Evaluation of Efficacy of Injectable-guided Tissue Regeneration with and without Clindamycin on the Colonization of Porphyromonas gingivalis by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction.

AIM: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the loading of clindamycin with injectable-guided tissue regeneration (GTR) will prevent the colonization of Porphyromonas gingivalis and to compare and assess the quantitative changes in P. gingivalis colony forming units (CFUs) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty microbiological samples were pooled from the deepest periodontal pockets from the thirty sites from the two groups: group I-injectable GTR placed in the defect filled with demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) and group II-clindamycin loaded injectable GTR placed in the defect filled with DFDBA. The total number of P. gingivalis CFUs was estimated using real-time PCR at baseline and 4 weeks after therapy. RESULTS: A significant reduction in P. gingivalis CFUs at the end of 4 weeks was seen in both groups. Comparative evaluations between both groups at 4 weeks were with a mean of 4.44 ± 2.28 and 4.75 ± 3.32, respectively. Though there was a significant reduction in group II, the difference was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that clindamycin is beneficial in reducing microbial infection and can potentiate regeneration through host modulation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Injectable GTR has the ability to mold according to the defect size and shape and eliminates the need to manipulate the membrane as required for the conventional membrane.

Molecular Detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis in Chronic Periodontitis Patients.

AIM: In the current study, Porphyromonas gingivalis was identified in chronic periodontitis patients and healthy subjects by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its presence correlated with the severity of clinical periodontal parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subgingival plaque samples were collected with sterile curette and subjected to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction and subsequent PCR for detection of P. gingivalis. RESULTS: Porphyromonas gingivalis was detected in 60% of patients of group II (pocket depth up to 5 mm), and in 93.33% of patients of group III (pocket depth more than 5 mm). One periodontally healthy subject in group I (probing depth < 3 mm) showed the presence of P. gingivalis. CONCLUSION: Detection frequency of bacterium increased significantly with increase in probing pocket depth (PPD), loss of attachment (LOA), and gingival index (GI). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Porphyromonas gingivalis is strongly associated with chronic periodontitis and its detection frequency positively correlates with the severity of periodontal destruction.

Comparative scanning electron microscope analysis of diode laser and desensitizing toothpastes for evaluation of efficacy of dentinal tubular occlusion.

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of diode laser alone and in combination with desensitizing toothpastes in occluding dentinal tubules (both partially occluded and completely occluded tubules) by scanning electron microscope (SEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty human teeth were extracted, cervical cavities were prepared and etched with 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and smear layer was removed to expose the tubules. The teeth were divided into five groups: Group I - Application of NovaMin-formulated toothpaste, Group II - Application of Pro-Argin™-formulated toothpaste, Group III - Application of diode laser in noncontact mode, Group IV - NovaMin-formulated toothpaste followed by laser irradiation, and Group V - Pro-Argin™-formulated toothpaste followed by laser irradiation. After treatment, quantitative analysis of occluded dentinal tubules was done by SEM analysis. RESULTS: The mean values of percentages of total occlusion of dentinal tubules in Groups I, II, III, IV, and V were 92.73% ± 1.38, 90.67% ± 1.86, 96.57% ± 0.64, 97.3% ± 0.68, and 96.9% ± 6.08, respectively. Addition of diode laser (Groups III, IV, and V) yielded a significant occlusion of the dentinal tubules when compared to desensitizing toothpastes alone (Groups I and II). CONCLUSION: Diode laser (Group III) has shown more efficacy in occluding dentinal tubules when compared with desensitizing toothpastes which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Among the five groups, NovaMin + diode laser (Group IV) showed the highest percentage of occluded dentinal tubules.

Clinical effects of photodynamic and low-level laser therapies as an adjunct to scaling and root planing of chronic periodontitis: A split-mouth randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: There are limited clinical experiments addressing the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to conventional scaling and root planing (SRP) alone. AIM: The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the clinical effects of adjunctive use of PDT, combination of PDT with LLLT as adjunct to conventional SRP alone in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a single-centered randomized and controlled clinical trial, 24 patients (15 males and 9 females) with untreated chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned in a split-mouth design into three treatment groups which included Group I: SRP only, Group II: SRP and PDT (1% methylene blue [MB] solution), and Group III: SRP, PDT, and LLLT. Clinical parameters such as plaque index, gingival index, modified sulcular bleeding index, probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months after therapy. RESULTS: Within each group, significant improvements (P < 0.001) were found for all variables in 6-month follow-up compared with baseline. The improvement in clinical parameters was significantly greater in Group III compared to Group I and Group II. The mean PD (mm) reduction from baseline to 6 months in Group I was 2.50 ± 0.54, Group II was 2.57 ± 0.53, and Group III was 3.14 ± 0.50. The mean CAL (mm) gain from baseline to 6 months in Group I was 2.63 ± 0.47, Group II was 2.55 ± 0.44, and Group III was 3.07 ± 0.55. CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic periodontitis, a combination of a single application of PDT (using a 980 nm laser and MB) and LLLT provide additional benefit to SRP in terms of clinical parameters 6 months following the intervention.