ABSTRACT
Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of maxillary labial frenum morphologies and attachment types and their associations with various patient-related clinical variables in a population of Saudi Arabian adults. Methods: This study comprehensively examined 100 participants of both genders to categorize frenum types and attachment sites. The following clinical variables were recorded: probing depth, clinical attachment loss, attached gingiva width, overjet, overbite, diastema width, central incisor condition, occlusion, previous orthodontic treatment, and the incidence of gummy smile. Results: The mean age was 32.6 years, and the average diastema width was 0.23 mm. The study found that the simple frenum type was the most common morphology (57 %), and gingival attachment was the most frequent attachment type (54 %). Simple frenum was significantly associated with class I occlusion (p = 0.018), and frenum with nichum was significantly associated with class II occlusion (p = 0.019). Females were more likely to exhibit simple frenum with nodule frenum than males (p = 0.042). Mucosal frenum attachment was significantly correlated with the absence of previous orthodontic treatment (p = 0.042). Conclusion: The study identified a relationship between the features of the maxillary labial frenum and occlusion as well as previous orthodontic treatment. Our findings suggest that understanding each patient's unique frenum features can lead to more effective and personalized dental care, thus improving patient satisfaction.
ABSTRACT
Treatment of peri-implantitis through several implant surface decontamination techniques have been reported, however, some of them can negatively alter the implant surface or enhance more bacterial resistance. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate implant surface decontamination by means of Er,Cr:YSGG and diode lasers. Fifty micro-textured (MTX) dental implants were contaminated with Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 25) and with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 25). All implants were then divided into five groups for the decontamination procedure. In group I (GI), decontamination was done with an Er,Cr:YSGG laser (2780 nm), while in group II (GII) decontamination was performed using photodynamic therapy (a 650 nm diode laser). In Group III (GIII) decontamination was performed with photodynamic therapy (an 808 nm diode laser), and in group IV (GIV) decontamination was performed with 0.12% chlorhexidine. Group V (GV) was the control group with no decontamination. After decontamination, colony forming units (CFU) were counted and implants were prepared for SEM analysis. A significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed for GI compared to the other groups, and also for GIV compared to both GII and GIII. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser (GI) showed the best results in decontaminating the implant surface. Chlorhexidine (GIV), proved to be better in decontaminating the implant surface than photodynamic therapy GII and diode laser GIII. No significant difference was found between group GII and GIII. The SEM analysis showed no significant change in the implant surface topography. The results of this study suggest that the Er,Cr:YSGG laser can be considered as an effective technique for reducing bacteria contamination on implant surfaces.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is characterized by the induction of highly vascularized new bone formation through an intramembranous process largely devoid of the formation of cartilage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To test the hypothesis that DO is strictly dependent on vascualrization, we inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activity by antibody blockade of both receptors VEGFR1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR2 (Flk-1) or only VEGFR2 (Flk-1) in a previously developed murine tibia DO model. During normal DO, VEGFR1 (Flt-1), VEGFR2 (Flk-1), VEGFR3 (Flt4) and all four VEGF ligand (A, B, C, and D) mRNAs are induced. RESULTS: The expression of mRNA for the receptors generally paralleled those of the ligands during the period of active distraction. Bone formation, as assessed by muCT, showed a significant decrease with the double antibody treatment and a smaller decrease with single antibody treatment. Vessel volume, number, and connectivity showed progressive and significant inhibition in all of these of parameters between the single and double antibody blockade. Molecular analysis showed significant inhibition in skeletal cell development with the single and double antibody blockade of both VEGFR1 and 2. Interestingly, the single antibody treatment led to selective early development of chondrogenesis, whereas the double antibody treatment led to a failure of both osteogenesis and chondrogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 are functionally essential in blood vessel and bone formation during DO and are needed to promote osteogenic over chondrogenic lineage progression.
