Deoxyribonucleic Acid Probes Analyses for the Detection of Periodontal Pathogens.

BACKGROUND: In clinical microbiology several techniques have been used to identify bacteria. Recently, Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based techniques have been introduced to detect human microbial pathogens in periodontal diseases. Deoxyribonucleic acid probes can detect bacteria at a very low level if we compared with the culture methods. These probes have shown rapid and cost-effective microbial diagnosis, good sensitivity and specificity for some periodontal pathogens in cases of severe periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-five patients were recruited for the study. Twenty-one subjects ranging between 22 and 48 years of age fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Seventy-eight samples became available for DNA probe analysis from the deepest pockets in each quadrant. RESULTS: All 21 patients showed positive results for Prevotella intermedia; also, Prevotella gingivalis was identified in 19 subjects, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in 6 subjects. P. intermedia was diagnosed positive in 82% of the subgingival samples taken, 79% for P. gingivalis, and 23% for A. actinomycetemcomitans. CONCLUSION: This study shows a high frequency of putative periodontal pathogens by using DNA probe technology, which is semi-quantitative in this study. Deoxyribonucleic acid probes can detect bacteria at very low level about 10(3) which is below the detection level of culture methods. The detection threshold of cultural methods. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The three types of bacteria can be detected rapidly with high sensitivity by using the DNA probe by general practitioners, and thus can help in the diagnosis process and the treatment.

Survival Rate of Implants Placed in Residual Bone Height Less than 4.5 Millimeters with or without Bone Grafting Using Summers Method.

The aim of this retrospective study is to analyze the survival rate of implants placed in residual bone height (RBH) less than 4.5 mm during an overall follow-up of 5 years, by using Straumann and Astra implant designs with or without sinus bone grafting. A total of 77 patients were examined and treated in two private practices in the regions of Hamra and Jounieh, Lebanon, by two periodontists from 2009 to 2019. These patients received 104 implants (83 Straumann implants and 21Astra implants) where 94 implants underwent osteotomy sinus floor elevation with bone graft and 10 implants without bone graft. The radiographic images were analyzed by three examiners: two periodontists and one oral radiologist. Written informed consents were obtained from all patients prior to treatment. All patients had to fulfill the inclusion criteria elaborated hereinafter. A total of 75.96% of implants were placed at the molars sites and 24.04% at the premolars sites. All 104 implants were clinically stable except 2 Straumann implants which suffered early failure (before the implant loading) and 1 Straumann implant late failure (3 months after the implant loading). All the failed implants were placed in a RBH > 4 mm. The cumulative success rate was 97.12% during an overall follow-up of 5 years. The crestal approach for maxillary sinus floor elevation is a viable technique that can be used in patients with minimal RBH < 4.6 mm.

Prevalence of Periodontal Pathogens in a Group of Participants from the Middle East and North Africa Geographic Region with Minimal Periodontal Disease.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of the three putative periodontal pathogens such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. a), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. g), and Prevotella intermedia (P. i) in a group of Arab participants from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region who had minimal periodontal disease and no history of periodontal treatment and further to analyze the association among these three microorganisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-four participants of varied demographics and oral/dental care habits were screened for this study. Twenty-one participants who eventually gave their consent to fully participate in the study provided a balanced representation of the screened universe. RESULTS: Seventy-eight microbiological samples were taken from the deepest pockets. Twenty-three percent of all samples were found to be A. a positive and so were 79% for P. g and 82% for P. i. A highly remarkable association was observed between the presence of P. i along with P. g (P < 0.00l; Fisher's exact test). Of all samples, merely six cases were P. i positive but not P. g and eight cases were vice versa. There was a statistically significant association between A. a and P. g (P = 0.016). No significant relationship was detected between P. i and A. a. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative study shows very high frequency of the three periodontal pathogens (A. a, P. g, and P. i) in a group of Arab nationals with minimal periodontal disease. The lack of oral hygiene, minimal use of antimicrobial drugs and antiseptics, and the absence of dental care may partly explain the high prevalence of periodontal pathogens.

Location of Posterosuperior Alveolar Artery and Correlation with Maxillary Sinus Anatomy.

The blood supply to both the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus and the overlying membrane originates from the posterosuperior alveolar artery (PSAA) and the infraorbital artery. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anatomic characteristics of the PSAA in a large number of subjects of the Lebanese population. Images of 696 sinuses were analyzed using cone beam computed tomography (CT). Coronal, axial, and sagittal CT images were evaluated for the presence of an osseous canal in the lateral wall of the sinus, and the prevalence, position, and location of the canal were studied and presented.