Diabetes mellitus and inflammatory pulpal and periapical disease: a review.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common metabolic disorders. DM is characterized by hyperglycaemia, resulting in wound healing difficulties and systemic and oral manifestations, which have a direct effect on dental pulp integrity. Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated a higher prevalence of periapical lesions in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. The influence of DM on periapical bone resorption and its impact on dental intervention of such patients are reviewed, and its aetiology and pathogenesis are analysed at molecular level. Pulps from patients with diabetes have the tendency to present limited dental collateral circulation, impaired immune response, increased risk of acquiring pulp infection (especially anaerobic ones) or necrosis, besides toothache and occasional tendency towards pulp necrosis caused by ischaemia. In regard to molecular pathology, hyperglycaemia is a stimulus for bone resorption, inhibiting osteoblastic differentiation and reducing bone recovery. The relationship between poorly controlled diabetes and bone metabolism is not clearly understood. Molecular knowledge about pulp alterations in patients with diabetes could offer new therapeutic directions. Knowledge about how diabetes affects systemic and oral health has an enduring importance, because it may imply not only systemic complications but also a higher risk of oral diseases with a significant effect on pulp and periapical tissue.

Comparative 6-month clinical study of a subepithelial connective tissue graft and acellular dermal matrix graft for the treatment of gingival recession.

BACKGROUND: Different techniques have been proposed for the treatment of gingival recessions. This study compared the clinical results of gingival recession treatment using a subepithelial connective tissue graft and an acellular dermal matrix allograft. METHODS: Nine patients with bilateral Miller Class I or II gingival recessions were selected. A total of 30 recessions were treated and randomly assigned to the test group and the contralateral recession to the control group. In the control group, the exposed root surfaces were treated by the placement of a connective tissue graft in combination with a coronally positioned flap; in the test group, an acellular dermal matrix allograft was used as a substitute for palatal donor tissue. Probing depth, clinical attachment level, gingival recession, and width of keratinized tissue were measured 2 weeks prior to surgery and 3 and 6 months postsurgery. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the test group and the control group in terms of recession reduction, clinical attachment gain, and reduction in probing depth. The control group had a statistically significant increased area of keratinized tissue after 3 months compared to the test group. Both procedures, however, produced an increase in keratinized tissue after 6 months, with no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: The acellular dermal matrix allograft may be a substitute for palatal donor tissue in root coverage procedures.