Aim: To determine whether there is a relationship between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Vaccination is a process that induces specific immune resistance to a bacterial or viral infectious disease. Vaccines have prevented several infectious diseases for many years, and are still being investigated. In late eighteenth century, Edward Jenner developed and established the principle of vaccination using the cross protection conferred by cowpox virus, which is non pathogenic in humans. Regarding a vaccine against the periodontal disease, the complexity of the periodontopathic bacteria might be a problem in determination of Antigens. Among some 300 species of bacteria involved in subgingival plaque, 5-7 species have been implicated in the etiology of periodontitis but one or two species; P.gingivalis or B. forsythus might play an important role as primary pathogens. Vaccination accomplished can be active immunization, passive immunization or DNA vaccination, made from the antigenic epitopes in periodontopathic bacteria. In light of the increasing evidence that periodontitis significantly increases risk for potentially fatal diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke and complications from diabetes mellitus a successful vaccine for periodontitis could have health benefits far exceeding the prevention of periodontitis.

No abstract

The recession of gingiva is increasingly becoming a more prominent condition in the oral health of many patients and should be treated at its earliest detection. The multi-factorial etiology, decision modality, and current trends followed in treatment of gingival recession are discussed in this presentation. The correction of class I and II gingival recessions are presented as a means of minimizing surgical trauma and achieving predictable aesthetic results. In this case report, I present an alternative technique in treating gingival recession- the tunnel connective tissue graft.

Dental caries has a multifactorial etiology in which there is interplay of three principal factors. The host (saliva and teeth), the micro flora (plaque), and the substrate (diet), and a fourth factor time. Many times the initiation, development and progression of dental caries are often influenced by the oral health status, aetiology, modifying factors, preventive factors and other risk factors. There is no single test that takes into consideration all these factors and can accurately predict an individual's susceptibility to caries. The risk of dental caries can be evaluated by analyzing and integrating several causative factors. Caries risk assessments during treatment can serve as monitoring aid for the success of the treatment. The aim of this review is to assess the risk factors associated with dental caries so that the treatment can be planned accordingly.