Current Perspectives on Periodontitis in Systemic Sclerosis: Associative Relationships, Pathogenic Links, and Best Practices.

Systemic sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmune, multisystemic disease characterized by aberrant extracellular matrix protein deposition and extreme progressive microvasculopathy. These processes lead to damage within the skin, lungs, or gastrointestinal tract, but also to facial changes with physiognomic and functional alterations, and dental and periodontal lesions. Orofacial manifestations are common in SSc but are frequently overshadowed by systemic complications. In clinical practice, oral manifestations of SSc are suboptimally addressed, while their management is not included in the general treatment recommendations. Periodontitis is associated with autoimmune-mediated systemic diseases, including systemic sclerosis. In periodontitis, the microbial subgingival biofilm induces host-mediated inflammation with subsequent tissue damage, periodontal attachment, and bone loss. When these diseases coexist, patients experience additive damage, increasing malnutrition, and morbidity. The present review discusses the links between SSc and periodontitis, and provides a clinical guide for preventive and therapeutical approaches in the management of these patients.

The Cytotoxicity of Dental Restorative Materials on Gingival Stromal Mesenchymal Cells-an In Vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: Due to their minimally invasive high-quality adhesive, aesthetic and mechanical qualities, composite resins are the most frequently used materials in modern restorative dentistry. However, polymerization shrinkage and cytotoxicity are still unresolved drawbacks associated with these biomaterials. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to assess the cytotoxicity of some restorative resin-based materials on gingival mesenchymal stromal cells (gMSCs), assuming that no differences in their behavior will be highlighted. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cytotoxicity of the tested materials was evaluated by comparing the behavior of gMSCs cultured in normal conditions and in association with disc-shaped material samples indirectly through functionality tests (colony-forming unit-fibroblast assay, migratory potential) and directly through the MTT assay. The results were statistically analyzed with the ANOVA test and Tukey's Honest Significant Difference test. RESULTS: According to the MTT assay, there are no statistically significant differences regarding the viability of gMSCs cultured in normal conditions or in the presence of resin-based material samples. On the other hand, the present study identified a significantly reduced number of colonies formed by the gMSCs cultured in association with BF and B discs, compared to that of gMSCs cultured in normal conditions. Also, the migratory potential was significantly lower for control gMSCs when compared to ZE-gMSCs and significantly higher for ZE-gMSCs when compared to BF-gMSCs or BFL-gMSCs. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study highlight a possible risk of cytotoxicity when using resin based-materials in dental practice, but they cannot be directly extrapolated to in vivo situations.