Systemic antibiotic therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical peri-implantitis treatment:A single-blind RCT

Aim The aim of this single-blind RCT was to evaluate the adjunctive clinical and microbiological effect of systemic amoxicillin (AMX) plus metronidazole (MTZ) to non-surgical treatment of peri-implantitis. Material and methods Patients (N = 62) with peri-implantitis were randomly assigned to receive full-mouth mechanical debridement and decontamination and use of chlorhexidine (control group) or combined with antibiotic therapy of AMX/MTZ (test group). Primary outcome was change in bleeding score from baseline (T-0) to 3-month follow-up (T-3). Secondary parameters were plaque, suppuration, PPD, CAL, bone level, microbiology, adverse events and need for additional surgery. Data were analysed with linear multiple regression analysis. Results 57 patients with 122 implants completed 3-month follow-up. Both groups showed major clinical improvements at T-3 in both peri-implant and periodontal parameters. However, no significant differences were observed between both groups for any of the primary or secondary parameters. Conclusions Systemic antibiotic therapy of AMX/MTZ does not improve clinical and microbiological outcomes of non-surgical peri-implantitis treatment and should not be routinely recommended. Although complete disease resolution may be difficult to achieve, meticulously performed full-mouth non-surgical treatment, achieving a high level of daily oral hygiene and healthy periodontal tissues, can significantly improve the starting position of the subsequent (surgical) peri-implantitis treatment phase

Influence of Cervical Crown Contour on Marginal Bone Loss Around Platform-Switched Bone-Level Implants:A 5-Year Cross-Sectional Study

To evaluate the influence of the cervical crown contour on marginal bone loss and soft tissue health around platform-switched, posteriorly placed, two-piece implants. Materials and Methods: A dataset from two previously conducted studies was used. Patients with single two-piece, platform-switched implants in between two natural teeth or adjacent to one natural tooth were included. Clinical parameters and standardized periapical radiographs from 1 month and 5 years after final crown placement were assessed. A new measurement method was developed to analyze geometric values of the cervical crown contour. Interand intraexaminer reliability were assessed. Emergence angles were measured at 1, 2, and 3 mm above the implant shoulder. Linear correlations between variables were determined by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: A total of 64 patients with 67 posterior implants met the inclusion criteria. At 1, 2, and 3 mm above the implant shoulder, mean emergence angles at the mesial implant sites were 0.5 ± 2.8, 12.8 ± 12.8, and 18.0 ± 11.3 degrees, respectively. At the distal sites, the corresponding values were 2.8 ± 8.3, 16.2 ± 16.6, and 18.7 ± 13.8 degrees, respectively. Mean marginal bone loss between 1 month and the 5-year evaluations was 0.14 ± 0.34 mm at the mesial aspect and 0.26 ± 0.47 at the distal aspect of implants. No correlation with peri-implant bone loss or soft tissue health could be found. No implants showed signs of peri-implantitis. Conclusion: The cervical crown contour at platform-switched, posteriorly placed, two-piece implants showed no correlation with peri-implant marginal bone loss or soft tissue health up to 5 years after implant placement. Int J Prosthodont 2020;33:373-379. doi: 10.11607/ijp.6365

Non-surgical peri-implantitis treatment using a pocket irrigator device; clinical, microbiological, radiographical and patient-centred outcomes-A pilot study

Aim: The aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the effect of a pocket irrigator/evacuator device (IED) in the non-surgical treatment of peri-implantitis. Material and Methods: In total 24 patients having 38 implants diagnosed with peri-implantitis were included in this study. Peri-implant pockets were irrigated six times in three consecutive weeks. The primary outcome was bleeding on probing (BoP). Secondary outcome parameters included plaque index (Pl), suppuration on probing (SoP), probing pocket depth (PPD), marginal bone loss (MBL), presence and numbers of periodontal pathogens. Parameters were assessed at baseline and 3 months after the last treatment. Treatment pain perception was scored using the visual analog scale (VAS) after the first and last treatment. Results: At 3 months, IED treatment revealed significant reduction of peri-implant BoP (71% [±20] vs 57% [±28] [P =.014]) and peri-implant plaque scores (10 [±14] to 5 [±9] [P =.039] [T0 vs T3 respectively]). Significant reduction in mean peri-implant PPD from 4.92 mm (SD ± 1.28) to 4.66 mm (SD ± 1.35) (P =.041) was observed. In addition, a reduction in VAS pain score between the first and the last (6th) treatment was found (P =.039). No reduction in SoP (P =.088) was found. No changes in mean periodontal full mouth plaque, BOP, SOP and PPD levels, MBL and microbiological outcomes were found. Conclusion: Beneficial clinical effects in terms of BoP, PPD and PI were found at 3 months after IED treatment. However, the IED does not seem to effectively treat peri-implantitis in terms of disease resolution

Extracellular Proteome and Citrullinome of the Oral Pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis is an oral pathogen associated with the inflammatory disease periodontitis. Periodontitis and P. gingivalis have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis. One of the hallmarks of rheumatoid arthritis is the loss of tolerance against citrullinated proteins. Citrullination is a post translational modification of arginine residues, leading to a change in structure and function of the respective protein. This modification, which is catalyzed by peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs), plays a role in several physiological processes in the human body. Interestingly, P. gingivalis secretes a citrullinating enzyme, known as P. gingivalis PAD (PPAD), which targets bacterial and human proteins. Because the extent of P. gingivalis protein citrullination by PPAD was not yet known, the present study was aimed at identifying the extracellular proteome and citrullinome of P. gingivalis. To this end, extracellulai proteins of two reference strains, two PPAD-deficient mutants, and three clinical isolates of P. gingivalis were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The results uncovered substantial heterogeneity in the extracellular proteome and citrullinome of P. gingivalis, especially in relation to the extracellular detection of typical cytoplasmic proteins. In contrast, the major virulence factors of P. gingivalis were identified in all investigated isolates, although their citrullination was shown to vary. This may be related to post-translational processing of the PPAD enzyme. Altogether, our findings focus attention on the possible roles of 6 to 25 potentially citrullinated proteins, especially the gingipain RgpA, in periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.</p

Effect of Anti-Rheumatic Treatment on the Periodontal Condition of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Periodontitis, a bacterial-induced infection of the supporting soft and hard tissues of the teeth (the periodontium), is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As RA and periodontitis underlie common inflammatory pathways, targeting the progression of RA might mediate both periodontitis and RA. On the other hand, patients with RA on immunosuppressive medication have an increased risk of infection. Therefore, the objective of this longitudinal observation study was to assess the effect of methotrexate (MTX) and anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF, etanercept) treatment on the periodontal condition of RA patients. Overall, 14 dentate treatment-naive RA patients starting with MTX and 12 dentate RA patients starting with anti-TNF therapy in addition to MTX were included. Follow-up was scheduled matching the routine protocol for the respective treatments. Prior to the anti-rheumatic treatment with MTX or the anti-TNF therapy in addition to MTX, and during follow-up, i.e., 2 months for MTX, and 3 and 6 months for the anti-TNF therapy in addition to MTX, the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) was measured. The efficacy of the anti-rheumatic treatment was assessed by determining the change in RA disease activity (DAS28-ESR). Furthermore, the erythrocyte sedimentation rates were determined and the levels of C-reactive protein, IgM-rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies, and antibodies to the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, were measured. Subgingival sampling and microbiological characterization of the subgingival microflora was done at baseline. MTX or anti-TNF treatment did not result in an improvement of the periodontal condition, while both treatments significantly improved DAS28 scores (both p <0.01), and reduced C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (both p <0.05). It is concluded that anti-rheumatic treatment (MTX and anti-TNF) has negligible influence on the periodontal condition of RA patients

Erythritol airpolishing in the non-surgical treatment of peri-implantitis:A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: To compare erythritol air-polishing with piezoelectric ultrasonic scaling in the non-surgical treatment of peri-implantitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty patients (n=139 implants) with peri-implantitis (probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥5mm, marginal bone loss (MBL) ≥2mm as compared to bone level at implant placement, bleeding and/or suppuration on probing (BoP/SoP)) were randomly allocated to air-polishing or ultrasonic treatment. The primary outcome was mean BoP (%) at 3 months after therapy (T3). Secondary outcomes were mean SoP (%), plaque score (Plq) (%), PPD (mm), MBL (mm), full mouth periodontal scores (FMPS) (%), levels of 8 classical periodontal pathogens and treatment pain/discomfort (Visual Analog Scale, VAS). Patients who were considered successful at T3 were additionally assessed at 6, 9 and 12 months. Differences between both groups were analysed using multilevel statistics. RESULTS: Three months after therapy, no significant difference in mean BoP (%) between the air-polishing and ultrasonic therapy was found (crude analysis β (95% CI) -0.037 (-0.147; 0.073), p = 0.380). Neither secondary outcomes SoP (%), Plq (%), PPD (mm), MBL (mm), FMPS (%) and periodontal pathogens showed significant differences. Treatment pain/discomfort was low in both groups (VAS score air-polishing group 2.1 (±1.9), ultrasonic 2.6 (±1.9); p = 0.222). All successfully treated patients at T3 (18.4%) were still considered successful at 12 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Erythritol air-polishing seems as effective as piezoelectric ultrasonic scaling in the non-surgical treatment of peri-implantitis, in terms of clinical, radiographical and microbiological parameters. However, neither of the proposed therapies effectively resolved peri-implantits. Hence, the majority of patients required further surgical treatment

Erythritol air polishing in the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis:A randomized controlled trial

Objectives: To compare erythritol air polishing with implant surface cleansing using saline during the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis. Material and Methods: During a resective surgical intervention, implant surfaces were randomly treated with either air polishing (test group n = 26 patients/53 implants) or saline-soaked cotton gauzes (control group n = 31 patients/ 40 implants). Primary outcome was change in mean bleeding on probing (BoP) from baseline to 12 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes were changes in mean suppuration on probing (SoP), plaque score (Plq), probing pocket depth (PPD), marginal bone loss (MBL), periodontal full-mouth scores (PFMS), and levels of 8 classical periodontal pathogens. Clinical and radiographical parameters were analyzed using multilevel regression analyses. Microbiological outcomes were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: No differences between the test and control group were found for BoP over 12 months of follow-up, nor for the secondary parameters Plq, PPD, and MBL. Between both groups, a significant difference was found for the levels of SoP (p = 0.035). No significant effect on microbiological levels was found. A total number of 6 implants were lost in the test group and 10 in the control group. At 1-year follow-up, a successful treatment outcome (PPD0.5 mm) was achieved for a total of 18 implants (19.2%). Conclusions: Erythritol air polishing as implant surface cleansing method was not more effective than saline during resective surgical treatment of peri-implantitis in terms of clinical, radiographical, and microbiological parameters. Both therapies resulted in low treatment success

There's no place like OM:Vesicular sorting and secretion of the peptidylarginine deiminase of Porphyromonas gingivalis

The oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the major periodontal agents and it has been recently hailed as a potential cause of the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis. In particular, the peptidylarginine deiminase enzyme of P. gingivalis (PPAD) has been implicated in the citrullination of certain host proteins and the subsequent appearance of antibodies against citrullinated proteins, which might play a role in the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to investigate the extracellular localization of PPAD in a large panel of clinical P. gingivalis isolates. Here we show that all isolates produced PPAD. In most cases PPAD was abundantly present in secreted outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that are massively produced by P. gingivalis, and to minor extent in a soluble secreted state. Interestingly, a small subset of clinical isolates showed drastically reduced levels of the OMV-bound PPAD and secreted most of this enzyme in the soluble state. The latter phenotype is strictly associated with a lysine residue at position 373 in PPAD, implicating the more common glutamine residue at this position in PPAD association with OMVs. Further, one isolate displayed severely restricted vesiculation. Together, our findings show for the first time that neither the major association of PPAD with vesicles, nor P. gingivalis vesiculation per se, are needed for P. gingivalis interactions with the human host

The peptidylarginine deiminase gene is a conserved feature of Porphyromonas gingivalis

Periodontitis is an infective process that ultimately leads to destruction of the soft and hard tissues that support the teeth (the periodontium). Periodontitis has been proposed as a candidate risk factor for development of the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, is the only known prokaryote expressing a peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) enzyme necessary for protein citrullination. Antibodies to citrullinated proteins (anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, ACPA) are highly specific for RA and precede disease onset. Objective of this study was to assess P. gingivalis PAD (PPAD) gene expression and citrullination patterns in representative samples of P. gingivalis clinical isolates derived from periodontitis patients with and without RA and in related microbes of the Porphyromonas genus. Our findings indicate that PPAD is omnipresent in P. gingivalis, but absent in related species. No significant differences were found in the composition and expression of the PPAD gene of P. gingivalis regardless of the presence of RA or periodontal disease phenotypes. From this study it can be concluded that if P. gingivalis plays a role in RA, it is unlikely to originate from a variation in PPAD gene expression

Implant decontamination with phosphoric acid during surgical peri-implantitis treatment:a RCT

BACKGROUND: Peri-implantitis is known as an infectious disease that affects the peri-implant soft and hard tissue. Today, scientific literature provides very little evidence for an effective intervention protocol for treatment of peri-implantitis. The aim of the present randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the microbiological and clinical effectiveness of phosphoric acid as a decontaminating agent of the implant surface during surgical peri-implantitis treatment. METHODS: Peri-implantitis lesions were treated with resective surgical treatment aimed at peri-implant granulation tissue removal, bone recontouring, and pocket elimination. Fifty-three implant surfaces in 28 patients were mechanically cleaned and treated with either 35% phosphoric etching gel (test group) or sterile saline (control group). Microbiological samples were obtained during surgery; clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and at 3 months after treatment. Data were analyzed using multi-variable linear regression analysis and multilevel statistics. RESULTS: Significant immediate reductions in total anaerobic bacterial counts on the implant surface were found in both groups. Immediate reduction was greater when phosphoric acid was used. The difference in log-transformed mean anaerobic counts between both procedures was not statistical significant (p = 0.108), but there were significantly less culture-positive implants after the decontamination procedure in the phosphoric acid group (p = 0.042). At 3 months post-surgery, 75% of the implants in the control group and 63.3% of the implants in the test group showed disease resolution. However, no significant differences in clinical and microbiological outcomes between both groups were found. CONCLUSIONS: The application of 35% phosphoric acid after mechanical debridement is superior to mechanical debridement combined with sterile saline rinsing for decontamination of the implant surface during surgical peri-implantitis treatment. However, phosphoric acid as implant surface decontaminant does not seem to enhance clinical outcomes on a 3-month follow-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands National Trial Register, NTR5185 (www.trialregister.nl)