Single-piece zirconia versus single-piece titanium, narrow-diameter dental implants in the anterior maxilla: 5-year post-loading results of a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate esthetic parameters in the anterior maxillary region by comparing single-piece zirconia versus titanium narrow-diameter implants. Additionally, clinical, radiological and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty implants (tissue level implant) were placed in 30 patients in the maxillary esthetic sector. Depending on randomization, a zirconia (test) or titanium implant (control) was placed. Esthetic, clinical, and radiological parameters, including the implant crown esthetic index (ICAI), pink esthetic score (PES), probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, plaque index, and marginal bone levels, were evaluated at 12, 36 and 60 months after loading. RESULTS: Sixty months after crown placement, no significant differences were found between groups. The ICAI values were 5.25 ± 4.21 and 4.50 ± 2.98 for the test and control groups, respectively. The corresponding PES values were 7.44 ± 1.93 and 7.43 ± 1.74 for the test and control groups, respectively. There were no significant intergroup differences for the rest of the parameters evaluated. CONCLUSION: It can be suggested that monotype zirconia implants may serve as a potential alternative to titanium implants in selected clinical scenarios. While the results demonstrated comparable esthetic, clinical, and radiological aspects for zirconia implants as compared to titanium implants after a 5-year follow-up period, further research with larger sample sizes and longer-term follow-up is recommended.

Critical-size defects reconstruction with four different bone grafts associated with e-PTFE membrane: A histomorphometric experimental in vivo study.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the newly formed bone and the remnant biomaterial by comparing four different bone grafts used to treat critical-size defects, associated or not with the non-resorbable membrane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two calvaria critical-size bone defects were created in 50 male Wistar rats. They were divided into blood (G1), autogenous (G2), bioglass (G3), hydroxyapatite (G4), and xenograft (G5) groups, associated or not with e-PTFE. The experimental periods were 15 and 45 days. Sections were prepared for histomorphometric assessment. All data were analyzed by the mixed-effects model with multiple comparisons (significance level, p < .05). RESULTS: A similar level of new bone was observed for all groups, associated with a high level of vascularization. G1 and G2 ensured sovereignty over the greater quantity of new bone. A non-significant result was reported comparing groups with and without membranes. No significant result was found between the experimental synthetic biomaterials (G3 and G4). G5L achieved 22.0% of new bone after 45 days (p > .05). All groups had a stable volume of biomaterial kept in the short term (p > .05). G2 was the best material for new bone formation and final volume of biomaterial, followed by G4 < G5 < G3. Thus, it is possible that G4 had a better degradation profile among the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: The best results were found in the autogenous group, with higher resorption and integration; non-significative new bone was found among the experimental groups; and the regeneration of critical bone defects using an e-PTFE barrier did not present significant results on new bone formation.

Histological and histomorphometric study of human palatal mucosa: Implications for connective tissue graft harvesting.

AIMS: To analyse the histological structure and histomorphometric characteristics of human hard palatal mucosa in order to determine the donor site of choice for connective tissue grafts from a histological point of view. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Palatal mucosa samples from six cadaver heads were harvested at four sites: incisal, premolar, molar and tuberosity. Histological and immunohistochemical techniques were performed, as was histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: In the current study, we found that the density and size of cells were higher in the superficial papillary layer, whereas the thickness of the collagen bundles increased in the reticular layer. Excluding the epithelium, the mean percentage of lamina propria (LP) and submucosa (SM) was 37% and 63%, respectively (p < .001). LP thickness showed similar values in the incisal, premolar and molar regions, and a significantly greater thickness in tuberosity (p < .001). The thickness of SM increased from incisal to premolar and molar, disappearing in the tuberosity (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: As dense connective tissue of LP is the tissue of choice for connective tissue grafts, the best donor site from a histological point of view is tuberosity because it is composed only of a thick LP without the presence of a loose submucosal layer.

Immediate placement of one-piece zirconia implants with or without xenograft into the buccal gap. Soft tissues as secondary outcomes of an experimental in vivo study.

OBJECTIVE: To histologically evaluate soft tissue healing following immediately placed one-piece zirconia implant and grafting a xenograft into the buccal gap. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The third and fourth premolars (PM3 and PM4) in both quadrants of the mandible of nine dogs were used for this experiment. Those teeth were removed flapless and implants were placed into the distal sockets in a lingual position. In one side of the jaw, the gap between the implant and the socket walls was grafted (test) while no grafting was performed in the contralateral side (control), randomly selected. After 6 months of healing, biopsies were obtained and prepared for histological analysis. Soft tissue measures like supracrestal soft tissue height (STH), length of barrier epithelium (BE), and connective tissue (CTC) were measured at buccal and lingual surfaces. RESULTS: The marginal mucosa was in a coronal position on the test side compared with the control side. At the buccal surface, the BE was longer in the test side than in the control side, while the CTC was longer in the control side than in the test side. For the STH (BE + CTC), the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The placement of a xenograft into the gap between a 1-piece zirconia implant and the buccal wall in dogs modified the process of soft tissue healing, providing less soft tissue recession. The gap size seems to have a modifying effect on the application of this protocol.

Immediate one-piece zirconia implants with/without xenograft in the buccal gap: A 6-month pre-clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: To histologically evaluate healing following grafting a xenogenous bone substitute in the buccal gap around the immediately placed one-piece zirconia implant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The third and fourth premolars (PM3 and PM4) in both quadrants of the mandible of nine Mongrel Hound dogs were used for this experiment. They have been removed, and the recipient sites were prepared. The implants were placed in a lingual position in the socket. In one side of the jaw, the gap between the implant and the socket walls was grafted (test) while no grafting was performed in the contralateral side (control), randomly selected. After 6 months of healing, biopsies were obtained and prepared for histological analysis. Vertical and horizontal measures were recorded in buccal and lingual surface. RESULTS: The hard tissue was in a coronal position on the test side compared with the control side. The bone thickness around ZLA (zirconia large-grit sandblasted and acid-etched surface) level was larger on the test side. On the test side, the first bone-implant contact and bone crest, at the buccal aspect, were more coronal to ZLA in PM4 while in PM3 the same happened with the bone crest. The width of the buccal bone wall was larger in PM4 than in PM3 at the ZLA level and 1 mm apical to ZLA. CONCLUSION: The placement of a xenograft in the gap between 1-piece zirconia implant and the buccal wall in dogs modified the process of hard tissue healing, providing additional amount of hard tissue.

Titanium vs ceramic single dental implants in the anterior maxilla: A 12-month randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare ceramic and titanium implants with respect to the esthetic and clinical parameters, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients received thirty implants (8-12 mm in length, 3.3 mm diameter, and a tissue level design) to replace single teeth in the anterior maxilla. Patients were randomly allocated to receive a ceramic or a titanium implant. Esthetic, clinical parameters, and PROMs were evaluated 18 months after surgery. RESULTS: At 12 months post-final loading, there were no significant differences between groups with respect to esthetics. Mean Index Crown Aesthetic score was 6.31 (95% C.I. 4.59-8.04) and 6.07 (95% C.I. 4.21-7.93) for ceramic and titanium implants, respectively. The pink esthetic score (PES) was 7.81 (95% C.I. 6.90-8.73) for ceramic implants and 7.86 (95% C.I. 7.11-8.60) for titanium implants, with no significant differences between groups. No statistically significant differences were found for any of the other clinical parameters and PROMs. CONCLUSIONS: Monotype ceramic implants have proven to be a good treatment option in the upper anterior sector, showing favorable esthetic results, being comparable to titanium implants. This clinical trial has been registered in clinical trials with the identifier CI_RCT_US16 and registration number NCT04707677. A retrospective registration of the clinical trial was carried out since registration was not mandatory on the date the study began.

Periodontal response to a tricalcium silicate material or resin composite placed in close contact to the supracrestal tissue attachment: a histomorphometric comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: Subgingival dental restorations and periodontal health have been studied for many years; however, there is a low histological evidence on the behavior of new materials in the supracrestal tissue attachment. The aim of this study is to analyze the periodontal response when a tricalcium silicate material (TSM) or composite margin restorations is placed to 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm from the bone crest with a histomorphometric analysis in dogs. METHODS: Nine mongrel dogs were used in this study: four dogs (8 canine teeth) for TSM group, 4 dogs (8 canine teeth) for composite group, and 1 dog (2 canine teeth) with cavities without restorations. Cavity preparation of 2×2×1 mm was created on the buccal aspect of the canines at 0.5 and 1.5 mm of the crestal bone. Cavities were restored with composite and TSM or were left unrestored as control. After 12 weeks of healing, the dogs were euthanized and blocks containing the tooth and soft tissues were processed. RESULTS: In all the specimens, the junction epithelium was stablished apical to the tooth preparations. A shorter distance to the bone (0.5 cavity) implies greater apical periodontal migration regardless of the material used. In the TSM groups, the connective tissue height and the distance between bone level and apical margin preparation were greater than those in the composite groups, while the epithelium height was less. However, there were no statistically significant differences comparing TSM and composite groups at either 0.5 mm or 1.5 mm (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Histologic analysis did not show periodontal reattachment to TSM or composite. In both cases, bone crest migrates apically. For that reason, it is recommended to perform composite restorations at the subgingival level whenever the distance to the bone crest is at least 2 mm. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Both composite and TSM do not achieve reinsertion of the connective tissue in the biological width.

Comparison of a polyethylene glycol membrane and a collagen membrane for the treatment of bone dehiscence defects at bone level implants-A prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present randomized, controlled clinical multicenter trial was to compare a polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a native collagen membrane (BG) for simultaneous guided bone regeneration at bony dehiscence-type defects around bone level titanium implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 117 patients requiring implant treatment in the posterior maxilla or mandible with expected buccal bony dehiscence-type defects at the placed titanium implants. According to a parallel groups design, defects were filled with a synthetic bone filler and randomly assigned to either PEG or BG membrane. As primary parameter, the relative vertical bone fill was assessed at baseline and at re-entry after 6 months of healing. As secondary parameters, the marginal bone level (MBL) was assessed radiographically and soft tissue conditions were recorded up to 18 months postloading. RESULTS: Both groups showed comparable vertical bone fill revealing a relative change in defect height of 59.7% (PEG) and 64.4% (BG). The absolute mean reduction in defect size was 2.5 mm in the PEG group and 3.2 mm in the BG group. Although both groups revealed a statistically significant mean defect reduction (p < .001), a comparison between the two groups did not show statistical significances. The non-inferiority test with inferiority limit of -5% could not be rejected, based on the 90% confidence interval of the differences of the two means with lower limit -15.4%. After 18 months, an MBL increase of 0.45 ± 0.43 mm in the PEG group and 0.41 ± 0.81 mm in the BG group was detected (p < .001). Soft tissue complications were observed in both groups without showing statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Both membranes supported bone regeneration at dehiscence-type defects and obtained vertical bone fill with a relative change in defect height of 59.7% (PEG) and 64.4% (BG); however, the non-inferiority of PEG could not be shown.

Histological assessment of hard and soft tissues surrounding a novel ceramic implant: a pilot study in the minipig.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate clinical and soft/hard tissues histomorphological outcomes of a ceramic implant comparatively to a titanium implant in a minipig model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen soft tissue level implants (9 Ceramic with ZLA(®) surface as test, and 9 titanium SLActive(®) as control, Institut Straumann, Basel, Switzerland) were randomly placed into the mandible of 6 minipigs (n = 6). Two months later, animals were sacrificed and block biopsies were obtained to assess histomorphological outcomes. Unadjusted paired comparisons, of both groups were performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The Dunnett-Hsu test was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: All implants showed excellent integration into bone and soft tissue. The fBIC (distance implant shoulder to most coronal implant contact) and BIC% (percentage bone-to-implant contact) were for both groups; test: 3.95 mm and 85.4%; control 3.97 mm and 84.3% respectively. No difference in peri-implant mucosa height was found, however, the sulcular epithelium was significantly shorter for the ZrO2 (mean: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.46-1.06) than for the Ti (mean: 1.40, 95%CI: 1.10-1.70) (p = 0.0090). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this pilot study, no difference was found between the ceramic implant with ZLA(®) surface and a titanium implant in terms of bone tissue integration. Furthermore, the epithelial attachment favoured this ceramic implant over titanium.

Available web-based dental implants information for patients. How good is it?

BACKGROUND: Massive use of the Internet for health issues has raised concerns about the quality of the information available and about consumers' ability to tell "good" from "bad" information. PURPOSE: To assess the quality of patient-addressed, dental implants-related websites in terms of reliability, accessibility, usability and readability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two search engines (Google and Yahoo) were used in this study. The first 100 sites, as listed by each engine, were considered for the study. Each site was categorised and analysed for quality using the DISCERN and the LIDA instruments. The Flesch-Kinkaid Reading Grade Level (FKRGL) and the Flesh Reading Ease Score (FRES) were used to assess legibility. RESULTS: After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 single websites entered the study. The median score for the DISCERN instrument (3 [2-3]) indicated serious or potentially important shortcoming in the quality of the information obtained. LIDA scores showed modest percentages for accessibility (79.36 [74.60-85.31]) and intermediate for usability (59.20 (50.46-68.51)) and reliability (55.55 [45.37-66.66]). Legibility indices reached scores within the range of difficult to read (FRES = 51.72 [38.70-55.27]); FKRGL = 12.76 [10.07-14.87]). CONCLUSIONS: Available e-health information on dental implants in English language is difficult to read for the average patient and poor in terms of quality.

Efficacy of alveolar ridge preservation with xenografts and resorbable socket sealing materials in the esthetic region: A systematic review with meta-analyses.

AIM: The present systematic review aimed to identify and summarize the clinical, radiographic, and histological outcomes of alveolar ridge preservation using bone xenografts and absorbable sealing materials compared with spontaneous healing in the esthetic zone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) fulfilling specific eligibility criteria were included. Two review authors independently searched for eligible studies, extracted data from the published reports and performed the risk of bias assessment (RoB 2 tool). Study results were summarized using random effects meta-analyses. RESULTS: Thirteen articles concerning 10 RCTs were included, involving a total of 357 participants. Most of studies were considered as "low" risk of bias. Meta-analyses indicated less horizontal (difference in means-MD = 1.88 mm; p < 0.001), vertical mid-buccal (MD = 1.84 mm; p < 0.001) and vertical mid-lingual (MD = 2.27 mm; p < 0.001) bone resorption in alveolar ridge preservation compared to spontaneous healing as assessed clinically. Bone changes assessed radiographically showed consistent results in terms of horizontal (at 1 mm: MD = 1.84 mm, p < 0.001), vertical mid-buccal (MD = 0.95 mm; p < 0.001) and mid-lingual (MD = 0.62 mm; p = 0.05) resorption. Part of the bone resorption in the spontaneous healing group was compensated by soft-tissues, since the observed differences between groups in linear ridge reduction evaluated through cast models superimposition were smaller (MD = 0.52 mm; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alveolar ridge preservation with xenogeneic bone substitutes and non-autogenous resorbable socket sealing materials is efficacious in reducing post-extraction bone and ridge changes in the esthetic region.

Protein-based salivary biomarkers for the diagnosis of periodontal diseases: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed at determining differentially expressed protein-based biomarkers detectable in the saliva for the diagnosis of major periodontal diseases. Methods: A literature review was conducted through January 31, 2022. The methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for case-control studies. Heterogeneity among studies was analysed with the Q statistical test and the I2 test. p-values lower than 0.10 and I2 values higher than 50% indicated high heterogeneity among studies; therefore, the random-effects model was used. The analysis of biological pathways associated with the differentially expressed protein markers was performed with the STITCH integration analysis tool and was limited to interactions with high confidence levels (0.7). Results: Of all protein-based biomarkers detected, 12 were suitable for meta-analysis: IL-1ß, MIP-1α, albumin, TNF-α, ICTP, Ig-A, lactoferrin, MMP-8, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 and PGE2. The salivary markers with high applicability were IL-1ß for differentiating patients with chronic periodontal disease from patients with gingivitis with an OE = 73.5 pg/mL; ICTP for differentiating patients with chronic periodontal disease from healthy control patients with an OE = 0.091 ng/mL; and PGE2 for differentiating patients with chronic periodontal disease from healthy control patients with an OE = 36.3 pg/mL. Conclusions: The biomarkers with the highest differential expression and the greatest potential for clinical applicability are IL-1ß for differentiating periodontitis from gingivitis, and ICTP and PGE2 for differentiating periodontitis from healthy status.

Autologous Platelet Concentrate of 2nd and 3rd generations efficacy in the surgical treatment of gingival recession: an overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Autologous platelet concentrate (APC)/platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) of second and third generations has increased use in periodontics to optimize wound healing. Few systematic reviews (SRs) have reported improved clinical outcomes, while other studies reported significantly better results for the connective tissue graft (CTG). There is still unclear clinical evidence about APC/PRF use to treat gingival recession (GR) defects. Then, the purpose of this SR was to evaluate the use of APC/PRF membranes (2nd and 3rd generations) in root coverage (RC) procedures and assess its efficacy as a substitute biomaterial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, Google Scholar, BookSC databases, and gray literature. The search strategy, without date restriction up to April 2020, included keywords as "platelet-rich fibrin," "autologous platelet concentrates," "blood," "systematic review," "periodontics," "surgery," "tissue," "gingiva," "gingival recession," "connective tissue," "graft," and "root coverage." The methodological quality was evaluated through the AMSTAR2, and a population, index test, comparator, outcome strategy was used to assess specific clinical parameters such as recession depth, clinical attachment levels, and RC outcomes. RESULTS: Nine SRs were included. Only three articles described the technique of APC/PRF production. Three studies reported unfavorable outcomes using APC, while six reported favorable results and postoperative discomfort reduction. Articles included in this SRs that provided information about APC/PRF membranes (n = 13) showed no significant difference between APC/PRF and the control group for the parameters analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: This implies that APC/PRF may be considered a feasible substitute biomaterial for treating GR defects, although the CTG still provides superior outcomes. Further long-term and controlled studies are needed to verify this finding.

Periodontitis as a Preterm Birth Risk Factor in Caucasian Women: A Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between periodontitis and preterm birth in a Spanish Caucasian population, based on clinical and biochemical outcomes. Epidemiological studies have suggested that periodontitis is a potential risk factor for preterm birth. However, other studies have shown high heterogeneity in their results. Some factors such as number of evaluations during pregnancy, sample size, study population and maternal age may have an impact on the variability of the result. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This cohort study enrolled 158 pregnant women, 39 with periodontitis and 119 without periodontitis. All pregnant women were evaluated in the first, second and third trimester. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in periodontal parameters between both groups, but no statistically significant differences were found in biochemical parameters during pregnancy. The duration of pregnancy in healthy patients was 38.78 ± 4.49 weeks, and in patients with periodontitis 37.81 ± 4.89 weeks, with no statistical difference (p > 0.05). This showed that periodontitis was not associated with preterm birth in a Spanish Caucasian cohort. CONCLUSION: In this study, periodontitis stage II, grade B, was not statistically associated with preterm birth. Pregnancy is a short period of time in order to evaluate long-term oral systemic infections. Adverse pregnancy outcomes are more difficult to occur. Thus, since pregnancy timing average cannot be changed, the stages of periodontal disease (initial, moderate, advanced) could be another factor to study.

Osseointegrated implants as orthodontic anchorage and restorative abutments in the treatment of partially edentulous adult patients.

One of the main limitations of orthodontic treatment in partially edentulous patients is the lack of anchorage to obtain desirable tooth movement. Coordination between the orthodontist, periodontist, and restorative practitioner is essential when planning treatment for these patients. Implants can be used not only in the definitive prosthetic solution but can also be of great benefit as stable abutments during orthodontic therapy. For ideal results, it is essential to establish an orthodontically favorable position for an implant and, more importantly, the best position for an adequate restoration following orthodontic treatment. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the use of implants in orthodontic movement to provide easier and more predictable restorative treatment.

Non-Surgical Treatment of Periodontal Disease in a Pregnant Caucasian Women Population: Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

AIM: To analyze if non-surgical treatment of periodontitis in a pregnant Caucasian women population can reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A parallel randomized clinical trial was designed and approved by the Ethical Committee of Sanitary Area Santiago-Lugo, Spain (registration number: 2016/451). Forty patients with periodontitis stage II grade B were randomly allocated to receive either comprehensive non-surgical periodontal therapy (test group; n = 20) or professional tooth cleaning (control group; n = 20) before 24 gestational weeks. Randomization was computer-generated by the statistic program Epidat v.4.1 and allocation was performed using sealed opaque envelopes. Clinical measurements and peripheral blood samples for biochemical variables were collected at baseline, in the middle of second trimester before non-surgical treatment, and in the third trimester. Microbiological samples were collected in the second and third trimester. A statistically significant reduction was verified in all clinical and microbiological parameters after periodontal treatment in the test group. No significant differences were observed for the rest of the variables, including preterm birth and/or low birth weight. No adverse events related to periodontal treatment were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Non-surgical periodontal treatment in Caucasian patients with periodontitis stage II grade B did not significantly reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Management of a crown-root fracture: A novel technique with interdisciplinary approach.

Anterior teeth with subgingival fractures require a complex treatment plan that addresses biologic, functional and aesthetic factors. This case report describes the management of a crown-root fractured maxillary left central incisor. An interdisciplinary approach was used to restore the tooth due to the complex nature of the treatment. Orthodontic extrusion was performed to move the fracture line above the alveolar bone and periodontal surgery to recontour the altered gingival margin. Finally, the incisor was restored performing a root canal retreatment with a fiber post and a full ceramic crown. The treatment resulted in secured periodontal health and good aesthetics. Key words:Crown-root fracture, orthodontic extrusion, crown lengthening, root canal retreatment, full ceramic crown.

Management of large class II lesions in molars: how to restore and when to perform surgical crown lengthening?

The restoration of endodontic tooth is always a challenge for the clinician, not only due to excessive loss of tooth structure but also invasion of the biological width due to large decayed lesions. In this paper, the 7 most common clinical scenarios in molars with class II lesions ever deeper were examined. This includes both the type of restoration (direct or indirect) and the management of the cavity margin, such as the need for deep margin elevation (DME) or crown lengthening. It is necessary to have the DME when the healthy tooth remnant is in the sulcus or at the epithelium level. For caries that reaches the connective tissue or the bone crest, crown lengthening is required. Endocrowns are a good treatment option in the endodontically treated tooth when the loss of structure is advanced.

Saving Single-rooted Teeth with Combined Endodontic-periodontal Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Teeth affected by combined endodontic-periodontal lesions are usually considered by all prognosis classifications as hopeless teeth. The development of new biomaterials combined with modern endodontic and periodontal regeneration techniques may improve dental prognosis and maintain the affected teeth. Moreover, 1 of the replacement options for those teeth, dental implants, has shown an increasing number of biological and technical complications. METHODS: Five patients were included in this case series study. Full periodontal and radiographic examination revealed generalized chronic periodontitis. Moreover, endodontic-periodontal lesions affecting single-rooted teeth were detected in those patients with tissue destruction beyond the apex. After splinting those teeth, conventional endodontic and nonsurgical periodontal treatment was performed. Three months later, periodontal regeneration was applied at those teeth in order to reconstruct supporting tissues and to improve dental prognosis. RESULTS: After a follow-up period ranging from 14 months to 17 years, it was observed that all teeth remain asymptomatic and in normal function. No signs of apical pathosis were observed, and the periodontium was stable. All patients were included in a strict maintenance program to check the periodontal and apical status. CONCLUSIONS: This case series shows that it is possible to change the prognosis of teeth affected by combined endodontic-periodontal lesions, even if the periodontal support is destroyed beyond the apex.

Combined Endodontic-Periodontal Treatment of a Palatogingival Groove.

A palatogingival groove is a developmental anomaly that predisposes the involved tooth to develop a severe periodontal lesion. These grooves often present a clinical challenge because diagnosis and treatment planning require an interdisciplinary approach. This case report describes the successful management of a right maxillary lateral incisor with a deep palatogingival groove in combination with an extensive periodontal pocket and pulp necrosis of the involved tooth. Collaborative management used a combination of endodontic treatment, periodontal therapy, odontoplasty, and a periodontal regenerative procedure using protein complex derived from enamel matrix (Emdogain; Straumann, Basel, Switzerland). Despite a predicted poor prognosis, the tooth lesion healed. This report also discusses the rationale behind the treatment modalities.