Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine, introduced in the 1990s and 2010, are routinely used in primary teeth pulpotomy, yet their relative success remains unclear. OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:This paper aims to compare Biodentine and MTA efficacy in primary teeth pulpotomy over a 6 to 24-month follow-up, assessing clinical, radiographic, and endodontic outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from March 2010 to March 2025 comparing the efficacy of Biodentine and MTA in primary teeth pulpotomy with ≥6-month follow-up were included. Their efficacy was determined by clinical and radiographic success rates, as well as 2 endodontic outcomes of root resorption and pulp canal obliteration (PCO). A bivariate and random-effect meta-analysis determined the pooled risk ratios (RRs) of the outcomes. RESULTS:Eleven RCTs comprising 649 patients and 706 primary teeth were included. Clinical success rates were comparable between Biodentine and MTA at 6 months (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.98-1.02), 12 months (RR = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.97-1.04), 18 months (RR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.95-1.04), and 24 months (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.94-1.07), with no observed heterogeneity (I² = 0%). Radiographic success rates also showed no significant differences at 6 months (RR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.97-1.02), 12 months (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.96-1.03), 18 months (RR = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.94-1.09), and 24 months (RR = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.94-1.08). Root resorption and pulp canal obliteration occurred at comparable rates across over 6, 12, and ≥18 months of follow-ups. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Biodentine and MTA exerted comparable success rates in primary teeth pulpotomy at follow-ups of up to 2 years.

BACKGROUND:Dentists with a dentist parent are often assumed to have inherent career advantages. Despite the high prevalence of these "second-generation" dentists, little research has examined whether they are actually happier than others. This study investigated life satisfaction among dentists with a dentist parent, compared to those with a physician parent or non-physician/dentist parents. METHODS:A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Taiwanese dentists, assessing their life satisfaction using the 5-item Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), along with sociodemographic and career-related factors. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with SWLS scores. RESULTS:Among 1,170 respondents (mean age = 43.5 years, SD = 12.0; 46.5% female), the prevalence of young dentists with at least one dentist parent increased from 2 to 10% over the past two decades, whereas the prevalence of dentists with a physician parent remained around 10%. Multivariable analysis revealed that dentists with a dentist parent reported lower mean SWLS scores (β = -0.245; p = 0.015) after accounting for potential confounders. When the items of the SWLS scale were analyzed individually, dentists with a dentist parent had similar current life satisfaction, but lower past life satisfaction (β = -0.541; p < 0.001) than those without physician/dentist parents. Among dentists who ranked in the top 25% of their class, those with a dentist parent reported the lowest mean SWLS scores. In contrast, dentists with a physician parent did not experience the same decline in life satisfaction observed among second-generation dentists. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Although the small sample size of second-generation dentists limits the strength of inferences, these findings highlight the growing prevalence of second-generation dentists in Taiwan, their regret over past choices, and the potential challenges unique to this group. Understanding the pressures faced by second-generation dentists may inform strategies to enhance their professional fulfillment and overall well-being.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE/UNASSIGNED:Periodontitis, a common inflammatory disease, has been linked to various systemic and ocular conditions. However, its connection to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), a vision-threatening condition, remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the association between periodontitis and RRD. MATERIALS AND METHODS/UNASSIGNED:From 2000 to 2015, 1,936,512 participants were recruited from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, including 29,970 with chronic periodontitis, defined by at least three outpatient visits within a year. A matched 1:1 comparison group was selected based on sex, age, and index year. The periodontitis group was divided into two subgroups: those who received root planing and/or surgical therapy (subgroup 1) and those who did not (subgroup 2). RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:< 0.001). Subgroups 1 and 2 also had increased risks, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.70 and 1.34, respectively. These results persisted even when excluding the first 1 or 5 years of data. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:This nationwide retrospective study showed that patients with chronic periodontitis, regardless of whether they received periodontal treatment, had a higher risk of developing RRD, suggesting a potential association between periodontitis and RRD.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE/UNASSIGNED:Palatal epithelial graft harvesting requires secondary healing, and various materials have been used to accelerate this and reduce discomfort. However, comparisons against standardized controls remain limited, especially in randomized clinical trials. This meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of bioactive materials of hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich fibrin, collagen, and cyanoacrylate in promoting healing and reducing pain after epithelial graft harvesting. MATERIALS AND METHODS/UNASSIGNED:Clinical trials were identified from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase up to August 2024. The efficacies of bioactive materials were assessed using Review Manager Analysis, with odds ratios calculated for complete wound healing and mean differences in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for pain. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED: = 91 %). CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:HA, PRF, and collagen may relief pain, and HA and PRF might aid healing after epithelialized gingival graft harvest (no trials recruited in evaluating the collagen's effect on wound healing). Cyanoacrylate may not support pain relief or healing. Further trials are needed.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:This study sought to identify the factors associated with the life satisfaction and peace of mind (PoM) of dentists not in full-time clinical training. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Cross-sectional questionnaires were distributed to dentists in Taiwan to collect their life satisfaction, PoM, sociodemographic data, and dental career-related characteristics. Life satisfaction was measured using a 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale. PoM was measured using a 7-item Peace of Mind Scale. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression models were estimated to explore potential associations between the two scales and the examined factors. RESULTS:A total of 1196 dentists (45.6% female; mean age = 44.12) completed the questionnaires. The response rate of completed questionnaires from email invitations was 32.9%. On multivariable analysis, life satisfaction and PoM were associated with age (b = 0.008 in both), better perceived health (b = 0.262 and 0.308, respectively), family interaction (b = 0.264 and 0.207, respectively), and friend relationships (b = 0.076 and 0.091, respectively). Being married (b = 0.191), being specialized (b = 0.127), working in private practice, and spending 10 to 39 h per week with patients (b = 0.101 to 0.162) were associated with a higher level of life satisfaction but not PoM. CONCLUSIONS:Specialists working in private practice without working overtime were associated with better life satisfaction. However, the dentists' health and relationships with family were more related to their subjective well-being than their professional achievements. CLINICAL RELEVANCE/CONCLUSIONS:Our findings can help policymakers increase awareness of the well-being of general dentists and those in academia or hospitals to promote their mental health.

OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to investigate (1) the temporal pattern of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, in ligation-induced rat periodontitis and (2) the effect of ferrostatin-1, a ferroptosis inhibitor, on the model. BACKGROUND:Ferroptosis may contribute to various diseases. However, the role of ferroptosis in periodontitis is still fully understood. METHODS:In the first experiment, 25 rats with ligation-induced periodontitis were sacrificed on days 0, 1, 2, 7, and 10. Gingivae were obtained to determine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and ferroptotic biomarkers, including solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4), via immunoblotting. Using microcomputed tomography (μCT) and histology, the periodontal soft and hard tissue lesions, including dental alveolar bone crest level, bony characteristics of the surrounding alveolus, periodontal tissue inflammation, and periodontal tissue losses, were evaluated. In study two, 16 rats with induced periodontitis were grouped according to ferrostatin-1 treatment. The rats were intraperitoneally injected with solvent or ferrostatin-1 (1.5 mg/kg/day) 1 day before ligation and sacrificed on days 7 and 10. Gingival protein changes and periodontal tissue damage were also examined. RESULTS:In study one, SLC3A2/SLC7A11 and Gpx4 decreased since day 1; however, TNF-α/IL-1β increased on days 7 and 10. Moreover, the μCT/histology revealed resorptive bony characteristics, inflamed gingival tissue, and periodontal attachment loss. In study two, ferrostatin-1-injected rats exhibited significantly increased SLC3A2/SLC7A11 and Gpx4 but decreased TNF-α/IL-1β than vehicle rats. They also revealed lessened bone resorption, tissue inflammation, and attachment loss. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This study highlights the role of ferroptosis, via the system Xc/Gpx4 pathway, in experimental periodontitis and may serve as a regulatory strategy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The goal of the present study was to examine perceived barriers to achieving clinical competence in endodontics and explain how YouTube is used to supplement formal education in this discipline. METHODS:Postgraduate endodontic students conducted focus groups with fourth-year dental students at NYU College of Dentistry. The discussion was facilitated by a semistructured interview guide. Open-ended questions about participants' perceived barriers to clinical competency in endodontics, experiences using YouTube to learn about clinical endodontics, and preferences for video format learning were asked. Demographic information was gathered. Thematic analysis of data was conducted and data collection was terminated once saturation was achieved. RESULTS:Thirty fourth-year dental students were enrolled in the study. The majority, 96.7%, reported using YouTube as a learning tool for dental procedures and 83.3% to learn about endodontics, specifically. The following domains were explored during data analysis: barriers to clinical competency, YouTube uses/experiences, and content preferences. The following themes within barriers to clinical competency were identified: psychological, educational, and clinical. Within the YouTube domain, the following themes were examined: goals of use, timing and frequency of use, search strategies, benefit/ shortcomings of YouTube, and validity of content. Students primarily used YouTube to enhance confidence and understand procedural flow. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:YouTube videos were primarily used to help students overcome perceived educational and psychological barriers that resulted in gaps in confidence and knowledge of performing endodontic procedures. Dental students placed high value on easily accessible video content of limited duration, where clinical procedures were performed on live patients.

OBJECTIVE:A large number of residents in US advanced specialty education programmes are foreign-trained dentists. When faced with the career dilemma of applying for US residency training, foreign-trained dentists may wonder whether it is worth proceeding along that path. In addiditon, studies capturing benefits from receiving US residency training are rare. Therefore, this study compared the life satisfaction amongst 3 dentist groups in Taiwan (ie, US-trained specialists, Taiwan-trained specialists, and general dentists). METHODS:Cross-sectional surveys were distributed to dentists currently residing in Taiwan. Participants were surveyed about demographic information, career-related information, and life satisfaction. Life satisfaction was measured with a structured Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Nonparametric bivariate analyses and multivariable adjusted generalised linear model (GLM) were used to examine the differences between mean SWLS scores and examined variables. We included 134 US-trained specialists, 134 Taiwan-trained specialists, and 134 general dentists matched for age, sex, and marital status. RESULTS:With the mean age of 51.4 ± 10.8 years old, specialists had significantly higher mean life satisfaction scores than general dentists. US-trained specialists had significantly higher mean life satisfaction scores than Taiwan-trained specialists when health and family relationships were not considered. Career-rated factors (eg, spending more clinical hours with patients, having more expenses related to continuing education, publishing more peer-reviewed articles, and being a frequent speaker) were not associated with better life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS:US-trained specialists were more likely to be satisfied with their lives than Taiwan-trained specialists and general dentists. However, health and social relationships contribute more to dentists' life satisfaction than do career-rated factors.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Immediate implant placement has been considered to be a successful treatment procedure. The bone plate perforation (BPP) may be one of severe complication and potentially life-threatening situation. The aim of this virtual study is to evaluate the influences of angled implant insertion on BPP during immediate implant installation in the posterior mandible. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Cone beam computed tomography images of 488 posterior teeth from 61 patients were selected. Virtual immediate implant placement (VIIP) was performed at each posterior tooth following the appropriate axis with the prosthetic-driven planning and different deviation angles of 3-, 6-, or 9-degree. BPP was then examined from cross-sectional images obtained. Furthermore, the relation of lingual bony morphology and BPP were also determined. RESULTS:The incidence of buccal and lingual BPP increased as the deviation angle increased in posterior mandible area. Incidence of lingual BPP was significantly influenced by angular deviation and type of lingual bony morphology after adjusting for age, gender, tooth type, and right/left side. An increase in incidence odds of over 6-fold (OR = 6.583) was noted for placements angled by 9° compared with placements made without angulation, and an increase in incidence odds of over 3-fold (OR = 3.622) was noted for teeth with the undercut-type lingual morphology compared with the other types. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The present Results indicate that accurate selection of the implant insertion angle and full awareness of the bony anatomy at the implant recipient site are essential to prevent BPP in the posterior mandible.