The aim: To study clinical efficiency of using the diode laser in the treatment of chronic catarrhal and hypertrophic gingivitis. Materials and methods: Treatment of 32 patients with chronic catarrhal gingivitis and 30 patients with hypertrophic gingivitis by basic therapy according to the protocols of dental care was carried out. The patients of the main groups were additionally subjected to laser irradiation of the affected areas of the gums with a diode laser. Results: The use of laser therapy in the treatment of chronic catarrhal gingivitis contributed to the pain relief, reducing of bleeding and edema of the gums in 68.8% of patients on the 3rd day of observation. On the 7th day, 93.8% of the examined patients had no inflammation in periodontal tissues. During treatment of hypertrophic gingivitis, anti-inflammatory and decongestant effects, improvements in the aesthetic appearance of the gums were revealed in 33.3% patients on the 3rd day of the examination; absence of inflammation, gingival bleeding and gum hypertrophy was diagnosed in 53.3% on the 7th day and in 80.0% patients on 14th day of follow-up. In the control group, similar changes were revealed only in 68.8% patients with catarrhal gingivitis and in 46.7% patients with hypertrophic gingivitis after complete course of drug treatment in 14 days of observation. Conclusions: The use of a diode laser in patients with chronic gingivitis has provided a reduction in the term required for the complete elimination of the inflammatory process and suspended its further progression.

Annotation. Timely diagnosis of vertical root fractures is a big challenge to dentists, because there are no specific clinical signs, symptoms and X-ray features. The aim of the research is to study clinical cases of vertical root fractures in endodontically treated teeth and to carry out analysis the methods of their diagnosis, clinical features and radiological characteristics. In patients aged 40-65 years, 34 clinical cases of vertical root fracture are considered. The main and additional methods of patients’ examination are analyzed. The statistical calculation of the obtained results is performed by the method of variation statistics with the determination of the Student’s t-test using computer programs Microsoft® Excel 2017 and “Statistica 6.1”. Clinical symptoms and abnormal findings during examination were recorded but not subjected to statistical analysis. Clinical examination revealed periodontal swelling or abscess in 6 patients, isolated narrow and deep periodontal pocket in 24 patients, low localized fistula in 9 patients. Radiological results: only in 6 clinical cases a vertical fracture line was observed on intraoral X-ray images; in 30 cases the destruction of bone tissue in the periapical area, mainly in the halo-type radiolucency was determined; in 4 cases no pathological changes in periapical bone tissue were revealed. Vertical root fracture was confirmed by muco-periosteal flap detachment in all cases. It has been established that a number of signs, namely: isolated deep narrow periodontal pocket; coronally located fistula; characteristic bone destruction (J-shaped or “halo” radiolucency) on the radiograph indicate the likelihood of vertical root fracture. Signs of fenestration of the bone adjacent to the fractured root and visualization of the fracture line after mucoperiosteal flap surgery are pathognomonic.

The aim: The research was to evaluate the effectiveness of acute traumatic pulpitis treatment with the use of bioceramics according to the results of a clinical study. Materials and methods: Acute traumatic pulpitis of 25 teeth in 25 patients aged 18-25 years were treated by biological direct pulp capping. In 13 patients of the main group, bioceramics was placed on the exposed pulp, and in 12 patients of the control group, calcium hydroxide paste was applied on the exposed pulp. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated according to the following criteria: the absence of clinical signs of pulpal inflammation, on X-ray – signs of dentinal bridge formation, the absence of periapical changes. Results: The use of bioceramic material in patients of the main group provided a positive dynamic of treatment in 12 teeth. The need for re-treatment was diagnosed only in 1 clinical case (7.7%), in the control group – in 4 cases (33.3%). Conclusions: Pulpitis treatment with the use of bioceramics provides preserving the functional properties of pulp, creation of a calcified barrier – dentin bridge and prevents the periodontal complications compared to the pulp capping with a material based on calcium hydroxide. The effectiveness of treatment in the main group was 92.3%, in the control – 66.7%.

The aim: To compare the quality of root canal system preparation with the use of manual K-files, machine Protaper Universal and Silk files by in vitro studies. Materials and methods: Root canals preparation in 45 extracted premolars was performed in three groups with 15 teeth in each with K-files, Protaper Universal and Silk files. Transverse sections of the dental root were prepared. Histologically were assessed: amount of sawdust and predentin remaining, the purity degree of root canal walls. Results: When calculating the sawdust amount at the distance of 3 mm from an apex, a high degree of contamination was observed in the manual K-file group: 53.3% versus 33.3% in the Protaper Universal group and against 20.0% in the Silk file group. The amount of predentin after root canal treatment with manual files reached 25-30%. At the distance of 5 mm from the apex the root canals with high and medium purity degree were detected in 86.7% with Silk files and 80.0% with Protaper Universal files used. All predentin was removed when working with Protaper Universal and Silk files. Conclusions: In the histological sections of the root canals treated with K-files, the larger amount of dentine particles and predentin has been revealed than when using machine tools. The largest amount of predentin and dentine were removed with Protaper Universal files. Silk endodontic system is better for treatment of the root canals dentine surface in the apical area compared to Protaper Universal and K-files.

Annotation. The study aimed to analyze references in the scientific literature on hard dental tissue damage and periodontal and oral mucosal diseases in patients with concomitant gastrointestinal tract pathology. We used the bibliosemantic method to identify the status of the outlined issues and analysis of the scientific research data. Based on data from national and international published literature on the topic, the prevalence, severity and structurality of changes in the organs and tissues of the oral cavity associated with gastrointestinal tract diseases were evaluated. The review was carried out using data from scientific articles for the period of 2011-2022 with search words “Digestive System Diseases”, and “Diseases of the Oral Cavity” using the MESH subject headings: dental caries susceptibility, mouth diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, malabsorption syndromes, dental caries, tooth demineralization and others. The final analysis included 75 scientific articles corresponding to the purpose of the study. Data obtained from analysis of literary sources of recent years suggests that both local and general factors are involved in the process of occurrence and course of dental pathology with concomitant involvement of the gastrointestinal tract. The nature of their interaction will determine the peculiarities of the course of dental diseases. However, the lack of convincing data on the age-related features of the occurrence and development of dental diseases, as well as the inconsistency of the results regarding the significance of risk factors for the progress of comorbid conditions complicates the methods development of their treatment and prevention. The listed features of the course of dental diseases with a combined involvement of gastrointestinal disorders indicate the mandatory complexity of treatment, taking into account concomitant pathology.