Osseous repair in infrabony periodontal defects

Effect of periodontal therapy on patients maintained for 15 years or longer. A retrospective study

A retrospective study of tooth loss in 211 patients who were treated for periodontal disease in private practice and maintained for 15 to 34 years on 3- to 6-month recall schedules is reported. The average age of the patients was 42 years, and the average length of time in maintenance was 22 years. On the basis of response to therapy, the patients were classified as Well-Maintained (62%), Downhill (28%) and Extreme Downhill (10%). Seven hundred and seventy-one (771) teeth were lost (13.4%) due to all causes. Molar teeth are the most prone to loss and the mandibular cuspid is the most resistant. The importance of maintenance therapy is emphasized.

Clinical and volumetric analysis of three-wall intrabony defects following open flap debridement

Fourteen defects were treated with flap debridement procedures using the Prichard principle of epithelial exclusion. Six defects were considered to be medium in width (3-4 mm), seven defects were wide (greater than 4 mm), and one defect was narrow (1-2 mm). The parameters studied were changes in gingival and plaque scores, attachment levels, and bone scores. All defects were reentered 9 to 16 months after surgery and changes between the pretreatment and posttreatment bone levels were recorded. The mean gain in probing attachment level was 2.76 mm. The mean amount of defect fill measured from models was 2.56 mm, while the mean defect fill from direct measurements was 3.26 mm. The percentage defect fill measured from study models was 61%. Crestal resorption was 9.7%. The average change in defect volume unadjusted for crestal resorption was 61.8 cu mm. Seven defects had a 50% or greater decrease in defect volume, while seven defects had less than a 50% change. Intrabony defects where calculus is present on the involved tooth surface prior to therapy will repair with substantial amounts of bone as a result of open debridement.

The use of Periograf in periodontal defects. Histologic findings

Hydroxylapatite (Periograf) was placed into periodontal defects around five teeth scheduled for extraction in two young adult females with excellent plaque control. On the facial surface for one tooth the material was placed in a supracrestal position. Twelve months later the teeth were extracted in block section and were examined microscopically. Hydroxylapatite crystals were seen in the histologic sections with evidence of new bone formation in juxtaposition. The hydroxylapatite was tolerated relatively well by the surrounding tissue. A "cap' of bone was present coronal and facial to those crystals placed in the supracrestal position. In some areas bone was seen attached to the root via a periodontal ligament coronal to the Durapatite crystals. The question of accidental implantation of the material into the adjacent bone versus the actual regeneration of a true new attachment was discussed.

Clinical responses following periodontal treatment by local drug delivery

A 4-quadrant, single-blind study was designed to test the efficacy of periodontal disease therapy by local drug delivery. A delivery system made of extruded ethylene vinyl acetate fibers loaded with 25% USP tetracycline hydrochloride was placed and maintained in periodontal pockets for 10 days. The clinical effects of this form of therapy were compared with treatment by periodontal scaling. In addition, the effect of treatment by combined local delivery and scaling was investigated. Untreated quadrants were included as control. Placement of tetracycline-loaded ethylene vinyl acetate fibers into periodontal pockets established a drug concentration of approximately 0.06%. By covering the delivery system with a periodontal dressing, this concentration level was maintained throughout the 10-day therapeutic period. The average tetracycline dose used was 2.4 mg/tooth treated. Following fiber therapy, treated sites improved clinically, as evidenced by a gain in periodontal attachment and a decrease in periodontal pocket depth. The rate of new lesion formation at fiber-treated sites decreased from a pretreatment rate of 26.5% of sites/year to a posttreatment rate of 4.8% of sites/year. Periodontal scaling also produced clinical improvement, as indicated by significant attachment gain, pocket depth reduction and a decreased rate of new lesion formation. However, in no case were clinical results by scaling superior to results by local drug delivery, and by several measures local drug delivery was found to provide a better clinical response. Principal measures by which the clinical response using local drug delivery exceeded that by scaling were in early (3-6 months) attachment gain and in the degree of reduction of new lesion formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Healing after treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects. VI. Factors influencing the healing response

84 periodontal intraosseous defects treated with mucoperiosteal replaced flap surgery and citric acid root conditioning were used to study the relationships between various defect characteristics and the healing response as expressed by change of probing attachment level, change of probing bone level and residual probing depth. More gains in probing attachment and probing bone levels were observed in deep defects than in shallower lesions. Other defect characteristics showed weak or no correlations to defect fill. The findings of this study seem to indicate that the outcome of treatment of intraosseous defects may be difficult to predict based upon evaluation of defect characteristics.

Regeneration of alveolar bone following surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatment

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the regeneration of alveolar bone following surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatment. A total of 16 patients who had advanced periodontitis and demonstrated angular bony defects on radiographs participated in the study. After the initial examination, they received instruction in oral hygiene and had their teeth thoroughly scaled. When the individual patient at 2 succeeding appointments had plaque on less than 20% of the tooth surfaces, one maxillary and one mandibular quadrant was treated with the modified Widman flap procedure while one of the remaining quadrants was treated with the reverse bevel flap procedure. The last quadrant was treated with root planing under local anesthesia. None of these procedures included bone contouring. Following treatment, the patients were recalled every 2 weeks for professional tooth cleaning. Radiographs taken 12 months following treatment revealed that only minor changes in the bone level had occurred in areas with horizontal bone loss following the various treatment modalities. Following the modified Widman flap procedure, however, a statistically significant coronal regrowth of bone (0.5 mm) had occurred in angular bony defects. The majority of the angular bony defects persisted following all 3 treatment modalities.

Healing after treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects. V. Effect of root planing versus flap surgery

The present study compared surgical therapy to root planing alone in the treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects. 25 defects in 14 patients were subjected to root planing only and another 25 defects in the same patients were surgically exposed and citric acid treated. The healing response was evaluated 6 months after treatment. The mean gain of probing attachment level was 0.8 mm in the root-planed defects as compared to 1.3 mm for the surgically exposed and acid-treated defects. The probing bone level improved an average of 0.2 mm for the root-planed areas as compared to 0.6 mm for the acid-treated defects. The mean preoperative probing pocket depths of 6.7 mm and 6.8 mm for the 2 groups were reduced to 5.2 mm and 4.1 mm, respectively. The differences in these parameters were statistically significant between the 2 groups. However, both groups demonstrated limited regeneration.

Evaluation of durapatite ceramic as an alloplastic implant in periodontal osseous defects. II. Twelve month reentry results

Thirteen patients received Durapatite, a hydroxylapatite ceramic (Periograf), as a bone implant material in various types of intrabony defects following internally beveled full thickness flaps, root planing, and defect debridement. All osseous margins and defects were measured from the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) at specific locations using a standardized periodontal probe. Similarly debrided, nonimplanted defects served as controls. Defect selection as either experimental or control site was based on an alternating defects design after local therapy was completed. Periodontal dressing and systemic tetracycline were used for 10 days. Postsurgical visits for documentation and plaque control were at 10, 20 and 30 days, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Measurements relating to defect changes were made at the 12-month surgical reentry. For evaluation purposes original defect depths were divided into three groups. In Group I (less than 3 mm) defect fill was 1.0 mm (47%) for the implanted defects and 0.3 mm (33%) for the control sites (significantly different at P less than 0.05). In Group II (3-6 mm) defect fill of 1.7 mm (44%) for implanted sites was significantly better (P less than 0.05) than the 0.8 mm (29%) found in control sites. In the deepest group (Group III, greater than 6 mm) Durapatite placement yielded 2.1 mm (32%) of defect fill while debridement alone resulted in 1.8 mm (26%) of fill (P greater than 0.05). Hard tissue responses demonstrated a substantial advantage for use of Durapatite over controls, while soft tissue changes were similar for both.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Survival analysis of periodontal sites before and after periodontal therapy

Periodontal diseases appear to progress with bursts of destructive activity at individual sites. One effect of treatment might be to diminish the frequency of such bursts. Survival analysis was employed to seek such effects on the periodontal sites of 16 individuals with prior evidence of destructive periodontal disease. The subjects were monitored at bi-monthly intervals and actively breaking down sites were detected using attachment level measurements and the tolerance method of analysis. When active sites were detected, control sites of equal pocket depth and attachment loss were selected and microbiological and immunological samples were taken. The subjects were treated by modified Widman flap surgery and systemically administered tetracycline. On completion of therapy, bi-monthly monitoring was reinstituted. Life tables were constructed for periodontal sites in each of the 16 subjects prior to and after therapy. A site losing more than 3 mm of attachment at any time interval was considered to have relapsed or "died". Survivor functions were calculated for each time period indicating the % of sites which survived at any time. The subjects were divided into 3 categories on the basis of post-therapy survivor functions. The annual hazard rate in 9 good treatment response subjects (group 1) was reduced from 0.10/year to 0.01/year. The hazard rate of 5 intermediate treatment response subjects (group 2A) was reduced from 0.16/year to 0.04/year and that of 2 poor treatment response subjects (group 2B) from 0.15/year to 0.07/year. Group 2A and 2B individuals were combined and differences were sought in clinical, microbiological and immunological parameters between the good and poor treatment response groups. 5 out of 7 of the poor responding individuals showed elevated humoral antibody responses to 3 or more gram-negative subgingival species tested. Many of the elevated responses in this group were to organisms which are widely distributed and return quickly after therapy such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, Eikenella corrodens, Bacteroides intermedius and Capnocytophaga sputigena. The predominant cultivable microbiota in subgingival samples taken prior to therapy from the good responding group had significantly greater proportions of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, C. ochracea and B. intermedius than the poor responding group. The latter group showed significantly elevated proportions of F. nucleatum, Peptostreptococcus micros and Streptococcus intermedius.

Healing after treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects. IV. Effect of a non-resective versus a partially resective approach

2 regenerative surgical approaches using citric acid conditioning, were compared in the treatment of deep intraosseous periodontal defects. The first approach was non-resective in that no osseous tissue was removed. The second, a partially resective approach, involved reduction of the osseous defect depth by removal of some supporting bone. 16 patients and a total of 26 defects, with probing pocket depth greater than or equal to 7 mm, were included in the study. The depths of the corresponding osseous defect, as revealed during surgery were greater than or equal to 5 mm. The results demonstrated mean gains in probing attachment level of 0.7 mm for the partially resected group and 1.1 mm for the non-resected group. Corresponding gains in probing bone levels were recorded in the defect sites for each group. Probing pocket depth was reduced from 7.5 mm to 4.0 mm in the partially resected group and from 7.9 mm to 5.3 mm in the non-resected group. Both procedures caused loss of attachment and bony support from adjacent tooth surfaces involved by the surgical procedure. Slightly more loss of attachment and bone was experienced by the partially resected group (range 1.2-1.5 mm) than by the non-resective group (range 0.1-0.9 mm).

Healing after treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects. III. Effect of osseous grafting and citric acid conditioning

The present study was performed to determine whether the healing of periodontal intraosseous defects could be improved through the combined use of citric acid conditioning of the root surfaces and grafting of autogenous intraoral cancellous bone. 28 proximal defects in 19 patients were treated surgically including acid conditioning of the root surfaces. Another 25 defects in these patients were treated with acid conditioning combined with osseous grafts using the maxillary tuberosity areas as donor sites. Both therapies, e.g., citric acid conditioning alone and acid conditioning combined with osseous grafting resulted in approximately 1 mm gains of probing attachment and probing bone levels. Within the parameters of this study, osseous grafting did not enhance the effect of citric acid conditioning alone. Limited improvement of the treated defects of the present study was obtained in spite of the use of supplementary regenerative techniques.

Effect of periodic tooth displacement on healing of experimental furcation defects in dogs

This study compared the healing response, following reconstructive surgery, between teeth subjected to periodic displacement and teeth which were splinted during the postoperative healing period. Through-and-through furcation defects were created in the mandibular second, third, and fourth premolars of 6 beagle dogs. Bone was surgically removed from the furcation and around each root to 3 different levels: 3, 6, and 9 mm. Reconstructive surgery included demineralization of the root surface and coronally positioned flaps. During the postoperative healing period, the premolars on one side were subjected to periodic mesio-distal displacement by orthodontic elastics attached to splints. Corresponding teeth on the contralateral side were splinted to serve as non-mobile controls. The results demonstrated that reattachment occurred in 12 of 14 displaced teeth and in 14 of 16 splinted teeth. There was no difference in the amount of interradicular bone fill or frequency of ankylosis between displaced and splinted teeth. Our findings indicate that the healing response was not affected by tooth displacement in this dog furcation model.

Periodontal healing after impacted lower third molar surgery. A retrospective study

The effect on periodontal tissues of lower third molar surgery, due to impaction or semi-impaction, has been investigated in a retrospective study comprising 215 cases. The post-operative examination took place 2 years after the surgical treatment and included both clinical and radiographic variables. Clinical registrations included the amount of plaque, and presence of gingivitis and periodontal pockets. The results showed a higher incidence of plaque, gingivitis and pockets on the distal surface of the second molar than on other surfaces of the first and second molars. The alveolar bone level distal to the second molar was registered by radiographic examination with a periodontal probe as indicator. 2 years post-operatively, 43.3% of the cases exhibited pocket depths exceeding 7 mm and 32.1% showed intrabony defects exceeding 4 mm. Some factors affecting the periodontal healing after lower third molar surgery are discussed.

Periodontal diagnosis. Current status and future needs

This literature relating to current methods of periodontal diagnosis is reviewed. There exists a future need for objective diagnostic techniques which reflect the dynamics of periodontal disease activity.

An evaluation of tricalcium phosphate implants in human periodontal osseous defects of two patients

This study evaluated the use of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramic implant material in periodontal osseous defects. Thirteen defects in two patients were treated with mucoperiosteal flaps and placement of TCP. The defects were evaluated clinically and radiographically utilizing standardized probe placement and radiographic technique. Clinically, there was a mean probing pocket reduction of 4.5 mm as a result of a mean gain of clinical probing attachment level of 2.0 mm and a mean gingival recession of 2.5 mm. Radiographically, there was a mean "fill" of 1.8 mm. Six teeth were removed by block biopsy for histologic analysis, three at 3 months, one at 6 months and two a 9 months. The TCP particles were well tolerated and encapsulated by fibrous connective tissue, but the particles did not stimulate new bone growth. The junctional epithelium ended 1.62 mm coronal to the apical extent of a reference notch placed at the base of the defect. Although new cementum was observed, there was limited evidence of new attachment.

Effect of topical application of citric acid in the treatment of furcation involvement in human lower molars

Improvement of new attachment procedures using topically applied citric acid was tested in human beings. Furcation involvement and the adjacent proximal area were surgically exposed. Saline was used as placebo drug. Baseline pocket depth and attachment levels were scored prior to surgery and bone level recorded at the time of surgery. After 1, 3 and 6 months, the clinical parameters were re-scored and at that time, a re-entry operation allowed a new measurement of the bone level. In the post-operative experimental periods, there was an improvement of all clinical parameters in both the control and experimental groups. Pocket depth reduction was consistent; the gain in the attachment level compared to the baseline examination in the experimental group and the improvement in the bone height level were statistically significant within the 6-month post-operative interval; however, in both the furcation and proximal areas, no statistically significant differences could be detected on comparing experimental and control groups.

Long-term effect of surgical/non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease

The present investigation describes the effect of periodontal therapy in a group of patients who, following active treatment, were monitored over a 5-year period. One aim of the study was to analyze the rôle played by the patients' self-performed plaque control in preventing recurrent periodontitis. In addition, probing depth and attachment level alterations were studied separately for sites with initial probing depths of greater than or equal to 4 mm which were treated initially by either surgical or non-surgical procedures. Following active treatment (surgical/non-surgical), the patients were maintained on a plaque control regimen for 6 months, which included professional tooth cleaning once every 2 weeks. During the subsequent 18 months, the interval between the recall appointments was extended to 12 weeks and included prophylaxis as well as oral hygiene instruction. Following the 24-month examination, the interval between the recall appointments was further extended, now to 4-6 months. In addition, the maintenance program was restricted to oral hygiene instruction and professional, supragingival tooth cleaning, but further subgingival instrumentation was avoided. Clinical examinations including assessments of the oral hygiene, the gingival conditions, the probing depths and the attachment levels were performed at Baseline and after 24 and 60 months after completion of active therapy. Assessments of plaque and gingivitis were repeated annually. The results of the examinations showed that the patients' standard of self-maintained oral hygiene had a decisive influence on the long-term effect of treatment. Patients who during the 5 years of monitoring consistently had a high frequency of plaque-free tooth surfaces showed little evidence of recurrent periodontal disease, while patients who had a low frequency of plaque-free tooth surfaces had a high frequency of sites showing additional loss of attachment. The present findings demonstrated that sites with an initial pocket depth exceeding 3 mm responded equally well to non-surgical and surgical treatments. This statement is based on probing depth and attachment level data from sites which were free of plaque at the 6-, 12-, 24-, 36-, 48-, and 60-month reexaminations. It is suggested that the critical determinant in periodontal therapy is not the technique (surgical or non-surgical) that is used for the elimination of the subgingival infection, but the quality of the debridement of the root surface.

Lack of significance of increased tooth mobility in experimental periodontitis

This experiment was carried out in order to study the rate of progression of experimentally produced periodontal tissue breakdown in teeth which prior to the placement of cotton floss ligatures either had a normal or a permanently increased tooth mobility. Six beagle dogs were used. Trauma from occlusion of the jiggling type was produced on test teeth using a model previously described. Four months later experimental periodontal tissue breakdown was induced around both control and test teeth by placing cotton floss ligatures around the necks of the teeth. The ligatures which were exchanged once every 4 weeks during a 4-month period were replaced at the level of the gingival margin. Tooth mobility measurements and radiographic examinations were performed on Days 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 160, 240 and 300. One dog was killed on Day 120 and the remaining 5 dogs on Day 300. Biopsies of the test and control teeth were fixed in formalin, decalcified, embedded in paraffin and mesiodistal sections cut with the microtome set at 4 micron. The results demonstrated that the degree of periodontal breakdown, initiated and maintained by ligature placement and plaque accumulation, was similar around teeth with a wide periodontal ligament space and in teeth with a normal width of the periodontium. In other words, progression of the plaque-associated lesions appeared to be unrelated to the width of the periodontal ligament space, i.e., to the degree of horizontal tooth mobility.

Treatment of localized juvenile periodontitis. Results after 5 years

The present investigation was performed to study the effect on localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) of a treatment program which included tetracycline administration, surgical elimination of inflamed tissues, scaling and root planing, and careful plaque control during healing. Treatment of LJP lesions was carried out on 16 individuals aged 14 to 18 years (JP group). Lesions in first molars and incisors in a group of patients with adult periodontal disease (AP) were treated in an identical manner and served as controls. The presence of angular bony defects adjacent to first molars and incisors was first documented in all patients. Thereafter, a clinical examination was carried out, including assessments of oral hygiene status, gingival conditions, probing depths and attachment levels. The patients were subjected to a treatment program involving administration of tetracycline (250 mg 4 times per day for 2 weeks), removal of granulation tissue after flap elevation, and root curettage. After surgery, the patients were instructed to rinse the mouth with 0.2% chlorhexidine for 2 min twice a day during the first 2 postsurgical weeks. Professional tooth cleaning was carried out once every 3 months during a 5-year period. At 6, 12, 24 and 60 months after surgical treatment, the patients were re-examined regarding oral hygiene, gingival conditions, probing depths and attachment levels. Treatment of LJP lesions resulted in resolution of gingival inflammation, gain of clinical attachment, and refill of bone in angular bony defects. The healing of the lesions of this patient sample was similar to healing observed in patients with AP.

Treatment of juvenile periodontitis patients by control of infection and inflammation. Four case reports

Four patients, ages 14-17, who demonstrated characteristics of juvenile periodontitis, underwent antibiotic and surgical therapy to control microbial etiologic factors. No occlusal equilibration or bone grafting techniques were employed. Subsequent to treatment, all four patients demonstrated decreased pocket depths and mobility on teeth associated with vertical osseous defects. Osseous repair was evident on postoperative radiographs. Reentry procedures, on one patient, confirmed that osseous repair had occurred in 2- to 3-wall, 3-wall, hemi-circumferential and furcal defects. If infection and inflammation are controlled, it appears that the potential for osseous repair in juvenile periodontitis patients is greater than has been thought.

Periodontal repair after surgical debridement with and without cartilage allografts

The effect of a cartilage allograft on healing in intrabony defects treated by open flap curettage was investigated at 130 surgical sites in 4 patients. Thinned mucoperiosteal flaps were elevated and the intrabony defects were debrided. A stent with stainless steel pins was used to measure defect depth at fixed locations adjacent to the root surfaces. The bony defects treated ranged from 0-9 mm with a mean intraosseous depth of 2.4 mm. 62 sites received cartilage implants and 68 sites were treated by surgical debridement only. The flaps were readapted and sutured to the level of the alveolar crest. After 16 weeks the defects were remeasured. Both treatment methods resulted in a mean apical shift of -0.09 mm of the base of the defects that were less than 3 mm and a mean coronal shift of 0.9 mm in defects that were greater than 3.5 mm in depth. The repair in deeper lesions increased with the number of intrabony walls. Mean pocket depth at flap curettage sites was reduced from 5.4-3.3 mm (P less than 0.01) at 16 weeks. At sites receiving the cartilage, the mean pocket depth decreased from 5.6-3.6 mm (P less than 0.01). Pocket reduction resulted from a combination of surgical recession and a mean gain of 1 mm in clinical attachment (P less than 0.05 for flap curettage sites only). The cartilage implants provided no statistically significant advantage in either bony or soft tissue repair over flap debridement alone. Although bony repair is influenced by depth and configuration of the intrabony defects, significant gains in attachment and reductions in pocket depth may occur independently of changes at the base of the intrabony defects.

Periodontal response after tooth movement into intrabony defects

The present study was undertaken since conflicting evidence exists regarding the effect of such tooth movement on levels of connective tissue attachment. Localized intrabony pockets were produced around isolated incisors in four rhesus monkeys. The root surfaces were planned to the level of the bone at the base of the angular bony defects. An oral hygiene regime was begun and continued for the remainder of the study. The experimental teeth were moved orthodontically into, and through, the original area of the intrabony defect. Two months after cessation of active tooth movement, block specimens were removed for histologic analysis. Control specimens comprised those teeth with induced periodontal defects, but without tooth movement. In specimens not subjected to tooth movement, angular bony defects were present and epithelium lined the root surface to the apical extent of instrumentation. The alveolar bone adjacent to the orthodontically moved teeth no longer had angular defect morphology. On the pressure side, epithelium lined the root surface, was interposed between root surface and bone and terminated at the apical limit of root instrumentation. On the tension side, the crest of the bone was located apical to the level of root planing, and epithelium lined the instrumented portion of the root surface. It was concluded that orthodontic tooth movement into intrabony periodontal defects was without effect upon the levels of connective tissue attachment.

Potentials for root resorption during periodontal wound healing

The present study was undertaken to examine whether (1) the process of resorption, which invariably affects periodontitis involved reimplanted roots facing bone or gingival connective tissue during healing, is a transient phenomenon and, (2) root resorption can be prevented by permitting downgrowth of epithelium along the root surface. A total of 24 teeth in 2 monkeys (Macaca cynomolgus) was subjected to experimental periodontal tissue breakdown by the placement of elastic ligatures around the teeth. The ligatures were left in situ until about 50% of the supporting tissues had been lost. Following removal of the ligatures, the teeth were extracted and the denuded portions of the roots were scaled and planed. The crowns of the teeth were resected and the root canals filled with guttapercha. The roots were subsequently implanted into sockets prepared in the jaw bone in such a way that each root was embedded in bone except for a portion which was in contact with gingival connective tissue. 1 month prior to sacrifice of the animals, the cut surface of the coronal part of the roots was exposed by removal of the covering soft tissue. The epithelium was thereby allowed to migrate into the wound. Implantation of the roots was scheduled to provide healing periods of 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks before exposure of the roots. The histologic examination of the implant specimens disclosed that replacement resorption was a progressive process which eventually resulted in the elimination of the transplanted roots. It was possible to prevent root resorption in this model by permitting apical downgrowth of epithelium along the root surface during the initial phase of healing. The results are discussed in relation to procedures used in periodontal therapy.

Osseous repair in the presence of active tooth hypermobility

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the periodontal response after resolution of inflammation in a situation of established marginal periodontitis, but in the presence of active, continued tooth hypermobility. Periodontitis was induced unilaterally around mandibular second and third bicuspids in 4 squirrel monkeys by tying plaque retentive silk ligatures at the gingival margins. Jiggling trauma to the periodontium between these bicuspids was begun 5 weeks later and continued for the remaining 20 weeks. Ligatures were removed 15 weeks after placement, whereupon regular oral hygiene was begun and continued. Periodontitis and trauma were produced around the corresponding contralateral teeth (control) so that the interproximal area represented the situation immediately prior to ligature removal. Infiltrated connective tissue, loss of connective tissue attachment and alveolar bone, and percentage of bone were determined histometrically for each coronal interproximal periodontium. In control specimens, 58% of the supracrestal tissue was infiltrated with inflammatory cells compared to 19% in experimental specimens. There were no differences in levels of connective tissue attachment or crestal alveolar bone. However, bone repair occurred in the experimental specimens which increased bone volume from 11 to 18% (P less than 0.05). It was concluded that osseous repair occurred in the presence of active, continued tooth hypermobility after resolution of inflammation.

Healing responses of human intraosseous lesions following the use of debridement, grafting and citric acid root treatment. II. Clinical and histologic observations: one year postsurgery

This report details histologic healing responses at intrabony sites within two patients about 1 year after surgery. Treatment consisted of open flat debridement of the lesions. At specific sites, augmenting procedures such as autogenous grafts, allografts, synthetic grafts and citric acid root treatment were utilized. In addition, notches were made through calculus prior to root planing at specific root surfaces. These notches were placed at varying distances from the base of the lesion. Patients were followed postsurgically with frequent maintenance visits. Block sections were removed at the end of the experimental period. Clinical reduction in pocket depth was noted at all treated sites. This reduction consisted of limited pocket closure, marginal gingival recession and repocketing. Histologically, all specimens showed evidence of repair. The most mature repair appeared at sites treated with debridement and autogenous grafts. "Regeneration" of lost periodontal attachment was demonstrated by evidence of cementogenesis, osteogenesis and the presence of functionally oriented ligaments. However, the coronal regeneration appeared spatially limited. Allografts showed a similar, but less mature healing response. Synthetic graft material acted essentially as a "filler" within the defect. Citric acid root treatment did not demonstrate clear evidence of augmentation of the repair process. Of particular note in these human specimens was further histologic demonstration that "regeneration" potential apparently can only take place in close proximity to histologically viable periodontal ligament cells which may act as "donor sites" for coronal "regeneration" of lost periodontal attachment. This histologic response was observed regardless of treatment modalities used.

Effects of oral hygiene on the results of periodontal surgery in beagle dogs with artificially created defects

The effect of oral hygiene on periodontal surgery was evaluated clinically, radiographically and histologically during 24 months. In 13 beagle dogs artificial periodontal defects were created around the second, third and fourth premolars of the mandible. One week after removal of the plaque retention ligatures, periodontal surgery consisting of mucoperiosteal flaps and osseous recontouring was performed. Postoperatively, plaque accumulation was prevented by daily application of a 2% chlorhexidine solution for 2 weeks and daily toothbrushing for the next 2 weeks. Toothbrushing was continued in seven dogs; oral hygiene was discontinued in the other six. All dogs were scaled and polished at 1, 6, 12 and 18 months after surgery. Plaque accumulation in the nonbrushed dogs resulted in a heavy inflammation of the periodontium. Probing depths that had been reduced by the surgery increased and subsequently the clinical attachment level changed into a more apical level compared to the brushed dogs. Histometrically, however, no difference in attachment level could be recorded, indicating that oral hygiene did not affect the attachment level in the 2 years after surgery. It appears that oral hygiene stimulated bone formation and that the periodontal tissues had not matured in the 2 years after surgery.

Use of chlorhexidine as a plaque control measure following surgical treatment of periodontal disease

Chlorhexidine mouth rinsing was compared with regularly performed professional tooth cleaning as a plaque control measure during healing following periodontal surgery. 14 patients were selected for the study. A Baseline examination included assessment of oral hygiene status, gingival condition, probing depth and attachment level. In each patient, scaling and root planing was carried out in conjunction with the modified Widman flap procedure including recontouring of alveolar bone irregularities in 2 jaw quadrants. The same procedures without osseous surgery were performed in contralateral jaw quadrants. 7 patients rinsed their mouth with a solution of 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate twice a day, 2 min each time, for the first 6 months after therapy (healing phase). During the same period the remaining 7 patients were recalled every 2 weeks for professional tooth cleaning ad modum Axelsson & Lindhe (1974). Following reexamination after 6 months, all 14 patients were placed on a maintenance care program which included mechanical prophylaxis once every 3 months for 18 months (maintenance phase). Reexaminations were performed 6, 12 and 24 months after completion of initial therapy. The results revealed that professional tooth cleaning was somewhat more effective as a plaque control measure during healing following surgery than chlorhexidine mouth rinsing. At the end of the healing phase (1) there was a higher frequency of sites with pockets deeper than 4 mm in the patients who rinsed with chlorhexidine, (2) less gain of attachment occurred following chlorhexidine rinsing in pockets with an initial probing depth of greater than 4 mm, and (3) attachment loss in initially shallow pockets was somewhat more pronounced in the patients who rinsed with chlorhexidine. The differences in the effect of the 2 methods of plaque control, however, were small and in most respects diminished in the course of the maintenance phase. It was concluded that mouth rinsing with chlorhexidine is a proper alternative to plaque control during healing following periodontal surgery.

Periodontal healing following open debridement flap procedures. II. Histologic observations

Four tooth-containing blocks were obtained from patients being treated for infraosseous lesions of significant depth as part of their periodontal therapy. Treatment consisted of open flap debridement and professional cleansing at least every 4 weeks. Teeth in block were removed for histologic study 4 to 6 months after surgery. Histologic evaluation of the repair process showed pocket closure by epithelial and connective tissue adhesions in the form of an elongated junction epithelium, beneath which parallel-oriented fibers adhered to the root for a limited distance. Apical to this adhesion, functionally inserted fibers were present. Since no cementogenesis was seen at these latter areas, it must be assumed that the inserted fibers were present before the surgery and were not significantly affected by the procedure. No significant evidence of crestal osteogenesis was noted. However, comparison of the clinical osseous profile recorded at the time of surgical debridement with the flat crest seen in two of our cases histologically, suggests that significant crestal resorption had taken place postsurgically in some of these lesions.

Periodontal healing following open debridement flap procedures. I. Clinical assessment of soft tissue and osseous repair

The healing response of the periodontium was evaluated after periodontal flap and debridement procedures in patients with different levels of postsurgical plaque control. Thirty-one sites in 19 patients were included. Measurements were performed from a fixed reference point presurgically and before reentry surgery. All reentries were performed 24 to 28 weeks after surgery. Surgery consisted of elevating an inverse bevel mucoperiosteal flap, debriding root accretions and osseous defects, penetrating into the marrow, and suturing with interrupted sutures at or near the presurgical level. All patients were recalled at least once every 4 weeks after surgery fof professional maintenance. The number of postsurgical maintenance visits and plaque scores (NPI) before reentry were recorded for each surgical site. Average pocket depth at the 31 sites was 7.4 mm initially and 4.1 mm at the time of reentry. This reduction in pocket depth consisted of gingival recession, which averaged 2.0 mm, and a gain in attachment level, which averaged 1.4 mm. At no site was there a loss in attachment level. Average osseous depth of the 31 defects was 3.7 mm presurgically and 1.7 mm at reentry. In addition, there was an average crestal resorption of 0.8 mm and an average osseous fill of 1.2 mm. A significant positive correlation (P less than 0.001) was found between gain in attachment, osseous fill and number of postsurgical maintenance visits. A significant negative correlation was found between the amount of plaque (NPI) at the study site and both gain in soft tissue attachment and osseous fill. Multiple measurements at various points within several osseous defects revealed that osseous remodeling and fill varied significantly at different locations within the same defect.

Healing after treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects. II. Effect of citric acid conditioning of the root surface

Citric acid conditioning of the root surface as a supplement to replaced flap surgery of intraosseous periodontal defects was evaluated. Thirteen patients and a total of 45 proximal defects with residual probing pocket depth greater than or equal to 6 mm after initial preparation were used. The effect of treatment was studied in matched subsamples of the total material including one acid-treated and one nonacid-treated defect from each subject. The results demonstrated that an average gain of probing attachment level amounting to 2.l0 mm was obtained following acid treatment as compared to 1.1-1.2 mm for the nonacid-treated controls. Corresponding figures for gain or probing bone level were 1.2-1.3 mm for acid treatment and 0.8-0.9 mm for controls. The clinical significance of these findings was discussed.

Kielbone in new attachment attempts in Humans

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate, in humans, the use of Kielbone as a substitute for fresh autogenous bone in treating periodontal intrabony defects. A total of 92 intrabony defects were treated with a previously described new attachment procedure utilizing free mucosal grafts to cover the intrabony defects following bone grafting. Kielbone was placed in 46 of these defects, while the remaining 46 defects were treated with autogenous bone grafts. The results were evaluated after 6 months by periodontal probing and assessment of the bone level as seen on periodical, identical radiographs. No differences were observed between the amount of clinical gain of attachment obtained in defects treated with Kielbone and those treated with autogenous jaw bone. This indicates that in surgical procedures attempting to restore lost connective tissue attachment, Kielbone constitutes a suitable replacement for fresh autogenous bone. The results are discussed in th light of recent studies that challenge the beneficial effect of bone grafts in the treatment of intrabony defects.

Evaluation of durapatite ceramic as an alloplastic implant in periodontal osseous defects. I. Initial six-month results

Eight patients received a new polycrystalline ceramic form of pure hydroxylapatite (Durapatite) as a bone implant material in various types of infrabony defects following internally beveled full thickness flaps, root planing, and defect debridement. All osseous margins and defects were measured from the CEJ using a standardized periodontal probe. Similarly debrided defects that were not implanted served as controls. Defect selection as either experimental or control site was based on either split-mouth or alternating defects design. Periodontal dressing and systemic tetracycline were used for 10 days. Results for documentation and plaque control were at 10, 20, and 30 days, and 3 and 6 months. Measurements relating to defect changes were made at the 6-months surgical re-entry. For evaluation purposes original defect depths were divided into three groups. In Group I (less than 3 mm) defect fill was 1.2 mm (60%) for the implanted defects and 0.6 mm (40.5%) for the control sites (significantly different at P less than 0.05). In Group II (3--6 mm) defect fill of 1.7 mm (48.5%) for implanted sites was significantly better than the 0.1 mm (11.1%) for the control sites. In the deepest group (Group III greater than or equal to 6 mm) Durapatite placement yielded 2.6 mm (39.9%) of defect fill while debridement alone resulted in 1.3 mm (14.8%) of fill. Hard tissue changes demonstrated a substantial advantage for use of Durapatite over controls, while soft tissue changes were similar for both. The clinical impression at re-entry and the numerical data indicate that pure hydroxylapatite ceramic has a definite potential as an alloplastic implant in the treatment of periodontal osseous defects.

Healing after treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects. I. Comparative study of clinical methods

Four clinical methods to evaluate healing after reconstructive therapy of intraosseous periodontal defects were compared: 1. probing attachment level, 2. probing bone level, 3. entry/re-entry bone height measurements, 4. radiographic bone height determinations. Thirteen patients with a total of 33 defects volunteered for the study. It was found that the depth of the lesions recorded by the various methods showed differences which seem to relate to the varying nature of the methods. On the average, the periodontal probe penetrated 0.8 mm deeper during probing for bone level than during probing for attachment level and another 0.3 mm deeper after denudation of the lesions during entry/re-entry. The average gain of periodontal support following treatment was approximately 1.4 mm as recorded by probing attachment level, probing bone level and entry/re-entry bone height determinations, respectively. A high degree of correlation was found between all three probing methods when the changes following therapy for the individual sites were compared (r = 0.85, 0.75 and 0.81, respectively). Radiographic bone height showed lower degrees of correlation with all three probing parameters (r = 0.45, 0.46 and 0.47, respectively).

Prediction of root surface caries in patients treated for advanced periodontal disease

The present investigation was undertaken (1) to analyze the prevalence of root surface caries prior to and after periodontal treatment and (2) to determine the feasibility of using simple clinical criteria for predicting a patient's risk of developing root surface caries following periodontal therapy. Thirty-one patients were given advanced periodontal treatment including periodontal surgery. At baseline they were examined for oral hygiene status, root surface caries experience and number of lactobacilli per ml saliva as evaluated by the Dentocult dip-slide method. Follow-up examinations 1, 2 and 4 years after baseline showed that a majority of the patients were treated successfully and maintained in periodontal health. Root surface caries developed in approximately two-thirds of the patients during the 4-year observation period. However, the total increment of root lesions during these years was mostly extremely low, i.e. less than 5% of exposed root surfaces. In higher risk patients developing new root surface caries, significant correlations were demonstrated with initial pretreatment scorings from (1) their previous root surface caries experience, (2) high lactobacillus counts and (3) advancing age. In addition, root surface caries incidence and low saliva secretion rats were found to correlate significantly during the course of the study.

Histometric evaluation of periodontal surgery. III. The effect of bone resection on the connective tissue attachment level

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of surgical elimination of the osseous walls of angular bony defects on the connective tissue attachment and alveolar bone levels. Using a Rhesus monkey model, 36 periodontal pockets in four animals were operated on while the contralateral pockets served as unoperated controls. Plaque control was maintained until the animals were killed 1 year after surgery. Following routine processing, the interdental tissues were analyzed histometrically. Comparing measurements of surgically treated and untreated sites, resection of the osseous walls of interdentally located angular bony defects caused not only a reduction in the height of the alveolar bone but also a significant loss of connective tissue attachment. The procedure also resulted in the elimination of angular bony defects, intrabony pockets, and in addition, reduced the height of the interdental soft tissue.

The behavior of angular bony defects following reduction of inflammation

This study was designed to quantitate the changes in experimental angular bony defects and the surrounding tissues following the removal of irritants associated with marginal periodontitis. Plaque retentive ligatures were placed around the mandibular second bicuspids in each of four squirrel monkeys. Ten weeks later the ligatures were removed and mechanical cleaning was implemented. At the same time, ligatures were placed on the contralateral (control) bicuspids. After 10 weeks the monkeys were sacrificed and the tissues prepared for analysis. The control tissues represented the state of the periodontium immediately prior to ligature removal and the implementation of 10 weeks of mechanical cleaning. Histometric analyses revealed a reduction from 68 to 14% in the inflammatory cell infiltrate present in the supracrestal connective tissue following ligature removal and plaque control. Concomitant with this decrease was a 50% increase (P < 0.01) in the amount of bone present in the coronal periodontium. There was bone repair at the crest and along the angular defect but there was not a total regeneration of the lesion. These tissue changes were accompanied by a reduction in tooth mobility and a reformation of the gingival architecture although there was no new attachment. It appears that there is a potential for bone repair in these angular defects without an alteration in the connective tissue attachment level.

Histometric evaluation of periodontal surgery. I. The modified Widman flap procedure

The present investigation was performed in the Rhesus monkey to determine the effect of the modified Widman flap procedure on the level of the connective tissue attachment and supporting alveolar bone. Two adult male Rhesus monkeys were used. Eighteen contralateral pairs of periodontal pockets were produced in a standardized manner. Surgical treatment of the pockets was performed around experimental teeth and the contralateral teeth were used as the unoperated controls. Twelve months following treatment the animals were sacrificed and histological sections obtained. Using the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) as a fixed reference point, linear measurements along the root surface were made to the most apical cells of the junctional epithelium (JE), to the crest of the interproximal alveolar bone (CR), and to the apical extent of angular bony defects (AAD). These measurements from operated and unoperated pockets were then compared. The data revealed that treatment of periodontal pockets using the modified Widman flap procedure produced no gain in connective tissue attachment and no increase in crestal bone height. In angular bony defects a certain degree "bone fill" was noted. This bone repair was never accompanied by new connective tissue attachment.