Correlation of COVID-19 with severity of periodontitis-A clinical and biochemical study.

Background: Various conceptual hypotheses have been put forth to link association of COVID-19 with various chronic diseases such as periodontitis. Empirical evidence is still lacking to correlate the severity of COVID-19 with periodontal diseases. Objectives: This study was undertaken with an objective to correlate COVID severity in systemically healthy patients suffering from periodontal diseases. Materials and Methods: 44 systemically healthy patients of both genders with minimum of 20 teeth in their oral cavity in age range of 20 to 50 years suffering from periodontitis were recruited and categorised into four stages as per American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) 2017 classification for periodontitis. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and periodontal disease parameters of all the patients were measured. Because of COVID-19 and the nationwide lockdown, the dental practice was highly affected. With the help of self-designed online questionnaire information regarding COVID-19 infection and associated symptoms were recorded. Cases were categorized into five groups based on the World Health Organization clinical progression scale of COVID severity. Results: All the patients suffering from COVID disease in moderate and severe forms had increased probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and raised serum C-reactive protein levels as compared to patients who were uninfected or suffering from mild COVID disease and the results were statistically significant. Conclusion: Prioritisation and Implementation of periodontal treatment as a preventive measure for COVID-19 should be done. A positive correlation is observed between the severity of periodontitis and COVID-19.

A systematic review of biomarkers of gingival crevicular fluid: Their predictive role in diagnosis of periodontal disease status.

The objective of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature so as to evaluate and summarize the diagnostic and prognostic potential of GCF. Included studies were systematically analyzed based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items For Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses) and studies were identified based on the-PICO (Glossary of evidence based terms 2007): 1)Patients with chronic periodontitis.2)Intervention- NSPT (Non-SurgicalPeriodontal therapy); NSPT + Chemotherapeutics.3)Comparison between treated v/s non treated sites.4)Outcomes measured: Analysis of variation in constituents of GCF. Electronic database search of Pubmed, Medline, Google Scholar and Scopus was performed using (MeSH) terms- Gingival Crevicular fluid and Cytokines, MMP's, NE, PGE-2, A2M, B2M, ALP, AST, Osteocalcin and Calprotectin. Articles published between year 2000-2016 were reviewed and were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Based on this systematic review of literature, it can be concluded that analysis of constituents of GCF can be used as an effective and efficient diagnostic tool of periodontal diseases. These biomarkers in turn with their prognostic significance could act as a valuable tool in the combat of periodontal disease.

Multiple Gingival Recession Coverage Treated with Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access Approach with or without Platelet-Rich Fibrin - A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Gingival recession involves both soft tissue and hard tissue loss. In this evolutionary era of dentistry, newer techniques have evolved for complete coverage of isolated recession defects. Since 2012, vestibular incision subperiosteal tunnel access (VISTA) technique was used with various regenerative membranes to treat multiple recession defects (MRDs). Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membrane, a pool of growth factors but have any added advantage to recession coverage techniques is controversial. Thus, in this case series, we compare the effect of VISTA with or without PRF-membrane for the treatment of Classes I and III MRDs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Four patients between of age 30 and 40 years (two patients having bilateral Class I and another two having bilateral Class III MRDs) were selected from the Department of Periodontics, ITS Dental College, Greater Noida and designated as Case I-IV simultaneously. Recession defects at antagonist sites in each patient were corrected by VISTA approach with or without PRF-membrane. Recorded clinical parameters included recession depth, recession width, pocket probing depth, and clinical attachment level (CAL) at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Patients having Class I recession defects showed almost complete root coverage with VISTA technique alone and reflected no added advantage of PRF-membrane. However, patients with Class III recession defects treated with VISTA + PRF-membrane showed more reduction in recession depth and gain in CAL as compared to sites treated with VISTA only. CONCLUSION: VISTA alone is a convenient technique for treatment of Class I MRDs. Addition of PRF-membrane for Class III recession defects give better outcome in term of reduction of recession depth and gain in CAL 6 month postoperatively.