Crown Lengthening Procedure Research Articles

Increased Advanced Oxidation Protein Products Generation by Cyclosporine-A and Angiotensin II in Human Gingival Fibroblasts - Ex-vivo Study.

Cyclosporin-A (CsA), an immunosuppressant, induces renal fibrosis and Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) is known to play a major role. CsA has the potential to increase the oxidative stress; specifically through the Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPP) which could possibly stimulate fibrosis. A similar type of pathology occurs even in the gingiva known as CsA Induced Gingival Overgrowth (CIGO). This study was undertaken to estimate the AOPP generation by Human Gingival Fibroblasts (HGF) under the influence of CsA and Angiotensin II (Ang II). Six healthy gingival tissue samples were obtained during crown lengthening procedure and primary HGF were cultured using enzymatic digestion method. The ideal non-cytotoxic concentrations of CsA and Ang II were identified using cytotoxicity assay. Later, HGF were incubated with CsA and Ang II for 12 hours and AOPP assay was performed at zero and one hour interval. There was a statistically significant increase in AOPP production in both the CsA and Ang II when compared to the control group with a p value<0.05. CsA can induce oxidative stress and preventing/controlling it may be necessary to prevent untoward effect of the drug.

Comparison of the Clinical Biological Width with the Published Standard Histologic Mean Values.

Aims and Objectives:Biologic width (BW) as defined by Cohen is the part of the supracrestal gingival tissues that occupy the space between the base of the gingival crevice and the alveolar crest; it includes the junctional epithelium and the connective tissue element. Interactions between dental crowns and the marginal periodontal tissues analyzed in many review papers concluded that the recognition of the BW, in terms of crown margin placement, is beneficial for periodontal health. Therefore, knowledge of the dimensions of the sum of the junctional epithelium and connective tissue attachment as well as the sulcus depth (SD) is of clinical relevance. The aim of the study is to compare the average SD and BW clinically measured around teeth with the standard application of a mean value of 0.69 mm and 2.04 mm, respectively, found by Gargiulo et al.in a histological study on cadavers.Materials and Methods:Forty-two healthy patients with age ranging from 20 to 50 years presented to the Multidisciplinary Department at the Lebanese University. A total of 504 tooth sites of 126 teeth were selected and measured by two periodontists. All measurements were done on teeth requiring infiltration anesthesia for surgical, restorative, or endodontic procedures on neighboring tooth/teeth, which eliminate any ethical concerns. The SD and the distance from gingival margin to bone crest at four sites per tooth; mesial, midbuccal, distal, and midlingual/palatal were measured. Clinical, BW was calculated by subtracting SD from the distance between gingival margin to bone crest.Statistical Analysis:Friedman's ANOVA test, independent samples t-tests, and one-sample t-tests were applied. The IBM® SPSS® statistics 20.0 statistical package was used to carry out all statistical analyses.Results:The BW is statistically significantly lower than the value stated by Gargiulo et al. (2.04 mm) with a mean value of 1.13 mm, whereas the SD is statistically significantly greater than the value stated by Gargiulo et al. (0.69 mm) with a mean value of 1.96 mm.Conclusion:It can be concluded that there is a need to create a patient/site-specific distance from the proposed margin of the restoration to the bone crest when restoring subgingivally fractured or carious teeth. This leads to more stable and healthy tissues when performing crown lengthening procedures. Therefore, using the term clinical, BW is more reliable and it should be used to reestablish stability and integrity of periodontal tissues around restored teeth.

Periodontal evaluation of crown-root fractured teeth following modified crown lengthening surgery.

Objectives To evaluate long-term outcomes of modified crown lengthening procedures for crown-root fractured teeth, and to analyse factors that affect the periodontal health of the treated teeth.Methods The present study retrospectively analysed data from 22 patients (13 males and 9 females) who had presented with crown-root fractured teeth and received modified crown lengthening procedures combined with crown restoration for ≥13 months. In total, 26 crown-root fractured teeth were treated and examined for plaque index, probing depth, bleeding index, bleeding on probing, mobility and the crown margin location. The contralateral tooth and ipsilateral teeth mesial and distal to the treated tooth were used as controls. Data were assessed descriptively or analysed statistically with Mann-Whitney-U test at α=0.05.Results Recorded periodontal indices revealed stable periodontal status in 25 of 26 treated teeth with the mean values for aesthetic and functional VAS scores at 9.5. A negative correlation was observed between the subgingival crown margin location and the bleeding index.Conclusions The modified crown lengthening procedure is a feasible and minimally invasive therapeutic option for management of crown-root fractured cases.

Evaluation of the Prevalence of Different Treatment Failure Modes after Crown Lengthening Surgical Procedures

Introduction: Preservation of the health of periodontium is very important for the long-term success of restored teeth and a balance should always be created between the patients’ esthetic requirements and the periodontal health. Failures of crown lengthening procedures are classified into early and late failures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of early failures of crown leathering surgical procedures. Materials and methods: In this descriptive/cross-sectional study, 96 patients were selected from those referring to the Department of Periodontitis, Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry, who required crown lengthening procedures. The particulars of these patients were recorded in special forms and the reasons for the failure of surgical procedures were separately determined at 2- and 6-week intervals. In addition, the frequencies of the reasons for failures were determined in percentages and absolute frequencies. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) using SPSS 21. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results: Evaluation of patients 6 weeks after surgery showed a failure rate of 14.5% for crown lengthening procedures in patients referring to the Department of Periodontics, Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry. The most common reasons for such early failures in the 6th week, in descending order, were a lack of sufficient keratinized gingiva around in tooth in question, fracture of the tooth structure after surgery, inadequate surgery (not creating a proper distance between the healthy margin and the crest) and the coronal returning of the gingival tissue on the tooth. A lack of sufficient keratinized gingiva around the tooth was the most frequent reason for the early failure of crown lengthening procedure at both study intervals. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the results of the present study that during the 6th postoperative week the crown lengthening procedures exhibited a 14.5% failure rate and a lack of sufficient keratinized gingiva around the tooth was the most frequent reason for early failures of such procedures. Key words: Crown lengthening surgical procedures; treatment failure; keratinized gingiva;

Improving gingival smile by means of guided bone regeneration principles.

ABSTRACTObjective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of guided bone regeneration (GBR) carried out with xenogenic bone substitute (Bio-OssTM) and collagen resorbable membrane (Bio-GideTM) to improve gingival smile (GS) in patients with excessive vertical maxillary growth (EVMG). Methods: Twelve healthy women aged between 20 and 49 years old (mean age of 26 years), with 5 mm or more of gingival exposure during fully posed smile (FPS) due to EVMG, were included. Baseline digital photographs were taken with standardized head position at rest and FPS. In eight out of 12 cases, crown lengthening procedure was indicated and the initial incision was made 2 to 4 mm from the gingival margin. In four cases, with no indication for crown lengthening procedure, a sulcular incision was performed. GBR was performed in all cases, using micro screws and/or titanium mesh associated with Bio-OssTM and Bio-GideTM. After 10 days, sutures were removed. Recall appointments were scheduled at 1, 6, and 12 months when standardized photographs were again taken. ImageToolTM software was used to measure the gingival exposure (GE) during FPS from the standardized close-up smile photographs at baseline and 12 months. Results: GE mean at baseline was 275.44 mm2. After 12 months, patients who undergone exclusively GBR procedure, presented GE reduction of 40.7%, ∆ = 112.01 mm2 (statistically significant, p = 0.12), and patients who had crown lengthening associated with the graft had a reduction of 60%, ∆ = 167.01 mm2. Conclusion: Our results using GBR to improve GS in cases of EVMG showed an exceptionally high patient acceptance and satisfaction. One-year follow-up confirmed stable results.

Evaluation of ADAMTS Levels in Patients with Chronic and Aggressive Periodontitis

IntroductionADAMTS is a 19‐membered gene family which was first discovered in colon cancer, is associated with inflammation. ADAMTS is a member of matrix metalloproteinases family and they are involved in degradation and repair of extracellular matrix. In recent studies, ADAMTSs are activated with lots of signaling pathways and regulated with lots of cytokines. They play an important role in pathogenesis of many diseases. Based on this information it has been hypothesized that ADAMTS levels would be increased in inflammatory diseases such as periodontal disease. Chronic periodontitis that is the most prevalent form of periodontitis, shows the characteristics of a slowly progressing inflammatory disease. Also, systemic and environmental factors (e.g., diabetes mellitus, smoking) may revise the host's immune response so that periodontal destruction becomes more progressive. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of ADAMTS genes and proteins in chronic and aggressive periodontitis patients.MethodsFifteen aggressive and 15 chronic periodontitis patients that were systemically healthy were included in this study. Patients presented with chronic or aggressive periodontitis and needed tooth extractions were selected. Gingival biopsies containing epithelium and connective tissue were obtained during the extraction of periodontally involved teeth. Systemically healthy patients who need crown lengthening or gingivectomy procedure for aesthetic reasons were included to the control group. mRNA expression of ADAMTSs were evaluated by real‐time PCR method and position of the marked protein in the tissue is determined by Immunohistochemistry method.Results and ConclusionDifferences were observed between the control and disease groups. According to results of the study, it can be concluded that ADAMTS expressions have a potential to be a new marker in pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Western‐blot studies are continuing to determine the protein levels.

Comparing Laser and Scalpel for Soft Tissue Crown Lengthening: A Clinical Study.

Crown lengthening procedure is aimed at exposure of sufficient crown structure accomplished by a gingivectomy, an apically positioned flap with osseous resection or the use of lasers. Our present clinical study is aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness of a diode laser for functional crown lengthening procedure and to compare it with the conventional procedure using the scalpel. Fourteen patients including males and females, aged 20- 40 years were recruited and divided into two groups to undergo crown lengthening either with the scalpel or the laser. The data obtained was analyzed for intergroup comparison with an Unpaired t-test and intragroup comparison was determined by ANOVA.Analysis of the intergroup results for pain showcased that there was a significant difference (P<0.002) in VAS scores of pain on the 3rd day as well as on the 7th day (P<0.044), with patients in the laser group displaying significantly lower VAS scores compared to the scalpel group, but when both the groups were compared on the 10th day, there was no significance (P<0.14).Intergroup comparison of the mean VAS scores for discomfort observed on the 3rd, 7th and the 10th day of the study suggested that there was a significant difference of the VAS scores of discomfort on the 3rd and the7thdays, with the patients in the laser group displaying significantly lower VAS scores for discomfort compared with the scalpel.Observations from the study emphasize that laser can be a safe and effective alternative to traditional crown lengthening performed with the scalpel.

Aesthetic Crown Lengthening Using Chu Aesthetic Gauges And Evaluation of Biologic Width Healing.

The principles of biologic width have governed the literature and served as a clinical guideline during the evaluation of perio- restorative interrelationships. An adequate understanding of this concept is paramount to ensure adequate form, function, aesthetics and comfort of the dentition. Biologic width violation has become a common problem as most of the practitioners tend to underestimate the amount of tooth structure that must be exposed during a crown lengthening procedure. Also, adding to the confusion, there is a lack of general agreement regarding the amount of tooth structure that must be exposed above the crest of bone for restorative purposes. The aim of this study was to perform aesthetic crown lengthening using Chu aesthetic gauges and evaluate the healing of biologic width. A total of 90 teeth in 15 patients were included into the study of which 30 teeth required crown lengthening and 60 teeth shared a proximal surface with the experimental teeth. Aesthetic crown lengthening was performed using the Chu aesthetic gauges. Presurgical and intraoperative data were recorded at baseline, three and six months at six sites per tooth. The computed data suggest that although the positional changes of the periodontal tissues stabilize by three months, the biologic width if adequate crown lengthening is carried out re-establishes itself by three months to the original vertical levels and further gets stabilized by six months. A step by step approach to periodontal aesthetic crown lengthening using Chu aesthetic gauge can serve to be vital for successful, predictable, and aesthetic restorative outcome.

Assessment of histological changes in antemortem gingival tissues fixed at various time intervals: A method of estimation of postmortem interval

Introduction:Conventional methods to estimate the time of death are adequate, but a histological method is yet unavailable to assess postmortem interval (PMI). The autolytic changes that occur in an unfixed antemortem gingival tissue which reflects histologically at an early stage are similar to changes that occur in postmortem tissue. These histological changes can be used and applied in a postmortem tissue as a method to assess PMI.Aims:The aim of the study is to assess the histological changes in a gingival tissue left unfixed for various time intervals and to correlate the findings with duration.Materials and Methods:Sixty gingival tissues obtained from patients following therapeutic extractions, impactions, gingivectomy and crown lengthening procedures were used. Each tissue obtained was divided into two pieces and labeled as “A”, the control group and “ B” the study group. Tissues labeled “A” were fixed in 10% formalin immediately and tissues labeled“B” were placed in closed containers and fixed after 15, 30, 45 min, 1, 2, and 4 h time interval. Of the sixty tissues in the study group “ B”, ten tissues were used for each time interval under investigation. All the fixed tissues were processed, stained, assessed, and analyzed statistically using Pearson correlation and regression analysis.Results:Histological changes appear at 15 min in an unfixed antemortem tissue. At 2 h interval, all layers with few cells in basal cell layer are involved. At 4 h interval, loss of stratification and complete homogenization of cells in the superficial layers with prominent changes in basal layer is evident. There was a positive correlation (<1.0) between the time interval and the appearance of the histological changes.Conclusion:Histological changes such as complete homogenization of cells in superficial layers and loss of epithelial architecture at 4 h in unfixed antemortem tissue may be used as a criterion to estimate PMI, after further studies on postmortem tissues.

Comparison of three different crown-lengthening procedures in the maxillary anterior esthetic regions.

A papilla preservation crown-lengthening procedure (PPCL) was proposed for treatment of the maxillary anterior teeth (canine to canine) and compared to two traditional techniques. Thirty patients were assigned to three treatment groups: PPCL, the apically positioned flap with buccal approach (APF-B), and the apically positioned flap with buccal and palatal approach (APF-BP). Several clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and 6 months after surgery. Although no statistically significant differences were reported in many of the clinical parameters examined, APF-B and APF-BP showed a significantly higher interproximal clinical attachment loss when compared to PPCL. In the PPCL group, there was a significant increase in esthetic appraisal by the patients. Crown lengthening using a papilla-preservation flap approach and osseous recontouring is a viable alternative approach and could be useful in esthetic regions.

Esthetic Crown Lengthening Involving Dental Implants and Natural Teeth: A Case Study

Objective: This paper presents a rare management of excessive gingival display around dental implants and natural teeth using a minimally invasive approach to reduce peri-implant soft tissue with limited osseous reduction around natural teeth. It highlights esthetic crown lengthening procedure creating symmetrical gingival margins in the maxillary anterior region around dental implants and natural teeth. Clinical considerations: Excessive gingival display or gummy smile may adversely impact patient's appearance leading to esthetic concerns. Careful management of soft tissues around dental implants differs than that around teeth to achieve esthetic results. A technique is presented to esthetically and biologically align the gingival margins in areas of implants and natural teeth. It combines soft tissue reduction for implants with limited osseous and soft tissue reduction around natural teeth to achieve symmetrical results. Conclusion: Based on objectively evaluating the results using PES and WES parameters, esthetic results can be achieved around natural teeth and implants with excessive gingival display, through establishing a natural harmonious smile with stable outcomes at 24 months follow up

Conservative Restoration of Worn Mandibular Anterior Teeth Combining Gingival Repositioning and a Template Matricing Technique.

Conservative resin composite restoration of worn mandibular anterior teeth may offer an alternative option to full-coverage restorations for the patient. Assessment of the occlusal condition is critical because alterations in occlusal vertical dimension may not always be possible. By exposing additional coronal tooth structure, periodontal crown-lengthening procedures can serve to increase clinical crown height when adequate attached gingival tissue is present and supra-eruption has likely occurred. Fabrication of a custom template made from a diagnostic mock-up with proximal stainless steel matrices helps contribute to a predictable restorative result and improves chairside efficiency for the dental practice. By combining gingival crown lengthening, bonding of resin composite material, and selective occlusal adjustment; a short to medium-term, conservative option can be made available for the patient.

COMBINATION OF APICALLY POSITIONED AND CORONALLY ADVANCED FLAP IN THE TREATMENT OF A COMPLEX MUCOGINGIVAL AND RESTORATIVE PROBLEM. A 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP. (Case Report)

INTRODUCTION: The modern Periodontology has various approaches to achieve a complete functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of the mucogingival complex. These techniques include application of flaps with apical or coronal advancement in order to achieve different treatment objectives. Complex cases with different pathology on adjacent teeth require several surgeries thereby increasing treatment time and patient discomfort. New combined approaches are needed to meet the challenges of such cases. OBJECTIVE: This report presents a case with a simultaneous application of a resective and a mucogingival technique in one dental sextant. METHODS: I.C. (36) with a localized chronic periodontitis, Miller Class I gingival recessions (13,14) and subgingival caries lesions (15,16). A combined approach with simultaneous crown lengthening with apically positioned flap for 16,15 and root coverage with enamel matrix derivate and a coronally advanced flap for 14,13 was applied in order to avoid multiple surgical procedures. RESULTS: On the third month after the surgical procedure a complete root coverage (13,14) was achieved. The crown lengthening procedure enabled the restoration of the caries lesions and the placement of new crowns (15,16). The result at the third year demonstrates a stable gingival margin with no recurrence of the gingival recessions. CONCLUSION: The applied combined procedure led to a complete resolution of the existing problems with a single surgery. The simultaneous application of different procedures seems a promising approach aimed to reduce the treatment time and to diminish patient discomfort.

The surgical crown lengthening procedure in order to improve the biological width and esthetics

The aims of surgical crown lengthening procedures are to improve prosthetic reconstructions at teeth with limited hard tissue, to prevent periodontal problems and/or to improve esthetics. When planning and performing surgical crown lengthening, it is important to consider not only periodontal and technical aspects but also the gingival profile of the neighbouring teeth. This paper presents the systematic approach starting with the diagnosis and indication to the performed treatments and the obtained results and gives clinical recommendations.

Healing Time for Final Restorative Therapy After Surgical Crown Lengthening Procedures: A Review of Related Evidence.

Focused Clinical Question In healthy patients who receive surgical crown lengthening, how much healing time should be allowed for the positional changes of the gingival margin before final restoration? Clinical Scenario A 59-year-old woman presented to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry in August 2011 for replacement of her existing porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns on the maxillary anterior teeth for esthetic reasons. Clinical examination revealed a diagnosis of developmental mucogingival deformity manifested by gingival excess in the maxillary anterior sextant. An esthetic evaluation was performed and identified excessive gingival display attributable to short clinical crowns and excluded vertical maxillary excess and short or hypermobile upper lip as etiologic factors. After signing a written informed consent, the patient underwent an esthetic crown lengthening procedure to correct this mucogingival deformity, followed by prosthodontic rehabilitation. The patient and restoring dentist were concerned with the healing time that should elapse before the teeth were permanently restored. Figures 1 through 5 illustrate the initial presentation of the patient, surgical crown lengthening procedure, and final restorations.

TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA LEVELS IN GINGIVAL CREVICULAR FLUID OF PERIODONTITIS PATIENTS WITH/WITHOUT MTDNA DELETION IN GINGIVAL TISSUE

Aim: There are strong evidences to suggest that Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plays important role in the pathogenesis of destructive periodontal pathologies such as periodontitis. Excessive amounts increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by mitochondria, which are likely to damage cellular macromolecules, including mtDNA. The 5-kbp mtDNA deletion of gingival tissue was detected in destructive periodontal pathologies. In this study we aimed to investigate the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of TNF-α and the 5-kbp mtDNA deletion of gingival tissue in patients with periodontitis and healthy controls. Also, we examined correlations between the GCF levels of TNF-α and the 5-kbp mtDNA deletion of gingival tissue and clinical parameters of periodontitis patients. Material and Method: The study was carried out in 64 subjects: 32 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and 32 periodontally healthy controls. Samples were collected from the diseased gingival tissues with ≥5mm periodontal pockets, gingival inflammation, and bone loss during periodontal flap surgery from CP group and healthy gingival tissues were collected during crown lengthening procedures. TNF-α levels in GCF samples were assayed by commercial ELISA kits. Determination of the deleted mtDNA was employed a semiquantitative PCR method. Results: All clinical parameter scores of the tissue sampling areas were significantly higher in the CP group compared to the control group. The mean GCF TNF-α level in CP group was significantly higher than that of the controls. In CP group, the mean GCF TNF-α level of patients with deleted mtDNA was significantly higher than those of patients with non-deleted mtDNA Conclusion: According to this study findings, we speculated that overexpression of TNF-α, which is detected in GCF, in gingival tissue of periodontitis patients, may induces elevated ROS production in mitochondria and may lead to oxidative mitochondrial injury such as mtDNA deletion of neighboring cells

Gingival contouring in full mouth rehabilitation case with the laser - A 3-year follow up case report

Gingivoplasty, gingivectomy, and crown lengthening procedures are routinely carried out in dental practices to correct irregular gingival contours, remove excess gingival tissue, gingival overgrowths, and to expose the finish lines for restorative purposes, respectively. These soft tissue excision procedures are routinely performed either with gingivectomy knives, bard parker blades and electrosurgery. However, in the recent past, with the advances in the technology the use of lasers for the soft tissue treatment has emerged. Moreover, the increased postoperative discomfort and bleeding that have been associated with conventional methods has always weighed on the minds of the practitioners, as well as the patients. This paper describes a case where the gingival margins were stable even after 3 years of follow-up with the laser method. Clinical Relevance to Interdisciplinary Dentistry Full mouth rehabilitation requires a multidisciplinary approach. In this present case LASER has been used for gingival contouring, and has been compared with scalpel.

A multidisciplinary approach in managing a case of inadequate clinical crown height: A case report

A 62 year old male patient reported to the Department of Prosthodontics with a dislodged crown.It was observed that the coronal structure was inadequate and thus could have resulted in failure.Hence a multi disciplinary approach was planned to salvage the tooth and use it as an abutment for a fi xed partial denture.This case report discusses about the crown lengthening procedure and the technique for fabrication of custom cast post and core.A bridge was fabricated and thus the missing teeth were replaced.

Comparison of the number of gingival blood vessels between type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic periodontitis patients: An immunohistological study.

Background:The relationship between diabetes and periodontitis has been studied for more than 50 years and is generally agreed that the periodontal disease is more prevalent in diabetic patients compared to nondiabetics. Vascular changes like increased thickness of basement membrane in small vessels has been reported in diabetic patients, but the quantity of blood vessels in gingiva of diabetic patients has not been discussed much. The aim of this study was to compare the number of blood vessels in gingiva between chronic periodontitis (CP) patients, CP with diabetes (type 2), and normal healthy gingiva.Materials and Methods:The study included 75 patients, divided into three groups of 25 patients each-Group I with healthy periodontium (HP), Group II with CP, and Group III with CP with diabetes mellitus (CPDM). Gingival biopsies were obtained from the subjects undergoing crown lengthening procedure for Group I, and in patients with CP and in CPDM biopsies were collected from teeth undergoing extraction. Sections were prepared for immune histochemical staining with CD34.Results:Difference was observed in the average number of blood vessels when compared between HP, CP, and CPDM groups. Statistical significant difference was observed when the HP and CP groups and HP and CPDM groups were compared.Conclusion:The results of the study indicated that the number of blood vessels in gingival connective tissue is significantly higher in CP and CPDM patients.

Overexpression and Potential Regulatory Role of IL-17F in Pathogenesis of Chronic Periodontitis.

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression level, clinical significance, and possible regulating role of IL-17F in patients of chronic periodontitis. Periodontal local tissues were obtained from chronic periodontitis (CP) and healthy controls (HC) for real-time PCR (RT-PCR) detection with IL-17F and IL-17A messenger RNA (mRNA). Primary human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) were derived from patients receiving crown-lengthening procedures. Efficiency of small interfering RNA (siRNA) of IL-17R to HGF cells were assessed by Western blot and RT-PCR. Recombinant IL-17F and IL-17A were used to stimulate the HGF cells compared with the control group. Aspects of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways were examined by Western blot. Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by IL-17F and IL-17A was detected by RT-PCR. Statistical analysis was analyzed by SPSS software. It showed significantly elevated levels of IL-17F and IL-17A mRNA in CP gingival tissues compared with HC group (P<0.01). Further analysis showed a significant correlation between IL-17F and IL-17A mRNA in CP group (P<0.05), and both cytokines also correlated with the probing depth (P<0.05). Recombinant IL-17F can induce NF-κB phosphor-p65 and ERK phosphorylation of HGF cells similar to that of IL-17A. Interestingly, we found that both IL-17F and IL-17A could promote the important inflammatory cytokines IL-6, CXCL8, and CCL20 production compared with IL-17R siRNA group (P<0.05). This study indicates that IL-17F may be involved in pathogenesis of periodontitis like IL-17A. The role of IL-17F in disease pathogenesis needs to be further investigated.