Journal of Oral Research

The Paradox of Speed in Contemporary Endodontics: Techological Advances and the Overlooked Role of Irrigation time

Pablo Betancourt — 2026-05-07

Effect of Periodontal Treatment plus omega-3 in subjects with Periodontitis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Mariely Navarrete — 2026-05-07

Aim: To evaluate the effect of systemic omega-3 fatty acid (Ω-3) supplementation as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on the clinical and microbiological parameters of patients with periodontitis.
Material and Methods: Eighteen volunteers received NSPT combined with placebo or Ω-3 (2 g/day) for 90 days (n=10 control, n=8 intervention). Clinical parameters, including probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), O’Leary index (OI), Bleeding on Probing (BoP) and suppuration, were recorded at baseline, and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-therapy. Microbiological evaluation at baseline, 3, and 6 months assessed the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Fusobacterium nucleatum using conventional polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Fifteen patients completed the study (n=9 control, n=6 intervention). No significant differences were found in demographic, clinical, or microbiological variables between groups at baseline (p>0.05). Both groups showed clinical improvements over time; however, no significant intergroup differences were detected in PPD, CAL, PPD reduction, CAL gain, or the percentage of sites with BoP and biofilm (p>0.05). Similarly, no differences were observed in the mean or changes (Δ) of shallow (PPD 1–3 mm), intermediate (PPD 4–6 mm), or deep sites (PPD ≥7 mm) between groups at any post-NSPT evaluation. No significant intra- or intergroup differences in periodontal pathogens were observed at any post-therapy evaluation.
Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, adjunctive systemic Ω-3 did not provide additional clinical or microbiological benefits compared to NSPT alone. Further studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are required to clarify its role in periodontal therapy.

Surgical removal of mesiodens, a case series

José Eduardo Orellana-Centeno — 2026-05-07

Introduction: Dental anomalies are congenital malformations of the tissues of the tooth that can range from alterations in number, eruption, location, size and shape to structural abnormalities. Among the alterations in number we find the supernumerary tooth, defined as a tooth formed in excessive number.
Case Report: Two paediatric patients presented for consultation between June and August 2022 at the dentistry clinic of the Universidad de la Sierra Sur (UNSIS). On clinical and radiographic examination, the presence of a supernumerary tooth located in the palate between the upper central incisors (dental organ 11 and 21) was observed.
Results: The mesiodens type supernumerary teeth were extracted with a surgical technique using a surgical motor and with a favourable operative and postoperative outcome for the patient.
Conclusions: Among the supernumerary teeth, the most common is the mesiodens. Early detection, diagnosis and management is important in order to avoid abnormal development of the patient's dental occlusion and aesthetics.

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of chemo-mechanical caries removal and atraumatic restorative treatment on pain reaction among children: A systematic review and quantitative synthesis

Subhashree Mohapatra — 2026-05-07

Aim: The aim of the systematic review and quantitative synthesis was to assess and compare the efficacy of chemo-mechanical caries removal (CMCR) and atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) on pain reaction among children.
Material and Methods: Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, EBSCOhost, Lilacs, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from the earliest available year till July 15, 2024. PICO Strategy: P: Children; I: Chemo-mechanical caries removal; C: Atraumatic restorative treatment; O: Pain reaction. The review comprised only randomised controlled trials and clinical studies. The risk of bias assessment and quality of evidence were assessed using the RoB-2 Tool and GRADE Tool, respectively.
Results: Five full-text publications that met the requirements for eligibility underwent additional processing for data extraction. The overall results of the review suggest that there is no difference in the effect of CMCR and ART on pain reaction among children with a 95% CI of OR: 0.12 [0.01, 1.68]; p=0.12. However, the pooled data suggested high heterogeneity (p<0.0001; I2=89%) among the studies.
Conclusions: The current review concludes that the effect of CMCR and ART on pain reaction among children is comparable. However, the certainty is low due to high heterogeneity among the included studies. Further studies with a combination of subjective and objective scales may help determine the true pain reaction and provide more conclusive evidence for pain reaction to CMCR and ART.

Effects of masseter muscle dry needling on temporomandibular myofascial pain: A scoping review

Rosario Bäumle — 2026-05-03

Purpose: Myofascial pain is a common temporomandibular disorder that negatively affects quality of life. This study aims to assess the current evidence on the clinical response of dry needling (DN) applied to the masseter muscle as a therapeutic option for managing temporomandibular myofascial pain.
Material and Methods: A systematic electronic search of the literature was performed in PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases using tailored search strategies for each database. Articles published within the last five years were included if they evaluated DN of the masseter muscle in adults with myofascial pain, compared to placebo or other interventions. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Methodological quality was evaluated with the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Spanish (CASPe) checklist for randomized controlled trials. Risk of bias assessment was not performed due to heterogeneity in study designs.
Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria (four randomized clinical trials, one prospective study, one with unspecified design) involving 243 patients aged 18-65 years. Myofascial pain diagnosis was based on RDC/TMD or DC/TMD criteria. DN produced clinically meaningful reductions in pan intensity, with improvements maintained up to six months in some studies. Functional outcomes such as mouth opening and lateral movements also improved. The comparative efficacy of DN versus other treatments (botulinum toxin- A, platelet-rich plana, anesthetic nerve blocks) remains inconclusive due to variability in protocols and follow-up.
Conclusions: Dry needling of the masseter muscle shows potential as a therapeutic option for temporomandibular myofascial pain, particularly in reduction and functional improvement. However, heterogeneity across studies and lack of standardized protocols limit definitive conclusions. Further high-quality, standardized research is warranted.

Pre-surgical nasoalveolar molding for complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. Scoping review

Macarena Garrido — 2026-06-17

Introduction: Cleft lip and palate is a frequent congenital malformation with a significant impact on facial function and aesthetics. Pre-surgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) emerged as an early orthopedic technique to correct them. Objectives: To describe the state of the art of nasoalveolar molding in a pre-surgical treatment of unilateral complete cleft lip and palate and its benefits.
Material and Methods: A systematic review was conducted in PubMed and Scopus, using the PICO strategy and PRISMA guidelines, focusing on studies published between 2020 and 2024 that evaluated PNAM in unilateral complete clefts, in English and Spanish, excluding single cases, incomplete, bilateral clefts, and syndromic patients. The mesh and boolean terms used were "cleft lip," "cleft palate," "molding" AND "nasoalveolar."
Results: Of a total of 695 studies, 8 articles were selected that met the inclusion criteria. Benefits of PNAM in correcting cleft lip and palate were observed, including: (1) improvements in nasal symmetry, (2) reduction of the alveolar cleft, and (3) alignment of the alveolar segments, based on the principle of neonatal plasticity. This treatment facilitates primary surgery and dental alignment, although with significant variability due to the lack of standardized protocols. Additionally, PNAM reduces the psychological and financial burden on families, improving the quality of life of the patients.
Conclusions: PNAM is a useful technique in the early orthopedic management of cleft lip and palate, offering aesthetic and functional benefits in the immediate, short, and long term. However, further clinical studies are needed to support its long-term effectiveness and to promote the standardization of protocols.