Introduction: This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics, particularly those administered preoperatively and postoperatively, in enhancing the success rates of dental implants. Additionally, it seeks to compare current opinions toward antibiotic usage in implant dentistry with documented outcomes of implant success, both with and without antibiotic intervention. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search using the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, incorporating studies published between 2010 and January 2023. Search terms included “dental implant,” “antibiotic,” “prophylaxis,” and “survey.” Data analysis and graphical representations were generated using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software. Results: The findings indicate that 81.1% of surveyed dentists routinely prescribe antibiotic prophylaxis for patients undergoing dental implant procedures, irrespective of health status. An additional 5.8% of practitioners tailored their antibiotic prescriptions based on modifiable factors. The initial database search yielded 220 relevant articles from Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, which were screened for alignment with the review objectives. Among antibiotics, penicillin and phenoxymethylpenicillin were identified as the preferred first-line medications. Conclusion: Cross-sectional surveys across various countries reveal a tendency among dentists to prescribe systemic antibiotic prophylaxis for dental implant surgeries without adhering strictly to evidence-based guidelines, often resulting in overprescription. This highlights a critical need for collaboration among dental educators and practitioners to align clinical practices with scientific evidence regarding antibiotic prophylaxis in implant dentistry. Keywords: Antibiotics; Dental implant; Systematic review; Meta-analysis.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 15% carbamide peroxide, orange juice, and Cola on the microhardness of composite resin restoration material. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, forty disk-shaped composite samples were prepared and randomly classified into four groups (n=10); the artificial saliva (control), bleaching agent (15% carbamide peroxide), orange juice, and Cola. Vickers microhardness was measured on the surface of the samples before and after immersion for 6 and 48 hours. Results: The microhardness values of the 15 % carbamide peroxide, Orange juice and Cola groups were significantly lower after 48 hours compared to the artificial saliva group (P=0.003, P=0.002, P=0.001, respectively). However, these differences were not statistically significant after 6 hours of immersion (P=0.068). When comparing the microhardness values of these groups over time, as expected, these measures significantly decreased, except for the 15 % carbamide peroxide group in which the mean microhardness value did not significantly decrease from baseline after 6 hours immersion (P=0.106). However, there was a significant difference after 48 hours compared to baseline and 6 hours immersion (P=0.001, P=0.004). Conclusion: This suggests that 15 % carbamide peroxide gel can be employed as a bleaching agent in cases with composite restorations for a limited amount of time without significant deterioration of the microhardness. 

Introduction: One of the most common types of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which puts a big burden on the healthcare system. Direct and dermoscopic examinations are used to diagnose basal cell carcinoma. GCG is a protein-coding gene expressed in various cells throughout the body, including the small intestine, brain, and skin. Fibrillin-1 is an extracellular protein found in many body tissues. In this study, we compare the expression of GCG and FBN1 genes in the blood of patients with BCC and a healthy control group.Materials and Methods: 1. Selection of patients and sampling. 2. Blood sampling of BCC patients and the control group. 3. Isolation of RNA from blood using an extraction kit. 4. Measurement of RNA concentration and purity. 5. cDNA synthesis and real-time PCR using a specific miRNA cDNA synthesis kit. 6. Statistical analysis Results: The GCG biomarker was positive in 9 out of 15 patients in the group of patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The rate of positivity for this biomarker in the group of healthy individuals was 4 out of 15, indicating a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P-value<0.001). The FBN1 biomarker was positive in 11 out of 15 patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The rate of positivity for this biomarker in the group of healthy individuals was 5 out of 15 people, indicating a statistically significant difference between the two studied groups. (P-value<0.001). Conclusion: The expression of GCG and FBN1 is significantly higher in patients with BCC compared to healthy individuals. Further studies can be done to ensure the role of these genes in the diagnosis of skin cancers. 

Introduction: Osteopontin (OPN) is recognized as a potent biomarker of Oral lichen planus (OLP) because of its vital role in inflammation and the repair process. The present study aims to assess OPN in OLP in comparison with healthy controls (HC). Materials and Methods: To explore salivary levels of OPN, a group of 20 subjects with OLP was compared with 20 healthy controls. Salivary OPN levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay.Results: Results indicated elevated OPN levels in lesion size<1cm compared with 1-3cm lesion size of OLP (p=0.02). In contrast, we did not find a significant difference in OPN expression level in saliva from OLP patients and healthy controls (P=0.96).  Conclusion: Osteopontin plays a role in the process of repair and healing in oral lichen planus, providing tissue protection and enhancing the capacity for tissue wound healing in these lesions. Keywords: Oral lichen planus; Osteopontin; Saliva. 

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a widespread, aggressive disease with low survival rates due to late diagnosis and a lack of effective, noninvasive biomarkers. The nuclear cap-binding protein subunit 2 (NCBP2), involved in mRNA regulation, has been implicated in tumorigenesis. This study aimed to evaluate NCBP2 mRNA expression in plasma samples from patients with OSCC to assess its potential as a circulating diagnostic biomarker. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with histologically proven OSCC and fifteen age-matched healthy controls participated in a case-control study. Plasma was isolated from peripheral blood in an RNase-free environment. Total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed into cDNA. Gene-specific primers and SYBR Green chemistry were used in quantitative real-time PCR. Using GAPDH as the reference gene, relative expression was computed using the 2^–ΔΔCt technique. Independent t-tests were used to examine the data, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: There was a 1.89-fold increase in NCBP2 mRNA expression in the OSCC group when compared to controls (p<0.001). Ten out of fifteen OSCC patients had positive NCBP2 expression, compared to five out of fifteen healthy controls who had detectable levels. Age, sex, and smoking status did not show significant correlations with gene expression. Conclusion: The observed overexpression of circulating NCBP2 mRNA in OSCC patients supports its potential as a non-invasive biomarker for early detection. Integration of NCBP2 testing into liquid biopsy protocols could enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve patient outcomes. Further studies with larger sample sizes and functional validation are recommended. Keywords: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); Nuclear cap-binding protein2 (NCBP2); liquid biopsy; RT-qPCR; Circulating mRNA; Non-invasive biomarker. 

Introduction: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease and is characterized by an increased risk of bone fractures. Early detection of osteoporosis is necessary to prevent hip fractures later in life. We evaluated changes in mandibular radiomorphometric indices in postmenopausal women using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) to assess their association with Osteoporosis. Materials and Methods: Nine radiomorphometric indices and the number of mandibular teeth on dental panoramic radiographs were evaluated in 85 post-menopausal women at age 45-74. DXA measured bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine. BMD values were categorized as normal (T-score greater than -1.0), indicative of osteopenia (-1.0 T-score<-2.5), or osteoporosis (T-score<-2.5) according to the World Health Organization classification. Results: The AA, AI and MI were significantly smaller in individuals with low bone mass (p<0.05). The AD was significantly larger in osteoporotic individuals (p<0.05) and the comparison of MCI among the three subgroups of MBD showed significant differences. There was no significant difference between the three categories of skeletal bone status for PMI, M/M Ratio, GA and the number of mandibular teeth.  Conclusion: Osteoporotic individuals are more likely to have altered inferior cortex and antegonial region morphology and thickness than non-osteoporotic individuals. The smaller AI and larger AD were strongly associated with lower bone mass. Clinical relevance: In this study, we provided a model to assess the risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis in dental panoramic radiography. Keywords: Osteoporosis; Panoramic radiography; Mandible; Bone mineral density.

Epulis is any tumor-like growth in the oral cavity. Epulis granulomatosa is a growth of soft tissue originating from the socket of the tooth, and it is thought to be caused by tooth extraction in the past and as a benign exophytic lesion of soft tissue in the form of a hyperplastic reaction. Excisional biopsy is the gold standard of treatment. In this article, we present a case of Epulis granulomatosa in a 34-year-old female patient who was treated with an excisional biopsy.

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma is a common soft tissue sarcoma in the human body, but it is rarely reported in the oral cavity. This article aims to report a case of UPS in the mandible. An 83-year-old female patient was referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the Faculty of Dentistry in Isfahan, Iran, with a complaint of sudden, painless swelling under her removable complete denture, which had grown gradually over three months. The size of the lesion was approximately 5cm, and there were no radiographic defects present. Neoplastic and malignant proliferation of cells, which is necessary for UPS final diagnosis, was present in the H&E microcopy evaluation. Furthermore, immunohistochemical examination proved that the lesion is an undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Because of the late diagnosis of the disease, the patient died due to lung metastasis before any treatment. Keywords: Case report; Surgery; Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma; Malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

Nasolabial cysts (NCs) are rare, non-odontogenic developmental cysts of the soft tissue, accounting for approximately 0.7% of all non-odontogenic cysts. These lesions predominantly affect women between the fourth and fifth decades of life, with a predilection for individuals of African descent. We report a case of a 50-year-old woman presenting with swelling adjacent to the right nostril, associated numbness, and aesthetic concerns. Radiographic examination revealed a peripheral soft tissue lesion anterior to the right maxilla that had destroyed the lateral nasal wall and anterior maxillary border, with extension into and partial obstruction of the right nasal cavity. Histopathological examination of the excised specimen revealed a cyst measuring 10×20mm with a 3mm wall thickness. The cyst was lined by squamous epithelium with areas of stratified cuboidal epithelium, surrounded by fibrous connective tissue containing mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate, blood vessels, and fat cells. The lesion was successfully treated by surgical enucleation through an intraoral approach. This case highlights the importance of considering nasolabial cysts in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue swellings in the nasolabial region, despite their rarity. Accurate diagnosis requires careful clinical examination, appropriate imaging, and histopathological confirmation to distinguish these lesions from odontogenic and other non-odontogenic entities. Keywords: Nasolabial cyst; Non-odontogenic cyst; Developmental cyst; Enucleation.

A benign mixed odontogenic lesion, with features of ameloblastic fibro odontoma previously allocated in the WHO 2005 classification, and presently removed in the subsequent WHO 2017 and 2022 classifications, shows certain changes that result in the formation of enamel and dentin, suggestive of a developing complex odontoma rather than ameloblastic fibro odontoma. It commonly affects individuals in the first and second decades of life. The present case exhibits histopathological features which show enamel and dentin formation and strands of ameloblast-like cells with an inductive process. The histopathology points to a hallmark diagnosis of a “developing” complex odontoma. Keywords: WHO; Odontogenic; Inductive changes; Ameloblast.