The use of crevicular fluid to assess markers of inflammation and angiogenesis, IL-17 and VEGF, in patients with solid tumors receiving zoledronic acid and/or bevacizumab.

PURPOSE: Crevicular fluid was used to assess interleukin-17 (IL-17) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cancer patients receiving zoledronic acid and/or bevacizumab. The markers were also assessed in the serum. METHODS: Twenty-five patients were included and comprised three groups: patients who received zoledronic acid (n = 9), patients who received bevacizumab (n = 9), and patients who received zoledronic acid combined with bevacizumab (n = 5). One patient received zoledronic acid and everolimus and another received zoledronic acid, bevacizumab, and temsirolimus. IL-17 and VEGF were measured by standard quantitative ELISA kits and assessed in two study points. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients maintained good periodontal health; one had asymptomatic osteonecrosis of the jaw. First assessment: 44 samples were collected; 21 from serum and 23 from crevicular fluid. Second assessment, 6 months later: 11 samples were collected; 6 from serum and 5 from crevicular fluid. IL-17 was detected in all samples, in serum and crevicular fluid, and remained unchanged at both time points. Serum VEGF in patients with bevacizumab alone or combined with zoledronic acid was significantly lower compared with that of patients who received zoledronic acid alone. VEGF was not detected in the crevicular fluid. CONCLUSIONS: Crevicular fluid might be an easy, non-invasive means to assess IL-17. The stable values of IL-17 in crevicular fluid and serum and the lack of VEGF in the crevicular fluid could be related to the good periodontal health of our patients. Further studies are needed to assess IL-17 and VEGF in the crevicular fluid in patients with and without periodontal disease.

From manual periodontal probing to digital 3-D imaging to endoscopic capillaroscopy: Recent advances in periodontal disease diagnosis.

Deepened periodontal pockets exert a significant pathological burden on the host and its immune system, particularly in a patient with generalized moderate to severe periodontitis. This burden is extensive and longitudinal, occurring over decades of disease development. Considerable diagnostic and prognostic successes in this regard have come from efforts to measure the depths of the pockets and their contents, including level of inflammatory mediators, cellular exudates and microbes; however, the current standard of care for measuring these pockets, periodontal probing, is an analog technology in a digital age. Measurements obtained by probing are variable, operator dependent and influenced by site-specific factors. Despite these limitations, manual probing is still the standard of care for periodontal diagnostics globally. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that this technology needs to be updated to be compatible with the digital technologies currently being used to image other orofacial structures, such as maxillary sinuses, alveolar bone, nerve foramina and endodontic canals in 3 dimensions. This review aims to summarize the existing technology, as well as new imaging strategies that could be utilized for accurate evaluation of periodontal pocket dimensions.

Treatment of pathologic peri-implant pockets.

Peri-implant and periodontal pockets share a number of anatomical features but also have distinct differences. These differences make peri-implant pockets more susceptible to trauma and infection than periodontal pockets. Inadequate maintenance can lead to infections (defined as peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis) within peri-implant pockets. These infections are recognized as inflammatory diseases, which ultimately lead to the loss of supporting bone. Diagnostic and treatment methods conventionally used in periodontics have been adopted to assess and treat these diseases. Controlling infection includes elimination of the biofilm from the implant surface and efficient mechanical debridement. However, the prosthetic supra-structure and implant surface characteristics can complicate treatment. Evidence shows that when appropriately managed, peri-implant mucositis is reversible. Nonsurgical therapy, with or without the use of antimicrobials, will occasionally resolve peri-implantitis, but for the majority of advanced lesions this approach is insufficient and surgery is indicated. The major objective of the surgical approach is to provide access and visualize the clinical situation. Hence, a more informed decision can be made regarding whether to use a resective or a regenerative surgical technique. Evidence shows that following successful decontamination, surgical treatment to regenerate the bone can be performed, and a number of regenerative techniques have been proposed. After treatment, regular maintenance and good oral hygiene are essential for a predictable outcome and long-term stability.

Helicobacter pylori in periodontal pockets and saliva: a possible role in gastric infection relapses.

It has been a long time since the scientific community started to speculate upon the presence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in periodontal pockets as an extra-gastric reservoir responsible for gastric relapses after eradication therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of oral HP in a group of patients who underwent examination for gastric infection. Sixty patients were enrolled in the current study, subdivided into two groups: 30 patients with a positive result for HP gastric infection with C-Breath Test Urea examination, and 30 patients with a negative result for HP gastric infection. Crevicular fluid and salivary samples were collected in a sterile tube and then sent to the laboratory for evaluation. Specimens were processed to quantify the levels of HP and bacterial load by real time PCR technique. Even though there was no statistically significant difference among the two groups (A vs B) with regard to the total amount of HP in saliva or in periodontal tissues, this study demonstrates that the oral cavity is an extra-gastric reservoir of HP when it is affected by periodontal disease, and that periodontal disease is correlated to gastric HP infection.

Thiolated alginate-based multiple layer mucoadhesive films of metformin forintra-pocket local delivery: in vitro characterization and clinical assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Periodontal disease broadly defines group of conditions in which the supportive structure of the tooth (periodontium) is destroyed. Recent studies suggested that the anti-diabetic drug metformin hydrochloride (MF) has an osteogenic effect and is beneficial for the management of periodontitis. OBJECTIVE: Development of strong mucoadhesive multiple layer film loading small dose of MF for intra-pocket application. METHODOLOGY: Multiple layer film was developed by double casting followed by compression method. Either 6% carboxy methyl cellulose sodium (CMC) or sodium alginate (ALG) constituted the inner drug (0.6%) loaded layer. Thiolated sodium alginate (TSA; 2 or 4%) constituted the outer drug free layers to enhance mucoadhesion and achieve controlled drug release. Optimized formulation was assessed clinically on 20 subjects. RESULTS: Films were uniform, thin and hard enough for easy insertion into periodontal pockets. Based on water uptake and in vitro drug release, CMC based film with 4% TSA as an outer layer was the optimized formulation with enhanced mucoadhesion and controlled drug release (83.73% over 12 h). SEM showed the effective fabrication of the triple layer film in which connective lines between the layers could be observed. FTIR examination suggests possibility of hydrogen bonding between the -NH groups of metformin and -OH groups of CMC. DSC revealed the presence of MF mainly in the amorphous form. Clinical results indicated improvement of all clinical parameters six months post treatment. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that local application of the mucoadhesive multiple layer films loaded with metformin hydrochloride was able to manage moderate chronic periodontitis.

Effects of 810-nanometer diode laser as an adjunct to mechanical periodontal treatment on clinical periodontal parameters and gingival crevicular fluid volume of residual periodontal pockets.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this randomized controlled parallel-designed study was to evaluate the effects of diode laser as an adjunct to mechanical periodontal treatment on clinical parameters and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume of the residual pockets diagnosed following initial periodontal treatment in chronic periodontitis (CP) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 84 residual pockets on single-rooted teeth in 11 CP patients were included and randomly assigned into three groups. Residual pockets were treated either only by mechanical treatment (Group M) (n = 28) or only by diode laser disinfection (Group L) (n = 28) or by a combination of these techniques (Group M + L) (n = 28). Plaque index, gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level and gingival recession were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks after treatment of residual pockets. GCF samples were collected at baseline, 1 and 8 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: All treatment modalities resulted in significant reductions in PD and attachment gain. GI and BoP showed a greater reduction in both Group M and Group M + L than Group L (P < 0.001), but there was no difference between the Groups M and M + L (P > 0.05). No difference was also found among groups for other clinical parameters. GCF volume decreased significantly in the Groups M and M + L (P < 0.05) but there was no difference among the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results demonstrated clinical improvements on residual pockets in CP patients treated with all three modalities. Moreover, our findings suggest that application of diode laser as an adjunct to mechanical periodontal treatment doesn't demonstrate any additional clinical effect on the residual pockets.

Non-surgical periodontal management in scleroderma disease patients.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the periodontal status of people with scleroderma and their response to non-surgical treatment protocol aimed at controlling the evolution of the disease. The response to non-surgical periodontal treatment was tested on patients belonging to a scleroderma group and a control group: the data show an improvement of the periodontal conditions of all these patients in response to treatment. When compared on the same diagram, a slight remission of the periodontal disease was obtained in both scleroderma and healthy patients. This highlights the benefit to soft tissues produced by non-surgical periodontal treatment also in patients affected by systemic diseases.

[Prospects of endoscopic technology for diagnostics of inflammatory periodontal disease]. / Perspektivy primeneniya endoskopicheskoi tekhnologii dlya diagnostiki vospalitel'nykh zabolevanii parodonta.

The aim of the study was to analyze research methods for periodontitis severity and elaborate the most effective diagnostic combination. Twenty patients with moderate periodontal disease were included in the study. In addition to conventional diagnostic methods depth of periodontal pockets (PP) was measured by means of endoscopic system and cone bean CT. Differences in PP depth estimated by probing and endoscopic evaluation was 1.2±0.4 mm proving endoscopic method to be useful and most precise tool for periodontal diagnostics.

Six-month outcomes in dental patients identified with hyperglycaemia: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To assess an approach to improving behavioural and glycaemic outcomes in dental patients who present with diabetes risk factors and previously unrecognized hyperglycaemia. METHODS: We randomized 101 individuals identified with potential diabetes or pre-diabetes into two interventions. In the basic/control intervention, participants were informed about their diabetes risk factors and blood test result, and advised to see a physician. In the enhanced/test intervention, patients received a detailed explanation of findings and their implications, a written report for the physician, and were contacted at 2 and 4 months to inquire whether medical follow-up had occurred. At a 6-month re-evaluation, outcome measures included visit to physician, positive lifestyle changes and reduction in HbA1c. RESULTS: Seventy-three subjects returned for the 6-month visit. The two intervention groups did not significantly differ in any of the outcome variables. Eighty-four percent of subjects reported having visited a physician post-randomization, and 49% reported at least one positive lifestyle change as a result of our intervention. In subjects identified with potential diabetes (baseline HbA1c ≥ 6.5%), HbA1c was reduced 1.46 ± 0.28% compared to baseline (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Diabetes risk assessment and education by dental professionals of affected individuals unaware of their status may contribute to improved patient outcomes.

Laser supported reduction of specific microorganisms in the periodontal pocket with the aid of an Er,Cr:YSGG laser: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a radial firing tip of an Er,Cr:YSGG laser as an adjunct to a nonsurgical periodontal treatment. METHODS: Twelve patients with chronic or aggressive periodontitis were treated by conventional periodontal treatment using ultrasonic devices and hand instruments and, additionally, in two quadrants with an Er,Cr:YSGG laser. A new radial firing tip (RFPT 14-5, Biolase) was used with 1.5 W, 30 Hz, 11% air, 20% water, and pulse duration 140 µs. Microbiological smears were taken before treatment, one day after lasing, and three and six months after lasing. Pocket depths of all periodontal sites were measured before and six months after treatment. RESULTS: The total bacterial load of Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans inside the pocket was reduced significantly throughout the whole examination time. Greater pocket depth reductions were observed in all groups. There was a slight higher reduction of pocket depth in the lased group after six months. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the thesis that Er,Cr:YSGG laser supported periodontal treatment leads to a significant reduction of periopathogenes and thereby helps the maintenance of periodontal health.

Development and validation of a self-reported periodontal disease measure among Jordanians.

BACKGROUND: The development of self-reported measures of periodontal disease would be of great benefit to facilitate epidemiological studies of periodontal disease on a larger scale, and to allow for surveillance of the periodontal condition of populations over time. OBJECTIVES: To develop a culturally adapted self-reported measure of periodontal disease, test its predictive and discriminative validity and establish a cut-off value for this measure to diagnose periodontal disease. METHODS: A total of 288 Jordanian adults completed the questionnaire assessing self-reported periodontal health (18 questions) and underwent periodontal examination. Of the 18 questions, six were significantly associated with at least one clinical definition of periodontitis and were used to constitute the self-reported periodontal disease measure. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses were used to examine the overall discriminatory power, sensitivity and specificity, and corresponding cut-off points of the self-reported periodontal disease measure. RESULTS: ROC analysis showed that the self-reported periodontal disease measure had an excellent performance to discriminate between those with and without periodontal disease, regardless of the clinical definition used. A score of 2, on a scale of 0 to 6, had the highest sensitivity and specificity to detect periodontal disease when defined by all study criteria. Significant associations were observed between self-reported periodontal disease measures and all clinical definitions in the regression analysis (the odds ratio ranged from 8.31 to 18.96), according to the clinical definition to be predicted. CONCLUSION: Self-reported periodontal disease measures have excellent predictive and discriminative validity when tested against clinical definitions, and severity and extent of periodontal disease.

Levels of Myeloperoxidase and Alkaline Phosphatase in Periimplant Sulcus Fluid in Health and Disease and After Nonsurgical Therapy.

PURPOSE: The study evaluated 2 biomarkers (myeloperoxidase [MPO] and alkaline phosphatase) along with clinical parameters in periimplant sulcus fluid (PISF) in conditions of periimplant health and disease. The effect of nonsurgical therapy was also evaluated on the biochemical and clinical parameters in diseased implants at 3 months after the baseline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 30 implants were studied in 20 subjects and divided into healthy group (group 1) and periimplant disease group (group 2). PISF was collected in both groups along with recording of clinical parameters. The periimplant disease group was then instituted a nonsurgical anti-infective therapy. The clinical and biochemical parameters were evaluated and compared at baseline and at the end of 3 months. RESULTS: Group 2 showed statistically significant higher PISF MPO values at baseline as compared with groups 1 and 2 (at 3 months) (P < 0.001). Also, difference in the mean value of PISF MPO in group 2 (at 3 months) was greater than that in group 1 and was statistically nonsignificant (P = 1.85). CONCLUSION: Within confines of the study, it can be concluded that evaluation of biochemical markers in PISF can be a useful diagnostic tool to aid the clinician in decision making regarding the management of the condition.

[THE MOLECULAR GENETIC CHARACTERISTIC OF SPECIES CONTENT OF SALIVA AND GINGIVAL RECESS UNDER PERIODONTITIS].

The examination was carried out of samplings of 110 patients with periodontitis (observation group) and 60 patients without pathology of periodont (comparison group). The polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze samples of saliva and contents of periodontal recesses for detecting species-specific DNA fragments of Porphymmonas gigngivalis, Streptococcus macacae, S. mutans, S. oralis, S. salivarius, S. sangis, S. sobrinus, Treponema denticola. In patients with periodontitis S. mutans, S. oralis S. sobrinus were reliably more often detected in the content of periodontal recesses and S. mutans, S. sobrinus i in saliva. In the observation group the rate of detection of association S. mutans--S. oralis--S. sangis--S. sobrinus was significantly exceeded (up to 15.6%, X2 = 9.1, p = 0.004). In ten days of effective treatment of periodontitis reliable decreastng of rate of detection of S. wasoralis, S. sobrinus was observed in contents of periodontal recesses but not in of saliva. The detection of S.sobrinus using technique of polymerase chain reaction in contents of periodontal recesses and/or saliva of patients with periodontitis has a diagnostic value. The detection of S.sobrinus in contents of periodontal recesses is significant both in monoculture and in association S. mutans--S. oralis--S. sangis--S.sobrinus. The absence of S. sobrinus in contents of periodontal recesses testifies effectiveness of treatment of main disease (periodontitis).

Inter-rater agreement in the diagnosis of mucositis and peri-implantitis.

AIM: The objective was to assess the inter-rater agreement in the diagnosis of mucositis and peri-implantitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult patients with ≥ 1 dental implant were eligible. Three operators examined the patients. One examiner allocated the patients to three groups of nine as follows: nine implants with peri-implantitis, nine implants with mucositis, and 9 implants with healthy mucosa. Each examiner recorded on all 27 patients (one implant per patient) recessions, probing depth, bleeding on probing, suppuration, keratinized tissue depth and bone loss, leading to a final diagnosis of mucositis, peri-implantitis or healthy mucosa. Examiners were independent and blinded to each other. RESULTS: Fleiss k-statistic with quadratic weight in the diagnosis of peri-implantitis and mucositis was 0.66 [CI95%: 0.45-0.87]. A complete agreement was obtained only in 14 cases (52%). Fleiss k-statistics in bleeding on probing and bone loss were respectively 0.31 [CI95%: 0.20-0.41] and 0.70 [CI95%: 0.45-0.94]. Intra-class correlation coefficients for recession, probing depth and keratinized tissue depth were respectively 0.69 [CI95%: 0.62-0.75], 0.54 [CI95%: 0.44-0.63] and 0.56 [CI95%: 0.27-0.77]. CONCLUSIONS: The inter-rater agreement in the diagnosis of peri-implant disease was qualified as merely good. This could also be due in part to the unclear definition of peri-implantitis and mucositis.

Matrix metalloproteinases and myeloperoxidase in gingival crevicular fluid provide site-specific diagnostic value for chronic periodontitis.

AIM: To identify the diagnostic accuracy of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) candidate biomarkers to discriminate periodontitis from the inflamed and healthy sites, and to compare the performance of two independent matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 immunoassays. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross sectional study. GCF (N = 58 sites) was collected from healthy, gingivitis and chronic periodontitis volunteers and analysed for levels of azurocidin, chemokine ligand 5, MPO, TIMP-1 MMP-13 and MMP-14 by ELISA or activity assays. MMP-8 was assayed by immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) and ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using linear mixed-effects models and Bayesian statistics in R and Stata V11. RESULTS: MMP-8, MPO, azurocidin and total MMP-13 and MMP-14 were higher in periodontitis compared to gingivitis and healthy sites (p < 0.05). A very high correlation between MPO and MMP-8 was evident in the periodontitis group (r = 0.95, p < 0.0001). MPO, azurocidin and total levels of MMP-8, MMP-13 and MMP-14 showed high diagnostic accuracy (≥0.90), but only MMP-8 and MPO were significantly higher in the periodontitis versus gingivitis sites. MMP-8 determined by IFMA correlated more strongly with periodontal status and showed higher diagnostic accuracy than ELISA. CONCLUSIONS: MPO and collagenolytic MMPs are highly discriminatory biomarkers for site-specific diagnosis of periodontitis. The comparison of two quantitative MMP-8 methods demonstrated IFMA to be more accurate than ELISA.

Salivary biomarkers of bacterial burden, inflammatory response, and tissue destruction in periodontitis.

AIM: Chronic periodontitis has an episodic and multifactorial character, with fluctuations in bacterial burden, inflammatory response, and tissue destruction. We investigated the association of selected salivary biomarkers with periodontal parameters and validated the use of a novel salivary diagnostic approach, the cumulative risk score (CRS), in detection of periodontitis in subjects with angiographically verified coronary artery disease diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and Porphyromonas gingivalis were analysed from saliva of 493 subjects. The subjects participated in a detailed clinical and radiographic oral examination. The CRS index, combining the three salivary biomarkers, was calculated for each subject. RESULTS: High salivary concentrations of MMP-8, IL-1ß, and P. gingivalis were associated with deepened periodontal pockets and alveolar bone loss, and MMP-8 and IL-1ß with bleeding on probing. The CRS index had a stronger association with moderate to severe periodontitis (OR 6.13; 95% CI 3.11-12.09) than any of the markers alone. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary concentrations of MMP-8, IL-1ß, and P. gingivalis are associated with various clinical and radiographic measures of periodontitis. The CRS index, combining the three salivary biomarkers, is associated with periodontitis more strongly than any of the markers alone regardless of the coronary artery disease status of the patients.

Peri-implantitis diagnosis and treatment by New Zealand periodontists and oral maxillofacial surgeons.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the understanding, diagnosis and management of peri-implantitis by New Zealand periodontists and oral maxillofacial surgeons (OMFS). DESIGN: Telephone interviews (in combination with a postal and electronic survey) were conducted of all 25 periodontists and 32 OMFS listed as specialists on the New Zealand Dental Register. A seven item multi-choice and short answer questionnaire was used to investigate: their definition of peri-implantitis; the number of annual referrals received in their practice for this condition; their diagnostic, preventive and treatment strategies for peri-implantitis; and their perception of the role of general dental practitioners in its management. RESULTS: The participation rate was 84.6%. Most respondents defined peri-implantitis as a disease of multifactorial aetiology that leads to destruction of the bone supporting an implant. The average number of cases seen annually differed between periodontists (11 cases/year) and OMFS (4 cases/year). The criteria used by the respondents to diagnose peri-implantitis included increased probing depths and radiographic evidence of bone loss. Each type of specialist used mechanical debridement for treatment, but a higher proportion of OMFS performed surgical procedures as treatment. The prevention strategies used smoking cessation advice and ensuring good plaque control. All respondents agreed that peri-implantitis is an important disease that can lead to implant failure, and all acknowledged the role of general dental practitioners in diagnosis, referral for treatment and long-term implant maintenance. CONCLUSION: The definition, diagnostic criteria and management strategies used by New Zealand specialists are generally consistent with those found in the literature. No evidence-based, gold standard treatment protocol for peri-implantitis has been identified in the literature, and New Zealand specialists use a range of treatment modalities.

Periodontal disease in general practice--an update on the essentials.

Periodontal disease has a wide spectrum of presentation, any of which can have an effect on the patient's dental well-being and overall quality of life. This sporadic but sometimes rapidly progressing condition can easily be missed in a busy general practice setting. It is essential that the correct diagnosis is made and our duty of care to the patient fulfilled. If the condition, along with the treatment options and appropriate advice, is not explained to the patient, the individual may well feel that he/she has been let down by the professional person trusted over many years. Clinical Relevance: This article discusses the screening and referral of periodontal patients, taking into account the medico-legal challenges that are currently faced by general dental practitioners (GDPs).

Simplified basic periodontal examination (BPE) in children and adolescents: a guide for general dental practitioners.

UNLABELLED: Dental plaque-induced periodontal diseases are common in children and adults. Guidelines were previously not available for the periodontal screening of under 18s. However, new guidelines have been introduced by the British Society of Periodontology and the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry which set out recommendations for the periodontal screening and management of under 18s in primary dental care. This article provides a practical guide for general dental practitioners on how to use the BPE in children and adolescents, and highlights the importance of early detection and management of periodontal diseases in this age group. A failure to use the modified BPE in a young patient who is later diagnosed with periodontitis may leave a dentist vulnerable to a medico-legal complaint or claim. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: New BPE guidelines for children and adolescents have been introduced by the BSPD and BSP; it is important that all dentists are aware of these guidelines and how to implement them in general practice.

Peri-implantitis: etiology, diagnosis and treatment: an update.

Peri-implant mucositis is described as the presence of inflammation in the mucosa around implants without any bone loss. By contrast, in peri-implantitis, besides the inflammation in the peri-implant mucosa, loss of supporting bone is also seen. The probing depth, the presence of bleeding on probing, suppuration and radiographs should be assessed regularly for the diagnosis of peri-implant diseases. Poor oral hygiene, smoking and previous history of periodontitis are known risk factors for the disease. The occlusion and longevity of fixed partial dentures around implants, whether connected to the natural teeth or not, is still an area of investigaton, but studies show that long-term results are acceptable for both. Various treatment modalities are discussed in relation to the management of periimplantitis. The predictable outcome of peri-implantitis management is not yet known.