Search

Introduction: For deep intrabony defects or Class II furcation involvements (FI), periodontal tissue regenerative therapy combined with bone graft materials and a barrier membrane is recommended. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of using carbonate apatite (CO3Ap) granules and absorbable poly(lactic acid/caprolactone) (PLCL) membranes for periodontal regeneration in the treatment of intrabony defects and mandibular Class II FI. Methods: This prospective pilot clinical study, conducted at a single center with a single-arm design, aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of CO3Ap and PLCL membranes in patients with periodontitis. A total of 9 patients with 10 teeth, including seven deep intrabony defects and three Class II FI, were treated with CO3Ap granules and PLCL membranes. Clinical parameters such as probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), tooth mobility (Mo), Plaque Index (PI), and Gingival Index (GI) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months post-surgery. Radiographic analysis was performed using dental X-rays and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images taken at baseline, 6, and 12 months post-surgery. Results: Postoperative healing was uneventful in most of the cases. In some cases, membrane exposures were observed. However, there were no signs of inflammation, such as abnormal bleeding, pain, swelling, or pus. These exposures eventually healed well in the end. The mean reductions in PPD at 6 and 12 months were 4.5 ± 1.6 mm and 4.9 ± 1.4 mm, respectively, while the mean gains in CAL were 4.4 ± 1.7 mm at 6 months and 4.6 ± 1.2 mm at 12 months. Radiographic analysis showed improvements in linear bone height within intrabony defects and in the vertical subclassification of FI in Class II FI. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of this study, periodontal regenerative therapy using CO3Ap granules and a PLCL membrane demonstrated promising clinical safety and efficacy for treating intrabony defects and mandibular Class II furcation involvement.

Endo–perio lesions are lesions involving pulp tissue with periodontal tissue. The bacterial infection of the pulp can spread to the furcation area through the accessory canal, causing damage to the furcation area. Regeneration therapy has good success when performed with flap surgery and is performed in cases of Grades I and II furcation involvement. Demineralized freeze‐dried bone allograft (DFDBA) is a regenerating material that has osteoinductive and osteoconductive abilities. It has the advantage of successful treatment of bone defects. Biodentine is an agent used for direct pulp capping, root perforation and furcation repair, and apexification. It can bind and enter the dentinal tubules and create interlocking crystals with dentin. This case report presents the treatment of furcation involvement Grade II originating from endo–perio lesions by using DFDBA and Biodentine as regeneration materials with 6 months of follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the performance of human observers and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in detecting periodontal lesions in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), a total of 38 datasets were examined. Three human readers and a CNN-based solution were employed to evaluate the presence of periodontal pathologies in these datasets. Materials and Methods: Datasets were acquired with a Veraview X800 L P (JMorita Mfg. Corp., Kyoto, Japan). Three general dentists, previously calibrated by a general principal investigator, read the datasets in 3D MPR mode using Horos(LGPL license at Horosproject.org and sponsored by Nimble Co LLC d/b/a Purview in Annapolis, MD, USA) as a DICOM reader. All pathological changes including vertical bone loss, furcation involvement, and periradicular osteolysis were detected. Furthermore, the same datasets were analyzed automatically by Diagnocat (Diagnocat LLC, Prague, Czech Republic), a deep CNN. Finally, the performance of the dentists and the CNN were compared and evaluated. Results: The CNN’s performance was significantly lower compared to the human readers in the search for different types of lesions. The human observers achieved good to very good interobserver agreement, except for the evaluation of the vertical lesions, which resulted in a moderate agreement. Conclusion: The CNN used in this study was found to be ineffective in identifying periodontal lesions and was not adequately trained to offer significant assistance in the automated evaluation of periodontal lesions in CBCT datasets.

Introduction: Carbonated apatite (CO3Ap) has unique properties as an alloplastic bone substitute and has been reported the safety and efficacy for bone regeneration. However, no previous studies reported the clinical application of CO3Ap for periodontal regeneration therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of periodontal regeneration with CO3Ap in treating intrabony defects, Class II and Class III furcation involvement (FI). Methods: A single-arm and single-center prospective pilot clinical study was performed to verify the safety and efficacy of CO3Ap in patients with periodontitis. A total of four patients with seven teeth, including three deep intrabony defects, two Class II FI, and two Class III FI, were treated with CO3Ap. The clinical parameters, including probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), tooth mobility (Mo), Plaque index (PI), and Gingival index (GI) were evaluated at baseline, 6 months, and 9 months after the surgery. Radiographic analysis was conducted on images of dental X-ray and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) at baseline and 9 months post-surgery. Results: The postoperative healing in all cases was uneventful, with no abnormal bleeding, pain, or swelling. The mean PPD reduction and CAL gain were 5.0 ± 1.0 mm, 4.5 ± 0.7 mm, 1.5 ± 0.7 mm, and 4.7 ± 1.2 mm, 4.5 ± 0.7 mm, 0.0 mm for intrabony defect, Class II and Class III FI, respectively. According to radiographic analysis, linear bone height in intrabony defects and vertical subclassification of FI in Class II FI were improved. Conclusions: The clinical application of CO3Ap for the treatment of intrabony defects and Class II FI could be effective for periodontal regeneration, although its efficacy in treating Class III FI might be limited. Despite the limitations of this study, the findings in this study suggested that CO3Ap has the potential to be a promising bone graft substitute for periodontal regeneration.

To assess the performance of human observers and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in detecting periodontal lesions in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), a total of 38 datasets were examined. Three human readers and a CNN-based solution were employed to evaluate the presence of periodontal pathologies in these datasets. Datasets were acquired with a Veraview X800 L P (JMorita Mfg. Corp., Kyoto, Japan). Three general dentists, previously calibrated by a general principal investigator, read the datasets in 3D MPR mode using Horos(LGPL license at Horosproject.org and sponsored by Nimble Co LLC d/b/a Purview in Annapolis, MD, USA) as a DICOM reader. All pathological changes including vertical bone loss, furcation involvement, and periradicular osteolysis were detected. Furthermore, the same datasets were analyzed automatically by Diagnocat (Diagnocat LLC, Prague, Czech Republic), a deep CNN. Finally, the performance of the dentists and the CNN were compared and evaluated. The CNN's performance was significantly lower compared to the human readers in the search for different types of lesions. The human observers achieved good to very good interobserver agreement, except for the evaluation of the vertical lesions, which resulted in a moderate agreement. The CNN used in this study was found to be ineffective in identifying periodontal lesions and was not adequately trained to offer significant assistance in the automated evaluation of periodontal lesions in CBCT datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Severely compromised teeth affected by endo-periodontal lesions are often assigned a "hopeless" prognosis, however, there is only limited evidence available. (2) Methods: In a retrospective study, we evaluated the long-term effectiveness of combined endodontic and regenerative periodontal therapy in teeth with advanced endo-periodontal lesions: 35 patients (age 47–83 years) with a total of 39 teeth diagnosed with grade 3 endo-periodontal lesions were treated by endodontists using an operating microscope followed by regenerative periodontal surgery. (3) Results: Changes in radiographic bone levels (rBl) and probing pocket depths (PPDs) were evaluated after 1 year (T1) and up to 7 years postoperatively (Tfinal). Mean rBL gain was significant with 4.87 ± 3.47 mm after 1 year (T1) and stable results with a mean rBL gain of 4.70 ± 3.37 mm at Tfinal. Mean PPD was significantly reduced from 9.74 ± 2.05 mm at baseline to 5.04 ± 1.61 mm at T1 and to 4.87 ± 2.32 mm at Tfinal. Tooth loss amounted to 10.3% (n = 4) and was due to root fracture. (4) Conclusion: The results suggest that the combined endodontic and regenerative periodontal therapy of endo-periodontal lesions of "hopeless" teeth can lead to favorable long-term results with tooth retention for up to 7 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The current study aimed to compare the extent of bone growth achieved after guided tissue regeneration (GTR) based on the location and nature of the initial periodontal lesion. Materials and Methods: The study sample included 80 patients who underwent GTR at Kyungpook National University Dental Hospital since 2012 and were radiologically followed up for at least 2 years after treatment. The patients were divided into four groups based on the location (maxilla and mandible) and nature (furcation involvement and intrabony defects) of the lesion. Differences in bone levels before and after treatment were analyzed. Additionally, a comparison of outcomes based on the type of bone graft material used was conducted. Statistical analysis included a comparison of groups using a t-test, assuming equal variance. Results: The proportion of bone growth observed in the maxillary furcation, mandibular furcation, maxillary intrabony, and mandibular intrabony lesions was 26%, 22%, 31%, and 34%, respectively. No statistically significant differences in the amount of bone fill were observed between the groups. However, a significant positive correlation was found between the initial depth of the bone defect and the amount of bone fill observed after treatment. Conclusions: Contrary to previous evidence, the current study observed no significant differences in the amount of bone fill after GTR based on the location and nature of the lesion. Furthermore, the amount of bone regenerated was directly proportional to the initial depth of the alveolar bone defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis and prognosis of teeth with endo-perio lesions present a major challenge for dentists. Proper diagnosis is critical in determining treatment and the long-term prognosis. However, treating complex endodontic and periodontal lesions is one of the most common challenges in current clinical practice. The coexistence of pulpal and periodontal tissue damage may complicate diagnosis and further influence dental prognosis. This article consists of a case report evaluating the efficacy of xenografts and resorbable membrane pericardium in treating bifurcation lesions associated with periodontal lesions of the left mandibular first molar. A 22-year-old female patient was referred by conservative dentistry with complaints of gingival swelling on tooth 36 with furcation involvement associated with periodontal lesions. A gingivectomy was performed after the first stage of periodontal therapy because gingival swelling precluded endodontic treatment. After 3 months of endodontic treatment, the grade II bifurcated lesion had not yet healed, so regenerative surgery using xenografts and a resorbable pericardial membrane was performed. Periodontal treatment showed no gingival inflammation, and radiographic evidence showed bone improvement. Endo-perio lesions are complex in etiology and require a high degree of expertise to identify and treat them. Therefore, effective treatment of lesions requires collaboration between various multidisciplinary disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To classify the furcation involvement (FI) of endodontically treated mandibular first permanent molars based on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), provide reference for individualized treatment of FI. Methods CBCT images of the FI of 164 endodontically treated mandibular first permanent molars from 163 patients in Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University were collected retrospectively. On the CBCT images, the shape and extent of periapical and periodontitis bone resorption, the thickness of residual dentin in the pulp floor and root canal wall, and the periodontal bone resorption of the complete dentition were evaluated. The FI was classified into periodontal, periapical, perforated and mixed types. Results Among the 164 FIs of endodontically treated mandibular first permanent molars, the periapical type was the most common (41.5%), followed by the mixed type (26.2%), perforated type (18.3%), and periodontal type (14.0%). Among the 68 periapical-type FIs of endodontically treated mandibular first permanent molars, 48.5% were proper root canal filling, 44.1% were insufficient filling and 7.4% were overfilling. Among the 43 mixed-type FIs, the periodontal mixed periapical type was the most common (72.1%). Conclusion Detailed evaluation and classification of furcation involvement could be performed using CBCT images; therefore, the study has guiding significance for clinical treatment.

Endodontic-periodontal combined lesion is a clinical quandary because it is difficult to establish a differential diagnosis and predict a prognosis. Correct diagnosis can be difficult at times; accurate knowledge of the etiologic factors is required for appropriate treatment selection. Endodontic and periodontal therapy are required for the treatment of endodontic-periodontal combined lesions. One treatment option for preserving multirooted teeth with furcation involvement is root resection therapy. This case series discusses root resective therapy and concomitant endodontic management as a treatment option for an endo-periodontal lesion in periodontitis patients, because clinical challenges posed by compromised teeth often complicate treatment plans and compromise long-term outcomes. Based on few reviews of the endodontic and periodontal literature, the role of root resection and treatment strategy are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis is an infectious disease characterized by the inflammatory destruction of the tooth supporting tissues. In multi-rooted teeth, this process leads to periodontal destruction within furcations creating defects demanding in terms of treatment. Regeneration of class II furcation involvement, although possible, is considered an unpredictable procedure, especially in terms of the bone fill. The interest in wound healing improvement by additional use of autologous concentrates of growth factors remains high in many fields of dentistry. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a second-generation platelet concentrate and biomaterial. PRF forms a solid fibrin matrix, which is slowly remodeled comparable to the natural blood clot. Its utilization is associated with release of growth factors and glycoproteins over a long period of time. PRF activates alkaline phosphates, which show osteoblastic activity and this activation influences the bone formation. The aim of this review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the adjunctive use of platelet-rich fibrin in surgical treatment of furcation defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furcation defects pose a significant challenge in the diagnosis and treatment planning of periodontal diseases. The accurate detection of furcation involvements (FI) on periapical radiographs (PAs) is crucial for the success of periodontal therapy. This research proposes a deep learning-based approach to furcation defect detection using convolutional neural networks (CNN) with an accuracy rate of 95%. This research has undergone a rigorous review by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and has received accreditation under number 202002030B0C505. A dataset of 300 periapical radiographs of teeth with and without FI were collected and preprocessed to enhance the quality of the images. The efficient and innovative image masking technique used in this research better enhances the contrast between FI symptoms and other areas. Moreover, this technology highlights the region of interest (ROI) for the subsequent CNN models training with a combination of transfer learning and fine-tuning techniques. The proposed segmentation algorithm demonstrates exceptional performance with an overall accuracy up to 94.97%, surpassing other conventional methods. Moreover, in comparison with existing CNN technology for identifying dental problems, this research proposes an improved adaptive threshold preprocessing technique that produces clearer distinctions between teeth and interdental molars. The proposed model achieves impressive results in detecting FI with identification rates ranging from 92.96% to a remarkable 94.97%. These findings suggest that our deep learning approach holds significant potential for improving the accuracy and efficiency of dental diagnosis. Such AI-assisted dental diagnosis has the potential to improve periodontal diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient outcomes. This research demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of using deep learning algorithms for furcation defect detection on periapical radiographs and highlights the potential for AI-assisted dental diagnosis. With the improvement of dental abnormality detection, earlier intervention could be enabled and could ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interrelationship between periodontium and pulp makes the treatment of combined endo-periodontal lesions (EPL) more challenging. It involves successful elimination of both periodontal and endodontic lesion. The current case report represents the efficacy of regenerative potential of enamel matrix derivates (Emdogain®) in endo-periodontal lesion after successful endodontic treatment. A 39-year-old woman presented with EPL on a left first mandibular molar. After the initial 3 months of healing, the clinical examination showed that the furcation involvement still prevailed. A decision was made to use a regenerative procedure using Emdogain®. Fourteen months after the procedure, full periodontal regeneration can be seen on the X-ray. The results demonstrated the synergetic effect of the endodontic and periodontal therapy that changed the prognosis for the tooth.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the mechanical impact of utilizing different fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) systems to reinforce inlay-retained bridges in dissected lower molars with different levels of periodontal support. A total of 24 lower first molars and 24 lower second premolars were included in this study. The distal canal of all molars received endodontic treatment. After root canal treatment, the teeth were dissected, and only the distal halves were kept. Standardized class II occluso-distal (OD) (premolars) and mesio-occlusal (MO) (dissected molars) cavities were prepared in all teeth, and premolar–molar units were created. The units were randomly distributed among four groups (n = six/group). With the aid of a transparent silicone index, direct inlay-retained composite bridges were fabricated. In Groups 1 and 2, both discontinuous (everX Flow) and continuous (everStick C&B) fibers were used for reinforcement, while in Groups 3 and 4, only discontinuous fibers (everX Flow) were used. The restored units were embedded in methacrylate resin, simulating either physiological periodontal conditions or furcation involvement. Subsequently, all units underwent fatigue survival testing in a cyclic loading machine until fracture, or a total of 40,000 cycles. Kaplan–Meyer survival analyses were conducted, followed by pairwise log-rank post hoc comparisons. Fracture patterns were evaluated visually and with scanning electron microscopy. In terms of survival, Group 2 performed significantly better than Groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the other groups. In the case of impaired periodontal support, a combination of both continuous and discontinuous short FRC systems increased the fatigue resistance of direct inlay-retained composite bridges compared to bridges that only contained short fibers. Such a difference was not found in the case of sound periodontal support between the two different bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To develop and validate models based on logistic regression and artificial intelligence for prognostic prediction of molar survival in periodontally affected patients. Materials and Methods: Clinical and radiographic data from four different centres across four continents (two in Europe, one in the United States, and one in China) including 515 patients and 3157 molars were collected and used to train and test different types of machine‐learning algorithms for their prognostic ability of molar loss over 10 years. The following models were trained: logistic regression, support vector machine, K‐nearest neighbours, decision tree, random forest, artificial neural network, gradient boosting, and naive Bayes. In addition, different models were aggregated by means of the ensembled stacking method. The primary outcome of the study was related to the prediction of overall molar loss (MLO) in patients after active periodontal treatment. Results: The general performance in the external validation settings (aggregating three cohorts) revealed that the ensembled model, which combined neural network and logistic regression, showed the best performance among the different models for the prediction of MLO with an area under the curve (AUC) = 0.726. The neural network model showed the best AUC of 0.724 for the prediction of periodontitis‐related molar loss. In addition, the ensembled model showed the best calibration performance. Conclusions: Through a multi‐centre collaboration, both prognostic models for the prediction of molar loss were developed and externally validated. The ensembled model showed the best performance in terms of both discrimination and validation, and it is made freely available to clinicians for widespread use in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The current study aimed to compare the extent of bone growth achieved after guided tissue regeneration (GTR) based on the location and nature of the initial periodontal lesion. Materials and Methods: The study sample included 80 patients who underwent GTR at Kyungpook National University Dental Hospital since 2012 and were radiologically followed up for at least 2 years after treatment. The patients were divided into four groups based on the location (maxilla and mandible) and nature (furcation involvement and intrabony defects) of the lesion. Differences in bone levels before and after treatment were analyzed. Additionally, a comparison of outcomes based on the type of bone graft material used was conducted. Statistical analysis included a comparison of groups using a t-test, assuming equal variance. Results: The proportion of bone growth observed in the maxillary furcation, mandibular furcation, maxillary intrabony, and mandibular intrabony lesions was 26%, 22%, 31%, and 34%, respectively. No statistically significant differences in the amount of bone fill were observed between the groups. However, a significant positive correlation was found between the initial depth of the bone defect and the amount of bone fill observed after treatment. Conclusions: Contrary to previous evidence, the current study observed no significant differences in the amount of bone fill after GTR based on the location and nature of the lesion. Furthermore, the amount of bone regenerated was directly proportional to the initial depth of the alveolar bone defect.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of root amputation on the fracture resistance of furcationinvolved, upper first molar and second premolar tooth units that are intracoronally splinted with fibre-reinforced composite. Materials and methods: 20-20 extracted human upper first molars and second premolars were included in the study. Standard mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) cavities (molars) and standard occluso-distal (OD) cavities (premolars) were prepared. All the molars were root canal treated, and 20 molar-premolar units were created by intracoronal splinting. These units were randomly divided into 2 groups (10-10 in each): in Group 2 the disto-buccal roots of the molars were amputated, while in Group 1 there was no root amputation. Both groups were embedded in metacrylate resin, 6 mm apical from the cemento-enamel junction mimicking furcation involvement. All specimens were submitted to dynamic and static, load-to-fracture tests. Fracture resistance values were recorded and also the fracture pattern was analysed. Results: During the dynamic testing, all the specimens withstood the loads, no specimen fractured. During the loadto- facture test, Group 1 (without root amputation) had significantly higher fracture resistance values (mean = 2184,90 N, n = 10, SD = ±462,133 N), than Group 2 (with DB root amputation; mean = 1752,50 N, n = 10, SD = ±364,932 N; p = 0.032). Conclusions: Root amputation may affect the fracture resistance of furcation-involved, intracoronally splinted upper first molar and second premolar units.

Aim: The study aims to compare the use of clinical probing and Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis of furcation involvement (FI) in patients with periodontitis. Methods and materials: Twenty-two patients, aged 30 to 65 years with periodontitis were included in the study. The patients who visited from April 2021 to May 2022 were assessed based on selection criteria. A total of 135 teeth were checked for furcation involvement. Buccal, mesiopalatal, and distopalatal sites of maxillary molars and buccal and lingual sites of mandibular molars were examined clinically using a Nabers probe and radiographically by CBCT. Results: There was a significant difference between clinical and radiographic evaluations with the percentage of grade (III) cases detected with radiographic evaluation being significantly higher than that of clinical evaluation. The maxillary 1st molar 21 (60%) and maxillary 2nd molar had no furcation involvement on clinical evaluation. In Radiographic evaluation Grade I FI was more in maxillary first molars least in mandibular 2nd molar. Furcation involvement was detected clinically more on the buccal side, maxillary 1st molar and least detected at maxillary 2nd molar at MP and DP sides (0.00%) Radiographically the FI was detected more on the buccal side, maxillary 1st molar 14 (40.00%) and least detected at maxillary 1st molar at DP and MP side of maxillary 2nd molar (4.00%). Conclusion: CBCT was more reliable in the detection of grade III FI compared to clinical probing. It can be a useful tool in detecting maxillary furcations. This makes CBCT reliable in the diagnosis of furcation involvement compared to conventional methods. Dental implant planning made easy with CBCT scans as it is evaluated for its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the impact of combined defects, bony destruction and furcation involvement, on disease resolution after surgery in terms of pocket elimination, absence of inflammation, furcation improvement and predictive performance. Methods: Combined bony (intrabony (+) or (−)) and furcation defects (FI degree 1 or 2) at maxillary molars in patients diagnosed as periodontitis stage III to IV, being through periodontal surgery and at least 6 months follow-up were retrospectively screened. Cumulative predictability (CR, %), failure of treatment and the change of clinical parameters from baseline at pre-operative visit to the latest maintenance care, including pocket depth (PD), horizontal and vertical furcation involvement (FI) were analyzed. Failure of treatment with low predictability was defined as residual PD > 4 mm with bleeding on probing during maintenance period. Results: Thirty-three patients with fifty-one combined defects were included. Statistical analysis showed significant overall PD reduction and FI improvement (p < 0.001). Combined FI degree 2 with intrabony (+) defects revealed more horizontal furcation improvement compared with FI degree 2 with suprabony defect (p = 0.007). However, type of combined defects was not relevant to CR (p = 0.702) and PD reduction (p = 0.707). Among all parameters, baseline PD with proximal FI degree 2 was indicated to failure of treatment. Conclusions: Different types of combined defects, deep baseline pocket and proximal FI degree 2 would compromise the predictability of treatment outcomes in upper molars. Nevertheless, the combination of surgical treatment and strict maintenance care could still yield high predictability and survival rate. Trial registration: retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background To evaluate the impact of combined defects, bony destruction and furcation involvement, on disease resolution after surgery in terms of pocket elimination, absence of inflammation, furcation improvement and predictive performance. Methods Combined bony (intrabony (+) or (−)) and furcation defects (FI degree 1 or 2) at maxillary molars in patients diagnosed as periodontitis stage III to IV, being through periodontal surgery and at least 6 months follow-up were retrospectively screened. Cumulative predictability (CR, %), failure of treatment and the change of clinical parameters from baseline at pre-operative visit to the latest maintenance care, including pocket depth (PD), horizontal and vertical furcation involvement (FI) were analyzed. Failure of treatment with low predictability was defined as residual PD > 4 mm with bleeding on probing during maintenance period. Results Thirty-three patients with fifty-one combined defects were included. Statistical analysis showed significant overall PD reduction and FI improvement (p

The first teeth to erupt in the oral cavity are the mandibular molars which are more prone to endodontic and periodontal involvement. This may lead to significant issues like an increase in pocket depth, furcation involvement, loss of clinical attachment and mobility of teeth ultimately resulting in tooth loss. Thus, it necessitates cautious oral hygiene measures. Advances in dentistry have led to treatment modalities for preserving teeth which were earlier indicated for extraction. Hence, periodontally compromised tooth with severe furcation involvement, which may not be amenable for regeneration, may be retained by bicuspidisation. Bicuspidisation is a surgical technique which involves separation of mesial and distal roots of mandibular molars along with its crown portion, where both segments are then retained individually, followed by rehabilitation with fixed prosthesis of the individual segments. This not only eliminates furcation involvement but also facilitates effective oral hygiene maintenance. In the present case report, a 50-year-old male patient reported with the chief complaint of pain, sensitivity and food lodgement in left mandibular first molar. Clinical and radiographic examination revealed grade III furcation involvement, significant pocket depths, delayed electric pulp test response and bone loss in furcation area. Bicuspidisation was opted as the suitable treatment modality. Root canal treatment was done, followed by bicuspidisation and subsequent rehabilitation with novel prosthetic technique. The bicuspids were restored using combination of deep margin elevation, and non splinted Lithium Disilicate table-top restorations. Six month follow-up showed good healing of hard and soft tissues around the bicuspidized sections, which was indicative of a successful treatment outcome, and can be attributed to a careful case selection, choice of restorative materials and techniques as well as good oral hygiene compliance.

Introduction: For deep intrabony defects or Class II furcation involvements (FI), periodontal tissue regenerative therapy combined with bone graft materials and a barrier membrane is recommended. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of using carbonate apatite (CO 3 Ap) granules and absorbable poly(lactic acid/caprolactone) (PLCL) membranes for periodontal regeneration in the treatment of intrabony defects and mandibular Class II FI., Methods: This prospective pilot clinical study, conducted at a single center with a single-arm design, aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of CO 3 Ap and PLCL membranes in patients with periodontitis. A total of 9 patients with 10 teeth, including seven deep intrabony defects and three Class II FI, were treated with CO 3 Ap granules and PLCL membranes. Clinical parameters such as probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), tooth mobility (Mo), Plaque Index (PI), and Gingival Index (GI) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months post-surgery. Radiographic analysis was performed using dental X-rays and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images taken at baseline, 6, and 12 months post-surgery., Results: Postoperative healing was uneventful in most of the cases. In some cases, membrane exposures were observed. However, there were no signs of inflammation, such as abnormal bleeding, pain, swelling, or pus. These exposures eventually healed well in the end. The mean reductions in PPD at 6 and 12 months were 4.5 ± 1.6 mm and 4.9 ± 1.4 mm, respectively, while the mean gains in CAL were 4.4 ± 1.7 mm at 6 months and 4.6 ± 1.2 mm at 12 months. Radiographic analysis showed improvements in linear bone height within intrabony defects and in the vertical subclassification of FI in Class II FI., Conclusions: Despite the limitations of this study, periodontal regenerative therapy using CO 3 Ap granules and a PLCL membrane demonstrated promising clinical safety and efficacy for treating intrabony defects and mandibular Class II furcation involvement., Competing Interests: This study received funding from GC Corporation (Tokyo, Japan). The funder had an involvement with the study design, interepretation of data., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Furcation defects pose a significant challenge in the diagnosis and treatment planning of periodontal diseases. The accurate detection of furcation involvements (FI) on periapical radiographs (PAs) is crucial for the success of periodontal therapy. This research proposes a deep learning-based approach to furcation defect detection using convolutional neural networks (CNN) with an accuracy rate of 95%. This research has undergone a rigorous review by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and has received accreditation under number 202002030B0C505. A dataset of 300 periapical radiographs of teeth with and without FI were collected and preprocessed to enhance the quality of the images. The efficient and innovative image masking technique used in this research better enhances the contrast between FI symptoms and other areas. Moreover, this technology highlights the region of interest (ROI) for the subsequent CNN models training with a combination of transfer learning and fine-tuning techniques. The proposed segmentation algorithm demonstrates exceptional performance with an overall accuracy up to 94.97%, surpassing other conventional methods. Moreover, in comparison with existing CNN technology for identifying dental problems, this research proposes an improved adaptive threshold preprocessing technique that produces clearer distinctions between teeth and interdental molars. The proposed model achieves impressive results in detecting FI with identification rates ranging from 92.96% to a remarkable 94.97%. These findings suggest that our deep learning approach holds significant potential for improving the accuracy and efficiency of dental diagnosis. Such AI-assisted dental diagnosis has the potential to improve periodontal diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient outcomes. This research demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of using deep learning algorithms for furcation defect detection on periapical radiographs and highlights the potential for AI-assisted dental diagnosis. With the improvement of dental abnormality detection, earlier intervention could be enabled and could ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes.

This study aimed to evaluate the radiographic reliability in the diagnosis of furcation involvement in first molars. A total of 52 subjects were included in the current study. Personal history regarding smoking was recorded and a periodontal examination was performed. Pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession, and furcation involvement in all first molars were assessed for each patient. Periodontal staging and grading were evaluated using the new classification of periodontal disease. Class II and Class III furcation classification were more frequently observed in radiographs than the Class I furcation; however, no significant differences were observed. Radiographic observation of the furcation was seen more when PD and CAL were >5 mm in all molars. The presence of gingival recession and its relation to the radiographic assessment did not reveal any statistically significant association (p > 0.05) except for tooth #16. The trend of visibility of furcation radiographically was more as the grade of staging was increased. Moreover, the presence of smoking habits and visibility of furcation radiographically did not have any statistical significance. Smoking may not be a factor in the furcation involvement. There is a direct relationship between the staging and grading of the periodontitis and furcation involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hungarian Medical Journal / Orvosi Hetilap is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Fogorvosi Szemle is the property of Hungarian Dental Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To evaluate the regeneration potential of periodontitis tissue treated by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) combined with the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) technique in a beagle model of furcation involvement (FI).Background: Achieving predictable regeneration remains a clinical challenge for periodontitis tissue due to the compromised regenerative potential caused by chronic inflammation stimulation. LIPUS, an FDA-approved therapy for long bone fracture and non-unions, has been demonstrated effective in the in vitro attenuation of inflammation-induced dysfunction of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), the key cells contributing to periodontal regeneration. However, the in vivo effect of LIPUS on periodontitis tissue is rarely reported.Methods: A beagle model of FI was established, and the experimental teeth were randomly assigned into three groups: control group, GTR group, and GTR+LIPUS group. Radiographic examinations were performed, and clinical periodontal parameters were recorded to reflect the periodontal condition of different groups. Histological analyses using H&E and Masson’s staining were conducted to evaluate the periodontal tissue regeneration.Results: LIPUS could enhance new periodontal bone formation and bone matrix maturity in FI after GTR treatment. Moreover, clinical assessment and histomorphometric analyses revealed less inflammatory infiltration and superior vascularization within bone grafts in the LIPUS treatment group, indicating the anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects of LIPUS in FI.Conclusion: Our investigation on a large animal model demonstrated that LIPUS is a promising adjunctive approach for the regeneration of periodontitis tissue, paving a new avenue for LIPUS application in the field of periodontal regenerative medicine.

Abstract Background The aims of this study were (1) to determine the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of panoramic and peri-apical radiographs in diagnosing furcation involvement, as well as (2) to evaluate the possible impact of clinical experience on these diagnostic parameters. Methods An existing radiographic dataset of periodontitis patients requiring implant surgery was retrospectively examined for furcation involvement. Criteria for inclusion were the presence of a CBCT, panoramic and peri-apical radiograph of the site of interest within a one-year time frame. All furcation sites were classified using the CBCT, which was considered as the gold standard, according to Hamp’s index (1975). Ten experienced examiners and 10 trainees were asked to assess furcation involvement for the same defects using only the corresponding panoramic and peri-apical radiographs. Absolute agreement, Cohen’s weighted kappa, sensitivity, specificity and ROC-curves were analyzed. Results The study sample included 60 furcation sites in 29 multi-rooted teeth from 17 patients. On average, 20/60 furcations were correctly classified according to the panoramic radiographs, corresponding to a weighted kappa score of 0.209, indicating slight agreement. Similarly, an average of 19/60 furcations were correctly classified according to the peri-apical radiographs, corresponding to a weighted kappa score of 0.211, also indicating slight agreement. No significant difference between panoramic and peri-apical radiography was found (P = 0.903). When recategorizing FI Grades into ‘no to limited FI’ (FI Grade 0 and I) and ‘advanced FI’ (FI Grade II and III), the panoramic and peri-apical radiography showed low sensitivity (0.558 and 0.441, respectively), yet high specificity (0.791 and 0.790, respectively) for identifying advanced FI. The ROC-curves for the panoramic and peri-apical radiographs were 0.79 and 0.69 respectively. No significant difference was found between experienced periodontists and trainees (P = 0.257 versus P = 0.880). Conclusion Panoramic and peri-apical radiography are relevant tools in the diagnosis of FI and provide high specificity. Ideally, they are best used in combination with furcation probing, which shows high sensitivity. Furthermore, clinical experience does not seem to improve the accuracy of a radiological diagnosis of furcation sites. Trial registration Patient radiographic datasets were retrospectively analyzed.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the mechanical impact of utilizing different fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) systems to reinforce inlay-retained bridges in dissected lower molars with different levels of periodontal support. A total of 24 lower first molars and 24 lower second premolars were included in this study. The distal canal of all molars received endodontic treatment. After root canal treatment, the teeth were dissected, and only the distal halves were kept. Standardized class II occluso-distal (OD) (premolars) and mesio-occlusal (MO) (dissected molars) cavities were prepared in all teeth, and premolar–molar units were created. The units were randomly distributed among four groups (n = six/group). With the aid of a transparent silicone index, direct inlay-retained composite bridges were fabricated. In Groups 1 and 2, both discontinuous (everX Flow) and continuous (everStick C&B) fibers were used for reinforcement, while in Groups 3 and 4, only discontinuous fibers (everX Flow) were used. The restored units were embedded in methacrylate resin, simulating either physiological periodontal conditions or furcation involvement. Subsequently, all units underwent fatigue survival testing in a cyclic loading machine until fracture, or a total of 40,000 cycles. Kaplan–Meyer survival analyses were conducted, followed by pairwise log-rank post hoc comparisons. Fracture patterns were evaluated visually and with scanning electron microscopy. In terms of survival, Group 2 performed significantly better than Groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the other groups. In the case of impaired periodontal support, a combination of both continuous and discontinuous short FRC systems increased the fatigue resistance of direct inlay-retained composite bridges compared to bridges that only contained short fibers. Such a difference was not found in the case of sound periodontal support between the two different bridges.

Abstract Background Due to complex morphology and limited access, the cleaning of the furcation area is extremely challenging. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches need to be tested to potentially overcome debridement limitations. The aim of the present prospective 12-month study was to compare clinical and microbiological effects following erythritol air-polishing versus conventional mechanical debridement of furcation defects in a cohort of periodontal maintenance patients. Methods Twenty patients with grade II mandibular molar furcation defects volunteered to enroll in this single-centre, examiner masked, randomized controlled trial. In a split-mouth study design, two furcation sites in each patient were randomly assigned to either receive subgingival debridement using erythritol air-polishing (test) or conventional ultrasonic/curette debridement (control) at baseline, and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Probing depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing were recorded at 3-month intervals. Subgingival microbiological samples obtained at baseline, 6 and 12 months were analyzed using checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization. Discomfort from treatment was scored at 12 months using a visual analogue scale. The differences between treatments, and time-points, were tested using multilevel analysis (mixed effect models and robust variance estimates). Results A significant reduction in probing depth took place following both treatments (p

With advances in dentistry as well as the increased patients' desire to retain their natural teeth, there is a paradigm shift from extraction to the preservation of teeth. Mandibular first molars are the primary occlusal load-bearing teeth, commonly extracted teeth due to dental caries and periodontal disease. Hemisection is a conservative alternative to retain a hopeless tooth. Following endodontic treatment and selective root removal, the remaining portion of the tooth is splinted to the adjacent teeth with a fixed partial denture prosthesis. The resorption of the alveolar ridge surrounding the extraction socket may complicate the subsequent prosthetic procedure. Hence, socket preservation technique evolved, which prevents such untoward changes in the extraction socket. This case report shows hemisection procedure in a grossly carious first mandibular right molar with furcation involvement of a healthy 40-year-old female patient followed by autologous platelet-rich fibrin placement in the extraction socket. One year follow-up showed little alveolar resorptive changes with better healing and function clinically.

The first teeth to erupt in the oral cavity are the mandibular molars which are more prone to endodontic and periodontal involvement. This may lead to significant issues like an increase in pocket depth, furcation involvement, loss of clinical attachment and mobility of teeth ultimately resulting in tooth loss. Thus, it necessitates cautious oral hygiene measures. Advances in dentistry have led to treatment modalities for preserving teeth which were earlier indicated for extraction. Hence, periodontally compromised tooth with severe furcation involvement, which may not be amenable for regeneration, may be retained by bicuspidisation. Bicuspidisation is a surgical technique which involves separation of mesial and distal roots of mandibular molars along with its crown portion, where both segments are then retained individually, followed by rehabilitation with fixed prosthesis of the individual segments. This not only eliminates furcation involvement but also facilitates effective oral hygiene maintenance. In the present case report, a 50-yearold male patient reported with the chief complaint of pain, sensitivity and food lodgement in left mandibular first molar. Clinical and radiographic examination revealed grade III furcation involvement, significant pocket depths, delayed electric pulp test response and bone loss in furcation area. Bicuspidisation was opted as the suitable treatment modality. Root canal treatment was done, followed by bicuspidisation and subsequent rehabilitation with novel prosthetic technique. The bicuspids were restored using combination of deep margin elevation, and non splinted Lithium Disilicate table-top restorations. Six month follow-up showed good healing of hard and soft tissues around the bicuspidized sections, which was indicative of a successful treatment outcome, and can be attributed to a careful case selection, choice of restorative materials and techniques as well as good oral hygiene compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemisection denotes removal or separation of root with its accompanying crown portion of mandibular molars. It is one of the treatment options for preserving the remaining part of the molar having sound periodontium. Careful case selection is necessary for long-term success. The present case report demonstrates the successful management of hemisection of 36 with a fixed partial denture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perio-endo lesions confront the clinician as far as diagnosis and prognosis of the affected teeth is concerned. Hemisection is the treatment choice for perio-endo lesions to preserve the remaining part of the molar having sound periodontium. It is a resection of periodontally involved root along with the associated crown portion. Prognosis and treatment of perio-endo lesions depend on the severity of bone loss, root trunk length, degree of root separation, curvature of root, ability to eradicate the osseous defect, and restorative and oral hygiene procedures. In this case report, root canal treatment and hemisection were successfully performed to treat advanced perio-endo lesions. By this way, natural tooth and surrounding structures were preserved and thereby cost was lesser than the other treatment alternatives.

Frequently, the clinicians are addressed to decide between the preservation of Grade III furcation molar and the implant replacement, due to the increased access among the population to this therapy over the years and high success rate of the osseointegrated implants. This case series presents clinical and radiographic data collected from 10 patients who underwent 13 root amputations for the treatment of degree Grade III furcation in maxillary molars with follow-up until 16 years. The results showed improvements in probing depth, bleeding on probing, and radiographic aspects. The follow-up time indicates that root amputation is an effective long-term treatment solution, especially when the patient's local, systemic, or financial conditions make it difficult or impossible to implant placement.

BACKGROUND: Menopause in females is a corporeal stage that gives rise to a number of adaptive changes both at systemic and oral levels, prototypically occurring in the late fourth or fifth decade of life. Though physiological aging affects the oral tissue, the hormonal changes due to menopause also act as a major contributing factor in deteriorating the health of oral tissues. Thus, the main aim of our study was to compare the overall periodontal status and alkaline phosphatase levels in the saliva of females in their pre and postmenopausal ages. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 200 female subjects coming to the Department of Periodontology at Rajendra Institute of Medical Science for oral prophylaxis. The subjects were arbitrarily selected in the age group ranging from 15 to 70 years and were further divided based on the inclusion criteria. Group A included 100 subjects with age ranging from 15 to 45 years, and group B, 100 subjects with age 54 to 70 years. Signs of periodontitis including clinical attachment loss, furcation involvement, and probing depth and salivary alkaline levels were obtained, evaluated, compared, and analyzed. RESULTS: In group A 65% of patients had grade 0 and 28% had grade 1 of clinical attachment level. Similarly in group B, 44% of the total had grade 0 of clinical attachment loss, 38% had grade 1, and 18% were of grade 2. On evaluating grades of furcation involvement, around 45% of the total patients in group A were grade 1 (incipient, pocket formation), while in group B, 51% of the total patients were grade 1. At least 46% in group A and only 20% in group B had no signs of furcation involvement. Salivary alkaline phosphatase levels in pre and postmenopausal patients showed a significant difference between the two groups was obtained. CONCLUSION: The study concluded a major difference in the periodontal health of pre and postmenopausal women with many influencing factors apart from menopause itself.

Objective: The improvement in diagnostic accuracy and optimization of treatment planning in periodontology through the use of three-dimensional imaging with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is discussed controversially in the literature. The objective was to identify the best available external evidence for the indications of CBCT for periodontal diagnosis and treatment planning in specific clinical situations. Data Sources: A systematic literature search was performed for articles published by 2 March 2015 using electronic databases and hand search. Two reviewers performed the study selection, data collection, and validity assessment. PICO and PRISMA criteria were applied. From the combined search, seven studies were finally included. Conclusion: The case series were published from the years 2009 to 2014. Five of the included publications refer to maxillary and/or mandibular molars and two to aspects related to vertical bony defects. Two studies show a high accuracy of CBCT in detecting intrabony defect morphology when compared to periapical radiographs. Particularly, in maxillary molars, CBCT provides high accuracy for detecting furcation involvement and morphology of surrounding periodontal tissues. CBCT has demonstrated advantages, when more invasive treatment approaches were considered in terms of decision making and cost benefit. Within their limits, the available data suggest that CBCT may improve diagnostic accuracy and optimize treatment planning in periodontal defects, particularly in maxillary molars with furcation involvement, and that the higher irradiation doses and cost-benefit ratio should be carefully analyzed before using CBCT for periodontal diagnosis and treatment planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: The aim of current systematic review and meta-analysis study was evaluate the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomographic imaging of alveolar bone level and furcation involvement in periodontal diseases. Methods: From the electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, Web of Science, EBSCO, LIVIVO, and Embase have been used to perform a systematic literature over the last five years between 2016 and September 2021. Mean differences with 95% confidence interval (CI), fixed effect model and Inverse-variance method were calculated. The Meta analysis have been evaluated with the statistical software Stata/MP v.16 (The fastest version of Stata). Results: 451 studies were selected to review the abstracts, the full text of 50 studies was reviewed. Finally, eleven studies were selected. Mean difference of Alveolar bone level between CBCT measurement and control group was -0.22 mm (MD, -0.22mm 95% CI -0.49mm, 0.05mm. P= 0.11). The CBCT versus intrasurgical furcation measurements were 2.18 ± 0.86 mm and 2.30 ± 0.89 mm for furcation height. Conclusions: Most of the findings of the studies indicate that CBCT measurements are similar to intrasurgical alveolar bone measurements and no significant difference was observed in their findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the use of periodontal probing and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in the diagnosis of furcation involvement (FI) in patients with chronic generalized severe periodontitis. Method and Materials: Fifteen patients with chronic generalized severe periodontitis were included in this study. In total, 174 furcation sites (all in molar teeth) were analyzed. FI was assessed at three sites (buccal, mesiopalatal, and distopalatal) of maxillary molars, and at two sites (buccal and oral) of mandibular molars. FI was assessed both clinically (periodontal probing) and on CBCT images, using a dichotomous scale (present/absent). The agreement between clinical and CBCT-based findings was calculated. Results: FI were more often detected by means of CBCT than by means of clinical examination. Agreement between the evaluation methods was present in 46.9% of cases (63.3% in maxilla, 45.0% in mandible). FI detected clinically was confirmed by means of CBCT in 24% of the evaluated sites. The largest agreement (73.7%) in FI detection was found in the distopalatal maxillary sites between CBCT and clinical probing. The smallest agreement (36.6%) was found in the buccal sites of the mandibular molars, in which 63.3% of FI were detected using CBCT only, but not clinically. Conclusion: The number of FI detected by means of CBCT was larger than by means of periodontal probing. In those cases in which chronic generalized severe periodontitis is clinically diagnosed, and surgical treatment is necessary, CBCT may be suggested as an adjunct tool for FI assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis is one of the most common conditions affecting oral health among adults, posing a great challenge for both patients and also for dentists aiming to treat this disease. In severe stages such deterioration of the supporting tissues, namely the periodontal ligaments and the bone, can occur, which will affect the biomechanical behavior and therefore the longevity and survival of the affected teeth. In order to be able to plan both periodontal and subsequent restorative treatment properly, valid modelling of the current clinical situation is advised. The aim of the present article is to comprehensively discuss possible analog and digital modeling methods of periodontally affected teeth and the periodontal structures surrounding them. Modelling possibilities can serve later as the basis of mechanical load, digital finite element studies, and also aid clinical treatment planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complicated anatomical structures in the furcation area of multirooted mandibular first molars, dental hygiene is greatly compromised once the furcation is involved in the periodontitis, leading to the unfavorable prognosis of teeth with furcation involvement. A patient came to a dental office with the chief complaint of "mobile mandibular posterior tooth" 27 years ago. The periapical film showed alveolar bone resorption at the root furcation of the right mandibular first molar. Flap surgery and fine supportive therapy were conducted. The patient was diagnosed with "furcation involvement Class III" during a revisit three years ago. Satisfactory and healthy periodontal statuses were observed 2, 9, 24, and 33 months after the periodontal flap surgery plus tunneling procedures. A follow-up of 27 years in the present case demonstrated that a favorable prognosis of furcation involvement can be achieved after adequate periodontal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aims of this study were (1) to determine the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of panoramic and peri-apical radiographs in diagnosing furcation involvement, as well as (2) to evaluate the possible impact of clinical experience on these diagnostic parameters. Methods: An existing radiographic dataset of periodontitis patients requiring implant surgery was retrospectively examined for furcation involvement. Criteria for inclusion were the presence of a CBCT, panoramic and peri-apical radiograph of the site of interest within a one-year time frame. All furcation sites were classified using the CBCT, which was considered as the gold standard, according to Hamp's index (1975). Ten experienced examiners and 10 trainees were asked to assess furcation involvement for the same defects using only the corresponding panoramic and peri-apical radiographs. Absolute agreement, Cohen's weighted kappa, sensitivity, specificity and ROC-curves were analyzed. Results: The study sample included 60 furcation sites in 29 multi-rooted teeth from 17 patients. On average, 20/60 furcations were correctly classified according to the panoramic radiographs, corresponding to a weighted kappa score of 0.209, indicating slight agreement. Similarly, an average of 19/60 furcations were correctly classified according to the peri-apical radiographs, corresponding to a weighted kappa score of 0.211, also indicating slight agreement. No significant difference between panoramic and peri-apical radiography was found (P = 0.903). When recategorizing FI Grades into 'no to limited FI' (FI Grade 0 and I) and 'advanced FI' (FI Grade II and III), the panoramic and peri-apical radiography showed low sensitivity (0.558 and 0.441, respectively), yet high specificity (0.791 and 0.790, respectively) for identifying advanced FI. The ROC-curves for the panoramic and peri-apical radiographs were 0.79 and 0.69 respectively. No significant difference was found between experienced periodontists and trainees (P = 0.257 versus P = 0.880). Conclusion: Panoramic and peri-apical radiography are relevant tools in the diagnosis of FI and provide high specificity. Ideally, they are best used in combination with furcation probing, which shows high sensitivity. Furthermore, clinical experience does not seem to improve the accuracy of a radiological diagnosis of furcation sites. Trial registration: Patient radiographic datasets were retrospectively analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic decision making and successful treatment of furcation- involved molars has been a challenge for many clinicians. Over recent decades, several techniques have been advocated in the treatment of furcated molar teeth, including nonsurgical periodontal therapy, regenerative therapy, and resective surgical procedures. Today, root resection is considered a relevant treatment modality in the management of furcation- involved multirooted molars. However, root resective procedures are very technique-sensitive and require a high level of periodontal, endodontic, and restorative expertise. Given the high documented success rates of implant treatment, the clinician is increasingly confronted with the dilemma of whether to treat a furcated molar by traditional root resective techniques or to extract the tooth and replace it with a dental implant. This article reviews the outcomes of root resective therapy for the management of furcation-involved multi-rooted teeth and discusses treatment alternatives including implant therapy. Treatment guidelines for root resective therapy, along with advantages and limitations, are presented to help the clinician in the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between geometric parameters of furcation lesions - maximum area of lesion opening (MALO), angle formed between the roots (ABR), lesion volume (LV) and presence and height of infra-osseous defects (IOD) - and the success of therapy with enamel matrix derivative proteins (EMD) in patients with grade C periodontitis, using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: The study consisted of two groups of patients with grade C periodontitis: control (surgery) (n = 17) and test (surgery + EMD) (n = 17). Images parameters on CBCT were recorded using OnDemand3D and ITK-SNAP software. Results: Pearson's correlation coefficient demonstrated that only IOD was statistically significant in the probing depth PD (P = 0.01), with a moderate positive correlation (R = 0.59). MALO was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.03) in the test group (surgery + EMD), with moderate negative correlation (R = -0.5). Conclusion: The presence of infra-osseous defects and height were relevant in relation to the success of the type of treatment addressed in this study.

Background: Due to complex morphology and limited access, the cleaning of the furcation area is extremely challenging. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches need to be tested to potentially overcome debridement limitations. The aim of the present prospective 12-month study was to compare clinical and microbiological effects following erythritol air-polishing versus conventional mechanical debridement of furcation defects in a cohort of periodontal maintenance patients. Methods: Twenty patients with grade II mandibular molar furcation defects volunteered to enroll in this single-centre, examiner masked, randomized controlled trial. In a split-mouth study design, two furcation sites in each patient were randomly assigned to either receive subgingival debridement using erythritol air-polishing (test) or conventional ultrasonic/curette debridement (control) at baseline, and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Probing depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing were recorded at 3-month intervals. Subgingival microbiological samples obtained at baseline, 6 and 12 months were analyzed using checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization. Discomfort from treatment was scored at 12 months using a visual analogue scale. The differences between treatments, and time-points, were tested using multilevel analysis (mixed effect models and robust variance estimates). Results: A significant reduction in probing depth took place following both treatments (p < 0.001). Control sites experienced a significant mean gain in clinical attachment level of 0.5 mm (± 0.2) (p = 0.004), whereas a non-significant gain of 0.4 mm (± 0.3) was observed at test sites (p = 0.119). At 6 months, a significant between-treatment difference of 0.8 mm (± 0.4) was observed in favor of the control (p = 0.032). No significant between-treatment differences were observed in microbial load or composition. Notably, at 12 months patients experienced significantly less discomfort following air-polishing compared with control (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The 12-month observations indicate that erythritol air-polishing and conventional mechanical debridement both support clinical improvements. A significant between-treatment difference in clinical attachment level was, however, detected in favour of control debridement at 6 months. In terms of patient comfort, erythritol air-polishing is superior. Trial Registration: The clinical trial was retrospectively registered in ClinicalTrial.gov with registration NCT04493398 (07/28/2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With advances in dentistry as well as the increased patients' desire to retain their natural teeth, there is a paradigm shift from extraction to the preservation of teeth. Mandibular first molars are the primary occlusal load-bearing teeth, commonly extracted teeth due to dental caries and periodontal disease. Hemisection is a conservative alternative to retain a hopeless tooth. Following endodontic treatment and selective root removal, the remaining portion of the tooth is splinted to the adjacent teeth with a fixed partial denture prosthesis. The resorption of the alveolar ridge surrounding the extraction socket may complicate the subsequent prosthetic procedure. Hence, socket preservation technique evolved, which prevents such untoward changes in the extraction socket. This case report shows hemisection procedure in a grossly carious first mandibular right molar with furcation involvement of a healthy 40-year-old female patient followed by autologous platelet-rich fibrin placement in the extraction socket. One year follow-up showed little alveolar resorptive changes with better healing and function clinically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furcation-involved teeth, commonly seen in dental practice, have a higher likelihood of needing extraction as the severity of periodontal furcation involvement increases. Studies consistently show that periodontitis in teeth with multiple roots significantly increases the risk of tooth loss, especially in the area where the furcation is involved. These furcation defects pose a major problem for dentists because of their location, accessibility issues, and the unpredictable healing process. The biggest hurdle in treating furcation defects is their irregular shape, which makes it hard to achieve complete debridement. While various treatments have been explored, non-surgical methods have not shown much success. This article comprehensively provides a review and discussion on the classification, assessment, and treatment options, including surgical and non-surgical management of furcation-involved molar teeth. Properly understanding the severity of the disease and its confounding factors and managing and treating the lesions appropriately have been shown to impart satisfactory survival rates for these teeth. Enhancing the understanding of managing these teeth can also lead to better outcomes for patients., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Peeran et al.)

Objective: To evaluate the effect of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in the regeneration of class II furcation defects, used alone or in conjunction with biomaterials. Methods: Electronic database searches and hand searches were carried out and double‐blind randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of EMD in class II furcation therapy were included, and a meta‐analysis comparing the effect of open flap debridement (OFD) + βTCP/HA with and without EMD was carried out. Results: The initial search resulted in a total of 298 articles, after removing the duplicates and exclusions after analysing the titles, abstracts and full text, five studies were included for the qualitative synthesis and two for the quantitative analysis. The meta‐analysis showed no statistical difference when comparing OFD + βTCP/ HA with or without EMD in the treatment of furcation defects in any of the evaluated parameters. According to GRADE, the certainty of the evidence for the variables evaluated was moderate. Conclusion: The therapeutic modalities studied improved the periodontal clinical parameters of class II furcations, but the use of EMD in the treatment of these defects did not contribute to a clinical improvement that justified its use associated with the therapies/biomaterials. It is important to emphasize the need for more studies with larger samples to increase the certainty of the evidence reported in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Accurate determination of bone loss at the molar furcation region by clinical detection and intraoral radiograph is challenging in many instances. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is expected to open a new horizon in periodontal assessment. The purpose of this study was to compare and correlate accuracy of molar furcation assessment via clinical detection, intraoral radiography and CBCT images. Methods Eighty-three patients with chronic periodontitis who had existing CBCT scans were included. Furcation involvement was assessed on maxillary and mandibular first molars. Periodontal charts (modified Glickman’s classification), intraoral (periapical and/or bitewing) radiographs (recorded as presence or absence) and axial CBCT reconstructions were used to evaluate furcation involvement on buccal and palatal/lingual sites. The correlation of furcation assessment by the three methods was evaluated by Pearson analysis. Results There were significant correlations (p

Background and Objectives: The presence of furcation involvement represents a formidable problem in the treatment of periodontal disease. Advances in radiographic analysis such as radiovisuographic (RVG) aid in the early diagnosis and treatment planning, which is critical for long-term success. The present investigation aims to correlate the interdental and interradicular bone loss in chronic periodontitis patients so as to explore the potential of interdental bone loss as a rough approximate screening tool for early furcation diagnosis in mandibular first molar. Materials and Methods: RVG radiographs with furcation radiolucency in mandibular first molars were selected. The morphometric measurements of mesial, distal interdental bone loss, and interradicular bone loss in mandibular first molars were recorded using RVG. The correlation between mesial and distal interdental bone loss and interradicular bone loss was analyzed. Results: In this retrospective investigation, it was observed that distal interdental bone loss was not significantly different when compared with mesial interdental bone loss. The interradicular bone loss was significantly different when compared with mesial interdental bone loss, whereas on analysis between distal interdental bone loss and interradicular bone loss was also found to be statistically significant. Interpretation and Conclusion: Interdental bone loss was found to be associated with progressive bone destruction in furcation area which suggests that early detection of interdental bone loss can be helpful in predicting future interradicular bone loss.