Russian Journal of Dentistry

BACKGROUND: Sagittal occlusal anomalies (distal and mesial occlusion) rank first among all dentoalveolar and maxillofacial anomalies. The absence of consensus among specialists regarding diagnosis and treatment planning underscores the need for further investigation. A stable extracranial landmark, such as the forehead and the soft-tissue glabella point, enables determination of an optimal sagittal jaw position within the cranial space that is unique for each patient. However, the assessment of optimal sagittal jaw position relative to the forehead relies on manual diagnostic gauges and templates that are difficult to access. As a result, studies involving unique human landmarks in the evaluation of dentoalveolar and maxillofacial anomalies have remained largely inaccessible to clinicians. A new diagnostic platform for assessing sagittal jaw position using 3D facial photography may address this limitation. As new diagnostic approaches become available, the need arises to compare manual and software-based methods for evaluating sagittal jaw position.

AIM: The work aimed to compare a manual method with a new digital method for determining optimal jaw position in the sagittal plane.

METHODS: The study was conducted at the MOSORTO Orthodontic Clinic and based at the UNIDENT dental clinic network from March 1 to October 31, 2025. A total of 50 patients (25 men and 25 women) aged 18–50 years (mean age 32.0 ± 3.4 years) with skeletal occlusal anomalies in the sagittal plane were examined. All participants underwent diagnostics and orthodontic treatment planning based on unique human landmarks (Six Elements of Orofacial Harmony), first using a manual method and then with a new digital diagnostic platform. Both methods (manual and software-based) were compared across six parameters.

RESULTS: Correlation analysis (Spearman rank correlation coefficient) demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation across all parameters (p < 0.0001). For most measurements, the error ranged from 3% to 8%.

CONCLUSION: The new diagnostic platform for assessing sagittal jaw position based on unique human landmarks using 3D facial photography is comparable with the manual method for diagnostic purposes and treatment planning of dentoalveolar anomalies in the sagittal plane.

BACKGROUND: The relevance of this study is supported by the integration of modern technologies into dental practice, including the use of surgical guides. Unfortunately, in recent years, foreign materials have often been either unavailable for purchase or prohibitively expensive. The use of materials produced in Russia ensures consistent availability, faster delivery, and competitive pricing. This study evaluates the physicomechanical properties of Russian-made materials used for fabricating surgical guides and determines how these properties change after sterilization by autoclaving.

AIM: This work aimed to assess the physicomechanical properties of Russian 3D printing materials intended for surgical guide fabrication before and after autoclave sterilization.

METHODS: Three types of domestically produced photopolymer resins were tested. Hardness, flexural modulus, and fracture toughness were evaluated before and after sterilization.

RESULTS: Flexural testing demonstrated that all three groups of Russian materials are suitable for use as finished surgical guides in accordance with the requirements of GOST R 71413-2024 Dentistry. Base Polymers. Part 2: Polymeric Orthodontic Base Materials. General Technical Requirements and Test Methods, which specifies a minimum flexural strength of 50 MPa and a minimum elastic modulus of 1500 MPa for the fabrication of bases intended for prolonged intraoral use. All tested material groups met these requirements, except the group 1 (“wet”) samples. However, because a surgical guide does not stay in the oral cavity for long and does not have sufficient time to absorb moisture, and because the mechanical load on a navigation guide is substantially lower, group 1 materials may also be recommended for guide fabrication.

Autoclaved samples from groups 1 and 2 demonstrated high fracture toughness values. In turn, group 3 samples remained stable, which may indicate a homogeneous internal structure of the material.

CONCLUSION: Material strength increased after autoclave sterilization. All tested material groups are suitable for fabrication of surgical guides, with group 3 demonstrating the most stable physicomechanical properties.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia remains a critical priority in intensive care. Oral hygiene status in critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation plays a key role in the onset of ventilator-associated pneumonia, a common and serious infection associated with high mortality risk.

AIM: This work aimed to examine and compare the effects of different oral hygiene protocols for critically ill patients on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major pathogen of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

METHODS: The study included mechanically ventilated patients who received oral care according to two different protocols. Group 1 (n = 12) received treatment with 0.2% chlorhexidine. In group 2 (n = 12), the patients were treated using specialized oral care kits and an antiseptic based on an aqueous solution of electrochemically activated oxidants (Anolit ANK SUPER; Vitold Bakhir Electrochemical Systems and Technologies Institute, Russia). Samples were collected on days 1, 2, and 5 from all tooth surfaces, the sublingual area, the vestibular mucosa, and the oral cavity using sterile cotton swabs. The quantity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative pathogen causing ventilator-associated pneumonia, was measured before and after oral hygiene procedures using a microecological gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method with the Maestro-aMS system. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10.0 and SAS JMP 11.

RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa counts was observed in group 1 (16.0 [5.0; 86.5]), whereas no increase was detected in group 2 (2.50 [0; 26.25]) (10⁵ cell/g) (p = 0.0016). Oral hygiene with 0.2% chlorhexidine and specialized kits with an electrochemically activated oxidant–based antiseptic Anolit ANK SUPER demonstrated superior control of the pathogen burden.

CONCLUSION: Compared with the standard protocol with 0.2% chlorhexidine, oral-care management using specialized kits and an electrochemically activated oxidant–based antiseptic proved more effective in reducing colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a key pathogen of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Molar–incisor hypomineralization is a form of systemic enamel hypoplasia characterized by defects affecting 1 to 4 first permanent molars, often accompanied by incisor involvement. Molar–incisor hypomineralization occurs in approximately one in eight children worldwide.

AIM: This work aimed to substantiate the need for a more detailed investigation of the etiological factors underlying molar–incisor hypomineralization based on an analysis of publications on fetal programming, with particular emphasis on the influence of prenatal and perinatal factors.

METHODS: Relevant publications were retrieved from the PubMed and eLIBRARY.RU databases without time restrictions. Study selection proceeded in two stages. First, titles and abstracts were screened for relevance. Second, full texts were reviewed. Disagreements were resolved through group discussion until consensus was reached. Of 157 identified publications, 29 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis.

RESULTS: Prenatal factors associated with molar–incisor hypomineralization included maternal anemia, third-trimester illnesses, gestational diabetes, viral infections, more than three ultrasound examinations during the third trimester, preeclampsia, alcohol intake during pregnancy, psychological stress, and others. Perinatal factors reported in relation to molar–incisor hypomineralization included birth hypoxia, prolonged labor, preterm birth, low birth weight, labor induction, complications during delivery, cesarean section, and others.

CONCLUSION: The reviewed studies demonstrate a broad range of prenatal and perinatal factors associated with the development of molar–incisor hypomineralization. Expanding the evidence base on the etiologic mechanisms of molar–incisor hypomineralization may enable the development of effective population-level prevention strategies beginning in the prenatal period.

This article provides a comprehensive historical and analytical overview of the evolution of fundamental dental techniques — tooth preparation and restoration — prior to the widespread implementation of electrical technologies.

The study reconstructs the development of dental instrumentation, spanning from Neolithic tooth drilling practices to 18th-century mechanically innovative devices. A central aspect of the analysis is the operation of these devices in the absence of electricity. Parallel analysis traces the evolution of dental filling materials, from natural organic substances in prehistoric times to metals and sophisticated alloys, notably early amalgam formulations. Particular emphasis is placed on the dental innovations resulted from adapting instruments and technologies drawn from diverse fields of human activity, including jewellery making, lathe work, and textile spinning. The analysis reveals both the historical context and practical implications. Through empirical practices of the past — often involving significant patient risks — current treatment principles evolved, with safety, efficacy, and biocompatibility emerging as core priorities.