Sachiyo Tomita

Changes in antimicrobial susceptibility profile and prevalence of quinolone low-sensitive strains in subgingival plaque from acute periodontal lesions after systemic administration of sitafloxacin

This study aimed to assess changes in antimicrobial susceptibilities of subgingival bacteria in acute periodontal lesions following systemic administration of a new-generation fluoroquinolone, sitafloxacin and to monitor the occurrence and fate of quinolone low-sensitive strains. Patients with acute phase of chronic periodontitis were subjected to microbiological assessment of their subgingival plaque samples at baseline (A1). Sitafloxacin was then administered systemically (100 mg/day for 5 days). The microbiological examinations were repeated one week after administration (A2). Susceptibilities of clinical isolates from acute sites to various antimicrobials were determined using broth and agar dilution methods. At A2, subgingival bacteria with low sensitivity to levofloxacin were identified in four patients, and they were subjected to a follow-up microbiological examination at on the average 12 months after sitafloxacin administration (A3). The patients received initial and supportive periodontal therapy during the period A2 to A3. From the examined subgingival sites, 8 and 19 clinical isolates were obtained at A2 and A3, respectively. Some Streptococcus strains isolated at A2 were found to be resistant to levofloxacin (MIC 16-64 μg/ml), azithromycin (MIC 2->128 μg/ml) or clarithromycin (MIC 1->32 μg/ml). At A3, isolated streptococci were highly susceptible to levofloxacin (MIC 0.5-2 μg/ml), while those resistant to azithromycin or clarithromycin were still isolated. It is suggested that the presence of the quinolone low-sensitive strains in initially acute lesions after sitafloxacin administration was transient, and they do not persist in the subgingival milieu during the periodontal therapy.

Treatment of Severe Chronic Periodontitis with Surgical and Prosthetic Intervention: A 9-year Follow-up Case Report

A 60-year-old woman presented with the chief complaint of mobility of tooth #16. Gingival swelling and calculus were observed. Clinical examination revealed that 49.4% of sites had a probing depth (PD) of ≥4 mm and 72% of sites bleeding on probing. Radiographic examination revealed vertical bone resorption in #35 and horizontal resorption in other regions. Periapical region radiolucency on #16 and 27 suggested a perio-endo lesion. The clinical diagnosis was severe chronic periodontitis. Initial periodontal therapy mainly comprised the following: oral hygiene instruction; quadrant scaling and root planing (SRP); extraction of #16, 27, and 31; and placement of provisional restorations. Open flap debridement was performed for teeth with a PD ≥4 mm. Bone defects exceeding the root apex were found in #17, 41, 42, and 45 intraoperatively. Teeth #41, 42, and 45 were extracted. After confirming the stability of the periodontal tissue, final prostheses were placed on #14-17, 13-22, 35-37, 33-43, 44-46, and 47. Following reevaluation, the patient was placed on supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). After 6 years, the patient experienced dull pain in and pus discharge from #17. Repeated SRP yielded no improvement, so the tooth was extracted and a removable partial denture placed on #16 and 17. Nine years have passed since the start of SPT and the level of plaque control has remained adequate and periodontal condition stable.

Periodontal Abscess: a Review and the Role of Antimicrobial Therapy

Purpose of ReviewThe aim was to summarize current knowledge about periodontal abscesses and describe recent research on antimicrobial treatment.Recent FindingsFor periodontal abscess treatment, antimicrobial therapy is implemented as an adjunct modality to subgingival debridement and/or abscess drainage. Among available systemic antimicrobial agents, amoxicillin (plus clavulanate), metronidazole, and azithromycin are often used with good clinical results. In our studies of patients with acute periodontal lesions, systemic administration of a new fluoroquinolone, sitafloxacin, yielded a significant improvement in clinical parameters, and was effective against subgingival bacteria, with no significant impact on the antimicrobial susceptibility of periodontal bacteria.SummaryPlaque control during initial periodontal therapy or maintenance care is critical for the prevention and treatment of periodontal abscesses. In the case of acute periodontal abscesses, drainage is considered first. When drainage is not possible or insufficient, antimicrobial therapy should then be considered. Microbiological testing can contribute to the successful treatment.

Periodontist-Dental Hygienist Collaboration in Periodontal Care for Chronic Periodontitis: An 11-year Case Report

We report a case of severe chronic periodontitis treated and longitudinally maintained by a periodontist and dental hygienists. The patient was a 45-year-old woman who presented with the chief complaint of gingival bleeding and tooth mobility. An initial examination revealed generalized gingival inflammation and subgingival calculus in the premolar and molar regions. Premature contact was observed in #14 and 45. Clinical examination revealed 42% of sites with a probing depth (PD) of ≥4 mm and 44% of sites with bleeding on probing. Radiographic examination revealed vertical bone resorption in #35, 36, and 45, and horizontal bone resorption in other regions. Based on a clinical diagnosis of severe chronic periodontitis, initial periodontal therapy consisting of plaque control, scaling and root planing, and removal of an ill-fitting prosthesis was performed. Following suppression of inflammation, occlusal adjustment of premature contact sites was performed. Open flap debridement was performed for teeth with a PD of ≥5 mm. After confirming the stability of the periodontal tissue, final prostheses were placed on #16, 35-37, and 46. Following re-evaluation, the patient was placed on supportive periodontal therapy. It has been 11 years since the patients first visit, and the periodontal conditions have remained stable. Meticulous periodontal care maintained over a number of years by a periodontist and dental hygienist have yielded a clinically favorable outcome.

Connective Tissue Graft for Gingival Recession in Mandibular Incisor Area: A Case Report

We report a case of gingival recession in the mandibular incisor region requiring a connective tissue graft. The patient was a 17-year-old girl who visited the Tokyo Dental College Chiba Hospital in 2014 with the chief complaint of gingival recession in the lower incisor region. She had received orthodontic treatment for 5 years and noticed the gingival recession on completion of active orthodontic treatment in 2013. Gingival recession in tooth #31 extended 3 mm beyond the muco-gingival junction (MGJ) and was clinically diagnosed as Miller Class II recession; probing depth was 6 mm. Following initial periodontal therapy, a connective tissue graft procedure was implemented. The connective tissue was harvested from the left palate. Healing was uneventful, and the grafted site showed a favorable outcome at 6 months postoperatively. We are continuing to carefully monitor the condition of periodontal tissue.

Periodontal Surgery Involving Modified Widman Flap Procedure and Connective Tissue Graft for Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis: A Case Report

We report a case of generalized aggressive periodontitis (AgP) requiring periodontal treatment including flap surgery and ridge augmentation. The patient was a 39-year-old woman who presented with the chief complaint of pus discharge from tooth #36. No other obvious signs of gingival inflammation were observed. Periodontal examination revealed multiple sites with a probing depth of ≥10 mm. Radiography showed pro-nounced bone defects in the maxillary incisors and molar region. Real-time PCR was used to detect Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Tannerella forsythia in subgingival plaque; all 3 pathogens were found. Based on a clinical diagnosis of generalized AgP, periodontal therapy was initiated, which resulted in an improvement in clinical and microbiological parameters. A modified Widman flap procedure was then performed on sites with residual periodontal pockets. Next, a connective tissue graft was performed for ridge augmentation at #22, which had shown evidence of ridge resorption. Postoperative reevaluation revealed a reduction in probing depth and an improvement in marginal bone levels. Oral function was then restored using a fixed bridge prosthesis and maintenance therapy initiated. The periodontal condition has remained stable over a 2.5-year period. In the present case of AgP, surgical intervention reduced periodontal pockets and periodontal pathogens and improved the architecture of both the hard and soft tissues, allowing subsequent care of the periodontium to be performed efficiently by the patient.

Improvement in Oral Health-related Quality of Life by Periodontal Treatment: A Case Report on Elderly Patient with Chronic Periodontitis

We report a case of an elderly patient with chronic periodontitis requiring periodontal surgery. An 86-year-old man presented to Tokyo Dental College Suidobashi Hospital with the chief complaint of tooth fracture in the anterior region and occlusal pain in the posterior region. Clinical examination revealed 47% of sites with a probing depth (PD) of ≥4 mm and 47% of sites with bleeding on probing. Radiographic examination revealed generalized moderate horizontal bone loss with localized vertical defects. A clinical diagnosis of moderate chronic periodontitis was made. The patients oral health-related quality of life (QoL) was also assessed at the time of each periodontal assessment. Initial periodontal therapy was provided followed by periodontal surgery. Open flap debridement was performed at sites with a PD of ≥5 mm (teeth #15-17). Surgical crown lengthening with an apically positioned flap was performed on #11 and 13 to gain an adequate biological width for the subsequent crown restoration. After confirming the stability of the periodontal tissue, provisional restorations were replaced with final restorations. No further deterioration was observed in the periodontal condition during the subsequent 1-year period of supportive periodontal therapy. Oral health-related QoL was markedly improved by the periodontal therapy. This suggests that periodontal therapy plays an important role in improving and maintaining oral health-related QoL in elderly people.

Adjunct Antimicrobial Therapy and Periodontal Surgery to Treat Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis: A Case Report.

Here we report a case of generalized aggressive periodontitis treated with periodontal therapy including adjunct antimicrobial therapy and periodontal surgery. The patient was a 22-year-old woman who presented with the chief complaint of gingival recession. Baseline examination revealed generalized plaque deposition and gingival inflammation. Thirty-nine percent of the sites had a probing depth (PD) of 4-6 mm and 2% a PD of ≥7 mm; 63% exhibited bleeding on probing (BOP). Radiographic examination revealed vertical bone loss in the molars and horizontal bone loss in other teeth. Microbiological examination of subgingival plaque revealed the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Tannerella forsythia. Oral health-related quality of life was assessed as a measure of patient-reported outcome. Based on a clinical diagnosis of generalized aggressive periodontitis, initial periodontal therapy and adjunct antimicrobial therapy were implemented. After reducing inflammation and subgingival bacteria, open flap debridement was performed for teeth with a PD of ≥4 mm. Reevaluation showed no sites with a PD of ≥5 mm, a minimal level of BOP, and a marked reduction in the level of the targeted periodontal pathogens. The patients oral health-related quality of life was slightly worsened during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). Implementation of adjunct antimicrobial therapy targeting periodontal pathogens and subsequent periodontal surgery resulted in improvement in periodontal and microbiological parameters. This improvement has been adequately maintained over a 2-year period. However, additional care is necessary to further improve the patients oral health-related quality of life during SPT.

Correlations between Perceived Oral Malodor Levels and Self-Reported Oral Complaints

Objectives. Even though objective data indicating the absence of oral malodor are presented to patients, they may be skeptical about the results, possibly due to the presence of some discomfort in the oral cavity. The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is an association among self-perceptions of oral malodor, oral complaints, and the actual oral malodor test result. Materials and Methods. Questions concerning self-perceptions of oral malodor and subjective intraoral symptoms were extracted from a questionnaire on oral malodor completed by 363 subjects who visited the clinic for oral malodor of Tokyo Dental College Chiba Hospital and gave consent to this study. In addition, the association of self-perception of oral malodor with values obtained after organoleptic and OralChroma measurement was analyzed. Results. No correlation between 195 subjects (54%) who were judged “with oral malodor” (organoleptic score of ≥1) and 294 subjects (81.6%) who had a self-perceptions of oral malodor was observed. Self-perception of oral malodor was significantly correlated with tongue coating (p = 0.002) and a strange intraoral taste (p = 0.016). Conclusions. Subjects with a self-perception of oral malodor were not necessarily consistent with those actually having an oral malodor. In addition, it was suggested that patients became aware of oral malodor when they felt oral complaints.