University of Pavia

Considering recent literature, it is possible to hypothesise a link between dental anomalies and ocular and/or cutaneous findings, given the existence of shared genetic and developmental mechanisms between these two anatomical areas. Both the eye and teeth develop from ectodermal and mesenchymal tissues, involving common molecular signalling pathways such as Wnt, BMP and PAX. Genetic variants affecting these pathways can therefore determine combined phenotypes, such as congenital cataracts associated with dental agenesis or enamel malformations. Some rare genetic syndromes, such as Nance-Horan syndrome and oculofacio-cardio-dental (OFCD) syndrome, support the hypothesis of a systemic correlation between odontogenesis and ocular development. In a previous study on congenital cataracts, nearly 10% of probands with variants in the BCOR, CWC27, IFIH1, NHS, and PAX6 genes had various dental abnormalities. Therefore, exploring the possible connection between eye and dental diseases may not only facilitate early and multidisciplinary diagnosis, but also open up new perspectives in genetic research and the development of personalised therapeutic approaches, for which whole genome sequencing (WGS) appears to be the first choice for investigating non-syndromic forms. Therefore, the current clinical study aims to identify variants in genes common to eye diseases and dental anomalies (agenesis, supernumerary teeth, Hutchinson's teeth, mulberry molars) in orthodontic patients over the age of 12 with dental anomalies who are about to begin orthodontic treatment or who are attending routine check-ups at the Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatrics Sciences at the University of Pavia who have a family history of ocular and cutaneous manifestations or presenting at the same time dental, ocular and/or cutaneous anomalies. Patients who are eligible will be invited to participate in the study. After signing the informed consent form, the Case Report Form will be completed to collect the data of interest for the study; previous medical reports will be asked to patients or parents/legal guardians in case of minors to ascertain ocular and cutaneous pathologies; a buccal swab will be taken to collect a DNA sample that will be analysed with Next Generation Sequencing. In addition, cephalometric evaluations will be performed if lateral teleradiographs will be available, if already performed in accordance with Good Clinical Practice for the purposes of orthodontic assessment of patients.

Oral mucositis is a frequent and painful side effect of radio- and chemotherapy, especially in patients with head and neck cancer. It can cause severe discomfort, difficulty eating and swallowing, infections, and interruptions of cancer treatment. This study evaluates the effectiveness of ozone therapy, delivered both professionally in the dental clinic and at home with ozone-based toothpaste, mouthrinse, and gel, in reducing symptoms of oral mucositis and stomatitis.
Fifty-eight adult cancer patients with oral mucositis of at least WHO grade 1 are included. Professional ozone therapy sessions are performed in-office, combined with daily home use of ozonated products. The main goal is to determine how many days are needed for lesions to heal (WHO ≤ 1). A secondary goal is to measure pain reduction using a visual analogue scale (VAS).
This research aims to provide evidence for a supportive care protocol that may improve quality of life, reduce treatment complications, and support cancer patients during therapy.

The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined protocol of professional and at-home ozone therapy in the treatment of oral mucositis in patients undergoing radio- and/or chemotherapy.
In-office treatment was performed using a medical ozone generator, while at-home therapy involved the daily application of high-concentration ozonated oil products. The study assessed the reduction in mucositis severity (WHO scale), decrease in pain (VAS scale), and improvement in patient-reported quality of life, with specific attention to nutrition, oral hygiene, and treatment adherence.