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Background@#This study analyzed the practice of dental medical dispute prevention rules of dental hygienists to present an improvement plan for improving perceived importance and practice and provide data for the development of effective medical dispute prevention programs. @*Methods@#A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted targeting dental hygienists who were providing assistance at dental hospitals and dental clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do regions from March 22 to April 28, 2022. The questionnaire collected from 273 dental hygienists consisted of eight questions on general characteristics, 30 questions on medical dispute experience, and 14 questions on medical dispute prevention. @*Results@#Complaints showed a high experience rate in ‘Consultation & reservation’, medical disputes in ‘Patient handling (unkind) related’, and ‘Prosthesis installation and cement removal’. In both the importance and practice of medical dispute prevention rules, Preservation of medical records and other medical-related data’ was high, and ‘Management of patients on standby for a long time’was low in terms of practice. ‘Lack of time’ and ‘Lack of manpower’ were cited as reasons for not resolving dental treatment disputes. The importance of dental dispute prevention rules was found to be significant according to age and position, and it was also found to affect the level of practice. @*Conclusion@#Seventy-six-point six percent of the respondents said that education on the prevention of medical disputes was necessary, although they lacked recognition of prevention rules compared to their perceptions and experiences. This study suggested specifying prevention rules in dental hygiene subjects and expanding education, improvement of dental treatment system, revise the law on the range of work to improve the recognition and practice of prevention rules.
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Background@#Plastic waste generates pollutants in the process of incineration or landfilling, and accumulates in water or marine organisms, causing adverse effects on the environment and the human body. Recently, various eco-friendly oral hygiene products (Eco-OHPs) such as bamboo toothbrushes and biodegradable plastic toothbrushes have been developed. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the current level of awareness and purchasing status of eco-OHPs among adults who are interested in eco-friendly products. @*Methods@#This study included adults aged ＞19 years who regularly visited eco-friendly shops and online sites; the online survey links were distributed during their visits to eco-friendly Internet cafés and companies. Of the 22 questions, seven assessed the participants’ general characteristics, three assessed the general oral hygiene care products used, six assessed the level of awareness of Eco-OHPs, and six assessed the purchasing status of Eco-OHPs. Frequency analysis, chi-square test, and regression analysis were performed using SPSS software. @*Results@#Among the respondents, 108 (51.4%) were aware of Eco-OHPs, and 79 (37.6%) had experience purchasing Eco-OHPs. The most common reason for not purchasing was the lack of information about related brands or products (74, 56.5%). The most common platform used in obtaining information was the Internet (general: 31.5%, eco-friendly: 46.3%), such as Social Network Service, Internet cafes, and blogs. The experience in purchasing Eco-OHPs was affected by whether the respondents recognized the possibility of contributing to environmental preservation, availability of vendors, product safety, and the number of eco-friendly products purchased. @*Conclusion@#In order to expand the use of Eco-OHPs, various efforts such as promotion of eco-friendly characteristics, determination of related vendors, reliable analysis of product safety, and expansion of product experience opportunities are required.
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Background@#This study aimed to investigate the effect of selecting commercially available blending teas and applying them to bovine teeth on color change over time. @*Methods@#After selecting healthy bovine teeth, using a cutting-disc, 105 specimens with a dimension of 5×5×3 mm were prepared, and 15 specimens were distributed to each group. Black tea was used as a positive control, water was used as a negative control, and blended tea of five types was used as an experimental group. First, pH and buffering capacity were measured with a pH meter, and tooth color was determined using a spectrophotometer before immersion in the blending tea solution and 1, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days after immersion. Thereafter, the shape change of the enamel surface was observed using a scanning electron microscope, and SPSS ver.26 was used to analyze the color change. @*Results@#The average pH of the five blending teas in the experimental group was 3.78, and the pH of group 3 (strawberry rhubarb) was the lowest at 3.22. The pH levels of black tea and water were 5.19 and 7.30, respectively. The buffering capacity was the highest in group 3 at both pH levels of 5.5 and 7.0. The L*a*b* color change according to immersion time was the largest in group 4 (rooibos yellow flower), and the amount of color change was large in black tea and group 4. As a result of observing the enamel surface of bovine teeth, changes in the surface shape were noted in all groups immersed in the experimental solution for 21 days, except for water. @*Conclusion@#There was a significant difference between the experimental groups in terms of color change according to the immersion time, and color and enamel surface changes were observed in black tea and all experimental groups, except for water.
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Background@#Various oral health management programs in Korea affect the oral health improvement in the elderly Several studies have been conducted to date; however, those studies have not shown uniform results due to the differences in research methods or designs. Hence, this study aimed to review the overall research trends of the reported oral health care programs for the elderly in Korea, verify their effects, and clarify them based on the systematic literature review. @*Methods@#The literature search selected intervention studies that applied the oral health care program for the elderly in Korea from 2001 to 2020. Following the COre, Standard, and Ideal (COSI) models presented by the US National Library of Medicine, we selected databases including Korean studies Information Service System (KISS), ScienceOn, Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), DBpia, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Of the 1,335 studies searched using keywords, titles, and abstracts, 21 were finally selected based on primary and secondary exclusion criteria. @*Results@#The most frequent intervention period was 4 weeks, and the number of interventions varied between 2 and 90 times. As for the type of intervention, 14 studies that conducted both theory and practice were the most frequent. Significant differences in the clinical indicators, such as calculus, halitosis, salivation rate, swallowing function, and dry mouth, were found in most oral health care programs. @*Conclusion@#Based on the results of this study, the intervention program needs further verification using multiple indicators in future studies. In addition, a study extending the intervention period and the number of samples is considered necessary for verifying continuous effectiveness of the intervention program.
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Background@#Although the orofacial-function improvement exercise (OFIE; oral exercise) was first introduced in Korea 10 years prior, it is still not covered by medical insurance, and no detailed survey on the dissemination of related programs has been conducted. Therefore, this study investigated the actual status of the education and practice of OFIE among the elderly and at elderly welfare institutions in the Seoul and Gyeonggi Provinces. @*Methods@#Senior citizens aged more than 65 years old, public health centers (total of 69) and elderly welfare institutions (including nursing homes and elderly welfare centers, total of 56) per administrative area in the Seoul and Gyeonggi Provinces were targeted. We analyzed 200 elderly people and 93 institutions who agreed to participate in the survey. For the elderly, general characteristics, experience and route, current practice, and necessity regarding OFIE were investigated. For institutions, the history and plan of education programs on OFIE were investigated. @*Results@#Regardless of the general characteristics, both the rate of experience and practice for OFIE were low overall; moreover, although they felt it was necessary, they had insufficient motivation for its implementation. Moreover, only a few institutions which were operating the education about OFIE regardless of the COVID-19 situation. @*Conclusion@#Although OFIE is necessary for the elderly, its distribution remains insufficient. Therefore, further efforts are needed to expand the education and raise the awareness of oral exercise among elderly individuals and senior welfare institutions.
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Background@#In this study, the bleaching effect and surface damage of two types of over-the-counter home tooth bleaching agents were explored using an in vitro study of bleaching agents applied to bovine teeth specimens for 14 days. @*Methods@#Domestic over-the-counter home tooth bleaching agents of gel and patch form that shared common active ingredients and manufacturers were selected and tested. The experiment specimens were made using composite resin with bovine tooth samples and then measured the initial microhardness. Specimens were then divided into a Gel group and a Patch group and underwent bleaching treatment once a day for two weeks for 30 to 60 minutes (recommended) or 7 hours. All specimens were coffee-stained prior to bleaching. The bleaching effect was measured using a spectrophotometer and surface damage was measured using a microhardness meter. @*Results@#The difference in color following the bleaching procedure was positive in both the Gel and Patch group, although there were no statistically significant differences in bleaching effect between groups. There was no significant difference in bleaching effect based on duration. The microhardness test revealed that both the Gel group and the Patch group had surface damage after bleaching. The greatest surface damage was found in the Patch group that had undergone a 7-hour bleaching treatment, although the differences were not statistically significant. @*Conclusion@#The bleaching effect of the home tooth bleaching agent was visible to the naked eye. However, longer applications than recommended did not result in greater bleaching, unlike consumers’ expectations, and instead increased the chance of enamel damage. As such, there is a need for consumers to be alert and adhere to recommendations provided by each company.
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Background@#A comprehensive history taking at the first visit could be an important start of treatment. This study investigated the current status of the initial history taking for dental patients in S area, and the implementation and importance of the initial history taking process. Based on this, we intend to provide basic data for the development of organized and standardized questionnaires in dental clinics. @*Methods@#In April 2019, 303 dental clinics in S area were targeted and special dental clinics (orthodontics, children, and disabled) were excluded. The questionnaire consisted of 29 items, including general characteristics, systemic disease history, dental history, oral health behaviors, and the data were obtained through self-administered questionnaire. @*Results@#Initial history taking was mostly implemented using oral and questionnaire at the time of the first visit. Systemic disease history, dental history, and oral health behaviors differed in the work experience of the dental clinic staff. As a result of analyzing the importance according to implementation, there were significant differences in all questions except drug-related items. The importance of the questionnaire was highly recognized, but the reason it was not actually implemented was because of existing the questionnaire in the clinic and lack of time. @*Conclusion@#Considering that the initial history taking implementation rate showed low, it is necessary to develop standardize a practical questionnaire and interview skills for dental clinics in the future. In addition, training programs should be provided to dental staff that can recognize the importance of initial history taking questionnaires and contribute to active implementation.
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Although scaling is the primary method for improving oral health, it is also associated with dental fear. The objective of this study was to empirically verify whether the use of gel anesthetic within the gingival sulcus during scaling relieves pain and improves other factors. A total of 128 patients scheduled to undergo scaling at a dental clinic of a general hospital located in the Gyeonggi Province, between July 2014 and July 2015, were enrolled in the study. The participants underwent scaling following the application of 20% benzocaine gel or placebo gel anesthetic within the gingival sulcus, and the data was collected using a questionnaire. There was a significant difference in the severity of pain, participant satisfaction, perceived sensitivity, overall discomfort, and fear of scaling between the two groups. The two groups were compared in terms of perceived need for gel anesthesia, willingness to pay for anesthesia costs, and willingness to receive scaling in the future. There were significant differences in all the three parameters depending on whether gel anesthesia was used or not. There were significant differences between the two groups in perceived sensitivity immediately after scaling and one day after scaling, with no difference seen one week after scaling. With regards to overall discomfort over time, there were significant differences between the two groups immediately after scaling. Based on these findings, we expect that application of gel anesthetic within the gingival sulcus during scaling will reduce pain, perceived sensitivity, overall discomfort, and fear of scaling with increased satisfaction.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anesthesia , Benzocaine , Dental Anxiety , Dental Clinics , Dental Scaling , Hospitals, General , Hypersensitivity , Methods , Oral HealthABSTRACT
Wet wipes are being increasingly used because of their convenience. Particularly, oral wet wipes are useful for regular cleaning of a baby's mouth after birth. Therefore, the consumption of oral wet wipes has increased over the past few years and a variety of products are commercially available. However, product information on safety is not sufficiently provided and still raises doubts regarding adverse effects. To confirm the safety of wet wipes as an oral hygiene item and provide information for their use, we investigated the cytotoxicity of oral wet wipes and verified the underlying mechanism. The anti-bacterial effect of oral wet wipes was analyzed using the disk diffusion method. The cytotoxic effects of oral wet wipes were observed based on morphological changes using microscopy and determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in gingival epithelial cells and gingival fibroblasts. Evaluation of apoptosis by oral wet wipes was explored using propidium iodide flow cytometric analysis and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Apoptosis-related molecules were also analyzed using western blotting. Five types of oral wet wipes were tested, and two products from Fisher-Price and Dr. Kennedy revealed strong cytotoxic effects on gingiva epithelial cells and gingiva fibroblasts, although they also showed intense anti-bacterial effects on oral bacteria. Cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and apoptosis were observed based on treatment of extracts from Fisher-Price and Dr. KENNEDY. Relatively high TUNEL levels, reduction of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 expression, and fragmentation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase were also elucidated. These results suggest that commercial oral wet wipes could exert cytotoxic influences on oral tissue, although there are anti-bacterial effects, and careful attention is required, especially for infants and toddlers.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Apoptosis , Bacteria , Blotting, Western , Cell Cycle , Cell Cycle Checkpoints , Cell Survival , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 , Deoxyuridine , Diffusion , DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase , Epithelial Cells , Fibroblasts , Gingiva , In Situ Nick-End Labeling , Methods , Microscopy , Mouth , Oral Hygiene , Parturition , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen , PropidiumABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of Acanthopanax sessiliflorum fruit (ASF; Ogaza) extracts on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, which are agents that cause dental caries, and on Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus salivarius, the microbial flora of the oral cavity. The ASF extracts obtained using 70% ethanol were fractionated in the order of ethyl acetate and n-Butanol, concentrated under reduced pressure, and lyophilized to give powdery solvent extracts. The antimicrobial activity of ASF extracts from each solvent was examined using the disk diffusion method. As a result, only those extracts obtained using an ethyl acetate solvent showed antimicrobial activity. These extracts were selected, and the minimum inhibitory concentration was measured by disk diffusion method at various extract concentrations. Results showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 32 mg/ml. The viable cell count was measured to confirm the minimum bactericidal concentration. Results showed a minimum bactericidal concentration of 64 mg/ml. In the cytotoxicity test using normal human dermal fibroblast cells, the absorbance value of the test group was similar to that of the control group at 0.64, 1.28, and 6.4 mg/ml. The bacteria and their colonies were examined using a scanning electron microscope. Boundaries between the antimicrobial activity region and non-antimicrobial activity region were observed around the paper disk, which was immersed in the extract with 32 mg/ml concentration. Bacterial colonization was not observed in the area with antimicrobial activity. This finding suggests that ASF extracts can inhibit the growth of some microorganisms in the oral cavity, in addition to the effects of these extracts known to date. In particular, ASF extracts may be used as a preparation for preventing dental caries by adding the extract to the toothpaste or oral mouthwash.
Subject(s)
Humans , 1-Butanol , Bacteria , Cell Count , Colon , Dental Caries , Diffusion , Eleutherococcus , Ethanol , Fibroblasts , Fruit , Methods , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Mouth , Streptococcus , Streptococcus mitis , Streptococcus mutans , Streptococcus sobrinus , ToothpastesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to comparatively assess the bone regenerative capacity of absorbable collagen sponge (ACS), biphasic calcium phosphate block (BCP) and collagenated biphasic calcium phosphate (CBCP) loaded with a low dose of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). METHODS: The CBCP was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. In rabbit calvaria, four circular 8-mm-diameter defects were created and assigned to one of four groups: (1) blood-filled group (control), (2) rhBMP-2-soaked absorbable collagen sponge (0.05 mg/mL, 0.1 mL; CS group), (3) rhBMP-2-loaded BCP (BCP group), or (4) rhBMP-2-loaded CBCP (CBCP group). The animals were sacrificed either 2 weeks or 8 weeks postoperatively. Histological and histomorphometric analyses were performed. RESULTS: The CBCP showed web-like collagen fibrils on and between particles. Greater dimensional stability was observed in the BCP and CBCP groups than in the control and the CS groups at 2 and 8 weeks. The new bone formation was significantly greater in the BCP and CBCP groups than in the control and CS groups at 2 weeks, but did not significantly differ among the four groups at 8 week. The CBCP group exhibited more new bone formation in the intergranular space and in the center of the defect compared to the BCP group at 2 weeks, but a similar histologic appearance was observed in both groups at 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The dose of rhBMP-2 in the present study enhanced bone regeneration in the early healing period when loaded on BCP and CBCP in rabbit calvarial defects.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 , Bone Morphogenetic Proteins , Bone Regeneration , Calcium , Collagen , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Osteogenesis , Porifera , Skull , X-Ray DiffractionABSTRACT
PURPOSE: (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects in periodontitis. However, its exact mechanism of action has yet to be determined. The present in vitro study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of EGCG on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLFs) and human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) affected by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from Porphyromonas gingivalis. METHODS: hPDLFs and hPDLSCs were extracted from healthy young adults and were treated with EGCG and/or P. gingivalis LPS. After 1, 3, 5, and 7 days from treatment, cytotoxic and proliferative effects were evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and bromodeoxyuridine assay, respectively. And then, the gene expressions of hPDLFs and hPDLSCs were observed for interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), and RANKL/OPG using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 0, 6, 24, and 48 hours after treatment. The experiments were performed with the following groups for hPDLFs and hPDLSCs; 1) No treat, 2) EGCG alone, 3) P. gingivalis LPS alone, 4) EGCG+P. gingivalis LPS. RESULTS: The 20 microM of EGCG and 20 microg/mL of P. gingivalis LPS had the lowest cytotoxic effects, so those concentrations were used for further experiments. The proliferations of hPDLFs and hPDLSCs increased in all groups, though the 'EGCG alone' showed less increase. In real-time PCR, the hPDLFs and hPDLSCs of 'EGCG alone' showed similar gene expressions to those cells of 'no treat'. The gene expressions of 'P. gingivalis LPS alone' in both hPDLFs and hPDLSCs were highly increased at 6 hours for IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, RANKL, and RANKL/OPG, except the RANKL/OPG in hPDLSCs. However, those increased gene expressions were down-regulated in 'EGCG+P. gingivalis LPS' by the additional treatment of EGCG. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that EGCG could exert an anti-inflammatory effect in hPDLFs and hPDLSCs against a major pathogen of periodontitis, P. gingivalis LPS.
Subject(s)
Humans , Young Adult , Anti-Inflammatory Agents , Bromodeoxyuridine , Fibroblasts , Gene Expression , Interleukin-6 , Interleukins , Osteoprotegerin , Periodontal Ligament , Periodontitis , Porphyromonas , Porphyromonas gingivalis , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Stem Cells , Tetrazolium Salts , Thiazoles , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphaABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Avulsed tooth can be completely recovered, if sound periodontal ligament (PDL) of tooth is maintained. Although a lot of storage solutions have been explored for the better storage of avulsed tooth, there is a shortcoming that the preservation time is much short. On the other hand, there has been studies that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol in green tea, which is related to the anti inflammatory, antioxygenic, and antibacterial effects, allows the successful preservations of tissues and cells. This study evaluated the effect of EGCG on avulsed-teeth preservation of Beagle dogs for a period of time. METHODS: The atraumatically extracted teeth of Beagle dogs were washed and preserved with 0/10/100 microM of EGCG at the time of immediate, period 1 (4 days in EGCG-contained media and additional 1 day in EGCG-free media), period 2 (8 days in EGCG-contained media and additional 2 days in EGCG-free media) and period 3 (12 days in EGCG-contained media and additional 2 days in EGCG-free media). Then, the cell viabilities of preserved teeth was calculated by dividing optical density (OD) of 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay with OD of eosin assay to eliminate the measurement errors caused by the different tissue volumes. RESULTS: From the results, the immediately analyzed group presented the highest cell viability, and the rate of living cells on teeth surface decreased dependent on the preservation period. However, the 100 microM of EGCG-treated group showed statistically significant positive cell activity than EGCG-free groups throughout preservation periods. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that 100 microM EGCG could maintain PDL cell viability of extracted tooth. These results suggest that although EGCG could not be a perfect additive for tooth preservation, it is able to postpone the period of tooth storage. However, further in-depth studies are required for more plausible use of EGCG.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Catechin , Cell Survival , Eosine Yellowish-(YS) , Formazans , Hand , Organ Preservation , Periodontal Ligament , Tea , Tetrazolium Salts , Thiazoles , Tooth , Tooth Avulsion , Tooth ReplantationABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Avulsed tooth can be completely recovered, if sound periodontal ligament (PDL) of tooth is maintained. Although a lot of storage solutions have been explored for the better storage of avulsed tooth, there is a shortcoming that the preservation time is much short. On the other hand, there has been studies that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol in green tea, which is related to the anti inflammatory, antioxygenic, and antibacterial effects, allows the successful preservations of tissues and cells. This study evaluated the effect of EGCG on avulsed-teeth preservation of Beagle dogs for a period of time. METHODS: The atraumatically extracted teeth of Beagle dogs were washed and preserved with 0/10/100 microM of EGCG at the time of immediate, period 1 (4 days in EGCG-contained media and additional 1 day in EGCG-free media), period 2 (8 days in EGCG-contained media and additional 2 days in EGCG-free media) and period 3 (12 days in EGCG-contained media and additional 2 days in EGCG-free media). Then, the cell viabilities of preserved teeth was calculated by dividing optical density (OD) of 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay with OD of eosin assay to eliminate the measurement errors caused by the different tissue volumes. RESULTS: From the results, the immediately analyzed group presented the highest cell viability, and the rate of living cells on teeth surface decreased dependent on the preservation period. However, the 100 microM of EGCG-treated group showed statistically significant positive cell activity than EGCG-free groups throughout preservation periods. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that 100 microM EGCG could maintain PDL cell viability of extracted tooth. These results suggest that although EGCG could not be a perfect additive for tooth preservation, it is able to postpone the period of tooth storage. However, further in-depth studies are required for more plausible use of EGCG.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Catechin , Cell Survival , Eosine Yellowish-(YS) , Formazans , Hand , Organ Preservation , Periodontal Ligament , Tea , Tetrazolium Salts , Thiazoles , Tooth , Tooth Avulsion , Tooth ReplantationABSTRACT
PURPOSE: For periodontal tissue engineering, it is a primary requisite and a challenge to select the optimum types of cells, properties of scaffold, and growth factor combination to reconstruct a specific tissue in its natural form and with the appropriate function. Owing to fundamental disadvantages associated with using a two-dimensional substrate, several methods of seeding cells into three-dimensional scaffolds have been reported and the authors have asserted its usefulness and effectiveness. In this study, we explore the cell attachment of periodontal ligament fibroblasts on nanohydroxyapatite (n-HA) scaffold using avidin biotin binding system (ABBS). METHODS: Human periodontal ligament fibroblasts were isolated from the health tooth extracted for the purpose of orthodontic procedure. HA nanoparticles were prepared and Ca(NO3)2-4H2O and (OC2H5)3P were selected as precursors of HA sol. The final scaffold was 8 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height disk with porosity value of 81.55%. 1x10(5) periodontal ligament fibroblasts were applied to each scaffold. The cells were seeded into scaffolds by static, agitating and ABBS seeding method. RESULTS: The number of periodontal ligament fibroblasts attached was greater for ABBS seeding method than for static or agitating method (P<0.05). No meaningful difference has been observed among seeding methods with scanning electron microscopy images. However, increased strength of cell attachment of ABBS could be deduced from the high affinity between avidin and biotin (Kd=10(-15) M). CONCLUSIONS: The high-affinity ABBS enhances the ability of periodontal ligament fibroblasts to attach to three-dimensionally constructed n-HA scaffolds.