The Effect of Dental Flossing Instructions and Technique on Interproximal Bleeding: A randomized control trial.

Purpose Dental floss has been promoted reduce the effects from interdental microbial biofilm, however its efficacy has been questioned in the literature. The purpose of this study was to compare daily flossing instructions using an adapted horizontal vertical flossing technique (AHVFT) and routine oral hygiene on gingival inflammation as indicated by bleeding on probing (BoP).Methods This randomized single-blinded controlled clinical trial was conducted with non-smoking adults presenting with gingivitis and no other systemic diseases. Eligible participants were recruited from a dental school patient population and were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group A (experimental group) was instructed in how to use the AHVFT once daily and Group B (control group) was asked to continue with their regular oral hygiene practices. Clinical evaluations (interproximal BoP measurements) were performed by blinded, calibrated examiners at two, four, and eight-week intervals; the percentage of sites with interproximal BoP was recorded. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.Results A total of 36 eligible participants were enrolled in the study: Group A (n=18), Group B (n=18). The mean (±SD) percentage of interproximal sites with BoP was 26.3 (±4.7), 8.6 (±7.3), 7.2 (±5.2), and 7.9 (±5.8) for Group A at baseline, two weeks, four weeks, and eight weeks, respectively. The corresponding values for Group B were 25.8 (±9.9), 15.6 (±12.4), 12.3 (±12.2), and 18.0 (±13.1), respectively. The percentage of sites with BoP was significantly lower for Group A than for Group B (p=.015 at two weeks, p=.009 at four weeks, and p<.001 at eight weeks). Within each group, the percentage of sites with BoP was significantly lower when compared with baseline (p<.008). At the final visit, the percent reduction in BoP for Group A was 70% and 30% for Group B compared with baseline. Most (88.2%) of Group A participants demonstrated mastery of the AHVFT at eight weeks.Conclusion Participants who received Instruction with the daily use of the AHVFT were shown to have reductions in interproximal BoP as compared to participants who had not received instructions in the AHVFT. Positive gingival health outcomes with dental flossing may be technique sensitive.

The Guided Bone Regeneration of a Large, Non-Contained, Perforated Maxillary Anterior Perforation Defect: A Case Report.

The reconstruction of alveolar ridge defects can be challenging, especially when the lesion is large, non-contained, and located in the esthetic region. The present report describes the guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedure and prosthetic rehabilitation of a severe perforation defect in the anterior maxilla. Clinical and radiographic evaluation of the lesion indicated an endodontic-periodontal origin, and biopsy results confirmed the absence of malignancy. GBR was performed with the use of cortical mineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (FDBA) combined with recombinant human platelet derived growth factor BB (rhPDGF-BB) and a resorbable collagen membrane without the use of tenting or fixation screws. At six months post-GBR, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) revealed adequate bone fill for the placement of 4.1 x 10 mm or 4.1 x 12 mm dental implants. The implant surgery was fully guided with a two-stage approach. After a ten-month of healing phase, the implants were loaded with a screw-retained porcelain bridge. The staged GBR approach using a combination of FDBA, rhPDGF-BB, and a resorbable membrane without the use of tenting or fixation screws resulted in significant bone fill, successful implant placement, and a functional and esthetic implant-supported prosthesis.

The management of an oral pyogenic granuloma around osseointegrated dental implants.

INTRODUCTION: Oral pyogenic granulomas (PGs) presenting in association with dental implants are uncommon occurrences. While tooth-associated PGs are well-documented in the literature, there are only seven case reports with biopsy-confirmed diagnoses of PG related to dental implants. This case report details the treatment of an intraoral PG related to dental implants that had been osseointegrated and asymptomatic for 10 years. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old female presented with a hyperplastic erythematous mass that encompassed the dental implants in the position of the maxillary central incisors. Surgical exploration of the site revealed nonintegrated, particulate bone material distributed throughout the peri-implant tissues approximating the granuloma. Treatment involved surgical excision of the lesion, elimination of all nonintegrated bone material, and implant surface debridement. Laser therapy was later used to manage a recurrence. Histology of the biopsied tissue confirmed the diagnosis of PG and described the presence of multiple exogenous, refractile, particulate materials in the specimen. CONCLUSION: The combination of surgical excision, implant debridement, and conservative laser therapy resulted in the elimination of a dental implant-related PG and successful soft tissue management. The localized presence of nonintegrated particulate bone material surrounding the granuloma appears to have functioned as a chronic irritant to the peri-implant soft tissues over time and is likely, along with oral bacteria, the primary etiological agents. KEY POINTS: Why is this case new information? There is a paucity of reports describing the management of dental implant-related pyogenic granulomas especially in the esthetic region. The present case demonstrates that particulate bone materials used in guided bone regeneration have the capacity to behave as a low-grade irritant to the gingival tissues. It also demonstrates the successful elimination of the tissues and management of the peri-implant soft tissues for an esthetic result. What are the keys to successful management of this case? The key to successful management of this case was adequate removal of the exogenous irritant, proper implant surface debridement, and decontamination and adequate gingivoplasty to remove all residual hyperplastic granulomatous tissues. Additionally, patient education and appropriate oral hygiene instructions were important to proper healing and maintenance of the area. What are the primary limitations to success in this case? The ambiguity of the clinical boundaries of PGs makes it challenging to guarantee complete excision beyond the base of the lesion, leading to recurrence.

Diagnosing periodontal and dental indicators with horizontal and vertical bitewing radiographs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare information provided by the 2 orientations of bitewing radiographs, horizontal (HBW) and vertical (VBW) taken in a dental school. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Radiographic records were reviewed at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) for patients showing posterior bone loss who had both HBW and VBW. 320 records were reviewed with 6 criteria: visibility of crestal bone from the distal of the cuspids to the distal of the most posterior tooth, visibility of horizontal or angular bone loss, the crestal density of bone, visibility of interproximal contact areas, visibility of the entire anatomical crown, and visibility of furcations. RESULTS: Significantly higher number of VBW compared with HBW (P < 0.0001) showed the levels of alveolar bone loss (52.81% vs. 3.75%), the type of loss (angular or horizontal) (50.94% vs. 3.75%), the crestal bone density (28.75% vs. 0.63%), the contact areas (20.63% vs. 14.38%), and the furcations (43.44% vs. 1.25%). A greater number of HBW showed the entire anatomical crown compared with VBW. No significant difference was detected in the number of radiographs taken per HBW and VBW set. CONCLUSION: For patients with alveolar bone loss, VBW are superior to HBW when assessing bone levels, density, morphology, tooth furcations, and evaluating interproximal contact areas for caries. It is recommended that the vertical bitewing technique be taught as a standard in dental, dental hygiene, and dental assisting schools for adult patients showing evidence of posterior interdental bone loss.

The Effect of the Bass Intrasulcular Toothbrushing Technique on the Reduction of Gingival Inflammation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to investigate the effect of the Bass Intrasulcular Technique (BIT) on reducing gingival inflammation at 4 and 12 weeks compared with the toothbrushing techniques commonly used. METHODS AND MATERIALS: After receiving ethical approval from the Tufts Health Sciences Institutional Review Board, 55 subjects were invited to participate in the study. Only the subjects who presented with bleeding on probing (BoP) were enrolled. The test group (BT) was instructed on how to use the BIT, and the control group (NI) received no brushing technique instructions. Clinical measurements (probing depth, plaque score, BoP) of each tooth were recorded at 4 and 12 weeks. The toothbrushes of all participants were photographed and assessed by two blinded examiners using the ImageJ software. The statistical significance between the cohorts' BoP and their plaque score results was assessed via hierarchical logistic regression. The analyses were performed using the SAS software (version 9.4; SAS Institute, Cary, NC). RESULTS: Forty-eight participants were eligible to participate and were randomly assigned to one of the two groups (N = 24). The BT group showed significantly smaller percentages of BoP than the NI group at 4 (BT = 12.4% and NI = 31.4%) and 12 (BT = 11.6% and NI = 43.8%) weeks. The difference in plaque scores at 12 weeks was statistically significant (P = .0003) between the two groups. At 12 weeks, the Mann-Whitney U Test indicated that the difference between the groups in terms of toothbrush area was statistically significant (P = .043). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this randomized controlled clinical trial, the BIT used by participants in the BT group was significantly more effective in reducing gingival inflammation as determined by BoP than the techniques used by participants who had no instructions on brushing techniques; at 12 weeks, the BT group experienced less toothbrush deformation than the control group. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: BIT should be recommended particularly to patients exhibiting BoP and periodontal diseases.

Microbiologic Findings in Relation to Risk Assessment for Periodontal Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, an association between a computerized risk calculator and microbiologic testing is examined in patients with periodontitis. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with moderate and severe periodontitis were selected from patients receiving treatment at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Their periodontal risk was analyzed with a periodontitis risk assessment tool, and microbiologic testing was performed. Periodontitis risk assessment and microbiologic testing were examined for a possible association. The data were evaluated by the χ(2) test at P <0.05 levels. RESULTS: Forty-six patients scored as having a "very high" risk of periodontitis and 22 patients scored as having a "high" risk of periodontitis by the risk assessment tool. Patients with a risk score of very high risk showed a higher detection of each bacterium except Capnocytophaga species than the rest of the study population. Treponema denticola and Prevotella intermedia (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively) were two bacteria that showed a statistically significant difference between patients at very high risk and those at high risk. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with periodontitis were identified as high risk and very high risk compared with the rest of the risk categories by the risk assessment tool. The study population, categorized mostly as very high risk, showed high detection of putative periodontal bacteria.

Comparison of the efficacy of different types of lasers for the treatment of peri-implantitis: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of various types of lasers (neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet [Nd:YAG], carbon dioxide [CO2], diode, erbium/chromium-doped yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet [Er,Cr:YSGG], and erbium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet [Er:YAG]) in the treatment of peri-implantitis and their use in surgical and nonsurgical procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human studies for the treatment of peri-implantitis with laser therapy, published between 2002 and January 2014, were collected utilizing the electronic databases PubMed, Ovid, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers conducted the study selection, data collection, and validity assessment. RESULTS: Eight hundred twelve studies were selected in the initial title search; 13 studies were then chosen for this review. No human studies evaluated the effect of the Nd:YAG laser on peri-implantitis. The CO2 laser is reported to be safe and able to enhance bone regeneration. The diode laser (980 nm) seems to be effective in its bactericidal effect without changing the implant surface pattern. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser was reported to obtain bone regeneration around a failing implant in one case, while the Er:YAG laser exhibits a strong bactericidal effect against periodontopathic bacteria at a low energy level. CONCLUSION: Although lasers have shown promising results in reducing clinical signs of peri-implantitis, because of the limited sample sizes and short follow-up periods, no firm conclusion can be drawn at this moment. Hence, there is a need for more well-designed, longitudinal, randomized controlled clinical trials.

Histomorphometric results in ridge preservation procedures comparing various graft materials in extraction sockets with nongrafted sockets in humans: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate, from a histological point of view, the amount of newly formed bone in ridge preservation procedures using various graft materials in comparison with natural healing (NH) and to determine which is the ideal type of graft to be used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search strategy was developed to find articles in a human model published between 1990 and January 2013 in English language using MEDLINE database. RESULTS: Thirty-four articles were included in this systematic review. When comparing the percentage of newly formed bone using various grafting materials with NH, calcium sulfate, magnesium enriched hydroxyapatite, and porcine-derived bone grafts offered the best outcomes. However, due to the heterogeneity of the included studies, the search was extended to determine which type of graft resulted in greatest bone formation. CONCLUSION: When comparing ridge preservation with NH, only 3 studies encountered a greater amount of newly formed bone in the ridge preservation group, whereas the rest did not find statistically significant differences or even observed a greater percentage of newly formed bone in the control group. Therefore, more studies are needed to determine whether the use of graft materials enhances new bone formation in contrast to NH alone and to determine the most effective bone grafting material.

A survey: how periodontists and other dental professionals view the scope of periodontics.

BACKGROUND: How do periodontists think of themselves when they define their practices? How do other dental professionals view the scope of the specialty of periodontology? A strong component of periodontal residency programs is extracting teeth and preserving or building bony ridges for the eventual placement of implants. Has the discipline of periodontology moved away from retaining and treating the natural dentition? By the use of a rank-order survey, the practice of periodontology was defined by periodontists and other dental professionals. METHODS: In a pilot study, respondents were asked to list the answers to the question, "What is a periodontist?" The results were consolidated into eight statements. The eight statements were placed into an anonymous rank-order survey, and more than 1,200 responses were returned. The responses primarily came from periodontists, hygienists, general practitioners, dental students, and dental hygiene students. RESULTS: "Periodontists surgically treat advanced gum and bone infection problems" was considered the most important statement in all of the cohorts. The least important statement considered by all was, "Periodontists are educators promoting health." Non-periodontist dentists (NPDs) ranked the statement, "Periodontists perform dental implants and related procedures" less importantly (P <0.001) than the periodontists. The non-periodontist cohort (NPC), which includes NPDs and dental hygienists, ranked the statement, "Periodontists' treatments help general dentists and other specialists increase successful therapeutic outcomes" as second most important. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey indicate that periodontists ranked the placement of implants and their related procedures higher than the NPC. NPDs appear to value periodontists in treating the natural dentition for their patients. The NPC appreciates that periodontal therapy done by periodontists increases their therapeutic success for their patients.

Significance of crown shape in the replacement of a central incisor with a single implant-supported crown.

OBJECTIVE: When utilizing a single implant-supported crown to replace a central incisor, understanding the final shape of the implant restoration is an important factor to help achieve a successful esthetic outcome. In today's dentistry, tooth shape is a critical factor when dental implant prostheses are considered in the esthetic zone. The major esthetic goal for this type of restoration is to achieve the closest possible symmetry with the adjacent tooth, both at the soft and at the hard tissue levels. The goal of this study was to objectively analyze the significance of natural crown shape when replacing a central incisor with a single implant-supported crown. METHOD AND MATERIALS: In this study, we investigated the shape of the crowns of maxillary central incisors in 60 individuals who presented to our clinics with an untreatable central incisor. The presence of a dental diastema, "black triangle," presence or absence of gingival symmetry, and the presence or absence of dental symmetry were recorded in the pre- and postoperative photographs. RESULTS: Out of 60 patients, 33.3% had triangular-shaped crowns, 16.6% square/tapered, and 50% square-shaped crown form. After treatment was rendered, 65% of the triangular group, 40% of the square/tapered group, and 13.3% of the square group required an additional restoration on the adjacent central incisor in order to fulfill the esthetic needs of the patients. CONCLUSION: Data analysis revealed that if there is a "black triangle," a diastema, or presence of dental or gingival asymmetry, an additional restoration on the adjacent central incisor is often required in order to fulfill esthetic goals. The additional restoration is highly recommended in situations with a triangular crown shape, while it is suggested in cases of square/tapered and square tooth shapes in the presence of a dental diastema.

Analysis of the shapes of maxillary central incisors in a Caucasian population.

The purpose of this study was to objectively define and quantify triangular, square, and square/tapered maxillary central incisors. In this study, the shape of maxillary central incisor crowns was investigated in 100 healthy individuals. The results showed that when the contact surface/crown length ratio is less than 43%, the tooth is triangular in shape; when the ratio is more than 57%, the tooth is square in shape; and when the ratio is between 43% and 57%, the tooth is defined as square/tapered. Since it has been shown that the morphologic characteristics of the gingiva and periodontium are partly related to the shape of the teeth, a means of truly defining the shapes of the incisors is now available. This is significant in predicting esthetics, bone volume, and susceptibility to recession, pocketing in the natural dentition, and ridge shrinkage for prosthetic tooth replacement.

Tooth loss in 776 treated periodontal patients.

BACKGROUND: The most common form of periodontitis is a variably progressive dynamic pathologic process that causes attachment loss, destroys the alveolar bone supporting a tooth, and terminates with tooth loss. We evaluated the loss of teeth of treated periodontal patients categorized by severity and risk. METHODS: Each of nine periodontists evaluated 100 consecutive periodontal maintenance patients. The disease severity and risk level were determined from data at the initial examination. The number of teeth lost was determined from data at the initial and maintenance visits. RESULTS: A stepwise regression analysis showed that disease (P = 0.0000478) and risk (P = 0.00129) scores predicted the mean tooth loss rate. The adjusted R(2) statistic was 88.56%. The ordinal logistic regression model showed that only the disease score (P <0.0005) was significantly associated with the probability of patients losing a specific number of teeth. CONCLUSIONS: Categorizing a patient by severity may be beneficial in the management of the periodontal patient. The disease score can be used to establish a criterion and target for care. For example, treatment can result in nearly no lost teeth when the severity is low, and this benefit is lost when the severity is high. The disease score provides an objective means to quickly determine severity. An increase in the disease score provides evidence that a new treatment plan is needed. Therefore, the effect of the routine use of the disease score could result in fewer patients with severe disease and reduce the number of teeth lost.

Intraosseous anchorage of dental prostheses: an early 20th century contribution.

A thorough literature review of root form implants yielded a paucity of information regarding the true pioneers of this discipline. Numerous articles have been written on the history of endosseous implants, although little information is available describing the individuals to whom we attribute the major developments in implant dentistry. This article will present information regarding significant contributors to modern-day implant dentistry. Initially, articles and textbooks printed early in the 20th century were reviewed, and the relevance of implant-related information was ranked based on current concepts. This article highlights four major contributors in implant dentistry: E.J. Greenfield (1913), who developed many of the surgical techniques and principles used today; Alvin Edward Strock (1939), who introduced the first biocompatible material; Per-Ingvar Brånemark (1969), who proved the long-term success of titanium implants; and André Schroeder (1976), who introduced the roughened implant surface.

Squamous cell carcinoma presenting as an endodontic-periodontic lesion.

BACKGROUND: Regardless of advances in diagnosis and treatment during the past 40 years, the overall 5-year survival rates for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cancers have only slightly improved and remain around 50%. Thus, the early diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma by health care providers are essential in achieving a good prognosis. We report a case of invasive squamous cell carcinoma that presented as a benign endodontic-periodontic lesion with a 7-mm periodontal pocket on tooth #15 in a 40-year-old, non-smoking woman. The subsequent management of the case is also discussed. The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. METHODS: Our patient was seen for a comprehensive periodontal examination including a periodontal charting, occlusal analysis, study casts, electronic pulp test for tooth #15, and complete mouth periapical radiographs. As there was a periapical radiolucency, an endodontic consultation was obtained. A periodontal flap surgical procedure was performed on teeth #13 to #15, and as there was bone erosion into the maxillary sinus, a biopsy of the soft tissue was submitted to the local hospital for histological analysis. RESULTS: The biopsied lesion was diagnosed as invasive, moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with focal spindle and clear cell differentiation (grade II to III of IV). Bone invasion was also identified. The treatment of the carcinoma involved a hemimaxillectomy with the removal of the maxillary left posterior teeth. The patient remained free of tumor for 5 years after the initial presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Patient education and periodic oral cancer examinations by dental professionals are necessary to reduce diagnostic delay and improve prognosis. This case report emphasizes the important role of dental professionals, especially periodontists and endodontists, of being aware that squamous cell carcinoma may manifest itself clinically and/or radiographically as a common periodontal or endodontic lesion.