One-Year Clinical, Microbiological and Immunological Results of Local Doxycycline or Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy for Recurrent/Persisting Periodontal Pockets: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

We evaluated, in this study, the clinical, microbiological and immunological effects of local drug delivery (LDD) or photodynamic therapy (PDT), adjunctive to subgingival instrumentation (SI) in persistent or recurrent periodontal pockets in patients enrolled in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) after one year. A total of 105 patients enrolled in SPT with persistent/recurrent pockets were randomly treated with SI +PDT or SI + LDD or SI (control). The number of treated sites with bleeding on probing (n BOP+), probing pocket depths (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), full-mouth plaque and bleeding scores (gingival bleeding index, %bleeding on probing-BOP) was evaluated at baseline and after 12 months. Additionally, eight periodontopathogens and the immunomarkers IL-1ß (interleukin)and MMP-8 (matrix metalloprotease) were quantitatively determined using real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. All three treatments resulted in statistically significant clinical improvements (p < 0.05) without statistically significant intergroup differences (p > 0.05), which were maintained up to 12 months. The presence of BOP negatively affected the PPD and CAL. Moreover, statistically significantly fewer bleeding sites at 12 months were observed in the test groups (p = 0.049). Several periodontopathogens were reduced after 12 months. In conclusion, the present data indicate that in periodontal patients enrolled in SPT, treatment of persistent/recurrent pockets with SI alone or combined with either PDT or LDD may lead to comparable clinical, microbiological and immunological improvements, which are maintained up to 12 months. Secondly, the presence of BOP directly impacts the PPD and CAL.

Clinical and Microbiological Evaluation of Local Doxycycline and Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy during Supportive Periodontal Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effects of subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone or combined with either local drug delivery (LDD) or photodynamic therapy (PDT) in persistent/recurrent pockets in patients enrolled in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). A total of 105 patients enrolled in SPT were randomly treated as follows: group A (n = 35): SI +PDT and 7 days later 2nd PDT; group B (n = 35): SI+LDD; group C (n = 35): SI (control). Prior intervention, at 3 and 6 months after therapy, probing pocket depths, clinical attachment level, number of treated sites with bleeding on probing (n BOP), full mouth plaque and bleeding scores (gingival bleeding index, %BOP) were recorded. At the same time points, 8 periodontopathogens were quantitatively determined. All three treatments resulted in statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) of all clinical parameters without statistically significant intergroup differences (p > 0.05). Several bacterial species were reduced in both test groups, with statistically significantly higher reductions for LDD compared to PDT and the control group. In conclusion, the present data indicate that: (a) In periodontal patients enrolled in SPT, treatment of persistent/recurrent pockets with SI alone or combined with either PDT or LDD may lead to comparable clinical improvements and (b) the adjunctive use of LDD appears to provide better microbiological improvements for some periodontal pathogens than SI alone or combined with PDT.

Biomaterial-based bone regeneration and soft tissue management of the individualized 3D-titanium mesh: An alternative concept to autologous transplantation and flap mobilization.

Three-dimensional augmentation in severely atrophic bone and after cancer resection is a challenging clinical indication that is mostly solved using autologous bone transplantation. The development of the digital technique along with the additive manufacturing and three-dimensional (3D) printing opened new avenues for reconstructive oral and maxillofacial surgery. Therefore, patient-specific titanium mesh is a novel means of stabilizing the augmentation region using particulate bone substitute materials (BSMs) combined with autologous bone as a minimally invasive concept. However, dehiscence is a frequently reported complication in this field. Therefore, the aim of the present case series was to introduce a biomaterial-based regenerative concept in terms of exposed open healing to overcome the dehiscence related to 3D-titanium meshes. Additionally, this case series presents a novel protocol using a combination of xenogeneic BSMs with an autologous blood concentrate system (platelet-rich fibrin [PRF]) and collagen matrices without any autologous transplantation. Seven patients with alveolar ridge atrophy with different etiologies (cancer resection, severe atrophy after tooth loss, aplasia, trauma, implant infections) were treated using the open-healing concept. Therefore, after 3D augmentation using the described biomaterials, the flap margins were approximated, and the gap between the flap margins was bridged using a collagen matrix loaded with liquid PRF that was then covered by either a PTFE-based membrane or sterile latex. No periosteum splitting was performed at any time point. After a healing period of 4-8 months, all patients received dental implants as virtually planned. Bone biopsies were performed during dental insertion for histological evaluation. The augmentation area displayed a vital and well-vascularized newly formed bone that incorporated the BSM granules to build a hybrid bone. Additionally, open healing resulted in newly formed soft tissue without any signs of scar formation or fibrosis. The regenerated soft tissue was used to build a new flap during implant insertion and showed good functional and aesthetic results after implant insertion. The open-healing concept of the regeneration of the soft tissue along with bone tissue to regenerate a harmonic implantation bed is a minimally invasive intervention without periosteum splitting or large flap mobilization. However, further controlled clinical studies are needed to evaluate this concept in a larger patient cohort to outline the potential clinical benefit.

Photodynamic therapy as adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment in patients on periodontal maintenance: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Recent preclinical and clinical data have suggested the potential benefit of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of periodontitis. However, currently, there are very limited data from controlled clinical trials evaluating the effect of PDT in the treatment of periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effects of the adjunctive use of PDT in non-surgical periodontal treatment in patients receiving supportive periodontal therapy. Twenty-four patients receiving regularly supportive periodontal therapy were randomly treated with either subgingival scaling and root planing followed by a single episode of PDT (test) or subgingival scaling and root planing alone (control). The following parameters were evaluated at baseline and at 3 months and 6 months after therapy: full mouth plaque score (FMPS), full mouth bleeding score (FMBS), bleeding on probing (BOP) at experimental sites, probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession (REC), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Primary outcome variables were changes in PPD and CAL. Microbiological evaluation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.), Prevotella intermedia (P.i.), Tannerella forsythensis (T.f.), Treponema denticola (T.d.), Peptostreptococcus micros (P.m.), Fusobacterium nucleatum (F.n.), Campylobacter rectus (C.r.), Eubacterium nodatum (E.n.), Eikenella corrodens (E.c.), and Capnocytophaga species (C.s.) was also performed at baseline and at 3 months and 6 months after therapy, using a commercially available polymerase chain reaction test. No differences in any of the investigated parameters were observed at baseline between the two groups. At 3 months and 6 months after treatment, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of PPD, CAL and FMPS. At 3 months and 6 months, a statistically significantly higher improvement of BOP was found in the test group. At 3 months after therapy, the microbiological analysis showed a statistically significant reduction of F.n. and E.n. in the test group. At 6 months, statistically significantly higher numbers of E.c. and C.s. were detected in the test group. The additional application of a single episode of PDT to scaling and root planing failed to result in an additional improvement in terms of PPD reduction and CAL gain, but it resulted in significantly higher reduction of bleeding scores than following scaling and root planing alone.

Photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Recent preclinical and clinical data have suggested a potential benefit of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of periodontitis. However, there are very limited data from controlled clinical trials evaluating the effect of PDT in the treatment of periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiologic effects of the adjunctive use of PDT to non-surgical periodontal treatment. METHODS: Twenty-four subjects with chronic periodontitis were randomly treated with scaling and root planing followed by a single episode of PDT (test) or scaling and root planing alone (control). Full-mouth plaque score (FMPS), full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS), probing depth (PD), gingival recession, and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured at baseline and 3 and 6 months after therapy. Primary outcome variables were changes in PD and CAL. Microbiologic evaluation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans), Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia (previously T. forsythensis), Treponema denticola, Parvimonas micra (previously Peptostreptococcus micros or Micromonas micros), Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Eubacterium nodatum, Eikenella corrodens, and Capnocytophaga spp. was performed at baseline and 3 and 6 months following therapy by using a commercially available polymerase chain reaction test. RESULTS: At 3 and 6 months after treatment, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to CAL, PD, FMPS, or microbiologic changes. At 3 and 6 months, a statistically significantly greater improvement in FMBS was found in the test group. CONCLUSION: The additional application of a single episode of PDT to scaling and root planing failed to result in an additional improvement in terms of PD reduction and CAL gain, but it resulted in a significantly higher reduction in bleeding scores compared to scaling and root planing alone.

Tissue responses to an experimental calcium phosphate cement and mineral trioxide aggregate as materials for furcation perforation repair: a histological study in dogs.

The aim was to evaluate histologically the inflammatory reactions and tissue responses to an experimental tricalcium phosphate cement (TCP) and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) when used as repair materials in furcation perforations in dogs. Perforations were performed in 24 mandibular premolars of six anaesthetised dogs and filled either with ProRoot MTA (grey) or TCP. The root canals were subsequently shaped and filled, and the access cavities were closed with a bonded composite resin. The animals were killed at 12 weeks. After radiological examination, the teeth and surrounding structures were processed for light microscopy. Concerning the grades of inflammation, MTA exhibited significantly better results than TCP (chi-square test according to Pearson). No furcation was free of inflammatory cells. Mild inflammation was observed in nine of twelve cases with MTA and only twice in those with TCP. No significant differences were revealed between MTA and TCP in terms of bone reorganization or deposition of fibrous connective tissue (Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test). The grade of radiological examination corresponded with the grade of inflammation or differed by only one grade plus or minus. Perforations located in the furcation of teeth remain an endodontic and a periodontal problem with an uncertain prognosis, in spite of the promising modern materials applied.