Frontiers in oral health最新文献

{"title":"Unseen pain behind a smile; oral health and psychological distress among Indonesian transgenders (<i>warias</i>): a survey study on oral discomfort, sense of defeat, and oral hygiene behaviors.","authors":"Yvonne A B Buunk-Werkhoven, Ciptasari Prabawanti, Abraham P Buunk, Arie Dijkstra","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1736745","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1736745","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study explored oral hygiene behavior (OHB), physical and psychological oral discomfort (OD), and their relationship with sense of defeat (SoD) among Indonesian transgender individuals (<i>warias</i>), for whom oral health plays a vital role in social and sexual interactions. Given the orofacial area's impact on attractiveness and intimacy, poor oral health may significantly affect the wellbeing and perceived desirability of <i>warias</i>.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted in March-April 2019 among 92 <i>warias</i>, with a mean age of 36 years (standard deviation = 10.5) in Jakarta, recruited via cluster sampling from five districts. Data were collected using a digital, semistructured questionnaire, including an OHB index and the Indonesian version of the Oral Discomfort Scale, which measures both psychological and physical discomfort. Sense of defeat was also assessed. The study was classified as a one-time, non-invasive procedure and was exempt from medical research regulations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Correlation analyses showed that smoking was significantly positively associated with SoD (<i>r</i> = 0.25, <i>p</i> = 0.019), but not with OD or OHB. Perceived oral health was significantly positively associated with experienced <i>emotional</i> aspect (<i>r</i> = 0.31, <i>p</i> = 0.003) and with consumption of sugar-containing snacks and/or soft drinks (<i>r</i> = 0.24, <i>p</i> = 0.02), but it was significantly negatively associated with SoD (<i>r</i> = -0.24, <i>p</i> = 0.02), OD (<i>r</i> = -0.26, <i>p</i> = 0.01), and ODPhy (<i>r</i> = -0.27, <i>p</i> = 0.01). Linear regression analysis identified both SoD (<i>β</i> = 0.23, <i>p</i> = 0.023) and experienced emotional aspect (<i>β</i> = -0.30, <i>p</i> = 0.004) as significant independent predictors of OD, explaining 18% of the variance [<i>R</i> ² = 0.18, <i>F</i>(3,91) = 7.58, <i>p</i> = 0.001]. The variable <i>expectations</i> of optimal OHB did not have a significant effect (<i>β</i> = -0.11, ns).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Psychological distress-particularly feelings of defeat-plays a significant role in the oral health of Indonesian <i>warias</i>. Healthcare and social service providers consider this connection and both emotional wellbeing and oral self-care in interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1736745"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13124993/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824869","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":"RACK1 and RPS6 as independent prognostic biomarkers in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a five-year survival analysis.","authors":"Sunita Gupta, Chetna Chaudhary, Shikha Gupta, Vineeta Batra, Anshuman Kumar, Hema Malini Iyer, Sujoy Ghosh, Bidhan Chandra Koner, Ritika Shrivastav","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1819788","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1819788","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the Clinicopathologic & prognostic significance of Receptor for Activated C Kinase 1 (RACK1) and Ribosomal Protein S6 (RPS6) in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) through immunohistochemistry.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues of 100 OSCC cases who were treated primarily via surgery were retrieved and immunohistochemical analysis was done for RACK1 & RPS6. Clinicopathological data was gathered for these subjects and each was followed up for a period of 5 years from initial diagnosis. Association of expression of marker with clinicopathological parameters was done using Chi-square test. Prognostic significance was evaluated with Cox proportional hazards regression, Kaplan-Meier method, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High expression of RACK1 and RPS6 was significantly associated with age (<i>p</i> = .005, <i>p</i> = .04), nodal involvement (<i>p</i> = .01, <i>p</i> = .05), histopathological grading (<i>p</i> = <0.001), treatment (<i>p</i> = 0.04, <i>p</i> = 0.02), and recurrence (<i>p</i> = .001, <i>p</i> = .03). Subjects with high expression of RACK1 & RPS6 were significantly associated with reduced overall (OS), disease-free (DFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Co-expression of both markers correlated with the worst prognosis in terms of OS, DFS and CSS (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Multivariate Cox Regression analysis showed that both the markers can serve as independent prognostic marker in OSCC. Strong positive linear correlation (R² = 0.718) was observed between expression of RACK1 & RPS6. ROC analysis demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity of both the markers in predicting OS, DFS and CSS.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of the present study suggest that RACK1 & RPS6 are associated with tumor progression and invasion in OSCC. Individual as well as combined expression of both the markers may be used as prognostic biomarker in OSCC for patient stratification and personalized treatment planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1819788"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13121303/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792949","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":"Efficacy and safety of low-concentration whitestrips for extrinsic tooth discoloration: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Yuwei Wang, Di Fu, Lin Yao, Yisi Zhong, Ling Zou, Jing He, Wei Yin","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1729993","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1729993","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Low-concentration Whitestrips with 3% hydrogen peroxide (HP) on extrinsic discoloration of incisors, and to evaluate the safety of whitening process.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Enrolled adults with extrinsic discolored incisors (Vita shade guide value >1M1.5) were randomized into treatment and control groups. Treatment group used Low-concentration Whitestrips, control group used placebo. Tooth color was assessed at baseline and follow-up visits at Day 1, Day 3 and Day 14. Tooth color was assessed by digital shade meter (primary outcomes), and VITA 3D-Master shade guide (secondary outcomes), respectively. Adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) including oral and systemic symptoms based on clinical examination and participants' description were also recorded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>70 adults participated. The primary and secondary outcomes objectively and subjectively demonstrated that the treatment group exhibited better whitening effects than the control. Additionally, the treatment group was observed to attain better effects with prolonged use, with W* values based on digital shade meter increasing from 72.86 to 78.73, and the VITA 3D-Master shade guide color values decreasing from 14.91 to 11.23 (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Five AEs occurred with no significant difference between groups (<i>P</i> > 0.05). No SAEs were reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>From both objective and subjective perspectives, Low-concentration Whitestrips were found to be effective in extrinsic discoloration tooth bleaching and were well-tolerated by participants.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: https://www.chictr.org.cn/ (ChiCTR2300073971) and National Health Information Platform: http://114.255.48.20/login (MR-51-23-033324).</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1729993"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13121329/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792908","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":"Evaluating the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence-based chatbot for reducing dental anxiety among adult dental patients.","authors":"Ahmed A Madfa, Abdullah F Alshammari, Bassam A Alanazi, Sulaiman N Alshammari","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1778200","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1778200","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dental anxiety is a common psychological barrier that negatively influences dental attendance, patient cooperation, and treatment outcomes. Traditional anxiety-management strategies are often resource-intensive and difficult to implement routinely. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbots offer a scalable and accessible digital approach that may help reduce dental anxiety through patient education, reassurance, and emotional support.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quasi-experimental pre-post interventional study was conducted among 415 adult dental patients attending the outpatient clinics of the University of Ha'il, Saudi Arabia. Participants interacted with an AI-based chatbot for 10-15 min prior to treatment. Dental anxiety was assessed before and immediately after chatbot use using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) across five common dental scenarios. Demographic variables, including gender, age, educational level, and monthly income, were analysed. Chi-square tests and Spearman's correlation were applied to evaluate changes in the severity of dental anxiety and associations between pre- and post-intervention scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A statistically significant reduction in dental anxiety was observed across all five dental scenarios following chatbot interaction (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The greatest reductions were noted for invasive procedures, particularly tooth drilling and local anaesthetic injection. The severity of dental anxiety decreased consistently across gender, age, educational, and income groups, indicating a broadly similar effect of the intervention across these subgroups. Although patients with greater baseline severity of dental anxiety remained relatively more anxious post-intervention, the overall severity of anticipatory anxiety was substantially reduced. Female patients exhibited higher baseline anxiety, but gender-based differences were markedly reduced after chatbot use.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The use of the AI-based chatbot demonstrated a consistent association with reduced anticipatory dental anxiety across diverse patient groups and clinical scenarios. As a low-cost, scalable, and patient-centred tool, chatbot-based support may complement conventional anxiety-management strategies and support the patient experience in routine dental care.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1778200"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13111327/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792926","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":"Bridging the gap between enthusiasm and competency: a national survey of knowledge, attitudes, and readiness for dental stem cell therapies among Saudi dental practitioners.","authors":"Mohammad Zakaria Nassani, Anas Alsalhani, Faisal Mehsen Alali, Nasser Raqe Alqhtani, Abdullah Saad Alqahtani, Abdullah Bin Nabhan, Yousef Alkhaibari, Abdullah Almansour, Rawda Omar Alghabban, Mohammed Alkhathlan, Ahmad Almughirah, Fahad Alsultan, Ali AlRafedah, Bassel Tarakji","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1801062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1801062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Regenerative dentistry, driven by dental stem cells (DSC), offers biologically based approaches for tissue repair and regeneration. Despite increasing scientific advances, clinical translation depends largely on dental practitioners' knowledge, attitudes, and readiness to adopt these therapies. In Saudi Arabia, where biomedical innovation is emphasized under Vision 2030, the integration of DSC-based applications into routine dental practice remains insufficiently understood.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study assessed the level of knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practice intentions (KAP) regarding dental stem cell applications among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia and identified key demographic and professional predictors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A nationwide, cross-sectional, online survey was conducted between November 2024 and August 2025 using a validated questionnaire. A total of 493 fully completed responses from actively practicing dentists were analyzed. Descriptive statistics summarized KAP outcomes, while chi-square tests and multivariate binary logistic regression were used to examine associations and independent predictors of good knowledge, positive attitude, and favourable clinical practice intention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A pronounced knowledge-practice gap was identified. Although 83.3% of participants demonstrated a positive attitude toward DSC-based regenerative therapies, only 16.7% exhibited good knowledge and 50.1% reported good clinical practice intention. Prior education on stem cells was the strongest independent predictor of both good knowledge (OR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.43-3.19; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and positive attitude OR=2.10, 95% CI: 1.31-3.36; <i>p</i> = 0.002). Specialist qualification (OR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.23-3.36; <i>p</i> = 0.006) and mid-career status (31-50 years) (OR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.27-3.24; <i>p</i> = 0.003) were also significant predictors of a positive attitude, while no factors independently predicted clinical practice intention.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Saudi dentists show strong enthusiasm for regenerative dentistry but limited knowledge and clinical readiness. These findings highlight the need for structured curricular integration, targeted continuing professional development, and supportive regulatory frameworks to bridge the gap between theoretical interest and the safe, effective clinical application of dental stem cell-based therapies in Saudi Arabia.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1801062"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13106349/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792915","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":"Strategies to promote oral health equity for immigrant populations in Canada and the USA: a scoping review protocol.","authors":"Rutik Ravindra Isai, Debora Lana Alves Monteiro, Liliani Aires Candido Vieira, Amrinderbir Singh, Jessi Robinson, Luiz Renato Paranhos, Yuri Wanderley Cavalcanti, Juliana Pereira da Silva Faquim","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1804288","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1804288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Oral health inequities among immigrants in Canada and the United States remain a major challenge due to systemic, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers that limit access to dental services. Despite existing community and policy initiatives, there is no comprehensive synthesis of evidence addressing barriers, facilitators, and interventions aimed at promoting oral health equity for these populations.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this scoping review is to identify and map barriers, facilitators, and interventions related to promoting oral health equity among immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and non-permanent residents in Canada and the United States.</p><p><strong>Inclusion criteria: </strong>The review will include studies involving immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and non-permanent residents living in Canada or the United States that examine barriers, facilitators, or interventions related to oral health equity. Peer-reviewed studies and relevant grey literature published in English will be considered without date restrictions. Studies focusing exclusively on non-migrant populations or not addressing oral health will be excluded.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This protocol follows the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines and is registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF) https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PDNEM Searches will be conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO databases, Embase, and relevant grey literature sources. Two reviewers will independently screen studies and extract data. Quantitative data will be summarized descriptively, and qualitative findings will undergo thematic synthesis. Results will be presented in tables and narrative summaries. Ethical approval is not required as the review uses published literature. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations to inform policy and future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1804288"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13106570/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792918","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 <i>Fragaria vesca</i> leaf extract on the initial pellicle-an atypical representative among polyphenol-containing substances.","authors":"Jola Frey, João Victor Frazão Câmara, Johanna Dudek, Matthias Hannig, Simone Trautmann","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1744798","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1744798","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Polyphenol-containing mouth rinses are known to improve the protective properties of the dental pellicle against acids by increasing its thickness and density. Even though <i>fragaria vesca</i> (wild strawberry) leaf extract (WSLE) contains high concentrations of polyphenols and possesses beneficial properties on the oral biofilm, its effects on dental pellicle have not been studied yet.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic adsorption spectrometry (AAS) were used to visualize the ultrastructure of the 6-min and 120-min pellicle as well as measure the calcium release of the enamel surface after rinsing for 1 min with WSLE or water as control and applying different acidic challenges (1% citric acid, 0.01 M HCl or water).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mouth rinsing with WSLE did neither increase thickness or density of the pellicle nor improve its protectivity against acids. Compared to water-rinsing, samples showed equal or even higher dissolution of the pellicle upon acidic attack. AAS experiments demonstrated an increased calcium release and the leaf extract was shown to possess an appreciable calcium content.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>WSLE represents an outlier in the group of polyphenol-containing mouth rinses in terms of its effects on the dental pellicle. The increased calcium release upon rinsing and its appreciable calcium content suggests it may act as a calcium source for the dental pellicle.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>Based on its previously demonstrated anti-adhesive properties on the oral biofilm and the current results on its remarkable calcium content, WSLE presents as a promising candidate for daily mouth rinse use, warranting further clinical studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1744798"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13106438/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792894","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":"Socioeconomic inequalities in unmet dental care needs in Spain.","authors":"Sergio Zuniga-Jara, Martin Zuniga-Soria, Sofia Ruiz-Campo, Karla Soria-Barreto","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1768458","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1768458","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Socioeconomic inequalities in access to dental care remain a critical public health challenge in Spain, where adult coverage is limited and largely financed through out-of-pocket payments. This study aims to estimate the magnitude of socioeconomic inequality in unmet dental care needs among the Spanish adult population in 2024 and to decompose the contribution of its determinants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2024 Spanish Living Conditions Survey (ECV). The analytic sample included 32,425 adults who reported a perceived need for dental care in the previous 12 months. Socioeconomic position was measured using equivalised disposable household income. Income-related inequalities were quantified using the Concentration Index (CI) for relative inequality and the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) for absolute inequality. Furthermore, a Wagstaff decomposition analysis was performed to isolate the specific contribution of multidimensional factors such as material deprivation and housing tenure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among individuals with perceived need, 10.44% reported unmet dental care needs, with economic constraints identified as the overwhelming barrier (78.9%). The analysis revealed a robust pro-poor gradient, indicated by a Concentration Index of -0.361 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The Slope Index of Inequality was -0.237 (<i>p</i> < 0.001), reflecting an absolute gap of approximately 23.7 percentage points in the probability of unmet needs between the lowest and highest income extremes. Decomposition analysis identified material deprivation as the primary driver, explaining 28.0% of the total inequality, followed by social class (11.1%) and education (7.2%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings confirm that the \"Inverse Care Law\" persists in the Spanish dental healthcare system, driven fundamentally by structural economic vulnerability rather than demographic factors. The current model fails to protect the most deprived groups. Policy interventions must prioritize the expansion of public coverage and implement targeted financial protection mechanisms to effectively reduce these inequities.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1768458"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13134389/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147825094","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 novel full digital workflow for dental autotransplantation: surgical accuracy and clinical outcomes in a prospective cohort study.","authors":"Marianna Salviati, Alessandro Antonelli, Vincenzo Cosentino, Luca Boschini, Michele Melillo, Selene Barone, Amerigo Giudice","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1786907","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1786907","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Dental autotransplantation is a biologically conservative alternative to prosthetic or implant-supported rehabilitation, though achieving predictable outcomes remains challenging. The use of digital workflows integrating CBCT-based planning, 3D modelling, and customized surgical guides may improve surgical precision and reproducibility. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and clinical outcomes of a full-digital workflow for dental autotransplantation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients with a non-restorable tooth and a healthy third molar suitable for donation were included. Preoperative CBCT and intraoral scans were used to enable automatic segmentation, virtual simulation of donor tooth positioning, and planning of alveolar site preparation. Customized, root-based surgical guides were then designed and 3D-printed. The surgical procedure included extraction of the non-restorable tooth, harvesting of the donor third molar, and its transplantation into the prepared alveolar site. The accuracy of the surgical protocol was assessed by superimposing postoperative CBCT-derived 3D models onto the preoperative plan using digital qualitative and quantitative analyses. Clinical outcomes, including tooth stability, periodontal health, and periapical status, were evaluated over an 18-month follow-up period.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten patients (6 males, 4 females; mean age 27.2 ± 2.77 years) were enrolled. Mean surface deviations between planned and post-operative models were 0.63 ± 0.45 mm (tooth) and 0.17 ± 0.06 mm (alveolar bone). Three-dimensional linear discrepancies averaged 2.04 ± 1.24 mm at the coronal level and 1.36 ± 1.00 mm apically. Angular deviations showed no systematic rotational bias, with limited pitch and roll deviations and higher interindividual variability for yaw. Two teeth required post-surgery endodontic treatment. All transplanted teeth showed clinical stability, physiological probing depths, and absence of pathological mobility.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>At 18 months, a fully digital workflow with customized surgical guides enabled accurate and minimally invasive dental autotransplantation, reducing extra-alveolar time and preserving the vitality of the periodontal ligament.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1786907"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13106315/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792934","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":"Artificial intelligence and immersive digital technologies in periodontal education: a systematic review.","authors":"Yiping Wei, Ying Li, Wenjie Hu, Jun Kang, Ziyao Han, Min Zhen, Cui Wang","doi":"10.3389/froh.2026.1741033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2026.1741033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The purpose of the systematic review was to evaluate the application and efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive digital technologies in periodontal education.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to July 2025, supplemented by manual searches. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool for randomized controlled trials and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists for quasi-experimental and analytical cross-sectional studies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen studies encompassing 3062 dental trainees and practitioners were included. Immersive digital technologies, including haptics-based virtual reality (VR), 360°VR, and virtual patient simulations, improved procedural skills, learner engagement, and communication abilities, particularly when combined with traditional training. AI applications such as explainable AI, AI-enhanced imaging, and large language models (LLMs) showed mixed outcomes. AI-assisted diagnostic tools offered limited advantage over conventional methods and may introduce automation bias. LLMs displayed variable accuracy and reliability.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Dental educators should use blended, sequenced immersive digital technologies to enhance procedural and communication skills. AI diagnostic tools require safeguards against automation bias. LLMs can assist with grading but are unreliable as test-takers. Future multi-center randomized controlled trials are needed to assess long-term effectiveness and cost-efficiency.</p><p><strong>Systematic review registration: </strong>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251027251, PROSPERO CRD420251027251.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"7 ","pages":"1741033"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103527/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792865","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}