Dubravka Markovic

Prevalence of oral herpes simplex virus reactivation in cancer patients: a comparison of different techniques of viral detection.

BACKGROUND Oral reactivation of latent Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection may easily occur in cancer patients. Virus reactivation can cause oral mucosa damage, worsen already existing lesions caused by stomatotoxic effect of cancer therapy and, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, ample spreading and promote viral transmission. METHODS Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cell-culture and direct immunofluorescence have been used to determine the frequency of oral HSV reactivation in 60 patients undergoing chemotherapy for different malignancies. RESULTS By means of PCR, the presence of viral DNA was detected in 71.7% of patients prior to chemotherapy and in 85.0% after chemotherapy. 33.3% of patients before and 40.0% after chemotherapy were viral-culture positive, while 3.3% of patients before and 11.7% after chemotherapy were positive as shown by direct immunofluorescence. No significant difference in HSV-1 reactivation was found before and after chemotherapy. In addition, no significant difference was found when comparing HSV-1 reactivation in patients with and without mucositis. HSV-2 was not detected in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS Reactivation of latent HSV is exceptionally frequent in cancer patients. The results of this study suggest that virus reactivation occurs independently of cancer chemotherapy. The potential role of HSV reactivation in oral mucosa damage remains unclear.

The application of tea tree essential oil in dentistry

Essential oils are widely used in medicine, dentistry and cosmetology as flavour and odour corrigents in various substances for oral hygiene. The aim of this study was to present comprehensively the possibilities for application of Melaleuca Alternifolia essential oil in dentistry based on the analysis of contemporary scientific and professional publications. The application of Tea tree essential oil in the treatment of periodontal, fungal and viral diseases is very efficient. The study of antimicrobial potential of ten different essential oils confirmed the efficiency of Tea tree oil against numerous Gram+ and Gram- bacteria. In vitro studies of bacteriostatic, bactericidal and fungicidal effect of Tea tree oil solution against ten different microorganisms confirmed sensitivity of the following microorganisms: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis, and slightly weaker effect against Streptococcus Mutans and Prevotella intermedia. Tea tree is very effective in the treatment of various diseases and is an introduction and momentum for the application of plant substances in the treatment of numerous diseases in dentistry. .

Clinical and microbiological effects of the initial periodontal therapy

INTRODUCTION Periodontitis is a destructive inflammatory disease of the tooth-supporting tissues, primarily caused by Gram-negative microorganisms. Thus, the primary objective of cause-related initial periodontal therapy is disruption and removal of the subgingival biofilm. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effects of the initial therapy in patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis. METHODS Forty patients with chronic periodontitis were included in the study. As a part of the clinical assessment undertaken prior to the initial therapy, as well as one month and three months post-therapy, plaque index, gingival index, papilla bleeding index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level were recorded. Microbiological testing was performed prior to the initial therapy and three months after therapy. Polymerase chain reaction assays were used to determine the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythensis, Prevotella intermedia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. RESULTS All clinical parameters were significantly reduced after therapy. The prevalence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was reduced by 22.5%, which was a statistically significant decrease compared to the baseline. The prevalence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythensis and Prevotella intermedia tended to decrease after therapy; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION The results of the present study demonstrated the beneficial effects of the initial periodontal therapy on both the clinical and microbiological parameters.

Prosthodontic rehabilitation after partial maxillar resection by obturator denture retained with the system of attachments: Case report

Introduction. Maxillar resection surgery results in unusual morphology of the remaining maxillary arch and communication between the oral and nasal cavities. Consequences are speech, mastication and swallowing difficulties, impaired face appearance and significant decrease of life quality. For the reconstruction of emerging defects after total or partial maxillar resection, the most suitable solution is prosthetic therapy with obturator dentures. Case Report. This study describes the rehabilitation of a 60-year-old male patient after partial maxillar resection with obturator dentures having radicular attachment. The patients diagnosis was Planocellular oral carcinoma. Conclusion. Radicular attachment improves retention in comparison with conventional obturator. Successful rehabilitation of the speech and mastication was achieved. The passage of air and fluids between the oral and nasal cavity was disabled and facial asymmetry was corrected. The patient expressed satisfaction with the therapy.

The effect of age on distribution and symptomatology of craniomandibular dysfunction

Craniomandibular dysfunction is very common disorder of the oral and facial system and therefore a significant problem in dental practice. The etiology of this disorder is very complex and variable including congenital disorders and developmental abnormalities, traumas in the area of face and jaw, unbalanced occlusion, systemic and local diseases or psychogenic factors. The symptoms can be very different and vary in intensity and duration from person to person, often are in correlation with other oral para-functions. The intensity of symptoms is usually associated with gender or age of the patients. Elderly population is particularly interesting because these changes occur in addition to atrophic and degenerative changes in temporomandibular joint (TMJ), multiple teeth loss, present dentures, limitation of physical activity and others. Research conducted in many European countries have shown that the pain in TMJ is one of the most dominate symptoms of craniomandibular dysfunction and it often occurs in males. However, it is not easy to prove more frequent presence of dysfunction in the elderly people.

Mechanical resistance of restored teeth with extensive crown damage

Introduction. Extensively damaged teeth can be restored by different core build-up materials. The aim of this study was to examine the mechanical properties of the restored maxillary premolars with composite resin, dental amalgam and glass ionomer cement (GIC) using compressive strength test. Materials and methods. Forty extracted intact human maxillary premolars were used in this study. Artificial defect in dentin was prepared using diamond bur up to the half of the anatomic crown of the tooth. After core build-up procedure, each tooth specimen was mounted in auto polymerizing acrylic resin blocks 2 mm below cement enamel junction and they were kept in distilled water at 37°C one day before testing. Then, they were placed in specially adapted devices at the angle of 183° to the longitudinal axis and subjected to a controlled load of 1 mm per minute. Results. Results showed that the best mechanical properties had samples restored with resin composite (492.5 N), then with amalgam (341.2 N) and glass ionomer cement (171.8 N). Comparing the fracture force using ANOVA, there was statistic significance between these groups (p<0.01). There were significant differences among control group and restored teeth with composite resin, amalgam and GIC. There was no significant difference in values of fracture forces between groups with composite resin and amalgam. The fracture force corresponding to the teeth restored with the GICs was significantly lower compared to the control group and the group with composite resin and amalgam. Conclusion. Satisfactory mechanical properties of restored premolars were obtained using composite resin and dental amalgam as a core build-up material.