Luca Levrini

• MD, DDSc, Ortho Spec
• Head of Faculty at University of Insubria

The increasing emphasis on appearance and well-being has underscored the significance of self-care. From an aesthetic perspective, this entails addressing the early onset of wrinkles and the initial signs of aging. In response, new techniques have been developed, supplementing existing methods, to mitigate the signs of aging. Aesthetic speech thera...

Featured Application The current investigations suggest that Mentadent Professional Resilience could be beneficial as a remineralizing agent. Abstract This study aimed to investigate the remineralization processes of dental enamel via scanning electron microscopy and observe the changes induced in the microstructure by oral hygiene products. More...

The aim of this study is to retrospectively investigate the predictability of maxillary arch expansion with Invisalign ® First in mixed dentition. In a sample of 64 treated patients, 3D digital models from the ClinCheck® software were compared with post-treatment digital models. Predicted maxillary expansion was related to the final outcome of expa...

This study presents a scanning electron microscopy analysis of a failed PEEK retainer in an orthodontic patient. After 15 months of use, the patient reported a gap opening between teeth 41 and 42. The PEEK retainer was removed and sent for electron microscope analysis. To investigate the failure, scanning electron microscopy was employed to assess...

We studied the variations in peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) during wake time in relation to pacifier use and to the following different positions: supine at 0°, supine at 30° (in babies under one year) vs. sitting (in babies between 1 and 3 years of age). We observed 54 patients under the age of three years, weighing over 1.800 g. Pe...

(1) Background: To investigate condylar position in subjects with functional posterior crossbite comparing findings before and after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) treatment through 3D analysis; (2) Methods: Thirty-two Caucasian patients (14 males, mean age 8 y 8 m ± 1 y 2 m; 18 females mean age 8 y 2 m ± 1 y 4 m) with functional posterior crossbi...

Objectives To investigate the correspondence between programmed interproximal reduction (p-IPR) and implemented interproximal reduction (i-IPR) in an everyday-practice scenario. The secondary objective was to estimate factors that might influence i-IPR to make the process more efficient. Materials and Methods Fifty patients treated with aligner th...

The use of dental implants is a widely accepted treatment modality for fully and partially edentulous patients. The beginning of the year 2000 brought the development of moderately rough implant surfaces and macro-designs that are nowadays considered to represent the gold standard for implant treatment. The purpose of this retrospective cohort stud...

The purpose of this study was to test the safety and efficacy of AqualiefTM in patients affected by xerostomia. The main ingredients of AqualiefTM are carnosine and dried calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (karkadè) for their buffering effect at pH 7 as well as for their antioxidant, antimicrobial and lenitive properties. In a Randomized, Placebo-Co...

Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine the tooth whitening effectiveness of trays with no reservoirs (Invisalign aligners or Vivera retainers used as bleaching trays), initially with a finite element analysis (FEA) and subsequently with a clinical study using spectrophotometry. Materials and methods: The FEA technique was used...

The aim of the current work is to demonstrate the capacity of a new periodontal gel to occupy the spaces inside the periodontal pockets through Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). The test gel consists of two resorbable medical grade polymers (PEO, Poly Ethylen Oxide and HPMC, Hydroxy Propyl Metyl Cellulose), Type I Collagen, SAP (Vitamin C), and PB...

Background Apparent Life-Threatening Event (ALTE), Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome (OSAs) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) are strongly correlated and few studies analyze the role that pacifiers play in such conditions. Objective The aim of the study is to evaluate how pacifiers affect sleep apnea among children with a history of ALTE. Me...

This paper presents a fuzzy logic framework for dental caries and erosion risk assessment. Two interdependent modules are implemented within a cloud architecture. The first module is a fuzzy expert system designed for physicians and expert users, able to provide an active support in formulating risk judgements. The second module is oriented to gene...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the Myobrace/MyOSA myofunctional appliance for the treatment of mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in children, by means of the Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI). Study design: Nine children with a diagnosis of mild to moderate OSA were included in the study. The subjects...

Background: Clear aligners have become increasingly popular because of their esthetics and comfort. The authors' aim in this systematic review was to compare periodontal health in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with clear aligners with that of those undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Types of studies reviewed: The...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the Myobrace/MyOSA myofunctional appliance for the treatment of mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in children, by means of the Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI). Study design: Nine children with a diagnosis of mild to moderate OSA were included in the study. The subjects...

Purpose To evaluate the survival, success, and complication rates of tapered double-lead threads single implants, placed in fresh extraction sockets and healed sites of the posterior jaws. Methods The enrolled patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: in the test group (TG), all implants were inserted at the time of tooth extraction; in the co...

The aim of this study was to evaluate substance P (SP) levels and the effect of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ketoprofen, on SP in the pericoronal gingival tissue after extraction of upper third molars. A sample of 20 young non-smoking systemically healthy adults of both sexes, with a healthy upper third molar to extract for ortho...

This was to evaluate deltal treatment needs, oral hygiene habits and lifestyle of psychiatric patients in semi-residential setting in order to facilitate access to the dental clinic and encourage oral hygiene and healthy lifestyle througt an educational program. The sample included 35 subjects. At the follow up, the following parameters werw evalue...

Teeth are in close contact with foodstuffs: phenomena such as caries and wear of the crowns are precious keys to gather information on diet and cooking techniques. Phytoliths are granules of hydrated amorphous silica, which are deposited in the oral cavity while chewing fruit and vegetables and incorporated into dental calculus during its formation...

Background There are few studies that investigate oral health and dental needs of children with autism. Many ASD subjects experience great difficulties in performing oral hygiene due to their limited manual dexterity, sensory and intellectual disabilities and thus are prone to poor oral health. Different studies conducted on caries prevalence and o...

Aim The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between masseter size, maxillary intermolar width and craniofacial vertical skeletal pattern. Materials and methods Study design: The study followed a prospective longitudinal design and enrolled 61 subjects (30 males and 31 females), 9-14 years of age (mean age 11.5) at 2-3 CVM stage. The pa...

Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between masseter size, maxillary intermolar width and craniofacial vertical skeletal pattern. Materials and methods: Study design: The study followed a prospective longitudinal design and enrolled 61 subjects (30 males and 31 females), 9-14 years of age (mean age 11.5) at 2-3 CVM stage....

Objective: This is a five-year follow-up study of a previous investigation with the aim ofassessing the esthetic outcome of Morse taper implants used to replace congenitally missing lateral incisors after orthodontic treatment Materials and Methods: Twenty consecutively treated patients were treated using Morse taper connection implants (Leone Impl...

Objectives. To evaluate substance P (SP) and the effect of ketoprofen administration, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on SP in the pulp of upper third molars with experimentally induced pulpal lesion. Materials and Methods. A sample of 20 young systemically healthy adults of both sexes, nonsmokers, with a healthy upper third molar to...

Purpose . The aim was to quantify the bacteria concentration on the surface of orthodontic clear aligners using three different cleaning methods. Furthermore the objective was to validate the efficacy of the bioluminometer in assessing the bacteria concentration. Materials and Methods . Twenty subjects (six males and fourteen females) undergoing or...

Introduction: Halitosis is a widespread condition and is a big handicap for the patients. Most adults suffer from bad breath, an estimated 10-30 percent of USA population, and this may lead to personal discomfort and social disagreement. Furthermore, some authors estimate that approximately 50% of middle-aged and older individuals emit socially una...

Background Advances in orthodontics are leading to the use of minimally invasive technologies, such as transparent removable aligners, and are able to meet high demands in terms of performance and esthetics. However, the most correct method of cleaning these appliances, in order to minimize the effects of microbial colonization, remains to be deter...

Substance P is a neuropeptide belonging to the tachykinins family involved in the regulation of inflammation and pain transmission. New evidence is emerging about the role of this neurotransmitter and its role in pain feeling during orthodontic treatment. The aim of this brief review was to describe the role of substance P in pain transmission.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to compare the periodontal health and the microbiological changes via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliances and Invisalign(®) system (Align Technology, Santa Clara, California). Materials and methods: Seventy-seven patients were enrolled in...

Aims. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of nasal obliteration with regards to the linear dimensions of dissected hemimandibles of a homogeneous sample of young rats. Methods. 68 pure breed male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged four weeks, were divided into four groups of 17: two control groups and two test groups. The first control group wa...

The purpose of this study was to explore the microbiological and periodontal changes occurring in adolescents during 12 months of orthodontic therapy with removable aligners and with fixed appliances. During the years 2012-2013, 50 teenagers aged 10-18 years with similar initial orthodontic conditions participated in this trial in a university clin...

The aim of the current study was to find, by means of panoramic radiographs, a viable statistical method to forecast the duration of orthodontic traction of impacted maxillary cuspids.The treatment sample consisted of 51 palatal impacted cuspids (19 unilateral and 32 bilateral) in 35 patients (aged between 10.5 and 17.5 y) with a cervical vertebral...

Teeth are in close contact with foodstuffs: phenomena such as caries and wear of the crowns are precious keys to gather information on diet and cooking techniques. Phytoliths are granules of hydrated amorphous silica, which are deposited in the oral cavity while chewing fruit and vegetables and incorporated into dental calculus during its formation...

Introduction: Only few studies in the literature employ a mathematical model in the evaluation of the stress which follows the application of loads and constraints onto the mandible. Therefore, new approaches are needed so that the study of this phenomenon can rely less on the clinical hypothesis and experience of the operator, while taking advanta...

Dental wear can be differentiated into different types on the basis of morphological and etiological factors. The present research was carried out on twelve extracted human teeth with dental wear (three teeth showing each type of wear: erosion, attrition, abrasion, and abfraction) studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study aimed, thro...

Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is a widely used practice in orthodontics. Scientific evidence shows that RME can be helpful in modifying the breathing pattern in mouth-breathing patients. In order to promote the restoration of physiological breathing we have developed a rehabilitation program associated with RME in children. The aim of the study w...

Background: Only a few studies have dealt with immediately loaded, unsplinted mini-implants supporting ball attachment-retained mandibular overdentures (ODs). The aim of this study is to evaluate treatment outcomes of ball attachment-retained mandibular ODs supported by one-piece, unsplinted, immediately loaded, direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)...

AIM Evaluate the correlations between unstimulated salivary flow, pH and level of S. mutans, analysed through real time PCR, in caries-free and caries-active children. Thirty healthy children were divided into 2 groups: test group (DMFT/dmft ≥ 3 and at least 1 active caries lesion) and control group (DMFT/dmft=0). Un-stimulated saliva was collected...

This study evaluated whether sodium bicarbonate applied on the oral mucosa through a new mucoadhesive spray (Cariex) could control a drop in salivary pH after a glucose rinse, and therefore enhance the buffering potential of saliva. A sample of 50 healthy adults was selected. At day 1, the measurement of salivary pH was performed in the lower forni...

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the esthetic outcome of single tooth Morse taper connection implants used to replace congenitally missing lateral incisors after orthodontic treatment by means of the pink esthetic score (PES) and white esthetic score (WES) index. Twenty consecutive patients who were treated with a single tooth Mo...

Objectives: The use of removable orthodontic appliances minimizes the negative effects on periodontal health allowing patients to carry out oral hygiene without obstacles. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate microbiological and clinical changes presented during the first three months of orthodontic therapy in adults with fixed applian...

Substance P (SP) is a tachykinin released from both the central and the peripheral endings of primary afferent neurons and functions as a neurotransmitter. As a transmitter signaling pain, substance P is involved in nociception and is an extremely potent vasodilator. We found several studies about this neuropeptide especially in relation to parodon...

Celiac disease (CD) diagnosis can be extremely challenging in the case of atypical patterns. In this context, oral signs seem to play a decisive role in arousing suspicion of these forms of the disease. At the same time, the different expressions of the HLA-DQB1∗02 allele apparently seem to facilitate the interpretation of signs and highlighted sym...

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of a glucose rinse and of plaque accumulation on pH of tooth surface in healthy adolescents with a device used in gastroenterology and never tested in the oral cavity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Values of pH were monitored in 12 adolescents using a portable device (pH-day 2® Menfis, bioMedica S.r.l., Bolo...

Orthodontic tooth movement is characterized by tissue reactions, which consist in an inflammatory response in periodontal ligament, depending on the forces applied. Self-ligating brackets are able to minimize the sliding resistance and to reduce the forces necessary to move a tooth, with a better tissue response. The purpose of this study was to ev...

Aim: Currently and with increasing frequency, treatments with Invisalign orthodontic devices are aimed also to adolescent patients: this evolution involves the management of some atypical characteristics, and among them also thumb- sucking. Case report: A 13-year-old adolescent girl with protracted thumb sucking and dentoalveolar open bite is pr...

Paediatric Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is rare, but its incidence is increasing, bringing forward the issue of the common pathogenic factors. The aim of this study is to verify the actual incidence of oral carcinoma reported in paediatric patients up to the age of 15 by thoroughly reviewing the available literature. Setting this cut-off age...

Current evidence supports the central role of neuropeptides in the molecular mechanisms underlying dental pain. In particular, substance P, a neuropeptide produced in neuron cell bodies localised in dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia, contributes to the transmission and maintenance of noxious stimuli and inflammatory processes. The major role of su...

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of motivational intervention in improving short- and long-term compliance with instructions for maintaining oral hygiene.

Objectives To evaluate the roughness of the enamel surface after air-polishing.

Our research aimed to find out whether it was possible to establish a correlation between instrumental polysomnographic variables in children with Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) and their clinical dentofacial records. 197 children, 116 (59%) male and 81 (41%) female, age range 0 to 12 years, with a clinical history highly suggestive for SDB were...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultramorphology of the root surfaces induced by mechanical instrumentation performed using conventional curettes or piezoelectric scalers when used single-handedly or with a combined technique. Thirty single-rooted teeth were selected and divided into 3 groups: Group A, instrumentation with curettes;...

To determine whether the oral health benefits of recommending twice daily brushing and rinsing with an essential oil mouthrinse (EOM) are perceived and measurable by dentists and also perceived by their patients at a 3-month recall visit. This is a monadic, open label, uncontrolled study involving 766 generally healthy Italian subjects aged 19-66 y...

Franchignoni M, Giordano A, Levrini L, Ferriero G, Franchignoni F. Rasch analysis of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Eur J Oral Sci 2010; 118: 278–283. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Eur J Oral Sci The aim of this study was to perform a psychometric analysis on the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) u...

Aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive psychometric analysis of the Italian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile short-form (OHIP-14)--a questionnaire analysing the oral health-related quality of life--using both classical test theory and Rasch analysis. Eighty-five subjects, residents in a long-term nursing home, were analysed using...

To develop a general purpose web-based system for active support in using protocols. The conceptual model underlying the design of the overall decision support system is drawn from fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic giving rise to a framework for both acquiring and representing descriptive and operational protocol knowledge. It has been conceived as...

Surgical extraction of an impacted third molar is generally followed by acute post-operative pain that has been shown to be primarily inflammatory. Thus, use of NSAIDs in this context is appropriate and has been shown to be effective. Several drugs are employed for this purpose, but no information exists on the reasons why preference is given to on...

This study was carried out with the purpose to show on a virtual model of oral cavity the mechanical behaviour of different kinds of pacifiers with different pressure levels that can be likened to a condition of rest and deglutition. Three different types of dummies, orthodontic- (A), cherry- (B) and drop- (C) shaped from an anatomical point of vie...

The purpose of this study is to analyse the concentration of fluoride occurring naturally in the drinking water of Lombardy Region, in order to highlight the clinical implications in the caries preventive strategies. Health authorities supplied the required data: II local offices out of 15 worked together on our project. Data showed that drinking w...

The extent to which orthodontic appliances can cause contact allergies due to nickel release is a controversial matter. Since the data provided by literature are contrasting, the Authors think that it is important to analyse nickel ions released in organic tissues by means of a plasma spectrometer. About 100 intact hairs were taken from 15 patients...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interaction of a novel dentinal desensitizer Twin Pro with enamel-dentinal adhesive preparations or filling materials and dentine using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technology. Black's I class cavities were drilled extracted molar teeth free of caries or fissures, and the cavities disinfected. The...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between mandibular morphogenesis and masticatory function in 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats, 28 days of age. Animals were randomly divided into three groups and they received diets of different consistency: liquid, normal (as control group) and elastic diet. The experiment lasted 28 days, at t...

The number of patients treated for neoplasms of the oral cavity (by surgery and/or radiotherapy) requiring prosthesis rehabilitation using osteointegrated implants is increasing greatly. The objective of this research is to examine the correlation between prosthesis rehabilitation using osteointegrated implants, radiotherapy and the use of hyperbar...

Aim of the present study is to assess the ideal mandibular protrusion exercises, which should always be associated with functional treatment of skeletal Class II malocclusions, characterized by mandibular hypoplasia. The study was carried out on a sample including 8 growing subjects (mean age 10.6 years +/- 0.6), similar in age and biotypology (man...

The therapeutic results of a functional orthopedic treatment with a Balters' Bionator III appliance were evaluated. The sample group included 39 white growing subjects with a dentoskeletal Class III malocclusion. A 2-year study compared results with a control group. The results showed that the Bionator III is effective, especially when the malocclu...