Clinical efficacy of periosteal pedicle graft with subepithelial connective tissue graft in gingival recession coverage.

INTRODUCTION: Correction of gingival recession (GR) involves eliminating the cause of recession and it often requires surgical correction. Subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) technique by Langer and Langer provides excellent esthetics and is considered most predictable in obtaining marginal tissue recession coverage. However, the requirement of a second surgical procedure for harvesting CTG remote from planned site of recession coverage increases the chances of postoperative infection. There is also a limitation in the amount of graft that can be harvested and an increased operative time contributing to patient discomfort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overcoming these difficulties has become possible with the introduction of "periosteal pedicle graft" (PPG). The study is a split-mouth design where patients with bilateral, isolated GR defects were treated using two different surgical techniques, i.e., PPG versus the SCTG in obtaining GR coverage. The objective was to analyze the comparative amount of root coverage and the gain in width of attached gingiva achieved by both the techniques. RESULTS: All the clinical parameters evaluated were comparable between SCTG and PPG when recorded at 6 and 9 months posttreatment. CONCLUSION: Both techniques produced satisfactory and predictable results. PPG eliminated the need for the 2nd operative site, lesser intraoperative time, and hence, patient comfort was enhanced.

Comparative evaluation of laser-microtextured implant versus machined collar implant for soft and hard tissue attachment: A clinical and radiological study.

BACKGROUND: Various mechanical modifications in the collar region of endosseous implants is a challenge for better performance and osseointegration. Here is a comparative evaluation being carried out to find out the effect of the machined collar (MC) and Laser-Lok (LL)-modified titanium implants on the success of implants being commonly advocated in partially edentulous among serving personnel and their families. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for placement of Biohorizons MC and LL implants in 12 cases each. Aseptic surgical procedure was followed for implant surgery, and clinical parameters such as clinical attachment loss, pocket depth (PD), bleeding on probing, and plaque index (PI), mobility parameters estimated by Periotest value, and radiographic assessment of crestal bone loss (CBL) at interval of 6 months and 1 year were recorded and compared by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Intragroup comparison at 6 and 12 months period for all the parameters were nonsignificant except CBL in Group A (CBL-MC) with 12 cases shows a mean of 0.917 and 1.500, respectively, standard deviation difference = 0.477 (significant) with P < 0.05. Similar significant difference in CBL was observed with superior result in LL implants. CONCLUSION: The presence of LASER textured with microgrooves on the collar of the implants did not increase the PI and sulcular bleeding index. The probing PD was much less as observed in the group of LASER-treated implants in comparison with that of MC group. LL implant had an edge over MC proving success of the laser treatment on collars of implants.

Innovative use of laterally positioned periosteal pedicle graft for coverage of gingivitis artefacta.

There are many etiological factors for nonplaque-induced gingival diseases, out of which physical trauma due to psychiatric reasons leading to self-infliction is less studied upon. This case report presents one such case which has been successfully treated stepwise where psychological counseling was done to restrain from habit followed by using an innovative laterally positioned periosteal pedicle graft for dehiscence coverage.

Ofloxacin Induced Cutaneous Reactions in Children.

Cutaneous adverse effects to antimicrobials are a major health problem. Though majority of them are mild and self-limiting, severe variants like Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are not uncommon. Ofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone widely used for the treatment of urinary tract infections, acute bacterial diarrheas, enteric fever, STDs and other soft tissue infections either as a single drug or in combination with other drugs. Earlier a case of mucocutaneous maculopapular rash with oral ofloxacin and was reported in an adult. In the present hospital set up there were few reports of such reactions to adults. Here we report three different variants of reactions associated with oral ofloxacin in chlidren. Early detection of cutaneous lesions and immediate withdrawal of the offending drug can prevent progression of such reactions to their severe variants as well as morbidity and mortality.

Comparative evaluation of the marginal gingival epithelium in smokers and nonsmokers: a histomorphometric and immunohistochemical study.

Smoking is one of the strongest predictors of attachment and bone loss. Smokers demonstrate reduced inflammatory clinical signs, which could be due to local vasoconstriction and increased gingival epithelial thickness. The byproducts originating from tobacco oxidation modify the clinical characteristics and progression of periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the thickness of marginal gingival oral epithelium, sulcular bleeding, and vascular caliber and density of the microvessels in smokers and nonsmokers with and without periodontitis and to better understand the role of smoking in relation to periodontal disease. One hundred twenty individuals were enrolled in this study and divided into four groups comprising 30 participants each. The clinical measurements carried out included probing depth, clinical attachment loss, and bleeding index, along with gingival biopsy specimens, which were subjected to immunohistochemical and histomorphometric analysis. Correlation of the clinical and histologic features revealed that smokers presented with fewer inflammatory signs, had fewer vascular elements in the subepithelial connective tissue layer, and showed a resultant increase in epithelial thickness irrespective of the presence of periodontitis. There was a mean increase of epithelial thickness of 181.3 µm (suprapapillary epithelial thickness [SET]) to 380.2 µm (maximal epithelial thickness [MET]) in smokers with periodontitis as compared to 157.4 µm (SET) to 325.3 µm (MET) in nonsmokers with periodontitis. The mean microvascular density in smokers with periodontitis was 325.4 per mm, which was found to be statistically significantly less than that of nonsmokers with periodontitis, who had a mean value of 412.13 per mm. The vessel caliber also was reduced in smokers, with a mean value ranging from 4.7 to 6.1 µm compared with a mean of 6.2 to 9.2 µm in nonsmokers, irrespective of the presence of periodontitis. Statistically significant differences were found in vascular density and thickness of gingival epithelium between smokers and nonsmokers with and without periodontitis. These differences may impact the progression of periodontal disease.

Periodontal pathogens in atheromatous plaque.

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing attention paid in recent years to the possibility that oral bacterial infection, particularly periodontal disease may influence the initiation and or progression of systemic diseases. These studies confirm the observation that heart disease is the most commonly found systemic condition in patients with periodontal disease. Moreover, the literature has also highlighted substantial evidence indicating the presence of Gram-negative periodontal pathogens in atheromatous plaques. AIM: This study intends to investigate the possible association between periodontal health and coronary artery disease by evaluating periodontal status, association between the periodontal plaque and coronary atheromatous plaques for presence of micro-organisms such as, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Tannerella forsythia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was designed with seven patients who had undergone coronary endarterectomy for cardiovascular disease and 28 controls. The periodontal examination for cases was performed 1 day before vascular surgery and the controls were clinically examined. The atheromatous plaque sample collected during endarterectomy and the intraoral plaque samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction for identification of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia and T. forsythia. RESULTS: The presence of periodontal bacteria DNA in coronary atheromatous plaques and sub-gingival plaque samples of the same patients was confirmed by this study. CONCLUSION A correlation was established between putative bacteria contributing to atheromatous plaques and species associated with periodontal disease. One particularly important study to be carried out is the investigation of a possible clinically meaningful reduction in coronary heart disease resulting from the prevention or treatment of periodontal disease.

Gingival pemphigus vulgaris preceding cutaneous lesion: A rare case report.

Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune diseases characterized by formation of intraepithelial bullae in skin and the mucous membrane. Pemphigus vulgaris affects the oral mucosa in nearly all cases. Pemphigus vulgaris is characterized by auto antibodies directed against desmosome-associated protein antigens (desmoglein-3) found in epithelial and epidermal intercellular substance. We report here a case of pemphigus vulgaris of gingiva in an adult female patient at an early stage followed by dermatologic involvement. Perilesional incision was taken and histopathological and direct immunofluorescence was done for identification of specific antibodies. The oral lesions were treated with 0.1% Triamcinolone acetonide ointment and Prednisolone 20 mg twice daily with multivitamins was administered systemically for skin lesion.

Generalised leukaemic gingival enlargement: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloblastic leukaemia is a malignant bone marrow neoplasm of myeloid precursors of white blood cells. Due to its high morbidity rate, early diagnosis and appropriate medical therapy is essential. METHODS: The article highlights normal blood alterations like anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis and advanced diagnostic aids like flow cytometry, special staining as a diagnostic modality as well as for prognostic information in acute leukaemia, particularly as a tool for assigning lineage and facilitating further pathologic classification which may be helpful in influencing treatment strategies. RESULTS: On clinical examination the case presented with features of inflammatory gingival enlargement with presence of local deposits and calculus. Routine blood examination anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis with haemoglobin 5.6 gm% and total leukocyte count of 1,12,000 / cu mm suggestive of leukaemia. Myeloperoxidase and leukocyte nonspecific esterase (NSE) special stain were used which showed presence of myeloblasts in the peripheral smear suggestive of acute myelocytic leukaemia. Flow cytometry were done which further helped in interpretation of these cells which showed to be strongly positive for CD45, CD13, CD14, and anti HLADR and moderately positive for CD4, CD34 and Anti MPO confirming to be case of AML-M4 with 57.73% gating. CONCLUSIONS: Fact that gingival alterations are sometimes the first manifestations of the disease implies that dental professionals must be sufficiently familiarized with the clinical manifestations of systemic diseases. The timely referral by the general dentist for a suspicious lesion provided an early diagnosis and early intervention reducing the patient morbidity.