Evaluation of a topical herbal patch for soft tissue wound healing: an animal study.

AIM: This study evaluated the effects of a topical herbal patch (PerioPatch®) for gingival wound healing in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mid-crestal incision was performed on each side of the edentulous anterior maxilla in 48, 6-month-old, Wistar rats. Full-thickness flaps were raised, repositioned and sutured. Four experimental groups were established: herbal patch, placebo patch, no patch and no patch and no surgery. Patches were placed immediately after surgery and replaced every 12 h for the following 3 days. Half of the animals were killed after 5 and the remaining ones after 12 days. Tissue blocks were retrieved and processed for histological and immunohistochemical evaluation. Epithelial gap, collagen contents, amount of macrophages, cellular proliferation and vascular contents were evaluated in the central incision area. Statistical analysis consisted of two-way anova. RESULTS: The herbal patch group presented the smallest epithelial gap at 12 days, the highest collagen content both at 5 and 12 days, a larger number of proliferating cells at day 5 and more numerous blood vessels at day 12. Macrophage number was similar in all groups. CONCLUSION: Herbal patch improved wound healing in this animal model.

Effect of enamel matrix protein derivative on healing of surgical supra-infrabony periodontal defects in the rat molar: a histomorphometric study.

BACKGROUND: Enamel matrix protein derivative (EMD) has proven to enhance periodontal regeneration in human and animal studies. The present histomorphometric study evaluated healing of combined supra-infrabony periodontal defects with EMD. METHODS: The study comprised two groups of 10 Wistar rats each, 7 to 8 months old. Bony defects were created on the mesial aspect of the mesial root of the first maxillary molar. The root surface was planed and 24% EDTA gel applied for 2 minutes and then rinsed with water. In the study group, EMD was applied, and in the control group, only propylene glycol alginate was applied. Animals were sacrificed 12 weeks after surgery, and block sections were removed, demineralized, and embedded in paraffin. For histomorphometric analysis, three sections from the central area of the defect were selected. Root, surgical defect, epithelial attachment, sulcus, supracrestal connective tissue, ankylosis, and the length and area of new cementum and new bone were measured. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences between the two groups were found for root and defect measures. The remaining parameters were calculated as a percentage of the defect. In the study group, smaller gingival recession (P = 0.05), deeper gingival sulcus (P = 0.05), and shorter junctional epithelium (P = 0.01) were found. New cementum was observed in the study group only (P = 0.02). Ankylosis was six times larger in the control group but not statistically significant. New bone formation was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Enamel matrix protein derivative enhanced periodontal healing in this model by reducing gingival recession and junctional epithelium along the root surface and enhancing the formation of new cementum.

Scanning electron microscope evaluation of two methods of resharpening periodontal curets: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Effective root planing demands sharp cutting edges on dental curets. However, after several strokes, they become dull and must be resharpened frequently. The purpose of this study was to evaluate by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the quality of the cutting edge of periodontal curets resharpened by 2 different methods. METHODS: Forty new detachable Gracey curets were used in this study. After similar blunting, all instruments were resharpened either with 10 strokes using an Arkansas fine-grit sharpening stone (AR), or with 7 strokes using a high-grit and -density aluminum oxide stone (CH). The cutting edges of each instrument were examined using SEM at 1 mm and 2 mm from the tip before and after the resharpening procedure. Bevel measurement and the amount of functional and non-functional wire edges (WE) on the cutting edge were evaluated. Data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures, 2-way ANOVA, and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: After blunting and resharpening, differences in bevel between groups were statistically non-significant. Generally, after resharpening, there were significantly more functional and non-functional WE in the AR group than in the CH group. There were significantly more instruments with a complete absence of WE in the CH group. CONCLUSIONS: The CH stone resulted in a smoother and better cutting edge than the AR stone. The procedure was easy to perform and required fewer strokes of the curet on the stone.