Background:Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic coccus that can survive under harsh conditions. Studies have shown a positive relationship between biofilm formation and gelE gene expression in E. faecalis. The production of gelatinase (MMP 2) has been detected in 50% of E. faecalis isolates from endodontic and periodontal infections, which suggests its role in the pathogenesis of apical and marginal periodontitis. Although E. faecalis is not considered a periodontopathogen, this species has been more frequently detected in subgingival samples with periodontitis than from periodontally healthy subjects, suggesting that the local conditions in periodontitis may favor its colonization. Hence, the aim of the current study was to detect and compare the presence of E. faecalis in subgingival biofilms of healthy, gingivitis, and periodontitis subjects.Materials and Methods:A total of 100 subjects aged between 25 and 55 years, from the Outpatient Department of Periodontics were recruited for the study. All the subjects were screened for gingival and periodontal status using plaque index, gingival index, and clinical attachment loss. They were divided into three groups based on the clinical findings.• Group A: 18 healthy individuals (gingival index with score zero)• Group B: 34 gingivitis patients (gingival index with score >1)• Group C: 48 chronic periodontitis patients (clinical attachment loss >5 mm in >30% of sites).Subgingival plaque samples of all the enrolled subjects were collected using a sterile curette, later poured into a transport medium (Viability Medium Goteborg Agar III) and sent for microbial culturing within 2 h for detection of E. faecalis.Results:E. faecalis was detected in 26.8% of all samples evaluated. There was a significantly higher frequency of E. faecalis in subgingival biofilms of periodontitis group (41.7%), compared to gingivitis (5.9%) and healthy group (0%).Conclusion:Enterococci may contribute to increased collagen and periodontal destruction and may further lead to disease progression in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Aims: It has been estimated that >30% of male infertility cases are of idiopathic etiology. Recent studies revealed a positive connection between periodontal pockets and sperm submotility, which proposes that periodontitis may have a role in male infertility and inadequate semen quality. The aim of the present investigation was to inspect the relationship between male fertility parameters and the periodontal status of male patients attending in vitro treatment (IVF) clinic. Materials and Methods: The study participants comprised 85 men going to the facility for sperm investigation before semen insemination. The nature of sperm was surveyed by the WHO 2010 criteria. On the same day, male patients were examined for periodontal parameters. Results: The patients were determined to have either gingivitis (24.7%) or periodontitis (75.3%). Normospermia was credited to 23.5% and oligozoospermia to 43.5%. Sperm submotility was seen in 76.4% of patients. A higher number of sites with clinical attachment loss showed a positive correlation with sperm submotility and sperm count. Conclusions: The findings of the present study showed a conceivable relationship between male infertility, decreased semen quality, and periodontal diseases in men visiting IVF centers. Periodontitis may subsequently play a role in male infertility.

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Background: Photobiomodulation (PBM), formerly known as low-level laser therapy, has been successfully used for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in postoperative care. It is also known to have a positive effect on healing and regeneration, at an appropriate power and wavelength. Aim: The main objective was to assess the effect of preoperative as well a postoperative irradiation with low power of 100 milliwatts (mW) and 810-nanometer (nm) (near-infrared) and 660-nanometer(nm) (red) wavelengths on healing as well pain at mandibular third molar extraction sockets. Methodology: Twenty-six patients who were scheduled for mandibular third molar extractions were enrolled in the study and were randomly assigned to the experimental and control group. The experimental group consisted of 13 patients who were subjected to 810-nm irradiation at 100 MW at the site immediately before and after the extraction was completed. In addition, they also received a transcutaneous irradiation of 660-nm wavelength light 1-day postoperatively. The control group received no irradiation immediately after postextraction or the day after. Pain and healing were assessed using the visual analog scale and Turnbull and Howley's Index for soft-tissue healing on the 7 th and the 21 st days. Data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test. Results: The results showed clinically significant improvements in healing index scores and pain scores of the experimental group than the control group ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion: PBM at an appropriate wavelength is a potential tool for the management of pain and accelerating healing at mandibular third molar extraction sites.