Objective. Second-generation force-controlled periodontal probes were developed to address examiner-related factors in the application of standard forces while probing. However, previous researches comparing the accuracy of first and second-generation probes have failed to yield unequivocal results. This study aimed to determine the accuracy and reproducibility of a first-generation UNC-15 probe and force-controlled Gram probe #2, used by senior and junior dental students in measuring probing pocket depths (PPD).

Methods. Eight senior and eight junior dental students participated in the study. A periodontal model was positioned on a digital balance. Each participant performed probing four times, twice using a UNC-15 and twice employing a Gram probe #2. The order of probe usage was randomly assigned. The PPD and probing forces employed were recorded initially and after a 15-minute interval. Data were analyzed using a t-test at a 0.05 significance level.

Results. Both junior and senior students used significantly higher probing forces (35.3 ± 1.4 and 29.9 ± 2.1 g, respectively) than the standard 25 g when using the UNC-15 probe. The junior students employed accurate forces using the Gram probe while probing both anterior (25.6 ± 1.2 g) and posterior teeth (25.1 ± 0.7 g). In comparison, the seniors used accurate forces (26.0 ± 1.3 g) only while examining anterior teeth. The PPD values obtained by both student groups were comparable to the actual PPD, except for significantly higher measurements (P=0.0003) obtained by juniors when examining posterior teeth using the Gram probe. When assessing the reproducibility of PPD measurements obtained from two examinations, values were reproducible for both juniors and seniors when using the Gram probe and during an inspection of posterior teeth using the UNC-15 probe.

Conclusions. The Gram probe #2 had better reproducibility and yielded forces closer to the standard 25 g. However, more accurate PPD values were obtained with the UNC-15 probe.

The present study investigate the effect of newly designed toothbrush(Chess tip : experimental group , conventional toothbrush(control group) on plaque control, gingivitis, and peridontitis. The results of 4weeks post-research by clinical comparison between the two groups are as follows. 1. In analysis of plaque index between groups there was significant difference in the experimental group at 2, 4 week. 2. In analysis of gingival index between groups there was significant difference in the experimental group at 1, 2, 4 week. 3. Both experimental group and control group showed decrease in periodontal pocket depth after 4week, but there was significant difference in the experimental group at 4 week. 4. Both experimental group and control group showed decrease in bleeding on probing after 4week, but there was significant difference in the experimental group at 4 week. These results indicate that newly designed toothbrush has beneficial effects as additional aid of mechanical treatment at the point of periodontal pocket, plaque control, and bleeding on probing.
Gingivitis* ; Hemorrhage ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontal Pocket ; Periodontitis*

The ultimate goal of periodontal treatment is to regenerate the lost periodontal apparatus. Many studies were performed in developing an ideal bone substitute. Anorganic bovine-derived xenograft is one of the bone substitues, which were studied and have been shown successful for decades. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect anorganic bovine-derived xenograft. Total of 20 patients, with 10 patients receiving only modified widman flap, and the other 10 receiving anorganic bovine-derived xenograft and flap surgery, were included in the study. Clinical parameters were recorded before surgery and after 6 months. The results are as follows: 1. The test group treated with anorganic bovine-derived xenograft showed reduction in periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment level with statistically significance(p<0.001) after 6 months. The control group treated with only modified Widman flap showed reduction only in periodontal pocket depth with statistically significance(p<0.001) after 6 months. 2. Although periodontal probing depth change during 6 months did not show any significant differences between the test group and the control group, clinical attachment level gain and recession change showed significant differences between the two groups(p<0.05). On the basis of these results, anorganic bovine-derived xenograft improves probing depth and clinical attachment level in periodontal intrabony defects. Anorganic bovine-derived xenograft could be a predictable bone substitute in clinical use.
Bone Substitutes ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Periodontal Pocket

During periodontal examination and periodontal recall visit, patients might feel pain. Probing with 0.45mm diameter probe, "overprobing" into connective tissue underlying periodontal pocket could be the primary aspect of pain. The purpose of present study, performed during recall visit, was to compare the levels of pain experienced by patients during periodontal probing using probes with the tip diameter of either 0.45mm or 0.63mm. Twenty patients were enrolled: 3 periodontists each exammined 20 patients at the Dankook university dental hospital. in each patient at six sites per tooth, diagonal maxillary/mandibular quadrants were probed with 0.45mm diameter and 0.63mm diameter probe. Lower pain responses following probing with the 0.63mm diameter probe as compared to the 0.45mm probe were observed for patients of therapist 2 and the upper VAS quartile Groups(P<0.05). For therapist 1 and 3 groups, no differences were found. Patient worry about the pain while dental treatment procedures. If therapist use 0.63mm diameter probe while periodontal examination and recall visit, the patient's pain and discomfort could be reduced. Therefore, patient will cooperate more during the treatment, which leads to a better result. Dental therapists should make an effort to minimize the degree of discomfort during treatment. Dental therapist periodically should evaluate this part of their skill by asking patients and promote this skill.
Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Periodontal Pocket ; Tooth

Tooth mobility is an important part of a periodontal examination and represents a function of the persisting height of the alveolar bone and the width of the periodontal ligament. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of the tooth mobility over 4 week-period following surgical therapy on the periodontal disease. Thirty five patients presenting with moderate periodontal pockets were selected and tooth mobility was measured at weekly intervals using Periotest (Siemens Co., Germany) beginning at the pre-operation examination and ending four weeks following the modified Widman Flap. All data were statistically analyzed using the one-way ANOVA test. The results were obtained as follows; 1. All teeth exhibited the greatest change in mobility at 1 week post-op, mobility generally decreasing with time. 2. Comparison of the weekly tooth mobility data regarding the 1st premolars showed significant differences only between weeks 1 (9.94) and 4 (6.14) (p<0.05). 3. Comparison of the weekly tooth mobility data regarding the 1st molar showed significant changes in the intervals between pre-op (6.49) and week 1 (11.22), pre-op and week 2 (9.37), weeks 1 and 3 (7.65), weeks 1 and 4 (5.62), and weeks 2 and 4 (p<0.05). 4. Comparison of the weekly tooth mobility data regarding the 2nd premolar and 2nd molar showed significant differences between pre-op (6.91, 8.60) and week 1 (11.02, 12.62), weeks 1 and 3 (8.00, 8.05), weeks 3 ad 4 (6.22, 6.71), and weeks 2 (9.34, 11.01) and 4 (p<0.05).
Bicuspid ; Humans ; Molar ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Ligament ; Periodontal Pocket ; Tooth Mobility* ; Tooth*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the adjunctive effect of diode laser irradiation for the treatment of periodontal-endodontic combined lesions.

METHODS30 cases with periodontal-endodontic combined lesions were selected. All cases were randomly divided into experimental group and control group (n=15). In the control group, patients were treated with root canal therapy and conservative periodontal treatment (scaling and root planning), and patients in the experimental group were treated with root canal therapy and conservative periodontal treatment followed by diode laser irradiation. Clinical measurements including pocket probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), modified bleeding index (mBI), periapical index (PAI) were taken before treatment (baseline). Three and six months after the treatment, the adjunctive effects of diode laser in the treatment of periodontal-endodontic combined lesions were evaluated.

RESULTSThree months after the treatment, the average PPD, CAL and mBI levels were reduced significantly in both groups. But the average PPD reduction in the experimental group was significantly greater (P<0.05) than in control group. However the average CAL and mBI reduction were not significantly different between two groups. Six months after the treatment, the average PPD, CAL and mBI levels were further reduced in the experiment group, but not in the control group. The average PAI levels were reduced significantly in both groups, but the PAI reduction was not significantly different between two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe use of diode laser as an adjunct procedure in the treatment of periodontal-endodontic combined lesions can aid in achieving success.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference of subgingival bacterial compositions between periodontally healthy and diseased sites. Subgingival plaque samples were obtained from 100 sites in 20 untreated adult periodontitis patients(experimental group), and 100 sites in healthy individuals(control group). Before sampling, probing pocket depth(PPD) and clinical level of attachment(CAL), Plaque Index(PI), and Sulcus Bleeding Index(SBI) were recorded for each sampled sites. Microbial samples were collected from the bases of gingival sulci or periodontal pockets with sterile curettes. The samples were examined under darkfield microscope(x400). At least 150 bacteria were evaluated and categorized on the basis of bacterial morphology and motility, i.e. cocci, non-motile rods, motile rods, and spirochetes. In control group, subgingival microbial flora consisted of 73.7% of cocci, 20.0% of non-motile rods, 4.3% of motile rods, and 2.0% of spirochetes. The microbial samples from experimental group consisted of 51.5% of cocci, 19.4% of non-motile rods, 17.6% of motile rods, and 11.6% of spirochetes. The proportion of cocci was higher in control group than in experimental group. Proportions of motile rods and spirochetes were higher in experimental group than in control group. The proportion of nonmotile rods in experimental group and control group was not significantly different. Sulcus Bleeding Index and Plaque Index showed high correlation with the bacterial composition. These findings suggests that examination of subgingival bacterial proportion may serve as more sensitive mirror of the local periodontal status than clinical parameters.
Adult* ; Bacteria ; Chronic Periodontitis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Periodontal Pocket* ; Spirochaetales

PURPOSE: The present study was performed to compare the treatment outcomes of non-surgical periodontal treatment according to the distribution of attachment loss of a given patient. METHODS: Forty-five patients with moderate to severe periodontitis were divided in two subgroups; Group I patients with teeth manifesting attachment loss of > or =6 mm at one or more sites on the buccal/labial aspect while maintaining an attachment level < or =5 mm at the lingual/palatal aspect, Group II patients with teeth manifesting an attachment level > or =6 mm at more than one site on the lingual/palatal aspect while maintaining an attachment level < or =5 mm at the buccal/labial aspect. The probing pocket depth, probing attachment level, tooth mobility, and chewing discomfort were recorded at baseline and 6 months examinations following non-surgical periodontal therapy. RESULTS: The buccal/labial surfaces of teeth with moderate to severe periodontitis in Group I patients demonstrated a greater amount of pocket reduction, gain of attachment level, and tooth mobility reduction than the lingual/palatal aspects of teeth examined in Group II patients. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of the present study, the patients demonstrating attachment loss > or =6 mm at buccal/labial surfaces responded better to the nonsurgical periodontal therapy than those demonstrating comparable attachment loss at lingual/palatal surfaces.
Humans ; Mastication ; Periodontal Pocket ; Periodontitis ; Prognosis ; Tooth ; Tooth Mobility

The present study examines the effects of orthodontic treatment of surgically exposed impacted upper canines or ectopically erupted upper canines to periodontal condition and whether various opening procedures have significant difference in postoperative periodontal status. The subjects included 23 orthodontic patients(7 men, 16 women) with unilateral upper canine impaction treated either with closed eruption technique(group I), with apically positioned flap procedure(group II), and those with canines ectopically erupted through keratinized gingiva(group III). In each subject, the ectopic canine was orthodontically aligned, and changes in periodontal tissue were assessed by measuring keratinized gingival width, attached gingival width, probing depth and bone probing depth. In all three groups, the width of keratinized gingiva was preserved while showed no signs of detrimental periodontal condition such as gingival recession. In all three groups, no significant difference in periodontal pocket depth from control was observed. The width of attached gingiva was significantly greater in patients treated with apically positioned flap procedure(group II) than in patients on other groups.
Cuspid* ; Gingiva ; Gingival Recession ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontal Pocket

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the substantivity of experimentally developed gel type tetracycline HCl and a mixture of tetracycline-citric acid gel, and compare to those of solution type tetracycline HCl. 11 extracted anterior teeth were subjected to this study. After scaling and root planing teeth were randomly divided into 3 treatments groups : group 1; 3 teeth were irrigated with tetracycline HCl(50mg/ml) solution , group 2; tetracycline gel (5%) was inserted in the periodontal pockets of 3 teeth, group 3; a mixture of tetracycline and citric acid gel was inserted in the pockets of 3 teeth. And 2 teeth treated in 0.9 % sterile saline served as controls. After 5-minute exposure, each tooth immediately extracted and incubated at room temperature for 22 days in tris-buffered saline as a desorption media. The total volume of TBS was removed and replaced with fresh TBS, at 24-h intervals. Removed desorption media transferred to a sterile vial and stored at -70 oC. This procedure was repeated every 24 h throughout the 22-day desorption period. Using Porphyromonas gingivalis as an indicator organism, a microtiter assay was used to evaluate antimicrobial activity desorbed from the teeth. 1. 50mg/ml tetracycline HCl solution exhibited the longest antimicrobial activity. Compared to saline treated group, it showed significant difference on the day 1 and day 2 desorption period. 2. The ODs of 5% tetracycline gel and a mixture of tetracycline-citric acid gel were significantly different during the first 24 hour only. 3. There was no statistically significant difference after the day 3 between the groups.(p<0.05). Despite our expectation a mixture of tetracycline-citric acid gel did not show longer antimicrobial activities than those of tetracycline gel, and the solution type exhibited the longest activities. Because the gel type agents may stay in the subgingival environment longer than the solution, if the teeth were not extracted immediately after the delivery of the agent, the result could be different. hus this result suggests the possibilities of practical use of these kind of gel type agents.
Citric Acid ; Periodontal Pocket ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Root Planing ; Tetracycline* ; Tooth