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PubMedDate not supplied

Oral health during pregnancy.

The purpose of this article is to explore how poor oral health affects pregnancy and to review current recommendations for dental care during pregnancy. While nurses are concerned with numerous aspects of the health of pregnant women, the health of maternal and fetal dentition may be overlooked. However, due to recent findings that periodontal disease may be a risk factor for preterm low birthweight, nurses and other maternal healthcare providers are becoming more aware of oral health during pregnancy. It is important to understand that establishing a healthy oral environment is the most important objective in planning the dental care for the pregnant patient. This objective is achieved by adequate plaque control (brushing and flossing) and professional prophylaxis including coronal scaling, root planing, and polishing. Nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse-midwives should include assessment of maternal dentition and referral for dental problems as part of their prenatal practice. Patients should be encouraged to schedule elective dental treatment during the second trimester but seek prompt care for acute dental problems. Teaching related to oral health during pregnancy should include the importance of proper nutrition to ensure maternal and fetal oral health, including taking prenatal vitamins and eating foods high in protein, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins A, C, and D. Potential teratogens that may be encountered during dental care should also be discussed. Nurses can be vital in improving perinatal outcomes and maternal/fetal dental health through screening, referral, and education of their pregnant clients.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Changes in oral microbial profiles after periodontal treatment as determined by molecular analysis of 16S rRNA genes.

Terminal RFLP (T-RFLP) analysis was used to investigate changes in the oral microbiota in saliva and subgingival plaque samples from one patient with aggressive periodontitis (subject A) and two patients with chronic periodontitis (subjects B and C) before and 3 months after periodontal treatment. Substantial changes in the T-RFLP patterns of subgingival plaque samples of subjects B and C were noted after 3 months of improved oral hygiene and full-mouth supra- and subgingival scaling and root planing. However, there was little change in the subgingival microbiota of subject A. Although the proportions of terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs) larger than 1000 bp were notable in the T-RFLP patterns generated after digestion with HhaI of the samples from two subjects before treatment (subject B, 35.5 %; subject C, 29.6 %), the proportions of these T-RFs were significantly reduced or not detected after treatment (subject B, none; subject C, 4.1 %). Real-time PCR showed a significant change in the proportions of target bacteria in subgingival plaque samples of subject B. After 3 months, the Porphyromonas gingivalis population was markedly reduced (3.1 x 10(-3) %), whereas the proportion of Porphyromonas gingivalis before treatment was 7.6 %. The proportions of Tannerella forsythensis, Treponema denticola and Treponema socranskii were also markedly diminished after treatment. Similarly, the proportion of the T-RF presumed to represent Porphyromonas gingivalis was 5.9 % and became undetectable after 3 months. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries from subgingival plaque samples of subject B before and after treatment showed a notable change in the subgingival microbiota. These results were in agreement with the T-RFLP analysis data and showed that the T-RFs larger than 1000 bp represent Peptostreptococcus species. Our results indicate that T-RFLP analysis is useful for evaluation of the effects of medical treatment of periodontitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Detection of Tannerella forsythia and/or Prevotella intermedia might be useful for microbial predictive markers for the outcome of initial periodontal treatment in Koreans.

A proportion of diseased sites in periodontal disease do not respond to the initial treatment, which might be due in part to the presence of specific microbial pathogens. The aim of this study was to clarify the value of microbial screening for predicting the outcome of periodontal treatment in Koreans using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study enrolled 32 adults with periodontal disease. Microbial and clinical examinations were performed at the baseline and after the initial treatment (professional toothbrushing, scaling, and root planing). Subgingival plaque samples were taken from four sites in each subject (total 128 samples). PCR was used to detect the four putative pathogenic bacteria. There was an improvement in the average of each clinical measurement after the initial treatment. However, approximately half of the sites exhibiting bleeding upon probing (BOP) at the baseline still exhibited bleeding after treatment. There was a close association between the presence of BOP and the presence of Tannerella forsythia (formerly Bacteroides forsythus) and/or Prevotella intermedia. Furthermore, the sites harboring both T. forsythia and P. intermedia at the baseline had a poorer response to treatment than the sites where these two species were not detected. Therefore, microbial screening for T. forsythia and P. intermedia might be useful for predicting the treatment outcome in Koreans.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Systemic acute-phase reactants, C-reactive protein and haptoglobin, in adult periodontitis.

Capture ELISAs with biotinylated monospecific antibodies were developed to detect both C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (Hp) in serum of adult periodontitis (AP) patients and normal subjects. Each acute-phase reactant was significantly increased in serum from AP patients with CRP at 9.12 +/- 1.61 mg/l versus 2.17 +/- 0.41 mg/l (P < 0.001) and Hp at 3.68 +/- 0.37 g/l versus 1.12 +/- 0.78 g/l (P < 0.001). Assessment of clinical characteristics of the patients' periodontal disease indicated that CRP and Hp levels were significantly increased in patients with the most frequent disease active episodes (P < 0.02 and P < 0.001, respectively). Longitudinal examination of the Hp levels showed a significant decrease following scaling and root planing (3.68 versus 2.38 g/l; P < 0.01). After a 2-year administration of 50 mg/b.i.d. Flurbiprofen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), significantly decreased Hp levels were noted (P < 0.005). CRP levels declined by 35-40% after 1-2 years of treatment with the drug (P < 0.05). The findings indicated that localized infections resulting in increased inflammation and tissue loss in the periodontium elicit systemic host changes manifest by increases in two acute-phase reactants. The conclusions are that either these molecules are formed locally and distributed to the serum, or these presumably localized infections impact upon the systemic components of the host protective responses.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1994

A technique for treatment of extensive periodontal defects: a case study.

This case study describes the use of oxidized cellulose mesh to improve healing of periodontal defects of poor regenerative capacity. Circumferential defects with horizontal bone loss were treated by surgical exposure of the root surface followed by scaling and root planing. Prior to flap replacement, oxidized cellulose mesh was positioned in incremental layers over the defects so as to replace the lost alveolar bone. It was to act also as a barrier to the ingress of epithelial cells and gingival fibroblasts into the healing wound using the principles vof guided tissue regeneration. Healing was good, with minimal post-operative recession. Whether regeneration of alveolar bone and periodontal ligament occurred as a result of using this technique could not be determined in this clinical case study.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of the distribution of Actinomyces in dental plaque on inserted enamel and natural tooth surfaces in periodontal health and disease.

The distribution of Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces odontolyticus in healthy and diseased adult populations was studied in 3 different ways. First, supragingival plaque formation at 2 through 72 h was examined in 12 periodontally healthy adults using a removable pre-measured surface of enamel bonded to molars and premolars. Second, a cross-sectional examination of the composition of both supragingival and subgingival plaque of unknown age was conducted in 205 adults exhibiting periodontal health to moderate disease. Third, the effects of oral hygiene instruction and root planing on the subgingival microflora of a subset of 19 subjects with moderate periodontitis were examined. The evaluation of 12 adults revealed that the predominant species in early plaque formation (2, 4 and 8 h) was A. odontolyticus. A. viscosus and A. naeslundii were present in developing plaques in almost all subjects in 2-h plaque, but absent in half the subjects when 4-, 8- or 24-h plaque was examined. These two species significantly increased in numbers per mm2 enamel surface area in 48- and 72-h plaques. A. odontolyticus was not related to clinical signs of periodontal disease in 205 adults, and its subgingival proportions in plaque did not change following periodontal treatment of 19 individuals. A. naeslundii was found in significantly higher numbers in supragingival than subgingival plaques in the 205 adults examined. The mean proportion of A. naeslundii significantly decreased as the magnitude of probing depth and attachment loss increased. The proportions of A. naeslundii and A. viscosus were found to be significantly increased in subgingival plaques following periodontal treatment.

Actinomyces↗
PubMed1993

Salivary collagenase, elastase- and trypsin-like proteases as biochemical markers of periodontal tissue destruction in adult and localized juvenile periodontitis.

The profile of salivary proteases and their cellular origin, with special reference to polymorphonuclear leukocytes and bacteria, was studied in localized juvenile periodontitis and compared with adult periodontitis and healthy controls. General proteolytic activity in saliva as well as collagenase, elastase-like and trypsin-like activity was measured. In addition, the sensitivity of salivary collagenase of patients with localized juvenile periodontitis to doxycycline inhibition was studied. The saliva of localized juvenile periodontitis patients contained low amounts of collagenase compared with adult periodontitis saliva, and almost all salivary collagenase was found to exist in endogenously active form, as was found to be the case also in adult periodontitis patients and healthy controls. The salivary collagenase of localized juvenile periodontitis patients was relatively insensitive to 100 mumol/l doxycycline but was completely inhibited by 600 mumol/l doxycycline, reflecting rather matrix metalloproteinase-1 (fibroblast-type) than matrix metalloproteinase-8 (polymorphonuclear leukocyte) enzyme. The saliva of localized juvenile periodontitis patients also contained low amounts of elastase-like activity compared with the saliva of untreated adult periodontitis patients. Scaling and root planing caused a significant decrease in elastase-like activity in the saliva of adult periodontitis patients. General proteolytic and trypsin-like activities were also low in the saliva of localized juvenile periodontitis patients. Furthermore, the reducing agent beta-mercaptoethanol did not activate or inhibit the salivary trypsin-like activity of localized juvenile periodontitis or adult periodontitis patients, although the reductant readily activated partially purified Porphyromonas gingivalis trypsin-like protease in a characteristic manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aggressive Periodontitis↗
PubMed2005

Antimicrobial susceptibility variation of 50 anaerobic periopathogens in aggressive periodontitis: an interindividual variability study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The frequent use of antibiotics in developed countries has led to the emergence of widespread bacterial resistance. In this study, the interindividual variability of the antibiotic susceptibility of 50 putative microorganisms in aggressive periodontitis patients has been evaluated by means of VC (variation coefficient). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 60 microbial samples were collected from 20 adult patients diagnosed with aggressive periodontitis (2-4 samples by patient). Bacterial strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Peptostreptococcus micros were isolated according to Slots' rapid identification method. The susceptibilities to 10 antibiotics were studied: penicillin G (PEN), ampicillin (AMP), amoxicillin (AMX), amoxicillin/clavulanate (AMC), tetracycline (TET), doxycycline (DOX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), erythromycin (ERY), spiramycin (SPI) and clindamycin (CLIN), using the Disk Diffusion Susceptibility test (DDS test: Kirby-Bauer's modified method for anaerobic bacteria). The broth microdilution Minimum Inhibitory Concentration test was carried out as a control test. RESULTS: Among the 50 identified bacteria, 15 were P. gingivalis, 12 P. intermedia, 8 T. forsythia, 9 F. nucleatum, and 6 P. micros. The results of the DDS test show that penicillins (especially AMC, AMP, and AMX), cyclines (especially DOX) and CLIN are highly effective against the 50 anaerobic studied bacteria. CIP and ERY have the lowest efficacy against those bacteria. CIP shows a very variable activity according to anaerobic bacteria species, being particularly inactive against P. gingivalis and very efficient against T. forsythia and P. micros. SPI is also highly efficient but not against P. micros. CONCLUSIONS: The interindividual susceptibility of principal periodontal pathogens to antibiotics is not homogeneous and seems to vary according to bacterial species and antimicrobial molecules. This variability seems to be greater with older molecules (PEN, TET, ERY) than with more recent ones, which indicates more stable results (AMC, AMX, AMP, and DOX). P. intermedia appeared to be the bacteria most resistant to penicillins and showed the highest coefficient variation. Together with scaling and root planing, the combination of two antibiotics would therefore seem to be recommended in the treatment of aggressive periodontitis, particularly in the presence of P. intermedia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1980

Longitudinal evaluation of free autogenous gingival grafts.

This study was designed to determine the necessity for and effectiveness of the free autogenous gingival graft in maintaining the periodontal attachment to teeth. Ninety-two patients with bilateral facial surfaces of inadequate keratinized gingiva had a free autogenous gingival graft placed on one of the facial surfaces (experimental side) while the contralateral side served as the control. Measurements were recorded from the CEJ to the 1) free gingival margin, 2) base of the gingival sulcus, and 3) mucogingival junction on the mid-facial of selected teeth. The Gingival Index and Plaque Index (Löe 1967) were also evaluated. A total of 107 grafts were performed and followed from 6 months to 2 years post grafting. Patients were recalled (scaling, root planing, plaque control instruction) and clinical parameters such as pocket depth, recession and attachment level were measured at 3- and 6-month intervals. Both experimental (grafted) and control (unoperated) sides showed marked reduction in the Gingival Index and Plaque Index. Neither side demonstrated further attachment loss. it would appear that minimizing inflammation is sufficient to maintain attachment levels despite the width of keratinized attached gingiva.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Alterations of the position of the marginal soft tissue following periodontal surgery.

The present study was performed to examine the alterations of the position of the marginal soft tissue ("gingival margin") on the buccal surface of teeth in patients who following periodontal surgery were enrolled in a supervised maintenance care program for 10--11 years. The material consisted of 43 patients with severe destruction of the periodontal tissues. Following initial treatment comprising scaling, root planing and instructions in plaque control measures, deepened periodontal pockets were eliminated by the use of an apically repositioned flap procedure including osseous surgery to eliminate bony defects. After treatment, the patients were recalled once every 3--6 months for maintenance care. In all patients, the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the gingival margin on the buccal surfaces of all treated teeth was assessed (1) prior to surgery, (2) after initial healing, and (3) at a reexamination 10--11 years after treatment. In addition, the presence or absence of keratinized gingiva was determined. The results showed that (1) during active periodontal treatment the position of the gingival margin was shifted in an apical direction, (2) this displacement was to some extent compensated for by a coronal regrowth during the postoperative maintenance care period, (3) the alterations of the position of the gingival margin followed a similar pattern in areas with and without a zone of keratinized gingiva, (4) the number of gingival units devoid of keratinized gingiva decreased during the maintenance care period.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Treatment of periodontal infections due to anaerobic bacteria with short-term treatment with metronidazole.

In the present report, five selected periodontal patients were treated for 1 week with metronidazole. Two of the patients had their teeth scales and root-planed the week they received metronidazole. Prior to treatment, B. asaccharolyticus accounted for 41% of the cultivable isolates and the spirochetes averaged 29% of the microscopic count in plaque removed from each of four pockets per patient. The presence of these elevated proportions of periodontopathic bacteria combined with the presence of periodontal pockets and attachment loss suggested that the patients were in a state of an active infectious process involving primarily anaerobic bacteria. If this be the case, then antimicrobial therapy directed against these anaerobes wih metronidazole was indicated. The 1-week treatment with metronidazole significantly reduced the proportions of these organisms for up to 6 months after treatment. Coincident with these findings was an improvement in the clinical parameters, especially in those sites that initially had greater than 5 mm pocket or attachment loss. These sites showed a 2 mm or more reduction in pocket depth and an almost 2 mm gain in apparent attachment that was evident 6 months after treatment. The results obtained were in only five patients. However, the magnitude of improvement suggests that antimicrobial therapy directed against anaerobic organisms may be a valuable adjunct to periodontal therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Use of chlorhexidine as a plaque control measure following surgical treatment of periodontal disease.

Chlorhexidine mouth rinsing was compared with regularly performed professional tooth cleaning as a plaque control measure during healing following periodontal surgery. 14 patients were selected for the study. A Baseline examination included assessment of oral hygiene status, gingival condition, probing depth and attachment level. In each patient, scaling and root planing was carried out in conjunction with the modified Widman flap procedure including recontouring of alveolar bone irregularities in 2 jaw quadrants. The same procedures without osseous surgery were performed in contralateral jaw quadrants. 7 patients rinsed their mouth with a solution of 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate twice a day, 2 min each time, for the first 6 months after therapy (healing phase). During the same period the remaining 7 patients were recalled every 2 weeks for professional tooth cleaning ad modum Axelsson & Lindhe (1974). Following reexamination after 6 months, all 14 patients were placed on a maintenance care program which included mechanical prophylaxis once every 3 months for 18 months (maintenance phase). Reexaminations were performed 6, 12 and 24 months after completion of initial therapy. The results revealed that professional tooth cleaning was somewhat more effective as a plaque control measure during healing following surgery than chlorhexidine mouth rinsing. At the end of the healing phase (1) there was a higher frequency of sites with pockets deeper than 4 mm in the patients who rinsed with chlorhexidine, (2) less gain of attachment occurred following chlorhexidine rinsing in pockets with an initial probing depth of greater than 4 mm, and (3) attachment loss in initially shallow pockets was somewhat more pronounced in the patients who rinsed with chlorhexidine. The differences in the effect of the 2 methods of plaque control, however, were small and in most respects diminished in the course of the maintenance phase. It was concluded that mouth rinsing with chlorhexidine is a proper alternative to plaque control during healing following periodontal surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Slow release metronidazole and a simplified mechanical oral hygiene regimen in the control of chronic periodontitis.

The present study is one of a series aimed at devising practical methods of control of chronic periodontitis that do not depend upon stringent interdental cleaning by the patient. The regime consists of professional and home care components thought to be realistic for general practice. Patients with chronic periodontitis, but without any complicating factor, such as systemic disease, recent antimicrobial therapy or occlusal traumatism were selected. They received an initial thorough scaling, root planing and an instruction in Bass brushing, using a multituft brush and a sodium fluoride toothpaste, but without emphasis on inter-dental cleaning. They were then assigned to one of two groups, one of which received, in addition to the above mechanical oral hygiene regime, low (0.5%) and the other high (40%) dose metronidazole locally in periodontal pockets once a week for 4 weeks. The low dose was supplied in the form of solution inside fine dialysis tubing. The high dose was in the form of metronidazole powder incorporated in acrylic resin. Plaque index, sulcus bleeding index, probeable pocket depth and gingival shrinkage were monitored during this period and for a further 8 weeks. Both groups showed highly significant reductions in (supragingival) plaque and periodontal inflammation, maintained at least 8 weeks after the end of the 4-week chemotherapy period. Reductions in SBI were greatest for the 40% metronidazole group. It was concluded that local metronidazole, even in the form of 0.5% metronidazole in a small portion of dialysis tubing, has a positive rôle in the control of chronic periodontitis.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1984

Subgingival metronidazole in dialysis tubing and subgingival chlorhexidine irrigation in the control of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease.

The present investigation compared subgingival metronidazole in dialysis tubing and subgingival chlorhexidine irrigation in the control of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease. 10 patients with 4 mm or deeper periodontal pockets were divided into 2 groups. Both received baseline scaling, root planing, subcontact area cleaning and instruction in the Bass technique of tooth brushing, but not in interdental cleaning. One group with 80 pockets received 0.2% chlorhexidine subgingival irrigation for 28 days and the other with 86 pockets received 0.5% metronidazole solution incorporated in subgingivally placed dialysis tubing. The tubings were replaced with freshly filled ones at days 7, 14 and 21. Active treatment ceased at day 28. Plaque Index, Sulcus Bleeding Index, pocket depth and gingival shrinkage were recorded at days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 56 and 84. Subgingival 0.5% metronidazole in dialysis tubing and 0.2% chlorhexidine irrigation were found to be equally effective in reducing chronic periodontitis. Metronidazole reduced Plaque Index less but pocket depth more than chlorhexidine. Improvements were maintained significantly below baseline levels for at least 8 weeks after the end of the 4-week treatment period.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1985

Regeneration of alveolar bone following surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatment.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the regeneration of alveolar bone following surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatment. A total of 16 patients who had advanced periodontitis and demonstrated angular bony defects on radiographs participated in the study. After the initial examination, they received instruction in oral hygiene and had their teeth thoroughly scaled. When the individual patient at 2 succeeding appointments had plaque on less than 20% of the tooth surfaces, one maxillary and one mandibular quadrant was treated with the modified Widman flap procedure while one of the remaining quadrants was treated with the reverse bevel flap procedure. The last quadrant was treated with root planing under local anesthesia. None of these procedures included bone contouring. Following treatment, the patients were recalled every 2 weeks for professional tooth cleaning. Radiographs taken 12 months following treatment revealed that only minor changes in the bone level had occurred in areas with horizontal bone loss following the various treatment modalities. Following the modified Widman flap procedure, however, a statistically significant coronal regrowth of bone (0.5 mm) had occurred in angular bony defects. The majority of the angular bony defects persisted following all 3 treatment modalities.

Alveolar Process↗
PubMed1985

Effect of age on healing following periodontal therapy.

The present investigation was performed in order to analyze the effect of age on healing of the periodontal tissues following treatment. The patients included in the present analysis consisted of 2 different samples. One group of 62 patients (sample A) was examined and treated between 1980 and 1982. 13 of these subjects were less than 40 years of age, 26 subjects were 40-49 years of age and 23 subjects were greater than 49 years old. The patients were subjected to periodontal surgery using the modified Widman flap procedure. During the active phase of treatment and for the subsequent 6 months of healing, all 62 patients were subjected to professional tooth cleaning. Instruction in proper oral hygiene measures was repeated and scaling was carried out when indicated. Sample B consisted of 21 subjects treated for advanced periodontal disease in 1969. Six of these patients were between 26 and 29 years of age at the start of treatment and 15 were at least 60 years old. The criterion for acceptance for the study in 1969 was that the patient should have lost 50% or more of his/her periodontal tissues. Following an initial examination, all patients were subjected to scaling and root planing and surgical elimination of pathologically deepened pockets. After the termination of active treatment, the patients were placed in a maintenance care program which included recall appointments every 3-6 months. Once a year after the completion of active treatment, all patients in this sample were examined regarding probing depths and clinical attachment levels. The findings from the present retrospective analyses failed to demonstrate that the age of patients with moderately advanced or advanced forms of periodontal tissue breakdown had an influence on the results of periodontal therapy. If anything, the younger patients appeared to heal with a higher frequency of shallow pockets and more gain of probing attachment than older patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The effect of Keyes' method of oral hygiene on the subgingival microflora compared to the effect of scaling and/or surgery.

The present study was conducted on 18 individuals to determine if Keyes' method of oral hygiene would present an alternative to traditional periodontal therapy in terms of establishing a subgingival microflora compatible with periodontal health. Oral hygiene, gingival conditions and subgingival microbial proportions assessed by dark field microscopy were measured at baseline, then once every 2 weeks for the remainder of this 8-week study. In addition, probing depths and bleeding on probing were evaluated. Group I (9 patients) was treated non-surgically, while Group II (9 patients) had received surgical therapy within the last 4 years. Both groups received routine scaling and root planing (Sc/RP) on one arch at time 0, and both were instructed to use Keyes' method of oral hygiene on one side of the mouth while the other side served as a control. This yielded a split-plot experimental design which permitted examination of the effects of Keyes' method of oral hygiene, Sc/RP and surgery. The results revealed no statistically significant differences between Keyes' method of oral hygiene and conventional oral hygiene in patients treated with a single session of Sc/RP. When scaling was not employed, Keyes' method was more effective than conventional oral hygiene. Surgical status was found to be the most significant factor in reducing clinical indicator values and establishing control of the subgingival microflora. In summary, oral hygiene alone had only minimal effects on subgingival microbial proportions. The primary antimicrobial effect observed, as evidenced by shifts in subgingival morphotype proportions, was produced by the Sc/RP procedure. This effect was enhanced by improved access (surgical status).

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Enzyme activity in human gingival crevicular fluid: considerations in data reporting based on analysis of individual crevicular sites.

Using a reproducible approach to collection, processing and analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), this study examined 284 fluid samples from individual crevicular sites for the presence of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), B-glucuronidase (BG) and arylsulfatase (AS). 88 of the sites were from periodontally healthy individuals (probing depth 1-3 mm), while 98 sites from patients with periodontitis were examined before and 2 weeks after scaling and root planing (probing depths 1-3 mm, 4-6 mm and 7-10 mm). This study demonstrated the sensitivity of the enzyme assays. When GCF was collected with a 30-s insertion of the filter strip, 90% of the sites from the control subjects demonstrated LDH activity, 85% demonstrated BG activity and 73% demonstrated AS activity. For the 1-3 mm sites from the patients with periodontitis, 100% of sites from which fluid was collected demonstrated LDH and BG activity, and 90% of sites had AS activity before therapy. After therapy, 100% of sites demonstrated LDH activity, 90% had BG activity and 83% had AS activity. All sites in the 4-6 mm and 7-10 mm categories demonstrated activity of all 3 enzymes. The data were analyzed in terms of enzyme activity/30-s sample and as concentration of enzyme in a standard volume of GCF. Enzyme activity/30-s sample was a different and possibly more sensitive indicator of periodontal pathology than standard clinical parameters. There was a disassociation between clinical parameters and the data for enzyme analysis when it was reported as concentration.

Adult↗