Frontiers in dental medicine最新文献

{"title":"Next-generation polymeric nanoparticles for regenerative endodontics: engineering the pulp microenvironment beyond antimicrobial therapy.","authors":"Rosana Farjaminejad, Neeki Jabbari, Alexander Garcia-Godoy, Franklin Garcia-Godoy, Elnaz Tavazozadeh","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1972546","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fdmed.2026.1972546","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Regenerative endodontics aims not only to control infection but also to restore a functional pulp-dentin complex. Achieving this predictably remains challenging because disinfection, inflammation, blood vessel formation, matrix remodeling, and stem cell behavior are closely connected. Polymeric nanoparticles are increasingly being explored as a way to influence this complex environment because they can deliver therapeutic agents in a controlled and, in some cases, responsive manner. This review examines how the pulp microenvironment affects regenerative outcomes and discusses nanoscale strategies that target key aspects of this process, including infection-driven inflammation, macrophage behavior, hypoxia and vascular dysfunction, matrix reconstruction, and odontogenic differentiation. Current evidence suggests that nanoparticle performance depends not only on the cargo itself, but also on how it is released, the material design, responsiveness to biological signals, and the timing of delivery. These factors can significantly influence the behavior of regenerative cells. However, most studies remain preclinical, and no single platform has yet been able to coordinate all of these functions throughout the entire process of pulp regeneration. Future approaches will likely need to move beyond simply combining several therapeutic agents in one particle and instead focus on systems that can respond to changes in the pulp microenvironment over time. Whether these systems can do so while maintaining cytocompatibility, reproducibility, manufacturability, and clinical practicality will be important for their future use in regenerative endodontics.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1972546"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13655705/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149186619","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":"Educational support and weekly telemonitoring during rapid maxillary expansion in children: a prospective preference-based comparative cohort study.","authors":"Sabina Saccomanno, Lorenzo Ederli Silenzi, Claudia Ciocia, Francesca Calò, Antonio Rizzo, Francesco Inchingolo, Jorida Jubani, Francesca Russo, Roberta Scarano, Grazia Marinelli, Alessio Danilo Inchingolo, Andrea Palermo, Marco Severino, Angelo Michele Inchingolo, Gianna Dipalma","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1959672","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1959672","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rapid maxillary expansion requires substantial caregiver participation in screw activation, oral hygiene and early recognition of appliance-related problems. Structured education and remote photographic monitoring may support families during the active expansion phase.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-center, prospective, preference-based comparative cohort study included 100 children aged 7-11 years requiring rapid maxillary expansion. After receiving standardized information, caregivers independently selected conventional weekly in-office follow-up or an educational telemonitoring pathway comprising illustrated materials, standardized weekly caregiver-taken intraoral photographs acquired at home, clinician-led remote review and feedback and an in-office examination at completion of active expansion or earlier when clinically indicated. Quota-based consecutive recruitment continued until 50 participants were included in each cohort. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants with at least one recorded biological or technical complication during active expansion. All participants underwent the same standardized final in-office clinical examination.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All participants completed follow-up. In the telemonitoring cohort, 188 of 200 scheduled photographic sets were submitted, of which 174 (92.6%) were adequate for remote assessment. At least one recorded complication occurred in 12 of 50 participants (24.0%) in the telemonitoring cohort and 23 of 50 (46.0%) in the conventional cohort [unadjusted risk ratio [RR], 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.93; <i>p</i> = 0.021]. Recorded biological complications occurred in 16.0% and 36.0% of participants, respectively (RR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.21-0.93; <i>p</i> = 0.023), and recorded technical complications in 12.0% and 30.0%, respectively (RR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.17-0.95; <i>p</i> = 0.027). Mean activation adherence was higher in the telemonitoring cohort (94.8 ± 6.1% vs. 89.3 ± 9.7%; mean difference, 5.5 percentage points; 95% CI, 2.3-8.7; <i>p</i> = 0.001). Child- and caregiver-reported treatment acceptance scores were also higher. Unscheduled in-office visits did not differ significantly between cohorts, and no delayed detection of clinically relevant complications occurred.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The educational telemonitoring pathway was feasible and associated with fewer recorded complications, higher activation adherence, and greater treatment acceptance. However, because caregivers selected the follow-up pathway, estimates were unadjusted, and interim assessment modalities differed between cohorts, the findings should be considered exploratory and not interpreted as evidence of a causal treatment effect.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1959672"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13654767/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149172319","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":"Decellularized dental pulp extracellular matrix for pulp-dentin regeneration: a narrative review of processing, bioactivity, delivery, preclinical evidence, and translational challenges.","authors":"Xinli Zhang, Mengjie Dong","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1962311","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fdmed.2026.1962311","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Regenerative endodontics is intended to bring living function back to the pulp-dentin complex. That means restoring blood supply, neural support, immune activity, and dentin formation, not simply filling the canal with repair tissue. Blood-clot-based procedures can promote healing, but the tissue that forms is often uneven and does not closely resemble normal pulp. This limitation has drawn attention to decellularized dental pulp extracellular matrix (DPECM). DPECM keeps part of the native three-dimensional framework together with collagens, glycosaminoglycans, matricellular proteins, and matrix-bound signals. The objective of this narrative review is to critically evaluate how native dental pulp-derived DPECM is prepared and delivered, what biological effects and candidate mechanisms are directly supported, and what evidence gaps limit clinical translation. A focused PubMed search from database inception to 31 July 2026 used terms for dental pulp, decellularized extracellular matrix, DPECM, and regenerative endodontics; reference-list screening supplemented the search, and 101 articles were retained for narrative synthesis. Across the available, predominantly preclinical literature, DPECM has generally been associated with dental pulp stem-cell adhesion and migration, several differentiation programs, and angiogenic, neural-marker, and immune-remodeling outcomes. Whole-pulp scaffolds preserve tissue architecture more faithfully. Solubilized hydrogels, microgels, and photocrosslinked composites are easier to place in irregular root canals, although some structural information is lost during processing. Comparative omics has started to explain why pulp-derived matrix may behave differently from other matrices. Candidate tenascin-C/Notch signaling is one example. Another recurring theme is the coupling of macrophage behavior with vascular and odontogenic repair. Recent orthotopic canine studies provide stronger preclinical evidence of pulp-like tissue with dentinogenic, vascular-marker, and neural-marker outcomes, but not restored function. Even so, most evidence still comes from cell culture, ectopic implantation, or short animal experiments. Differences in tissue source, processing, controls, and outcome definitions make effect sizes difficult to compare. The next stage of the field will require agreed quality attributes, practical potency assays, infected-root models, long-term functional outcomes, and direct comparison with current regenerative procedures. DPECM remains a predominantly preclinical strategy: no direct human clinical evaluation of a DPECM-based therapeutic product was identified, and translation will require reproducible manufacturing, disease-relevant testing, and durable functional outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1962311"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13650465/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149167863","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":"A review on monitoring orthodontic treatment: from traditional approaches to innovative point-of-care tools.","authors":"Ananya Nair, Prajwal Shetty, M S Ravi","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1928953","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1928953","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Orthodontic treatment is performed to treat malocclusions by improving oral functions, tooth alignment, and facial esthetics that impact the quality of life of patients significantly. Nevertheless, various factors like complexity of malocclusions, patient compliance, and dental hygiene can influence treatment outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods such as clinical evaluation, radiography techniques, and dental casts have played a major role in orthodontics and have remained a standard diagnostic method in dentistry to date. On the other hand, these methods are associated with major disadvantages like radiation exposure and invasive procedures. To address these limitations, recent diagnostic methods have identified various biomarkers in gingival crevicular fluid and saliva as non-invasive diagnostic methods. These biomarkers can help clinicians in planning orthodontic treatment at the optimal time and determine the appropriate initiation of the treatment. Point-of-care diagnostic tools such as lateral flow assays, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and microfluidic devices, and wearable technologies are emerging as promising alternatives for orthodontic treatment monitoring by offering rapid, cost-effective, and non-invasive alternatives to traditional methods. Recent developments such as incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning into orthodontic software attempt to improve the overall monitoring of orthodontic treatment. This review aims to present various traditional and innovative methods that have shown promising outcomes in research, along with insights into emerging areas that serve as potential game changers in orthodontic treatment monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1928953"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13647070/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149139574","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":"Case Report: Endodontic management of a fused maxillary lateral incisor and canine with split.","authors":"Alen Romel, Adithya Kashyap K, S Vidhyadhara Shetty, K Harish Shetty, Nikhil Harikrishnan","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1954240","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1954240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dental fusion, characterized by the joining of two neighboring tooth germs during odontogenesis, is an uncommon condition affecting approximately 0.1% of the permanent dentition. The unusual anatomy of the pulp chamber and the unpredictable root canal system pose significant challenges during endodontic treatment.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>A 47-year-old female patient presented with a 6-month history of spontaneous nocturnal pain in the upper left anterior region. Clinical examination revealed a solitary tooth occupying the positions of teeth 22 and 23; the tooth had a buccal groove and severe distoproximal decay, with no tooth 23. Two pulp chambers joining into one canal in the middle third of the root and a distal periapical radiolucency were found on periapical radiography and cone beam computed tomography imaging.</p><p><strong>Management: </strong>Root canal treatment was performed using nickel-titanium rotary instrumentation with activated irrigation and warm vertical obturation, followed by a split porcelain-fused-metal crown.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>At the 6-month follow-up, the tooth was asymptomatic tooth with improving periapical condition, thus proving that the interdisciplinary approach guided by imaging provides predictable results in the treatment of permanently fused teeth.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1954240"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13642136/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149129266","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":"Pulp sensibility assessment following permanent tooth pulpotomy: a scoping review of clinical studies.","authors":"Cangül Keskin, Sıla Nur Usta, Özlem Sivas Yılmaz, Doğuş Bayraktar","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1957091","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1957091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vital pulp therapy (VPT), particularly pulpotomy, has emerged as a predictable treatment option for permanent teeth with deep caries and even in the presence of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Although numerous clinical studies have reported favorable outcomes, considerable variation exists in the methods used to assess postoperative pulp sensibility. This scoping review aimed to systematically map the pulp sensibility assessment methods, diagnostic methods, and follow-up schedules employed in clinical studies evaluating permanent tooth pulpotomy. This scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and prospectively registered in the Open Science Framework. Electronic searches were performed in PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, and Scopus without date restrictions. Clinical studies involving partial or full pulpotomy in permanent teeth that reported postoperative pulp sensibility assessment were included. Data regarding study characteristics, pulpotomy procedures, sensibility assessment methods, follow-up intervals, and key findings were extracted and synthesized descriptively. The search identified 4,287 records, of which 35 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The included studies comprised randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective clinical studies, and one quasi-experimental study. EPT combined with cold testing was the most frequently used assessment methods, followed by cold testing alone and EPT alone. Follow-up intervals varied substantially, ranging from 2 days to 8 years, although most studies evaluated sensibility at 6, 12, and 24 months. A consistent finding across studies was the markedly higher positive response rate obtained with EPT compared with cold testing after full pulpotomy. Teeth treated with partial pulpotomy generally maintained more favorable responses to both EPT and thermal tests. Several studies also reported transient postoperative thermal hypersensitivity during the early healing period, particularly following partial pulpotomy. Considerable heterogeneity exists in postoperative pulp sensibility assessment methods following permanent tooth pulpotomy. According to the included studies, EPT demonstrated higher response rates than cold testing after full pulpotomy. Standardized assessment methods and the incorporation of objective assessment methods are needed to improve the consistency of outcome reporting and facilitate comparisons among future VPT studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1957091"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13639861/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149119351","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":"Influence of zein-coated magnesium oxide nanoparticle reinforcement on the flexural strength of polymeric denture base resins.","authors":"Afaf A Almabadi, Ghada H Naguib, Mohamed T Hamed, Jumana Mazhar, Othman S Alsulaimani, Lulwa Al-Turki","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1895756","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fdmed.2026.1895756","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Conventional polymethyl methacrylate denture base resins exhibit limitations in mechanical durability and microbial resistance. Zein-coated magnesium oxide nanoparticles (zMgO NPs) have previously demonstrated antimicrobial activity when incorporated into dental polymers. However, their influence on mechanical performance has not been thoroughly characterized. This study investigated whether integrating zMgO NPs affects the flexural strength of heat-polymerized and autopolymerizing acrylic denture base materials.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Five commercially available polymethyl methacrylate resins (three heat-cured and two self-cured) were evaluated. Sixty samples of each type were randomly assigned to four groups based on nanoparticle concentration: 0%, 0.3%, 0.5%, and 1% by weight. Sample fabrication and testing were performed in accordance with ISO 20795-1 for denture base polymers. Flexural strength was assessed using a three-point bending test. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance followed by <i>post hoc</i> comparisons with statistical significance set at 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Samples containing 0.5% and 1% zMgO NPs demonstrated significantly higher flexural strength than controls, whereas the 0.3% zMgO NPs groups showed no statistically significant difference compared to the control.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Incorporation of zMgO NPs maintains the flexural performance of denture base polymers. Higher nanoparticle loadings produced significantly higher flexural strength, suggesting potential for multifunctional denture materials with improved structural durability. Future work should include long-term aging and simulated oral conditions to confirm clinical applicability.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1895756"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13634850/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149119237","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":"Electronic cigarette use and periodontal tissue damage: a scoping review and an evidence-informed conceptual framework.","authors":"K Kruthika, M U Aishwarya, Krapa Vaishnavi, Krithi P Shetty, J Divyadharshini","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1956724","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fdmed.2026.1956724","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased worldwide and is often promoted as a safer alternative to conventional smoking. However, its effects on periodontal health remain incompletely understood because of heterogeneous findings. This scoping review aimed to synthesize evidence comparing periodontal health among electronic cigarette users, conventional cigarette smokers, and non-smokers and to develop an evidence-informed conceptual framework illustrating potential biological and clinical pathways linking electronic cigarette use to periodontal tissue changes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping review was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between January 2015 and March 2025. Eligible studies comparing periodontal clinical outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers among electronic cigarette users, conventional smokers, and/or non-smokers were narratively synthesized, and an evidence-informed conceptual framework was developed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 379 records identified, 10 studies met the eligibility criteria. Conventional cigarette smokers generally demonstrated greater periodontal destruction than electronic cigarette users. Electronic cigarette users frequently demonstrated intermediate periodontal findings, including increased probing depth, clinical attachment loss, plaque accumulation, and alterations in bleeding on probing and inflammatory biomarkers; however, findings varied across studies. Potential pathways involving oxidative stress, immune dysregulation, vascular alterations, impaired wound healing, and oral microbiome alterations were identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The available evidence suggests that electronic cigarette use may be associated with adverse periodontal changes compared with non-smoking, although findings are heterogeneous. The proposed evidence-informed conceptual framework integrates potential biological and clinical pathways and may guide future mechanistic, longitudinal, and multicenter research and periodontal risk assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1956724"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13637518/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149119263","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":"Optimizing neurogenic differentiation of dental stem cells: a critical review of induction strategies and functional validation.","authors":"Masar Mohsin Alsultani, Anas Falah Mahdee","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1955032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fdmed.2026.1955032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neurogenesis is highly active during brain development but becomes substantially restricted in adulthood. Therefore, the nervous system shows a limited ability to self-renew succeeding a traumatic incident or neurodegenerative disease. Dental stem cells (DSCs) represent a unique population of mesenchymal stem cells originating from the cranial neural crest. Thus, they have an inherent capacity to differentiate into neurons under proper <i>in vitro</i> cues. However, this ability is limited by low conversion rates and unpredictable target cell types, along with a noticeable lack of standardized differentiation protocols. Therefore, the primary aim of this critical narrative review is to evaluate, categorize, and critique the neurogenic induction strategies for human dental stem cells reported over the last ten years. By analyzing the current literature, differentiation protocols can be broadly categorized into three distinct approaches: growth factors, small molecules, and combination of both. Although the combined strategy shows a promising potential, the focus on structural outcomes and the absence of electrophysiological validation make it hard to determine which protocol truly generates functional neurons. Moreover, in the few protocols that provided differentiation evidence across morphological, molecular, and functional endpoints, the resulting cells displayed only partial functional maturation, indicating that the generation of fully mature neurons remains challenging <i>in vitro</i>. Moving forward, future studies should incorporate patch-clamp electrophysiology as a standard component of functional validation to determine whether differentiated cells acquire genuine neuronal excitability and to strengthen the evidence required for clinical translation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1955032"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13635939/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149119287","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 laser modification on the contact angle and surface wettability of hydroxyapatite-coated PEEK implant material.","authors":"Stuti Mishra, Nayana Prabhu, Pradeep Sherigar, Veene Hegde, Vaishnavi M Nayak, Sharon Saldanha","doi":"10.3389/fdmed.2026.1669867","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fdmed.2026.1669867","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is increasingly used in dental implantology because of its biomimetic properties. However, its application is limited by bio-inertness and inherent hydrophobicity, which may affect early biological interactions. PEEK surfaces are often coated with bioactive materials such as hydroxyapatite (HA), but it remains unclear how subsequent surface modification techniques such as laser treatment affect their wettability. There is still limited data on blood surface interactions in laser-treated HA/PEEK composites. This study was designed to assess and compare the blood contact angle of HA/PEEK surfaces before and after laser modification.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Twenty-one HA-coated PEEK discs were evaluated, with each individual disc serving as the experimental unit for contact-angle assessment. Blood contact-angle measurements were obtained from each disc before laser treatment and repeated on the same disc following laser surface modification, resulting in paired observations. Hydroxyapatite (HA) nano powder was applied to the PEEK surfaces using friction stir processing (FSP). Fresh EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood obtained from a single donor was used as the test fluid. To minimize variability, blood was collected from the same donor and venipuncture site, and all measurements were performed by the same operator under standardized conditions. Following baseline contact-angle measurement, the HA/PEEK discs were treated using an Er,Cr:YSGG laser (2,790 nm, 1 W) for 4 s at a working distance of 10 mm under 5% water and 95% air spray, after which contact-angle measurements were repeated. Pre- and post-laser contact-angle measurements were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with statistical significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pre-laser HA/PEEK surfaces exhibited lower blood contact angles than the corresponding post-laser surfaces, indicating greater wettability before laser modification. Following laser treatment, blood contact angles increased, indicating reduced wettability under the laser parameters investigated.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The observed reduction in wettability was specific to the laser parameters evaluated in this study.</p>","PeriodicalId":73077,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in dental medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"1669867"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13634801/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149119284","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}