Exploring the Potential of Phytogenic Materials for Bone Regeneration: A Narrative Review of Current Advances and Future Directions

In dentistry, bone regeneration in areas following tooth loss, the removal of a tumor or cyst, and craniofacial surgery can be accomplished by using bone grafts. Many biocompatible materials have been employed for bone regeneration in dentistry; however, all these bone graft materials come with various drawbacks. Therefore, there is a growing demand for natural, cost-effective, and biocompatible plant-based bone grafts. This review explores the emerging field of phytogenic elements in bone restoration and their specific applications in dentistry. The review focuses on key phytogenic compounds, such as algae-based and plant-based bone substitutes, delineating their roles in bone regeneration in dental bone defects. It also highlights the existing challenges associated with phytogenic grafts, such as limited bioavailability and high-dose toxicity. This calls for increased research into compatible, affordable carriers and a broader spectrum of studies to determine the most effective phytogenic solutions in dental regenerative medicine.

Estimation of GCF and Salivary Levels of NT-proBNP in Systemically Healthy Subjects with Severe Chronic Periodontitis Before and After Periodontal Flap Surgery

Purpose

The aim of the study was to estimate and compare the Saliva and GCF levels of NT-proBNP in systemically healthy subjects with severe chronic periodontitis before and after periodontal flap surgery.

Materials and Methods

Twenty subjects were selected and divided into two groups based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Healthy Controls: 10 periodontally and systemically healthy subjects. Presurgery Group: 10 systemically healthy subjects with severe chronic generalized periodontitis. Postsurgery Group included Presurgery Group subjects who will undergo periodontal flap surgery. After the periodontal parameters were measured, GCF and saliva samples were collected. Postsurgery Group subjects underwent periodontal flap surgery and both periodontal parameters and GCF and saliva levels were reassessed after 6 months.

Results

Presurgery Group showed a higher mean value of plaque index, modified gingival index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level when compared to Healthy Controls and it was found to decrease after periodontal flap surgery (Postsurgery Group). Intergroup comparison (Presurgery Group vs Postsurgery Group) of the mean difference of salivary NT-proBNP was found to be statistically significant. GCF levels of NT-proBNP also decreased after periodontal flap surgery but the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

NT pro-BNP levels were found to be higher in periodontitis group as compared to the controls. The levels decreased following surgical periodontal therapy, elucidating the role of periodontal treatment on the expression of NT-proBNP as a salivary and GCF marker. NT-proBNP could serve as a potential biomarker for periodontitis in saliva and GCF in future.

The Effect of Periodontal Therapy on the Level of MMP-8 in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis

OBJECTIVE

 The complete removal of bacterial plaque and their endotoxins in deeper areas of periodontal pockets is often difficult to achieve with conventional methods such as periodontal pocket curettage. An alternative to these methods that recently gained popularity in periodontology is the diode laser, with its antibacterial effect, angiogenesis promotion as advantages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 This study included 100 patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis, with periodontal pockets up to 6 mm, and who were divided into two groups: patients treated with basic therapy and diode laser application, and patients treated with basic therapy and with flap surgery. The clinical periodontal evaluation was done before the treatment and 6 months after the treatment. Evaluation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 as an inflammatory indicator in gingival exudate was done with dipstick immunoassay test before the treatment and 6 months later.

RESULTS

 This study showed a more pronounced improvement of periodontal clinical parameters, as well as a decrease in MMP-8 values in gingival exudate in the laser-treated group compared with the surgically treated group.

CONCLUSION

 The results of this study are encouraging for the use of the diode laser as a noninvasive method in the treatment of periodontal pathologies.

Analgesic Efficacy of Curcuma longa (Curcumin) after Surgical Periodontal Therapy

PURPOSE

To compare the analgesic efficacy of orally administered Curcuma longa (curcumin) and mefenamic acid (MA) after surgical periodontal therapy (SPT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-six periodontitis patients were randomly divided into two groups. In the test group, patients received curcumin capsules (200 mg), and in the control group, patients received MA (500 mg). All patients underwent post-operative antibiotic therapy using 500 mg amoxicillin and 400 mg metronidazole for 7 days. Post-operative pain and discomfort were evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS) and verbal rating scale (VRS), respectively. Evaluation were performed after 24 (T1), 48 (T2), and 72 h (T3). Group comparisons were done using Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. The level of statistical significance was established at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

All patients had stage 3/grade C periodontitis. The mean age of individuals in the test and control groups were 58.4 ± 7.3 and 57.2 ± 5.2 years, respectively. A family history of periodontal diseases was reported by 37.5% and 47.4% individuals in the test and control groups, respectively. In the test and control groups, the total mean duration of periodontal surgery was 168.2 ± 12.2 and 173.4 ± 10.7 min, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean NRS and VRS scores among patients in the test and control groups. In both groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the change in NRS scores at any time point.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with MA, curcumin is ineffective for pain and discomfort management after SPT. The possibility of the results being biased due to lack of operator blinding cannot be overlooked.

A comparative evaluation of transdermal diclofenac patch with oral diclofenac sodium as an analgesic drug following periodontal flap surgery: A randomized controlled clinical study

Background

Pain is an inevitable outcome of any periodontal surgery. Controlling postoperative pain is of utmost importance so as to increase patient compliance. The present study aims to compare the degree of postoperative analgesia with the use of oral diclofenac sodium and transdermal diclofenac patch following periodontal flap surgery in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Materials and Methods

A total of 20 patients requiring full mouth flap surgery were selected for this study. Flap surgery was performed quadrant-wise and transdermal diclofenac patch was applied on the right arm following surgery of one of the quadrants and 100 mg oral diclofenac sodium twice daily was prescribed following surgery of the subsequent quadrant. The postoperative pain was recorded on visual analog scale and pain intensity scale 24 h after the surgery.

Results

Both the statistical and clinical observation showed that diclofenac sodium administered transdermally has equal efficacy as compared to drug administered orally.

Conclusion

The study concludes that the diclofenac administered transdermally has equal potency in relieving postoperative pain as compared to orally administered diclofenac sodium following modified flap surgery. Transdermal patch has an added advantage of better patient compliance as it does not cause gastric disturbance.

Estimation of lactoferrin levels in gingival crevicular fluid before and after periodontal therapy in patients with chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND

The lactoferrin (LF) is an iron binding protein present specifically and in abundance in the secondary granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN's). It has been suggested that LF in crevicular fluid is a useful marker of PMN activity. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the levels of LF in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) before and after surgical therapy in chronic periodontitis patients to assess the validity of LF in monitoring of treatment results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 30 patients with chronic periodontitis having probing depth of ≥5 mm who were scheduled for periodontal surgery were included in the study. The clinical parameters were recorded and GCF samples were obtained 2 weeks after scaling and root planing and 2 weeks after conventional flap technique. The samples collected were then assayed for LF using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

The results showed that LF levels decreased significantly from 266.53 ± 75.86 to 195.47 ± 74.53 after scaling and root planing. There was further significant reduction in LF levels to 90.42 ± 32.89 following 2 weeks of periodontal surgery, indicating decrease in inflammation.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant reduction in GCF LF levels following periodontal surgery. Hence, LF levels in GCF could serve as a useful marker for monitoring of periodontal treatment results.

Postoperative bacteremia in periodontal flap surgery, with and without prophylactic antibiotic administration: A comparative study

OBJECTIVES

Many a times in clinical periodontology, the decision whether to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics or not, is perplexing.The present study was conducted to compare the bacteremias induced after periodontal flap surgeries with and without prophylactic antibiotics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The occurrence of postoperative bacteremia following periodontal flap surgery was studied in 30 patients. On these patients, 30 quadrant wise flap surgeries were carried out without any preoperative prophylactic antibiotics and 30 surgeries carried out after prophylactic administration of amoxycillin preoperatively. A blood sample was taken from each patient at the time of maximum surgical trauma and was cultured for micro-organisms and antibiotic sensitivity.

RESULTS

18 out of 60 blood samples were positive for micro-organisms. There was a significant reduction in post operative bacteremia after amoxycillin prophylaxis (x(2) - 7.96 with P<0.01) as post operative bacteremia was found in 14 of the non medicated patients as compared to only 4 of the pre medicated patients. The micro-organisms encountered in the study are as follows:- 1) Staphylococcus albus coagulase negative, 2) Klebsiella, 3) Psedomonas aerugenosa, 4) Streptococcus viridans, 5) Alpha hemolytic streptococcus, 6) Neisseria catarrhalis

CONCLUSION

On the basis of the study, it is concluded that the incidence of postoperative bacteremia following periodontal flap surgery is not as high as previously reported. The clinical results show that Amoxicillin is highly effective in reducing postoperative bacteremia in periodontal flap surgery and thus in preventing the possible sequelae (Infective Endocarditis and other systemic maladies) in susceptible patients. However, cefotaxime and cephalexin may prove to be more effective in preventing the same.

A comparative study on the efficacy of a commercial fibrin adhesive (Tisseel) vis-à-vis silk suture on wound closure following periodontal surgical procedures

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of fibrin adhesive sealant (Tisseel(®)), a human biological tissue adhesive, as compared to conventional suture placement in pocket elimination and mucogingival surgical procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study sample consisted of 25 patients (10 male and 15 female patients), in the age group of 25-40 years, with localized periodontitis in relation to the anterior region of the maxilla and mandible. They were divided into three surgical groups: Group I, Group II and Group III. Each of these groups was further divided into control and experimental groups. In all the control groups, the flaps/grafts were approximated with 4-0 black braided silk. In the experimental groups, the flaps/grafts were approximated with fibrin adhesive sealant (Tisseel(;)). Clinical parameters were taken pre-operatively.operatively and post-operatively on the 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), 7(th), and 10(th), day.

RESULTS

The Fibrin Adhesive System (FAS) showed superior results in all the parameters measured, i.e., hemostasis, fixation of tissues, reduction in plaque and gingival index and probing depth postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that periodontal surgery using FAS enhances various periodontal regenerative surgical procedures.