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Dental Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Translational Regenerative Dentistry: From Artificial to Biological Replacement

2025-06-16 - 2025-06

Dentistry is a continuously changing field that has witnessed much advancement in the past century. Prosthodontics is that branch of dentistry that deals with replacing missing teeth using either fixed or removable appliances in an attempt to simulate natural tooth function. Although such “replacement therapies” appear to be easy and economic they fall short of ever coming close to their natural counterparts. Complications that arise often lead to failures and frequent repairs of such devices which seldom allow true physiological function of dental and oral-maxillofacial tissues. Such factors can critically affect the quality of life of an individual. The market for dental implants is continuously growing with huge economic revenues. Unfortunately, such treatments are again associated with frequent problems such as peri-implantitis resulting in an eventual loss or replacement of implants. This is particularly influential for patients having co-morbid diseases such as diabetes or osteoporosis and in association with smoking and other conditions that undoubtedly affect the final treatment outcome. The advent of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine therapies along with the enormous strides taken in their associated interdisciplinary fields such as stem cell therapy, biomaterial development, and others may open arenas to enhancing tissue regeneration via designing and construction of patient-specific biological and/or biomimetic substitutes. This review will overview current strategies in regenerative dentistry while overviewing key roles of dental mesenchymal stem cells particularly those of the dental pulp, until paving the way to precision/translational regenerative medicine therapies for future clinical use.

WVU orthodontists testing innovative technology for making ‘shape memory’ dental aligners

2025-06-13 - 2025-06

West Virginia University is one of three U.S. universities testing a new technology that incorporates “shape memory” material for clear plastic dental aligners, an alternative to traditional metal braces.

“To make these materials that actually have memory is a big breakthrough,” said Dr. Peter Ngan, Branson-Maddrell Endowed Professor and chair of the WVU School of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics. “Having this technology allows us to start doing research on this material which will be the future direction of making aligners that are not available yet commercially.”

Silver braces have been around for about 100 years, while clear aligners have been in the marketplace for about two decades. However, Ngan said most orthodontists don’t think plastic performs as well as metal.

“The clear aligners still need to be improved to the point that there are two materials — clear aligners and metal braces — that are as good as each other,” he said. “Our goal is to see if we can get both of these treatments to achieve the same goal and also make sure the patient is happy.”

With funds from endowments created by orthodontic alumni and other friends of the School of Dentistry, researchers purchased 3D printers from Graphy Inc. The Korean-based company developed the technology that uses thermoplastic to make the aligners.

“This isn’t a hard plastic, so if you take it out and put it in hot water it will shrink and soften up, and that will make it easy to put back in your mouth,” Ngan said. “Then the mouth temperature will harden it back to its original shape and move the teeth accordingly.”

Thermoplastic’s softness makes it a better fit than metal for pairing with “tooth attachments,” restorative materials that clinicians glue onto teeth. Thermoplastic also allows for adding layers, varying the thickness of each aligner in order to reposition a patient’s teeth more efficiently.

Unlike their metal counterparts, the aligners can be removed so patients can brush and floss.

To make a thermoplastic aligner, a patient’s mouth is scanned and a dental mold is created, as with other plastic aligners. But instead of sending the scan out to a company that will manufacture the aligner, orthodontists using the Graphy printer can immediately make aligners onsite in their dental practices.

Effects of intracanal cryotherapy on postoperative pain in necrotic teeth with symptomatic apical periodontitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial

2025-06-12 - 2025-06

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the effects of intracanal cryotherapy on pain following single-visit non-surgical root canal treatment (NSRCT) of molar teeth with pulpal necrosis and symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP).

Methods: This parallel-two-arm, single-blind, randomized superiority clinical trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05611736). Patients referred for NSRCT meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Preoperative radiographs, pulp sensibility tests, and pain scores on the visual analog scale (VAS) were recorded. Following shaping and cleaning, 302 patients were randomly allocated to the two groups (n?=?151). In the experimental group, final irrigation was done using 0.9% physiologic saline solution at 2.5°C, whereas in the control group, final irrigation was done using the same solution at room temperature. All treatments were performed in a single visit. Analgesic intake and presence, duration, and intensity of pain using the VAS at 6, 24, 72?h, and 1 week were recorded. Any adverse events were recorded. Data was analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test and the Student's t-test (P?<?5%).

Results: Patients in the cryotherapy group had significantly less postoperative pain at 6, 24, and 72?h (P?<?0.05). There was no difference in postoperative pain at 1 week (P?>?0.05). No adverse event was recorded in either group during or immediately after root canal treatment.

Conclusion: Cryotherapy significantly reduces postoperative pain in single-visit root canal treatment of molars with pulp necrosis and SAP. It can be considered a biocompatible, economical, and straightforward method for managing postoperative pain.

Graphene-Based Nanomaterials for Dental Applications: Principles, Current Advances, and Future Outlook

2025-06-11 - 2025-06

With the development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials have been used in dental fields over the past years. Among them, graphene and its derivatives have attracted great attentions, owing to their excellent physicochemical property, morphology, biocompatibility, multi-differentiation activity, and antimicrobial activity. In our review, we summarized the recent progress about their applications on the dentistry. The synthesis methods, structures, and properties of graphene-based materials are discussed. Then, the dental applications of graphene-based materials are emphatically collected and described. Finally, the challenges and outlooks of graphene-based nanomaterials on the dental applications are discussed in this paper, aiming at inspiring more excellent studies.

Designing Entrustable Professional Activities for Treatment Planning of Oral Cancer by Maxillofacial Surgery Residents: A Modified Delphi Study

2025-06-10 - 2025-06

Abstract and Figures
Purpose. The aim of this study was to develop a competency framework based on entrustable professional activities (EPAs) in oral cancer management by postgraduate trainees in oral and maxillofacial surgery through expert consensus. Materials and Methods. The study design was based on a modified Delphi technique and involved iterative online surveys with two rounds of data collection and analysis. Initial development of the questionnaire identified five EPAs based on 42 competencies along with supervision level and assessment strategies. The first Delphi round involved administration of the survey questionnaire online to maxillofacial surgeons meeting the inclusion criteria for experts. Consensus was achieved on five EPAs and 36 competencies (?80% response rate). Six competencies were rephrased and sent again in the Round 2 questionnaire to achieve a consensus. Results. A total of 45 experts participated in Round 1 followed by input from 27 experts in Round 2 of the Delphi panel. Following two iterative rounds of online surveys and feedback, expert consensus was achieved to develop an EPA framework in five EPA domains focused on the management of oral cancer by postgraduate trainees in maxillofacial surgery including 38 specific competencies, supervision level, and assessment strategies. High content validity of the study was established through a comprehensive literature search, and expert feedback was evidenced by an excellent response rate (93.34%, and 64.28%) and a stringent criteria of response agreement amongst experts (?80%). Conclusion. In conclusion, this study employed expert consensus to identify five EPAs with 38 competencies along with the required supervision level of postgraduate maxillofacial trainees for the management of oral cancer. This EPA framework provides a roadmap for training supervisors to map the learning outcomes in oral oncology for postgraduate trainees in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Smarter Smiles: How AI and Teledentistry are reinventing dental care in 2025

2025-06-09 - 2025-06

Virtual check-ups and intelligent diagnostics are no longer futuristic—they’re part of everyday oral care in 2025. Here's how digital tools are reshaping the dental experience for both patients and practitioners.
Dental care in 2025 looks strikingly different from what many people remember just a few years ago. As technology becomes more embedded in everyday health services, dentistry is undergoing a digital transformation—led by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and teledentistry.

This shift is not only improving access to oral health care, especially in remote and underserved areas, but it is also helping streamline diagnostics and reduce delays in treatment planning.

ORAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, BEHAVIOR, AND BARRIERS TO DENTAL CARE OF ADULT JORDANIANS ADORNING ORAL AND/OR PERIORAL PIERCINGS-A CROSS-SECTION STUDY

2025-06-07 - 2025-06

The global prevalence of oral piercings is increasing, and there are mounting concerns about complications associated with oral and/or perioral piercings. Providing precautionary advice about piercing complications is important. Aims: to determine the oral health knowledge, behavior, and barriers to dental care for oral and/or perioral piercings in adult Jordanians. Methods: A web-based, anonymous, self-administered closed-end questionnaire was distributed across Jordan. It included questions regarding oral health knowledge, behavior, and barriers to dental care. Results: About (81.5%) liked how it looked. Most participants (49%) reported no complications, while 35% reported pain. The beauty parlors placed 76% of piercings and were also the source of help in case of complications. Most common barriers to seeking regular care were the perception that health professionals would refuse to treat them and the lack of confidence in the health professionals (90%) to treat the complications. Most participants (47%) brushed their teeth at least twice a day, and 68% spent 1-2 minutes brushing. Most participants (86%) knew that sugars and sweets caused dental caries. Also, (73%) believed bleeding gums was abnormal. Conclusions: This study suggests that adult Jordanians primarily choose piercings for aesthetic reason, with beauty parlors being the preferred place for both piercings and assistance in the event of complications. The lack of trust in healthcare professionals, with the believe that experts may refuse treatment were the reasons for participants avoided seeking regular dental care, which might increase risk of periodontal and gingival diseases.

The research progress on periodontitis by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

2025-06-05 - 2025-06

Periodontitis has emerged as one of the most critical oral diseases, and research on this condition holds great importance for the advancement of stomatology. As the most authoritative national scientific research funding institution in China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has played a pivotal role in driving the progress of periodontal science by supporting research on periodontitis. This article provides a comprehensive review of the research and development progress related to periodontitis in China from 2014 to 2023, highlighting the significant contributions of the NSFC to this field. We have summarized the detailed funding information from the NSFC, including the number of applicant codes, funded programs and the distribution of funded scholars. These data illustrate the efforts of the NSFC in cultivating young scientists and building research groups to address key challenges in national scientific research. This study offers an overview of the current hot topics, recent breakthroughs and future research prospects related to periodontitis in China.

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