Background:Dental caries and periodontal disease are most common oral diseases. Streptococcus mutans are considered to be the major pathogens in initiation of dental caries. Evidence shows that periodontal disease and caries share a number of contributory factors. Thus in view of these findings it would be worthwhile to examine whether Streptococcus mutans persist within the saliva and subgingival environment of the periodontitis patients and to determine whether there is any association between Streptococcus mutans colonization, pH of saliva and sub-gingival plaque pH in periodontal diseases before therapy.Methods:The study comprises of 75 subjects aged between 20-70 years, reporting to department of Periodontology, KLEs Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore. Subjects were divided into 3 groups of 25 each. Group 1 – Healthy controls, Group 2 – Gingivitis Group, 3 – Chronic periodontitis. Unstimulated saliva was collected in sterile container and immediately pH was evaluated. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from four deepest periodontal pockets in chronic periodontitis and from first molars in healthy subjects using 4 sterile paper points. In gingivitis subjects samples were collected from areas showing maximum signs of inflammation. All paper points and saliva samples were cultured on mitis salivarius agar culture media with bacitracin for quantification of the Streptococcus mutans colonies.Results:Increased colonization of Streptococcus mutans was seen in chronic periodontitis subjects both in saliva and sub-gingival plaque samples. There was also a positive correlation seen with the periodontal parameters.Conclusion:More severe forms of periodontal disease may create different ecological niches for the proliferation of Streptococcus mutans.

The desire for improved esthetics has increased tremendously over the years. Periodontal plastic surgery deals with regenerative procedures designed to restore form, function and enhance esthetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of subepithelial connective tissue graft using pouch and tunnel technique as root coverage procedure. Three patients corresponding to a total of 8 sites participated in the study. Maxillary teeth with miller's class I gingival recession were included in the study. All the sites were treated using subepithelial connective tissue graft using pouch and tunneling technique. Patients were followed up for a period of 6 months and 1 year. All the treated teeth showed 100% root coverage at the end of 6 months and 1 year. Gingival recession is a common occurrence and its prevalence increases with age. It can lead to clinical problems, diminished cosmetic appeal and hence esthetic concern. There are various techniques for root coverage. Subepithelial connective tissue graft has shown the best predictability (95%) of root coverage in Millers class I & II cases. This technique preserves the intermediate papilla, accelerates the initial wound healing & also applies less traction. Due to minimal trauma at the recipient site, this procedure may be advantageous in treatment of recession as compared to other treatment modalities.

Objectives: Aggressive periodontitis is characterized rapid and severe destruction of the tooth supporting tissues with a complex and unclear etiopathogenesis. The present study was designed to identify the role of herpesviruses in pathogenesis of aggressive periodontitis. Material and methods: Study included 15 subjects diagnosed with aggressive periodontitis (group A) and 15 periodontally healthy subjects (group B). Subgingival plaque was collected from the deepest periodontal pocket and gingival tissue biopsy from the adjacent interdental papilla. Results analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Results: EBV detected in 67% plaque and 73% tissue samples in group A, 7% plaque and none in the tissue samples in group B. HCMV identified in 53% plaque and 20% of tissue samples in group A, 20% plaque and 7% tissue samples in group B. HSV-1 found in 47% plaque and 13% tissue samples in group A, 13% plaque and 47% tissue samples in group B. Conclusion: An increased prevalence of EBV, HCMV and HSV-1 in group A in comparison to healthy controls was observed. Only EBV showed significant difference between both groups. Despite similarity in pathogenic traits between herpesvirus diseases and Periodontitis, delineating the exact role that viruses play in the etiopathogenesis of aggressive periodontitis is difficult.