Edentulism among diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to systematically and critically appraise the available scientific evidence concerning the prevalence of edentulism among diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic people. METHODS: MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane-CENTRAL databases were comprehensively searched up to April 2023 to identify appropriate studies. The inclusion criteria were observational studies conducted in human subjects ≥18 years of age with the primary aim of investigating the prevalence of edentulism among diabetic patients. Based on the extracted data, a meta-analysis was performed. Recommendations based on the body of evidence were formulated using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Independent screening of 2085 unique titles and abstracts revealed seven publications that met the eligibility criteria. Study size ranged from 293 to 15,943 participants. Data from all seven studies were suitable for meta-analysis. Overall, 8.3% of the studied population was edentulous. The weighted mean prevalence of edentulism among diabetic and non-diabetics was 14.0% and 7.1%, respectively. The overall odds ratio for diabetic patients to be edentulous as compared to non-diabetics was 2.39 (95% CI [1.73, 3.28], p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: There appears to be moderate certainty that the risk of being edentulous for diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic people is significant, but the odds ratio is estimated to be small.

Essential oils mouthwash with or without alcohol in relation to effect on parameters of plaque and gingivitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: The primary aim was to systematically assess the available literature on the effect of an essential oils mouthwash without alcohol (EOalc-) compared to an essential oils mouthwash with alcohol (EOalc+) on plaque scores and parameters of gingival health. The secondary aim was to evaluate user appreciation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane-CENTRAL databases were searched to identify eligible studies published up to and including March 2024. Papers comparing the effectiveness of EOalc- and EOalc+ were included. The quality was assessed. A descriptive analysis and a meta-analysis were performed. RESULTS: After screening, seven papers were found to be eligible. The descriptive analysis demonstrates a significant difference in plaque scores in favour of EOalc+. This is confirmed by the meta-analyses of plaque scores in non-brushing and brushing studies (DiffM = 0.40; 95% CI [0.27; 0.53], p < 0.00001 and DiffM = 0.05; 95% CI [0.01; 0.10], p = 0.01, respectively). This finding is also supported by the sub-analysis of brands. The meta-analyses of bleeding and gingival scores in brushing studies did not show significant differences between products. For user appreciation, the difference found was for taste perception in favour of EOalc- (DiffM = 1.63; 95% CI [0.72; 2.55], p = 0.0004). CONCLUSION: When an EO-mouthwash is used in non-brushing or brushing situations, with small to moderate certainty, EOalc- provided less effect regarding plaque control than EOalc+. For bleeding and gingival index there is weak certainty for no difference. In terms of the taste perception EOalc- seems more appreciated.

[Scoring early oral soft-tissue wound healing: A systematic review]. / Scoren van vroege wondgenezing van orale zachte weefsels: een systematisch literatuuronderzoek.

To date, there is no widely accepted system for evaluating soft tissue early healing events in oral surgery. This study aimed to identify variables used to assess early oral soft tissue wound healing. The PubMed-MEDLINE and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched up to and including March 1, 2022. Papers were included if they presented scores of wound healing after performing a mucoperiosteal flap operation with the intention of primary closure. The search yielded 2,286 unique titles and abstracts, of which 31 met the eligibility criteria. In general, the available definitions/indices were found to be imprecise. Based on the literature reviewed, six variables were considered relevant for scoring early oral soft tissue wound healing: primary closure, necrosis, redness, swelling, bleeding, and suppuration.

Mechanical plaque removal in step-1 of care.

Maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine is essential for taking care of our mouths, ensuring healthy teeth, and achieving fresh breath. Patient education on oral hygiene is an important component of their overall treatment. Firstly, patients should be informed about the direct connection between bacteria in dental plaque and oral diseases. It is important for patients to understand that these conditions can be treated, but the success of treatment greatly depends on their level of oral hygiene. This journey begins by selecting the appropriate toothbrush and mastering the correct brushing technique to effectively remove dental plaque while avoiding any potential damage to the gums. In addition to toothbrushes, there are other devices available for comprehensive dental cleaning, such as floss, interdental sticks, interdental brushes, and oral irrigators. These aids are particularly beneficial for eliminating dental plaque from hard-to-reach areas. Moreover, tongue brushing or tongue scraping can effectively reduce breath odor and tongue coating. Currently, self-care recommendations for dental implants are primarily based on existing knowledge regarding natural teeth cleaning. Evidence-based recommendations are derived from comprehensive systematic evaluation of various oral hygiene aids.

Change in oral hygiene behaviour after non-surgical periodontal therapy - A retrospective analyses.

AIM: This retrospective analysis investigates changes in daily oral hygiene behaviour after the initial phase of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study includes 189 consecutive periodontitis patients treated for moderate to severe periodontitis. The authors used the oral hygiene behaviour questionnaire (OHB-9) to assess and evaluate the oral hygiene self-care practices at both intake and evaluation after an active phase of NSPT which consisted of repeated oral hygiene instruction (OHI), supra- and subgingival debridement and polishing. In addition, data on pocket probing depth and bleeding upon pocket probing (BOP) were extracted and PISA and PESA scores were collected. All these parameters are descriptive of the periodontal status at intake and the clinical response to NSPT. RESULTS: The OHB-9 showed an increased oral hygiene self-care level after the active phase of NSPT. At the evaluation, 85% of patients used a power toothbrush (PTB), representing an increase of 26% as compared with the intake. In addition, 64% reported brushing 3 min or longer, representing an increase of 33%. The use of woodsticks (WS) and interdental brushes (IDB) at least once a day increased with 15% and 40% respectively. The distribution changes on the answering scale were significant for IDB, WS and brushing duration. However, no significant relationship was found between oral hygiene behaviour at the evaluation and the improvement of the gingival inflammation evaluated by BOP percentage. CONCLUSION: The finding of the OHB-9 questionnaire reported was an increase of patients who brushed longer and used the PTB, WS and IDB on a daily basis. The observed improvements in gingival inflammation assessed as bleeding on probing tendency were not significantly associated with oral hygiene behaviour at the evaluation of NSPT.

[A PhD completed. Prevention and oral hygiene: instructions, toothbrush and mouthwash]. / Serie: Hora est. Preventie en mondhygiëne: instructies, de tandenborstel en mondspoelmiddel.

Circa 35% of English-language professional dental care associations' websites provide advice and/or information on toothbrushing. Although the advice and information given varies considerably, there is consensus on the importance of brushing twice daily with a manual toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Alignment of national and international information on preventive oral care provided on websites, e.g. from the World Dental Federation and the International Federation of Dental Hygienists, seems necessary. It was also found that the oral hygiene behaviour of patients with periodontitis changed after initial treatment: they brushed longer daily and used an electric toothbrush, wooden toothpicks, and interdental brushes more often. Based on research with single-brushing exercises the electric toothbrush was found to be more effective than the manual toothbrush with respect to plaque reduction. If a chlorhexidine mouthwash is recommended, it can be used without creating problems before or after toothbrushing with a sodium lauryl sulphate dentifrice. Chlorhexidine and sodium fluoride may be simultaneously present in the same mouthwash without reducing chlorhexidine efficacy.

Effect of a sodium hypochlorite mouthwash on plaque and clinical parameters of periodontal disease-a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to establish the efficacy of sodium hypochlorite mouthwash (NaOCl-MW) compared with a control mouthwash on plaque and clinical parameters of periodontal disease. METHODS: MEDLINE-PubMed, Embase and Cochrane-CENTRAL databases were searched for clinical trials on patients with gingivitis or periodontitis that assessed the effect of NaOCl-MW in comparison with a negative or positive control on plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and bleeding index (BI) scores and probing pocket depth (PPD). Data were extracted from the eligible studies. RESULTS: Seven eligible papers were retrieved, which together represented six clinical trials. The studies showed considerable heterogeneity regarding methodological and clinical aspects that did not permit a meta-analysis. Two of the three studies in which NaOCl-MW was compared with a negative control showed that NaOCl-MW significantly reduced PI, GI and BI, and no effect was found on PPD. In three studies, NaOCl-MW was assessed using chlorhexidine mouthwash (CHX-MW) as a positive control; no difference was found for GI and BI. One of the three comparisons showed a statistically significant PI score favouring NaOCl-MW. One study measured PPD and found it to be significant in favour of NaOCl-MW. CONCLUSIONS: Studies with a negative control group provided very weak quality evidence for a very small beneficial effect of NaOCl-MW on PI, GI and BI scores. Studies with a positive control group provided very weak quality evidence that NaOCl-MW had a similar effect as CHX-MW on PI, GI and BI scores. The outcome for PPD was inconclusive.

Success of supportive periodontal therapy in periodontitis patients - A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate, in adult patients treated for periodontitis, the periodontal stability during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). METHODS: Data were collected and analyzed retrospectively for periodontitis patients aged ≥36 years who underwent active periodontal therapy (APT) and were following an SPT programme. The stability of the APT success, defined as a probing pocket depth (PPD) of ≤5 mm, was the main outcome parameter. Analyses were performed in which PPD, tooth loss (TL), bleeding on probing (BOP), periodontal epithelium surface area (PESA), and the effects of age, gender, smoking status, and the number of years in SPT were evaluated. The annual TL and BOP of <10% in addition to a PPD of ≤5 mm were considered to be secondary outcome variables. RESULTS: In total, 993 patients were included, in 36% of whom a PPD ≤5 mm was found at the evaluation of APT. If the outcome was defined as a BOP of <10% in addition to a PPD of ≤5 mm, this was present in only 16% of the patients. During SPT, a small overall increase in clinical parameters for the total population and an annual average TL of 0.15 per patient was observed. Patients of male gender and smokers negatively affected the success of SPT. CONCLUSION: The periodontal clinical status remained 'fairly' stable during SPT in chronic periodontitis patients aged ≥36 years. Smoking negatively affects the outcome of APT and periodontal stability during SPT.

The risk of tooth loss in patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: The aim of this systematic review was to comprehensively and critically summarize and synthesize the risk of losing teeth among with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to those without DM, as established in observational studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched through a period from their inception through October 2020 to identify eligible studies. Papers that primarily evaluate the number of teeth in DM patients compared to non-DM individuals were included. A descriptive analysis of the selected studies was conducted, and when feasible, a meta-analysis was performed. The quality of the studies was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 1087 references were generated, and screening of the papers resulted in 10 eligible publications. A descriptive analysis demonstrated that six of these studies indicate a significantly higher risk of tooth loss in DM patients. This was confirmed by the meta-analysis risk ratio of 1.63 95% CI (1.33; 2.00, p < 0.00001). Subgroup analysis illustrates that this is irrespective of the risk-of-bias assessment. The higher risk of tooth loss in DM patients was also higher when only DM type II patients or studies with a cross-sectional design were considered. Patients with a poor DM control status presented a significantly increased risk of tooth loss. When the data were separated by the world continent where the study was performed, Asia and South America had numerically higher risks and a 95% CI that did not overlap with Europe and North America. CONCLUSION: There is moderate certainty for a small but significantly higher risk of tooth loss in DM patients as compared to those without DM.

ACCURACY OF CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF PERIODONTAL INFRABONY DEFECTS OF DIAGNOSTIC TEST ACCURACY (DTA) STUDIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of clinical and radiographic measurements of infrabony periodontal defects. METHODS: The MEDLINE-Pubmed and Cochrane-CENTRAL electronic databases were searched from initiation to May 2020. The inclusion criteria were clinical trials, human subjects with at least one infrabony defect, measurements of clinical attachment level (CAL), radiographic bone level (rBL), and intraoperative bone level (iBL) used as the reference standard. RESULTS: In total, 11 studies including 17 comparisons were included in this meta-analysis. All 17 comparisons showed that the values of the CAL and rBL measurements underestimated the iBL values. For CAL, the analysis showed a significant difference of means of -1.22 (P < .00001; 95%CI: [-1.49; -0.95]) and for rBL -1.10 (P < .00001; 95%CI: [-1.34; -0.85]). No significant DiffM were observed between the CAL and rBL measurements (DiffM -0.05; P = .76; 95%CI: [-0.39; 0.28]). CONCLUSION: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis show that both clinical and radiographic measurements substantially underestimate the bone level when compared to intraoperative level measurements. However, there was no significant difference in the results between the clinical attachment level measurements and the radiographic observation.

Do natural ingredients in a dentifrice contribute to prevention of plaque and gingivitis?

OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of a dentifrice containing the turmeric and licorice extract compared to a control for preventing plaque and gingivitis over a four-month period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety (non-dental) participants with moderate gingival inflammation (≥ 40%) were selected. The triple blind study consisted of two phases, namely at first a 3-week pre-experimental phase of using an oxygenating and chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthrinse. Secondly, a 4-month experimental period in which participants were randomly assigned to a test or control group. All were instructed to brush their teeth twice daily for 2 minutes with their assigned dentifrice. Gingival bleeding (BI), plaque (PI) and gingivitis (GI) were assessed. RESULTS: Eighty participants completed the protocol. At the first assessment in the pre-experimental phase, the mean scores of all indices showed no differences for the two groups. At the second session, the values of all three parameters had decreased significantly (p < 0.001). At the last session, the BI values were 0.52(0.25) for the test group and 0.56(0.25) for the control, the mean GI was 0.27(0.17) for the test group and 0.31(0.16) for the control, and for PI the scores were 1.89(0.46) for the test group and 1.98(0.43) for the control group. Statistical comparison of the scores for the two groups at each stage of the study showed no significant difference for any of the parameters. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the current study design, dentifrice formulation and concentration of turmeric/licorice extracts, the results show that the adjuvant effect of the natural ingredients in the test dentifrice was not evident on clinical parameters of gingivitis and plaque.

Mechanical plaque removal of periodontal maintenance patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

AIM: This systematic review synthesizes the available clinical evidence concerning efficacy of mechanical oral hygiene devices in periodontal maintenance patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three databases were searched up to October 2019 for clinical trials conducted in adult patients in periodontal maintenance which evaluated the effect of toothbrushes or an interdental device on plaque removal and parameters of periodontal diseases. Descriptive analysis and network meta-analysis (NMA) were performed. RESULTS: Sixteen eligible publications, including 17 relevant comparisons, were retrieved. Four out of five comparisons found no clinical difference between a manual and power toothbrush. Of the interdental cleaning devices, the interdental brushes (IDBs) reduced plaque scores more effectively than a manual toothbrush alone. For the oral irrigator, two out of three comparisons indicated a positive effect on gingivitis scores, and probing pocket depth. The NMA demonstrated that for plaque removal the adjuvant use of IDBs was significantly more effective than the manual toothbrush alone. For the reduction of gingival inflammation, no product ranked higher than the manual toothbrush. CONCLUSION: Due to the scarcity of studies that met the inclusion criteria for each of the oral hygiene devices and the low certainty of the resultant evidence, no strong "evidence-based" conclusion can be drawn concerning any specific oral hygiene device for patient self-care in periodontal maintenance.

How effective is a powered toothbrush as compared to a manual toothbrush? A systematic review and meta-analysis of single brushing exercises.

OBJECTIVES: In adult participants, what is, following a single brushing exercise, the efficacy of a powered toothbrush (PTB) as compared to a manual toothbrush (MTB) on plaque removal? METHODS: MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane-CENTRAL were searched from inception to February 2019. The inclusion criteria were (randomized) controlled clinical trials conducted in human subjects ≥18 years of age, in good general health and without periodontitis, orthodontic treatment, implants and/or removable prosthesis. Papers evaluating a PTB compared with a MTB in a single brushing exercise were included. When plaque scores were assessed according to the Quigley-Hein plaque index (Q&HPI) or the Rustogi modified Navy plaque index (RMNPI). From the eligible studies, data were extracted. A meta-analysis and subanalysis for brands and mode of action being oscillating-rotating (OR) and side-to-side (SS) were performed when feasible. RESULTS: Independent screening of 3450 unique papers resulted in 17 eligible publications presenting 36 comparisons. In total, 28 comparisons assessed toothbrushing efficacy according to the Q&HPI and eight comparisons used the RMNPI. Results showed a significant effect in favour of the PTB. The difference of Means (DiffM) was -0.14 (P < 0.001; 95%CI [-0.19; -0.09]) for the Q&HPI and -0.10 (P < 0.001; 95%CI [-0.14; -0.06]) for the RMNPI, respectively. The subanalysis on the OR mode of action showed a DiffM -0.16 (P < 0.001; 95%CI [-0.22, -0.10]) for the Q&HPI. For the SS mode of action using RMNPI, the DiffM showed -0.10 (P < 0.001; 95%CI [-0.15; -0.05]). The subanalysis for brands showed for the P&G OR PTB using the Q&HPI a DiffM of -0.15 (P < 0.001; 95%CI [-0.22; -0.08]) and the Colgate SS for RMNPI showed a DiffM of -0.15 (P < 0.001; 95%CI [-0.18; -0.12]). CONCLUSION: There is moderate certainty that the PTB was more effective than the MTB with respect to plaque removal following a single brushing exercise independent of the plaque index scale that was used.

Does chlorhexidine mouthwash, with an anti-discoloration system, reduce tooth surface discoloration without losing its efficacy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether chlorhexidine mouthwash (CHX-MW), with an anti-discoloration system(ADS), is effective in preventing extrinsic tooth surface discoloration. Additionally, this paper seeks to evaluate whether CHX combined with an ADS maintains its efficacy with respect to reducing plaque and gingivitis scores. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane-Central were searched up to October 2018 to identify eligible studies. Papers evaluating the effect of CHX-MW+ADS compared to CHX without an ADS were included. A descriptive analysis and when feasible a meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: Screening resulted in 13 eligible publications, presenting 16 comparisons. Six of these evaluated the MW in a non-brushing model and ten as an adjunct to toothbrushing. A descriptive analysis demonstrated that the majority showed no differences in bleeding, gingivitis and plaque scores. This was confirmed by the meta-analysis. In non-brushing experiments, the difference-of-means (DiffM) for plaque scores was 0.10 (P = 0.45, 95%CI: [-0.15; 0.34]) and for the gingival index 0.04 (P = 0.15,95%CI: [-0.02; 0.11]). The DiffM in brushing studies for plaque scores was 0.01 (P = 0.29, 95%CI: [-0.01; 0.02]) and for the gingival index 0.00 (P = 0.87,95%CI: [-0.05; 0.06]). With respect to staining scores, the meta-analysis revealed that in non-brushing studies, the standardized mean difference was 3.19 (P = 0.0005,95%CI: [-3.98; -1.41]) while in brushing studies, the DiffM was 0.12 (P = 0.95,95%CI: [-3.32; 3.55]). CONCLUSION: There is moderate quality evidence from non-brushing studies that the addition of an ADS to CHX-MW reduces tooth surface discoloration and does not appear to affect its properties with respect to gingival inflammation and plaque scores. In brushing studies, there is also moderate quality evidence that ADS does not affect the anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis efficacy of CHX. The majority of comparisons and the meta-analysis including these indicate no significant effect of ADS on tooth staining in situations where the mouthwash is used in addition to toothbrushing.

The efficacy of baking soda dentifrice in controlling plaque and gingivitis: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of a dentifrice containing baking soda (BS), compared with dentifrice without BS for controlling plaque and gingivitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane-CENTRAL were searched. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled clinical trials including healthy participants aged 18 years or older. Studies were selected that compared the effect of toothbrushing with a dentifrice with and without BS on the clinical parameters of plaque and gingivitis. Data were extracted from the selected studies, and a meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: The search retrieved 21 eligible publications. Among these papers, 43 comparisons were provided, with 23 involving a single-use design and 20 being evaluations with a follow-up. Negative controls were found, or positive controls for which various active ingredients had been used. The included studies showed a moderate overall potential risk of bias and considerable heterogeneity. The meta-analysis of plaque scores from the single-brushing experiments showed that BS dentifrice (BS-DF) was associated with significantly better outcomes than the negative control dentifrices (DiffM -0.20; P < 0.0001; 95% CI: [-0.27; -0.12]) or the positive control dentifrices (DiffM -0.18; P < 0.0001; 95% CI: [-0.24; -0.12]). This finding was only confirmed in studies that used a follow-up design as compared to a negative control (DiffM -0.19; P = 0.01; 95% CI: [-0.34; -0.04]). The indices of gingival bleeding also improved when the comparison was a negative control (DiffM -0.08; P = 0.02; 95% CI: [-0.16; -0.01] and (DiffM -0.13; P < 0.001; 95% CI: [-0.18; -0.08]. However, for the gingival index scores, the meta-analysis did not reveal any significant differences. CONCLUSION: BS-DF showed promising results with respect to plaque removal in single-use studies. However, the finding was partially substantiated in follow-up studies. Studies that assessed bleeding scores indicated that a small reduction can be expected from BS, relative to a control product.

Will a chlorhexidine-fluoride mouthwash reduce plaque and gingivitis?

FOCUS QUESTION: What is the efficacy of a chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash (MW) containing sodium fluoride (NaF) compared to a CHX - MW alone on the parameters of plaque, gingivitis and discoloration? MATERIAL AND METHODS: MEDLINE-PubMed, Cochrane-CENTRAL, and EMBASE were searched for papers from inception to December 2017. The inclusion criteria were (randomized) controlled clinical trials conducted in human subjects with good general health and without removable prosthesis. Papers evaluating the effect of a MW containing CHX + NaF compared to a CHX alone were included. From the eligible studies, data were extracted, a descriptive analysis was performed and a meta-analysis when feasible. RESULTS: Independent screening of 412 unique papers resulted in 9 eligible publications presenting 10 clinical trials comparing the effect of CHX + NaF to CHX - MW and provided 13 comparisons. Five evaluated the MW as an adjunct to brushing and 8 were non-brushing comparisons of which 4 used an experimental gingivitis model. No significant difference was observed for plaque score reduction in the brushing studies the end scores (diffM; -0.04, P = .36; 95%CI: [-0.13, 0.05]) nor the differences (diffM; 0.11, P = .33; 95%CI: [-0.12, 0.24]). In the descriptive analysis, none of the experiments demonstrated a statistical significant difference regarding Gingival Index (GI), Bleeding Score and Discoloration Scores. For the GI, a meta-analysis of the difference of Means was not significant when included experimental gingivitis model studies end scores (0.01, P = .78; 95%CI: [-0.08, 0.11]) and the difference (0.01, P = .81; 9 5%CI: [-0.08, 0.10]) either for the end scores of brushing studies (diffM; -0.01, P = .82; 95%CI: [-0.10, 0.08]). CONCLUSION: From this study, it can be concluded that NaF and CHX may be present in the same MW without reducing CHX efficacy with respect to plaque and gingivitis scores. Moreover, no difference in the development of tooth discoloration was observed.

Success of non-surgical periodontal therapy in adult periodontitis patients: A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of active non-surgical treatment in patients diagnosed with adult periodontitis treated in a specialized clinic for periodontology. MATERIAL & METHODS: In total, 1182 patients with adult periodontitis received active non-surgical therapy, which involved professional oral hygiene instruction, scaling and root planing, supragingival polishing and elective systemic antimicrobial medication. The results of this therapy were based on a full-mouth periodontal chart as assessed at the time of evaluation. Successful treatment as periodontal pocket depth (PPD) ≤5 mm was the main outcome parameter with bleeding on pocket probing as secondary outcome. Patient-related factors such as smoking and severity of periodontitis at baseline and site-related factors such as tooth type, furcation involvement and endodontic treatment were analysed. Possible relations with assessed parameters and the success of active periodontal therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall 39% of the patients reached the successful treatment objective and a mean bleeding on pocket probing tendency of 14%. Treatment success appeared to be dependent on tooth type where the results at single-rooted front teeth (85%) and premolar teeth (78%) were more successful than at molar teeth (47%). Analysis revealed that in 55% of the cases furcation involvement at molars was associated with the absence of success. Endodontic treatment was associated with absence of success in 8%-11% of the cases. Smoking negatively influences successful treatment outcome (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Active non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with adult periodontitis resulted in approximately one third of the cases in the success endpoint of PPD ≤ 5mm. Sub-analysis showed that the outcome appeared to be dependent on tooth type, furcation involvement, severity of periodontal disease at intake and smoking status.

[Use of antimicrobial agents in periodontology]. / Toepassing van antibiotica in de parodontologie.

With mechanical cleaning, it is never possible to remove all bacteria from tooth surfaces, in, for example, furcation sites and at the bottom of the pocket. Supporting non-surgical periodontal treatment with the use of antimicrobial agents is, therefore, an obvious approach in order to achieve a better treatment outcome.. The combination of amoxicillin and metronidazole has been thoroughly investigated as a support in periodontal treatment and deserves a place among the tools the dental care professional has for effective treatment. However, there is at present no strict indication in which clinical situations antibiotics can be successfully prescribed. Considering responsible use of antimicrobials by healthcare professionals (antimicrobial stewardship) the decision to support periodontal treatment with antibiotics should be in the hands of those authorised to provide a prescription. Additional rinsing with chlorhexidine twice daily during periodontal treatment and the subsequent two weeks (6-8 weeks) can be considered in order to enhance the effect of clinical treatment.

Healing of toothbrush-induced abrasions to keratinized mucosa of the palate in humans: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To the best of our knowledge, the healing time for toothbrush-induced gingival abrasions in humans has not yet been explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time needed to heal for toothbrush-induced abrasions of the keratinized mucosa of the palate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In patients without, with mild periodontitis or with periodontitis, gingival abrasion lesions were induced at the keratinized mucosa of the palate by brushing up to 2 minutes. Healing as observed clinically was followed via calibrated digital photographs of the lesion after staining, every 24 hours until the lesion had resolved. In patients without or with only mild periodontitis, the healing time of lesions caused by 30 seconds and 1 minute of brushing was also recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-one participants (11 without or with mild periodontitis, 20 with periodontitis) met the inclusion criteria. In patients without or with mild periodontitis, the lesions induced by brushing for 2 minutes diminished by 48.7% of their original surface area within 24 hours. In patients with periodontitis the respective outcome was 45.4% (P = .87). Abrasions caused by 2 minutes of brushing needed more than 24 hours to heal completely. When decreasing the time exposed to trauma, fewer lesions were visible at baseline and the time needed to heal decreased. The subgroup of smokers was too small to evaluate any effect. CONCLUSION: The longer the exposure time of the keratinized mucosa of the palate to trauma, the more lesions were visible, the larger the abrasions were and the more time they needed to heal completely. More studies are needed to investigate the role of smoking, gingival biotype and to link these findings with gingival recessions.

The effect of tapered toothbrush filaments compared to end-rounded filaments on dental plaque, gingivitis and gingival abrasion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: This systematic review was performed to establish the effect of a manual toothbrush with tapered toothbrush filaments (TFTBs) compared to a manual toothbrush with end-rounded toothbrush filaments (ERTB) on clinical parameters of dental plaque, gingivitis and gingival abrasion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane-CENTRAL databases were searched. The inclusion criteria were (randomized) controlled clinical trials, participants ≥18 years and papers evaluating the effect of a TFTB compared to an ERTB. Data were extracted for dental plaque index (PI), bleeding scores (BS), gingival index scores (GI) and gingival abrasion scores (GA). A descriptive analysis and a meta-analysis were performed when appropriate. RESULTS: An independent screening of 33 unique papers resulted in seven eligible publications, which included eight comparisons. Meta-analysis did not show a significant difference between TFTB and ERTB with respect to PI scores. The meta-analysis of the GI scores showed a significant mean difference in favour of the TFTB (DiffM=-0.12 [95% CI: -0.17; -0.07]). Of the three comparisons evaluating GA, no differences were found. CONCLUSION: With respect to plaque removal, evidence that supports the recommendation for usage of a TFTB over an ERTB is lacking. Regarding GI, there is minimal evidence favouring a TFTB over an ERTB and the clinical relevance of this difference is probably negligible. Therefore, based on the collective evidence emerging from this systematic review, the strength and direction of the recommendation, there appears to be no firm evidence for a dental healthcare professional to advise the use of a TFTB over the use of an ERTB.