Improving Oral Hygiene Skills by Computer-Based Training: A Randomized Controlled Comparison of the Modified Bass and the Fones Techniques

Background: Gingivitis and other plaque-associated diseases have a high prevalence in western communities even though the majority of adults report daily oral hygiene. This indicates a lack of oral hygiene skills. Currently, there is no clear evidence as to which brushing technique would bring about the best oral hygiene skills. While the modified Bass technique is often recommended by dentists and in textbooks, the Fones technique is often recommended in patient brochures. Still, standardized comparisons of the effectiveness of teaching these techniques are lacking. Methodology/Principal Findings: In a final sample of n=56 students, this multidisciplinary, randomized, examiner-blinded, controlled study compared the effects of parallel and standardized interactive computer presentations teaching either the Fones or the modified Bass technique. A control group was taught the basics of tooth brushing alone. Oral hygiene skills (remaining plaque after thorough oral hygiene) and gingivitis were assessed at baseline and 6, 12, and 28 weeks after the intervention. We found a significant group×time interaction for gingivitis (F(4/102)=3.267; p=0.016; e=0.957; ?2=0.114) and a significant main effect of group for oral hygiene skills (F(2/51)=7.088; p=0.002; ?2=0.218). Fones was superior to Bass; Bass did not differ from the control group. Group differences were most prominent after 6 and 12 weeks. Conclusions/Significance: The present trial indicates an advantage of teaching the Fones as compared to the modified Bass technique with respect to oral hygiene skills and gingivitis. Future studies are needed to analyze whether the disadvantage of teaching the Bass technique observed here is restricted to the teaching method employed. Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register http://www.drks.de/DRKS0000348

Gingival crevicular fluid MMP-8-concentrations in patients after acute myocardial infarction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to determine the presence of matrix metalloproteinase-8 in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 48 GCF samples from 20 AMI patients, hospitalized at the Department of Cardiology and Angiology of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, were investigated. Besides the myocardial infarction all patients suffered from chronic periodontal disease. Fifty-one GCF samples from 20 healthy age matched individuals with similar periodontal conditions served as controls. The dental examination included the assessment of oral hygiene, gingival inflammation, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level and X-ray examination. The study was only carried out after the positive consent of the regional ethic commission. A quantitative assessment of aMMP-8 levels in the gingival crevicular fluid was performed with the help of the DentoAnalyzer (Dentognostics GmbH, Jena, Germany), utilising an immunological procedure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The aMMP-8 concentrations found in the gingival crevicular fluid of the AMI patients significantly differed (p = 0.001; mean value 30.33 ± 41.99 ng/ml aMMP-8) from the control group (mean value 10.0 ± 10.7 ng/ml aMMP-8). These findings suggest that periodontal inflammation in AMI patients might be associated with higher MMP-8-values compared to the healthy controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The acute myocardial infarction seems to influence the degree of periodontal inflammation, thus the measurement of the gingival crevicular fluid MMP8 levels seems to be a helpful biochemical test to obtain information about the severity of the periodontal disease.</p

Levels of Platelet-Activating Factor in Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Gingival Tissue in Specific Periodontal Diseases

WOS: 000170546900007PubMed ID: 11525434Background: Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent phospholipid mediator of inflammatory and immune reactions, is involved in a variety of biological responses seen in periodontal diseases. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of PAF in the pathogenesis of specific periodontal diseases. Methods: PAF levels were investigated in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and gingival tissue (GT) samples of 12 patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP), 6 patients with localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP), 10 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP), 6 with gingivitis (G), and 6 periodontally healthy subjects (H). Periodontal status was evaluated by measuring probing depth, gingival index, papillary bleeding index, and plaque index. PAF was extracted from GCF samples passing through amberlit resin columns, purified by high performance liquid chromatographic method, and then analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Results: GAgP, LAgP, and CP groups had significantly higher GCF PAF levels compared to the H group (P0.005). These groups had higher levels of GCF PAF than those of the G group, but the difference was significant only for the GAgP group (P0.005). All patient groups had significantly higher GT PAF levels compared to the H group (P 0.005). GAgP, LAgP, and CP groups had higher GT PAF levels than those of the G group, but the differences were only significant for LAgP and CP groups (P <0.005). No significant correlation was found between GCF and GT PAF levels and clinical parameters. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that PAF is likely to be an important mediator in regulating inflammatory responses in the human periodontal tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first report investigating PAF levels in GCF and GT in specific periodontal diseases. We believe that this potent phospholipid mediator may need to be considered in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases

Dental health in Dutch drug addicts

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Periodontal conditions in Swiss Army recruits.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the oral hygiene and periodontal conditions of a young male population representative for Switzerland. 757 Swiss Army recruits were examined for their oral health status including the assessment of Plaque Index (PlI), Retention Index (RI) and Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI) as well as Probing Depth (PD) and Loss of Probing Attachment (LA). All the teeth of the right maxillary and mandibular dental arch were evaluated on four aspects. One recruit yielded a status of juvenile periodontitis and was excluded from further analysis. 2.3% of the teeth had been lost, mainly as a result of orthodontic therapy. Mean PlI and SBI for all 756 recruits approximated 0.6, while the mean RI was around 0.1. The mean PD was 2.3 mm, and the mean LA of 0.9 mm was measured. PD and LA were slightly higher on proximal than on buccal or oral aspects. Site specific analysis for all parameters are presented. Since only 0.4% of the recruits showed probing depths of greater than or equal to 5 mm and only 1% of the subjects showed LA greater than or equal to 4 mm on any surfaces it may be concluded that severe signs of chronic adult periodontitis are absent in 99% of young male Swiss citizens.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The significance of overhanging filling margins for the health status of interdental periodontal tissues of young adults.

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