The effect of a streptococci containing probiotic in periodontal therapy: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To evaluate the adjunctive effects of a Streptococcus oralis KJ3, Streptococcus uberis KJ2 and Streptococcus rattus JH145 containing probiotic tablet after scaling and root planing (SRP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight periodontitis patients were included in this double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. After root planing, patients used either a placebo or a probiotic tablet twice a day for 12 weeks. The pocket probing depth (primary outcome measure), bleeding on probing and relative attachment levels were measured at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. At baseline, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks, microbiological sampling was performed and plaque and gingival indices were recorded. RESULTS: The primary and secondary outcome measures were significantly (p < 0.05) improved at the 12- and the 24-week evaluation in both groups. However, no significant inter-group differences could be detected at any time point, except from the % of sites with plaque that were significantly lower in the probiotic group than in the control group at the 24-week evaluation. In addition, at the 12-week time point, the salivary Prevotella intermedia counts were significantly lower in the probiotic group. CONCLUSIONS: No differences were detected when comparing the adjunctive use of a placebo or the investigated streptococci containing probiotic tablet after SRP. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02403960.

Laser-assisted laterally positioned flap operation: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this randomized, controlled clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of a new treatment approach, which consisted of laterally positioned flap (LPF) procedure combined with an external vestibular releasing incision made by a diode laser (LALPF) to LPF alone for the treatment of isolated gingival recession defects. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy patients presenting single Miller class II isolated gingival recessions with minimal loss of interdental papilla were treated with an LPF technique. Sixteen patients were randomly assigned to the test group (laser-assisted laterally positioned flap [LALPF]), and the other 16 patients were assigned to the control group (LPF). In the test group, diode laser was used for vestibular deepening in order to obtain maximum maneuverability of the advanced flap. Clinical and patient-centered parameters (visual analog scale for pain and aesthetics [VAS]) were measured at baseline, 7 days, and 6 months after the surgery. RESULTS: Complete root coverage from baseline to 6 months post-surgery was achieved for 46.7% of the control group and 81.2% of the test group (p=0.044). There were no differences in VAS pain measurements between the groups. Patient satisfaction with aesthetics was higher in LALPF group than in the LPF group. CONCLUSIONS: Six month results showed that the LALPF approach was effective for the treatment of single Miller class II gingival recessions.