MRSA infection of masticatory spaces in a paediatric patient.

Diagnosis of source of maxillofacial infection in paediatric patients can be challenging due to difficulty in eliciting a proper history and multiple potential sources of infection. Identification and removal of the nidus of infection with decompression and institution of antibiotic therapy as per the culture-sensitivity report form the mainstay treatment of the infection. Deviation from it may result in persistence or even progression of infection, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. In the past decade, the incidence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in the oral cavity has seen an upward trend. This has further led to an increase in complexity in the diagnosis of maxillofacial infections. In this case, the authors want to bring to light the challenges faced in managing a paediatric patient with persistent fascial space infection even after removal of the offending tooth, which signifies the importance of managing the infection by the time-tested protocol.

Impact of aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis on oral health-related quality of life.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of different forms of periodontal diseases on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). Fifty-two patients with Aggressive Periodontitis (AP) or Chronic Periodontitis (CP) were included: nine patients with Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP), thirty-three patients with Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis (GAP) and ten patients with Generalized Chronic Periodontitis (GCP). Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaires (OHIP-14) were distributed after a clinical examination that measured the following periodontal parameters: tooth loss, bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (REC) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The global OHIP-14 score means were 10.6 for LAP, 16.5 for GAP, and 17.5 for GCP. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed between the LAP group and the other two groups. There was significantly less bleeding and recession in the LAP group than in the patients with the generalized forms of periodontitis. LAP, GAP and GCP have an impact on patient quality of life when measured using the OHIP-14. Patients with GAP and GCP had poorer OHRQoL than LAP patients.

Impact of aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis on oral health-related quality of life

Abstract The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of different forms of periodontal diseases on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). Fifty-two patients with Aggressive Periodontitis (AP) or Chronic Periodontitis (CP) were included: nine patients with Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP), thirty-three patients with Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis (GAP) and ten patients with Generalized Chronic Periodontitis (GCP). Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaires (OHIP-14) were distributed after a clinical examination that measured the following periodontal parameters: tooth loss, bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (REC) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The global OHIP-14 score means were 10.6 for LAP, 16.5 for GAP, and 17.5 for GCP. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed between the LAP group and the other two groups. There was significantly less bleeding and recession in the LAP group than in the patients with the generalized forms of periodontitis. LAP, GAP and GCP have an impact on patient quality of life when measured using the OHIP-14. Patients with GAP and GCP had poorer OHRQoL than LAP patients.

High-risk periodontal pathogens contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Periodontal disease (PD) is generated by microorganisms. These microbes can enter the general circulation causing a bacteraemia. The result can be adverse systemic effects, which could promote conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Level A evidence supports that PD is independently associated with arterial disease. PD is a common chronic condition affecting the majority of Americans 30 years of age and older. Atherosclerosis remains the largest cause of death and disability. Studies indicate that the adverse cardiovascular effects from PD are due to a few putative or high-risk bacteria: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola or Fusobacterium nucleatum There are three accepted essential elements in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: lipoprotein serum concentration, endothelial permeability and binding of lipoproteins in the arterial intima. There is scientific evidence that PD caused by the high-risk pathogens can influence the pathogenesis triad in an adverse manner. With this appreciation, it is reasonable to state PD, due to high-risk pathogens, is a contributory cause of atherosclerosis. Distinguishing this type of PD as causal provides a significant opportunity to reduce arterial disease.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a potent immunoregulator of the periodontal host defense system and alveolar bone homeostasis.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a perio-pathogenic bacteria that has long been associated with localized aggressive periodontitis. The mechanisms of its pathogenicity have been studied in humans and preclinical experimental models. Although different serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans have differential virulence factor expression, A. actinomycetemcomitans cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), leukotoxin, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been most extensively studied in the context of modulating the host immune response. Following colonization and attachment in the oral cavity, A. actinomycetemcomitans employs CDT, leukotoxin, and LPS to evade host innate defense mechanisms and drive a pathophysiologic inflammatory response. This supra-physiologic immune response state perturbs normal periodontal tissue remodeling/turnover and ultimately has catabolic effects on periodontal tissue homeostasis. In this review, we have divided the host response into two systems: non-hematopoietic and hematopoietic. Non-hematopoietic barriers include epithelium and fibroblasts that initiate the innate immune host response. The hematopoietic system contains lymphoid and myeloid-derived cell lineages that are responsible for expanding the immune response and driving the pathophysiologic inflammatory state in the local periodontal microenvironment. Effector systems and signaling transduction pathways activated and utilized in response to A. actinomycetemcomitans will be discussed to further delineate immune cell mechanisms during A. actinomycetemcomitans infection. Finally, we will discuss the osteo-immunomodulatory effects induced by A. actinomycetemcomitans and dissect the catabolic disruption of balanced osteoclast-osteoblast-mediated bone remodeling, which subsequently leads to net alveolar bone loss.

Tooth loss in aggressive periodontitis: a systematic review.

Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) is thought to have a faster rate of progression than chronic periodontitis (CP). However, there is a lack of studies systematically investigating disease progression and tooth loss in AgP. A systematic search of the literature was conducted by two independent reviewers for longitudinal studies including patients with AgP (previously known as 'periodontosis', 'juvenile' or 'early-onset' periodontitis) indicating measures of disease progression. Ovid MEDLINE(®) and Embase databases were searched for at least 5-year longitudinal human studies in AgP patients. In total, 16 studies were included in the review, from an initial search of 1,601 titles. Heterogeneity was detected for disease definition and clinical data reporting; hence meta-analysis was feasible only for the objective measure 'tooth loss'. The average tooth loss for all AgP cases was 0.09 (95% C.I. = 0.06-0.16) per patient-year. The corresponding values by diagnosis were 0.05, 0.14, and 0.12 tooth loss per patient-year, respectively, for LAgP, GAgP, and un-specified AgP. For studies reporting tooth loss during the 'observational period' (excluding extractions at initial therapy), the average tooth loss for AgP was 0.09 per patient-year. High heterogeneity was detected for these analyses. In conclusion, most studies report good long-term stability of treated AgP cases.

Apoptotic activity of gingival crevicular fluid from localized aggressive periodontitis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine a potential link between apoptotic biomarkers in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and periodontal destruction in four cases of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP), diagnostically enhanced by cone beam computed tomography. CASE SERIES: This study examined the GCF in four patients diagnosed with LAP (formerly localized juvenile periodontitis) at a routine periodontal examination. The LAP diseased sites had attachment loss ranging from 5-12 mm. Atotal of 62 samples of GCF were collected from diseased sites and from contralateral, matched healthy sites with minimal or no attachment loss. All samples were assayed for apoptotic markers, including Fas/FasL, DNAfragmentation, and nitric oxide. The GCF samples were analyzed utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for DNA fragments and nitric oxide levels, whereas Western blotting was used for Fas/FasL analyses. Our results showed a significant increase in the apoptotic markers Fas/FasL and DNA fragmentation when comparing GCF from diseased versus non-diseased sites in patients with LAP. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of apoptotic biomarkers associated with patients diagnosed with LAP. Finding significantly increased levels of these markers in localized areas may help us understand the pathophysiology associated with this specific form of periodontitis, and, furthermore, may provide a basis for a quantifiably prognostic test when attempting to treat this disease.

A comparative clinical evaluation of diet intake and effect of various nutritions on aggressive periodontitis patients.

AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect various dietary nutrients in aggressive periodontitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 85 patients were selected and divided into two groups, 45 patients are with aggressive periodontitis and 40 patients are healthy. Periodontal parameters such as oral hygiene index, Russels periodontal index and radiograph were taken. The food consumption survey was conducted in all the households of subjects both in control and experimental group. The individual of food intake of the subjects was assessed by the oral questionnaire (24 hours recall) method. The quantity of raw foods used for various preparations and volumes of cooked quantities of such preparations in terms of standardized cups were noted. Body measurements were taken on all the subjects, standing height using a height measuring rod and weight in standard weighing machine. RESULTS: Aggressive periodontitis is seen in young individual and mostly in females; majority of the patients of both groups belongs to low socioeconomic group. Body mass index which is a refection of nutritional status of an individual indicated that chronically energy defcient subjects in experimental group appeared to be higher. The average food and nutrient intake in control group was slightly better than that of experimental group. CONCLUSION: The diet survey indicated marginal and negligible defciencies in aggressive periodontitis patients compared to controls, and this coupled with chronically energy defciency as indicated by body mass index, calls for a detailed study of this aspect of aggressive periodontitis. The present study indicates that nutritional infuences point to a needle of suspicion toward the etiology of aggressive periodontitis.

Case report: premature exfoliation of primary teeth in a 4-year-old child, a diagnostic dilemma.

BACKGROUND: Premature exfoliation of primary teeth is an important diagnostic event warranting urgent investigation. The majority of conditions presenting with early loss of teeth are serious and in some cases fatal. CASE REPORT: This is a case of premature exfoliation of primary teeth in a 4-yr-old female. On presentation her teeth were mobile and there was a history of gingival bleeding when biting into food. Hair loss and fatigue were also reported. Her medical history revealed she had dry skin but was otherwise fit and healthy. Extra-oral examination was unremarkable. Dental examination revealed she had a full complement of primary teeth with unusual spacing, generalised tooth mobility, halitosis and an orange extrinsic dicolouration. Her gingivae were inflamed in the 84 region. Radiographic examination revealed severe generalised bone loss. TREATMENT: She received periodontal care including regular scaling, a short course of metronidazole, preventative advice and continued monitoring. She was also sequentially referred to the departments of Dermatology, Paediatric Haematology, Immunology, Oral Microbiology and Oral Pathology for further investigation. Underlying disorders known to cause premature tooth loss were ruled out. FOLLOW-UP: Two years on, there has been early exfoliation of her 54, 51, 61, 62, 64, 71, 84 and 81 with no new progressive mobility of her remaining primary teeth. CONCLUSION: The commonest causes of premature tooth loss have been eliminated including Papillion-Lefevre syndrome, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, hypophosphatasia, Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, neutropenia and leukemia. Therefore, this fit and healthy 4-yr-old has an aggressive early onset periodontal condition with associated fatigue and hair loss. Diagnosis of associated systemic conditions is not straightforward in these cases and requires multi-disciplinary input.

Oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and severe periodontitis.

Periodontal infections have been associated with a state of chronic inflammation. To ascertain whether severe periodontitis and its treatment are associated with oxidative stress, we recruited 145 cases (periodontitis) and 56 controls in a case-control study. A further pilot intervention study of 14 cases (periodontal therapy) was performed. Blood samples were taken at baseline (case-control) and 1, 3, 5, 7, and 30 days after treatment (intervention). Diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (D-ROM), anti-oxidant potential, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6, and lipid profiles were determined with high-sensitivity assays in serum. Patients with severe periodontitis exhibited higher D-ROM levels (P < 0.001) and lower total anti-oxidant capacity (P < 0.001) compared with healthy control individuals. These findings were independent of age, gender, smoking habits, ethnicity, and standard lipids differences. D-ROM levels were positively correlated with CRP (R = 0.4, P < 0.001) and clinical periodontal parameters (R = 0.20, P < 0.05). Acute increases of D-ROM (P < 0.01) were observed following periodontal therapy. Analysis of these data suggests a positive association between severe periodontitis and oxidative stress.

Stability of the JP2 clone of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

The JP2 clone of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is strongly associated with aggressive periodontitis. To obtain information about colonization dynamics of the JP2 clone, we used PCR to examine its presence in 365 Moroccan juveniles from whom periodontal plaque samples were collected at baseline and after one and two years. Periodontal attachment loss was measured at baseline and at the two-year follow-up. At baseline, 43 (12%) carriers of the JP2 clone were found. Nearly half (44 %) of these were persistently colonized with the clone. The relative risk for the development of aggressive periodontitis, adjusted for the concomitant presence of other genotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans, was highest for individuals continuously infected by the JP2 clone (RR = 13.9; 95% CI, 9.0 to 21.4), indicating a relationship between infectious dose and disease, which further substantiates the evidence for the JP2 clone as a causal factor in aggressive periodontitis.

The role of pathophysiological explanations in clinical case representations of dental students and experts.

INTRODUCTION: Teaching of biomedical knowledge lays the foundations for the understanding and treatment of diseases. However, the representation of pathophysiological explanations in the management of clinical cases differs for various levels of medical expertise and different theories have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. The present study investigated for the first time how biomedical knowledge is used in clinical reasoning in dental medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an experimental study 20 experts in the field of Periodontology and 61 students of different levels of training produced written pathophysiological explanations after having studied three different clinical cases. By comparing the written protocols to a visualised expert-made 'canonical' explanation the concepts used in the pathophysiological explanation were counted and classified as well as the links between concepts. RESULTS: The statistical analysis by MANOVA showed significant differences between third- and fourth-year students, students of intermediate expertise level (fifth-year) and experts for various parameters qualifying concepts or links of the written pathophysiological explanations. The participants of intermediate expertise level produced a high rate of concepts and links; however, characteristic findings for knowledge encapsulation in the different levels of expertise were not evident. The analysis showed that the design of the clinical cases and of the canonical explanations significantly influenced the outcomes. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated the pathophysiological representations of clinical cases in dental students and experts to be different from other medical disciplines. It could be assumed that this observation is based on different contents for teaching of practical skills and diagnostic procedures in dental compared with medical education.

[Analysis of short chain fatty acids in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with aggressive periodontitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate 7 short chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and to analyze the relationship between levels of SCFA and AgP clinical parameters. METHODS: GCF was collected from 152 sites of 38 AgP patients and 56 sites of 14 healthy subjects. Formic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isovalerianic acid were detected by high performance capillary electrophoresis. RESULTS: The concentrations of succinic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isovalerianic acid in GCF were significantly higher in AgP patients than in healthy group, while formic acid was lower in GCF of AgP group compared with healthy group. Correlation analysis showed that formic acid was negatively correlated with bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD) and attachment loss (AL), while BI was positively correlated with succinic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid; PD and AL were positively correlated with succinic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isovalerianic acid. CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of succinic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isovalerianic acid concentrations in GCF may be related with AgP destruction condition, while formic acid concentration was reduced.

Implant therapy in aggressive periodontitis patients: a systematic review and clinical implications.

Implant therapy in partially edentulous patients has proven to be a predictable procedure with a high implant survival rate. The success rate in patients with a history of aggressive periodontitis, however, is still unclear. A Medline/PubMed search was conducted to identify and summarize articles published in English and reported on the survival of implants in aggressive, rapidly progressive, or juvenile periodontitis patients. Our search revealed only 9 articles, 4 of which were case reports. Although available evidence is weak, it suggests good short-term survival of implants placed in periodontally well-maintained aggressive periodontitis patients. Bone loss around implants in aggressive periodontitis patients, however, appears to occur more frequently than it does in chronic periodontitis patients or periodontally healthy individuals. A summary and critical analysis of the aforementioned articles is presented.

Risk of aggressive periodontitis in adolescent carriers of the JP2 clone of Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans in Morocco: a prospective longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is a loss of supporting connective tissue and alveolar bone around teeth, and if it occurs in an aggressive form it can lead to tooth loss before the age of 20 years. Although the cause of periodontitis in general remains elusive, a particular clone (JP2) of the gram-negative rod Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans is considered a possible aetiological agent of the aggressive form in adolescents living in or originating from north and west Africa, where the disease is highly prevalent. We did a population-based longitudinal study of adolescents to assess the role of the JP2 clone in the initiation of aggressive periodontitis. METHODS: A total of 700 adolescents from public schools in Rabat, Morocco, were enrolled in the study. We used PCR to detect A actinomycetemcomitans in plaque samples (taken from molar and incisor sites) and to differentiate between the JP2 clone and other non-JP2 genotypes of the bacterium. 18 individuals were found to already have periodontitis and were excluded. The 682 periodontally healthy adolescents (mean age 12.5 years; SD 1.0) were classified according to their A actinomycetemcomitans carrier status at baseline. After 2 years, 428 (62.8%) individuals returned for re-examination, which included recording of periodontal attachment loss measured from the cemento-enamel junction to the bottom of the periodontal pockets of all teeth present. FINDINGS: Individuals who carried the JP2 clone of A actinomycetemcomitans alone (relative risk 18.0; 95% CI 7.8-41.2, p<0.0001) or together with non-JP2 clones of A actinomycetemcomitans (12.4; 5.2-29.9, p<0.0001) had a significantly increased risk of periodontal attachment loss. A much less pronounced disease risk was found in those carrying non-JP2 clones only (3.0; 1.3-7.1, p=0.012). INTERPRETATION: The JP2 clone of A actinomycetemcomitans is likely to be an important aetiological agent in initiation of periodontal attachment loss in children and adolescents. Co-occurrence of non-JP2 clones of A actinomycetemcomitans reduces the risk of development of periodontitis, suggesting competition for the ecological niche between the JP2 and non-JP2 clones of this species.

Condições periodontais em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil / Periodontal conditions in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

Periodontite e lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) apresentam processos de destruição tecidual semelhantes. Pouca evidência é disponível sobre as possíveis relações entre as doenças periodontais e as formas de lúpus que afetam crianças e adolescentes, conhecida como lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil (LESJ). Esta tese é baseada na hipótese de que adolescentes com LESJ podem apresentar condições periodontais diferenciadas devido a mecanismos inflamatórios e destrutivos alterados em comum. Dessa forma, os objetivos foram: (1) avaliar as condições clínicas periodontais de um grupo de adolescentes com LESJ e de um grupo de controles saudáveis sistemicamente; (2) verificar a atividade neutrofílica (elastase) e os níveis de IL-1 β e IL-18 no fluido crevicular gengival (FCG), bem como os níveis séricos de IL-18. A porcentagem média de placa visível, sangramento marginal e sítios com perda de inserção clínica ≥2 foi similar em ambos os grupos. A porcentagem média de sítios com profundidade de sondagem ≥3 mm foi significantemente maior nos controles que nos pacientes com LESJ (30% versus 16,9% - P=0,03). Os pacientes com LESJ ativos apresentaram maiores níveis de placa (P=0,01) e sangramento marginal (P=0,05) quando comparados aos inativos. Não foram encontradas diferenças na profundidade de sondagem e perda de inserção clínica entre os pacientes ativos e inativos. Quando comparados aos controles, os pacientes com LESJ tinham maiores níveis de elastase livre (427 versus 45 - P=0,03), mas níveis menores de Eα2MG (97,5 versus 295 -P=0,001), IL-1 β (13,4 versus 27 - P=0,05) e IL-18 (16,2 versus 41 - P=0,04). Na divisão por atividade só foram encontradas diferenças nos níveis de elastase, maiores no grupo ativo (601 versus 208,5 - P=0, 05). Os pacientes com LESJ apresentaram maiores níveis séricos de IL-18 (369,5 versus 331,19 - P=0,04) e VHS (20 versus 2,2 - P=0,03) quando comparados aos controles...

Periodontitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) share similar mechanisms of tissue destruction. Little is known about the possible association between periodontal diseases and the the forms of lupus that affect children and adolescents, i.e. juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). This thesis is based on the hypothesis that JSLE adolescents might have a different periodontal condition due to common altered inflammatory and destructive mechanisms. Thus, the aims were: (1) evaluate the periodontal conditions in adolescents with JSLE compared to those of a control group of healthy adolescents; (2) analyse markers of neutrophil activity (elastase), levels of IL-1 β and IL-18 in the gingival crevicular fluid as well as serum levels of IL-18. The mean percentages of visible plaque, marginal bleeding and sites with attachment loss (AL) ≥ 2 were similar in both groups. The mean percentage of sites with pocket depth (PD) ≥ 3 mm was significantIy higher in control than in JSLE patients (30% versus 16,9% - P=0,03). There were significant difference in plaque (P=0,01) and marginal bleeding (P=0,05) levels between JSLE patients with active and inactive disease. There were no significant differences in PD and AL in these subgroups. When compared to controls, JSLE patients showed higher levels of free elastase (427 versus 45 - P=0, 03), but lower levels of Eα2MG (97,5 versus 295 -P=0,001), IL1- β (13,4 versus 27 - P=0,05) and IL-18 (16,2 versus 41 - P=0,04). There were significant differences in the JSLE subgroups in the total amount of elastase, higher in the active subgroup (601 versus 208,5 - P=0,05). The levels of IL β and IL-18 did not differ between the subgroups. In serum, JSLE patients had higher 1evels of IL-18 (369,5 versus 331,19 - P=0,04) and ESR (20 versus 2,2 - P=0,03) when compared to controls...

Influences of systemic diseases on periodontitis in children and adolescents.

Systemic diseases affecting the host response as primary immunodeficiencies or secondary defects caused by lack of nutrients or changes in the local tissues are very often accompanied by early-onset prepubertal periodontitis. Local treatment in combination with systemic antibiotics may in milder forms improve the situation, but in many cases the success is questionable and premature loss of teeth occurs. Since the genetic basis of many of the diseases has been identified, future developments permit the correction of at least some of these defects by gene therapy.

[The mechanical action of Dirol chewing gum on the periodontal tissues and masticatory muscles]. / Mekhanicheskoe vozdeistvie zhevatel'noi rezinki Dirol na tkani parodonta i zhevatel'nye myshtsy.

Regional hemodynamics, bioelectric activity of masticatory muscles, and compactness of mandibular bone were studied by the rheographic method for measuring periodontal bloodflow, by electromyography, and echo-osteometry in 52 volunteers after 4-week regular chewing of Dirol chewing gum. Congestive hyperemia develops in periodontal tissues; functional activity of masticatory muscles and compactness of mandibular bone are normal.