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Periodontal disease is the inflammation of the periodontal supporting structures of teeth. An index is an important tool of surveillance system based on the requirements of reliability, simplicity, and validity to screen oral health disease of the population. This paper aims to discuss on various indices formulated to measure periodontal disease from past to present. This paper reviews indices and different recording systems used to measure periodontal diseases at the population level by retrieving articles, selecting, writing, and summarizing the article. The advantages and disadvantages of various indices used for measuring periodontal disease are discussed in this article. Community Periodontal Index is the most widely accepted index used in larger research studies. However, presently, clinical attachment loss is a widely accepted tool for the diagnosis of periodontal disease. Future advances in new screening methods will be able to provide new opportunities in the diagnosis of active and progressive periodontal disease, which will further help in more precise screening of periodontal disease in larger research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis, a common inflammatory disease affecting the periodontal tissue, poses diagnostic and management challenges. Conventional methods are not capable of assessing disease activity or identifying individuals who are prone to progression. Biomarkers, measurable substances that indicate the presence, severity, or progression of disease, offer a promising approach to diagnosing periodontitis. Recent discoveries in molecular diagnostics have prompted the search for novel biomarkers, including cell-free DNA (cfDNA). This review article gives an insight into current knowledge regarding the use of cfDNA as a diagnostic marker in periodontal disease diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been an increasing trend for the development of natural formulations for plaque control using medicinal plants as an adjunct, which can be a feasible alternative as these are widely available, cost-effective, and have fewer side effects. Aim: The evaluation of the effects of medicinal plant extracts in chronic periodontitis (CP). Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in two phases; first the antibacterial activity of two medicinal plant extracts was tested on periodontal pathogens, thereafter, a clinical assessment was carried out on subjects with CP. Forty-five individuals suffering from CP were randomized into three different groups; Group A: Scaling and root planing (SRP) along with Piper longum rinse, Group B: SRP along with mixture of Tinospora cordifolia and P. longum rinse, Group C: SRP along with chlorhexidine (CHX) (control group). The clinical parameters (gingival index [GI], plaque index, gingival bleeding index [BI], probing pocket depth [PPD], and clinical attachment level [CAL]) were recorded at baseline and months 1 and 3. The intra- and intergroup comparison of clinical parameters for all groups at different time intervals was performed. Results: At the end of the trial, all the three groups showed a statistically significant reduction when compared to baseline for all the clinical parameters. In intergroup comparison, statistically significant reduction in GI, PPD, and CAL for both Group A and Group C was seen at 3 months as compared to Group B. Comparable reduction was seen between Group A and C for all the clinical parameters. Reduction in plaque and gingival BI was seen to be highest in Group A. Conclusion: P. longum can be effectively utilized as an additive to mechanical periodontal treatment in comparison to CHX mouthwash for CP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis and periodontitis are the diseases that affect a large number of men and women worldwide with incidence increasing with advancing age. Both these diseases present bone loss as a common hallmark. Periodontitis has long been defined as an infection mediated destruction of the alveolar bone and soft tissue attachment to the tooth, responsible for most tooth loss in adult populations. Current evidences including several studies support an association of osteoporosis with the onset and progression of periodontal disease in humans. Systemic loss of bone density in osteoporosis including that of the oral cavity may provide a host system that is increasingly susceptible to infectious destruction of periodontal tissue. Understanding the association between these common diseases and the mechanisms underlying these associations will aid health professionals to provide improved means to prevent, diagnose and treat these very common diseases. The paper reviews the current evidence on the association between periodontal disease and osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) is an extremely rare genodermatosis inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. This disorder is characterized by palmoplantar keratoderma and precocious rapidly progressive periodontitis, leading to premature loss of deciduous and permanent teeth. Early diagnosis of the syndrome can help in preserving the teeth using multidisciplinary approach. This paper presents clinical approach in a 14 years old male diagnosed with Papillon-Lefevre syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Diabetes Mellitus is the most common systemic disease encountered by a dentist in his regular practice. This disease has a very strong interrelationship with periodontitis. This paper is aimed towards evaluating, whether the blood oozing during routine periodontal examination can be used for evaluating blood glucose levels. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 patients, 25 diabetic and 25 non-diabetic (22 male and 28 female age 24-70 years) with moderate to severe periodontitis were included in the study. Periodontal pocket probing with William's probe was performed. Glucose levels in the blood oozing from the sulcus were measured using a glucose self monitoring device. Finger stick capillary blood glucose levels were measured by the same method. Data was analyzed using student t'test and Pearson's correlation coefficient at p<0.05. Results: The gingival crevicular and capillary blood glucose levels were compared. A positive correlation (r=0.994) between crevicular blood glucose levels (CrBGL) and capillary blood glucose levels (CBGL) was found in both test and control groups (r=0.988) and (r=0.992) respectively at p<0.05. Conclusion: As a positive coorelation was found between the CrBGL and CBGL, the results suggest that blood oozing during routine periodontal examination may be used for diabetic screening in dental office settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cigarette smoking represents a major preventable cause of human disease. Smokers have significantly elevated risks of all-cause mortality and developing a variety of pathological conditions. A direct causal relationship between smoking exposure and the prevalence and the severity of periodontal disease has been firmly established. Although the direct cause for periodontitis is oral bacterial infection, smoking is arguably the strongest behavioral risk factor for the incidence and progression of periodontitis. Smoking has a deleterious effect on all the aspects of periodontium. Smokers have been shown to respond less well to nonsurgical as well as surgical therapy than nonsmokers. Based on this evidence, dental health professionals should advise patients about tobacco's negative health effects as well as the benefits of quitting tobacco use, and tobacco cessation counseling should be a part of the armamentarium of the dental office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the methods to overcome the problem of polymerization contraction of posterior composites is to use prefabricated ceramic inlays in combination with composites. Several studies have shown that these pre fabricated ceramic inlays act as mega fillers which allow a reduction in resin based composite volume by 50-75% and a concomitant reduction in polymerization shrinkage and marginal micro leakage. Moreover the integration of pre fabricated ceramic inlays into composites reduces the overall coefficient of thermal expansion. Aims and Objectives: The performance of cerena prefabricated inlay system was evaluated. Material and Methods: 20 proximo occlusal cavities were restored with cerana prefabricated inlay system in patients. The performance of cerena pre fabricated inlay system in the oral cavity was recorded at base line follow up using Modified USPHS Ryge criteria at the end of 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: The alpha and Bravo values for the anatomic form, marginal integrity and caries assessment was evaluated. Alpha values were ideal. The Cerena prefabricated inlay system showed good fracture resistance, good marginal integrity and maintenance of antomic forms at end of 12 months period. Conclusion: The cerena pre-fabricated inlay system is a good treatment modality and provides a good restorative material at the end of 12 months too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction : Dermatoglyphics is a branch of medical genetics which deals with the study of fingertip, palm, sole and lip patterns in humans. expressions of these prints are controlled by 629 autosomal genes. Variation from the healthy normal type of fingerprint occurs in many human disorder and diseased condition. Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) is characterized by early age of clinical manifestation and has a distinctive tendency to aggregate in families. Familial aggregation of cases indicates that genetic factor may be important in susceptibility to AgP. Aims and Objectives : Determination of specific Dermatoglyphics pattern and establishing the prevalence of a specific fingertip pattern that can be typecasted to be susceptible to AgP. Methodology : The study included 30 patients, aged between 20 to 35 yr., diagnosed with and treated for AgP in the study group and 30 periodontally healthy individuals in the control group. Finger tip patterns were recorded and analyzed according to the standard guidelines for classification of patterns. Results : We observed that there is a strong coherence of negative and positive variances for three fingers. They are constituted by the following pattern combinations Conclusion : In this preliminary study we see strong indication for the occurrence of specific fingertip patterns that can be typecasted for susceptibility to AgP. This study done on a larger population with similar approach can be used as a screening test to find person's susceptibility to AgP and thus ensure that the patients can be more cautious to prevent manifestations of AgP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of the study was to analyse the microbiological count of selected pathogens in saliva of chronic periodontitis patients before and after scaling and root planing using Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction. Materials & Method: Twenty patients in the age group of 20-50 years, suffering from generalized chronic periodontitis, were included in the study. At baseline, gingival index (GI-Loe and Silness), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded and saliva samples were collected. After collecting baseline data, the scaling and root planing was completed and the patients were recalled after 4 weeks. All the clinical parameters were again recorded and saliva samples were again collected. The saliva samples thus collected were sent to the laboratory for microbiological analysis. Results: The results showed that the count of the periodontopathogens in saliva of chronic periodontitis patients was decreased after scaling and root planing. The count of bacteria that were found after treatment was also less as compared to the pretreatment count. With the decrease in count of bacteria there was decrease in probing depth and increase in the clinical attachment level. Thus, the clinical conditions of the gingiva were improved. Conclusion: It was concluded that saliva may be used as a diagnostic method for the detection of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fuobacterium nucleatum and Tannerella forsythia in chronic periodontitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host response plays a vital role in connective tissue and bone destruction in a reaction to bacterial invasion, where cytokines are produced in response to bacterial components and have an important mediating role in aggressive periodontitis. The study analyzed the level of selected pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1^6;, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-^5;, IL-4, IL-10 and GM-CSF produced in the Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) and peripheral blood of 12 subjects with Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis (GAgP) in comparison with 12 periodontally healthy subjects at baseline, 3 and 6 months after periodontal surgical treatment. Favorable clinical outcomes with the reduction of clinical parameters were achieved for GAgP patients at 6 months post surgery when compared to baseline. The level of GCF cytokines in GAgP patients was significantly higher than healthy controls at baseline, which reduced and became comparable to the level of healthy controls at 6 months after periodontal surgical therapy. At baseline the peripheral blood cytokine level in GAgP patients was also significantly higher than controls, which reduced and became comparable to their level at 6 months after periodontal surgical therapy. The levels of both pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines were significantly raised in GCF indicating their underpinning role in the rapid destruction of the periodontium in GAgPsubjects. In contrary to GCF the level of only few interleukins (IL-1^6;, IL-6 and IL-10) were raised in the blood thus indicating a limited transmission of virulence factors produced by periodontal pathogens to the systemic circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between periodontitis and other chronic inflammatory destructive diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis has been discussed since long. Inspite of having different etiologies, similar mechanisms of tissue destructions have been seen in both. Purpose- The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible interrelationship between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis on the basis of information available for the same. Materials and Methods- A medline and manual search was conducted to identify studies concerned with etiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, periodontitis or interrelationships between the two. Results- The studies shows that two diseases could be very closely related through common underlying dysfunction of fundamental inflammatory mechanisms. Acommon nucleus of activity in their pathogeneses provides novel paradigms of therapeutic targeting for reciprocal benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been recognized that oral infection, especially periodontitis, may affect the course and pathogenesis of a number of systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, and low birth weight. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current status of oral infections, especially periodontitis, as a causal factor for systemic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandibular first molar with additional root located distolingually ( Radix Entomolaris) is an unusual anatomical presentation. This case report discuss endodontic management of mandibular first molar with three roots ( one mesial and two distal )and four canal (two in mesial and one in each distobuccal and distolingual root). The etiology, structure and internal anatomy of the radix entomolaris are described. A careful clinical approach in management of such cases with use of all available armamentarium will result in successful endodontic outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]