PURPOSEThis study was designed to investigate the maintenance of teeth and implants in patients with viral liver disease.MATERIALS AND METHODS316 patients without any significant systemic disease were selected as a control group. Liver disease group was consisted of 230 patients. Necessary data were collected using clinical records and panoramic radiographs. Then, the patients were subdivided into 2 groups based on the type of active dental therapy received before maintenance period (Pre-Tx). Analysis for finding statistically significant difference was performed based on the need for re-treatment of active dental therapy (Re-Tx) and change in the number of teeth (N-teeth) and implants (N-implants).RESULTSComparing to control group, the patients with liver disease showed higher value on N-teeth, N-implants, and Re-Tx. Statistically significant differences were found on N-teeth (P=.000) and Re-Tx (P=.000) in patients with non-surgical Pre-Tx. Analysis based on severity of liver disease showed that N-teeth and Re-Tx were directly related to severity of liver disease regardless of received type of Pre-Tx. Significant differences were found on N-teeth (P=.003) and Re-Tx (P=.044) in patients with non-surgical Pre-Tx.CONCLUSIONIn this study, it was concluded that liver disease might influence the loss of teeth and cause the relapse of dental disease during maintenance period in patients. A significant positive relationship between tooth and implant loss and severity of liver disease seems to exist.

PURPOSEThis study was designed to evaluate the teeth and dental implants during dental maintenance therapy over 3 years in different conditions after periodontal and dental prosthetic treatment.MATERIALS AND METHODS166 patients received maintenance therapy. 59 patients were treated with 2% minocycline-HCl ointment as local drug delivery (LDD) (L group) and 107 patients were treated without LDD (NL group). Clinical data was collected in maintenance period for evaluation. Patients were classified into groups depending on the application of LDD with maintenance therapy, the type of dental treatment before maintenance period (Pre-Tx), the frequency (F-MT), and regularity (R-MT) of maintenance therapy.RESULTSThe numbers of lost teeth (N-teeth, P=.003) and newly placed dental implants (N-implants, P=.022) are significantly different according to Pre-Tx. F-MT among patients who received surgical dental treatment before maintenance period showed statistical differences in N-teeth (P=.041), but not in N-implants (P=.564). All of the patients in L group showed high F-MT (F-MT1). In NL group, there were no statistical differences in N-teeth or N-implants according to F-MT or R-MT. In F-MT1 group, application of LDD made N-teeth significantly different from both Pre-Tx groups while no significant difference could be found in N-implant. Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were selected for statistical analysis.CONCLUSIONThe regular maintenance therapy and LDD can be effective for teeth during maintenance period. It is not only pharmacological efficacy in decreasing bacterial species that makes LDD a useful adjunct. Application of LDD also motivates patients to take adequate check-ups in the aspects of both frequency and regularity.

We investigated the effects of severity of periodontitis on inflammation progression by observing the expression and interaction of inflammatory mediators such as plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA)-1, interleukin (IL)-11, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), which are involved in bone metabolism, in healthy tissues and tissues according to the severity of inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these factors on periodontal tissue destruction. Gingival tissue specimens were collected from patients with periodontal disease and healthy individuals, at the Department of Periodontics, Kyungpook National University Dental Hospital. Specimen was recruited from the patients were obtained during periodontal surgery. Western blotting was used to observe the expression of PMCA-1, IL-11, and LIF in each tissue. The expression of PMCA-1 was increased in periodontitis groups and was highest in severe periodontitis group. IL-11 expression was increased in periodontitis groups and was highest in severe periodontitis group. LIF expression was decreased in periodontitis groups and was highest in normal group. There were a statistically significant difference between normal and moderate group, normal and severe periodontitis group, and moderate and severe periodontitis group. In conclusion, PMCA-1, IL-11, and LIF appear to be associated with the severity of chronic periodontitis. These factors may influence each other.