γ‐Aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors containing the α6 subunit are located in trigeminal ganglia, and their reduction by small interfering RNA increases inflammatory temporomandibular and myofascial pain in rats. We thus hypothesized that enhancing their activity may help in neuropathic syndromes originating from the trigeminal system. Here, we performed a detailed electrophysiological and pharmacokinetic analysis of two recently developed deuterated structurally similar pyrazoloquinolinone compounds. DK‐I‐56‐1 at concentrations below 1 µM enhanced γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) currents at recombinant rat α6β3γ2, α6β3δ and α6β3 receptors, whereas it was inactive at most GABAA receptor subtypes containing other α subunits. DK‐I‐87‐1 at concentrations below 1 µM was inactive at α6‐containing receptors and only weakly modulated other GABAA receptors investigated. Both plasma and brain tissue kinetics of DK‐I‐56‐1 were relatively slow, with half‐lives of 6 and 13 hr, respectively, enabling the persistence of estimated free brain concentrations in the range 10–300 nM throughout a 24‐hr period. Results obtained in two protocols of chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve in rats dosed intraperitoneally with DK‐I‐56‐1 during 14 days after surgery or with DK‐I‐56‐1 or DK‐I‐87‐1 during 14 days after trigeminal neuropathy were already established, demonstrated that DK‐I‐56‐1 but not DK‐I‐87‐1 significantly reduced the hypersensitivity response to von Frey filaments. Significance Neuropathic pain induced by trigeminal nerve damage is poorly controlled by current treatments. DK‐I‐56‐1 that positively modulates α6 GABAA receptors is appropriate for repeated administration and thus may represent a novel treatment option against the development and maintenance of trigeminal neuropathic pain.

During orthodontic treatment, pain is a subjective experience influenced by several factors. Orthodontic patients consume analgesics at different rates to alleviate this pain. Correlations between orthodontic pain and analgesic consumption were analyzed. Predictive factors to analgesics consumption were not statistically analyzed. This study was conducted to identify the predictive factors for analgesic consumption after initiation of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Two hundred and eighty-six patients involved in this study kept a seven-day diary in which they recorded pain intensity (using a 0–10 numerical rating scale), analgesic consumption, localization of pain, pain triggers, and pain characteristics. Univariable analyses identified potential predictive factors: age, gender, pain intensity, pain localization, pain while chewing, pain at rest, night pain, headache, pulsating pain, sharp pain, dull pain, and tingling. Logistic regression was conducted to create a model that could predict analgesic consumption. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that analgesic consumption was increased by increased age, increased intensity of pain, and presence of a headache. Overall, the model explained 33% of analgesic requirement variability. Age, intensity of pain, and headache proved to be predictors of analgesic consumption. Knowledge of such factors may help clinicians identify orthodontic patients who will consume analgesics on their own.

BACKGROUND: Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) is associated with an extensive and rapid destruction of periodontal tissues. Unpredictable treatment outcomes of the disease are consequences of various cross-linked factors. Antimicrobial adjunctive treatment is routinely used as a part of non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) of AgP. AIM: Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of active periodontal treatment (APT) combined with systemic antibiotics with mechanical debridement alone, in patients with generalized AgP (GAgP). METHODS: Two groups, consisting of 10 participants each, were randomly formed. Both groups were clinically and microbiologically tested and monitored for 3 months. Test group received APT with antimicrobial supplementation (amoxicillin and metronidazole [AMX-MET]). Patients from the control group were treated by APT only. Clinical and microbiological parameters were recorded at baseline and 3 months following the NSPT. Clinical measurements involved probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, and plaque index. Samples of subgingival crevicular fluid were analyzed by qualitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Significant improvement of all clinical parameters was observed 3 months following the NSPT (p < 0.05), but significant difference between groups was not found (p > 0.05). Periodontal pathogens’ detection between baseline and 3 months follow-up was also not statistically significant in both examined groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Similarity of results obtained in both treatment groups underlined the key role of APT in the treatment of AgP. The AMX-MET supplementation did not improve clinical and microbiological outcomes, when compared to APT alone. Longer follow-up period, with larger sample, could provide a more comprehensive insight into this issue.

Background/Aim: This investigation aimed to evaluate the intensity of self-reported pain and frequency of self-medication with analgesics during the initial phase of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and to compare possible differences between the maxillary and mandibular teeth. Material and Methods: In this observational clinical trial 68 patients had similar orthodontic forces (the same bracket-slot and prescription, archwire size and material, and treatment plan) applied on maxillary and mandibular teeth. The patients recorded pain intensity and use of analgesics for the first seven days of treatment. Comparisons between maxillary and mandibular teeth regarding the pain intensity and self-medication frequency were performed by Wilcoxson Signed Ranks Test and McNamara Test for Matched Pairs, respectively. Results: The patients reported moderate pain in both jaws which decreased significantly with each day of treatment. Still, during the initial three days of treatment intensity of pain for maxillary teeth was significantly lower compared to the mandibular teeth. Patients reported analgesics consumption for both jaws, without a statistically significant difference between them. Conclusions: The patients have reported orthodontic pain of higher intensity in the mandibular arch compared to the maxillary arch during the initial phase of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances.

Background/Aim. An impacted tooth is a tooth that could not erupt and take its place in the dental row. Impacted maxillary canines are a very frequent problem in the orthodontic practices. They are the second most impacted teeth, right after the third molars. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the two-dimensional and three-dimensional position of the impacted maxillary canines as well as to make a descriptive study analysis of possible indicators of the impaction difficulty and risk factors for adjacent tooth root resorption. Methods. 94 subjects with 116 diagnosed maxillary canines impaction (CI) were included in the investigation. The two-dimensional position of the impacted canines (IC) was evaluated on the panoramic projection of the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Canine position (CP) to the X, Y and Z-axis was measured and scored using the novel classification system that incorporates three-dimensional information of CBCT imaging, the KPG index. Based on the KPG index value, impaction was defined as easy, moderate, difficult, and extremely difficult. Descriptive variables (gender, side of impaction, etc.) and numeric variables [age, canine distance to the occlusal plane (OccP), etc.] were tested with multiple logistic regression as potential predictors of the impaction difficulty and possible risk factors. Results. The mean age of the subjects was 19.8?5.2 years. The impactions were twice as more prevalent in females, compared to males. Most impactions were unilateral (71.4%) in palatal position. Adjacent root resorption was present in 27.3% cases of impaction, and the central incisor was mostly affected. More than half of impactions were of moderate level. In univariable analysis, canine distance to sagittal medial line (SML), canine angulation (CA) to SML and OccP and CA to first premolar were significant in impaction difficulty prediction. Multivariable analysis showed that CA to the first premolar could be a risk factor for adjacent root resorption. Conclusion. Most of the impacted maxillary canines were in palatal position, with KPG index value of moderate difficulty. Beside the position to the OccP and SML, CA to the first premolar should be estimated, as a part of diagnostic procedures, to evaluate the risk of adjacent root resorption, to prevent resorption and to decide on the treatment plan.