Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming educational practices, particularly in the domain of writing. Among its applications, machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and generative models such as OpenAI's ChatGPT are increasingly influencing how young learners develop writing skills. This editorial synthesizes current evidence on the effects of AI-driven tools on writing development, creativity, and learning efficiency, while critically examining ethical and pedagogical implications. AI tools offer immediate feedback, support idea generation, and streamline writing processes, yet they also raise concerns regarding over-reliance, diminished critical thinking, and academic integrity. By highlighting both opportunities and challenges, these editorial aims to inform educators, researchers, and policymakers on the responsible integration of AI technologies to enhance writing capabilities without compromising foundational learning principles.

Background: Mechanical debridement alone may not fully eliminate pathogenic subgingival biofilm, particularly in deep periodontal pockets. Adjunctive therapies are therefore being explored to enhance treatment efficacy. The Perio Protect Method (PPM) employs customized trays to deliver a 1.7% hydrogen peroxide gel, with or without antimicrobials, directly into periodontal pockets, offering localized and sustained antimicrobial action with minimal invasiveness. Objectives: Evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy of PPM as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) in improving plaque control, gingival health, bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing pocket depth (PPD) in patients with chronic generalized periodontitis. Materials and methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted on 10 systemically healthy patients aged 30–60 years with chronic generalized periodontitis (PPD ≥4 mm in ≥30% of sites). Patients applied a 1.7% hydrogen peroxide gel containing doxycycline (50 mg/mL) in the trays once daily for 15–20 minutes over 3 months. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), BOP, and PPD were recorded at baseline and at 3 months. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests (p < 0.05). Results: PI decreased from 2.7370 ± 0.8277 to 1.2190 ± 0.4015, GI from 2.2620 ± 0.8339 to 0.9710 ± 0.2210, BOP from 2.0400 ± 0.3565 to 0.6970 ± 0.4542, and PPD from 5.6000 ± 0.6992 to 2.6000 ± 0.5164 (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Adjunctive use of PPM with SRP produced significant short-term reductions in PI, GI, BOP, and PPD, supporting PPM as a beneficial, noninvasive adjunct to conventional periodontal therapy.

Background: Apicoectomy remains a predictable treatment option for persistent apical periodontitis when nonsurgical retreatment is not feasible. While advances in endodontic microsurgery have improved periapical healing, the influence of flap design on soft-tissue outcomes and patient-centered parameters continues to be clinically relevant, particularly in esthetically sensitive regions. Materials and methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted on 90 patients requiring apicoectomy in maxillary anterior and premolar teeth. Patients were equally allocated into three groups based on flap design: IS (n = 30), PBI (n = 30), and OL (n = 30). All surgeries were performed using standardized microsurgical protocols, including ultrasonic root-end preparation and bioceramic root-end filling. The primary outcome assessment included postoperative gingival recession at 3 months. Secondary outcomes comprised interdental papilla height changes, postoperative pain and swelling, scar visibility, and radiographic healing at 12 months. Data were statistically analyzed using appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The IS demonstrated significantly greater gingival recession and papilla height loss compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). The gingival recession at 3 months was the predefined primary outcome. Measurements at 1 month were predefined secondary/exploratory time points intended to capture early trends in healing. The PBI group showed the most favorable soft-tissue outcomes, with minimal recession, superior papilla preservation, and lower postoperative pain scores. The Ochsenbein–Luebke (OL) flap exhibited limited gingival recession but a higher frequency of visible scarring. Radiographic healing at 12 months was high and comparable across all three groups, with no statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Flap design significantly influences soft-tissue healing and esthetic outcomes following apicoectomy. The PBI provides optimal gingival and papillary preservation in esthetically demanding regions, while the OL flap remains a useful alternative in selected cases. Radiographic success is not compromised by flap selection when modern microsurgical techniques are employed.

Background: Impacted third molars are among the most commonly managed conditions in oral and maxillofacial surgery and remain a significant source of patient morbidity. Their management is often complex due to anatomical variability, proximity to vital neurovascular structures, and differences in surgical difficulty. Inadequate assessment or inappropriate surgical technique may lead to complications such as pain, swelling, neurosensory disturbance, and functional limitation, thereby affecting patient quality of life. A clear educational understanding of third molar management is therefore essential for safe clinical practice. Aim: The aim of this educational article is to present a structured and clinically relevant overview of impacted third molar management, emphasizing diagnostic assessment, surgical planning, operative principles, complication prevention, and postoperative care from an oral and maxillofacial surgery perspective. Methodology: This educational review synthesizes relevant literature to highlight anatomy-based judgment, radiographic assessment, surgical planning, timing of intervention, and complication prevention in third molar management. Conclusion: Successful management of impacted third molars depends on an anatomy-based, risk-oriented, and patient-centered approach. Careful case selection, appropriate timing of intervention, meticulous surgical technique, and structured postoperative management play a critical role in minimizing complications and improving clinical outcomes. This educational article is intended to support informed decision-making and enhance surgical proficiency in third molar management.

Background: Prophylactic antibiotic prescription following dental extraction remains common despite growing global concern regarding antimicrobial resistance and uncertainty regarding clinical benefit. Contemporary randomized controlled trials (RCT) provide an opportunity to reassess this practice under modern clinical conditions. Objective: To evaluate RCTs published between 2016 and 2025 assessing the effectiveness of prophylactic systemic antibiotics in preventing postoperative complications following dental extraction. Methods: A systematic review restricted to RCTs was conducted using data extracted from the PubMed and Scopus databases. Eligible studies included healthy patients undergoing dental extraction, comparing prophylactic antibiotics with placebo or no antibiotic therapy. Outcomes assessed included postoperative infection, alveolar osteitis, wound healing, postoperative morbidity, and adverse effects. Evidence synthesis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) methodological guidance. Results: Nine RCTs involving 3,059 participants were included. Infection rates following routine dental extraction were consistently low across all studies. Most trials demonstrated no statistically significant reduction in postoperative infection or alveolar osteitis with antibiotic administration. The largest triple-blind RCT reported absence of major infections irrespective of antibiotic use. Antibiotic-related adverse effects occurred more frequently among intervention groups. Conclusion: Randomized evidence published between 2016 and 2025 does not support routine prophylactic antibiotic administration following uncomplicated dental extraction in healthy individuals. Selective prescribing consistent with antimicrobial stewardship principles is recommended.

The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a common virus that infects most people. In fact, >90% of adults around the world have the EBV. The EBV stays in people's bodies for their lives, mostly in certain blood cells and skin cells. Primary infection with the EBV is usually asymptomatic; people usually do not experience any symptoms. They may develop a disease called infectious mononucleosis. EBV is important to consider because it has been linked to several types of cancer. The EBV has been linked to carcinoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Burkitt's lymphoma. Increasing evidence indicates that EBV is also associated with selected head and neck cancers. The virus contributes to disease development through its oncogenic potential and its involvement in multiple pathological conditions. The EBV is linked to cancer in the head and neck area. This happens because of the virus's genes, like EBNA1 and LMP1, which are made by the EBV. These genes from EBV help the cancer cells grow and survive. They do this by making the cells’ genetic material unstable, by hiding from the immune system, and by making the cells grow and die in an abnormal way. EBV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been found in types of cancer such as nasopharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and oral squamous cell carcinomas. Sometimes, when the EBV and the human papillomavirus are both present, the cancer can become more serious. Studies have shown that the EBV is found more often in people with laryngeal carcinoma than in people without the EBV. Scientists have found that some cancers of the head and neck have problems with their chromosomes. These problems occur in people who have the EBV. EBV is linked to cancers that have issues with chromosome 11. This means that EBV might be causing the chromosomes to become unstable. This is what genomic studies have shown about EBV-associated head and neck cancers. This review is about the EBV virus and how it affects people who have head and neck cancer. It looks at how EBV spreads and what happens inside the body when someone has it. The review also discusses the importance of EBV in head and neck cancer and how markers can be used to diagnose it. Additionally, it discusses ways to treat EBV, such as using EBV-targeted immunotherapy and developing vaccines to fight the EBV virus.

Aim and background: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into orthodontics has transformed diagnostic and treatment-planning workflows, driven by advances in CBCT imaging, digital scanning, cephalometric analysis, and data-driven decision support systems. In particular, machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques are being incorporated to automate landmark identification, assist malocclusion classification, and support the prediction of orthodontic treatment outcomes. This review summarizes the current applications, benefits, and limitations of AI in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Materials and methods: A narrative review approach was adopted. The literature was searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2025 using keywords including artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, orthodontics, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Relevant peer-reviewed articles, clinical studies, reviews, and technical reports related to orthodontic AI applications were included. Evidence was synthesized qualitatively due to heterogeneity in study methodologies. Results: Multiple investigations have reported that AI-assisted cephalometric landmark detection achieves error values that fall within clinically acceptable limits, typically comparable to expert manual tracings. AI models also assist in extraction decision-making, anchorage prediction, aligner staging, and treatment duration forecasting. Despite promising outcomes, clinical integration remains limited due to dataset bias, transparency concerns, the requirement for validation, and ethical considerations surrounding patient data security. Conclusion: AI has significant potential to enhance precision, efficiency, and standardization in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Current evidence supports AI as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for clinical expertise. Wider adoption will require multicenter datasets, explainable algorithms, ethical frameworks, and prospective clinical validation. Clinical significance: Artificial intelligence can improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce manual tracing time, assist in treatment decision-making, and optimize aligner-based workflows. With responsible integration and continued validation, AI may become a core component of modern orthodontic practice.

The ideal timing for orthodontic intervention continues to be a subject of clinical and academic debate, particularly regarding whether early, growth-phase treatment provides measurable benefits over intervention initiated in the late mixed or early permanent dentition. Current evidence from randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses (including scoping reviews) suggests that early treatment can produce short-term improvements, including reduction of excessive overjet, alleviation of dental crowding, and enhanced facial and dental esthetics, which may contribute to psychosocial benefits for children vulnerable to bullying or self-image concerns (primarily based on observational evidence). However, these early improvements often fail to demonstrate sustained long-term skeletal correction or superior stability when compared with treatment initiated closer to the pubertal growth peak, where skeletal responsiveness is biologically more favorable. For class II malocclusions, early orthopedic appliance therapy may temporarily improve sagittal relationships and incisor position but does not consistently outperform single-phase treatment delivered later, particularly in terms of skeletal correction, treatment duration, or overall efficiency. Overall, evidence indicates that routine early treatment is not universally advantageous; instead, early intervention should be selectively applied to cases with functional, skeletal, psychosocial, or eruption-related need, while comprehensive orthodontic correction is generally best reserved for the late mixed or early permanent dentition to optimize treatment efficiency, stability, and patient burden.

Aim and background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can rarely present with Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)-like skin manifestations, causing a diagnostic challenge. Case description: We report a 20-year-old female with a history of discoid lupus erythematosus who presented with widespread erythematous to purpuric macules over the skin, malar rash, facial edema, hemorrhagic crusting over the lips, and mucosal ulcers without recent drug exposure. Laboratory tests showed pancytopenia, positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) profile, and liver dysfunction. Skin biopsy revealed early lupus changes. The patient improved significantly with intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy and supportive care. Conclusion: The subacute clinical course, photodistribution of skin lesions, limited mucosal involvement, positive ANA profile, and prompt response to corticosteroid therapy collectively support a diagnosis of SJS/TEN-like presentation of SLE rather than classic drug-induced TEN. Clinical significance: This case underscores the importance of recognizing SJS/TEN-like presentation of SLE for accurate diagnosis and prompt, effective management.

Teratoid cysts are rare developmental anomalies of the maxillofacial skeleton that pose significant diagnostic challenges, particularly when extensive and located in the edentulous mandible. Their radiological resemblance to more common cystic lesions can lead to misdiagnosis and suboptimal surgical outcomes. This report presents a 60-year-old female with a 1-year history of pain and swelling in the left mandibular angle. Clinical examination revealed a soft, fluctuant, compressible swelling without purulence. Orthopantomography showed a radiolucent lesion spanning from the mental foramen to the condylar neck, with cortical thinning across the mandibular base. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) confirmed a unilocular cystic lesion with buccolingual expansion and a paper-thin cortex. Aspiration yielded white fluid preoperatively and serosanguinous fluid (≈30 mL) on the day of surgery. Under local anesthesia, enucleation was performed following biopsy, and histopathology confirmed a teratoid cyst. The lesion's aggressive radiographic profile in an edentulous mandible underscores the importance of a broad differential diagnosis and meticulous preoperative planning. Conservative surgical management, tailored to the patient's age and bone integrity, resulted in successful healing without pathological fracture. This case highlights the critical need for diagnostic vigilance and individualized treatment strategies in managing rare mandibular cysts.

Background: Rehabilitation of edentulous postmucormycosis maxillary defects is challenging due to extensive anatomical loss, restricted intraoral access, and financial limitations. Surgical reconstruction or implant-supported prostheses may be contraindicated, while conventional acrylic obturators often fail to achieve retention and stability. Case description: A 67-year-old male with controlled diabetes, previously treated with amphotericin B following COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, presented 3 years postmaxillectomy with complete edentulism and a vertical Class II defect (>50% vertical bone loss). Symptoms included impaired mastication, swallowing difficulty, and social isolation. Prior conventional obturator attempts were unsuccessful. Intervention: Computed tomography (CT) scans (1 mm slices, Siemens Somatom) were processed using RadiAnt, Meshmixer, and Chitubox to generate STL data, which was 3D-printed (Elegoo Mars 3). A wax bulb prototype was sculpted on a 3D-printed model utilizing undercuts for retention and processed with Mollosil silicone (10:1 mix, 10 minutes at 45 °C). A vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) pickup impression enabled fabrication of a definitive heat-polymerized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) obturator. Mollosil bulb bonded to acrylic via Mollosil adhesive and mechanical retention. Outcome: The hybrid obturator restored retention, stability, occlusion, speech, and deglutition. Follow-ups at 48 hours, 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months confirmed sustained function, oral–nasal separation, and patient satisfaction without complications. Conclusion: This CT-based hybrid digital–conventional workflow with a flexible Mollosil bulb offers a cost-effective, minimally invasive solution when conventional methods fail.