The role of orthodontics in the repair of gingival recessions.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this research was to assess the impact of orthodontic root movement on gingival recessions. METHODS: Twelve consecutive adult patients with a mandibular incisor presenting buccal or lingual gingival recession and with the root positioned outside the alveolar bone were enrolled. The roots were moved toward the center of the alveolar process with a goal oriented segmented appliance. The following variables were measured at baseline and after orthodontic treatment: (1) recession depth, (2) recession width, and (3) recession area. In addition, pocket probing depth, keratinized tissue height, and changes in Miller's classification were registered. RESULTS: The depth, width, and area of the gingival recessions were reduced in all patients without increased pocket probing depth. On average, the recession depth decreased with 23%, the width with 38%, and the recession area with 63% of the baseline value. All patients improved in Miller's classification from Class III and IV to Class I or II. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic correction of the root toward the center of the alveolar envelope consistently reduced gingival recessions. The changes in Miller's classification indicated improved prognosis for full root coverage with mucogingival surgery.

Prevalence and distribution of principal periodontal pathogens worldwide.

BACKGROUND: Detailed genetic analysis of bacteria has demonstrated an unanticipated genetic diversity within species, which often reveals evolutionary lineages that are disproportionately associated with infection. There is evidence that some evolutionary lineages of bacteria have adapted to particular ethnic groups. AIM: This review analyzes to what extent observed differences in periodontal disease prevalence among ethnically or geographically distinct populations may be explained by restricted host adaptation of clones of principal periodontal pathogens. RESULTS: Carriage rates of several putative periodontal pathogens and particular subsets of these species vary between ethnic groups. Few of these differences can, with the limited information available, be directly related to differences in periodontal disease prevalence. Asian populations are regularly colonized with Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotype c with questionable pathogenic potential. Conversely, the JP2 clone of A. actinomycetemcomitans has enhanced virulence and causes significantly higher prevalence of aggressive periodontitis in adolescents whose descent can be traced back to the Mediterranean and Western parts of Africa. Some genetically distinct types of Porphyromonas gingivalis are more associated with disease than others, but additional work is required to relate this to clinical differences. CONCLUSIONS: Studies that take into account differences linked to the genetics of both patients and potential pathogens are likely to give better insight into the aetiology of periodontal diseases.

Proteomic and immunoproteomic analysis of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans JP2 clone strain HK1651.

The proteome of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans HK1651 (JP2 clone) and immunoreactive antigens were studied by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and 2D immunoblotting. The highly leukotoxic JP2 clone of A. actinomycetemcomitans is strongly associated with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) in adolescents of North-West African descent and the pathogenicity of this bacterium is of major interest. Hence, we developed a comprehensive 2D proteome reference map of A. actinomycetemcomitans proteins with 167 identified spots representing 114 different proteins of which 15 were outer membrane proteins. To unravel immunoreactive antigens, we applied 2D-gel and subsequent immunoblotting analyses using sera from five individuals with A. actinomycetemcomitans infections and one healthy control. The analysis revealed 32 immunoreactive proteins. Antibodies to two outer membrane proteins, YaeT (85 kDa) and Omp39 (39 kDa), not previously described as immunoreactive, were found only in subjects with current or previous A. actinomycetemcomitans JP2 infection. Further proteome-based studies of A. actinomycetemcomitans combined with analyses of the humoral immune response and targeted against outer membrane proteins may provide important insight into the host relationship of this important pathogen.