Background: It has been well documented that periodontal treatment decreases the levels of certain disease-associated species in subgingival plaque. Few studies, however, investigate to which extent periodontal therapy restores a health-like subgingival community. Here, we conducted a secondary analysis to evaluate microbiome outcomes of nonsurgical periodontal therapy alone or followed by an intensive antiplaque regimen, analyzing microbiome trajectories at the community level with respect to health.
Methods: Eighty-six subjects with periodontitis stages II/III were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after receiving scaling and root planing alone (SRP, n = 41) or followed by an antiplaque regimen consisting of use of 0.12% chlorhexidine for 3 months and interdental cleaners for 6 months (SRP + P + S, n = 45). Thirty periodontally healthy subjects served as reference. The subgingival microbiome was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and longitudinal within-subject changes were quantified with respect to a healthy plane (HPL) modeled from the reference group.
Results: Evaluation of individual microbiome trajectories showed that only the SRP + P + S group had a statistically significant reduction in distance to the HPL. However, responses were variable in both groups, with only a fraction of individuals changing in the direction of health. Random forest analysis revealed baseline microbiome composition as a greater predictor of microbiome response than type of treatment rendered.
Conclusion: An adjunct antiplaque regimen resulted in a greater approximation of the microbiome to the healthy state. However, responses varied greatly among subjects highlighting the need for robust and personalized approaches to restore eubiosis.
Plain language summary: This study looked at how different treatments for gum disease change the bacteria in the gums of people with moderate to severe gum problems. Eighty-six people received standard gum treatments, and some also used a mouthwash and special tools to clean between their teeth at home. After 6 months, more people in the group that added the extra cleaning steps had healthier bacteria in their gums than people who received the standard treatment. However, not everyone responded the same way. The study found that the types of bacteria someone had at the start were better at predicting how well the treatment would work, more than the type of treatment itself. This means gum disease treatments may need to be personalized for better results.
Background: Supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) reduces the probability of infection reoccurrence further disease progression. Despite that, several patient/tooth related variables have been linked to tooth loss during SPT. This longitudinal study examines the correlation between periodontal staging, grading, initial therapy, and frequency, cost, and time-to-re-treatment following active periodontal therapy (APT).
Methods: Patients who received scaling and root planing (SRP) or surgery (SUR) were included. Demographics, annual SPT visits, and medical history were collected. Radiographic bone loss (RBL), probing depths (PD), and clinical attachment loss were collected at six sites/tooth. A simple binary logistic regression model assessed the probability of re-treatment. Multiple models were constructed while adjusting for confounding factors: sex, age, number of SPT visits, and baseline data.
Results: Three hundred patients underwent SRP, and 142 underwent SUR as their APT. 191 patients (63.7%) required a second intervention over 24 ± 8.2-year follow-up. The second intervention type was correlated with the first (p = 0.035). The likelihood of a second intervention was higher in SUR patients (p < 0.001). Significant differences in time to first intervention based on stage (p = 0.019) and compliance (p < 0.001). Similar patterns were observed for time-to-recurrence based on stage (p = 0.03) and compliance (p = 0.017) but not grade (p = 0.144). Mean teeth "free of intervention time" was 16.3 years before the first additional therapy. However, SSD was found between stages (p = 0.028) and grades (p = 0.043) for SUR interventions, but not for SRP.
Conclusion: In this long-term study, higher stage patients and those who had surgical treatments received more frequent retreatments. The first intervention affected the likelihood and type of the second intervention. 12.4% of patients were responsible for 64% of the entire retreatment spending.
Plain language summary: Patients with more severe periodontitis who initially underwent surgery needed more frequent therapy. Patients who had surgery as their intervention during active periodontal therapy were more prone to have surgery as their additional therapy during follow-up.
Background: This study focused on whether the effectiveness of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on second molars (M2s) varies with the status of adjacent nonimpacted third molars (N-M3s).
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 776 regions from 268 patients were evaluated. Based on the adjacent N-M3 status, quadrants with M2s were categorized into three groups: N-M3 group (present N-M3), A-M3 group (absent M3), and R-M3 group (removed N-M3). The probing depth reduction (ΔPD) and the percentage of reversed deep pockets (PD5+ [probing depth ≥5 mm] turned to PD5-) after NSPT were analyzed among the three groups. The Wilcoxon nonparametric test was employed to compare the N-M3 group with the A-M3 group, with a mixed-effect model utilized to adjust for confounding factors. Further, the R-M3 group and the matched N-M3 group were compared using the Wilcoxon nonparametric test.
Results: After isolating confounding factors (M2 baseline gingival recession, tooth mobility, sex, and follow-up interval), the ΔPD of M2s was significantly lower in the N-M3 group (0.93 ± 1.25 mm) compared with the A-M3 group (1.09 ± 1.30 mm, p < 0.001). Moreover, the percentage of reversed deep pockets in the N-M3 group (35.56%) was lower than in the A-M3 group (42.98%, p<0.001). Similarly, compared with the N-M3 group, M2s in the R-M3 group manifested better outcomes in terms of periodontal indices.
Conclusion: Retained N-M3s may hamper the outcome of NSPT on adjacent M2s. Additionally, the removal of N-M3 is associated with an enhanced response of M2s to NSPT.
Plain language summary: The second molar is crucial for chewing, but it is often lost due to periodontitis. Periodontal treatment for the second molar is not always effective, and many factors contribute to this. One factor that has gained attention is the impact of a nonimpacted third molar on the periodontal health of the adjacent second molar. In this study, we examined how the presence of a nonimpacted third molar affects the outcome of nonsurgical periodontal therapy for the second molar. We analyzed 776 second molars from 268 patients. The results showed that when the nonimpacted third molar was absent or removed during periodontal therapy, the second molar's condition improved more than when the nonimpacted third molar was present. The data indicated that even with nonsurgical periodontal treatment, the periodontitis of the second molar could not be effectively controlled if an adjacent nonimpacted third molar was present. Therefore, the negative impact of the nonimpacted third molar should be considered to prevent the loss of the second molar.
Background: The global burden and trend of severe periodontitis, as well as its association with sociodemographic development, among women of childbearing age (WCBA) have been unclear so far. This study aims to assess the epidemiological pattern of severe periodontitis in WCBA from 1990 to 2021 and provide projections through 2040.
Methods: Data on the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of severe periodontitis among WCBA from 1990 to 2021 were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was run to project the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) through 2040.
Results: In 2021, an estimated 26,315,786 incident cases, 257,234,399 prevalent cases, and 1,680,425 DALYs were reported globally. From 1990 to 2021, a consistent annual increase in the age-standardized rate of severe periodontitis was observed, and the ASIR is projected to continue to rise until 2040. Additionally, the burden of severe periodontitis demonstrated a downward trend with increasing sociodemographic development. In 2021, age-specific rates of severe periodontitis increased with age, with the most significant changes occurring in younger age groups.
Conclusion: The rising global burden of severe periodontitis, along with regional and age variations, highlights the urgent need for innovative prevention and healthcare strategies to reduce this burden among WCBA globally.
Plain language summary: Women of childbearing age (WCBA) represent nearly a quarter of the global population, yet there is a significant gap in consistent global and regional surveillance data on severe periodontitis in this group. Our study revealed that severe periodontitis among WCBA poses a substantial public health challenge worldwide. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized rate of severe periodontitis increased globally, with the most significant rise observed in regions with middle socioeconomic development. This condition disproportionately affects women in their prime years, with the fastest growth seen among younger WCBA. It is essential that healthcare providers recognize the gender disparities and societal factors related to socioeconomic development that contribute to the risk of severe periodontitis in this population. To address this issue effectively, it is crucial to develop region- and age-specific prevention strategies, as well as targeted healthcare interventions.
Background: The host immune response plays a major role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. A bibliometric study can be crucial to understanding the different processes involved in this area; however, to our knowledge, it has not been published until now. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess research hotspots and global trends in scientific articles about the immune response in periodontitis published between 1952 and 2023.
Methods: The search strategy was defined using keywords and Boolean operators. The Web of Science Core Collection database was used. In addition, the bibliometric analysis was performed using four tools: Python 3.12, VOSviewer 1.6.19, R-Bibliometrix, and CiteSpace.
Results: A total of 7696 articles were included, comprising 6691 regular articles and 1005 review articles. Data analysis revealed an increasing trend in the number of publications over the years in this field, with the most cited article written by Preshaw et al. (2012). Leading countries in article production include the United States, China, Japan, and Brazil. Regarding institutions, the University of Helsinki had the highest number of publications (N = 339), with one of its researchers being the author with the most publications (Dr. Sorsa, N = 143, H-index = 52). Concerning journals, the Journal of Periodontology was the most influential journal. Finally, recent trending topics in research were related to the influence of inflammation on dysbiosis, immune biomarkers, immunomodulation, and the impact of aging on immunocompetence.
Conclusion: This bibliometric study demonstrated a growing interest and the emergence of new trends in research on host immune response in periodontitis.