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Background Although there is a decline in the global prevalence of edentulism over the past decade, the tendency is opposite in Serbia. The aim of this study was to estimate the disease burden of edentulism at the Dental Clinic of Vojvodina, tertiary referral public health institution of the northern province of Serbia. Methods Disease burden was expressed in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Prevalence (P) was calculated on the database of all patients from 2008 to 2019 at the Dental Clinic of Vojvodina using IBM SPSS Statistics. The number of diagnosed cases rehabilitated by complete dentures was an indicator of edentate people. A total sample of 76287 patients was examined, including 1620 patients restored with complete dentures (44.94% male, 55.06% female). Disability weight (DW) for severe tooth loss was taken from the “Disability weight for the Global Burden of Disease 2013 study”. The prevalence-based years lived with disability (YLD) were calculated as YLD = P x DW. Due to the non-fatal outcome of edentulism, DALY estimates were based on YLDs only (YLL=0). Results For the observed period, the total disease burden (per 1000) was 1.42 DALYs (0.64 for men and 0.78 for women). During observed years, DALYs increased (from 1.66 in 2008 to 1.73 in 2019), in association with population aging, and insufficient support from public health insurance for oral prevention and treatments. For both sexes, DALYs increased gradually with age. The results for age-stratified DALYs (per 1000) were: 0.005 (age 0-24), 0.049 (age 25-34), 0.55 (age 35-44), 2.66 (age 45-54), 4.41 (age 55-64), 7.89 (age 65-74), 8.04 (age 75-84) and 9.05 (age 85-94). Conclusions Considering the calculated disease burden, edentulism has been posing an increasing challenge for the health system in Serbia over the past decade. The quantified burden could contribute to the improvement of evidence-informed policymaking in public oral health in Serbia. Acknowledgment Supported by “Burden-EU” COST Action Key messages The calculated DALYs show an increase in burden of edentulism in Vojvodina, Serbia. DALYs calculations could improve the insufficient monitoring of oral health status in Serbia.

Introduction. Autism is a severe and lifelong developmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and interpersonal communication, as well as characteristic repetitive patterns of interest and behavior. The purpose of this study is to point to the possibility of applying various techniques of adaptation of children with autism to dental interventions in order to maintain oral health. Material and Methods. A multidisciplinary project was carried out by the Dental Clinic of Vojvodina, Special Education School ?Dr. Milan Petrovic? and the Autism Society of Novi Sad. The following education models were used in the project: behaviororiented models, developmental strategies, therapy based interventions, and combined interventions. The success rate of applied education models and adaptation of children with autism spectrum disorders to dental interventions was examined. The success criteria included the ability to make contact, communicate, cooperate, and perform dental treatment. Results. The multidisciplinary project included 20 active members the Autism Society of Novi Sad and 20 members of the Special Education School ?Dr. Milan Petrovic? day care program. The results of the study showed a 95% success rate of the most commonly used applied behavior analysis. The success rate of the communication oriented interventions was 90%, while therapy based interventions showed an 85% success rate. The combined interventions showed a 100% success rate. Conclusion. Only integration of several methods, multidisciplinary cooperation and an individual approach to work with children with autism can lead to success in work and adaptation to dental interventions of persons with autism spectrum disorder.

Introduction. Biophotonics deals with interactions between light and biological matter, integrating knowledge of physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, and medicine for solving specific biomedical or life science problems. Due to the ability to provide non-invasive, highly sensitive tissue information and inducing specific localized tissue ablation, biophotonics-based technologies may be of utmost importance in improving dental healthcare. The aim of this review article is to give an overview of contemporary biophotonics-based technologies and their applications in dental research and clinical practice. Various applications of biophotonics-based technologies. Biomedical imaging techniques (nonlinear microscopy methods and optical coherence tomography), photo-mechanical methods (digital holographic interferometry, photo-elasticity, digital image correlation, Moir? interferometry), optical spectroscopy techniques (Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy), fiber Bragg grating sensors, photodynamic therapy, photo-biostimulation, and femtosecond laser applications are presented in this paper. Conclusion. In accordance with the modern tendencies of prevention and timely diagnosis of oral diseases, biophotonics may be considered the leading scientific discipline on the path of progress of dental medicine and technology. Therefore, this paper provides an overview of modern methods based on biophotonics and summarizes their applicability focusing on the field of dental medicine.

Background/Aim. The objective of this study was to measure tooth cusps deflection caused by polymerization shrinkage of a resin-based dental material (RDM), in real-time using digital holographic interferometry (DHI), in two groups of cavities restored with and without an additional wall. Simultaneously, internal tooth mechanical behavior was monitored. Methods. Standardized three class I cavities were prepared on third molar teeth. The teeth were cut in two halves in the longitudinal plane, obtaining six samples for the study (now with class II cavities), divided into two groups (group G1 - with the additional wall, group G2 - without it) and mounted in aluminum blocks. The cavities were filled with the RDM, cured with a light emitting diode (LED) for 40 s from the occlusal direction, and monitored during the curing and post-curing period using DHI. Data were analyzed using student's t-test for independent samples and Anderson-Darling test, with an alpha level of 0.05. Results. At the end of the examined period, the samples from group G1 showed significantly increased tooth cusps deflection (t (10) = 4.7; p = 0.001) compared to samples from group G2. Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the presence of the additional wall simulating a dental matrix-band, influenced increased and prolonged tooth cusps deflection during the examined RDM polymerization shrinkage.