Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common clinical disease with high incidence and low treating proportion, difficult evaluation, and complicated nosogenesis. OSAS can cause systematic impairments. Various treatment methods were applied in clinical setting with the tendency of cross-disciplinary promotion. Oral treatment plays an exceedingly important role in OSAS research and therapy. This study reports the oral treatment involving OSAS therapy.

The essence of pulp and periapical disease is bacterial infection. Thus, satisfactory infection control is the premise and foundation of healing, in which root canal preparation is a critical procedure. Root canal system anatomy, infection degree, physical cutting during root canal preparation, and certain cleaning measures affect the quality of infection control. Appropriate evaluation of the grades of infected root canals before treatment is necessary because different grades of root canal infection demand various disinfection schedules to facilitate tissue healing and guarantee the long-term success rate of endodontic treatment.

With the increasing number of the orthodontic patients, the relationship between periodontal and orthodontic becomes increasingly close. Orthodontic treatment can improve periodontal status, but the adverse clinical problems of perio-dontal tissue during orthodontic treatment are relatively common. In this paper, we discuss the problems of soft tissue, including causes, prevention, and treatment of gingivitis, gingival enlargement, gingival recession, and gingival invagination in ortho-dontic treatment.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of calcium ion (Ca ²⁺) on the migration and osteogenic differentiation of human osteoblasts and explore the proper concentration and correlation mechanism. Methods A series of Ca ²⁺solutions with different concentrations was prepared. Osteoblast migration was assessed by Transwell assay, and proli-feration was studied via the CCK-8 colorimetric assay. The mRNA expression of osteogenic genes was examined via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the mineralized nodule was examined by alizarin red-S method. After calcium sensitive receptor (CaSR) antagonism, Ca ²⁺-induced migration and osteogenic differentiation were analyzed. Results In the migration experiment, 2, 4, and 6 mmol·L ^-1Ca ²⁺could promoted osteoblast migration at three timepoints (8, 16, and 24 h), whereas 10 mmol·L ^-1 Ca ²⁺considerably inhibited migration at 8 h. The Ca ²⁺ concentration range of 2-10 mmol·L ^-1 could promote proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization of human osteoblasts. Moreover, mineralization was predominantly induced by 8 and 10 mmol·L ^-1Ca ²⁺. CaSR antagonism could reduce Ca ²⁺-induced migration and osteogenic differentiation of human osteoblasts. Conclusion Low Ca ²⁺ concentration favored osteoblast migration, whereas high Ca ²⁺ concentration favored osteogenic differentiation. The Ca ²⁺ concentrations of 4 and 6 mmol·L ^-1 could substantially induce osteo-blast migration and osteogenic differentiation, and the Ca ²⁺-CaSR pathway participated in signal transduction.

Objective To investigate the effect of large tumor suppressor homolog 2 (LATS2) gene overexpression on the proliferation and apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Methods Lentivirous particles were transferred into SCC-25 cell to upregulate LATS2 gene expression. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay. Apoptosis was detected through flow cytometry. The expression changes of Bax, Bcl-2, and LATS2 were analyzed by Western blot.Results Gene transfection increased LATS2 expression. Compared with the control group and pEGFP-control group, SCC-25 cell proliferation in the pGFP-LATS2 group was inhibited, whereas the apoptosis ratio increased (P<0.05). Bcl-2 expression decreased, and Bax expression increased.Conclusion Overexpression of LATS2 could inhibit SCC-25 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the expression and relationship of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in normal oral mucosa, oral leukoplakia (OLK), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This work also analyzed the relationship between expression levels and clinical factors. This study evaluated the clinical value of LC3B and mTOR as indices to determine the carcinogenic potential of OLK.Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of LC3B and mTOR in 20 cases of normal oral mucosa, 120 cases of OLK, and 30 cases of OSCC. The clinical data of 120 patients with OLK were analyzed. The relationships between expression levels and clinical factors were investigated.Results In normal oral mucosa, OLK and OSCC, the positive rates of LC3B expression were 85.0%, 65.8% and 33.3% (P<0.05), whereas the positive rates of mTOR expression were 20.0%, 48.3% and 76.7% (P<0.05). The expression levels of LC3B and mTOR were correlated and related to clinical typing of OLK (P<0.05).Conclusion LC3B and mTOR can be used as molecular biomarkers for early detection of OLK.

Objective This work aimed to evaluate the influence of smear layer on the bonding effectiveness and durability of the self-adhesive resin cements to dentin.Methods A total of 48 fresh caries-free third molars with exposed dentin surface were divided into two groups. The dentin surfaces were treated using a standard grit diamond bur (group A) or further polished using a fine grit diamond bur (group B) and then bonded with either of the two self-adhesive resin cements, namely, Clearfil SA Cement (CSA, Kuraray) and Multilink Speed (MS, Ivoclar Vivadent). After 24 h or 2-year water storage, a microtensile bond strength test was performed.Results In group A, the dentin surface was rough, the smear layer was thick, and the dentin tubule orifice detritus showed low embolism value. In group B, the dentin surface roughness decreased, the embolism pro-portion increased, and the smear layer became thin. The initial bonding strengths of CSA and MS in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (P<0.05). The bonding strengths of CSA and MS significantly decreased after two years of water storage (P<0.05). For CSA, the bond strength of group B was significantly lower than that of group A (P<0.05). For MS, the differences in the bonding strength between groups A and B were insignificant (P>0.05).Conclusion The properties of the smear layer and the types of self-adhesive resin cement used affected the bond strength and durability.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of Chinese families with Van der Woude syndrome (VWS).Methods Clinical manifestations between 14 families and within each family were recorded. Possible inheritance modes and pathogenic genes were analyzed. Phenotypic distribution and gene frequencies were calculated.Results Of the pedigrees investigated, an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern was suggested. All patients had typical symptoms. The pathogenic gene was interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6). Phenotypic distribution frequencies were as follows: lip pits (91.9%), cleft lip and/or palate (73.0%), and hyperdontia (8.1%). There were significant differences in clinical phenotypes among individuals of different families and individuals of the same family.Conclusion VWS in a Chinesepopulation was dominantly inherited with high penetrance and variable expressivity. The pathogenic gene was IRF6. VWS in a Chinese population was genotyped as VWS1.

Objective This study aims to evaluate the occlusal characteristics of full edentulous patients with implant-supported prostheses and to provide a reference with the occlusal situation for clinicians.Methods A Teetester occlusal analysis system was used with 30 full edentulous patients of implant-supported fixed denture (test group) in comparison with 30 natural dentition (control group). The percentage of occlusal force distribution were measured, as well as the occlusal time at the intercuspal, protrusion, and left and right lateral positions.Results Compared with control group, the occlusion time, maximum occlusal force in intercuspal of test group significantly reduced (P<0.05); while control group was obviously supe-rior to test group in the left and right bit force degree. Disclusion time in protrusion, occlusion times in lateral positions of test group also significantly reduced (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in average occlusion force, percentage of total force in anterior teeth, and lateral occlusion between test group and control group.Conclusion The maximum occlusal force in intercuspal of full edentulous patients with implant-supported prostheses reduce. The occlusal force in protrusive occlusion is concentrated in the front teeth, and the group function occlusion is the main lateral occlusal pattern.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the application of acellular dermal matrix and acellular bone matrix in the management of oro-antral fistula.Methods Nine patients with oro-antral fistula (with defect greater than 5 mm×5 mm) after maxillary cyst resection or maxillary molar extraction were selected. The defects were repaired by the simultaneous implantation of acellular dermal matrix and acellular bone matrix.Results The incisions of nine patients were all primary healing. After 6 months of follow-up, the oro-antral communication healed well, and no symptom such as nasal congestion or runny nose was observed. The clinical and CT examinations confirmed wound healing.Conclusion The usage of acellular dermal matrix and acellular bone matrix is a reliable repairing method for ora-antral fistula.

Objective Using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in image measurement on the patients with maxillary protrusion, the study aims to identify the changes in root and alveolar bone before and after treatment by upper incisor retraction.Methods The study was conducted on 37 patients who have received orthodontic treatment from January 2014 to December 2015. The sample comprised 17 males and 20 females, with an average age of 14.5 years. The patients underwent extraction of bimaxillary premolars and given maximum anchorage to retract the upper incisors. The adducent angle, adducent amount, and the amount of elongation of the upper incisor teeth were measured by cephalograms. The patients were scanned by NewTom VGi to obtain CBCT data before and after treatment with upper incisor retraction. Using the NewTom NNT tool, we obtained the multiple planar reconstruction and then adjusted the coronal, axial, and sagittal axis. The sagittal section of the long axis of the maxillary central incisor through the incisal edge and root apex was selected to measure the changes in the root and alveolar bone before and after incisional treatment.Results Before and after retracting the upper incisors, the adducent angle of central incisor measured 12.92°±6.43°. Adducent amount of the incisors reached (5.54±2.21) mm. Incisor extension amount totaled (0.60±0.95) mm. Root absorption length was (0.81±0.46) mm. Root absorption rate was 6.80%±3.60%. Statistical differences were observed in the changes in root length before and after incisor retraction (P<0.05). After upper incisor retraction, increasing distance from the labial side alveolar ridge to the cemento-enamel junction reached (0.20±0.22) mm. After treatment, we observed that the height of the labial-side alveolar bones decreased and showed statistical difference with the height of labial-side alveolar bones before treatment (P<0.05). The results show the correlation between root absorption and horizontal dis-placement of maxillary center incisor and the distance from the upper incisor apex to labial cortical bone. A correlation also exists between the variable quantity of the labial-side alveolar bones and adducent angle of the upper incisor, with a correlation coefficient of 0.354. The results also show significant difference (P<0.05).Conclusion After compensatory treatment of patients with maxillary protrusion, the root length of upper incisor was absorbed remarkably. The height of the labial-side alveolar bones was reduced. A greater tooth movement or beyond the anatomical limitations and alteration limits of the alveolar bone can easily lead to root resorption. A negative correlation exists between the variable quantity of the labial-side alveolar bones and adducent angle of the upper incisor.

Objective This work aimed to compare the effect of retention and preventive caries of the pit and fissure sealant on primary teeth by using glass ionomer cements (GIC) with or without acid etching technique.Methods In this clinical trail, 100 children aged 3-4 years old with a split-mouth design were equally divided into two groups (the left second upper and lower mandibular primary molars were present in group A, and the right second upper and lower mandibular primary molars were present in group B; each group had 200 molars). All participants were placed in pit and fissure sealant with Ketac ^? Molar Easymix and seated with atraumatic restorative treatmen press-finger technique in the two groups. Group A was subjected to acid etching (40 s, 35% H₃PO₄), while group B were not subjected to acid etching. GIC preservation rate, caries rate, and decayedteeth (dt) index were observed after 12 months. Results After a 12-month follow-up period, the completely lost, partially losing, and losing rates of GIC in 86 children (172 second primary molars) were 83.14%, 9.88%, 6.98% in group A and 62.79%, 20.35%, and 16.86% in group B, respectively. The differences between the two groups were insignificant (P<0.05). The caries rates of groups A and B were 8.14% and 16.86%, and their dt indices were 0.08±0.31 and 1.17±0.46, respectively, thereby indicating significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Using acid etching technology, the retention rate of the pit and fissure sealant increased, while its losing rate decreased. The retention effect of the GIC was improved, and the dental caries prevention effect was enhanced. Sealant processing was a self-curing procedure that sets without the external energy. Hence, this procedure is suitable for the preventive caries of primary teeth in children.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the oral health service needs and dental treatment among 3-year-old to 5-year-old preschool children in Jiangxi province and provide data to support the development of relevant oral health policies, enhance the oral health service utilization and visit rate, and optimize oral manpower and service resources.Methods A total of 2 880 preschool children were selected via stratified cluster sampling. Dental examination methods and criteria according to the fourth national oral health epidemiological survey were adopted. Excel 2007 and SPSS 19.0 softwares were used for statistics analysis. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed.Results The caries prevalence was 49.13% (1 415/2 880) among the 2 880 cases of 3-year-old to 5-year-old preschool children in Jiangxi province, approximately 53.37% (1 537/2 880) of which possessed oral health service needs. The parents of younger children assessed the oral situation better in older age than in their younger years (P<0.05), which was better in urban children than in rural children (P<0.05). The visiting rate of all the respon-dents was 12.33% (355/2 880), while the visiting rate of children with oral diseases was 17.31% (266/1 537). The top three reasons why patients did not visit the dentist were as follows: children’s teeth have no problem, the teeth damage in teeth was considerably minimal, and primary teeth would be replaced without the need for treatment. The influencing factors included lower visiting rate in females than in males (OR=0.499, 95%CI: 0.411-0.606) and lower visiting rates in rural areas than in urban areas (OR=0.428, 95%CI: 0.353-0.519). Subjects with poor oral health and high oral knowledge scores possessed high dental service visit rates.Conclusion The prevalence of caries in 3-year-old to 5-year-old preschool children in Jiangxi province is at a lower level than that in the national level. The proportion of the population actively seeking medical services is low, and their main purpose of treatment is to treat rather than prevention. Oral health education should be strengthened, and it should be incorporated to the contents of the kindergarten teacher training program to improve residents’ awareness regarding children’s oral health.

3D printing technology can be used in prosthodontics to obtain detailed structures. The technique offers a pos-sible supersession for the most conventional restorations technologies. Contemporary aesthetic restorations encounter difficulties in the consistency between the analysis and design stages and the clinical implementation stage. 3D printing transfers aesthetic designs to customize the finial restoration fabrication, which could be an appropriate optimization to the aformentioned pro-blem. Meanwhile, 3D printing technology can be employed to manufacture target restoration space guide (TRS guide), which is a blueprint for the aesthetic ceramic restorations and presents a general functional and aesthetic situation of patients. The guidance provided by TRS guide ensures precision and minimal invasive operation in aesthetic restorations. These new digital technologies have revolutionized aesthetic rehabilitation. This paper introduces the application of 3D printing in aesthetic oral rehabilitation.

Objective This paper aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 3D printing puncture navigation template-guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation for V2 trigeminal neuralgia treatment.Methods A total of 52 patients with V2 trigeminal neuralgia were treated with radiofrequency thermocoagulation. A total of 32 patients were treated under the guidance of the 3D printing puncture navigation template (guide plate group), while 20 patients underwent puncture via pterygopalatine fossa routinely (routine treatment group). The puncture time, operation time, puncture success rate, and immediate postoperative pain were recorded. The degree of immediate postoperative pain was indicated by visual analogue scale (VAS). Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) classification criteria were used to evaluate the efficacy, and the postope-rative complications were observed. All patients were followed up for 1 year.Results The two groups showed significant decrease in VAS after the operation (P<0.05). The puncture and operation times of the guide plate group were significantly lower than those of the routine treatment group (P<0.05). The difference in terms of the clinical effects and recurrence rate between the two groups was insignificant (P>0.05).Conclusion 3D printing puncture navigation template-guided radiofre-quency thermocoagulation may increase the operation success rate and reduce complication incidence. Therefore, this technique possesses clinical promotional value.

Objective This study aimed to analyze the treatment for mandibular coracoid fractures retrospectively.Methods A retrospective study on 37 patients with mandibular coracoid fractures treated at Department of Traumatic and Plastic Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University from January 2010 to December 2015 was conducted. Eleven patients were treated conservatively, and 26 patients underwent surgical restoration and internal fixation. Mouth opening and pain degree were used as indicators to analyze treatment results.Results The 37 cases of coracoid fractures accounted for 3.18% of the total mandibular fractures. The average age of patients was 38.05 years. Satisfactory results were obtained in both treatments. A considerable change in the degree of mouth opening before and after 6 months was found in the two groups. The pain degree before treatment and 1 day after operation, 1 day and 4 weeks after operation, and 4 weeks and 6 months after operation indicated that the two groups did not significantly differ. However, substantial changes between the two groups were found before treatment and 6 months after operation.Conclusion Conservative treatment is recommended for patients with linear, temporalis muscle-located, and non-displaced coracoid fractures. Surgical treatment is recommended for patients with large fractures and those with accompanying zygomatic arch and mandible fractures.

Objective The purpose of the study was to analyze the characteristics of elder patients with maxillofacial fracture.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics of maxillofacial fractures in the elder patients, who were treated from July 2010 to October 2017. The clinical characteristics of the etiology, fracture site, combined injury, systemic disease, and treatment method were analyzed.Results In the 198 elderly patients with maxillofacial fractures, the male-to-female ratio was 3.95︰1, and the mean age was 66.15 years old. Traffic accident injury (78 patients, 39.39%), fall injury (49 patients, 24.75%), high fall injury (33 patients, 16.67%) were the main factors of maxillofacial fracture in elderly patients. The most frequently observed fracture site was the mandible (120 patients). A total of 60 patients demonstrated associated injuries, in which limb injuries were the most prevalent (28 patients); whereas 66 patients had other systemic medical conditions, in which cardiovascular diseases was the most frequent (50 patients). The main treatment method of 198 patients was rigid internal fixation with small or micro-plates.Conclusion Falling and traffic accidents are the main factors of maxillofacial fracture in elderly patients. Thus, interference measures should be observed for the prevention of maxillofacial fractures in elderly patients.

The long-term effect of direct pulp capping and pulpotomy is closely related to the type of pulp capping materials. Various kinds of direct pulp capping materials are available, such as calcium hydroxide and mineral trioxide aggregates. Diverse new pulp capping materials have been reported recently. The excellent performance of calcium silicates has attracted much attention in previous studies. Moreover, enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain), which is capable of regeneration and reminera-lization, and other materials with similar capabilities have shown potential for use in pulp capping.

Periostin, a kind of matricellular protein highly expressed in periodontal ligament and periosteum, is an impor-tant regulator of the integrity of periodontal ligament and periodontitis processes. Periostin has been shown to play a positive role in the recovery of periodontitis. This paper reviews relevant literature about the role of periostin in periodontal tissue and periodontitis.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is widely distributed in human tissues and is important in inhibiting angiogenesis.It also occupies an indispensable position in the formation, growth, differentiation, and metastasis of tumors in different tissues.TSP-1 plays an important role in the occurrence and development of various types of tumors. The inhibitory effect of TSP-1 on the angiogenesis and tumor development of oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors has been demonstrated in recent years. This paper reviews the findings and progress of TSP-1 research involving all kinds of tumors as well as oral and maxillofacial malignancies.

Clavicle fracture, a very rare delayed complication following radical neck dissection of oral carcinoma, is nor-mally ignored by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. We report and analyze a male patient with clavicle fracture after primary extended excision and bilateral radical neck dissection. This case was misdiagnosed as cervical metastasis.