Dental Hypotheses
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Jan-Mar 2015

Researchers and scientific communities have encountered a horrible event named journal hijacking. In this paper, we present the unethical and criminal practices of journal hijacking. A hijacked journal is a legitimate scientific journal that offers print-only version, for which a bogus website has been created by a malicious third party fake publisher for the purpose of fraudulently offering research scientists the chance to rapidly publish their paper online with publication fee. Journal hijackers are dominant in analyzing the behaviors of researchers and journalism worldwide. They find the email addresses of authors from the websites of commercial and non-peer-reviewed journals. During last few years, more than one hundred of hijacked journals have been observed unbelievably. Whoever they are, it is apparent that they have the knowledge required to design a website, manage an open access e-journal, and they are skilled to hide their characteristics on the World Wide Web. They are aware that many of authors are in urgent need to publish their work in well-known prestigious journals. The goal of an anti-journal hijacking strategy should be to disseminate knowledge about such scams and to train authors so they will have the basic skills required to avoid fake publishers and hijacked journals.

The usage of Calcium hydroxide (CaH) has wide applications due to the property of osteo-inductive, protective, and antibacterial actions. However, it is not used in primary teeth, as it fails to form reparative dentin and the exact mechanism has not been explained. The hypothesis: The authors propose an explanation that lack of dentin bridge formation in response to CaH in primary teeth could be multifactorial: inability of the deciduous stem cells to generate complete dentin-pulp-like tissue; the absence of calcium-magnesium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Ca-Mg ATPase) in the odontoblasts; the pre-existing predilection of deciduous dentine pulp to form odontoclasts; the solubility of CaH. Evaluation of the hypothesis: The hypothesis discusses the innate traits of the deciduous stem cells that lack the ability to form the dentin bridge, the absence of Ca-Mg ATPase enzyme and increased solubility of CaH together fail to stimulate the odontoblasts. Alternatively, pre-existing progenitor cells with proclivity to change into odontoclasts may cause internal resorption and hamper formation of reparative dentin.

Human periodontitis is the most common infectious disease that results in the destruction of periodontal supporting tissues including the root cementum. Currently cementum regeneration, as a vital event, is considered as a gold standard of successful periodontal tissue reconstruction. Nevertheless, one of the important requirements of cementum reestablishment is the recruitment and differentiation of pre-cementoblasts into functional cementoblasts, which requires effective regulator factors. Recently, Osterix (Osx) is known to be a key transcriptional factor essential for osteogenesis and especially for cementogenesis. Although there are various interesting approaches involving tissue engineering, gene-activated matrix (GAM) is one of the most promising approaches to achieve reliable restoration of the periodontium. The Hypothesis: Based on the recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of Osx in cementum development and formation, we hypothesize that Osx plays a critical role in periodontal regeneration and Osx combined with GAM may be an effective strategy for the regeneration of cementum. Evaluation of the Hypothesis: Osx combined with GAM could pave the way for the development of new tissue engineering procedures and have the potential to play a pivotal role in cementum regeneration, eventually increasing the predictability of periodontal tissue regeneration.

Periodontal disease is a chronic immune inflammatory response associated with both the genetic makeup and the environmental influence. The aim of this study was to determine the association of different types of blood group with periodontal disease in a defined group of Iranian patients. One hundred and forty-six persons participated in this case-control study in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Dental School, International Branch, Tehran, Iran. The patients were divided into three groups including periodontally healthy, gingivitis, and periodontitis according to approved criteria. Patients'' blood groups were determined, and the relationship between periodontal status and ABO antigens was assessed. Data was analyzed on the basis of analysis of variance (ANOVA), Chi-square test, and logistic regression. Logistic regression showed that people with blood group B (compared to blood group O) was at 3.94 times greater risk for developing gingivitis. On the other hand, there was no relationship between periodontitis and ABO blood groups, sex, and types of Rh factor. It was noted that 1 year of aging is associated with a 5% rise in likelihood of periodontitis. People with blood group B are at a greater risk to develop gingivitis, whereas periodontitis did not show any relationship with blood groups.

Hyperactive gag reflex can make dental treatment procedures intolerable for some patients; so, it is highly important for the dentist to control it. Acupuncture is a technique used to control this phenomenon. In this study, the effects of two acupoints, anti-gagging and P6, on the gag r eflex control were analyzed. In this clinical trial study, a total number of 100 healthy people were classified into four groups. Acupuncture and psuedo-acupuncture procedures were performed on anti-gagging and P6 points based on the group. Before and after acupuncture or pseudo-acupuncture, gag reflex severity was measured via stimulation of the soft palate, tonsils, and root of the tongue. Obtained data was analyzed using statistical package of social sciences (SPSS) 22 statistical software. Acupuncture reduced gag reflex at both points, but psuedo-acupuncture did not reduce the gag reflex. Moreover, no significant difference was observed between acupuncture on P6 and anti-gagging points. Acupuncture on anti-gagging and P6 points can be effective in controlling the gag reflex during routine dental procedures.

This study was conducted to compare the marginal fit of single-tooth zirconia-based copings fabricated by CAD/CAM process (Cercon; Degudent) and Copy Milling (Dentium). One in vitro prepared abutment from one mandibular molar model served as a template for replication of 40 epoxy resin (highly filled) dies, which had been taken by polyvinyl siloxane impression material. Copings were manufactured on epoxy replicas by two processes: the CAD/CAM (Cercon; Degudent) (n = 20) and the Copy-Milling (Dentium) (n = 20) processes. Four measurements were performed for each surface coping (Buccal, Lingual, Mesial, and Distal). Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 statistical software using independent t-test. There was a significant difference in the marginal gap values between CAD/CAM and Copy-Milling groups (P < 0.001). The mean value of the marginal gap (SD) for CAD/CAM Copings (56.87 μm) was significantly less than that of Copy-Milling (136.12 μm) (P < 0.001). The marginal fit of CAD/CAM copings was better than that of Copy-Milling copings.

Salvia officinalis is a medicinal herb used as an cosmetic, flavoring agent, It has antibacterial, antifungal, anticaries, antiplaque, antiviral, astringent, and other useful properties, it is also used in dental practice for the management of periodontal disease and to prevent halitosis. The objective of this article is to highlight various uses of S. officinalis in the dental field along with its use in medical problems.

The incidence of anterior Stafne bone cyst (lingual mandibular bone defect, static bone cyst, latent bone cyst, developmental submandibular gland defect of the mandible) has been estimated to between 0.009% and 0.3%. It is characterized by a round or ovoid, well-defined border, unilocular radiolucency. Most of anterior Stafne bone defects were located between the cuspid and the first molar, but a few cases have been reported in the incisor area. Case Report: We present a 48-year-old man with anterior Stafne bone defect in the incisor area diagnosed by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). CBCT can be a confirmatory imaging technique to detect anterior mandibular bony configurations such as Stafne bone cavity with the lingual cortical plate being spared.