Frontiers in oral health最新文献

{"title":"Validity and reliability of a smartphone-based photographic method for detection of dental caries in adults for use in teledentistry.","authors":"Victor F Lamas-Lara, Manuel A Mattos-Vela, Teresa A Evaristo-Chiyong, Maria Eugenia Guerrero, Juan F Jiménez-Yano, Dora N Gómez-Meza","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1470706","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1470706","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of teledentistry increased its need for implementation. In this sense, the study aimed to validate a smartphone-based remote photographic method for diagnosing dental caries in adults attending a polyclinic in Lima, Peru.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional, descriptive research was conducted; 87 patients were selected, and 2020 teeth were evaluated. Each participant underwent a clinical diagnosis of dental caries by two trained and calibrated dentists, considering the diagnostic criteria of the WHO; during the same visit, after the clinical examination, a family member of the patient was instructed to take a photographic record with a cell phone, through a video. Five photographs of the dental arches were recorded, where the centering of images, resolution, and visualization of all the teeth were evaluated. The photographic evaluation was performed by two independent evaluators blinded to the visual evaluation performed, following the same criteria as the clinical visual evaluation. For the data analysis, Cohen's kappa index was determined for interexaminer reliability; sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were obtained.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, high sensitivity: 90.19% [Interquartile 95% (CI): 88.23-92.16]; and specificity: 95.15% (95% CI: 93.83-96.47). The interexaminer agreement was almost perfect, with a kappa of 0.935 and 0.974 for clinical and photographic evaluation, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>It is concluded that the photographic method using a smartphone has demonstrated a satisfactory level of caries detection in adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1470706"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12119532/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144182677","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":"Effects of brushing with caffeinated toothpaste on neurocognitive function of the central nervous system: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.","authors":"Kiarash Zare, Mahva Talaei, Amir Hesam Pahlevani, Fahimeh Rezazadeh, Kiana Zare, Masumeh Akbaryari, Mohammad Mehdi Naghizadeh, Mojtaba Heydari, Mohsen Goharinia","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1470531","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1470531","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effect of brushing with caffeinated toothpaste on neurocognitive function of the central nervous system.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eighty healthy individuals were randomly assigned to four groups: oral caffeine capsules (100 mg caffeine) as the control, brushing with caffeinated toothpaste (100 mg caffeine) for 2, 3, and 4 min. Cognitive and motor responses were assessed using selective processing speed assessment (Stroop test), short-term memory test, selective attention capacity assessment, and hand-eye coordination test before and after intervention at 10, 30, and 60 min intervals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Brushing with caffeinated toothpaste was as effective as oral caffeine intake in improving selective attention capacity, selective processing speed, short-term memory, and hand-eye coordination. Despite the higher improvement in the longest duration brushing group in most of the outcomes, the difference did not reach the statistical significance among study groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Brushing with caffeinated toothpaste appears to be as effective as oral intake of caffeine in enhance cognitive and motor functions.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/71213, identifier (IRCT20230318057752N2).</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1470531"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12119480/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144181451","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":"Positional and dimensional osseous characteristics of the temporomandibular joint in female patients with skeletal class III malocclusion and disc displacement, with and without reduction.","authors":"Abeer A Almashraqi, Amira A Aboalnaga, Maged S Alhammadi, Mona M Salah Fayed","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1572305","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1572305","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aimed to compare the dimensional and positional osseous features of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion, female patients without temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), and those with TMDs presenting as disc displacement with/without reduction (DDR/DDWR).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adult patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion and average vertical facial pattern (Mandibular plane inclination = 37 ± 5°) were categorized into the TMD group comprising patients with DDR/DDWR and the non-TMD group. Three-dimensional standardized TMJ analysis was performed using cone-beam computed tomography, which included assessments of the mandibular fossa (MF), mandibular condyle, TMJ spaces, and vertical and anteroposterior intra-joint condylar positions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The MF location in the DDR/DDWR group was significantly more superior (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and anterior (<i>p</i> = 0.012) relative to the respective planes. The MF width was significantly lesser (<i>p</i> = 0.001) with a steeper (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) anterior wall inclination in the DDR/DDWR group than in the non-TMD. The mandibular condyles were located significantly more laterally (<i>p</i> = 0.016), at a greater distance from the midsagittal plane, in the DDR/DDWR group than in the non-TMD. The anterior and medial joint spaces were significantly larger (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and the intra-joint condylar positions were more posterior and superior (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) in the DDR/DDWR group than in the non-TMD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The positional and dimensional osseous characteristics of the TMJ differed significantly between patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion without TMDs and those with DDR or DDWR.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1572305"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12119597/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144182699","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 retrospective study on the impact of different antibiotic regimens in non-surgical periodontal therapy on microbial loads and therapy outcomes.","authors":"Nils Werner, Vinay Pitchika, Katrin Heck, Christina Ern, Richard Heym, Ali Al-Ahmad, Fabian Cieplik, Falk Schwendicke, Caspar Victor Bumm, Matthias Folwaczny","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1578484","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1578484","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aimed to analyse the impact of different antibiotic regimens during non-surgical periodontal therapy on the microbial load of selected periodontitis-associated bacteria (PAB) and the primary therapy outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>For this aim, 259 patients received steps I and II of periodontal therapy and were included in this clinical trial. 202 patients were treated without the adjunctive use of systemic antibiotics, 18 received amoxicillin (AMOX) as well as metronidazole (MET) and 39 only MET. Subgingival biofilm samples were quantitatively analysed for selected PAB using DNA-DNA-hybridisation-based detection assays for microbial loads of PAB before and 6 months after treatment. Changes in the microbial load of PAB and achievement of a \"treat-to-target\" endpoint (T2T) (≤4 sites with probing depth ≥5 mm) were analysed. Patients' subgingival microbial load was significantly reduced following therapy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>38.2% of the patients achieved T2T. Binary logistic regression adjusted for confounders indicated a relationship between residual PAB levels and not achieving T2T. In patients not receiving systemic antibiotics a 2.4-fold increased risk of not reaching T2T after steps I and II therapy was observed (none vs. MET aOR = 2.38 <i>p</i> = 0.44). Linear regression analysis adjusted for T0 PAB concentration and confounders revealed an increased reduction of PAB levels in patients with systemic antibiotics. No difference in PAB reduction or chance of achieving T2T was observed between MET and MET + AMOX.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Microbial loads of PAB were found directly associated with periodontal status. As antibiotic treatment with both MET and MET + AMOX similarly reduced microbial loads of PAB, treatment with MET alone may be sufficiently effective as adjunctive to non-surgical periodontal treatment. To confirm this, further prospective studies with bigger sample size are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1578484"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12116549/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144176204","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":"Implications of artificial intelligence in periodontal treatment maintenance: a scoping review.","authors":"Raafat Musief Sarakbi, Sudhir Rama Varma, Lovely Muthiah Annamma, Vinay Sivaswamy","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1561128","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1561128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gingivitis and periodontitis, are widespread conditions with diverse influence on oral and systemic health. Traditional diagnostic methods in periodontology often rely on subjective clinical assessments, which can lead to variability and inconsistencies in care. Imbibing artificial intelligence (AI) facilitates a significant solution by enhancing precision metrics, treatment planning, and personalized care. Studies published between 2018 and 2024 was conducted to evaluate AI applications in periodontal maintenance. Databases such as PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science and Scopus were searched using keywords like \"artificial intelligence,\" \"machine learning,\" and \"periodontitis.\" Studies employing AI for diagnosis, prognosis, or periodontal maintenance using clinical or radiographic data were included. Deep learning algorithms such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and segmentation techniques were analyzed for their diagnostic accuracy. AI demonstrated superior performance in detecting periodontal conditions, with accuracy rates surpassing 90% in some studies. Advanced models, such as Multi-Label U-Net, exhibited high precision in radiographic analyses, outperforming traditional methods. Additionally, AI facilitated predictive analytics for disease progression and personalized treatment strategies. AI has transformed periodontal care, offering accuracy, personalized care, and efficient workflow integration. Addressing challenges like standardization and ethical concerns is critical for its broader adoption.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1561128"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12116603/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144176283","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 analysis of oral microbiome in saliva samples of oral leukoplakia, proliferative leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma.","authors":"Rossella Intini, Sol Balsells, Leticia Bagan, Giulio Fortuna, Herve Sroussi, Jose Bagan","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1600090","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1600090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), including conventional leukoplakia (OL) and proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL), have distinct risks of progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A role of the oral microbiome in this transformation is increasingly recognized, but its contribution remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to analyze and compare the oral microbiota in patients with OL, PVL, and OSCC using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of saliva samples to identify microbial signatures associated with disease progression and to uncover potential biomarkers that would justify an aggressive treatment of OPMDs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixty-six subjects with OPMDs were enrolled, comprising OL (<i>n</i> = 10), PVL (<i>n</i> = 28), and OSCC (<i>n</i> = 28). Saliva samples were collected, and DNA was extracted. The V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Bioinformatic analyses, including diversity assessments and taxonomic classification with the SILVA v138 database, were performed using QIIME2. Alpha diversity was evaluated with Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices, while beta diversity was assessed using Bray-Curtis and Jaccard distances.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PVL exhibited the highest species richness, followed by OL, with OSCC showing the lowest diversity. While alpha diversity differences among the groups were not statistically significant (<i>p</i> > 0.05), beta diversity revealed distinct microbial community structures between OL and both PVL and OSCC (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but not between PVL and OSCC. At the phylum level, <i>Firmicutes</i> predominated across all groups, with significantly higher <i>Actinobacteriota</i> levels in OL (<i>p</i> = 0.002).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Distinct microbial patterns differentiate OL from PVL and OSCC, with OL being different from PVL and OSCC, suggesting progressive microbial dysbiosis in malignant transformation. These findings support the potential of oral microbiome profiling as a non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic tool in oral oncology and highlight the need for longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1600090"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12116504/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144176206","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 DN-PUBLIC framework for enhanced oral healthcare precision: a public health strategy for dynamic navigation integration-a narrative review.","authors":"Ashwini Bhalerao, Vaibhav Kumar","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1598206","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1598206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral health disparities remain a pressing global concern, especially in communities with limited access to specialized dental care. Implant dentistry, while transformative for tooth replacement, often relies on techniques that can be imprecise, operator-dependent, and prone to complications. Dynamic Navigation (DN), a real-time computer-assisted technology, offers a promising solution by enhancing accuracy, reducing errors, and supporting minimally invasive procedures. This narrative review explores how DN can improve clinical precision, reduce surgical complications, and make implantology more accessible and cost-effective. It introduces the DN-PUBLIC framework-a strategic, public health-focused approach for integrating DN into broader healthcare systems, with a strong alignment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).A comprehensive review of current literature was conducted, assessing DN's impact on surgical safety, recovery outcomes, cost-efficiency, and its growing role in dental education. The findings highlight that DN significantly improves implant placement accuracy and reduces risks such as nerve injury or misalignment. By allowing for flapless procedures and better soft tissue preservation, DN leads to quicker recovery and greater patient comfort. Beyond clinical outcomes, DN enables general practitioners to perform complex procedures more confidently, expanding access to quality care in underserved regions. Economic analyses also suggest reduced operative time, fewer complications, and lower healthcare costs. In conclusion, DN has the potential to transform public oral health by improving outcomes, training, and access. The DN-PUBLIC framework offers a clear roadmap to guide ethical, inclusive, and sustainable integration of DN technology in dental practice worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1598206"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12106405/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164347","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":"Editorial: Oral health and quality of life in vulnerable populations.","authors":"Vini Mehta, Mohmed Isaqali Karobari, Luca Fiorillo","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1581194","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1581194","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1581194"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12106314/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164280","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":"Understanding the relationship between children's oral health utilization and parent's use of healthcare services.","authors":"Shillpa Naavaal, Rashmi Lamsal","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1541045","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1541045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Parents play an influential role in their children's lives, but little is known about how their healthcare experiences connect. This study examined the relationship between parent's healthcare use and their child's overall and preventive dental care use.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We pooled three years (2017-2019) of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data and merged child (0-17 years) and parent data. Our outcomes included any dental visit, preventive visit, and receipt of sealant or fluoride. The primary exposure variable was the parents' medical and dental care use, grouped into four categories. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included data from 9,927 children. Overall, 50.1%, 42.3%, and 21.2% had any dental visit, preventive visit, and fluoride or sealant application, respectively, in the past 12 months. Among parents, 38.3% had both medical and dental visits, 5.8% had a dental but no medical, 36.7% had a medical but no dental, and 19.1% had neither. Children whose parents had medical and dental visits had more than five times the odds of having any dental visit (aOR = 5.49, 95% CI: 4.64, 6.52) and preventive dental visit (aOR = 5.41, 95% CI: 4.57, 6.39) and 3.64 times the odds of receiving sealant or fluoride application (95% CI: 2.93, 4.53) compared to those whose parents had no dental and medical visits.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Children's oral health utilization is strongly linked with parents' healthcare use. It can be improved by educating parents and supporting their healthcare use.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1541045"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12106425/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164352","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":"Macrophages and the immune microenvironment in OPMDs: a systematic review of the literature.","authors":"Samuele Sutera, Olga Anna Furchì, Monica Pentenero","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1605978","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1605978","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In the presence of cancers, Tumor Associated Macrophages have a well-established role, but the literature provides limited evidence regarding their involvement in the onset and malignant transformation of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The present systematic review aimed to collect evidence on the presence and characterization of macrophages in the microenvironment of OPMDs.</p><p><strong>Data sources: </strong>PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science.</p><p><strong>Study eligibility criteria: </strong>Ex vivo or in silico human studies reporting original quantitative data on macrophage infiltration in OPMDs or Oral Epithelial Dysplasia (OED), published from 1990 onward.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-seven studies were included for qualitative analysis. Investigated OPMDs included: oral leukoplakia, oral lichen planus, oral lichenoid lesions, proliferative leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, actinic cheilitis, chronic graft vs. host disease.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Even though the heterogeneity of data from the included studies prevents a meta-analysis, the reported results are quite consistent in supporting an increasing macrophage infiltration from normal mucosa to OPMDs, OED, and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). An M1 pro-inflammatory polarization is prevalent in OPMDs, with a shift toward an M2 pro-tumorigenic polarization in moderate-severe OED and OSCC. Several novel markers including STAT1, IDO, PD-L1, APOE, ITGB2 appear to be able to identify macrophage clusters involved in pro-inflammatory or pro-tumorigenic pathways.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Evidence from the present review supports an active role of macrophages in regulating immune suppression, oncogenesis, and tumor progression in OPMDs and during the transition to OSCC. Future research should focus not merely on cell quantification and general M1/M2 polarization but rather on the expression of specific markers potentially linked to immunomodulatory pathways involved in oncogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1605978"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12106459/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164345","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}