Contemporary educational methods in periodontology.

AIM: The 1st European Workshop on Periodontal Education in 2009 made recommendations regarding the scope of periodontal education at undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and continuing professional development (CPD) levels, defining competencies and learning outcomes that were instrumental at the time in helping to define periodontal teaching curricula. The 19th European Workshop on Periodontology and 2nd European Consensus Workshop on Education in Periodontology (Education in Periodontology in Europe) was held in 2023 to identify changes and future developments in periodontal education (including those informed by the COVID-19 pandemic) and embracing methods and formats of periodontal teaching and training. The aim of this review was to assess current knowledge regarding education methods in periodontology, including traditional face-to-face (F2F) teaching and the move to student-centred methods, virtual learning methods and use of digital technology, as well as blended teaching and learning (including teaching delivery and assessment) at UG, PG and CPD levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted to identify relevant studies from the literature. Data were extracted and descriptive summaries collated. RESULTS: The pandemic was a major disruptor of traditional F2F teaching but provided opportunities for rapid implementation of alternative and supplementary teaching methods. Although online learning has become an integral part of periodontal education, teachers and learners alike favour some form of F2F teaching. Blended teaching and learning are feasible in many areas of periodontal education, both for knowledge and skills acquisition as well as in assessment. Student-centred methods and blended approaches such as the flipped classroom seem highly effective, and online/virtual classrooms with both synchronous and asynchronous lectures are highly valued. Learning with haptic methods and virtual reality (VR) enhances the educational experience, especially when VR is integrated with traditional methods. The quality of the teacher continues to be decisive for the best knowledge transfer in all its forms. CONCLUSIONS: Live F2F teaching continues to be highly trusted; however, all types of student-centred and interactive forms of knowledge transfer are embraced as enhancements. While digital methods offer innovation in education, blended approaches integrating both virtual and traditional methods appear optimal to maximize the achievement of learning outcomes. All areas of periodontal education (UG, PG and CPD) can benefit from such approaches; however, more research is needed to evaluate their benefits, both for knowledge transfer and skills development, as well as in assessment.

In vitro activity of hyaluronic acid and human serum on periodontal biofilm and periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVES: A beneficial effect of cross-linked hyaluronic acid (cHA) on periodontal wound healing and regeneration has recently been demonstrated. The present in vitro study was designed to obtain deeper knowledge on the effect of cHA when applied in the gingival sulcus (serum-rich environment) during non-surgical periodontal therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The influence of cHA, human serum (HS), and cHA/HS on (i) a 12-species biofilm formation, (ii) the adhesion of periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) to dentine surface, (iii) the expression and secretion of interleukin-8, and (iv) the expression of receptors of HA in PDLF and gingival fibroblasts (GF) were evaluated. RESULTS: At 4 h of biofilm formation, cHA and HS in combination (cHA/HS) slightly decreased the colony-forming unit counts in biofilm whereas the metabolic activity of biofilm was reduced in all test groups (cHA, HS, cHA/HS) vs. control. At 24 h, the quantity of biofilm was reduced in all test groups vs. untreated control. The test substances did not affect adhesion of PDLF to dentin. HS increased the expression of IL-8 by PDLF and GF which was partially downregulated by cHA. HS and/or cHA promoted the expression of the HA receptor RHAMM in GF but not in PDLF. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the present data indicate that serum neither negatively affect the activity of cHA against periodontal biofilm nor had any unwanted influence on the activity of PDLF. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings lend additional support for the positive effects of cHA on cells involved in periodontal wound healing, thus pointing to its potential use in non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Students' opinions on tutor-supported comprehensive care training in clinical dental education.

Tutor-supported comprehensive care training at the University of Bern School of Dental Medicine (SDM) has been used for many years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate dental students' opinions on tutor-supported training to identify key aspects of future course organisation that are important for students to achieve the minimum requirements for their graduation. A digital survey was developed and distributed among all fourth- and fifth-year dental students enrolled in the SDM in 2014 and 2016. A total of 28 (41.2%) and 21 (36.2%) students participated in the survey in 2014 and 2016, respectively. The average age of all respondents was 25.8 (±4.0) years. The proportion of females was 75% with no differences between groups, neither among classes nor years of the survey. The students felt well prepared following the bachelor's degree pre-clinical programme and a two-week introduction immediately preceding the clinical course. During clinical training, the students' experiences with their assigned tutors were positive even though waiting times for tutors during patient care as well as organisational efforts to manage attestations and logbooks were mentioned. For each discipline, patient assignment (ρ=0.54, p<0.0001) and frequently meeting with their tutors (ρ=0.56, p<0.0001) revealed the highest correlation with 1) achieving minimum requirements and 2) improving treatment planning skills in both fourth- and fifth-year dental students. In conclusion, tutor-supported comprehensive care training is well accepted by dental students while focusing on both patient assignment and frequent discussions with tutors may help students to better achieve minimum requirements in clinical dental education.

In vitro activity of anti-rheumatic drugs on release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from oral cells in interaction with microorganisms.

Periodontitis patients suffering concomitantly from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often present with less inflamed periodontal tissues due to the ongoing anti-rheumatic therapy. This in vitro study was aimed to analyze whether anti-inflammatory drugs used in the therapy of RA can modulate the release of IL-8 and IL-1ß by professional and non-professional immune cells stimulated with microorganisms. Periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts, monocytic MONO-MAC-6-cells, and gingival keratinocytes were exposed to ibuprofen, prednisolone, and methotrexate with and without lysates of Fusobacterium nucleatum or Candida albicans. Supernatants were obtained and the levels of interleukin(IL)-8 and IL-1ß (only MONO-MAC-6) were quantified. The addition of F. nucleatum lysate resulted in the strongest release of proinflammatory cytokines by PDL fibroblast and MONO-MAC-6 cells, while the modification by the tested anti-rheumatic drugs was only minor. After stimulation of the MONO-MAC-cells with F. nucleatum, prednisolone increased the release of IL-8, whereas methotrexate decreased the level. Anti-inflammatory drugs increased the adherence of C. albicans to epithelial cells. In patients with RA, the reduction of the microbial load in subgingival biofilm (biofilm removal) is of major importance; however, the intake of inflammatory drugs may interfere with the inflammatory response.

A Comparative Assessment of Pain Caused by the Placement of Banded Orthodontic Appliances with and without Low-Level Laser Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Prospective Study.

Patients still refuse or discontinue orthodontic treatment due to related pain and discomfort. In this study, we investigate if low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can reduce pain caused by orthodontic bands. Sixty subjects who needed bands placed on the upper permanent first molars were assigned randomly to the LLLT group, placebo, and control groups. Inclusion criteria were: age range 10-14 years, fully erupted upper first molars in healthy condition, presence of tight mesial proximal contact. Exclusion criteria were: systemic or metabolic diseases, chronic pain or neurological or psychiatric disorders, use of pharmacological agents interfering with pain perception, previous orthodontic treatment or the simultaneous presence of other devices in the patient's mouth. The assessment of pain was performed by using a numeric rating scale (NRS) considering different time intervals, i.e., immediately after bands placement, 6 h, 24 h, and from day 2 to day 5. Differences in the maximum pain and in pain experienced at each time-point, among the three groups, was assessed by using the Kruskal-Wallis H. The final sample included 56 patients, 29 males, and 27 females, with a mean age of 12.03 ± 1.3 years. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups (tested, control, and placebo group) with each group consisting respectively of 19, 20, and 17 individuals. Subjects in the LLLT experienced less pain at each time interval as well as the maximum pain score being lower in the LLLT compared to control and placebo groups. These findings were all statistically significant (p < 0.05). LLLT can alleviate the intensity of pain after the placement of orthodontic bands.

Oral health in children with sleep-disordered breathing: a cross-sectional study.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with a wide range of oral manifestations, including adeno-tonsillar hypertrophy, narrow dentoalveolar width, increased overjet, reduced overbite, and malocclusion. There are no studies about the relationship between SDB and poor oral health in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to investigate oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children at risk of SDB (SDB+), compared with a control group, not at risk for SDB (SDB). The current cross-sectional study recruited consecutive children, aged between 8 and 17 years, from a university-based dental clinic. Caregivers completed the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) to stratify risk of SDB. Both children and caregivers completed the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) to measure the OHRQoL. A dental exam was conducted to evaluate dental caries, periodontal status, oropharyngeal characteristics, and dental occlusion. DMFS (decay-missing-filled for permanent teeth), dmfs (for primary teeth), PPD (pocket probing depth), parent COHIP score, child COHIP score, and BOP (bleeding on probing) were compared between children SDB+ and SDB-. In this study, 122 children were enrolled and divided into two equal subgroups (61 each). There was a significant association between SDB and all six outcomes (all p < 0.05) with higher values in SDB+ children. SDB+ was associated with a poorer OHRQoL, and a greater COHIP score for both parents and children. In conclusion, the current study suggests that the impact of SDB on oral health and OHRQoL in children is relevant and far-reaching. Therefore, it is necessary to closely monitor the oral health of SDB+ children, and, if appropriate, to use gentle non-pharmacological treatments able to reduce nasal congestion.