European Journal of Dentistry最新文献

{"title":"From Clinic to Community: An Interpretable Artificial Intelligence Framework for Enamel Caries Detection to Support Public Health Dentistry.","authors":"Heba Ashi","doi":"10.1055/s-0046-1816061","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0046-1816061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Dental enamel caries is among the most prevalent oral diseases worldwide. Early detection is essential, as incipient lesions can be managed with noninvasive therapies. Conventional methods, such as visual-tactile inspection and radiography, remain limited by examiner variability and reduced sensitivity for early lesions. This study aimed to develop an efficient and interpretable deep learning framework for automated classification of enamel caries at multiple severity levels, while ensuring clinical applicability and transparency.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A dataset of 2,000 clinical dental images categorized as advanced enamel caries, early-stage enamel caries, and no enamel caries was curated and expanded to 12,000 images using preprocessing and augmentation. Two transfer learning models, Modified EfficientNetB0 and Modified MobileNetV2, were trained individually, then combined using an attention-guided fusion mechanism. Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) was applied to provide visual interpretability.</p><p><strong>Statistical analysis: </strong>Performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and ROC AUC. Comparative analysis was performed across models and classifiers, with inference time assessed for clinical feasibility.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Modified EfficientNetB0 and MobileNetV2 models achieved accuracies of 96.33 and 96.25%, respectively. The fused model with Random Forest demonstrated superior performance, achieving 96.92% accuracy, F1 score of 96.92, and an ROC AUC of 99.34. Misclassifications were limited to adjacent disease stages, with no severe diagnostic errors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The proposed framework provides accurate, interpretable, and efficient enamel caries detection. Its low inference time supports real-time clinical use, enhancing diagnostic confidence and enabling early, minimally invasive interventions. Future research should focus on multicenter validation and multimodal datasets to improve generalizability.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1305-1320"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623459/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146257818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dental Pulp Stem Cell-Derived Secretome-Induced Reprogramming of Tongue Tumor Microenvironment.","authors":"Ferry Sandra, Dewi Ranggaini, Johni Halim, Natalia Tjingson, Melanie Sadono Djamil, Janti Sudiono, Muhammad Ihsan Rizal, Nurrani Mustika Dewi, Alifah Evi Scania, Kyung Hoon Lee","doi":"10.1055/s-0046-1816080","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0046-1816080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Oral tongue cancer is among the most aggressive malignancies in the head and neck region, driven by a complex tumor microenvironment (TME) that fosters tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. Conventional treatments often fail to address the stromal and immunological intricacies of the TME, highlighting the need for microenvironment-targeted therapies. One promising strategy involves the use of dental pulp stem cell-derived secretome (DPSC-Sec), which contains a broad range of bioactive molecules, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles enriched with regulatory microRNAs. This review explores the potential of DPSC-Sec as a reprogramming agent for modulating the TME in tongue cancer. Evidence suggests that DPSC-Sec may inhibit cancer-associated fibroblast activation, reprogram immunosuppressive cells, remodel the extracellular matrix, normalize aberrant angiogenesis, and regulate oncogenic signaling pathways. The therapeutic quality of DPSC-Sec is significantly influenced by priming methods, which can enhance its potency. While preclinical data are promising, clinical translation requires validation in orthotopic and immunocompetent models, GMP-compliant production, and thorough safety evaluation, especially regarding tumorigenicity and angiogenic effects. Integration with biomaterials, nanocarriers, or conventional therapies may further boost efficacy. This review consolidates current findings on DPSC-Sec and its mechanisms in TME modulation, underscoring its translational potential and future directions for developing targeted therapies in tongue cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1026-1038"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623487/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146206316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Osteogenic Marker Expression after SHED and PMMA-HA Scaffold Application in Alveolar Bone Defects.","authors":"Tania Saskianti, Renata Damayanti, Fami W Pangestika, Ardianti M Dewi, Rini D Ridwan, Choon Y Fan, Masami Kanawa, Takeshi Kawamoto, Kotaro Tanimoto, Katsumi Fujimoto","doi":"10.1055/s-0045-1812311","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0045-1812311","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Alveolar bone defects in dentistry-caused by trauma, congenital anomalies, and periodontal disease-can substantially impair oral health and tooth function. These effects pose significant challenges in dentistry, and current gold-standard treatments such as autogenous bone grafting have notable limitations. Stem cell from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) has great potential for bone tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of SHED seeded in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds on the expression of osteogenic markers in alveolar bone defects.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 24 male Wistar rats had their maxillary incisors extracted, and the resulting defects were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) no treatment (control), (2) defects treated with PMMA-HA, and (3) defects treated with SHED seeded in PMMA-HA scaffolds. Immunoreactivity of BMP2, RUNX2, ALP, TGF-β, OCN, OPG, RANK, and RANKL was assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Immunohistochemical results showed upregulated expression of BMP2, RUNX2, ALP, TGF-β, OCN, and OPG and downregulated expression of RANK and RANKL in rats treated with SHED-seeded PMMA-HA scaffolds compared with control and defects treated with PMMA-HA only groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>SHED seeded into PMMA-HA scaffolds effectively influenced the expression of several osteogenic markers, such as BMP2, RUNX2, ALP, TGF-β, OCN, OPG, RANK, and RANKL, in alveolar bone defects. These findings indicate that the combination of SHED and PMMA-HA scaffolds could potentially become a promising regenerative alternative to autogenous bone grafting in alveolar bone defects.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1143-1151"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623490/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145539784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Evaluation of Canal Centering Ability and Transportation of MiniKUT and TruNatomy Rotary File Systems in Curved Root Canals: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomographic Study.","authors":"Hemant R Chourasia, Mohammed Y Tarrosh, Amani Alfaifi, Kawther Alhazmi, Fatima Khormi, Ahmad H Jabali","doi":"10.1055/s-0045-1812310","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0045-1812310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The current in vitro analysis was designed to compare the centering ability and transportation of MiniKUT and TruNatomy files on the curved mesiobuccal root of the mandibular first molars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Thirty extracted mandibular first molars were randomly divided into two groups. In the first group, root canal instrumentation was performed by MiniKUT, and in the second group, TruNatomy rotary files were used. CBCT analysis of pre- and post-instrumented teeth was performed to check the canal transportation and centering ability at distances of 3, 6, and 9 mm from the root apex with the help of a prevalidated formula.</p><p><strong>Statistical analysis: </strong>Descriptive statistics were performed to calculate the mean and standard deviation. One-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Bonferroni correction was used to check the association at different levels. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A significant association was reported with centering ability at 3, 6, and 9 mm (<i>p</i> = 0.001) across the groups. However, no significant association was reported with canal transportation at 3, 6, and 9 mm (<i>p</i> = 0.16) among both groups. TruNatomy showed higher transportation as compared to MiniKUT at 3 mm from the apex. Overall, the result suggests both files are safer to use in curved mandibular canals.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Both MiniKUT and TruNatomy files demonstrated minimal root canal transportation and maintained canal shape at 3, 6, and 9 mm from the apex. These characteristics suggest that both systems are safe and effective for the instrumentation of curved mandibular canals.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1188-1195"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623458/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145470950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Oral Environment Alterations on Salivary Candida Load: An Exploratory Clinical Study.","authors":"Kamis Gaballah, Ensanya A Abou Neel, Priyadharshini Sekar, Roba Saqan, Marwan Mansoor Mohammed, Sarah Waleed Alkhazraji, Maya Elzayat, Raneem Essam Moustafa","doi":"10.1055/s-0045-1812494","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0045-1812494","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong><i>Candida species</i> are common oral commensals that can become opportunistic pathogens under specific conditions. Most research centers on medically compromised individuals, leaving a gap in understanding oral colonization patterns in healthy populations. This study aimed to investigate the impact of oral conditions and dental restorations on salivary candidal load in healthy individuals.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Ninety-seven participants were divided into five groups based on the oral environment as follows: Group 1: participants with healthy mucosa and restoration-free teeth; Group 2: participants with dental fillings, conventional crowns, and fixed partial dentures; Group 3: removable dentures and appliances-positive control; Group 4: participants with tongue-coating abnormalities. Group 5: participants with partially erupted third molars. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed for <i>Candida</i> species using culture methods and colony-forming units per milliliter (CFUs/mL).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>Candida albicans (C. albicans)</i> was present in 49.5% of samples, predominantly in Group 2 (73.7%). Non-albicans <i>Candida</i> (NAC) was detected in 67% of samples, exhibiting minimal intergroup variation. Age, gender, ethnicity, plaque, and calculus scores significantly influenced the growth of <i>C. albicans</i> and NAC, with older males and Asians exhibiting higher fungal loads. Group 2 demonstrated a significant increase in <i>C. albicans</i> CFUs (10 × ) compared with the negative control. NAC load (CFUs/mL) was notably higher in participants with impacted molars. Age, oral health, and sociodemographic factors were key predictors of salivary <i>C. albicans</i> and NAC loads, with worse oral hygiene correlating to increased NAC growth.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the impact of the oral environment on the salivary Candidal load in disease-free populations, in particular. The presence of complex fillings, crowns, or fixed partial dentures has the most significant impact on <i>C. albicans</i> loads. However, the impacted molar has the most significant effect on NAC. The growth of both <i>C. albicans</i> and NAC was affected by the age, socioeconomic status, and oral hygiene status of the patient. Recognizing the colonization patterns in these individuals can aid in selecting restorative materials and preventive measures to reduce colonization and excessive salivary carriage. Further research is needed to explore the long-term implications of these findings on oral and systemic health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1169-1179"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623477/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145539744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circular RNAs in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review of Emerging Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers.","authors":"Omar Abdul Jabbar Abdul Qader, Asmaa Uthman, Walid Elsayed, Natheer Al-Rawi","doi":"10.1055/s-0046-1819725","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0046-1819725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a major global health burden, with poor survival rates due to late diagnosis and limited prognostic precision. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs characterized by their covalently closed loop structure, conferring stability and tissue specificity. Recent evidence suggests circRNAs hold promise as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in OSCC. This article aims to systematically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, prognostic value, and expression profiles of circRNAs in OSCC. We searched PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and Google Scholar databases (inception-August 2025) for studies assessing circRNAs in OSCC. Eligible studies reported diagnostic metrics (sensitivity, specificity, and AUC), prognostic outcomes (hazard ratios [HRs]), or differential expression data. Risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS-2 and NOS. Data were synthesized qualitatively. A total of 29 studies were included. Tissue-based circRNAs showed moderate diagnostic performance (AUC: 0.74-0.81), while saliva- and plasma-derived circRNAs demonstrated higher accuracy (AUC up to 0.922). Prognostic studies revealed oncogenic circRNAs were associated with poor overall survival (pooled OS HR ≈ 2.38), whereas tumor-suppressor circRNAs predicted favorable outcomes (pooled OS HR ≈ 0.43). Exosomal circRNAs, particularly circ-0000199, emerged as independent predictors of recurrence and mortality. CircRNAs exhibit strong potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in OSCC, particularly in liquid biopsy applications. However, heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and lack of multicenter validation limit immediate clinical translation. Larger, standardized studies are warranted to confirm their utility.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1076-1090"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623474/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147766505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Clinical Performance of Moisture-tolerant Sealant on Pit and Fissure Caries in Two Different Setting Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Shweta Dangi, Kumar Gaurav Chhabra, Naganandini S, Pankaj Chaudhary, Seemadevi T, Harshit Srivastava","doi":"10.1055/s-0045-1814727","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0045-1814727","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The moisture-tolerant resin-based sealant Embrace WetBond (EWB), designed for effective bonding in moist conditions, offers a promising solution for caries prevention in challenging clinical environments. This study aimed to evaluate and compare its retention rate and caries-preventive efficacy in newly erupted permanent molars under two distinct clinical settings.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This split-mouth randomized controlled trial assessed EWB sealant under moisture-controlled and non-moisture-controlled conditions in schoolchildren aged 6 to 14 years with bilateral, non-cavitated molars. A total of 37 participants (112 teeth; 56 per group) were randomized, each serving as their own control. Sealant retention, caries prevention, marginal discoloration, marginal adaptation, color match, and smoothness of surface were assessed at 1, 6, and 12 months using modified USPHS criteria. Statistical analysis included the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Friedman test to compare retention rates and sealant performance over time.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 37 children (56 teeth per group) were included, with balanced baseline characteristics due to the split-mouth design. At 12 months, sealant retention significantly declined in both groups (Group I: 96.4% at 1 month to 49% at 12 months; Group II: 96.4 to 54.9%; <i>p</i> < 0.001), though no significant differences were observed between groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Caries incidence was minimal, with only 2% of teeth affected at 12 months in each group. Apart from retention, no other parameters showed significant deterioration over 12 months.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Pit and fissure sealants demonstrated similar effectiveness in preventing occlusal caries under both moisture-controlled and non-moisture-controlled conditions over 12 months. Their comparable performance in limited moisture-controlled settings highlights their suitability for real-world clinical practice and public health programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1152-1161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623488/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146028763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Preventing Inferior Alveolar Nerve Paresthesia After Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.","authors":"Amirhossein Moaddabi, Gianrico Spagnuolo, Aida Karimzadegan, Shahab Papi, Abolfazl Hosseinnataj, Avideh Maboudi, Ali Semnani, Parisa Soltani, Carlo Rengo","doi":"10.1055/s-0046-1816077","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0046-1816077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), an autologous biomaterial, has been increasingly utilized to mitigate postoperative pain, edema, and alveolar osteitis, while promoting both soft and hard tissue regeneration during the surgical extraction of third molars. The present study aimed to compare the incidence of postoperative paresthesia in patients undergoing impacted third molar surgery with PRF application versus those treated without PRF.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A double-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted involving patients scheduled for surgical extraction of impacted third molars. Cone-beam computed tomography was utilized preoperatively to confirm the anatomical relationship between the inferior alveolar nerve canal and the tooth roots. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups: the intervention group received PRF placement within the extraction socket, whereas the control group received no adjunctive material. The incidence of postoperative paresthesia was evaluated on the seventh day following surgery using the light-touch sensory test.</p><p><strong>Statistical analysis: </strong>Normality was assessed via the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and group comparisons were conducted using the Mann-Whitney <i>U</i>-test, Pearson's chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test (<i>α</i> = 0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 100 participants were enrolled in the study, comprising 67 females and 33 males, with a mean age of 23.78 ± 3.49 years. There were no statistically significant differences in age or sex distribution between the PRF and control groups (<i>p</i> = 0.464 and <i>p</i> = 0.832, respectively). Postoperative paresthesia was observed in 8% and 2% of patients in the control and PRF groups, respectively; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (<i>p</i> = 0.117).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings of this study indicate that PRF did not significantly reduce the incidence of paresthesia following mandibular third molar extraction. Nonetheless, the results underscore the importance of further research to elucidate PRF's potential role in neurosensory recovery and postoperative outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1321-1327"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623462/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147456549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Real-Time Wearable Cervical Posture Monitoring in Dentistry: A Prospective Usability Trial with Dental Students.","authors":"Abubaker Qutieshat, Ritaj Al-Busaidi, Samiya Al-Ghammari, Al-Wejdan Koofan, Tuqa Al-Lawati, Mohammad S Alrashdan, Polyxeni Petropoulou","doi":"10.1055/s-0045-1812110","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0045-1812110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Dentists routinely adopt forward-lean postures that can lead to chronic spinal musculoskeletal disorders. Wearable real-time feedback may prompt microadjustments that preserve spinal health. This article aims to develop a wearable device for real-time detection of forwardleaning posture in dentistry, to assess its usability and alert rate during standardized student tasks, and to estimate cervical-disc fatigue lifetime from the measured headflexion profile using a simplified S-N model.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>An assistive device was constructed around an Arduino Uno interfaced with a three-axis FC-51 tilt-switch module, calibrated to trigger at > 30 degrees of head flexion. A piezo buzzer emitted pulsatile alerts when tilt exceeded the threshold. Twenty-four dental students (12 fourth year, 12 fifth year) wore the device during 30-minute simulated operative sessions. A research assistant logged each alert in real time. Postsession questionnaires (5-point Likert scale) assessed comfort, intrusiveness, distraction, workflow impact, and posture awareness. Qualitative feedback on power, alert modalities, and design refinements was collected. A fatigue model based on an S-N curve framework used measured angles to estimate years to cervical-disc fatigue under typical clinical exposure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Head flexion averaged 42.7 degrees (standard deviation 9.4). The device generated a mean of 7.9 alerts per session, with no significant difference between year levels. Likert ratings indicated high comfort, low intrusiveness and distraction, minimal workflow disruption, and enhanced posture awareness; 79% of participants expressed willingness to adopt the device. Common suggestions included rechargeable power, multimodal alerts, slimmer enclosures, and customizable thresholds. The S-N fatigue model predicted disc fatigue onset at approximately 20.6 years for pure flexion and 16.0 years when lateral tilt was also considered, aligning with clinical data from the literature. Simulated use of the device, limiting \"bad posture\" to 1 minute per day, extended the model's fatigue lifetime to over 900 years.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The goggle-mounted tilt-sensor device effectively detected and interrupted excessive forward-lean postures, was well accepted by users, and provided insights for ergonomic design improvements. Coupled with an S-N fatigue model, this approach offers both a practical intervention and a quantitative framework for mitigating career-long spinal risk in dentistry. Future work should validate long-term musculoskeletal outcomes and explore integration into clinical training.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1180-1187"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623471/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145344299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) on PEEK Coating for Biomedical and Dental Applications.","authors":"Muhammad Amber Fareed, Khalil Ahmad","doi":"10.1055/s-0045-1812108","DOIUrl":"10.1055/s-0045-1812108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is widely recognized for its biocompatibility and mechanical stability, making it a promising coating material for dental implants. However, unmodified surfaces may lack optimal properties for osseointegration and antibacterial resistance. Direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) is an advanced technique for introducing controlled micro- and nanoscale surface features to enhance implant performance. This study aims to investigate the surface characteristics, antibacterial effect, and biocompatibility of DLIP-functionalized PEEK coatings electrophoretically deposited on 316L stainless steel (SS).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>PEEK was deposited onto 316L SS substrates via electrophoretic deposition and subsequently functionalized using DLIP to create periodic surface patterns with spatial periods of 1, 1.5, and 2 µm. The modified surfaces were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, contact angle (wettability), and surface roughness measurements. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the turbidity method against <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Biocompatibility was evaluated via MG-63 osteoblast-like cell viability analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The DLIP-functionalized PEEK surface with a 1.5-µm spatial period exhibited the most favorable surface features, with a contact angle of 92 ± 1° and surface roughness of 2.04 ± 0.03 µm. This configuration significantly inhibited <i>E. coli</i> growth and achieved 80% cell viability, indicating enhanced antibacterial properties and biocompatibility.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>DLIP is an effective technique for functionalizing PEEK coatings, improving key surface characteristics that support antibacterial activity and osteoblast cell compatibility. Among the tested configurations, a 1.5-µm spatial period yielded the most promising results.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>This study supports the application of DLIP-functionalized PEEK coatings for dental implants, offering a novel and translatable surface.</p>","PeriodicalId":12028,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1205-1214"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623473/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145344266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}