Periodontal debridement as a therapeutic approach for severe chronic periodontitis: a clinical, microbiological and immunological study.

AIM: To clinically, microbiologically and immunologically characterize periodontal debridement as a therapeutic approach for severe chronic periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients presenting at least eight teeth with a probing pocket depth (PPD) of >or=5 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) were selected and randomly assigned to quadrant-wise scaling and root planing or one session of full-mouth periodontal debridement. The following clinical outcomes were assessed: plaque index, BOP, position of gingival margin, relative attachment level (RAL) and PPD. Real-time PCR was used for quantitative analysis of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay permitted the detection of IL-1beta, prostaglandin E(2), INF-gamma and IL-10 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). All the parameters were evaluated at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: Both the groups had similar means of PPD reduction and attachment gain over time. Besides a significant reduction in the bacterial level after treatment in both groups, microbiological analysis failed to demonstrate significant differences between them. Finally, no difference was observed between groups with respect to the levels of inflammatory mediators in GCF. CONCLUSION: Periodontal debridement resulted in a similar clinical, microbiological and immunological outcome when compared with standard scaling and root planing and therefore may be a viable approach to deal with severe chronic periodontitis.

A double-blind randomized clinical evaluation of enamel matrix derivative proteins for the treatment of proximal class-II furcation involvements.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present randomized, double-blind study was to evaluate the clinical response of proximal furcations treated with enamel matrix derivative proteins (EMD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen patients, each with a pair of contralateral class-II proximal furcation involvements, presenting probing depths (PDs) >/=5 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) were selected. The patients were randomly assigned to: control group (n=15) - open flap debridement (OFD)+24% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) conditioning; test group (n=15) - OFD+24% EDTA conditioning+EMD application. Plaque index (PI), BOP, PD, gingival margin position (GMP), relative vertical and horizontal clinical attachment level (RVCAL and RHCAL), vertical and horizontal bone level (VBL and HBL) and furcation closure were evaluated immediately before and 2, 4 and 6 months after the surgeries. RESULTS: At 6 months, the RVCAL gains of the control and test group were 0.39 +/- 1.00 and 0.54 +/- 0.95 mm, while the RHCAL gains were 1.21 +/- 2.28 and 1.36 +/- 1.26 mm (p>0.05). The VBL and HBL gains of the control group were 1.04 +/- 1.12 and 1.00 +/- 1.79 mm, and 0.82 +/- 1.82 and 1.17 +/- 1.38 mm for the test group (p>0.05). In addition, a statistical difference was observed in the number of the remaining class-II furcations between the test and control groups (p<0.05) in this period. CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that the use of EMD in proximal furcations did not promote a superior reduction in PD or a gain in clinical and osseous attachment levels, but resulted in a higher rate of class-II to class-I furcation conversion.

Comparative study of ultrasonic instrumentation for the non-surgical treatment of interproximal and non-interproximal furcation involvements.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this clinical trial was to compare the outcome of non-surgical treatment of interproximal and non-interproximal Class II furcation involvements. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients presenting at least one Class II furcation involvement that bled on probing with a probing depth (PD) > or = 5 mm were recruited. Furcation involvements were grouped as either buccal and lingual furcation involvements (BLFI) or interproximal furcation involvements (IFI). The following clinical outcomes were evaluated: visible plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP), position of the gingival margin, relative attachment level (RAL), PD, and relative horizontal attachment level (RHAL). N-benzoyl-l-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) testing was used to analyze trypsin-like activity in dental biofilm. All parameters were evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after non-surgical subgingival instrumentation. RESULTS: Six months after treatment, both groups had similar means of RAL and RHAL gain (P >0.05). These variables were 1.22 and 1.07 mm in the IFI group and 1.38 and 1.20 mm in the BLFI group, respectively. The PD reduction was significantly greater in the BLFI group than in the IFI group (2.59 and 2.11 mm, respectively; P <0.05). The BLFI group presented fewer sites with PD > or = 5 mm than the IFI group at all post-treatment periods. At 6 months, the BAPNA test showed that only the BLFI group had values significantly different from baseline. This means that the BLFI group had significantly lower BAPNA values compared to the IFI group at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Buccal and lingual Class II furcation involvements respond better to non-surgical therapy compared to interproximal Class II furcation involvements.

Full-mouth ultrasonic debridement in the treatment of patients with diabetes and severe chronic periodontitis: preliminary study / Debridamento ultrassônico de boca toda no tratamento da periodontite crônica severa em pacientes diabéticos: estudo preliminar

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to clinically evaluate the effect of one-stage full-mouth ultrasonic debridement in the treatment of diabetic subjects with severe chronic periodontitis. Methods: Sixteen patients with uncontrolled diabetes (glycated hemoglobin ≥ 7%) and severe chronic periodontitis (at least 8 teeth with a probing depth and bleeding on probing were selected and randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: control group (n=7) - quadrant-wise scaling and root planning; test group (n=9) - full-mouth ultrasonic debridement in one session of 45 minutes. The following outcomes were assessed: plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, clinical attachment level and gingival margin position. All parameters were assessed at baseline, 1 and 3 months after treatment. Probing depth, clinical attachment level and gingival margin position were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test, and the other clinical parameters analysed with the Friedman and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: An improvement in probing depth, clinical attachment level was observed after treatment in both groups, but without statistically significant differences between them. After 3 months, in initially deep pockets, the PD decreased 1.6 mm and 1.7 mm in test and control group, respectively. Clinical attachment level gain ≥ 2 mm was statistically significant at sites in control (10.1%) and test (13,4%) groups in 3 months. Conclusions: One-stage full-mouth ultrasonic debridement promoted similar clinical outcomes to those obtained with the scaling and root planning in the treatment of diabetic subjects with severe chronic periodontitis.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar clinicamente o efeito do debridamento ultrassônico de boca toda no tratamento da periodontite crônica severa em pacientes diabéticos. Métodos: Dezesseis pacientes diabéticos descompensados (Hemoglobina Glicada ≥ 7%) com periodontite crônica severa (mínimo de 8 dentes com profundidade de sondagem ≥ 5 mm e sangramento à sondagem) separados aleatoriamente em 2 grupos: Controle (7): raspagem e alisamento radicular por quadrante e Teste (9): debridamento ultrassônico sessão única de 45 minutos. Os parâmetros clínicos avaliados foram: Índice de placa, Índice gengival, Sangramento à Sondagem, Profundidade de Sondagem, Nível de inserção clínico e Posição da Margem Gengival. As variáveis foram avaliadas no início, 1 e 3 meses após o tratamento. Para análise das variáveis quantitativas (Profundidade de sondagem, Nível de inserção e Posição da margem gengival de bolsas moderadas) foram realizados ANOVA e teste de Tukey e para as demais foram utilizados os testes de Friedman e Mann-Whitney. Resultados: Observou-se melhora na profundidade de sondagem e nível de inserção clínica após o tratamento em ambos os grupos, sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre eles. Após 3 meses, nas bolsas inicialmente profundas, a profundidade de sondagem reduziu 1,6 e 1,7 mm nos grupos teste e controle, respectivamente. Houve um ganho estatisticamente significante no nível de inserção ≥ 2 mm nos grupos controle (10,1%) e teste (13,4%), aos 3 meses. Conclusão: O debridamento ultrassônico de boca toda promoveu resultados clínicos semelhantes aos obtidos com a raspagem e alisamento radicular no tratamento da periodontite crônica severa em indivíduos diabéticos.

Comparative 6-month clinical study of a semilunar coronally positioned flap and subepithelial connective tissue graft for the treatment of gingival recession.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the outcome of gingival recession therapy using the semilunar coronally positioned flap (SCPF) or the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG). METHODS: Seventeen patients with bilateral Miller Class I buccal gingival recessions (

Povidone-iodine used as an adjunct to non-surgical treatment of furcation involvements.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of topically applied povidone-iodine (polyvinylpyrrolidone and iodine [PVP-I]) used as an adjunct to non-surgical therapy of furcation involvements. METHODS: Forty-four patients presenting at least one Class II furcation involvement that bled on probing with probing depth (PD)>or=5 mm were recruited. Patients were stratified into two treatment groups: 1) subgingival instrumentation by an ultrasonic device using PVP-I (10%) as the cooling liquid (test); and 2) identical treatment using distilled water as the cooling liquid (control). The following clinical outcomes were evaluated: plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP), position of the gingival margin, relative attachment level (RAL), PD, and relative horizontal attachment level (RHAL). The N-benzoyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) test was used to analyze the trypsin-like activity in dental biofilm. The clinical and biochemical parameters were evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after therapy. RESULTS: Both groups had similar means of PD reduction and RAL and RHAL gain. At 6 months, these variables were, respectively, 2.31, 1.17, and 1.00 mm in the control group and 2.31, 1.23, and 1.02 mm in the test group. There was also no difference between groups regarding the number of furcation sites presenting RAL gain>or=2 mm. The results of the BAPNA test failed to demonstrate significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Non-surgical therapy can effectively treat Class II furcation involvements, and the use of topically applied PVP-I as an adjunct to subgingival instrumentation does not provide additional benefits.

Surgical microscope may enhance root coverage with subepithelial connective tissue graft: a randomized-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive techniques have broadened the horizons of periodontal plastic surgery to improve treatment outcomes. Thus, the purpose of this clinical trial was to compare root coverage, postoperative morbidity, and esthetic outcomes of subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) technique with or without the use of a surgical microscope in the treatment of gingival recessions. METHODS: In this split-mouth study, twenty-four patients with bilateral Miller's Class I or II buccal gingival recessions ≥2.0 mm in canines or premolars were selected. Gingival recessions were randomly designated to receive treatment with SCTG with or without the assistance of the surgical microscope (test and control groups, respectively). Clinical parameters evaluated included the following: depth (RH) and width (RW) of the gingival defect, width (WKT) and thickness (TKT) of keratinized tissue, probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Postoperative morbidity was evaluated by means of an analog visual scale and questionnaire. Patient satisfaction was also evaluated with a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were expressed as mean ± SD. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for examination of differences regarding PD, CAL, and TKT. The Wilcoxon test was used to detect differences between groups and the Friedman test to detect differences within group regarding WKT, RH, and RW. RESULTS: The average percentages of root coverage for test and control treatments, after 12 months, were 98.0% and 88.3%, respectively (P <0.05). Complete root coverage was achieved in 87.5% and 58.3% of teeth treated in test and control groups, respectively. For all parameters except recession height, there was an improvement in the final examination but without difference between treatments. For the RH, a lower value was found in the test group compared to the control group (P <0.05). In the test group, all patients were satisfied with the esthetics obtained, and 19 patients (79.1%) were satisfied in the control group. For postoperative morbidity, 14 patients in each of the two treatment groups did not use analgesics for pain control. CONCLUSION: Both approaches were capable of producing root coverage; however, use of the surgical microscope was associated with additional clinical benefits in the treatment of teeth with gingival recessions.

Radiographic characteristics of furcation involvements in mandibular molars as prognostic indicators of healing after nonsurgical periodontal therapy.

BACKGROUND: The authors conducted a study to evaluate the radiographic characteristics of Class II mandibular furcation involvements as prognostic indicators of healing after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with chronic periodontitis (Class II furcation involvements in mandibular molars, probing pocket depth [PPD] of 5 millimeters or greater and bleeding on probing [BOP]) were selected to receive nonsurgical periodontal treatment. The authors evaluated visible plaque index, BOP, position of the gingival margin, PPD, relative attachment level (RAL) and relative horizontal attachment level. On radiographs, the authors measured root trunk, bone attachment level in the furcation region, lesion height (Lh), furcation width at alveolar crest level inside furcation (Fw) and 2 mm apical to the fornix (Fw2), and the perpendicular distance from the horizontal line connecting mesial and distal radiographic alveolar crest to furcation fornix. They analyzed all data using linear multiple regression. RESULTS: Six months after treatment, the furcations showed a mean RAL gain of 1.08 mm (+/- 1.25 mm) and a PPD decrease of 2.74 mm (+/- 1.58 mm). The authors found a statistically significant influence between Fw and PPD (P = .0044), Fw2 and PPD (P = .0014), Lh and PPD (P = .0241), and Fw2 and RAL (P = .0037). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that Fw, Fw2 and Lh may influence the response of Class II mandibular furcations to nonsurgical periodontal therapy and may serve as prognostic indicators for this therapy. Thus, narrower and shorter root furcations would be expected to have better outcomes.