Dental Plaque Index Research Articles

Effects of Scaling and Root Planing on Salivary Interleukine-6 Levels in Chronic Periodontitis Patients and Glycemic Controls.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontitis have a bidirectional relationship that is well documented in many reviews and epidemiological studies. Periodontitis has been referred to as the sixth complication of diabetes mellitus. Various studies showed improvement inInterleukin-6 levels as well as metabolic parameters after non-surgical periodontal therapy in chronic periodontitis patients with type 2 DM. Objective: To evaluate the effect of scaling and root planing (SRP) on salivary levels of IL-6 and assessment of clinical parameters in CP patients with and without T2DM. We included 50 CP patients with well-controlled T2DM (Group I), and 50 CP patients without T2DM as controls (Group II) with evident clinical inflammation, ≥ 5mm probing depth (PD) and a relative attachment level (RAL) of ≥ 5mm. Following a brief medical and dental history plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (BI), PD, and RAL were recorded, and an unstimulated saliva was collected.Following SRP therapy, the clinical parameters and IL-6 levels were measured after seven days, 14 days, and 30 days. Intragroup and intergroup comparisons were carried out using a paired t-test and an independent t-test. The statistical significance was set atP< 0.05. Data were analyzed using computer software, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v. 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Intergroup comparisons of IL-6 levels at different intervals showed a significantly higher reduction in Group II than in Group I (p=0.000). While the mean difference in the GI scores from baseline to 30 days was significantly higher in Group I patients (p=0.000), the difference in the mean PI (p=0.004), mean BI (p=0.000), mean PD (p=0.000) and mean RAL scores (p=0.000) were significantly higher in Group II patients. This study indicates that scaling and root planing is effective in glycemic control and also has a role to play in the level of salivary IL-6 in periodontal healthand T2DM with chronic periodontitis. Elevated salivary IL-6 levels indicate periodontal inflammation which is further increased in T2DM patients. Hence, elevated IL-6 can be considered a marker of periodontal destruction.

Video game playing and oral health in school-age children: A cross-sectional study in Turkey.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship of video game playing with oral/dental health and harmful oral habits in school-age children. The daily video gamer (n = 77) and occasional video gamer (n = 77) children between 6 and 12 years old were included in the study. A questionnaire inquiring socio-demographic characteristics, video gaming and abnormal oral habits of the children was filled by parents. The children were examined intraorally and decayed-missing-filled tooth, the International Caries Detection and the Assessment-II System scores, dental plaque and gingival indices were recorded. Of the children; 42.9% daily video gamers played video games for between 1 and 2 h and 57.1% played for ≥2 h while all of the occasional video gamers spent for between 1 and 2 h on video game per day. The daily video gamer and occasional video gamer children were not different in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, frequency of having daily tooth brushing habit, using children's toothpaste and having regular dental checkup (P > 0.05). No statistically significant difference was present between the groups in terms of frequencies of abnormal oral habits and having at least one abnormal oral habit (P > 0.05). Severe gingivitis and advanced caries lesions were more common in daily video gamer group (14.2% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.025 and 90.9% vs. 70.9%, P = 0.026, respectively). Daily video gaming time was weakly correlated with plaque index (r = 0.26, n = 77, P = 0.024). Daily video gaming for ≥2 h increased the risk for severe gingivitis (odds (95% confidence interval) = 4.53 (1.07-19.23), P = 0.041) while daily video gaming for between 1 and 2 h decreased the risk for having abnormal oral habit (odds (95% confidence interval) = 0.39 (0.16-0.93), P = 0.034). In school age, daily video gaming may worsen oral and dental health compared with occasional video gaming. Particularly, an excessive video gaming time seems to be associated with poor oral health in school children.

Effect of Sedentary Lifestyle on the Oral Health in a Group of Iranian Children

Background: Sedentary life style may affect dental health, growth, and general well-being of children, requiring the participation of health care providers. The aim of the present study was to assess the relation between oral health (dental plaque index) and sedentary lifestyle pattern in children.&#x0D; Methods: In this cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study, 219 children aged 8 to 12 from the schools of Shahrekord city were selected by cluster random sampling in 2021–2022. After obtaining informed consent, parents filled a questionnaire about their child lifestyle pattern. Children chew disclosing agent and then Plaque index was recorded by examination according to tooth coloring pattern. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficient, K-square in SPSS 22 software. The level of significance was considered less than 0.05.&#x0D; Results: The mean dental plaque index was 1.37±0.53 in the total population of Shahrekord children (1.23±0.49 in girls and 1.54±0.55 in boys). Children spend most of their time studying and watching television and spend less time on calls and listening to music. There was no significant relationship between the mean score of overall sedentary entertainment and plaque index (p-value=0.092). However, there was a direct and significant relation between watching television and computer games with dental plaque index (p-value˂0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: Increasing sedentary entertainment in children, such as watching television or playing computer games, may affect children’s oral health. Therefore, it is important for dentists to consider children’s lifestyle as an influencing factor in oral health.

The Structures–Reactivity Relationship on Dental Plaque and Natural Products

Currently, an extensive variety of toothpastes are available on the market, containing basic components that are ubiquitous in all toothpastes, in addition to unique constituents that bestow characteristic traits, and it is crucial to acknowledge that certain components found in toothpastes are not recommended for ingestion due to their potentially negative impact on overall wellbeing, especially in children. This study aims to highlight the role of natural components as a substitute for toothpaste in achieving good oral hygiene and to focus on natural compounds that do not injure the body, especially considering the current trend towards the use of natural substances. Thus, the objective of this paper is to emphasize the advantages of using organic products. In Romania, due to the socio-economic conditions in rural areas, the use of these ingredients, which are available to everyone, could lead to an improvement in oral health. The study shows that a majority of 63% of the participants who used a toothpaste composed of natural constituents achieved an ISL bacterial plaque index equivalent of zero. This is noteworthy as the presence of the plaque index was detected in a mere minority of 13% of the subjects at the commencement of the study. To evaluate the effectiveness of the mentioned compounds in plaque removal, all participants in the study were instructed to use the same brushing technique known as the Bass method, which is recognized as one of the most effective techniques. The study concludes that mastery and application of the correct brushing technique, combined with toothpaste obtained from natural compounds, is successful in removing plaque.

The effect of training intervention based on the theory of planned behavior on oral and dental health behaviors in pregnant women

BackgroundPregnancy is a transient physiological condition that causes adverse oral and dental consequences. The present study aimed to determine the effect of a training intervention based on the theory of planned behavior on oral and dental behaviors in pregnant women.MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted on 140 pregnant women (70 in the intervention group and 70 in the control group) supported by comprehensive health centers on the outskirts of Shiraz, Iran, in 2019–2020. The sampling was performed in each center by a simple random method. The tool included a demographic characteristics questionnaire, a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior, a self-care behavior questionnaire, and checklists for recording DMFT(Decayed, Missing due to caries, and Filled Teeth(DMFT)) and dental plaque indices. The questionnaires were completed before and 3 months after the intervention by both groups. The intervention group received six 50-min training sessions. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22, the chi-squared test, independent t-test, paired t-test, and descriptive statistics (p < 0.05).ResultsThe mean ages of the intervention and control groups were 32.28 ± 6.14 and 31.84 ± 6.71, respectively. The results showed that the average scores of all constructs of the theory of planned behavior, dental plaque indices (PI), and MDFT in the intervention group significantly changed after the intervention (p < 0.001).ConclusionAccording to the results, training based on the theory of planned behavior was effective on dental and oral health behaviors in pregnant women and improved the clinical results of their self-care behaviors. Therefore, training sessions will increase the knowledge of pregnant women, and providing timely consultations and examinations can be helpful and effective in developing oral and dental health behaviors in pregnant women.

Impairment of oral health and its impact on the quality of life of patients with Sjögren's syndrome

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to describe the clinical profile and the oral health status and their impact on the quality of life of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).MethodsThrough a cross‐sectional study, patients with SS were compared with those with dry symptoms with no conclusive diagnosis of SS (non‐SS) and patients without complaints of dryness, matched for sex and age (control group). Data related to classification of SS, focus score, unstimulated whole salivary flow (UWSF), dental plaque index, periodontal screening and recording (PSR), decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT), and clinical signs of candidiasis were assessed. Colony‐forming units (CFU) of Candida spp were assessed and saliva biochemical analysis was also performed. The Xerostomia Inventory (XI) and Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP‐14) questionnaire were applied to assess the severity of xerostomia and quality of life.ResultsThirty‐three patients with primary SS, 22 with secondary SS, nine non‐SS, and 23 from control group were included. Patients with primary SS, secondary SS and non‐SS had lower UWSF and higher rates of plaque, PSR and DMFT than the control group. Candida spp. count was also higher in SS groups. Osmolality, buffering capacity and protein concentration in saliva were similar between groups. The scores of XI and OHIP‐14 were higher in the SS and non‐SS groups and showed positive correlation with PSR and DMFT and negative correlation with UWSF.ConclusionSS is associated with poor oral health, mainly related to dental and periodontal problems, which exert a negative impact on quality of life.

Clinical estimation of anticaries effect of probiotic toothpaste among 18-25 years old young adults- A double blinded randomized controlled trial

Aim &amp; Objectives: The aim and objective of the study was to estimate the anticaries effect of probiotic toothpaste by assessing the Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus levels and by recording indices before and after intervention among 18-25 years old young adults. Materials and Methods : A double blinded, randomized controlled trial was carried out among thirty healthy volunteers of young adults in the city of Madurai. The subjects were randomly divided into two equal groups of A and B. At baseline, samples of saliva were collected to check Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus levels and indices like Oral Hygiene Index (1960), Modified Turesky Plaque Index (1970), Stain Index (1968) and Gingival Index (1963) were recoded. Group A received Conventional toothpastes (Colgate cavity protection) and Group B received Probiotic toothpastes (Purexa). For the next 15 days, they were instructed to brush using only the allotted toothpastes. The saliva sample collection and recording of indices were repeated after 15 days post intervention. Results : Gingival and oral hygiene indices showed significant differences of mean in Group B (0.14, 0.28; p&lt;0.05 respectively). A significant difference of means was noted between Group A and B in the case of Plaque, Stain, Oral Hygiene indices and the bacterial count (Lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans) (A :0.10, -0.12, 0.01; B :0.06, 0.09, 0.28 and -12.8, -14.8 ; p&lt;0.05 respectively). Conclusion : The probiotic toothpastes illustrated a significant reduction of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus mutans bacterial count, Stain, Plaque and Oral Hygiene index scores compared to conventional toothpastes.

Index Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy of Immunomodulatory and Osteotropic Therapy for Chronic Generalized Periodontitis of Varying Severity: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background. The significant prevalence of chronic generalized periodontitis, the severity of its course, the increase in the number of complicated forms and short-term remissions cause a constant search for new methods and means of its treatment. When choosing the most effective methods of therapy, specialists mostly prefer a complex effect on the main pathogenetic links of the disease, while often losing sight of the body's own defenses, especially in terms of pharmacotherapeutic support and immunity strengthening. This study presents the results of a study of the clinical efficacy of the treatment of chronic generalized periodontitis by means of the developed therapy complex, including the use of immunomodulatory and osteotropic drugs.Objective — to study clinical efficacy of the developed complex immunomodulatory and osteotropic treatment for chronic generalized periodontitis.Methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted in 154 patients aged 20 to 75 with periodontitis of varying severity. Conventional examination of patients was carried out in specialized dental clinics DentoProma (Krasnodar) and Dentalife (Stavropol) based at the Dentistry Department, Stavropol State Medical University (Russia). The study period was 24 months. The patients were divided into a main group of 118 participants and a control group of 36 participants. The comprehensive treatment plan, prescribed to all patients, included proper oral hygiene education, individual and professional dental hygiene, topical anti-inflammatory agents, Vector therapy, open flap debridement, flap surgery, relevant splinting prosthetics (if necessary). The authors developed a comprehensive therapy, which included administration of the immunomodulatory agent Hepon (Immapharma Company, Russia), glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate sodium. All patients of the main and control groups were additionally ranked into subgroups depending on the severity of diagnosed periodontitis: slight (subgroup 1), moderate (subgroup 2) and severe (subgroup 3). The major focus of the study was to establish efficacy of the developed therapy which was defined by the degree of resolution of the inflammatory process and increase in the period of remission. Reflecting the presence and degree of inflammation, dental plaque index and oral hygiene status were considered to be the target indicators. Analysis and statistical processing of the obtained data were carried out using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, USA).Results. The analysis of the data revealed that the immediate clinical results of the developed complex therapy both in the main group and in the control group were approximately identical. According to the follow-up data obtained one month after the treatment, additional prescription of complex osteotropic treatment to the patients with chronic generalized periodontitis contributed to rapid resolution of infection in the gingival tissues and provided stable treatment results.Conclusion. Introduction of the complex clinical and hygienic treatment promoted resolution of the inflammatory process in the gingival tissues of all patients who received immunomodulatory and osteotropic therapy.

Effects of water flossing on gingival inflammation and supragingival plaque microbiota: a 12-week randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesThe effects of water flossing on dental plaque removal have been suggested, but its ecological impact on dental plaque microbiota needs further investigation. In addition, whether this plaque control measure by water flossing promotes the control of halitosis still needs clinical validation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of water flossing on gingival inflammation and supragingival plaque microbiota.Materials and methodsSeventy participants with gingivitis were randomly assigned to control (toothbrushing) and experimental (toothbrushing + water flossing) groups (n = 35). Participants were recalled at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and their gingival index, sulcus bleeding index, bleeding on probing, dental plaque index, and oral malodor values were measured. The microbiota of supragingival plaque was further investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing and qPCR.ResultsSixty-three participants completed all revisits (control: n = 33; experimental: n = 30). The experimental and control groups exhibited similar clinical characteristics and dental plaque microbiota at baseline. Adjunctive water flossing effectively reduced the gingival index and sulcus bleeding index as compared to the toothbrushing control group. The water-flossing group showed reduced oral malodor at week 12 as compared to the baseline. Consistently, the water-flossing group exhibited altered dental plaque microbiota at week 12, characterized by a depletion of Prevotella at genus level and Prevotella intermedia at species level as compared to the toothbrushing control. In addition, the plaque microbiota of water-flossing group exhibited a more aerobic phenotype, while the control group was more anaerobic.ConclusionsDaily water flossing can effectively alleviate gingival inflammation and reduce oral malodor, possibly by depleting oral anaerobes and altering the oral microbiota to a more aerobic phenotype.Clinical relevanceWater flossing adjunctive to toothbrushing effectively alleviated gingival inflammation, representing a promising oral hygiene practice to promote oral health.Clinical trial registrationThe trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=61797, #ChiCTR2000038508) on September 23, 2020.

An Evaluation of The Effect of Passive Smoking on Caries and Periodontal Index in Preschool Children

Objective: To observe the changes that passive smoking causes in early childhood caries and periodontal tissues in preschool children. Method: In our study, caries, periodontal, and plaque indexes were measured in preschool children aged 3-5 years and subjected to passive smoking. A 7-item questionnaire was administered to the parents. Results: Periodontal and plaque indexes of children whose parents were smokers were higher than those of the children of non-smoking parents. In the evaluation made according to the education level of the parents, it was seen that the mean plaque index of the children of the fathers who were secondary school graduates was higher than that of parents with university degree. It was determined that the plaque index of children who did not use fluoride toothpaste and did not consume milk daily were higher than that of the other children. It was determined that the caries indexes of children who consumed sweet snacks during day were significantly higher than those who did not. Conclusions: Passive smoking causes many changes in dental caries, periodontal health, and plaque status in preschool children. In order to protect the oral health of children in the risk group, preventive measures should be taken in the early period and routine dentist controls should be made. Key words: Secondhand smoke, dental caries, periodontal status, dental plaque index

Association Between Kidney Stone and Dental Calculus in a Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To investigate the correlation between dental calculus and kidney stones, and to identify the risk factors associated with the presence of these conditions. This study was carried out at the medical city, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 2020 and 2021. The study included 141 participants (70 with kidney stones and 71 with controls). The dental plaque and calculus indices were used to record plaque and calculus scores, respectively. All information was statistically investigated and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. The plaque and calculus indices were significantly higher in the control group when compared to the kidney stone group (p<0.05). A weak positive correlation between age and the calculus index in the kidney stone group was revealed (r=0.31, p=0.01). However, only within the age group 36-55, the results showed that the control group had a significantly higher calculus index than that of the kidney stone group (p=0.02). The married patients with kidney stones scored a significantly higher plaque index than the unmarried patients (p=0.03). The dental plaque and calculus indices were lower in the kidney stone group than those of the non-kidney stone group. Therefore, the clinical observation of dental plaque and calculus may not be indicators of kidney stones. However, within the kidney stone group, elderly and married patients could be at a higher risk for developing dental calculus and plaque, respectively.

The Effectiveness of Toothpaste Containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate on Dental Plaque in Primary School Students

Dental caries is caused by the Streptococcus mutans bacteria and can be prevented by brushing teeth using toothpaste without sodium laurel sulfate to remove dental plaque. A study was conducted in 2021 at State Elementary School I Tanjung Lhonga to determine the effectiveness of brushing teeth with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate toothpaste and toothpaste without sodium laurel sulfate in reducing the dental plaque index among the students. The study used a quasi- experimental method with a "post-test only group design" and involved 120 students as the population. The study results showed that before using toothpaste, the dental plaque index in both groups was quite high, at 1.731 for the group using toothpaste with sodium laurel sulfate and 1.845 for the group using toothpaste without sodium laurel sulfate. However, after using toothpaste, there was a decrease in the plaque index in both groups. The group using toothpaste without sodium laurel sulfate had a more significant decrease in plaque index (1.230) compared to the group using toothpaste with sodium laurel sulfate (1.562). This difference was significant with a p-value &lt; 0.05. It can be concluded that brushing teeth with toothpaste without sodium laurel sulfate is more effective in reducing the dental plaque index compared to using toothpaste with sodium laurel sulfate. Therefore, toothpaste without sodium laurel sulfate should be used for brushing teeth to prevent dental caries.

Oral hygiene and infective endocarditis: a case control study

To determine if oral hygiene is associated with infective endocarditis (IE) among those at moderate risk for IE. This is a case control study of oral hygiene among hospitalized patients with IE (cases) and outpatients with heart valve disease but without IE (controls). The primary outcome was the mean dental calculus index. Secondary outcomes included other measures of oral hygiene and periodontal disease (e.g., dental plaque, gingivitis) and categorization of blood culture bacterial species in case participants. The 62 case participants had 53% greater mean dental calculus index than the 119 control participants (0.84, 0.55, respectively; difference=0.29, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.48; P=.002) and 26% greater mean dental plaque index (0.88, 0.70, respectively; difference=0.18, 95% CI: 0.01.0.36; P=.043). Overall, cases reported fewer dentist and dental hygiene visits (P=.013) and fewer dental visits in the 12 weeks before enrollment than controls (P=.007). Common oral bacteria were identified from blood cultures in 27 of 62 cases (44%). These data provide evidence to support and strengthen current American Heart Association guidance that those at risk for IE can reduce potential sources of IE-related bacteremia by maintaining optimal oral health through regular professional dental care and oral hygiene procedures.

Xerostomia in Dialysis Patients—Oral Care to Reduce Hyposalivation, Dental Biofilms and Gingivitis in Patients with Terminal Renal Insufficiency: A Randomized Clinical Study

Objectives: Dialysis patients suffer from xerostomia based on hyposalivation even in stimulated saliva testing. Therefore, the aim of this study was (i) to evaluate an optimized oral hygiene system with an oral care gel reducing oral dryness, supporting dental plaque control and reducing the number of gingivitis affected teeth; (ii) to document the efficacy in a randomized controlled trial with dental indices; and (iii) to record the individual’s oral health related quality of life. Methods: After ethical approval (EC-UWH 103/2019), 44 dialysis patients provided signed informed consent and were divided into two groups followed up for four weeks. Subjects of the verum group (A) received daily oral care gel OROFAN® based on biopolymers with a mild antibacterial and saliva stimulating action. They were compared to the control group (B) who executed routine oral hygiene with conventional dentifrice and toothbrushes. At baseline (T0), the medical report and all dental indices (sialometry, DMF/S, plaque index, periodontal index, tongue coating and denture hygiene index) were assessed. After 2 weeks and 4 weeks, T1 and T2 dry mouth frequency and all dental indices were assessed. An Oral Health Impact Profile was documented at baseline (T0) and at the end of the study (T2). Results: Twenty-two subjects were allocated to group A and to group B. At baseline, there were no statistical differences concerning renal insufficiency (years on dialysis and complications), systemic diseases and dental background (caries experience, periodontal diseases, plaque index and number of gingivitis affected teeth). All subjects exhibited hyposalivation (&lt;0.7–1.0 mL/min). The control group (B) showed no statistical differences from baseline (T0) to the end of the study (T2) in dry mouth parameters, in all dental plaque and inflammation indices and in their Oral Health Impact Profile. In contrast, the verum group (A) exhibited a highly significant (p &lt; 0.001) decrease in xerostomia frequency, in the number of gingivitis affected teeth and in their plaque index. Furthermore, their Oral Health Impact Profile improved considerably (p &lt; 0.01). Significance of Results: Terminally ill patients may gain better oral health and, consequently, an improved quality of life by rather simple oral care using long-lasting, edible anti-inflammatory oral hygiene gel and a dentist’s devotion.

Penyuluhan Kesehatan dan Pelatihan Pembuatan Pasta Gigi Herbal pada Orang Tua Siswa di SDN 09 Pontianak

Riskesdas data in 2018 showed that the number of tooth decays in West Kalimantan province was 49.55% and that in Pontianak City was 39.52%. The results of a preliminary survey conducted on 5th-grade students of SDN 09 Pontianak found an average of three deciduous teeth and four adult teeth affected by dental caries. One way to prevent dental caries is to brush the teeth using toothpaste that contain active antibacterial ingredients. One herb widely used as an active ingredient in toothpaste is siwak. This community service activity aims to increase knowledge and skills in making herbal toothpaste to reduce the dental plaque index. This activity uses health counseling methods through lectures, leaflet distribution, and training on making herbal toothpaste from siwak. This activity was conducted in collaboration with SDN 09 Pontianak and was held on Friday, June 24, 2022, with 53 participants. From this activity, the participants received education on the benefits of herbal toothpaste for dental and oral health. In addition, this training activity can increase creativity and skills in creating herbal toothpaste and foster an entrepreneurial spirit. After this activity, it will continue with training activities with the theme of entrepreneurship as part of efforts to downstream and commercialize herbal toothpaste products.

The impact of orthodontic treatment on stage III / grade C periodontitis: a systematic review

Introduction – Aggressive periodontitis evolve rapidly to sever periodontal destruction, which involves a multidisciplinary treatment for handling the periodontal infection, reconstructing defects and realigning migrated teeth. Orthodontic treatment improves on all aspects of periodontal health including aesthetic, teeth function, and oral hygiene, therefore preventing degeneration. This systematic review intends to focus on the effect of orthodontic treatment on the evolution of an aggressive periodontitis. The clinical parameters are pocket depth, decrease in inflammation, attachment gain, index of dental plaque and bone gain. Materials and Methods - This research is based on the analysis of four bibliographic databases which include PubMed, EBSCO, Science Direct and Cochrane Library. Several search equations are used and the keywords are orthodontic treatment, aggressive periodontitis, migrated teeth, combination treatment. Pertinent studies with comparison of periodontal condition before and after orthodontic treatment are selected. Several analytic parameters are used and tabulated. Results – Two hundred and seventy-one (271) studies were found and only four (04) are selected due to inclusion criteria. The analysis shows significant improvement of all clinical parameters. Conclusion – Despite the fact that clinical parameters were improved after an orthodontic treatment, the results are irrelevant because of the insufficient studies with arguable statistical findings.

Ayurvedic and herbal plaque control agents in gingivitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Since the effectiveness of ayurvedic and herbal plaque control agents in reducing plaque in gingivitis is inconsistent across multiple trials, we conducted a study to evaluate their overall effect on dental plaque index (PI), gingival index, and bacterial colony counts (CC) of debris in gingivitis patients. We searched major electronic biomedical databases (PubMed/Medline, CAM-QUEST®, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) from August 2004 to August 2021 for randomized control trials on gingivitis using ayurvedic, herbal plaque control agents, and oil pulling therapy as interventions. We grouped comparable outcome parameters of similar products and estimated the standard mean difference (SMD) for pooled effect size with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using RevMan 5.4.1 software. Risk-of-bias (ROB) assessment followed the Cochrane Collaboration's recommended approach. We found 554 articles of 2,806 patients after searching of which 41 randomized clinical trials were considered for meta-analysis. Ayurvedic plaque control agents (Plaque index (PI): SMD = -0.52, 95% CI (-0.94, -0.11); CC: SMD = -1.70, 95% CI (-5.06, 1.67)), (Oil pulling therapy: PI: SMD = -0.38, 95% CI (-1.45, 0.68); CC: SMD = -1.04, 95% CI (-2.20, 0.11)), (Herbal plaque control agents: PI: SMD = -0.58, 95% CI (-1.55, 0.39)), (Triphala: PI: SMD = -0.65, 95% CI (-1.32, 0.03)) were found as good as control. Significant reduction in the gingival index and bacterial colony count was also seen. In addition to conventional dental care, ayurvedic and herbal plaque control agents may help in plaque reduction, gingival inflammation, and bacterial growth. They are safe and may be recommended in community dentistry practices.(PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021274656).

Correlations between different plaque indexes and bleeding on probing: A concurrent validity study.

It is stated that plaque indexes emphasizing interproximal areas or gingival margins are important when periodontal inflammation is the main focus. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the concurrent validity between the following indexes: Greene & Vermillion (GV), Quigley & Hein modified by Turesky (QHT), Silness & Löe (SL), Ainamo & Bay (AB), O'Leary (OL), Deinzer (DZ), and bleeding on probing (BOP). A sample comprising 183 individuals underwent complete periodontal examination and were divided according their periodontal status. BOP was expressed in percentages of affected sites for the entire mouth and for lingual, buccal and interproximal surfaces. Spearman correlations were calculated for each index and BOP at each area. Overall, correlations were moderate between all indexes and BOP at all areas, except for the OL index that showed weak correlations. The concurrent validity increased for the gingival health group, reaching strong correlations between the AB, GV, DZ indexes and BOP at the entire mouth. In the gingivitis and periodontitis groups, the concurrent validity decreased, with most correlations reaching weak or non-significant values. In cross-sectional evaluations, the GV, QHT, SL, AB and DZ indexes showed good validity concurrent with BOP, regardless of their specific characteristics. Key words:Bleeding on probing, concurrent validity, correlation study, periodontal diseases, dental plaque index.

In Vivo Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Nisin-Biogel as a New Approach for Canine Periodontal Disease Control.

Periodontal disease (PD) is a common oral disease in dogs. Recent in vitro research revealed that nisin−biogel is a promising compound for canine PD control. In this work, a clinical trial was developed to assess the in vivo efficacy of nisin−biogel in dogs by determining the dental plaque index (DPI), gingivitis index (GI), and periodontal pocket depth (PPD) after dental administration. The biogel’s influence on aerobic bacteria counts was also evaluated, as well as its acceptance/adverse effects in dogs. Twenty animals were allocated to one of two groups: a treatment group (TG) subjected to a dental topical application of nisin−biogel for 90 days and a control group (CG) with no treatment. Besides daily monitoring, on day 1 (T0) and at the end of the assay (T90), animals were subjected to blood analysis, periodontal evaluation, dental plaque sampling, scaling, and polishing. Statistical analysis with mixed models showed a significant reduction in mean PPD (estimate = −0.371, p-value < 0.001) and DPI (estimate = −0.146, p-value < 0.05) in the TG animals at T90. A reduction in the GI (estimate = −0.056, p-value > 0.05) was also observed but with no statistical significance. No influence on total bacterial counts was observed, and no adverse effects were detected. The nisin−biogel was revealed to be a promising compound for canine PD control.

Increase in the level of oral neutrophils with gingival inflammation – A population survey

ObjectivesHost responses to oral inflammation include a continuous and substantive response with the influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). PMN, referred to as first responders, migrate rapidly from the circulatory system through the connective tissue to mitigate stimuli and localize in the saliva. This study examined the relationship between the well-established clinical indices of gingivitis and dental plaque and the PMN level. Materials and MethodsThis study enrolled adults aged 18–75 years, who provided voluntary informed consent. Oral rinse samples were collected from 159 participants to estimate the PMN levels prior to the full-mouth assessment for gingivitis and dental plaque using the respective clinical indices. ResultsThe gingival index and dental plaque index scores were in the range of 0.098–2.71 and 0.73–4.78, respectively. Regardless of the age and gender, higher number of PMN was observed with higher gingival index and dental plaque index scores. Our analyses indicated a significant correlation between the oral PMN level and gingival index with a correlation coefficient of 0.66 (p < 0.0001). Similarly, the correlation between the PMN level and dental plaque index was statistically significant with a correlation coefficient of 0.57 (p < 0.0001). Regression analysis identified a significant relationship between the PMN level and clinical indices (p < 0.0005). ConclusionsIncrease in the PMN levels with increasing clinical scores (gingival and dental plaque indices) reflect the oral inflammatory burden, irrespective of age or gender. These observations warrant future studies on participants stratified by health status and research directed toward examining the effects of interventions.