ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of host-derived zinc-dependent enzymes which mediates the destruction of the extracellular matrix. In periodontitis, there is excess production of MMPs associated with periodontal tissue destruction. The aim of this study was to estimate the level MMP-9 in both active and latent form in gingival tissue (GT) samples collected from periodontitis patients with different rates of progression and compare it with healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were selected and divided into three groups, 20 each: Group A (slowly/moderately progressing periodontitis), Group B (rapidly progressing periodontitis), and Group C (clinical periodontal health). Plaque index, gingival index, periodontal probing depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level were recorded. GT samples were collected from all 60 patients and MMP-9 expressions were measured using gelatin zymography and western blotting. RESULTS: Levels of active MMP-9 (aMMP-9) and latent MMP-9 (lMMP-9) were significantly high in both Group A (GA) (aMMP-9: 2.05 arbitrary unit [AU]/lMMP-9: 2.54 AU) and Group B (GB) (aMMP-9: 1.32 AU/lMMP-9: 1.74 AU) when compared to that of Group C (GC) (aMMP-9: 0.93/lMMP-9: 1.08 AU). In GA, levels of aMMP-9 showed a significant correlation with PPD values. No other correlations were found. CONCLUSION: The levels of aMMP-9 and lMMP-9 were increased in both the types of periodontitis when compared with periodontally healthy individuals. A significant correlation was found between PPD and activities of aMMP-9 in slowly/moderately progressing periodontitis patients. However, further studies are required to confirm these findings.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Identification and documentation of the proper and improper dental ergonomic postures have gained its importance in the recent years due to the increased prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among dentists and dental students who do not practice proper ergonomic procedure. AIM: The aim of the present study is to analysis ergonomic posture among dental students while performing supragingival scaling (SGS) procedure, using the standardized photometric assessment method (SPAM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 90 students from the third year (III year) to final year (IV year) and internship (Intern) (30 each) were included in the study. All the 90 students were asked to perform SGS procedure and were photographed and analyzed using the current technique. Eight dental ergonomic postures were analyzed in this study and grouped according to the classification system developed for scoring dental ergonomic postures by Garbin et al., in 2011. Analysis of variance test with Bonferroni correction was used to statistically analyze the collected data. RESULTS: The mean index value for III year, IV year and Intern were 2.00, 2.03, and 2.13, respectively, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.709). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the dental students using the current method showed that most of them come under inadequate and regular category which puts them in a high risk for developing WMSDs. The SPAM to analyze the dental ergonomic posture was simple and effective and should be further explored in the future studies for its pros and cons.
