Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on periodontal practice: A questionnaire survey.

AIM: This cross-sectional study sought to investigate the factors possibly related to the impact caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the practice of periodontists, in two countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 254 periodontists with active periodontics licensing in Brazil and the United States participated in the survey. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and the dependent variable was the perceived impact of the pandemic on periodontists' practice routines. Odds ratios were assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Periodontists in private practice were 83% less likely to report a significant impact of the pandemic on their clinical routine as compared with professionals who work in the public sector or in academic institutions (CI 95%: 0.05-0.47). The financial impact of the pandemic was significantly associated with a perceived severe impact of the pandemic on their routines (OR: 1.36; CI 95%: 1.16-1.61). Professionals who have enhanced their hand-washing routine were more likely to report a significant impact of the pandemic by 3.41 times (CI 95%: 1.28-9.04) relative to those who have not altered their hand-washing protocols. CONCLUSION: The pandemic is associated with a negative impact on the practice of periodontists, especially those working in public sectors and academic institutions.

Prevalence of Orofacial Changes in Wind Instrumentalists: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence of orofacial changes and factors associated with the frequent playing of wind instruments by musicians in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 40 professional musicians who played wind instruments. The musicians filled out questionnaires about their habits and musical career. The Research Diagnostic Criteria were applied to investigate temporomandibular disorders. Other oral parameters examined included periodontal status, plaque index, and decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMF) index. A significance level of p<0.05 was adopted for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The population included 22 (55%) men and 18 (45%) women, with a mean age of 25.88 yrs. The most common instruments played were the saxophone (n=12, 30%), clarinet (n=9, 22.5%), and flute (n=6, 15%). The most frequent pain complaint after playing was numbness in the upper lip or no sensation (25% of musicians), and the most frequent dental change observed was inclination of the upper teeth (15% of musicians). There was no significant association between dental changes, pain, and classification of instrument type. CONCLUSION: The main oral change that affected musicians who played wind instruments was the inclination of anterior teeth.

Correlation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans detection with clinical/immunoinflammatory profile of localized aggressive periodontitis using a 16S rRNA microarray method: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether the detection of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) correlates with the clinical and immunoinflammatory profile of Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP), as determined by by 16S rRNA gene-based microarray. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subgingival plaque samples from the deepest diseased site of 30 LAP patients [PD ≥ 5 mm, BoP and bone loss] were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene-based microarrays. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were analyzed for 14 cyto/chemokines. Peripheral blood was obtained and stimulated in vitro with P.gingivalis and E.coli to evaluate inflammatory response profiles. Plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels were also measured. RESULTS: Aa was detected in 56% of LAP patients and was shown to be an indicator for different bacterial community structures (p<0.01). Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cyto/chemokines were detected in LPS-stimulated blood samples in both Aa-detected and Aa-non-detected groups (p>0.05). Clinical parameters and serum LPS levels were similar between groups. However, Aa-non-detected GCF contained higher concentration of IL-8 than Aa-detected sites (p<0.05). TNFα and IL1ß were elevated upon E.coli LPS stimulation of peripheral blood cells derived from patients with Aa-detected sites. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that the detection of Aa in LAP affected sites, did not correlate with clinical severity of the disease at the time of sampling in this cross-sectional study, although it did associate with lower local levels of IL-8, a different subgingival bacterial profile and elevated LPS-induced levels of TNFα and IL1ß.

Cyanoacrylate versus laser in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity: a controlled, randomized, double-masked and non-inferiority clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a painful, exaggerated response to normal stimuli, such as cold, sweetness, and brushing. The aim of the present controlled, randomized, double-masked, non-inferiority clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of cyanoacrylate in the treatment of DH when compared to the application of low-intensity laser. METHODS: The study includes 434 sensitive teeth from 62 patients. A total of 216 teeth were treated with laser and 218 with cyanoacrylate. A numeric rating scale was used to record the parameters of pain related to the stimuli at baseline and after the treatment at intervals of 24 hours and 30, 90, and 180 days. RESULTS: Both groups had significant reductions in DH. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups ≤6 months. Intragroup analysis showed that the effect of cyanoacrylate obtained at 24 hours remained for 90 days in response to air-jet test and 30 days for cold-spray test. There was a statistically significant difference between all other intragroup comparisons at the time intervals (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that cyanoacrylate is as effective as low-intensity laser in reducing DH. In addition, it is a more accessible and low-cost procedure and can be safely used in the treatment of DH.

Root cementum may modulate gene expression during periodontal regeneration: a preliminary study in humans.

BACKGROUND: Previous data demonstrated that root cementum may affect periodontal regeneration. As such, this study aimed to explore further possible mechanisms involved in this process by investigating in humans whether root cementum modulates gene expression in the regenerating tissue formed under membrane-protected intrabony defects. METHODS: Thirty subjects with deep intrabony defects (> or =5 mm; 2- or 3-wall) were selected and assigned to the control or test group. The control group received scaling and root planing with the removal of granulation tissue and root cementum; the test group underwent removal of granulation tissue and soft microbial deposits by cleaning the root surface with a microbrush and saline solution, aiming at cementum preservation. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) was applied to both groups. Twenty-one days later, the newly formed tissue under the membrane was assessed for the expression of the following genes: alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), platelet-derived growth factor-alpha (PDGFA), bone sialoprotein (BSP), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). RESULTS: Data analysis demonstrated that mRNA levels for PDGFA, BSP, and bFGF were higher in the sites where root cementum was kept in place compared to the sites where root cementum was removed completely as part of the periodontal therapy (P <0.05); in contrast, OCN levels were lower (P <0.05). No difference for ALP or OPN was observed between the control and test groups (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: Root cementum may modulate the expression of growth and mineral-associated factors during periodontal regeneration.

Root cementum modulates periodontal regeneration in Class III furcation defects treated by the guided tissue regeneration technique: a histometric study in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Because the possibility of root cementum preservation as an alternative approach for the treatment of periodontal disease has been demonstrated, this study aimed to histometrically evaluate the effect of root cementum on periodontal regeneration. METHODS: Bilateral Class III furcation defects were created in dogs, and each dog was randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments: control (group A): scaling and root planing with the removal of root cementum; or test (group B): removal of soft microbial deposits by polishing the root surface with rubber cups and polishing paste, aiming at maximum cementum preservation. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) was applied to both groups. RESULTS: Four months after treatment, a superior length of new cementum (3.59 +/- 1.67 mm versus 6.20 +/- 2.26 mm; P = 0.008) and new bone (1.86 +/- 1.76 mm versus 4.62 +/- 3.01 mm; P = 0.002) and less soft tissue along the root surface (2.77 +/- 0.79 mm versus 1.10 +/- 1.48 mm; P = 0.020) was observed for group B. Additionally, group B presented a larger area of new bone (P = 0.004) and a smaller area of soft tissue (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, root cementum may modulate the healing pattern obtained by guided tissue regeneration in Class III furcation defects.