Effect of laser corticotomy on canine retraction rate: a split-mouth randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the effect of corticotomy with Er: YAG (erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet) laser on the rate of canine retraction. METHODS: This randomized split-mouth controlled clinical trial was conducted on 12 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with extraction of maxillary first premolars. Following initial leveling and alignment, an alginate impression was made from the maxillary arch, and Er: YAG laser corticotomy was performed in one of the maxillary quadrants of each patient. Canine retraction was started immediately after corticotomy by placement of nickel-titanium (NiTi) closed coil springs at both sides. At the end of each month, alginate records were repeated for 4 months. Study models were scanned, and the anteroposterior movement of canine was quantified bilaterally. Pain was also measured by a visual analog scale (VAS). Probing depth (PPD) of canines and two adjacent teeth was also evaluated and pulp vitality was assessed by performing the cold test. Data were analyzed by paired and independent t-test and one-way ANOVA (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: The rate of canine retraction was significantly greater in the laser-assisted corticotomy quadrant than the control (P < 0.05). No significant difference existed in posterior anchorage loss, canine rotation angle, PPD, pulp vitality, or pain score between two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Flapless Er: YAG laser corticotomy significantly enhanced canine retraction rate with no adverse effect on other parameters.

Assessment of suturing and scaling skills of periodontology and oral medicine residents by OSATS method: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Updating the method for evaluating suturing and scaling skills in dental education has attracted relatively little attention and there is no consensus to what should be assessed and how. The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) method for these two basic skills, the possible association between the scores and demographic factors, and the level of satisfaction of residents with this method. METHODS: All six periodontics and three oral medicine residents were recruited by census method and video-recorded while performing a simple interrupted suture, a figure eight suture and scaling on a model. Then, the videos were evaluated independently via a checklist and a global rating scale (GRS) by two expert raters. Agreement between raters and residents' satisfaction were evaluated. Correlation between demographic factors of participants and scores was also assessed. T-test and linear regression analysis were used. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the scores based on the views of the two raters for each of the checklist (ICC = 0.99, CI = 0.96-0.99, P < 0.001) and GRS (ICC = 0.97, CI = 0.86-0.99, P < 0.001). Linear regression showed no correlation between gender and scores but periodontics major and higher year of education showed correlation with higher scores. CONCLUSION: Considering the excellent agreement between raters in using both the checklist and GRS components of OSATS, and satisfaction of 88% the residents with this method, it seems to be able to provide a reliable assessment.

Effect of periodontal treatment on serum inflammatory parameters and disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Several descriptive studies have shown an association between periodontitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but clinical trials evaluating the effect of periodontal treatment on serological inflammatory parameters or disease activity in SLE patients are very limited. The aim of this study was to see how periodontal treatment affects the status of SLE patients. Materials and Methods: Ninety patients with active SLE and periodontitis were randomly assigned to one of two groups: case (oral hygiene instructions + scaling and root planning) or control (oral hygiene instructions only). Periodontal parameters, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) and SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) levels were monitored at baseline and 3 months later. Results: Periodontal parameters in the case group were significantly reduced both statistically and clinically after 3 months. However, in the control group, these indices decreased statistically (P < 0.05) but not clinically. The score of SLEDAI in both the groups showed a significant downward trend (P < 0.05) from the start of the study, but the differences in this index between the two groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.894). Although there was a significant decrease in CRP and ESR (P = 0.001) after 3 months in the case group, indicating a positive effect of periodontal treatment on inflammation reduction, there was no significant decrease in CRP and ESR in the control group. Conclusion: According to our findings, it appears to be no statistically significant association between periodontal treatment and SLEDAI level. However, this treatment seems to be effective in reducing acute phase biomarkers such as CRP and ESR.

Effects of omega-3 supplementation as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy on periodontal parameters in periodontitis patients: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 30 patients with periodontitis. All patients received standard non-surgical periodontal therapy, and were randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control by a table of random numbers (n = 15). The intervention group consumed 1000 mg natural fish oil soft-gels daily (300 mg Omega-3 marine triglycerides, 180 mg Eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg Docosahexaenoic acid) while the control group used soft-gels contained only some soybean oil for 3 months. Clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth (PD), and bleeding index (BI) were recorded at baseline (before the intervention) and after 3 months. The two groups were compared regarding the clinical parameters by t-test (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: All three clinical parameters decreased in both groups at 3 months compared with baseline (P = 0.001). The improvement in PD and CAL in the intervention group was significantly greater than that in the control group (P = 0.001); however, the difference in BI was not significant between the two groups (P = 0.283). CONCLUSION: Omega-3 supplementation as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy significantly improved the clinical parameters in periodontitis patients compared to soybean oil supplements.

Bacterial composition of subgingival plaque in crowded and noncrowded teeth.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with dental crowding, even with good oral hygiene, may show increased bacterial presence in the crowded area. This study aimed to determine the microbial composition of subgingival plaque in crowded and noncrowded dental regions. METHODS: Forty dental students with anterior dental crowding, who were aware of correct brushing techniques and oral hygiene, were enrolled in this study. After orthodontic records were taken and the periodontal examination was performed, subgingival plaque samples were collected from the crowded (experimental) and noncrowded regions (control) of each patient. Colony counting was performed for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and streptococcus species. RESULTS: The mean amount of Aa and Pg colonies was significantly higher in crowded areas (P <0.0001), but there was no significant difference between streptococcus species colonization and crowding. Aa and Pg colonization had a significant direct relation with the amount of crowding. (P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Crowded dental areas, even with good oral hygiene, are more suitable environments for Aa and Pg colonization.

Nurses' educational needs in the oral health of inpatients at Yazd Province in Iran: a Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Oral hygiene is an integral part of general health of a person. Nurses qualified about oral care can play an important role in improving the quality of oral health in hospitalized patients. This study investigated the educational needs of nurses in the field of oral health of hospitalized patients. METHODS: The study used the modified Delphi method in three rounds. Fifty faculty members of the School of Dentistry and Nursing were selected via purposive sampling. The data collection tool was a demographic form and an open-ended questionnaire in the first round and a structured questionnaire in the next rounds. The analysis was performed using both content and descriptive analysis techniques. RESULTS: The top ten oral health education priorities for nurses were greater than 75% with a consensus level: oral anatomy and physiology, learning the signs and symptoms of common oral diseases, learning of oral medications and administration, learning the drugs that cause damage to the mouth and teeth, training in managing dental emergencies, patient education for tooth brushing and taking care of the mouth, especially in the elderly patient, providing oral and dental care, training for unconscious and fasting patients, undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and hospitalization in intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study emphasized the need for interdisciplinary cooperation between nursing and dental professionals for the development of an oral health curriculum for nurses to promote and improve oral health and prevent dental diseases in hospitalized patients and the community.