Stomatology is a first-level discipline mainly focusing on maintaining and promoting oral health, as well as preventing and treating diseases of oral and maxillofacial system. Through the great efforts of generations of stomatologists, China's stomatologic causes has achieved remarkable results and rapid development. The number of stomatologists has reached 334 000, and the ratio of stomatologists to the population is 1:4 600, which have made China a major country in stomatology. However, compared with developed countries, there is still a considerable gap in the overall oral health level of our people. Strengthen the construction of stomatologist team, especially the training of stomatologists at the basis level; Optimize medical education in stomatology and improve the quality of graduates; Strengthen primary oral care and lay a solid foundation for oral care service; Regulate private dental institutions and strengthen their construction; Popularize knowledge about oral health, enhance public awareness of oral health, and improve public oral health behaviors; Give full play to the leading role of new ideas, knowledge and technologies in stomatology is a key link in developing stomatology and building a strong country in stomatology.
Oral Medicine/organization & administration* ; Humans ; China ; Oral Health

In recent years, China has continued to face a high prevalence of oral diseases, along with uneven access to high-quality dental care. Against this backdrop, artificial intelligence (AI), as a data-driven, algorithm-supported, and model-centered technology system, has rapidly expanded its role in transforming the landscape of stomatology. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of AI in stomatology across clinical care, biomedical and materials research, education, and hospital management. In clinical settings, AI has improved diagnostic accuracy, streamlined treatment planning, and enhanced surgical precision and efficiency. In research, machine learning has accelerated the identification of disease biomarkers, deepened insights into the oral microbiome, and supported the development of novel biomaterials. In education, AI has enabled the construction of knowledge graphs, facilitated personalized learning, and powered simulation-based training, driving innovation in teaching methodologies. Meanwhile, in hospital operations, intelligent agents based on large language models (LLMs) have been widely deployed for intelligent triage, structured pre-consultations, automated clinical documentation, and quality control, contributing to more standardized and efficient healthcare delivery. Building on these foundations, a multi-agent collaborative framework centered around an AI assistant for stomatology is gradually emerging, integrating task-specific agents for imaging, treatment planning, surgical navigation, follow-up prediction, patient communication, and administrative coordination. Through shared interfaces and unified knowledge systems, these agents support seamless human-AI collaboration across the full continuum of care. Despite these achievements, the broader deployment of AI still faces challenges including data privacy, model robustness, cross-institution generalization, and interpretability. Addressing these issues will require the development of federated learning frameworks, multi-center validation, causal reasoning approaches, and strong ethical governance. With these foundations in place, AI is poised to move from a supportive tool to a trusted partner in advancing accessible, efficient, and high-quality stomatology services in China.
Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Oral Medicine/trends* ; China ; Delivery of Health Care ; Machine Learning

Collagen membrane has attracted much attention from researchers due to its excellent properties such as wide source, degradable absorption, and low immunogenicity. However, they are limited by poor mechanical stability and rapid degradation. To enhance their physicochemical properties and biological functions, researchers have developed various strategies, including cross-linking, incorporation of growth factors or drugs, combination with other biomaterials, optimization of composition and structure, and substitution with marine-derived collagen. These advances aim to expand the clinical applications of collagen membranes in oral medicine. With the urgent demand for high-performance biomaterials in oral medicine, summarizing recent progress on collagen membranes provides valuable insights into their mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and limitations, offering reference for optimized design and broader clinical use. Furthermore, further trends may include integrating advanced manufacturing technologies to develop personalized collagen membranes, which could significantly improve therapeutic outcomes in oral diseases.
Collagen/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry* ; Membranes, Artificial ; Oral Medicine/methods* ; Tissue Engineering/methods*

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.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study assessed the methodological quality of systematic reviews (SRs) of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) published in Chinese between Jan 2021 and Sep 2022. METHODS: Chinese language CHM SRs were identified through literature searches across 3 international and 4 Chinese databases. Methodological quality was appraised using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2. Logistic regressions were used to explore associations between bibliographical characteristics and quality. RESULTS: Analyses of methodological quality found that among the 213 sampled SRs, 69.5% were of critically low quality, 30.5% were of low quality, and none achieved high or moderate quality. Common shortcomings included the failure to identify the studies excluded from the analysis, failure to disclose funding sources, and limited evaluation of the potential impact of bias on conclusions. Logistic regressions revealed that SRs led by corresponding authors affiliated with universities or academic institutions tended to be of lower quality than SRs led by authors affiliated with hospitals or clinical facilities. CONCLUSION Recent Chinese language CHM SRs exhibited limited methodological quality, making them unlikely to support the development of clinical practice guidelines. Urgent initiatives are needed to enhance training for researchers, peer-reviewers and editors involved in the preparation and publication of SRs. Adoption of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines in Chinese language journals is crucial to improve the relevance of SRs for Chinese medicine development. Addressing deficiencies in methodology and reporting is essential for promoting evidence-based practices and informed clinical decisions in Chinese medicine. Please cite this article as: Jiang Y, Zhong CC, Wang BH, Xu SS, Ho FF, Kwong MH, Ho L, Zhou JHS, Lam KC, Liu JP, Zhang BT, Chung VCH. Methodological quality of systematic reviews on orally administered Chinese herbal medicine published in Chinese between 2021 and 2022: A cross-sectional study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):492-501.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Systematic Reviews as Topic/standards* ; Humans ; China ; Administration, Oral ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare the effects of two orthodontic treatment modalities for skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusion on specific changes in airway volume, morphology, palatal angle, mandibular rotation, and bone displacement. Results provide scientific evidence for the selection of orthodontic treatment plans and reduce the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: Thirty-six patients diagnosed with skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusion at the Department of Orthodontics, the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from September 2018 to December 2023 were divided into two groups: orthodontic-orthognathic treatment group (18 patients) and camouflage orthodontic treatment group (18 patients). Changes in airway volume, cross-sectional area, palatal angle, mandibular, and tongue positions were observed through pre- and post-operative cone beam computed tomography and 3D cephalometric measurements. RESULTS: In the camouflage orthodontic treatment group, nasopharyngeal volume and oropharyngeal volume statistically increased after treatment (P<0.05). In the orthodontic-orthognathic treatment group, changes in nasopharyngeal volume, nasopharyngeal airway, distance from posterior tongue to pharyngeal wall, palatal angle, mandibular rotation, and hyoid bone displacement were statistically significant after surgery (P<0.05). In the comparison between the two groups after treatment, changes in the distance from posterior tongue to pharyngeal wall, palatal angle, and distance from hyoid bone to sella turcica point were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients in the orthodontic-orthognathic treatment group showed significantly greater changes in oropharyngeal cross-sectional area, palate angle, and tongue position compared with patients in the camouflage orthodontic treatment group. As individuals susceptible to OSAHS often exhibit mandibular retrusion and decreased minimum airway cross-sectional area, special attention should be paid to airway morphology changes when adopting orthodontic-orthognathic treatment to avoid adverse consequences.
Humans ; Hyoid Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Cephalometry ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Adult ; Mandible ; Pharynx/diagnostic imaging* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/etiology* ; Orthognathic Surgical Procedures

Early orthodontic treatment has been a hot spot and focus of development in recent years in the field of orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and general practice dentistry. However, there are still some misconceptions, such as excessive or premature intervention, strict control of indications, exaggeration of the role of early orthodontic treatment. This article starts from the analysis of the current status of early orthodontic treatment in China and combines the latest literature and reviews at home and abroad to analyze the nine issues that dentists and the public are concerned about one by one, including whether early orthodontic treatment is a new concept, whether it is necessary, the timing of early orthodontic treatment, the indications for early orthodontic treatment, whether it can provide a non-tooth extraction or non-surgical opportunity, whether it can completely change the facial profile such as retrognathia and growth pattern of the mandible, whether it can treat habitual mouth breathing or adenoid face or obstructive sleep apnea, the role of myofunctional therapy with prefabricated appliances in early orthodontic treatment, whether transparent aligners are superior to traditional aligners in early orthodontic treatment, with the aim of promoting the standardization of early orthodontic treatment. Early orthodontic treatment must choose the right indications, master the basic principles and techniques of orthodontics, and choose the most suitable treatment method and timing for the child.
Humans ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Malocclusion/therapy* ; Orthodontics ; China ; Child

Idiopathic gingival fibromatosis is a rare, benign condition of unknown etiology characterized by extensive gingival overgrowth. This case reports a severe skeletal Class Ⅱ adult female patient with idiopathic gingival fibromatosis. The patient underwent multidisciplinary treatment involving periodontics, orthodontics, and orthognathic surgery, resulting in remarkable crown height elongation, substantial improvements in occlusal function and aesthetics, and stable long-term follow-up outcomes. This case provides a reference for future clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II/complications* ; Fibromatosis, Gingival/complications* ; Adult ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; Orthognathic Surgical Procedures

As the field of oral pathology has evolved, the nomenclature and classification of oral mucosal diseases with a remarkable risk of malignant transformation have undergone several modifications. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the concept of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) as an alternative to the terms for oral precancerous lesions and precancerous conditions. In the consensus report by the WHO Collaborating Center for Oral Cancer of 2021, OPMD is defined as "any oral mucosal abnormality that is associated with a statistically increased risk of developing oral cancer."This definition encompasses a range of conditions, in-cluding oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, oral lichen planus, and other lesions. In light of the complex etiology, unclear pathogenesis, and carcinogenesis of OPMDs, early and precise diagnosis and treatment can contribute to the secondary prevention of oral cancer. For this reason, this review, which aims to provide a basis for the precise clinical diagnosis of OPMDs, was performed. Its aim was achieved by reviewing the historical evolution and research progress of the nomenclature, classification, and histopathological diagnostic criteria of OPMDs.
Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Precancerous Conditions/diagnosis* ; Leukoplakia, Oral/diagnosis* ; Lichen Planus, Oral/pathology* ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis/pathology* ; Mouth Mucosa/pathology* ; World Health Organization

In May 2023, the Chinese Stomatological Association promulgated the group standard of "Standard on Clinical Dental Treatment for Children under General Anesthesia Orsedation". These specifications were formulated through broad-based expert consultation, iterative revisions, and a comprehensive review of relevant literature, incorporating the collective expertise of nationally recognized authorities in the field. The standard establishes a unified evaluation system and clinical guidelines tailored to China's medical context, aiming to regulate related medical practices. This paper aims to provide an in-depth interpretation of the standard, integrating the clinical research and experiences from the Pediatric Dentistry Department of West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, in performing dental treatments under general anesthesia in last 12 years. It particularly focuses on interpreting key aspects, including safety considerations, treatment protocol selection, prevention and management of postoperative complication, postoperative follow-up, and oral health maintenance, to provide a reference for medical staffs to understand and apply them in clinical practice.
Humans ; Anesthesia, General ; Child ; Dental Care for Children/standards* ; China ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Anesthesia, Dental/standards* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic