Gael Y. Rochefort

Background/Objectives: Periodontal inflammation is a key feature of periodontal diseases, but traditional diagnostic methods are limited by invasiveness and radiation exposure. This systematic review aims to evaluate the potential of thermography and infrared spectroscopy for the in vivo detection of periodontal inflammation and to assess their reliability for clinical use. Methods: In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, an electronic search of the MEDLINE (PubMed) database was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and October 2025 that investigated these imaging modalities in periodontal inflammation diagnosis. Results: The search identified 310 records; after exclusions, 13 studies were included, comprising 7 thermography studies and 6 infrared spectroscopy studies, for a total of 712 patients. The included studies demonstrated the feasibility of thermography and infrared spectroscopy for detecting inflammatory changes in periodontal tissues in vivo. These non-invasive imaging techniques may help overcome the limitations of conventional clinical and radiographic diagnostic methods, particularly invasiveness and exposure to ionizing radiation. Conclusions: This field remains underexplored, and further studies are required to validate diagnostic performance, standardize methodologies, and determine their clinical applicability in routine periodontal practice.

Objectives: This pilot study evaluates the correlation between periodontal pocket depth (PPD) measurements obtained by manual probing and those derived from an AI-coupled ultrasound imaging device in periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients with periodontitis underwent ultrasonic probing with an AI engine for automated PPD measurements, followed by routine manual probing. Results: A total of 2088 manual and 1987 AI-based PPD measurements were collected. The mean PPD was 4.2 mm (range: 2–8 mm) for manual probing and 4.5 mm (range: 2–9 mm) for AI-based ultrasound, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.68 (95% CI: 0.62–0.73). Discrepancies were noted in cases with inflammation or calculus. AI struggled to differentiate pocket depths in complex clinical scenarios. Discussion: Ultrasound imaging offers non-invasive, real-time visualization of periodontal structures, but AI accuracy requires further training to address image artifacts and clinical variability. Conclusions: The ultrasound device shows promise for non-invasive periodontal diagnostics but is not yet a direct alternative to manual probing. Further AI optimization and validation are needed. Clinical Relevance: This technology could enhance patient comfort and enable frequent monitoring, pending improvements in AI reliability.

Background/Objectives: Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT) are at increased risk of oral complications. Preventive dental care has been proposed to mitigate these risks, yet its effectiveness is not sufficiently evaluated. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of preventive oral health interventions on key clinical outcomes in oncology patients. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases was conducted (March 2025), adhering to PRISMA guidelines with a PROSPERO-registered protocol (CRD 420251006799). Eligible studies included randomized trials, cohort studies, and pre–post intervention studies evaluating preventive dental care in patients receiving CT or RT. The outcomes included gingival index (GI), dental caries (DMFT), plaque levels, and periodontal health. Meta-analyses were performed on GI and DMFT outcomes using random-effects models. Results: Eleven studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and four in the meta-analyses. Preventive interventions, such as fluoride applications, oral hygiene education, and regular professional cleanings, were associated with stabilization or improvement of gingival health. The pooled estimate for GI showed no significant deterioration over time (MD = −0.05, 95% CI: −0.34 to 0.24, p = 0.72). For DMFT, a slight but significant increase was observed (MD = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.08 to 2.05, p = 0.03), suggesting a continued risk of caries despite intervention. Conclusions: Preventive dental care interventions appear to support the maintenance of gingival health in cancer patients undergoing CT or RT. However, despite these interventions, a slight increase in dental caries was still observed, indicating that preventive strategies may not fully eliminate the risk of caries. These findings highlight the importance of sustained and individualized oral health programs as part of comprehensive oncology care. Future studies using standardized protocols and longer follow-up periods are needed to better evaluate their long-term effectiveness across diverse cancer populations.

Introduction: Periodontal disease is an infectious syndrome presenting inflammatory aspects. Radiographic evaluation is an essential complement to clinical assessment but has limitations such as the impossibility of assessing tissue inflammation. It seems essential to consider new exploration methods in clinical practice. Ultrasound of periodontal tissues could make it possible to visualize periodontal structures and detect periodontal diseases (periodontal pocket measurement and the presence of intra-tissue inflammation). Clinical Innovation Report: An ultrasound probe has been specially developed to explore periodontal tissues. The objective of this clinical innovation report is to present this device and expose its potential. Discussion: Various immediate advantages favor using ultrasound: no pain, no bleeding, faster execution time, and an image recording that can be replayed without having to probe the patient again. Ultrasound measurements of pocket depth appear to be as reliable and reproducible as those obtained by manual probing, as do tissue thickness measurements and the detection of intra-tissue inflammation. Conclusions: Ultrasound seems to have a broad spectrum of indications. Given the major advances offered by ultrasound imaging as a complementary aid to diagnosis, additional studies are necessary to validate these elements and clarify the potential field of application of ultrasound imaging in dentistry.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare static compression forces between direct composite resin restorations and indirect restorations for posterior teeth. All studies comparing mechanical properties of direct versus indirect restorations of posterior teeth were included from 2007 up to February 2024. A meta-analysis was conducted for static compression fracture resistance. Medline, Central, and Embase databases were screened. Twenty-four articles were included in the qualitative synthesis, and sixteen studies were finally included in the quantitative synthesis. There was no difference in terms of fracture resistance between direct and indirect restorations for posterior teeth (p = 0.16 for direct and indirect composite resin restorations and p = 0.87 for direct composite resin restorations and indirect ceramic restorations). Also, sub-group analysis with or without cusp coverage in each group revealed no discernable difference. Based on this study, it can be concluded that the choice between direct and indirect restoration approaches may not significantly impact fracture resistance outcomes. There was no statically significant difference between direct and indirect restorations for posterior teeth in all cases of restorations with or without cusp coverage and no matter the used materials. However, to better evaluate these materials, further studies are warranted.

Bone diseases are increasing with aging populations and it is important to identify clues to develop innovative treatments. Vasn, which encodes vasorin (Vasn), a transmembrane protein involved in the pathophysiology of several organs, is expressed during the development in intramembranous and endochondral ossification zones. Here, we studied the impact of Vasn deletion on the osteoblast and osteoclast dialog through a cell Coculture model. In addition, we explored the bone phenotype of Vasn KO mice, either constitutive or tamoxifen‐inducible, or with an osteoclast‐specific deletion. First, we show that both osteoblasts and osteoclasts express Vasn. Second, we report that, in both KO mouse models but not in osteoclast‐targeted KO mice, Vasn deficiency was associated with an osteopenic bone phenotype, due to an imbalance in favor of osteoclastic resorption. Finally, through the Coculture experiments, we identify a dysregulation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway together with an increase in RANKL release by osteoblasts, which led to an enhanced osteoclast activity. This study unravels a direct role of Vasn in bone turnover, introducing a new biomarker or potential therapeutic target for bone pathologies.

Editorial: Model organisms and experimental models: opportunities and challenges in musculoskeletal physiology

To date, bone regeneration techniques use many biomaterials for bone grafting with limited efficiencies. For this purpose, tissue engineering combining biomaterials and stem cells is an important avenue of development to improve bone regeneration. Among potentially usable non-toxic and bioresorbable scaffolds, porous silicon (pSi) is an interesting biomaterial for bone engineering. The possibility of modifying its surface can allow a better cellular adhesion as well as a control of its rate of resorption. Moreover, release of silicic acid upon resorption of its nanostructure has been previously proved to enhance stem cell osteodifferentiation by inducing calcium phosphate formation. In the present study, we used a rat tail model to experiment bone tissue engineering with a critical size defect. Two groups with five rats per group of male Wistar rats were used. In each rat, four vertebrae were used for biomaterial implantation. Randomized bone defects were filled with pSi particles alone or pSi particles carrying dental pulp stem cells (DPSC). Regeneration was evaluated in comparison to empty defect and defects filled with xenogenic bone substitute (Bio-Oss^®). Fluorescence microscopy and SEM evaluations showed adhesion of DPSCs on pSi particles with cells exhibiting distribution throughout the biomaterial. Histological analyzes revealed the formation of a collagen network when the defects were filled with pSi, unlike the positive control using Bio-Oss^®. Overall bone formation was objectivated with µCT analysis and showed a higher bone mineral density with pSi particles combining DPSC. Immunohistochemical assays confirmed the increased expression of bone markers (osteocalcin) when pSi particles carried DPSC. Surprisingly, no grafted cells remained in the regenerated area after one month of healing, even though the grafting of DPSC clearly increased bone regeneration for both bone marker expression and overall bone formation objectivated with µCT. In conclusion, our results show that the association of pSi with DPSCs in vivo leads to greater bone formation, compared to a pSi graft without DPSCs. Our results highlight the paracrine role of grafted stem cells by recruitment and stimulation of endogenous cells.

Bone regeneration and repair present significant challenges in the field of regenerative medicine

In animals, the extracellular matrix (ECM) forms a three-dimensional network occupying the intercellular spaces (interstitial matrix) or serving as physical and biochemical support for cells and tissues (basement membrane)