Artificial Intelligence in Medicine–The New Reality nowadays

Digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) have been evolving rapidly in recent years. These are the new reality that will bring improvements and innovations to the healthcare sector. It will support the work of health professionals and bring new hope to patients to improve their health. The aim of the current study is to investigate the application of artificial intelligence in medicine. In recent years the innovations in the health sector are immense. The digitalization of information in medicine creates many new opportunities for improving and perfecting the healthcare sector and providing health services at a very high level. AI is successfully implemented in medicine and dental medicine education. Artificial intelligence and digital health are one step forward in modernizing and improving the educational and healthcare system, which would benefit both physicians and patients

Comparative bacteriological examination of materials, taken from the pathologically altered mucosa of the maxillary sinus and chronic inflammatory processes, developing around the maxillary teeth

Aim: To perform a comparative bacteriological examination of a material, taken from the alveolus of an extracted tooth with chronic inflammatory disease and a material from the maxillary sinus at the closure of oroantral communication, performed immediately after extraction.Background: Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis is a common problem and a well-known condition in the dental practice. This type of maxillary sinusitis differs in its pathophysiology, pathomorphology, microbiology, diagnosis and treatment from the other types of maxillary sinusitis. Chronic inflammatory processes affecting the periodontium and periodontium of the teeth can often reach the maxillary sinuses and thus cause odontogenic maxillary sinusitis.Methods: To perform the task assigned, microbiological samples were prepared, taken intraoperatively from the inflammatory focus around the causative tooth and from the altered mucosa of the maxillary sinus. After taking into account the results of the microbiological examination, a comparative analysis of the microflora isolated from the two sites was performed. This was done in order to prove its identity and to look for the relationship between the two pathological processes. To accomplish the task, we selected 27 patients who had molar teeth extracted, not subjected to conservative treatment, whose roots protrude into the maxillary sinus or stand no more than 3 mm away. In patients where a direct contact with the maxillary sinus was made, we used two sterile swabs to take the microbiological sample – first from the alveolar walls of the extracted tooth and then through the communication made. In other patients, we created such a communication with a fissure burr ourselves, after we had already taken a sample from the alveoli of the extracted tooth. The hole size was no more than 5 mm.Results: When comparing the samples of each patient, taken from the alveoli of the extracted tooth and the pathologically altered mucosa of the maxillary sinus, we obtained the following results – compared to the frequency distribution, we can see in the following table – a match of 88.9% of all cases and in a little over 11% of the cases where not match is found between the samples.Conclusions: When the height of the available bone in the distal parts of the upper jaw between the apexes of the teeth and the floor of the maxillary sinus is below 3 mm, the risk of ascending of the inflammatory process from the periodontal tissues to the maxillary sinus is quite high – 88.89%

Influence of chronic inflammatory processes of the teeth on the mucociliary transport of the maxillary sinus // Влияние на хроничните възпалителни процеси на зъбите върху мукоцилиарния транспорт на лигавицата на максиларния синус

The maxillary sinus is the largest of the paranasal cavities. It was discovered by the English anatomist Nathaniel Highmore in 1651 and bears his name. It is an air-filled, pyramid-like cavity, repeating the shape of the upper jaw. Its inner walls are covered by a mucous membrane - Schneider's membrane. Its normal thickness is 0.13 - 0.5 mm. Thickening of the membrane over 2 mm is considered pathologic for the sinus. The main reason for these changes is inflammatory processes, often associated with an odontogenic source. The close connection between the maxillary molars and the maxillary sinus is a reason to look for a match between the causes of periapical lesions and the morphological changes of the sinus mucosa. Several authors report the microflora's identity, isolated from both foci, and describe the most common causes. Clinicians aim to improve the effectiveness of treatment of the inflammatory pathology of the maxillary sinus by removing the etiological factor and prescribing the most appropriate antibacterial therapy. In cases of pathological changes of the sinus mucosa, there is a reduction in the area of the ciliary epithelium in the number and activity of the cilia, leading to a disorder of the drainage function. The results show that the sinus mucosa has the ability to regenerate and can return to its normal parameters by improving ventilation and drainage of the maxillary sinus.Максиларният синус е най-голямата от параназалните кухини. Открит е от английския анатом Натаниел Хаймор през 1651 г. и носи неговото име. Представлява въздушна, наподобяваща пирамида кухина, повтаряща формата на горната челюст. Вътрешните му стени са покрити от мукозна мембрана – Шнайдерова мембрана. Нормалната и дебелина е 0,13 – 0,5 мм. Задебеляването на мембраната, когато е над 2мм, се разглежда като заболяване на синуса. Основната причина за тези изменения са възпалителните процеси, които често са свързани с одонтогенен източник. Близката връзка между горночелюстните молари и максиларния синус е причина да се търси съответствие между причинителите на периапикалните лезии и морфологичните измененията на синусната лигавица. Редица автори докладват идентичността на микрофлората, изолирана от двете огнища и описват най-често срещаните причинители като се цели подобряването на ефикасността на лечението на възпалителната патология на максиларния синус чрез отстраняване на етиологичния фактор и назначаване на най-подходящата антибактериална терапия. При патологични изменения на синусната мукоза се наблюдава редукция на площа на цилиарния епител и на броя и активността на ресничките, водещо до нарушение в дренажната функция. Резултатите сочат, че синусната лигавица има способността за регенерация и може да се върне към нормалните си параметри чрез подобряването на вентилацията и дренажа на максиларния синус