Furcation involvement (FI) is the lesion and destruction of periodontium that spread to the root furcation of multi-root teeth, where periodontal pockets, loss of periodontal attachment and resorption of alveolar bone are formed. Furcation involvement is a common concomitant lesion of periodontitis. The severity of furcation involvement can directly affect the prognosis of periodontitis. However, the specificity of the anatomical structure of the root furcation greatly increases the difficulty of treatment. Therefore, early detection and treatment of furcation involvement is crucial for the prevention and control of periodontitis. This paper briefly describes the pathogenesis of furcation involvement and discusses the diagnosis, classification and treatment of this disease, which is helpful to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of furcation involvement.
Humans ; Molar ; Furcation Defects/therapy* ; Periodontitis/complications* ; Periodontal Pocket ; Prognosis

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.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of periodontal endoscope as an adjuvant therapy for the non-surgical periodontal treatment of patients with severe and generalized periodontitis. METHODS: Patients (n=13) were divided into three groups: patients treated with conventional subgingival scaling and root planing (SRP) (n=7, 408 sites) (group A), SRP using periodontal endoscope (n=4, 188 sites) (group B) or SRP with periodontal endoscope 3 months after initial SRP (n=2, 142 sites) (group C). Two subgroups were divided into 2 subgroups according to PD at the baseline: 46 mm as subgroup 2. Probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL), gingival recession (GR) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded. RESULTS: The results of 3 months after treatment showed all PD, AL, and GR values in group A1 were less than those in group B1 (P<0.05), but no significant difference in BOP was found between the two groups. The decrease in PD, BOP in group B2 was more obvious than those in group A2 (P<0.000 1), and the GR values in group B2 were more than those in group A2 (P<0.000 1). But the improvement of AL showed no statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.296 8). In group C1, no significant difference in PD, AL, and GR was observed after endoscopy-assisted therapy, but it was more effective for BOP (P<0.000 1). In group C2, the improvement in PD and AL was significantly different from the improvement in SRP alone (P=0.000 5, P=0.000 2) and was accompanied by more GR (P=0.000 5). CONCLUSIONS In non-surgical treatment of severe and generalized periodontitis, SRP can achieve good therapeutic effect on sites with 4<
PD≤6 mm. For sites with PD>6 mm, the application of periodontal endoscopy can increase the effect, reducing PD and GR, which may be an effective supplement to the current non-surgical periodontal treatment.
Dental Scaling ; Endoscopes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gingival Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Periodontal Attachment Loss ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontal Pocket ; Periodontitis ; Root Planing ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: The mandibular third molar (M3) is typically the last permanent tooth to erupt because of insufficient space and thick soft tissues covering its surface. Problems such as alveolar bone loss, development of a periodontal pocket, exposure of cementum, gingival recession, and dental caries can be found in the adjacent second molars (M2) following M3 extraction. The specific aims of the study were to assess the amount and rate of bone regeneration on the distal surface of M2 and to evaluate the aspects of bone regeneration in terms of varying degree of impaction. METHODS: Four series of panoramic radiographic images were obtained from the selected cases, including images from the first visit, immediately after extraction, 6 weeks, and 6 months after extraction. ImageJ software® (NIH, USA) was used to measure linear distance from the region of interest to the distal root of the adjacent M2. Radiographic infrabony defect (RID) values were calculated from the measured radiographic bone height and cementoenamel junction with distortion compensation. Repeated measures of analysis of variance and one-way analysis of variance were conducted to analyze the statistical significant difference between RID and time, and a Spearman correlation test was conducted to assess the relationship between Pederson’s difficulty index (DI) and RID. RESULTS: A large RID (> 6 mm) can be reduced gradually and consistently over time. More than half of the samples recovered nearly to their normal healthy condition (RID ≤ 3 mm) by the 6-month follow-up. DI affected the first 6 weeks of post-extraction period and only showed a significant positive correlation with respect to the difference between baseline and final RID. CONCLUSIONS: Additional treatments on M2 for a minimum of 6 months after an M3 extraction could be recommended. Although DI may affect bone regeneration during the early healing period, further study is required to elucidate any possible factors associated with the healing process. The DI does not cause any long-term adverse effects on bone regeneration after surgical extraction.
Alveolar Bone Loss ; Bone Regeneration ; Compensation and Redress ; Dental Caries ; Dental Cementum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gingival Recession ; Molar ; Molar, Third ; Periodontal Pocket ; Retrospective Studies ; Tooth ; Tooth Cervix

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of paralleling technique in measuring the depth of approximal infrabony pocket after periodontal flap surgery by comparing the measured and actual depths. METHODS: The study population included 26 patients with infrabony defects who had undergone periodontal flap surgery, bone graft surgery, and guided tissue regene-ration. The measured and actual depths of approximal infrabony pocket after periodontal flap surgery were compared. The 26 infrabony defects were categorized into the following groups according to tooth position: anterior teeth, premolar, and molar groups, and according to type of infrabony pocket: one-walled, two-walled, and three-walled infrabony pocket groups. Paired t-test was used to detect the difference between the two values. RESULTS: Depth measurements of the approximal infrabony pocket depth of the anterior teeth and premolar were not significantly different (P>0.05), whereas those of the molar group were significantly different (P<0.05). In addition, depth measurements in one-walled and two-walled infrabony pocket groups showed no significant differences (P>0.05), whereas those in the three-walled infrabony pocket group were significantly different (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Paral-leling technique can accurately measure the depth of approximal infrabony pockets of anterior teeth and premolar teeth that are one- or two-walled. However, this method cannot accurately measure the approximal infrabony pockets of molar teeth and three-walled infrabony pockets as indicated by significant differences in their depth measurements.
Alveolar Bone Loss ; Bone Transplantation ; Humans ; Molar ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; Periodontal Pocket

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of erythritol powder air polishing device (EPAP) in addition to scaling and root planing (SRP) in non-surgical periodontal treatment in moderate chronic periodontitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical evaluation was performed at 21 sites treated with SRP (control) and 21 sites treated with the addition of SRP+EPAP (test). All examinations were performed before treatment, 1 month after treatment, and 3 months after treatment. Depth of the periodontal pocket, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, plaque index, and bleeding of probing were measured as clinical parameters. RESULTS: In both test and control groups, there was a significant decrease in the depth of the periodontal pocket, plaque index, bleeding of probing, increased gingival recession, and gain of clinical attachment level at 1 month and 3 months after treatment. However, there was no significant clinical difference between the test group and the control group. Clinical result was improved after 1 month compared to the baseline; in contrast, results at 3 months after treatment were worse than at 1 month after treatment. CONCLUSION: In this study, we cannot suggest that SRP + EPAP is clinically more effective than SRP alone as non-surgical periodontal treatments. Periodic periodontal therapy, at intervals of at least every three months, is important for sustaining effects of this treatment.
Chronic Periodontitis ; Clinical Study ; Dental Scaling ; Erythritol ; Gingival Recession ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Periodontal Pocket ; Periodontitis ; Root Planing ; Treatment Outcome

Iatrogenic perforations negatively impact the outcome of endodontic treatments. Studies on prognostic factors showed that perforations in the coronal third of the root with periodontal pocket formation have an unfavorable prognosis. A 36-year-old female was referred for endodontic evaluation of tooth #13 with a history of an iatrogenic perforation, happened 3 years ago. There was a sinus tract associated with perforation, 10 mm probing on the mesial and mesio-palatal, bleeding on probing, radiolucent lesion adjacent to the perforation and complete resorption of the interdental bone between teeth #13 and #12. After the treatment options were discussed, she chose to save the tooth. The tooth was accessed under rubber dam isolation, the perforation site was cleaned and disinfected using 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and sealed with calcium-enriched mixture cement. Eighteen months after treatment the tooth was functional and asymptomatic. The probing depths were normal without bleeding on probing. Radiographically, the interdental crestal bone formed between teeth #13 and #12. Despite all negative prognostic factors in this case (i.e., perforations in the coronal third, pocket formation, and radiolucent lesion), healing was unexpectedly achieved via non-surgical repair of the perforation. Further research on biological aspects of healing in the periodontium following iatrogenic perforations are recommended.
Adult ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Periodontal Pocket ; Periodontium ; Prognosis ; Rubber Dams ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Tooth

This study aimed to provide basic data for establishing the clinical basis for dental hygienist-led dental hygiene process of care by identifying multiple risk factors for self-support program participants in Gangneung city; we also compared oral health status and behavioral changes through customized oral health care. Four dental hygienists who were evaluated for degree of conformity provided dental hygiene process of care to eight self-support program participants who were selected as having an oral health risk among people in the self-support center. The clinical indicators measured during dental hygiene assessment and evaluation and behavioral changes due to dental hygiene intervention were compared and analyzed. With respect to clinical indicators, at the time of probe, the retention rate of patients with gingival bleeding decreased from 61.4% to 14.7% after intervention (p=0.004). Furthermore, the retention rate of patients with a periodontal pocket >4 mm decreased from 15.6% to 5.8% (p=0.001). The average modified O'Leary index of the patients improved from 23 to 40 (p=0.002). Previously, all eight subjects used the vertical or horizontal method of brushing; after dental hygiene care interventions regarding method and frequency of toothbrushing, use of oral care products, and individual interventions, they started using the rolling or Bass method of toothbrushing. Four of eight subjects reported using interdental toothbrushes after intervention. As a result of applying the change model to the transtheoretical behavior change of the subject, the result of strengthening the health behavior was confirmed. For promotion of oral health by the prevention-centered incremental oral health care system, dental hygienist-led dental hygiene management and maintenance is essential. It is thought that continuous research, such as for feasibility evaluation, cost benefit analysis, and preparation of legal systems, is needed to establish and activate dental hygiene management.
Bass ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Dental Hygienists ; Dental Prophylaxis ; Gangwon-do* ; Health Behavior ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Methods ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene* ; Periodontal Pocket ; Risk Factors ; Toothbrushing

PURPOSE: A novel index, the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA), represents the sum of the periodontal pocket depth of bleeding on probing (BOP)-positive sites. In the present study, we evaluated correlations between PISA and periodontal classifications, and examined PISA as an index integrating the discrete conventional periodontal indexes. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional subgroup analysis of data from a prospective cohort study investigating the association between chronic periodontitis and the clinical features of ankylosing spondylitis. Data from 84 patients without systemic diseases (the control group in the previous study) were analyzed in the present study. RESULTS: PISA values were positively correlated with conventional periodontal classifications (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.52; P<0.01) and with periodontal indexes, such as BOP and the plaque index (PI) (r=0.94; P<0.01 and r=0.60; P<0.01, respectively; Pearson correlation test). Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) expression and the presence of serum P. gingivalis antibodies were significant factors affecting PISA values in a simple linear regression analysis, together with periodontal classification, PI, bleeding index, and smoking, but not in the multivariate analysis. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, PISA values were positively correlated with the quantity of current smoking, PI, and severity of periodontal disease. CONCLUSIONS: PISA integrates multiple periodontal indexes, such as probing pocket depth, BOP, and PI into a numerical variable. PISA is advantageous for quantifying periodontal inflammation and plaque accumulation.
Antibodies ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Dental Plaque ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Linear Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontal Pocket ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

Dogs commonly serve as a model for various human conditions, including periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the anaerobic bacteria that colonize the subgingival areas in dogs and humans by using rapid real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based tests and to compare the results obtained in each species. Bacterial microflora evaluations, both quantitative and qualitative, were performed by applying ready-made tests on twelve dogs and twelve humans. Five samples were collected from each subject's deepest gingival pockets and joined to form a collective sample. The results of the study revealed interspecies similarities in the prevalences of Porphyromonas (P.) gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Red complex bacteria comprised the largest portion of the studied bacterial complexes in all study groups, with P. gingivalis being the most commonly isolated bacterium. The results show similarities in the prevalence of bacterial microflora in dogs and humans. Microbiological analysis of gingival pockets by using rapid real-time PCR-based tests in clinical practice, both veterinary and human, can facilitate the choice of appropriate pharmacological treatment and can provide a basis for subsequent verification of the treatment's effectiveness.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Bacteria, Anaerobic ; Colon ; Dogs ; Forsythia ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; Gingival Pocket ; Humans* ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Porphyromonas ; Prevalence ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Treponema denticola