A short-term study of the effects of ozone irrigation in an orthodontic population with fixed appliances.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of chlorhexidine and ozonised water in the oral hygiene maintenance of orthodontic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study design: This is a prospective clinical study. Thirty patients with orthodontic brackets were selected at the Versilia General Hospital (Lido di Camaiore, Italy). Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: standard oral hygiene session followed by prescription of either chlorhexidine mouth-rinse or ozonated water. At each moment of the follow-up, the following parameters were recorded: pocket probing depth (PPD), full-mouth plaque index (FMPI), and full mouth bleeding score (FMBS). STATISTICS: Sample size was computed according to previously published data. Significance level was set at 0.05 for all analyses, and non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for comparisons. RESULTS: At baseline, mean PPD was 1.89 ± 0.13 mm for the control group and 1.95 ± 0.10 mm for the test group. Mean FMPI was 63.9 ± 16.5% and 68.7 ± 10.33% respectively. Mean FMBS was 31.5 ± 15.6% and 32.8 ± 8.85 respectively. One month after treatment (T2), both groups showed a significant improvement of FMPI and FMBS. Mean FMPI was 42.8 ± 14.3% and 24.3 ± 6.41% respectively. Mean FMBS was 19.5 ±12.6% and 4.70 ± 3.56% respectively. The test group treated with ozone exhibited a greater improvement of FMPI and FMBS. CONCLUSIONS: Ozone yielded better outcomes than chlorhexidine in the management of gingivitis in orthodontic patients. Ozone should be further investigated in longitudinal studies with larger samples.

Periodontal maintenance following scaling and root planing. A randomized single-center study comparing minocycline treatment and daily oral irrigation with water.

Objective: Trying to limit the use of antimicrobial drugs in periodontitis is a general trend. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of daily water irrigation in comparison with subgingival minocycline in periodontal maintenance, in subjects with moderate to severe periodontitis. This was done by evaluating probing pocket depth (the primary outcome), other clinical parameters such as clinical attachment level, plaque index and bleeding on probing, and bacterial flora changes inside periodontal pockets. Materials and Methods: In this single-center, parallel, single blind, randomized clinical study, thirty subjects (12 men, mean age 56 ± 2.2 years) with moderate to severe periodontitis were randomized 1:1 into a minocycline-treated group (M-group, n=15) and a water-treated group (W-group, n=15). Clinical and microbiological parameters were measured at baseline. Scaling and root planing were carried out on all subjects, then to M-group patients minocycline was administered inside the pockets. W-group subjects had instead to daily apply oral irrigation with water. Clinical and microbiological measurements were repeated after 30 days. Results: Both water irrigation and minocycline treatment led to a significant reduction of all the clinical parameters tested at t=30 days with respect to baseline. Moreover, both procedures appeared to be able to maintain a low bacterial load inside periodontal pockets, for most of the microorganisms tested. No statistically significant differences were observed between M-group and W-group at t=30 days, concerning both clinical and microbiological parameters. However, further studies are needed to assess the long-term effect. Conclusion: Daily oral irrigation with water showed comparable efficacy to a single administration of minocycline in periodontal maintenance subjects.

Comparison between oscillating-twisting rotating of brush head vs a characteristic sweeping bristles motion on reducing oral inflammation.

Background: The aim of present study was to clinically assess and compare a sonic toothbrush versus a rotating oscillating power toothbrush on plaque removal and gingival health in reducing plaque and bleeding on probing. Methods: Patients were selected according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria and they were enrolled in test group or control group using Random Allocation Software. Visual score plaque index (PI) was recorded by the same blind operator using a plaque revelator and bleeding on probing (BoP) index was recorded using a periodontal probe at baseline, 15th day and 30th day. Results: The group of patients who used sonic toothbrush showed a greater reduction of PI and BoP comparing with patients who used rotating-oscillating power toothbrush. Conclusions: Although this pilot study has several limitations, it seems to indicate that sonic toothbrushes are capable of removing plaque and reducing bleeding on probing better than electric toothbrushes.

In vivo study of titanium healing screws surface modifications after different debridment procedure.

Introduction: Over the years, several different implant systems have been introduced, and the indications for implant rehabilitation have gradually been extended 2. Although an high success rates have consistently been reported for many implant systems, complications leading to loss of osseointegration still occurs 3. Thus, oral hygiene and maintenance are imperative, because implants, as well as teeth, are susceptible to accumulation of bacterial plaque and calculus formation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the in vivo cleaning efficacy of the three systems (air powder, curette, laser) comparing at the same time the alterations of the titanium abutment surface in terms of roughness. Methods: Forthy-two patients (25 males and 17 females) were included in the study. The 42 healing abutments were treated by the same clinician (UC). Results and conclusions: The rate of debris removal by the air powder was higher than that for the laser and than that for the curettes. The SEM analysis showed that the air powder system did not induce significant differences of the abutment if compared to the curettes as well as to the laser.

Periodontal dressing may influence the clinical outcome of non-surgical periodontal treatment: a split-mouth study.

INTRODUCTION: After scaling and root planning (SRP), healing induces the formation of a junctional long epithelium rather than a new connective attachment. We hypothesize that the placement of a periodontal dressing will be able to prevent detachment of coagulum inducing proper healing and improving periodontal parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This split-mouth study included 30 patients with periodontitis with ages ranging from 35 to 70 years. Probing pocket depth (PD), probing attachment level (PAL), bleeding on probing index (BoP) and plaque index (PI) were assessed before and after therapy. The group of patients received SRP in a span of 24 h. Then, a periodontal dressing was applied on the test side and it was removed after 1 week. CONTROL GROUP: The difference between PD values at baseline and after therapy was 1.6 ± 0.6 mm. The difference in PAL (ΔPAL) measurement was 1.4 ± 0.4. Test group: there was a greater PD reduction, this being 2.4 ± 0.6 mm on average. The difference in PAL was 2.5 ± 0.4 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly suggest that the use of a periodontal dressing improves the periodontal parameters after an SRP procedure. This is probably due to clot stabilization and prevention of bacterial colonization during wound healing.