Genetic polymorphism of interleukins 6 and 17 correlated with apical periodontitis: A Cross-sectional study.

Interleukins 6 and 17 act in bone resorption in the presence of infections of endodontic origin for host defense. Genetic polymorphisms may be associated with increased bone loss, represented by areas of large periapical lesions. This study aimed to verify the frequency of interleukin 6 and 17 gene polymorphism in patients with asymptomatic apical periodontitis or chronic apical abscess and to verify the existence of correlations between periapical lesion area with age, gender, and presence of the polymorphism, in the studied population, in the state of Pernambuco. A population consisting of thirty diagnosed individuals was included. The area of the lesions was measured in mm². Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyping was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism for interleukin 6 (rs 1800795) and interleukin 17 (rs 2275913). Fisher's exact, chi-square, and odds ratio tests were used. A logistic regression analysis was also performed using sex, age, and the presence of polymorphism as covariates, in addition to linear regression to test the relationship between age and lesion area. All tests used a significance level of 0.05% (p ≤0.05%). There was no statistical significance in the occurrence of large areas of periapical lesions correlated with age, sex, and diagnosis, nor in the distribution of alleles in the polymorphism of interleukins 6 and 17 in the studied groups. The frequency of homozygous and heterozygous polymorphism was high. The polymorphism of these interleukins is not correlated with the increase in the areas of asymptomatic periapical inflammatory lesions.

Genetic polymorphism of interleukins 6 and 17 correlated with apical periodontitis: A Cross-sectional study

Abstract Interleukins 6 and 17 act in bone resorption in the presence of infections of endodontic origin for host defense. Genetic polymorphisms may be associated with increased bone loss, represented by areas of large periapical lesions. This study aimed to verify the frequency of interleukin 6 and 17 gene polymorphism in patients with asymptomatic apical periodontitis or chronic apical abscess and to verify the existence of correlations between periapical lesion area with age, gender, and presence of the polymorphism, in the studied population, in the state of Pernambuco. A population consisting of thirty diagnosed individuals was included. The area of the lesions was measured in mm². Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyping was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism for interleukin 6 (rs 1800795) and interleukin 17 (rs 2275913). Fisher's exact, chi-square, and odds ratio tests were used. A logistic regression analysis was also performed using sex, age, and the presence of polymorphism as covariates, in addition to linear regression to test the relationship between age and lesion area. All tests used a significance level of 0.05% (p ≤0.05%). There was no statistical significance in the occurrence of large areas of periapical lesions correlated with age, sex, and diagnosis, nor in the distribution of alleles in the polymorphism of interleukins 6 and 17 in the studied groups. The frequency of homozygous and heterozygous polymorphism was high. The polymorphism of these interleukins is not correlated with the increase in the areas of asymptomatic periapical inflammatory lesions.

Resumo As interleucinas 6 e 17 atuam na reabsorção óssea na presença de infecções de oriegem endodôntica para defesa do hospedeiro. Polimorfismos genéticos podem estar associados ao aumento da perda óssea, representada por áreas de lesões periapicais grandes. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a frequência do polimorfismo dos genes interleucina 6 e 17 em pacientes com periodontite apical assintomática ou abscesso apical crônico e verificar a existência de correlações entre área de lesão periapical com idade, sexo e presença do polimorfismo, na população estudada, no estado de Pernambuco. Foi incluída uma população constituída por trinta indivíduos diagnosticados. A áreas da lesões foram medidas em mm². O DNA genômico foi extraído e a genotipagem realizada por Polimorfismo de Comprimento de Fragmento de Restrição de Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase para interleucina 6 (rs 1800795) e interleucina 17 (rs 2275913). Os testes exato de Fisher, qui-quadrado e odds ratio foram utilizados. Uma análise de regressão logística também foi realizada usando sexo, idade e presença de polimorfismo como covariável, além de regressão linear para testar a relação da idade e área da lesão. Todos os testes utilizaram um nível de significância de 0,05% (p ≤0.05%). Não houve significância estatística na ocorrência das áreas grandes de lesões periapicais correlacionadas com idade, sexo e diagnóstico nem nas distribuições de alelos no polimorfismo das interleucinas 6 e 17 nos grupos estudados. A frequência de polimorfismo homozigoto e heterozigoto foi alta. O polimorfismo dessas interleucinas não está correlacionado ao aumento das áreas das lesões inflamatórias periapicais assintomáticas.

The Importance of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in Endodontic Treatment of a Mandibular Premolar With Atypical Anatomy: A Case Report.

The objective of this case study is to report the endodontic treatment of a mandibular premolar with a C-shaped root canal configuration based on the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a diagnostic aid and in treatment planning. A 14-year-old patient was referred for endodontic treatment of tooth No. 21. Upon examination of the CBCT, C-shaped canal anatomy was verified. The chemical-mechanical preparation was carried out with a rotary file system (rotary files 25.08, 30.05, and 35.05) and the use of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite as an auxiliary chemical substance. Clinical and radiographic follow-up was performed 6 months and 1 year after endodontic treatment. A periapical radiolucency revealed a progressive reduction, suggesting the evolution of tissue repair. This case study confirms that to achieve a favorable prognosis of endodontic treatment, in-depth knowledge of the internal anatomy of the root canal system, along with its variations, is necessary. In this regard, CBCT is an important tool to assist in obtaining the correct diagnosis and understanding the anatomical complexity to be treated. Variations of C-shaped canals are challenging due to difficulties encountered during the stages of chemical-mechanical preparation and filling. Thus, means of enhancing disinfection are needed.

Effectiveness of the use of xylitol chewing gum in prevention of dental caries: A systematic review.

This systematic review of the literature assessed the effectiveness of using chewing gum containing only xylitol compared to prevention strategies or placebo in reducing the incidence of carious lesions in children using data obtained from randomized controlled trials. Electronic search was carried out in PubMed MEDLINE, Latin American and Caribbean Literature on the Health Science, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Scientific Electronic Library Online through the period between 2000 and 2020. Included clinical studies were done in children when the xylitol was dispensed in gum and the preventive effect of xylitol on tooth decay was compared to other preventive strategies or control groups. The studies were evaluated for their quality to obtain the level of evidence. The preventive fraction of each study was extracted. Two hundred studies were found. After analyzing the inclusion and removal of duplicates, only five studies were analyzed for the quality of evidence. With the analysis through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system, it was possible to verify the very low level of scientific evidence on the effectiveness of gums containing only xylitol for the prevention of caries in children. The preventive fraction obtained varied between - 0.31 and 0.57 depending on the compared prevention strategy. The conflicting results, limitations, and inconsistencies of the studies allow us to establish that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of gums containing only xylitol for the prevention of caries in children. Other properly designed clinical trials need to be carried out.

The influence of composite resin restoration radiopacity on radiographic diagnosis and decision-making.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the radiopacity of composite resin restorations on the interpretation of phantom radiographic images and to correlate the diagnosis with clinical management. Eighty healthy extracted human third molars were divided into 4 groups (n = 20 each): 3 restorative groups and 1 group of untreated teeth. The radiopacity of the materials was evaluated objectively using 10-mm discs of the composite resins SureFil SDR Flow (SDR), Filtek Bulk Fill Flowable Restorative (Filtek Bulk), and Filtek Z250 XT (Z250). Standard Class II cavities were prepared in the teeth. In the SDR and Filtek Bulk groups, the respective material was placed as a 2-mm base, and the remainder of the cavity was restored with Z250. In the Z250 group, the entire preparation was filled with Z250 composite resin. Ten phantoms of 6 teeth each were created; each phantom included 1 molar selected randomly from each of the 4 groups and 2 healthy premolars. Bitewing radiographs of the phantoms were obtained with a digital phosphor plate system and stored. For the subjective analysis, 5 examiners evaluated each of the molars on the radiographs and established the diagnosis and treatment plan. The radiopacity of the materials was statistically similar (P = 0.413), and there was no statistically significant difference between groups in the interpretation of the images. The radiopacity of the materials met ISO standard 4049/2009. Diagnosis and decision-making were influenced by the radiopacity of the materials. Filtek Z250, which had the lowest radiopacity, was diagnosed correctly more often than SDR, which had higher radiopacity. Filtek Bulk had the highest opacity and the highest percentage of correct diagnoses. In clinical practice, radiographic visualization of restorations and dental structures is essential for establishing a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. A restorative material may be within the established requirements for radiopacity, but on radiographic evaluation it might not be differentiated from mineralized dental tissues.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Periapical Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in periapical granuloma (PG) and radicular cyst (RC) samples and to correlate it with the type of lesion, the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate, and the thickness of the epithelial lining. METHODS: A total of 51 cases of periapical lesions (25 PGs and 26 RCs) were subjected to morphologic analysis and immunohistochemical study. The anti-COX-2 and anti-TNF-α antibodies were applied using the immunoperoxidase technique. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test, Pearson chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: Analysis of the inflammatory infiltrate revealed that 80% of PGs exhibited a grade III infiltrate as opposed to a 19% rate in RCs (P < .001). Morphologic evaluation of the epithelial thickness of RCs revealed the presence of atrophic epithelium in 73% of cases. The majority of PGs had a score of 1 for COX-2 immunoexpression (n = 14, 54%) and a score of 2 for TNF-α expression (n = 16, 64%), whereas in cases of RCs a score of 1 was more prevalent for COX-2 and TNF-α expression (n = 17, 65%). Significant differences in the expression scores of COX-2 and TNF-α were detected in periapical lesions (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, we emphasize that RCs and PGs have a similar expression of inflammatory mediators (COX-2 and TNF-α) although the secretion of TNF-α by macrophages and of COX-2 by several cells was higher in PGs, indicating a greater inflammatory response in these lesions.

Immunohistochemical expression of TGF-ß1 and MMP-9 in periapical lesions.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß1) in periapical lesion samples correlated with the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate and thickness of the epithelial lining. Forty-five cases of periapical lesions (23 periapical granulomas and 22 radicular cysts) were subjected to morphological and immunohistochemical analyses using anti-MMP-9 and anti-TGF-ß1 antibodies. The data were analyzed using the following tests: non-parametric Mann-Whitney, chi-square, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's correlation test (P<0.05). Analysis of inflammatory infiltrate revealed that 78% of periapical granulomas presented infiltrate grade III, in contrast with 32% of radicular cysts (P<0.001). Morphological evaluation of the epithelial thickness in radicular cysts revealed the presence of atrophic epithelium in 86% of the cysts. The immunostaining of MMP-9 was score 2 in 67% of the granulomas and 77% of the cysts. Both lesions were predominantly score 1 for TGF-ß1. Significant differences were confirmed between the expression scores of TGF-ß1 and MMP-9 in periapical granulomas (p = 0.004) and in radicular cysts (p < 0.001). Expression of TGF-ß1 was different for periapical granulomas and radicular cysts. This immunoregulatory cytokine seems more representative in asymptomatic lesions. The extracellular matrix remodeling process dependent on MMP-9 seems to be similar for both periapical granulomas and radicular cysts. TGF-ß1 and MMP-9 may play an important role in the maintenance of periapical lesions.

Pulp Revascularization: A Literature Review.

Reestablishing blood flow and allowing the continuation of root development are some of the objectives of pulp revascularization. This procedure is currently indicated for teeth with incomplete root formation as an alternative to the traditional treatment of apecification, which consists of inserting calcium hydroxide paste into the root canal for a determined time period in order to induce the formation of a calcified barrier. Although it is considered as the most classically employed therapy, the permanence of the paste for long time periods may lead to the weakening of the root due to hygroscopic properties, as well as proteolytic activities of calcium hydroxide. Therefore, there has been a permanent search for alternatives which allow the full development of immature teeth. Revascularization has emerged as such an alternative, and a range of treatment protocols can be found in the scientific literature. The aim of this paper is to accomplish a literature review concerning this issue.

Immunohistochemical expression of TGF-ß1 and MMP-9 in periapical lesions

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1) in periapical lesion samples correlated with the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate and thickness of the epithelial lining. Forty-five cases of periapical lesions (23 periapical granulomas and 22 radicular cysts) were subjected to morphological and immunohistochemical analyses using anti-MMP-9 and anti-TGF-β1 antibodies. The data were analyzed using the following tests: non-parametric Mann-Whitney, chi-square, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's correlation test (P<0.05). Analysis of inflammatory infiltrate revealed that 78% of periapical granulomas presented infiltrate grade III, in contrast with 32% of radicular cysts (P<0.001). Morphological evaluation of the epithelial thickness in radicular cysts revealed the presence of atrophic epithelium in 86% of the cysts. The immunostaining of MMP-9 was score 2 in 67% of the granulomas and 77% of the cysts. Both lesions were predominantly score 1 for TGF-β1. Significant differences were confirmed between the expression scores of TGF-β1 and MMP-9 in periapical granulomas (p = 0.004) and in radicular cysts (p < 0.001). Expression of TGF-β1 was different for periapical granulomas and radicular cysts. This immunoregulatory cytokine seems more representative in asymptomatic lesions. The extracellular matrix remodeling process dependent on MMP-9 seems to be similar for both periapical granulomas and radicular cysts. TGF-β1 and MMP-9 may play an important role in the maintenance of periapical lesions.

The Promising Applications of Stem Cells in the Oral Region: Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: For a long time researchers have tried to find out a way to grow tissues back to the human body in order to solve transplantation problems by offering the unique opportunity to have their organs back, working properly, in search of life dignity. LITERATURE REVIEW: Stem cells seem to be present in many other tissues than researchers had once thought; and in some specific sites they can be easily collected, without the need of expensive interventions. The oral cavity is one of these regions where their collection can be accomplished, with plenty of accessible sites enriched with these precious cells. AIM: The aim of this literature review is to research where in the mouth can scientists find stem cells to be used in the near future. KEY-MESSAGE: The aim of this literature review is to research where stem cells can be found and collected in the oral cavity.