Radiological infrabony defects after impacted mandibular third molar extractions in young adults.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of infrabony defects and their healing at the distal aspect of mandibular second molars (M2s) after extraction of impacted mandibular third molars (M3s). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective clinical study included 22 young healthy patients (21.03 ± 4.51 yr old). Thirty-seven surgical extractions of high-risk periodontal and mesioangular impacted M3s in close contact with adjacent M2s were performed. Radiographic bone height (RBH), radiographic infrabony defects (RIDs), and bone loss (BL) were recorded at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. RBH and RIDs were measured from the tip of a periodontal gauge to the root apex and to the cementoenamel junction of the M2, respectively; BL was calculated by dividing the length of the M2 root into thirds and categorized as slight, moderate, or severe. RESULTS: Only 26 extracted teeth were included in all radiographic assessments. Mean RID size at baseline was 4.54 ± 1.87 mm. At 12 months, an average recovery of 2.80 ± 2.36 mm (P < .001) was recorded, for a mean RID size of 1.78 ± 1.65 mm. Statistically significant differences in RBH and RIDs were found at all assessments (P < .05). Improved bone healing was registered during the postoperative period, with higher values during the first 3 months (1.3 mm; P < .01). Most RIDs of at least 4 mm associated with moderate or slight BL decreased to no larger than 3 mm without BL. For moderate BL, the bone gain pattern was gradual and continuous, whereas for slight BL, the pattern was variable. CONCLUSIONS: In young healthy patients, a high-risk periodontal impacted M3 leads to an RID of at least 4 mm associated with slight or moderate BL at the distal aspect of the M2, which decreases to no larger than 3 mm 12 months after surgery. Bone healing is clinically and statistically significant at 12 months, with the most notable changes at the first 3-month follow-up.

Effect of ultrasonic scaling on salivary lactate dehydrogenase.

PURPOSE: To determine Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity (LDHA) in whole saliva in individuals with periodontal disease and the effect of ultrasonic scaling on this enzyme activity. METHODS: A study group of 50 patients with PD (Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs > or = 3) was selected at random. Half of the patients (n=25) received ultrasonic periodontal treatment (Group 1). In the other 25 patients with PD the ultrasonic scaling was not performed (Group 2). A control group was selected (Group 3) consisting of 25 adults without PD (Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs = 0), with age and gender distribution similar to the study group. LDHA determinations were carried out with a Cobas Mira Plus II autoanalyzer pursuant to the recommendations of the French Society of Clinical Biology. A baseline determination of LDHA was carried out on all the participants and a second determination was performed 3 months later. RESULTS: Baseline determination of LDHA was higher in patients with PD than in the control group. These differences were statistically significant (P< 0.001). LDHA was significantly reduced in patients with PD after ultrasonic scaling with respect to baseline determination (P< 0.0001). LDHA differences between Groups 2 and 3 were statistically significant (P< 0.0001), but it was not so between Groups 1 and 3.

Alteraciones en la inmunidad celular en 52 pacientes de liquen plano oral / Cellular immune alterations in fifty-two patients with oral lichen planus

Objetivos: Los mecanismos inmunitarios anormales parecen ser importantes en la patogénesis del liquen plano (LP) por lo que en el presente estudio intentamos cuantificar las diferencias entre subpoblaciones de linfocitos T en enfermos de liquen plano oral (LPO) e individuos sanos.Diseño: Estudio clínico prospectivo con un grupo de casos de 52 pacientes de LPO y un grupo control de 54 sujetos sanos.Resultados: Respecto a los pacientes sanos, hemos detectado diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los porcentajes de CD3+, CD8+, DR+, CD57+, CD8CD45RA+ que se encuentran disminuidos, y en las subpoblaciones que expresan los marcadores CD4+ y los cocientes CD4/CD8+ y CD8CD45RO+/CD8CD45RA+ que se encuentran aumentados.Conclusiones: Estos resultados indican que existen diferencias en las poblaciones linfocitarias entre individuos sanos y los enfermos de LPO de nuestra muestra. Sin embargo las alteraciones no se corresponden con lo publicado en los estudios previos, lo que indicaría que las alteraciones linfocitarias se centrarían principalmente en la capacidad de reacción de los linfocitos más que en el número de cada grupo de ellos (AU)