Nasal Polyp With Ossification In The Right Maxillary Sinus: Differential Diagnosis Of Radiopaque Lesions In Maxillary Sinus Region, Ssu-Li Li, Shan-Ju Chou, Yang-Che Wu, Chun-Yu Ho

Journal of Dental Sciences

Nasal polyps are soft, droplet-like lumps that develop on the inner lining of the nose or sinuses due to long-term inflammation in those areas. Nasal polyps are common lesions, however, the occurrence of osseous metaplasia within them is relatively rare. Besides, without a CT scan, relying solely on plain X-ray films to assist clinical diagnosis can easily be misleading due to the uncertainty of the lesion’s location. In this report, our treatment steps were described as medical image analysis, removing the lesion, confirming the pathological result, and regularly follow-up. The Caldwell-Luc approach rather than endoscopic surgery was performed due to …

When Two Become Three: Endoscope-Assisted Caldwell–Luc Removal Of An Unexpected Third Dental Bur In The Maxillary Sinus, Ling-Wei Huang, Wei-Chen Huang, Sheng-Hong Wang, Ken-Chung Chen

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Ok-432 Sclerotherapy For A Plunging Ranula Extending Into The Parapharyngeal Space, Seiya Hayashi, Yoshinori Fujita, Yoshinari Myoken

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 …

Herbal Medicine For Oral Ulcer Treatment: Mechanisms, Efficacy, And Therapeutic Potential, Shinn-Zong Lin, Tsung-Hsien Chuang, Chih-Yang Huang, Tsung-Jung Ho, Yi-Pang Lee

Journal of Dental Sciences

Oral ulcers are common inflammatory lesions of the oral mucosa that significantly affect patients’ quality of life through pain, eating difficulties, and psychological stress. Their development is multifactorial, involving mechanical trauma, infection, nutritional deficiencies, immune dysregulation, and oxidative stress. Conventional treatments including antiseptics, corticosteroids, and immunomodulators, provide symptomatic relief but are often limited by side effects, recurrence, and poor patient adherence. Increasing interest has therefore focused on herbal medicines as complementary or alternative therapies. Numerous single herbs such as Aloe vera, licorice, curcumin, chamomile, berberine, neem, sage, myrrh, and guava and traditional formulations have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and …

Competency-Based Medical Education And Entrustable Professional Activities In Dental Education: Global Perspectives And Implications For Taiwan, Johnson Hsin-Chung Cheng, Sharon Hsuan-Jung Chen

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose:

Competency-based medical education (CBME) and entrustable professional activities (EPAs) have been adopted in medical education as frameworks to align training with real-world clinical practice. Although international dental education has begun to explore EPA-based assessment, the implementation of CBME in dentistry remains inconsistent and underdeveloped, particularly in Taiwan. This narrative review aimed to summarize global and local developments in CBME and EPAs, identify current gaps in Taiwanese dental education, and clarify the rationale for examining faculty readiness in future CBME implementation.

Materials and methods:

A narrative literature review incorporating international and Taiwan-specific sources

was conducted and thematically synthesized to …

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 …

Physico-Mechanical Properties And Streptococcus Mutans Biofilm Formation Of Bio‑Based Flexible Crowns Versus Stainless Steel And Zirconia Crowns For Pediatric Full-Coverage Restorations, Tzu-Yu Peng, Szu-Yu Lai, Yan-An Wu, Ya-Ting Yang, Yuichi Mine, Huei-Yu Huang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Bio‑based flexible (BFX) have recently emerged as a potential alternative to conventional pediatric full‑coverage restorations, but evidence regarding their properties and microbial behavior remains limited. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the physico-mechanical properties and microbial behavior of BFX crown compared with stainless steel crowns (SSC) and zirconia crowns (ZRC) for pediatric full-coverage restorations.

Materials and methods: Mandibular primary molar crowns from BFX, SSC, and ZRC were assessed. Weight was measured using an electronic balance, and surface roughness and topography were evaluated using a stylus profilometer and atomic force microscopy. The arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) and root mean square …

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

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Our previous study found the serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity in 12.8% of 430 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients. This study assessed whether GPCA-positive RAS (GPCA⁺RAS) patients had significantly higher frequencies of macrocytosis, anemia, hematinic deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia than healthy control subjects or GPCA-negative RAS (GPCAˉRAS) patients.

Materials and methods: The mean corpuscular volume, blood hemoglobin (Hb), and serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and GPCA levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 55 GPCA⁺RAS patients, 375 GPCAˉRAS patients, and 430 healthy control subjects.

Results: We found …

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 …