The gingival phenotypes and related clinical periodontal parameters in a cohort of Pakistani young adults.

Objective: To evaluate the gingival phenotypes of healthy young adult Pakistanis attending a dental institution. Methods: A cross-sectional study of gingival phenotype, probing depth (PD), papilla height (PH), gingival width (GW), gingival thickness (GT), crown width (CW) and crown length (CL) of maxillary central incisors was conducted in 510 healthy, Pakistani young adults, aged 20-35 years, attending a regional dental hospital in Pakistan. The K-means clustering technique was employed to delineate clusters based on the characteristics of the periodontal phenotypes. The resultant data was compared with the available international findings. Results: Three quarters (76 %) of the 510 patients examined exhibited a thick gingival phenotype, and the remainder a thin phenotype. The K-means clustering deployed the individual into three different clusters 1, 2 and 3, with varying ratios of PD, GW, CW/CL, with significant variations across the three clusters (p < 0.05). Our data where a vast majority of the cohort exhibited a thick gingival phenotype is comparable to most of the populations sampled in other regions of the world. Conclusion: Taken together the current data, a first for a Pakistani population, indicate that healthy, young adult Pakistanis had differing gingival phenotypes and crown forms, with the thick gingival phenotype predominating. These results are similar to reports from most other regions of the world. However, a larger study with a broader swathe of the Pakistani population is required to derive country specific data on the subject.

Periodontal status of Pakistani orthodontic patients.

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the periodontal status of orthodontic patients and non-orthodontic patients, aged 15-28 years, of both genders. The cross-sectional study included 100 orthodontic and 100 non-orthodontic patients evaluated using a Community Periodontal Index for Treatment Need (CPITN) probe on the index teeth. A questionnaire was distributed to the participants to assess and evaluate the use of oral hygiene aids. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17, and various comparisons were performed using the chi-square test. The study revealed that there was a statistically significant association in CPITN scores between the orthodontic and non-orthodontic patients (p < 0.01). The study showed that patients undergoing orthodontic treatment have increased plaque accumulation and probing depth resulting in periodontal tissue destruction. Proper oral hygiene practices and interdental aids should be employed to control plaque.

Periodontal status of Pakistani orthodontic patients

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the periodontal status of orthodontic patients and non-orthodontic patients, aged 15–28 years, of both genders. The cross-sectional study included 100 orthodontic and 100 non-orthodontic patients evaluated using a Community Periodontal Index for Treatment Need (CPITN) probe on the index teeth. A questionnaire was distributed to the participants to assess and evaluate the use of oral hygiene aids. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17, and various comparisons were performed using the chi-square test. The study revealed that there was a statistically significant association in CPITN scores between the orthodontic and non-orthodontic patients (p < 0.01). The study showed that patients undergoing orthodontic treatment have increased plaque accumulation and probing depth resulting in periodontal tissue destruction. Proper oral hygiene practices and interdental aids should be employed to control plaque.

Submental versus platysma flap for the reconstruction of complex facial defects following resection of head and neck tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the platysma flap with submental flap in terms of tumor and flap characteristics, operative properties and the functional outcomes. METHODS: A total of 65 patients presented with tumors of head and neck and underwent curative tumor resection with different neck dissections at the Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Stomatology of China Medical University; from March 2005 to December 2012 were included in the study. After radical tumor excision and neck dissection the resultant complex defects were reconstructed with either platysma flap or the submental flap. The extent of surgical resection, the type of neck dissection and choice of flap reconstruction was at the discretion of the surgical team. The functional outcomes, operative time and characteristics of both platysma and submental flaps were compared and the statistical tests of significance were applied accordingly. RESULTS: The mean age was 60 years. The complex facial defects of 30 patients were reconstructed with platysma flap and of 35 patients with submental flap. Mean operation time of submental flap including flap harvesting (5.58±1.96hrs) was shorter than platysma flap (6.2±1.4hrs). The majority of the flaps (88-93%) were taken successfully in both groups. Submental flap was associated with significantly higher patients' satisfaction regarding acceptable functional outcomes (p-value 0.027). The mean reduction in mouth opening was significantly smaller in platysma group (0.37 ±0.18cms) than the submental group (0.47±0.16). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that both platysma and submental flap techniques can be used for the reconstruction of complex facial defects with the acceptable functional outcome. The platysma flap can be harvested to medium size defects up to 70cm(2) with good mouth opening. The submental flap is simpler, faster with a wider range of application and more acceptable functional outcomes.