Supra and subgingival application of antiseptics or antibiotics during periodontal therapy.

Periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) are characterized by inflammatory processes which arise as a result of disruption of the balance in the oral ecosystem. According to the current S3 level clinical practice guidelines, therapy of patients with periodontitis involves a stepwise approach that includes the control of the patient's risk factors and the debridement of supra and subgingival biofilm. This debridement can be performed with or without the use of some adjuvant therapies, including physical or chemical agents, host modulating agents, subgingivally locally delivered antimicrobials, or systemic antimicrobials. Therefore, the main aim of this article is to review in a narrative manner the existing literature regarding the adjuvant application of local agents, either subgingivally delivered antibiotics and antiseptics or supragingivally applied rinses and dentifrices, during the different steps in periodontal therapy performed in Europe.

Clinical, microbiological, and immunological effects of 3- or 7-day systemic antibiotics adjunctive to subgingival instrumentation in patients with aggressive (Stage III/IV Grade C) periodontitis: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical non-inferiority of a 3-day protocol of systemic antibiotics adjunctive to subgingival instrumentation (SI) compared with a 7-day-protocol in patients with Stage III/IV Grade C periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty systemically healthy patients (32.7 ± 4.3 years) with aggressive periodontitis (AgP; Stage III/IV Grade C periodontitis) were treated by SI and adjunctive amoxicillin and metronidazole and were randomly assigned to Group A: (n = 25) 500 mg antibiotics (AB) 3 times a day for 3 days, followed by placebo 3 times a day for 4 days, or Group B: (n = 25) 500 mg AB 3 times a day for 7 days. Clinical, microbial, and immunological parameters were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, and patient-related outcomes were assessed after 2 weeks. The primary outcome variable was the number of residual sites with pocket depth (PD) ≥6 mm at 6 months. RESULTS: For the primary outcome variable (the number of residual sites with PD ≥6 mm at 6 months), the null hypothesis was rejected and non-inferiority of the 3-day AB protocol compared with the 7-day AB protocol was demonstrated (the upper limits of the 95% confidence interval for intention to treat analysis: [-2.572; 1.050] and per protocol analysis: [-2.523; 1.318] were lower than the assumed margin of Δ = 3.1). Comparable clinical improvements were obtained for all parameters with both antibiotic protocols (p > .05). All investigated periodontopathogens and pro-inflammatory host-derived markers were statistically significantly reduced without differences between the treatments (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that in patients with AgP (Stage III/IV Grade C periodontitis), a 3-day systemic administration of amoxicillin and metronidazole adjunctive to SI may lead to non-inferior clinical outcomes after 6-months with fewer adverse events compared with a 7-day-protocol.

Retrospective analysis of the long-term effect of subgingival air polishing in supportive periodontal therapy.

AIM: Glycine powder air polishing (GPAP) procedure has become popular. Aim of the analysis was to compare the clinical outcomes during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) of subgingival application of GPAP with those using sole conventional mechanical debridement (SC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over a median SPT period of 5.3 years (re-evaluation through last observation), the GPAP cohort (n = 263) received supra- and subgingival biofilm removal with GPAP. Supragingival calculus was removed using curets and sonic scalers here. Patients in the SC cohort (n = 264) were treated with sonic scalers, curets and rubber cup polishing only. Changes in, that is pocket probing depth (PPD) and furcation involvement were assessed retrospectively. A bootstrapping equivalence testing method in line with the principle of the two one-sided tests (TOST) procedure was used to compare clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The GPAP procedure was statistically equivalent to SC regarding the number of sites with stable PPDs (83.3%; IQR 68.8%, 91.0% vs. 84.0%; IQR 77.8%, 90.0%). However, in the GPAP cohort, a trend towards deterioration in furcation status (no equivalence) was noted. CONCLUSIONS: In periodontal maintenance, the use of GPAP instead of mechanical plaque removal does not improve the clinical outcome. It seems to be contraindicated to treat furcation defects with GPAP only.

Non-interventional study to collect data for the application of lidocaine gel 2% during scaling and root planing and professional mechanical plaque removal.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a topical lidocaine gel 2% (LG) during scaling and root planing (SRP) and professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anesthetic effects as well as unwanted effects of LG prior to or during SRP and PMPR were evaluated in an observational, non-randomized, non-interventional study design. A total of 385 treatments were recorded in 68 study centers all over Germany. Rating of the anesthetic effect of LG by treating personnel and patients using a four-item verbal rating scale (VRS), tolerability, safety (adverse effects), and need for additional local injection anesthesia (ALI). RESULTS: In SRP as well as in PMPR, application of LG allowed a sufficiently pain-free therapy in more than 90% of the patients as stated on the VRS (SRP: 97.8%, PMPR: 93.75%). Overall, ALI was needed in only 4.23% of the patients treated (SRP: 5.3%, PMPR: 2.62%). One adverse effect occurred within the observation. CONCLUSIONS: Application of LG may offer a safe and effective way to achieve pain-free therapy in periodontal patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Patient compliance is key to the success of periodontal maintenance therapy. Effective and safe pain control during various kinds of periodontal therapy might increase patient compliance and therefore contribute to the long-term treatment success, among other factors. With regard to the patients observed in this study, 47% had previously received periodontal maintenance therapy and were therefore familiar with the treatment and the associated pain.

Clinical evaluation of non-surgical cleaning modalities on titanium dental implants during maintenance care: a 1-year follow-up on prosthodontic superstructures.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate tissue health around implants with newly attached superstructures over 12 months of preventive maintenance appointments and instrumentation when necessary. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a randomized, split-mouth study 32 implants (8 participants with 4 implants each) received followed-up care every 3 months after superstructure attachment. Implants and superstructures were randomly assigned to four treatment groups and treated if necessary: (1) titanium curettes (TC), (2) stainless steel ultrasonic tip (PS), (3) erythritol air-polishing powder (EP), or (4) rubber cup polishing (CON). Probing depths (PDs), bleeding on probing (BOP), modified gingival (mucosal) bleeding index (GBI) around implants, and full-mouth Plaque Control Record (PCR) were measured every 3 months. Clinical attachment levels (CALs) and height of keratinized mucosa (KM)/gingival margins (GMs) for implants/teeth and PD, BOP, and GBI for teeth were documented at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) and periopathogens were measured at baseline and 12 months. RESULTS: Participants exhibited minimal signs of periodontal inflammation with statistically significant PD improvement (3.0 ± 0.2 to 2.8 ± 0.3 mm; p = 0.022) and overall CAL (4.3 ± 0.8 to 4.0 ± 0.7 mm; p = 0.048) after 1 year. Implants showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between or within groups at baseline or 12 months for any parameter, except MMP-8 decreased significantly for PS (14.50 ± 17.58 to 4.63 ± 7.56 ng; p = 0.044), and after 12 months, PCR showed a significant difference between TC and PS (p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment was necessary as inflammation was observed around newly placed superstructures within the first year of maintenance care. All tested treatment modalities yielded comparable clinical improvements. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early assessment and diagnosis of mucositis and regular maintenance can promote long-lasting implant health.

Effects of non-surgical periodontal therapy on periodontal laboratory and clinical data as well as on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on clinical and inflammatory parameters in patients with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis (CP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (RA-CP) with that in CP patients without RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with RA-CP and 18 systemically healthy patients with CP were treated with scaling and root planing (SRP) within 24 h. At baseline, and at 3 and 6 months after SRP, clinical periodontal parameters, inflammatory markers, and microorganisms in subgingival biofilm were assessed. In addition, disease activity markers of RA (DAS28, CRP, ESR) and specific antibodies (RF) were monitored in the RA-CP group. RESULTS: In both groups, non-surgical therapy yielded to statistically significant improvements in all investigated clinical periodontal variables; in RA patients, a statistically significant decrease in serum-CRP was seen at 3 months. At all time-points, levels of inflammatory markers in GCF were higher in RA-CP than in CP patients. Counts of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola decreased statistically significantly in CP but not in the RA-CP group. Changes of DAS28 correlated positively with those of P. gingivalis and negatively with the plaque index. CONCLUSIONS: Within their limits, the present data suggest that (a) non-surgical periodontal therapy improves periodontal conditions in CP patients with and without RA and (b) in patients with RA, eradication of P. gingivalis in conjunction with a high level oral hygiene may transiently decrease disease activity of RA. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In patients with RA and CP, non-surgical periodontal therapy is a relevant modality not only to improve the periodontal condition but also to decrease RA activity.

Patient self-care of periodontal pocket infections.

Treatment of periodontitis aims to control the infection caused by the periodontal pathogenic flora and includes mechanical debridement of root surfaces to disrupt the supragingival and subgingival biofilm. As periodontal pockets of ≤ 5 mm can be perform in a stable condition and may not need additional therapy, the ability and the willingness of the patient to perform good oral hygiene on a long-term basis are of utmost importance for ensuring long-term success of periodontal treatment. In this context, the aim of all home-care measures must be the optimal control of plaque biofilm in order to prevent or treat gingival inflammation as a primary stage of periodontitis. Despite the fact that toothbrushing and other mechanical cleaning practices are the most important elements for preventing periodontal diseases or their progression, other factors, including education, motivation, manual dexterity and compliance with professional recommendation, provision of time and socio-economic status, as well as risk factors, play a role. The present article provides an overview on the various possibilities for self-care of residual pockets in patients with periodontitis.

Evaluation of an ex vivo porcine model to investigate the effect of low abrasive airpolishing.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of an ex vivo porcine model to investigate the influence of periodontal instrumentation on soft tissue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In each of 120 pig mandibles, one molar tooth was chosen at random and instrumented. For subgingival debridement, two different low abrasive airpolishing powders (glycine d90 = 25 µm, erythritol d90 = 14 µm, n = 30 teeth each), curets, and a piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler were used (n = 30 teeth each). Thirty teeth in 30 other mandibles served as the untreated control. Gingival biopsies were histologically assessed for destruction using a four-graded scale. RESULTS: The porcine model was deemed suitable for the planned investigation. Hand instrumentation and ultrasonic scaling caused higher tissue damage than both low abrasive airpolishing modes (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.0025). Glycine powder led to less, yet non-statistical noticeable gingival changes compared to erythritol-based powder (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.39). CONCLUSION: An animal model using pig jaws may be used as a preliminary model to analyze histological effects of periodontal instrumentation in advance of studies performed in human tissues. Among the techniques assessed, low abrasive airpolishing (LAA) caused the smallest tissue damage. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To avoid gingival damage using LAA, histological observations of gingival tissue are needed. Since numerous powders for LAA have been developed and it may be expected that additional products will follow, it appears to be useful to establish ex vivo animal models to prove the powders safety.

Clinical and laboratory evaluation of the effects of different treatment modalities on titanium healing caps: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of treatment modalities on titanium surface characteristics and surrounding tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen participants each had four titanium healing caps (HC) attached to four newly inserted implants. After healing, each HC was randomly assigned to either (1) titanium curettes (TC), (2) stainless steel ultrasonic tip (PS), (3) erythritol air-polishing powder (EP), or (4) only rubber cup polishing (CON). Probing depths (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8), and periopathogens were recorded before and 3 months following instrumentation. After final assessments, HCs were removed, cleaned, and subjected to (a) bacterial colonization (Streptococcus gordonii, 24 h; mixed culture, 24 h) and (b) gingival fibroblasts (5 days). HC surfaces were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). RESULTS: No significant differences between the groups were evident before or after instrumentation for PD and BOP (except TC showed a significant decrease in PD; p = 0.049). MMP-8 levels and bacterial loads were always very low. MMP-8 decreased further after instrumentation, while bacteria levels showed no change. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were evident in bacterial colonization or fibroblast attachment. A comparison of the overall mean SEM surface roughness scores showed a significant difference between all groups (p < 0.0001) with the lowest roughness after EP. CONCLUSIONS: All treatments performed yielded comparable outcomes and may be implemented safely. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians may fear implant surface damage, but all instrumentation types are safe and non-damaging. They can be implemented as needed upon considering the presence of staining and soft and hard deposits.

Antibacterial Effect and Substantivity of Toothpaste Slurries In Vivo.

PURPOSE: This double-blind, clinical, cross-over study evaluated the antibacterial effect of three toothpastes (ASF, HTP and STP) and a chlorhexidine mouthrinse (0.2%; CHX; positive control) after a single application on established biofilm over a period of 24 h (substantivity). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four subjects refrained from all oral hygiene measures for a period of 72 h. After 48 h, a baseline biofilm sample was taken and vitality of the biofilm flora was examined (baseline, VF0). Then they rinsed for 1 min with one of the randomly allocated, freshly prepared toothpaste slurries (ASF, HTP, STP) or CHX. Further biofilm samples were taken every second hour up to 14 h as well as 24 h after rinsing, and biofilm vitality was assessed (VF2-24). After a wash-out period of 4 days, a new test cycle was started. RESULTS: All subjects (18 female, 6 male) finished the four test cycles. At VF2, all products showed a statistically significant reduction in vitality compared to VF0 (p<0.05). CHX and ASF revealed the most pronounced effect (49% and 40% reduction), while the other toothpastes (HTP: 24%, STP: 11%) reached lower but still statistically significant effects. At each further time point CHX and ASF showed the lowest biofilm vitality. ASF demonstrated a significant antibacterial effect on dental biofilm over a 24-h period compared to baseline and superiority over both other toothpastes at time points VF2-VF14. CONCLUSION: ASF toothpaste showed a significant antibacterial action on biofilm and a high substantivity which was maintained up to 24 hours.

Influence of different instrumentation modalities on the surface characteristics and biofilm formation on dental implant neck, in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate surface characteristics of implants after using different instruments and biofilm formation following instrumentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five commercially available dental implants were embedded into seven plastic models, attached to a phantom head and randomly assigned to seven instrumentation groups: (1) stainless steel (SSC) or (2) titanium curettes (TC); air-polisher using glycine-based (3) perio (PP) or (4) soft (SP) powders or (5) erythritol powder (EP); and an ultrasonic device using (6) stainless steel (PS) or (7) plastic-coated instruments (PI). Half of each implant neck in each group (n = 5) was treated once (30 s), while the other half was left uninstrumented (control). An eighth (8) treatment group used a bur/polisher to smooth two implants (SM). Following instrumentation implants were rinsed (5 ml Ringer's solution), analysed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and subjected twice (separately) to bacterial colonization with Streptococcus gordonii (2 h) and a mixed culture (S. gordonii, Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia; 24 h). RESULTS: Visual assessment of SEM pictures revealed surface modifications (smoothening to roughening) following instrumentation. These alterations differed between the instrument groups and from the control. Quantitative scoring of the photographs revealed that SSC caused a significantly rougher surface compared to other instruments (P < 0.05), except for SP (P = 0.057) and PP (P = 0.108). After bacterial colonization no significant differences (P > 0.05) were evident between instrumented or control surfaces in either culture. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, no significant differences were observed in the surface characteristics (except for SSC) or bacterial colonization based on one-time instrumentation.

Non-surgical periodontal treatment in conjunction with 3 or 7 days systemic administration of amoxicillin and metronidazole in severe chronic periodontitis patients. A placebo-controlled randomized clinical study.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of 3 or 7 days systemic administration of amoxicillin (AMX) and metronidazole (MET) or placebo as adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment in severe chronic periodontitis patients. METHODS: One hundred and two patients with severe chronic periodontitis [e.g. ≥1 site with probing pocket depth (PD) ≥ 6 mm per quadrant] were randomly divided into three equally sized groups and treated with either scaling and root planing within 24 h (SRP) + placebo (Group A) or SRP + AMX + MET (both 500 mg × 3 times daily) for 3 days (Group B) or SRP + AMX + MET (both 500 mg × 3 times daily) for 7 days (Group C). PD, clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), full-mouth plaque scores (FMPS) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) were assessed prior to treatment (baseline), and at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. The primary outcome variable was the difference (Δ) in the number of sites with PD ≥ 6 mm. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients completed the study. At both 3 and 6 months, all three treatment protocols resulted in statistically significant improvements compared to baseline for all evaluated clinical parameters (p < 0.001). At 6 months, a statistically significantly greater reduction in the mean number of sites with PD ≥ 6 mm was observed in group B (28.62 ± 15.32 sites) and group C (30.45 ± 15.04 sites) compared to the placebo group (17.10 ± 14.68 sites). Furthermore, both the 3- and the 7-day antibiotic regimen resulted in statistically significantly higher clinical improvements compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that in patients with severe chronic periodontitis, non-surgical periodontal therapy in conjunction with a 3 or 7 days systemic administration of AMX + MET may lead to significantly greater clinical improvements compared to non-surgical therapy alone.

The Oral Microbiota.

The oral microbiota represents an important part of the human microbiota, and includes several hundred to several thousand diverse species. It is a normal part of the oral cavity and has an important function to protect against colonization of extrinsic bacteria which could affect systemic health. On the other hand, the most common oral diseases caries, gingivitis and periodontitis are based on microorganisms. While (medical) research focused on the planktonic phase of bacteria over the last 100 years, it is nowadays generally known, that oral microorganisms are organised as biofilms. On any non-shedding surfaces of the oral cavity dental plaque starts to form, which meets all criteria for a microbial biofilm and is subject to the so-called succession. When the sensitive ecosystem turns out of balance - either by overload or weak immune system - it becomes a challenge for local or systemic health. Therefore, the most common strategy and the golden standard for the prevention of caries, gingivitis and periodontitis is the mechanical removal of this biofilms from teeth, restorations or dental prosthesis by regular toothbrushing.

Primary prevention of periodontitis: managing gingivitis.

UNLABELLED: Periodontitis is a ubiquitous and irreversible inflammatory condition and represents a significant public health burden. Severe periodontitis affects over 11% of adults, is a major cause of tooth loss impacting negatively upon speech, nutrition, quality of life and self-esteem, and has systemic inflammatory consequences. Periodontitis is preventable and treatment leads to reduced rates of tooth loss and improved quality of life. However, successful treatment necessitates behaviour change in patients to address lifestyle risk factors (e.g. smoking) and, most importantly, to attain and sustain high standards of daily plaque removal, lifelong. While mechanical plaque removal remains the bedrock of successful periodontal disease management, in high-risk patients it appears that the critical threshold for plaque accumulation to trigger periodontitis is low, and such patients may benefit from adjunctive agents for primary prevention of periodontitis. AIM: The aims of this working group were to systematically review the evidence for primary prevention of periodontitis by preventing gingivitis via four approaches: 1) the efficacy of mechanical self-administered plaque control regimes; 2) the efficacy of self-administered inter-dental mechanical plaque control; 3) the efficacy of adjunctive chemical plaque control; and 4) anti-inflammatory (sole or adjunctive) approaches. METHODS: Two meta-reviews (mechanical plaque removal) and two traditional systematic reviews (chemical plaque control/anti-inflammatory agents) formed the basis of this consensus. RESULTS: Data support the belief that professionally administered plaque control significantly improves gingival inflammation and lowers plaque scores, with some evidence that reinforcement of oral hygiene provides further benefit. Re-chargeable power toothbrushes provide small but statistically significant additional reductions in gingival inflammation and plaque levels. Flossing cannot be recommended other than for sites of gingival and periodontal health, where inter-dental brushes (IDBs) will not pass through the interproximal area without trauma. Otherwise, IDBs are the device of choice for interproximal plaque removal. Use of local or systemic anti-inflammatory agents in the management of gingivitis has no robust evidence base. We support the almost universal recommendations that all people should brush their teeth twice a day for at least 2 min. with fluoridated dentifrice. Expert opinion is that for periodontitis patients 2 min. is likely to be insufficient, especially when considering the need for additional use of inter-dental cleaning devices. In patients with gingivitis once daily inter-dental cleaning is recommended and the adjunctive use of chemical plaque control agents offers advantages in this group.

Resin Infiltration for Aesthetic Improvement of Mild to Moderate Fluorosis: A Six-month Follow-up Case Report.

PURPOSE: To determine whether fluorosed areas of teeth can be successfully treated with resin infiltration and whether the results are long lasting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the present case of mild to moderate dental fluorosis, the microinvasive resin infiltration technique was chosen, following suboptimal results of in-office vital tooth bleaching to improve the aesthetic appearance of the affected teeth. RESULTS: Six months after treatment, the white opaque and brown discolourations remain masked. CONCLUSION: This case report demonstrates that resin infiltration is an agreeable option for this type of tooth discolouration, rather than choosing more invasive, conventional procedures. More studies need to be completed to determine longer-term outcomes of the technique.

Effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment in conjunction with either systemic administration of amoxicillin and metronidazole or additional photodynamic therapy on the concentration of matrix metalloproteinases 8 and 9 in gingival crevicular fluid in patients with aggressive periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) the effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment in conjunction with either additional administration of systemic antibiotics (AB) or application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) concentration of matrix metalloproteinases 8 and 9 (MMP-8 and -9). METHODS: Thirty-six patients with AgP were included in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either scaling and root planing (SRP) followed by systemic administration of AB (e.g. Amoxicillin + Metronidazole) or SRP + PDT. The analysis of MMP-8 and -9 GCF concentrations was performed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after treatment. Nonparametric U-Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison between groups. Changes from baseline to 3 and 6 months were analyzed with the Friedman's ANOVA test with Kendall's index of consistency. RESULTS: In the AB group, patients showed a statistically significant (p = 0.01) decrease of MMP-8 GCF level at both 3 and 6 months post treatment. In the PDT group, the change of MMP-8 GCF level was not statistically significant. Both groups showed at 3 and 6 months a decrease in MMP-9 levels. However, this change did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of the present study, it may be suggested that in patients with AgP, nonsurgical periodontal therapy in conjunction with adjunctive systemic administration of amoxicilin and metronidazole is more effective in reducing GCF MMP-8 levels compared to the adjunctive use of PDT.

Anti-infective therapy of peri-implantitis with adjunctive local drug delivery or photodynamic therapy: 12-month outcomes of a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to compare the clinical, microbiological and host-derived effects in the non-surgical treatment of initial peri-implantitis with either adjunctive local drug delivery (LDD) or adjunctive photodynamic therapy (PDT) after 12 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty subjects with initial peri-implantitis, that is, pocket probing depths (PPD) 4-6 mm with bleeding on probing (BoP) and radiographic bone loss ≤2 mm, were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. All implants were mechanically debrided with titanium curettes and with a glycine-based powder airpolishing system. Implants in the test group (N = 20) received adjunctive PDT, whereas minocycline microspheres were locally delivered into the peri-implant pockets of control implants (N = 20). At sites with residual BoP, treatment was repeated after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. The primary outcome variable was the change in the number of peri-implant sites with BoP. Secondary outcome variables included changes in PPD, clinical attachment level (CAL), mucosal recession (REC) and in bacterial counts and crevicular fluid (CF) levels of host-derived biomarkers. RESULTS: After 12 months, the number of BoP-positive sites decreased statistically significantly (P < 0.05) from baseline in both groups (PDT: 4.03 ± 1.66-1.74 ± 1.37, LDD: 4.41 ± 1.47-1.55 ± 1.26). A statistically significant (P < 0.05) decrease in PPD from baseline was observed at PDT-treated sites up to 9 months (4.19 ± 0.55 mm to 3.89 ± 0.68 mm) and up to 12 months at LDD-treated sites (4.39 ± 0.77 mm to 3.83 ± 0.85 mm). Counts of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia decreased statistically significantly (P < 0.05) from baseline to 6 months in the PDT and to 12 months in the LDD group, respectively. CF levels of IL-1ß decreased statistically significantly (P < 0.05) from baseline to 12 months in both groups. No statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between groups after 12 months with respect to clinical, microbiological and host-derived parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Non-surgical mechanical debridement with adjunctive PDT was equally effective in the reduction of mucosal inflammation as with adjunctive delivery of minocycline microspheres up to 12 months. Adjunctive PDT may represent an alternative approach to LDD in the non-surgical treatment of initial peri-implantitis.

Six-month results following treatment of aggressive periodontitis with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy or amoxicillin and metronidazole.

OBJECTIVE: The use of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) additionally to scaling and root planing (SRP) has been shown to positively influence the clinical outcomes. However, at present, it is unknown to what extent aPDT may represent a potential alternative to the use of systemic antibiotics in nonsurgical periodontal therapy in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following nonsurgical periodontal therapy and additional use of either aPDT or amoxicillin and metronidazole (AB) in patients with AP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-six patients with AP displaying at least three sites with pocket depth (PD) ≥6 mm were treated with SRP and either systemic administration of AB for 7 days or with two episodes of aPDT. The following clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline and at 6 months: plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), PD, gingival recession (GR) and clinical attachment level (CAL). RESULTS: Thirty-five patients have completed the 6-month evaluation. At 6 months, mean PD was statistically significantly reduced in both groups (from 5.0 ± 0.8 to 3.0 ± 0.6 mm with AB and from 5.1 ± 0.5 to 3.9 ± 0.8 mm with aPDT (p < 0.001)). AB yielded statistically significantly higher improvements in the primary outcome parameter PD (p < 0.001) when compared to aPDT. The number of pockets ≥7 mm was reduced from 141 to 3 after AB (p < 0.001) and from 137 to 45 after aPDT (p = 0.03). Both therapies resulted in statistically significant reductions in all parameters compared to baseline. CONCLUSION: While both treatments resulted in statistically significant clinical improvements, AB showed statistically significantly higher PD reduction and lower number of pockets ≥7 mm compared to aPDT. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In patients with AP, the two times application of aPDT in conjunction with nonsurgical periodontal therapy cannot be considered an alternative to the systemic use of amoxicillin and metronidazole.

Action of food preservatives on 14-days dental biofilm formation, biofilm vitality and biofilm-derived enamel demineralisation in situ.

AIMS: The aims of this double-blind, controlled, crossover study were to assess the influence of food preservatives on in situ dental biofilm growth and vitality, and to evaluate their influence on the ability of dental biofilm to demineralize underlying enamel over a period of 14 days. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty volunteers wore appliances with six specimens each of bovine enamel to build up intra-oral biofilms. During four test cycles of 14 days, the subjects had to place the appliance in one of the assigned controls or active solutions twice a day for a minute: negative control 0.9 % saline, 0.1 % benzoate (BA), 0.1 % sorbate (SA) and 0.2 % chlorhexidine (CHX positive control). After 14 days, the biofilms on two of the slabs were stained to visualize vital and dead bacteria to assess biofilm thickness (BT) and bacterial vitality (BV). Further, slabs were taken to determine mineral loss (ML), by quantitative light-induced laser fluorescence (QLF) and transversal microradiography (TMR), moreover the lesion depths (LD). RESULTS: Nineteen subjects completed all test cycles. Use of SA, BA and CHX resulted in a significantly reduced BV compared to NaCl (p < 0.001). Only CHX exerted a statistically significant retardation in BT as compared to saline. Differences between SA and BA were not significant (p > 0.05) for both parameters. TMR analysis revealed the highest LD values in the NaCl group (43.6 ± 44.2 µm) and the lowest with CHX (11.7 ± 39.4 µm), while SA (22.9 ± 45.2 µm) and BA (21.4 ± 38.5 µm) lay in between. Similarly for ML, the highest mean values of 128.1 ± 207.3 vol% µm were assessed for NaCl, the lowest for CHX (-16.8 ± 284.2 vol% µm), while SA and BA led to values of 83.2 ± 150.9 and 98.4 ± 191.2 vol% µm, respectively. With QLF for both controls, NaCl (-33.8 ± 101.3 mm(2) %) and CHX (-16.9 ± 69.9 mm(2) %), negative values were recorded reflecting a diminution of fluorescence, while positive values were found with SA (33.9 ± 158.2 mm(2) %) and BA (24.8 ± 118.0 mm(2) %) depicting a fluorescence gain. These differences were non-significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The biofilm model permited the assessment of undisturbed oral biofilm formation influenced by antibacterial components under clinical conditions for a period of 14 days. An effect of BA and SA on the demineralization of enamel could be demonstrated by TMR and QLF, but these new findings have to be seen as a trend. As part of our daily diet, these preservatives exert an impact on the metabolism of the dental biofilm, and therefore may even influence demineralization processes of the underlying dental enamel in situ.

Confusion over live/dead stainings for the detection of vital microorganisms in oral biofilms--which stain is suitable?

BACKGROUND: There is confusion over the definition of the term "viability state(s)" of microorganisms. "Viability staining" or "vital staining techniques" are used to distinguish live from dead bacteria. These stainings, first established on planctonic bacteria, may have serious shortcomings when applied to multispecies biofilms. Results of staining techniques should be compared with appropriate microbiological data. DISCUSSION: Many terms describe "vitality states" of microorganisms, however, several of them are misleading. Authors define "viable" as "capable to grow". Accordingly, staining methods are substitutes, since no staining can prove viability.The reliability of a commercial "viability" staining assay (Molecular Probes) is discussed based on the corresponding product information sheet: (I) Staining principle; (II) Concentrations of bacteria; (III) Calculation of live/dead proportions in vitro. Results of the "viability" kit are dependent on the stains' concentration and on their relation to the number of bacteria in the test. Generally this staining system is not suitable for multispecies biofilms, thus incorrect statements have been published by users of this technique.To compare the results of the staining with bacterial parameters appropriate techniques should be selected. The assessment of Colony Forming Units is insufficient, rather the calculation of Plating Efficiency is necessary. Vital fluorescence staining with Fluorescein Diacetate and Ethidium Bromide seems to be the best proven and suitable method in biofilm research.Regarding the mutagenicity of staining components users should be aware that not only Ethidium Bromide might be harmful, but also a variety of other substances of which the toxicity and mutagenicity is not reported. SUMMARY: - The nomenclature regarding "viability" and "vitality" should be used carefully.- The manual of the commercial "viability" kit itself points out that the kit is not suitable for natural multispecies biofilm research, as supported by an array of literature.- Results obtained with various stains are influenced by the relationship between bacterial counts and the amount of stain used in the test. Corresponding vitality data are prone to artificial shifting.- As microbiological parameter the Plating Efficiency should be used for comparison.- Ethidium Bromide is mutagenic. Researchers should be aware that alternative staining compounds may also be or even are mutagenic.