Effect of adjunctive use of green tea dentifrice in periodontitis patients - A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Green tea is known to possess anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the effect of a locally prepared green tea dentifrice on specific parameters assessing gingival inflammation and severity of periodontal disease, when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the management of chronic periodontitis by comparing with a fluoride-triclosan-containing control dentifrice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients, with mild to moderate chronic periodontitis, were randomly allocated into two treatment groups, 'test' and 'control' after initial SRP. The test group was given green tea dentifrice with instructions on method of brushing, while the control group received a commercially available fluoride and triclosan containing dentifrice. Clinical parameters of Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) along with biochemical parameters of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were recorded at baseline line and 4 weeks post-SRP. RESULTS: Intragroup analysis at 4 weeks showed statistically significant improvements of GI, PI, BOP, PD, CAL and TAOC in both groups. GST activity however, was increased only in the test group. At the end of the study period, the test group showed statistically significant improvements in GI, BOP, CAL, TAOC and GST levels compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: On comparison with fluoride-triclosan dentifrice, green tea showed greater reduction of gingival inflammation and improved periodontal parameters. Green tea dentifrice may serve as a beneficial adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Comparison of immuno-phenotypes of stem cells from human dental pulp and periodontal ligament.

It has been established that human dental pulp and periodontal ligament contain a population of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, the phenotypic analysis in terms of putative stem cell markers expressed by these stem cell populations is incomplete. It is relevant to understand whether stem cells derived from closely related tissues are programmed differently. The aim of the present study is to analyze whether these stem cells depict distinct characteristics by gaining insight into differences in their immunophenotype. Dental pulp and periodontal ligament tissue samples were obtained from extracted impacted wisdom teeth. Cell cultures were analyzed for surface and intracellular markers by indirect immunoflourescence. Detailed immunophenotype analysis was carried out by flow cytometry using relevant markers. The present study data shows dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) expressed embryonic stem (ES) cell markers Oct-4, Nanog and mesodermal marker Vimentin by indirect immunoflourescence. PDLSCs, however, had a weak expression of Nanog. Immunophenotyping revealed strong expression of MSC markers (CD73, CD90) in DPSCs and PDLSCs. Differences were observed in expression of stemness-related markers. DPSCs displayed increased percentages of SSEA4, CD13 and CD166 and decreased CD9 expression compared to PDLSCs. Both stem cells express common MSC markers, different levels of expression suggests there might be more than one stem cell population existing within these tissues which differ in their embryonic status, and DPSCs are a more primitive stem cell population in comparison to PDLSCs.

Study of the efficacy of toothpaste containing casein phosphopeptide in the prevention of dental caries: a randomized controlled trial in 12- to 15-year-old high caries risk children in Bangalore, India.

Casein phosphopeptide (CPP) has the potential to be added to mouth rinses, gels, toothpastes, chewing gums and confectioneries. Until now CPP has been studied in vitro, in situ and in animals, but clinical trials are lacking. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of CPP-containing toothpaste in preventing dental caries in schoolchildren. The study was conducted among 150 schoolchildren randomly divided into three groups, each using one of three types of toothpastes: (a) containing 2% w/w CPP; (b) containing 1,190 mg/kg fluoride as 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate (SMFP); (c) placebo toothpaste without CPP or fluoride. Students brushed with the given toothpastes for 24 months. Oral hygiene and caries experience were assessed at baseline, 12 and 24 months. The increments in caries lesions were calculated and analyzed to assess the caries-preventive effect. A significant reduction in caries increment was observed among students using CPP toothpaste or SMFP toothpaste, compared with the group using the placebo toothpaste. The reduction in caries increment was not significantly different between the CPP and SMFP groups. Oral Hygiene Index score increased from the 12-month to the 24-month examination. It is concluded that CPP can be effectively incorporated into calcium carbonate-based toothpaste and that toothpaste containing CPP is effective in preventing caries. Toothpaste containing 2% CPP seemed to have an efficacy similar to paste containing 1,190 mg/kg SMFP in the prevention of caries.

Randomized, controlled clinical study to evaluate efficacy of novel indigenously designed controlled release flurbiprofen gel system for management of periodontal diseases.

BACKGROUND: This randomized, controlled clinical study was planned to evaluate the use of anti-inflammatory drug flurbiprofen in the form of locally delivered controlled release gel in the treatment of periodontal disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The flurbiprofen gel was indigenously prepared in the concentration of 0.3%. The 30 patients with localized periodontal pockets measuring ≥5 mm were randomly divided into three groups. The groups received flurbiprofen gel, flurbiprofen gel after prophylaxis, and placebo gel after oral prophylaxis, respectively. The clinical parameters for plaque and gingival inflammation were evaluated at baseline, 7(th) day, and 14(th) day. RESULTS: The results of the study suggested the statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvement in the gingival status of the patients with the use of flurbiprofen gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing as compared to oral prophylaxis or gel alone. CONCLUSION: The data demonstrated that the additional use of local drug delivery of flurbiprofen through gel media enhances the positive effects of scaling and root planing and helps in faster resolution of the inflammation.

Oral malodor: a review of the literature.

Oral malodor or halitosis is any unpleasant odor emerging from the mouth that is detected by others. Many patients experience extreme discomfort and embarrassment and therefore seek help for this problem. Oral causes, such as poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, tongue coating, food impaction, unclean dentures, faulty restorations, and dry mouth, are far more common than nonoral causes of malodor. Management may include simple measures such as scaling and root planing, instructions in oral hygiene, tongue cleaning, and mouth rinsing. This paper reviews the current knowledge, etiology, diagnosis, and possible treatment strategies for oral malodor. Emphasis is placed on the recognition of the dental hygienist as a specialist in aspects of patient care and instruction, which relate to the prevention and control of oral malodor.