Effects of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on the alveolar bone density.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on alveolar bone density (ABD) and bone height (BH) using direct digital radiography. Nineteen patients (mean age: 36 ± 7.3 years) with generalized chronic periodontitis were examined at baseline, 90 (90 AT) and 180 (180 AT) days after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Radiographs were taken from two sites with specific characteristics: 39 sites with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≤ 3 mm and clinical attachment level (CAL) ≤ 1 mm (shallow sites); and 62 sites with PPD ≥ 5 mm and CAL ≥ 3 mm (deep sites). The ABD was assessed considering the bone regions of interest at the alveolar bone crest (ROI I) and at the medullar bone (ROI II). The BH was assessed considering the distance from the alveolar bone crest to the cementoenamel junction. Mann-Whitney test was used for the overall demographic data, Wilcoxon test was used to compare the baseline, 90 AT and 180 AT data as well as to compare the groups and subgroups within the same evaluation period. The significance level was set at 5%. The deep sites showed a significant increase of ABD in ROI I at 90 AT (p<0.007) and at 180 AT (p<0.005). ABD decrease was seen in ROI II at 180 AT (p<0.04) while BH reduced only in shallow sites at 90 AT. In conclusion, an increase in ABD was observed in deep sites of patients with generalized chronic periodontitis. However, no significant change in alveolar BH was observed in these sites.

Prevalence of periodontitis and DMFT index in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

AIM: To compare the prevalence of periodontal disease and the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) with those without these diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-nine CD (39.0 SD+/-12.9 years), 80 UC (43.3 SD+/-13.2) and 74 healthy controls (40.3 SD+/-12.9) were compared for DMFT index and presence of periodontitis. Probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque and DMFT index were measured on all subjects. The presence of periodontitis was defined as having CAL > or =3 mm in at least four sites in different teeth. RESULTS: Significantly more patients with UC (90.0%; p<0.001) and CD (81.8%; p=0.03) had periodontitis than controls (67.6%). Among smokers, UC patients had significantly more periodontitis. CD had a greater mean DMFT score (18.7 versus 13.9; p=0.031) compared with controls and UC had greater median PPD (2.2 versus 1.7 mm; p<0.0001) than controls. Among non-smokers, CD (2.4 mm; p<0.0001) and UC showed deeper pockets (2.3 mm; p<0.0001) compared with controls (1.5 mm). UC had a greater mean DMFT score (15.3 versus 12.1; p=0.037) compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: CD and UC patients had higher DMFT and prevalence of periodontitis than controls, but smoking was an effect modifier.