The influence of oral infections, especially periodontal disease, on systemic diseases has been extensively discussed in the literature. Because periodontal disease is a persistent infection, it promotes an inflammatory response. C-reactive protein is a marker for inflammatory reactions that is frequently studied, since elevated levels of this protein are related to coronary events. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of periodontal therapy on reducing the serum levels of C-reactive protein, by means of a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of the English-language literature was conducted in the PUBMED-MEDLINE database, using the key words "periodontal disease", "C-reactive protein", "periodontal therapy" and "periodontal treatment", in accordance with the terms for Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), to evaluate the effect of periodontal therapy on C-reactive protein levels. A qualitative analysis of studies of randomized clinical trial design was performed using CONSORT, with subsequent meta-analysis. RESULTS: The literature search initially retrieved 46 potentially relevant studies available in the databases. From these, in accordance with the inclusion criteria, only 11 were selected, of which only 4 fulfilled the criteria of randomized clinical trial design. According to CONSORT, the studies evaluated generally presented good quality with regard to the criteria analyzed. Through meta-analysis, the reduction in mean levels of C-reactive protein (-0.231; p=0.000) after introducing periodontal treatment was estimated. The result was statistically significant, without evidence of heterogeneity between the studies (p=0.311). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that non-surgical periodontal treatment had a positive effect with regard to reduction of the serum levels of C-reactive protein.

The aim of the present study was to radiographically evaluate the effect of smoking on bone loss resulting from chronic periodontitis. Periapical radiographs were analyzed of 80 patients with chronic periodontitis (40 current or former smokers and 40 never-smokers) that attended a private periodontal practice. The smokers or former-smokers with a minimum consumption of 10 cigarettes/day for a period of over 10 years were selected. Interproximal radiographic bone loss was considered as the distance between the cementum-enamel junction and the alveolar bone crest. Bone loss for smokers was higher than that observed in never-smokers (p < 0.05) (3.33 ± 1.09 mm and 2.24 ± 0.76 mm; mean ± standard deviation for smokers and non-smokers, respectively). When each region of the mouth was comparatively evaluated, it was observed that the smokers' incisors presented the highest bone loss when compared with the other groups of teeth (p < 0.01). Within the limits of the present investigation it can be concluded that smoking enhances the bone loss resulting from periodontitis and that the incisors are the teeth most affected.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a flavor-containing dentifrice on the formation of volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) in morning bad breath. A two-step, blinded, crossover, randomized study was carried out in 50 dental students with a healthy periodontium divided into two experimental groups: flavor-containing dentifrice (test) and non-flavor-containing dentifrice (control). The volunteers received the designated dentifrice and a new toothbrush for a 3 X/day brushing regimen for 2 periods of 30 days. A seven-day washout interval was used between the periods. The assessed parameters were: plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), organoleptic breath scores (ORG), VSC levels (as measured by a portable sulphide monitor) before (H1) and after (H2) cleaning of the tongue, tongue coating (TC) wet weight and BANA test from TC samples. The intra-group analysis showed a decrease in ORG, from 3 to 2, after 30 days for the test group (p < 0.05). The inter-group analysis showed lower values in ORG, H1 and H2 for the test group (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the amount of TC between groups and the presence of flavor also did not interfere in the BANA results between groups (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that a flavor-containing dentifrice seems to prevent VSCs formation in morning bad breath regardless of the amount of TC in periodontally healthy subjects.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito inibitório do enxaguatório de dióxido de cloro a 0,1% sobre a formação dos CSVs, quando comparados a um placebo. Um estudo randomizado, cruzado, duplo cego foi conduzido com 14 estudantes de odontologia apresentando saúde periodontal, os quais se abstiveram dos hábitos de escovação dentária e limpeza da língua durante dois períodos experimentais de 4 dias. Os voluntários foram orientados a utilizar o enxaguatório designado 3 vezes ao dia conforme indicado no rótulo. Um intervalo de 7 dias foi estabelecido entre os períodos experimentais. No início ("baseline") e no final de cada período experimental, os níveis de CSVs foram medidos com o uso do monitor de sulfetos. Análise estatística foi realizada utilizando-se os testes não-paramétricos de Wilcoxon e Mann-Whitney. No "baseline", uma análise intragrupo revelou que os níveis de CSVs não diferiram entre os grupos (p > 0.05); no dia 5, o uso do dióxido de cloro não promoveu mudanças significativas nos níveis de CSVs em relação ao "baseline" no grupo controle (p > 0,05), entretanto os níveis de CSVs duplicaram com a utilização enxaguatório placebo (p < 0,05). Uma análise entre os grupos teste e controle revelou diferença significante para os níveis de CSVs (40,2 ± 30,72 e 82,3 ± 75,63 ppb, p < 0,001) no dia 5. Dentro dos limites deste estudo, os achados sugerem que o uso de enxaguatórios contendo dióxido de cloro pode promover a manutenção de baixos níveis de CSVs no hálito matinal.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the VSC-inhibiting effect of a commercially available mouthrinse (0.1% chlorine dioxide) when compared to its placebo. A 2-step double blind, crossover, randomised study was conducted with 14 dental students with healthy periodontium, who refrained from any mechanical plaque and tongue coating control during two 4-day experimental periods. The subjects were instructed to rinse 3 times daily with the assigned product during each period. A 7-day washout interval was established. VSCs levels were measured by a sulphide monitor at the beginning (baseline) and at the end of each experimental period. Statistical analyses were performed using Wilcoxon's and Mann-Whitney's non-parametric tests. At baseline, intragroup analysis revealed that VSCs levels did not differ between groups (p > 0.05); at day 5, the use of the chlorine dioxide mouthrinse did not change the baseline VSCs scores in the control group (p > 0.05), while a 2-fold increase was observed with the use of the placebo mouthrinse (p < 0.05). Intergroup analysis showed a significant difference between the VSCs levels of the test and control groups (40.2 ± 30.72 and 82.3 ± 75.63 ppb, p < 0.001) at day 5. Within the limits of this study, the findings suggest that a mouthrinse containing chlorine dioxide can maintain VSCs at lower levels in the morning breath.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da administração de ciclosporina A (CsA)/nifedipina e sua interrupção na densidade óssea em uma região lateral à superfície de implantes de titânio inseridos em coelhos. Dois implantes de titânio comercialmente puros foram inseridos bilateralmente em vinte e oito coelhos. Os animais foram aleatoriamente divididos em um dos seguintes grupos experimentais, recebendo injeções diárias subcutâneas por 14 dias: Grupos A e C: veículo (dimetil sulfóxido); Grupos B e D: CsA (10 mg/kg) e nifedipina (50 mg/kg). Os animais pertencentes aos Grupos A/B e C/D foram sacrificados 14 e 42 dias após a colocação dos implantes, respectivamente. Após o sacrifício, as tíbias foram removidas para a obtenção de secções não-descalcificadas. A densidade óssea foi obtida em uma zona de 500 mm lateral à superfície do implante através de análise histométrica. A análise intergrupo não revelou diferenças para os grupos teste e controle em 14 e 42 dias (p > 0,05). Dentro dos limites deste estudo podemos concluir que a associação CsA/nifedipina, administrada em um curto prazo, não apresenta uma influência negativa na densidade do osso preexistente ao redor de implantes de titânio inseridos em coelhos.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the administration and withdrawal of cyclosporin A/nifedipine on the bone density in a lateral area adjacent to implants placed in rabbits. Two screw-type titanium implants were placed bilaterally in twenty-eight New Zealand rabbits. The animals were assigned to one of the following groups and received daily subcutaneous injections for 14 days: Groups A and C: vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide); Groups B and D: CsA (10 mg/kg) plus nifedipine (50 mg/kg). The animals in Groups A and B were sacrificed 14 days postoperatively and, in Groups C and D, 42 days postoperatively. After sacrifice, the tibiae were removed and undecalcified sections were obtained. Bone density was obtained in a 500 mm-wide zone lateral to the implant surface. Intergroup analysis showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the degree of bone density between control and test groups either on day 14 or on day 42. Thus, it appears that a short-term immunosuppressive therapy may not present a negative influence on the density of the pre-existing bone around titanium implants placed in rabbits.

O uso de agentes imunossupressores tem sido reconhecido como um fator que afeta os tecidos moles do periodonto. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre o seu efeito na progressão da periodontite. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a influência da ciclosporina (CsA), associada ou não à nifedipina, na perda óssea resultante da periodontite induzida por ligaduras em ratos. Vinte e quatro ratos Wistar machos, adultos, foram incluídos no estudo. Após anestesia, foram colocadas ligaduras de fio de algodão ao redor do primeiro molar inferior direito ou esquerdo, aleatoriamente escolhido. O dente contralateral foi deixado sem ligadura. Os animais foram aleatoriamente escolhidos para receber um dos seguintes tratamentos: Grupo A - solução salina; Grupo B - CsA (10 mg/kg); Grupo C - nifedipina (50 mg/kg); Grupo D - CsA (10 mg/kg) e nifedipina (50 mg/kg). Após 45 dias, os animais foram sacrificados para a análise histométrica. A análise intergrupos não revelou diferenças significativas quanto ao volume da perda óssea entre os diferentes tratamentos (0,46 ± 0,11; 0,63 ± 0,32; 0,53 ± 0,14; 0,50 ± 0,18, para os grupos A, B, C e D respectivamente - p > 0,05). Entretanto, a análise intragrupo mostrou um maior volume de perda óssea nos dentes com ligadura, quando comparados aos dentes sem ligadura (p < 0,05). Dentro dos limites deste estudo, conclui-se que a administração de CsA, associada ou não à nifedipina, não influenciou a perda óssea alveolar na periodontite induzida por ligaduras em ratos.

Immunosuppressive agents have been recognized as a factor affecting the soft tissues of the periodontium. However, little is known about their effect on periodontitis progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of cyclosporin A (CsA) administration, associated or not with nifedipine, on the bone loss resulting from a ligature-induced periodontitis in rats. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were used. After anesthesia, the mandibular first molar was randomly assigned to receive the cotton ligature in the sulcular area while the contralateral tooth was left unligated. The animals were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: Group A - saline solution; Group B - CsA (10 mg/kg); Group C - nifedipine (50 mg/kg); Group D - CsA (10 mg/kg) plus nifedipine (50 mg/kg). Forty-five days later, the animals were sacrificed and the specimens routinely processed for serial decalcified sections. Intergroup analysis did not reveal significant differences regarding the bone loss volume in the ligated teeth between the experimental treatments (0.46 ± 0.11, 0.63 ± 0.32, 0.53 ± 0.14, 0.50 ± 0.18, for groups A, B, C and D, respectively - p > 0.05). However, intragroup analysis showed a greater bone loss volume in the ligated teeth than in the unligated ones (p < 0.05). Within the limits of the present study, the conclusion was that the administration of CsA, associated or not with nifedipine, may not influence bone loss in ligature-induced periodontitis in rats.

Irregularidades do acabamento cervical de restaurações constituem fatores de retenção de placa bacteriana, dificultando o controle de placa pelos procedimentos habituais de higiene bucal, favorecendo o desenvolvimento da doença periodontal. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as condições periodontais e a necessidade de tratamento em função do acabamento cervical de restaurações dentais. Foram examinados 367 dentes restaurados com classes II e V de amálgama, classe III em resina, restauração metálica fundida e próteses unitárias. Utilizando-se sonda periodontal (OMS), verificou-se a posição do término da restauração (supragengival, subgengival ou ao nível da margem gengival); a qualidade das restaurações (falta ou excesso de material restaurador) e a presença de grau 2 do CPITN. Após a análise dos dados, foi possível concluir que: 1) o término supragengival ofereceu a melhor adaptação marginal e a menor freqüência de grau 2 do CPITN; 2) a falta ou excesso de material restaurador favorecem o desenvolvimento de grau 2, independentemente do material utilizado e 3) nos términos subgengivais, foi maior a freqüência de adaptação marginal incorreta, principalmente casos de excesso de material restaurador, sendo estes casos de maior ocorrência de grau 2 do CPITN.

Irregularities of the cervical margin of restorations facilitate the retention of bacterial plaque, hindering plaque control through the habitual procedures of oral hygiene and favoring the development of periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the periodontal condition and treatment needs (applying CPITN) in relation to the cervical margin of dental restorations. Three hundred and sixty-seven teeth with class II and V cavities restored with amalgam, class III cavities restored with composite resin, cast metal restorations and unitary prostheses were examined. With a WHO periodontal probe, the position of the cervical margins of restorations was verified (supragingival, subgingival or at the gingival margin level); the presence of defects (lack or excess of restoring material) and the presence of score 2 of CPITN were also assessed. After the analysis of the data, it was possible to conclude that: 1) supragingival margins offered the best marginal adaptation and the lowest frequency of score 2; 2) both the lack and the excess of restoring material favor the development of score 2, despite the utilized material and 3) in subgingival margins, incorrect marginal adaptation was the most frequent event, mainly due to excess of restoring material, and in these cases there was higher frequency of score 2 of CPITN.