Aim: This paper explores the etiology, consequences, and treatment strategies for transverse skeletal deficiencies in orthodontics, focusing on treatment duration and growth prediction models. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review encompassed embryological development, environmental factors, clinical presentations, and treatment strategies for transverse skeletal deficiencies. Studies on craniofacial growth, orthodontic interventions, surgical approaches, and Elastodontic therapy were analyzed. Results: Transverse skeletal deficiencies arise from genetic, intrauterine, and postnatal factors such as pacifier use, thumb-sucking, mouth breathing, and insufficient maxillary expansion during childhood. These deficiencies commonly lead to dental malocclusions, posterior crossbites, and airway issues, including sleep-disordered breathing. Traditional treatments like rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and surgical-assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) are effective for younger and older patients. In addition, Elastodontic therapy, which utilizes elastic-based appliances to improve the alignment and function of the maxilla, offers a non-invasive, patient-friendly alternative for managing transverse deficiencies. This approach benefits cases requiring slower, more gradual expansion, providing better long-term stability than other methods. Treatment duration typically ranges from three to six months for younger patients, with more extended retention periods in older patients to prevent relapse. Conclusions: Transverse skeletal deficiencies are influenced by genetic, intrauterine, and environmental factors, leading to functional and aesthetic concerns, such as malocclusions and compromised airway function. Early intervention, including methods like orthopedic expansion and Elastodontic therapy, offers promising results, while surgical approaches are necessary for more severe cases. Understanding the developmental trajectory of these deficiencies is essential for tailoring treatment plans and ensuring both functional and aesthetic improvements. Future research should refine growth prediction models and evaluate the long-term effectiveness and stability of Elastodontic therapy in managing transverse skeletal deficiencies.
In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic, the medical system has been subjected to many changes. Face-to-face treatments have been suspended for a period of time. After the lockdown, dentists have to be aware of the modalities to protect themselves and their patients in order not to get infected. Dental practitioners are potentially exposed to a high degree of contamination with SARS-CoV-2 while performing dental procedures that produce aerosols. It should also be noted that the airways, namely the oral cavity and nostrils, are the access pathways for SARS-CoV-2. In order to protect themselves and their patients, they have to use full personal protective equipment. Relevant data regarding this pandemic are under evaluation and are still under test. In this article, we made a synthesis about the way in which SARS-CoV-2 spreads, how to diagnose a novel corona virus infection, what the possible treatments are, and which protective personal equipment we can use to stop its spreading.
Abstract: Initially, the SARS-CoV-2 virus was considered as a pneumonia virus; however, a series of peer reviewed medical papers published in the last eight months suggest that this virus attacks the brain, heart, intestine, nervous and vascular systems, as well the blood stream. Although many facts remain unknown, an objective appraisal of the current scientific literature addressing the latest progress on COVID-19 is required. The aim of the present study was to conduct a critical review of the literature, focusing on the current molecular structure of SARS-CoV-2 and prospective treatment modalities of COVID-19. The main objectives were to collect, scrutinize and objectively evaluate the current scientific evidence-based information, as well to provide an updated overview of the topic that is ongoing. The authors underlined potential prospective therapies, including vaccine and phototherapy, as a monotherapy or combined with current treatment modalities. The authors concluded that this review has produced high quality evidence, which can be utilized by the clinical scientific community for future reference, as the knowledge and understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are evolving, in terms of its epidemiological, pathogenicity, and clinical manifestations, which ultimately map the strategic path, towards an effective and safe treatment and production of a reliable and potent vaccine. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, virus pathogenicity, cytokines storm, diagnostic methods, immunotherapy, vaccine, antiviral, photobiomodulation therapy, PBMT, photodynamic therapy, PDT, clinical trials
Abstract: The unprecedented climate of the COVID-19 pandemic has some restrictions on oral care operational services, which heavily impacted the delivery of aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). This led the health authorities to set up guidelines and policies that should be followed to minimize the virus spread and ensure safe and effective dental care delivery. This systemic review aimed to evaluate the current guidelines and strategies in providing safe dental services and ensuring efficacy of the current universal personal preventive and protective measures, as well the impact that this outbreak might have on practicing the dental profession in full scope. The review focus questions were as follows: are the current guidelines and measures in literature mitigated enough to ensure safe and effective oral care delivery to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic? Is it possible to highlight the essential and fundamental cross-infection control measures and policies? Twenty articles were chosen out of 180,248 after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied in the period between January 1st and August 1st 2020. Our results highlighted effective safety measures that can be implanted in protecting healthcare professionals and patients and ensuring optimal dental care delivery in a safe and healthy environment, taking into consideration the risk assessment and management of AGPs. In conclusion, informative updated standardized policies and protocols are required when more knowledge on the virus behavior keeps evolving. Moreover, there is a need for evidence-based protective measures to be modified on a regular basis to be followed, until a safe vaccine is produced. Keywords: COVID-19, risk assessment, cross-infection control, diagnostic tests, dental care emergency guidelines, disinfectants, public health, aerosol generating procedures, airborne, healthcare personnel protection
Aim: In the literature, many studies and articles are investigating new devices and approaches to achieve rapid palate expansion through the opening of the palatal suture, and evaluating the skeletal, dental, and soft tissue effects. The purpose of this review was to assess how palatal expansion is performed in adolescent patients with permanent dentition. Furthermore, it was reported as an example of successful orthodontic treatment of an 11-year-old female patient affected by maxillary skeletal transverse deficiency, in permanent dentition. Methods: A search of the literature was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria were the year of publication between 2017 and 2022, patients aged 10 to 16 years in permanent dentition, with transversal discrepancy, treated with tooth-borne, bone-borne, hybrid palatal expanders. Results: A total of 619 articles were identified by the electronic search, and finally, a total of 16 papers were included in the qualitative analysis. Conclusions: From this study, it was assessed that MARPE is more predictable, and it determines a more significant expansion of the suture than the Hyrax expander, with fewer side effects.
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an adjunctive non-invasive procedure for the management of periodontal tissue infection and deep periodontal pocket decontamination. However, the effects of this procedure on periodontal cells like osteoblasts that play a role in periodontal tissue repair and regeneration is not yet clear.
Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders is a pathology that involve temporomandibular joint and masticator muscle. Numerous studies showed that TMJ pain is the second most common chronic musculoskeletal condition after chronic low back pain. In patients with TMJ pathology splint are used very often to release the pain and to put the mandible in centric relation. Materials and methods: For evaluation of the impact of splint therapy in the patient’s quality of life we have investigated 26 adult patients. We decided to use the qualitative statistical approach to evaluate the changes in the patient’s quality of life, since it is a qualitative perception rather than a quantitative one. Results: We compute the mean value m1 of the patient’s evaluation at question number 1 at each appointment. This parameter allows as to check the progress of the treatment and consequently the improvement of patient condition. We noticed a significant improvement of symptomatology. Conclusion: Patients that experience moderate pain at the beginning of the treatment are wearing the splint for more than 16 hours per day (grade 7 average), and those with severe pain for more than 20 hours per day (grade 9average). The most important thing is that on 90% of these cases, with severe and moderate pain, the pain disappears completely after 8 weeks.
The secretion of IgG SARS-CoV-2 antispike antibodies after vaccination with BNT162b2 and the protection represent the response of the human organism to the viral vector symptomatic infections. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the immune reaction in health workers of the Polyclinic of Bari to identify the relationship of antispike titers with blood type, sex, age, and comorbidities. This prospective observational study (RENAISSANCE) had as its primary endpoint the assessment of serologic response to BNT162b2 at three blood titers: the first at 60 days after the second dose (3 February 2021); the second titer at 75 days after the first titer; and the third titer at 130 days after the second titer. Out of 230 enrolled staff members, all responded excellently to the mRna Pfizer (BNT162b) vaccine. Only one patient, 40 days after the second dose (3 February 2021), was positive on the swab control performed on 15 March 2021, although completely asymptomatic, and was negative on the subsequent molecular swab performed on 30 March 2021. All the patients responded to the mRNA Pfizer (BNT162b) vaccine with an antispike IgG level above 500 BAU/mL at the first antispike protein essay (60 days after the second dose on 3 April 2021); at the second titer (75 days after the first titer on 20 June 2021), 4 (1.7% of 230 enrolled) patients showed an antispike IgG level under 500 BAU/mL; at the third titer (130 days after the second titer on 30 June 2021, which means 9 months after the second dose), 37 (16.1% of 230 enrolled) patients showed an antispike IgG level under 500 BAU/mL. The data analysis demonstrated that patients belonging to blood group 0, regardless of their rhesus factor, showed the strongest level of antibodies compared to the other groups. No dependency was found between low antibodies level and sex or age. Molecular swab controls were performed every 15th of the month continuously. However, the enrolled patients’ activity was at high risk because they carried out medical activities such as dental and surgical as well with droplets of water vaporized by the effect of turbines, piezosurgery. The vaccination campaign among health workers of the Policlinico of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” led to an excellent serological response and the complete absence of COVID-19 incident cases, so the antibody response was excellent. The COVID-19 vaccine booster shot should be administered after 9 months and not without prompt antispike titer detection to assess if any sign of waning immunity is present in that specific patient.
Aim. This study explores the relationship between modern lifestyle factors, particularly oral breathing, and its impact on neurocognitive development in children and adolescents. The study seeks to understand how lifestyle modifications, including screen time management, physical activity, and proper respiratory health, can improve pediatric populations' cognitive and emotional well-being. Materials and Methods. A narrative review approach was employed to synthesize current evidence on the influence of modern lifestyles on oral breathing and its implications for neurocognitive development. Clinical studies and primary research articles published between 2004 and 2024 were systematically reviewed. Keywords used in three databases in the search included "oral breathing," "neurocognitive disorders," "digital technology," "sedentary behavior," "posture," and "pediatric cognitive development." Inclusion criteria included studies involving human subjects focusing on oral breathing, neurocognitive disorders, lifestyle, and sedentary behavior. Exclusion criteria excluded studies conducted on animals, in vitro experiments, reviews, case reports, commentaries, and letters. Conclusions. The findings suggest that oral breathing is significantly linked to various neurodevelopmental challenges, including ADHD and ASD, exacerbated by poor oxygen exchange and disrupted sleep patterns. The increasing prevalence of sedentary behavior and screen time contributes to dysfunctional breathing patterns, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. These include promoting nasal breathing, encouraging physical activity, and improving postural habits to support holistic development. The study also identifies gaps in existing research and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for effective management and prevention. Technological advancements and sedentary lifestyles have introduced new challenges to childhood development, notably oral breathing, which impacts neurocognitive outcomes. By addressing these challenges through comprehensive interventions, including lifestyle adjustments and early detection of dysfunctional breathing patterns, children can achieve better cognitive and emotional health, ultimately fostering healthier development in an increasingly digital world.
