Comparison of the Effectiveness of the Ultrasonic Method and Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Combined with Intraoral Scanning and Prosthetic-Driven Implant Planning Method in Determining the Gingival Phenotype in the Healthy Periodontium.

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two diagnostic methods: ultrasonic gingival thickness measurement (UGTM) and cone-beam computed tomography, intraoral scanning by computer-aided design technology with prosthetic-driven implant planning software (CBCT/CAD/PDIP) in determining the gingival phenotype (GP). Thirty periodontally healthy patients were examined. The ultrasonic device Pirop G® with a frequency of 20 MHz and CBCT/CAD/PDIP were used to measure gingival thickness at upper canines and incisors in three points localized midbuccally, namely free gingival thickness (FGT), supracrestal (SGT) and crestal (CGT). Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and width of keratinized tissue (WKT) were measured using periodontal probe. Intra-examiner and inter-examiner agreement and agreement between methods were evaluated using Bland-Altman analyses. Comparing both methods in the determination of SGT (bias = 0.17 mm, SD = 0.25 mm, p < 0.000) and CGT (bias = -0.45 mm, SD = 0.32 mm, p < 0.000) 95.0% and 95.6% agreement were found, respectively, and in the FGT range only 93.3% (bias = -0.45 mm, SD = 0.32 mm, p < 0.000). The presence of positive correlations between WKT and SGT was shown. A positive correlation between SGT and WKT confirms the purpose of measuring these parameters for the evaluation of the GP. Both the ultrasonic method and cone-beam computed tomography combined with intraoral scanning and prosthetic-driven implant planning method were useful in determining gingival phenotype, however, the ultrasonic method was more accurate for measuring GT.

Polymer-Based Carriers in Dental Local Healing-Review and Future Challenges.

Polymers in drug formulation technology and the engineering of biomaterials for the treatment of oral diseases constitute a group of excipients that often possess additional properties in addition to their primary function, i.e., biological activity, sensitivity to stimuli, mucoadhesive properties, improved penetration of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) across biological barriers, and effects on wound healing or gingival and bone tissue regeneration. Through the use of multifunctional polymers, it has become possible to design carriers and materials tailored to the specific conditions and site of application, to deliver the active substance directly to the affected tissue, including intra-periodontal pocket delivery, and to release the active substance in a timed manner, allowing for the improvement of the form of application and further development of therapeutic strategies. The scope of this review is polymeric drug carriers and materials developed from selected multifunctional groups of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic polymers for topical therapeutic applications. Moreover, the characteristics of the topical application and the needs for the properties of carriers for topical administration of an active substance in the treatment of oral diseases are presented to more understand the difficulties associated with the design of optimal active substance carriers and materials for the treatment of lesions located in the oral cavity.

Preliminary In Vitro Study of Fluoride Release from Selected Ormocer Materials.

The purpose of the in vitro study presented in this paper was to determine the long-term release of fluoride ions from selected ormocer materials (Admira (A), Admira Flow (AF), Admira Seal (AS)). The release of fluoride ions from these materials into a saline solution (0.9% NaCl) and deionized water was tested for 14 weeks. In a long-term study the measurements were taken after 1 and 3 h, then 1, 2, and 3 days and then at weekly intervals for 14 weeks. In a short-term study the measurements were made after 3, 24, 48, 72, 69, 168 h, i.e., within 7 days. All materials used in the test showed a constant level of fluoride release. The highest level of cumulative release of fluoride ions into deionized water was found in the AS material (23.95 ± 4.30 µg/mm2), slightly lower in the A material (23.26 ± 4.16 µg/mm2) and the lowest in the AF material (16.79 ± 2.26 µg/mm2). The highest level of cumulative release into saline solution was found in AF (8.08 ± 1.30 µg/mm2), slightly lower in AS (7.36 ± 0.30 µg/mm2) and the lowest in A (6.73 ± 1.10 µg /mm2). After 1 h of immersion of the samples in the saline solution, the highest level of fluoride was released by AF (0.57 ± 0.06 µg/mm2) followed by A (0.20 ± 0.03 µg/mm2) and AS (0.19 ± 0.02 µg/mm2). Moreover, in the 14-week study, the total amount of fluoride release into the saline, which imitates the environment of the oral cavity, was observed as the highest in the AF sample.

Periodontitis and risk for preeclampsia - a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to review systematic cohort and randomized trials on the relationship between periodontitis and preeclampsia. Periodontitis is an independent risk factor for preeclampsia (PE), and periodontal treatment could play a significant role in the prevention of this pregnancy complication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 821 items (published until March 2019), thematically related to the relationship between periodontitis, its treatment and the incidence of preeclampsia, were collected from the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and the Polish Database of Medical Bibliography and analyzed. In the end, 6 cohort studies and 3 randomized controlled trials (from the years 2003-2016) were deemed eligible for the review. The main exclusion criteria were as follows: case-control and cross-sectional studies, medical and dental conditions. RESULTS: A significant relationship between periodontitis and the risk for developing preeclampsia was demonstrated in 5 cohort trials, which was not confirmed by only 1 study. A total of 2724 pregnant women, including 195 (7.16%) with PE, were analyzed. In 3 randomized trials which assessed the impact of non-surgical treatment (scaling and root planing = SRP) on the occurrence of preeclampsia, the preventive effects of the implemented treatment was not confirmed. A total of 116 women from the group of 1825 pregnant subjects undergoing the non-surgical treatment (SRP) and 116 women from the control group of 1827 pregnant women were subsequently diagnosed with PE, which amounted to 6.30% and 6.35%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The cohort studies indicated that periodontitis may result in an increased risk for developing PE. A more detailed analysis regarding the impact of potential risk factors and modification of further studies (clarification of how periodontitis and preeclampsia should be defined in observations, consideration of disease severity, earlier at 12-16 weeks of gestation - implementation of the non-surgical treatment, modification and extension of the classical protocol of the non-surgical treatment of periodontal diseases, as well as conducting European studies), are necessary due to considerable discrepancies in the available literature sources (cohort and randomized observations).

Local drug delivery in periodontitis treatment: A review of contemporary literature.

Traditional methods of non-surgical treatment of periodontitis, including mechanical scaling/root planing (SRP), do not guarantee remission of the disease. Local delivery of antimicrobial agents in periodontitis entails antimicrobial therapy placed directly in periodontal pockets. The advantage of this form of treatment is that the concentration of the drug after application significantly exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and persists for up to several weeks. Therefore, many systems of locally applied devices, using a variety of antibiotics or antiseptics have been developed. There is continuous research aimed at introducing new forms of locally administered drugs, some of which have not proved to be effective, while others are promising. For almost 30 years such systems have been used for treatment as an adjuvant to SRP, and their efficacy has been evaluated. The aim of this article is to systematically review the contemporary literature regarding the currently available chemotherapeutics locally administered in the treatment of periodontitis.

Risk assessment of the decay of asbestos cement roofs.

OBJECTIVES: In an assessment of the risk of asbestos fibres release from asbestos cement materials, an important role is played by the assessment of the surface corrosion and by the disaggregation of asbestos cement. The aim of this work is to evaluate the differences among several methods used for the risk assessment that lead to a specific choice of abatement techniques. METHODS: The state of deterioration of 40 asbestos cement roofs was evaluated using two priority assessment algorithms elaborated in Italy, the 'pull-up test' described by the Italian Organization for Standardization and the indicators described in the Italian legislation coupled with the observation of a small sample, taken from each roof, by a stereomicroscope. RESULTS: The results obtained with the methods, proposed in this study, for the risk assessment of the decay of asbestos cement roofs show slight differences among them, only one deviates from the others in judgement on the state of conservation of the roof. CONCLUSIONS: It is very important to train the operator conducting the study since a completely subjectivity-free method does not exist. Whatever method is used will always be affected by the subjectivity linked to the competency and the training of the operator. Moreover, each method on its own cannot assess the risk of exposure to asbestos, but reliable assessment of asbestos-containing materials requires the use of more than one method, such as visual inspections, a pull-up test, and an assessment algorithm.