Quantification and comparison of salivary neutrophils in periodontal health and disease.

Background: Neutrophils continuously migrate into the oral cavity from various sources like gingival crevicular fluid and saliva both in health and in inflammation. The migration of the neutrophils into the various tissues and into the oral cavity occurs when the host microbial interplay tips the balance favoring the initiation of the inflammatory and immune reactions which depending on the amount of the microbial load results in the development of acute and chronic infections in the susceptible host. Aim: The present study was designed to quantify and compare the oral salivary neutrophil levels in patients with gingivitis and chronic and aggressive periodontitis as well as in healthy controls, before and after scaling and root planing (SRP) and to compare the difference within the selected study groups. Materials and Methods: Forty subjects were classified into four groups, that is, healthy controls, gingivitis, and chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Oral rinse samples were collected using Hank's balanced salt solution from each patient before and after phase I periodontal therapy. Cells in the rinse samples were stained with Acridine orange, and neutrophil counts were carried out using a fluorescence microscope and a hemocytometer. Results: Baseline oral salivary neutrophil levels were maximum in the chronic periodontitis group followed by the aggressive group and then the gingivitis group. Oral salivary neutrophil levels also positively correlated to probing pocket depth, plaque index, calculus index, and gingival index in all four study groups. Maximum reduction in the oral salivary neutrophil levels after phase I periodontal therapy was seen in the gingivitis group. Conclusion: From our study, we conclude that the oral salivary neutrophil levels decreased significantly after SRP. Estimation of changes in the oral salivary neutrophil levels has the potential to aid in monitoring treatment outcomes. Thus, it suggests that it could be used as a simple, noninvasive laboratory technique to monitor the periodontal status and disease progression.

Comparison of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life scores in children treated for early childhood caries under general and local anesthesia: a quasi-experimental study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) scores in children treated for Early Childhood Caries (ECC) under general (GA) and local anesthesia (LA). METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was carried out on 73 children, with 37 in the GA group and 36 in the LA group. The early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS) was used to measure OHRQoL, with the type of anesthesia (LA or GA) serving as the explanatory variable. A Friedman test was used to assess the difference between the LA and GA groups at baseline, one-week, and one-month follow-up points. RESULTS: The results showed a significant difference in the overall mean ECOHIS scores between the LA and GA groups at 1-week (LAmean ± SD = 6.12 ± 1.11, GAmean ± SD = 5.50 ± 0.88; P = 0.01) and 1-month (LAmean ± SD = 5.87 ± 1.12, GAmean ± SD = 4.96 ± 0.99; P < 0.001) follow-up points. Irrespective of the administered anesthesia, a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in the mean score for dental pain was observed at both 1-week (mean ± SD = 1.30 ± 1.16) and 1-month (mean ± SD = 0.81 ± 0.89) timepoints after the treatment, as compared to the baseline assessment (mean ± SD = 2.02 ± 1.02). CONCLUSION: Early treatment for ECC reduces pain, restore normal activities, and improves the quality of life of affected children. Specifically, GA was found to be more beneficial for both children and parents. However, further studies using more robust study designs and carefully considering related factors are necessary to confirm these findings.

Effect of photosensitizers on modulating bond strength of different luting cements used for cementation of resin modified composite fiber posts.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the tensile BS of FPs luted with conventional and self-adhesive resin modified GIC cement on disinfection of post-space radicular dentin with various photo-activated photosensitizer (chitosan, TB and Clp6). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six orthodontically extracted mandibular pre-molars were selected on specific exclusion/inclusion criteria, trailed by thorough debridement of plaque/calculus and disinfected by immersion in Chloramine T trihydrate solution for 48 hrs. The selected teeth were sectioned from the cement-enamel junction removing the crown. The radicular region of the samples was entrenched perpendicularly in heat cure resin modified acrylic. The pulpal tissue was detached using K-files trailed by canal shaping with ProTaper Next rotary NiTi (Dentsply Sirona, Gloucestershire, UK) files under continuous irrigation with NaOCl. The canals were dried using paper points trailed by obturation by Pro Taper Next Obturators gutta-percha points (Dentsply, UK) coated with ADSEAL (Meta Biomed, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea). After incubation for seven days in an environment mimicking oral cavity, post space was created using peso reamers. The space was disinfected by G1: chitosan 3 mg/mL; G2: 13-15 mg/mL TB and G3: Clp6. After photo-irridation the FPs were luted with conventional (n=11) and resin modified self-adhesive cement (n=11) for each group respectively. The specimens were incubated for 48 hrs prior to tensile BS testing. The type of bond fracture/failure was evaluated under 30x magnification. The tensile BS was statistically analyzed using ANOVA trailed by Tukey's test to respective groups. RESULTS: FPs luted using self-adhesive resin modified cement with prior to disinfection by TBs displayed highest tensile BS 291.47 N ± 5.36. On the contrary, post-space disinfected by Clp6 displayed statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) lowest bond strength (276.62 N ± 4.31). Intra-group analysis displayed statistically significant difference in bond strength of the luting dental materials (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The self-adhesive resin modified cement revealed utmost bond strength on pre-treatment of post-space with respective photo-activated photosensitizer (chitosan, TB & Clp6) in contrast to conventional GIC.

Extensive idiopathic external apical root resorption on a 13 year old child.

External root resorption in permanent teeth can occur as a result of a multitude of local and systemic factors. Root resorption that is idiopathic or occurring without any identifiable underlying cause is an unusual phenomenon, especially in children. This article describes a rare case of extensive external apical root resorption affecting multiple teeth and occurring concomitantly with localized periodontitis in a 13 year-old child. No significant systemic, local or familial findings could be identified as a plausible cause for the root resorption.