Effects of fixed and removable space maintainers on plaque accumulation, periodontal health, candidal and enterococcus faecalis carriage

Objective: To evaluate the effects of space maintainers on plaque accumulation, periodontal health and oral microflora

Subjects and Methods: The study participants comprised 38 patients aged 4-10 years requiring either fixed or removable space maintainers. Plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing index, candidal colonization and Enterococcus faecalis were recorded just before the application of space maintainers [T0] and during treatment at the 1[st] [T1], 3[rd] [T2] and 6[th] [T3] month

Results: The gingival and bleeding on probing index scores increased significantly [gingival index from 0.20 +/- 0254 to 0.54 +/- 0417 and bleeding on probing index from 7.18 +/- 9.946 to 18.07 +/- 14.074] in the regions with fixed space maintainers at T3 [p < 0.01]. The mean Candida counts also increased [for removable appliances from 1.90 +/- 3.638 to 1.98 +/- 3.318, p < 0.05, and for fixed appliances from 4.25 +/- 4.587 to 4.52 +/- 4.431, p < 0.001]. The salivary E. faecalis counts at T3 also increased significantly with the use of fixed and removable appliances [for removable appliances from 5.93 +/- 2.65 to 85.53 +/- 34.1 and for fixed appliances from 4.95 +/- 2.94 to 123.59 +/- 29.51, p < 0.001]. A positive correlation was found between the plaque [r = 0.67], gingival [r = 0.76] and bleeding on probing index scores [r = 0.76] and the candidal colonization for the fixed space maintainers [p < 0.01, p < 0.001]

Conclusions: In this study, both fixed and removable space maintainers led to an increase in the number of microorganisms in the oral cavity as well as to increases in the periodontal index scores. Patients should be informed that space maintainers may serve as a source of infection and that special attention must be given to their oral hygiene

Peripheral giant cell granuloma and peripheral ossifying fibroma in children: two case reports

The aim of this study was to present the clinical and histopathological evaluation of reactive gingival lesions, such as peripheral giant cell granuloma [PGCG] and peripheral ossifying fibroma [POF], as exemplified in two cases. A 12- and a 13-year-old girl were referred to the Department of Pedodontics, both complaining of a painless swelling mass. After histopathological evaluation, the lesions were diagnosed as PGCG and POE. These gingival enlargements were totally resected after adequate clinical and radiological examinations. No recurrence has occurred in the 1-year follow-up period. These cases show that without histopathological evaluation, these two lesions could have been misdiagnosed due to their similarity in appearance. Early detection and treatment of these lesions are important to reduce bone loss or displacement of dental germs or teeth