Systemic propolis stimulates new bone formation at the expanded suture: a histomorphometric study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of systemically given propolis on the expanded premaxillary suture in a rat study model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 24 rats were randomly divided into three groups-only expansion (OE), expansion plus propolis (PRO), and nonexpansion (control) groups. After the 5-day expansion period was completed, the OE and PRO groups underwent 12 days of mechanical retention. At the end of this period, the animals were euthanatized and their pre-maxillae were dissected and fixed. Histomorphometric examination was performed to determine the number of osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and capillaries as well as the intensity of inflammatory cells and amount of new bone formation. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that the intensities of inflammatory cells, number of osteoblasts, and amount of new bone formation were greater in the PRO group than in the other groups. The PRO group also had more osteoclasts and new capillaries. CONCLUSION: Systemic use of propolis may hasten new bone formation at the expanded suture in rats.

The relationship of orthodontic treatment need with periodontal status, dental caries, and sociodemographic factors.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of orthodontic malocclusion with periodontal status, dental caries, and sociodemographic status. Our study population consisted of a sample of 836 school children (384 male and 452 female, aged 11-14 years). Four experienced orthodontists and two experienced periodontists performed the clinical examinations. The Treatment Priority Index (TPI), Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) scores, and a questionnaire that surveyed socio-demographic status of students were used. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were used to measure the association between variables. TPI scores showed that 36.4% of the students had normal occlusion, while 41.2% had slight, 15.7% had definite, 4% had severe, and 2.7% had very severe malocclusion. TPI values did not show any significant differences between pupils in different age, gender, socioeconomic status groups, and CPITN scores, whereas there was a significant relationship between TPI and DMFT scores. The orthodontic treatment need was not significantly correlated with CPITN or socio-demographic status; however, the correlation coefficient showed a significant relationship between TPI and DMFT scores.