Vol 27, No 1 (2023)

BACKGROUND: According to Russian and foreign literature, the probability of iatrogenic perforation of the wall of the tooth root canal is high (9.7–12.5%) during endodontic dental treatment. This is a poor prognostic sign and may subsequently result in tooth extraction. Moreover, cases without curing of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) cement with pronounced exudation were reported. Сurrently, the modification of domestically produced MTA cement is relevant for closing teeth root canal perforation.

AIM: This study aimed to conduct a comparative experimental microscopic study of the preservation of the marginal fit to the tooth tissues in perforation areas filled with MTA cement mixed conventionally with distilled water and a colloidal silver dioxide solution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty teeth previously removed for medical reasons were endodontically treated after iatrogenic perforation formation in the furcation area of the roots. Two groups were formed. In the first group, MTA cement mixed with distilled water was used to close dental perforations. In the second group, MTA cement mixed with a colloidal silver dioxide solution was utilized. The groups were divided into subgroups depending on the MTA cement brand used. The teeth were placed in an automatic incubator HHD 7 LED, in which an optimal mode was created, simulating the conditions of the oral cavity (t = 37 °C, humidity 99%). The samples were placed in artificial saliva. After two months of exposing the teeth to a humid environment, the preservation and damage to the marginal fit in the perforation area of the fillings were determined under a Levenhuk 720B binocular microscope.

RESULTS: In the perforations of the 30 teeth sealed with various MTA cement types mixed with distilled water, damage of the marginal fit was found in seven (23.3 ± 7.9%) cases. Similar damage in 30 teeth with colloidal silver dioxide solution used to prepare MTA cements was detected in two (6.7 ± 4.6%) cases (p >0.050, t = 1.82).

CONCLUSION: The use of MTA cement mixed in a colloidal silver dioxide solution, in comparison with distilled water, contributes to a greater preservation of the marginal fit of the material to the walls of the root canal in an in vitro experiment.

BACKGROUND: Currently, numerous metal structures are used in dentistry, such as implants, pins, dentures, etc. These structures are often made of various metals and metal alloys with different electrochemical potentials. This circumstance can lead to the appearance of a galvanic cell, consisting of metal structures. In the existing literature, no data reveal the frequency of the detection of galvanic pairs of metal structures in the mouth in the absence of galvanic syndrome and oral mucosal diseases.

AIM: To examine the detection frequency of galvanic pairs of metal structures in the mouth in the absence of galvanic syndrome and pathological changes in the oral mucosa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey of 133 patients aged 33–87 years was conducted to detect the presence of galvanic pairs of metal structures in the mouth. All patients do not have galvanic syndrome and pathological changes in the oral mucosa. The patients were divided into four age groups: 33–44 years old (n = 33), 45–59 years old (n = 35), 60–74 years old (n = 35), and 75–87 years old (n = 30). Electrochemical potentials of metal structures in the mouth were determined according to the method developed at the Department of Therapeutic Dentistry of the E. V. Borovsky Institute of Dentistry of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov (Sechenov University). An electrode made of 999 gold was used as an active indicator electrode, which was used to touch metal structures in the mouth during the study. An EHP-1 silver chloride electrode was used as a passive reference electrode. A Fluke 115 multimeter was used as a measuring device.

RESULTS: In the group aged 33–44 years, galvanic pairs were found in 18%, and they had 5.2 ± 2.1 metal structures. The group aged 45–59 years had 7.4 ± 3.5 metal structures in the mouth, and 23% of the participants had galvanic vapors in the oral cavity. In the group aged 60–74 years, 26% had galvanic vapors in the oral cavity. In this group, the maximum number of metal structures in the mouth was 7.9 ± 4.1. In the group aged 75–87 years, 20% had galvanic pairs of metal structures in the mouth, and they had 5.9 ± 1.8 metal structures in the oral cavity.

CONCLUSION: Galvanic pairs of metal structures in the oral cavity were found is 18–26% of the participants in different age groups. The share is associated not so much with age but to a greater extent with the number of metal structures in the oral cavity. With the increased number of metal structures, the probability of the appearance of a galvanic pair in the mouth, formed by metal structures with different electrochemical potentials, increases.

BACKGROUND: Current digital technologies have huge effects on all branches of medicine, including dentistry. Digital smile design allows the creation of prosthetic restorations that are both esthetically and functionally reliable. This study reveals a technique for combining two-dimensional (2D) smile design planning with three-dimensional (3D) planning and evaluating its clinical effectiveness.

AIM: To study patient satisfaction with the virtual smile design dental service provided with and without the 2D planning stage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a mockup was traditionally made (obtaining impressions from the upper and lower jaws, making a wax model of teeth by a technician from a photograph of a patient without a 2D planning stage) using 2D virtual smile design planning. The total sample size was 60 people aged 25–35 years, of which 20 were men and 40 were women. Clinical efficacy was assessed by questionnaire using the OHIP-14 questionnaire before and after planning. The answer options for each question were interpreted as “almost never”, 1 point; “sometimes”, 2 points; “often”, 3 points; and “very often”, 4 points. The scores were inversely correlated. In the first stage, a survey of patients was conducted before planning. Thirty patients underwent traditional mockup, and the remaining 30 patients underwent virtual 2D planning.

RESULTS: The quality of life increased by 1.95 times when using traditional mockup manufacturing technology and 2.8 times using 2D virtual planning. This correlation showed that when using traditional 2D smile design planning, the patient cannot see the stages of dentition modeling, and the technician may not take into account all the wishes of the patient. With virtual planning, the patient is involved in this process. Digital smile simulation allows the demonstration of planning, takes into account the wishes of the patient, increases the trust between the doctor and the patient, and thus achieves a successful planning result.

CONCLUSION: The obtained results show the high clinical efficiency of virtual smile design planning using the developed protocol.

BACKGROUND: Despite the decrease in the prevalence and experience of dental caries in 12-year-old children in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, the quality of life associated with dental health remains low. Consumption of sweet foods has been reported to be associated with a low quality of life. However, associations between nutritional factors and dental caries remain poorly studied in Russia, particularly in the Arctic using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

AIM: To study associations between nutritional risk factors and the prevalence and experience of dental caries among 12-year-old children in Arkhangelsk region using WHO criteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 1162 children aged 12 years in seven urban and five rural settings of Arkhangelsk region participated in a cross-sectional study using the WHO methodology. Bivariate associations between the frequency of consumption of the studied foods and caries were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-squared tests. Associations between the average values of the DMFT index and its components across frequency categories of nutritional factors were assessed by a multivariable Poisson regression.

RESULTS: Adolescents drinking soft drinks once a day or more often had significantly more filled teeth than those in the reference group (p = 0.003). An inverse association was observed between the frequency of tea / coffee / milk consumption and mean DMFT (p = 0.041), which was largely attributed to the differences in the number of filled teeth (p = 0.009). The number of filled teeth among those who consumed tea / coffee / milk at least once a day was 8% lower than in the reference group.

CONCLUSION: Among adolescents, significant associations were observed between caries experience and consumption of soft drinks and tea / coffee / milk with sugar. Measures aimed at the reduction of consumption of these items should be included in caries prevention programs.

The study reflects the current trends in the digital format of educational technology in dentistry, which is a new paradigm in the training of medical personnel. The new-generation dental simulator is presented as an innovation in the educational process. The authors propose technically combining the accumulated positive solutions in this area using a single hardware and software environment, i.e., an anthropomorphic robot, whose hardware platform is expanded with additional specialized sensors and actuators. To increase the practical competencies of dental students and dentists when honing practical skills, the use of a dental simulator based on a robotic complex in the educational process is the most optimal way by creating a fully functional anthropomorphic dental robot, especially with integrated modules Smart-Jaw and Smart Teeth and supporting the communicative function through artificial intelligence. Currently, a fully functional prototype of the anthropomorphic robot simulator Promobot-Ct with a set of educational cases has been utilized, which is used to train dentists at Perm State Medical University, which was named after Academician E.A. Vagner.

BACKGROUND: In 2022, a new passport of the specialty 3.1.7 “Dentistry” has been introduced with new lines of scientific research; however, no content analysis of previous studies over a long period has been made.

AIM: To examine the genesis of scientific research lines based on dissertation materials in the specialty 14.01.14 (14.00.21) “Dentistry” in 28 years (1993–2020).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study analyzed dissertation abstracts (1993–2020) published in the electronic catalogs of the Russian State Library, Russian National Library, and Central Scientific Medical Library. The results were checked for the normalcy of the location of markers. Arithmetical means and their errors are presented in the text. The development of scientific research lines has been explored statistically, and a second-order polynomial trend was built.

RESULTS: The study identified 5773 dissertation abstracts in the specialty 14.01.14 (14.00.21) “Dentistry,” submitted to the dissertation councils of the USSR (Russia) in 1993–2020. They accounted for approximately 5.8% of all medical dissertations in Russia. In total, 610 (10.5%) dissertations for the doctor of medicine and 5163 (89.5%) for the candidate of medicine were found. The average annual array was 206 ± 15, including candidate ones with 184 ± 14, and doctorate ones with 22 ± 1. Moreover, 24.2% of the works were at the science intersection (in two specialties). Generally, polynomial trends in the number of dissertations and indicators of scientific research lines were associated with inverted U-curves with maximum data in 2004–2009, and with data decrease in the last monitoring period, it generally reflected the training development of highly qualified specialists in Russia.

CONCLUSION: The content analysis of the dissertations revealed the genesis of dentistry-leading knowledge, which can help scientists avoid parallel or dead-end studies when planning their work.

Currently, students, clinical residents, young dentists, and teachers of dental departments of medical universities in Russia know practically nothing about the professional activities of the Doctor of Medical Sciences and Professor Nikolai Alexandrovich Astakhov.

N.A. Astakhov’s professional activity focused on the treatment of dental caries, periodontal pathology (then, alveolar pyorrhea), relationship of dental pathology with general diseases of the human body, dental prosthetic issues, traumatic occlusion, and orthodontics. He created the first cycles in the country for the improvement of dentists and dentists.

Professor N.A. Astakhov was a benevolent, selfless, sympathetic, highly erudite specialist, had a well-deserved authority, and enjoyed deep respect among dentists and the medical community of Leningrad and USSR. His name should forever remain in the memory of the general dental community in Russia and countries near and abroad. The scientific heritage of Professor N.A. Astakhov is a valuable contribution to the development of medical science and all sections of dentistry.