Elmar Reich

Clinical and antibacterial effect of tea tree oil--a pilot study.

Abstract The aim of this clinical pilot study was to compare the effect of tea tree oil with the effect of water and chlorhexidine on supragingival plaque formation and vitality. Eight subjects were asked to refrain from any kind of mechanical oral hygiene for 4 days after professional tooth cleaning (day 0), and to rinse with water instead for 1 week, with chlorhexidine in a second and tea tree oil in a third test week. The plaque index (PI), which was evaluated daily (days 1–4), served as a clinical control parameter. On the last day of the study (day 4), the plaque covering the front teeth was stained, photographed, and therefrom the plaque area (PA; %) was estimated using a digital measuring system. Each day of the study (days 1–4), the sampled plaque was examined using a vital fluorescence technique. Tea tree oil reduced neither the clinical parameters (PI and PA) nor the vitality of the plaque flora significantly. Within the limitations of the study design, it was determined that a solution with tea tree oil – utilized as ordinary mouthwash – has no positive effect on the quantity or quality of supragingival plaque.

Healing of fenestration-type defects following treatment with guided tissue regeneration or enamel matrix proteins

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate histologically in monkeys the healing in acute fenestration-type defects following treatment with guided tissue regeneration (GTR) or enamel matrix proteins (EMD). Standardized ”critical size” fenestration-type defects were produced surgically at the vestibular aspect of teeth 13, 23, 33, 43 in three monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). The vestibular bone plates were removed and the root surfaces were debrided by means of hand instruments in order to completely remove the root cementum. Following root conditioning with ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), the defects were treated using one of the following therapies: (1) GTR, (2) EMD, or (3) control (coronally repositioned flaps). After 5 months the animals were killed and perfused with 10% buffered formalin for fixation. Specimens containing the defects and surrounding tissues were dissected free, decalcified in EDTA, and embedded in paraffin. Eight-micrometer-thick step serial histological sections were cut in a vestibulo-oral direction, stained with hematoxylin and eosin or oxone-aldehyde-fuchsin-Halmi, and subsequently examined under the light microscope. The results showed that, in the defects treated with GTR, a new connective tissue attachment (i.e., new cementum with inserting collagen fibers) and new bone formation had consistently occurred, whereas, in the defects treated with EMD or with coronally repositioned flaps, new attachment and new bone reformed to a varying extent. The quality of the cementum did not differ after EMD, GTR, or flap surgery. It was concluded that GTR treatment with bioresorbable membranes seems to predictably promote new attachment and new bone formation, whereas the application of EDTA or EMD may also enhance periodontal healing to a certain extent. Further studies with higher numbers of animals and defects are needed in order to definitely clarify the effect of root surface conditioning with EDTA and EMD on periodontal healing.