Periodontal diseases are oral disorders characterized by inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth. Usually, periodontitis is a progressively destructive loss of bone and periodontal ligament (loss of the attachment apparatus of the teeth). Periodontitis has documented risk factors, including but not limited to specific plaque bacteria, smoking, and diabetes mellitus. Initially, the link between systemic disease and periodontal diseases was thought to be unidirectional. Currently, there is increasing evidence that the relationship between these entities may be bidirectional. Recent case-control and cross-sectional studies indicate that periodontitis may confer a 7-fold increase in risk for preterm low birth weight infants and a 2-fold increase in risk for cardiovascular disease. These early reports indicate the potential association between systemic and oral health. Additionally, these studies support the central hypothesis that periodontal disease involves both a local and a systemic host inflammatory response. This knowledge of disease interrelationships may prove vital in intervention strategies to reduce patient risks and prevent systemic disease outcomes. Based on the current evidence of the periodontal-systemic disease connection, the purpose of this report is to help establish the groundwork for closer communication between physicians and periodontists in the military health care setting.

Although there were isolated differences, the overall trend was that the pluronic polyol and the mode of administration did not result in a significant change in bone wound healing as measured by the percentage of bone fill. Pluronic polyols may be considered as carriers for osseous graft materials.

A pyogenic granuloma is an exuberant growth of granulation tissue secondary to irritation. Intraorally, it can present with a wide array of clinical appearances, ranging from a sessile lesion to an elevated mass. Pyogenic granulomas generally are soft, painless, and deep red to reddish-purple in color. They are usually 0.5 to 1.0 cm in diameter, more common in females, and often found on the keratinized tissue. This case is interesting because the pyogenic granuloma was found associated with guided tissue regeneration and the lingual alveolar mucosa. The lesion arose after demineralized freeze dried bone allograft and an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane were utilized to repair osseous defects. Five weeks after surgery, the patient presented for routine follow-up where suppuration associated with the membrane was noted along with an exophytic growth of the lingual alveolar mucosa. The ePTFE membrane was removed alone with an excisional biopsy of one of the growths. By 10 days after the removal of ePTFE, the lesion spontaneously healed. Histologic evaluation of the tissue was consistent with a pyogenic granuloma. This is the first case in the literature of a pyogenic granuloma associated with a routine guided tissue regenerative surgery using a non-resorbable membrane and allograft.

Alveolar ridge deformities are usually the result of trauma, periodontal disease, surgical insult, or developmental defects. Preventing ridge collapse with the extraction of maxillary anterior teeth is vital to an esthetic restorative result. Several techniques are available to prevent ridge collapse. In these case presentations, ridge preservation was achieved utilizing an acellular dermal matrix as a barrier membrane with a demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft. This report demonstrated an acceptable esthetic result with no loss of ridge height or width. Soft tissue dimensions were also preserved. The two graft materials were well accepted by the body and healing was rapid and without significant discomfort. The technique illustrated provides the surgeon with another option to prevent ridge collapse and ultimately improve esthetics.