Sergio Paduano

Objectives: To evaluate any changes in condylar and mandibular ramus height and dental malocclusion in adult patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) diagnosed with DC/TMD criteria after treatment with an upper occlusal splint. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 48 adult patients with TMDs treated with an occlusal splint in the upper arch for about 12 months. For each patient, panoramic dental X-rays were analyzed using the Habets method to calculate the asymmetry index between the condyles and mandibular branches before and after treatment. The digital dental models were also studied at T0 and T1 to define the occlusal sagittal molar relationship and the posterior dental crossbite. The statistical analysis was performed using the Shapiro–Wilk normality tests, Student t-tests, or Wilcoxon tests using the R studio software (released version 4.3.3). Results: Condylar height showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.022) and reduced condylar asymmetry between T0 and T1. The measurement of the condylar branch showed a statistical significance (p = 0.037), revealing an improvement of the mandibular symmetry in the vertical direction after treatment. Moreover, at T0, posterior dental crossbite was found in 37.5% of patients, specifically, bilateral in 12.5%, while unilateral crossbite in 22.9% on the right and 2.1% on the left side, and Class I malocclusion was found in the main part of the sample (72.9%). Conclusions: Patients with TMDs diagnosed according to DC/TMD and treated with an upper stabilization occlusal splint in the case of symptoms of masticatory muscle dysfunction showed a symmetrization in the mandibular ramus and condyle pre- and post-treatment (T0-T1). At the same time, no clinical differences were found in the occlusal characteristics.

Objectives: The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of amine fluoride (AF) gel with or without diode laser application on pain due to dentin hypersensitivity (DH). Methods: The numerical rating scale (NRS) index was used to assess the pain experienced by each patient. The pain response was elicited by a thermal stimulus (cold air blast). The sample included 43 patients, for a total of 86 dental elements with a split‐mouth design, 27 females and 16 males, with an age range between 18 and 68 years. The teeth were divided into two groups. The treatment group, consisting of 43 teeth, was treated with 980 nm diode laser (doctor smile wiser by Lambda s.p.a. Via dell’Impresa, 1,36040 Brendola VI, Italy) and AF gel (Elmex Dental Gel, Colgate‐Palmolive company, New York, 300 Park Ave, United States); the control group, consisting of 43 teeth, was treated with AF gel only. Only one treatment session was performed for each group. Follow‐up visits were scheduled for each patient at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months. At these follow‐up sessions, the pain response was reassessed using the NRS index. Results: The results of this study showed a significant reduction in pain in both groups ( p < 0.05). However, teeth treated with laser therapy showed significantly better pain control over time compared with conventional treatment ( p > 0.05). AF therapy combined with laser therapy was shown to be more effective in reducing pain than AF alone, both immediately after therapy and in the long term ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: The laser combined with the AF gel guarantees a better result on reduction of tooth sensitivity compared to the AF gel alone.

Background: To evaluate the profile changes following orthopedic/orthodontic treatment with the Herbst Miniscope^® appliance in subjects affected with Class II malocclusion with mandibular retrusion. Methods: A total of 44 patients presenting a skeletal Angle Class II malocclusion (ANB > 4°) due to mandibular retrusion and a cervical maturation stage between CS2 and CS3 were included in the study. Of these 44 patients, 22 (mean age 11.9 ± 1.3, HBT group) were treated using the Herbst appliance, while 22 (mean age 10.6 ± 1.3, CTR group) were followed for a 12-month observational period. A cephalometric tracing was performed at the beginning of treatment (T0) and after 12 months (T1). Results: In both groups there was a significant advancement of soft tissue pogonion (HBT = 3.5 ± 3.0 mm, p < 0.001; CTR = 2.2 ± 2.9 mm, p < 0.001), but the difference between the two groups was not significant (p = 0.172). On the contrary, both groups had a significant advancement of the mandibular sulcus (HBT = 3.7 ± 2.8 mm, p < 0.001; CTR = 1.2 ± 2.2 mm, p < 0.001) and a lower lip protrusion (HBT = 3.45 ± 2.51 mm, p < 0.001; CTR = 1.7 ± 2.7 mm, p = 0.008), but in both cases the HBT group showed a statistically significant greater increase in sulcus protrusion (p = 0.002) and lower lip protrusion (p = 0.029) than controls. There were no statistically significant effects on the upper jaw. Conclusions: The Herbst appliance advanced the lower jaw soft tissues.

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of OSAS' risk in children of the province of Catanzaro, Italy. Materials and Methods A sample of 2445 scoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years of the province of Catanzaro (Italy) were administered the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaires (PSOs) in its validated Italian version. A total of 1772 questionnaires were collected; however, 130 of them were excluded, and 1642 questionnaires were accepted and scored. Results According to final scores of questionnaires, 172 children (10.47%) were considered at risk for OSAS. No statistically significant association between sex and risk of OSAS was found (p = 0.189). The risk of OSAS was equally distributed in all ages (p = 0.984). It was found that the most common habits in children with risk of OSAS were: snoring, heavy or noisy breathing, oral breathing, xerostomia, difficulty waking up in the morning, behavioural disturbances during the day and excess weight. Conclusion The study showed a high risk of OSAS, suggesting the importance of first-level screening and the need to pay special attention to the diagnosis of this syndrome.

Aim To describe the current oral health status of primary school children in Southern Italy, to investigate if there is an association between malocclusions and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), and to investigate if there is an association between dental caries and periodontal disease. Methods Study design: Transversal epidemiological study. We examined 1086 children, considering them of the same socioeconomic status (medium). The Decayed, Missing, Filled (DMF) index and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) were used to assess decay and periodontal status. Moreover, orthodontic and gnathologic evaluations were performed. Results Children had a mean age of 10.3 +/- 0.72 yrs, 41.6% had active dental caries in permanent teeth and 54.8% experienced periodontal problems. The 54.3% of patients had Angle Class I, 40.1% Class II and 5.5% Class III. The 13.8% of children had a deviated opening pattern of the mandible, and 2.2% of them had MI pain. DMF indices greater than 0 were associated with positive CPI. Males were more susceptible to periodontal disease, compared to females. TMJ pain was found associated with a decreased overbite. Statistics: Descriptive statistics for continuous data, and frequencies and percentages for categorical and ordinal data were calculated. Univariate linear and logistic regression model, with calculations, was used to assess associations between dental caries status and CPI, and between malocclusions and gnathologic aspects. Conclusions This study found a noticeable prevalence of oral diseases among children of Southern Italy and an association between malocclusions and TMDs, periodontal disease and dental decay. Thus, a higher number of preventive interventions are recommended in the area.

The IBTK gene encodes the major protein isoform IBTKα that was recently characterized as substrate receptor of Cul3-dependent E3 ligase, regulating ubiquitination coupled to proteasomal degradation of Pdcd4, an inhibitor of translation. Due to the presence of Ankyrin-BTB-RCC1 domains that mediate several protein-protein interactions, IBTKα could exert expanded regulatory roles, including interaction with transcription regulators. To verify the effects of IBTKα on gene expression, we analyzed HeLa and K562 cell transcriptomes by RNA-Sequencing before and after IBTK knock-down by shRNA transduction. In HeLa cells, 1285 (2.03%) of 63,128 mapped transcripts were differentially expressed in IBTK-shRNA-transduced cells, as compared to cells treated with control-shRNA, with 587 upregulated (45.7%) and 698 downregulated (54.3%) RNAs. In K562 cells, 1959 (3.1%) of 63128 mapped RNAs were differentially expressed in IBTK-shRNA-transduced cells, including 1053 upregulated (53.7%) and 906 downregulated (46.3%). Only 137 transcripts (0.22%) were commonly deregulated by IBTK silencing in both HeLa and K562 cells, indicating that most IBTKα effects on gene expression are cell type-specific. Based on gene ontology classification, the genes responsive to IBTK are involved in different biological processes, including in particular chromatin and nucleosomal organization, gene expression regulation, and cellular traffic and migration. In addition, IBTK RNA interference affected RNA maturation in both cell lines, as shown by the evidence of alternative 3′- and 5′-splicing, mutually exclusive exons, retained introns, and skipped exons. Altogether, these results indicate that IBTK differently modulates gene expression and RNA splicing in HeLa and K562 cells, demonstrating a novel biological role of this protein.

This case series describes the different potential approaches to late-developing supernumerary premolars (LDSP). LDSP are supernumerary teeth (ST) formed after the eruption of the permanent dentition; usually they develop in the premolar region of the upper and lower jaw. The choice to extract or to monitor the LDSP depends on many factors and has to be carefully planned due to the several risks that either the monitoring or the extraction could provoke. These four cases of LDSP showed different treatment plan alternatives derived from a scrupulous assessment of the clinical and radiographic information.

Of the various malocclusions, unilateral posterior crossbite has often been associated to skeletal and muscular asymmetrical growth and function. To assess, by systematically reviewing the literature, the association between unilateral posterior crossbite (UPCB) and morphological and/or functional asymmetries (i.e. skeletal, masticatory muscle electromyographic (EMG) performance, bite force, muscle thickness, and chewing cycle asymmetries). A literature survey covering the period from January 1965 to June 2015 was performed. Two reviewers extracted the data independently and assessed the quality of the studies. The search strategy resulted in 2184 citations, of which 45 met the inclusion criteria. The scientific and methodological quality of these studies was medium–low, irrespective of the association reported. In several studies, posterior crossbite is reported to be associated to asymmetries in mandibular skeletal growth, EMG activity, and the chewing cycle. Fewer data are available on bite force and masticatory muscle thickness. The relationship between unilateral posterior crossbite and skeletal asymmetry is still unresolved. To date, most of the studies available report a skeletal asymmetric growth. EMG activity of masticatory muscles is different between crossbite and non-crossbite sides. Subjects with UPCB show smaller bite force than non-crossbite subjects. There is no consistency of studies reporting masticatory muscle thickness asymmetry in UPCB subjects. UPCB is associated to an increase in the reverse chewing cycle. The literature available on the subject is of medium–low scientific and methodological quality, irrespective of the association reported. Further investigations with higher sample size, well-defined diagnostic criteria, rigorous scientific methodologies, and long-term control are needed.

Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) may be a source of diagnostic biomarkers of periodontitis/gingivitis. However, peptide fingerprints may change, depending on GCF collection, handling and storage. We evaluated how storage conditions affect the quality and the reproducibility of MALDI‐TOF profiles of this fluid. GCF was collected on paper strips from four subjects with healthy gingiva. Our findings demonstrated that sample storage conditions significantly affect GCF peptide pattern over time. Specifically, the storage of GCF immediately extracted from paper strips generates less variations in molecular profiles compared to the extraction performed after the storage. Significant spectral changes were detected for GCF samples stored at –20°C directly on the paper strips and extracted after three months, in comparison to the freshly extracted control. Noteworthy, a significant decrease in the peak area of HNP‐3, S100A8, full‐length S100A9 and its truncated form were detected after 3 months at –80°C. The alterations found in the “stored GCF” profile not only may affect the pattern‐based biomarker discovery but also make its use not adequate for in vitro diagnostic test targeting S100A8, S100A9 proposed as potential diagnostic biomarkers for periodontal disease. In summary, this study shows that the best preserved signatures were obtained for the GCF samples eluted in trifluoroacetic acid and then immediately stored at –80°C for 1 month. The wealth of information gained from our data on protein/patterns stability after storage might be helpful in defining new protocols which enable optimal preservation of GCF specimen.

Temperature Profiles Along the Root with Gutta-percha Warmed through Different Heat Sources