Clinical and patient-reported outcomes of periodontal phenotype modification therapy using injectable platelet rich fibrin with microneedling and free gingival grafts: A prospective clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical non-inferiority of injectable platelet-rich fibrin and micro-needling (iPRF+MN) with free gingival grafting (FGG) in periodontal phenotype modification therapy. METHODOLOGY: Twenty participants with a gingival thickness (GT)<0.8 mm in the mandibular anterior region were included. The participants were randomly allocated into i-PRF+MN and FGG groups. i-PRF injection was done, and MN was done with the help of a lancet in the i-PRF+MN group. The clinical parameters, i.e., GT and Keratinized tissue width (KTW), were evaluated at baseline, 3 and 6 months post-operatively. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs), i.e., discomfort and esthetic satisfaction, were assessed using the visual analogue score(VAS) at one week and 3 months of re-evaluation, respectively. RESULTS: Both groups showed a significant increase in GT and KTW with no intergroup variation (P-0.32, 0.48respectively) at the end of 6 months. However, the i-PRF+ MN group showed better PROs, i.e., less discomfort(1.11±0.60) and better esthetic satisfaction(8.77±0.44). CONCLUSION: The non-invasive treatment of i-PRF+MN may lead to non-inferior clinical outcomes after 6 months with better PROs compared to more invasive FGG protocols in phenotype modification therapy.

Emotional Health Status of Postgraduate Students of Periodontics in India During COVID Health Crisis-A Questionnaire-Based Study.

Dental students, especially postgraduate students present a higher risk of getting infected because of their close contact with the patients during this pandemic. The objectives of the study include (a) the reasons for postgraduate students' altered emotional status during coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. (b) To assess the kind of infection protocols adopted. (c) To assess the impacts of postgraduate students' emotional status on treating patients with periodontal problems during the COVID-19 lockdown period from March 2020 to December 2020. The emotional status of postgraduate students was assessed in 2 phases that are at the initial phase of COVID infection and lockdown and the second phase when the lockdown was prolonged. Questionnaires were distributed to the Postgraduate students of periodontics all over India to assess their level of awareness of COVID infection, type of infection control measures followed during the pandemic period, as well as the outpatient turnout during the lockdown period. Results of this study stated that more than 80% of students addressed the decline in the number of patients to surgical clinics, 76.3% of postgraduates were worried about themselves and their families due to the pandemic situation. Surprisingly, 74.3% of them even worried about losing their expertize or skills due to a long lockdown period. Dental postgraduates all over India are willing to treat their patients during the period of a pandemic but in strict compliance with infection control guidelines. This study assessed the emotional responses of the postgraduates during the pandemic through the questionnaire and concluded that all the professionals are ready to resume their clinical activities with adequate guidelines provided.

Comparison of quality of bone and insertion torque values of early implants placed at 6 and 8 weeks in sockets preserved with advanced platelet-rich fibrin: A randomized controlled trial.

Aim: Successful functional and esthetic rehabilitation of edentulous jaws with implants depends on the optimal timing of placement, surgical protocol, materials used, cost-effectiveness, and satisfying patient needs. Increasing demand for shorter treatment times necessitates the immediate placement protocol. However, researchers have demonstrateda higher failure rate. A-PRF (Advanced platelet-rich fibrin) has exhibited accelerated bone regeneration potential. Early implant placement with a limited healing period, along with A-PRF, can be beneficial over conventional and immediate implant placement. Settings and Design: This prospective randomized clinical trial aims to assess the outcome of early implant placement in sockets preserved using A-PRF at six weeks and eight weeks of post-extraction. Two groups of 10 participantseach were formed. All patients underwent atraumatic extraction and socket preservation using A-PRF. Materials and Methods: A Partial-thickness pedicle graft was raised, and the extraction socket wasclosed. Implants wereplaced in at six and eight weeks of post-extraction in group A group B, respectively. The histomorphometric analysisassessedthe bone quality present at the timeof surgery. The insertion torque values were recorded during implant placement. Statistical Analysis Used: The obtained data were statistically analyzed using parametric tests, namely independent T-test for intergroup comparison. Results: T-test for torque values indicated a significantly higher torque value at eight weeks. The meanhistomorphometric value showeda significantly higher percentage of bone formation at eight weeks than at six weeks (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Within the study's limitations, early implant placement in extraction sockets preserved with A-PRF had significantly higher insertion torque values and predictable bone at eight weeks compared to six weeks.

Evaluation of crestal bone loss and stability of immediate functional loading versus immediate non-functional loading of single-mandibular posterior implants: A pilot randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the crestal bone loss and stability of single mandibular posterior dental implants placed in immediate functional loading (IFL) and immediate nonfunctional loading (INFL) during 6 months after placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty single piece root form titanium implants were placed in 20 patients using IFL and INFL techniques. The change in the level of crestal bone was measured on standardized digital periapical radiographs using SOPRO imaging software and stability of implants using resonance frequency analyser taken at the baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months. The measurements were statistically analyzed using the independent and paired t-test (P < 0.05, statistically significant). RESULTS: The mean change in the crestal bone level from baseline to 6 months was significant in both techniques. The implant stability quotient (ISQ) values at first and third months were lower than those at the baseline for both the groups. However, the ISQ values at the sixth month were similar to baseline for both the groups. The crestal bone changes and the ISQ values when compared between the groups showed no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: IFL of dental implants have equivalent results and success rate as that of immediately provisionalized implants within the limitations of this study.