Evaluation of soft tissue marginal stability achieved after excision with a conventional technique in comparison with laser excision: A pilot study.

Background: Soft tissue excision around natural teeth is carried out to increase the clinical crown lengths, expose the caries apical to the gingival margins and to correct irregular and un‑esthetic soft‑tissue contours. Aims: The study was carried out with an aim to evaluate the stability of the soft tissue margins after excision either with a laser or scalpel. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 patients indicated for soft tissue excision for correcting soft tissue discrepancies were selected. The patients with thick gingival biotype were included in the study. They were grouped randomly into excision by laser or scalpel methods. The change in the soft tissue positions from the time of excision to 1‑month follow‑up were evaluated immediate postoperatively, after 2 weeks and after 1‑month postrestoration. Results: The soft tissues remained stable in the laser group at 1‑month follow‑up, in contrast to the scalpel group and were found to be statistically significant, (Student’s t‑test) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The soft tissue margins are more stable and stay at the point they were excised with lasers when compared with scalpel.

Prevalence Study of Vitamin D Deficiency and to Evaluate the Efficacy of Vitamin D3 Granules 60,000 IU Supplementation in Vitamin D Deficient Apparently Healthy Adults.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in apparently healthy urban adults and to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D3 granules 60,000 IU supplementation in increasing serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels. Material and methods: Healthy adults in an urban hospital were screened for 25(OH)D (radioimmunoassay method). Those found to be deficient or insufficient in vitamin D (defined as 25(OH)D <30 ng/ml) were supplemented with oral cholecalciferol granules 60,000 IU/week for eight weeks. Serum 25(OH)D level was estimated at the end of 60 days. Results: A total of 510 subjects (age 19-66 years) were enrolled for the study. Baseline data was available for 474 subjects and 178 subjects consumed a total of eight sachets as per the study protocol. Of these 178 subjects, 94.94% subjects were found to be vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/ml) and the mean plasma vitamin D3 25(OH)D level was 9.36 ng/ml (±5.19) at baseline. At the end of the study, the mean 25(OH)D plasma level was noted to be 29.28 ng/ml (±13.57). The mean change from baseline was 19.92 ng/ml (±13.25). Among these 178 participants only 5.06% had 25(OH)D >20 ng/ml at baseline, which increased to 78.09% at the end of the study following vitamin D3 supplementation for eight weeks. Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the urban healthy adult population. Eight weeks of vitamin D3 60,000 IU/week oral granules supplementation increased serum 25(OH)D to optimal levels.

Healing of periodontal flaps when closed with silk sutures and N-butyl cyanoacrylate: a clinical and histological study.

BACKGROUND: The closure of the periodontal flaps post-surgery is a necessity for attainment of a primary union between the flap margins and the establishment of a healthy dentogingival junction. N-butyl cyanoacrylate is a tissue adhesive, which can be used for the closure of the incised wounds to overcome the problems associated with conventional suture materials like silk. OBJECTIVE: The present study was carried out to assess the healing of the periodontal flaps when closed with the conventional silk sutures and N-butyl cyanoacrylate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 24 patients who needed flap surgical procedure for pocket therapy. RESULTS: It was found that healing with the cyanoacrylate is associated with less amount of inflammation during the first week when compared with silk. However, over a period of 21 days to 6 weeks, the sites treated with both the materials showed similar healing patterns. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that cyanoacrylate aids in early initial healing.

Comparison of cyanoacrylate and silk sutures on healing of oral wounds--an animal model study.

Cyanoacrylates are tissue adhesives used for closure of surgical wounds. N-butyl cyanoacrylate is a biocompatible tissue adhesive used for closure of surgical wounds. In the present study evaluation and comparison the healing of oral wounds was done when closed with N-butyl cyanoacrylate and silk sutures in a rabbit model. It was found clinically that the sites treated with cyanoacrylate had less inflammation and healed better at 7 days as compared to the sutured sites. At 7 days the histological picture correlated with the clinical findings and the amount of inflammation was less on the cyanoacrylate site. At 21 days both the sites appeared similar clinically and histologically. It is concluded that N-butyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive results in faster initial wound healing as compared to silk sutures and can be used for closure of oral wounds.