Introduction: Dental caries is a preventable chronic disease whereby identification of risk factors will facilitate preventive measures. This study aims to determine the level of oral health literacy (OHL), self-care practices (SCP), salivary parameters and ascertain its assocation with caries status amongst the undergraduates in IMU University. Methods: Levels of OHL (Knowledge-OHL, dental services utilisation, and label reading habit) and SCP were assessed through a self-administered questionnaire. Chairside saliva kits were used to measure the salivary parameters whilst clinical examination was performed to assess caries status. Independent T-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare differences between sex and courses respectively for measures of interest (OHL, SCP, salivary parameters, and caries status) whereas bivariate correlation with Pearsons’s coefficient was performed to examine their association with caries status. Results: The participants (n=132) had a mean Knowledge-OHL score of 23.75±8.09 with no significant difference between sex (females, 24.01±8.51; males, 23.48±7.69; p=0.15). Dentistry students had significantly higher Knowledge-OHL score than students of all other courses (p=0.01). The mean SCP score was 20.19±3.16 whereas mean DMFT was 2.32 ±3.14. All participants had healthy saliva parameters. Caries status was significantly correlated with Knowledge-OHL score (p=0.02, r=-0.18), dental services utilisation (p=0.04, r=-0.15) but not with label reading habit (p=0.78, r=0.03), SCP (p=0.30, r=-0.05) and all salivary parameters. Conclusion Knowledge-OHL and oral health services utilisation are significantly associated with oral health status
Dental Caries ; Health Literacy ; Oral Health ; Saliva ; Self Care

Tooth eruption is a localised event whereby the signals for eruption for a given tooth are synthesised in the dental follicle of that tooth with a possible cross talk of signals coming from the adjacent stellate reticulum. The eruption process requires alveolar bone resorption that is primarily regulated by the dental follicle. This is reflected by the fact that failures of eruption often can be traced to either osteoclast deficiencies or to dental follicle abnormalities. Recent advances in application of molecular techniques to animal models allowed for better understanding of gene regulatory events involved in the physiology of tooth eruption. This article attempts to consolidate and organise the facts that offshoot from animal studies.
Tooth Eruption ; Dental Sac ; Molecular Biology

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of self-directed learning (SDL) strategy in dentistry by comparing it with lecture. Specifically, the objectives were to describe the students' perception of their learning experience after each TL strategy, compare the students' cognitive performance, determine whether certain student characteristics influence these two variables, and identify whether these two variables are correlated.

Total enumeration was done in the selection of student-respondents. Using a two-treatment counterbalanced experimental research design, two kinds of data were collected after completion of each TL strategy – post-test scores that indicate the students' cognitive performance (lowest score is zero; highest score is 20) and Assessment of University Teaching Activities Questionnaire (A.U.T.A.Q.) results, indicating students' perceptions on their learning experience (5-point scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree).

Results showed that there is a statistically significant difference between the total mean of A.U.T.A.Q. after SDL (M=3.94, SD=.480) and lecture (M=3.74, SD=.658); p =.024. Statistically significant difference (p .05). Nationality and sex did not significantly affect the students' perceptions and cognitive performance except in the third year level. Finally, there is no correlation between these two factors.

It can be concluded that SDL is as equally effective as lectures, but it must be used cautiously at lower year levels where lecture is still more beneficial. Lower year levels exhibited higher cognitive performance after lecture while the higher year levels displayed higher cognitive performance after SDL.

Pulpotomy, which belongs to vital pulp therapy, has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades. This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes. Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy (PP), the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue, and full pulpotomy (FP), the removal of whole coronal pulp, which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth. Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality, the overall treatment plan, the patient's general health status, and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation. This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics, Chinese Stomatological Association. It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment (RCT) on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis, the development of capping biomaterial, and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine. This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy, which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.
Humans ; Calcium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; Consensus ; Dental Pulp ; Dentition, Permanent ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Pulpitis/therapy* ; Pulpotomy/standards*

Enamel demineralization, the formation of white spot lesions, is a common issue in clinical orthodontic treatment. The appearance of white spot lesions not only affects the texture and health of dental hard tissues but also impacts the health and aesthetics of teeth after orthodontic treatment. The prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of white spot lesions that occur throughout the orthodontic treatment process involve multiple dental specialties. This expert consensus will focus on providing guiding opinions on the management and prevention of white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment, advocating for proactive prevention, early detection, timely treatment, scientific follow-up, and multidisciplinary management of white spot lesions throughout the orthodontic process, thereby maintaining the dental health of patients during orthodontic treatment.
Humans ; Consensus ; Dental Caries/etiology* ; Dental Enamel/pathology* ; Tooth Demineralization/etiology* ; Tooth Remineralization

Stem cells play a crucial role in maintaining tissue regenerative capacity and homeostasis. However, mechanisms associated with stem cell senescence require further investigation. In this study, we conducted a proteomic analysis of human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs) obtained from individuals of various ages. Our findings showed that the expression of NUP62 was decreased in aged HDPSCs. We discovered that NUP62 alleviated senescence-associated phenotypes and enhanced differentiation potential both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, the knocking down of NUP62 expression aggravated the senescence-associated phenotypes and impaired the proliferation and migration capacity of HDPSCs. Through RNA-sequence and decoding the epigenomic landscapes remodeled induced by NUP62 overexpression, we found that NUP62 helps alleviate senescence in HDPSCs by enhancing the nuclear transport of the transcription factor E2F1. This, in turn, stimulates the transcription of the epigenetic enzyme NSD2. Finally, the overexpression of NUP62 influences the H3K36me2 and H3K36me3 modifications of anti-aging genes (HMGA1, HMGA2, and SIRT6). Our results demonstrated that NUP62 regulates the fate of HDPSCs via NSD2-dependent epigenetic reprogramming.
Humans ; Dental Pulp/cytology* ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/genetics* ; Cellular Senescence/genetics* ; Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Differentiation ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Reprogramming ; Cell Movement ; Proteomics

The repair of the periodontal membrane is essential for the successful management of periodontal disease and dental trauma. Emdogain^® (EMD) is widely used in periodontal therapy due to its ability to promote repair. Despite substantial research, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying EMD's effects, particularly at the single-cell resolution, remain incompletely understood. This study established a delayed tooth replantation model in rats to investigate these aspects. Tooth loss rate and degree of loosening were evaluated at 4 and 8 weeks. Micro-CT, HE staining, TRAP staining, and immunofluorescence staining were evaluated to assess EMD's efficacy. Single-cell sequencing analyses generated single-cell maps that explored enrichment pathways, cell communication, and potential repair mechanisms. Findings indicated that EMD could reduce the rate of tooth loss, promote periodontal membrane repair, and reduce root and bone resorption. Single-cell analysis revealed that EMD promotes the importance of Vtn+ fibroblasts, enhancing matrix and tissue regeneration functions. Additionally, EMD stimulated osteogenic pathways, reduced osteoclastic activity, and promoted angiogenesis-related pathways, particularly bone-related H-type vessel expression in endothelial cells. Gene modules associated with angiogenesis, osteogenesis, and odontoblast differentiation were identified, suggesting EMD might facilitate osteogenesis and odontoblast differentiation by upregulating endothelium-related genes. Immune cell analysis indicated that EMD did not elicit a significant immune response. Cell communication analysis suggested that EMD fostered pro-regenerative networks driven by interactions between mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. In conclusion, EMD proves to be an effective root surface therapy agent that supports the restoration of delayed replantation teeth.
Animals ; Tooth Replantation/methods* ; Rats ; Dental Enamel Proteins/pharmacology* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; X-Ray Microtomography ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Male ; Periodontal Ligament/drug effects*

Dental implants have restored masticatory function to over 100 000 000 individuals, yet almost 1 000 000 implants fail each year due to peri-implantitis, a disease triggered by peri-implant microbial dysbiosis. Our ability to prevent and treat peri-implantitis is hampered by a paucity of knowledge of how these biomes are acquired and the factors that engender normobiosis. Therefore, we combined a 3-month interventional study of 15 systemically and periodontally healthy adults with whole genome sequencing, fine-scale enumeration and graph theoretics to interrogate colonization dynamics in the pristine peri-implant sulcus. We discovered that colonization trajectories of implants differ substantially from adjoining teeth in acquisition of new members and development of functional synergies. Source-tracking algorithms revealed that this niche is initially seeded by bacteria trapped within the coverscrew chamber during implant placement. These pioneer species stably colonize the microbiome and exert a sustained influence on the ecosystem by serving as anchors of influential hubs and by providing functions that enable cell replication and biofilm maturation. Unlike the periodontal microbiome, recruitment of new members to the peri-implant community occurs on nepotistic principles. Maturation is accompanied by a progressive increase in anaerobiosis, however, the predominant functionalities are oxygen-dependent over the 12-weeks. The peri-implant community is easily perturbed following crown placement, but demonstrates remarkable resilience; returning to pre-perturbation states within three weeks. This study highlights important differences in the development of the periodontal and peri-implant ecosystems, and signposts the importance of placing implants in periodontally healthy individuals or following the successful resolution of periodontal disease.
Humans ; Dental Implants/microbiology* ; Microbiota ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Biofilms ; Middle Aged ; Peri-Implantitis/microbiology*

The regulatory processes in developmental biology research are significantly influenced by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the dynamics of lncRNA expression during human tooth development remain poorly understood. In this research, we examined the lncRNAs present in the dental epithelium (DE) and dental mesenchyme (DM) at the late bud, cap, and early bell stages of human fetal tooth development through bulk RNA sequencing. Developmental regulators co-expressed with neighboring lncRNAs were significantly enriched in odontogenesis. Specific lncRNAs expressed in the DE and DM, such as PANCR, MIR205HG, DLX6-AS1, and DNM3OS, were identified through a combination of bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell analysis. Further subcluster analysis revealed lncRNAs specifically expressed in important regions of the tooth germ, such as the inner enamel epithelium and coronal dental papilla (CDP). Functionally, we demonstrated that CDP-specific DLX6-AS1 enhanced odontoblastic differentiation in human tooth germ mesenchymal cells and dental pulp stem cells. These findings suggest that lncRNAs could serve as valuable cell markers for tooth development and potential therapeutic targets for tooth regeneration.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Odontogenesis/genetics* ; Tooth Germ/embryology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Mesoderm/metabolism* ; Tooth/embryology* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Dental Pulp/cytology*

Pulpitis is a common infective oral disease in clinical situations. The regulatory mechanisms of immune defense in pulpitis are still being investigated. Osteomodulin (OMD) is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan family member distributed in bones and teeth. It is a bioactive protein that promotes osteogenesis and suppresses the apoptosis of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). In this study, the role of OMD in pulpitis and the OMD-induced regulatory mechanism were investigated. The OMD expression in normal and inflamed human pulp tissues was detected via immunofluorescence staining. Intriguingly, the OMD expression decreased in the inflammatory infiltration area of pulpitis specimens. The cellular experiments demonstrated that recombined human OMD could resist the detrimental effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. A conditional Omd knockout mouse model with pulpal inflammation was established. LPS-induced inflammatory impairment significantly increased in conditional Omd knockout mice, whereas OMD administration exhibited a protective effect against pulpitis. Mechanistically, the transcriptome alterations of OMD overexpression showed significant enrichment in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Interleukin-1 receptor 1 (IL1R1), a vital membrane receptor activating the NF-κB pathway, was significantly downregulated in OMD-overexpressing hDPSCs. Additionally, the interaction between OMD and IL1R1 was verified using co-immunoprecipitation and molecular docking. In vivo, excessive pulpal inflammation in Omd-deficient mice was rescued using an IL1R antagonist. Overall, OMD played a protective role in the inflammatory response via the IL1R1/NF-κB signaling pathway. OMD may optimize the immunomodulatory functions of hDPSCs and can be used for regenerative endodontics.
Pulpitis/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Dental Pulp/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipopolysaccharides