Carolina Stevanie

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of supportive therapies in improving scar quality following primary and secondary cleft lip repair. Design: Systematic review conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library. Due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. Setting: Academic and tertiary care centers. Patients: Patients undergoing primary or secondary cheiloplasty who received supportive therapies for scar management. Outcome Measures: Scar quality assessed using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), scar width measurements, photographic evaluation, and patient-reported outcomes. Results: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Evaluated interventions included Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTA), laser and light-based therapies, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and silicone gel. BTA consistently improved scar appearance and reduced scar width following cheiloplasty. Energy-based therapies, particularly fractional CO ₂ laser and pulsed dye laser (PDL), demonstrated significant improvements in scar texture, vascularity, and overall appearance. PRP was associated with reduced scar widening, while silicone gel showed efficacy comparable to silicone sheets in controlling hypertrophic scar formation. No major treatment-related complications were reported. Conclusion: Supportive therapies may improve scar quality after cheiloplasty, with the strongest evidence supporting BTA and energy-based treatments. Further high-quality prospective studies are required to establish standardized treatment protocols.

The acquisition of advanced dental skills typically necessitates extensive practical training. Currently, immersive reality (IR) represents an innovative a

Background: Dental students’ competencies are shaped by their training, yet traditional methods with mannequins often lack the depth necessary for comprehensive understanding, potentially impacting clinical proficiency. Immersive reality (IR) innovatively offers interactive and scenario-based environments that may enhance skill acquisition. Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of IR-based training implementation in comparison with conventional training methods for dental extractions. Methods: A prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted. Students were randomized to either IR-based training on open and closed extractions or conventional hands-on tutorials by oral surgeons. Post training, participants’ satisfaction and understanding were assessed and analyzed. Results: As of September 2025, 60 students from Hasanuddin University, Makassar, and Padjajaran University, Bandung, have been enrolled, and study enrollment will be expanded to Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan. Data collection is ongoing and will conclude in November 2025, with expected dissemination in early 2026. Conclusions: IR-based training offers a novel approach that may boost motivation, knowledge retention, and skill transfer in dental education. This pilot protocol explores IR’s feasibility and potential to advance dental students’ competencies. Trial Registration: Indonesian Clinical Research Registry INA-QES4CC5; https://ina-crr.kemkes.go.id/en/studi/207 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/74978

BACKGROUND Dental students’ competencies are shaped by their training, yet traditional methods with mannequins often lack the depth necessary for comprehensive understanding, potentially impacting clinical proficiency. Immersive reality (IR) innovatively offers interactive and scenario-based environments that may enhance skill acquisition. OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the effectiveness of IR-based training implementation in comparison with conventional training methods for dental extractions. METHODS A prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted. Students were randomized to either IR-based training on open and closed extractions or conventional hands-on tutorials by oral surgeons. Post training, participants’ satisfaction and understanding were assessed and analyzed. RESULTS As of September 2025, 60 students from Hasanuddin University, Makassar, and Padjajaran University, Bandung, have been enrolled, and study enrollment will be expanded to Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan. Data collection is ongoing and will conclude in November 2025, with expected dissemination in early 2026. CONCLUSIONS IR-based training offers a novel approach that may boost motivation, knowledge retention, and skill transfer in dental education. This pilot protocol explores IR’s feasibility and potential to advance dental students’ competencies. CLINICALTRIAL Indonesian Clinical Research Registry INA-QES4CC5; https://ina-crr.kemkes.go.id/en/studi/207 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/74978

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, oral surgery services were prioritized for emergency cases such as malignancy, head and neck infection, and open or comminuted fracture. COVID-19 that spread by droplets need specific handling considering the work area of an oral surgeon is around the oral cavity and often has close contact with patients. Review: It is important to understand more about COVID-19. In emergency cases that need to be treated immediately, the management to prevent transmission by doing pre-operative, operative, and postoperative procedures will help oral surgery services can be done without the risk of transmission between dentist, patient, and paramedics. Conclusion: Management of emergency cases in oral surgery during pandemic COVID-19 can still be done, if everyone performs proper preventive procedures, not only the dentist but also the patient and paramedics. Conducting telescreens before the visit, early assessment of the patient, preoperative and operative procedures, management of medical waste, and also disinfection of the working area will help to avoid the transmission of COVID-19.

COVID-19 virus can be potentially transmitted by aerosol. Aerosol is defined as small particles of less than 0.5-10 micron which can be produced during talking, coughing and sneezing. In addition, aerosol can be produced by instrumentation during dental procedure. The purpose of this literature review is to explain the effectiveness of extra-oral suction usage for reducing aerosol production and circulation during dental procedure. COVID-19 virus brought by aerosol tend to stay airborne for 3 hours with 1.1-1.2 hours of lifespan. By using aerosol as transport media, virus can travel almost 200.000 km horizontally. A combination of intra- and extra-oral suction in dental clinics or hospitals are believed to be effective for reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission by aerosol during dental practice. The study recommends further research by  microbiology specialists and dental technology experts to confirm this.