Maja Ptasiewicz

Objectives: Initial caries lesions (ICLs) are the earliest manifestation of dental caries, characterized by subsurface porosity that affects enamel’s optical properties while maintaining its surface integrity. Resin infiltration is a minimally invasive approach to managing these lesions by penetrating and sealing pores with low-viscosity resin, potentially modifying their visual appearance. In order to provide a quantifiable, objective assessment of this optical behavior, this study aimed to evaluate the modulation of color coordinates and VITA Classical shade transitions within the initial lesions immediately following infiltration with Icon Smooth Surface (DMG, Hamburg, Germany). Materials and Methods: Forty-nine extracted human premolars with naturally occurring proximal ICLs (subsurface demineralization) were selected. Lesions were assessed for fluorescence level using 655 nm laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent pen). Reflectance spectrophotometry (SpectroShade Micro) was employed to record color coordinates in the CIELab and CIELCh spaces, alongside VITA Classical shades, before and after resin infiltration. Results: The infiltration procedure resulted in a statistically significant increase in b* (yellowness) and subsequent C* (chroma) parameters (p < 0.05). VITA Classical shade guide analysis showed an insignificant shift in color distribution according to value (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The present exploratory study provides quantitative insights into the immediate color-modifying effects of a resin infiltration procedure on natural initial proximal caries lesions, complementing the existing literature with objective CIELab/CIELCh and VITA Classical measurements. The p-values should be interpreted as descriptive indicators of potential trends rather than definitive statistical proof. Further research with larger cohorts and long-term follow-up is needed to validate the durability and clinical relevance of these esthetic outcomes.

Introduction: Oral candidiasis is a common opportunistic fungal infection of the oral mucosa, most frequently caused by Candida albicans. Its development is influenced by local factors, such as denture use and oral hygiene, as well as systemic conditions including diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Accurate diagnosis requires both clinical evaluation and mycological testing. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze demographic characteristics, predisposing factors, and the species distribution of Candida isolates in patients diagnosed with oral candidiasis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of medical documentation was conducted to evaluate patient demographics, risk factors, comorbidities, denture use, and results of mycological examinations confirming oral candidiasis. Results: A total of 71 patients (49 women and 22 men), aged 21–85 years (mean 59.6 ± 16 years), were included in the study. Fungal etiology was confirmed in all cases, with Candida albicans identified most frequently (81.69%). Among comorbidities, cardiovascular diseases were most common (30.99%), followed by diabetes (14.08%), and chronic periodontitis, respiratory, and gastrointestinal diseases (each 11.27%). Removable dentures were used by 18.30% of patients, and nicotine addiction was reported in 9.86%. All strains were susceptible to the tested antifungals, except for species with known intrinsic resistance. Conclusions: Oral candidiasis in this cohort predominantly affected women and older adults, with Candida albicans remaining the most common etiological agent. Denture use emerged as an important local predisposing factor and was associated with a higher proportion of infections caused by non-albicans species. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive clinical evaluation and routine mycological testing to guide targeted antifungal therapy, especially in patients with risk factors such as denture use or systemic comorbidities.

This study aimed to determine the effect of ozone on the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes in dental pulp cells. Additionally, the programmed cell death protein 1, programmed death-ligand 1, and CD200 antigens were determined in lymphocytes to assess their surface expression. Dental pulp cells were cultured from extracted healthy third molars and characterized as dental pulp stromal cells. Gene expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was analyzed at 0 s, 6 s, and 12 s of ozone exposure using real-time PCR. Lymphocytes from dental pulp were subjected to ozone exposure for 12 s and PD-1, PD-L1, and CD200/CD200R expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. Upon exposure to ozone for 6 s, the Bcl-2 expression decreased significantly to −0.09, and at 12 s, it increased significantly to 0.3. Bax gene expression level increased significantly to 0.188 after 6 s exposure, and at 12 s, to 0.16. Lymphocytes exposed to ozone for 12 s showed minimal changes in PD-1, PD-L1, and CD200/CD200R expression levels, indicating that oxidative stress does not impact the signaling pathways regulating these molecules. The significant upregulation of Bcl-2 at 12 s highlights the cells’ effort to protect themselves from prolonged oxidative stress, possibly tipping the balance toward cell survival and tissue repair. However, the absence of changes in PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on lymphocytes under oxidative stress suggests that these molecules are not sensitive to oxidative stress in this context.

The rapid development of nanotechnology has led to the use of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in various biomedical fields. However, the effect of Ag-NPs on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) is not fully understood. Moreover, too frequent an exposure to products containing nanosilver in sublethal amounts raises widespread concerns that it will lead to the development of silver-resistant microorganisms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the mechanism of action of Ag-NPs on hMSCs by analyzing the cellular uptake of Ag-NPs by the cells and its effect on their viability and to assess antimicrobial activity of Ag-NPs against emerging bacterial strains, including multidrug-resistant pathogens. For metabolic activity and viability evaluation, hMSCs were incubated with different concentrations of Ag-NPs (14 μg/mL, 7 μg/mL, and 3.5 μg/mL) for 10 min., 1 h and 24 h and subsequently analyzed for their viability by live-dead staining and metabolic activity by the MTS assay. The effect of Ag-NPs on bacterial pathogens was studied by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). In conclusion, it was observed that exposure of hMSCs to Ag-NPs of size <10 nm has no cytotoxic effect on the metabolic activity of the cells at the concentration of 3.5 μg/mL, with minimal cytotoxic effect being observed at the concentration of 14 μg/mL after 24 h of incubation. Our findings also confirmed that Ag-NPs at the concentration of 4 μg/mL are effective broad-spectrum bactericidal agents, regardless of the antibiotic-resistance mechanism present in bacteria.

Background. Gingival recessions are common mucogingival deformities and conditions around teeth, which are described as the apical migration of tissues in the relation to the cementoenamel junction. One of the types of graft materials used to treat these recessions is the collagen graft material. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of the collagen matrix combined with the coronally advanced flap surgery method to cover dental recessions, after a 12 month follow-up period. Methods. The following parameters were assessed in 20 patients, with 38 single or multiple Miller class I or II gingival recessions: depth of the recession—RD; width of the recession—RW; height of the keratinized tissue—HKT; and thickness of the keratinized gingivae—GT. The percentage of the root coverage after 12 months was also calculated. Results. There was a significant difference in the RD and RW values before and after the procedure. On average, the RD decreased by 3.39 mm, and the RW by 3.87 mm. Moreover, the values of the GT and HKT, before and after the treatment, significantly increased by 0.98 mm and 1.13 mm, respectively. The partial root coverage was 43.48%, and the total root coverage was 56.52%. Conclusion. The use of the collagen matrix with a split thickness gingival flap to cover the gingival recessions is a predictable and effective method when the clinician carefully follows the recommendation of the producer, which was confirmed in a 1 year follow-up with good clinical results.

The oral mucosa is a mechanical barrier against the penetration and colonization of microorganisms. Oral homeostasis is maintained by congenital and adaptive systems in conjunction with normal oral flora and an intact oral mucosa. Components contributing to the defense of the oral cavity include the salivary glands, innate antimicrobial proteins of saliva, plasma proteins, circulating white blood cells, keratinocyte products of the oral mucosa, and gingival crevicular fluid. General disturbances in the level of immunoglobulins in the human body may be manifested as pathological lesions in the oral mucosa. Symptoms of immunoglobulin-related general diseases such as mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), pemphigus vulgaris (PV), linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD), Epidermolysis Bullosa Aquisita (EBA), and Hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES) may appear in the oral cavity. In this review, authors present selected diseases associated with immunoglobulins in which the lesions appear in the oral cavity. Early detection and treatment of autoimmune diseases, sometimes showing a severe evolution (e.g., PV), allow the control of their dissemination and involvement of skin or other body organs. Immunoglobulin disorders with oral manifestations are not common, but knowledge, differentiation and diagnosis are essential for proper treatment.

The oral cavity is inhabited by a wide spectrum of microbial species, and their colonization is mostly based on commensalism. These microbes are part of the normal oral flora, but there are also opportunistic species that can cause oral and systemic diseases. Although there is a strong exposure to various microorganisms, the oral mucosa reduces the colonization of microorganisms with high rotation and secretion of various types of cytokines and antimicrobial proteins such as defensins. In some circumstances, the imbalance between normal oral flora and pathogenic flora may lead to a change in the ratio of commensalism to parasitism. Healthy oral mucosa has many important functions. Thanks to its integrity, it is impermeable to most microorganisms and constitutes a mechanical barrier against their penetration into tissues. Our study aims to present the role and composition of the oral cavity microbiota as well as defense mechanisms within the oral mucosa which allow for maintaining a balance between such numerous species of microorganisms. We highlight the specific aspects of the oral mucosa protecting barrier and discuss up-to-date information on the immune cell system that ensures microbiota balance. This study presents the latest data on specific tissue stimuli in the regulation of the immune system with particular emphasis on the resistance of the gingival barrier. Despite advances in understanding the mechanisms regulating the balance on the microorganism/host axis, more research is still needed on how the combination of these diverse signals is involved in the regulation of immunity at the oral mucosa barrier.

The oral cavity is the place where the first symptoms of systemic diseases may appear. Leukemia is the malignancy of the hematopoietic system in which abnormal leukocytes are produced in the bone marrow and these cells spread to the peripheral blood. It is classified clinically on the basis of the duration and nature of the disease (acute or chronic), the type of cell involved (myeloid, lymphoid, or monocytes), and a rise in the number of abnormal cells in the blood. The study aimed to assess and compare the oral hygiene and periodontium status based on the indices in leukemic patients before and after one cycle of chemotherapy and whether the therapy had an impact on the change of these parameters. Dental indices used in clinical diagnostics were calculated: API (approximal plaque index), SBI (sulcus bleeding index), and CPI (community periodontal index). The research project was conducted at the Clinic of Hematooncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation of the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin. The target population consisted of 102 adults with leukemia who were over 18 years of age. The time since diagnosis of the disease ranged from 1 to 10 years. The data were evaluated in the Statistica 12 software with the respective tests. In the majority of patients, both before and after chemotherapy, improper oral hygiene and severe generalized periodontitis were confirmed. The cycle of chemotherapy that was used did not correlate with the change of patients’ oral hygiene and periodontium state. Unsatisfactory oral hygiene and periodontal health has to be addressed with urgent dental treatment to avoid systemic complications in leukemic patients.

New types of biological apatites have been discovered in molar sheep and horse teeth and are divided in two types. In the first and more general type, the release of Mg ions is parallel to the changes in composition of apatite leading to a final stoichiometric ratio of Ca to P ions, going from dentin depth towards the boundary of enamel with air. Inside dentin, another apatite sub-types were discovered with alternating layers of Mg-rich and C-rich apatites. The approximate formal stoichiometric relationships for these peculiar types of bioapatites are suggested. We identified two kinds of ion-exchanges responsible for formation of peculiar apatites. Various combinations of main and minor elements lead to new versions of biological apatites.