Saudi Dental Journal最新文献

{"title":"Novel curcumin formulations for the therapy of oral cancer: a comprehensive review of mechanisms, delivery systems, and translational prospects.","authors":"Sina Seyyedhamzeh, Mohammad Sharif Sharifani, Sevda Sadr Shokriyan, Ayat Jafarova, Meysam Ghanbari Saray, Mohammad Amin Shirmohammadi, Niloufar Shahidan, Amin Jafari, Zeynab Pourtaghi, Negin Ghahremani, Adib Biyari, Amir Hossein Barjasteh, Mohammad Hossein Pourhanifeh","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00214-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00214-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral cancer, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma, represents a major global health challenge with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Current treatments often encounter limitations such as toxicity and drug resistance. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol derived from turmeric, has shown significant promise as a therapeutic agent due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and broad-spectrum anticancer activities. However, its clinical application has been limited by poor solubility, rapid metabolism, and low bioavailability. This review examines the potential of novel curcumin formulations developed to address these challenges in oral cancer treatment. It explores advanced delivery systems including nanoparticle-based carriers, liposomes, niosomes, and hybrid technologies that enhance bioavailability and enable targeted delivery. Additionally, the review discusses synthetic curcumin analogues that offer improved stability and potency. These innovative approaches demonstrate enhanced anticancer effects through pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, and anti-angiogenic mechanisms, often exhibiting synergistic activity with conventional therapies. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the mechanisms and efficacy of these advanced curcumin-based strategies and provide future perspectives on their role as safe and effective options in oral oncology.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13379539/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148473419","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 impact of propolis-silver nanoparticles coated sutures versus conventional sutures on early intraoral wound healing in healthy and diabetic rats: a preliminary histological study.","authors":"Hawra A Aljanobi, Muneer Alshuyukh, Hassan Ghonaim, Mohammed Alhulami, Zahra Aldawood, Ahmed Alsubaie, Hassan Alramadan, Ali Alkhalaf, Intisar Siddiqui","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00213-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00213-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Optimal wound healing is crucial in oral surgery, particularly in compromised conditions. Diabetes mellitus is associated with impaired wound healing due to reduced vascularization, immune dysfunction, and altered collagen deposition. Propolis, a bioactive resin produced by honeybees, has demonstrated antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pro-healing properties. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of propolis-silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coated sutures on early wound healing in the oral mucosa of healthy and diabetic rats through histological assessments. Propolis-silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized and examined using FTIR. The propolis-AgNPs then used to coat polyglycolic acid (PGA) sutures. Before using the sutures in the experimental surgery, sutures Tensile Strength and SEM Analysis were performed. 12 Sprague-Dawley female rats (6 healthy, 6 diabetic) were used to create bilateral buccal mucosa punch incisions, with one side sutured using the propolis-AgNPs-coated PGA and the other with non-coated PGA sutures as a control. Wound healing was assessed after seven days through histological analysis using hematoxylin & eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and Welch's t test (p ≤ 0.05 considered significant). In healthy rats, propolis-coated sutures significantly improved collagen fiber organization and mature collagen deposition (p = 0.030). Although diabetic rats did not show statistically significant differences (p > 0.05), a trend toward enhanced collagen fiber alignment and mature collagen formation was observed. A slight reduction in blood vessel formation was noted in both groups. Propolis-AgNPs-coated sutures demonstrated enhanced collagen organization in healthy rats and showed potential for improving wound healing in diabetic models.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13376112/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148473364","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 data augmentation and backbone architecture selection on dental caries segmentation in panoramic radiographs: a comparative deep learning study using pre-trained U-Net models.","authors":"Elaheh Asghari, Rabehe Ostadhassan, Alireza Asghari, Zahra Raeisi, Nasim Razavi, Hossein Najafzadeh","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00211-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00211-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluates the impact of data augmentation and preprocessing on U-Net model performance for dental caries segmentation in panoramic X-ray images, comparing different pre-trained backbone architectures. A combined dataset of 500 panoramic dental X-ray images was analyzed: 400 from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (1024 × 2048 pixels) and 100 publicly available images (1536 × 768 pixels), all with manually annotated, expert-validated segmentation masks. A preprocessing pipeline including resizing, bilateral filtering, CLAHE contrast enhancement, unsharp masking, and normalization was applied, and data augmentation (rotation, shifting, shearing, zooming, horizontal flipping) expanded the dataset to 1,000 images. Four U-Net architectures (standard, VGG16, ResNet50, and Xception) were evaluated across four scenarios (with/without augmentation and preprocessing), using Dice coefficient, IoU, accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and AUC-ROC through five-fold cross-validation. The Xception-based U-Net, with both augmentation and preprocessing, achieved the highest performance (Dice: 0.9517 ± 0.0029, IoU: 0.9079 ± 0.0053), while the standard U-Net achieved Dice: 0.7380 ± 0.2099 and IoU: 0.6203 ± 0.2193 under the same configuration. Models lacking augmentation or preprocessing performed substantially worse, with ResNet50 without augmentation showing severe degradation (Dice: 0.0068 ± 0.0002). The combined configuration also yielded the lowest validation loss (0.0154) and improved stability across folds. This study demonstrates that combining pre-trained backbones, data augmentation, and systematic preprocessing significantly enhances dental caries segmentation accuracy, with the Xception-based model achieving near-optimal results while models without augmentation failed dramatically. These findings highlight the essential role of comprehensive data preparation and provide a foundation for robust computer-aided diagnostic systems, potentially enabling automated caries detection and improved clinical decision-making in dental radiography.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13341999/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148399588","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":"Management of isolated gingival recession defects using platelet rich fibrin and amnio-chorion membrane in coronally advanced flap: an in-vivo study.","authors":"Amol G Deodhar, Anita Kulloli, Sharath K Shetty, Santosh Martande, Ketan Deshetti, Urmila Samant","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00202-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00202-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gingival recession is a highly prevalent mucogingival condition that can significantly compromise oral health and esthetics. Patients commonly suffer from dentinal hypersensitivity, root caries, poor esthetics, discomfort during brushing, and in severe cases tooth mobility or tooth loss, ultimately affecting their quality of life. To compare the effectiveness of Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) and Amnio-Chorion Membrane (ACM) with Coronally Advanced Flap (CAF) to manage the case of isolated gingival recession defects (GRD). The study is a split-mouth randomised trial that included 13 patients (n = 26) with bilateral Miller Class 1 or 2 maxilla anterior and premolar recession of the gingiva. The randomizing of locations was also done to 13 sites in each group of either Group I (CAF+ PRF, n = 13) or Group II (CAF +ACM, n = 13). At 6 months follow-up, plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession depth (GRD), Clinical attachment level (CAL), Keratinized gingiva width (WKG), Percentage of root coverage, and root coverage Esthetic score (RES) were measured. All data were analyzed in the SPSS v21.0 software; paired t-tests and unpaired t-tests were used for comparing the intragroup and intergroup respectively. The level of statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. At 6 months, statistically significant improvements in PRF and CAM in all clinical parameters was seen. Root coverage of Group I was 78.84 ± 19.13 and Group II was 74.99 ± 15.59. Intergroup comparisons showed no statistically significance in clinical outcome, RES or root coverage percentage (p > 0.05). PRF and ACM had both positive outcomes on gingival thickness, WKG, and CAL. PRF or ACM resulted in significant improvement in clinical periodontal parameters, root coverage, and esthetic outcomes, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13323424/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148363087","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":"Contemporary biomimetic and bioactive materials in paediatric dentistry: a narrative review.","authors":"Melis Ünsal-Çalışkaner, Aydın Emre Lermi","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00206-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00206-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biomimetic dentistry seeks to restore the structure and function of natural tooth tissues using materials that closely approximate their biological counterparts. Despite the growing clinical adoption of materials marketed as \"biomimetic\" or \"bioactive,\" a persistent terminological ambiguity between these two terms has complicated evidence synthesis and clinical decision-making, particularly in the paediatric context. This narrative review, in which no systematic risk-of-bias assessment was performed, proposes a conceptual two-tier classification framework for biomimetic dental materials, distinguishing passive biomimetics, which replicate physical tooth tissue properties without inducing a biological response, from bioactive substances, which actively promote healing or remineralisation. Passive biomimetics encompass dental ceramics and resin-based composites. Bioactive substances are further subdivided into ion-releasing materials, bioceramic-based substances, biomolecular/bioinductive systems, and smart adhesive/hybrid systems. Each category is appraised against the FDI 2022 Policy Statement criteria for bioactive restorative materials. The proposed classification has not been prospectively validated and is intended as a conceptual framework to guide clinical reasoning and future research. Evidence quality varies considerably across categories: while materials such as glass ionomer cements and mineral trioxide aggregate are supported by extensive clinical data, emerging approaches including self-assembling peptide P11-4 and bioactive adhesive systems remain primarily supported by in vitro or short-term evidence. Future research should prioritise long-term randomised controlled trials in paediatric populations to validate the clinical relevance of emerging biomimetic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13323693/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148363068","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":"Atlanto-axial morphometric measurements for age and sex estimation: a retrospective cone beam computed tomography study.","authors":"Shubham M Pawar, Junaid Ahmed, M Archana, Nandita Shenoy, Nanditha Sujir, Komal Smriti, N Srikant","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00203-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00203-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accurate determination of age and sex is fundamental in forensic anthropology, archaeology, and clinical diagnostics. Conventional methods are often limited by subjectivity and low precision. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), with its high-resolution three-dimensional imaging, offers a reliable alternative for evaluating craniofacial structures. This study aimed to assess the utility of atlantoaxial morphometric parameters, particularly the atlantodental interval, in age and sex determination using CBCT. A retrospective observational study was conducted on 200 full-field CBCT scans (100 males, 100 females) of individuals aged 20-80 years. Scans meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed using standardized protocols. Eight parameters related to atlas (C1) and axis (C2) morphology and atlantodental intervals (AADI, PADI, LADI) were measured. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, independent t-tests, effect size estimation, and discriminant function analysis. Most parameters showed no significant variation across age groups, except posterior atlantodental interval (PADI), which demonstrated statistical significance. Sex-based comparisons revealed significantly greater atlas and axis dimensions in males (p < 0.01), indicating marked sexual dimorphism. Effect size analysis showed very large effects for atlas measurements and moderate to large effects for axis parameters. Discriminant analysis identified axis vertical length as the most reliable predictor of sex (accuracy: 82.5%), followed by axis anteroposterior length (72%). Atlantodental interval measurements showed limited discriminatory value. Atlantoaxial parameters exhibit selective age- and sex-related variations, with axis measurements demonstrating the highest utility for sex estimation. However, overall diagnostic accuracy remains moderate, indicating that these parameters should be used adjunctively. Further large-scale studies are required to validate their application in forensic and clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13323473/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148363065","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":"Salivary osteocalcin as a biomarker for periodontal disease progression and treatment response: a prospective longitudinal study.","authors":"Zainulabdeen Saad Mahboba, Hussein Jameel Abd Noor, Batool M Al-Fahham, Salah M Ibrahim","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00194-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00194-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide and leading to irreversible alveolar bone loss. Although salivary biomarkers are potentially non-invasive diagnostic targets, the longitudinal changes in osteocalcin (a marker of bone turnover) following periodontal therapy have been poorly described across levels of disease progression. In this prospective longitudinal study, a new multimodal method combining salivary biomarker analysis and Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) was employed. A total of 100 patients (25 systemically healthy controls and 75 patients with periodontitis, stratified into Stages I, II, or III according to the World Workshop 2017 classification) received non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). Salivary osteocalcin and clinical parameters (PPD, CAL, PI) were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The sample size was estimated by G*Power software to achieve reliable power (> 90%) for detecting clinically important correlations. Baseline salivary osteocalcin levels showed a stage-dependent increase, with Stage III patients exhibiting concentrations 4.7-fold higher than those of healthy controls (28.5 ± 4.1 vs. 6.1 ± 1.9 ng/mL; p < 0.001). Temporal trajectory analysis revealed that the greatest therapeutic effect occurred within the first three months post-NSPT, with Stage III patients showing a 30.5% reduction in osteocalcin by six months. Strong correlations were observed between osteocalcin and CAL (r = 0.88, p < 0.001), with treatment-induced changes in osteocalcin significantly predicting clinical improvement (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). Salivary osteocalcin may be a valid, non-invasive biomarker of the metabolism of the periodontal bone. Early post-treatment red detection offers an important therapeutic window to optimize follow-up intervals based on treatment, and it can be incorporated into the personalized periodontal care workflow.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13323427/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148363182","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":"Research interests and trends in alveolar ridge augmentation and visualization of articles from 1990 to 2024: a bibliometric analysis.","authors":"Jingchao Hu, Li Zhao, Xu Liu, Han Zhao","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00208-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00208-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this bibliometric analysis was to illustrate research interests and trends in the field of alveolar ridge augmentation (ARA) between 1990 and 2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A database search was performed in the Web of Science Core Collection to retrieve relevant studies published from 1990 to 2024. Bibliometric and statistical network analyses were conducted using R language, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer. Scientific maps were then constructed for journals, countries, institutions, authors, keywords, and citations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 4386 papers were published from 1990 to 2024. Both annual publication output and citations exhibited sustained growth until 2021, followed by stabilization from 2021 to 2024. The journal with the highest number of publications and citations was Clinical Oral Implants Research. At the country level, the United States ranked first, with 1000 publications, while Europe was the most productive continent. Sixty-six high-frequency keywords were selected, among which 3D printing and polycaprolactone (PCL) emerged as the most recent high-frequency keywords. Thirty papers with the strongest citation bursts were selected. Additionally, 16 reference clusters were extracted, among which dental implants (#1), titanium mesh (#2), and tooth extraction (#5) gained prominence over the past decade.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides an overview of the development and research trends of ARA. The findings indicate strong contributions from the United States and Europe. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) was the most extensively studied technique for ARA, and alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) has also received substantial attention. The latest research themes focus on advances in defect-specific regenerative strategies, including 3D printing, PCL, and electrospinning. Given the limitations inherent to retrieval from a single database, further comprehensive data analysis is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13323453/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148363198","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":"Comparison of fracture resistance among restorative techniques for endodontically treated mandibular premolars: an in vitro study.","authors":"Dinie Qurratuaini Zulkifly, Mohd Haikal Muhamad Halil, Ubadah Zamry, Siti Nabilah Huda Mohamad Nor","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00201-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00201-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endodontically treated teeth often have compromised tooth structure, which increases their susceptibility to fracture. This in vitro study compared the fracture resistance of endodontically treated mandibular premolars restored using the sandwich technique, Nayyar core composite, and semi-direct composite onlay. Seventy-six extracted mandibular premolars were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 19): intact teeth (control), conventional sandwich technique, Nayyar core composite, and semi-direct composite onlay. All groups except the control teeth group underwent standardized root canal treatment and obturation, followed by composite restoration according to the group allocation. Specimens were loaded axially in a universal testing machine until fracture. Fracture resistance was recorded in kilonewtons (kN). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnett T3 post-hoc tests (p < 0.05). Mean fracture resistance was highest in the intact control group (8.70 ± 4.09 kN), followed by the sandwich technique (7.50 ± 1.55 kN), Nayyar core composite (6.10 ± 1.61 kN), and semi-direct composite onlay (4.94 ± 3.16 kN). The overall difference among the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Post-hoc analysis showed significant differences between the control and semi-direct onlay groups (p = 0.019) and between the sandwich technique and semi-direct onlay groups (p = 0.022). Within the limitations of this in vitro study, the sandwich technique demonstrated the highest fracture resistance when compared with Nayyar core composite restoration and semi-direct composite onlay in endodontically treated mandibular premolars with conservative access preparation and intact marginal ridges.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13287280/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148296908","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":"Improving healing after surgical extraction of partially impacted lower third molar by modification of three sided flap: a clinical pilot study.","authors":"Suha Abdulateef Aloosi","doi":"10.1007/s44445-026-00162-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44445-026-00162-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sulcular deepitheliazation (SD) means the formation, maintenance, and regeneration of the thin, non-keratinized epithelial lining (sulcular epithelium) that covers the soft tissue wall of the gingival sulcus. SD is a critical, rapid healing process following periodontal surgery, where epithelial cells migrate to cover denuded connective tissue and re-establish a barrier against bacteria. To assess the healing outcomes of SD during the extraction of partially impacted mandibular third molars. This clinical pilot study enrolled forty patients at the Oral Surgery Clinic, College of Dentistry, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, from January 2024 to June 2025. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group treated with a modified three-sided flap (n = 20) or a study group receiving additional SD (n = 20), as an approach for surgical extraction of partially erupted lower third molars. Then, surgical difficulties were assessed, postoperative care was recommended, and postoperative assessments (pain, mouth opening, facial swelling, and soft-tissue healing) were evaluated using different protocols. Finally, the correlations between different variables were determined and compared. SD did not significantly affect postoperative pain, swelling, trismus, or mouth opening, but eliminated dry socket, impaired healing, and second-molar sensitivity, which occurred in the control group at rates of 10%, 15%, and 25%, respectively. Postoperative pain correlated significantly with tooth splitting (p = 0.000) and difficulty score (p = 0.001), while limitation of mouth opening was associated with tooth splitting (p = 0.001). SD can improve soft-tissue healing and might prevent socket-related complications, whereas postoperative morbidity is mainly driven by surgical difficulty.</p>","PeriodicalId":47246,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Dental Journal","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13282430/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148284610","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}