Even with the evolution of chemotherapeutic procedures and agents, chemotherapy may cause certain side effects that impair the patients’ quality of life. The aim of this review is to isolate and describe the oral side effects arising only from chemotherapy and focus on the dentist’s contribution to their management. This paper comprises an extensive literature review of the main side effects affecting the oral health status of patients’ undergoing chemotherapy procedures. In addition, it describes the dentist’s contribution in the treatment of such patients before, throughout and after antineoplastic therapy. In conclusion, the oral cavity is a usual site of discomfort and pain caused by chemotherapy, making the dentist’s contribution to the patient’s relief imperative.

Aim: To evaluate a novel approach for reinforcing 2 types of provisional restoration materials [polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and bis-acryl resin] with different concentrations of silica gel powder (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 3%, 5%, 10% by weight).

Methods: A total of 60 rectangular fracture toughness specimens were prepared in this study according to the ISO 13586 Standard with dimensions of 2 mm × 5 mm × 25 mm. The specimens were divided into 2 groups according to the materials used PMMA or bis-acryl. Each subgroup was divided into 6 subgroups according to the different silica gel concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1.5%, 3%, 5%, and 10% by weight) added where the 0% subgroup was used as a control group. Fracture toughness for the specimens was determined by loading the specimens in a universal testing machine.

Results: The results showed that addition of 0.5% by weight of the silica gel powder for PMMA recorded the highest mean value (2.69 ± 0.08 MPa•m^1/2) and this was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study it was concluded the addition of 0.5% by weight silica powder gel could increase the fracture toughness of PMMA.

This paper reports a case of a recurrent periapical cyst treated with enucleation of the lesion, apicoectomy, and root end obturation on a lower left first molar. In the case of conventional root canal treatment failure, non-surgical retreatment is the preferred option in most of the cases. Several factors such as a complex root canal system or previous procedural accidents may impede the success of non-surgical retreatment. The authors have performed root-end resection and preparation under local anesthesia on a lower left first molar; The root canal filling is placed within the new cavity to close the path of communication between the infected root canal system and periradicular structures with an intermediate restorative material. The lesion was fully enucleated and sent for histopathology. The 29-year-old female patient was followed up at 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months presenting as a functional and symptomless tooth. Radiographic findings showed a clear and progressive refilling of the cavity with bone. All these factors highlight a positive prognosis for the tooth after periradicular surgery, which is now considered a valid treatment to keep the tooth as a functional unit in the oral cavity.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of asthma on dentoalveolar morphology in the developing child.

Methods: This study was conducted on 50 asthmatic Egyptian children and 50 non-asthmatic Egyptian children. Each child’s dental casts of the maxilla and mandible were analyzed. The upper and lower intercanine width, the upper and lower inter-molar width (UIMW-LIMW), the upper and lower arch length, and the palatal depth were determined.

Results: Children with asthma demonstrated higher mean values in more than one of the parameters measured when compared with the mean values of non-asthmatic children for both genders. In general, the UIMW of asthmatic children had lower mean values when compared with the mean value of non-asthmatic children, except when compared regarding gender. A Student t-test noted a significant difference in UIMW and LIMW in male children.

Conclusion: Asthma has an effect on upper and lower dental arch dimensions in both genders.

Aim: The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the optimum margin thickness which allows more conservative tooth preparation, thus giving space for the veneer material and to evaluate the effect of the processing technique on fracture resistance of IPS e.max^® copings.

Methods: Forty all lithium disilicate copings were divided into 2 equal groups according to the construction technique; twenty copings each (n = 20) per group. Each group was further subdivided into 2 equal subgroups according to the coping margin thickness; 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm (n = 10/subgroup). Two dies were prepared with 5 mm cervical diameter, 60° axial taper, and 5 mm occluso-cervical height with the non-anatomical occlusal table. Copings were constructed using heat pressing and CAD/CAM milling techniques, and were cemented on epoxy dies using RelyX™ Unicem resin cement. Samples underwent pre-loading in a cyclic manner equivalent to the average masticatory cycle. Afterward, samples were loaded until fracture using the same computer controlled material testing machine. Data were analyzed for each group using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a Tukey’s pairwise post-hoc test between the 2 coping thicknesses. P values which were 0.05 or less were considered statistically significant. Separate student t-tests was performed to detect the significance between the main groups. Finally, a two-way ANOVA was done to evaluate the effect of the processing technique, and the coping thickness on the fracture resistance.

Results: Effect of the construction technique revealed significant (P < 0.05) influence on the fracture resistance mean values of the ceramic copings (CAD > Press). Effect of thickness showed significant (P < 0.05) influence on fracture resistance mean values as well (0.7 mm > 0.5 mm).

Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the following conclusions could be drawn: the CAD/CAM technique showed improved strength over the heat pressed technique, regardless of the margin thickness of the ceramic coping, 0.5 mm thickness coping, constructed using both pressing and milling techniques, has sufficient strength to withstand the average masticatory forces in the premolar region (222 to 445 N).

Aim: To introduce bifocal distraction osteogenesis (BDO) and subsequent endosseous dental implant placement as an overall method for reconstruction of complete maxillary and mandibular segmental defects.

Methods: Within the authors' whole series, 29 patients showing bony segmental defects within the maxillofacial skeleton underwent BDO. The authors focus on 3 patients who were further rehabilitated with endosseous dental implants into the distracted bone.

Results: The overall BDO success rate was 79%. The 3 reported cases underwent dental implant rehabilitation with 4, 6, and 5 endosseous dental implants, respectively. No relevant complications were observed, except for intraoral scarring in one patient, and pain at the end of the distraction phase in another patient. Adequate attached gingival tissue was obtained for maxillary and mandibular distracted bone in all the cases.

Conclusion: Three cases of segmental maxillo-mandibular defects that have been reconstructed by bifocal distraction osteogenesis and further rehabilitated with endosseous dental implants. Surgeons must keep in mind this technique as an alternative to bone microsurgical reconstruction in cases in which free flaps are contraindicated or extended surgical time has to be avoided.

Even with the evolution of chemotherapeutic procedures and agents, chemotherapy may cause certain side effects that impair the patients’ quality of life. The aim of this review is to isolate and describe the oral side effects arising only from chemotherapy and focus on the dentist’s contribution to their management. This paper comprises an extensive literature review of the main side effects affecting the oral health status of patients’ undergoing chemotherapy procedures. In addition, it describes the dentist’s contribution in the treatment of such patients before, throughout and after antineoplastic therapy. In conclusion, the oral cavity is a usual site of discomfort and pain caused by chemotherapy, making the dentist’s contribution to the patient’s relief imperative.

This paper reports a case of a recurrent periapical cyst treated with enucleation of the lesion, apicoectomy, and root end obturation on a lower left first molar. In the case of conventional root canal treatment failure, non-surgical retreatment is the preferred option in most of the cases. Several factors such as a complex root canal system or previous procedural accidents may impede the success of non-surgical retreatment. The authors have performed root-end resection and preparation under local anesthesia on a lower left first molar; The root canal filling is placed within the new cavity to close the path of communication between the infected root canal system and periradicular structures with an intermediate restorative material. The lesion was fully enucleated and sent for histopathology. The 29-year-old female patient was followed up at 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months presenting as a functional and symptomless tooth. Radiographic findings showed a clear and progressive refilling of the cavity with bone. All these factors highlight a positive prognosis for the tooth after periradicular surgery, which is now considered a valid treatment to keep the tooth as a functional unit in the oral cavity.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of artificial accelerated aging on surface roughness and color stability of three recently introduced CAD/CAM materials. The hypothesis was that artificial accelerated aging would have an effect on surface roughness and color stability of tested materials.

Methods: A total of 21 ceramic discs were fabricated in this study, including translucent zirconia (InCoris TZI) and resin nano ceramic (Lava Ultimate) ceramic blocks for CAD/CAM and a set of bi-layered discs made of a zirconia CAD/CAM substructure (inCoris ZI) with VM9 hand-layered feldspathic veneering. Initial surface roughness measurements using a stylus profilometer and color measurements using a spectroradiometer were carried out. All specimens were subjected to artificial aging by means of a weathering process in a Weather-O-meter for 300 h. Additional surface roughness and color measurements were again carried out after artificial aging of the specimens. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was conducted to determine significant differences in surface roughness among the 3 groups (α = 0.05).

Results: Lava ultimate specimens showed a statistically significant difference in surface roughness before and after artificial accelerated aging (P = 0.028). There was no statistical significance in surface roughness of both the translucent zirconia TZ1 (P = 0.499) and the InCoris ZI with VM9 veneering (P = 0.398) specimens before and after aging. The amount of color change in the 3 ceramic groups was also not significant.

Conclusion: Artificial accelerated aging did not affect the color stability of any of the 3 ceramic groups, however, it caused a significant decrease in the surface roughness of the resin nano ceramic group.

For thousands of years, humans have been using herbal remedies to cure and prevent various illnesses. Out of many herbal products, neem has numerous properties which have promoted its use in both the medical and dental fields. Use of neem has been mentioned in alternative medical specialties, such as Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathic medicine. Endodontic therapy aims to eliminate microorganisms from the root canal system. In endodontics, irrigating solutions play a significant role because of their antimicrobial activity. Their use becomes even more significant when handling infected endodontic cases where a plethora of microbes is invading the root canal system. However, one has to be extremely cautious while using irrigating chemicals in endodontics, owing to their toxic effects, in case they extrude into periradicular tissue. For this very reason, the use of herbal irrigating solutions such as neem is being advocated worldwide. This article highlights the origin, taxonomy, chemical composition, and medicinal properties of the neem tree and its potential use as an irrigating solution in the field of endodontics.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of various adhesive systems to a bioactive dentin substitute Biodentine^® with different time intervals.

Methods: Three hundred and fifty cylindrical acrylic blocks with a hole (4 mm diameter and 2 mm height) were prepared. The holes were filled with Biodentine^®, and the specimens were allocated into 5 main groups according to waiting times (group 1, 12 min; group 2, 24 h; group 3, 48 h; group 4, 72 h; and group 5, 96 h). All specimens were stored at 37 °C with 100% humidity during the waiting time. Then each group was divided into 7 subgroups of 10 units each: subgroup 1, Prime&Bond NT™; subgroup 2, Single Bond Universal (self-etch mode); subgroup 3, Single Bond Universal (etch and rinse mode); subgroup 4, All-Bond Universal™ (self-etch mode); subgroup 5, All-Bond Universal™ (etch and rinse mode); subgroup 6, G-aenial Universal Bond™ (self-etch mode); and subgroup 7, G-aenial Universal Bond™ (etch-and-rinse mode). After the application of adhesive systems, compomer Dyract XP Bond^® was applied over Biodentine^® SBSs were measured using a universal testing machine. After the SBS test, the fractured surfaces were examined under a stereomicroscope at 25× magnification, and the data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U (with Bonferroni correction) tests.

Results: Biodentine^® exhibits lower shear bond strength values in the 12 min groups. No significant differences were observed between self-etch or etch-and-rinse bonding modes.

Conclusion: A 24-h waiting period after the mixing of Biodentine^® could be useful to obtain higher SBS measurements. Also, similar SBS values were observed for the universal adhesives regardless of application mode.

Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the salivary cortisol levels in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and to correlate it with their psychological profile using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale.

Methods: The study population comprised of 60 patients - 20 with OLP, 20 with RAS and 20 healthy controls. Salivary cortisol levels were assessed using the chemiluminescent immuno assay technique. Anxiety and depression levels were evaluated using the HAD scale.

Results: The Kruskal Wallis mean ranks of salivary cortisol level in the OLP and RAS groups were 33.45 and 33.48 respectively and were higher than the mean rank of the control group with 24.58. But this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.178). The mean ranks of anxiety score in the OLP and RAS groups were 36.48 and 39.50. The mean ranks of depression scores were 41.88 and 35.25 in the OLP and RAS groups respectively. The control group had a statistically significant lower mean ranks for anxiety and depression (P < 0.001). Anxiety and depression scores showed strong positive correlation in both patient groups.

Conclusion: The results suggest that anxiety and depression play a role in the pathogenesis of OLP and RAS. The role of salivary cortisol as a biomarker of stress remains to be validated. Patients suffering from psychosomatic diseases such as OLP and RAS need a comprehensive and holistic treatment approach to manage effectively the psychosocial factors involved in the disease process.

Aim: The present study was carried out to examine the possible differences regarding the periodontal condition between individuals with a gastric cancer history diagnosed by histological examination and healthy individuals.

Methods: Sixty-five patients suffered from non-cardia adenocarcinoma diagnosed by histological examination and 60 matched healthy controls were interviewed and clinically examined. Data analysis was performed by χ² test and logistic regression model to estimate possible correlations regarding the periodontal condition of the mentioned individuals after assessment. The assessment included the following clinical parameters: probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, gingival index, and bleeding on probing.

Results: Smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 4.448, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.818-10.880], gingival inflammation (OR = 2.019, 95% CI = 0.933-11.579) and clinical attachment loss (OR = 5.167, 95% CI = 2.122-12.584), were statistically significant differences between the cases and the controls, after adjustment for smoking and socioeconomic status.

Conclusion: Smoking, gingival inflammation, and clinical attachment loss were statistically significantly different between patients who had gastric cancer and healthy individuals.

Even with the evolution of chemotherapeutic procedures and agents, chemotherapy may cause certain side effects that impair the patients’ quality of life. The aim of this review is to isolate and describe the oral side effects arising only from chemotherapy and focus on the dentist’s contribution to their management. This paper comprises an extensive literature review of the main side effects affecting the oral health status of patients’ undergoing chemotherapy procedures. In addition, it describes the dentist’s contribution in the treatment of such patients before, throughout and after antineoplastic therapy. In conclusion, the oral cavity is a usual site of discomfort and pain caused by chemotherapy, making the dentist’s contribution to the patient’s relief imperative.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of artificial accelerated aging on surface roughness and color stability of three recently introduced CAD/CAM materials. The hypothesis was that artificial accelerated aging would have an effect on surface roughness and color stability of tested materials.

Methods: A total of 21 ceramic discs were fabricated in this study, including translucent zirconia (InCoris TZI) and resin nano ceramic (Lava Ultimate) ceramic blocks for CAD/CAM and a set of bi-layered discs made of a zirconia CAD/CAM substructure (inCoris ZI) with VM9 hand-layered feldspathic veneering. Initial surface roughness measurements using a stylus profilometer and color measurements using a spectroradiometer were carried out. All specimens were subjected to artificial aging by means of a weathering process in a Weather-O-meter for 300 h. Additional surface roughness and color measurements were again carried out after artificial aging of the specimens. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was conducted to determine significant differences in surface roughness among the 3 groups (α = 0.05).

Results: Lava ultimate specimens showed a statistically significant difference in surface roughness before and after artificial accelerated aging (P = 0.028). There was no statistical significance in surface roughness of both the translucent zirconia TZ1 (P = 0.499) and the InCoris ZI with VM9 veneering (P = 0.398) specimens before and after aging. The amount of color change in the 3 ceramic groups was also not significant.

Conclusion: Artificial accelerated aging did not affect the color stability of any of the 3 ceramic groups, however, it caused a significant decrease in the surface roughness of the resin nano ceramic group.

Several recent advancements have occurred regarding engineering replacements for tissues of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This review specifically summarizes the in vitro technological developments for TMJ meniscus tissue engineering followed by an in-depth look at in vivo studies for the regeneration of the TMJ meniscus, with a focus on large animal models. One recent study used mini-pigs to study implants placed into a partial thickness defects of the TMJ meniscus. The authors investigated the use of allogeneic costal chondrocytes in scaffold-free TMJ implants. Implants were found to be well integrated and the mechanical strength of the defects was more robust in the implanted meniscus than in untreated defects. Two recently published studies in a canine model showed that an extracellular matrix bioscaffold derived from porcine urinary bladder was an effective material for reconstruction of the TMJ meniscus. The composition and mechanical properties of the remodeled tissue were similar to that of the native meniscus. It is important to note that the half-life of these replaced meniscus is unknown, and that successful repair is dependent on identifying the cause for internal derangement. In the future, a large animal model that includes both healthy and pathogenic sites of implantation needs further investigation.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement (ID) is the most prevalent indication for surgery among TMJ pathology. Generally considered the literature lacks studies with the highest evidence -which is mainly supported by systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials- regarding the usefulness of surgery in the management of TMJ ID. The objective of the present manuscript is to report the actual knowledge in terms of surgical treatment of TMJ ID considering scientific evidence criteria. A non-systematic review in the literature in relation to the degree of the existing scientific evidence regarding the uselfuness of surgery for the treatment of ID of the TMJ is performed. A bibliography search on MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane library databases for studies published from March 2000 to March 2019 was conducted. The author only included studies published in the English language and those dealing with “surgical treatment of temporomandibular internal derangement”; The following technical bibliographic exclusion criteria were applied: (1) case reports; (2) technical report; (3) animal or in vitro studies; (4) review articles; (5) uncontrolled clinical studies; and (6) publications in which the same data were published by the same group of researchers. The abstracts of yielded results were reviewed and the full text of those with apparent relevance was obtained. Several results must be highlighted from the evaluation of the literature with the highest degree of evidence: (1) high-degree evidence is insufficient in relation to the effect of surgery; (2) surgery is useful in patients refractory to conservative treatment; (3) there are not differences among surgical techniques; (4) arthroscopy and arthrocentesis are effective in the treatment of chronic closed lock of the TMJ. Surgical treatment of the TMJ based on evidence is present in a moderate degree, as studies with the highest evidence are scarce. Specially for patients with TMJ ID, surgical treatment must be highly supported by the results of large series by experienced surgeons and recommendations from societies of experts in TMJ surgery.

Since the turn of the century a paradigm shift has challenged the centuries old tradition of non-surgical treatment for condylar fractures. The advent of functionally stable osteosynthesis introduced into condylar traumatology in the 1980ies step by step widened out the indications for surgical treatment, paralleled also by improvement in computerized tomography diagnostics and more recently by continuous refinement of indication-specific osteosynthesis materials, with three-dimensional-plates for the condylar base and neck and resorbable materials for the condylar head being the latest developments. Over the last decades, a series of new approaches was introduced, too, to cope with the specific demands for open reduction and rigid internal fixation (ORIF) in the different fracture locations, which according to the recent consensus based Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthese comprehensive injury automatic classifier (AOCOIAC) classification are now defined as fractures of the condylar base, condylar neck and condylar head. By now even fractures of the condylar head, treated surgically by Rasse already in 1992, have moved into the focus of surgical interest and ORIF by now is far from being “experimental”, as dubbed only a decade ago. According to recent consensus (International Bone Research Association, 2012) and based on improved evidence, ORIF may now be considered as the golden standard for both displaced or dislocated condylar base and neck fractures in adults. Endoscopic approaches should be considered for base fractures with lateral displacement. Meanwhile, there is a growing tendency to perform ORIF in condylar head fractures and severely displaced or dislocated fractures in younger children with mixed dentition.

Alfred Stille said, “Medicine, like all knowledge has a past as well as a present and a future…in that past is the soil out of which improvement must grow.” This original paper will review how past successes and failures have led to the development of improved temporomandibular joint replacement devices. Future considerations and challenges will be presented.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement (ID) is the most prevalent indication for surgery among TMJ pathology. Generally considered the literature lacks studies with the highest evidence -which is mainly supported by systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials- regarding the usefulness of surgery in the management of TMJ ID. The objective of the present manuscript is to report the actual knowledge in terms of surgical treatment of TMJ ID considering scientific evidence criteria. A non-systematic review in the literature in relation to the degree of the existing scientific evidence regarding the uselfuness of surgery for the treatment of ID of the TMJ is performed. A bibliography search on MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane library databases for studies published from March 2000 to March 2019 was conducted. The author only included studies published in the English language and those dealing with “surgical treatment of temporomandibular internal derangement”; The following technical bibliographic exclusion criteria were applied: (1) case reports; (2) technical report; (3) animal or in vitro studies; (4) review articles; (5) uncontrolled clinical studies; and (6) publications in which the same data were published by the same group of researchers. The abstracts of yielded results were reviewed and the full text of those with apparent relevance was obtained. Several results must be highlighted from the evaluation of the literature with the highest degree of evidence: (1) high-degree evidence is insufficient in relation to the effect of surgery; (2) surgery is useful in patients refractory to conservative treatment; (3) there are not differences among surgical techniques; (4) arthroscopy and arthrocentesis are effective in the treatment of chronic closed lock of the TMJ. Surgical treatment of the TMJ based on evidence is present in a moderate degree, as studies with the highest evidence are scarce. Specially for patients with TMJ ID, surgical treatment must be highly supported by the results of large series by experienced surgeons and recommendations from societies of experts in TMJ surgery.