Ivana Brekalo Pršo

Salivary levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, presenting in various clinical forms. The etiology of OLP is still unknown but mounting evidence points to the immunologic basis of this disorder. AIM: Our study was undertaken to quantify the salivary levels of pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the reticular and the erosive/atrophic forms of OLP, compared with age-matched healthy control volunteers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Whole saliva from 40 patients with active lesions of OLP, as well as from 20 healthy persons, was investigated for the presence of TNF-alpha by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Salivary TNF-alpha levels were significantly increased in patients with OLP in comparison with healthy subjects. The presence of TNF-alpha showed positive correlation to clinical forms of OLP, being significantly higher in the erosive/atrophic type than in the reticular type of disease. CONCLUSION: Saliva provides an ideal medium for the detection of pro-inflammatory markers of the oral cavity. In patients with OLP, TNF-alpha levels in saliva are elevated, correlating with the severity of illness. Salivary TNF-alpha analysis may be a useful diagnostic tool and a potential prognostic marker in OLP.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Interleukin 6 in Human Periapical Lesions

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in human periapical lesions. Subjects and methods. Samples were obtained from three groups of teeth: symptomatic teeth, asymptomatic lesions, and uninflamed periradicular tissues as a control. Results. TNF-alpha levels were significantly increased in symptomatic lesions compared to control. Group with asymptomatic lesions had significantly higher concentrations compared to control. There were no significant differences in TNF-alpha levels between symptomatic and asymptomatic lesions. In group with symptomatic lesions, IL-6 levels were significantly higher than in group with asymptomatic lesions. The IL-6 levels in symptomatic group also showed significantly higher concentration in comparison with control group. In asymptomatic group, the IL-6 level had significantly higher concentrations compared to control. Conclusion. These results indicate that symptomatic lesions represent an immunologically active stage of disease, and asymptomatic lesions are the point from which the process advances toward healing.

Difference in the periapical status of endodontically treated teeth between the samples of Croatian and Austrian adult patients

Aim To compare the periapical status of endodontically treated teeth between Austrian and Croatian adult patients and determine its relation to age, sex, position of teeth, and length of root canal filling. Methods The study was conducted from 2007 to 2009 at two university dental clinics and included 163 Croatian (412 teeth) and 101 Austrian (430 teeth) patients. We assessed the periapical status of endodontically treated teeth by using the periapical index system and determined its relation to age, sex, position of teeth, and length of root canal filling. Results Austrian patients had a greater number of diseased endodontically treated teeth than Croatian patients (P = 0.001). In the age group 31-40 years, Austrian patients had apical periodontitis significantly more often (22.1% vs 12.2%, P < 0.001) than Croatian patients. In relation to sex and position of teeth, no significant difference was found between the two groups. In Croatian patients, apical periodontitis was significantly more often present in molar than premolar (46.2% vs 29.7%, P = 0.022) and front teeth (46.2% vs 24.1%, P < 0.001). In Austrian patients, apical periodontitis was significantly more often present in molar and premolar than front teeth (molar-front teeth: 38.2% vs 25.5%, P = 0.011; premolar-front teeth: 36.3% vs 25.5%, P = 0.029). Croatian and Austrian patients significantly differed in the number of adequately filled and underfilled teeth with AP (both P<0.001). Conclusion Apical periodontitis was significantly more present in endodontically treated teeth in Austrian patients. The difference in the periapical status between Croatian and Austrian patients was most related to age and length of root canal filling.

Influence of tobacco smoking on dental periapical condition in a sample of Croatian adults.

SummaryBackgroundSince current evidences support a negative influence of tobacco smoking on the periodontal bone, an increased prevalence or severity of periapical lesions would be expected among smokers. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in the periapical status of endodontically treated and untreated teeth in current smokers and never-smokers.MethodsThe cross-sectional study included 259 subjects, 108 current smokers and 151 never-smokers, presenting as new patients at the Dental Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, Croatia. The periapical index (PAI) was used to assess the periapical status of all teeth, excluding third molars.Results and conclusionsCurrent smokers had higher fraction of teeth with apical periodontitis (AP) than never-smokers (0.13 vs. 0.10; P = 0.025), while fractions of endodontically treated teeth and endodontically treated teeth with AP did not differ significantly. When overall number of teeth was controlled for, smokers were 16.4 times more likely to have AP than a non-smokers (95% CI: 5.7–47.7; P < 0.001) and if a person was male, he was 3.1 times more likely to have AP than if the person was female (95% CI: 1.1–8.9; P = 0.039). The probability of AP increases with increase of age. Smokers will on average have two teeth with AP more than non-smokers, while controlling for gender, age and overall number of teeth.

Conservative endodontic management of a fused tooth: A case report

OBJECTIVE To report a conservative treatment of a rare developmental anomaly. CASE REPORT A 73-year-old patient with previously initiated therapy and acute apical abscess of a maxillary right central incisor fused with the supernumerary tooth sought treatment. The conservative approach included nonsurgical root canal treatment and composite restoration. CONCLUSION This case illustrates the importance of an individual approach when treating anomalous teeth. Priorities in pain and infection management to properly and functionally restore teeth should be unaffected by age.