High concentration but low activity of hepatocyte growth factor in periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: High levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a healing factor with regenerative and cytoprotective effects, are associated with inflammatory diseases, including periodontitis. HGF biologic activity requires binding to its receptors, the proto-oncogene c-Met and heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG). This study investigates HGF expression and its relationship to subgingival microbiota in medically healthy individuals with and without periodontitis. METHODS: Saliva, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), and blood samples from 30 patients with severe periodontitis and 30 healthy controls were analyzed for HGF concentration using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and binding affinity for HSPG and c-Met using surface plasmon resonance. The regenerative effects of saliva from three patients and controls were analyzed in an in vitro model of cell injury. Subgingival plaques were analyzed for the presence of 18 bacterial species. RESULTS: Patients with periodontitis showed higher HGF concentrations in saliva, GCF, and serum (P <0.001); however, the binding affinities for HSPG and c-Met were reduced in GCF and saliva (P <0.002). In contrast to the controls, saliva from patients showed no significant regenerative effect over time on gingival epithelial cells. Compared with controls, patients had a higher prevalence of periodontally related bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Higher circulatory HGF levels indicate a systemic effect of periodontitis. However, the HGF biologic activity at local inflammation sites was reduced, and this effect was associated with the amount of periodontal bacteria. Loss of function of healing factors may be an important mechanism in degenerative processes in periodontally susceptible individuals.

Periodontitis in patients with coronary artery disease: an 8-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: This study examines whether preceding assessment of periodontal status in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) can predict future CAD endpoints (myocardial infarction, new revascularization procedure, or CAD-related death) during 8-year follow-up and whether the changes in periodontal status over time differ in patients with CAD compared with healthy controls. METHODS: In 2003, periodontal status was examined in 161 patients with CAD who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft due to significant stenosis in the coronary arteries and 162 controls without CAD. Eight years later, 126 patients with CAD (102 males and 24 females, mean age: 68 ± 8.9 years) and 121 controls (101 males and 20 females, mean age: 69 ± 9.0 years) were reexamined periodontally. A standard classification of periodontal disease in three groups (mild, moderate, and severe) was used. CAD endpoints during follow-up were obtained by review of medical records. CAD as cause of death was confirmed from the Swedish Cause of Death Register. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among patients with CAD, with or without CAD-related endpoints at 8-year follow-up, and severity of periodontitis at baseline (P = 0.7). CAD did not influence the incidence or severity of periodontitis. Significant differences were found at the final examination in periodontitis prevalence and severity (P = 0.001), number of teeth (P = 0.006), probing depth 4 to 6 mm (P = 0.016), bleeding on probing (P = 0.001), and radiographic bone level (P = 0.042) between CAD patients and controls, all in favor of controls. CONCLUSIONS: The study results did not show a significant association during 8 years among CAD endpoints and periodontal status at baseline. The progression of periodontitis was low in both groups, although the higher proportion of individuals with severe periodontitis among patients with CAD compared with controls remained unchanged over the 8-year follow-up. Further long-term prospective studies are needed to show whether periodontitis can be considered a risk or prognostic factor for CAD, in terms of endpoints including myocardial infarction, new revascularization procedure, and CAD-related death.

The prevalence and alterations of furcation involvements 13 to 16 years after periodontal treatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term outcome of furcation involved molars in a population treated for periodontal disease. Initially, the study sample was 147 referred periodontal patients. Periodontal treatment consisted of oral hygiene instructions, supra- and subgingival scaling and periodontal surgery. After treatment 99 patients participated in a two year study on root caries. The patients got maintenance treatment every third to fourth month during 2 years. At the end of that study the patients were periodontally healthy and were referred back for supportive treatment to the referring dentist. Thirteen to 16 years after periodontal treatment 81 patients were still alive and 64 accepted a re-examination. At the start of the observation period the remaining 64 patients had in total 1537 teeth. During the 13 to 16 year follow up 217 teeth were lost. The number of molars at baseline was 361. The number of furcation involvement with different degrees were; 267 (0), 67 (I), 25 (II) and 2 (III) respectively. Totally 69 molars were lost during follow up. The proportion of molar loss according to the degree of furcation involvements 0 to III at baseline were 15%, 29%, 40% and 100% respectively. It was a significant greater risk of loosing an initially furcation involved molar than a single rooted tooth (p<0.0001). The risk of loosing an initially furcated molar increased with the degree of furcation involvement (degree I; p<0.05, degree II; p<0.01). I N CONCLUSION: During a long term observation period molars with furcation involvements are more frequently lost than not furcation involved molars. However, two thirds are still in function 13 to 16 years after treatment which indicate that molars with furcation involvements might survive long after periodontal treatment.

Long-term evaluation of Astra Tech and Brånemark implants in patients treated with full-arch bridges. Results after 12-15 years.

AIM: To study the long-term outcome of implant survival rate, soft and hard tissue conditions and prosthetic status in a group of individuals treated with either Astra Tech TiOblast or Brånemark turned implants supporting a full-arch bridge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Edentulous patients treated with either Astra Tech TiOblast surface or Brånemark turned implants were recalled for examination after 12-15 years. Out of initially 66 patients 46 were available for examination. Intra-oral radiographs were taken for bone level assessments. Clinical prosthetic conditions, number of surviving implants, implant stability, plaque scores, probing pocket depths, bleeding and pus after probing were recorded. Analyses of bone level changes during the total observation period were performed. RESULTS: Three patients in the Astra Tech group lost totally eight implants and five patients in the Brånemark group lost 10 implants during the total observation period. No statistically significant difference in implant loss or bone level change was found. Sixteen per cent of Astra Tech and 29% of Brånemark patients showed at least one implant with ≥2 mm bone loss after the first year in function. The corresponding prevalence on implant level was 6% and 5% respectively. No significant differences were found between the other examined variables. Two patients showed prosthetic complications of the supra construction in need of repair. Seven bridges had minor ceramic chippings. CONCLUSION: Treatment with Astra Tech TiOblast implants and Brånemark turned implants supporting full-arch bridges showed generally good clinical results with low numbers of implants with marginal bone loss indicative of peri-implantitis. No significant differences were found between the implant systems after 12-15 years in function.

Tooth loss in periodontally treated patients: a long-term study of periodontal disease and root caries.

AIM: To study periodontal conditions, root caries, number of lost teeth and causes for tooth loss during 11-14 years after active periodontal treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients participated in the follow-up study. Reasons for tooth loss were identified through previous case books, radiographs and clinical photos. To identify factors contributing to tooth loss, a logistic multilevel regression analysis was used. RESULTS: The number of lost teeth was 211. The main reason was periodontal disease (n = 153). Due to root caries and endodontic complications, 28 and 17 teeth, respectively, were lost. Thirteen teeth were lost for other reasons. The number of teeth (p = 0.05) and prevalence of probing pocket depths, 4-6 mm (p = 0.01) at baseline, smoking (p = 0.01) and the number of visits at dental hygienists (p = 0.03) during maintenance, significantly contributed to explain the variation in tooth loss. CONCLUSION: Previously treated patients at a specialist clinic for periodontology continued to lose teeth in spite of maintenance treatments at general practitioners and dental hygienists. The main reason for tooth loss was periodontal disease. Tooth loss was significantly more prevalent among smokers than non-smokers. Tooth-related risk factors were smoking, low numbers of teeth and prevalence of periodontal pockets, 4-6 mm.

Periodontal conditions in patients with coronary heart disease: a case-control study.

AIM: This study examined periodontal conditions in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and subjects with no history of CHD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants were 161 patients (40-75) with severe angina pectoris (diagnosed as CHD by coronary angiography) who subsequently underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and 162 control subjects with no history of CHD. Periodontal status was recorded. Bone loss was determined on radiographs. Periodontal disease experience was classified into five groups according to Hugoson & Jordan. RESULTS: Periodontal disease experience groups 4 and 5 were more common in the CHD group (25%) compared with the control group (8%). The mean bone level (the distance from the CEJ to the most coronal level of the alveolar bone) was 3.0+/-1.0 mm in CHD subjects and 2.6+/-0.8 mm in controls. CHD patients had significantly lower numbers of natural teeth, higher numbers of periodontal pockets 4-6-mm and higher bleeding on probing (%). In a stepwise regression analysis, the factor periodontal disease experience groups 4+5 gave an odds ratio of 5.74 (2.07-15.90) for having CHD after controlling for smoking and age. CONCLUSION: Severe periodontal disease expressed by several clinical and radiographic parameters was more prevalent among subjects with CHD than among controls. Analysis, the factor periodontal disease experience groups 4+5 gave an odds ratio of 5.74 (2.07-15.90) for having CHD after controlling for smoking and age.