Comparison of the quality of life of patients with mandibular third molars and mild pericoronitis treated by extraction or by a periodontal approach.

We have evaluated and compared the outcomes after conservatively treated and surgically managed third molars in patients with mild pericoronitis at the first, third, and sixth postoperative months, and we rated patients' quality of life (QoL) using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) index. Of the 128 patients who were originally assessed as eligible we studied 100 patients who fulfilled the protocol, being diagnosed with mild pericoronitis that affected the third molar teeth and who were followed up for six months. Fifty were treated by the periodontal approach and 50 by extraction of third molars. Their oral health-related QoL was assessed using the OHIP-14 index on a personal assessment question form and then repeated at the first, third, and sixth months. The data were analysed using the Mann Whitney, Friedman's, and Wilcoxon's test, as appropriate. There was a significant difference between the total OHIP-14 scores at different time points (p<0.0001). In both groups the three postoperative total OHIP-14 scores were significantly lower than the baseline score, and we noted a further decrease in OHIP-14 scores in the surgical treatment group. Periodontal treatment of mandibular third molar teeth may effectively reduce (but does not eliminate) symptoms, whereas tooth extraction seems to be more effective at the long term.

Comparison of the influence of FOV sizes and different voxel resolutions for the assessment of periodontal defects.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the influence of different voxel resolutions of two different CBCT units on the in vitro detection of periodontal defects. METHODS: The study used 12 dry skulls with a maxilla and a mandible. Artificial defects (dehiscence, tunnel, fenestration) were separately created on the anterior, premolar and molar teeth using burrs. A total of 14 dehiscences, 13 fenestrations, 8 tunnels and 16 non-defect controls were used in the study. Images were obtained from two different CBCT units in six voxel sizes (voxel size: 0.080, 0.100, 0.125, 0.150, 0.160 and 0.200 mm3). Kappa coefficients were calculated to assess both intra- and interobserver agreements for each image set. RESULTS: Overall intraobserver kappa coefficients ranged between 0.978 and 0.973 for the 0.080-mm3 images and between 0.751 and 0.737 for the 0.160-mm3 images, suggesting notably high intraobserver agreement for detecting periodontal defects. CBCT performed significantly better at detecting fenestrations (p<0.05) than tunnel and dehiscence defects. No statistically significant difference was found between the detection of dehiscence and tunnel defects (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A voxel size of 0.150 mm3 was identified as the cut-off point for overall detection of periodontal defects. CBCT should be considered the most reliable imaging modality for the diagnosis of periodontal defects.

High sensitivity detection of salivary 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine levels in patients with chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is associated with hydroxyl radical damage to DNA as a result of oxidative stress. 8-Hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a marker of this process and its levels in saliva could be linked to the severity of periodontal inflammation. The aim of this study was to test the sensitivity of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in comparison to enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of 8-OHdG in saliva in patients with chronic periodontitis before and after periodontal treatment. METHODS: Saliva samples were collected from 23 patients (eight females and 15 males; 46.1 ± 5.1 years of age) with generalized chronic periodontitis and 25 (15 females and 10 males; 44.9 ± 6.8 years of age) periodontally healthy individuals. Patients received initial periodontal treatment consisting of scaling and root planing and were evaluated at baseline and after 6 wk of completion of non-surgical therapy. Salivary 8-OHdG levels were measured using ELISA and LC-MS/MS before and after the treatment. Clinically, plaque index, gingival index, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, gingival recession and probing pocket depth were measured at baseline and after 6 wk. RESULTS: Salivary levels of 8-OHdG decreased significantly after the non-surgical periodontal treatment (p < 0.001). Statistically significant positive correlations were observed between plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing values and LC-MS/MS and ELISA levels of 8-OHdG (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: LC-MS/MS is a reliable and sensitive method for evaluating salivary 8-OHdG levels to monitor the treatment response of periodontitis.