Clinical Efficacy of the 940-nm Diode Laser in the Treatment of Recurrent Pockets in the Periodontal Maintenance Phase.

Introduction: The basis of periodontal treatments is the mechanical removal of bacterial biofilm, which is often not sufficient. Therefore, laser therapy can be effective as an adjunct treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the 940-nm diode laser in the treatment of recurrent pockets of patients in the periodontal maintenance phase. Methods: The present clinical trial study was performed on 20 patients. Clinical indices, including bleeding index (BI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) of the studied teeth were recorded before the test. The different quadrants were randomly divided into two experimental (scaling and root planing (SRP)+Laser) and control groups (SRP alone). Both groups were matched in terms of plaque index (PI). Clinical indices were re-recorded using therapeutic methods 30 and 90 days after the treatment, and data analysis was carried out using the t test and LSD. Results: There were no significant differences in PI, PPD, CAL, and BI in both groups before the treatment (P>0.05). However, there were significant differences in PPD, CAL, and BI in the two groups one month after the treatment (P<0.05); it means that improvements were more significant in the experimental group than in the control group. Comparing experimental and control groups, we found that there were no significant differences in PPD and CAL indices three months after the treatment (P>0.05); however, there were significant improvements in the BI index in both groups (P<0.05), so that the improvement was better in the experimental group than the control group. Conclusion: Both SRP+Laser and SRP alone improved clinical indices in patients. In short-term follow-up, the effect of SRP+Laser treatment on BI, CAL, PPD was significantly superior to SRP treatment alone, but in long-term follow-up, SRP+laser was more effective than SRP alone in improving the BI index.

Association of haptoglobin and natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 alleles with heme-consuming periodontal pathogens in chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis: A pilot study.

Background: This study aimed to assess the association of haptoglobin (HP) and natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) alleles with the presence of heme-consuming periodontal pathogens in a group of Iranian patients with chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 69 eligible chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis patients selected from Shahid Beheshti Dental School. The periodontally diseased individuals had at least three teeth with clinical attachment loss of ≥3 mm and a probing pocket depth (PPD) of ≥3 mm in at least two quadrants. Peri-implant PPD of at least one site was ≥5 mm with or without suppuration and bleeding on probing. A plaque index of >20% and a radiographic crestal bone loss was present in at least one site around the implant. The paper point method was used for sampling from the deepest periodontal/peri-implant pocket of each tooth or implant for the DNA checkerboard hybridization technique. Statistical analyses were performed with PASW Statistics 18.0. The variables were presented as absolute and relative frequencies (%). Results: An Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) score of 1-2 was 5.8 times more frequent in HP 2, rs1723540 G, and rs2276631 G alleles. A Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) score of 1-2 was 4.8 times more common in the subjects carrying HP 2, rs1723540 G, and rs2276631 G alleles compared with HP 1, rs1723540 A, and rs2276631 A alleles. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it seems that there was a relationship between HP and NRAMP1 allele frequencies and the presence of heme-consuming periodontal pathogens in the Iranian patients with chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis evaluated in the present study.

The effect of purmorphamine on differentiation of endometrial stem cells into osteoblast-like cells on collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffolds.

We assessed the effect of purmorphamine along with collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffold in inducing osteogenesis of human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs). The adhesion, viability, proliferation, and differentiation of cells on scaffold were assayed with SEM, MTT, real time-PCR, and ALP assay, respectively. The results were shown good integration of cells with scaffold. Also, qRT-PCR of differentiated cells shows that osteoblast cell markers are expressed after 21d in 2D and scaffold groups while in the scaffold group the expression of these markers were higher than the 2D group. Based on our findings, collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffold with PMA has the potential role in osteogenic differentiation of hEnSCs.

Treatment of a Developmental Groove and Supernumerary Root Using Guided Tissue Regeneration Technique.

Introduction. The radicular groove is a developmental groove which is usually found on the palatal or lateral aspects of the maxillary incisor teeth. The present case is a maxillary lateral incisor with a small second root and a deep radicular groove. The developmental groove caused a combined periodontal-endodontic lesion. Methods. Case was managed using a combined treatment procedure involving nonsurgical root canal therapy and surgical periodontal treatment. After completion of root canal treatment, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) was carried out using decalcified freeze dried bone allograft (DFDBA) and a bioabsorbable collagenous membrane. Tooth also was splinted for two months. Results. After 12 months the tooth was asymptomatic. The periapical radiolucency disappeared and probing depth did not exceed 3 mm. Conclusion. Combined treatment procedure involving nonsurgical root canal therapy and surgical periodontal regenerative treatment can be a predictable technique in treating combined endodontic-periodontal lesions caused by radicular groove.