Changes in the Biomarkers of Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Endothelial Dysfunction Are Associated with Cardiovascular Risk in Periodontitis Patients.

Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and periodontitis (PT) show shared risk factors as result of the altered molecular mechanisms associated with pathological conditions. The aim of our study was to evaluate if the plasma biomarkers associated with endothelial dysfunction may also be related to alterations in the inflammatory status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Patients with PT, coronary heart disease (CHD), or both diseases as well as controls were enrolled. Plasma levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), 3-nitrotyrosine (NT), and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were assessed using HPLC. mRNA levels of caspase-1 (CASP1), NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in PBMC from the recruited subjects were quantified using real-time PCR. Patients with PT + CHD showed lower CoQ10 plasma levels and increased concentrations of NT in comparison to healthy subjects. ADMA levels were higher in CHD and PT + CHD patients compared to controls. Transcript levels of CASP1, NLRP3, and TNF-α were up-regulated in PBMC from all patient groups when compared to healthy subjects. Our results suggest a possible causal link between oxidative stress, high levels of NT and ADMA, and inflammasome activation, which may be involved in the endothelial inflammatory dysfunction leading to the pathogenesis and progression of CHD in PT patients.

Baicalin-Induced Autophagy Preserved LPS-Stimulated Intestinal Cells from Inflammation and Alterations of Paracellular Permeability.

Several studies have demonstrated a relevant role of intestinal epithelial cells in the immune response and in chronic inflammatory conditions, including ulcers, colitis, and Crohn's disease. Baicalin (BA), extracted from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis, has various beneficial healthy effects, including anti-inflammatory activity. However, few studies have evaluated BA effects on autophagic signaling in epithelial cell response to inflammatory stimuli. To explore possible beneficial effects of BA, HT-29 cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in presence or absence of BA, for 4 h. We evaluated mRNA levels of autophagy-related genes and cytokines, triggering inflammatory response. Furthermore, the expression of claudin 1, involved in the regulation of paracellular permeability was analyzed. BA treatment repressed LPS-induced expression of TNF-α and IL-1ß. The down-regulation of autophagy-related genes induced by LPS was counteracted by cell pretreatment with BA. Under these conditions, BA reduced the NF-κB activation caused by LPS. Also, BA restored mRNA and protein levels of claudin 1, which were reduced by LPS. In conclusion, in intestinal epithelial cells BA regulates the NF-κB activation and modulates both autophagic and inflammatory processes, leading to an improvement of paracellular permeability. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of BA can be associated to the regulation of autophagic flux.

Association of vitamin D in patients with periodontitis: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D has been considered to possess anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity, which may be a link for the known interaction of periodontitis (CP) and coronary heart disease (CHD). This study investigated the association between serum vitamin D levels and periodontitis in patients with CP and with CHD. Furthermore, the objective was to determine whether periodontitis and CHD had an impact on serum vitamin D levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, a total of 46 patients with CP, 45 patients with CHD, 45 patients with both CP and CHD, and 43 healthy patients were enrolled in the present study. RESULTS: Patients in the CP (17.4 ± 5.2 ng/mL) and in the CP + CHD (16.5 ± 5.6 ng/mL) group presented a significantly lower mean serum level of 25(OH)vitamin D compared to patients in the CHD (24.6 ± 3.7 ng/mL) and healthy control groups (29.9 ± 5.4 ng/mL) (P < .001). 25(OH)vitamin D levels were positively correlated with the number of teeth and negatively with C-reactive protein (CRP) and all periodontal parameters (P < .001). In all patients, there was a proportional increase of 25(OH)vitamin D levels with a progressive increase in number of teeth (P-trend <.001) while there were a proportional decrease in 25(OH)vitamin D levels with a progressive increase in clinical attachment level (CAL, P-trend = .001), probing depth (PD, P-trend = .006), and bleeding sites (BOP, P-trend <.001) levels. CONCLUSION: Patients with CP and CP + CHD presented significantly lower serum levels of vitamin D compared to CHD and healthy controls. Moreover, the presence of CP negatively influenced serum vitamin D levels.

Association between periodontitis and glycosylated haemoglobin before diabetes onset: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between serum glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and periodontal status in patients with periodontitis (CP) and periodontally healthy controls. Furthermore, the objectives were to determine if the periodontitis influenced the serum HbA1c levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 93 patients with CP and 95 periodontally healthy subjects were enrolled in the present study using a cross-sectional design. At baseline, patients were examined and characterized on a regular basis for blood serum parameters and non-fasting blood samples levels. In all patients, a full periodontal examination was performed and clinical attachment loss (CAL) was the primary outcome variable chosen. The spearman correlation, a stepwise multivariable linear regression, and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests were applied in order to assess the relationship between HbA1c levels and periodontitis. RESULTS: Patients in the CP group presented a significantly higher median serum level of HbA1c [40.9 (31.2; 45.6) mmol/mol)] compared to patients in the healthy control group [35.3 (29.6; 38.6) mmol/mol)] (p < 0.001). HbA1c levels were negatively correlated with the number of teeth and positively correlated with C-reactive protein levels and all periodontal parameters (p < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the number of teeth when HbA1c levels increased (P-trend < 0.001), while there was a significant increase in periodontal parameters (CAL, p = 0.002); PD, p = 0.008; BOP, p < 0.001) when levels of HbA1c increased. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CP and undiagnosed diabetes presented significantly higher serum levels of HbA1c compared to periodontally healthy controls. Moreover, the presence of periodontitis was positively correlated with serum HbA1c levels before diabetes onset. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: HbA1c levels were positively correlated with the severity of periodontitis before diabetes onset.

Efficacy of a drug composed of herbal extracts on postoperative discomfort after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar: a randomized, triple-blind, controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated and compared the effectiveness of a phytotherapeutic drug composed of herbal extracts on postsurgical discomfort after mandibular third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients requiring the surgical removal of a mandibular third molar were randomly assigned to receive placebo (group 1), ibuprofen (group 2), and a phytotherapeutic drug (composed of baicalin, 190 mg; bromelain, 50 mg; escin, 30 mg) (group 3). Drugs were administered after tooth extraction twice a day for 5 days. The primary outcome, pain, was evaluated using a visual analogue scale at 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 7 and 10 days after surgery. The secondary outcomes were the changes in maximum mouth opening and facial contours (mm) between baseline and at 24 h, 72 h, and 7 and 10 days after surgery. RESULTS: Compared to the baseline, all treatments demonstrated an improvement in the primary and secondary outcomes. Moreover, compared to groups 1 and 2, patients in group 3 yielded a significant reduction of the postoperative pain score at 12 h (p < 0.001), 24 h (p = 0.010), and 48 h (p = 0.048) after surgery. The mean reduction of the swelling and trismus was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that a postoperative administration of a phytotherapeutic drug was found to be effective in postoperative pain management after the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The phytotherapeutic drug composed of herbal extract determined a decrease in the severity of postoperative pain compared to ibuprofen and placebo.

The impact of temporomandibular joint arthritis on functional disability and global health in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis on the functional disability and quality of life in patients affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two consecutive patients with JIA with or without TMJ arthritis and 35 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. The demographic data, disease activity and clinical characteristics were obtained from all patients. The functional disability was assessed using the Italian version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (C-HAQ). The oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was assessed using the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ11-14). Possible determining factors of TMJ arthritis comprised demographic, disease characteristics and scores derived from questionnaires that were assessed by a uni and multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with patients without TMJs arthritis, JIA patients with TMJ arthritis presented higher functional disability. The multivariable logistic regression analysis performed showed that female subjects (OR = 1.5, P = 0.041), with a JIA duration over 3.9 years (OR = 2.7, P = 0.033) and presenting higher C-HAQ and CPQ11-14 scores (OR = 2.7, P = 0.012 and OR = 2.9, P = 0.015, respectively) were the greatest determining factors for TMJ arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: JIA patients with TMJ arthritis presented higher functional disability and lower OHRQoL scores compared with JIA patients without TMJ arthritis. TMJ arthritis was strongly associated with JIA duration and activity, especially in female patients.

The effects of a desiccant agent in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapeutic agents have been widely used as adjuncts for the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP). This study investigated and compared a desiccant agent as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) versus SRP alone for the treatment of CP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six patients with CP were studied. Using a split-mouth design, the maxillary right and left quadrants were randomly assigned to SRP plus desiccant (Hybenx® EPIEN Medical, Inc. St. Paul, MN, USA) or SRP alone. Patients were examined on a regular basis for clinical, microbiological, and inflammatory mediator changes over a 1-year period. Clinical attachment level (CAL) was the primary outcome variable. In addition, the red complex bacteria and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) inflammatory mediators were monitored. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, both treatments demonstrated an improvement in periodontal parameters. Compared to SRP alone, SRP plus desiccant yielded a significant improvement in probing depth (PD) (SRP: 2.23 ± 0.31 mm vs. desiccant: 3.25 ± 0.57 mm, p < 0.05), CAL (SRP: 3.16 ± 0.29 mm vs. desiccant: 4.21 ± 0.34 mm, p < 0.05 mm) and bleeding on probing (BOP) (SRP: 4.56 ± 1.5% vs. desiccant: 34.23 ± 4.2%, p < 0.001) at 12 months. Similarly, in the SRP plus desiccant group, the bacteria of the red complex were significantly reduced (p < 0.05); and the level of inflammatory mediators was significantly reduced (p < 0.003) compared to SRP alone. CONCLUSIONS: SRP plus the desiccant resulted in a greater reduction in clinical, microbial and inflammatory mediators compared to SRP alone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Desiccant, when combined to SRP, was demonstrated as a significant approach to control the levels of certain periodontal pathogens, inflammatory mediators in patients with CP.

Clinical Efficacy and Patient Perceptions of Pyogenic Granuloma Excision Using Diode Laser Versus Conventional Surgical Techniques.

The use of laser in oral surgery and periodontology is a matter of debate, mainly because of the lack of consensual therapeutic protocols. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical advantages of diode laser versus traditional surgery with a cold blade for the surgical excision of pyogenic granuloma (PG). Twenty-one patients (10 males, 11 females, aged 19-66 years; mean age: 46.5 years), requiring PG excision, were enrolled in the study. Through a randomized clinical trial design, all patients were randomly subjected to PG surgical excision with either diode laser or cold blade. Parameters analyzed were the speed of incision, time of intervention, intraoperative bleeding, number of stitches, and patient compliance. Histologic examination was performed before and after surgical excision of the lesions. Patients compiled a subjective evaluation questionnaire. Both treatments were successful in surgical excision of PG. However, the mean speed of incision was significantly reduced in diode laser group (0.61 ±â€Š0.29 mm/s) compared with cold blade group (1.47 ±â€Š1.23 mm/s) (P < 0.05). The mean lengths of time for the whole surgical intervention were significantly lower in diode laser group (221.15 ±â€Š220.89 s) compared with cold blade group (316.10 ±â€Š248.69 s) (P < 0.05). Moreover, diode laser induced a reduced intrasurgical bleeding, and a better gingival healing compared with cold blade surgical treatment. This study demonstrated that the use of diode laser showed additional advantages compared with cold blade in terms of less postoperative discomfort and pain for surgical removal of PG.

Interdisciplinary approach for a patient with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

The oral rehabilitation of patients with cleft lip and palate is a challenge. The aim of this case report was to underline the importance of a sequential interdisciplinary approach to correct functional problems and improve facial esthetics for a patient with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Few clinical reports have described this treatment in a teenager. The patient, a girl, age 12.6 years, had a complete right cleft lip and palate with a Class II molar tendency and a full Class II canine relationship on the right side, and a full Class II molar relationship with a canine Class I on the left side. Transposed, impacted, and anomalously shaped teeth and crowding added to the patient's problems. Treatment included maxillary expansion and maxillary and mandibular extractions. An interdisciplinary approach was necessary to achieve proper occlusion and better esthetics.

Association Between Odontoma and Impacted Teeth.

Odontoma is considered to be the most common odontogenic tumor of the oral cavity. Most odontomas are asymptomatic and are discovered during routine radiographic investigations and can cause disturbances in the eruption of the teeth, most commonly delayed eruption or deflection. By a retrospective study design, demographic and clinical data regarding patients who presented odontomas from year 1995 to 2015 were obtained in order and the influence of active therapy on the dentition and on the treatment of impacted teeth was analyzed. Forty-five patients (mean age 14.2 years) with 29 complex and 16 compound odontomas were included in this retrospective study. Initial symptoms were delayed eruption of permanent teeth (n = 25), pain (n = 6), swellings (n = 4), and no symptoms (n = 10); 31 patients were discovered by incidence, all of them via panoramic radiographs. The mandible/maxilla ratio was about 2:1 (31/15). Thirty-two out of 45 odontomas were in close proximity of at least 1 tooth (n = 21 at incisive). A total of 12 teeth were extracted (complex: n = 8; compound: n = 4). Of the nonextracted teeth, 33 teeth were displaced and retained. Of those, 29 teeth were aligned through orthodontic-surgical approach and 4 teeth erupted spontaneously after surgery during the follow-up period. An early detection of odontoma is more likely an accidental radiological finding, hence the need for routine radiographic analysis should be emphasized. Early diagnosis of odontomas in primary dentition is crucial in order to prevent later complications, such as impaction or failure of eruption of teeth.

Influence of MTHFR Genetic Background on p16 and MGMT Methylation in Oral Squamous Cell Cancer.

Genetic polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme may influence DNA methylation. Alterations in DNA methylation patterns of genes involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, DNA repair, cell adherence and metastasis process are known to contribute to cancer development. In this study, the influence of the MTHFR C677T and A1298C gene polymorphisms on global DNA methylation and site-specific methylation on p16 and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoters was investigated in patients with oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC). To this aim, methylation studies were carried out by using genomic DNA isolated from saliva samples of 58 OSCC patients and 90 healthy controls. The frequency of the CT/AC and TT/AA genotypes was significantly higher in patients than in controls. Whereas no difference in global DNA methylation levels was observed between patients and controls, a higher frequency of methylation at both p16 and MGMT gene promoters was detected in patients compared with controls. A significant association between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and p16 and MGMT gene promoter methylation was found. The frequency of p16 and MGMT methylation was around 60% in patients with either the CT/AC or TT/AA genotype. Our results suggest that hypermethylation of cancer-related genes may be affected by MTHFR polymorphisms.

In vivo confocal microscopy analysis of enamel defects after orthodontic treatment: A preliminary study.

After orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances, bonded brackets and residual adhesive must be removed. This procedure should lead to restitutio ad integrum of the enamel or, at least, restore the enamel surface as closely as possible to its pre-treatment conditions. The purpose of this study is the in vivo assessment at a microscopic resolution of enamel surfaces after bracket debonding while avoiding the tooth extraction. Nine orthodontic patients who had brackets removed at the conclusion of orthodontic treatment were enrolled. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy imaging of dental enamel surface after debonding was performed for each patient. Eighteen upper incisors were analyzed, 10 in which the enamel demineralization appeared after the treatment and 8 in which the demineralization was present before the treatment. RCM analyses showed some speckled or roundish dark areas within the enamel. Moreover enamel alterations were detected at different levels of depth. The present in vivo microscopic study allowed for highlighting structural features in dental enamel, after debonding, at a microscopic resolution in real-time and in a non-invasive way, without the need for extraction or processing of the samples.

Effectiveness of orthodontic treatment with functional appliances on maxillary growth in the short term: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the treatment effects on maxillary growth of removable functional appliances that advance the mandible to a more forward position in patients with Class II malocclusion. METHODS: Sixteen electronic databases and reference lists of studies were searched up to April 2015. Only randomized clinical trials and prospective controlled clinical trials investigating Class II growing patients treated with removable functional appliances were included. Two authors independently accomplished study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. All pooled analyses of data were based on random-effects models. Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 14 studies were included (5 randomized clinical trials, 9 prospective controlled clinical trials) that collected data from 765 patients (405 treated, 360 untreated controls). The mean differences in treatment effect of functional appliances, relative to the untreated controls, were -0.61° per year (95% CI, -0.69° to -0.25°) for SNA angle, -0.61 mm per year (95% CI, -0.90 to -0.32 mm) for anterior maxillary displacement, and +0.07° per year (95% CI, -0.17° to +0.32°) for maxillary plane rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Removable functional appliances in Class II growing patients have a slight inhibitory effect on the sagittal growth of the maxilla in the short term, but they do not seem to affect rotation of the maxillary plane.

Transglutaminase 2 up-regulation is associated with RANKL/OPG pathway in cultured HPDL cells and THP-1-differentiated macrophages.

Recent evidence emphasized that transglutaminase 2 (TG2), a protein cross-linking enzyme, may play a role in the early phase of inflammation. High levels of TG2 have been associated with the constitutive activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) that is considered the main regulator of inflammation. In this context, the receptor activator of NF-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and receptor activator of NF-κB have extensive functions in the regulation of cytokine secretion associated with different pathological conditions. The human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells, which express and secrete osteoprotegerin (OPG) and RANKL, represent an useful "ex vivo" model for monitoring cell response in inflammatory microenvironments, such as periodontitis-dependent tissue response. Thus, we evaluated TG2 expression and alterations in RANKL/OPG ratio occurring in cultured HPDL cells. The HPDL cells were obtained from patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and healthy subjects. We observed the up-regulation of some inflammatory markers, such as IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB-1, and at the same time an increase in TG2 mRNA levels in HPDL cells from CP patients compared with healthy subjects. We found a positive correlation between RANKL/OPG ratio and TG2 mRNA levels in HPDL cells from CP patients. In the parallel experiments, we demonstrated that TG2 inhibition reduced RANKL expression in both HPDL cells from CP patients and monocytes differentiated to macrophages by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate treatment. Given the RANKL key role in NF-κB pathway and the observed up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, our data suggest that TG2 may be involved in molecular mechanisms of inflammatory response occurring in periodontal disease.

Early treatment of an ectopic premolar to prevent molar-premolar transposition.

Orthodontic treatment is planned on an individual, case-by-case basis after thoroughly considering the patient's overall facial and dental characteristics, the expected duration of treatment, costs, patient preferences, and the orthodontist's experience. This article reports the treatment of a patient with a maxillary premolar-molar transposition in the permanent dentition that was successfully managed with orthodontic treatment. A girl, aged 10 years 2 months, came for treatment with an ectopic maxillary left premolar. Radiographic analysis indicated a developing complete transposition of the maxillary left premolar. The patient was treated with extraction of the deciduous molar and surgical exposure and ligation of the premolar. Eruption was properly guided, and the correct order of the 2 teeth was restored in the arch. This challenging treatment approach is described in detail, including the mechanics used to align the ectopic premolar. Early treatment can, in many cases, prevent a molar-premolar transposition.

Load-deflection characteristics of superelastic and thermal nickel-titanium wires.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of superelastic and thermal nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires for correct selection of orthodontic wires. Seven different NiTi wires of two different sizes (0.014 and 0.016 inches), commonly used during the alignment phase, were tested. A three-point bending test was carried out to evaluate the load-deflection characteristics. The archwires were subjected to bending at a constant temperature of 37°C and deflections of 2 and 4 mm. Analysis of variance showed that thermal NiTi wires exerted significantly lower working forces than superelastic wires of the same size in all experimental tests (P < 0.05). Wire size had a significant effect on the forces produced: with an increase in archwire dimension, the released strength increased for both thermal and superelastic wires. Superelastic wires showed, at a deflection of 2 mm, narrow and steep hysteresis curves in comparison with the corresponding thermal wires, which presented a wide interval between loading and unloading forces. During unloading at 4 mm of deflection, all wires showed curves with a wider plateau when compared with 2 mm deflection. Such a difference for the superelastic wires was caused by the martensite stress induced at higher deformation levels. A comprehensive understanding of mechanical characteristics of orthodontic wires is essential and selection should be undertaken in accordance with the behaviour of the different wires. It is also necessary to take into account the biomechanics used. In low-friction mechanics, thermal NiTi wires are to be preferred to superelastic wires, during the alignment phase due to their lower working forces. In conventional straightwire mechanics, a low force archwire would be unable to overcome the resistance to sliding.

Effectiveness of orthodontic treatment with functional appliances on mandibular growth in the short term.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze the current literature for the best evidence (randomized clinical trials) about the efficacy of functional appliances on mandibular growth in the short term. METHODS: A survey of articles published up to September 2009 was performed by using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, LILACS, and Google Scholar. The reference lists of the retrieved articles were hand-searched for possible missing articles. No language restriction was applied during the identification of the published studies. A methodologic scoring process was developed to identify which randomized clinical trials were stronger methodologically. The selection process and the quality assessment were undertaken independently and in duplicate by 2 authors. A meta-analysis was attempted by using random-effects models. Clinical and statistical heterogeneity was examined, and a sensitivity analysis was performed. RESULTS: Electronic searches identified the following items: 146 articles were retrieved from PubMed, 45 from Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, 29 from Ovid, 42 from LILACS, 628 from Web of Science, and 1000 from Google Scholar. Thirty-two articles fulfilled the specific inclusion criteria and were identified as potentially appropriate randomized clinical trials to be included in this meta-analysis. Only 4 articles, based on data from 338 patients (168 treated vs 170 controls) with Class II malocclusion in the mixed dentition, were selected for the final analysis. The quality analysis of these studies showed that the statistical methods were at the medium-high level. The outcome measurements chosen to evaluate the efficacy of the various functional appliances were Co-Pg, Pg/Olp + Co/Olp, and Co-Gn and the values were annualized and standardized to a uniform scale with the standardized mean differences (SMD). The results of the meta-analysis from the random-effects model showed a statistically significant difference of 1.79 mm in annual mandibular growth of the treatment group compared with the control group (SMD = 0.61, 95% CI, 0.30 to -0.93; chi-square test, 5.34; 3 df; P = 0.15; I(2) = 43.9%; test for overall effect, Z = 3.83 and P = 0.0001). The sensitivity analysis showed a substantially similar outcome of 1.91 mm (SMD = 0.65, 95% CI, 0.25 to 1.25; chi-square test, 4.96; 2 df; P = 0.08; I(2) = 59.7%; test for overall effect, Z = 3.19 and P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the effect of treatment with functional appliances vs an untreated control group showed that skeletal changes were statistically significant, but unlikely to be clinically significant.

Human Dental Pulp Tissue during Orthodontic Tooth Movement: An Immunofluorescence Study.

The orthodontic tooth movement is the last step of several biological processes that take place after the application of external forces. During this process, dental pulp tissue is subjected to structural and protein expression modifications in order to maintain their integrity and functional morphology. The purpose of the present work was to perform an in vivo study, evaluating protein expression modifications in the human dental pulp of patients that have undergone orthodontic tooth movement due to pre-calibrated light force application for 30 days. Dental pulp samples were extracted from molars and premolars of the control group and after 7 and 30 days of treatment; the samples were then processed for immunofluorescence reactions using antibodies against fibronectin, collagen I and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Our results show that, after 7 days of treatment, all tested proteins change their pattern expression and will reset after 30 days. These data demonstrate that the dental pulp does not involve any irreversible iatrogenic alterations, supporting the efficacy and safety of using pre-calibrated force application to induce orthodontic tooth movement in clinical practice.