacy of the plant Spilanthes acmella against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans, which are frequently associated with diseases of the oral cavity, and to compare this effect with conventional therapies. Material and methods Three groups of samples were analyzed: the flower heads, the leaves and the remaining aerial parts (the stem and twigs). Results The results showed that the flower extract showed no inhibitory effect on the bacteria tested. The extract from the stem and twigs showed an inhibitory effect on Candida albicans. The leaf extract showed the best inhibitory effect against Streptococcus mutans. Conclusion Considering that chlorhexidine is the only solution with a proven antiplaque effect, we can conclude from these results that the synergistic effect of these two solutions provides the best results in the chemical control of dental plaque and could be part of the protocol in the prevention of both dental caries and periodontal disease in the future.
A book from the field of basic dental sciences is described, published in mid-2024. Its content is briefly presented, as well as its essential importance for students on integrated dental studies as well as anyone interested in the mechanisms of pathological changes in oral structures.
Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important factor in social, scientific, and economic development today. It has wide possibilities for application, including dentistry. Its history spans eight decades, and a special area of this research and development is expert systems (ES) related to dentistry. The goal is to analyze the state of development and application of ES in dentistry, and to propose the possibility of their application today. Methods Using elements of systematic analysis, a representative sample of articles from Web of Science and Scopus references was selected (PubMed/MEDLINE databases), which were analyzed from the point of view of the time dimension of the development of AI and ES. Results The paper is structured so as to provide answers to the following questions: what is AI and how was it developed, how did ES in dentistry come about and how did it develop, including in Serbia, what are the prospects for the application of AI/ES in dentistry, and what are possible future directions in this area? Conclusion AI and ES in the field of dentistry are moving from an era of experimental research to the verge of becoming good clinical practice. Digitization and the Industry 4.0 model are current directions, already widespread, which represent strong support for the faster application of these models in dental practice.
Introduction Implant placement is often complicated in the posterior maxilla by post-extraction bone resorption, pneumatization of maxillary sinuses, and poor quality of alveolar bone. In these situations, elevation of the maxillary sinus floor is one possible solution, which requires surgical maxillary sinus augmentation techniques that can convert part of the sinus cavity into bone suitable for implant placement. Case outline A 34-year-old female patient was referred for implant treatment of the posterior left maxilla. A radiographic assessment revealed an atrophied posterior maxilla in the region of 25, 26, and 27, with a residual alveolar ridge height of 6 mm. At site 26, a transcrestal sinus lift was performed using a piezoelectric-surgery technique. A xenograft mixed with hyaluronic acid was used as the graft material. After graft application, a two-stage endosseous implant (Bio3, Pforzheim, Germany) with dimensions 8 × 4.2 mm was placed in the prepared site. Conclusion Piezosurgery is an optimal option in all cases where sinus membrane elevation via the transcrestal approach is required, with the possibility of simultaneous implant placement when the residual alveolar ridge height is > 5 mm.
Introduction/Objective Crown and bridge restorations are commonly used by general dental practitioners to replace partially edentulous areas following operative or endodontic procedures. The main goal was to explore the use of intentional root canal treatment (RCT) for crown and bridge procedures among dental practitioners in Tamil Nadu, India. Methods A total of 124 dental practitioner participated in this questionnaire-based survey. Results The mean duration of practice was 11.66 years; 68.5% responded that they perform intentional RCT in daily practice; 68.3% stated that they undertake RCT only in attrited or mutilated teeth; 62% reported selecting the option "to avoid postoperative sensitivity or pain and to achieve adequate tooth preparation and clearance"; 54% indicated that this preference is based on previous experience. Conclusion Based on this survey, many practitioners prefer intentional RCT before crown and bridge procedures.
