Evaluation of a New Porcine Collagen Matrix for the Treatment of Buccal Gingival Recessions: A 12-Month Pilot Prospective Human Study Model.

A 12-month prospective consecutive case series study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel porcine collagen matrix to correct moderate to severe buccogingival recession defects. A total of 10 healthy patients (8 women and 2 men; age range: 30 to 68 years) with 26 maxillary and mandibular recession gingival defects > 4 mm deep were included. Healthy maturation of gingival tissues with natural color and texture matching the adjacent soft tissue areas were observed at all reevaluation visits. Complete root coverage was not achieved in all cases, possibly due to severe buccal bone loss in most of the selected cases, which negatively impacted the results. Nevertheless, when a novel porcine collagen matrix was used, a mean root coverage of 63.15% was achieved, and gains in clinical attachment level and keratinized tissue height were seen. Future randomized clinical trials are needed to further explore the potential of porcine collagen matrix for treatment of localized gingival recession defects.

Impact of Home and Professional Care on Laser-Assisted Management of Peri-implant Complications: A Case Report.

This case report emphasizes how home and professional care can impact clinical outcomes following nonsurgical mechanical therapy with the adjunctive use of a diode laser to treat failing implants. Localized severe peri-implant disease was diagnosed in a patient who was susceptible to periodontal disease, not compliant, and did not accept the surgical approach. A cause-related, diode laser-assisted, nonsurgical treatment was therefore implemented, according to a dedicated protocol, in four closely scheduled appointments. The patient's oral hygiene skills became extremely effective. She then adhered to a bimonthly maintenance protocol in the first follow-up year and quarterly in the subsequent year. Bone remineralization was detected on comparative periapical radiographs 2 years after the diagnosis of peri-implantitis. At the 2-year observation, the patient's high standard of home care and dedicated maintenance arrested the progression of peri-implantitis and yielded clinical and radiographic improvements following nonsurgical mechanical therapy with adjunctive repeated application of a diode laser.

Classification of Mucogingival Defects in Implantology and Proposed Corrective Approaches.

The aim of this classification is to diagnose and grade four different types of soft tissue deficiency around loaded, osseointegrated implants according to increasing severity. The suggested soft tissue augmentation to increase the width of the peri-implant keratinized mucosa will improve the long-term stability of peri-implant tissues.

MAPA-cision: A New Regenerative Technique for Periodontally Facilitated Orthodontic Treatment. A Case Series.

MAPA-cision, named after those who first introduced the method, is a novel simplified regenerative technique for periodontal-orthodontic cases that can be used in all circumstances where bone thickening is required. It is an innovative, minimally invasive piezoelectric surgical procedure designed to facilitate orthodontic tooth movement while simultaneously increasing bone thickness with guided bone regeneration principles. A new regenerative device consisting of a resorbable collagen membrane with filling materials (a "bone bundle" or "small sausage") is inserted through a tunneling procedure to increase the bone envelope width by allowing the teeth to move within an enhanced periodontal support.

Long-Term Outcome of Surgical Regenerative Treatment of Peri-implantitis: A 2- to 21-Year Retrospective Evaluation.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes of submerged and nonsubmerged guided bone regenerative treatments for peri-implantitis lesions. Strict methods of implant-surface decontamination and detoxification were performed. Data on clinical probing depth, soft tissue measures, and marginal bone level that were documented by comparative radiographs were obtained from 45 patients, for a total of 57 implants prior to treatment and at the latest follow-up. The average follow-up period was 6.9 years (range: 2 to 21 years). Analysis of implant-based data revealed a success rate of 70.2% for a total of 40 implants. Recurrence of peri-implantitis was observed on 9 implants, and 8 implants were removed. The regenerative procedures, under a strict periodontal control, were effective in the treatment of moderate to advanced peri-implantitis lesions.

Human Clinical and Histologic Evaluations of Laser-Assisted Periodontal Therapy with a 9.3-µm CO² Laser System.

This investigation was designed to evaluate the healing response of 9.3-µm CO2 laser-assisted periodontal therapy. Five patients presenting with moderate to severe periodontitis, with an initial pocket depth (PD) ≥ 5 mm and with teeth predetermined to be surgically extracted, were enrolled and consented to treatment with full-mouth CO2 laser-assisted therapy. The laser treatment was carried out in the Ultraguide Mode at a setting of 0.25-mm spot size, with an average power of 0.65 to 1.15 watts and 20% mist. The laser tip was passed from the gingival margin and down apically to the base of the pocket with a sweeping L motion. The teeth were intensely scaled with piezoultrasonic instrumentation afterwards. A second pass of the laser tip was performed for the study teeth. At 9 months, all patients were clinically reevaluated. For sites with an initial pocket depth of ≥ 7 mm, a mean PD reduction of 3.97 ± 1.36 mm and a mean clinical attachment level gain of 3.54 ± 1.54 mm were achieved, resulting in a mean PD of 3.91 ± 0.77 mm. En bloc biopsy samples of four teeth were obtained and analyzed; two demonstrated histologic evidence of new bone formation while the other two healed with a long junctional epithelium with minimal inflammatory infiltrate. Further long-term clinical studies are needed to investigate the treatment stability obtained with a 9.3-µm CO2 laser compared to conventional surgical therapy. Nevertheless, the encouraging clinical results indicated that adjunctive use of the 9.3-µm CO2 laser-assisted periodontal therapy can be beneficial for treatment of periodontally compromised patients.

Assessment of antiplaque effectiveness of chlorhexidine-soaked gauze compared to chlorhexidine mouth rinse: Randomized clinical trial.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of a disposable gauze soaked with chlorhexidine and rolled up on the finger vs chlorhexidine mouth rinse (CM) to maintain oral hygiene. METHODS: In this single-blind, randomized trial, both groups were instructed to brush their teeth and use the 0.12% chlorhexidine intervention twice per day (experimental group: toothbrushing + chlorhexidine-soaked gauze; control group: toothbrushing + mouth rinse). The main outcome was the change in full mouth plaque index scores from baseline to 2 weeks. Secondary outcomes were the patient's appreciation (visual analog scale) and the bleeding index. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 60 young patients: 31 in the experimental group and 29 in the control group. After 2 weeks, both interventions were effective in reducing plaque index. The percentage of score reduction was 33% in the experimental group and 30% for the controls, with no significant difference between groups. Both interventions reduced the bleeding index, but this reduction was significant only in the experimental group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference between chlorhexidine-soaked gauze and CM regarding plaque control. In addition, gauze soaked with chlorhexidine was significantly more effective in reducing the bleeding index score and was appreciated by the patients.

Ten-Year Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment Protocol with Adjunctive Use of Diode Laser Monitoring Clinical Outcomes in ≥ 6 mm Pockets: A Retrospective Controlled Case Series.

The clinical effects of treatment with 808- and 980-nm diode lasers as an adjunct to a uniform and consistent nonsurgical periodontal treatment protocol (NSPTP) for initial probing pockets ≥ 6 mm with a 10-year follow-up were evaluated. In total, 24 patients (16 test cases and 8 control cases) were treated with the NSPTP. The control group (CG) was treated only with nonsurgical conventional therapy, while the test group (TG) received treatment with thermal diode lasers (wavelength of 808 or 980 nm). All patients had recall visits every 3 months and were reevaluated at 1 year after NSPTP. Following the 1-year follow-up, patients were monitored at 4-month intervals for the remaining 9 years. In total, 646 teeth (433 in TG [124 multirooted teeth and 309 single-rooted teeth] and 213 in CG [64 multirooted teeth and 149 single-rooted teeth]) were included. The initial probing pocket depth (PPD) in single-rooted teeth from TG patients decreased from an average of 6.7 mm to 3.3 mm after 1 year, and to 2.3 mm after 10 years. The mean increase in clinical attachment level (CAL) was 3.8 mm. The initial PPD of single-rooted teeth in CG patients decreased from an average of 6.4 mm at baseline to 4 mm after 1 year and 3.3 mm after 10 years. The mean increase in CAL was 2.5 mm in CG. In the TG, the PPDs of multirooted teeth decreased from 6.2 mm to 3.3 mm after 1 year, where they remained stable for 10 years. The mean increase in CAL was 2.2 mm in this group. In the CG, the PPDs for multirooted teeth decreased from 7 mm to 5.8 mm after 1 year and were 5.1 mm after 10 years. The mean increase in CAL was 1.9 mm. The TG had significantly better clinical parameters than the CG, including reduced tooth loss. Compared to conventional debridement alone, the use of thermal diode lasers with NSPTP improves PPD and increases CAL in periodontal pockets ≥ 6 mm over the long term.

Three Years of a Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment Protocol to Observe Clinical Outcomes in ≥ 6-mm Pockets: A Retrospective Case Series.

A total of 25 patients were treated with a nonsurgical periodontal treatment protocol (NSPTP) consisting of four appointments (three within 1 week and one approximately 30 days later). Nonsurgical periodontal instrumentation was implemented, with the adjunctive use of thermal diode lasers (wavelength of 808 or 980 nm). The patients were scheduled for recall visits every 3 months and reevaluated 1 year post-NSPTP. They were subsequently monitored at 4-month intervals for the remaining 2-year follow-up maintenance period. In total, 698 teeth (210 multirooted and 488 single-rooted) were included in the study. The mean bleeding on probing was 43% at baseline and decreased to 12% at 12 months and to 8% at 3 years. The initial ≥ 6-mm probing pocket depth (PPD) in single-rooted teeth decreased from 6.2 mm at baseline to a mean of 1.8 mm at 12 months and remained at 1.8 mm at 3 years, with a mean clinical attachment level (CAL) gain of 4.4 mm. In multirooted teeth, the PPD decreased from 6.7 mm to a mean of 3.9 mm at 12 months and 3.6 mm at 3 years, with a mean CAL gain of 2.9 mm. The mean overall recession was 0.3 mm at baseline, 0.1 mm at 1 year, and 0.3 mm at the 3-year follow-up. In the short-term followup period, uniform and consistent implementation of the NSPTP used here with adjunctive use of thermal diode lasers seemed to convey therapeutic benefits, stable periodontal soft tissue levels, and satisfactory esthetics in patients with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis. The present protocol is relevant as a treatment option for medically compromised patients, those who refuse or delay surgical treatment, or those who present with other limitations.

Non-surgical periodontal treatment of peri-implant diseases with the adjunctive use of diode laser: preliminary clinical study.

Peri-implant diseases present in two forms: peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis. The prevalence of peri-implant complications is significantly rising. The aim of this study was to compare conventional treatment of inflamed peri-implant tissues with conventional treatment together with diode laser application. Twenty-seven patients (age 36 to 67, 15 women and 12 men, 12 smokers and 15 non-smokers) requiring treatment for mucositis or peri-implantitis were taken into account for this preliminary study. Plaque index (PI), pocket depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BoP) were recorded at baseline evaluation. Patients in control group (CG) received conventional non-surgical periodontal treatment. Patients in test group received conventional non-surgical periodontal treatment together with diode laser application (810 nm, 30 s, 1 W, 50 Hz, t on = 100 ms, t off = 100 ms, energy density = 24.87 J/cm(2)). Paired t test was used to evaluate the difference in repeated measurements of considered indexes at T 0 and T 1 (1 year) in both groups. A total of 606 sites were taken into account in the test group (TG) and 144 in the CG. PD mean variation in the TG was 2.66 mm ± 1.07, while mean PD variation in the CG was 0.94 ± 1.13 mm. Paired t testing of the variation in PD in CG and TG revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.0001). A reduction of pathological sites from 89 % (T 0) to 14.35 % (T 1) was achieved in the TG, while reduction obtained in the CG was from 75.69 % (T 0) to 50 % (T 1); BoP scores at time T 1 had fallen below 5 % in the TG and decreased to 59.7 %, in the CG. Within the limitations of this study, diode laser seems to be an additional valuable tool for peri-implant disease treatment.

Effect on plaque control in children patients with Down syndrome using Digital Brush with or without chlorhexidine: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy in children affected by Down syndrome of "Digital Brush" in terms of Plaque Index reduction added to the daily oral hygiene procedures. METHODS: A total of 56 patients with Down syndrome were recruited and randomly assigned in two groups: both control and test groups underwent standard hygiene procedures of tooth brushing twice a day followed by the intervention of Digital Brush, TNT gauze impregnated with chlorhexidine 0.12%, for the test group and by sterile gauze soaked in water for the control group. Initial plaque index was measured for all patients (T0), subsequently were instructed to use either Digital Brush or gauze soaked with water for 2 weeks. At last, patients were reevaluated (T1) and the plaque index measured. RESULTS: Plaque index improvement from T0 to T1 in control group was 11.7%, while in test group was 24.1%. The mean differences between test and control group was statistically significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates how the Digital Brush, added to the daily oral hygiene procedures, obtains significant improvements in supragingival plaque control in children with Down syndrome.

Peri-implantitis Treatment with a Regenerative Approach: Clinical Outcomes on Reentry.

This case series presents clinical outcomes on reentry using regenerative submerged and nonsubmerged approaches in peri-implant defects; pre- and posttreatment assessments of nine implants in six patients are presented. A mean bone fill value of 91.3% with a 4.88-mm mean bone gain was obtained. Neither approach led to additional bone loss or required additional bone augmentation procedures. Strict methods of implant surface decontamination and detoxification were used on all patients, regardless of implant surface characteristics. The regenerative procedure was effective in the treatment of moderate to advanced peri-implantitis lesions without compromising the previous fixed implant-supported prostheses. These preliminary results are reasonably encouraging in that all cases showed bone gains. Nevertheless, caution must be exercised when determining reosseointegration, because it is not possible to ascertain it in clinical practice.

Resorbable dome device and guided bone regeneration: an alternative bony defect treatment around implants. A case series.

This case series presents the use of a resorbable "dome device" made of a slow, long-lasting resorbable suturing material to support the barrier creating and maintaining a secluded space to promote bone regeneration. Acellular dermal matrix or cross-linked resorbable collagen membrane, as barriers, combined with mineralized freeze-dried bone allograft, with simultaneous implant placement, were utilized in reconstructing non-space-making defects. Eight implants in six healthy patients were treated with a combination of these resorbable regenerative materials. Only one of seven was treated with a nonsubmerged approach. All sites remained completely covered and no implant exposure occurred during healing. At the 9- to 24-month reentry surgeries, the clinical bone density was equivalent to that of the native bone and the mean number of final exposed threads was 0.5. The mean buccal bone thickness achieved was 3.12 mm, with a mean total coverage of exposed threads in approximately 87.5% of the cases.

Systematic review of the adjunctive use of diode and Nd:YAG lasers for nonsurgical periodontal instrumentation.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were (1) to conduct a literature search and systematically evaluate the additional therapeutic effects of pulsed Nd:YAG or diode laser use in patients with periodontitis, (2) to assess evidence supporting the additional benefit of laser-mediated periodontal treatment in conjunction with scaling and root planning (SRP) (not as monotherapy), and (3) to interpret the evidence presented in retrieved publications. BACKGROUND DATA: Opinions about the additional use of diode lasers in the nonsurgical treatment of plaque-induced periodontal lesions are conflicting. The April 2011 American Academy of Periodontology's "Statement on the Efficacy of Lasers in the Non-Surgical Treatment of Inflammatory Periodontal Disease" asserted that the use of a laser as monotherapy or in addition to nonsurgical periodontal instrumentation conveyed no advantage. METHODS: After initial screening, 23/77 potentially relevant articles and abstracts identified through electronic and manual searches of the MEDLINE(®)/PubMed database and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (1990-2012) were included in this review. RESULTS: A meta-analysis could be performed. The results indicate that Nd:YAG or diode laser, used in an adjunctive capacity to SRP, may provide some additional benefit, in 6 month studies, compared with mechanical debridement. CONCLUSIONS: The results show the adjunctive benefits that diode laser treatment can provide when it is used as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal treatment in adults with chronic periodontitis. Further long-term, well-designed, parallel randomized clinical trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of the adjunctive use of the diode laser, as well as the appropriate dosimetry and laser settings.

Treatment of peri-implantitis: surgical therapeutic approaches based on peri-implantitis defects.

Peri-implantitis is a frequently occurring inflammatory disease mediated by bacterial infection that results in the loss of supporting bone. Peri-implantitis should be treated immediately, but there is a lack of evidence regarding the most effective therapeutic interventions. Nonsurgical periodontics may be the treatment of choice in cases of peri-implant mucositis or if the patient has medical contraindications or refuses to consent to more appropriate treatment. Peri-implantitis defects will dictate the therapeutic approach and present a guideline for relative clinical management. The suggested therapeutic solutions are derived from clinical experience and are meant to be a useful guide.

Non-surgical treatment of peri-implantitis with the adjunctive use of an 810-nm diode laser.

An 810-nm diode laser was used to non-surgically treat a 7-mm pocket around an implant that had five threads of bone loss, BoP+, and exudate, and the patient was followed up for 5 years. Non-surgical treatment, home care reinforcement, clinical indices records, and radiographic examination were completed in two consecutive 1-h appointments within 24 h. The patient was monitored frequently for the first 3 months. Subsequently, maintenance debridement visits were scheduled at 3-month intervals. The patient had a decreased probing pocket depth and a negative BoP index compared to initial clinical data, and the results were stable after 1 year. After 5 years of follow-up visits, there appeared to be rebound of the bone level radiographically. Within the limits of this case report, conventional non-surgical periodontal therapy with the adjunctive use of an 810-nm diode laser may be a feasible alternative approach for the management of peri-implantitis. The 5-year clinical and radiographic outcomes indicated maintenance of the clinical improvement.