Healing of experimental gingival recession defects treated with amnion allograft: Histologic and histometric analysis in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the healing response of localized gingival recession defects treated with a coronally advanced flap (CAF) and either an amnion allograft membrane (AM) or a connective tissue graft (CTG). METHODS: Gingival recession defects were surgically created in six healthy mongrel dogs at the labial root surface of the maxillary canines, bilaterally. Using a split mouth design, the defects were treated with CAF and either AM (CAF/AM) or CTG (CAF/CTG). Three animals for each group were scarified at 1 and 3 months. Segments containing the defects were prepared for histological and histometric analysis. RESULTS: Both techniques showed similar clinical findings with adequate root coverage. Histologically, healing was characterized by the formation of new cementum and new connective tissue attachment in the CAF/AM group; in the CAF/CTG group, healing was characterized by junctional epithelium, coronally, and connective tissue fibers parallel to the root surface, apically. Histometrically, the CAF/AM group revealed a substantially shorter epithelial length and a longer, new cementum compared with those of the CAF/CTG group after a healing period of 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, we concluded that the AM allograft could promote periodontal healing in gingival recession defects.

The adjunctive effect of probiotics to nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics catch more attention as adjunctive periodontal therapy. This study was conducted to assess the benefit of locally delivered Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) probiotic as an adjunctive to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis clinically and microbiologically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bacterial cultures and clinical evaluation were recorded in 20 sites of chronic periodontitis in 12 patients and followed up at 3 and 6 months from the start of intervention using clinical attachment level, probing pocket depth, plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing, and microbiologically for Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) load. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were scheduled within 1 week for two sessions of SRP. After SRP, oral hygiene measures were reassured, and sites were divided randomly into two groups 10 sites each. Group I received SRP only, while Group II received SRP and subgingival delivery of 1 ml of probiotic L. reuteri suspension at baseline and 1, 2, and 4 weeks using a blunt syringe. A periodontal pack was applied after the placement of the drug. RESULTS: We found noticeable variation between the two groups in all evaluation aspects at 3 and 6-month follow-up periods except PI at 6 months in which there was no significant difference between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results proved the antimicrobial benefit of L. reuteri probiotic as a promising adjunctive therapy in improving periodontal parameters. However, further long-term studies with large sample size are needed to evaluate the extent of the added value of L. reuteri suspension.

Evaluation of Novel Topical Camel Whey Protein Gel for the Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: Randomized Clinical Study.

AIM: The aim of this article is to evaluate the topical effect of camel whey protein (CWP) on the healing of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with minor RAS were randomly assigned into control and study groups. The control group applied placebo methylcellulose gel topically over the aphthous ulcer, whereas the study group used CWP dissolved in methylcellulose gel topically over the aphthous ulcer. Healing period, pain scale, and serum inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated before and after gel application. Collected data were analyzed statistically using the paired t-test or independent sample t-test. RESULTS: Ulcer healing period, pain scale, and immunological biomarkers were statistically improved in both groups with significant shortening of the ulcer duration and significant regulation of immunological values related to the study group. CONCLUSION: Topical CWP gel is potentially effective in the treatment of RAS.

Antibacterial Activity of Boswellia sacra Flueck. Oleoresin Extract against Porphyromonas gingivalis Periodontal Pathogen.

Boswellia sacra Flueck. oleoresin extract (frankincense) has traditionally been used in the treatment of different diseases, but there are no sufficient studies on its potential activity against periodontal pathogens. Therefore, antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of frankincense extract against Porphyromonas gingivalis clinical isolates were studied. The phytochemical composition of the volatile components of the extract was identified by GC-MS analysis revealing 49 compounds as trans-nerolidyl formate, cycloartenol acetate, ursenoic acid 3-oxomethyl ester, bisabolene epoxide, and kaur-16-ene. It decreased the growth and increased the leakage of nucleotides in 58.3% and 33.3% of isolates, respectively. Additionally, it reduced the extracellular polysaccharide production and the cell surface hydrophobicity in 41.67% and 50% of the isolates, respectively. Crystal violet assay revealed inhibition of biofilm formation by the tested isolates. Light microscope and scanning electron microscope were used to examine the biofilms and they confirmed the reduction of biofilm formation by frankincense extract. Downregulation of the genes linked to biofilm formation (fimA, hagA, and hagB) was observed using qRT-PCR after treatment with the frankincense extract. This study suggested that the frankincense extract could exhibit antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against P. gingivalis isolates. Thus, the frankincense extract could be used as a treatment approach for periodontitis.