Negative Pulp Sensibility Responses Do Not Necessarily Indicate Pulp Necrosis In Teeth Associated With Cystic Or Cyst-Like Lesions, Le Lu, Xiang Zhang, Ya Shen, He Liu

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Story Of A Taiwanese Female Student Studying Dentistry In Japan During The Japanese Colonial Period: An Oral History By Dr. Yueh-E Wu, Feng-Chou Cheng, Mei-Huei Li, Chien-Chi Chu, Chun-Pin Chiang

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Postoperative Conductive Hearing Loss After Full-Arch-Implantation Surgery Under General Anesthesia In An Oral Submucous Fibrosis Patient: A Case Report, Hao-Chen Wang, Fu-Chuan Tsai, Chia-Che Wu, Chih-Yuan Fang

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

From Domestic Science To Dental Science: The Hidden Pathway For Talented Taiwanese Women During The Japanese Colonial Period, Hung-Lun Pan, Mei-Huei Li, Feng-Chou Cheng, Chun-Pin Chiang

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Er:Yag Laser-Assisted Connective Tissue Wall Technique For Periodontal Regeneration In A Soft Tissue Recession Combined With A Furcation-Involved Class Ii Subclass B Molar Under A Microscope: A Case Report, Shao-Yu Chang, Yoichi Taniguchi, Akira Aoki, Taichen Lin

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Journal Of Dental Sciences Editorial Board

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Clinical Applications Of Platelet-Rich Plasma And Platelet-Rich Fibrin Combined With Photobiomodulation In Regenerative Dentistry: A Literature Review, Maryam Pourhajibagher, Rashin Bahrami, Abbas Bahador

Journal of Dental Sciences

Regenerative dentistry seeks to restore oral tissues through biologically driven therapies that stimulate endogenous healing. Among these, autologous platelet concentrates—namely platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)—serve as reservoirs of growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which promote angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and extracellular matrix formation. Complementing these biological mediators, photobiomodulation (PBM) represents a non-invasive light-based therapy that enhances mitochondrial activity, modulates inflammation, and accelerates tissue regeneration. Accumulating evidence suggests that combining PRP or PRF with PBM produces synergistic effects that surpass those achieved by …

Performance Of Large Language Models In Answering Orthodontic Questions: A Scoping Review, Tu Manh Nguyen, Fang-Yu Fan, Ying-Sui Sun, Yang-Che Wu, Sheng-Wei Feng, Hao-Ting Chen, I-Ta Lee, Pao-Chang Chiang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly explored as novel platforms for delivering orthodontic information. Although their capacity to generate rapid, structured, and accessible responses has been widely recognized, concerns persist regarding performance variability and the risk of generating inaccurate outputs. Given the heterogeneity of existing evidence, this scoping review aimed to systematically map the current research landscape and synthesize findings on the application of LLMs in addressing orthodontic queries. This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library up to November 30, 2025. Twenty-six studies met the eligibility criteria …

The Ph-Pi3k/Akt/Mtorc1 Axis In The Survival Of Stem Cells From The Apical Papilla: A Critical Target For Rescue By Microenvironment-Engineered Hydrogels In Pulp Regeneration, Chunlei Zhang, Haisheng Cao, Jie Li, Changqing Yan, Yang Liu, Shuguo Zheng, Xiaozhe Wang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: The pH within infected root canals fluctuates dynamically under pathological conditions, yet its impact on stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) in dental pulp regeneration remains unclear. This study investigated how potential of hydrogen (pH) variations govern SCAPs survival and the associated signaling to identify therapeutic targets for enhancing tissue regeneration.

Materials and methods: SCAPs were cultured at pH 5.4-10.4. Proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, real-time live-cell analysis, and flow cytometry. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) identified differentially expressed genes, which were validated through reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blotting, and mechanistic …

International Comparison Of Oral Hypofunction Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults In Three Asian Countries: A Cross-Sectional And Multi-National Study, Ryosuke Yanagida, Kohei Yamaguchi, Kazuharu Nakagawa, Chantaramanee Ariya, Patcharaphol Samnieng, Megan F Liu, Nai-Chia Teng, Ting-Yi Renn, Rieko Moritoyo, Sirinthip Amornsuradech, Kanako Yoshimi, Haruka Tohara

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: In aging Asian societies, oral hypofunction among older adults has gained importance, with most epidemiological studies conducted in Japan. We aimed to compare oral function in community-dwelling older adults in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Materials and methods: Community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 60 years who participated in Yokohama, Taipei, and Phitsanulok health surveys (May 2022–September 2024) were included. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and denture use data were recorded. Using the Japanese Society of Gerodontology diagnostic framework, seven oral hypofunction components were evaluated: oral hygiene, oral dryness, occlusal force, tongue–lip motor function, tongue pressure, masticatory function, …

Accuracy Of Full-Arch Implant Scans Using Different Horizontal Scan Bodies In An Angulated Model: An In Vitro Study, Tsung-Yu Lin, Tong-Mei Wang, Li-Deh Lin

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Various newly developed horizontal implant scan bodies have been introduced to enhance full-arch scan accuracy. However, their performance in angulated implant scenarios remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of four specific horizontal scan body systems.

Materials and methods: A stone cast containing six implant abutment analogs served as the master model. Four horizontal scan body systems (ArcB GeoMEDI, Apollo Smartflag, Scan Ladder, and ioConnect) were evaluated. Ten scans were performed per group using an intraoral scanner (Medit i900c). The mean surface deviation, root mean square (RMS) values against the reference files, and the …

Development And Clinical Validation Of An Artificial Intelligence–Assisted Radiographic System For Predicting Periodontal Pocket Severity Using Full-Mouth Radiographs., Yi-Tai Ho, Tsui-Hsien Huang, Cheng-Han Shie, Tao-Wei Chang, Chun-Te Ho, Chia-Tze Kao

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Conventional periodontal probing is the gold standard for evaluating periodontal disease severity; however, it is time-consuming and susceptible to operator-dependent variability. This study developed and clinically validated an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted radiographic system for automated periodontal disease severity assessment using full-mouth radiographs, and investigated its association with clinical periodontal probing depth.

Materials and methods: A total of 655 full-mouth radiographs were retrospectively collected: 151 (3,962 teeth) for AI model training and 504 (13,809 teeth) for validation. Periodontal bone loss was quantified using the periodontal bone loss (PBL) ratio and classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Clinical validation used 31 …

Anemia, Hematinic Deficiencies, Hyperhomocysteinemia, And Serum Gastric Parietal Cell Antibody Positivity In 430 Patients With Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, Yi-Ping Wang, Yi-Pang Lee, Yu-Hsueh Wu, Julia Yu-Fong Chang, Andy Sun, Chun-Pin Chiang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Our previous study found that 20.9%, 20.1%, 4.8%, 2.6%, and 7.7% of 273 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients have anemia, serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively. This study mainly evaluated the anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity in a large group of 430 RAS patients.

Materials and methods: The blood hemoglobin (Hb) and serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and GPCA levels in 430 RAS patients were measured and compared with the corresponding levels in 430 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects.

Results: We …

Avian Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Alleviates The Porphyromonas Gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide Induced Gingival Fibroblast Senescence, Han-Chieh Yang, Earl Fu, Yu-Tang Chin, Ju-Sheng Shieh, Wei-Ni Lin, Cheng-Yang Chiang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: We have shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from Polygonum multiflorum extract bio-pulsed avian mesenchymal stem cells exhibit anti-inflammatory and proliferation-promoting properties. A significant association has been identified between periodontitis, higher biological age, and accelerated biological aging. This study investigated whether the bio-pulsed EVs could alleviate Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS)-induced senescence in human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs).

Materials and methods: Pg-LPS was used to induce cellular inflammation and senescence in hGFs. The cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and cytotoxicity was assessed with MTS. Senescence after repeated stimulations was evaluated …

Deep Learning-Based Automated Per-Tooth Detection And Segmentation From Unretracted Smile Photographs, Hsuan Chen, Khoa Dang Nguyen, Hong Thi-Phuong Doan, Mu-Chen Yang, Ya-Chu Chang, Anand Marya, Guang Hong, Ding-Han Wang, Ming-Lun Hsu

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Natural smile photographs are universally accessible yet no automated method achieves clinically acceptable per-tooth detection from these images. Existing frameworks require lip-retracted intraoral views, and prior work on smile images achieved insufficient accuracy. This study developed a per-tooth detection and segmentation pipeline for natural smile photographs and assessed its applicability to digital smile design.

Materials and methods: A total of 1,471 smile photographs were annotated via model-assisted labeling. Fifteen You Only Look Once (YOLO) models across three architecture families and five size tiers were compared. A two-stage pipeline combined the best-performing detector with high-quality Segment Anything Model (HQ-SAM) for …

Anemia, Hematinic Deficiencies, Hyperhomocysteinemia, And Serum Gastric Parietal Cell Antibody Positivity In Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis Patients With Vitamin B12 Deficiency, Yi-Ping Wang, Yi-Pang Lee, Yu-Hsueh Wu, Julia Yu-Fong Chang, Andy Sun, Chun-Pin Chiang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Our previous study found that 30 of 430 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients have vitamin B12 deficiency. This study assessed whether the vitamin B12-deficient RAS (B12D/RAS) patients had significantly higher frequencies of anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity than healthy control subjects and evaluated whether all B12D/RAS patients had pernicious anemia (PA).

Materials and methods: The blood hemoglobin (Hb) and serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and GPCA levels in 430 RAS patients including 30 B12D/RAS patients and 430 healthy control subjects were measured and compared.

Results: We found that 30 B12D/RAS …

Developing An Automated Cytology-Based Dna Ploidy Test For Detecting Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Taiwan: A Feasibility Study, Pei Hsuan Lu, Kelly Yi Ping Liu, Julia Yu Fong Chang, Long‐Wei Lin, Hao-Hung Chang, Chen-Han Chang, Shang Hsuan Peng, Catherine F. Poh

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a global health issue, particularly in underserved settings such Taiwan where access to early diagnosis is limited. DNA ploidy-based oral cytology has shown strong diagnostic performance, but its applicability across populations require evaluation.

Materials and methods: In this prospective feasibility study, brush and oral rinse samples were collected from patients with OSCC, low-grade dysplasia, reactive lesions, and normal mucosa. DNA cytometry was performed to quantify ploidy profiles. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using published algorithm and cohort-specific thresholds derived from stratified 10-fold cross-validation.

Results: A total of 118 patients were included (50 OSCC, 41 …

A Bibliometric Evolution Of Molecular Mechanisms And Emerging Research Trends Of Therapeutic Resistance In Oral Cancer, Chu-Yen Chien, Ying-Chen Chen, Jia-Rong Wu, Hsu-Hua Chu, Yi-Jen Hung, Yi-Shing Shieh

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Drug resistance has served as a primary determinant of treatment failure and disease recurrence in oral cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the global research landscape of drug resistance mechanisms in oral cancer by integrating bibliometric mapping with bioinformatic validation.

Materials and methods: A comprehensive dataset of 1660 publications was retrieved from the Scopus database. Bibliometric analyses were performed using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer to evaluate publication trends, collaborative networks, and thematic evolution. To bridge research trends with biological mechanisms, 1469 genes associated with oral cancer and drug resistance were extracted from the GeneCards database and subjected to functional …

Effects Of Low-Level Er:Yag Laser Irradiation On Endothelial Angiogenic Responses In Diabetes: An In Vitro Study, Bruna Akinaga Moreira, Koji Mizutani, Natsumi Saito, Lu Chen, Shu Takemura, Keita Nakagawa, Yujin Ohsugi, Taichen Lin, Takanori Iwata, Akira Aoki

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Low-level Er:YAG laser irradiation has been reported to promote angiogenesis-related endothelial responses and enhance periodontal tissue healing. However, its effects on angiogenesis under hyperglycemic conditions have not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate whether low-level Er:YAG laser irradiation enhances the angiogenic response under hyperglycemic conditions.

Materials and methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in control-glucose (CG, 5.5 mM) or high-glucose (HG, 25 mM) medium and subjected to low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) using an Er:YAG laser at 10 Hz and 30 mJ/pulse for 30 s under two pulse-widths. Angiogenesis-related cellular functions were evaluated by assessing cell …

Adhesion Performance Of Conventional And High-Translucency Zirconia: Effects Of Airborne-Particle Abrasion And 10-Methacryloyloxydecyl Dihydrogen Phosphate Treatments, Chia-Ling Li, Li-Li Kang, Jui-Che Lin, Shu-Fen Chuang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: High-translucency zirconia exhibits different microstructure and composition, which may influence their responses to mechanical and chemical treatments, affecting resin–zirconia adhesion. This study aimed to evaluate the adhesive behaviors of conventional and high-translucency zirconia, focusing on surface modifications induced by airborne-particle abrasion (AA) and 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP).

Materials and methods: Disk-shaped specimens were fabricated from six zirconia materials: CerconBase, CerconHT, and VitaHT (3Y-TZP); VitaST (4Y-PSZ); and CerconXT and VitaXT (5Y-PSZ). Specimens were air-abraded with alumina particles at 0.25 MPa. Micromorphology and roughness were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), profilometry, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface chemical composition …

Interaction Between Removable Partial Denture Use And Number Of Natural Teeth On Health-Related Quality Of Life In Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study, Pai-Shien Liao, Chia-Hsuan Chou, Ya-Xin Zheng, Jiiang-Huei Jeng, Wan-Chuen Liao, Ying-Fang Chen

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: The compensatory benefit of removable partial dentures (RPDs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) depends on the number of natural teeth. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction between RPD use and number of natural teeth on HRQoL, measured by EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 410 older adults. Dental status, including the number of natural teeth and the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index, and RPD use were assessed. Participants were categorized into three groups (0-9, 10-19, and ≥ 20 natural teeth). HRQoL was measured using the …

Universal Coverage But Unequal Access: An Area-Level Statistical And Policy Analysis Of Taiwan’S Dental Workforce, Chien-Yang Yeh, Shih-Hsien Yang, Wei-Chia Su, Hsin-Hu Chen, Wei-Chin Hsu, Su-Feng Chen

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Universal health insurance coverage does not necessarily ensure equitable access to dental care. This study examined Taiwan’s dental workforce distribution using area-level statistical analysis and interpreted the findings through an oral health equity perspective.

Materials and methods: Publicly available county/city-level data on practicing dentists in Taiwan were analyzed. Dentist density was calculated as dentists per 10,000 population. Geographic variation was assessed using descriptive statistics, z-scores, quartile classification, highest-to-lowest ratio, coefficient of variation, and population-weighted Gini coefficient. Group differences were compared by geographic classification using Welch’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, Hedges’ g, and Cliff’s delta. Findings were further …

Routine Dental Scaling And Reduced Risk Of Serious Infections In Individuals With Moderate-To-Severe Cerebral Palsy: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study, Li-Wei Ou-Yang, Yu-Tung Huang, Ya-Ting Chang, Hsin-Mao Hsu, Shih-Hao Chang, Chia-Ling Wu, Tsung-Chieh Yao

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/ purpose: Individuals with moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy (CP) are highly susceptible to serious infections. Oral biofilms may serve as reservoirs for pathogenic microorganisms, yet the impact of professional oral healthcare on systemic infection risk in this population remains unclear. This study investigated the association between routine dental scaling and the risk of serious infections and infection-related mortality among individuals with moderate-to-severe CP.

Materials and methods: This nationwide, population-based cohort study used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database and National Death Registry (2009–2019). Individuals with moderate-to-severe CP were categorized into a routine dental scaling group (≥1 scaling annually for …

Artificial Intelligence Assisted Multitask Framework For Dental Detection And Root Canal Filling Assessment On Periapical Radiographs, Chia-Lin Hsu, Li Wei Ou-Yang, Chih-Hao Chang, Yuan-Jin Lin, Po-Lin Huang, Kai-Syun Chiu, Heng-Chia Chen, Tsung-Yi Chen, Jia-Ching Wang, Wei-Chen Tu, Patricia Angela R. Abu

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Accurate evaluation of root canal filling (RCF) quality is paramount for successful endodontic outcomes. However, conventional radiographic interpretation is often subject to subjective variability. This study developed an automated, multitask artificial intelligence (AI) framework using YOLO11 and advanced image pre-processing to identify multiple dental structures and provide quantitative assessments of RCF quality on periapical radiographs.

Materials and methods: We proposed an image enhancement pipeline, which integrate intensity normalization, white top-hat transform, and linear contrast stretching to refine dental contours for training the YOLO11 multitask model. The framework simultaneously detected primary, permanent, dental crowns, and RCFs. Quantitative metrics, including …

Optimizing Light-Curing Protocols For Clear Aligner Attachments: A Comparison Of Bulk-Fill And Conventional Resin Composites, Narudol Treethanya, Nuntinee Nanthavanich Saengfai, Choltacha Harnirattisai, Pongstorn Putongkam, Chia-Tze Kao, Peerapong Santiwong

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: The durability of clear aligner attachments is closely related to the polymerization and surface hardness of resin composites, which may be affected by extended light-curing distance during clinical procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different light-curing times at a 10 mm distance on the surface hardness and polymerization efficiency of conventional and bulk-fill resin composites.

Materials and methods: A total of 120 disk-shaped specimens (5 mm diameter, 2 mm thickness) were fabricated from six resin composites (two conventional and four bulk-fill). Specimens were light-cured for 20, 30, or 40 seconds using a low-intensity LED curing …

Deer Antler Tip Cell Culture Supernatant Restores Endothelial Barrier Function And Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2/Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Nitric Oxide Signaling Impaired By Porphyromonas Gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide, Ming-Shou Hsieh, Ya-Ting Yang, Chin-Sheng Huang, Ting-Yi Renn, Chuen-Kai Wang, Chia-Chen Hsu, Wei Jen Chang, Yu-Sheng Chang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose:

Periodontal inflammation contributes to endothelial dysfunction, but effective biologically active strategies for vascular protection remain limited. This study investigated whether deer antler tip cell culture supernatant could rescue Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS) induced endothelial injury and restore endothelial homeostasis.

Materials and methods:

Velvet antler tissues from the tip, shaft, and burr regions were examined histologically and used for primary cell isolation. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to Pg-LPS or indirectly co-cultured with LPS-stimulated THP-1-derived macrophages. Deer antler tip cell culture supernatant was subsequently applied to these endothelial inflammatory models, and its protective effects were …

Heat Shock Factor 1 Promotes Cell Migration And Predicts Poor Prognosis In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Fang-Yu Wu, Hui-Hsin Ko, Wen-Ren Lin, Shih-Jung Cheng

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) regulates heat shock proteins and stress-responsive genes and has been implicated in tumor progression and poor prognosis in several malignancies. However, the clinicopathological significance and biological role of HSF1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear. This study investigated HSF1 expression in OSCC tissues, its association with clinicopathological parameters and survival, and its functional role in OSCC cell migration.

Materials and methods

HSF1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in 80 OSCC specimens and 20 normal oral mucosa samples. HSF1 immunoreactivity was quantified using the labeling index (LI). Associations between HSF1 LI and …

Evaluation Of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (Rag) With Gpt-4o For Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Clinical Questions, Vinsensia Launardo, Merve Koseoglu, Lucky Susanto, Michael Kase, Amanda Colebeck, Heidi Huber, Maribeth Krzesinski, Derry Wijaya, Muhammad Ruslin, Alvin Gerard Wee, Heng-Li Huang, Lih-Jyh Fuh, Cortino Sukotjo

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Large language models (LLMs) offer promising education and clinical decision support to help address the global shortage of maxillofacial prosthodontists. To overcome the lack of source traceability in base LLMs, this study evaluated a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architecture for answering complex clinical questions.

Materials and methods: An expert panel consisting of five maxillofacial prosthodontists selected 15 high-complexity clinical questions. Responses were generated using base GPT-4o and a naive RAG-GPT-4o model built with domain-specific literatures. Outputs were evaluated across five parameters using a 5-point Likert scale and analyzed via Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results: No statistically significant differences …

Prediction Of Adequate Alveolar Ridge Contours For Dental Implant Placement Using An Artificial Intelligence-Based Algorithm, Hao-Chieh Chang, Shan-Pin Pan, Cheng-Liang Wu, Wei-Chan Hsu, Yi-Chun Weng, Po-Chun Chang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Accurate prediction of ridge contour following ridge augmentation is an integral part of planning dental implant therapy. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm to predict adequate alveolar ridge contours for accommodating implants based on preoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images using a deep learning (DL) approach.

Materials and methods: A total of 96 mandibular CBCT images with minor and major defects were used, virtual implants with adequate ridge contours were added, and a U-Net 2.5D model was used for DL training.

Results: The results revealed that the predicted ridge contours achieved Dice Similarity Coefficients of …

Correlation Between Preoperative Mandibular Restriction And Functional Outcomes After Arthroscopic Discopexy For Temporomandibular Joint Internal Derangement, Yen-Hung Lin Arthur, Chih-Hua Yeh, Ying-An Chen, Hui-Hsin Ko

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Arthroscopic discopexy is an established treatment for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement, yet its functional benefit in patients with restricted mouth opening remains unclear. This study evaluate whether arthroscopic discopexy improves mouth opening and pain in patients with restricted mandibular mobility (maximum mouth opening [MMO] < 35 mm).

Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 46 patients (58 joints) with preoperative MMO < 35 mm who underwent TMJ arthroscopic discopexy between January 2023 and December 2024. MMO, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, and MRI-confirmed disc repositioning success were compared preo- and postoperatively using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. MMO improvement was analyzed by severity band with multiple linear regression to assess confounders and sensitivity analysis excluding bilateral cases.

Results: MMO increased from 28.7 ± 4.1 mm to 34.2 ± 3.9 mm (P < 0.001), with a mean improvement of +5.5 mm (95% CI: +4.2 to +6.8). VAS decreased from 3.81 ± 2.93 to 0.18 ± 0.89 (P < 0.001). A dose–response relationship was observed: patients with MMO 20–24 mm gained +11.0 mm, those with 25–29 mm gained +7.5 mm, and those with 30–34 mm gained +2.7 mm. Preoperative MMO remained the only significant predictor after adjusting for confounders (B = −0.812, P < 0.001). Disc repositioning was achieved in 75.9% of joints; 55.2% achieved postoperative MMO ≥ 35 mm.

Conclusion: Arthroscopic discopexy produces significant clinically improvements in mouth opening and pain in patients with restricted mandibular mobility, with the greatest benefit in …