The effects of hydrogen sulphide on alveolar bone loss in periodontitis

AIM

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), recently considered the third endogenous gaseous transmitter capable of modulating many physiological processes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the morphometric and histopathological changes associated with experimental periodontitis in rats in response to systemic administration of H2S METHODS: Forty-eight Wistar rats were divided into six experimental groups: non-ligated (NL) group; ligature only (LO) group; systemic administration of NaHS (H2S donor drug) alone (NaHS) group (14 µmol/kg body weight per day); and ligature placed and systemic administration of three different doses of NaHS groups (14, 28 and 70 µmol/kg/day) (L-NaHS-14, L-NaHS-28 and L-NaHS-70, respectively). Silk ligatures were placed at the gingival margin of lower first molars. Changes in alveolar bone levels were clinically measured and tissues were histopathologically examined.

RESULTS

At the end of 15 days alveolar bone loss significantly higher in the entire ligature (LO and L-NaHS-14, -28 and -70) groups compared to the unligated groups (P<0.05) but there were no statistically significant differences in alveolar bone loss between LO and L-NaHS groups. Osteoclast number was significantly lower in L-NaHS-70 group than those of L-NaHS-14 and L-NaHS-28 groups (P<0.05). The osteoblastic activity of the L-NaHS-14 and -70 groups were significantly higher than those of the other groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggested that NaHS, when administered systemically with three different doses, did not prevent or increase alveolar bone loss in the rat model.

Palatal mucosa necrosis because of accidental sodium hypochlorite injection instead of anaesthetic solution

AIM

A case is reported in which sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was inadvertently injected into the palatal mucosa instead of local anaesthetic solution.

SUMMARY

An adult male was referred to the University clinic 15 days after an inadvertent NaOCl injection into the palatal mucosa. Soft tissue necrosis was evident, without obvious bony involvement. Tissues healed without scarring within 30 days. No surgical intervention was required.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

NaOCl is highly irritant when extruded into vital tissues.--Dentists should be careful to avoid the misuse of NaOCl, and should check the nature of any agent before injecting it into patients.--NaOCl should not be dispensed in a way that could allow it to be mistaken for local anaesthetic solutions.--The well-perfused tissues of the oral cavity have considerable healing ability.