We evaluated the usefulness of a short professional mechanical tooth-cleaning (PMTC) program to improve periodontal conditions and caries susceptibility in 10 young adult patients with mental and/or physical disabilities. The PMTC program was carried out once on each of 6 sextants of the full mouth during 6 visits at two-week intervals. Even one treatment with PMTC was found to be significantly effective in reducing the probing depth in eight of the 10 subjects. A reduction in the total number of bleeding sites on probing was also clearly observed in all subjects. Moreover, the debris index was reduced in nine subjects by the PMTC program. Although caries susceptibility was improved, albeit very slowly, by PMTC, the Cariostat pH values showed no consistent tendency. The effects lasted for more than 6 weeks. Analysis of these results suggests that the PMTC program can be effective in adults with mental disabilities, especially in reducing gingival inflammation.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Amlodipine-induced gingival overgrowth: periodontal responses to stopping and restarting the drug.

A case history of a woman with gingival overgrowth (GO) induced by amlodipine is presented. A 49-year-old Japanese woman, who was taking amlodipine, had gingival overgrowth and swelling on examination. No specific periodontal treatment was provided to the patient for the GO; however, the amlodipine was replaced with an ACE inhibitor after consultation with her medical practitioner. Within two months, the suspension of amlodipine resulted in a significant improvement in her periodontal condition. Failure to control the hypertension caused the physician to re-prescribe amlodipine. After three months, the gingival overgrowth returned; however, its severity was less when compared with the original periodontal condition, due to reduction in drug dose and periodontal therapy. This experience suggests that temporary suspension of a drug which can induce GO can improve the periodontal condition without the aid of surgical treatment.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗