Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

To clinically and epidemiologically characterize idiopathic gingival papillokeratosis with crypt formation (IGPCF) in a cohort of patients, aiming to enhance understanding and improve diagnosis and management of this rare condition. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Diagnostic Clinic of the School of Stomatology, UASLP, between August 2022 and April 2023, including patients with complete electronic medical records containing demographic and medical information. Clinical diagnosis was supported by photographic documentation and cytological examination to rule out other pathologies. Group comparisons were performed with chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Logistic regression was applied to assess associations. A total of 7,163 patients were analyzed; the overall prevalence of IGPCF was 1.01% (95% CI: 0.79-1.26). Women had nearly a threefold higher likelihood of presenting IGPCF compared with men (OR=2.99, 95% CI: 1.76-5.10; p<0.05). No significant associations were found with age, smoking, alcohol use, or diabetes. Lesions were predominantly located in the maxilla (89.7%) and bilateral in 62.8% of cases. Mild gingival inflammation was observed in most evaluated cases. Clinically, lesions appeared as asymptomatic, pale-yellow, papillary plaques along the mucogingival junction. IGPCF is a rare, typically asymptomatic gingival condition with a distinct bilateral presentation in the maxillary gingiva, mostly affecting young adults. Proper identification is essential to prevent misdiagnosis. This study contributes the largest clinical dataset to date on IGPCF, reinforcing the need for standardized diagnostic criteria to support accurate clinical recognition and effective management.

Acute phase protein (APP) positivity is exhibited by ferritin in the presence of inflammation and chronic infections, such as periodontal disease. This study aims to investigate serum ferritin levels compared between post- and pre-radiation of periodontal disease with head and neck cancer PD+HNC. A total of 100 individuals in the present study were enrolled, comprising 50 patient’s periodontal disease (PD) with head and neck cancer who underwent radiotherapy post-six months (post-RT HNC) and 50 PD patients (pre-RT HNC). Probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival bleeding index (GBI), plaque index (PI), oral pH, and hyposalivation were noted. Serum ferritin levels were measured using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (eCLIA). A significantly higher percentage of ferritin levels was found in patients post-RT PD+HNC (301.90 ng/ml) contrasted to pre-RT PD+HNC (82.71 ng/ml) subjects. Serum ferritin levels were shown to be significantly positively correlated with CAL, PPD, PI, and GBI in subjects with chronic periodontitis. Receiver operating characteristic results of ferritin (area under the curve (AUC) =0.806 for post-RT PD+HNC, AUC=0.454 for pre-RT PD+HNC). It may be suggested that elevated serum ferritin levels in patients with post-RT PD+HNC have the potential to be evaluated as biomarkers for inflammation during periodontal tissue breakdown via radiation treatment.

Early childhood dental caries remains a major public health concern, especially among populations affected by socioeconomic and geographic disparities. In Costa Rica, persistent regional inequalities may influence the burden and severity of this condition. To analyze regional disparities in the prevalence and severity of dental caries among Costa Rican preschool children living in poverty. A secondary analysis was conducted using data from a descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out in 2013. The national sample included 803 children under 81 months of age enrolled in government-run centers for early childhood care and nutrition (CEN-CINAI). Clinical assessments were performed using the ICDAS system. Descriptive statistics and regional comparison tests were applied. The national caries prevalence in Costa Rica was 84.81%. Significant regional differences in severity were observed, with higher averages of affected teeth and surfaces in the Chorotega and Brunca regions. While incipient lesions (ICDAS 1-2) were most frequent, a substantial burden of moderate and severe lesions (ICDAS 3-6) was also detected, particularly in rural areas with greater structural vulnerability and limited access to oral health services.The high prevalence of dental caries and the documented regional inequalities highlight the need to strengthen prevention, early diagnosis, and timely treatment. Integrating a territorial approach into oral health policy-through early detection, preventive interventions, caregiver education, and mobile dental services-may help reduce disparities and improve pediatric oral health outcomes.

Management of pediatric patients’ dental pain and anxiety is a challenge. This study aimed to compare the effects of prize distraction (PD) and conversation distraction (CD) on dental pain and anxiety of 3-7-year-old children.  This cross-over split-mouth randomized clinical trial was conducted on 64 systemically healthy children between 3-7 years with bilateral primary maxillary first molars requiring pulpotomy. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups. In the first group, PD was used in the first session for treatment of one randomly selected quadrant while CD was used in the second session for treatment of the other quadrant. This order was reverse in the second group. The pain and anxiety of patients were evaluated at the onset of each treatment session and during anesthetic injection by measuring their pulse rate (PR) as a physiological parameter, and using the Sound-Eyes-Motor (SEM) and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating (WBFPR) scale. Data were analyzed by STATA 16 (alpha=0.05). Local anesthetic injection significantly increased the PR in both groups (P<0.05); however, this increase was significantly smaller in the PD group (P<0.001). Also, the WBFPR scale (P<0.002) and SEM (P<0.001) scores were significantly lower in the PD group than CD. Local anesthetic injection significantly increased dental anxiety of children in both groups despite the distraction methods. PD was significantly more effective than CD for reduction of dental pain and anxiety in 3-7-year-old children.

Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) is a severe complication associated with the use of bone-modifying agents, such as Zoledronic Acid and Denosumab, in cancer patients. It poses significant challenges in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, highlighting the urgent need for effective and evidence-based management strategies to optimize patient outcomes. Conservative approaches have gained attention as viable alternatives to surgical intervention, particularly in early-stage MRONJ. These strategies include antimicrobial therapy, pain management, local wound care, and adjunctive therapies such as low-level laser therapy and photodynamic therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has also been investigated; however, current literature doesn’t provide strong evidence to support its routine use. Additionally, several inflammatory and bone turnover markers, including CTX, P1NP and RANKL in addition to regulatory cytokines like OPG have been studied for their potential to reflect disease progression and treatment response. While non-surgical management has shown promising results in symptom control and healing, the lack of standardized treatment protocols remains a limitation. Further research is needed to refine conservative treatment guidelines to explore reliable biomarkers and innovative therapeutic strategies to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for affected patients.

Developments in digital technologies have transformed dental practice, including orthodontics, by facilitating more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments. This review aims to evaluate how digital dentistry has impacted diagnosis and planning in orthodontics, highlighting its precision and utility compared to traditional methods. A literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines in September 2024. Relevant studies were identified through searches on PubMed and SCOPUS using the keywords “( "orthodontic treatment" ) AND digital AND ( diagnosis OR planning )”. After the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 10 articles were selected for final analysis. The reviewed studies emphasize that digital models are effective tools for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning, offering advantages such as reduced clinical time and improved accuracy in simulating dental movements. Technologies, including intraoral scanners and digital setups have shown to be especially effective in handling complex cases. Additionally, the use of CBCT combined with artificial intelligence has enhanced airway evaluation and provided more comprehensive diagnoses. However, the literature also highlights limitations associated with user expertise and variability among different technological systems. The findings of this review support that digital tools in orthodontics offer more precise diagnoses, better treatment planning, and an optimized patient experience. However, implementing these technologies requires overcoming challenges related to the learning curve and system standardization. Future research should focus on addressing these limitations and promoting a smoother integration of digital tools into clinical practice.

To describe the tooth color of pre-Columbian teeth from two archaeological sites in Costa Rica and to determine the most suitable digital shade guide for postmortem tooth color assessment. A total of 165 anterior teeth were assessed using a VITA EasyShade® V digital spectrophotometer. Color measurements were taken from the middle third of the buccal surface. Two digital shade guides, Vita Classical and Vita 3D-Master, were used to determine tooth shade. Statistical analyses included absolute and relative frequency calculations, along with bivariate analysis. According to the Vita Classical shade guide, 42% of the samples were categorized as color C4, followed by A3.5 and A4. Canines showed the highest percentage for A3.5 (57%) while A4 was equally distributed between canines and lateral incisors (36%). The highest percentage for C4 was observed in central incisors (51%). Using the Vita 3D-Master guide, 47% of the samples were categorized as color 5M3 (central incisors), followed by 4M3 and 3M3 (canines). Postmortem dental color can be effectively assessed using digital methods. Between the two shade guides, the Vita Classical is recommended for its higher precision. Additionally, central incisors in archaeological collections tend to exhibit greater saturation compared to the lateral incisors and canines. The use of digital spectrophotometry may contribute to the standardization of tooth color assessment in anthropological research. Additionally, the incorporation of the Vita Classical shade guide enhances accuracy in both historical and clinical contexts.

Bulk-fill materials were developed to facilitate direct restorative procedures, mainly for deep and wide posterior cavities by allowing the placement of increments up to 4-5 mm thick. However, misinformation about the limitations on the technique used to place and polymerize these materials may impair achieving the topmost performance, because the mechanical properties may not be optimal at the deeper regions of the increment. Because the clinical performance of some materials varies according to the cavity depth, polymerization mechanism, chemical composition, this paper presents a general review of the materials available in the market, as a guide for the clinician, to help with the decision-making process and improve the predictability of the restorations made with bulk-fill materials.

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To identify whether an association exists between RFC1 gene polymorphism (rs1051266) and the development of non-syndromic cleft lip and palate. Twenty-five patients with non-syndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCL/P) with ages ranging from 1 year to 17 years belonging to both genders (Group 1) and twenty-five patients without cleft lip and palate malformations as controls (Group 2) were included in the study. Genomic DNA was obtained from whole blood drawn from the patients. The region around the RFC1 gene polymorphism was amplified with sequence-specific primers using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RFLP technique was used to identify the genotype of the patients. The genotype and allele frequency distributions in both groups were determined. Statistical analysis was done with the Chi-square test. In both groups, the frequency of the GA genotype was greater compared to the GG genotype and AA genotype. There was no statistically significant deviation from Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium with a P value of <0.247 and <0.815 in the case and control groups, respectively. The frequency distribution of the dominant genotype GG had an odd ratio of 0.3506 (0.0791-1.5544) and a P value of 0.1678 and the recessive genotype AA had an odd ratio of1.5556 (0.4187-5.7795) and a P value of 0.5094. The distribution of G allele and A allele between the two group had an odd ratio of 0.6169 (0.2798-1.3597)and a P value of 0.2309. Classification of the genotypes based on genetic models such as dominant, recessive, or additive did not present any significant association between the polymorphism marker and NSCL/P. There was no significant association between RFC1 gene polymorphism (rs1051266) and NSCL/P in the South Indian population.