Davor Kuiš

Coronally advanced flap alone or with connective tissue graft in the treatment of single gingival recession defects: a long-term randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Numerous surgical approaches for the treatment of single gingival recession (GR) defects are documented in the literature. The aim of this 5-year, split mouth-design, randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of coronally advanced flap (CAF) alone versus CAF with connective tissue graft (CAF+CTG) in the treatment of single Miller Class I and II GR defects. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with 114 bilateral, single Miller Class I and II GR defects were treated with CAF on one side of the mouth and CAF+CTG on the other side. Clinical measurements (GR length [REC], keratinized tissue width [KT], complete root coverage [CRC], and percentage of root coverage [PRC]) were evaluated before surgery and after 6, 12, 24, and 60 months. RESULTS There was a significant reduction of REC and increase of KT after surgery in both groups. CAF+CTG showed significantly better results for all evaluated clinical parameters in all observed follow-up periods. Miller Class I defects showed better results in terms of REC, CRC, and PRC, whereas Miller Class II showed better results in KT, both in favor of CAF+CTG. Miller Class I defects showed better results than Miller Class II GR defects regardless of the surgical procedure used. CONCLUSIONS Both surgical procedures were effective in the treatment of single Miller Class I and II GR defects. The CAF+CTG procedure provided better long-term outcomes (60 months postoperatively) than CAF alone. Long-term stability of the gingival margin is less predictable for Miller Class II GR defects compared to those of Class I.

Irrigation of human prepared root canal – ex vivo based computational fluid dynamics analysis

Aim To analyze the influence of the needle type, insertion depth, and irrigant flow rate on irrigant flow pattern, flow velocity, and apical pressure by ex-vivo based endodontic irrigation computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Methods Human upper canine root canal was prepared using rotary files. Contrast fluid was introduced in the root canal and scanned by computed tomography (CT) providing a three-dimensional object that was exported to the computer-assisted design (CAD) software. Two probe points were established in the apical portion of the root canal model for flow velocity and pressure measurement. Three different CAD models of 27G irrigation needles (closed-end side-vented, notched open-end, and bevel open-end) were created and placed at 25, 50, 75, and 95% of the working length (WL). Flow rates of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mL/s were simulated. A total of 60 irrigation simulations were performed by CFD fluid flow solver. Results Closed-end side-vented needle required insertion depth closer to WL, regarding efficient irrigant replacement, compared to open-end irrigation needle types, which besides increased velocity produced increased irrigant apical pressure. For all irrigation needle types and needle insertion depths, the increase of flow rate was followed by an increased irrigant apical pressure. Conclusions The human root canal shape obtained by CT is applicable in the CFD analysis of endodontic irrigation. All the analyzed values –irrigant flow pattern, velocity, and pressure – were influenced by irrigation needle type, as well as needle insertion depth and irrigant flow rate.

SALIVARY FLOW RATE, ORAL YEAST COLONIZATION AND DENTAL STATUS IN INSTITUTIONALIZED AND NON-INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY

Elderly people, especially those institutionalized in long-term care facilities, are at risk of various oral diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of hyposalivation and colonization/oral fungal infection of oral cavity with yeasts, as well as dental status in institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly. The study included 280 institutionalized and 61 non-institutionalized elderly people. Salivary flow rate, oral colonization with yeasts/oral infection and dental status were assessed and compared between the groups. The institutionalized elderly had a significantly lower salivary flow rate (p=0.035). Oral colonization with yeasts was more frequently found in institutionalized elderly (p<0.001) as compared with non-institutionalized elderly. A negative correlation was found between decreased salivary flow rate and oral yeast colonization and oral fungal infection in both the institutionalized (rs=-0.58; p<0.05) and non-institutionalized (rs=-0.52; p<0.05) groups. A significant difference in DMFT index was observed between the two groups (p<0.001). A negative correlation between decreased salivary flow rate and dental status was found in both the institutionalized (rs=-0.22; p<0.05) and non-institutionalized (rs=-0.56; p<0.05) groups. The results revealed a significantly higher level of hyposalivation and oral yeast colonization and poorer dental status in the institutionalized group as compared with the non-institutionalized group of elderly people.