Oral

Mucins are a family of heavily glycosylated proteins that form the main organic component of the oral mucosal barrier complex. Transmembrane mucin 1 (tMUC1) is anchored at the superficial epithelial surface to provide a protective function. The interaction of tMUC1 with oral microbes provides nutrients and physicochemical protection, promotes adhesion, and increases the microbe residence time in the oral cavity. Mucin-degrading microorganisms in the consortia also offer some advantages to oral microbes. The high molecular weight of mucin glycoproteins is hard to study because of their size, complexity, and heterogeneity. This review discusses how mucin facilitates oral microbiome colonization and how mucin–microbial interactions influence the development of oral cancer, mainly oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: The material properties of craniofacial sutures significantly influence the outcomes of orthodontic treatment, particularly with newer appliances. This study specifically investigates how the Young’s modulus of craniofacial sutures impacts the anterosuperior protraction achieved using a recently developed extraoral appliance. Our goal is to identify the patterns by which suture properties affect skull deformation induced by this device. Materials and Methods: We conducted four finite element (FE) simulations to evaluate the Right Angle Maxillary Protraction Appliance (RAMPA) when integrated with an intraoral device (gHu-1). We tested Young’s moduli of 30 MPa, 50 MPa, and 80 MPa for the sutures, drawing on values reported in previous research. To isolate RAMPA’s effects on craniofacial deformation, we also performed an additional simulation with rigid sutures and a separate model that included only the intraoral device. Results: Simulations with flexible sutures showed consistent displacement and stress patterns. In contrast, the rigid suture model exhibited substantial deviations, ranging from 32% to 76%, especially in the maxillary palatine suture and orbital cavity. Both displacements and von Mises stresses were proportional to the Young’s modulus, with linear variations of approximately 15%. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that RAMPA effectively achieves anterosuperior protraction across a broad spectrum of suture material properties. This positions RAMPA as a promising treatment option for patients with long-face syndrome. Furthermore, the observed linear relationship (with a fixed slope) between craniofacial deformation and the Young’s modulus of sutures provides a crucial foundation for predicting treatment outcomes in various patients.

The global demographic transition toward an ageing population has necessitated substantive reforms in dental education, particularly within the field of geriatric prosthodontics. Conventional curricula have frequently prioritized technical competencies while insufficiently addressing the integration of biological, psychosocial, and ethical complexities inherent in the care of older adults. This scoping review critically examined these curricular deficiencies by synthesizing evidence from 34 peer-reviewed studies, employing Bloom’s Taxonomy as a conceptual framework to inform a systematic and pedagogically grounded curriculum redesign. The primary aim was to identify existing gaps in undergraduate and postgraduate education, evaluate the efficacy of active and simulation-based learning modalities, assess the utility of reflective practices and standardised assessment tools, and formulate strategic, taxonomy-aligned pedagogical guidelines. Following the PRISMA-ScR methodology, the included studies were thematically analysed and categorized across the six cognitive levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Findings highlighted the effectiveness of integrated educational strategies, including Case-Based Learning, interprofessional education, virtual simulations, and structured assessments such as Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE). Furthermore, reflective models such as “What? So What? Now What?” fostered higher-order cognitive processes, ethical reasoning, and self-directed learning. By aligning cognitive levels—from foundational knowledge recall to innovative creation—ten evidence-based educational guidelines were developed. These guidelines are pedagogically sound, empirically supported, and adaptable to diverse curricular contexts. The proposed framework ensures a deliberate, progressive trajectory from theoretical comprehension to clinical expertise and ethical leadership. Future research should explore longitudinal outcomes and develop scalable, culturally responsive models to support the broader implementation of curricular reform in geriatric dental education.