Evaluation of the position of the posterior superior alveolar artery in relation to the maxillary sinus using the Cone-Beam computed tomography scans

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diameter, relationship and position of the posterior superior alveolar artery and its relationship with the alveolar ridge, the medial wall of the maxillary sinus, the prevalence of pathologic conditions and the maxillary sinus septa on CBCT images. A total of 200 CBCT images (400 maxillary sinuses) of patients over 20 years of age were evaluated. The distances between the lower border of the artery and the alveolar crest and between the artery and the medial wall of the sinus and the diameter of the artery were measured. The position of the artery, the presence of pathologic conditions and septa were recorded in the posterior region in: a) males edentulous in the posterior region; b) males having teeth in the posterior region; c) females edentulous in the posterior region; and d) females having teeth in the posterior region. The mean distance between the artery and the alveolar crest, irrespective of groupings, was 16.17±1.63 mm, with significant differences between the groups (P<0.05). The mean distance between the artery and the medial wall of the sinus was 11.65±1.21 mm, with no significant differences between the groups (P=0.796). The mean diameter of the canal was 1.37±0.44 mm, with no significant differences between the 4 groups (P=0.570). The position of the artery was intraosseous in 73.2%, beneath the sinus membrane in 21.7% and external to the lateral wall of the sinus in 4.9% of the cases. The overall prevalence rates of pathologic conditions and septa in the maxillary sinus were 45.7% and 26%, respectively. CBCT technique is useful for such evaluations and for possible variations in maxillary sinuses and presence of septa and pathologic entities in maxillary sinuses

Helicobacter pylori in the dental plaque : is it of diagnostic value for gastric infection?

Aim: The aim of the present study was the assessment of association of helicobacter pylori of dental plaque and stomach in a more homogenous population and also to determine the diagnostic value of dental plaque for gastric infection. Materials and Methods: Based on the results of Rapid urease test (RUT) on specimens from gastric antrum, 88 patients with symptoms of dyspepsia were assigned into two groups of infected and non-infected with helicobacter pylori. Supragingival plaque samples were collected from mandibular first and second molar area using and sterile curette and were investigated using RUT. Statistical analysis of data was performed using chi-square test and independent t-test. Results: H.pylori was detected in 34.1 % of dental plaque specimens. The prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection in dental was 31.8 % and 36.4 % in patients with and without gastric infection (P=0.6). Also the interaction of age and infection was not significant but the prevalence of H. pylori both in the dental plaque and the stomach of male patients was higher than female patients. Conclusion: there is not any significant association between the helicobacter pylori of the dental plaque and the stomach. Also the dental plaque can not be used as a primary diagnostic aid for gastric infection

Relationship between Maternal Periodontal Condition and Body Size of Newborns

Objective: It has been suggested that periodontal disease may be a risk factor for a number of multifactorial systemic conditions such as preterm deliveries. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between maternal periodontal disease and body size of newborns. Methods: After controlling traditional risk factors for premature child birth and low birth weight. One-hundred eighty mothers were selected: 17 were periodontally healthy, 77 had gingivitis, 72 had initial periodontitis and 14 suffered from established periodontitis. These mothers and their newborns formed the study population. The body size consisting of weight, height, and head and chest circumference, were taken from newborns' hospital files. Findings: A decrease in the newborns' body size was observed as the mothers' periodontal disease severity increased. Birth weight, height, and head and chest circumference of babies born of mothers with established periodontal disease were significantly lower than those who were born of mothers with healthy periodontal condition, gingivitis and initial periodontal disease (P=0.006, P=0.016, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The data suggest that there is a considerable association between periodontal disease in pregnant women and body size of their newborns, this preliminary finding needs to be confirmed in more extensive studies

Clinical and Microbiological Effects of Photodynamic Therapy Associated with Non-surgical Treatment in Aggressive Periodontitis

Background and aims. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of adjunctive photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of aggressive periodontitis. Materials and methods. A total of 24 patients with clinical diagnosis of aggressive periodontitis received scaling and root planing (SRP) for periodontal treatment. In a split-mouth design study, the teeth of one quadrant of each arch with ≥4 mm of probing depth were selected randomly for additional treatment with PDT (test group). PDT was performed with a diode laser beam with a wavelength of 670-690 nm and a power of 75 Mw. The control group consisted of selected teeth of the contralateral quadrant (SRP only). Before any treatment, subgingival plaque samples were collected by an endodontic paper cone for microbiological analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Aggregatibacter actinomy-cetecommitans. Clinical parameters including clinical attachment loss (CAL) as primary outcome, plaque index (PI), bleed-ing on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) and gingival recession (REC) were measured at baseline and after 90 days. Inter-group and intra-group statistical analyses were performed. Results. Treatment groups showed an improvement in all the clinical parameters and a significant reduction in the counts of A. actinomycetecommitans at 90 days compared to baseline (P < 0.05). None of the periodontal parameters exhibited sig-nificant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, the results did not show additional benefits from PDT as an adjunctive treatment for patients with aggressive periodontitis