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Perceptions of shared decision-making among patients and dental professionals

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Perceptions of shared decision-making among patients and dental professionals Authors: Jung, Ji-Young; Ko, Kyung-A; Park, Yu An; Chi, Christina; Naenni, Nadja; Lee, Jung-Seok Abstract: Objectives: To compare perceptions of shared decision-making (SDM) among patients, dentists, and dental hygienists participating in the same dental treatment-planning encounter and to examine differences in perceived involvement across SDM components. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted at a university dental hospital and included 60 dentists, 30 dental hygienists, and 180 patients. Perceived SDM involvement was assessed using the validated Korean versions of the 9-item Shared Decision Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9) for patients and the Shared Decision Making Questionnaire-Physician Version (SDM-Q-Doc) for dental professionals. Responses were recorded on a 6-point Likert scale and transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating greater perceived involvement. Group differences and factors associated with SDM scores were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and linear regression models, respectively. Results: A total of 270 participants completed the survey. SDM scores were high across groups, ranging from 72 to 84 of 100. Patients reported significantly higher total SDM scores than dentists and dental hygienists. Across all respondent groups, recognition that a decision needed to be made and agreement on how to proceed received the highest ratings. In contrast, weighing treatment options was consistently rated lowest. Conclusions: The need for a decision and agreement on the final decision were rated most positively across all groups. However, variation across specific components, particularly the weighing of treatment options, indicates the need for a more structured approach to enhance patient understanding and integrate patient preferences in routine dental care. Clinical significance: Differences in shared decision-making perceptions between patients and dental professionals highlight the importance of reflecting on clinical communication. Strengthening structured decision-making processes may enhance patient-centered care in dentistry.

Advancing the diagnosis of peri-implant diseases: From histological foundations to next-generation ultrasonographic diagnostic markers

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Advancing the diagnosis of peri-implant diseases: From histological foundations to next-generation ultrasonographic diagnostic markers Authors: Galarraga-Vinueza, Maria Elisa; Cha, Jae-Kook; Tavelli, Lorenzo; Feres, Magda Abstract: Background This critical review provides a comprehensive analysis of the histological foundations, current clinical diagnostic standards, and emerging ultrasonographic methods for diagnosing peri-implant diseases.Methods An electronic search in Medline (PubMed) database was conducted to identify original and review articles focused on the histological foundation and diagnostic approaches of peri-implant diseases. This review provides an integrated perspective on the evolution of peri-implant diseases diagnostics, focusing on the clinical and radiographic criteria established by the latest consensus guidelines. It outlines the histological features of peri-implant diseases and discusses recent advancements in ultrasonographic imaging approaches for their characterization and diagnosis. This review further explores elements such as peri-implant anatomical landmarks, echo intensity, tissue perfusion, and strain elastography.Results Histological studies have defined the peri-implant mucosal architecture and inflammatory patterns characteristic of disease progression. While conventional diagnostics have relied on clinical examination and radiographic imaging, high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) has recently emerged as a promising noninvasive imaging tool enabling detailed assessment of peri-implant tissue dimensions, echo intensity, vascular perfusion, and the extent of inflammatory involvement. Echo intensity mapping aids in the visualization and quantification of peri-implant lesions and the identification of associated bone defects. These imaging advancements not only complement current diagnostic methods but also deepen our understanding of peri-implant disease dynamics. Observed correlations between histological findings and ultrasonographic features can support the development of a new diagnostic framework incorporating HFUS-derived markers for detecting peri-implant lesions and evaluating the severity of inflammation.Conclusions Integrating HFUS and power Doppler imaging into peri-implant diagnostics allows real-time, noninvasive visualization of key structures such as the supracrestal adherent connective tissue, buccal bone levels, and tissue perfusion. These modalities can complement existing standards and enhance diagnostic precision by identifying the extent of peri-implant lesions and quantifying the severity of inflammation.Plain Language Summary Peri-implant diseases can affect the tissues around dental implants and can lead to inflammation and bone loss. Understanding how these diseases develop and how best to diagnose them is essential for improving patient care. The present narrative review looked at scientific studies that examined the tissues around implants and the methods used to diagnose peri-implant diseases. It explains what researchers have learned from tissue (histological) studies and summarizes the current clinical and X-ray based diagnostic standards. It also highlights new advances in high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS), a technology that can provide detailed, real-time images of the soft tissues and bone around implants without radiation. Recent studies show that HFUS can measure tissue thickness, detect inflammation, visualize blood flow, and help identify early bone defects. These ultrasound features match what is known from histology, suggesting that HFUS could become an important tool for detecting peri-implant disease earlier and more accurately. Overall, adding HFUS and power Doppler imaging to current diagnostic methods can improve the evaluation of peri-implant tissues. These noninvasive techniques can help clinicians see key structures more clearly, assess inflammation, and better understand the severity of the disease.

Survival rate and prosthetic complications of short dental implants supporting implant overdentures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Survival rate and prosthetic complications of short dental implants supporting implant overdentures: A systematic review and meta-analysis Authors: Pachiou, Aspasia; Naka, Olga; Sykara, Maria; Sykaras, Nikitas; Tsirogiannis, Panagiotis; Thoma, Daniel S.; Naenni, Nadja Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the survival, marginal bone level changes (MBL), prosthetic complications, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of short dental implants (<8 mm) supporting implant overdentures. Data: Eight studies (3 RCTs, 5 prospective cohorts; 181 patients; 189 short implants) were synthesized. Primary quantitative findings at 1 year: Implant survival: 97.2% (95% CI, 93.1-98.9%; I-2 = 0%). MBL: pooled mean 0.53 mm (95% CI, -0.20 to 1.27; I-2 = 95.8%). Prosthetic complications: predominantly minor; 45.7% of patients experienced >= 1 maintenance event-most commonly matrix/insert replacement (24.7%) and relining (14.0%); overdenture fractures were uncommon (3.1%). PROMs: consistently high satisfaction, but reporting was heterogeneous. Certainty (GRADE): moderate for survival; low to very low for MBL, complications, and PROMs due to heterogeneity and imprecision. Sources: Systematic review and meta-analysis conducted per PRISMA 2020 (PROSPERO CRD420251042692). Databases searched to May 2025: MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus. Risk of bias assessed with RoB 2 (RCTs) and ROBINS-I V2 (cohorts). Quantitative synthesis used logit transformation with a Hartung-Knapp random-effects model for survival; inverse-variance random-effects model for MBL; and random-effects generalized linear mixed models (RE-GLMM) for complications. PROMs were narratively synthesized. Study selection: Eligibility included randomized controlled trials and prospective clinical studies evaluating short dental implants (<8 mm) supporting overdentures and reporting >= 1 target outcome (survival, MBL, prosthetic complications, PROMs). After screening and full-text assessment, 8 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the quantitative and/or qualitative synthesis. Conclusions: Short implants supporting overdentures show high short-term survival, limited bone remodeling, and manageable maintenance demands, supporting their use where vertical bone height is limited. Long-term, adequately powered trials with standardized outcome reporting are needed to establish predictability over time.

Microbial Profiling of Saliva, Oral Rinse, Subgingival Plaque and GCF Reveals Site-Specific Dysbiosis in Periodontitis: A Within-Subject Comparison of 150 Participants

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Microbial Profiling of Saliva, Oral Rinse, Subgingival Plaque and GCF Reveals Site-Specific Dysbiosis in Periodontitis: A Within-Subject Comparison of 150 Participants Authors: Lee, Ran; Park, Jin-Young; Park, Yuan; Kim, Kyu; Ha, Jong-Won; Lee, Jung-Seok; 김규 Abstract: Aim This study aimed to compare the microbial communities across four oral sample types-saliva, oral rinse, subgingival plaque and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF)-and to identify disease-associated microbiota in periodontitis.Methods Oral samples were collected from 150 adults, each providing four types of samples in the same visit. Saliva (5 mL) and oral rinse (10 mL, 30-s swish) were collected prior to clinical examination. Subgingival plaque was sampled using a curette from the two deepest pockets, followed by GCF collection via 20-s insertion of gingival retraction cords at the same sites. All samples underwent 16S rRNA (V3-V4) sequencing. Site-specific microbial profiles were evaluated across all participants. For disease comparisons, only individuals with clear periodontal status (periodontally healthy, n = 41; stage III/IV periodontitis, n = 43) were included, excluding stage I/II cases (n = 66).Results Saliva and oral rinse formed one microbial cluster; plaque and GCF formed another. Alpha diversity was found increased in disease, except in GCF. Beta diversity showed the most distinct disease-related shift in GCF. Red complex pathogens and GCF-specific differentially abundant taxa were markedly enriched in periodontitis.Conclusions GCF yielded the clearest microbial differentiation between health and periodontitis, supporting its diagnostic utility.