Mark Ide

An investigation into the association among preterm birth, cytokine gene polymorphisms and periodontal disease

Objective  To investigate a putative relationship between preterm delivery and the carriage of polymorphic genes that code for the cytokines interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) at codon +3953 and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) at codon −308 in a group of postpartum women and to elucidate if the concurrent presence of periodontal disease increased the risk of preterm delivery in this group.

Periodontitis and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease

Periodontitis is common in the elderly and may become more common in Alzheimer’s disease because of a reduced ability to take care of oral hygiene as the disease progresses. Elevated antibodies to periodontal bacteria are associated with an increased systemic pro-inflammatory state. Elsewhere raised serum pro-inflammatory cytokines have been associated with an increased rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. We hypothesized that periodontitis would be associated with increased dementia severity and a more rapid cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. We aimed to determine if periodontitis in Alzheimer’s disease is associated with both increased dementia severity and cognitive decline, and an increased systemic pro inflammatory state. In a six month observational cohort study 60 community dwelling participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease were cognitively assessed and a blood sample taken for systemic inflammatory markers. Dental health was assessed by a dental hygienist, blind to cognitive outcomes. All assessments were repeated at six months. The presence of periodontitis at baseline was not related to baseline cognitive state but was associated with a six fold increase in the rate of cognitive decline as assessed by the ADAS-cog over a six month follow up period. Periodontitis at baseline was associated with a relative increase in the pro-inflammatory state over the six month follow up period. Our data showed that periodontitis is associated with an increase in cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s Disease, independent to baseline cognitive state, which may be mediated through effects on systemic inflammation.

Effect of ultrasonic debridement using a chlorhexidine irrigant on circulating levels of lipopolysaccharides and interleukin‐6

AIM Transient bacteraemia and endotoxaemia, and elevated levels of systemic cytokines have been reported following subgingival debridement. This study aimed to investigate the effect of chlorhexidine (CHX) solution on circulating levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) when used as an irrigant during ultrasonic debridement in patients with periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighteen patients with moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis were treated in a split-mouth, crossover, single-masked study. Irrigation with 0.02% CHX solution or water was used during treatment of two ipsilateral quadrants on two separate occasions 7 days apart, randomized as to order. Peripheral blood samples were collected for circulating levels of LPS and IL-6 at baseline, 5 and 120 min. after instrumentation commenced. RESULTS Median concentrations of LPS were elevated from baseline to 5 min. into treatment with both CHX and control irrigant (p<0.05). Median levels of IL-6 increased with both treatments from baseline to 120 min. (p<0.001): CHX, 0.81-1.85 pg/ml; control, 0.78-1.78 EU/ml. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasonic instrumentation in patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis increases circulating levels of LPS after 5 min. and IL-6 120 min. after commencement of treatment, and is not affected by using 0.02% CHX as an irrigant instead of water.

Recrudescent herpes labialis during and prior to early pregnancy

Objectives: To assess the experience of recrudescent herpes labialis (RHL) before and during early pregnancy. Methods: History of RHL prior to and during the first trimester of pregnancy was obtained from 3738 women attending at 10–15 weeks’ gestation. The influence of age, ethnicity, socioeconomic group, smoking behavior, and alcohol intake on RHL was assessed. Results: 1066 women (28.5%) reported a history of RHL lesions, with reduced incidence of RHL during pregnancy (0.111 lesions/subject per month) compared with outside pregnancy (0.19 lesions/subject per month) (P<0.0001). Those who did report lesions during pregnancy (n=296) experienced them at a higher monthly rate (0.41 lesions/subject per month) than before pregnancy (0.25 lesions/subject per month) (P<0.0001). RHL rate in early pregnancy was related solely to the previous rate of lesion recrudescence (P<0.001). Conclusion: Pregnant women with a history of RHL report reduced incidence of RHL during pregnancy.

Periodontitis, cardiovascular disease and pregnancy outcome – focal infection revisited?

Over the last two decades there has been a renewed interest around the possible effects of periodontal disease on both cardiovascular health and pregnancy outcome (among other diseases), a topic which has interested science for hundreds of years. These have led to a range of studies, workshops and consensus documents being published, with corresponding coverage in general and professional media. In this article the authors summarise the history and supporting theories behind such associations, whether clinical studies have been able to confirm these and what this might mean for general practitioners who are questioned on this topic by patients.

Clinical guide to periodontology: Reconstructive periodontal treatment

Regeneration of the lost tissues of the periodontium is an ideal therapeutic goal and has been the subject of much research and ingenious clinical techniques. Reconstructive or regenerative techniques are used either singly or in combination for three main purposes: (1) to regain lost periodontal ligament attachment, (2) to provide a wider zone of attached gingiva, and (3) to cover previously exposed root surfaces.

Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) Implants: The Future of Dental Implantology?

&NA; For decades titanium has been the preferred material for dental implant fabrication, with mechanical and biological performance resulting in high clinical success rates. These have been further enhanced by incremental development of surface modifications aimed at improving speed and degree of osseointegration and resulting in enhanced clinical treatment options and outcomes. However, increasing demand for metal‐free dental restorations has also led to the development of ceramic‐based dental implants, such as zirconia. In orthopedics, alternative biomaterials, such as polyetheretherketone or silicon nitride, have been used for implant applications. The latter is potentially of particular interest for oral use as it has been shown to have antibacterial properties. In this article we aim to shed light on this particular biomaterial as a future promising candidate for dental implantology applications, addressing basic specifications required for any dental implant material. In view of available preclinical data, silicon nitride seems to have the essential characteristics to be a candidate for dental implants material. This novel ceramic has a surface with potentially antimicrobial properties, and if this is confirmed in future research, it could be of great interest for oral use.

Cost-effectiveness of non-surgical periodontal therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes in the UK

AIM Periodontal therapy has been shown to reduce glycated haemoglobin in patients with diabetes, although considerable uncertainty remains regarding the sustainability of such changes. We evaluate the cost-effectiveness of non-surgical periodontal therapy and rigorous maintenance treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes and periodontitis from a provider perspective in the UK. METHOD Lifetime costs relating to periodontal treatment were modelled for a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes. The projected lifetime impact of changes in glycated haemoglobin on diabetes treatment costs and quality adjusted life expectancy were estimated from a published simulation model. Costs and outcomes were combined to estimate the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio for periodontal therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes. RESULTS The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio was £28,000 per Quality Adjusted Life-Year for a man aged 58 with glycated haemoglobin of 7%-7.9%. The results were particularly sensitive to assumptions on the impact of periodontal therapy on glycated haemoglobin, the proportion of patients who comply with maintenance therapy and the proportion of compliant patients who respond to treatment. CONCLUSION Assuming improvements in glycated haemoglobin can be maintained, periodontal therapy may be cost-effective for patients with type 2 diabetes at acceptable cost-per-Quality Adjusted Life-Year thresholds in the UK.

Clinical guide to periodontology: part 3. Multidisciplinary integrated treatment

The establishment of periodontal health should be a primary aim in all treatment plans. The methods by which this can be achieved have been dealt with in previous chapters, but there are a number of situations where integration of these treatment methods with other dental disciplines needs to be clarified. To simplify matters this chapter will consider periodontal implications in three main areas: treatment of drifted anterior teeth, pre-restorative procedures and replacement of missing teeth.

Epigenetic findings in periodontitis in UK twins: a cross sectional study

Background Genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to periodontal disease, but the underlying susceptibility pathways are not fully understood. Epigenetic mechanisms are malleable regulators of gene function that can change in response to genetic and environmental stimuli, thereby providing a potential mechanism for mediating risk effects in periodontitis. The aim of this study is to identify epigenetic changes across tissues that are associated with periodontal disease. Methods Self-reported gingival bleeding and history of gum disease, or tooth mobility, were used as indicators of periodontal disease. DNA methylation profiles were generated using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip in whole blood, buccal, and adipose tissue samples from predominantly older female twins (mean age 58) from the TwinsUK cohort. Epigenome-wide association scans (EWAS) of gingival bleeding and tooth mobility were conducted in whole blood in 528 and 492 twins, respectively. Subsequently, targeted candidate gene analysis at 28 genomic regions was carried out testing for phenotype-methylation associations in 41 (tooth mobility) and 43 (gingival bleeding) buccal, and 501 (tooth mobility) and 556 (gingival bleeding) adipose DNA samples. Results Epigenome-wide analyses in blood identified one CpG-site (cg21245277 in ZNF804A) associated with gingival bleeding (FDR=0.03, nominal p-value=7.17e-8), and 58 sites associated with tooth mobility (FDR<0.05) with the top signals in IQCE and XKR6. Epigenetic variation at 28 candidate regions (256 CpG-sites) for chronic periodontitis showed a strong enrichment for association with periodontal traits, and signals in eight genes (VDR, IL6ST, TMCO6, IL1RN, CD44, IL1B, WHAMM, and CXCL1) were significant in both traits. The methylation-phenotype association signals validated in buccal samples, and a subset (25%) also validated in adipose tissue. Conclusions Epigenome-wide analyses in adult female twins identified specific DNA methylation changes linked to self-reported periodontal disease. Future work will explore the environmental basis and functional impact of these results to infer potential for strategic personalized treatments and prevention of chronic periodontitis.