Relevance. The lack of anatomical differentiation between the oral cavity and the nasal cavity in children with congenital cleft palate leads to the deterioration of saliva characteristics affecting dental and periodontal disease progression. The oral fluid immunological profile may provide information about the nature of the inflammatory processes and changes in the reaction to the ongoing therapy.

Material and methods. The article presents the results of the oral fluid enzyme immunoassay in 109 children aged 6-12 years with congenital cleft palate and a postoperative defect and in 50 practically healthy children of the same age. The study determined the levels of pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines and secretory immunoglobulin sIgA in the oral fluid by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results. The study of children aged 6-12 years with congenital cleft palate and a postoperative defect revealed hyperstimulation of oral fluid pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines and a decrease in secretory immunoglobulin sIgA mean level.

Conclusion. The oral fluid immunological complexes imbalance in children with congenital cleft palate and a postoperative residual defect is a progressive factor for the development and chronicity of oral inflammatory diseases.

The received data evidence the local inflammatory process and a decrease in the oral fluid local protective factors, which one must consider to develop methods for improving the condition of organs and tissues of the oral cavity in children with congenital cleft palate during preparation for surgery to eliminate the residual defect.

Relevance. In modern maxillofacial surgery, the technique and mechanism of compression-distraction osteogenesis are still relevant as an alternative method of obtaining bone tissue in complex clinical cases. All types of compression-distraction devices used in practice have only a mechanical drive, i.e., fragments of bone tissue are separated fractionally in such devices, creating uneven tension in the newly formed regenerate, which leads to its incomplete ossification. We have developed, tested on a stand and tested in an animal experiment a distraction appliance operating on the principle of continuous separation of bone fragments, having a piston-type motor, activation of which occurs during an electrochemical reaction triggered and controlled by software with a feedback kit.
Material and methods. The stages of our research were as follows: development of devices and electronics, bench tests, creation of clinical models of an automated continuous distraction device; clinical trials of devices, their placement in the experiment animals (dogs), testing of electronic continuous distraction devices at various rates (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm per day); morphological and clinical and radiographic evaluation of the bone regenerates, and development of clinical recommendations for the device application and distraction rates.
Results. The received data based on the available clinical and morphological-radiographic picture between the bone fragments distracted by the device prove the possibility of regenerate formation during continuous distraction at various rates, when constant atraumatic stretching of the regenerate is maintained, without its transition to a fractional deformation similar to a pre-plastic one. At the same time, the analysis of morphological studies showed the best histomorphological regenerate maturity obtained by continuous distraction at a rate of 2 mm. per day.
Conclusion. We can recommend the introduction of the automated continuous distraction device created by our experienced group into practical medicine at a distraction rate of 2 mm. per day.

Relevance. For several decades, they have added bacteria called probiotics to some foods for their positive effects on human health. In dental practice, probiotics may help fight caries and inflammatory periodontal diseases. Dentists  are interested in probiotics because of the latter’s ability to adhere to and colonize various oral tissues.

Purpose. To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of S. salivarius M18 probiotic in preschool children.

Material and methods. The study formed 2 groups (45 children in each) of children aged 3 to 6 years with multiple dental caries who underwent dental treatment and 4-fold fluoride varnish application. The main group took 2 courses of S. salivarius M18 probiotic lozenges (the 1st course from February 16 to May 16, 2021, and the 2nd course from October 26, 2021, to January 26, 2022). The children of the comparison group did not use the probiotic. We evaluated the Hygiene Index by Fedorov-Volodkina, dmf(t) rate, ICDAS-II index, and PMA index in children of both groups at the baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months. Additionally, both groups kept food diaries. The statistical data processing was performed variance analysis of using the Friedman test (significant differences were at p ≤ 0.05).

Results. The year of observation in preschool children showed that two 3-month courses of an S. salivarius M18 probiotic intake led to a signifcant improvement in the hygiene index by 2.2 times, 2.3-fold stabilization of initial caries according to the ICDAS II index, caries decrease by 81%, gingivitis prevalence reduction (PMA index decrease by 72.9%).

Conclusion. The study results confirm the effectiveness of S. salivarius M18 probiotic in preschoolers with caries as a means of dental status correction and stabilization.

Relevance. Spastic cerebral palsy is one of the most common forms of cerebral palsy, in which muscular hypertonia, including jaw muscles, is present. To date, there is no universal algorithm for muscle hypertonia. The diagnosis is made based on complaints and data from an electromyographic study. This paper describes and proves the rationale for including ultrasound and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in additional diagnostic methods.

Material and methods. We examined 84 children with cerebral palsy using ultrasound and LDF to study the state of the mastication muscles. The ultrasound examination determined the structure and thickness of the masseter and temporal muscles and detected trigger points and the infiltration site. LDF was performed both at rest and after an occlusal test, which allows assessing the reserve capacities of the mastication muscles. We compared the received data with a group of healthy subjects of the same age.

Results. Ultrasound parameters and LDF data differed from the control group. The ultrasound examination revealed trigger points for the first time without patients’ complaints. Congestion caused by damage to muscle cells is characteristic of the local blood flow in children with cerebral palsy. The results of the occlusal test evidenced the mastication muscle compensation abilities, which clinicians should consider during treatment planning.

Conclusion. The received data will help dentists diagnose and treat muscle hypertonia, which will prevent pathology deterioration.

Relevance. Abnormal tooth wear is a disease characterized by excessive loss of hard tissues of the erupted teeth, unrelated to the physiological process. This disease prevalence appears to have increased in recent decades. The literature often indicates malocclusion as the cause of abnormal tooth wear, though it rarely notes the impact of abnormality type on individual teeth.

Purpose. The study aimed to establish the relationship between the abnormality type and the degree and nature of abnormal tooth wear in children at different stages of dentition development.

Materials and methods. The study analyzed the examination results of 266 patients aged 8 to 18 years without a history of previous orthodontic treatment. The orthodontic diagnosis was made based on the ICD-10. The patients formed the groups according to the stage of dentition development. The tooth wear index (TWI) (only permanent teeth) evaluated the abnormal tooth wear. The maximum TWI score determined the grade of abnormal tooth wear. The study statistically analyzed the data by StatTech v. 2.5.6, compared the data using the Kruskal – Wallis test (ANOVA) and Pearson chi-square, and made post hoc comparisons using Dunn’s test with Holm adjustment. The prognostic model was developed using the linear regression method.

Results. The children and adolescents showed a sufficiently high prevalence of abnormal tooth wear (69.2% had at least one tooth with a tooth wear facet), tooth-wear grade increased with age (correlation coefficient rxy = 0.674, p < 0.001). The risk of abnormal tooth wear in distal and deep occlusion appeared to increase at incisors and canines (p < 0.001), in mesial occlusion - molars and premolars, in open bite – molars (p < 0.001). The combination of distal and deep occlusion led to severe abnormal tooth wear.

Conclusion. The study results showed that wear patterns differ in various types of malocclusions. The received data will help to develop effective measures to prevent abnormal tooth wear.

Relevance. We have developed and patented a mobile application for monitoring and normalizing the mastication muscle functional state to solve the problems of detecting people with suspected dysfunction of the jaw muscles and increase the efficiency of muscle exercises.

Purpose. To evaluate the positive effect of the mobile application to control and normalize the mastication muscle functional state in the clinical orthodontic practice.

Material and methods. The study included 74 patients of Children Clinical Dental Clinic No. 2 of Voronezh, aged 6 to 12 years, who presented for a dental check-up. The masseter muscle tone was determined using the Mioton-3S device.

Results. The authors’ method of self-examination does not give a systematic overestimation or underestimation of parameters (p = 0.083) compared to the standard myotonometry, which evidences its reliability and the possibility to use for preliminary examination and detection of people with suspected abnormal muscle tone. The analysis of the masseter muscles’ tone one month later revealed a statistically signifcant (p = 0.034) decrease in the number of patients with tone disorder among the mobile application users compared to the patients who did not use the application.

Conclusion. The developed mobile application is efficient for preliminary assessment and detection of people with suspected abnormal muscle tone. Mobile application helps increase efficiency and awareness of muscle exercises.

Relevance. A modern diagnostic complex when planning orthodontic treatment is impossible without assessing the condition of periodontal tissues.

Purpose. To evaluate the changes in periodontal tissues during orthodontic treatment.

Material and methods. Blood velocity and flow rate in the anterior mandible were compared before and after the orthodontic treatment.

Results. Blood velocity and volumetric blood flow rate significantly increased 6 ± 2 months after the beginning of orthodontic treatment.

Conclusion. Orthodontic movement of crowded teeth using aligners proceeds without excessive pressure, which allows for a smooth and gradual change in the blood velocity and volumetric blood flow rate, pulsation index and peripheral resistance index.

Relevance. The oral hygiene and prevention quality depends on toothpaste. The literature analysis shows the underuse of saliva biochemical parameters for assessing oral hygiene product effectiveness.

Materials and methods. Thirty-three subjects aged 19 to 22 years participated in the study. The participants used four kinds of toothpaste by the same manufacturer to evaluate the toothpaste’s effectiveness. We conducted clinical examinations and collected saliva samples on the 1st, 14th and 28th days of the study. The saliva was collected on an empty stomach without stimulation in the morning. Then it was centrifuged. The supernatant was biochemically studied.

Results. The study established the criteria for the toothpaste’s low effectiveness, which involve a signifcant increase in hygienic indices and total antioxidant activity, associated with a statistically signifcant trend towards an increase in lactate content. The criteria for a toothpaste with medium effectiveness are a signifcant decrease in one of the hygienic indices, associated with an alkaline pH shift, and an increase in the total antioxidant activity, without signifcant changes in the lactate content. The criteria for a highly effective toothpaste are a signifcant decrease in hygienic indices, and an alkaline pH shift, associated with a signifcant lactate decrease. Determination of total calcium and inorganic phosphorus in the oral fluid may be crucial for assessing the toothpaste remineralizing properties. The glucose content in mixed saliva yields little information for the toothpaste’s hygienic effectiveness assessment.

Conclusion. We can recommend saliva biochemical parameters for assessing the oral hygiene status and the effectiveness of oral hygiene products during oral hygiene product comprehensive studies.

Relevance. Herpes virus infections are the most common and poorly controllable viral infections. There are many difficulties in herpetic lesion verification and treatment in dental practice.

Purpose. The study aimed to present the results of a foreign publication investigation on the role of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the development of oral diseases in children.

Material and methods. Foreign scientific articles about the oral HSV-1 infections published from 2018 to 2022 formed the basis for the study. The study searched the publications on PubMed and Google Scholar bases.

Results. The article presents the newest data on the prevalence, clinical characteristics and diagnosis of oral HSV infection in children. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (PHGS), chronic recurrent herpetic gingivostomatitis, chronic recurrent herpes labialis are the main clinical presentations of herpes infection diagnosed in a dental practice. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is very common in children aged six months to fve years and occurs in newborns from 2 to 43 days of life. Modern virology success can improve diagnosis and treatment of oral herpetic lesions.

Conclusion. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is an acute infectious disease that requires the joint attention of a general practitioner and a dentist to ensure comprehensive treatment.

Relevance. Branchio-oto-renal syndrome (also known as Melnick-Fraser syndrome) is a rare syndrome characterized by hearing loss, renal malformations and branchial cyst (fistula) association. The article describes a clinical case of a boy with an atypical clinical picture of branchio-oto-renal syndrome.

Material and methods. The patient was admitted to our clinic with acute inflammation, complaints of hearing loss and a fistulous tract in the right retromandibular region.

Results. After the acute inflammation resolution and necessary investigations, the patient underwent a fistulectomy for diagnosis verification. We analyzed the patient routing from the first presentation to the patient's GP to the final diagnosis in our clinic. Based on this clinical case result analysis, we offered optimal diagnosis and treatment tactics for patients with Melnick-Fraser syndrome.

Conclusion. Correct branchio-oto-renal syndrome diagnosis requires careful history taking, clinical examination and multidisciplinary team involvement. This approach will allow the patient to receive a full range of treatments with quality-of-life preservation.