The prevalence of malocclusal traits and their correlations in mixed dentition children: results from the Italian OHSAR Survey.

PURPOSE: To know the prevalence of malocclusal traits and their correlation in Italian mixed dentition children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 1,198 children 7 to 11 years old, who had never undergone orthodontic treatment, were included in the Italian Oral Health of Schoolchildren of the Abruzzo Region (OHSAR) Survey. Canine and molar classes, overbite, overjet, dental crowding, maxillary midline diastema, crossbite and scissorbite were recorded. The canine and molar classes were considered as dependent variables, and their separate correlations with all of the other occlusal traits were analysed by multivariate methods. RESULTS: Over 90% of the children showed at least one malocclusal trait; the mean +/- SD of malocclusal traits was 3.5 +/- 1.8. Gender did not affect the prevalence of any malocclusal traits. Dental class II was correlated with increased overbite and overjet, and negatively correlated with the maxillary midline diastema; dental class III was correlated with decreased overbite and overjet, and crossbite. Asymmetrical dental class was correlated with increased overjet and crossbite. Dental crowding showed very little correlation. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of malocclusal traits in Italian children is very high, and more effort is needed to implement early interventions, including close monitoring and modifications of lifestyle.

Clinical and microbiological effects of subgingival administration of two active gels on persistent pockets of chronic periodontitis patients.

OBJECTIVES: The present controlled, single-blind study was performed to assess and compare the clinical healing and the microbiological findings following repeated intrasulcular applications of 1% metronidazole or 1% chlorhexidine gels in persistent periodontal pockets previously treated by scaling and root planing (SRP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-three systemically healthy subjects, 25 males and 38 females (mean age 48.4+/-7.2 years), diagnosed for chronic periodontitis were enrolled in this study. They underwent SRP and received oral hygiene instructions (OHI). Three months later, at baseline, a single persistent pocket with a probing depth (PD) of 5-9 mm was chosen as the experimental site in each patient; the subjects were stratified into three matched experimental groups on the basis of the treatment to be performed, which consisted of the subgingival administration of 1% metronidazole gel (MG, n=19), 1% chlorhexidine gel (CG, n=20) or placebo gel (PG, n=24). The treatments consisted of four repeated administrations of subgingival gels, each separated by 7 days, starting at the baseline. Clinical assessment was performed at the baseline and at the 180-day follow-up, after the end of treatment. For microbiological evaluations, subgingival plaque was sampled from the experimental sites at baseline, prior to the first subgingival gel administration, and at 7, 15, 30 and 90 days after the end of the treatment (days 28, 36, 51 and 111 from baseline). RESULTS: Plaque accumulation did not change significantly in all three groups. Bleeding on probing and clinical attachment levels reduced in the MGs and CGs only. PD was significantly reduced by the same amount in all experimental groups. In the MGs and CGs a remarkable reduction in the frequencies of detection of several periodontopathic micoorganisms was recorded after the treatment. The same was not seen for the PGs. CONCLUSIONS: Subgingival administration of MG or CG, both at 1%, may have a role in the management of persistent pockets during chronic periodontitis.

Lactate dehydrogenase activity in gingival crevicular fluid during orthodontic treatment.

During orthodontic treatment, the early response of periodontal tissues to mechanical stress involves several metabolic changes that allow tooth movement. Many studies have evaluated such modifications by analysis of various host metabolites released into the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). This study used a cross-sectional design to examine the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in GCF to assess whether GCF LDH can be proposed as a sensitive marker for periodontal tissue modifications during orthodontic tooth movement. Thirty-seven subjects, 16 males and 21 females (mean age 18.7 years, range 14.0 to 26.7 years), participated in this study. Each subject underwent a session of professional oral hygiene and received oral hygiene instructions; 2 weeks later, a fixed orthodontic appliance was placed on the maxillary arch. A randomly selected maxillary canine was considered as the test tooth, and its antagonist, which had no appliance, was used as the control tooth. From 2 to 12 weeks after orthodontic appliance placement, GCF was harvested from both experimental teeth at the mesiobuccal angle, for GCF volume and LDH activity determinations. Clinical monitoring consisted of recording supragingival plaque presence, bleeding on probing, and probing depth at the same collection sites. The results showed that no differences in clinical conditions and GCF volume occurred between the experimental teeth. On the contrary, GCF LDH activity in the test teeth was significantly greater than that of the control teeth (P <.01). Moreover, no differences were found in the enzymatic activity between the sexes by experimental tooth, and no significant correlation was present between GCF LDH activity and patients' ages within experimental teeth. Our enzymatic results initially indicated a possible role of GCF LDH during the early phases of orthodontic treatment and therefore warrant further study as a possible diagnostic tool for tissue response during orthodontic treatment.