How Intraday Index Changes Influence Periodontal Assessment: A Preliminary Study

It is reputed that periodontal indices remain unchanged over a 24-hour period, with great clinical significance. This preliminary study analyzes daily index changes. In 56 selected patients, full-mouth plaque score (FMPS), full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS), periodontal screening and recording (PSR) indices, and periodontal risk assessment (PRA) were recorded at baseline and three times per day (check-I: 08.30, check-II: 11.30, and check-III: 14.30), after appropriate cause-related therapy. Correlation between variables was statistically analyzed by Stata. All periodontal indices improved at the examination phase. Statistical differences were detected for FMPS comparing all thrice daily checks. Statistical differences were detected for FMBS and PRA comparing check-III with check-I and check-II. PSR showed no significant changes. The worst baseline indices produced the widest daily fluctuation at the examination phase. Significant variation of indices is directly related to clinical severity of periodontal conditions at baseline. Patients affected by severe periodontal disease may show significantly greater index changes. As indices are routinely recorded only once per day, the index daily variation has clinical significance. This greatly affects therapeutic strategy as correct periodontal assessment requires multiple evaluations at standardized times, particularly when baseline conditions are severe

Transcriptome organization of white blood cells through gene co-expression network analysis in a large RNA-seq dataset

Gene co-expression network analysis enables identification of biologically meaningful clusters of co-regulated genes (modules) in an unsupervised manner. We present here the largest study conducted thus far of co-expression networks in white blood cells (WBC) based on RNA-seq data from 624 individuals. We identify 41 modules, 13 of them related to specific immune-related functions and cell types (e.g. neutrophils, B and T cells, NK cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells); we highlight biologically relevant lncRNAs for each annotated module of co-expressed genes. We further characterize with unprecedented resolution the modules in T cell sub-types, through the availability of 95 immune phenotypes obtained by flow cytometry in the same individuals. This study provides novel insights into the transcriptional architecture of human leukocytes, showing how network analysis can advance our understanding of coding and non-coding gene interactions in immune system cells

Burning mouth syndrome

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a frequent disease characterized by a burning or painful sensation in the tongue and/or other oral sites without clinical mucosal abnormalities or lesions. The etiopathology is unknown although local, systemic and psychological factors have been connected with BMS. As this syndrome is a multifactorial disease, the diagnostic and therapeutic approach should be multidisciplinary. In this paper a review of the literature is presented and the most recent advancement on clinical, etiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of BMS are discussed

The Anti-Gingivitis Effect of Two Commercial Toothpastes: A 21 Day, Partial-Mouth, Double Blind, Randomized Study

Abstract: Objective: While mechanical plaque removal represents the standard preventive practice, the high prevalence of gingival disease motivates the use of toothpaste to vehicle chemicals that aid plaque control. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two commercial toothpastes in reducing gingival inflammation and prevent dental plaque accumulation. Materials and Methods: This study has a cross-over, randomized and double blind design with a partial mouth experimental model. The study is composed by two experimental phases of 3 weeks each, followed by a 21 day wash out interval. During the experimental phases experimental teeth were protected from toothbrushing through a toothshield filled with the tested toothpaste. At the beginning and at the end of the two experimental phases, plaque and gingival status were measured using Plaque Control Record and the Bleeding Index. The Student t-test for paired data was used to assess whether differences between toothpastes were statistically significant (p<0.05). Results: At day 21 the bleeding index (BOP) remains approximately constant despite the increase of Plaque Control Record in both groups. The toothpaste with MicroRepair/hyaluronic acid/ ZnPCA performed slightly better than the toothpaste with Triclosan/Copolymer, but the difference is not statistically significant. Conclusions: Tested toothpastes have comparable effectiveness in the contrast of the accumulation of plaque and of gingival inflammation

Relationship between occlusal trauma and periodontopathic flora. Clinical study with real-time PCR

Lo scopo di questo studio è stato quello di verificare il ruolo del trauma occlusale, quale fattore primario o comprimario, nell'eziologia delle malattie parodontali.This study was carried out to assess the role of occlusal trauma as a primary or second primary factor in the etiology of periodontal disease

Concentrated Growth Factors in Maxillary Sinus Floor Augmentation: A Preliminary Clinical Comparative Evaluation

Aims: The primary aim of this clinical study was to examine the effect of concentrated growth factors matrix (CGFm) on implant survival rate in augmented sinuses; the secondary aim was to evaluate the effect of CGFm on sinus augmentation postoperative morbidity. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients were selected from a pool of participants requiring maxillary sinus augmentation. Of these, 25 patients (control‑group) received a corticocancellous xenograft. The other 25 patients (test group) received a mixture of 70% CGF matrix and 30% corticocancellous xenograft. Venous blood samples were drawn from each patient and immediately centrifuged. Four components were identified vertically from top to bottom: (1) An upper liquid phase constituted by serum; (2) a phase constituted by polymerized fibrin buffy coat; (3) a middle phase constituted by aggregated platelets with CGFs; and (4) a lower phase constituted by red blood cells. The middle (second and third) phases represented the CGFm and were mixed with the graft material. The survival rate was calculated and comparison was made between the 2 different groups using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A 96.4% survival rate was described in the test group (with CGFm) and a 96.1% survival rate in the control group (without CGFm). No statistically significant differences were observed between the survival rates of the two groups after 1 year. Conclusions: The mixture of CGFm (70%) with xenograft (30%) is an alternative to xenograft material alone and is a predictable procedure resulting in less postoperative morbidity in sinus augmentation

The importance of splinting of teeth in the therapy of periodontitis.

AIM: The deep periodontal disease often leads to dental mobility with further aggravation of the symptomatology. The aim of the paper is to verify the importance of splinting of teeth in the therapy of periodontitis on the basis of parameters commonly studied [probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index], and the role of the occlusal trauma as primary factor or second leading factor in periodontal diseases.METHODS: Thirty patients suffering from periodontitis have been treated with the splinting of teeth, neither preceded nor followed from topical and systemic pharmacological therapy, nor from surgical or non surgical treatment of the periodontal tissues involved. During the 4 visits provided by the study, T0 (0 days), T1 (30 days), T2 (90 days) and T3 (180 days), PD, BOP and plaque index have been estimated.RESULTS: From the comparison of the T0 PD and BOP with the T3 PD and BOP, a significant improvement of these parameters is observed (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: On the basis of the clinical data obtained in this research, the authors suggest that the therapy by means of splinting improves the prognosis of teeth affected by periodontal disease; occlusal trauma and dental mobility cause the aggravation of periodontal lesions

A comparative study between different techniques in non-surgical periodontal treatment.

AIM: This study was carried out to compare a conventional manual instrumentation with an ultrasonic technique (Odontoson M) in scaling and root planing periodontal treatment. The effects of subgingival irrigation with 10% iodised solution in association with Odontoson M were studied.METHODS: Sixty patients were selected: they were suffering from adult periodontitis, aged between 35 and 65 and non-smokers. They were randomly divided into 3 groups (Gs1, Gs2, Gs3). Gs1 was treated with curettage using Gracey curettes, Gs2 was treated with scaling and root planing using Odontoson M, while in Gs3 scaling and root planing with Odontoson M irrigated with a 10% iodised solution were performed. Clinical parameters (probing depth, bleeding on probing, dental mobility, loss of attachment level) were measured before treatment (T0), after 30 days (T1), after 90 days (T2) and after 120 days (T3).RESULTS: No statistical significant differences between Gs1 and Gs2 were observed. The improvement of clinical parameters in Gs3 was greater and statistical significant differences with other groups treated were recorded.CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences between the effectiveness of scaling and root planing with manual instruments and with Odontoson M. The 10% iodised solution used such as topic antiseptic carries out greater effects in not surgical periodontal treatments

Survival and success rates of immediately and early loaded implants: 12-month results from a multicentric randomized clinical study

Our objective was to compare survival and peri-implant bone levels of immediately nonocclusally vs early loaded implants in partially edentulous patients up to 12 months after implant placement. Eighty patients (inclusion criteria: General good health, good oral hygiene, 30-65 years old; exclusion criteria: head and neck irradiation/cancer, pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, substance abuse, bruxism, lack of opposing occluding dentition, smokers >10 cigarettes/day, need for bone augmentation procedures) were selected in 5 Italian study centers and randomized into 2 groups: 40 patients in the immediately loaded group (minimal insertion torque 30 Ncm) and 40 patients in the early loaded group. Immediately loaded implants were provided with nonoccluding temporary restorations. Final restorations were provided 2 months later. Early loaded implants were provided with a definitive restoration after 2 months. Peri-implant bone resorption was evaluated radiographically with software (ImageJ 1.42). No dropout occurred. Both groups gradually lost peri-implant bone. After 12 months, patients of both groups lost an average of 0.4 mm of peri-implant bone. There were no statistically significant differences (evaluated with t test) between the 2 loading strategies for peri-implant bone level changes at 2 (P=.6730), 6 (P= .6613) and 12 (P = .5957) months or for survival rates (100% in both groups). If adequate primary stability is achieved, immediate loading of dental implants can provide similar success rates, survival rates, and peri-implant bone resorption as compared with early loading, as evaluated in the present study

Immediate loading of single post-extractive implants in the anterior maxilla: 12-month results from a multicenter clinical study

The purpose of the study was to evaluate survival and peri-implant bone levels of single, immediately loaded post-extractive implants in the anterior maxilla 12 months after implant placement. Thirty-six consecutive patients from 3 study centers were included in the study. The concerned sites were upper premolars, canines, and incisors. For each patient the following data were recorded: reason for tooth extraction, bone quality, implant size, and final insertion torque. Implants were placed using a flapless technique and immediately loaded with a nonoccluding temporary restoration. Final restorations were provided 4 months later. Peri-implant bone resorption was evaluated radiographically after 6 and 12 months. The average final insertion torque was 70.55 Ncm. One implant inserted in D3 quality bone with a 35-Ncm seating torque was lost. All other implants had a final insertion torque ranging between 50 and 80 Ncm. The average peri-implant bone loss was 0.437 and 0.507 mm at 6 and 12 months, respectively. All the sites maintained excellent papillae and peri-implant soft-tissue conditions. The resulting 1-year success rate was 97.2%. Immediate nonfunctional loading of single postextractive implants in the anterior maxilla is a predictable treatment. And it seems that achieving high insertion torques by placing self-tapping/self-condensing implants in an underprepared osteotomy is favorable