Does the addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles improve the antibacterial properties of direct dental composite resins? A systematic review

A promising approach to improve the poor antibacterial properties of dental composite resins has been the addition of metal oxide nanoparticles into the resin matrix. This systematic review aimed to determine whether the addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) improves the antibacterial properties of direct dental composite resins. This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered with the PROSPERO database: CRD42019131383. A systematic literature search was conducted using the following databases: Medline (Ovid), the Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Web of Science, Trove, Google Scholar, World Cat, and OpenGrey. The initial search retrieved 3178 results, which were then screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in a total of four studies that were eligible for qualitative synthesis within this review. All the included studies were in vitro non-randomized post-test design experimental studies. A lack of congruity in the results obtained from these studies that used different tests to evaluate antibacterial activity was evident. Although some studies demonstrated a significant improvement of antibacterial properties in composites containing at least 1% ZnO-NPs (wt %), they are unlikely to present any clear clinical advantage due to the short lifetime of observed antibacterial properties

Self-reported aural symptoms, headache and temporomandibular disorders in Japanese young adults

Background: To investigate the associations of aural symptoms, headache and depression with the presence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms in a young adult population in Japan. Methods: A personal interview survey was conducted on first-year university students (n = 1,930) regarding symptoms of TMD, aural problems, headache, shoulder pain and depression. Logistic regression was applied to assess the associations of these problems with the presence of TMD symptoms after controlling for age and gender. Results: Among the 1,930 students, 543 students exhibited TMD symptoms and were classified into 7 groups: clicking only (Group I, n = 319), pain in the TMJ only (Group II, n = 21), difficulty in mouth opening only (Group III, n = 18), clicking and pain (Group IV, n = 29), clicking and difficulty in mouth opening (Group V, n = 48), difficulty in mouth opening and pain (Group VI, n = 11), and combination of three symptoms (Group VII, n = 97). The control group (n = 1,387) were subjects without any TMD symptoms. After adjusting for age and gender, a strong association was observed between TMD symptoms (Group II and IV) and tinnitus (OR = 12.1 and 13.2, respectively). TMD symptoms (Group I, II and III) were also associated with vertigo and headache. Otalgia and depression were significantly associated with the presence of clicking only. Conclusions: TMD symptoms were significantly correlated to aural symptoms and headache. A functional evaluation of the stomatognathic system should be considered in subjects with unexplained aural symptoms and headache

Semaphorin 4D promotes bone invasion in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) frequently invade the bones of the facial skeleton. Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) is an axon guidance molecule produced by oligodendrocytes. Sema4D was also identified in the bone microenvironment and many cancer tissues including HNSCC. To date, however, the role of Sema4D in cancer-associated bone disease is still unknown. This is the first study to demonstrate the role of Sema4D in bone invasion of cancer. In the clinical tissue samples of bone lesion of HNSCC, Sema4D was detected at high levels, and its expression was correlated with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) expression. In vitro experiments showed that IGF-I regulates Sema4D expression and Sema4D increased proliferation, migration and invasion in HNSCC cells. Sema4D also regulated the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor κβ ligand (RANKL) in osteoblasts, and this stimulated osteoclastgenesis. Furthermore, knockdown of Sema4D in HNSCC cells inhibited tumor growth and decreased the number of osteoclasts in a mouse xenograft model. Taken together, IGF-I-driven production of Sema4D in HNSCCs promotes osteoclastogenesis and bone invasion

Association of dietary habits with symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in Bangladeshi adolescents

The prevalences of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in Bangladeshi adolescents and their associations with intake of various hard food items were investigated. A group of 1,200 randomly selected high school students aged 12-17 years from three communities (rural, semi-urban and urban) completed a questionnaire on dietary habits and presence of TMD symptoms and were examined clinically. In bivariate analysis, no significant relationship was observed between TMD symptoms and eating of hard foods. However, in logistic regression analysis, clicking showed a significant correlation with consumption of hard vegetable and fruits more than 3 times per week (P<0.05). A statistically significant correlation was also observed between consumption of all hard food items (at least one item in each of the 4 categories of hard food) more than 12 times per week and pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) (P<0.05). A positive association was found between pain in the TMJ and older age (15-17 years) (P<0.001). The prevalence of pain in the TMJ was significantly higher in males (P<0.01). Prevalences of clicking and pain in the TMJ were significantly higher in subjects living in a rural area than in subjects living in an urban area (P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). Subjects having one or more decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) showed significantly higher prevalences of clicking (P<0.01) and restricted mouth opening (P<0.01). The results suggest that prevalence of TMD symptoms are related to prolonged consumption of hard food items.The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.co

Caries experience and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy in a low-resource setting

Background: Children with complex neurodevelopmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy (CP), have a higher risk of dental disease related at least in part to greater difficulties in performing and maintaining effective oral hygiene and oral care practices. However, to date, there are very few studies that have considered the impact of dental disease on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. This study aimed to investigate the association between dental caries experience and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) among children and adolescents with cerebral palsy in a low-resource setting (Bangladesh). Methods: A total of 90 children and adolescents with CP, 2-17 years old (median age 10 years; 37.8% female and 62.2% male) were randomly selected from the Bangladesh Cerebral Palsy Register (BCPR) The decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT) index was used to measure caries experience. Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ) and Family Impact Scale (FIS) were used to assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Binary logistic regression was used to investigate factors that may contribute to dental caries experience. Results: Dental caries were observed among 55.6% of the participants. After adjusting for age and gender, binary logistic regression analysis showed that dental caries experience was significantly associated with those who had teeth/mouth pain (rate ratio 7.3; P = 0.02), food caught between teeth (rate ratio: 6.4; P = 0.02), difficulty in eating and drinking (rate ratio 5.9; p = 0.02) and those who felt frequently upset (rate ratio: 54.7; P = 0.02). Conclusion: In this study, we found that children and adolescents with CP in a low-resource setting had high dental caries experience and that dental caries had a negative impact on OHRQoL amongst these participants and their parents/caregivers. Health care professionals should be aware of the importance of dental health and oral hygiene in this population. These findings highlight the need for oral health promotion programs for children and adolescents with CP in these settings to reduce pain and to improve quality of life

Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma in a 9-year-old boy

Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma (AFO) is a rare, benign mixed odontogenic tumor. A 9-year-old Japanese boy was referred to Okayama University Hospital in December 2013 for the evaluation of an unerupted tooth in his right lower mandible. A panoramic radiograph showed a well-defined multilocular radiolucent lesion extending from the right first molar to the ramus of the mandibular, containing radiopaque foci. The first molar was impacted by the lesion. The tumor was easily enucleated from the cortical bone, and the follicle of the first molar was removed. The first molar was preserved in the hope that it would erupt to the occlusal plane. At the 3-year follow-up there was no evidence of recurrence, and the right first molar had erupted to the occlusal plane

Risk factors for dental caries among children with cerebral palsy in a low-resource setting

Aim: To describe the oral health status and investigate factors affecting dental caries experience among children with cerebral palsy (CP) in rural Bangladesh. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children with CP who are part of the Bangladesh Cerebral Palsy Register (BCPR) study. Caries experience was measured by identifying decayed, missing, and filled teeth for deciduous and permanent teeth (dmft/DMFT). Clinical periodontal index, body mass index, oral hygiene behaviour, masticatory ability, and dietary habits were recorded. CP motor types and severity of functional mobility (Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS]) were assessed. Results: Of 90 children with CP (mean age 9y 7mo, range 2–17y, 37.8% female and 62.2% male), 35% of 2 to 6 year olds, and 70% of 7 to 11 year olds (p=0.014) experienced caries (dmft+DMFT>0). The mean values (standard deviation [SD]) of dmft and DMFT were 2.46 (3.75) and 0.72 (1.79) respectively. After adjusting for age and sex, binary logistic regression analysis showed a significant relationship with dental caries for children who had quadriplegia (odds ratio [OR] 5.56, p=0.035), tooth cleaning less than one time/day (OR 0.08, p=0.016), using toothpowder or charcoal for cleaning (OR 7.63, p=0.015), and snacking between meals more than one time/day (OR 6.93, p=0.012). Interpretation: Early oral health preventive care is required for children with CP because dental caries is highly prevalent in these children

Aberrant Expression of HOX Genes in Oral Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tissues

Human HOX genes consist of 39 genes and encode transcription factors that function as master developmental regulators. We hypothesized that the misexpression of HOX genes was associated with carcinogenesis and malignant progression. The expression levels of 39 HOX genes in 31 human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 11 dysplasia, and 10 normal mucosa tissues were quantified by the real-time RT-PCR method. The expression levels of 18 HOX genes in the SCC tissues were significantly higher than those in the normal mucosa tissues. The dysplasia tissues showed higher expression of HOXA2, A3, B3, and D10 than normal mucosa tissues whereas they showed lower expression of HOXA1, B7, B9, and C8 than SCC. The SCC with lymph node metastasis showed high expression of HOXC6 compared to the SCC without it. These results suggest that misexpressions of particular HOX genes are implicated in the development of oral dysplasia and SCC