bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Porphyromonas gingivalis‐specific IgG subclass antibody levels as immunological risk indicators of periodontal bone loss
Authors: Sakai Yoko , Shimauchi Hidetoshi , Ito Hiro‐O. , Kitamura Masahiro , Okada Hiroshi 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground: It has been well demonstrated a positive association between the magnitude of host antibody response and periodontal disease status. Previous studies also reported that Porphyromonas gingivalis‐specific IgG subclass antibodies were elevated in sera from adult periodontitis patients. However, the rôle and the association of these IgG subclass antibodies to the development of periodontal diseases are poorly understood.Aim: The aim of present investigation was to examine the relation of serum IgG subclass antibody levels and alveolar bone loss in treated and untreated periodontitis patients.Methods: Serum samples were taken from 20 treated and maintained periodontitis patients (SPT patients), 30 untreated patients and 19 periodontally healthy subjects. We determined the IgG subclass antibody titers to P. gingivalis whole cells using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Subgingival plaque samples were taken from the mesio‐buccal surface of 6 randomly selected teeth of SPT patients and evaluated for the presence of P. gingivalis by immunofluorescence microscopy. Clinical measurements were also taken including full mouth intraoral radiographs to measure interproximal alveolar bone loss at baseline (BLS1) and at a 5‐year recall visit in the SPT patients (BLS2).Results: Our results indicated that both patient groups had detectable levels of IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4. Significantly higher IgG1 was observed in both patient groups compared to the healthy subjects. The untreated patients also exhibited significantly elevated IgG2 response (p<0.05). The mean IgG4 level of the SPT patients was significantly higher compared to the other subject group (p<0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation between IgG2 levels and changes in bone levels (ΔBLS: BLS2‐BLS1) was seen in the SPT patients (p<0.001). SPT patients with high IgG2 and low IgG4 showed greater bone loss than those with low IgG2 and high IgG4 (p<0.05), although the mean prevalence of P. gingivalis in the 2 groups did not differ significantly.Conclusion: Our data suggest that the prolonged IgG2 response after periodontal treatment may be indicative of recurrent or persistent periodontal destruction.
Herpes viruses and periodontopathic bacteria in early‐onset periodontitis
Authors: Kamma Joanna J. , Contreras Adolfo , Slots Jørgen 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectives: This study examined the occurrence of human herpes viruses and suspected periodontopathic bacteria in early‐onset periodontitis patients who experienced progressive disease in at least 2 periodontal sites during the maintenance phase of therapy.Material and methods: In each of 16 individuals (9 male and 7 female; mean age 33.1±2.6 years), subgingival plaque samples were collected from 2 deteriorating and 2 stable periodontitis sites. A nested polymerase chain reaction method determined the presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Epstein‐Barr virus type 1 (EBV‐1) and herpes simplex virus (HSV). A 16s rRNA polymerase chain reaction method identified Porphyromonas gingivalis, Dialister pneumosintes, Bacteroides forsythus and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.Results: HCMV was detected in 59.4% of active and in 12.5% of stable sites (p<0.001), EBV‐1 in 43.8% of active and in 12.5 % of stable sites (p=0.01), HSV in 34.5% of active and in 9.4% of stable sites (p=0.03), and co‐infection with any of the 3 test herpesviruses in 43.8% of active and in 3.1% of stable sites (p<0.001). P. gingivalis was detected in 71.9% of active and in 37.5% of stable sites (p=0.01), D. pneumosintes in 62.5% of active and in 18.8% of stable sites (p=0.04), co‐infection with P. gingivalis and D. pneumosintes in 50% of active and in 0% of stable sites (p<0.001), and co‐infection with any 3 or 4 of the test bacteria in 40.6% of active and in 0% of stable sites (p=0.001). All periodontitis sites showing herpesvirus co‐infection and all but one site showing P. gingivalis and D. pneumosintes co‐infection revealed bleeding upon probing.Conclusions: HCMV, EBV‐1, HSV and herpesvirus co‐infection, as well as P. gingivalis, D. pneumosintes and P. gingivalis‐D. pneumosintes co‐infection were statistically associated with active periodontitis. Herpesviruses are immunosuppressive and may set the stage for overgrowth of subgingival P. gingivalis, D. pneumosintes and other periodontopathic bacteria. Understanding the significance of herpesviruses in human periodontitis may allow for improved diagnosis, more specific therapy and, ultimately, disease prevention.
Prevalence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in an ethnic adult Chinese population
Authors: Tan Kai Soo , Woo Chee Hoe , Ong Grace , Song Keang Peng 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the structure of the leukotoxin promoter region of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in an ethnic Chinese population.Method: Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 42 patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis and 50 periodontally healthy patients. A. actinomycetemcomitans was detected directly from the crude subgingival plaque by PCR using leukotoxin gene specific primers. The presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans was determined by a single 285 bp PCR amplicon.Results: A. actinomycetemcomitans was found to be present in the subgingival plaque of 68 out of a total of 92 patients examined (74%). 29 out of the 42 periodontitis patients tested were carriers of A. actinomycetemcomitans (69%). Among the periodontally healthy patients studied, 39 out of 50 subjects possessed the bacteria (78%). PCR analysis of the promoter region of the ltx operon revealed that none of the 42 moderate to advanced periodontitis patients examined harboured A.actinomycetemcomitans strains with the JP2‐like promoter of the ltx operon, known to enhance leukotoxin expression. 2 out of the 27 advanced periodontitis patients clinically diagnosed as suffering from rapidly progressive periodontitis were found to be carriers of the mildly toxic strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans with the characteristic 652‐like promoter.Conclusions: The high prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans, regardless of whether the subgingival samples were analysed from patients with healthy or diseased periodontium suggests that this bacterial species is part of the normal oral flora of ethnic Chinese. Our preliminary results also suggested that subjects who harboured the mildly toxic strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans were potentially susceptible to aggressive forms of periodontitis.
Tongue coating and salivary bacterial counts in healthy/gingivitis subjects and periodontitis patients
Authors: Mantilla Gómez S. , Danser M. M. , Sipos P. M. , Rowshani B. , Van Der Velden U. , Van Der Weijden G. A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground: The papillary structure of the dorsum of the tongue forms a unique ecological site that provides a large surface area favoring the accumulation of oral debris and microorganisms. These micro‐organisms of the tongue may be of influence on the flora of the entire oral cavity. The normal appearance of the dorsum of the tongue is either pinkish or has a thin white coating. For the present study a scoring method was developed to describe the appearance of the dorsum of the tongue in relation to the extent of color and thickness of tongue coating.Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the discoloration and coating of the tongue in healthy/gingivitis subjects and periodontitis patients. Furthermore, to determine the relationship between the appearance of the tongue and the bacterial load in salivary samples.Material and Methods: 2 groups of patients were studied, 70 healthy/gingivitis subjects and 56 periodontitis patients. After scoring of the tongue a salivary sample of each patient was taken and analyzed using a phase‐contrast microscope.Results: This investigation showed that most discoloration was found on the distal part of the tongue. The mean number of bacteria per ml sample in relation to a pink, white and yellow appearance of the tongue was 948, 855 and 900 (×106) respectively. The mean number of bacteria per ml sample in relation to no, thin and thick coating was 948, 863, and 895 (×106), respectively. Analysis did not reveal a relationship between discoloration, coating thickness and total bacterial load. The mean number of bacteria per ml in healthy/gingivitis subjects was 860 and in periodontitis patients 918 (×106).Conclusion: No relationship between the appearance of the tongue and salivary bacterial load could be detected. There was no difference in bacterial load between the healthy/gingivitis and the periodontitis group within the present study population.
Changes in subgingival microflora and humoral immune response following periodontal therapy
Authors: Darby I. B. , Mooney J. , Kinane D. F. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectives: To investigate the effect of scaling and root planing (SRP) on the microflora and humoral immune response in adult periodontitis.Materials & Methods:Clinical measurements, subgingival plaque samples, gingival crevicular fluid and sera were taken from 4 sites in 28 adult periodontitis patients before and after SRP. Polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis,B. forsythus, P. intermedia, and T. denticola. ELISA was used to investigate the systemic and local antibody titres to these organisms, and thiocyanate dissociation for the determination of serum antibody avidity.Results: SRP produced a good clinical improvement. On a subject basis there was little significant change in the microflora. However, on a site basis, there were significant reductions in P. intermedia, B. forsythus and T. denticola. There was little change in systemic and local antibody titres following SRP, although there was a significant reduction in antibody avidity to P. gingivalis and P. intermediaConclusion: Post‐therapy clinical improvement was associated with a reduction in bacterial prevalence, but statistical significance was only reached at a site level and this microbial reduction was not significant for all organisms. No significant post‐therapy effects on the humoral immune response were noted other than a reduced antibody avidity to P. gingivalis and P. intermedia. The lack of a clear pattern in the humoral immune response may reflect a failure of the host response to produce adequate levels of biologically functional antibodies, and complex interactions between the subgingival flora and the host response.
Testing the efficacy of 2 prototype brush heads for a powered toothbrush: refining the model
Authors: McCracken G. I. , Heasman L. , Stacey F. , Steen N. , De Jager M. , Heasman P. A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectives: To compare 2 prototype powered toothbrush (PTB) heads (A, B) to a marketed head (Sensiflex 2000) for plaque removing efficacy on the Philips/Jordan HX2550 PTB.Materials and Methods: A 2‐week, 3‐group, single‐blind trial recruited 78 volunteers (18–25). Plaque indices (PIs) were recorded at screening and 14 days later at baseline. Subjects were stratified (gender and PI) and then asked to abstain from oral hygiene measures for 48 h. A supervised episode of brushing with the allocated PTB head followed. Subjects then used the PTBs at home for the next 12 days before being asked to abstain from all oral hygiene measures for another 48 h prior to a second supervised brushing episode. Plaque was scored using a new modification of the Quigley & Hein Index (PI) at full mouth (FM), interproximal (IP) and smooth surfaces (SS). PIs were recorded before and after the supervised brushing episodes to enable the means of the within subject differences (pre‐ to post‐brushing) to be compared between groups (ANOVA/t‐tests).Results: There were no significant differences in PI between groups at baseline or prior to the supervised brushings (p>0.05). Highly significant, mean reductions in PIs (approximately 1/2 of one PI unit) were observed for design B compared with the Sensiflex 2000 at FM and IP sites (p<0.0001) for both supervised brushing episodes. A significant reduction in PI at SS was seen only after the first brushing episode (p=0.0004). For design A, PI reductions were consistently greater than those for the Sensiflex 2000 but differences were only significant at the p<0.05 level.Conclusion: It is concluded that this model of clinical trial has sufficient power to demonstrate clinical superiority with respect to plaque removal for PTBs and can be used for testing one or more prototype designs of brush heads.
The effects of subgingival calculus on the clinical outcomes of locally‐delivered controlled‐release doxycycline compared to scaling and root planing
Authors: Johnson Lonnie R. , Stoller Norman H. , Polson Alan , Harrold Charles Q. , Ryder Mark , Garrett Steve 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground, aim: The effect of subgingival calculus on the clinical outcomes of the local delivery of antimicrobials is unknown. This study examines the clinical outcomes of treatment with locally delivered controlled‐release doxycycline (DH) or scaling and root planing (SRP) in subsets of adult periodontitis patients with known baseline levels of subgingival calculus.Methods: The data examined were obtained from 393 patients who participated in 2 multi‐center trials. All patients had baseline subgingival calculus levels assessed and were then treated at baseline and month 4 with either DH or SRP. Clinical attachment levels (CAL), pocket depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were assessed at baseline and months 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9.Results: Treatment with either DH or SRP resulted in significant statistical and clinical improvements in CAL, PD and BOP. These clinical outcomes were equivalent regardless of the extent of subgingival calculus present at baseline.Conclusions: The results indicate that the primary clinical effects of these therapies are the result of a disruption and reduction of the subgingival plaque and not the effect of the removal of subgingival calculus and contaminated cementum.
Subgingival microbial profiles in refractory periodontal disease
Authors: Socransky Sigmund S. , Smith Claire , Haffajee Anne D. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground/aim: The purpose of the present investigation was to examine subgingival microbial profiles associated with refractory periodontitis and to seek such profiles in periodontally healthy, periodontally well‐maintained elder and untreated periodontitis subjects.Methods: 36 subjects were defined as refractory on the basis of further attachment loss after scaling and root planing, surgery and systemically administered antibiotics. A total of 890 subgingival plaque samples (mean/subject=24.7) were taken from the mesial aspect of each tooth in each subject at baseline and individually processed for their content of 40 subgingival taxa using checkerboard DNA‐DNA hybridization. Cluster analysis was performed on mean within subject species counts using the chord coefficient and an average unweighted linkage sort. Significant differences among clusters for individual and complexes of species were sought using the Kruskal Wallis test. The microbial profiles of the refractory subjects were compared with those of 27 periodontally healthy subjects (n plaque samples=708), 35 periodontally well‐maintained elder subjects (n plaque samples=801) and 115 untreated adult periodontitis subjects (n plaque samples=2871).Results: 28 of 36 refractory subjects fell into 4 clusters with >29% similarity. 10 of 40 species and 4 of 7 complexes differed significantly among clusters. Profile (Cluster) I (n=4) was characterized by high proportions of “yellow” and “green” complex species, profile II (n=3) by low total counts and high proportions of “orange” and “purple” complex species, profile III (n=9) by high total counts and counts of Actinomyces and “purple” complex species, profile IV (n=12) by high proportions of “red” and “orange” complex species. The mean profiles of each cluster were subjected to cluster analysis with microbial data from 4380 (mean 24.7) baseline subgingival plaque samples from 27 periodontally healthy, 35 treated, well‐maintained elders and 115 untreated adult periodontitis subjects. 12 clusters were formed with >41% similarity. 3 of the refractory profiles were detected in 3 cluster groups. Profile II in a cluster of 1 healthy, 1 elder and 4 untreated periodontitis subjects; profile III in a cluster of 1 healthy, 2 elder and 12 periodontitis subjects; Profile IV, with 1 healthy and 5 untreated periodontitis subjects. The profile not detected in non refractory subjects was dominated by Streptococcus species. 9 clusters did not harbor refractory profiles. 11.1% of healthy, 8.6% of elder and 18.3% of periodontitis subjects were in clusters exhibiting refractory microbial profiles.Conclusions: 4 subgingival microbial profiles were detected among refractory subjects. “Refractory microbial profiles” could be detected in subjects who had not yet exhibited refractory disease.
Cervical tooth wear and sensitivity: erosion, softening and rehardening of dentine; effects of pH, time and ultrasonication
Authors: Vanuspong W. , Eisenburger M. , Addy M. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground: Cervical dentine wear is commonly observed and may be associated with dentine hypersensitivity. Erosion is thought to play a part in both conditions but compared to enamel has been little studied in dentine.Aim: The aims of these studies in vitro were to: (i) determine the effects of citric acid on dentine at different pH values and over time; (ii) measure the depth of dentine demineralisation or softening using ultrasonication; (iii) determine whether softened dentine can be remineralised or rehardened using artificial saliva.Methods: Groups of flat dentine specimens prepared from unerupted human third molar teeth were: (a) exposed to citric acid at pH 3.2 for periods up to 4 h with mineral water as control; (b) exposed to citric acid at pH 2.54, 3.2, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.0 for 2 h and then subjected to ultrasonication stepwise up to 480 s; (c) exposed to citric acid at pH 2.54, 3.2, and 4.5, placed into artificial saliva for 24 h and then subjected to ultrasonication as in (b). Loss of dentine was measured by profilometry, after, each phase of erosion, ultrasonication and immersion in artificial saliva.Results: Depth of erosion significantly increased non‐linearly with time and significantly decreased with increasing pH. Ultrasonication had minimal albeit significant effects on control specimens. Removal of softened dentine increased with ultrasonication time. Depth of softening significantly increased with increasing erosion time to 2 h, plateauing at 2 μm. Depth of softening increased to 2 μm from pH 2.54 to pH 3.2 and decreased at higher pH values thereafter. 24 h in artificial saliva provided no protection to the soften zone against ultrasonicaion. Citric acid at all pH values and exposure times removed the dentine smear layer to expose tubules. Ultrasonication did not remove the smear layer on control specimens but removed all deposits formed after exposure to artificial saliva.Conclusion: It is concluded that dentine is susceptible to erosion even at relatively high pH, the tubule system is readily exposed and dentine, unlike enamel, shows little propensity to remineralise.
Maintenance of periodontal attachment levels in prosthetically treated patients with gingivitis or moderate chronic periodontitis 5–17 years post therapy
Authors: Moser Peter , Hammerle Christoph H. F. , Lang Niklaus P. , Schlegel‐Bregenzer Bettina , Persson Rutger 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectives: The present retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the long‐term results of initial periodontal and fixed prosthodontic treatment in patients with gingivitis or moderate chronic periodontitis during post‐therapeutic irregular maintenance of 5–17 years.Material and methods: Thirty‐four patients participated in the study. Baseline data were taken from the patients' records when the periodontal and the prosthetic treatment was finished. A follow‐up examination was performed in conjunction with the radiographic examination including assessment of plaque, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, recession and probing attachment loss. Information regarding the oral hygiene habits of the subjects as well as the amount of dental and initial therapy received between the observation time was obtained from the patients' records.Results: The results from the clinical trial revealed that during the mean examination period of 11 years only 31 teeth were lost. The remaining restored and non‐restored teeth did not show any significant differences in attachment loss (from 2.9 mm to 3.0 mm) in spite of a higher plaque value at the follow‐up examination (from 42% to 48%). The BoP remained stable in the same time period and scored 31% to 28%.Conclusions: The periodontal attachment levels were maintained during a prolonged period despite irregular maintenance care. This indicates that in a population of obviously decreased susceptibility to chronic periodontitis, it is possible that fixed reconstructions will not − even under suboptimal supportive care — jeopardize the periodontal status.
Learning root debridement with curettes and power‐driven instruments
Authors: Rühling A. , Schlemme H. , König J. , Kocher T. , Schwahn C. , Plagmann H. C. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground/aims: In a dummy‐head trial, we assessed how effectively untrained operators were able to learn scaling with curettes and power‐driven instruments.Methods: Two untrained operator groups (n = 11 each) received six 2‐h lessons during a 10‐week period following a training program. Subgingival scaling was performed with curettes (GRA) and a power‐driven system (PP). At 6 test days each subject had to instrument 10 test teeth. The percentage of debrided area was assessed with an image analysis program. Learning success was measured as a percentage of debrided root area and scaling time. Furthermore, the effectivity was related to difficulty in anatomical situations and access to root surfaces. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS.Results: At baseline, effectivity was 63.1% (GRA) vs. 52.3% (PP). Between weeks 9 and 11, operators reached a plateau for group GRA at 84.7% and group PP at 81.3%. Scaling time did not differ between the two groups. Debridement of teeth with complex root shapes that were hard to access was less effective with the power‐driven system.Conclusion: Independent of the instrument used, untrained operators were only able to debride root surfaces at low levels of efficacy. With systematical training, effective scaling with the power‐ driven system was as easy to learn as with hand instruments. On root surfaces with complicated shape and anatomy or difficult accessibility, the power‐driven system works significantly less effectively.