Role of General Dental Practitioners in Smoking Cessation Programme

Tobacco use is a dental as well as a medical problem. Its use is the root cause of many oral health problems including periodontal disease and tooth loss. In the past few years, there has been an increasing awareness of the role of tobacco use in the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease. Like other health professions, dentistry has taken a stand against cigarette smoking. Dentists can use a variety of smoking cessation techniques to prevent the oral health problems associated with tobacco use. To carry out a minimal programme of antismoking measures, dentists in general practice can serve as a non-smoking role model for their patients, provide information about the health hazards of smoking, give advice and guidance, refer patients to cessation programmes, recommend cessation measures and monitor patients’ effort to quit smoking. Dental practice in 21st century has to increasingly move from a restorative orientation to one of a broader promotion of health and wellbeing

Association of Trauma from Occlusion with Localized Gingival Recession in Mandibular Anterior Teeth

Background: There have been passing references in history that excessive occlusal forces might be a causative factor in gingival recession. The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to explore the role of trauma from occlusion on the development of gingival recession. Methods: Three hundred patients reporting to the department of Periodontics were screened for the presence of gingival recession in the lower incisors. A single trained examiner carried out clinical examination for signs of trauma from occlusion, such as fremitus test, presence of wear facets and mobility. The data were analyzed by chi square test. Results: No statistically significant relationship was observed between the presence of a positive fremitus and wear facets with gingival recession. However, a significant association was observed between patients who experienced mobility and gingival recession. Conclusion: There does appear to be a relationship between fremitus and tooth wear with gingival recession based on the results of the present study, though not conclusive. However, the sign of tooth mobility, which is a feature of trauma from occlusion, appeared to be a predictor of positive associa-tion with gingival recession

“United Pedicle Flap” for management of multiple gingival recessions

Numerous surgical procedures have evolved and are being modified with time to treat gingival recession by manipulating gingival or mucosal tissues in various ways. However, the decision to choose the most appropriate technique for a given recession site still remains a challenging task for clinicians. Mucogingival deformities such as shallow vestibule, frenal pull, or inadequate attached gingiva complicate the decision and limit the treatment options to an invasive procedure involving soft tissue grafts. The situation is further comprised if there is a nonavailability of adequate donor tissue and patients' unwillingness for procedures involving a second surgical site. In such situations, the recession either remains untreated or has poor treatment outcomes. This case report presents a modified pedicle graft technique for treatment of multiple gingival recessions with shallow vestibule and inadequate attached gingiva. The technique is a promising therapeutic alternative to invasive surgical procedures such as soft tissue grafts for treatment of multiple gingival recessions

Platelet-rich fibrin as an adjunct to palatal wound healing after harvesting a free gingival graft: A case series

Background: Owing to its stimulatory effect on angiogenesis and epithelialization, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is an excellent material for enhancing wound healing. The use of PRF dressings may be a simple and effective method of reducing the morbidity associated with donor sites of autogenous free gingival grafts (FGGs). The purpose of this case series is to document the beneficial role of PRF in the healing of FGG donor sites. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 patients treated with FGGs could be classified into two groups. PRF was prepared, compressed and used to dress the palatal wound followed by a periodontal pack in one group (10 patients) and only a periodontal pack was used in the other group (8 patients). Post-operative healing was assessed clinically at 7, 14 and 21 days and the morbidity was assessed qualitatively by an interview. Results: Sites where PRF was used showed complete wound closure by 14 days and these patients reported lesser post-operative morbidity than patients in whom PRF was not used. Conclusions: PRF as a dressing is an effective method of enhancing the healing of the palatal donor site and consequently reducing the post-operative morbidity