Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy vs. local minocycline in addition to non-surgical therapy of deep periodontal pockets: a controlled randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the additional influence of either antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT; Helbo® Photodynamic Systems) or local application of minocycline microspheres (MC; Arestin, OraPharma) on clinical and microbiological healing results in deep periodontal pockets (PPD ≥6 mm) following non-surgical periodontal therapy (SRP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients with chronic periodontitis were evaluated: test group aPDT + SRP (n = 15), positive control group MC + SRP (n = 15), and negative control group SRP-alone (n = 15). Clinical and microbiological healing parameters were recorded in every patient for four experimental teeth at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3, 6, and 12 months. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Significant improvements in clinical and microbiological parameters were found for all groups after 6 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months. Differences between groups were not statistically significant. Changes after 12 months [median (25/75%)] are as follows: reduction in PPD [mm]: aPDT + SRP 2 (1/3), MC + SRP 3 (1/4), SRP-alone 2 (1/3); percentage of residual BOP positive teeth [%]: aPDT + SRP 75 (25/100), MC + SRP 33.3 (0/50), SRP-alone 66.7 (25/75). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, neither the applied aPDT system nor MC showed a significant additional influence on clinical and microbiological healing outcomes in deep periodontal pockets compared to SRP alone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In deep periodontal defects, the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal treatment seems not to be improved by adjunctive use of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy or minocycline microspheres.

Influence of autogenous platelet concentrate on combined GTR/graft therapy in intrabony defects: a 7-year follow-up of a randomized prospective clinical split-mouth study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of autogenous platelet concentrate (APC) on the long-term regeneration outcome 7 years after guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in deep intrabony periodontal defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 25 patients, two deep contra-lateral intrabony defects were treated according to GTR (randomized split-mouth-design). In the test defects, APC was additionally applied. After 7 years, healing results were assessed clinically by a blinded examiner and compared to baseline and 12-months results. Furthermore, a tooth survival analysis was performed. RESULTS: After 7 years, 23 patients were available for survival analysis and 16 patients for split-mouth analysis; 84% of the test and control teeth were still in situ. In both groups, the median attachment level of 10.5 mm [(25/75%): test 9.0/13.0, control 10.0/12.0] at baseline was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced to 6.0 mm [test 4.0/6.8, control 5.0/7.0] after 1 year. Six years later, it had increased again to 7.0 mm in test sites [5.3/10.0] (p ≤ 0.05) and had remained stable in control sites [5.0/7.8] (p > 0.05). Bleeding on Probing (BOP) had increased in both groups. During the last 6 years, only 26% of the patients received a structured supportive periodontal therapy in the clinic. CONCLUSION: Within its limitations, the present study indicates that the clinical outcome of GTR therapy can be maintained over 7 years. However, the additional use of APC may even have a possibly negative influence on the long-term stability.

Controlled, prospective, randomized, clinical evaluation of partial ceramic crowns inserted with RelyX Unicem with or without selective enamel etching. Results after 2 years.

Among the materials used for luting indirect restorations, growing interest has been directed towards the use of self-adhesive resin cements. The aim of this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the clinical performance of the self-adhesive resin cement RelyX Unicem (RXU) for luting partial ceramic crowns (PCCs). In addition, the influence of selective enamel etching prior to luting (RXU+E) was assessed. Two-year results are reported. Thirty-four patients (68 PCCs) had originally received the intended treatment at baseline (BL). Twenty-nine patients (14 male, 15 female) with a total of 58 PCCs participated in the 2-year recall. In each patient, one PCC had been placed with RXU, one PCC with RXU+E. Restorations were evaluated at BL and 24 months after placement using modified United States Public Health Service criteria for postoperative hypersensitivity, anatomic form, marginal adaptation, marginal discoloration, surface texture and recurrent caries. Additionally, the "percentage failure" within the 2-year recall period for all restorations (n = 68) was calculated according to ADA Program Guidelines. Target value for acceptability of each procedure was <5% failure within 24 m. For statistical analysis of the data, the chi-square test was applied (α = 0.05). The median patient age was 41 years (24-59 years). Median PBI was 8% (5-10%). Twenty-two RXU PCCs were placed in molars, seven in premolars. Twenty-one RXU+E PCCs were placed in molars, eight in premolars. Statistically significant changes were observed for marginal adaptation (MA) and marginal discoloration (MD) between BL and 2 years but not between the two groups (RXU, RXU+E). Percentage of alfa values at BL for MA (RXU, 97% and RXU+E, 100%) and for MD (RXU, 97% and RXU+E, 97%) decreased to RXU, 14% and RXU+E, 28% for MA and to RXU, 50% and RXU+E, 59% for MD after 24 months. Within the observation period, three failures were recorded with RXU (5.1% failure), one failure was recorded for RXU+E (1.7% failure), but a significant influence of selective enamel etching on failure could not be verified. Although the results of the present study reveal a slight tendency for more favourable results if selective enamel etching is applied prior to insertion of ceramic PCCs with a self-adhesive luting material, longer-term evaluation is needed to confirm this. Additional selective enamel etching with a self-adhesive luting material does not considerably improve clinical performance of the restorations within the observation period reported, neither does it impose a hazard with respect to postoperative hypersensitivity.

Controlled, prospective, randomized, clinical evaluation of partial ceramic crowns inserted with RelyX Unicem with or without selective enamel etching. 1-year results.

PURPOSE: To compare the performance of partial ceramic crowns (PCCs) inserted with RelyX Unicem (RXU) either with (RXU+E) or without (RXU) selective enamel etching. METHODS: 34 patients (15 male, 19 female) participated in the investigation, with a total of 68 PCC restorations. In each patient, one PCC was randomly assigned to insertion with RXU, the second PCC was assigned to insertion with RXU+E. The PCCs were CAD/CAM fabricated using the Cerec 3 system. RXU: 25 PCCs were placed in molars, nine in premolars. RXU+E: 26 PCCs were placed in molars, eight in premolars. The restorations were clinically rated using modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria at baseline, 6 and 12 months after placement. The median patient age was 41 years (24-59 years). The median (25-75%) PBI was 6% (3-9%). RESULTS: All patients were available for the three recall appointments. One PCC (RXU) debonded after 11 months in situ, one PCC (RXU+E) fractured after 12 months in situ. Both restorations had to be replaced. At the 12 months recall, 66 of 68 controlled restorations were functional without need of replacement. The evaluation using USHPS criteria revealed a significant decrease of alfa ratings over time with respect to criteria marginal adaptation and marginal discoloration. No statistically significant differences between the two luting techniques, RXU and RXU+E, we reobserved during the observation period of 1 year. Within the limitations of the present study, adhesive luting with RXU with or without selective enamel etching can be recommended.

Prevalence of OPG and IL-1 gene polymorphisms in chronic periodontitis.

AIM: To investigate the association of polymorphisms in the osteoprotegerin (OPG) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) genes with chronic periodontitis (CP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and ninety-four individuals (97 CP patients, 97 controls) were genotyped for the OPG polymorphisms Lys3Asn and Met256Val and for the IL-1 polymorphisms IL-1A (-889C/T) and IL-1B (+3953C/T). RESULTS: The homozygous variants coding for Lys3 were present at a higher frequency, whereas Asn3 and Met256 were present at a lower frequency in CP patients/controls (Lys3: 31%/25%, Asn3: 23%/32% and Met256: 66%/73%). Heterozygosity for Lys3Asn was observed at a higher frequency in CP patients/controls (46%/43%). Homozygosity for the Val256 genotype was observed in two CP patients (one in controls). Met256Val heterozygosity was more prevalent in CP patients/controls (32%/20%). All differences were statistically not significant between CP patients and controls. In contrast, both IL-1 polymorphisms were statistically significant. The heterozygous variant for IL-1A was present in 32% of the CP patients and in 20% of the controls (homozygosity (patients/controls) CC: 10%/21% and TT: 55%/33%). Heterozygosity for IL-1B was observed in 37% of the CP patients versus 34% in the controls (homozygosity (patients/controls) CC: 26%/57% and TT: 37%/9%). CONCLUSION: While the association between the IL-1 polymorphisms and CP was confirmed, no association between the OPG polymorphisms and CP could be found.