The use of lasers for periodontal debridement: marketing tool or proven therapy?

The use of lasers in dentistry has recently received much attention, in both clinical practice and research; their unique properties produce favourable clinical results in some cases and encourage patient acceptance. Various types of lasers have been investigated as an adjunct to periodontal therapy; these include carbon dioxide (CO₂), diode, neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) and erbium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Er:YAG) lasers.However, adverse results have been associated with each type, including thermal damage to root surfaces, increases in pulpal temperature and the production of toxic by-products. The Er:YAG laser has produced the most promising results, as it can ablate effectively with minimal adverse effects. More research is needed to determine the ideal settings and methods for using the laser safely and effectively in clinical practice.     

Conclusive support for mechanical nonsurgical pocket therapy in the treatment of periodontal disease. How effective is mechanical nonsurgical pocket therapy?

DATA SOURCES: Sources of studies were the Cochrane Oral Health Group List of Systematic Reviews in Dentistry, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness, Medline, Embase, and Scisearch. No date or language restriction was imposed. Reference lists of located reviews were checked for additional references. STUDY SELECTION: Twelve reviews addressing the question were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: A narrative appraisal of the reviews was conducted. RESULTS: A number of implications for clinical practice were identified. These are as follows:Initial therapy: In people who have periodontitis, mechanical nonsurgical pocket therapy reduces inflammation and pocket depth and increases clinical attachment level.The magnitude of pocket depth reduction correlates with greater pocket depth before treatment.Nonsurgical mechanical debridement may cause loss of attachment in shallow pockets (相似文献   

Why is there a lack of evidence regarding errors and complications in periodontal and implant therapy?

The occurrence of errors, complications, and adverse effects may occur as a consequence of single or multiple events related to the clinician and/or patient. Apparently, the amount of dental literature on these undesirable outcomes has not been as prolific as that obtained for conventional primary periodontal outcome measures. This review explores the potential reasons for the lack of studies reporting on errors and complications in periodontal and implant therapy, as well as other noteworthy methodological aspects, to enlighten their impact on the selection of the best (or most appropriate) “gold standard” periodontal/implant-related treatment options, and on the overall decision-making process. The following points were addressed: (a) the importance of reporting errors and complications in clinical research; (b) the adequate reporting of errors and complications in periodontology and dental implantology; and (c) efficacy trials vs effectiveness studies and their impact on the assessment and report of periodontal and implant treatment-related risks and complications.     

How predictable are periodontal regenerative procedures?

Periodontal regeneration has become one of the primary objectives of periodontal therapy. The resulting scientific endeavours have elucidated modes of periodontal wound healing, the growth of periodontal cells and their association with the surrounding matrix, and growth-promoting factors. The periodontal regeneration industry is producing better and more expensive devices, but the criteria for evaluating their success have not progressed to the same extent. Although clinical measurements of attachment level and probing depths, along with radiography, are good methods of evaluating tooth survival and prognosis, they do not indicate true biological regeneration. In addition, the regeneration industry may encourage the overuse of allografts and alloplasts which may serve as an impediment to simple wound healing. This review is a critical assessment of the clinical use of various regenerative tools, specifically bone replacements and membranes. The future of the regeneration industry may depend on the merging of various technologies and biological concepts, including the possible use of biological barriers, various bone and periodontal growth inducers, and artificial matrices that will attract or carry the cells necessary for regeneration.     

Save the natural tooth or place an implant? Three periodontal decisional criteria to perform a correct therapy

To perform advanced periodontal therapy to save a natural tooth or to extract it and place an implant-which is best? Several considerations need to be made to make the proper decision. Endodontic conditions, proper reconstruction of a devitalized tooth, and the possibility of correct prosthetic treatment are all factors to be considered. From a strictly periodontal point of view, in the presence of a stable, vital, intact, periodontally involved, single-rooted tooth, a few fundamental criteria need to be considered to make the proper decision. These criteria will be discussed through analysis of therapy outcomes over a period of at least 10 years.     

Omega-3 fatty acids as an adjunct for periodontal therapy—a review

Objectives

The aim of this article is to present an overview of omega-3 fatty acids, their anti-inflammatory properties and potential use as an adjunct for periodontal therapy.

Materials and methods

A general literature search was conducted to provide an overview of omega-3 fatty acids, their metabolism and anti-inflammatory properties. A more specific literature search of PubMed and EMBASE was conducted to identify articles dealing studies investigating the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of periodontitis in animals and humans and included cross-sectional, longitudinal and intervention designs.

Results

To date, there is good emerging evidence that dietary supplementation with fish oil may be of some benefit and this is enhanced if combined with aspirin. All clinical intervention studies to date have been on small sample sizes, and this indicates there is need for larger and more robust clinical trials to verify these initial findings.

Conclusions

Dietary supplementation with fish oil could be a cost-effective adjunctive therapy to the management of periodontal disease.

Clinical relevance

The host modulatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids warrant further assessment of their use as an adjunct in the management of periodontitis.

     

Indocyanine green–mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to periodontal therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of indocyanine green–mediated photodynamic therapy (ICG-PDT) as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT), in the management of chronic periodontitis.

Materials and methods

Four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase via OVID, Web of Science) were searched for randomised controlled trials comparing NSPT with ICG-PDT to NSPT without laser therapy. Primary outcome measures were changes in probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Clinical outcomes were extracted and pooled from 7 eligible trials and meta-analyses conducted using mean difference with standard deviations.

Results

For PPD, adjunctive ICG-PDT resulted in a mean additional reduction of 1.17 mm (95% CI: 0.67–1.66 mm) at 3 months and a mean additional reduction of 1.06 mm (95% CI: 0.54–1.57 mm) at 6 months. For CAL, adjunctive ICG-PDT resulted in a mean additional gain of 0.70 mm (95% CI: 0.17–1.23 mm) at 3 months and a mean additional gain of 1.03 mm (95% CI: 0.83–1.24 mm) at 6 months. No adverse events were reported in any studies.

Conclusions

The adjunctive use of ICG-PDT in NSPT results in improved treatment outcomes at 3 and 6 months post-therapy. Further investigation is needed to evaluate variables such as different photosensitiser concentrations and adjusting parameters associated with the light source.

Clinical relevance

Indocyanine green–based photosensitisers may be a novel, clinically efficacious agent for use in the management of periodontitis.