Dentistry Commons^™

Letters To The Editor, David Chambers Ed.M.,M.B.A., Ph.D., Facd, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This section of the Journal of the American College of Dentists presents professional correspondence regarding previously published articles and issues relevant to dentistry, ethics, education, policy, and patient care. Letters to the editor provide readers an opportunity to offer scholarly critique, clarification, perspective, or additional insight, while author responses promote constructive academic dialogue and continued professional reflection.

Letters Of Support From Affiliate Organizations

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This section of the Journal of the American College of Dentists presents professional conference proceedings and/or published guidelines relevant to dentistry, ethics, education, leadership, policy, or clinical care. Conference proceedings may also include documents from affiliate organizations in dentistry.

Dental Treatment And Oral Care For Patients With Severe Mental Illness Receiving Psychiatric Home-Visit Care: A Narrative Review With An Illustrative Case, Takayuki Suga, Trang Thi Huyen Tu, Yuji Gamo, Takafumi Asakura, Shigeru Iida, Akira Toyofuku

Journal of Dental Sciences

Patients with severe mental illness (SMI) often have untreated caries, periodontal inflammation, tooth loss, xerostomia-related risk, dental anxiety, and delayed dental attendance. This narrative review aimed to synthesize evidence relevant to dental treatment planning for patients with SMI receiving psychiatric home-visit care and to clarify when domiciliary dental assessment and repeated professional oral care may be indicated. Targeted literature searches and citation tracking were used to identify reviews, epidemiological studies, intervention studies, qualitative syntheses, and special care dentistry guidance. The evidence indicates that oral disease in SMI reflects not only limited knowledge but also avolition, cognitive impairment, psychosis, sedation, medication-induced …

Oral Pathogens Reprogram Endothelial Barrier And Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme2/Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase-Nitric Oxide Signaling To Promote Blood Pressure Dysregulation, Ming-Shou Hsieh, Tung-Nien Hsu, Chin-Sheng Huang, Ting-Yi Renn, Kuang-Tai Kuo, Kuo-Yao Lin, Wei Jen Chang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Although periodontal disease is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, the endothelial mechanisms linking oral inflammation to vascular dysfunction remain unclear. We investigated whether Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS) can directly disturb endothelial homeostasis and whether macrophage–endothelial crosstalk further worsens endothelial injury.

Materials and methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to Pg-LPS alone or co-cultured (transwell system) with Pg-LPS-primed human monocytic cells -derived macrophages. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed through nitric oxide (NO) production, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation, inflammatory and adhesion molecule expression, as well as junctional and cytoskeletal changes. Macrophage …

Cephalometric And Soft Tissue Determinants Of Esthetic Outcomes After Single-Jaw Mandibular Setback Surgery In Skeletal Class Iii Patients: A Retrospective Study, Chun-Te Ho, You-Ru Chen, Tsui-Hsien Huang, Jnug-Chun Yeh, Tzu-Yu Peng, Chia-Tze Kao

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Orthognathic surgery is an effective treatment for skeletal Class III malocclusion; however, the relative influence of skeletal and soft tissue variables on postoperative esthetic outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships among cephalometric parameters, soft tissue changes, and esthetic outcomes following single-jaw mandibular setback surgery.

Materials and methods: A retrospective study was performed on 258 adult patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion subspinale-nasion-supramentale (ANB) angle < 0° who were treated between 2016 and 2021. Patients were divided into three groups: bilateral vertical ramus osteotomy (BVRO) group (n = 99), genioplasty alone group (n = 30), and BVRO plus genioplasty group. (n = 129). Cephalometric and …

Ensemble Learning For Predicting Periapical Lesions From Dental Radiographs, Fang-Yuan Liao, Ming-Jyun Jian, Abdullah Sarini, Yulianto Jesica, Yen-Kun Lin, Hsun-Yu Huang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Diagnosing periapical cysts and granulomas using periapical radiographs is challenging due to subtle radiographic differences. This study aimed to develop a machine learning–based diagnostic framework to improve lesion classification through ensemble learning and dentin standardization.

Materials and methods: Five models—Support Vector Classifier (SVC), Nu-SVC, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and Decision Tree—were trained on 144 pre-treatment periapical radiographs (70 cysts and 74 granulomas). Dentin standardization normalized grayscale values to ensure feature consistency. A weighted soft voting strategy was employed to integrate predictions, with model weights derived from individual diagnostic performance. Model performance was evaluated via five-fold cross-validation. Statistical significance among models …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Effects Of 850-Nm Light-Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation On Pain Intensity And Dentin Sialoprotein Levels During Canine Distalization: A Randomized Controlled Trial., Thanh Thuy-Nhat Cao, Anh Ho-Quynh Nguyen, Hung Trong Hoang, Tham Dong Khac, Phuc Hoai Le, Tu Trinh Hk, Kieu-Minh Le, Diem Truong

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose

Light-emitting diode-based photobiomodulation (LED PBM) potentially reduces pain and root resorption risk in orthodontics. This study evaluated 850-nm LED PBM effects on pain and dentin sialoprotein (DSP) levels during canine distalization.

Materials and methods

This single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial included 16 orthodontic patients (8 per group). Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either an active LED group or a sham control group. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) at 0, 24, and 48 hours following canine distalization at four consecutive monthly visits (T₁-T₄) and expressed as the …

The Association Between Dental Prophylaxis And Diabetes Outcomes: A 15-Year Cohort Study, Hsueh-Fen Chen, Shih-Feng Weng, Ju-Hui Wu, Mei-Yueh Lee, Hui-Min Hsieh, Yu-Ting Huang, Yi-Cai Liu

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Periodontal disease and diabetes share inflammatory pathways. Dental prophylaxis (DP) is effective in preventing periodontal inflammation; however, its association with diabetes outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association between DP intensity and mortality and diabetes-related complications among adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (2005–2022). Adults aged 18–70 years with incident type 2 diabetes in 2007 were identified, with 2005-2006 as the washout period. Participants were followed from 2008 until death or December 31, 2022. Annual DP intensity …

The Evolution Of Artificial Intelligence And Deep Learning In Removable Partial Denture Design, Fu-Chuan Tsai, Hsin-Hua Chou, Takashi Saito, Wei-Chun Lin

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Virtual Patient Technology Enabled The Reconstruction Of Craniofacial Hard And Soft Tissues Through The Integration And Superimposition Of Multimodal Dental Imaging Datasets, Hsin-Hua Chou, Kuo‑Ning Ho, Takashi Saito, Wei-Chun Lin

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Factors Associated With Tooth Loss In Periodontal Maintenance Patients: A Retrospective Study, Nicholas D. Stolze, Randin A. Rawlings, W. Edward Hardy, Kaeli K. Samson, Laura E. Ruiz, Bobbie J. Fowler, Kavya Shankar Muttanahally, Jeffrey B. Payne

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. Tooth retention is related to overall health and quality of life. Thus, it is important to understand factors associated with tooth loss. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate associations between systemic and oral factors with tooth loss in a retrospective study of periodontal maintenance patients.

Methods. Periodontal maintenance patients seen in both 2013 and 2019 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry were included. Demographic data, smoking status, diabetes status, periodontitis stage and extent, medication use, alveolar bone height, probing depths, and tooth mobility were recorded from the electronic dental record. Adjusted odds …

Perbandingan Faktor Risiko Gangguan Kesehatan Gigi Dan Mulut Pada Usia 20-59 Tahun Berdasarkan Wilayah Di Indonesia: Analisis Survei Kesehatan Indonesia (Ski) Tahun 2023, Khadijah Qurrata Ayun, Asri Adisasmita Prof

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

Oral and dental health is one of the indicators of health, well- being, and quality of life. In addition, poor oral health can increase the economic burden, including treatment costs, loss of work productivity, and worsen the burden of other diseases. Globally, the average prevalence of dental and oral diseases is around 45%. In 2023, dental and oral health problems in Indonesia reach 57,6%. This study aims to analyze risk factors for dental and oral health disorders among people aged 20-59 years based on regions in Indonesia. This study uses a cross- sectional design. The secondary data used is data …