Following its discovery, radium was initially promoted as a therapeutic agent for a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, allergies, visual problems, joint pain, and as a general health-enhancing remedy. However, subsequent research demonstrated its significant radiological toxicity and harmful effects on human health. Despite these risks, more than a century after its discovery, certain radium isotopes continue to have limited medical applications, particularly in the treatment of specific cancers. Following ingestion, radium is absorbed into the body and behaves similarly to calcium, resulting in its deposition in bone tissue. A proportion of absorbed radium is eliminated through feces and urine, while the remaining fraction may persist in the skeleton and contribute to long-term internal radiation exposure. The severity and onset of adverse health effects are closely related to the absorbed dose and duration of exposure. Chronic exposure to elevated radium levels has been associated with hematological abnormalities, cataracts, dental and jaw damage, bone cancer, and increased mortality. Advances in radiobiology, radiation protection, and personalized medicine continue to improve the safety and effectiveness of radiation-based treatments. Modern radiotherapy, including selected applications involving targeted radionuclide therapy, requires a detailed understanding of radiation dose distribution, biological responses, and patient-specific factors. The optimization of re-irradiation strategies remains an important clinical challenge that requires careful assessment of previous radiation exposure, tissue tolerance, and potential risks. Because radium exposure can occur through ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact, continued monitoring, appropriate regulatory frameworks, and access to specialized analytical methods remain essential components of public health protection. International cooperation and strengthened surveillance programs are needed to ensure the safe management of radium-containing materials and minimize potential health risks.

Facial esthetics significantly impact self-confidence and quality of life, motivating patients to seek prosthetic rehabilitation of the anterior maxilla. Treatment options typically include restorative-only or combined orthodontic-restorative therapies, influenced by patient expectations, invasiveness, duration, and clinical recommendations. Historically, orthodontic pretreatment faced resistance due to prolonged treatment time and social stigma. However, advancements such as clear aligners and minimally invasive techniques have overcome many barriers, optimizing tooth alignment and enabling conservative preparations. This article presents a case involving interdisciplinary orthodontic and minimally invasive prosthetic therapy. A 33-year-old patient dissatisfied with previous veneers underwent clear aligner therapy, minimally invasive veneer preparations guided by digital wax-ups, and definitive lithium disilicate restorations. Advanced digital tools facilitated precise interdisciplinary planning and enhanced patient communication. Material selection prioritized esthetics and durability, complemented by comprehensive maintenance to ensure long-term success. This approach highlights the advantages of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving superior esthetic outcomes while preserving natural tooth structure.

Maxillofacial fractures require reconstruction of a functional craniofacial unit rather than isolated realignment of fractured bone. Stable occlusion, mandibular movement, temporomandibular joint position, facial contour, and fixation-device adaptation should be considered as interdependent treatment targets. Digital workflows incorporating CT or CBCT reconstruction, virtual surgical planning, CAD/CAM, 3-dimensional printing, patient-specific implants or plates, and navigation have improved visualization and surgical transfer. However, comminution, bilateral injury, loss of anatomic references, dental arch disruption, limited mouth opening, metal artifacts, and labor-intensive segmentation still restrict efficiency and reproducibility. This narrative review summarizes artificial intelligence applications across the occlusion-oriented digital reconstruction chain, including image screening, craniofacial and dental segmentation, tooth numbering, model repair, 3-dimensional shape completion, planning assistance, intraoperative registration, and postoperative deviation analysis. The literature was reviewed with emphasis on clinical task, evidence maturity, implementation risk, and translational feasibility. To make the clinical hierarchy explicit, AI applications were classified as near-term supervised clinical support, intermediate translational tools, exploratory research applications, or not ready for routine clinical use. Current evidence supports AI most strongly as supervised decision support for fracture triage, preliminary jaw and tooth segmentation, planning preparation, and postoperative measurement. A representative clinical workflow scenario is included to illustrate how these tasks can be integrated into surgeon-led planning without converting AI outputs into autonomous surgical decisions. Shape completion, automated reduction, fixation design, and real-time intraoperative feedback remain promising early translational applications but require stricter validation before broad clinical deployment. Future translation should prioritize multicenter annotated data sets, external validation, uncertainty reporting, auditable human-in-the-loop workflows, and outcome measures that link radiographic accuracy with occlusal contact, masticatory efficiency, temporomandibular function, patient-reported outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis typically presents with psychiatric symptoms, seizures, and cognitive dysfunction. Movement disorders, when present, usually coexist with these features. We report a rare case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in a 30-year-old female who presented with isolated left temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dystonia, jaw tremor, and facial pain as the sole manifestations for seven months, without clinically significant psychiatric, cognitive, or seizure symptoms. The patient was repeatedly misdiagnosed with TMJ disorder and muscular dysfunction before anti-NMDAR IgG antibodies were detected by cell-based assay (CBA) in serum (1:32) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, 1:1). First-line immunotherapy with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) achieved remission. However, she relapsed five months later following COVID-19 infection, with antibody titers rising to 1:100 in both serum and CSF. High-dose corticosteroid pulse therapy and maintenance mycophenolate mofetil were administered, achieving sustained clinical improvement over four years of follow-up, although mild residual focal dystonia persisted. Whole-exome sequencing and hereditary ataxia screening excluded genetic causes. This case broadens the clinical spectrum of anti-NMDAR encephalitis and underscores the importance of early antibody testing in young patients with treatment-refractory orofacial movement disorders.

The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) assesses cognitive responses to pain through rumination, magnification, and helplessness. Though widely used, its role in evaluating patients undergoing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) replacement surgery has not been studied. This retrospective cohort study analyzed 98 patients who underwent total TMJ prosthetic reconstruction (TMJR) for treatment of severe osteoarthritis between 2018 and 2023. Preoperative PCS, Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS), and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-8 (JFLS-8) were recorded and compared with postoperative GCPS and JFLS-8 scores at 3-6 months (short-term) and 12-18 months (medium-term). The median preoperative PCS score was 17.5. Higher PCS scores were significantly associated with higher postoperative GCPS scores at short- and long-term follow-up (P = 0.031 and 0.048) and with higher (worse) short-term JFLS-8 scores (P = 0.039), though not at medium-term follow-up. GCPS correlated significantly with all PCS subscores in the short term, but only helplessness remained significant in medium term. JFLS-8 showed significant correlation with rumination and helplessness short term only. These findings suggest that PCS, particularly the helplessness component, is associated with pain and function outcomes after TMJ surgery and may help predict recovery. Incorporating PCS into preoperative assessment may aid surgical planning and patient counseling. Further research is warranted to validate its predictive utility and guide tailored interventions.

PACS1 neurodevelopmental disorder (PACS1-NDD) is characterized by mild-to-severe neurodevelopmental delays. Language skills are more severely affected than motor skills. Hypotonia is reported in about a third of individuals and is noted to improve over time. Approximately 60% of individuals are ambulatory. Feeding difficulty is common, with 25% requiring gastrostomy tube to maintain appropriate caloric intake. Other common features include constipation, seizures, behavioral issues, congenital heart anomalies, short stature, and microcephaly. Common facial features include hypertelorism, downslanting palpebral fissures, bulbous nasal tip, low-set and simple ears, smooth philtrum, wide mouth with downturned corners, thin upper vermilion, and wide-spaced teeth. To date approximately 35 individuals with PACS1-NDD have been reported.