PurposeThe present study has two aims; firstly, it attempts to verify the presence of oxidative stress by estimating the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in periodontal pockets ≥5 mm as compared to controls. The second aim is to evaluate the effect of lycopene as a locally delivered antioxidant gel on periodontal health and on the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of oxidative injury.MethodsThirty-one subjects participated in this study. In the pretreatment phase, the ROS levels in pockets ≥5 mm were measured by flow cytometry. Three sites in each subject were randomly assigned into each of the following experimental groups: sham group, only scaling and root planing (SRP) was done; placebo group, local delivery of placebo gel after SRP; and lycopene group, local delivery of lycopene gel after SRP. Clinical parameters included recording site-specific measures of GCF 8-OHdG, plaque, gingivitis, probing depth, and clinical attachment level.ResultsThe gel, when delivered to the sites with oxidative stress, was effective in increasing clinical attachment and in reducing gingival inflammation, probing depth, and 8-OHdG levels as compared to the placebo and sham sites.ConclusionsFrom this trial conducted over a period of 6 months, it was found that locally delivered lycopene seems to be effective in reducing the measures of oxidative stress and periodontal disease.

Background: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is the second-generation platelet concentrate first described by Choukron et al . It incorporates leukocytes, platelets, and growth factors within dense fibrin matrix, can be used in periodontal regeneration alone or in combination with bone grafts. Aim: This study assesses bone fill in intrabony defects, following the use of β tricalcium phosphate (TCP) bone graft with and without PRF. Materials and Methods: Thirty sites with intrabony defects in periodontitis patients were selected, randomly allotted into three groups: Group A open flap debridement (OFD), Group B OFD with β TCP with PRF, and Group C β TCP. Clinical parameters such as plaque index, gingival index, sulcus bleeding index, and PPD recorded at baseline and 6 months. Radiographic parameters include cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to base of defect, CEJ to alveolar crest, depth of defect, and bone fill assessed using the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The comparison between the test group and control group in terms of clinical and radiographical parameters was assessed using the independent sample t -test. Results: Significant reduction in probing depth measurements, defect fill observed in both β TCP with PRF and β TCP alone groups compared to OFD. However, intergroup comparison assessed using the independent sample t -test found to be statistically nonsignificant ( P < 0.05 is considered significant). Conclusion: All three treatment strategies resulted in significant reduction in probing depth and bone fill at 6 months. Bone fill achieved in β TCP with PRF was more compared to β TCP alone and OFD at 6 months follow-up. CBCT can be accurately used to assess the morphology of intrabony defect and also in evaluating bone fill.

It is dentists’ dream to achieve bone repair with predictability, but without donor site morbidity as well as reconstruction of injured or pathologically damaged complex dental structures, however, this will no longer be a dream as these are being made into a reality using stem cell science. Stem cell science is clearly an intriguing and promising area of science. Stem cells have been isolated from a variety of embryonic and adult tissues. Dental stem cells are multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) brought new enthusiasm among the researchers because of their easy accessibility, high quality and they don’t pose the same ethical concerns and controversy in comparison with embryonic stem cells. This review article provides brief insights about stem cell basics, the state of art in human dental stem cell research and its possible impact on future dentistry. Even though most of these modalities are still in infancy, it is evident that the 21st century dentist is going to play a critical role in the field of medicine. The aim of this article is to bring awareness among the dentists about the huge potential associated with the use of stem cells in a clinical setting, as well as proper understanding of related problems.

Background:To analyze the association between TLR-4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile gene polymorphisms and chronic periodontitis in a sample of south Indian population.Materials and Methods:Genomic DNA was obtained from peripheral blood of 60 patients with chronic periodontitis and 60 periodontally healthy subjects. TLR-4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile gene polymorphisms were genotyped by a polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The data were analyzed by a χ2-test and by relative risk estimation.Results:Thr399Ile alleles were found in 4% of chronic periodontitis patients and in 1% of periodontally healthy subjects. The prevalence of a Thr399Ile heterozygote was found to be 5% in the chronic periodontitis group and 1.67% in the periodontally healthy group, respectively. Homozygosity for TLR-4 Thr399Ile was seen in chronic periodontitis patients only, which was 1.67%. The TLR-4 Asp299Gly gene polymorphism was not detected in either chronic periodontitis or periodontally healthy groups.Conclusion:There is no significant association between TLR-4 Thr399Ile polymorphism and chronic periodontitis in a sample of south Indian population.

Context:The inflammatory processes involved in chronic periodontitis and coronary artery diseases (CADs) are similar and produce reactive oxygen species that may result in similar somatic mutations in mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA).Aims:The aims of the present study were to identify somatic mtDNA mutations in periodontal and cardiac tissues from subjects undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery and determine what fraction was identical and unique to these tissues.Settings and Design:The study population consisted of 30 chronic periodontitis subjects who underwent coronary artery surgery after an angiogram had indicated CAD.Materials and Methods:Gingival tissue samples were taken from the site with deepest probing depth; coronary artery tissue samples were taken during the coronary artery bypass grafting procedures, and blood samples were drawn during this surgical procedure. These samples were stored under aseptic conditions and later transported for mtDNA analysis.Statistical Analysis Used:Complete mtDNA sequences were obtained and aligned with the revised Cambridge reference sequence (NC_012920) using sequence analysis and auto assembler tools.Results:Among the complete mtDNA sequences, a total of 162 variations were spread across the whole mitochondrial genome and present only in the coronary artery and the gingival tissue samples but not in the blood samples. Among the 162 variations, 12 were novel and four of the 12 novel variations were found in mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 complex I gene (33.3%).Conclusions:Analysis of mtDNA mutations indicated 162 variants unique to periodontitis and CAD. Of these, 12 were novel and may have resulted from destructive oxidative forces common to these two diseases.