Zirconia implants are considered as promising alternatives to titanium implants because of their tooth-like color that can simulate the appearance of natural teeth, appropriate mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, which reduce peri-implant inflammatory reactions. However, an untreated zirconia surface is bio-inert, which results in limited osseointegration compared with titanium. Considering that surface characteristics play an essential role in the adsorption of protein, adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of osteogenesis-related cells, numerous surface modifications are applied to enhance the surface bioactivity of zirconia. In this review, various surface modifications of zirconia implants and their effects on osseointegration were comprehensively summarized. Meanwhile, the advantages and disadvantages of se-veral surface modifications were discussed.

Objective This study aimed to compare the differences in clinical attachment level (CAL), periodontal probing depth (PPD), gingival recession (GR), and bone defect depth (BDD) between patients undergoing periodontal surgeries with and without mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and to evaluate the clinical efficacy of MSCs in periodontal regeneration through a meta-analysis. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and CBM were comprehensively searched for randomized controlled studies (RCTs) about MSC therapy for perio-dontal defects in patients with periodontitis up to April 1, 2024. Literature selection, data collection, and evaluation of bias were conducted by two researchers independently, and then data were analyzed through RevMan 5.4 software and Stata 15.1 software. Results Six studies were enrolled. The meta-analysis results showed that the experimental group had more significant improvement in CAL and decrease in PPD and BDD (P<0.05). However, no signi-ficant difference was found in efficacy between the two groups in terms of GR (P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with traditional periodontal regeneration methods, the application of MSCs may have some advantages. However, potential he-terogeneity among the included RCTs and limitations on the quantity and quality of these studies necessitate cautious interpretation of the findings. Further high-quality RCTs with a large sample size and a multicentral character are required to prove the efficacy of MSCs in periodontal regeneration.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by bacterial infection. Epidemiological studies and in vivo/in vitro research have consistently demonstrated a strong association between periodontitis and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysms, and vascular calcification via regulated cell death mechanisms (including autophagy, apoptosis, and pyroptosis) and phenotypic switching. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a critical periodontal pathogen, alters VSMC biological beha-vior, not only invading VSMCs to influence their regulated cell death process but also promoting phenotypic switching characterized by proliferation, migration, and calcification. These mechanisms play pivotal roles in cardiovascular disease development. This review aims to synthesize recent research advances and elucidate the connections between periodontitis and VSMC-regulated cell death/phenotypic switching. Novel insights into improved prevention and treatment strategies for periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases are provided.

Research has found that competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulates the progression of periodontitis by modulating the transcriptional response of inflammation-related mediators. ceRNA, including long noncoding RNA, circular RNA, and messenger RNA, can bind to microRNA to form a ceRNA network, regulate the expression of downstream target genes, and influence the occurrence and development of periodontitis. This article summarizes the role and mechanism of ceRNA in regulating the occurrence and development of periodontitis that have been verified by experimental evidence. This article also reviews the research progress in inhibiting and promoting the occurrence and development of periodontitis, and provides new ideas for future research on periodontitis.

The “black triangle” formed by gingival recession and tooth displacement in the aesthetic area of anterior teeth due to periodontitis, local anatomical factors, mechanical injury, or abnormal occlusal force is a difficulty in oral clinical treatment. The vascularized interpositional periopel connective tissue (VIP-CT) flap is a connective tissue flap from the palate that has sufficient blood supply. It can promote bone graft osteogenesis and improve soft tissue defects in the labial and adjacent spaces. In this paper, we report a case of gingival recession in the aesthetic area with tooth displacement and absence of gingival papillae. The soft and hard tissue status was significantly improved after VIP-CT rotary flap transplantation and bone graft augmentation. This approach was combined with crown repair to restore the adjacent contact. The gingival papillae in the aesthetic area were effectively reconstructed, obtaining ideal aesthetic results.

Comprehensive periodontal nonsurgical treatment and orthodontic treatment can improve the oral health, function, and aesthetics of patients with periodontitis. For patients with severe periodontitis, aesthetic problems, such as gingival recession and gingival papillary defects, may occur after periodontal system treatment, requiring personalized multidisciplinary collaborative treatment. This article reports a case of a patient with stage Ⅲ grade C periodontitis who underwent periodontal nonsurgical, simple flap, and orthodontic treatments in the anterior tooth area and labial-gingival retraction and gingival papillary defect repair in the anterior teeth. Preoperative X-ray measurement and diagnostic mock-up analysis revealed that the distance from the contact point to the alveolar ridge crest could be reduced to less than or equal to 5 mm and an ideal aesthetic effect of the dental crown could be achieved. A T-shaped connective tissue flap and lip coronal-positioned flap were designed to reconstruct the gingival papilla and improve the lip gingival recession. Composite resin veneers were used to lower the contact point position and repair black triangles. Remarkable improvement in clinical attachment level, ideal root coverage effect, and good gingival papilla morphology were achieved two years after surgery. These changes improved the prognosis of the affected teeth and facilitated the long-term maintenance of aesthetic effects. Long-term cli-nical outcomes require further clinical observation.

This article reports a case of multiple adjacent gingival recessions (MAGR) treated with a modified coronally advanced tunnel (MCAT) technique combined with a subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG), utilizing a double-cross suspension suture technique. The patient primarily presents with Class Ⅰ and Class Ⅱ gingival recession at multiple tooth sites according to the Cairo classification. The treatment protocol involved initial periodontal nonsurgical therapy, followed by staged root coverage procedures using a minimally invasive MCAT technique with SCTG and double-cross suspension suture technique. Postoperative follow-ups at 12, 24, and 36 months demonstrated 100% root coverage, favorable aesthetic outcomes in terms of color match and contour, and stable long-term therapeutic results.

Objective This study aims to investigate the effect of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) on osteogenic and angiogenic functions in mice under in vivo and in vitro conditions, as well as its effect on mandibular defect healing. Methods SIRT1 activators and inhibitors were used to intervene in MC3T3-E1 cells and mandibular defects in mice. Various methods, including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, alkaline phosphatase staining, and immunofluorescence staining, were employed to study the influence of SIRT1 on the expression of osteogenic and angiogenic factors in MC3T3-E1 cells, as well as the healing and osteogenic and angiogenic functions of mandibular defects in mice. Results In in vitro experiments, the activation of SIRT1 promo-ted the expression of osteogenic and angiogenic factors in MC3T3-E1 cells. In in vivo experiments, SIRT1 activation facilitated the hea-ling of mandibular defects and enhanced the osteogenic and angiogenic functions of the mandibular defects. Conversely, the inhibition of SIRT1 activity suppressed the aforementioned processes. Conclusion SIRT1 can promote the healing of mandibular defects by regulating the osteogenic and angiogenic functions in mice.

Objective This study aimed to analyze the expression and biological function of branch-chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods The expression of BCAT1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) patients and its relationship with prognosis were analyzed by bioinformatics. To detect BCAT1 gene expression in tumor and adjacent tissues, we selected patients with OSCC diagnosed in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiangya Stomatology Hospital, Central South University from 2021 to 2022. BCAT1 gene expression in human OSCC cell line and normal oral keratinocytes was analyzed. After plasmid overexpression or knockdown of BCAT1 gene, the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of human OSCC cells were detected by cell proliferation, wound-healing, and invasion assays, respectively. Results BCAT1 was highly expressed in cancer tissues of HNSC patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and was one of the independent prognostic factors and potential diagnostic markers of patients. Results of cellular assays showed that BCAT1 expression was upregula-ted in human OSCC tissues or cell lines, thereby regulating the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells. Conclusion BCAT1 gene is a potential therapeutic target for human OSCC.

Objective The effects of variations in the size and materials of initial archwires on initial pain during ortho-dontic treatment were explored. Methods Seven commonly used databases were searched from inception to October 1, 2023 for publications related to orthodontic archwires and pain. Relevant literature was selected on the basis of inclusion criteria. Moreover, the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the risk of bias assessment tool for the nonrandomized studies of interventions recommended by Cochrane, and data were extracted accordingly. Network meta-analysis was performed using R software 4.3.2 (calling JAGS 4.3.1) and GeMTC 0.14.3 software. Results A total of 11 studies involving 632 patients and 10 intervention measures were included. Among the 11 studies, three had low risk of bias, one had high risk of bias, and seven had unclear bias risk. One, two, and seven days after the initial placement of fixed orthodontic appliances, no statistically significant difference in the visual analog scale (VAS) scores of pain was found between any two of the 10 archwires. However, forest plots results show that the pain level of heat-activated nickel-titanium archwires (HANT) is lower than that of superelastic nickel-titanium archwires (P<0.05), and rank probability plot analysis indicated that the material with the smallest VAS score was most likely the 0.012-inch (0.305 mm) HANT. Conclusion No difference in orthodontic pain intensity was found among the 10 initial archwires of different sizes and materials, and using the 0.012-inch HANT archwire as the initial archwire during fixed ortho-dontic treatment may cause the least amount of initial pain.

Objective To understand the utilization of oral health services among elderly individuals aged 65-74 years in Sichuan Province, China; evaluate the influencing factors; and provide references for elderly oral health care policies. Methods Data from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey in Sichuan Province were used. The Anderson model was applied as a theoretical framework. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, multiple logistic regression, and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the utilization of oral health services and their influencing factors among elderly individuals. Results A total of 744 elderly individuals participated in the survey. The utilization rate of oral health services in the past 12 months was 24.1%, with only 8.4% of those pertaining to consultation and prevention. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that education level, place of residence, self-assessment of oral health, brushing frequency, and the number of remaining teeth influenced the utilization of oral health services. Structural model analysis indicated that low education le-vels, rural residence, low brushing frequency, the presence of 20 or more teeth, and good self-assessment of oral health were associated with low utilization rates of oral health services among elderly individuals. Conclusion The utilization rate of oral health services among elderly individuals aged 65-74 years in Sichuan Province is relatively low, with most services being for treatment purposes. Utilization is influenced by education level, place of residence, self-assessment of oral health, brushing frequency, and the number of teeth.

Tooth avulsion is the most severe type of dental trauma, and tooth replantation is currently the preferred treatment method for dislocated teeth. In most cases, patients and their families fail to properly preserve dislocated teeth. At the time of treatment, the affected tooth has been dry and detached for more than 60 min, and the prognosis is usually poor. This paper provides a review of the research progress on the classification, characteristics, pathogenesis, and pre-treatment methods for tooth root resorption after complete replantation of a dislocated tooth to provide a reference and guidance for exploring suitable treatment plans for delayed tooth replantation once better tooth replantation methods have been identified.

Diabetes mellitus not only affects several organs in the human body but also affects oral health, easily cau-sing the occurrence and aggravation of endodontic and periapical inflammation. In this context, the relationship between diabetes mellitus and endodontics and periapical diseases has become a major topic in dentistry, and the mechanism of its influence has been extensively explored. In this paper, the interactions between diabetes mellitus and endodontics and periapical disease and their mechanisms are reviewed to contribute to the research and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus combined with endodontics and periapical disease.

The surgical resection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) mostly relies on the experience of clinicians, such as visual examination, palpation, and preoperative imaging examination. Real-time and objective intraoperative evaluation methods are also lacking. Indocyanine green (ICG) is a safe and pollution-free organic fluorescent dye that accumulates and develops at a lesion under near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence. This technique can be applied in the visua-lization of primary tumors and surrounding blood vessels and nerves, sentinel lymph-node biopsy, cervical lymph-node dissection, and the evaluation of free-flap blood supply for the repair and reconstruction of OSCC. NIR imaging technology may become a key link in the early diagnosis and precise treatment of OSCC in the future. This article reviews the application of ICG-NIR in OSCC.

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a major route by which mammals control embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. The taste buds, a receptor of the taste system, generate taste signals to help the body evaluate the toxicity and nutritional components of food. Thus, taste buds play a vital role in the normal metabolism of mammals. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a crucial regulatory role in the development and reconstruction of taste buds, coordinating with other signaling pathways and regulatory factors to ensure the normal development and homeostasis of taste buds and taste bud cells throughout their life cycle. This review discusses the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in gustatory papilla development and repair. The focus is on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway’s regulation of progenitor and precursor cell differentiation, its interaction with other pathways, and maintenance of homeostasis. New insights into the molecular mechanisms of gustatory papilla development and the prevention and treatment of taste disorders are provided.